2015 IS HERE!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Our 2015 kitchen calendar
artwork by Wendy Bentley

You know, for me, New Year's Day is a lot like a belated gift after Christmas.  One reason opening presents on Christmas morning is so darn exciting is because of the potential contained in that intriguing package, right?   What could it be?  Is it what I asked for, or maybe something I never knew I wanted until I open it and realize I really, really wanted/needed that?  My Guy is really a pro at giving me gifts like that :*)  Of course, it could always be another set of dominoes!  My son swears he got a set of dominoes every year during his teens LOL!!!

On New Year's Day, we get to "unwrap" a mystery gift that will continue to unfold every day throughout the year.  (Sort of a DOY (day of the year) rather than a BOM (block of the month) - hahaha!)  We never know exactly what it will hold or what delights - or otherwise - we will experience.  Each day, more of the mystery is unveiled, until finally on New Year's Eve, we get to see the whole picture of that year.  Those of you who just had the pleasure of seeing Bonnie Hunter's new Mystery, Grand Illusion, unveiled know exactly what I mean right now, right?

My prayer for each of you is that your "gift" at the end of 2015 will be a wonderful one, 

filled with happy memories and good times!

I've worn my Happy New Year socks all day today, and I may just wear them tomorrow too!  Do you have traditions for New Year's?  Many of my friends are eating really disgusting interesting meals as a part of their traditions.  Others like to do what they love because there is a saying that whatever you are doing on New Year's, you'll do the rest of the year.  That would be nice for most of us, wouldn't it, to be able to choose right now, today, what we'll be doing the rest of the year?  Somehow, I don't think it quite works that way, though *sigh*

I had a lovely day though, so I think I would be happy if that were to come true for me.  One of my projects for 2015 will be Arcadia Avenue by Sassafras Lane, and I got to play with it a little today!  I did choose the Sunset colorway - you knew I would, didn't you?!?

The aqua will be the background, the black is my dark accent, the deep raspberry is the medium accent, and that light in the upper right corner is actually the  most marvelous pale gray with a white dot by Dear Stella!

Sassafras Lane is hosting a QAL for this wonderful quilt this year, and I'm excited to join in!  I'll be linking these fabric choices up with their first link-up HERE.  Go on over and check out all the fun combinations being chosen!  Shayla is even making one using low-volume fabrics - wow!!!

I printed out my patterns for the first couple of blocks yesterday and started paper piecing them, just because I couldn't stand to wait!  And also because I needed a NewFO for December *grin*!!!  This is the last NewFO linky party at Cat Patches and I think I've joined in on every one of them, so of course I had to be there for the finale, right?

Did you notice the patterns are smaller than the page?  You know how I love smaller quilts!  And I'd like this one to be a wall quilt - it's too amazing to be anything else :)  So I reduced the size to 75% on the printer, which will make my blocks about 9" finished instead of the original 12" in the pattern.

I also sewed up a test block I had promised to have done by today. Here are the colorful fabrics I played with ....

YUM!!!  ..... and notice the new accessory?  I'm not sure how, but I managed to stress my wrist several weeks ago, so I've been wearing a brace to protect it.  I suspect some marathon knitting sessions may be the culprit!  The brace really has helped, although I have to admit that it's darn uncomfortable!  I have to wear it while sewing because ironing and rotary cutting tend to torque my wrist in just the wrong way.

And speaking of knitting ..... this is no longer On my Needles!!!

I'm actually finished with the knitting on this Infinity Ombre cowl for my daughter Renee.  Tonight I'll kitchener the two ends together and sew in all the yarn ends.  She and little Hudson are on their way tomorrow morning bright and early for a few days' visit with us, so I want to have it wrapped up all nice and bright under the tree for her!  I'll be sure to share a pic when it's all blocked and ready for it's photo shoot :)

UPDATE:  Here's the finish!!!!

One of my favorite Christmas presents from My Guy was this new set of Knitter's Pride Dreamz Short Interchangeable Needles.

Last year I got the regular length needle set (you can see the longer needles in the middle in the above picture ) but they can't be used with the 16" cords for things like these cowls or hats, etc.  As soon as I unwrapped this set, I changed out my needles for the shorter ones.  Having the right tools for a job is absolutely Heaven!!!

Just a quick reminder ...
- tomorrow is the last day to get in on the Sew Sweet Simplicity GIVEAWAY!!!  Go HERE to leave your comment and have a chance to win this lovely pattern package from designer, Jacquelynne Steves!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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On the Needles - November 21, 2014

I hope your needles have been more productive than mine this week!

I hit a little glitch in the making of the Hedgehog Mittens....

A little large, wouldn't you say?  LOL!!!

Oh well, I guess I'll be starting this one all over!  These little quills are the dickens to stitch though .....

..... so I hate to just rip them out, but it appears I'm going to have to.  I'll be seeing my granddaughter next week, so I'll measure her hand and figure out how many stitches I need to take out in order to make my next effort fit her :)  No way they'll be done for Christmas, but hopefully before the end of winter.

The Haus of Yarn bus came to Lebanon last weekend, and I couldn't wait to wear my Diagonal Cowl to show Meg!



Of course she loved it!  And she told me that the pattern for this cowl is in Ravelry HERE.  It is called the Ombre Infinity, designed by Cynthia Parker.  I guess I'll have to start calling it by this more sophisticated name, huh?

I couldn't resist looking to see if she still had some of the Wonderland Yarns Mad Hatter kits.  To my dismay, I saw that these are almost gone!  So although I had not planned to buy anything, I decided to pick up a couple of the kits before they disappear for good.  I love making this cowl and these kits make it so easy!

The aquas and purples on the left are SO ME!!!  And I just couldn't put down the beachy colors on the right - perfect for spring, right?

I started this one right away -

......these luscious greens will be so pretty on our daughter, Renee :)

This cowl is so easy, it is the perfect "go with" project when you have errands to run.

As you can see, I enjoyed some quality stitching time while waiting for my car to have it's oil changed and tires rotated :)

I've had a few requests for more of the cotton dishcloths, so I've started whipping up a few of those as well......

All in all, I've been knitting, but not accomplishing a whole lot!  What about you?  What's on your needles?  Check out all the "needle-y" fun going on at Judy's Patchwork Times today!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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