We Have Arrived

I have been trying to upload a picture but it seems to be a problem this morning.

We made it here late yesterday afternoon. I am glad not to have to get into a car again today and go somewhere.

Jean and I are going to tackle the china cabinet this morning.

This and That

Here we are in Elkton, Maryland..... This seems to be the 1/2 way point to Danville from Cape Cod.

We left yesterday morning at 9:30 am and arrived here around 5:00. I made sandwiches for us so we did not have to stop except for fuel once and to walk the dog. Traffic moved along (rather fast for me in some places). Did I mention that as I get older my anxiety while traveling increases? Those large trucks bring my comfort level down to naught.

I had fried chicken and bought potato salad so we did not have to try to find somewhere to eat after we got to Elkton. I had even packed an overnight bag so that we did not have to completely unload the car. Sorry to say I packed my camera in the large suitcase so there are no pictures. I suppose some times life comes with no pictures.

Lem bought us both internet cards to use and we each sat in bed watching tv and typing away on our laptops. I am delighted that he got a wireless card for his Gateway. Now we can both be wireless.

I am waiting until 6:00 AM when the coffee is supposed to be ready in the office. Then I can slip into some clothes and get a cup.

This and That

At last I got all the hexagons cut for the diamonds for my Insanity Quilt. Some time I might even get an icon or chart of some kind on the sidebar but for today I am just pleased to have the fabric ready to stitch.


Got that done just in time to get my gift ready for the Saturday Sewing Society Christmas gathering. We were supposed to find something we had in our own sewing room that we were willing to give away.

These are the items I chose.




And here we are at Marshside Restuarant.






This is the table with our gifts........... The ubiquitious Yankee Swap...



But first we gave our fearless leader (perhaps she should be) a gift certificate. Judy makes arrangements for our venue, reminds us all by email of the day. Keeps us up to date on what is happening with everyone . She shows up before everyone to unlock and stays till everyone leaves. She schleps a coffee pot with her and all sorts of other things like plates and cups and spoons and forks and anything else we might need.


And here are the gifts






















This is the gift I ended with. The guilt is still nagging me. My dear Peg got this first and I snagged it from her.


As you can tell from Joanie's smile........We had a grand time..........

Saturday

No pictures yet today..... Maybe later on.

No sleep last night either. I finally got tired of the effort of trying to fall asleep and went upstairs to sew.

Lem and I are making the long trip to Virginia next week. We are meeting my brother and sister at Mama's apartment for "THE GREAT DIVIDE"..... Jason and Kim are going to meet us next weekend there and lend a much needed hand.


Jean has already begun clearing out quite a bit. Giving clothes the the local clothes closet, sorting through paperwork, dividing pictures and all that sort of thing.

Today Lem and I are gathering together things we need to take with us and basically getting ready.


Along those lines, I am thinking about what handwork to take. I always take too much. Like I really think I will have time to knit 5 pairs of socks in one weekend.........Really now.......

The timer just sounded. I was allowing myself 30 minutes to compute before I faced the day. Time to be off, back later.

3:18 PM...........

The errands are done, lunch is over and I had a wee toes up. Still no sleep. Perhaps tonight. It has been some time since we have made a planned trip South. The last four years have been the emergency trips. This planning and packing is wearing me down.

This just in from my Sister:

You need not worry about handwork while you are in Danville. Just bring enough to keep you busy while traveling. I will have my knitting for you to work on and that's probably all we will have time to do.

I know what she is thinking of.......... I should be making her purse instead of planning something for the trip.................

Red Letter Day

Any day I get to see Vickie is a red letter day ............

Noun

1.

red-letter day - a memorably happy or noteworthy day (from the custom of marking holy days in red on church calendars)

She called to say she was in Orleans and joined me for tea......... Even bought me a gift for the season......

How good it is to sit down and sip a hot cup of tea and compare upcoming projects.

Answers for Jean

Why the weighted blanket?

Many children and adults with sensory processing issues find the weighted blanket very comforting and calming.



These are the polymer beads that I am putting in the blanket....... First I layered the minkee and print fabric with muslin. Then I put the binding on three sides. I knew it would be easier to deal with before I added the weights............... I had three bags of beads so I divided the blanket into three sections and sewed from top to bottom. As it turned out the pockets are 3 1/2 inches.


I then added the beads to each tube and shook the blanket to encourage them to go to the bottom.


I found the sliding the ruler down the fabric would encourage the beads to go to the end of the pocket.


