52 Fridays Week 20/52

I climbed a mountain! We had a staff retreat and a bunch of us went for a walk to explore. There was a trail to the Summit, so off we went.



I made it.

Talk about a wake-up call though! I thought I was going to run out of oxygen! The other wake-up call is when your co-worker takes a picture of you from behind! No chances for me to pick the angle. Eeeks.

Elliptical and gym here I come!

52 Fridays Week 19/52

If you need me I'll be in the sewing room with my friend Ms. Pfaff. I have lots of Row 10 and other sewing to do!



Or I might be at the Common Thread Quilt Guild Show at the RA Centre in Ottawa! I have three quilts in the show.

Since most of you are unable to go to it due to geography, I'll give you a preview.

McD's Farm


Minny Muu


Picnic Fun


Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

Shop Update - Project Bags

I've been sewing like a crazy person working on project bags for my byneedleandthread etsy shop.

The shop has now been updated with 16 lovely bags.



These are for toting around your knitting or crochet project or really anything you want to stash in a fun bag. They are approximately 9 by 12 inches and close with a pretty ribbon and button.

Check them out!

If you decide to buy one, let me know you saw them on my blog, and I'll throw in a little something extra.

52 Fridays Week 18/52

I'm neck deep in fabric!!



I'm in production mode over here. I have an update planned for my new etsy shop! byneedleandthread.etsy.com

To celebrate this event, I am doing a giveaway with Jackie over at KIPing it Real Podcast. She has planned a Meet n Greet at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival tomorrow outside the front gate, and I have donate some prizes! If you're in the area (I'm not but maybe you are) check out the info here.

I will also be doing a giveaway here once the update is complete and the dust settles. So keep checking back for that.

Weekend plans:
-Shop sewing and update
-Sew sleeves on the back of two quilts for the quilt show. Link!
-Drop off quilts for the show
-Make placemat for PQS3
-Mother's day secret project
-Trying to stay off the computer!!!!!

Yikes! I better get my butt moving!

52 Fridays Week 17/52

Sorry I didn't do anything monumentally stupid or funny this week.

And I've been spending too much time doing this...



Which means although I've stalked many patterns on Ravelry, I haven't done much of anything this week.

New on the want to knit list (and the reason I'm now obsessed):
-Monkey Socks (Rebecca's cool ones at Knitting Night)
-Central Park Hoodie (this one's Jackie's fault)

Weekend plans:
-seeing my parents
-crafty things (not sure what yet)

Knitting Blunder & 52 Fridays Week 16/52

At lunch yesterday I went out to buy a coffee cake to bring to my Thursday night knitting group.

When I left work I had my usual bag, a bag of knitting and a grocery bag with a cake in it. I decided that this was too many bags to manage on the bus. So, while in the elevator (alone) I decided to empty my knitting bag, and put the cake at the bottom of it. This involved grabbing the small rainbow ball of dishcloth cotton, a large tangly ball of dishcloth cotton and holding that between my knees, the project bag containing my shawl in progress under one arm, and a bag of yarn I bought in Toronto to show the ladies at knitting under my other arm. Then of course the elevator door opens and a man in full biking gear (helmet, spandex, yellow jacket) walks in, and looks at ME funny. (he shoulda seen himself!). So not being one to keep things to myself. (i.e. feeling the need to explain myself to random strangers). I told him I was going to knitting and bringing a cake, and trying to move it to the bottom of my bag before we get to to ground floor. Bell rings. We're there. I shove the knitting stuff all in the bag, say "Perfect!" and proceed to strut out of the elevator all proud of myself amazed at my speed and accomplishment this feat!

Then I hear "Whoa! whoa! whoa!" I'm about 10 feet out of the elevator at this point. I turn around and he's holding the ball of rainbow yarn?? I look at the tail coming outta the ball, which is not only trailing behind me the 10 feet attached to the dishcloth in progress that is all safe in my bag, but it's also wrapped around my leg! I thanked him like this is something normal people do every day, and finished my strut out of the lobby.

Then laughed so hard I cried.

52 Fridays Week 16/52

I love Fridays for many reason, two of which are jeans and sneakers.



Weekend plans

-shopping in the US with my parents
-knitting in the car
-row 10 catch up
-secret project
-placemat swap daydreaming

52 Fridays Week 15/52

It's Friday again, when did that happen? I've got lots to do today/this weekend, so I decided multi-tasking was in order. I took the photo of myself while on the bus this morning, very covertly of course, don't want anyone to know how weird I really am. :)



I’m going to Toronto for work meetings on Monday and Tuesday. I planned an early flight Sunday morning so that I could visit with my friend Chantale who lives in Barrie. She is going to drive in for the day. I’ve already lined up a few yarn shops we need to visit. So far my list includes: Purple Purl, Lettuce Knit and Whole Foods. One more stop has to be the most amazing looking store The Paper Place! My coworker was telling me about it. I'm giddy just thinking of all the bright colours and cuteness!I'm not sure what else we’ll do. I can’t wait! Anyone have any other Toronto suggestions? I need to keep in mind that it's just one day of exploring.

Before Sunday I need to get all my ducks in a row. I’ve got some last minute sewing to do and some overdue packages to send out.

Weekend Plans
- Sew
- Mail packages
- Shopping for snacks
- Do laundry & pack for my trip
- Visit with Chantale (Yay!)
- A zillion other things

Sew!

I took a little break to dye some yarn this weekend using the tutorial at Kathryn Ivy.



