Made a decision

Due to some things out of my control I have made a decision to unplug this Blog. I'm not into posting anymore. I don't care if I even sew. My life has taken a turn that has been upsetting and I need to deal with things here.

I think I have burdened you all enough and have no intentions of dragging you all down. Take Care and sew your hearts out. Chris

Sick baby

Everyone in the house has had a cold and cough. Well she now has it. Of course no meds for one this small. So after about 6 hours in bed I took her to the living room and placed er in the sling chair with the back elevated. She has slept another 4 hours and still snoozing. Short of me sitting up with her it was the easiest thing to do. So if you know someone with a little one that is sick. I learned the hard way. Chris

Crafters

I think I'm more of a crafter than classified as any one type of creative person. I sew, quilt, knit, cook, garden and refinish furniture.

Some paint, needlepoint, crochet, write, draw and so many more things. We are a breed apart from the non crafters.

I have made dolls and stuffed animals and sold them. Make clothing for others and also doll clothing. Now I would like to learn another craft just to say I can do it. Haven't found a niche yet.

Do you craft or do you prefer one creative outlet? Chris

All about texture

Got the smart idea to knit two scarves at one time. Well guess what it takes twice as long to knit them that way. I knew it would. They are on the final side of length. 

This is a textured knit. It is reversible also. Many knits are one sided, but I tried to find something that would look the same on either side.  This is a neutral gender scarf also. No frills, just texture. The heather gray color plays into the neutral look also. After this project is complete I will get back to the sewing. 

I have a little girl today and overnight tonight. They are taking one of the kids to O'Hare airport and it is to much to ask a almost 2 year old to sit that long in the car and be patient while waiting for the flight. 

Dad and the older kids are going to drop them off at the airport and go see a

firefighter friend in Downers Grove, Illinois for A couple hours then go back and pick up Mom.

Still working with leftovers. Plan on dividing some of the leftover meat into smaller meal portions and freezing. Don't want it to go to waste. Maybe scalloped potatoes and ham for supper we will see. Take care Chris

Christmas giving gifts is all about the little ones

Jeff and I gave ourselves a gas log fireplace insert for Christmas. It was delivered yesterday and he had all the prep work done so he installed it for use last night. We really like our gift to ourselves. Neither one of us like the work with a wood burning fireplace anymore. Also in case of power outage we have a heat source this way because it can be lit manually. 

The little ones make Christmas. She was very careful to hand someone the paper as it ripped. She was so overwhelmed with all the commotion she became very bashful at times. She got to sit at the big table with the other kids. She went to the older boys and let them carry her around, but Uncle Todd wanted to hold her and she was teasing him and wouldn't go to him. They were tired when they left last night.    

Kate's first Christmas. Grandma got her a rattle she can hang onto and she was trying to chew on it. It made a rattling sound and she played with it for quite awhile. She is recovering from a cold, but was pretty good natured even though she was sick. They got a short video of her laughing for the first time yesterday which was priceless. They change everyday when they are this age. She was sure watching everyone as they moved through the room.

Hope all of you have a Merry Christmas. Chris

Not ready yet

Gifts to wrap for little ones. 

Eggs to cook and devil

Also pies to make. I'm up and trying to get organized. Guess what I didn't buy yesterday? Garbage bags. I'm out. So I have to go to the bank and then to the store for those. Didn't want to go to the store today, but I'm forced to. Yes they were on my grocery list. I overlooked it. 

Have a Merry Christmas and be safe. Chris

Getting closer

Chex party mix is made, caramel corn in the oven. Pies tomorrow. Veggie dip is made and in the fridge.

Veggies need cleaning and arranged on the plate. Beans need assembled and placed in the crockpot. I make a cheesy hash browns with cheese and bacon so that needs making.

Italian beef will go in the other crockpot tomorrow and the ham will go in the oven in the afternoon. I have some cookies to frost also.

I went to three grocery stores looking for old fashion food coloring. Well finally found some red, but no green. Had to go to the Wilton baking aisle and find green coloring paste. I guess they don't carry the little viles of yellow green red and blue any longer. So if you need it don't look for it and get frustrated.

Baby Kate is sick and not sure Mommy an Kate will be here tomorrow. She caught every ones cold. When they are that little they can't tell you where they hurt.  Awful to kiss her first Christmas.

