Aunt Ween's

Hey there...

2012-01-17T11:35:00.000-06:00

Apparently I fell off the blog wagon, WOW! Not for any particular reason unless we count being cranky with menopause, but that is not what this blog is about. I am thankful that I want to write again and share my crafting experiences with you all again.

Hmm, let me think back and talk about what I did craft while I was MIA. Of course I have no pictures to share today. That would have required planning on my part today and that did not happen. I did finish a few quilts, one for baby Caden, my grandson, and one for my nephew and new neice that were wed back in December 2011 (YAY for them)!

I have also been knitting still just not as often as I would like. Still making my birthday hats, but I do confess I fell behind when November hit and now owe about 3 hats to family members. I did not want to punish myself during the holiday season with trying to get knitting projects done during that hectic season.

I did get a Christmas stocking knit for the grandson, just barely in time though, and that was okay, as long as it was ready for Santa to fill it with goodness, right?

I passed on the knitting bug to a few family members too. My daughter in law Candace and neice Sam. Started them on the gap-tastic infinity scarf and they both picked it up so fast. Those two are super smarties. It took me forever to learn to knit as I had no one to teach me but the books I had on hand. All those diagrams and words just did not click for a while in my brain. So much easier to have someone on hand to teach you, right?

My youngest daughter and grandson are living in our home again, but only temporary, they will be moving to Iowa soon to be with the hubby. You can ready more about her over on her blog, http://vprinty.blogspot.com/. It makes my heart sing to see her writing too. Maybe someday I will share my experience of teaching her to knit. Here is a clue, she is left handed.

I will share pics soon of all my aforementioned projects, in case any of you are interested. Otherewise, why don't you share with me who taught you how to knit or are you self taught too?

Happy Fourth of July!

2011-06-30T16:35:00.000-05:00

I am getting ready to get out of town to hang at the lake this weekend, so here's wishing you all a HAPPY and SAFE FOURTH OF JULY! I will leave you with some pictures of what has been going on in my life the past few months. There has been some crafting, but not much lately, you will see why...

Lilybug wearing a hat I made her, I dont think it is on her head right.

The tree in the backyard lit up with the new lights hubby installed back in the spring.

Our annual adults only canoe trip, this was a big group this year. Tons of fun that weekend.

Gbaby Lily and her BFF Madison. These two babies are 6 weeks apart and their mommies have been BFFS since 6th grade.

I don't think Lilybug liked the life jacket and the hat though.

And are you sick of baby pictures yet? Lilybug and baby Caden hanging out at our house.

Dont they look thrilled? I love these two way too much though.

And my gang on Father's Day. This isn't everyone though, baby Caden was down for a nap and his daddy was at work that day, and we are missing my son's wife also, she had to work too. I take what I can get with this family and I love them more and more each day. Ok, off to go camping with my hubby and a few nephews down at Stockton Lake. All those babies and thier mommies are staying home this weekend and this grandma is going to go have some fun now. HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY everyone.

He is here Gbaby Caden

2011-04-29T08:40:00.000-05:00

He arrived yesterday, 8 LBS 13 OZ and 21 Inches long and he is beautiful! I will be off for the next week and half helping them all out, YAY!

Waiting....

2011-04-21T08:49:00.000-05:00

I am not going to tell you all my excuses for not writing and udpating my beloved blog. So lets just get to the good stuff. What has been going on in my world?

Number One on my list, is waiting for the second grandchild to make his appearance. He is due next Tuesday so I am on Gmom alert and impatiently waiting for him to make his grand appearance.
Gardening- I am a horrible gardener, let me just put that out there first. This year, I bought seeds, and last week got those in containers. Herbs and flowers. We shall see what comes up. This Kansas City weather has been up and down during this early spring, so who knows.
Knitting- of course. I had to knit up four birthday hats last week. FOUR! in one week. Whew! I know, hats are easy and fast, right? But I dont think I am a fast knitter, and I watch Netflix while knitting at home. Knitting is a process, and I like to enjoy it, not rush thur it.
I think everyone was happy with their hats. Thanks to the cool April weather, a wool hat could come in handy on some of these days, right?
Hmm, what else?
Oh yeah, found out my brother is having another child. No not him, his girlfriend. Another boy for him. I feel for him though, he will be 41 this year. I would not want a child at that age, but I am so happy for them. Those babes are lots of work, you know.
The youngest daughter (who is having the second gbaby) is graduating from the local community college next month (YAY!). Now she will have to get into a nursing school and complete that degree. Gonna be tough for her and her hubby while raising baby. I forsee lots of gmom babysitting in my future (yay!)
Oh yeah, I started the mitered cross blanket from Mason Dixon Knitting. It is a pattern for sale on their website that benefits the Japanesse mercy workers. Good cause and great project. I splurged and bought me the Noro yarn to work it up in. Love that yarn!
Ok, that is enough bullets for now. Let me know how things are in your world. Keep on crafting.

2011-02-21T10:30:00.000-06:00

My February is flying by!! I am not so sure I am ready for the coziness of winter to be over so soon. Is that bad? This years winter season has been very good to me, yay! A few weekends ago found me catching up on reading blogs, and I stumbled across this pattern link from the Mason Dixon blog from Ravelry and I just HAD to right that minute cast on for the Gap tastic cowl. It so satisfied my need to knit that afternoon. I still need to figure out a way to read blogs and knit though, just think of how much more I could get done.

Above I am finishing up a baby surprise sweater from EZ for the second gbaby that will be here soon (9 weeks left, really?). Not really liking the color now, but I am sure I will make more for those gbabies of mine.

Yesterday was spent at the Nelson-Atkins Musuem with the daughters. I love how this picture came out with the second daughter. The first time I visited here I did not know we could use our cameras, so this time I was prepared to take pictures (no flash allowed).
Now I am off to work on some craftiness around here, it is another goverment holiday today, Happy Presidents Day to you all.

Rag rug

2011-02-02T09:13:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was the biggest snow storm in 50 years around these parts. I got the day off and I also have today off due to the inclement weather. I spent the day shoveling the driving way (3 times!!) and it was no use, the snow still kept coming. I think we have something like a foot around here.
I also gave the grandpuppy a bath and he smells so much better now.
In between all of that yesterday I worked on the crochet rag rug for the gbabies room in our house. I am love love loving this rug. I am thinking about doing a little tutorial for same if I can get off my lazy butt around here. I am using old sheets that I have collected and cutting them into strips then rolling that long strip into a yarn ball. I am on sheet six now.
I am still in my pj's today and having a lovely time with my day off from work. How about you, what is going in your world today?

Dr. Suess hat

2011-01-24T17:23:00.000-06:00

Gbaby Lilybug wearing another hat I made her. I am calling this one the Dr. Suess hat. Love it.

Round and round

2011-01-18T17:38:00.000-06:00

Where it stops I do not know. I am one the fifth sheet for this crochet rag rug now. It is really getting too heavy to keep in my lap. I am thinking I am going to have start working on it on the floor and I am not looking forward to that.

Cheeks

2011-01-17T08:43:00.001-06:00

For some reason, all I want to do is knit hats.
They keep your head warm.
They are fast and easy to knit up.
And you can put them on your gbaby and she cant complain about it.
I am liking this bullet format way too much.
Today is a holiday for me, and I am in my pj's contemplating if I should stay in them all day and knit more hats.
I think I am going to have to get dress though, as I did start taking the dog for walks so I gotta stick to that routine as he liked it of course.
Those walks let me look at other peoples houses, and now I want to put a front porch on our house.
I think it is doable as we built our deck on the back of the house.
My husband is really good at carpentry.
His day job is a HVAC specialist.
His response to the porch building, "I am not doing that until it warms up."
I said, "I know, I was thinking in the spring."
One of my goals in life is to own a lake house, but that is so far in the future, it almost seems unattainable.
Since we live only a mile from Longview lake, I am starting to think that our current home can just be our lake house.
A lake house with a big inviting front porch.
Now I can't stop googling for images of front porches.

2011-01-16T09:06:00.000-06:00

This hat I am keeping for me, same beret I knit up previously, The One Day Beret, from ravelry (link in previous post.

One day beret, almost

2011-01-12T18:14:00.000-06:00

Beret hat made for sister in law to match her mitts, from Ravelry, One day beret, I started this on Sunday during the Chiefs playoff game, and finished it on Tuesday morning. I have made three of these now, and keep giving them away, must make one for me to keep.

Bullets...

2011-01-11T10:42:00.001-06:00

I read alot of books and have owned a Kindle for a little over a year now.
I am in a book club and there are 11 of us in it.
I was the first in our club to own a Kindle.
There are now 6 of us that own one, and one that has a Nook.
Those last few are starting to feel left out now.
Our current book selection is the Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.
I read The Pioneer Woman blog and she inspires me.
I have learned alot about digital photography from her.
I still suck at taking pictures.
But I love love trying to get better.
I also read Soulemama blog.
It makes me wish my kids were little again so I could be their mommy all over.
I think I feel that way today because I babysat gbaby over the weekend.
Our second gbaby is going to be a boy, so now we will have one of each to love up and spoil.
I just want to spend the whole month of January in my pajamas at home and craft all month long.
I think I need to start walking our dog daily, he sits at the window barking at all the other dogs going for a walk in the neighborhood.
But it is January, cold and it snowed yesterday, and I am still in my pajamas right now.
I feel good that we stuck to our budget for Christmas and there are no credit card bills due this month from the holiday.
The holiday felt less stressed out last month and I did not have to wrap so many presents, YAY!
Which meant that I actually had the time to wrap the few presents prettily and I made my own bows.
My only new years resolutions is to try and be kinder to everyone around me.
I have to remind myself of this at least once a day.
It would be easier if they would just let me stay home in my pajamas and knit all day.

Maine Morning Mitts made for my sister in law last weekend.

And I am going to go do that right now.

And a new year begins

2011-01-02T15:18:00.000-06:00

See, told you I was knitting still, a hat above for my daughter in law. It should have been done in time for Christmas, but alas the holiday got in the way. The important thing is that it is done now though. Sent home with my son just a few minutes ago to give to her. Hope she likes it.

For the new project, I am working on a crochet rag rug, for the most recent bedroom in the house that was vacated by the last child to leave home. Yup, we are officially totally empty nesters now on the home range. All I can say about that it is, it ain't easy. It has been a few months now since the last one left and I am getting used to it, mostly. But it sure is quiet around these parts now.
Enough whining from me, now back to crafting. Happy New Year to you all, may it all be good!

Hey There...

2010-12-27T09:24:00.000-06:00

Just popping in to say Hello and Merry Christmas to you all. Not sure why I have not been blogging as much lately, maybe it is because of this little girl above. We all had a lovely holiday this year and I hope that you did too. I did not do a lot of knitting this holiday, but did get a few hats made for some the girls in my family.

