I am checking things off my list left and right.  This apron is one of the items I have completed.  I think that hot pink is the perfect punch against this black and white print.  I hope the recipient likes it.

Have a great Thursday!

I took wool left over from the scarf making marathon of last winter and cut it into squares.

I sewed it up with a pale pink cotton lining and some flannel as an interlining.

Added some handles and...ta da!  My new bag.

The other side is different, but uses some of the same fabrics.  Greens, black, browns, pinks and some gray - I think it'll go with just about anything.  It looks great with my Juliet.

My favorite part is the inside pocket.  I adore that ribbon.

Good surprises are just that:  good.  And getting an unexpected package in the mail is more than a good surprise - it's great.

I could go on and on about Sarah.  I am just going to say she rocks.  She sent the girls and I some lovely handmade items as a thank you.  A thank you for a thank you gift I sent her this summer.  She wasn't supposed to do that.  But she did.  Isn't she nice?

She made me this t-shirt with toadstools.  Eeeeee!  I love it!  It is the PERFECT shade of green and fits me wonderfully.  It will be in heavy rotation.  I know this.  I have already worn it.  Twice.

She made the girls an apron.  I wish it were my size!  It is beautifully made with gorgeous details - the buttoned ties, appliqued AND freezer paper stenciled toadstools (just like on my shirt), lime green stitching.  (More photos here.)  The girls love it and have agreed to share.  Jane wore it on Saturday while we made zucchini bread.  Kate gets her turn later today when we make cookies.  They were entirely reasonable about the sharing part, too.  Another good surprise!  They must be growing up.

Look at how happy my kitchen pegs look now.

Thank you Sarah.  Thank you so much.

I promised photos....here they are.

The weather was finally cool enough for me to wear my Juliet yesterday.  I love it.   I am so glad I made it.  I haven't knit anything bigger than a hat or a scarf for myself in years.  Now I am wondering what I was waiting for.  Well, apparently Juliet.  Yes, I was waiting for this.

I found the pattern super easy to follow.  This was a pretty quick knit, too.  I started on September 12th and finished on October 1st.  Not bad considering I have been working on some other things in the carpool line (my knee socks and something else to be revealed after my November craft swap).  This was my at home, in front of the TV project with a few bouts of knitting at the barber shop (aka, my local yarn store).  I had a bit of trouble getting the lace right at the beginning, but that was entirely my fault.  I have this habit of forgetting yarn overs and so I had to rip it out about three or four times.  Once I got the pattern in my head though, I was off with flying colors.  I did the longer version because I just can't get away with all that cropped cuteness.  I wish I could but it just doesn't do my super long of torso and hefty hips any justice.  I did lengthen the sleeve some, too, and I am glad I did.

So here's the knitty gritty:

Pattern:  Juliet by Zephyr Style
Yarn:  Double strand of Rialto by Debbie Bliss, 14 skeins (with none left over)
Needles:  Size 11
Modifications:  Added length to torso and sleeves.  I also used a double strand to make the crochet button loops because I didn't think the single strand had the right scale for the sweater.
Notes:  The yarn splits easily and is very elastic.  I wasn't convinced I had made the right choice until I was finished.  I do love it.  It is super warm in a double strand (100% merino wool, superwash).

My favorite part:  knitting in my hand knit.  Satisfying to say the least.

I am back in the groove.  The craft gods are smiling and I have the itch.  Ideas are floating around and inspiration is at my fingertips.  To knit or to sew?   What a quandary.  I couldn't choose one over the other...so I chose both.

I cast on a 4 to 8 hour project from this book.  At the rate I am going, I think it will be closer to 8 hours which is just fine.

And I made this cute patchwork pin cushion from the other book.  It was in the 2 to 4 hour section....it took me less than 2 hours, though.  Well, that is if you don't count the time I spent waffling over what color thread to use.

Both books are lovely.  Gorgeous and full of wonderful projects, actually.  Last-Minute Knitted Gifts has been around for awhile, I just never had purchased it.  I like the concept that these gifts can be whipped up in a (relatively) short amount of time.  My kind of crafting.

Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts is right down my alley.  I knew I was going to like it, though.  Joelle let me have a sneak peek at an advance copy when I was at Purl Patchwork in August.  Lucky me.  One flip through this book had me sold.  I had dreams about it.  Seriously.  That is how wonderful it is.  You can see more photos at the Purl Bee.  There are so many projects I want to make, but beyond that is the incredible inspiration this book provides.  Wowzers!  It's eye candy in the form of fabric and color.  I want to sew all day long.   Forget cooking and cleaning and (gasp!) blog reading, I just want to sew.  And knit and then sew some more.  It's that good.

Back tomorrow with more good stuff.

I took that fabric and made a belt.

I have some other plans for those scraps, too.  I hope to get more sewing in this afternoon.  I might get sidetracked, though.  The mailman just brought these:

Oh boy.  Which one first?

It is no secret that I am in the midst of an affair with my knitting needles.  My poor sewing machine has been neglected.  Yesterday, in a fit of energy after my nap, I did a bit of cleaning in the studio and started some new sewing projects.

Little stacks of scraps make me happy.  The heft of my scissors and the smooth fabric felt so good in my hands.  I find piling it up and arranging it in groups therapeutic.  My mind rests and my eyes take over.  It sounds strange, I know, but it works for me.  Yesterday, I got so caught up in achieving the perfect color and pattern combinations that I never got to the sewing part.  This is unusual...my preferred speed is fast, and when not fast, faster.  And while I would love to have a finished project, something concrete for the hours I spent up there, it's okay.   I need to slow down.  The cutting, the sewing, the making...it's waiting for me.   It'll be there when I am ready:  a true work in progress...kind of like me. 

The sign of a fun time:  my feet still hurt two days later.

Ryan and Rosanna's wedding was very lovely and so much fun.  The girls did a great job as flower girls....they both managed to get their younger ring bearer cousins to the front without a hitch.  We ate and drank way too much, danced a ton and slept little.   The girls are off school today - a real blessing for this tired mom.  On the agenda:  lounging, a nap and more lounging.  Happy Monday!