A Sort of Finish???

Happy New Year's Eve Internet Friends!

Still remains ridiculously cold here in Alberta.  My son and I did not even venture out to the Fireworks as the county recommended people remain at home.  😰😰😰🎆🎆🎆

To make is kind of an "event" we ordered Pizza.  Yes, that is a rare one for us but we did and we got delivery because I did not want to go out in the cold:

I have way TOOOO many projects on the go and all are partially completed.

This evening I did finish the first section of my Starting Point Wrap. This was a Knit ALong that I started last spring.  It was a 5 week KAL and as you can see as of this evening I have completed the first section so I am officially 40% complete.  I have no grandiose visions of having this finished in time for the one year time line but.........

Wishing everyone a Happy, and Safe New Year's Eve.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Oh S"crap".....

Good Evening Internet Friends.

Extra cold here again today.  I think the warmest temperature was about -28 C (-18 F).  My son had a piano recital that he had to attend today so I had to bundle up and start the car a half hour early to get the windows clear enough to drive!

We stopped at the mall on the way home for about 15 minutes and the car was already freezing by the time we got back in.  I DO NOT like the cold.

After dinner I spent a bit of time in my craft room sorting through all the remnant scrap pieces of fabric and made 2 of the 4 Patch Star Blocks:

I also cut some of the bigger pieces for future use so that the hunt for fabric is not such a mess next time. 

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Home for the Holidays

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I can honestly say that we were indeed home for the holidays.

The temperature and the wind has been dropping every day.  Everyday it is COLDER than the day before.

We have gone out only when it was absolutely essential and other than that we stayed inside.  Even the Lab Dog only goes out briefly to do his business and returns inside.

This evening I decided was a Knit Nite as the temperature outside is frightful.  Remember this is measured in Celsius but the good thing is that it is so cold that Celsius and Fahrenheit are almost equal at this point.

Over the past few days there have been some amazing yarns offered up as part of Boxing Day Sales.  After looking at so many of them I realized that I have a whole plethora of yarn already downstairs in my craft room that I should make into something before I purchase more yarn.

While looking through my fabulous (yes it really is) yarn collection I found this shawl project that I am not exactly sure when I started and or what row I am even on.  Some counting and pattern analysis got me sorted out.  I have started a tracking sheet and anchored it to the pattern.  This project will most definitely need to be blocked but the pattern is sort of starting to show (trust me on this):

Now off to get another warm tea as even with central natural gas furnace the house still feels a little chill I think.❄❅❆⛄😰😰😰

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Merry Christmas To All.......and to All a Good Night

Good Evening Internet Friends.

I will post a little earlier this evening than is typically usual for me because of Christmas Eve service this evening.

We will be joining with friends and neighbours this Christmas Eve for church service and then going out for dinner.

I did not do a lot of crafting today as my son and I spent the day watching Christmas television programs, playing  a few games and eating "weigh" too much......

I did make one more block for my Flock of Geese Blocks.  I believe I am now only about 20 behind.....

I wish everyone a wonderful and safe Christmas time with family and friends.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Me Want Cookie.....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I LOVE vacation days.

Slept in this morning and in general had a very uneventful day.

This afternoon my son and I made Peppermint Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies:

Yes......we ate TOOOOO many.  But they were delicious.

I did not want to spend a lot of time decorating the cookies or losing the flavour of the cookies so we simple put icing decorations on the mittens.  

My knitting, I mean baking is done.

This evening after dinner we watched A Christmas Story.  It is my most favourite Christmas movie and yet somehow my son has not seen it!  Well, I think I have a convert to loving this movie as well.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Christmas Vacation!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

The long awaited Christmas vacation started for me today and for my son after school today.  For the next two weeks we are not on the clock!

A few last minute errands today, and a car wash for Christine my Toyota Highlander and I am ready for Christmas.  Any baking that I do (not like we need it) over the next few days will be a BONUS.  

My son and I went out for dinner to Swiss Chalet for the Festive Special Dinner to launch the official start to Christmas.  I was super excited to find out that I had the option of Roast Beef as I really do not like the chicken there.  

Getting home late this evening I decided to make gift bags for the last three gifts that were not wrapped:

TAH DAH!!!

The blue bag I made from scratch and stamped the design.  The other two I used cut outs that I already had lying around in my craft room.  So.....not a lot of effort, but I put some of my creations to good use.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Christmas Cards!

Good Late Evening Internet Friends!

In typical Kathy fashion I was crafting late last night.

I realized yesterday evening after getting kiddo to bed and everything ready for work that I did not have enough Christmas cards for today.  I did not have enough Christmas Cards for everyone at work, but I decided that I should at least have enough for my colleagues with whom I share office space.

So, late last night I made:

TAH DAH!!!

As of this evening all Christmas cards have been delivered at work, posted or are ready to be delivered to people as I see them over the Christmas Holiday.

I am SO excited for Christmas!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

It's ALL About......Me????

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Day off today in the middle of the week just before Christmas!  BONUS.

I was at the mall shortly after 0900 hours.  Parking lot virtually empty as was the mall.  YAY.  No line ups, no fragrances being effused, it was AWESOME!!!

Now, I went for a few things for stocking stuffers but apparently I am a tab self-centered.....I got some amazing things.....FOR ME!

One of those was actually craft related.  I picked up my copy of Vogue Knitting Holiday 2017 and then picked up my Scandinavian Sock Kit:

Now, although I really want to get started on these I am also super excited to get Christmas presents wrapped, a little more Christmas baking done and I really need to find my Santa Hat for tomorrow.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Wrap It Up.....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

This evening was all about starting the Wrap Up of preparations for Christmas including of course wrapping presents.

"Sew" in typical Kathy fashion there was an awkward to wrap gift that I decided that I would not wrap.  Rather, I would sew a gift bag panel pattern that I bought almost a year ago:

TAH DAH!!!

Pull cord on the top so that I could cinch it up after getting the object inside.  LOVE IT!!!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Oh S"crap"....It's Monday...

Good Late Evening Internet Friends.

I have three scrap quilt projects on the go right now.  Seriously.

"Sew" this evening after kiddo went to bed I spent a few minutes in my craft room and made another Star Scrap Block for a Quilt that I started almost 2 years ago:

Not sure what number of the series this block is but quite proud that another has been made 😊😎

I really do enjoy making these 6 1/2" blocks. 

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Ready????? Set??????

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Well it's Ready.....Set....Get Ready for the week day.

Kiddo and I slept in late this morning.  Too much excitement after being out to the movie last night I guess.

Had to get all the usual house cleaning, laundry and long dog walk in today.

Lunch was Cream of Tomato Soup from the frozen tomatoes in the freezer along with mozzarella sticks.  YUMMY:

While the laundry was going I decided to make Christmas cards.  These are to replace the 17 that were experimented on by "Lab" Dog and his trusty assistant The Madeline Kitten.

I used up an old kit that I had and love how they turned out:

If you look closely you will notice that these cards are only kind of the same.  That is because when I found a French Greeting I decided that these would be my son's teacher cards, and of course there is one specially made for his French Teacher.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

A Real Page Turner...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I am very late (as usual) posting this evening.

My son and I got up early to get our tickets to see Star Wars: The Last Jedi.  The movie was awesome and once you see it you will understand my blog title for tonight.  P.S.  Yoda is very wise.

Since it is almost Sunday I shall post my 4 Patch Star Block:  

TAH DAH!!!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

All is Quiet on the Home Front???

Good Evening Internet Friends!

One might think that all is Quiet on the Home Front as I have not blogged all week.  That would so NOT be true!  In addition to work, extracurricular activities, physio appointments, and all the other things that I do I did a LOT of crafty things this week.

The first of these that I will show is the 135 Christmas Cards that I made for my own mailing this year as well as for the Quilt Guild I belong to and am on the Membership Committee:

Of the 135 cards I made 17 did not survive a "Lab Dog" and Kitten experiment....🏷🐕🐈

For these cards I used my "stash" of supplies.  I was super proud of that, until I  realized I was running low on paper and out of envelopes.  Fortunately my friend who is big into a certain stamping group let me know there was a BIG sale promotion on earlier this week and I was able to save on GST and postage.  😎  Fun mail will be here shortly.

As part of the Membership Committee for Quilt Guild I also decided to give everyone a fudge sample with their card.  I made three pans of fudge and cut into 1" pieces 125 squares of fudge.....YUMMY...

"Sew" that was part of my week.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

What's Next ????

Good Very Late Evening Internet Friends.

Got up this morning and packed lunches, made breakfast, fed and watered all the pets and just enough time to jump in the shower.  Only to find out that while showering last night my son somehow dislodged a portion of the silicone tub sealant (it had been hanging on by a thread for about three years and "someone" was supposed to fix it).  Since "someone" is NOT here to repair this---I did.

I will add that I did a FABULOUS job and I think it might even look better than before - seriously.  😉

Finished up some laundry and got a few things prepped for tomorrow before deciding to get the Fat Quarter Exchange gifts ready for Quilt Guild later this week.

Here is my newest edition of Zippered Pouch I used the plastic fuse over the lining fabric so that it could also be used as a cosmetic pouch.

TAH DAH....one more to make before Thursday.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

I LOST the Weekend....

Good Very Late Evening once again Internet Friends!

I had BIG plans for this weekend but not sure where they went.

On Saturday my son and I got out all the Christmas decorations, the tree, ornaments, dinner ware etc and made the house pretty for Christmas.

The Madeline kitten had great fun with this:

After dinner on Saturday we went for a walk to Candy Cane Lane.  The weather was perfect and the light displays were beautiful:

Today was my son's Christmas Piano Recital and afterwards our "City Family" as my son calls them (family friends) went for brunch.  Great to catch up with everyone and celebrate another year of family friendships. 

Now to get some sleep and start the work week again tomorrow.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Friday Finish...

Good Evening Internet Friends!!!!

Managed to accomplish all my errands today and that means kiddo and I can do what we want tomorrow.  🎉

After dinner this evening I made a second Zippered Pouch:

Only a few more of these to make for Christmas presents/gift bags and then I should be able to start back on my quilting for fun ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Almost There.....

Good Late Evening Internet Friends!

It is finally the end of the work week for me 🙋.  I do love my job and have the best career/profession ever.....but..... with all the stuff I do at work and home, sometimes it makes for a long week.

After getting things organized for the errands I have to accomplish tomorrow I got to spend a bit of time in my craft room this evening.  

"Sew"  I sewed up a Zippered Pouch from some new fabric that I picked up recently:

TAH DAH!!!!   Now to catch a few winks of sleep and get ready to roll tomorrow.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

How is it Sunday Already????

Good Afternoon Internet Friends.

Not sure where this weekend has gone, but somehow it is already Sunday afternoon ☺

Spent a fair bit of time trying to see if I could kitten proof the Christmas Tree.  I think that may be a lost cause.....

I did finally get around to making my weekly star block:  

TAH DAH!!!

Now it's off to get ready for the work week.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Socks in a Bag....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Still arguing with my sinuses and either an allergy or a virus.  Lots of sleep and fluid today, and I just might be able to talk normally tomorrow.

This afternoon I finished off the toe on my latest pair of socks.  This is the subscription yarn box from Ancient Arts:

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

New Stuff!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I decided that it would be perfect time today to make a drawstring bag with leather drawstrings for my new yarn:

TAH DAH 🍓

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Sweet Dreams.....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

"Sew" much going on today that I did not spend much time at all in my craft room.

My son and I spent most of the day finding and organizing all the Christmas boxes of ornaments, the trees, the decor etc into one storage portion of the house.  That of course meant the random items like one alpine ski boot (no idea where the other is and or whose boot it is.....(might be mine but not sure from when) all had to find new storage as well.  A full day or organizing, laundry, dinner prep and homework assignments and I can say that the basement looks more organized.  We also have 4 garbage bags of stuff to be dropped off for donation (with the exception of the 1 ski boot).  

One of the things that I recently discovered in my craft room while on my mission to start completing things from there was this flannel pillow case kit:

"Sew" late this evening I sewed it together in time for this Christmas season.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy 

Saturday.......Sunday......???

Good Evening/Morning Internet Friends.

Started this blog post on Saturday but it will likely be Sunday before I complete it.

Today was a sleep late kinda of day and then errands this afternoon.  

Returning home my son and I sorted through the Christmas ornaments and decor and we even decided to get rid of a few things.  Tomorrow we will assemble the Christmas Tree and see how much havoc the kitten can create 🙁 🎄🐈

VERY late this evening I realized I better get my version of my 4 Patch Star Block

TAH DAH!!!

Will see what my plans and reality actually amount to tomorrow, but for now I have BIG plans in addition to all the usual house work and other responsibilities.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Last Saturday Night.....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

WOW!!!  I cannot believe it was last Saturday Night the last time I posted.  I do not really even know where the time went and I do not have a good story to make up for it......I just lost a week I think......