This is a picture of my oldest daughter and her boyfriend (baby daddy), I got a ghost image without even trying, not sure how that happened, but love the effect.

Here is me and grandbaby, hanging out on Christmas day. Happy New Year to you all, and hopefully I will get back to this space more often in the New Year.

Now I am a grandma!

2010-11-12T08:14:00.000-06:00

This is the very first picture of my first granddaughter, Lillian Rae. She was born yesterday, 8 lbs 9 oz and perfectly healthy. I hope to get some better pictures today of her and actually hold her. My daughter did so well on this birth and I am very proud of her. I had alot of anixiety about being part of the labor and birthing process with her, but really it went very smooth and right on time. Such a different experience from own labor with my children. Things sure have changed in the 21 plus years since I did this. Ok, now I am off to go spend the day with my new grandbaby, YAY!

Hello...

2010-10-20T18:40:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, I am feeling so much like my old self again. Now we can get back to our regular scheduled life around these parts. I gathered some of my favorite photos from the last month. Kinda surprised myself tonight looking thur these that I was able to even take some photos due to feeling so crummy for the last month or so. But wow, life has been busy so lets catch up, shall we?

Above, we have the first grandbaby in the making shot. Baby will be a girl, named Lillian Rae, and she should be here in about three weeks or less now. Here is a quick little story. I was coming in the door to the house a few nights ago, and the youngest daughter came out to greet me with Todd the dog and said to Todd the dog "hey there is grandma" and I looked back to the driveway to look for my own mother not knowing she was calling me grandma. It took me back a little bit that I was the grandma here and not my own mother. I better get used to this granny thing fast, huh?

Some shots of the baby shower that took place at our home last month. The clothesline idea was mine to try and save on the decorations cost as we are all on budgets these days, right? Below is my attempt at a diaper cake. It was fun to make and I had extra help from the ladies in the family. I think they did more on this than I did that day so I just got out of the way after rolling up all those diapers.

Went on a double date to First Fridays in the Crossroads at the beginning of October. Had fun with my brother and his girlfriend. It was their first time going, so hubby and I got to show them around some of the galleries. Good times had by all.

We even went camping a few weekends back with my sister and her gang. We took the four wheelers out to a riding park down south and had a great time. Me being a girl and all, I would much rather take a walk in the woods than wrangle a four wheeler around, but the guys love that stuff in our family. Here I am making hubby do a photo shot with me when we took a break on the side of one of the trails.

And now that everything is alright in my world now, I am going to get back to my happy place of sewing and knitting. Thanks for letting me share with you all, and please let me know what you are up to making these days too. Happy crafting everyone!

Nope, nothing to show

2010-10-18T14:54:00.000-05:00

I have not forgotten about my beloved blog, just been under the weather for far too long. Off to the doctor tomorrow (again more like it) to see if we can figure this out. It is a sinus infection that is not going away with normal antibiotics. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I get some better meds and start feeling like myself again.

Because I have projects that need to be completed but I am too worn out after working all day at my normal boring office job. Wish me luck and hopefully I will back here in my happy place.

Now all I need is a grandbaby to wrap this in

2010-09-23T18:07:00.000-05:00

I got it done, YAY! It is not perfect, but it is crinkly, cuddly, and soft. And I got it done just in time, fabulous. I also managed to squeeze in some housework today too, begrudgingly, but I did do it. I am so much happier when I am in the studio, even if I do feel like a tortured artist at times.

Will I make it in time??

2010-09-23T09:50:00.000-05:00

Here I am two days away from the baby shower trying to finish the quilt for grandbaby. What can I say, but that I am a procrastinator apparently. At least I am to the actual quilting part today. It should not take me too long to quilt it. So far it measures 56 x 44, so I think it is doable to get it done in time.
My house may not be shining clean for the day of the party, but I will get this quilt done in time, yes I will.

Finally back to sewing

2010-09-21T10:24:00.000-05:00

Here is me in the studio yesterday on my birthday sewing. Working on a baby quilt for the first grandbaby that is soon to be here. I have also been told that a second grandbaby is now in the making as well. Our youngest got married this last summer and is now expecting as well. WOW! Two grandbabies so soon.
I feel blessed of course, but also a little overwhelmed by it all. All three of my children, who are in their 20s now, have kept me on my toes this last summer.

My hubby got me a camera tripod for my birthday, and I just tried it out for the first time with my remote with the camera. I am impressed and this picture inspired me to blog about it (or show it off?). I wonder how many "action" shots I will be taking with me it in now. I usually do not like myself in pictures, I can be too critical of my flaws. Oh the joys of turning 43, huh?

Ok, back to crafting, I have taken this week off from work for a vacation, to stay home and craft and prepare for the baby shower that is to take place in our backyard this weekend. I am keeping my fingers crossed for good weather as my home is small and it would be way too crowded for all those people to be stuffed in my house. We are expecting approximately 40 people this weekend, whew!

Yay! A knitted hat for this winter

2010-08-30T20:37:00.000-05:00

Made last weekend after a trip to the Yarn Barn in Lawrence to refresh the stash for winter.

Got the pattern from here, super easy and super fast, just what I needed last weekend.

Is it fall yet?

2010-08-26T15:03:00.000-05:00

Just discovered that I can get back on here and blog while on my work breaks, YAY! I might actually return to blogging now. I can not seem to find the creative juice to do it when I get home in the evenings.

Look for more later next week....

Summertime

2010-07-18T10:30:00.000-05:00

ok so I have been a bit busy and neglected my beloved blog. Not to worry though I have still been crafting. Finished a rag rug for a nephew, and did not take a picture. Finished a ripple crochet blanket and did not take a picture (still weaving some ends in on that one). Awaiting a new Webs yarn order so I can start on some baby surprise jackets for the gbaby and other babies that are coming this fall. Havent done much sewing though, still have that last baby quilt top laying on the ironing board ready to be made into a sandwich and basted.

But I do have lots of pictures of boating this summer. YAY! So I now give you the following:

So begins a new project

2010-06-09T20:57:00.001-05:00

I cut this up last night. It was really hard as it is part of a recent purchase online of designer fabric. I think I got it from Fabric Worm. I get most of my fabric from the local fabric store that is nearest me, Hancock Fabrics, which is fine but after reading all the quilting blogs, I wanted more.
I cut it into all 6 inch stips, then cut again into various lenghts of rectangles, anywhere from 5-14 inches or so.
Now I am going to just sew them end to end into one big long strip. Then cut that strip into the length or width (does it matter?) of the quilt size that I want. I am going for a baby quilt so I am thinking in the 40inch to 50 inch range. Square or rectangle? Not sure yet. Just gonna wing it, cause that is how I like to roll with this creative process.
I planned on sewing up here tonight in the art studio, but then the BIL and nephews made a stop by my house. Had to feed the nephews popsicles and sit and chat with them on the deck. Oh the shame of it all. Stopping to enjoy life with the little ones in your life. Makes you realize that that is what is important. Not our boring uncreative jobs, the mortgage, or the bills, but life with little people.
Oh, to be 8 or 9 years again, it was all so simple then, huh?
I am going to try to remember that when I get bummed out in the future.
Ok, now back to crafting...

I,Jolene Rau pledge to talk more about my processes, even when I can’t quite put them in the in words or be sure I’m being totally clear. I’m going to put my thinking and my gut feelings out there.

Counting the days

2010-05-18T19:13:00.000-05:00

Till our annual adults only canoe trip. It is like our 15th year doing this and all of my kids are old enough to go now as adults. We started this tradition years ago so that us adults would have one long weekend to go camping without the little ones. My how the time flies.
This year I made home made hula hoops for us all to try out. I made two last year that have been a huge hit when we go camping, so thought I would make more so everyone can have their own. I also got glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets. We really are just a bunch of 5 year olds in 40 year old bodies trying to have fun with life.
This year we are going to the Niangua River here in Missouri. Great river that is not too far from home.
On the home front we now have the youngest daughters boyfriend living with us. He is off to the Middle East in August for his second tour of duty with the National Guard. The oldest daughter who is expecting in November is doing just fine. She is to find out next month if it is a boy or a girl. We are also having the family over for a bar b q this weekend to celebrate our sons 23rd birthday. YAY for parties!
On the crafting front, not much has been getting done around here. I have bought lots of fabric lately, in anticipation of making lots of baby quilts. I just havent settled on a design yet to try out. I better get busy though, time flies in the summer around here.
Anyways, that is it around here, not much going on, the weather has been crummy for the spring, but today was nice and sunny and in the 70's which always makes me smile more.

I am going to have to get busy

2010-04-27T10:13:00.002-05:00

I now know of four people in my circle of family and friends that are expecting. So many quilts to make, YAY!!

Pinwheel baby quilt

2010-04-18T10:34:00.002-05:00

Just got it done this morning, popped it in the washer a few minutes ago. Before washing it measured 36x36, but I am sure it will shrink, just hoping not too much.
This was a fast quilt to put together once I got the blocks done. Sandwiched it yesterday morning, began quilting it, had some tension problems, but once that was worked out it was smooth sailing.
I liked doing a smaller quilt because I got to the finished part so much faster, and that is the best part of making these. The satisfaction of a job well done.

Now I am liking it

2010-04-06T17:28:00.003-05:00

So much better now. And natural light is making me like it more. Which means I will be motivated to finish it now. YAY!

hmmm, not exactly what I was going for

2010-04-04T20:52:00.002-05:00

Pinwheels, love em, but I think this quilt top is coming out too light. This is just a random arrangement, that I stuck them on the wall just any old way. Hmm, more to make then. This is going to be a baby quilt for that new grandbaby of mine that is in the making. We wont know until June if it will be a boy or a girl, so I gotta keep my projects neutral for now.

Back to work then. Keep on crafting.

FO! And our family is growing...

2010-03-24T17:10:00.003-05:00

I wish it was not raining outside, because I would take this bad ass quilt outside for a real photo shoot. Instead you get it laying on my bed, which is where it will live because this one is all mine!!

And a close up of the free motion quilting done on it yesterday. I took a mental health day from work and worked on this all day and most of the evening to finish it up. Final measurements before washing, 75 x 75, after washing, 71 x 71, which is perfect for me to wrap up in and read a book.

Now, I think I will work on some baby quilts. A few weeks ago we found out that we are going to be grandparents, how awesome is that? Our oldest daughter, Sirena, is expecting, sometime around Thanksgiving. Now I will have a little person to make lots of handmade items for, way cool.