After stitching that section closed, I then marked the next pocket and began again. I now have two more rows to fill and I can finish attaching the binding. Tonight I can stitch down the binding and mark this off my list.

Yes Jean, your purse is next....................VBG

The Last of the Quiltathon Progress.

Here is the bag of polymer beads......... There are three of them. I am measuring and doing the math to get them added to the blanket. All the tubes are sewn and the binding is on three sides. Now to add the beads and get this finished.


I did pause for a bit and put a flannel cover on a piece of foam core from Staples. The perfect thing to lay out block pieces on to take from cutting board to sewing machine. I have been looking at that board for over a year and finally took the 30 minutes needed to get it covered.


And I finished block number 4 of "As Time Goes By"....... It is a BOM from Keepsake quilts that Rebekah bought. I am having the fun of assembly. This will be my next quilting project and I wanted enjoy a few minutes and paused long enough to assemble this block.

Why Do You Quilt?

That was a question asked by Judy of Patchwork Times fame.

While I was working in the studio on Sunday I turned that question over in my mind to see if I could get a concise answer.

I quilt for the same reason I knit and sew garment and bead and tat and do needlepoint and cross stitch.

When I hold a needle in my hand I am connected back through time with all the other women that have made their homes more cheerful and comfortable by stitching. I have one cross stitch sampler that says:

"In the rhythm of the needle there is music for the soul."

For me the rhythm of the needle is relaxation.

Alice's Restuarant

Yesterday was Lem's birthday. I began the day by sewing for 4 1/2 hours. It was simply delightful. More on that later.

This is a picture of the front of the art studio of Alice Brock. Alice was the owner of Alice's Restuarant that Arlo Guthrie sang about. She now lives in Provincetown and Lemuel wanted to meet her so we drove over there in the snow to see her.


I got a picture of them together. She has a tiny studio in the front of her house.

Such a wonderful place. Everywhere you looked there was something to feast the eyes on.

These are made from broken pottery shards, beads and other fun things. I am keeping that in the back of my mind for a project one day.


And there Alice sits at her table where she paints rocks. Behind her is the stair way that goes to her upstairs living area.

Some of her Art Work.

And more..............

See the punch bowl? It is filled with white and cream colored pieces of pottery.

It was a grand day. We began it with waffles for breakfast, one of Lem's favorites.

Then we were off to Provincetown and our meeting with Alice.

After we got home it was time for me to take a nap..................

Then I fixed Lobster for dinner. A real treat for us.................

Quiltathon

8:30 AM

Today is the first day of the Quiltathon. Visit Judy at Patchwork Times to see what everyone is doing today.

I got started early because I have interruptions during the day. I have three goals for the weekend:

Finish the Birthday Siggies (that includes printing the cards and addressing the envelopes)

Make the weighted blanket for Adelaide.

Make the purse for my sister Jean.

I have stamped and painted all the siggies that were left to be done and I have completed January. I only have February, March, April and May left.

I came downstairs for more coffee and to put a load in to wash. After that I will head back to the studio and finish up another month.

11:30

House hold duties are still being done but I do pop upstairs from time to time to sew a bit more.

I have February completed now and I am ready to head into March.

Tomorrow is Lem's birthday. While he went out to walk the dog I called the fish market and ordered lobster for his dinner tomorrow. We are going to Provincetown to the studio of Alice Brock. She is the Alice in Alice's Restuarant.

Now off to fix a bite of lunch. Then I have to dress for a book signing. Hope to sew again soon.



Well, this is it....... My stitching for the day..... I only have 8 left to make and 8 wee gifties. I have turned out the lights and I am going to sit and knit and watch Law and Order re-runs till bedtime.

A Wee Bit of Progress

I did get some more sewing done this morning. Here are the birthday siggies and wee giftie for November and December. I only have January, February, March, April and May left to do. I will get them finished this weekend and I can mail them all on Monday..... Boy will I be pleased to get that off the list.



Here is a pair of socks I finished last summer but never got the picture posted. At least I don't think I did. Sorry it is turned the wrong way. I tried to fix it but tried to hard and it turned counterclockwise twice.





This is the best afghan pattern ever. It is a Creative Cottage design and each block attaches as you go. I have made several of these. It is all knit and sooooooo easy. I try to keep one going all the time to work on the nights I am too tired to do any fine work. I just finished one and gave it to Kim and Jason before I got a picture of it. Oh well, there are so many things I have no picture of that this will make no difference at all.


Here is the picture of the afghan so far. I do get to work on it every night so you will be seeing a lot of it till it is finished.