A Day Well Spent

It was a well spent day!  with fellow ex-patchers; take some needles, fabrics,

a few quilts, some giggles, some belly laughs, a lot of hugs

and good conversation!

And you have just about the most perfect day there is!

Annette was picking up her freshly quilted top from Judy M

Soft steely grays in nine patch blocks

made for a wedding gift

So Annette--isn't it interesting how we lean to more colorways than others?

and a super backing--it also helps that Annette works at a quilt shop!

Judy M was working on these blocks

for this quilt top

a donation quilt for a friend-such soft muted colors

and wonderful quilting by Judy M

Always love seeing what Judy M has on her studio walls.

and displayed on her quilt racks

Linda has finished her 2015 Pat Sloan mystery quilt top--

she ad libbed for the borders.  She has that choice--after all 

it is her quilt. 

Annette was working on this shop sample--Darth Vader and

Star War fabrics

Sandy came in with a finished top--quilted and backed with flannel

All for her hubby--

Perfect baby gifts for our newest additions to the grandmother ranking

Sandy used some of her fancy machine stitching to give this bib some highlights!

and me, I was working on the binding of this orphan quilt.

Finished--what an accomplishment!

Friends, Fun, Stitching--what a way to spend the day!

I'm Zen~~~~~Tangling!

I'm ready!  I've been waiting for this day for some time--

I've had the book

and do some reading, but never took the time to jump right in!

Well, this is the day...................

Our weavers' study group had a class on Zentangle~~ing

We start with two steps--crescent moon (right) and hollibaugh tangle on the bottom

Next comes Tortuca on the top left and Knight's Bridge on bottom left.

I still have a space to fill BUT the class ended.

We put our tiles out for photos--everyone is different

Close-up--okay, I'm zen-ed out! Relaxed...................

I Heart This Day!

Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14. It is a festival of romantic love and many people give cards, letters, flowers or presents to their spouse or partner. They may also arrange a romantic meal in a restaurant or night in a hotel. Common symbols of Valentine's Day are hearts, red roses and Cupid.

I

Roses!

I

Chocolate

Hope you have a good day!  And Receive what your

Desires!

Hattifant

Okay, I shouldn't be doing this!  But, I'm having way too much fun!

Take a look at these wonderful paper globes

and you too can make your very own!

Here

and not only can you make these globes

but you can make these 

Mandala Cards Pop Up Card “Fireworks” 3D Coloring – Pop Up Card “Make a Wish” … - 

and mandalendar-february-coloring-page

Only sorry I didn't find this blog in January-

I'm off to color and fold!

Vintage Hearts Galore!

Are you a thrift store shopper or antique junkie?  Do you search every little interesting store or shop you can find along the road to anywhere?

Here is a lovely way to stitch your vintage items into a heart felt

item for someone special.

Check out Elefantz's tutorial

and work up this to your heart's content!

Be Creative---

It seems 2016 is the year to be creative--or at least, I want to be more creative...............................
and what do you do to find more creativity, you search the web for inspiration.


Daisy Yellow Art has a great idea--ICAD--Index Card A Day!!  How hard can that be??  It sounds easy and I'm going to accept the challenge!  One index card a day for 60 days?  Whoa, I can do that!  The challenge on her website begins June 1-July 31, 2016.

Wait!  That's another few months away--what to do in the mean time? Check out her other suggestions:  Prompt 60

Ideas to practice now

Making Decisions!

How do you go about making decisions?  Doesn't matter how small or large decision--what is your process?  I've been working through a big decision (to me that is!).  I know, to you, this might just be a small thing--so you're going to shake your head.  But, we are remodeling our house--and the decisions are coming right and left--what color to paint this room?  What carpet? what flooring?
This is costing a load of $$$$--and my decisions now will live with us for another 20 years!

So, that's why I finally decided on wood flooring for my studio and there is no flooring down the hallway--and that's a whole new story, but now, I must decide on carpet!!  oh gee whiz!

I got to thinking there must be a 'ton' of information out there on making decisions

and Of Course, there are.........................

here are some ways the "experts" sort these things out---

REALLY?

1. Identify your goal. (This one was easy!)
As David Welch, PhD, professor of political science at the University of Waterloo in Ontario and author of Decisions, Decisions: The Art of Effective Decision Making, explains, "People who aren't self-reflective are going to end up making bad decisions because they don't really know what they want in the first place." Before you switch jobs, ask yourself: Do I really want a different career? Or do I just want a different boss? Don't make a decision based on the wrong problem. 

2. Eliminate choices by setting standards.  (No problem here--I'm limited by $$$$)
If you're trying to buy a digital camera, list the features you'll actually use. Any camera that has them is therefore good enough for you; ignore anything fancier. Speaking of which...