I missed my sons' first Christmas. I was in the hospital for a week with a stomach pump. I had a severe virus. I got out on New years Eve.

Tomorrow is the day for our Christmas. Hope everyone has an ice Holiday. Chris  

Before I forget this....

Merry Christmas to all of you and your Families. I grumble a lot, but I do hope you have a great time during your holiday celebrations.

Many people are alone and for those who are you have your memories.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you my followers and visitors . Chris

Christmas sewing lists for next year

Yes still trying to get ideas. I have come up with several, but need to finalize so I have a buying list to look for things.

1. Flannel for pj bottoms
2. felt for busy books for the two little ones
3, purse and tote bag materials, zippers, batting and also interfacing.
4. look for ric-rac, ribbons, buckles, buttons, colored zippers,purse magnetic snaps and velcro

Yes trying to keep my mind open to all supplies and get them if they are on closeouts or on sale.

Spring clothing lists for the girls

Short or bottom weight fabrics for shorts for Autumn. Potty training time so we need several changes.

Kate needs summer bubbles. Have to make them because she is so long in the body. Altering patterns for her or else two piece outfits.

Need to clean the machines and get the iron cleaned up because many things to make.

Looked on line for pattern downloads for kids clothing and found several ideas to use the basic pattern pieces I have and update them with a ruffle or a pocket. Be inventive and create until I have several items for each little girl. Need to use fabric for like outfits, but different items.  

Grandma is going to be busy. Birthdays will be approaching fast.

I am off to bake cookies today. Chris.

Tried and tried

Yes three times tried to upload  pictures and it didn't work. Oh well. I'm here.

Today I'm going to clean who wants to see pictures of that. I need to make some cookies and also some Party Mix and Caramel Corn. It will be a finger or fist full food for Christmas Eve.

I don't over make cookies because anything left over I eat and I don't need that.

Some gift wrapping has to get done also. Shopping for food. Oh my when will it all get done?

Still working on my list for next year and also on my have to get done quilting. I'm way behind on it. I really need to force myself to stay in the sewing room for several hours a day.

Hope you are getting all your cooking and shopping done. Chris

ok head start on next year

I started lists in my head for next year. Pj bottoms have been mentioned by my grandson. He like the flannel kind to lounge in. So that is on the list. Thought about short flannel bottoms also.

I think I have some Shrek fabric left for that. He would get a kick out of that. Nightgowns for the girls, the little girls. Autumn will like that. Need to start looking for flannel on closeouts. Maybe find some good deals.

I spent sometime on the web today and got some ideas for summer clothes for the little ones. Autumn will be potty training this summer and she will need some more changes of clothing for awhile. So thought about coordinating tops and shorts, but make two pair of shorts to match the outfit. So in case of accident wouldn't have to change everything.

Will look into easy short pattern in her size and then make tons of them. I have pieces of solid denim and cotton woven bottom weight fabric and 1/2 a yard is more than enough to make her size. I'm storing it so might as well use it up.
drapes.
Need to buy elastic mine is so old I'm sure it isn't worth anything. Elastic does have a shelf life. The elements does play havoc on the quality of it after time.


have to go tot he hardware store today to get some plumbing parts. We have a gas log set on order and suppose to be warmer today to get the gas line plumbed. We are not going to burn wood anymore. To much smoke and also the storage of wood and hauling it isn't in the cards anymore. Light a match to have the fireplace burning is more up my alley. Also if the electricity goes out we can manually light it and have some warmth.

Going into the sewing room in a minute to measure and shorten more drapes.  Last set for now. Then laundry and my kitchen floor is a disaster area . Still don't know what I'm cooking for Christmas Eve. That is coming real quick. Chris

Frustrated with myself

Christmas is almost here and I'm not in the mood. So much commercialism and it means nothing to families if they can't be together.

I had such great plans to make extra things for the family members and got nothing of it done. I shouldn't beat myself up, but it feels like I'm not prepared.

I guess I need to start on my lists for net year as soon as they family leaves Christmas eve. Next year will get here fast.

