When Life Gets In The Way

I realize now that I haven't blogged in a couple of weeks. However, dear ones, both two and four-legged, conspired to get in my way. I am here, now.

I really didn't intend to buy anything on black Friday. Then I got the newsletter from my favourite yarn shop. It wasn't a Black Friday sale, just their usual end of the month clearance. They had Cascade superwash wool for half price. What was I to do?

The Cascade is here, along with some other skeins I had that were in need of winding into balls. I did 12 skeins in rapid succession, and I don't recommend that. My arm was sore until today, from turning the ball winder. However, I have plans for lots of warm presents from this cache. It is a commentary on how dull winter is around here, when you look at all the colours I chose. My family and friends will be bright.

My 1001 Nights shawl is beginning to feel like I have been knitting on it for 1001 nights. Actually only 3 months, but it never ends.

The rows now take forever to knit. I have 11 more rows to go, so I know I can make it, but I have been picking it up lately and thinking "You, again?"

In other UFOs, I pulled one, this afternoon, that needs quilting.

Laurel Burch Bountiful Gifts from I've forgotten when. I did a lovely job of mitering the border. It has been in the pile so long that the next step will have to be a good pressing. I found some fabric for a backing. It isn't in keeping with the front side, but if I wait to get the perfect backing, it will continue to be a UFO. I am sure I have a binding that works.

Bendy Bag

Awhile ago, Craftsy offered a free viewing day, where you could watch all the classes you wanted, for free. I watched Joan Hawley's "Zip It Up" and really enjoyed it. So when Craftsy offered me a deal on the class, last week, I bought it, so I could watch it again, and get the patterns.

I was doing some tidying after retreat, and decided to reward myself, by playing. I grabbed two fat quarters from my stash, a zipper, and some scraps of fusible fleece, and made a Bendy Bag.

I used another of my Laurel Burch fat quarters. I am not out yet! This one is from Secret Jungle.

The bag uses the piece of zipper you cut off, to make a tab on the back. Not sure how useful that is.

It has a nice bright yellow lining. If I make it again, I will do the ends of the zipper like I do my usual zipper pouches.

It isn't very big, not large enough for a knitting project bag, but it might be handy for my chargers, when I go to retreat (and maybe the camera, so I know where it is.)

I was inspired to sort my zippers. I had them all in one large drawer, but I was spending a lot of time having to measure a zipper, when I pulled it out to make sure it was the right size.

A friend gave me this drawer unit that she wasn't using, so now I have six shallow drawers of zippers. It makes things much easier. Thanks, Michelle.

For the kitten fans...

Count the ears, and divide by 2 and you get 4!

Retreat Bags @ Retreat

My friend Maggie of The Cheerful Chickadee was at retreat with me, and together we made Emmaline Bags' Retreat Bag.

We added straps and a zippered pocket to the inside.

Mine looks like this.

The inside looks like this.

I mislaid my camera at retreat (it was in the bottom of my suitcase with my clothes, up in my room) so I didn't get a picture of Maggie's bag, but she sent me one yesterday.

This is her interior.

The pictures tell a bit of a story about who we are as quilters.

I also made new tablet cases for the new tablets at our house.

Laurel Burch Elephants and Tula Pink Turtles, both fat quarters, from my stash. Someone at the retreat asked what pattern I use. I actually take rough measurements, layer batting between a piece of flannel and a piece of pretty fabric, quilt the sandwich, cut it to size by wrapping it around the tablet, zigzag the edges together to form a pocket and add binding to make it pretty.  No patter, just a tape measure. They close with velcro, added just before the binding. The elephants is for my husband and the button says Handmade with Love.

Of course, if you put a quilt down, a cat will lay on it, no matter how small.

Ti-Gars left us yesterday and was adopted into his forever home. We are so happy for him!

New Brunswick Finished

I started my New Brunswick wall hanging in July and I am finally finished. It is on its way to its owner in, as you might guess, New Brunswick.

Binding on and complete.

I put the binding and the hanger on at retreat. Thanks to Diane for helping me figure out the hanger.

It is a cold and damp day, again today, so a little smile to end the blog.

The Paw Patrol is keeping us safe from marauding squirrels.