3. Don't worry about finding the "best." (What?!)
How good you feel about your decisions is usually more important than how good they are objectively.

4. Be aware of biases. (Okay, if you say so!)
They can lead smart people to make dumb decisions. For example: We hate to lose more than we like to win, which can result in behavior such as holding on to a tanking stock instead of accepting a loss. We remember vivid examples better than facts, which is why plane crashes stick in our heads more than statistics on air safety. And we're susceptible to how information is framed—a "cash discount" is more appealing than "no credit card surcharge." Keeping these biases in mind can help you think clearly.

5. Try not to rush. (Well, that's not been a factor--that's the reason everything has been moved into one room for a month--I did take time to drink a beer, take a nap, go for a walk, etc)
People tend to make poorer choices when they're in a bad mood or under a lot of stress. When facing a complex decision, use your conscious brain to gather the information you need, and then take a break. Go for a walk. Spend a half hour meditating. Take a nap. Have a beer. The idea is to give your unconscious mind some time to do its work. The decision you make afterward is more likely to be the right (or at least a perfectly acceptable) one. 

6. Don't sweat the small stuff. (Oh Come On!  Trying to work around boxes and furniture--honestly!)
When possible, eliminate the need for decisions by establishing rules for yourself. You will go to yoga every weekend. You will not have more than two glasses of wine. You will buy whatever toilet paper is on sale.

7. Do a post game analysis. (I'm ready to do that post game analysis--exactly, when will that be?)
After each decision you make, ask yourself how you felt afterward and what about the experience you can apply in the future.

Catherine Price is the author of 101 Places Not to See Before You Die (Harper Paperbacks). 

"Throw Me Something, Mister!"

"Throw Me Something, Mister!" is a cry you can hear during all Mardi Gras Parades throughout Carnival season.  Let it be known that you will be receiving numerous amount of beads, trinkets, and 

You will have sore arms, stomped hands and aching backs from a day of

screaming, yelling for those darn beads!  No, I'm not going to reach for those

beads but, just wait--when you are in the midst of the throngs of people,

you'll be right in the midst!

Shrove Tuesday is the last day before Lent, a period for fasting. It is also known as Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, and features large festivals and celebrations across the United States. The Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, in Louisiana, is typical of the masquerades and dancing in the streets that take place in other parts of the United States before the long Lenten fast.

Traditional Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans spotlight the King of the Carnival and the Monarch of Merriment, as well as Comus, the God of Revelry. Many people dress up in eye-catching costumes and a spectacular ball is held. Debutantes are introduced at the Ball Tablaeu as a formal introduction to society.

People throw trinkets to crowds as part of the customary “parade throw” at New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebration. During the Bacchus parade, the king's float throws doubloons with the image of the “Celebrity King” on one side of the doubloon (cups and toy coins) to parade watchers. Traditional Mardi Gras food includes the King Cake in which a pecan or charm is hidden. The person who gets a piece of the cake with the charm or nut is dubbed the “king” of that year’s Mardi Gras.

The Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama also celebrate Mardi Gras. Parade schedules start as early as January and feature marching bands, colorful floats, and crowds of parade goers along the streets in downtown Mobile. Galveston, in Texas, hosts its own Mardi Gras celebration, which features masked balls, a royal coronation, Cajun dances, jazz performances and parades with floats.

The March Madness Warm-up

March Madness pertains to B-ball (basketball) but as a knitter I'm referring to Sock March Madness and right now, there is a warm-up pattern you can use.  And I'm thinking----STASH!

Check out Ravelry for insight into

March Madness--Socks Forever!

This pattern is for warm-up for Sock Madness 10. It is mix of many things. It combines carefully chosen pieces of Sock Madness patterns from previous years and joins them into a pair of Mad Mix Socks.
The pattern contains instructions for both cuff-down and toe-up versions for fingering weight socks. The stitch patterns include six different textures to play with. The finished sock is sum of fewer or more pieces. You can pick and choose the bits that please or challenge you the way you like and make a unique pair of Mad Mix SM10 warm-up socks.

A big warm thank you to all these Sock Madness designers for giving their permission to present their design as a part of this pattern!

The dozen original SM patterns from 10 designers that are joined here are:
da Treehouse by Adrienne Fong & Debi Woods
Daisy Daze by Maria Ekblad
Diamonds in the Fluff by Leslie Comstock
Dimpled Diamonds Socks by Deborah Swift
Hieroglyphic Socks by Heatherly Walker
Longing for Spring by Caoua Coffee
Mad Color Weave by Tina Lorin
Nornir by Caoua Coffee
Painted Madness by Tricia Weatherston
Rose Water by Heatherly Walker
Supporter’s Socks by Linda Pankhurst
Wimbledon by Ros Clarke

Knit away all February and let the Madness begin!