This evening since I am a real Party Animal (my teenage son, dogs x 2 and the cat included) I put on my jammies after dinner and went to my craft room.

Two hours later I emerged with my Raise the Roof  (pattern in in the book) Quilt Top:

I am not even going to hazard a guess at how long this has been sitting in my craft room, but as of this evening.....the top is done.  Now just to get it to the long arm quilter and then the binding,,,,,,,will probably be a while until it is in full circulation in my house.  Right now it just feels good to be finished the top.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy  

I'm Still Here......

Good Evening Internet Friends!

 I have had a very busy week despite only working three days....... but I am still here.  😼

I did spend some time on a couple of my projects but not enough to really show any progress.

Here in Edmonton it feels like the middle of winter.  In reality the snow has only been here about 18 days, but the cold and the snow are already starting to get annoying.

As a result of the cold that won't go away I decided that I needed to make Corn Chowder in the slow cooker for dinner tonight:

It was warm, delicious and filling.  Made taking the dog out for his walk a little easier.

After walking the dog I spent a bit of time in my craft room and made Block 12 for me of the 4 Patch Star Block:

I LOVE my scrap basket.  I have the most amazing fabrics in there 😉

Here are all twelve of my blocks:

TAH DAH!!!!

Now, off to see what else I can get into this evening as tomorrow is get ready for the work week day.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Look What I Found!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I am back on my cleaning mission in my house again.  It is amazing what I have managed to stuff into 1800 square feet in the last 17 years.  Some of my finds I am not sure why I kept in the first place and some are FABULOUS!!!

My find of today was this quilt that I started a few years ago.  Over time in my craft room the fabrics, the blocks, the rows, and the pattern all got separated.  From time to time I would encounter a portion of the quilt but could not find the pattern.  Worse yet the pattern seemed to be out of print.

Fast forward to earlier this year when I found a book entitled Miss Rosie's Farmhouse Favourites.  I loved the traditional patterns in this book so had to get a copy.  Imagine my delight when I found the Raise the Roof Quilt Pattern in the book!!!  It was out of print because it is now in the book.

As of this evening I have the main portion of the quilt top completed.  On a side note the fabric for this quilt all came from my stash ☺

Tomorrow I will apply the inner border as I have managed to find some cream fabric in my stash that will work will with this.

On top of that just a few minutes ago I found the outer key border pieces for this quilt!!!  I just might have it finished this week ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Scrap Block Sunday....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

It is Sunday somewhere so close enough for me to post this weeks version of the 4 Patch Star Block:

TAH DAH!!!!

I love seeing how these blocks all look together and of course with each one I remember the quilt or project that it is from ☺

 

I am one week ahead of most due to starting these blocks when they were first launched.  "Sew" do not feel behind if you only have 10 blocks ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Weekly Block Check Up...

Say AWWWWW.  Just kidding.

Good Evening/Morning Internet Friends!

It is Sunday (somewhere) and on top of that it is time change weekend.  Don't even get me started on the absurdity of that entire concept.

Here is my weekly Scrap Block:

"Sew" far I have:

Ten of these little 6 1/2" cuties made.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Star Block 33

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Almost 2 years ago I started this weekly Star Block Quilt Challenge with the intent of making a quilt using only my scrap fabric.

There are to be 52 blocks for this quilt; one for each week of the year.

As of right now......I have block 33 completed.....

TAH DAH!!!!

Maybe I can get this one completed by the end of the year.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Mouse Trap...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

It has been a crazy busy weekend and this is the first time since Saturday evening that I have spent any time at all in my craft room.

I have the privilege in living in an older neighborhood and that means big yards with mature trees.  It also means that when the city does remember that we also pay taxes and our infrastructure needs repair they spend all summer digging up the area.  One of the side effects of that was the disturbance of a bzillion mice!!!!  

The pesky critter(s) have made their way into my house!  I CANNOT stand mice.  I have tried every device from the home improvement store and nothing worked other than the tri-fold glue tent that the mouse got partly stuck in so took it with him!  I am missing a glue trap and there were disgusting tiny glue foot prints all across the floor until I lost the trail on a different flooring surface.

Very early Monday morning I decided that I need to resort to the only effective solution to mouse control.  

The smallest one was Madeline, she was not afraid of mice.  

Meet Madeline, named after one of my favorite book characters who is not afraid of mice.

