So..... I Knit

some of you may or may not know that i knit. i took a class about 9 years ago and have never really ventured past scarves and dish cloths.  a few months ago my SIL showed me how to knit with the 'funky yarn' (my term because i can't remember the real name).  so for Christmas i knitted 6 of these scarves as gifts for people.  the 6th one is a solid soft grey.  i didn't get a picture of that one.  i think i finished it the day after Christmas and gave it to my mom.

i also knitted two other scarves or should i say cowls for Christmas gifts as well.  i kept seeing them on instagram and found a couple patterns that i could do.  again no pics.  however, i am pleased with how they turned out.  with that being said i am wanting to venture out of the 'safe zone' of knitting and so on my recent trip to

New Orleans

to see

play here

i discovered an super cute yarn and needlepoint shop in the French Quarter.  its called Quarter Stitch and it is filled with color and inspiration and so many things to look at.

the staff was super friendly which is always a plus.

they also gave us a great lunch recommendation.  i love to eat where the locals eat when i travel.

here are two of the three yarns i bought.  the other is a light weight solid black.  i think the purplish blue one will become a hat.  i know.  venturing out of my comfort zone.  the green one i am not sure about yet.  the shop isn't online but the gal gave me her card and said just to call her up and tell her what i am looking for and she would be happy to help me out.  which is great since the closest specialty yarn shop is 2 hours away.  

on my trip i worked on some embroidery

as well as my Tula Pink hexi project.  i am almost a quarter of the way through it.

i will post more about my trip soon but now i have to get back to work.  being gone for 10 days makes a girl get behind.......

happy sewing

I Finished Something

one down many to go......  i got my Cargo Duffle bag finished.  it was one of the last items on my 2014 Quilty Goals list.  i had most everything cut and ready i just needed to sew.

i quilted the panels using warm and natural in the middle and duck cloth as the backing/lining.  i used duck cloth in a couple bags i made for Christmas gifts and love how it holds its shape and gives durability to the bag.

using the duck cloth does make pinning a challenge so i used Clover clips and i love them.  they worked well on this bag.

having made several bags i tend not to always follow the patterns as well as i should.  i know.  i know.  practice what i preach.  read the directions.  my lack of reading came back to bite me in the ass on this bag.  oh well.  i made the handles for this bag how i like to make handles.  using interfacing and some fusible fleece as well as nylon webbing.  i find that it turns out a really sturdy handle that doesn't stretch out as much.

putting the zipper in was fairly easy with the gusset and such but this is also where i messed up and ended up with the gusset opening being a little bit smaller then the side panels.  rather then un-sew and fix the problem i just modified it and added a few pleats to each side.  

the inside seams are bound and the duck cloth is the lining on the bag.

as you can see the bag has really nice shape and structure to it with two outside pockets which are nice.  i doubt the bag is big enough for me for a weekend getaway bag.  maybe an overnight bag.

right now i have all of my knitting in it.  it is working out great for that.  this is a bag that i will make again and yes i will read all of the directions and get the next one right.

i have also been working on an old WIP using Origins.  i have all of the blocks trimmed and the layout is ready.

this isn't the final layout.  i did a little switching around with the help of some instagram friends (i love you gals) and my quilting buddy Denise - love you too.  so next up on my sewing list is getting the middle of this quilt sewed up.  but......  it will be awhile before i get it done.  because i am headed to....

The Big Easy

yup.  checking off another bucket-list item and taking a non-work related little vacation.  i am super excited about it.  i have heard great things about New Orleans and can't wait to experience the city for myself.  me being me and getting the most bang for my buck this trip did not just jump into my head.  it was prompted by......

Dave.  i blame him and i thank him all in the same breath.  

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds are playing at the historic and newly renovated Saenger Theatre for not 1 but 2 nights and yes by the grace of God i have tickets for both nights. when these shows were announced last year my wheels (aka my brain) starting turning to see what i could make happen.  i will save you the drama and just say that i made it a possibility and now i am going.  if you are a regular reader you know of my love of his music.  i love the band in concert as well however him with Tim is my favorite.  so i will escape reality for a bit because i know it will be there when i get back and i will enjoy every minute of my Dave inspired vacation.

happy sewing

A little bit more of 2010

i can finally show you the last projects that i did for 2010. i got this pattern from Fat Quarterly's holiday issue. its the lined boxed zipper bag however i made them larger. the finished size of mine are 11"x7 1/2"x3". i made a total of 4 of these green ones with the 'crafty' themed fabric for my Renegades for Christmas.

then, i made this one for Steph because we watched Project Runway together this past season & once i found this fabric i knew i needed to make something out of it for her.

another little hobby of mine is collecting quotes especially inspirational quotes. i have a whole sketch book full of them that i have cut out of magazines & i also have a file on my computer full of the ones i have found online. i wanted to do something with them this year for Christmas gifts for a few people. so.......

this is what i came up with. i made little books using thick foam, fabric, mod podge, card stock & some rings to hold it all together.

i put 40 quotes in each book & each book contains the same quotes just in different order. i made 9 of these books & it was surprisingly easy.
i love the different colors of card stock - bright & cheery.

and, of course the book would not have been complete without a quote from Dave.

