TIME TO START SOMETHING NEW

Hooray,  I did finish the new, improved, big-enough-to-fit sweater from my grandson before they arrived this weekend.

I think you'll agree it looks much cuter on him than on the floor:

With sleeves rolled up it's just about right. He's holding the paper bag puppet that he made while he was here. (His mom is always so nice to bring craft project for her children and nieces and nephews to work on while they are together.)

These are the two quilt tops I pieced at daughter Anna Maria's Rainbow Around the Block project sewing day last Wednesday. (Well, the second one, I did the next morning before I left for home.)

These are mostly Christmas fabrics, with the "on point" blocks added (with sashing to fit) to make a good size quilt.

And a bit more sashing for corner and center blocks made these fit also.

Now, I guess it's time to get back to a quilt project here at home. I guess I'll get back to work on more of these blocks.

Hmmmmm, I wonder how big this quilt will be.

But for now, I'm heading to the TV to watch a rented movie and knit a bit on a sweater for ME!

THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY

Not much handiwork to show you right now, so I thought I'd just share the dawn of this beautiful new day.

And now: of to daughter Anna Maria's to help construct quilts for her Rainbow Around the Block project.

OH MY, ANOTHER SALE

OK, so those of you who have been by here a few time already know that I can't resist a sale when it comes to fabric or yarn.

Last week was no exception. It was the end of month/end of bolt sale at my local quilt shop. Sooooo, what's a gal to do, but go check it out and stimulate the economy a little bit.

The Christmas fabrics were all 50% off and any bolt with 5 yards or less was 40% off if you bought whatever remained on the bolt. Great time to get flannel for next year's PJs, don't you think? So this is what I got with that in mind.

And a couple days later, I went to Kohl's and got long sleeved knit shirts at 60-80% off. I was able to find 10 of the 12 sizes I need. And when I got home, I really was able to pair up fabric and shirts appropriately for color and size. Hooray.

But, of course, the fabric sale did also include some goodies for my stash. The neutrals on the bottom of this pile will be for quilt backs. And the others, well, just 'cause. I liked them, OK?

And on the knitting front. I'm working on a another grandchild's sweater. Just HAVE TO. A few weeks ago, when I answered the phone, I heard this little voice say, "My sweater is too little." His dad (my son) then got on the phone and explained that little Eli loves the sweater I made him three years ago and even though it's waaaaaay too little for him, he's still wearing it to bed every night. What's a Nani to do, but make another -- even if it is his cousins' year for birthday sweaters and his turn doesn't come around until next year.

So I had to take this pretty cranberry yarn (will be a cardigan for me) off my #10 needles, so I could start on his sweater. (The blue is a simple scarf.) I had 3 projects at the same time all requiring #10s. So--like any true bargain hunter-- I also used some JoAnn's coupons and got myself an extra pair of 10s.

Unfortunately, I made an error in the reworking of the sweater pattern for my grandson and have had to frog and restart a couple times . I'm hoping I can have it ready for him when they visit the weekend after next. PLEEEEEEEESE don't let there be snow to keep them away!

SO HERE'S THE QUILTING, TOO . . .

I will be getting back to some quilting here in a couple days. (Right now I'm working on some home decorating projects.) These are the two quilts that I finished a couple weeks ago.

This one is my first try at "fussy cut". The 4 paisley patterns in those center squares were each cut from within the fabric, then sewn together to make that pattern. This is a really special quilt for me because all the fabrics (with the exception of the backing) are from daughter, Anna Maria's, very first fabric collection. A friend at my quilt retreat in September took the quilt home with her and did the long arm quilting for me.

I really also love this quilt. The angels on the border were cut from a fabric that I found at my local quilt shop last summer. I also found the other fabrics (with the exception of the back border and the green sashing) at the same time -- all at an unbelievable sale price! The quilting is SITD. I'm still contemplating the possibility of going back and free motion stitching around the angels.

But until I decide, I've got it in just the perfect spot for the cold winter nights. I put my feet up on the couch, watch TV, knit, and pull the quilt down over my legs.

Ahhhh, it doesn't get much better than that for a relaxing evening . . .

except maybe if I add glass of wine!

OH MY !

Oh, my, it's been a long time since I've been here.

And another "Oh my": I was so proud of myself to finally have all of the January birthday sweaters completed in time, but "Oh my" these grandchildren are growing too fast.

Not a problem for this one. (Sorry it's a little whopper-jawed in the photo.) It fits her just right.

I guess I should warn those in her household, though, that it will not fit very long if it finds its way into the dryer.

Washing instructions are "Hand wash; Dry flat". (I do typically wash in the machine on delicate cycle, but do NOT put in the dryer.) Hope you're reading this Anna Maria!

Somehow, I knew when I looked at this sweater after it was all put together that it would not fit. Sure enough, it needs more length in both body and sleeves. Bless his heart, though, the recipient liked it well enough that he really didn't want me to take it back to fix it.

At my insistence, though, he let me have it. Luckily it's a "top-down" knit, so I took out the side seams to just above the ribbing and then could frog the bind off and ribbing rows and add to it, then redo the ribbing. (For those of you who are not familiar with the term "frog" it means to rip it out: "rip-it; rip it")

I must admit, it's a little cumbersome to knit with all the pieces sewn together, but that sure is better than taking the WHOLE THING apart!

The neck is too loose, but I think I can just make the seams on the neck ribbing a little deeper without even being noticed. (Since it's raglan sleeves, there are four seams in the neck ribbing.)

Well, I guess he'll have his birthday sweater in time for MY birthday next month! I'll keep you posted.

Oh, I do have a couple quilts to show you too, but I'll save that for another day.

SO THIS IS IT !

Well, I guess it's about time I come around and let you know a little about my trip to Greece. Not a lot of photos. We typically don't do a lot of sight-seeing--been there, done that quite some time ago. Although we did do a bit more this year when our daughter and son-in-law were with us for a few days. They have the sight see-er photos.

So I guess I'll just show you how we spent a bit of our time. My husband is quite pleased that he planted a lemon and orange tree. Now for those of you and the west and Gulf coasts, this is no biggie. But for this Midwest implant to East Tennessee, it's a bit of a novelty. He's planted several times before and (since we're not there much of the year to care for them) has lost the trees to frost or draught. This time, though, they are in front of the house instead of in back, so they'll have much more protection. Additionally he says that he is "going to insist" that they make it. Sure hope so!

That's the lemon tree on the left (already a couple little lemons on it) and the orange tree barely visible on the other side of the roses.

Yes, I did do some quilting while I was there. Most days it was done on our front veranda -- with this view. Well, OK, the sheep weren't always there, just occasionally in the afternoons when the shepherd brought them by before taking them to their shed for the night. I must admit that this my favorite part of the day; being beckoned outside by the sound of the bells that the several of the sheep wear around their necks.

And to prove that I did finish the quilt (a block exchange) , here it is:

I used flower stencils on the large squares. First time I had used stencils. The powder I had was white. Now you know why I did most of the quilting OUTSIDE. I needed the light. White pouncing powder on cream fabric is NOT the easiest way to go!

That's our olive grove in the background. The olives were already harvested and oil milled by the time I got there, so no work for me involved there. My only work was to enjoy cooking with the best, freshest olive oil ever.

So fresh, in fact, it smiles back at you when you pour it in the pan!

And now to get back to some January birthday knitting!

CHRIST IS BORN

GLORIFY HIM !