Little Presents

Fiona is growing slowly but steadily. She came off the ventilator a few days ago, right after her one month birthday.

I haven't finished quilting her big quilt but she won't be able to use that for a while so I made a little embroidered blanket that can be used as a lovie, burp cloth, and even a doll blanket when she's a little older.  I backed the embroidered cloth with pink flannel and they have it hanging right above her crib.   (The white balance is off on the first photo.  The embroider was done using Moda snow, which is a creamy white.)

I made peanut butter ice cream last week and Jacob couldn't wait for his bowl!!

Weaving Standstill

I haven't warped the loom in so long that I feel like I'm second-guessing every step.  So that went to the back burner and I took on projects that needed immediate attention.

I finished the pieces of my Nordique Swing. Now I need to block it then seam and finish the neckband and button band.  I bought this yarn from WEBS years ago.  I've made a Little Dimun shawl, this sweater, and I still have 8 skeins left!!  It is a lovely shade of red and a wonderful weight so I'm sure there will be make one or two more projects with it.

I also finished a quilt for little Autumn Jo.

Butterfly from Jacobean Flutters, digitized by Designs by Juju

I followed (not so well, apparently) Terry Atkinson's Yellow Brick Road.  I was so proud of myself for using up stash that it sort of went to my head.  I cut out everything right off the bat rather than reading the directions carefully.  You know, like the part that says read everything first, circling the numbers that apply to your size!! So, good news, I now have a quilt top ready to quilt for my brand new niece, Fiona Frances.  Little Fiona was not set to appear until October but she made her wishes known at 24 weeks and on Friday, June 13th was born weighing in at 1 lb. 4 oz.  She's a trooper, as is her mom, and is hanging in there, getting a little stronger every day.

The quilt can wait but I'm going to make a little flannel square with her initials to put over her crib so she has something from Auntie Char!

Summer Fiber Fun!

There's been a bit of knitting.  Veronik Avery's Nordique Swing.  It made my list in 2009 but I never got around to finding the right yarn.  I'm using a Lane Borgosesia sport yarn that was part of a bag sale from WEBS maybe twenty years ago.  Do they even do that anymore?  You would call up a give some general color wishes and you got 5 bags of 10 balls each.  I think it was $50 so your yarn came out to $1 a ball/hank.  I used a ball or two for my Litla Dimun shawl and will have more than enough for this sweater!

Nordique Swing, IK Fall 2009

After more than six months languishing on the front beam of my loom, Ella's huck lace blanket is being threaded. Halfway there, another 350 ends to go.

Ella's Huck Lace Blanket

Lots of tee shirts were embroidered for spring and summer.  A lacrosse player for Jackson.  Jacob seems to be leaning towards golf.  At least he likes swing the club all over the place! 

Jackson's lacrosse shirt

Sewing for little girls is so much fun!!  Here's a little outfit for Ella.  She's already growing out of it so there are a few more on the cutting table. 

Ella's summer outfit

I even brought my Lendrum Saxony back into the living room.  That was relegated to safe storage when the kids moved in with us.  They've been in Long Island since last summer but I just didn't have my spinning mojo back.  Let's hope it's here to stay.

With any luck this is the start of a very productive and very relaxing summer.

Dyeing Onesies Again!

Was it really over four years ago that I dyed a batch of onesies for Jackson?

Onesie, pants, hoodie combo

A few years ago (hmm, apparently it was the summer of 2007!) I bought a Wonder Washer.  I thought it would help when I wanted a more even dye.  Life, as it has a way of doing, got in the way and I finally brought it out last week to dye these pants and hooded jackets.

Rockin' Crocodile

This one is a present for one of Josh's friends.  Tripp, he is the third Joseph Paul.  Granddad is Joe, son is J.P. and little one is Tripp.  J.P. is in a weekend band - a guitar player.

Appliqued Fish

This one is for Jacob, my new grandson. 

These are 6 month Rabbit Skin blanks from Dharma, despite their clown-like appearance here!

Trick or Treat

I had a custom order!



A little guy I know picked out the designs for both the front and the back



Both designs are from Designs by JuJu's Stix Kids Trick or Treat set

Just What I Needed!

A new toy!



I've made a few blocks.



Jacobean flowers



Birthday blocks



These are for a table runner that I'll keep for birthday celebrations. As you can see there is some puckering. I didn't realize that some heavily stitched designs might need more than one layer of stabilizer. Since they will be quilted I'm not going to worry.



You can also do cross stitch designs. I wouldn't have stitched this but it was included in the machine's memory and I wanted to see what it looked like. While I never say never ... I don't see this in my future!

It's so much fun, but like any new craft there's a bit of a learning curve. I'm taking an embroidered applique class at Quilt University. Here's a little demo: