State Fair Win

Hello Friends,

Sorry it has been such a long time since I last posted.  I'm afraid that my postings will be quite sporadic from here on out.  Life is hectic and I am spending less time on the computer.  While I am not leaving comments, I am catching up on many of your blogs every week or two. 

I did want to tell you about my 3rd place finish in the Ohio State Fair.  Thank you Kaaren from The Painted Quilt for the fabulous embroidery pattern that helped me win a ribbon.  This was my first time entering anything in the State Fair.  I don't know if I will enter next year but ideas are rolling around in my head.

Summer Shawl

Pattern found HERE but I can't imagine putting all this work into 100% acrylic yarn that will not block! (Somehow, I messed up and my lace pattern differs from the sample but I still like it--makes mine one of a kind LOL!) If you choose to make this, I recommend a natural fiber like cotton--or wool if you want a toasty winter shawl.

Talk at you later!  Rumi

Miss Farrah

                    Farewell darling girl.

   Thank you for 14 years of Joy.   You will always stay in my heart.

Mug cozy and book light cozy

Daughter Lucky just got a new job in Minnesota and moved there last week.  While packing up her things, she came across her full sized booklight that I had promised (about a year ago!) to  make a cover for.

Well, she didn't want it to get scratched in transit so I got right on it. 

She likes Giraffes.

 I made a cover for her paperback size booklight HERE.http://luckyfrogblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-light-cover.html

She also asked for a cozy to put over her mug while her tea was brewing. 

If she ever decides to get a little teapot, this cozy will fit that too. As is, she is moving into a tiny studio apartment with a tiny kitchen so must minimize her "stuff". 

I'm happy that she has this new job and a start on a great career but I will miss having her around on a daily basis. 

Knitting Project Bags

Hello Friends,
     Like many of you, I usually have several projects in the works at any given time.  My sewing projects pretty much stay in my sewing room unless I am sewing binding.  My knitting, on the other hand, is usually done in front of the tv in the evenings. To keep things a bit tidy, I try to keep my knitting in project bags so I don't have my stuff strewn all over the room.  While plastic grocery bags will suffice I suppose, having cute project bags are so much nicer.

Look at these lovelies. 

The red one is a gift from a dear friend and is currently holding a scarf in the works. This size bag is also perfect for embroidery projects as well.  Don't you just love the teacups!

 The pink and black one was also a wonderful gift and great for larger projects.  Very cute indeed!

 I just finished sewing the green one. Great for large projects like blankets and the like. I put a patch pocket on the front.

A little embellishment to make it super cute.

Hard to see but I added the work "Knit" along with some flowers and leaves on the handles.  I love how my machine will do these cute little extras!

Have a wonderful week everyone!  Talk at you later.  Rumi

Wrist pocket and a win

Hello Friends,
    I was very fortunate to have won a giveaway at Pink Penguin.  Thanks Ayumi!

Look at these cute stuffed birdie kits!

I opened up one of the kits.  Comes complete with printed pattern on fabric, a bit of stuffing, a straw and wood pick to aide in construction and a piece of white ribbon to use as a hanger.  How adorable these ornaments will be when complete!  Lovely kit by Berene at  Happy Sew Lucky.  She has other cute, cute, items so please go check it out!

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A friend of mine has really gotten into walking and has signed up for a 10 mile walk!  She asked me to make her a little wrist pocket to carry her car key in during her walks so she didn't have to carry it in her hand.

I had to think about it for a bit and this is what I came up with.

Kinda hard to see because of a bit of glare but I put a little pleated zippered pocket on this gauntlet lined in terry cloth for comfort.

Here it is opened up.  Velcro closure for easy on and off. 

Not sure how good it will work but it sure beats carrying a key in your hand for 10 miles!  Hopefully she will like it.

Talk at you later!  Rumi

Drumroll please

A quick post to announce that Carrie from A Passion for Applique has won the green spring scarf/shawl!  Congrats Carrie, I hope you love it as much as I loved making it!

Lady Kina, revised

Hello Friends,
     Reknit cardigan:

Daughter Lucky says I look dowdy in it.

I did lengthen it a little bit--it was supposed to be shorter but  I wanted my cold tush covered!  Maybe I would't have looked so dowdy if I left it cropped.

On another note, we dog-sat out granddog, Walter, on Saturday.

Don't let this "serious" look fool ya, he was a big crybaby the whole time.  He missed his Mama and Papa and kept looking out the window for them.  He is not quite 2 years old and nearing 150 pounds but he's still a playful (very drooly!) puppy.

BTW, yes, we do have purple leather furniture.  Honest, when we ordered it, we thought it was burgundy--darn florescent showroom lighting!  Over the years, I have grown to like it though.  What the heck, why not purple furniture!

He has to scrunch to fit on his bed! This is the biggest size bed they sell.  (Walter says thanks to Stephanie and Mr. Creations for this comfy bed!)

Lady Kina cardigan

Jodie from Jellywares turned me on to this cardigan pattern.  It is called Lady Kina and for those of you on Ralvelry, the pattern can be found there. Being a bit bored with endless stockinette stitching, I decided to put in some floral "embossing".

Cute huh?  Hard to tell on the screen but it is a pretty green color.

Ok, that is not the end of this story.  In fact, it has a sad ending.  Things would have been peachy if I had used a nice wool yarn.  Alas, I used a wool blend (really, only a touch of wool, mainly acrylic).  This type of yarn does not block well and will not hold it's blocked shape.  I know this, but for some reason hoped it would be ok.

As I wore it, it slowly unblocked and reverted to it's pre-blocked state. I hated to do it but I unraveled the bottom section, removing the floral border.  I am almost done reknitting per the pattern instructions.  Sigh...lesson learned.

Giveaway for a cause

Please go to Stephanie's blog, Loft Creations and enter her beautiful quilt giveaway.  To enter, you need to make a donation to help earthquake victims in Japan.  Details HERE.



To sweeten the pot, put your tracking number in a comment on THIS post and I will give you the chance to win this beautiful knit spring shawl.  It is 100% wool and wonderfully soft.  Winner will be chosen on April 2nd so you have two weeks to spread the word!  Thanks in advance, bloggers are the best!

Udate

Hello Friends,
   I finally got ahold of my family in Yokohama.  They are all fine and I was told that family members in Fukushima are also ok.  They have not been able to contact family in Sendai so we are still worried about them. Hopefully they are safe and in a shelter.  Please keep them in your prayers.  Rumi

Japanese earthquake distraction

I have been spending alot of time (too much time, really)  in front of my television watching the horrible disaster unfolding in Japan.  I have relatives there-- mainly in Yokohama but some in Sendai.  The phone lines are down so I have not been able to contact family to see if they are allright.  I have been trying to distract myself by picking up my needles and making this

Look ferocious? No?

 

How about now?

You're right, it's not ferocious at all!  Cute little baby alligator.

Find this knitting pattern here.

I am going to try to pull myself away from the TV.  It only makes me anxious about a situation I have no control over. 

Ribbit, Ribbit and a Koala win

Hello Friends,
    A bit of time spent in my sewing room this week.  I started making Stephanie's Oak Park Bag last year.  I am happy to say that is one more UFO completed!  And look how cute it turned out!

I fussy cut a variety of frog fabrics for the patchwork on the sides.

Here's the other side.

I used denim for the bottom and straps and a lily pad fabric for the top.

I did change things up a bit.  Instead of a button and tab closure, I decided to put in a zipper.

See my cute little froggie zipper pull.

Inside, I put a zippered pocket on one side and and an open patch  pocket (per the pattern) on the other.

I can't wait to tote my frog purse around town.  Thanks Stephanie for such a cute pattern!

On a different subject, I was browsing the Koala sewing cabinet website when I came across a monthly giveaway they were having.  Well, lucky me won February's giveaway!  I received via FedEx this morning this wonderful sewing machine trolley.