First weekend of Spring and I was stuck inside

2010-03-21T14:03:00.002-05:00

So I figured I might as well work on my lastest project. A quilt with circles. The plan is to keep it for myself.
This last winter has been a bitch for me. Got the blues really bad this year so I did not do much crafting after the Christmas holidays. I think I should invest in one of those lamps that people use in the winter, maybe that would help, because anti depressants did not at all. It was my first time trying a few and they just made me feel worse so I stopped taking them. I really just think I need more fresh air and lots of sunshine and maybe a new job.

I have been toying with the idea of making quilts and selling them online. Just not sure though about me being a workhorse to produce all the quilts. I would just want to do it at my own pace and maybe make a few bucks in the end to keep supplying my yarn and fabric habit that I have.
We will see.
I started the above quilt a few weekends back, usually work on it a few hours at a time on the weekends. So far I think I have about 10 hours of labor and love into it. Not bad, eh? I have probably another 10 hours left to go with the actual quilting and binding, so this could be like a part time job, huh?
Ok, off to more sewing, enjoy your weekend, Monday will be here before we know it.

Love Love Love

2010-02-14T15:48:00.003-06:00

I made some new knitting friends! Okay, they were already my friends and I am teaching them to knit. Below is Teara, look how fast she is knitting!!!
This is Taylor, Teara's step daughter, and she has really taken to it. Aww, she is going really fast too.

It all started with our book club, Jennifer and I were talking about our lastest knitting projects at book club last month, and then Teara is showing me the quilted bag her mom made her for Christmas and how maybe she should learn how to knit. Of course I offered to come over to their house and teach them. Which in turn called for a trip to the yarn store for supplies and off we were on the new knitting adventure. By the end of the day I wasn't sure if they would like it, but then a few days later I am getting phone calls asking for advice. Ta-da, they are addicted now too. Hip Hip Hooray!

Onto other news here on the homefront, I made hubby and I a heart shaped pizza for dinner last night. Yumo!

He in turn made us breakfast today, pancakes and bacon. Then we made a trip to the hardware store to go buy a new kitchen faucet that he is now currently installing as I lounge on the couch updating my blog. True love, it is...

Swifty

2010-01-11T17:29:00.002-06:00

See that up there? I got a yarn swift from hubby for Christmas and I finally got around to trying it out this past weekend. I had a little problem getting the skein on it and having it opened to the right size, but once I got this going I was laughing my butt off. So much easier then putting the skein on the back of chair and alot faster too.

Hubby was super proud of himself for walking into the yarn store and naming this off as to what he is in there for. Last year I got the ball winder and this year the yarn swift. He always gets me the best presents and I love him for it.

Now if I could just get my groove back for knitting, what is up with that?

A New Year!

2010-01-07T17:08:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I have been MIA a for awhile, sorry about that. The holidays were a bit busy this last year and now cold dark January is here upon us once more. Above is our yearly Christmas picture in the Rau household. We are missing the oldest daughter this year, she came over later in the day after some of the kids had to leave and go onto other parents house to spread their holiday cheer.

They all were very nice about wearing the hats that I knitted up for them, such lovely children that I have.

I did not have much me this holiday season get all the knitting done that I wanted. I did get each child a knitted miniature Christmas sweater ornament knitted to go on their special gifts. And they all got the hats as well. But that was it and it was struggle for me to get that little bit done. I think my knitting mojo is on the down low, which is weird, this is the best time of year to be knitting.

Oh well, I know it will come back and soon I hope. Now it is back to watching Netflix movies on the TV with the kids that are here, Valerie and her lovely beau Jon.

More later, I am sure, for now, stay inside and knit!

Just a peek

2009-11-22T13:00:00.002-06:00

Above, a hat with ear flaps in the works for a dear friend from book club, she is turing 40 in a few weeks and requested this. I am more than happy to make this for her. She picked three colors, with lime green being the main one. I am tickled pink with this color scheme, usually I am a dud when comes to combining colors.

My newest convert to knitting, Jennifer, she finished her scarf that she started on in August on a camp trip. I am at a loss for words on how she has taken to the knitting, she reminds me of myself when I started, such passion! She is now working on hats for Christmas as well, knitting in the round with circulars and took to it like a fish to water. You rock Jennifer! Now I just have to work on her getting a blog.

crafting...

2009-11-15T16:38:00.002-06:00

Spent all day today knitting and am going to go back and knit some more. Just wanted to share some of my recent progress.

My goal is to make at least 12 mini sweater ornaments for the loved ones in my life this year. Should be doable, I am taking about 2 hours to knit these up with left over sock yarn. I am going to start telling folks that I have to get 12 sweaters knitted by Christmas, GASP!, and just not tell them that they are minature ones. Should be a hoot!

More Birthday Hats

2009-11-10T20:10:00.003-06:00

Those two up there are two of my favorite family members, hubby on the left, and his neice Sam. They share the birthday month of November. Last year at the birthday dinner when the neice found out how great my knitted hats were she asked if I would make her one. At the time I was all into making the caps with ear flaps. She asked if I would make her a hat as she would always buy a funky hat each winter. I was elated to say the least that someone in the family actually wanted me to make them something instead of just accepting something I made them by hand, and jumped at the chance. She got her hat with earflaps at Christmas last year. I think these birthday hats are now a tradition as I have been doing them for two years in a row. Oy! I am going to have stay on top (no pun intended) on the creative hats now.

Every year the SIL (Sams mom) makes her homemade spaghetti sauce for the birthday dinners at her house. I love that spaghetti sauce and look forward to it all year. It was also my moms birthday this month. Matter of fact the neice and my mom share the same birthday. Mom got the same type of hat but I did not have my camera yesterday when I went over to visit her on her day.

BTW I plan on making a whole bunch more of those fabulous hats for Christmas. They are super fast to make with big yarn and big needles. And tomorrow I have a holiday from work, it is Veterans day and I plan on staying home to knit and watch Netflix all day, maybe even staying in my PJs all day! WOO HOO!!

Trying to find my path in life..

2009-11-05T20:24:00.003-06:00

Something about this picture makes me feel good about the time that I dedicate to my daytime job. This picture was taken a little over a month ago. It was taken to commerate the forced leaving of one co worker who is not in the picture (we figure he would have quit or retired on his own if he had the choice and we would have given him a party to celebrate same, this picture is being given to him soon when we go to visit away from the office). His position was cut due to budget cuts. I had supervised him for over 10 years. A few weeks after the picture was taken, the co worker on the end, retired to be a stay at home mom to her 7 adoptive kids. She had also been with with us for over 10 years. I am now left with supervising only 3. As much as I love the work I do, and the co workers that I am blessed to spend my days with, I keep wondering if it is really my path in life. And is the ax coming my way, should I make a change in myself first...

Maybe it is time to seriously look at other ways to make a living off of what I can do or make myself? I have read that in times of recessions/depressions that the best business ideas are born. Why am I so fearful of taking the steps to make that happen? I think it is because I do not have faith in myself. I think if I write this down and make it public it will force me to start taking those steps to make it happen. I am afraid to fail, and if I don't try, then I can keep telling myself that I did not fail. But successful people take those failures and keep trying until they find what works. In recent weeks I have proven to myself that I can do what I set my mind to ( I am still smoke free ya'll !) . I just have to commit to what I want to do. What path I want to take.

I want to make a living from what my hands, heart, and mind can create because that is what I love to do. There I said it. Now I just have to make it happen, right?

Was I not supposed to do that?

2009-10-25T10:41:00.003-05:00

This little pup is named Todd. I know, weird name for a dog, right? He is our daughters new puppy and she named him after the fox in the Disney moveie "Fox and the Hound" because she thinks he looks like that fox. He is at our our house frequently and we have taken to referring to him as our grand puppy now. He recently discovered my yarn stash when my back was turned the other evening.

Most folks would probably be upset if a dog did this to their yarn. I, on the other hand, quickly grabbed the camera and started snapping. I was surprised at how well this dog stayed in the picture. He owned it by end of the photo shoot session.

Now I just have to keep a eye on the yarn stash..

oh yeah, I was supposed to give you a update

2009-10-11T12:24:00.002-05:00

Here is the quilt after it was washed, love em when they are rolled up like this. The receiver with his birthday quilt. The darn thing shrunk almost 5 inches!!! I was shocked at that, but I do love the crinkly goodness of these after they are washed. It is now 46 1/2 x 66 1/2, a bit smallish for a grown man. Ahh, such is life though.

I usually do not measure these, but I will remember to do so in the future and take into consideration how much shrinkage is going on now.

I am still adjusting to my new meds, have also been doing fabulous with the no smoking and am very happy with myself. I am tiring easily around here and trying not to stress too much at work. Life is too short to take that job as seriously as I had been, God only knows that they would not be as loyal to me. I have some yarn laying next to me calling my name and am going to go and knit this wonderful Sunday afternoon away. Take care everyone.

Hello October!!

2009-10-02T15:17:00.002-05:00

Wow, almost a month went by without a word from me, huh? Must have been super busy. I was so busy and stressed out that last weekend I ended up in the hospital, UGH! I am okay though, but am in the process of making serious lifestyle changes now. Turns out I was having little TIA's which are like little mini strokes that cause no damage but are big warning signs that a big stroke is coming. I have quit smoking now, am on blood pressure meds and cholesterol meds as well. Fun times here at Aunt Weens. Really though I am okay, finally getting this blood pressure thing under control and the quit smoking was not really hard at all, which amazes me.

Anyways, onto crafty news, as you can see below, another hat with ear flaps was knitted up this last month. Here is my good friend, Captain Jack, and his new hat for the winter. It was his birthday last Monday but he got his hat a little earlier.

I also made this quilt for him, got it finished today and it is now in the washer. Before washing it measured 50" x 71", so a good size for a throw I think. I don't know why, but I kept procratinating on getting this one done, probably because of the aforementioned medical issue maybe? And I just thought I was being lazy and tired all the time.

Can't wait to see how it crinkles up!! This is a close up of it before it went into the washer. Will post later about the results.

The weather here is cooler and windy today. I think winter is going to be here before we know. I better get busy on hand washing all those hats I made last winter. For now, keep on crafting my friends.

9-9-09 Good luck day

2009-09-09T18:01:00.003-05:00

I say it was a good day. Completed the first day of a huge Social Security audit at my office, and it went smoothly, with the help of my fabulous co-workers. I have a good feeling that we will get a good grade on that.
Now, onto crafty news. Here is another spiral hat I completed a few weekends back, made with some wonderfully hand dyed and hand spun yarn from a local blogger that now has a Etsy shop. I love everything about this hat, the pattern (Elizabeth Zimmermans) , the feel of the yarn and the colors.

And a close up for your viewing pleasure..

weekending...

2009-09-08T20:49:00.002-05:00

We went to the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas this last weekend for a four wheeling trip with friends. Here is the Blue Hole, it is a old mining site that flooded and now the water is a wonderful blue color. Those little dots in the water are actual people on floats down there, that is how high up we were.
Some old stairs built into the side of the mountains at the Little Missouri Falls attraction.

