... and it only took me all afternoon!

My granddaughter is now seven.  When she was born, her mom asked me if I would tat the lace for the trim on her christening gown -  I took a deep breath and wondered (being new to tatting then) how long it would take me and could I do it in time.  I said yes and decided to do a foot a night until it was done.  Below is a sample of the lace.

Because they live about 600 miles from here & I live in upstate NY I wanted to be sure she liked what I did - so here is the sample I sent down. It is definitely beginner's lace, but it worked.  

I finished on time, and here is the picture of my beautiful granddaughter in her christening gown with the lace border on the hem.  

Now seven years or so later, I am starting all over again -  and here is a picture of the flower it took me all afternoon to do.  (After several emails to my instructor, Sherry Townsend - Celtic DreamWeaver, for help).  

What fun.  Hopefully, I will get better.  

    

The days March on.....

My friend Cyn-d and I have been quilting on Mondays.  We took a trip down to Material Rewards last week for some background fabric for her work in progress.  We are both putting together our own versions of a Cottage Beauty quilt.  Hers is the nine block version (large wall hanging for her LR), mine will be only six and only a small wall hanging size..

These are some of her unfinished blocks pinned onto a design wall for placement.  They will be quite stunning when done.   I'll take some pictures of mine soon.  My colors are a little different.

I've also been taking a class on tatting on Saturday mornings.  I first learned to tat about 8 years ago but haven't been practising and I forgot a few things.  So, I signed up for the class and lo and behold when I walked in, the teacher, Sherry Townsend, is the same woman who taught the class I previously took.

Sherry is very talented and has a blog at http://celticdreamweave.blogspot.com where you can see her work.

Here is a picture of our class in progress  from Sherry's blogspot.  I'm the one in pink with my mouth open in awe ....

The Olympic Socks are Finished ....

Just finished tonite at about 6:30 ..... These are cool and I can't wait to wear them.  The color is really, really gold.  I even have some yarn left over.

And now I have to get back to other unfinished projects.

A leg up ....

First leg is done, turned the heel and coming into the finish on Sock #1.  I think I will really finish this on time.  Cool.

I realized as I was spinning that this was more Merino than anything else.  So, for the heel I decided to use a mohair blend hoping that the heel would last longer than it would if it were just Merino - which I have had to replace on a few other pairs.

Sock Wizard helped me create the pattern.  This is a really great program.  Just enter the gauge you want and needle size and the dimensions and it creates the pattern.  You decide on what stitch patterns you want to use.

The first 100 yards ....

Just off the kniddy knoddy  ...

I like the color.  I was trying for a little bulkier than what I usually spin.  Now I wish I had gone a little thinner.  And I have to find a new pattern for  bulky yarn.  On with the challenge.

I have a bit more to ply.  I should get another 75-100 yards.  Hopefully enough.  If not I have more to spin.

The Road to Gold - I'm spinning, I'm spinning ....

Getting closer and closer to starting those socks .... I have two bobbins spun and am ready to ply already ....

I haven't taken quilt pictures, yet.  Later.  Today I want to ply those first two bobbins and by tomorrow cast on for Olympic socks.   Whoopee.

I have to do house stuff, too; like go to the grocery.  It's so cold out, but we are out of bread and little stuff.

Today is Quilt day

I recently requested a quilt kit for Quilts For Kids.  I decided today was the day to put it all together so I could get it quilted and sent back to them.  The fabric is really sweet.  Pink, yellow and Blue.  The pink fabric is a print of colorful pixies/fairies.  So sweet.

I am going up to my friend Cyn-d's later - we have a quilt day on Monday.  So, I will probably get the top  put together there.  We are each working on a "Cottage Beauty" scrap quilt. She has most of the pieces of hers ready to assemble .... mine is going to take a while.  Today I really want to get the kid's quilt top done.

Pictures later.