teamwork

 

We traveled to see our granddaughters play soccer last weekend

where one of them asked me to knit her a pair of red mittens

with a leaf on them.

 

 

I love it when any of the granddaughters ask me for anything...

but I was thrilled to be asked for a knitted item

and that it was a design of her own.

 

 

So here they are Cecelia...

 

 

We make a good team!

 

~b



This & That

With our temps in the single digits today

 my little sewing sweatshop is a warm place to spend the day.

If the pattern I'm working on is giving me fits

 I tend to stay a little warmer yet...

if you know what I mean.

 

 

I dug out some of my Tula Pink fabric for this ~Whatcha Got?~ bag.

The front square is clear vinyl.

 

Stay warm!

 

~b



Gryffendor

I knit our 10-year-old twin granddaughters

Harry Potter scarves for Christmas.

It was a decision that I made not nearly early enough

which called for some knitting marathon sessions.

I'm still amazed I finished them in time for Christmas.

 

 

I had to watch the Harry Potter series to check out all of the scarves

and I was ecstatic to see in the first and second series the scarves were in two different patterns.

I was a little stressed to think I may have to knit two of the same.

 

 

There are 788 rows between the two...

and 47,280 stitches.

 I was wearing a wrist brace

 and a finger bandaid before I finished them.

 

 

I hope they can wear them for many years.

They are also their school colors.

 

 

 

 

I had to be silly and make their dad a pair of Harry Potter

pajama pants. Do you think he will wear them?

 

~b

 



Oh scrap!

Digging out scraps is time consuming but SO enjoyable.

I can remember where each one of these fabrics went first.

 

 

This small runner didn't satisfy my scrap appetite

 and today I am making another one.

 

~b

RED

I finished up two more squares for my Quilt As-You-Go quilt.

It's a good winter project for me to practice my free motion skills.

 

 

I have always wanted to make a red quilt.

But I will be horrified if the red bleeds when washing.

 

Look what else is red...

 

 

My red stash should be getting a little smaller.

 

~b

Sunday pie

I have a Sunday rule that says I will not cook after 4 p.m.

 which usually means popcorn for supper.

 

Yesterday I made a Shepherd's Pie for lunch.
I think this is probably only the second time
 I have made it in my life.

 

It really is so easy...

mash potatoes and browned ground beef

plus a few extra add-ins.

 

It's soul food for the gloomiest month of the year...

yes January, I'm talking about you.

 

 

 Note to self: Make more often!
I grabbed my recipe off Pinterest.

~b



Friday post card

 

I had intended on venturing out in today's predicted snow storm for a snowy picture...

but it's really not much of a storm or we just are becoming immune?

 

We found ourselves in Grumpy Old Men territory this summer.

Wabasha, Minnesota...

and we are still arguing over the pronunciation of the town four months later.

 

~b

Get Carded

Daughter-knit-and-pearl saw these online

 and asked if I could make her one.

 

 

Folded it measures 4.5" wide and 3.5" tall.

 

She really liked the clear plastic vinyl pocket to hold a driver's license.

 



 

It will hold numerous cards, cash and coins.

 

 

I really enjoyed the challenge of making it and hope she likes it.

Now I'm going to make a couple more.

 

~b

nothing but blue skies...

Nothing goes to waste in the little sewing sweatshop...

 

 

I almost threw out a box of fabric strips

 that have been accumulating when my sister suggested

I use them to crochet a rug or bowl.

"Great idea," I said and I did.

 

 

Mr. b couldn't resist photographing this morning's frosted trees

 against a beautiful blue sky.

 

 

"Nature's Gift"

 

~b



100 excuses

While cleaning my little sewing sweatshop this weekend...

(which by the way I am still doing)

I came across these unfinished zipper pouches.

They were a great excuse to interrupt my cleaning and to sit down and sew.

 

 

 

 

 

Today I am looking for another excuse to quit cleaning and sew.

 

~b



Friday post card

 

...where the buffalo roam.

 

~b



The Mule

I'm back at organizing my little sewing sweatshop today.

I took the day off yesterday and we went to a movie.

We have not been to a movie theater for years

 but Clint Eastwood got us there with "The Mule".

I am a huge movie fan but I'm finding it harder

 to find a good movie that suits my tastes.

 

 

I'm currently enjoying this book about a knit shop in Seattle.

Although the dish rag I'm making here is crocheted.

 

~b

cruising

I was cruising down the Pinterest highway this morning...

 before breakfast and still in my pj's.

 

 

Pinterest and Instagram are where I get

 most of my inspiration and ideas.

 

 

I had this zipper pouch finished and photographed before lunch.

 

 

Now what do I do with the rest of my day?

 

~b

 



sampler

This year daughter-knit-and-pearl and I decided

to make sampler quilts using this book.

I love sampler quilts...every square different.

I am again using what I already have for fabric

which will be a challenge to stay within the

 specific color palette I have chosen.

 

 

I am also determined to clean and organize

my little sewing sweatshop this month.

 

 

I am finally embarrassed by the mess I have created.

It's a little room and doesn't take much to look completely in shambles.

 

 

I am doing it in baby steps which seems to describe me lately.

When I am satisfied that I have accomplished a little bit

I quickly return to sewing.

 

~b

Friday post card

 

~b



Brown Bread

I didn't get to make brown bread during Christmas...

There's never enough time for everything

 a person likes to cram into Christmas.

 

 

This is an old family recipe that's been around as long as I have.

Would you believe I didn't really care for it growing up.

Somewhere along the line my taste buds grew up

and I love it!

 

 

I didn't have enough of the dark raisins so I substituted with some golden raisins.

Is there a taste difference?

 

~b

 

 

 



January embroidery

My New Year's Eve resolution:

Be grateful every day.

 

Today I am grateful for a hot bowl of bean and ham soup

that I made on the last day of 2018 with our Christmas ham bone.

 

~b