Today warmed my heart. I took Autumn with me to meet Taylor and Derek. Their other grandparents brought them to meet me. She misses them so much and she got this look of disbelief on her face then a huge smile. She was so happy to see them and she played so hard. She was so funny and showing off for them.  

The last time the kids were home the baby Kate was only 6 days old. She is almost 3  months old now and changed completely.  She will be held non-stop for about nine days and then the adjustment to normal life again.

Time for family and memories. Chris

Kids day at Grandma's today

Autumn woke up with this going on with her hair. She must have slept hard. Today the two older kids are coming. They are at the other Grandparents so we pick them up at 10 am.

Autumn is going to go with me to pick them up. They will all be surprised. The older kids don't know she is coming with me.

Autumn slept for 11 1/2 hours last night. She must have been tired. She even seems sleepy this morning. Will get her in the tub to get the snarls out of her hair and get ready to go for a short car ride to get the older two.

The day is going to be busy at my house. Chris

Lots of commotion going on

Yesterday morning woke at 4:20 am with all kinds of red lights going on. There was a fire in the neighborhood and it was really close. No one was hurt, but the family lost everything just before Christmas. They have family close so they have someplace to stay. After Fire Marshall and the Sheriff's department came and went several times yesterday they boarded the house up last evening.Yesterday was this little ones day to be with Grandma. Her Mother came to visit and she went visiting with an elderly neighbor here. She has a pretty good day other than she slipped in the slick floor in her stocking feet as she was running and smacked her face pretty good, but she got over it pretty quick.

Grandpa likes a challenge. He goes to the garage on the days when there is a visit going on. So I pulled out a vintage well almost 19 year old sewing machine that my Mother had and he worked on it. The machine is a zig-zag Pfaff and it wouldn't do zig-zag. We had it to three Pfaff dealers and they claimed they couldn't get it to work. It would only straight stitch. So the challenge was to get it working. Couldn't be any worse than what it was. By the end of the afternoon it is all cleaned oiled and working fine. He said as much lint and crude that was in the machine that the dealers never even looked at it and charge good money to do nothing.

Sad part is they are suppose to be an Authorized repair service and they do nothing but charge you. We can't go back on them because it was so long ago and we just let it set. It is a basic stretch stitch machine, but it has the mechanical walking foot on it. So I really would like to use it for that purpose.  

The other project has been knitting. I am making stocking caps to match the scarves I have knitted. Repeating the texture to match the scarf. This one is in the process. Doing it on 4 needles in the round. Today I'm going to go get some dark gray yarn to make a couple more. I have been using yarn I had here and the selection is getting limited for the quantity I need to do scarves and hats to match. Also I need to find wrapping paper and get that project started.

Autumn will be here over night on Thursday because Friday morning we go and meet the two older kids. She will be so excited to see them. They can come back here until the adults are done with a couple things that are going on. She will be so happy to see them as will Grandpa and me also. So my Christmas will start early, but that is the fun part of having kids around.

Hope all of you are having a good time with Family and Friends. Chris

Smiling Baby

Katelyn is finally a happy baby. It took a while to get her on track. She was hungry all the time, but now that she is getting formula and food she is so much more fun to be around.

She is 2 months old and rolling side to side and holds her head up well. She wants to sit up more all the time.

Older Sister Autumn is picking her up and tries to carry her around. She was 13 lbs. 7.5 oz and 23 inches long at her check up. She sleeps over 9-12 hours at night without waking up. Happy Baby. Chris

Just can't make myself do it

I am still knitting. just can't make myself go to the sewing machine. I am not going to get to excited until after Christmas. I have three quilt tops I want quilted. So I will get started on then as soon as I can make myself get there.

Been such dark gray days and I just would rather keep my hands busy with knitting. I hope everyone has a good time with their sewing. Chris

It is Christmas time and I want

I have been browsing the Internet for a new sewing machine. I want a new one, but I already have five sewing machines. Three of them are strictly straight stitch. Two have zig-zag, but really not anything fancy.

With two little girls to sew for I would like a fancier machine. Wishful think probably. My Mom sewed dresses for me on a Featherweight I still have. Seems like it can be done, but I want.


I really would like a machine with the larger opening to quilt with, but maybe an embroidery/sewing machine. I have heard stories of machines not working well doing both functions. One company said if you embroidered more than 600 hours you had to upgrade the machine. Well does this mean 600 total sewing hours or just embroidery. That wouldn't be more than 2 hours everyday which can happen fast.