It's extra large and has a telescopic handle for easy transport.  Of course I chose red, my favorite color.  My other options were blue, silver and one other I can't remember. 

They also included some needles and thread. 

Now I can wheel my sewing machine to any sewing class in style! 

By entering the contest I was also entered to win the big Kahuna of a prize--a Koala studio.  How wonderful would it be if my luck held out and I won that too!  A girl can dream can't she!  Anyways, why don't you try your luck at winning something too!

Cables and Lace baby blanket

Hello Friends,
     Haven't been spending lots of time in my sewing room.  I'm trying to spend more time getting other things done during the day--like getting the house in better shape and getting me in better shape.  My evenings, though, are free for an hour or so of knitting to wind down from my day. I can't seem to sew in the evenings.  I'm tired enough to make careless mistakes!  Not so much while knitting--as long as the pattern is not too intricate.

This is what I just completed (remember the sneak peek in the last post!) 

A creamy colored baby blanket.

Close up.

Who is this little charmer for?  Oh, I don't know yet.  I will put it in my "gifties" box so it will be ready and waiting the next time I need a baby gift.  I like to have some Christmas, birthday, baby etc gifts on hand.  I have a large plastic box that I add things to throughout the year.  Do you do the same?

Talk at you later,  Rumi

Lucky Girl!

A wonderful parcel arrived at my house yesterday.

Can't you just taste the yumminess of this cute mat!  Thanks so much my little Houseelf friend!

Haven't been spending too much time in my sewing room lately but have been doing a bit of knitting in the evenings.  Here is a peek at what I am currently working on . 

iPhoodie

Hello friends,
    I have not been totally idle in the craftiness department.  Take a look at this cute hoodie!  Designed to hold your iPhone (or other kind of phone, or  iPod, or camera, or snacks etc, etc) 

The bottom of the hoodie is closed but the sleeves are open--in case you want to thread your headphone cords through there. 

Here it is in action!  I single crocheted the hood opening and chain stitched some hoodie ties.  As you can see, the pocket is functional (if you have anything THAT tiny to store.) 

View from the back.

Yarn used: Amazing by Lion Brand yarn in Aurora colorway.

This cute pattern can be found here.  Thanks CoffeeBra for this great pattern.  Now to pack it up and send to my hoodie lovin' friend Ang!

Talk at you later, Rumi

No Worries

Hello Friends,
    Thanks to those of you who e-mailed me because you were worried about me since I hadn't been on blogger this month.  Bloggers are the nicest people.  I so wish we all lived close enough to get together for tea!  I'm fine.  I've just been taking a break while I evaluate my New Year's resolutions. I have truly enjoyed reading and posting blogs and I am thankful for all  the lovely local people who have supported my little sewing business.  But (and I'm talking about a big But(t), I have found that all the time that I put into sewing for my business and making things to post on my blog has not done my backside any favors.  Over the last couple of years I went from being a very active person to kind of a slug.  Funny how the less I moved, the less I wanted to move.  Science has proved that right? A body in motion tends to stay in motion.  Sooo...to improve my health and loosen up my tight clothes I have decided to get back to my old active self.  That means pretty much giving up my sewing business and spending less time crafting things to show on my blog (Unfortunately, I'm a slow crafter so it takes me a long time to make anything).  I'm not giving up blogging, just slowing down quite a bit.  I will definitely be reading your blogs but I apologize in advance for my spotty blogging.

Having said all that, I am currently working on a couple of quilts that I will blog about later and I have completed some knitted scarves since my last post.

Doesn't this look like..

this candy? 

Colors don't look quite so bright in this picture (ooh, just shaking my fist at gray winter days that drain the color out of everything!)

Made this lovely scarf out of Lion Brand Yarn's "Amazing" yarn which is 53% wool and 47% acrylic.  The color changes are truly "amazing" don't you think.  Find this free pattern HERE.

Irish Hiking Scarf.  Pattern by Hello Yarn.   

Finally, a meandering rib scarf.  Pattern HERE

Hugs!  Rumi