Winter Scarf

Not too long ago Jodie of Jelly Wares posted here about a great scarf she knitted. Well, I liked it so much I thought I would give it a go. (It took Jodie 3 nights to make this! Me, much, much longer!) This is knit with Berroco Sox yarn (75%wool and 25% nylon) that I posted about here. The pattern calls for 2 different colored skeins of yarn that you alternate every 2 rows. Well, I didn't do that. Only used the one skein.

Look at how wonderfully it striped! While an easy scarf to knit, it did start with a provisional cast on that I had never done before so I learned something new. See that vertical line running straight up the middle of the scarf? At the very top of it is where I started with 3 stitches on my needle. I increased 4 stitches every other row until it grew into the size I wanted. I could have kept on going and made a shawl!

I had my daughter model it for me. This will be great to keep that chilly air at bay around my throat and upper chest when wearing a jacket or blazer. I may make another for a gift but this one is for me!

OK, another knitting project off my needles. Time to put another on! This time, a scarf made with lace weight yarn that I bought at the knitting convention in June. I'll show you my progress on that scarf in my next post.

Talk at you later, Rumi

Spring scarf

Hello Friends,

Well, I have spent my days sewing for others but the evenings have been my time to catch up on my knitting. I have several knitting projects going at any given time and as I finish one, I pick up another. Eventually, things do get done. My latest finish is a lacy spring scarf/stole that I started a few months back. I posted about it here. Knit in a fingering weight wool, this light airy scarf is perfect for those cool spring evenings. I love the soft green color too!

Here is a close up. Into the Christmas stash it goes.

Samoan Treasures

Hello friends,
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions for finishing my baby quilts. I liked all the suggestions so what's a girl to do! Well, I think I will finish each quilt differently. I was lucky enough to receive orders from several customers this week so have not had too much time for personal sewing. Hopefully in a few days I will have some sewing to show you! Maybe some knitting too!

OK, now on to the good stuff!
I am truly a lucky frog! Look what was in my mailbox today! Samoan goodies that I had won on Barb's giveaway. If you haven't been to Barb's blog, go now. You will be glad you did! Triangles on a roll, a package of quilt fuse, lovely pins and a thread conditioner.

Beautiful samoan fabric that I had been drooling over whenever I saw the wonderful things Barb was making out of them. The light blue fabric in the upper left is canvas--can't wait to turn that into a tote! Thank you, thank you Barb!

Birdie quilts

Hi friends,

Here is what I am working on right now. Aren't these cute little baby quilts!


I think I will add a dark blue border. Hmmm, I think they need a narrow border first. What do you all think? White? I wish I had enough of the birdie fabric for it.

I just love this little birdie and ladybug fabric. Look close, there is even a tire swing hanging from a tree!

What am I going to do with these you ask? Well, one will go to Touching Little Lives and the other will either go to my Etsy shop or be set aside in case I need a baby gift one day.

Sugar Cane Scarf

Hello Friends,
Well, I am pretty much back to my old self. The old wrist is feeling pretty good again. I have started a small quilt project (more about that in another post) and was able to do some knitting as well.
Here is that lace scarf that I have been chipping away at. It is made from sugar cane yarn. I need to weave in the ends and block this beauty but the knitting is complete and I truly love it!

I have 3 knitting projects on needles right now but couldn't resist going to the yarn shop for more yarn! What the hay, I like working on 4 knitting projects at once!

Don't you love these yummy colors! 75% superwash wool and 25% nylon

Also found this pattern for a felted tea cozy. Cute!

These are little gift cards with knitting themed pins attached. The little pins are about 1/2 inch in size. These will go to the ladies in my little knitting group. (We call ourselves "Knit Wits")



Finally, I couldn't resist buying this! It is an ink pen with a retractable tape measure at the top.

Talk at you later! Rumi

Teapots, Part 4

Alice in Wonderland teapot that I posted about in the spring. Fun, fun!