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i also wanted to share with you a pattern i won on-line from Holly Hill Quilt Designs. i got to pick which one i wanted & so i picked this holiday themed one. not sure when i will get to it but i think it will be a fun one to make.

i also finished up the last block for my block swap box group. i am thinking that we will be doing it again however i don't think we will start until March or so.

i have a long week ahead of me at work so who knows how much sewing i will get done. but, i will give it one heck of a try.

also, with all of the great sales going on online i will have some fabric purchases to share with you soon as well.

A year of travels

it has been a year of travel for me.

January 2010 took me to Washington DC

there i got to see Colin Powell speak.
do a little sight seeing.

& see Natalie Cole perform.

then the end of January was a trip to McCall for sewing & a mini trip to Boise to see my niece.

in March i went to a quilt camp at Palouse Divide Lodge - no pic of that.

in April i went back to Boise for more time with my niece.

also in April I went to St. Louis for work - no pic of that either.

in May it was the trip of a lifetime - all expenses paid - to the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands.

on that trip we also sailed to Jost Van Dyke which is a British Virgin Island.

June was a month filled with doctors apts & several trips to Spokane.

in July a group of us headed to Sisters, OR for the Outdoor Quilt show.

i also went to Houston in July for work - no pics.

i was home the whole month of August except for the last few days when i made a quick trip to Boise to see DMB with my brother & SIL.

September kicked off with spending Labor Day weekend at the Gorge seeing DMB with Steph.

mid September i took a quick trip to Chicago to see DMB at Wrigley.

the end of September brought another quilt camp at Palouse Divide Lodge.

in October i went back to McCall with the Renegade's for another quilt camp.

in November it was back to Palouse Divide Lodge for yet another quilt camp.
December was a trip to Seattle to see Dave & Tim as well as a quick weekend trip to Boise to see my family there - no pics of that trip.

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looking back over 2010 i realize just how much i got to see & do & i am so grateful for the opportunities that my life brought me this past year.

i don't expect to be traveling as much in 2011 however right out of the gate in January i am headed to Dallas for work. March will bring a trip to Boise to welcome my new niece. July we will head to Sister's again. August to California for work. & i am hoping for some quilt camps scattered in there somewhere through out the year.

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up next

'A year of projects'

Christmas Song

i have been crazy busy with getting all of my holiday projects/gifts finished up & wrapped up. i think that by tonight i should be finished but since i am running on about 3 hrs of sleep i have no idea what tonight will bring. especially since i have family coming into town tonight & i will be there to see my niece. oh well, i can see the finish line & i will get there come heck or high water.

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today i have a video to share with you all. since i am a Dave Matthews freak i got an email yesterday from the freak, oh i mean fan club & it was a Merry Christmas message from Dave & this video of him & Tim Reynolds performing the Christmas Song in Vegas last year. i read that, hit play & about 20 seconds in i realized i was as that show. yep, my ace of a friend Stephanie & i flew into Vegas that morning, caught the show & flew out the next morning. awesome memories from that trip.

needless to say, this song ranks in my top 10 Dave songs so i thought i would share it with you all. i hope you enjoy it.

i have figured out my giveaway item so look for that post sometime after Christmas. i will also try & get some pics of my projects so you all can see what i have been working on.

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i wish each & everyone of you a Happy & Healthy Holiday.

Seattle onto Boise.......

i know that i have been MIA for awhile. first i took a break because of blogging everyday in November then i realized it was time to go Seattle for the Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds shows. so, now i am back but just for a brief pit stop. i went to Seattle with my BFF Shelly & her little guy. we had a great trip over, stayed with her parents & even did a little quilt store shopping which will be in a separate post.

NOW....... ONTO THE SHOWS

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Dave & Tim have never had a opening act before so this was unusual for them this time around. when Dave introduced them Monday night he said that he heard about this band from his doctor & now he can't get enough of them. usually i am not to impressed with opening acts unless its Ben Harper or OAR. let me tell you this band blew my socks off. i got home last night & i have already downloaded their album from itunes.

who are they you ask????

The Head and The Heart

from Seattle

give them a listen, you might like them.

Dave likes them so much that they are opening for him & Tim in Vegas this weekend.

Monday's show was great they walked on stage with these blue hard hats on. the audience loved it. i still don't know the meaning behind them but hey whatever.....

Dave messed up the lyrics in a serious song & ended up stopping about 20 seconds in laughing because of his screw up & didn't know how to get serious again for the song. so, they put the hard hats back on & re-started the song. we were further away from the stage for Monday's show so i am surprised the pic even turned out.

Tuesday's show we had center stage seats not on the floor but one level up. great seats which gave me the chance for better pics & video. the venue seats 2,900 so really there was no bad seat in the place.

the lighting was also pretty cool. i love this pic because of it.
Monday & Tuesday were my 7th & 8th shows for this year & my 40 something shows overall. the word is that the band is not touring next year, however Dave told a Seattle newspaper that a weekend at the Gorge is not out of the question. a sliver of HOPE is all i need......

we took this little guy with us. adorable i know. he wasn't like this the whole time but i couldn't resist this pic.

traveling back Wednesday was interesting on the pass, however it was just at the summit & we were glad that we left when we did because it just got worse.
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tomorrow i am headed to Boise to see my brother, SIL & niece. they are so busy when they come home for the holidays that i decided to spend some air miles & go have some 'me' time with them.
once i am back no more traveling until after the 1st of the year, but i have a heck of a lot of Christmas gifts to get finished up. i still have a giveaway to tell you about that i won & i need to do one here for my 100th post. at this rate it might be my 113th post.........