Sock Knitting

I've decided to join the KAL that Knitting Sarah has organized for 2014, called Socks with Sarah. I love the idea.  After we all saw the incredibly wonderful sock drawer belonging to Susan Anderson,, I know, as many knitters did, wanted to finish up my own over abundance in both sock yarns and socks already on the needles.   The plan with her KAL is to just knit a little each day on a sock, that is it. No deadline, etc. No specific pattern to use, thought she has several suggestions, just knit.

So, I just finished up a new pair!   I've called them my Monet socks, as the yarn reminds me a bit of an Impressionist painting.  Again photo to come tomorrow in the daylight.

2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   A new year is so full of promise, love it!  So given to New Years resolutions, of the top of my head, I really need/want to knit up a chunk of the stash of yarn I have on hand.  Not only for the decluttering and space issues, but I find if I have too much on hand, I become just a machine churning out article after article, and not really stretching myself creatively. I hope to do both this year.

I have a new sewing machine, bought the Friday before Christmas, and newly decked out sewing room with a new table and storage.  Pics to follow :)

While we were on vacation in Georgia to see Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, at the High museum, we also stopped at a sweet quilt shop,  Cottontail Quilts.  I picked up with cute apron panel, and finished it up today.  Very cute!

Not really that difficult sewing, but having not sewn a lot in recent years, fun to stitch up and get the machine cranking again. Very cute quilt shop, by the way if you are in the Kennesaw area!

I'm doing a block of the month group at Quilt Trends, using the book "Toes in the Sand" and some beautiful batiks in blues, purples, and greens.  Each month, you pick up a packet of the materials, and have at it. Though there is a class each month as part of the program, I've not been able to get there yet.  Here are the first two block designs, you end up making 2 blocks each month, sort of a light and dark variation of the same block.

Another weekend ends, but went Saturday to a wonderful class at Knitting Temptations, with Michelle Hunter, of Knit Purl Hunter, almost done with a sweater, and then to the Ohio Theater to see Wicked with some good friends.  Today a work out at the gym, breakfast with my youngest, Mass with my oldest and gardening with my daughter!   

Memorial day weekend so far!

Yesterday I spent a wonderful few hours at Clines Plant Farm- The Mustard Seed Retreat taking a Succulent wreath class.  Clines is out in the country, so the setting for the class is beautiful, and so relaxing. We sat outdoors, birds chirping and  a couple of 4 week old kittens jumping out of their bed to explore.  One in particular was determined to go find her mom on her own and kept meowing loudly until the mommy cat appeared to take a rest with the kittens and feed them.

The making of the wreath was really enjoyable, very easy and I would highly recommend her classes if you live in the Columbus Ohio area.

Close up of side

The wreath will sit flat for two weeks to allow everything to take root and then I can hang it up in the garden, probably on the brick fence.  Clines also has all sort of neat items to repurpose and I did. My son has an internship at Scotts in Chemical engineering this summer, so when I saw a vintage Scotts spreader, I bought it.  I cut a piece of shelving down to fit inside the spreader, and bought some petunia's at Lowes and voila!

Next I plan on filling in around the planter with some pebbles and potted plants but this is so far.  

Our Iris's are blooming!

Beautiful,  the dark purple have just bloomed this morning so no picture yet.

On another note, finished my Southwest Wrap, blocked and photographed Ravelry project.  This so reminds me of the colors of New Mexico.  New Mexico is beautiful, I would move there in a heartbeat. Just wish I had discovered it as a 20 something year old, I couldn't leave my grandkids and kids behind in Ohio, but in an alternate life, I'd love to live there.  Plan on vacationing there as often as possible.  

Some sewing!  Finished a bag for the gym, pool and summer.  The floral is an oilcloth, the sides a mesh fabric, and the red is a batik cotton.

I love the pocket on the side, zippered, and then also an open pocket. The black strap per the pattern should have been covered with the red cotton, but I liked it better this way. The pattern is the Vaca Bag, and all the fabric was purchased at Quilt Trends.  I didn't take the class, but they are offering one now.  Pretty easy to sew, though do use clips to hold your seams, since this is plastic and vinyl.