I've been down with a cold....but, still keeping busy.

Yes, I had a flu shot, but they don't guarantee you won't pick up something. This felt like the flu when it first started with the achy body. Now it's just a cold. I've been staying home so I don't infect all of my friends.

So, while I've been at home I've been a little busy with my projects and I thought I'd show you some photos. I've made some progress on the little Ballerina Wrap sweater I showed you earlier. I now have the sleeves done besides the back and one of the fronts is almost finished.

I also finished the purple sweater I was working on.

This photo was taken before I was stricken with the cold!

To cheer me up while I'm down, I was able to pick up my new Janome Platinum 760 - 12 lb. machine for use in classes. I had it in layaway at Red Rooster Quilt Shop since August. I've been playing with all the stitches it has this morning. Quite a fun little machine!

My son Patrick's other best friend just had her baby boy, Logan, on the 19th so I've been working on his baby quilt. I can't believe that I (a Buckeye fan) am making a Michigan quilt for this little guy, but I am. This photo shows the pieces on my design wall and you can see the Michigan fabric I'm using as a border at the top. The design wall fabric is the grid looking spaces and those need filled with more 9 patch blocks. Use your imagination or squint and maybe you'll be able to tell what I'm up to. The 2nd photo is the paper project I printed out of EQ4 for my design and little squares that will become 9 patch blocks. The last two photos here are of neckwarmers that I have on my needles. The one on the left is called A Noble Cowl and has an intricate shield pattern done in a teal yarn. The one on the right is a neckwarmer made with Caron Spa yarn that is incredibly soft. The Spa neckwarmer will have either one or two buttons to keep it wrapped around the neck....you'll see later!

That's it for today. I'll see you again after Thanksgiving with family photos.

Have a Happy Turkey Day!!!

The happy parents to be....

Happy Veteran's Day to all of you who served to protect our freedom! I appreciate living in this great country that you proudly served.

I'm posting this photo of Stef and Joel so you can see how happy they are. The three of us went to her OB/GYN appt. last Thursday to verify that she's pregnant and saw the little one on the ultrasound. We also saw it's little heart beating and that made us smile. Joel was sure he saw little feet flapping too. I had never seen an ultrasound in person before so I was thrilled and to see my new grandbaby swimming around was the ultimate! The baby is due June 9th. I'll be knitting sweaters and making a quilt as soon as we know if it's a boy or a girl. Stef likes to plan so in January we hope to find out the sex of the baby so she can get busy and plan it's room. I can't wait to hold a baby again...it's been 7 long years.

I must be losing my mind!!

Sorry folks that I seem to be thrusting the Kerchief scarf down your throats! I didn't realize I had already posted it, so excuse me on that one. I'll research my blog better next time before I add to it. I think that was a 'Sometimers Senior' moment.

Just a quick note and photos.

Since I like to keep the creative juices flowing hopefully for everyone, here's a kerchief neckscarf to show that I knitted with a quartz bead added at the tip and sterling silver cones at the ends. The sweater is on a hanger....I am not that flat chested! This idea came from a teacher friend of mine who made one....thanks, Beth!

Next project up is a baby sweater made with Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk....doesn't that sound wonderfully soft? It is! I love doing baby sweaters because they go so fast. This one is possibly for a niece's baby. We have two niece's who are due next year. I'm making the 0-3 month size. I love this little method...I'm knitting both sleeves at the same time on a circular needle so they will both be finished together. The trim on the sweater will be done with the pink ball of yarn. I'm making Ballerina booties to go with the Ballerina Wrap sweater. That's the back of the sweater laying there all blocked. I'll do the fronts last.

On another set of needles I have a Floppy Dog coming along. It's from the Knitted Toys book by Zoe Moeller. That will also go to one of the niece's. I will post photos when it is finished otherwise you wouldn't think it looks like a dog at all without the stuffing in it and the legs attached. Woof, woof! And last but not least...I will be posting a photo next week with a new baby boy quilt on my design wall. I'm excited to get moving on it because that little baby is due any day now. My son's best friends (soon to be parents of this little guy) are also Michigan fans (??) and Patrick says it must have Michigan fabric in it. I found some on a Google search and it will be in the borders. So you guessed it, the quilt will be blue and maize with white as well. That's it for today!

Websites

Well, my websites that I linked to this last post below did not come through so I will put them here if you want to go to them for fun: www.woolenwillow.com www.bigbead.com http://mariettacastle.org/ www.davincis.com

A Road Trip on November 1st

Mark and I drove to Williamstown, WV to meet my quilting buddy, Linda Henderson and her hubby, Jack. We met at The Woolen Willow, a charming little quilt shop with lots of wool, cotton and some yarn. The owner and her parents were so warm and friendly. They made all of us feel welcome. We each made a purchase....we like to support our local quilt shops so they can stay in business!

We had lunch at a great Italian restaurant just down the street called DaVinci's....a must stop!

After lunch we went to Marietta, Ohio (just across the river from Williamstown) to tour The Castle. Check out the link and these beautiful front doors. Our docent was quite a character which made the tour interesting.

The weather was beautiful and made for a great drive to and from.

I'm not sure if I mentioned that I was working on this kerchief scarf. One of my knitting teachers Beth Monahan, had one on in class and I loved hers so made one for myself. I purchased my beads from Byzantium Bead Shop in the Short North area of Columbus. Such a cool shop with lots of choices and helpful employees. I've included their website as well.

...and I have to close with this photo of my beautiful burning bushes which have changed to their glorious red hair.