I taught my girlfriend to knit on this camptrip. I think I have tried the last two times I have gone camping with her, but we always had lots of kiddies around and she could not concentrate long enough to get the hang of it. She did this weekend though and I am calling her our newest yarn whore. Welcome to your newest addiction Jennifer.

I so want my own sign that says this.

Happy Place...

2009-08-29T15:05:00.004-05:00

This is how I have been spending this Saturday for my weekending. Crafting is my happy place and I really need to be in a happy place this weekend.

So which one do you like better? Valerie and I are leaning towards the top one, but I still have to add more rows to make it big enough.

And this is my recent yarn purchase from treasuregoddess on etsy. Go and check out her shop you will not be disappointed.
I hope to be on the couch this evening planning what I am going to make with that yummy purple and green yarn.

Minature Christmas Sweater Ornaments

2009-08-24T18:48:00.002-05:00

This is what I have been up to in the last week or so.

Got some free patterns for same from here.
Of course mine are not exactly like those, but I used those patterns to try my hand at these and put my own twist on them. I have to say though that I do not really like the way those patterns are because I like to knit in the round and hate the purl stitch. So I came up with my own pattern using my circular needles.

And this is the one, not perfect as the sock yarn did not come out quite right on the one sleeve, but I like it. The best part, no finishing except a few stitches under the sleeves, just like EZ does. Yeah!

For you Valerie...

2009-08-12T18:15:00.004-05:00

It was this little girls birthday the day we got back from our vacation. She is our youngest and just turned 20 now. She got the latest quilt I made after I took it to the mountains to get some shots of it out there. She is the kookiest, crazyiest and keeps her parents on their toes type of kid (in a good way most of the time). So heres to you Miss Valerie, Happy Birthday.

BTW Miss Valerie, I know that was you that left that pitiful what about me? comment on the last post and that is what this post is for. Now that your teenage years are over, maybe dad and I can get some peace??

Back from vacation in beautiful Colorado

2009-08-10T18:53:00.002-05:00

Top of the world in Rocky Mountain National Park up on Trail Ridge road.
Gotta love those aspen trees there, too bad it was not fall yet though.

I think this one might be my new blog banner. On Mammouth Gulch, a mountain road in Rollinsville and me with my new knitted hat made especially for the trip.

My totally all scraps quilt I made for the trip as well. Even the batting I had to use scraps that I sewed together. I then gave it to my daughter Valerie on return from the trip.

Best of all is the mountain house we get to stay in. Brother in law owns this beauty on three acres above the town of Nederland Colorado. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!!

Happy Birthday Sirena

2009-07-11T10:16:00.002-05:00

This is my oldest baby, she turned 24 yesterday, and I am certain that she thinks I forgot about her birthday. See I went to work yesterday and sent her a email at her work, but no response. Then I left the office early because I was not feeling well and came home and slept off and on until 9 PM last night. I then check my cell phone and she had texted me "Happy b-day to myself", a big guilt trip for me, no? I already knew she had plans for the night so was not too worried about getting with her on her big day, but still, I am her mother and don't want her thinking I forgot her birthday. I then called her and she was having dinner with friends and told her Happy Birthday and why I had not called, and all was forgiven then. So here's to you Sirena, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope to see you tonight to give you your present too (she is newly single and living that fabulous single girl life now). Love ya lots girlie, you have come a long way in your short life and I know that you are destined for even greater things. HUGS & KISSES to you, MOM.

What I have been up to now that summer is here...

2009-07-08T18:33:00.004-05:00

The SIL and BIL loved their gift. I named it Green Apples (his nickname is Apple btw).

Tubing everyone at Stockton lake over the 4th of July Holiday

And hanging out in "party cove" at same lake (yes that is a blow up doll, her name is Sally and it made it really easy to find our peeps among all the other boats out there when we were done tubing the kids). You can see just a small portion of our boat on the left hand side).

I got the art studio cleaned up tonight, so maybe if my pocket book allows it soon I can get more fabric and start some more quilts. Or maybe I should finish up some unfinished knitting, huh? I have not knitted in several months now, but I can do that come fall, right?

Got it done just in time

2009-06-28T10:39:00.002-05:00

This was the scene in the art studio most of this week. Here it is before washing

And now after, I LOVE all that crinkly goodness!

TA DA!

I was so happy with it that went to the lake yesterday with some of the little nephews, here is one of em jumping off the boat. This is happiness...

The quilt measures 70x80 roughly almost twin size, made with the leftover fabric I had from the New Beginnings quilt, fabric from Hancocks. I made it for my SIL and BIL, the ones that ran away and got married in the mountains of Arkansas. I give it to them today at the party to celebrate the union. I hope they like it as much as I do as it is always hard to give away my quilts, I want to keep em all for me.

We now have a new family member

2009-06-14T11:18:00.003-05:00

Met my new daughter in law, she is the one in the middle with the wedding dress on.
And here we all are, my two daughters, Sirena, Valerie (college girl), Candace and Jeff, me and hubby.

Their first dance together as a married couple, look at all those little girls watching them.

And the taking of the garter belt to throw to all the single guys.

Then the feeding eachother the cake.

A good time was had by all. Congratulations Candace and Jeff, we wish you many years of happiness.

This is where I would rather be right now.

2009-06-10T11:02:00.003-05:00

In my art studio at home...

working on this quilt in progress, a giant one log cabin square for a sister in law who ran away and eloped earlier this week. Instead I am stuck at my day job on my lunch break at the moment where there is no creativity going on.

We all knew they were going to get married sometime this year, they were engaged over the Christmas holidays at the end of last year. I just did not know when it would happen, so now I am trying to hurry and get a quilt done for em soon. I hear there will be a party/reception soon in their backyard to celebrate WOO HOO! I always love me a party.

I also got my son married this last weekend, beautiful wedding ceremony. I hope to get some pics tonight as my oldest daughter has seemed to taken a liking to the camera and never wants to return it....hmmm.... It really is not mine either, but belongs to the youngest daughter, college girl. She got it as a high school graduation gift last year, but seems to not use it alot. I think she would have liked a smaller point and shoot that she can carry around easier. Instead I got her the Nikon D40 SLR and I LOVE IT! Someone has to use it, right?

She did not have to steal it from me after all

2009-05-14T20:40:00.002-05:00

I gave it to her on Mother's day, my mom in all her glory. She loved it of course and now I am her favorite again. Not that I never was, but you know how it is when you have more than one child, right?

Here are the results of the last month. I still am in awe of my creativity during this time. Four quilts in one month, how awesome is that???

I hope that my son and his finance do not visit this blog too often (if at all?) I never know, but this is their wedding gift. My daughters love it so I am feeling good that they will too. I still have to label it and give it a name.

This last one I was for sure going to keep for me. I still do not have one that I have made and kept for myself yet (okay, the pratice quilt will be for camping but I am sure I will share it with others, it does not count). The oldest daughter, I gave it to her on Mothers day even though she is not a mom yet, she is just now coming out of a really rough time in her young life, she is going thur a divorce and it has been awfully hard for her (and her parents). So I named this one "New Beginnings" so that she can have a fresh start. I hope that it gives her comfort.

all I can say is that I am glad this is now done

2009-05-02T07:43:00.003-05:00

This quilt above is for my son and his future bride. Their colors for the wedding are black, white and red. A little too down for me for a quilt, but I am fairly certain she will like it. I pushed myself to finish this beast last night, got it done around midnight and popped it into the washer. It was very satisfying to take it out of the dryer later this morning and admire all the crinkly goodness of the quilt though. I hope it brings them many years of happiness because that is what I think of when I snuggle under a quilt.
This one above, I finished a few weekends back. It was my second try at the free motion quilting and I love it. I decided to keep this one too for myself, although when I have my mom over again on Mother's day, I think I will have to hide it. She has already tried to pry it away from me.
None of these are perfect in any sense but I am having fun making these lately. I just realized that I have finished three (!!!) quilts in less than a month, that is a record for me, in years past it would take me darn near a year to finish one and those were not anywhere near as wonderful as these. Of course, my kids were little then and I did not have as much time as I do now to spend on crafts. Well that is something good to say about being in your forties, you now have more time for yourself (yeah!).

Its all good...

2009-04-15T19:12:00.004-05:00

This evening finds me in the "art studio" (yeah!), working on another quilt. This one is the stacked coins quilt that is all over the sewing blogs. Super easy to put together. Tonight I am working on more free motion quilting and I think I am getting better. It does not look like a drunk person is working on this even though I am sipping on a glass wine this time in between my breaks while cruising the sewing blogs and getting more helpful hints on this fabulous technique.

I am loving this new quilting task, although it is a bit strenous on the arms, there is a lot of fabric to put thur the machine and my sewing arm is not that big. But I am liking how if I relax while doing it and not stress out so much worrying about messing it up it comes out better. It does take alot more thread then quilting in the ditch, which was the only quilting technique I would try in the past, but so worth it. I am thinking I might actual start liking sewing again, not that I would ever give up knitting, but I was more a sewing person before I picked up knitting.
It was also a beautiful day here in KC weather wise, and that always lifts my spirts as well. I hope this post finds all of you out there crafting as well.<>

I have been lost but now I am found

2009-04-12T10:14:00.002-05:00

First off, Happy Easter to you all! According do the dates on this blog, I have been MIA for darn near a month, how did that happen? Guess I have been in funk and I blame the damn weather. Spring is taking forever to get here and I miss the sunshine and being outdoors.

So this last week found me rummaging around in my fabric stash. Our son is getting married in June and I need/want to make them a quilt. I then found this quilt top buried under a pile of batting and since I have been wanting to try the free motion quilting for ages now and have never commited to it yet, I decided this would be the perfect top to try that out on.
I put the three layers together Friday afternoon, and commenced on the free motion quilting all day yesterday. It looks like a drunk person did the quilting on this one, but I am still verrrry happy with it. I decided before even finishing this project that it would be a pratice quilt and I would use it for camping anyways, so no pressure, just practice. It was a lot of work to work this quilt in my sewing machine (due to the bulk and my small sewing arm) and I took serveral breaks, but in the end I got it done by evening time yesterday.

Now it is off to find a quilt pattern for the son getting married. Their colors are black, red and white. I can't wait to get started now that my crafting mojo is coming back.

My own sweater

2009-03-12T12:12:00.002-05:00

I got this sucker finished earlier this week, and it fits perfect!! Love love love it. We are going camping this weekend down in Arkansas so I want to do a photo shoot with it. It is going to cold and rainy down there so it will be perfect to wear. I was afraid that when I finished this it would be too warm. It is not here in Kansas City.
I just joined facebook last weekend (I know, I am slow to join that part of the internet) and am connecting with tons of family and friends over there. Check me out, as Jolene Rau.

