Likely Story

Birthday Thank You's

Yesterday was my birthday (32) and I just wanted to thank everyone for the awesome gifts!
Always on the quilting front, Bea came through with some excellent supplies and a cute, simple Amy Butler kit.

My friend Rachael also went the awesome craft route with two books I desperately wanted (thanks again!)

Josh, of course, got me exactly what I wanted - an Orla Kiely bag and flowers!!

My mom got me a couple of cool books, a top and a ton fo gift certificates to my favorite lunch places!

And, last but certainly not least, my Dad got me this truly awesome and amazing antique sewing box that even has tiny hidden drawers (I'll never tell where)!!  This thing is sooooo cooooool!  I love it!!!

Thanks again everyone!!! 

Did I mention...

That I'm teaching myself to sew?

I followed instructions which taught me how to make a pattern which I used to sew this cutey of a bag!
Of course, I seem to be a bit pattern dyslexic, so figuring out the lining took me about 3 tries, but otherwise I'm pretty pleased.  Yay me!

I've Been Busy.

Hello.  I made things this month.  See?

This is my velveteen, disappearing nine-patch quilt.  It's soft and velvety and so help me, I will never sew with velveteen again!!

This is a bloody enormous house square that's part of a quilt my MiL and I are sewing together. We're each sewing a block a month and then trading the blocks, so I'll have the blocks she's sewn and vice versa.

These are some peach danish I made the other day b/c I had both puff pastry and peaches going spare. They were delicious!!

FInally, here's a picture of my neighbors house at night.  I just really liked how creepy the place looks, so I've been stalking their house for creep-tastic night pics.  I'm sure they think I'm some sort of serial killer.  I do live in the heart of suburbia, so it's to be expected.  This one was taken on the 4th of July (obviously).

Checklist

Finish the back panel of Jemima.....check!

Sew an obscene number of Buck-A-Block squares (as I was horribly behind on them)......check!

Plan a delicious and well deserved Valentine's Day mini break someplace lovely (like here)......check!

See, I do get things done....sometimes.
See you after V-Day!

FO's and WIPs

Good Morning!  I have made some progress here in the last few days.  FOs first!  I have rescued a lovely sweater from its stained, Good Will existence.  It now has a new life and new career in my closet, with the help of some left over Brown Sheep (I stiched on the flowery things to hide the sweater's sordid past).
See?  Pretty!  Not bad for 3 dollars.

Speaking of closets, have I mentioned Project New Year?  The first rule of Project New Year is we don't talk about Project New Year, but I invented Project New Year so I am breaking the first rule.  We are going through every ounce of all of our crap and donating, purging, repurposing, recycling and out right throwing away everything we don't need.  Yesterday was Phase 1, Bedroom Closets (ours and the spare rooms).  I am pleased to report Phase 1 a success.  Notice, cedar planks for clothes to rest on, new hooks on the wall (off screen) and new closet shelves, installed by me:

Finally, a WIP that is actually progressing, Tree Jacket!  I only have about 6 more inches to go on the body then it's time for the sleeves and then fini!  I like the way it's turning out so far, but I don't know if my gauge went ka-blooey or what, but I went from knitting myself a Large down to an Extra Small.  I prefer a snug sweater, but there is no way on this earth or in any other dimension I should ever be wearing an Extra Small.  Ever.  Even with heavy plastic and reconstructive surgery.  Not even if I have my torso removed.  Really.  But, whatever, it fits.  And now we're all caught up.

Pre-Holiday Updates

Well, I have been frantically trying to finish one final present for someone who I am 99.7% sure does not read this.  In case they do, I only have this to say:  "Hey!  Look at the insane thing I made you!  Ain't it purty?"  Otherwise, this thing, this craft, this monstrosity snowballed from a simple idea into a project that was a bit over my head.  But I faked it 'til I made it and this is the result of my labor:

It doesn't look like much, but I promise you it is 5 feet of blood, sweat and tears in addition to multiple pin pricks.

On a MUCH happier note, my friend Rachael sent me a lovely xmas present that I opened early and it is BEAUTIFUL!  The pattern for Hanami, the beads, the teeniest crochet hook in the known universe, some delicious yarn - Buttercream by Yarn Chef, and one of her famous, homemade project bags!

Now, if only the presents I ordered her 3 weeks ago would hurry up and bloody well get here!  Grrr!  I haven't forgotten you Rachael, Baby!  There's something lovely coming for you!

I've Been Busy!

Well, I've been crafty lately.  I had taken a HUGE hiatus from knitting.  I haven't knit anything in the last 5 months until the other day.  I am officially knitting again.  See?

What we have here is my progress on the back of Mrs. Darcy in worsted 100% alpaca, color indigo.  And its yummy!

On the quilting front, my mother in law B has enrolled me in the block of the month club (civil war patterns) using these little, ingenious thing called Thangles.  I just finished June and July (see below) and August is in progress.

As for my jelly roll of Xmas fabric, I had ordered a beautiful pattern called Butterfly Blooms but upon receiving and reading the pattern I realized that there was no way in hell I was going to cut all of that.  So, I have decided going with something like this:

using those lovely Thangles!  Did I mention that I love those things?

Birthday Wrap-Up

Well, as my close friends know, I turned 31 on Sunday!  Here's a bit of a recap of some of my loot:

I got a Kaffe Fassett book from J, my Mom and Rachael and the strip quilting books from J's mom, B.  Thank you guys so much!  I love them all!  The next picture is what I bought with some of my birthday money from Aunt J.  I got The Essential Ellison, In Stitches by Amy Butler, a newer Umberto Eco book and the dvd of Hot Fuzz.  I also got this:

A new pair of shoes, some creamsicle perfume by Demeter and a ton of fancy, girly make-up (and yes, all of the Vincent Longo was 1/2 price, I'm not crazy!)  The fabric is a fun jelly roll called Holly Jolly from B.  The big finale was from my parents who got me this:

There was more, but you get the general idea.  Thank you so much everyone.  It is all perfect!

First Quilt Blocks

Not to bad for a first attempt and a bad, bad internet pattern.  Mental Note:  steer clear of free internet patterns until you know enough to know when they are inaccurate.

NJ/PA Weekend Extravaganza

Well, we have returned from our trip to Ocean City, NJ for J's niece's Bat Mitzvah.  Much Kohr's Brothers was eaten by all.  We got to go into Philly for the day and talk to all of our friends at B&N and meet a few more people for dinner that night.  So that was good.  I got to stop by Loop (eh, not worth it)  and we had drinks at Caribou and dinner at Vietnam, both excellent.  But the BIG FUN THING is this:

Yep.  J's mom taught
me how to quilt and
she gave me her old
machine, a Bernina
1230, which I am
told is super bad ass.

And she helped me
make this for a friend of mine
who just squeezed out a baby girl.

Then she bought
me this so I could
make a new handbag.
So Good!!!