Happy Birthday, my darling daughter

We have someone born nearly each month of the year,

so everyone gets their birthday month,

plus their choice of a favorite dessert.

January is my oldest daughters birthday month.

We celebrated with apple cinnamon cake top dessert.

My oldest daughter with her Husband and children

(toddlers just don't hold still for photos)

My son with his wife and daughters.

3 of the 5 grand kids eating dessert.

My kids...so beautiful!

(Even with a bad lighting photo)

Happy Birthday, Sweet Pea!

(and baby E finally held still for a photo)

And a kitty cat update:

He came home today.

My daughter opened the door and there he was

after 9 days...a little skinnier, but he seems to be okay!

Fabric Stash busting for January

I got a little burnt out posting weekly

about my stash busting last year,

so this year I will be posting the last Sunday

of the month.

January 2012

Fabric in for the month: 0 yards

Fabric in for the year: 0 yards

Fabric used for the month: 7.5 yards

Fabric used for the year: 7.5 yards

How are you doing?

Friday Finish 27 Jan

Not much finished this week...

I cleaned out my bag and tote patterns

and found the grab bag pattern

from the  all people quilt website.

A small, but nice sized bag,

to carry a single knit or sewing project.

The longer strap goes thru the smaller strap

to make it easy to carry.

If I made it again, I would make the 2 inside pockets

much larger...you can't really store much in them.

On to another project....

Thurday is the day!

I am going to cut off my hair!

As my 50th birthday is closing in on me

in the next few weeks,

I have this strong desire to make some changes.

I have been cleaning out my house...

I have made new friendships and let go of some relationships...

And now, I am ready for a personal change.

Here is the cut/style I am going for...I think

All the photos are versions of a classic Bob cut.

I eventually want to go back to my blond too.

I foolishly listened to a young stylist a few years ago,

who said women of a "certain age"

couldn't pull off blond anymore.

But I am ready for change...so call me Blondie!

He may be furry, but he's a family member!

We got hit with a terrible snow storm

this past weekend.

And we lost our cat!

He went out the front door and

we haven't found him yet.

We have walked/driven around our neighborhood

and the 2 farms on either side of our home.

We put a ad in the local newspaper (online)

under the "Lost and Found pets" section.

We drove and searched the county animal shelter.

No kitty cat!

I am sad!

Furry animals are still family members!

Friday Finish weeks 2 & 3

My life has been very crazy over the last few months.

Consequently, the 2nd (and 3rd) week into

my Friday Finish post...I didn't post.

So...better late than never...

January 13th:

I finished 2 flannel baby quilts

for my Church Charity

(but don't have a photo)

I finished my 2nd knit block for a afghan

Stockinette stitch

January 20th:

I've been cutting alot of fabric for charity quilts

and finished my 3rd block

The ribbing stitch.

How are your sewing...quilting...knitting...crafting goals coming along?

My first knitting project

I have started knitting blocks for an afghan

but wanted to do something for fun too.

I am using Caron Simply Soft

in the color of persimmon.

The pattern was free at Ravelry.

It's called Sinful Ribbed Scarf

I think it will be a great scarf for the

end of Winter-wet Spring weather.

Women over 40

 A friend posted this on his facebook status

and I just had to share it with all of you...

especially those of you who are over age 40!

Enjoy!

Andy Rooney on Women Over Forty

By: Veronica Kavanagh (View Profile)

Andy Rooney says:
As I grow in age, I value women who are over forty most of all. Here are just a few reasons why: A woman over forty will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, “What are you thinking?” She doesn’t care what you think.
If a woman over forty doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it’s usually something more interesting.
A woman over forty knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of forty give a hoot what you might think about her or what she’s doing.
Women over forty are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.
Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.
A woman over forty has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn’t trust the guy with other women. Women over forty couldn’t care less if you’re attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won’t betray her.
Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over forty. They always know.
A woman over forty looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over forty is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
Older women are forthright and honest. They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one! You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.
Yes, we praise women over forty for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of forty-plus, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some twenty-two-year-old waitress.
Ladies, I apologize.
For all those men who say, “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free,” here’s an update for you. Now 80 percent of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire pig, just to get a little sausage.

Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22323/34969-andy-rooney-forty#ixzz1jSAPbXkL

Out of my creating comfort zone!

I decided to try making something for the house,

but try a technique other than sewing

Result: a January/Winter Wreath for the front door!

First Friday Finish

One of my goals for 2012 is to post each

Friday about what I accomplished during the week.

So for my first Friday Finish for 2012:

I want to learn to knit.

I purchased this book at Hobby Lobby

There are 13 blocks to knit,

starting with the easiest, using the garter stitch

(knitting all the rows)

I couldn't figure out how to cast on using 2 needles,

so I found/watched a video on YouTube

about how to cast on using 1 needle.

The ladies at my crochet-knit group

showed me how to bind off last night.

Tadaa...one finished block!

Cleaning and Updating the Studio

I needed to clean up and organize my sewing

studio with the new year...

and decided to install all the

organizational items I have bought at IKEA.

In the middle is 2 magnetic boards

Across the top is a wire with hooks

Either side of the board are vintage hooks

It's located under my hat display shelf

and above my ironing board and pattern storage.

I also hung up my angel artwork

by Kelly Rae Roberts.

I love her work!

Under my white board I put a rod

that holds containers.

It's so much nicer to work in an

organized area...I feel so much more creative.

2012 UFO project

12 finished projects in 2012.......

That is what I am going for this year!

Last year I included photos of each project

with my list, but this year,

I just decided to post a list.

2012 UFO List

1.Red-Yellow 3-D star quilt:

Add borders, quilt, bind

2.E's Black n' White quilt:

Sew backing, quilt, bind

3.Bubble Gum Pink Vintage Quilt:

Make blocks and border

4.Pine tree Quilt:

Join blocks, add border, quilt, bind

5.E's 12 flannel Quilt:

Binding

6.Purple Pinwheel Hanging:

Quilt and bind

7.Christmas Quilt:

Make blocks, borders, quilt, bind

8.Welcome Hanging:

Quilt and bind

9.Bird Hanging:

Finish 4 blocks, border, quilt, bind

10.Pink Cancer quilt:

Make blocks

11. Vintage Scrap Block Quilts:

Make at least half the blocks

12. One Charity Quilt

6 of the projects are from last years list

that did not get finished.

6 are new projects that need to be completed.

Are you joining the UFO challenge for 2012?

Yarn inventory 2012

This last year I participated in Judy's

2011 stash busting challenge.

I made the goal to use up 100 yards during 2011.

Unfortunately, I didn't make my goal,

but it made me more aware of my fabric buying habits.

I found myself not purchasing as much fabric, but....

I started buying ALOT more yarn.

I have begun crocheting again,

after a 20 year break.

I have joined a knit/crochet group

and am learning to knit this year.

So, my yarn inventory...

(sorry...lots and lots of photos)

Red (tho pink in the photo) and yellow

Sugar n' Cream for new hots pads.

The pink wool...not sure, but probably a cap.

Wool for caps/scarfs/cowls in

brown, light green, dark green and orange

Simply Soft for baby caps in

green, pink, white and blue

brown and cream mix fiber...cap or scarf?

Red and cream...knitting a shawl.

Simply soft for me in grey and peach.

No pattern picked.

Homespun for shawls in Fall and Orange colors.

Shawls for me.

1970's gold that someone gave me...about 35 spools.

I have no idea of a project or pattern...do you?

I look forward to learning how to knit

and improving my crocheting skills during 2012!