Last snow fall of the year??

2009-02-28T16:17:00.002-06:00

Hopefully it will be. Here is what I found outside my kitchen window this morning. Our resident squirel eating sunflower seeds at his home made picnic table made by my husband a few years ago. I think we got around 4-5 inches of snow today. It is supposed to warm up to near the 70's by the end of the coming week, hard to believe when you see this snow.
I will miss winter because I always knit more at this time of year, it is a great excuse for staying on the couch, watching movies and knitting. But I look so forward to spring, as I love to be outside in the warmer weather soaking up the sunshine and all the freshness that season brings to us.

We changed it out!

2009-02-22T09:28:00.003-06:00

And we are so much happier with it now. It really was not that much work since we had not grouted yet, yippee! I can live with this and like it now. Today we grout, ugh, that is a messy job, so no knitting today on my end. Maybe I can get some in tonight when the Oscars air.

Home improvement projects

2009-02-20T17:54:00.003-06:00

This is what we ended up with on our kitchen backsplash, we don't think we like it. The story is we bought the 6 inch tiles last fall at clearance, then started slowly buying that rock accent tile each time we had a few extra bucks to spend on same. Last weekend when we wanted to start the project we still had about 7 more for the rock tile to buy and Home Depot was out of stock everywhere, at all their local stores!!! They then got more in, but by a different manufacture, which was very similar but slightly different. Lesson learned? Buy all the tile at the same time or don't buy it all. We did eventually end up with all of them except one from the old manufacture though so it was not too big of deal. But now we don't know if like the end of result. We have not grouted it yet so we can undo what we did this week, but jeez, that is alot of work. For the record the only part we are truly not sure about is that top band of darker tile. It just isn't flowing for me. What do you all think? Does anybody even read this blog anymore? I know I am not the best at updating here, but let me know what you think if you are so inclined please.

I have started that new sweater for me now, and guess what? I kinda screwed up on this one too. I realized last night when I took a break on the sleeve that I forgot to change up to the larger needle when I finished the ribbing on the sleeve, so the WHOLE sleeve is the smaller needle size!!! UGH! But I think I am going to keep it, I figure sleeves take alot of abuse anyways and they can stand being in the smaller guage and hey, it is just a sweater right, not the end of world, right? But I will know I made this error, so the question is can I live with it?

Then I checked my guage on the body. On my swatch I was getting 5 stitches to the inch on the size 7 needle and figured my pattern for that, then now I am getting more like 4 stitches to the inch, so the body has ended up being 40" instead of the 38" like I wanted. 38" was going to give me 2 inches of ease, so now I have 4 inches of ease, this thing is turning out huge again. What is wrong with me? At least the knitting part has been good for chasing those winter blues away though. I really do not want to rip this thing all out and start over, so I have been asking myself, can I live with all these little errors or not?

It is Friday night and I am going to go make it date night with my wonderful fabulous hubby, who did all that tile work for me above. Have a great weekend!

Crummy photo shoot

2009-01-31T10:41:00.002-06:00

But I am going to share anyways because I said I would. The pictures at work did not turn out good either, so I took some of myself this morning in the mirror at home.
Here is a Elizabeth Zimmerman hat called the snail hat, the pattern is in the most recent Vogue Knitting magazine that just came out. Of course bulky yarn and big needles made this a fast project. The fingerless gloves are from A Friend to knit with blog. And here is my tam and so called scarf patterns that I got off of Ravelry.com. My tam came out a little big for my head and I thinking of washing it in the machine but don't want it to shrink too much.

I am still waiting on my webs order to get here so I can start some new projects.

I just caved in and gave in to my wants

2009-01-25T18:53:00.003-06:00

Yep, I did it. Went and purchased some more yarn. Just placed a huge order over at Webs. I want to make this sweater for me . Hopefully I get it right this time for my size since the last two came out to small then too big for me. Luckily I had peeps I could give them to and they loved them and are wearing them this winter.
I have finished some more small projects, a tam for me and one for a friend at work, and the my so called scarf pattern to match my tam. I tried Friday to have a co-worker take a picture of my new matching hat and scarf set in front of the courthouse where I work, but they did not come out well. I am going to try again tomorrow, so stay tuned.

More Birthday Hats!

2009-01-19T09:02:00.002-06:00

Here is the father in law with his birthday hat. He thought it was dorky, but I know that he prefers ballcaps to stocking caps. I've tried to convince him that this hat is way warmer that a ballcap, but you know how old guys are.

Here is the sister in law in her tam, a tam for a Tamia. I got the pattern over on Ravelry but did not save in my queue, so just search for tams, there are several to choose from. I loved this pattern and how it turned out.

The married daughter wore her wool sweater I made to work last week. This is the one I started for myself that came out too big for me. She likes it but says the arms are a little long, but not a problem.

I now want to go to the yarn store and buy yarn so I can start one for myself, but I have several unfinished projects around here I can work on. Must control myself!

Too funny

2009-01-04T11:02:00.000-06:00

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/212027/december-03-2008/nailed--em---radical-knitting

This will make you laugh!

Christmas at our house

2008-12-28T13:36:00.004-06:00

We did not get snow the day of Christmas, but we did a few days before. It actually started to warm up here in Kansas City after the extreme cold weather we have had for the past week or so. I had a wonderful Christmas and hope the rest of you did too. All three of our kids were here for Christmas breakfast with Dad making his famous pancakes. We then did our gifts, which has changed alot from when they were little. It is much more relaxed and goes at a nice easy pace with each of us opening one gift at a time now that everyone is a adult (most of the time) around here. Although I do miss when they were little and all the excitement of Christmas Eve, of them going to bed at their regular time and hubby and I playing you know who, then being woke up before the crack of dawn to see what Santa brought for everyone. I do not miss being woke up that early anymore.

We then had our dinner and got to play the new Wii that I was very happy to get this year from hubby (thank you sweetie!). I am not a video game person, but got to play the bowling game one time a few months back and was amazed by it. This game system kept eveyone playing on Christmas day at my house, then again at my sil house the next day. Both nights we did not stop until 10PM when it was time to go home. Hubby and I got to have it to ourselves last night and did several games of bowling which is not much different then going to a actual bowling alley. We are totally addicted now.

I am going to leave you with a family picture of our family. This is the goofy one.

And me with our new Wii!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I predict that 2009 will a much better year than 2008 at least hopefully on the economy part.

WOW!

2008-12-09T14:29:00.002-06:00

I really have not forgotten how to blog. It has just been a hectic time here lately. I have been under the weather for almost 3 weeks now and I think I am finally over it (keeping my fingers crossed). Went to the doc yesterday and was diagnosed with another sinus infection so I have started on the Z pack of antibotics. Still felt crappy this morning though and stayed home from work for the second day in a row. I can't recall ever doing that in the past. I am glad that I did though, by this afternoon I have started to feel normal again and I think I have licked this sickness now. It really got to me the day of Thanksgiving after all the guests left around 10:30 that night. Some had stayed after dinner to play poker (no I did not win) and I then fell asleep on the couch, woke up a hour later and had a fever. I had been feeling poorly most of that week anyways but could not take time off to get better so I stuck it out. The holiday weekend I was sick and have been sick every since. Oh how I hate feeling lousy. Especially this time of year when I should be busy making Christmas gifts. Hubby and I did a little shopping last Saturday and he was ready to go again on Sunday (amazing as he does not like to shop) but I was feeling crappy again and not in the mood for it. I hope this crud is gone for good now.

No pictures show this post but I hope to get back to the few items I am making for Christmas. This year I decided to make the guys their pj bottoms instead of buying them. I have one more pair to make out the three planned. I just hope they fit everyone. Each year we all get new pj's for the holiday. All the men's stuff is the same and not very exciting so I decided to make them this year. The fabric is corny but fun, like the teenage mutant ninja turtles for my 21 year old son because that is who he liked when he was kid. Not sure if the guys will actually wear these, but they have to on Christmas eve when they get them, that is the rule. HE!HE!

Now, back to my normal crazy life.

Be careful what you ask for

2008-11-11T19:29:00.004-06:00

There she is on her 60th birthday party we kids and grandkids threw for her this last weekend. It was a fabulously fun party for her and the rest of us. One of the best I have been to. Most of us did little skits/memories telling her what she means to us all. The homemade DVD of pictures was a huge hit (thank you married daughter!) and everyone even got their own copy to take home. There was lots of laughter and some tears (happy ones)as well and one crowded house, but in the end the thing she wanted most was a picture of all ten of her grandkids, and she got that as well.
Happy birthday Mom, you mean so much to us all.
Love Jolene

BTW I did make her a hat with earflaps and she was so kind to tell me the next day that she wants one without the earflaps, thank you very much. And I always thought when I was kid she had such big ears, go figure.

interesting...

2008-11-07T14:30:00.000-06:00

You Should Be a Doctor

You are practical, sharp, and very intuitive.

Optimistic and energetic, you are a problem solver who doesn't get discouraged easily.

You are also quite compassionate and caring. You make people feel hopeful.

You're highly adaptable and capable. You do well with almost any curve ball life throws at you.

You do best when you:

- Are always learning new subjects

- Use your knowledge to solve problems

You would also be a good therapist or detective.

What Should You Be When You Grow Up?

I am trying to figure out

2008-11-05T14:15:00.001-06:00

Sam closeup.JPG, originally uploaded by Camperjo.

this flickr thing and blogging from flickr to my blog. I am not doing so good because I can not figure out how to put more than one picture on a blog entry (maybe I can't from flickr??)
Anyways, here is Sam's closeup on her birthday. Happy 21 SAM!! She shared her birthday with my hubby as they have their birthdays in the same month. I won't give him away though by telling you all how old he is now. Let's just say he wishes he was 21 again.

She got her blanket

2008-11-05T14:11:00.001-06:00

Sam rag quilt.JPG, originally uploaded by Camperjo.

There is she is, the neice, Sam, with her new rag quilt blanket that I made her wait for. For eleven months, I am a horrible Aunt. She love, love, loved it!

Flickr

2008-11-05T14:02:00.001-06:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

2008-10-26T10:10:00.004-05:00

I think there are too many birthdays at this time of year. I am having a hard time keeping up with all my loved ones. The two pictures above are more handmade birthday gifts I am working on. The one on the top is a rag quilt in progress for my niece Sam who turns 21 in a few weeks, and the other is a poncho for my mom who turns 60 on the same day. I also have my hubby's birthday on the 3rd. I want to do something special for him but am totally stuck on that one. I started a pair of knit socks for him last night, but I do not hold out hope that he will actually wear them though. It's not that he would not like them, just that he is really picky about his socks. The burning ring of fire hat in the previous post was for him, and he explicitly stated no ear flaps, they are too dorky for him. So he got no ear flaps. I can't wait for it to get cold enough for him to wear it. I am sure it will make my heart swoon, ( I on the other hand am dorky and love it).

