needle little love

I could probably list at least 20 things that scream summer to me and the majority of them would probably be on your list too....I'm wondering though, how many people would have cross stitching on their summer activities list?  Anyways, cross stitching is one of those quirky things that definitely make my summer things list and it goes all the way back to when I was in high school.  On the days when I wasn't at the swimming pool, my best friend, Kristi Evans and I would sit in my backyard in white Adirondack chairs and cross stitch the day away.  We'd pick tomatoes and grapes from her backyard garden (which conveniently backed up to mine) and eat them right off the vine.  I'm not sure there were too many other high schoolers stitching during the summer, but I could be wrong. 

25 years later and I still love to start a stitching project each summer.  This year, Kristyn sent me the patterns from Wee Wonderfuls.  They are the perfect summer project - fast and fun!  I finished the apples and the eggs as Christmas gifts.  

I loved how Kristyn framed hers with some fabric around the motif, so I copied her! (imitation is the best form of flattery, right?!)  Don't you love the punch the fabric gives to the finished project?

without fabric

with fabric

  The only thing I didn't like about these patterns was the absence of my dear friend....for the past couple of summers, Kristyn and I have stitched several projects during our summer visiting and in thinking back it has become a part of my special summer memories collection.  So when I needle little love, I pull out my stitching and remember all of the great memories spent with friends throughout the summer over our cross stitch hoops.  What's one of the quirky things that you love to include in your summer?  I hope you're making time for it while the days are still long and lazy.


ETA:  I'm linking up with Kristyn's ADVENTure post....more goodies added to my Christmas pile!!  yeah!

I'm loving....

It's the simple things that make me smile....
My favorite afternoon treat - iced coffee.  I used Pioneer Woman's recipe.  I like mine with breve and Truvia. ( I learned that breve is the cool way to say "half and half"...the Starbucks barista got me up to speed this week with java lingo.)  Anyways, this iced coffee is fabulous and I highly recommend you keep a stash in the fridge. 

Speaking of the fridge, I am loving my new juice pitchers...they fit my top shelf perfectly without hogging up the whole thing.  I got them at The Container Store.  That whole store made me smile!  (That container with the blue lid is my coffee concentration - yum!!)

I've been organizing and tidying up my drawers and closets and that in itself just makes me grin from ear to ear.

Working my way through Emma - she's a hoot.... I think I know some of the people in this book - for real!

Centipede on my ipad.  I love the game, but I hate those spiders...every time one gets me, I have to holler at them. 

My new perfume - Le Bohemian from American Eagle...and that card from K made my day....mail from a good friend always makes me smile. 

New school calendar/organizers....for $1 each. (one for each of my kids)   I'm not ready to really think about school, but I can always get happy about new school supplies. 

Fun, summer nail polish...Kenzie and I got these on vacation and the Fruitie Patootie is my favorite, although the orange is on my toes right now. 

How bout you?  What's got you grinning?  Whatever it is, I hope your days are full of summer smiles!

7 days

I've been home a mere seven days this month....that's not much time for getting things done, so I've got some catching up to do around here.  My reason for being so absent around these parts is that first, Maggie and I went to Penn State for a basketball tournament and then the entire family went to Myrtle Beach for a much needed vacation.  Here are some photos that highlight our recent trips:

 I have some knitting started and some stitching done....and as a family we finished 5 books (collectively) making a new family record and in addition (or maybe because of)  we came home relaxed and rested.  In the meantime, I'll get some grocery shopping done, laundry attempted and I'll be back soon to share some projects with you.  Hope your summer is full of all the things you love.  Have a wonderful week!

last of the baby knits

I finished the last of my baby cycle knits....the baby raglan.  Beth sent me this pattern from a Debbie Bliss collection.  It was easy to knit with plenty of stockinette. 

This sweater was knit in pieces and then seamed together.  I haven't done too many sweaters that required seaming, so this one gave me some much needed practice in seaming.  I used this video to help me with the raglan seams. If you're wanting to work on your seaming techniques, this is a great little sweater to give you some practice.  

 I love the feel of this yarn....so soft and silky. I used just over two skeins to knit the 3 month size.   Because the front and back are identical, I added a tag to the back so that it was obvious which side should be the front.  (I thought the raglans were a bit more precise looking on one side than on the other)  I also did a single crochet around the neckline to stablize it and clean it up just a bit. 

 That should do it for a while on the baby sweater front....although I do have enough yarn left over that I might be able to squeeze out a hat to go along with each sweater....we'll see! 

treasure found

I've been cleaning like a wild woman.  Purging cupboards and closets, organizing cubbies and crawlspaces.  We made a big trip to Goodwill this weekend and donated many boxes and bags of 'stuff'.  It feels so good to have some space in my spaces.  Last week, while I was going through boxes upon boxes of baby clothes that I'd saved, I found a treasure. 

This little quilt was my doll quilt when I was a little girl.  I haven't seen it in years.  My grandma made it for me and I remember having it in my room and playing on it as a little girl.  I obviously stored it away and had forgotten all about it.  What a wondeful surprise!  I gave it a good wash and hung it outside to dry. 

