Dodging

There are a few things long armers need to dodge: Pins, thick seams that will break a needle, and thunder. Thunder because when there is thunder there is lightning. Isn't there a song about that?

Today is going to be a dodge 'em kind of day I think. 

I'm going to try to start on Marty working on Julies Flea Market top. I'll have to keep my ears open. We have very dark skies all over and the rain sure is coming down. Unfortunately, the dam is in a holding pattern so it's not going to raise a whole lot over the next week or two but lightning and long arms simply do not mix.

I did get some knitting done yesterday while snuggling with the girls. 

Lovely autumn colors in the next scarf

That's about all of my day I've got planned so far. Pretty low-key stuff today. 

Small Vacation

Jim and I are taking a mini-vacation tomorrow and Wednesday. I won't be blogging those two days but will have much (hopefully) to report back on Thursday morning since where we are going revolves around quilting. 

A new knitting project

Okay, so all I do is a knit stitch and all I make are scarves. I like to do stuff with my hands and this seems like a great way to get something done while relaxing on our Sunday afternoon. I'm not wanting to really learn all the knit stitches and this is good enough for me right now. 

I did manage to get a grid marked on the interior of the table runner DW decided to not want to stitch out. I did this while Jim was grilling hamburgers for lunch.

Today I'll be working on Sandy's quilt on Marty and trying to get that done before we leave early tomorrow morning. Rory will be here with the dogs and they love her so that works out well. 

Despite All Odds

Okay, let's be honest. I can't go more than a couple days without some kind of sewing. Evie is not up 100% of the time so I take that time and work out in the studio. In the past two days I've gotten the binding started on the Raven.

Getting the binding going

Notice, this is being hand sewn rather than machine bound. My DIL wanted something to do and she left her embroidery downstate, so she's sewing the binding down on the back. I did the machine part on the front for her. 

I was able to get this pieced...

This is the table runner I've been using those whirlygig blocks as leaders/enders on. It's finally done. Well, it's pieced anyway.

I did some knitting yesterday while we were chilling in the man cave and finished a small scarf that I had left over yarn from. I finished another small square of something or another (again, left over yarn), and then I actually started to crochet something to see if it would bother my hand. It didn't seem to, but today it's sore, so maybe not yet?

We did visit my mom on Saturday. She doesn't do well with babies. Never has. Proof positive I was basically raised by my grandmother. 

While Evie is napping this morning I plan on working a bit. I need to get Sandy's quilt basted in and started on Marty. With a seven month old (as of today) it's kind of hard to get much done, but her mom and Jim are both here, so it's not like she needs me all the time. In fact, Jim is having a ball with her. 

Visits and Christmas

We have people popping in and out all during the holiday season. Yesterday, Santa visited and dropped some gifts under the tree. I didn't do much else yesterday except visit and knit. 

Here's a scarf going to the DIL..

Scarf for a gift

I have another scarf in the works and will chip away at that some more today/tonight between "working" and working. It's the week before Christmas and all the holiday deadline quilts are done and picked up, so it's time for me to work on my stuff for the holidays.

Today will be the pencil pouches for the grandkids and me. 😀

Good Monday Long Arming Morning

Another round of "Have to have this by Christmas" tops this week. Three of them already have quilt plans drawn which makes the process every so better.

One of the blocks I'm quilting today...already preplanned

Yesterday I vowed to not long arm. It was hard, but I did work last Sunday and I feel like I'm okay with the time I have left to finish those Christmas deadlines. 

This is what I did instead...

I finished my knitted scarf

I made another holiday mask using a new pattern

A new bowl to organize my odds and ends near Jay

Made a chalkboard menu for batting prices

And grabbed a pic of the house from the lake side all decorated

I better quit dawdling and plug in that Christmas music to get me started into my week. 

Yesterday...Seemed So Far Away...

I love that song. But yesterday was a long time ago it seems. Did a lot in and out of the studio.  

But since this is a blog about quilting and golden doodles, I'll stick to that. 

Two of Four

These are Pat P.'s adorable table runners. These weren't completed until late yesterday afternoon since the morning was pretty well shot playing with the neighbor. 

The early evening was spent working on moms River Rock blocks and loading a new 110" square top for Tina at Bittersweet Quilt Shop. Tina's mom usually does her quilting, but mom has a bad shoulder and Tina wants custom into the piece she gave me to do. The backing was very wrinkled so while I would spray, advance, spray, advance, I was cutting out the pieces for the second set of blocks on River Rock.

The evening found me doing something very cathartic and something I've learned, but have completely forgotten how to do. Knit.

I started this about a week ago, so I'm not very far into it. I'm just doing a knit stitch for now and will introduce more stitches as more scarves come into the picture. I love scarves and living within a state that is cold half the year lends itself to having selections.

My evening activity

And, while playing on the iPad is fun, it's not productive. And quite honestly, I'm bored with most of my games and have no desire to look/start any new ones. My time here on earth is limited and I've decided to make the best of it. Why not get a bucket list item learned/tried? Finding something you enjoy more than beating level 10,000 is a bonus!