For my mom's birthday I am hosting a little party for her at my house. The married daughter is coming over today for us to work on a project to put snapshots and (hopefully) old VHS video onto a DVD to make a movie for her. I have tried to work on this myself last weekend and the &%#* program would not burn to a DVD for me. She on the other hand has Mac computers at work and can apparently make this at work instead. She works in the graphic arts department at her job. She put together a sample DVD last week to show me, and told me she did it in like 45 minutes, compared to my several hours on a Sunday spent on mine. I told her she can take over this project then since I seem unable to grasp the computer part of it, UGH! FYI I have no fear of my mom reading this blog and finding out about this before the party as she does not even own a computer.

The rag quilt for my niece though, she might read the blog, but she also is expecting this for her birthday. I made several last Christmas for my own kids. When we did the gift exchange at her mom's house grandpa ended up with the one I made for that occassion and she expressed her desire for one as well. I told her she had to wait til her birthday, which she was not happy about as her birthday was 11 months away. I know she will like it as her mom told me that whenever she is at her house she always gets out the one I made for her mom on her birthday. I love it when people love and se the things I make! Makes me very happy indeed. Now, if I could only get around to making myself one.

Now, time to get back to that birthday planning, enjoy your weekend.

Burning ring of fire...

2008-10-13T15:56:00.001-05:00

Here is another hat I made this weekend. Told you I was still working on em..

Have you had enough of the hats yet???

2008-10-08T18:54:00.003-05:00

Here am and I (above) and college girl (below) trying out the homemade hula hoops we made this past weekend. College girl was trying to give me the peace sign, looks like you have to make that funny face in order to give a peace sign. HA!HA! If you want to make your own, go to this website here and get the low down on same.

Super easy, but the materials were a little bit more pricey than buying one in the local box store of choice. Of course, I did find out from this website why it is better to make your own if you are now a grown up as the ones in the store are made for the little people and we grown ups need ours to be a bit bigger for obvious reasons.
The nephews were over last Saturday so their mom (my sis) could go out for the evening, and she just had to try out the hula hoop too. They thought their mom was hilarious! Lots of fun had by all!
If you do go and make your own, let me know, I would like to hear out these work out for you too. See no hats to share, but I am still cranking them out over here.

So you think I am a stud, huh?

2008-10-07T12:03:00.003-05:00

That is what this guy said when he got his skull hat for his birthday this past weekend. So I told him, he and the saying were going on my blog.

This is my SIL's boyfriend, Apple. He is a great guy. He did not want any of us to make a big deal out of his birthday and we tried not to.

But when you turn 50, you have to make a little bit of a big deal out of it right??? Here's to you Apple and may we get to spend the next 50 years with you!

Did you say you wanted to see more hats?

2008-09-28T14:14:00.003-05:00

Now that is a request I can fulfill my friends. Finished the above this last Friday. It is for my sister's birthday and college girl decided to model it when I was finished. So nice of her, dont cha think? Until she got kooky and decided that it makes her stronger and she tackled the boyfriend, below.

This is the fast cap with ear flaps from Elizabeth Zimmerman, in most of her books. I used Noro for this one (so love how the colors change). I have loosely been following that pattern for the others that I made and have done okay. I kept messing with the decreases at the top because I did not understand her directions at first for same. After reviewing other hat patterns directions, I finally got it and am pleased with the decreases now. So I made another one for me.

I am loving how the decreases come together at the top looking like a star. Really simple and easy. I started mine Friday evening while watching the debates ( did you all see those?) and finished this afternoon while watching the Chiefs and Broncos play here in KC. GO CHIEFS!
I would love to share the pattern but it is protected by copyright, so if you have not discovered EZ yet, go and get you some of her books here. They will free your knitting from the first time you read her.
See, I am a self taught knitter. I never had anyone that I could go to and ask questions of. Always had to just keep reading directions and trying to figure it out. This was about 8, 9, maybe 10 years ago. It was very frustrating, but I kept trying until I got it. It took me forever to get that damn purl stitch! EZ is not fond of the purl stitch either. Alot of her patterns are knit in the round and when I discovered this and how to do it, I was hooked!
I used to live in Iceland when my dad was in the Navy. We did two tours there when I was a kid, I spent half of my teenage years there and did not appreciate it at the time. I always loved the Icelandic sweaters though which are done in fair isle, so when I learned how to knit, I absolutely had to learn how to make those. And the more I knit the better I get. I also like the fact that my knitting items will (should?) be around long after I am gone so that my kids and their kids will have something to remember me by. That is another reason that I like to make knitted blankets and quilts (although not near enough of these yet). I know that blankets will always be in need, so if it is something made by a ancestor, I hope that my future generations will treasure them as much as I treasure the very few that I have my ancestors. Okay enough about me. Why don't you comment and let me know what you are working on now that fall is here. I would love hearing from you.
For now, keep on crafting.

A little show and tell

2008-09-24T16:15:00.004-05:00

Above is the lovely fair isle sweater that is still too big for me. I had the married daughter try it on and it fits her. She usually does not like sweaters with crewnecks, but this one was a little bigger than most and it did not ride up on her throat and make her feel like she was choking. She said she will take it, so it will be hers as soon as I am done weaving in the ends. At least now I know what size my sweater needs to be. I kept better written directions this time around. Now if I can only remember what I did with those?

And here we have some fair isle hats with earflaps. My latest projects. I sorta made my own patterns by following Elizabeth Zimmermans directions in the book Opionated Knitter. I have discovered that I can knit fairly well with both hands, but when I go to just knit with my left hand ( I normally knit the English way) I am at a lost. Hmpf, I was really wanted to become a picker instead of a thrower too. One is for the son in law and the other is for a family friend. Their birthdays are this weekend.

Speaking of birthdays, mine was last weekend. I was able to attend the weekend Plaza Art Fair and make a trip to the local yarn store there. I then went to my sisters for a little get together to celebrate my birthday. Fun time had by all. Yes, that is me in the middle at the grand old age of 41 trying to jump on the trampoline with the younger kids! Who Yoo for me. I did not last long.

2008-09-17T15:08:00.002-05:00

So here is the hubby with his FREE riding mower. A neighbor gave it to us because it is 16 years old and would not start anymore. The neighbor went and bought a new one, and the hubby went and spent about a hundred bucks for a new starter. This was his first ride on it in the backyard a few nights ago. It worked Fabulously! Then on his first trip around the around he hit one of the landscape edgings and sliced a hole in the back tire. Bummer! He ended up having to finish mowing with the push mower.

The above sounds alot like how my recently finished fair isle sweater ended this past weekend. And no, I have no pics yet. The biggest error was that it came out about 3 sizes too big for me, ugh! My gauge was good, I just made it too big, I wanted a loose fitting sweater and that is what I got folks. I still have to weave in the ends so when that is done, I will post a picture. For now though I am thinking of giving it to the married daughter whom it would fit and not be too big one, but I know that she does not like to wear wool sweaters. Hmmm, what to do?

2008-09-09T10:14:00.002-05:00

This was my view for most of last night. My work on the fair isle sweater continues. I have about 2 more inches of plain knitting to go before I can begin the fun part, the color work. Yippee!

I still have to wind up the skeins of color I have picked up, all in the pink and purple family. Then do a swatch of the pattern to see how it turns out before committing it to the sweater. I should do like EZ says and make a hat. I really just want to get to the color work and begin that part though but know I need to take my time with the colors and make sure I get it the way I want. Otherwise I will not wear the sweater if I do not like it. Too much work involved at this point to hurry thur.

Today is knitting/crochet day at work. THere are now only two of us that meet at lunch for this time and it is what makes us look forward to coming to work on Tuesdays.

Keep on crafting...

Did you say you need a blanket?

2008-09-04T14:19:00.005-05:00

This is why I like to make blankets. One of the nephews using the first ripple blanket I made on the car ride last weekend to the camping area. That car ride was horrendous! I was looking forward to working on the new blanket for most of the car ride. And I did on the ride down. It was the ride back that I did not touch the wool yarn at all. Why? Because the truck had a frigging leak in the air conditioner and we had no air on the ride back! Which would not have been too bad but it was over 90 degrees that day and so humid. Oh, and I was sitting on the sun side of the car for more than half the ride. I am talking a 8 hour car ride here. UGH!
Anyways, the trip was lots of fun for the nephews and the grown men and I had a lovely time being some place new to explore. We went to Arkansa in the Ouchita Mountains. Reminded me of parts of Colorado. It was very humid there and we left Monday morning and saw lots of relief vehichles headed down to New Orleans to help out with the Gustav hurricane.

Above is the progress I have made on the new ripple blanket. Super easy and I sat there last night working on it for 4 hours!! I also realized that I have several projects going at once again. I think I will work on the EZ sweater tonight as my extra skein of yarn came in over the weekend. Not sure if I said anything about that project, but it is another fair isle piece, similiar to the one I made for my mom, just this time it will be for me. Then there is the project that I have to get started to make mom a poncho for her birthday in November. There is also a pair of socks waiting to be finished that I started last winter. And a quilt I started in the spring for a quilt a long. And, and, and, oh hell, I give up! I will just work on whatever pleases me at the moment.

Keep on crafting.

New Project!!!

2008-08-27T12:58:00.002-05:00

Here is my order from Knit picks. I have had it for a over a week, but just last night finally picked a blanket pattern that I am going to work on. It is the crochet soft waves from the 200 ripple pattern book. I cast on last night after having my favorite crochet girlfriend assure me that I was doing the pattern properly on a swatch. Now that I have started I have realized that this blanket is going to be approximately 50" wide but only about 42" long, which is not long enough at all. I will have to order more yarn, for shame!!

I was going to make this a birthday present for my mom for her upcoming 60th birthday in November, but she has since hinted to me that she wanted another poncho instead. I have that order of yarn coming in the mail this week. I got a bargain over at Webbs on some Rowan yarn at 50% off. Only problem is she will have to hand wash it as it is wool, but hey you can wear a poncho lots of times without having to wash it ever time you wear it, right?

Now that fall is right around the corner (although here in KC it is has been a exceptionally cool August), I am ready to get back to my knitting and crafting projects. I am already thinking Christmas projects, although I have no idea what to make. If you have any suggestions, let me know.