There are some quirky things about it....the edges are puckered because it was stitched with a wool yarn that has obviously felted.  The back, which looks like it was made from sheeting, has a couple of stains on it that I'm hoping the sun will bleach out.  

 The flowers are amazing.  I am guessing they were hand turned and sewn on piece by piece.  (No wonder under on this quilt!)  I can't imagine the work that went into this little quilt.  So much love.  I never remember having to be careful on it...I was just allowed to play with it and enjoy it. 

That seems huge to me now that I understand all the time and love that went into it.  My grandma made many quilts over the years.  She had a huge quilt frame in her back room for all the hand quilting.  I'm on a treasure hunt now to find all the beauties that she made.....I'll share them here as I find them. 

flying by faster than I can...

These summer days are flying by faster than I can frog a baby sleeve...

...which I had to do last night.  I totally skipped the direction that mentioned casting off three stitches for the next two rows on my second sleeve.  That made attaching the sleeve to the body quite tricky.  I'm knitting the Raglan Baby Sweater by Debbie Bliss.  It was going along great and I was seaming my sleeves to my fronts and backs.  When I went to seam the second sleeve, I realized I didn't have the angular little corner that I needed to make the seams join accurately.  Rip, Rip went my second sleeve...and I'm working on re-knitting it according to the directions. 

I did however, successfully finish a second Pretty Baby Sweater.  This one is knit in Universal Yarns Worsted.  The color is Primrose and it is my favorite baby yellow.  After purchasing a second skein of yarn, I've got enough to knit up a baby hat as well.  These baby sweaters are fun and fast, which fit these summer days perfectly. 

Hope your summer days are filled with great things and that your needles are always full of stitches....whatcha knitting now? 

like dandelion seeds

I can tell we're settling into summer because the days are just floating by so quickly. Like dandelion seeds...these summer days are so magical.   We've got some upcoming camps and basketball events that make the next three weeks a bit busy, but these past few days have been just what I love about summer....unhurried.  Here's a peek at what we've been doing to kick off the summer:

~I've been cleaning the house and summerizing it with shells....

~Finally have finished up the last of the report cards and sent them off to our umbrella group which keeps all of our paperwork for home schooling.  The kids all had great school years and we survived Chemistry and Physical Science...whoo hoo!

~Jammer finished up baseball in the midst of a heat wave....temps over 100 at the ball fields.  whew

~We've been enjoying meals outside on the deck.....I feel like I get an extra room added to my house each spring/summer as we spend so much time out on the deck.

~Taking time to just play and create and let our imaginations go free.

~Totally devouring our new read aloud....such suspense!

~Lunching and shopping with my mom and finding my new summer purse for a super crazy price! 

~Watering our plants....almost daily

{Marveling at how fast these plants are filling out...the above picture was taken on May 23, 2011, the one below was taken today (June 15th) Wow!}

~Keeping track of the gifts along the way! 

I hope your days are magical ones...enjoy the special blessings of this season!  They go by faster than dandelion seeds on a breeze! 

batches of baby love

I've noticed that I tend to work in batches.   One month I'm knocking myself out with dishcloths, the next I'm whipping out owls and right now I'm smack dab in the middle of a baby sweater phase.  Who knows what July will bring?  But, the sudden urge for baby sweaters is practical in nature because there are several babies who will soon be making appearances and I thought it would be fun to knit some sweaters to welcome them.

 The very originally named Pretty Baby Sweater has been in my knitting binder for several years.  I am not sure why I waited so long to knit it, but it is a gem.  It knits up quickly and the seaming is painless and easy as the pattern calls for a crochet slip stitch. 

There is no need to cut the yarn, you simply seam the sleeve and keep on knitting.  Genius!  It is knit from the yoke down and when you're done you only have two tails to weave in. (your cast on tail and your cast off tail)  I knit this green one from some Ella Rae Classic.  I was able to get an entire sweater out of one skein. 

This heather green one has already been given to my friend Michele who just recently had her fifth baby....a precious little girl.  She loved it and I'm sure it will keep Elizabeth warm when those Kansas winds start whipping. 

Because I was able to knit an entire sweater from one skein of Ella Rae Classic with some left over, I wrongly assumed that one skein of Universal Classic Worsted would suffice for my second baby sweater.  Wrong!  I'm stalled on this precious yellow one until I pick up another skein to finish it.  Good thing this baby is not due until September. 

Oh well, that was just excuse enough for me to cast on for a third baby sweater...this one for a precious little boy.  I'm knitting my friend Beth's favorite raglan sweater. 

She sent me this pattern (and several others a while ago - thanks again Beth) and I found the perfect denim blue yarn.  The yarn is Plymouth jeannee and it is so soft and perfect for a baby knit.  I'll work on this until I get back to my lys to pick up my additional skein of yellow yarn.

In the meantime, I'll be plugging away with my newest fascination....how about you?  Do you work in batches or are you solely passionate for one project at a time?  No matter what your M.O. might be, I hope you find joy in the process.  Have a great day friends!