countdown!

 It's that time of the year--already, there is a countdown to Christmas!  Can you believe??  It does seem that the days are getting away too quickly--more so the older you get--never could understand that.

This year, there has been a family request to have price cap on gifts--especially since we are facing higher prices.  In that regard, I'm looking for gifts to give from my hands.  I suggested to the grandkids that they should do something that they are talented with--like a poem, a song, some handcrafted gift is perfect for me.  I always cherished those handprint turkeys from school art classes or that clay ashtray (even though we don't smoke!) 

It is my turn to look for simple alternates to pricey gifts--keeping each person in mind, I want that special gift to give. 

Fat Quarter Shoppe is offering this free quilt along pattern

I’m sure that there is a family member who will enjoy a seasonal hanging. 

And this lovely scarf will be a perfect knit for Colorado daughter in those winter months.  Designer is Hannah @yarnandsarcasm—pattern is “Good Things”

“Lady’s Mittens With Thumbs” c.1885

Weldon’s Practical Needlework, Volume 1: Practical Knitter. 
Published c. 1885.

This is my adapted version of this pattern. These gloves are knit flat, seamed, and then embroidered. Both gloves are knit the exact same. You make a left and right version by folding one glove one way and seaming, and the other glove the opposite way and seaming.

This pattern seems easily customizable by adjusting stitch counts, rows, increases. Or you could try sizing up your yarn weight and/or needles.

A video tutorial for this pattern can be found here: 
https://youtu.be/_QQnbpjnnlI

 Someone can always use another pair of mitts! 

This Musselburgh hat (designed by Ysolda)

Is perfect for the men!  

You guessed it!  Countdown is getting me anxious!  Will I finish these on time?  

Only IF I start now!!

Jelly Rolls--Oh Yeah!

 Who doesn't like Jelly Rolls?  If you are a baker, it's one of those delights that you want to bake for the family to enjoy--easy peazy dessert.

But, if you are a quilter, you REALLY like Jelly Rolls!  Jelly Rolls are definitely an added bonus to quilting adventurers.  These nicely cut and layered fabric strips are just right for any project--

A jelly roll is a bundle of precut fabric strips, which are often used to make quilts and other sewing projects. Jelly roll strips are accurately cut ahead of time, saving you from hours of rotary cutting.

The other day was announced as "National Jelly Roll" Day!  Isn't there always a special something or other day every day of the year??

When it was declared Jelly Roll Day, there were also some free patterns given--here are some sites that will have you wanting more and more jelly rolls in your supply bin.

Quiltfabrication

Scattered Thoughts

Moda Fabrics

And now that we have been using jelly rolls in our sewing--how about a recipe for a jelly roll in the kitchen!

Old Fashion Jelly Roll

Yum! Yum! Good!

Lazy Sunday

 It was a to be a lazy Sunday!  Time to clean out refrigerator of “must-go” items.  Some things have been stored waaaaay too long—why haven’t we eaten them?  Doesn’t matter—just need to clean—ugh!  I’ll make the best of it though. 

I found packages of berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries) in the freezer—ah, I found sugar free vanilla instant pudding and a pecan crust in the pantry—whip up the pudding, add berries, fill up the pie shell—refrigerate till dessert time. 

When served, I’ll top each slice with sugar free whip cream

Next—time to chop up veggies—broccoli, cauliflower, onion, red peppers,; sprinkle with salt, pepper and little olive oil

Ready to bake—anything leftover will be frozen, ready to make soup at a later date. 

Had some jalapeños—take cream cheese and bacon—ready to make poppers. Cut peppers in half, scoop out seeds, fill with cream cheese, wrap with bacon, put on smoker for appetizers.  

Warning!! Don’t rub your eyes once you’ve worked with peppers!

Ready for the smoker. 

Yummy!  Good!

There is some time to watch football—cheer on our favorite team.  

Clean up isn’t so bad—especially since we had a delicious evening meal!  

Thinking—caps!

As we traveled, and since I was a passenger, I could knit! Simple thing to knit is a hat!

So, as the miles flew by, my hands were engaged in think less knitting on my famous cast on 80 stitches, join in round and knit!  Just knit! 

There are so many small balls of yarn in the stash bin—take two together and go. I tried something little different on this one. Didn’t show up well with yarn—will be better with plain color.

It is a simple 1/1 cable pattern. Row 1: 1/1 LC, k2, repeat that pattern until end of round. Row 2: k all stitches. Row 3: k2, 1/1 RC, repeat that pattern until end of round. Row 4: k all stitches.

Only!  I forgot on the 3rd row to do 1/1 RC! It didn’t look good to my eyes—just went on with plain knit!

Plain knit! 

This one I changed the yarns when one ran out.  Still have several little bits left—at least, no two hats will look the same!

The blue hat on top is one strand hand spun silk and one of hand-spun wool—I did several rows of knit, then switched to 3 rows of purl—don’t really like to purl, but it does add texture to the hat. 

Another completely hand-spun hat—one of silk (learned to take single silk strands and ply with two other silks to get a thicken yarn) and two ply wool.  Like the way it is knitting.  