Here is some news on the family front, as of today my son is moving out (sniff, sniff..), I am really happy for him, but still worry about him making it in the world on his own. Like can he or will he handle the rent and utilities payments on top of all the other daily living expenses he has. This is officially his first time out on his own, so I want to make sure he can make it. He is 21 now, so you would think I could cut those apron strings, huh? I think us moms worry about the kids no matter what age they are. The youngest, whom I will now call College girl, has started her first year at Rockhurst University. She wants to be a nurse and they have a great nursing program there. High school was easy for her, but I have noticed that she is spending most of her free time doing a LOT of studying. I know that she will adjust though by the end of the semester and do just fine. The married daughter is doing just fine also, she was able to buy a couple of jetski's and has spent all her free time at the local lake. Ah, to be young again.
I will gladly take being 40 (almost 41 next month) and have all the kids grown up now. I miss not having them under foot anymore, but I am really enjoying the time hubby and I have to just ourselves now. College girl lives at home still but she is no problem at all.

I hope everyone had a fabulous summer and I will try to get back to blogging more regularly now. We are off for a mini vacation this weekend to go ATV riding with my sister and her family. I am not totally thrilled about the atv riding part (so bumpy!), but am looking forward to the getting out of town and camping by a creek part. And my nephews are usually a blast to hang out with!
Have a safe Labor Day Weekend all!

Oops, I did it again

2008-08-05T09:39:00.003-05:00

I succumed to my desires, for more yarn that is. I just placed my order over at knitpicks. I think I put more thought into this though before I made my purchase(at least money wise, not so much color wise). I went to the big box store last Sunday and controlled myself. I really do not like their selection of yarns as most of it is acrylics and I hate acrylics. But they do have the Lion Brand cotton ease that is 50 percent cotton and I have used that for past projects and liked it. However the price of same went up to 5.49 a skein and I figured I could ind more natural yarn online. And of course I did over at Knitpicks.
For some reason I have felt the need recently to begin a new crochet project. I either want to make another ripple blanket and this time in crochet instead of knitting or the babette blanket that is all the rage over on Ravelry. My mom is turning 60 this coming November and I think I should make her something, but I know if I make the babette I will want to keep it for myself. So I placed a order for several colors over there, 21 in fact. Hey at 3 something a skein in washable wool, I think that is a bargain. Now I just have to wait for it to arrive so I can play with all those colors and decide which project to begin.

Keep on crafting everyone!

I was a little productive this past weekend

2008-07-28T14:46:00.005-05:00

So I had the house to myself all day this past Saturday and planned on doing lots of sewing. I wanted to work on my red and white quilt and get caught back up with the rest of the gang. I am on number 7 and last Monday they completed number 13. Then I wanted to try out my new sewing foot for quilting that I bought a month or so ago and just practice with it. But I did not do any of those things.

Instead I slept late til about 9:30 am, took my shower and went up to the art studio on the computer. I browsed some blogs and then I started and finished another pair of loungy pants. This time from some vintage sheets that I got my girlfriends lake house the weekend before. Now I need to make her a pair as that was the only way she would give me the sheets. They were fun to make except for the few mistakes I made that I had to rip out some stitches and redo. And so comfy!!

Then one Sunday we went to the lake near our house with my sister and her family. Here is a picture of one of my favorite nephews having a blast. He turned 7 this year and does not have to wear a life jacket unless he is in the water now. He was loving it!! Of course I would prefer that he wears it all the time, makes me feel better about it. So we let him take it off for a little while.

That is it for now. Sorry about not blogging as much as before, but summer has been so busy and I am enjoying it. Before I know it, it will be fall again and I will have to be indoors more than I like. I hope everyone else is enjoying their summer as well.

I have been tagged...

2008-07-17T14:51:00.002-05:00

by psychedelic armadillo for 5 things you did not know about me. I have never been tagged so this is a little exciting, my first time WHO HOO!! Okay here goes:

1. My dog has a bladder problem, meaning she goes pee on the living room carpet several times a week. She is almost 15 years old, so I cut her some slack, but it means that I have to shampoo the carpet (in the same spot) once a week sometimes more. UGH!!

2. I am menopausal and have several hot flashes a day which makes me irritable and cranky sometimes or if you were to ask my family they would say all the time.

3. I bought the reusuable bags at the grocery store but most of the time forget to bring them to the store when I go. One time I brought them and left them in the truck. Go figure!

4. I smoke cigarettes and think I want to quit but have never tried yet.

5. Hmmm, what else? I don't like to cook and am a picky eater.

There you go five things you were just dying to know about me. That didn't hurt at all for my first time.

HeeYYY!!

2008-07-07T16:23:00.003-05:00

So how is your summer going so far? Apparently you would think that I have been super busy since I have not been blogging lately, right? WRONG! I have not been doing too much, being pretty lazy really.

I can not even go in the studio and sew since the stupid window unit a/c went out about three weeks ago. Yep, I used it maybe twice and now it is out. Hubby needs to get up there and fix it but he has been working alot also so I hate to whine at him to fix it when he is home.

Anyways, just popping in real quick to say HeeYYY! and I will be back later with more post. Enjoy your summer!

4 & 5 are done now...

2008-06-18T12:15:00.003-05:00

Here is square #4, got it done last week. Last night I started number 5 and got it done as well. Just forgot to take a picture. I was dreading #5 a little because alot of the others that are on this quilt along were saying it was a bit hard. And it was, but I did complete it without too much trouble. Now I am only 2 squares behind, or three if you count this week (they are on #8).

I also got some finished projects (baby blankets) in the mail and out to the new babies today. WHEW! Glad that is done and off my to do list. Do not know why I procrastinated so long on getting those outt. I think secretly I wanted to keep them for myself they were so pretty. But there are no babies in my little circle of family yet.

That is it for now, just a short note.

Quilt a long square 3

2008-06-10T09:32:00.002-05:00

Betcha you thought I gave up on the quilt a long huh? Well I didn't, but I am way way behind. I think they are on week 7 (square 7) and I just did square 3 last night. (sorry about the blurry picture, I was in a hurry this morning). This one was easy and I am getting better at matching up those points. You can still join if you want, it is never too late. Check out Crazy Mom Quilts blog if you are interested.

Here is another project I started as well from her blog. I think it is called the hour glass block. You basically just make a shitload of these squares (starts out as triangles though-directions on her blog) and then sew them up together. It is good for a scrappy quilt and I have plenty of those. I gave it a shot last night instead of working on another block for the quilt along. Yes, I like having too many projects going at once, keeps me interested. HA! HA!

I ordered some cascade 220 from webs (it was on sale) and started another wool sweater with the color work at the top from Elizabeth Zimmerman. Those are so easy. I was even knitting in the dark last night while watching the second season of Weeds on DVD (love that show!). I never do that (knit in the dark), and it was very liberating. To watch TV and knit at the same time without having to keep watching my hands, loved it. I usually just listen to the TV and then miss all the action. Of course this was just knitting in the round, kinda hard to mess that up. Believe me though when it comes to the color work and knitting with two hands, I will not be able to do anything but keep my head bent to my work and the color chart. I have to tune everything else out so I do not mess up.

Oh Crap, is that my office building on fire?!

2008-06-04T16:07:00.002-05:00

Nope, no such luck today. That is a gigantic fuel storage tank on fire. It got hit by lighting last night in the storm and was still burning this morning. Which is fairly close to downtown where I work. Still had to go to work though, bummer...

Finished objects!!

2008-06-02T16:20:00.004-05:00

Just a short note, I got the baby quilt done this weekend, WHO HOO!! I liked how it came out all crinkled looking, but my make your own binding needs some more practice. Got me a free motion quilting machine needle this weekend also (on sale at Hancocks!!). I want to try and practice that also.
I better get hubby up to the art studio though if I want to continue working up there. He needs to get the little air conditioning unit hooked up for me. I sweated like a pig up there this last Saturday and it was not a hot flash!
I also finished the granny square baby blanket. It was done, I just had to weave in a billion ends. Finally set my butt down and did it. Whew! Glad that part is done. Now I just have to get it in the mail to the baby that is over 2 months old now.
Will post more later, I want to get some of those graduation pics up here of the girls. Those are in the youngest daughters camera.

Is it done yet???

2008-05-19T13:20:00.002-05:00

Whew, this last week has been busy for me. Got the oldest graduated last Friday at Municipal Auditorium with associates in Graphic Design and we now have the youngest left to do tonight for her high school graduation. In between there were dinners out and the barbeque yesterday at home for all the family and friends. I am plain tuckered out now (and broke)!!

I did squeeze some craft time in when I could. Above is a baby quilt I am started from fat quarters. I know, I know, what happened to the quilt a long you ask? I am still working on it but got sidetracked after looking thur a quilt magazine. I just wanted to try this and see what would happen. Not perfect by any means as my oldest, the graphic designer, pointed out to me.
The quilting of it is done and I just have to get the binding on it. I challenged myself and tried some different things with this since it was a small project. I did diagonally quilt lines instead of in the ditch, and those lines are not perfect at all. I did not have a good guide when I was sewing them, but I still like it. It will work as a baby blanket even if it is not perfect. Now I just need to find a baby girl to give it to or keep it for my own grandbabies when they come along.

I am off now to finish up all this graduating business. Next week will be my time, we are going canoeing and camping at the river. WHO HOO!!

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T16:23:00.003-05:00

I gave my mom her sweater today and I think she liked it. I was worried about giving my mom a wool sweater in the middle of May, but it was cool today (is spring ever going to get here?) and it turned out to be a good present for the day.

I had the family over for a barbeque to celebrate all the Mom's on my side of the family. Here we are together, my sister in law Beth, my sister Robin, my mom, and then me.
Then the mom's with their kids, my SIL Beth with her two boys, Dillon and Brandon.
Me and my kids, Jeffrey, me, Sirena (she worked a split at Pizza hut so she is in her uniform) and Valerie in the front.
My sister Robin, and her three boys, Zach, Kyle, and John Robert.
And then my mom with her three kids, my sister Robin, my brother Gary, and me.
I hope you all had a FABULOUS mother's day, I know I did. Next weekend will be more of the same as we have the two girls graduating, WHO HOO!!

I got the second block done today for the Quilt A Long

2008-05-08T18:15:00.003-05:00

Here they are. Much better this time. I had to get my seam allowance right (just had to move the needle over to the right). I still did not get 12.5" though, but they are 12" so it will work for now. this is the second block, and the points MATCH! I am very glad that worked out on this one.
Of course when I redid the first block, my points did not match. I figured out what I did wrong though, one of the pieces where supposed to be 3 7/8 inches and I was off 1/4 inch on that. I am going to keep it for now and see how it works with the other squares in the future.
I am off again tomorrow, so who knows what kind of crafting trouble I can stir up then.

I was unable to

2008-05-06T09:20:00.003-05:00

get to the second block of yesterday's quilt along because I was working on finishing this knitted sweater for my mom for Mother's Day. Take a look..