We brought Madeline home last night.  Almost immediately she was tracking and she has spent a ridiculous amount of time investigating the sump pump area of the basement where I thought the entry portal for the critters might just be.  She has been in the house just over 24 hours and I as SUPER pleased to say........no signs of mice 🐭 

That meant that this evening I could spend some time in my craft room and make:

Another block for the Star Block Challenge that I started almost 2 years ago!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Scrap Star Block

Good Early Morning Internet Friends!

This is just a quick post and check in with my weekly 4 Patch Star Block:

TAH DAH!!!

I really do love making these blocks and using up my scraps. 🙫

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Barnyard Quilt...

Good Morning Internet Friends!

Yes I should have gone to bed by now but my sleep pattern is all wonky right now thanks to all my puffers.

I have been struggling with my asthma as it is fall, but additionally being in contact this week with someone who was drenched in essential oils to help some health symptom she had.  🙍DOH!

I did finish the Barnyard Quilt Kit:

I loved this fabric as it reminded me of my son's favourite book as a toddler; Duck on a Bike.  If you look closely you will see duck (okay it is a goose) appliqued outside of the fence as duck has escaped the confines of the quilt fence. 🦆

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Sick Day...

Good Evening Internet Friends.

My son and I have been battling sore throats, achy muscles, sore ears, headaches, plugged and or runny noses and the wimpiest irritating cough for almost a week now.  Last night after another long night of no sleeping, and for him coughing til he vomits, I decided that we would take a sick day.  

Both of us did a lot of sleeping and chilling.

I did start on my newest pair of socks.  These are from my Super Amazing Awesome Yarn Club. The subscription is now in hibernation mode with intent to start again in early 2018.  

Along with my new freshly sewn knitting pouch here is the progress I made today:

Now to go get some more sleep and hopefully I feel COMPLETELY better tomorrow.  If not, at least it is my regularly scheduled day off.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Seeing Double!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

No, I do not need to see my optometrist, but I AM seeing double this evening.

The great thing about dumpster diving in the scrap box yesterday was I found more of the exact same fabric that could be cut into the right size for another two of my zippered pouch bags:

And then there were two 😁.

After getting the second pouch made I decided to wind my most recent shipment of the yarn club from Ancient Arts.  I really love this colour and want to get started on the sock pattern that was enclosed in with the shipment.

Now to hopefully cast on before I go to sleep.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Dumpster Diving........For Fabric ☺

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Well.....okay.......maybe that is a bit of a stretch, but not too far.

My neighbor was on the road with her fabric this weekend and sold out of ALL of her sample Zippered Pouches!

She messaged me that she needed more samples and since I did not have any yardage of her current fabric lines and I was too lazy to walk down the street to get some (plus I might have taken more than I needed) I went diving in the scrap box 😼.

Here is what I found:

TAH DAH!!!!  One bag was all I could manage to make from the scraps and random zippers I have on hand.  I really gotta stop making these for her.  It's not fun any more....

While waiting for the 357th load of laundry (not really an exaggeration today - EVERYTHING has been washed), I decided to bake some pumpkin muffins.

Here are all 24 - I mean 23 muffins (the teenage eating machine happened upon these)!

There was enough left over pumpkin puree in the jar for me to make Pumpkin Oatmeal for breakfast tomorrow.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Scrap Sack Star Block

Good Evening Internet Friends.

Well, since it is almost Sunday I am going to post my version of the 4 Patch Star Block.  

This is another block made completely from my scrap stash.  I LOVE making these quilts because NOTHING goes to waste.

Here is this weeks block:

TAH DAH!!!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Just Berry Pickin'

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Almost the END of the week.  Yay.  This week seems to have just dragged on.....

This evening after all my after work errands I took a bit of time to clean/organize my craft room.  That included finishing one of the projects sitting on my crafting desk taking up space!

TAH DAH!!!!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Grape Jelly Please....

Good Evening Internet Friends!!

At LONGGGG last I have finally completed my #Kindness Knit Along Socks.  I likely would have completed these long ago had it not been for the "unfortunate" mountain bike incident of September 2017.  

Knitting speed and overall productivity still hampered by the wrist at times but tonight I finished the toe and grafted closed:

These socks are made with a full skein of Amethyst and a mini skein of Light Through the Leaves both of which I picked up from Ancient Arts.  

I call these socks my Grape Jelly socks because as soon as I saw the Amethyst that is what I thought of 🍇.  Plus, toast and jelly just might be one of my favourite foods 😸🍞.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy