PASSING ON- SEWING CLUB

the snow pictures above are the past and have been replaced by wind. wind that blows steadily and consant. the kind of wind that shakes the house, rearranging all the outside furniture and causes headaches and irritable personalities ;(  yes, i am sorry to report that all i encounter and ask to their wellbeing the reply is; “i’m good but this wind is grating on my nerves and giving me a headache, when will it let up’}? even as far as chicago the reports are the same from family members, “this wind...”!

the only consolation to the wind is that it is blowing winter out and pulling spring in behind her.

i know this because my spring seeds have arrived via the mailman. yes my package blew in with the wind. the excitement had me forgetting the blustery day and dreaming of kale, beets and chard.

soon very soon my garden will be blooming all shade of green bearing wonderful food.

the sewing club has again commenced with a very exciting project....THE SEW TOGETHER BAG.

not only is this an exciting bag with new and old skills to practice but it is like a puzzle to be put together using fabric and zippers.

the sewing club is not a group that competes to “ finish” a project, but rather a group that slowly moves through all the steps one at a time. no feelings of  competitiveness, or even wanting to be the first done. we move slowly- mindful of each step and being acutely aware of what we forgot to bring to club.

i forgot to pick up more interfacing, oh well we have chai to drink and conversation to take part of. one member went on a “first date” with a new man, so we had that to discuss. even though it was their first meet-up she left promptly to be at sewing club. this girl has her priorities in line! men come and go-some stay a life time, but sewing, sewing is in our soul, a life time of personal expression.

the red bags were made by me-“mom” for my girls. a fun quick sew up filled with girl scout cookies.

a small gesture to remind my girls they are always in my thoughts, deeds and heart. the men near to me were also given gifts..a hand made shirt and much desired fly fishing trinket.

chin up-the wind will lay down soon...........

STILL SNOWING...STILL KNITTING.....STILL WINTER

{ bad back...raise the table up}

Yesterday I pinned this quilt and set up the JUKI!

I so enjoy sewing on this machine, BIG quilts fit through it like butter and the stitch so straight and true.

My machine had a squeak though that was driving me NUTS. I looked everywhere on that machine to find that noise. Sounded like a mouse on a wheel....a noise that makes a person go crazy.

I looked and looked and ponder some more till BINGO

it was the walking foot.

I cleaned it, oiled it and oiled it some more!

Now my JUKI hums, just that beautiful sewing machine hum ;-0)

I woke up this morning and peaked out the window to more fresh fallen white stuff.

My first thought was “again” but then quickly corrected my thinking to say out loud

“oh my more beautiful fresh white stuff”. 

Yes this has been a winter of snow and cold, though instead of thinking in those terms I prefer to appreciate what a winter such as this means to me:

quality time with mr.p watching football,movies, and now the Olympics.

lots and lots of knitting

spinning 

sewing

great sunday meals cooked straight from my kitchen

crawling under homemade quilts

and afghans

warm sweaters.....

oh and the list can go on and on!

Instead of that Cabin Fever thinking I choose to think of all the things I love about winter..

Now lets warm a cup of Chai....not to sweet or you will miss the yummy ginger warmth.

I’m thinking of starting this...

so different for me.

What are your thoughts.

I just down loaded this book

I have been waiting for over a year to get this book. I would prefer it in hard back and plan on purchasing a hard back copy as soon as it is available in the US.

Rhonda is my mentor

a daily read for me!

down---to---earth

check it out.

THE BEGINNING’S OF FEBRUARY

As with three quarters of the country, I am in snow, lots of snow and cold, very cold. I love it! Yesterday I sat and watched The World at War , crocheted, drank coffee and had snow falling all day behind me in the grand window. It felt like a story book day, I didn’t even get out of my night clothes !

Oh how I cherish such a day!

I did make stew for dinner, seemed the perfect dish for a cold February first day. To bed late {for us}

snuggling down under all the quilts and woolen afghans made over the years.....oh I relished and was mindful of all this incredible coziness.

Today is a different story for me. The Broncos play this afternoon, { so glad the game is today! I’m tired of all the Superbowl build up, it’s only a game!}...anyways, we are having a wonderful dinner here with my youngest. So I have to get to the store for a few items.

Yes, we will make this afternoon another cozy time as we eat great food, great company as we tuck in for the game of the year!

The dress shirt I made for my son in Chicago. Took a sew along class at Mama Said Sew and loved it. I learned a lot and have started my second shirt. The other shirt is for my Pie Lady and is made from British fabric. Not feeling over the moon about the pattern, I took off the ruffles at the shoulders and am making a pocket for the front, a request from caitlin.

Sewing garments I was told last week is nothing but a puzzle using fabric! Do not look at the entire garment but only at each section. When done with one section move to the next. What a wonderful way for me to think since my time is limited and I spent an entire day in a chair yesterday.

 Hoping all a wonderful week-end and stay safe and warm.

Enjoy the snow!

TALK OF THE TOWN

two  turkeys stopped me on road to town this morning. i assumed they belonged to someone and escaped from their fenced home. it turns out they are wild turkeys and the talk of the town. apparently they have been all over the place, walking down the road, walking the roof line of homes and making an appearance all about town. i had never seen a wild turkey before and had no idea they were around, they are, and have decided to stretch out a bit below the foothills. i think they are fun and i bet they would be proud to know they are the “ talk of the town”.

erin watched the bronco game with us this afternoon--go broncos--we will see them play again next week too. she was saying how she needed a hat and of course i had one for her. she then mention it would be nice to have a warm scarf....so i went and found her a recently completed cowl made from alpaca that i picked up at rhinebeck ny. amazing how that worked out, she mentions she's cold and leaves with 2 knitted items ;-)

the roses were from my dear husband, we celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. where has that time gone?  looking forward to the next 35 years with you sweetie !

2013 PROJECTS

it's fun looking at the past year and realizing that "no i didn't just rest on my laurels, but actually finished several projects.

2013 was not a planned out year like 2014 is for me.

when i say "planned" i mean it in a very loose way, my plan is easy and flexible...

basically i would like to finish 2-3 projects either knitting or quilting before purchasing any new material or fibers. 

this will be easy  in the month of january since i have several, ok, lots of started, almost finished projects hanging around the house. yes, i am a great starter and a slow finisher.

oh, i do finish most projects but on "eileen's time", probably why i do not like to sew for others, i really detest dead lines!

goals are something i have set for myself but never seem to fully meet or complete. i am seasoned  enough in my own skin to know not to set goals regarding my sewing and knitting endeavors. 

i need more freedom to bounce around, to let thoughts run through my head, to day dream of all the different possibilities. 

do not misunderstand, i admire those creative people who can start a project and map the entire process out with goal setting. you know what i’m talking about, “ i will knit at least 10 rounds every evening” or “ i will complete one block per day”. 

so none of these types of goals have been set for me in 2014!

the only two “goals” i have  are: 1- slow down and enjoy the process and 2- try so very hard to finish up started projects before buying anything new! 

tell me about your 2014 projects.

WINTER IS BACK

yippie...i love a snow storm.;-)

it's saturday, the absolute perfect day in my week-because it is my day off- to hang around the house and savor the day in doing slow chores and watching the white stuff fall gently from the sky.

yes there will be laundry, vacuuming done but also some sewing, spinning and of course some knitting. 

the fire place will be going for the dogs and myself as well, not to mention the cozy factor in a roaring fireplace with grey skies and snow piling up outside.

mr. p has been out and shoveled twice all ready.

that man likes his driveway clear, oh yes he does.

if your lucky he will even do a neighbor or two's walk way, that is just the way he rolls.

so i am off to enjoy my day, my slow day doing all the things i love on a cold snowy january day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I know I am getting old when every January 1-I ask myself "where did the year go"?

But time waits for no one and just continues to march on.

I do hope to get LOTS of sewing/knitting done this year and of course the usual New Year resolutions of eating better, moving more, acquiring less...you get the idea.

I finished last weekend my Aunt Phillie rug , which has been in the making for maybe 2 years.

Now this is a New Year's resolution I would love to accomplish----getting all my UFO's completed. Oh that would be soooo WONDERFUL.

I also finished the Tumbler reproduction quilt. I put another black border on that is not in the photos

The picture of the guy and the dog, I have no idea who they are....hehe

We were in this establishment that has the BEST Chicago hotdogs ( here in northern Colorado )

and this dog was sitting at the bar! Made me laugh and I had to get a picture of him. The guy kinda just jumped in the pic. It all made me smile.

Smile more yes, now that's a great NY resolution.

Have a wonderful day and hope you continue to work on your NY resolutions in 2 weeks time!