Here is neat way to continue with 80 stitches.  This hat is Penta Cap by Woolly Wormhead—one of my favorite hat designers.  She thinks outside of the box. 

I have several other ideas to do with the “plain” knit hats—will fiddle with patterns—sure do like the mind less knitting though! 

 

Swoosh!

 Swoosh!! Off my table into the quilters’ box for long arm quilting day!  What do you think of this “orphan” top?

I did the chicken blocks because these chickens are just too cute—!  Why not make them?  Do you ever find a pattern that you couldn’t resist!?  

So—I had these chicken blocks and didn’t know what to do with them.  Along comes a challenge—begin with a medallion center block and add to it.

Why not try this challenge?  I used many orphan blocks to circle that medallion to get a finish look

I’m satisfied—or I just need to quilt!  It will be a nice size for a lap plus it will be fun to find all the different orphans

Another challenge—a friend gave me several Dresden  fans—some assembled, others loose. I tried different looks—complete circles, half circles, etc.  just couldn’t settle on anything that caught my eye

The idea stuck—why not turkeys!?  First thought—quilt; nope—a table runner!! Yes! Perfect way to feature these colorful creatures.  One shopping trip to bargain bin, I found border print and yardage with themed blocks—can’t decide on this addition.  

Back to Routine

 We need a vacation after our vacation!  We are exhausted! Tired! Want to do nothing except rest!  But, there is no rest for the weary--chores to be finished--must unpack that suitcase, wash clothes, sort the mail, shop for groceries, plan for week. 

 Granddaughter"s wedding dress needs to be altered.  Other granddaughter needs her dress hemmed--I haven't  even shopped for my wedding outfit yet!

  Oh bother!  Still, thinking on bridal shower gifts--what will it be?

How about placemats?  I like placemats on the table when eating--but, will she?  

Why not a Texas theme placemats since she is a Texan? 

 

I found these written instructions in the file cabinet—don’t remember if I made them before. 

How about potholders?  Everyone can use potholders.  

This my favorite potholder!  I make them for all occasions! 

How about a nice everyday apron?  

I’ve had this preprinted panel for some time—might be good to cut it out and sew it up for a gift.

And now, it’s time to plan the bridal shower—who will host?  What to serve?  How many to invite?  Decorations? I’m getting too old for this!  

There is nothing routine about planning a wedding!!

Taos!!

 The next morning, it is time to pack the car again and head into the mountains of Taos!  On the way up the back road to Chimayo --too bad, it was a Monday and Rancho Chimayo was closed--real bummer--we have a 'squirrel' moment and take off on a road that goes to Nambe Falls area--alas, we can't walk up, will take too long as we were meeting friends in Espanola for lunch.

Along the way, we pass many monuents of Nature!

This road leads to a Nambe Pueblo location--cool views!

Finally, turn on the right road to visit 

A simple little chapel that has become famous because of a healing that took place from the dirt in the outside chapel.  The girls walk to the church and we are happy to wait in the car, we've been here before.

okay, back on the road to our lunch date--the place we liked on our last visit to this area is no longer--we were amazed how much Espanola had grown!  So many chain stores and much progress.

We check into our abode for the next two days.  The adobe house is located outside of Taos about two miles from the golf course.  The road was rough getting into the location--we had to transverse a arroyo that washes out every time it rains--and of course, it was raining every day now that is's monsoon season.

We had plenty of food and wine (two essentials) so need to go out for anything.  The house was lovely!

One wall was left open to see the adobe bricks before stuccoed over--you could see the mud and hay that went into making the bricks.  The view was absolutely stunning!! we could see 360*

We were situated about 500 ft above a massive arroyo--that evening we watched the rains come from the East to move over our site--rain was blowing side ways and then the arroyo begin to overflow with rains rushing down all paths to reach their destination.  Once the storm had moved off to the west, we waited, hoping for clear skies and that wonderful New Mexico sunset--

and it came! and oh how the stars sparkled in the dark sky that evening.  

The arroyo was no longer swollen with heavy rain and we could sit back and enjoy the coolness of the evening.

And just like that it was time for us to leave--but, we had one small problem, our car was very low

profile and could not go back on that road and that small arroyo that blocked the entrance.

So, we called AAA!  Yay! for AAA!  We got a flat bed truck to load up the car; we could drive to the spot; we got out and walked across the 3' deep arroyo--feet muddy, we watched as our transportation made it across--although, the flat bed tow truck scraped bottom when we came across.

The woman talking to tow truck driver was asking if she could make it across--he said NO!  They were going to test the water at the arroyo--don't know how they were going to get down to the water, but it was a no go for these ladies.

Adventures! on a trip to SW--we met many interesting people, some strange ones as well-- like the lady, who was a librarian, trying to take a photo of swallowtail butterfly!--she went on a speech about some website, and she went on and on!  Finally!  We got to walk to the garage to pick up our car and there she was again! Talking, TAlking--It takes all kinds of people to make the world go around.

Anyway, we're on our way back to Texas with lots of wonderful treasures!