Birthday Weekend

Our little Abby turned 4 on Sunday.  All gone is the toddler that she was just a few months ago,  it is all big girl now. 

I made her a Lalaloopsy cake

and she loved it....

We played outside in 80 degree weather in the melting snow pile that was still in the back yard....

Abby filling her Mr. Piggy watering can with snow

And snuggled up with our new pup, a 4 year old yorkie named Beau....

Brant and Beau

My sister Sara and Beau

Happy Spring!!

Quilt Alliance entry update

I finished up the borders on my Quilt Alliance entry and it is now onto pondering over how I want to add some embellishment.

And I had a great little helper

Quilt Alliance update....

Working on fabric placement for the border.  

I really am enjoying what I have happening.  Can't wait to get to the embellishment and embroidery.

Quilt Alliance entry

I ordered a custom print from Spoonflower for my 2013 Quilt Alliance entry.

Twenty years ago I spent a semester abroad in Florence, Italy.  Stay tuned for updates,  I need to get to stitching, entries need to be postmarked by May 1, 2013.

New tote bag

I made the Professional Tote Bag a few years ago and just loved it.  It is the perfect size for my work days and getting out and about with the kids days.  My first tote was showing its age so I ordered some fabric and got to cutting and sewing.

I went with some Amy Butler fabric again for the bag,  it is one of her decorator fabrics, so a bit heavier weight than quilters cotton.  I am in love with this print. 

I did a few modifications to the pattern, no toggles on the side pockets and nixed the zipper on the interior pocket and did away with the zipper section on top and added some pipping in the coordinating color to finish it off. 

The interior is a bright lime green, perfect colors for the summer. 

 

I am also messing around with taking photos with my new iPhone (finally took the plunge in to the smartphone arena).  I am  still poking around and figuring out how to use it blogging and sharing more of my creative endeavors. 

Argyle Mitten Collection

I have a new pattern ready to knit up that is perfect for the spring snow. 

The Argyle Mitten Collection are a classic lightweight mitten perfect for the chilly spring days.
Knit up here in the wonderfully soft Knit Pick Cappretta, they are knit in the round from the cuff to fingertips in a fingering weight (4-ply) yarn.  The pattern offers six charted designs you can mix and match to create your own unique pair of mittens.

Pattern also includes option for fingerless mitts.

Featured Pattern

My free Knit & Felt Egg ornament pattern was recently featured on the Craftsy blog. (That explains the hundreds of downloads in the last few days)

I love this quick pattern.  After felting they are perfect to embellish with embroidery or to practice some of my Bead Embroidery Stitches.  
 
Check out all of my patterns on Craftsy 

Blaithin Cardigan

I have been on a Kate Davies knitting kick, first the Scatness tam and now a Blaithin cardigan.  As soon as I saw it,  I knew I had to knit it.   Full of 'new to me' techniques, crochet steeking, i-cord bind off, pockets it was a satisfying knit all the way through. 

The main color is Brown Sheep Lambs Pride superwash worsted in Golden Bronze,  just love the color.  Mixed with Cascade 220 in Natural, Sapphire and Lichen for the colorwork 

Knit bottom and and in the round,  after I cut the steek,  my husband  said he was impressed that I did not have a mess of yarn and frayed edges.  I had a few moments of some of the steek letting go,  but with some delicate handling all went well and the button band made such a nice finish to the cardigan.  

Free Valentine Ornament pattern...

For the month of February I will be giving away my latest pattern Be My Valentine Ornament to any one who buys (or has bought) my Colorwork Ornament Pattern.  

Via Ravelry when purchasing,  enter the code:  SWEETHEART

Reading

I love to read.  I spent a major portion of my childhood with my nose in a book.  But as I grew older, with more demands on my time,   the reading for pleasure grew less and less frequent.   Until a few years ago when I discovered iBooks. 

Right now I am hooked on the Game of Thrones series.  I am currently on book 3  A Feast for Crows and enjoying every page.....

 

So what are you reading right now?