In And Out The Crochet Hook Goes..............................

My hobby is crochet   has the most awesome crochet necklace to adorn your neck!

Take a gander at this--is this not smashing?

And I can think of many opportunities to splash some color into

one or two of these rings.

Do you think you could tackle this woven adornment?

I'm game if you are!

Have You Seen This?

Oh My Gosh!  I'm having so much fun with this palette builder

by Play-crafts!  You can take that special photo and upload to their

palette builder and have your color swatches.

I know, this is mostly used for quilters for fabric,

But, I can see potential usage in other ways.

What if you wanted to paint your bedroom one of these

colors?  Or how about using these colors for

a clothing line?

Still yet, if you are a spinner or weaver, there is a

way to built colors into your yarn stash.

Go have fun with your photos!

It's a Weaver's World

 I was the delivery person from one weaver to another!  and it just so happen, our Westside Weavers' were meeting at my house on the day there was the hand-off.  There was no stopping us--we had to dig into the box of handwovens.  Then the show began...................................

Colorful and playful towels

just one stack of towels from the bin

up close and personal with the towels

and as weavers, we inspected each towel carefully,

deciding on what weave structure, sett, dent

just plain weave--JUST, sure!

on same warp, but different looks!

happy colors!

color combinations we hadn't tried before

bright and festive!  We're thinking about a challenge called

Gypsy--what would you weave

we all were thrilled with this weave--dots and dashes!

summer/winter?

more dots and dashes

This is my towel now!

Even the hems are neat and tidy

same warp, different wefts

color and weave napkins with spot bronson

broken twill with color!

Which would you choose to take home?  It was definitely a pleasant chore!

Thanks Charlene for the tour of your handwoven towels

and the program for the day!

Confetti For Valentine's Day

A truly unique Valentine's Day begins with this mystery KAL from

I Live On A Farm 

The pattern is free through Ravelry till February 14

Confetti yarn seems to be the rage now--so grab yours soon!

This KAL features an easy to knit, lovely asymmetric triangular shawl worked in panels on a bias. There will be some garter stitch panels, some panels with heart stitch patterns, and some other cool visual interests and textures along the way.

You can knit the small or large version. There are two sizes to choose from: Small requires 1 hank (420 yards) of any Lucky Violet Color Co. fingering weight yarn; Large requires 2 hanks (840 yards).

The KAL will officially begin on Sunday, February 14, 2016 with publication of the first section of the pattern that morning. The first pattern section will be enough information for knitting at least one-third of the small version of the piece.

There will be two additional pattern sections released (for a total of three). Each release will be two weeks apart.

Along Comes The Count and William

Listen while you work is my motto---a good book that I never read before

is in my ears!

and on my time frame too--everywhere I go!

Craftlit

 I was never a Shakespeare fan until I found Chop Bard.  It is time for King Lear.........................

Are Grannys Square?

Franklin Habit is a genius!  Especially when it comes to something we think that is simple as a Granny Square--Who decided to call Grannys Square anyway????

According to a 1946 article attributed to the Oregon Worsted Company, the thrifty women of early America would carefully save scraps of yarn and fiber unraveled from old sweaters and socks.  As these scraps accumulated, they were crocheted into small squares; the colors combined on the whim of the craftsman.  The squares were then sewn together to make a blanket which was both functional and colorful.  Because grandma was no longer up for manual labor, she was often the one to sew the squares together, thus they became GRANNY SQUARES.  Thanks to Yarnaholic Confessions!  

Granny square

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A granny square worked in two colors and seven rounds. Cotton, 4 mmcrochet hook.

A granny square is a piece of square fabric produced in crochet by working in rounds from the center outward. Granny squares are traditionally handmade. They resemble coarse lace. Although there is no theoretical limit to the maximum size of a granny square, crocheters usually create multiple small squares (called "motifs") and assemble the pieces to make clothing,purses, Afghan blankets, and other household textiles.

Granny square apparel is a cyclical fashion that peaked in the 1970s. As Stitch 'n Bitch series author Debbie Stoller describes:

If you grew up in the seventies, as I did, you might fear the granny square--if only because, for a while, clothing was made of nothing else. Granny square vests, granny square shorts, granny square hats. Heck, I bet there was some kid out there who was forced to go to school wearing granny square underwear.^[1]

Although particular color and pattern schemes for granny squares change with time, this class of motif is a staple among crocheters. Multicolor granny squares are an effective way to use up small amounts of yarn left over from other projects and basic granny square motifs do not require advanced skills to execute.^[2]