Cute Tim Hortons teapot that holds about 2 1/2 cups. For my international friends, Tim Hortons is a donut shop that also serves soups and sandwiches etc. along with some pretty good coffee. Canadian company, I believe.

Ahh, my little workhorse Brown Betty! Betty holds 2 cups and she is my go to gal on a daily basis. I found a cute little ladybuy drip catcher for the spout.

Aren't these the cutest little ornaments? I keep them in my tea cabinet year round.

I had the opportunity to meet Stephen Twining in October of 2007. He was signing tea canisters at the tea shop in the British Isles section of Disney Epcot's world showcase. He is an extremely tall, slim man who was very nice. He said he was 10 generations removed from the original Twining tea seller.


Oops! This picture was supposed to be above with the other teapots. I purchased this at a cute little local British style tea shop and restaurant called the Barnbury Cross. Sweet huh.

And this is where most of my treasures live. Guess I have to stop buying teapots, I'm pretty much out of room!

Well friends, hopefully I will have some sewing to show you next time! In the meantime, how about a cup of tea?

Teapots, part 3

This is a Polish teapot that Mr. Lucky picked up for me last Christmas. I think he bought it in Seattle. Beautiful and I love it but it does tend to dribble a bit.

Love this bone china teapot. Pretty pink roses. This holds about 4 cups.

Tea for one that I picked up one year at Disney. The saucer is shaped like Mickey's hand.

Another tea for one that I received as a Christmas gift from my good friend Catherine.

The grand 6 cup triplets!

This teapot and warmer was purchased in Aruba. It is an inexpensive souvenir that dribbles but is pretty to look at.

Final teapot post tomorrow!

Teapots, part 2

Two more Japanese teapots. Don't these look like fraternal twins. These hold about 1 1/2 cups each.

A little 1 cup cast iron teapot that I received as a farewell gift when moving from Japan. Hmmm.. needs a good dusting!

A bit larger than the last cast iron teapot, I bought this at our local Japanese gift shop.

It is hard to take a picture of a stainless steel teapot, it's like a mirror!

I purchased this last summer at the Columbus Arts Festival. The picture doesn't do this one justice. Beautiful in person.

Part 3 tomorrow . Rumi

Where were you Rumi?

Hello Friends,

Sorry I have been "missing in action" this past week. While finishing up my potholders from my last post my tendonitis in my wrist started to flare up. I slapped on my trusty wrist brace and stayed out of my sewing room for a few days--oh the agony (not the wrist, the time away from sewing LOL!)

It felt better by the weekend and I was glad because I, along with many other volunteers, manned the Touching Little Lives booth at the Ohio State Fair for a few hours on Saturday. I had my camera all set to go but left it on the kitchen counter so no pics of the event. :-( Hopefully we encouraged some people to get involved with this wonderful charity.

After being AWOL from the sewing room for several days I had a couple of customer projects to catch up on and then BOOM! I was sidelined by Labyrinthitis, which basically is an inner ear disorder that gives me vertigo. I never know when it will strike. I usually have to spend my day(s) in bed waiting for the room to stop spinning. Luckily this was a mild one and I am feeling much better today (Thanks Sabra, for stepping in at the last minute and subbing for me at work--I owe you one!)

Long story short (too late?) No sewing to show you. How about a peek at my teapot collection instead? Let's just start with a few today and I will post more in a couple of days. I have alot of Japanese teapots (go figure).

This little beauty fits in the palm of my hand and makes about 1/2 cup of tea. Designed for pouring into tiny little Japanese teacups, not the stomping big mugs I like to use. This was a gift from my mother many years ago.

A teapot that I purchased while living in Japan in the mid '80's. This will make about 1 1/2 cups.

Another purchase from Japan. Roughly the same size as the one above.


A bigger teapot. This holds probably 2 1/2 to 3 cups.

More to come. Talk at you later. Rumi