Holy Cow!! It's January!

I can't believe that it is 2013 already!  Where did 2012 go?

For the past two years I have participated in Judy Laquidara's UFO Challenge.  I didn't do as well in 2012 as I did the previous year.  This year, Judy is changing it up a bit.  Each month we are listing four projects that we hope to work on during the month.

My projects for January are:

1.  complete blocks and assemble 2012 Buck A Block top

2.  complete and assemble Presents top

3.  start working on project for my best friend's birthday in March

4.  begin quilt for my great-nephew (he is one month old so I have time to get it done before he knows that I didn't have it ready when he was born)

Other hopefuls:

I have been doing a good bit of knitting recently so hope to work on a scarf and one or two hats.  Maybe since there is 14+" of snow on the ground I will be motivated to get them well underway.

I also plan to continue working on my Christmas alphabet cross stitch sampler.  It will be stunning when it is completed.  I didn't start it until I finished my daughter and son-in-law's wedding sampler:

It took me a while to finish this as it is one stitch over one/one thread (30 count) and there were a lot of color changes.  I am very pleased with the result as was my daughter since she had to wait a few years for it.

I'll be interested to see what I post on February 1.

You can go over to this post to see what others are planning/hoping to accomplish this month:

January 2013, Getting It Done

Happy New Year to all!

Lots Going On

Once again it has been ages since I've posted.  The time just seems to fly by.

Today I am posting about the hat I am knitting for a friend who was recently diagnosed with cancer.  She knew she would most likely lose her hair so I volunteered to knit a hat.  She wanted bright colors so I chose these:

Now she can be a red head or a blonde depending on the day.  :)

Here is a picture of the first hat - it is almost completed but doesn't look like much on the needles.

I found the pattern at Head Huggers: Knit Pattern:  The "No-Hair'Day" Hairy Chemo Cap.

Be sure to head over to Judy Laquidara's blog (http://www.patchworktimes.com/2012/11/23/on-the-needles-november-23-2012/)to find out what is on others' needles

I did a good bit of knitting this week while waiting to hear about the birth of my great nephew.  He was born on Wednesday and weighed in at 7 lbs. 1 oz.  He is a real cutie.  His parents took him home from the hospital last night - I certainly remember that first night at home!  They didn't get much sleep and they are all adjusting.  It may take a few days but I know they will all come through with flying colors.

Happy Holidays to all.

On My Needles

Judy Laquidara has started a new challenge - it's called "What's on Your Needles?" and she posts it every Friday.  I have been trying to post for the last few weeks but never seem to get it done.

Today is the day.  I have been knitting a good bit lately and have completed a couple pairs of socks and a baby blanket.  I am currently actively working on a baby sweater for my first great niece or nephew due in December.  I am also finishing up a pair of socks that a friend started but put aside.  Here they are:

The sweater should be a quick finish - it is so small.  The socks are made with worsted yarn and are going very quickly.  Hopefully I can post the finishes and the new baby blanket that I will start next week.  Go to Judy's post to see what others are working on:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2012/09/21/on-the-needles-september-21-2012/

BTW, we had a very hot, dry summer here in Indiana.  The rains have finally arrived along with cooler weather.  I am delighted - I love cool/cold weather. Here is a picture of the hailstones that we had on our patio tonight.  The storm moved through very quickly with 50 mph winds.  No damage here thankfully.  

Have a great weekend.

Two Finishes

I've had a great weekend.  We came to Maryland on Wednesday to volunteer at the 200-mile relay in which our son ran.  It was a lot of fun and I met lots of nice people.


I brought my small Janome and finished sewing on the binding for a snowman quilt I made for my daughter-in-law.  She bought the fabric a year ago last Thanksgiving and I worked on it during my bee retreat in March.  Then I really got started and sewed down the binding for two quilts - hers and my April UFO!  I am so excited to finish my UFO - I started it in the mid-90's.  It was a block of the month from Quakertown Quilts in Friendswood, TX.  I had to complete the last block in 1999 because there were no zeros or twos on the instructions.  :)  If you look closely you can see that the bottom left hand block is dated 1999. I have looked at it for a long time trying to figure out how to quilt it.  I finally decided that stitch in the ditch was the best so I dove in.  I am very pleased with the results and delighted that it is one more project off my  To Do List.

I was also a good grandma while I was here.  I mended three pairs of pants (for the adults) and repaired Bunny and sewed a wheel back on a car that is loved.  I figure I earned my keep.  :)

Bonnie Hunter's Yard Sale

Bonnie Hunter is having a yard sale today and we can link to it.

I am selling this set of patterns that make up a wonderful lighthouse quilt as shown below.

Patterns: "Pieceful Harbor" by The Quilt Company (8 patterns) (#8 is not in the picture but I have it)

The price is $30.00 plus $5.00 shipping by USPS Priority Mail.

Here is a picture of the finished quilt:

Be sure to go to Bonnie's blog (http://quiltville.blogspot.com/) and check out the other bargains.

Contest

Hi All,

I have entered my snowman quilt (Farewell Carol Victory) in a contest that is conducted every week.  I would really appreciate your vote for my quilt.  Right now I am only 15 votes out of first place!  It would also be great it you would pass this along to your friends.

Here is the link:

http://quiltinggallery.com/2012/02/03/snowy-friends-quilt-contest/?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Studio+Organization+and+Vote+for+Snowy+Friends&utm_campaign=Studio+Organization+and+Vote+for+Snowy+Friends&utm_term=Click+here+to+vote_21

The contest closes at midnight tonight.  Sorry for the late notice.  I will try to do better the next time as I have a heart quilt that I will be entering in a couple of weeks.

Thanks a lot.

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2012 UFO Challenge

Can you believe that it is February already?!?!?!  Where does the time go?  Also where has winter gone?  I don't need a blizzard but it certainly would be nice to have some snow that lasts more than a day.  It was 60 degrees today - much too warm for January - but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this weekend.

OK - on to the important stuff.  I finished my January UFO.  This year I decided to try to complete a bunch of smaller projects that I keep putting aside because "they won't take too long" and then they never get done.  Here is a picture of Santa (at least I'm ready for next Christmas which will probably be here before we know it!!):

Hop on over to Judy's blog Patchwork Times to see some of the other finishes.