I started this sweater for myself over a year ago and put it down when the Christmas holidays came barreling toward me. It is a Elizabeth Zimmerman one and so very easy and fast. I used Cascade 220 (love that stuff). It looks really rumbled in this picture, I still have to weave in the ends and block it. I also might redo the ribbing at the bottom as I realized when I picked this back up that I did not use smaller needles for that part (I did for the sleeves though, go figure??).

Here is the current progress of the recent giant granny square blanket I have been working on when I have the time. It is to be for a friend and her new baby girl who I think is now 2 months old. Current size approximately 32 inches square, made with Lion Brand Cotton Ease (comes in lots of colors).

I will have this Thursday off for Harry Truman's Birthday ( I work for the local county government where he served as the leader of same way back when) and I am taking Friday off as well. I hope to be able to do some sewing then and get back on track with the whole quilt along project at that time. I still have to check why my seam allowance was off and Crazy Mom Quilts gave a good way to check same this week, very helpful. I tend to become a scatter brain when I go from craft project to another sometimes.
Friday is also my 12th wedding anniversary with this guy. Current picture shows us at the bowling alley and being goofy while second daughter took picture.

Currently we have no spectacular plans for same, maybe just a quiet evening out for dinner and movie.

Well, that is it for now, keep on crafting..

Quilt A Long here I come...

2008-04-28T20:13:00.006-05:00

I got started tonight on this. Did not take too long either, but there was a problem. My seam allowance is off. This was to square up at 12 1/2 inches and it did not. That would explain why my points are not matching up.

I am okay with that though. I can't recall actually making a quilt with the sewing machine I have now. On the old one I could use the edge of my sewing foot as a good guide for the 1/4 inch seam allowances and that is not working on this one. Practice makes perfect right? I even measured the foot before starting, but not accurately apparently. I knew I should of taken my time on that measurement. I am still happy with accomplishing this though in a few hours (if that really). I will try again in a few nights. Tomorrow my sister is coming over to use my house for a party(not what you are thinking). We have a cousin who sells stuff that is similiar to Home Interiors. My sister has too many kids and pets at her house and by using my house she gets out of cleaning her own, lucky her. What are big sisters for if you can't use their houses for stuff like this, huh?

I am off to relax for the rest of the evening. Me and the oldest daughter are going to start working out in the AM before work and tomorrow is the first day to begin. We tried this last week and she never showed up. I was up and dressed in my workout gear at 5 AM and she never showed. We ride together to the gym which is right around the corner from house. I could have gone by myself, but I need a partner for motivation. I am so lazy when comes to working out and hate it usually. I do feel more energized when I do it though, so I am trying to make it more of habit.

I will keep you posted on the quilting as long as long as I don't get discouraged and toss it to the side, but I really want to do this and keep it for myself this time. Don't worry, I am still knitting. I have a pair of socks that I am working on with the STR I got from last year. Love that stuff, but my budget does not. Recessions sucks!

Anticipation

2008-04-25T09:50:00.002-05:00

Who Hoo, I am back! this month of April has not been my best at all. I have been feeling a little under the weather, but I think that is over now.
I think I am going to join in on this quilt a long over here. I have some red fabric that I picked up back in January that I have not found a pattern for that I wanted to make a quilt from. I think this will work though. I have not made a quilt in over 2 years and back when I was making them I was not near as productive as this blogger. She is inspiring to me though. I even want to try free motion quilting now because of her. In the past all I did was the basic quilting in the ditch and I was not even very good at that. Can not wait to start that project now.
I actually picked up my knitting needles a few days ago. I put them down for a while because of the aforementioned depression. I know I am not myself if my crafts at home do not interest me, which just makes me bluer so I am glad that is over now. Maybe it was a combination of the sinus infection and my job. Yep, I am going to blame the job, which really SUCKS lately, but I am hanging in there and trying to remain positive, which ain't easy let me tell you.
I did pick up a new knitting book last weekend, The Knitters Book of Yarn over here. Loads of information in it. I read a little each night in bed and fall asleep with it on my chest. It has been very interesting if you ever wanted to know about how yarn was made and from the different animals, plants, and man made materials that it comes from.
The month of May is coming up, which as I have said before is going to be a busy one for me. I also have my wedding anniversay on the 9th, and hubby and I trying to come up with somewhere we can go away for cheap and enjoy ourselves. We have a truck camper, so staying overnight somewhere is not a problem, just how far do we want to drive and spend all that money on GAS!! It is also Mother's day weekend and I want to be back on Sunday for my own mother to spend the day with her and my children as well. We considered going down south to a ATV riding area that we use about twice a year, but it is 200 miles south and if we have to come back way early on Sunday it may not be worth it. Although I would look forward to all that driving in the car time to knit of course. Who knows, maybe I can find something around the city for us to do on that day instead that would not cost a arm and leg.
Well, that is it for now, wish me luck on the new quilt project and I will try to post progress as I make it.

Sinus Infection

2008-04-08T17:11:00.004-05:00

that was the verdict today from the doctor. My girlfriends at work finally convinced me to go to the doctor today. This has been going on for almost a month and no over the counter crap was working. I must say I feel better already. Got the Z pack in antibiotics, took two around noon and it is now a little after 5 PM and I am starting to feel better already. I am glad too, I was missing my crafts.

I have not felt like doing anything in over 2 weeks now. This is my first time up in the art studio in that many weeks.

The youngest daughter had prom this last weekend, she looked smashing! The hairdo did not come out as we expected. I rolled her hair in the morning in sponge rollers and it came like she had a afro! We had to re wet and just let her wear her hair like she always does. I was worried for her that she would let this little catastrophe ruin her evening, but she ended up having a grand time. Good for her. I never went to prom, I was 7 months pregnant with the first child at that time in my life and had no desire (or date) to go.

Next month is going to a busy one for our family. I have one daughter graduating from the community college, another from highschool, and our son will be 21. Mind you we will have to celebrate all three of these events in the same weekend!! How are we are going to do that?? I am thinking of just on big ass party that weekend for them all. A barbeque, keg of beer and lots of family and friends of course. It should be fun no matter what. That is what happens when all three kids are two years apart in age. Big moments in life happen all at once.

What else is going on around here....not much. I even missed that baby shower a few weeks back due to being sick and a little family emergency that I can not discuss on this blog due to that person probably reads this blog. But rest assured for the moment the little emergency is at rest for the time being.

The husband and I went on date this last Saturday. We went bowling! Had not done that in years. I sucked the first game, better on the second, and kicked his ass finally on the third game. Afterwards we went to neighborhood bar and played pool and shuffle bar. It was fun evening and very nice to get out of the house for a change. Spring really has not come yet to KC and I miss it.

Well that is it for now, hopefully these drugs bring me back to my oldself soon and I will be crafting more.

My books came!!

2008-03-24T08:22:00.002-05:00

I ordered these a few weeks ago on Amazon, got them in last week. I haven't started any projects in them yet, was sorta lazy this last week for some reason (oh yeah, the back issue, that was what it was). My back is lots better now, thank you.
I also found out that a one of our good friends couple have adopted a baby!! I am so happy for them. They are having a baby shower this coming weekend and I have been banging my head trying to come up with something homemade that I can do quickly for it. I do have that new granny square blanket that I started that would be good, but I am not sure I can get it done by Sunday. I wanted to get fabric to make another raq quilt, that would be a quick and cozy project, but the fabric was not on sale this last weekend when I went to the fabric store. Maybe I will just buy them something and give a handmade gift later.
Nothing else new on the horizon, I am waiting for the weather to warm up around here so I can start doing some outside projects or just be outside. Spring is here by the calendar, but it really does not feel like it yet with the weather has been.

Another granny blanket done

2008-03-17T11:27:00.004-05:00

I threw my damn back out this weekend! All I did was bend over to pickup the laundry basket to take to the basement. I did not even get it picked up before I felt this sensation in my lower my back and there it went. I did this last year when cleaning the carpet in our boat by being on my hands and knees with the little wet/dry vacuum and twisting all over the place in tight spots. Ruined our Memorial weekend at the lake to say the least with me in the camper in bed most of the time and no muscle relaxers! I really don't understand how I do this to myself. I did manage to get the laundry done though this weekend.

So I did not do a lot of crafting over the weekend. I did finish the second giant granny square blanket and gave it to Valerie. I only had about 4 more arounds to go so it did not take too long. I never did warm up to these colors I used and was glad to be done with it. Here is a shot I took this morning with it in use by her. She is on Spring break this week, lucky kid! Of course she was not happy with me when I turned on the bedroom light to take this shot at 7 am in the morning, but hey she was on her cell phone talking to her boyfriend already so what the hell.

Then I started another one with these colors, what do you think? I am liking this much better, sort of reminds me of the beach. Not that I go to any beaches or oceans here in the middle of the country, but we do go to the lakes alot in the summer.

Oh, and here is a bad picture of my first pair of lounge pants. I said I went with the size large and should have done the medium, well, I washed them later and am glad I did the large. They did shrink some and are perfect now. I really don't like my loungey wear to be too tight when I sit down. I want to be comfy and if that means big pants, then that is fine with me.

PJ bottoms

2008-03-10T11:53:00.003-05:00

That is what I made this weekend, loungey pants. I would post a picture but while at home I could not find the USB cable for the camera because I have it at work. Now I am at work and the camera is at home. Go figure!
I am usually not a person that sews clothes, but these were super easy to make. The pattern said it would only take a hour, but it took me 3 hours. At least now I know what I am doing and I think it would only be an hour on the next pair that I make. I got the idea from this blogger , A Friend to knit with, and wanted to get the book she used In Stitches by Amy Butler, but no place around town had the book. On Saturday while in the fabric store I picked up a plain PJ bottom's pattern and got some fabric. I made the large ones but should have went with the mediums. I can be a in between size with the ones you buy at the store depending on how they are made. I loved them anyways. Sunday night I ordered the book from Amazon and will now wait for it to make the lounge pants I really want.
I also had to buy a new iron Sunday. My old one fell off the ironing board on Saturday when I was setting up to sew the pants. Hubby was just coming up the stairs into the studio when it fell off the board and he then asked if I thought it would still work. I said sure, no problem. Well, I was wrong! Good thing about it is that I was able to get a Rowenta iron this time around. I hear those are really good. The old iron always leaked water from somewhere when I was trying to steam iron, this new is not supposed to leak. I will let you know but I am sure I will really like it.

I figured out some technology

2008-03-08T10:04:00.002-06:00

Look over there on the left, I got the flickr badge on my blog. I just figured it out. I can be slow at times on this stuff. Oh yeah, and over on Ravelry, I am known as Camperjo, so look me up if you want. I guess that is how that works, I am still exploring over there, but did join a group for KC knitters (the name escapes me now).