2011 UFO Challenge

After serious consideration and a little time to list my UFO's I decided that I am going to participate in the 2011 UFO Challenge at Patchwork Times.
So here is my list of 12 (I'm know that there is more)that I want to complete this year.

1. Double Pinwheel Quilt(2003)- finish assembling, quilt and bind (Completed 5/2/11)
2. Snow Business Quilt (Planet Patchwork Mystery Quilt 2007) - quilt and bind
3. Christmas Lights Quilt (2009) - quilt and bind  (Completed 12/10/11)
4. Sailboat Quilt (2010) - assemble, quilt and bind (Completed 4/27/11)
5. Sister's Choice Quilt - finish blocks, assemble, quilt and bind
6. Oklahoma Backroads Quilt - finish blocks, assemble, quilt and bind (Completed 1/31/11)
7. Rosebud Quilt (2006) - quilt and bind  (Completed 8/21/11)
8. Cherry Irish Chain - finish blocks, assemble, quilt and bind
9. Cathdral Stars - finsh assembling, borders, quilt and bind.
10. Have a Nice Trip Quilt (Planet Patchwork Mystery Quilt 2010) - quilt and bind (Completed 4/29/11)
11. Random Ohio Stars (2008) - add borders, quilt and bind  (Completed 10/30/11)
12. Thimbleberries BOM - not sure which one I have 3 in progress.

It would be awesome to finish all of the quilts, then I could move on to the next 12.

Happy New Year,
Mary

2 at a Time

After I finished the last pair of socks (actually my 1st completed pair) I decided to try 2 at a time on circular needles. A little bit of a learning curve and allot of bad thoughts and questioning my decision to start this but now that I am well on my way with them I am liking this technique. The pattern I am following is from the book "Knitting Circles Around Socks by Antje Gillingham."

I always need to be doing something, so while I am on the computer I knit. I keep my knitting on my keyboard pullout, since I have a laptop seemed like the perfect place it put it - nice and handy.

Now time to get ready for work.

Mary

Snow and Sew

This was the view out my sewing room window Sunday morning. According to the news we did have enough snow to classify it as a White Christmas - first one since 1963 in this area. It was certainly beautiful to see the big fluffy flakes coming down, but now in my personal and humble opinion that can be it for the rest of the winter season.


Now that I have finished my Carolina Christmas Quilt it is time to start on the next quilt for our bed. I am now officially participating in Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt, the clues started back on November 19th - so I'm a few weeks behind, at least it's not a race. For the quilt I chose Civil War era fabrics; the colors I am going with are browns, greens, pinks and neutrals - the same colors in the mystery.


With the snowy weekend we had and our plans changed I was able to get a few 'clues' completed. Son far I have clue 1, 2, 4 and half of 6 finished; 3 and 5 have quite a few pieces to them so they will take a while longer.


For some odd reason when I sit down at the sewing machine I always have to figure out how I can get my foot in to operate the pedal. JD and Sophie are usually under the desk but today Kasey decided to join them. They never go under there until I sit down to sew, not sure if they think I can't sew without them there.

Oh well, it's Monday and back to work.
Mary

Happy Holidays!

My wish to all is a very Wonderful Holiday Season.

Mary

Carolina Christmas - Done!

My Carolina Christmas quilt is done and on the bed just in time for Christmas. I finished the last of the binding this morning and can hardly wait to sleep under it tonight. This is the second quilt I have made for our bed, the first was 13 years ago and that was the quilt that started my addiction and love of quilting.

Hoping for Merry Christmas dreams tonight.

Mary

Knitting Socks

I finally finished knitting my first pair of socks. Aren't they pretty, can hardly wait to put them on. The yarn has aloe in it which should feel wonderful. I started knitting socks more than a year ago but have never finished a pair until now. I just picked up a book to knit 2 socks at one time, Knitting Circles Around Socks by Antje Gillingham, so that should solve my missing sock issue. I am anxious to start on those but as usual I have several things going on at the same time, but that won't stop me.

Today's plan is to quilt some, Christmas shop some and knit more socks.

Mary

Jo's Visit to the South Continues

Saturday we continued on with Jo's tour of the South with a ride up to Caesar's Head continuing on to see Pretty Place down through Bevard then up to Highlands down to Franklin and ending up for an early dinner at the Dillard House. After over stuffing ourselves at the Dillard House onward to home where we comfortably ended the evening watching one good movie and the 2nd movie the verdict is still out on.

Today was kind of a laid back day with laying around this morning - all of us tried from the past couple of days of travel. Thursday night I introduced Jo to Shrimp and Grits, this morning she had Biscuits and Gravy for the first time - hard to believe for people in the South to understand no one ever having them before but it's not a meal in the North. Jo and I ventured into Greenville for a little shopping then the sad trip to the airport where we had to say goodbye for now.

What an fabulous weekend - not ready for it to end.

Mary

Christmas at Biltmore

Awesome day Friday with my hubby and a very good friend, Joann. We went to the Biltmore Estates in Asheville and had a great time. The highlight of the day was Candlelight tour of the home - simply beautiful. The house and grounds are magnificent thoughout the year but the holiday decorations are fabulous to see.

What an wonderful day!
Mary