Of course the money part is a scary thing also. I have paid 1500 dollars for a machine over 30 years ago and it ended up in the landfill about 12 years ago. I wore the machine out.

The next thing is will I use it or not? I think I am going to go looking locally to two stores in the area and compare. Any suggestions? What machine is your favorite?  Chris

I know I was using this for quilting, but.....

I have been knitting. These are still in the works because I need to look for buttons. I thought I had some and they weren't what I wanted.  This is a cowl/shawl. It has buttons on the side where the fold is. 

 The intensity of the red makes this hard to see. It is a scarf that folds over the other side and buttons.

I knitted a headband to go with it. Today my hands hurt so I'm not knitting today. Raining here and very gray. Stay warm Chris

It is slipping away to fast

Where is December and this year going? Soon it will be 2015.....
Yesterday was a blur. Autumn was here and before we got her back home she ended up getting sick. She hasn't ever thrown up before and she was scared to death. Grape juice everywhere. So We spot treated the carpet last night and I went at it again this morning. Maybe will have to get the steam cleaner out and do carpets this week.

So our supper was late and we both were tired. I went to bed and this morning found a few more things like a table topper that got soiled also. So the laundry is going and the surfaces got cleaned off good.

I think it was just a fluck but she ate steak and corn went she went home. Amazing how kids get sick and get over it so easy.

Knitting happening and cleaning are the order of business today. Chris

Some mending and some knitting

I have done some mending, Cut off two pairs of drapes and lots of knitting.

This is a skull cap made from some leftover yarn. This is a sage green, picture color not good. I had a basic pattern and added the texture with the pattern of stitches I used. It matches a scarf I made a couple weeks ago. 

 This is a basket weave scarf that will be buttoned into a cowl. Still working on the length. Not good color again. It is a light country blue shade. I think I'm going to look in my button collection and see if I can find some rhinestone buttons from an old coat for this one.

Simple baby booties. These didn't take anytime at all to make. Still using up odds and ends of yarn I have been storing. After this is all used I will have a hamper that it was stored in empty. Today is busy for me.

Autumn is coming for her visit with her biological mother. So things are all in a turmoil while that happens. Hope you have a great day. Chris

I'm here

I know nothing seems to interest me of late. Did some returns today and a little shopping. Had to calm the old man down. We are putting a gas log insert in our fireplace so we don't have to burn wood, but have the heat in case the electricity goes out. which that happened a couple years ago and we were in the cold for 19 hours, but we burned wood then.

Some of the parts for it came yesterday and it was very unclear the directions. So my husband thought the parts weren't all there. After a phone call and the person on the other end told my husband he didn't know what he was doing I left for the place and got it resolved. My husband did know and we found out again after poorly written directions the part is in the other part of the order we haven't received. It will be in two weeks from today.

So today was a stressed filled day. Also dealt with my son and his moodiness. When a mother our stress never ends.

I'm sitting and watching TV tonight so I can relax before bed. I fought with my bed last night and would rather not do that again tonight.

Hope all your sewing dreams are coming true. Chris

Flowers blooming

I love Christmas cactus.

I got this one at Aldi's a couple weeks ago. It has had a ton of blooms open and more buds. This is the bright spot in my day. Chris

Procastinating big time

Been sitting and knitting instead of sewing and quilting. You ask WHY? Well I have no desire to do it. It will come back. I have decided no quilted items for Christmas presents. Just to much pressure. 

The dark gray days haven't helped. Today need to go out and do some bargain shopping. We are giving money to the older Grand kids because I don't know what to get them and also I can't afford the big prices for some of the things they want. 

I use to give gift cards then they wouldn't have enough to get what they wanted. So cash is the best for my kids. 

I have knitted almost all the extra yarn I have laying around.  Which helps with the storage issue. I have been looking for 100% cotton yarn that is finer than the Peaches and Cream brand. I had some years ago from Red Heart brand yarn. I like the weight of washcloths it makes over the other brand yarn. I think I will go on a mission to find the finer yarn. May have to order online. 

Not had a lot going on. Maybe I should get busy. Chris