Spring Ahead!

Outside, the signs of spring are peeking out everywhere!

Inside, I've been finishing up a few projects like this dishcloth.

In trying to keep up with my one-a-month plan, I started another one.

I also finished my contribution to Leslie Ehrlich's Sandy Hook Memorial project. Of the two choices, I picked the memory heart.  It was supposed to be a CQ heart featuring old fashioned children's toys, but I did cross stitch and put the CQ on the background. To me teddy bears symbolize comfort.  Hope it's OK!!!  (The bear was from a  corner of  a much larger design called "Baby Blessing," a pattern by Michelle Lash.) 

This fun project is from the current Vogue knitting magazine.  It's a collar and needs a length of ribbon threaded through the beading to be complete.   It's kind of like an itty bitty shawl and reminiscent of collars that were popular in the late fifties. There are seven different patterns in the article, and I plan to knit this one again and try another one that requires beaded yarn as well. Very fun!

Have a great week, and don't forget to change your clocks as it's time to Spring Ahead! Already? How can that be?

Knitting and Stitching

Someone suggested making a dishcloth every month.  My intentions were good, but I'm still working on February!  I love this pattern., picot-edged Grandma's Favorite which is online and free.

The Knitters Brewing Company April Showers KAL sock, one at least, is finished. It's a complicated pattern, one that requires concentration all the time!  Now to cast on the second one.  Next week maybe?

This past week found me doing lots of stitching.  First, I made these 2 blocks to be used in a quilt that our group is making for a member who's having health issues.  These were good practice for the Sandy Hook heart.  I faced each of the hearts with a very light pellon which gave me a nicely finished edge.  I'm almost finished with the SH heart also, and then I can focus on my many stitching/knitting UFOs.

Last weekend  we missed seeing Max because I had a cold.  The only good thing about that  was I stayed home and stitched like crazy.  But we got to see our little guy today and also talked to the Chicago gang.  Thank goodness for phones!

Doin' the Puyallup!

When  we went to the fair last weekend in Puyallup, we had fun looking at the various exhibits and animals as well as watching the spinners, especially the one who was using a drop spindle made from an old CD and a piece of dowling.  But for me, the highlight was this crazy quilt from the 1890's!  The woman told us it was purchased at a garage sale for only $3.00 and is appraised now at least $8,000!  Personally, I think it's priceless.  What beautiful stitching!

Here's another shot of the other end.  Sorry about the reflection off the glass; it was kept securely under lock and key.

The other thing that caught my eye were these elaborately decorated cakes.....done by kids! Don't those dollies look happy?

Have you ever seen a sweeter garden?

This was the prize winner in the adult competition. Isn't it realistic?  I've been wondering what was used for the ice.

It would have been hard for me to know how cut this one up to serve!  (It won a green ribbon.)  Speaking of cakes, it's our older daughter's birthday today.  I sure hope someone in Chicago baked her a cake.  Happy Birthday, Jill!