But mostly I've been doing a lot of sewing.

I finished the last 3 months of Ten Make Two. I'm anxiously awaiting my blocks.



I have also been working on row10. I'm enjoying making my own blocks with no patterns. Here's my hedgehog. It started as a doodle one day at work, then a more structured picture. Before I couloured the picture, it passed the "what do you think this looks like" test with my husband.



I did a little math, and now a wonderful block. If I do say so myself.



I hope everyone else is having a great long weekend!

52 Fridays Week 14/52

Theme of the week Green. Had to feature Mr. Froggy.



Looong Weekend Plans
- Visit my parents today for easter dinner
- Visit S's parents tomorrow
- Going outside! It's going super warm this weekend!
- Sewing
- Bee blocks
- Secret project
- I also have an urge to work on Dear Jane blocks again.
- Knitting
- Dyeing yarn with easter egg dye!

Happy Easter Folks!

52 Fridays Week 13/52

Even though it's -11C (12F) outside today. I am going to embrace spring here at the office. With my daffodils that I bought to support the Canadian Cancer Society.



Weekend plans
- Cleaning! Because my friend is sleeping over in my craft room! Eeks!
- Potluck with friends
- Sewing for an exciting project (news to come)
- Bee block sewing
- Knitting of course!

Don't forget about Earth Hour tomorrow night!

52 Fridays Week 12/52

I knit these myself!



Trying out my tripod, and taking pictures of my new socks! My second ever pair. First in sock weight yarn. Yippee! I wish my feet were teeny tiny. Not size 9.5. More photos on my Flickr photostream

I'm still plugging away on my Ravelympics socks. I had to start over. I am now doing them Top-Down. I will not give up.

Have a good weekend all!

52 Fridays Week 11/52

A much better week. And how can you go wrong with a bright pink coat! Yay spring-ish weather! No more black winter coat! (I hope).



I took this photo outside a magazine shop this morning on my way to work. The lady coming out the door thought I was taking a picture of her. It was pretty funny! I had to explain my self-portrait thing. She probably thinks I’m nuts.

In knitting news, I am almost finished my Garter-Rib socks. The Ravelympics ones were in time-out for not behaving. They will be released tomorrow when the Garter-Ribs are done!

Tomorrow I’m going on an expedition to Janie H Knits with my knitting friends. And then out for lunch. Should be a nice day!

52 Fridays Week 10/52

My personal unintentional theme of the year. Sleeping at the wheel. Not literally of course (I don't have a driver's license). Just feel like I'm letting myself and others down.



Good news is things have to get better from here right? They can only go up!

52 Fridays Week 9/52

Just a little late posting this one.

52 Fridays Week 8/52

Seriously! When did it happen?!



I've been knitting away on my socks for the Ravelympics. Turns out they are a titch too small. hmm.. I've since frogged the one with the yellow toe and started over with orange and size 2.25mm needles instead of 2mm. I shoulda know my guage was off. I actually did, but somehow thought it would work out. Lesson learned. Items will not stretch to guage. I also knew that. I will be frogging the other one soon. I have until the 28th to finish them.

52 Fridays Week 7/52

This whole taking photos of myself thing is getting easier. I do need a tripod though. So much easier than trying to stretch your arm out at long as it will go.



This weeks photo is in celebration of the Ravelympics beginning tonight. 9pm my time. I'll be watching the Olympic Opening Ceremonies and casting on my Toe-Up socks.

I'm also trying to get a lot of sewing done this weekend. I've challenged some folks to try and sew as much as possible and called it Sewing Olympics. Here are my lofty goals.



Keep in mind I'm a professional list-maker. Not so much a list follower.

Happy Weekend All!

52 Fridays Week 6/52

I'm gearing up for the Ravelympics over on Ravelry (a.k.a Facebook for Knitters). We are to cast on our project at 6pm pacific time when the Olympics Opening Ceremonies begin in Vancouver. That will be 9pm here. Gonna make some striped toe-up socks with funky bright yarn.



But really the pattern I'm using is not from this book, and I'm nearsighted so I don't need glasses to read...but they do make me look studious don't they?

I am currently trying to finish these socks before the Olympics. They are from the above book. So it's not a total fake-out.

One from the Archives

I made this quilt last spring for our quilt guild's challenge. The theme was Old Mcdonald had a farm. They gave us some fabrics: rusty barn colour, sky, sunflower print (i used 1inch square of it on the centre flower) and the grass. The rest is from my stash. I took the idea and ran with it. I really love how it worked out. These were my first letters and free piecing. No patterns used here.



I need to challenge myself more often.

A finished object(s)

Part of my New Year's resolution or rather 'plan for this year' included participating in the NaKniMitMo over on Ravelry. We were to knit a pair of mittens in the month of January. Easy enough. I finished one mitten. But only started on the 15th because I was making a quilt for my Mom for her Birthday.

Here's the quilt I made her.



And here's my one mitten. It is the Swedish Fish (Ravelry link) pattern by SpillyJane. She's Canadian too! Yay Canada! Hoping to start the other one today.

52 Fridays Week 5/52

My SP is a little different this week. Tuesday was our 2nd Wedding Anniversary. This time two years ago we were on a ship in the Carribean. We sure could use some warm weather now. -32 C(-25.6F) with the windchill..brrrr.



Weekend plans:

- Clean, organize and destash my sewing room.
- Knit.
- Do some sewing.

Hmmm..something seems familiar with those plans.