It's been a long time!

As the header suggests, it's been a long time since I posted on my blog.  A lot has transpired and it has taken some time to adjust.  I retired in June of 2014 after 25 years of teaching.  I did so much knitting and quilting before I broke my wrist in March after falling on black ice.  I still continued to knit, where there's a will there's a way, as it mended.  I also decided to put my house on the market.  I was raised in this house and it was filled with memories and decades of stuff.  I began the long journey of getting rid of things, fixing things and showing.  In two months my house was sold, and after 6 different closing dates, I settled into my two bedroom condo.  It has taken a little time to adjust to a new area but I like calling my landlord when anything needs to be done.  He's great.  There's a pool and best of all an ice cream parlor on the corner and the owners make the ice cream.  It's now time to get back to knitting and quilting. Oh I forgot to mention my wrist is in a cast following surgery.  It didn't heal correctly. I currently have three quilts and several knitting projects in the works.  I am also teaching myself to knit socks.  So look forward to regular posts from now on.

Shawl for. 95 year old's birthday.

It was made for a petite little woman. My girl friend is modeling she's 5'9 with broad shoulders. It should be fine. She was one of my new students last night. I taught them the knit stitch. Ugh one of them was a lefty.

A quick shawl.

Poncho

This was made with Alpaca yarn. A birthday present. 

Cowl with matching hat.

Gifts I made for my family.

I'm sharing a few things I knitted for my family for Christmas. I start on winter items during the summer and summer items during the winter. 

Great Baby Shower Gifts.

I completed two shower gifts that involved both knitting and quilting. This was my first attempt at making baby dresses and they were so much fun. I used a pattern by Christiane Burkhard called Eleni's Dress. The yarn was Luna Paints 100% Peruvian Tanquis Cotton. 

The quilts both fit the colors and theme of the nursery The princess fabric was a great score on eBay.  I always use flannel on the back to make it soft. 

Integrating the past and the present. Change is good.

It has been quite sometime since I have posted anything. I had some life changing things happen. The biggest is retiring after working since I was 16. (Currently 64). I am still adjusting.  I still get up at 4 and who knows that may never change. The upside....I can nap whenever I please. I continue to quilt mostly lap quilts and my favorite baby quilts but I have also developed a new love for knitting. I have a wonderful group of former co-workers that I get together with to knit and a student. Yes, I am now sharing my love for both quilting and knitting with others and hope to do much more. All of my family's Christmas gifts were knitted by me and I'll share pics as I go along. 

Going forward I will incorporate both quilting and knitting on this blog. So I hope you enjoy and share my blog with friends and share your work with me. 

Saturday Sampler

The Saturday Sampler Class I have been going to for the last 12 months has ended.  As you may remember I decided to do three lap quilts instead of one.  Last year I made one but made extra blocks so it fit a queen size bed.  This year a voice said make three lap size.  Next year I won't listen to little voices and will only do one.  LOL  For the next couple of months I will work on the sashing.  I am going to post a few blocks I completed over the last couple of months. The next Sampler will begin around September so I must finish these before that time. 

Sampler continued.

In this class as in past Samplers, you always start out with easier blocks.  As we progress, new techniques and harder blocks are introduced. Here some of the easier blocks. 

Saturday Sampler - Fabric 3

I haven't pressed this yet but this is called Luxe in Bloom. 

Saturday Sampler - Fabric choice 2.

The above fabric is for the Sampler Quilt called Kaffe. 

Saturday Sampler Blocks

I mentioned in the past that I love Batik fabric and was thrilled when one of the quilts was made for Batik fabric.  This is a picture of one of the twelve blocks for a quilt called "Autumn Batik" 

It's been a long time.

It has been a few months since I added to my blog.  I still continued quilting and knitting.  I am retiring in 35 days so I am looking forward to more time to quilt, knit and blog.  

Dragons and Wizards

I am finished with the theme quilt and mailing it to a little baby boy.  It has a soft flannel back to make it cozy.  I hope it keeps him warm and happy.  Now I have to get started on the little girls quilt I have cut out.  She arrived early so I have to hurry.  

Top of the baby quilt is done.

Well my goal today was to finish the baby quilt top. Next comes pressing, cutting the batting and the soft flannel back, and quilting.

New Quilt

After a break for the holidays, I am working on a new theme baby quilt. I never used a panel before but this was the only way to get the theme fabric I wanted. I hope to finish this in a few days. 

The Tuffet

Today was the second and final tuffet class. Julia Struthers was a great teacher. On earlier post I showed the sections that I had to sew together and the completed tuffet cover. Today Julia guided us through the upholstering process. It was so much fun. We used hammers and staple guns connected to compressors. I was with the same group of ladies and we enjoyed finishing our tuffets.  

I enjoyed departing from my quilt making and trying something new. This was hard because as many of you know I quilt by hand. I had to use my mom's machine. I know she was smiling. Of course, now I'm hooked and want to make another one. I think I want to make one for a little girls room or a baby girls nursery.  My daughter suggested I make a matching quilt.  Great gift idea. 

My finished tuffet. 

 daughter suggested I make a matching quilt.  Great gift idea. 

My finished tuffet. 

Baby Quilts

The color was green and the theme was fairies. 

More Baby Quilts

The theme was a nautical one with blues and brown.

Pink fairies for this room.