Soctoberfest...

Socktoberfest begins on Sunday...and my plans are:

1) Finish pair of socks that I have on needles for my daughter.
2) Begin second pair of socks for her boyfriend. Hopefully finish.
3) And, if there is enough time begin and finish a pair for moi...

It's a good plan...

Block of the Month...August...

Yes, I know I missed posting the July block - that's because it is not done yet...I goofed off!

But, I am back on track with the Block of the Month Quilt. The September block is due on October 6th - but, I will be gone so it will get turned in on October 16th

Shelburne Museum & Ms. O'Keeffe...

The Shelburne Museum is 45 acres of buildings, land, and all sort of gardens. And, this was the only photo I took! At the very entrance...well, in self defense, it was raining most of the day and they would not allow photos in the O'Keeffe exhibit or the quilt exhibit.

If you have never see Georgia O'Keeffe's work in person I highly recommend that you do so. The paintings were breathtaking...and the colors so vibrant! Most of the flower paintings are huge! And, her reason for painting them so large was that all these huge buildings were going up in New York and she was afraid that no one would notice her paintings if they weren't huge like the buildings! How cool is that!!!

We spent quite a bit of time in the exhibit just filling our souls with the beauty. It truly was worth the admission price to see that exhibit.

The quilt exhibit was a disappointment...there were maybe two or three quilts that I liked - I did appreciate the history behind some of the quilts - but they weren't presented well...and the lighting could have been better.

There was a wonderful exhibit of china, glassware, and stuff like that in one building - and it was very interesting. The upstairs had doll houses and some of them were so elaborate and most were quite old.

So...that was our day at Shelburne...

Socktoberfest...

Hey, I can't keep from joining up! But, this is an easy one - just knit socks during October...and I have several to knit for Christmas presents...so, why not join this! It'll make me happy...and the socks will get done!!!

Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival...

The weather was beautiful! And, we were really happy as we had wandered through rain our entire day on Saturday while at Shelburne Museum. This was our first ever Sheep and Wool Festival...and we had no idea what to expect. Scarlett was like not really interested...until she got there... Yes - that would be her that you see learning how to spin on a wheel! She couldn't do it either! It's that rub tummy and head in different directions thing...but, she did learn how to use a drop spindle - and they were kind enough to give her some roving and a drop spindle made from discs for her to practice on to see if she likes it well enough to buy a real one. It was fun...and it was especially fun to watch her as she saw all the different beautiful yarns and roving that was to be had there. We watched the llamas run an obstacle course and saw sheep and goat just about everywhere you turned. These little sheep were resting after doing a show with some very talented herding dogs...

We had a great time...and ended up only buying Ann Budd's The Knitters Handy Guide to Yarn Requirements.

Saturday Sky...September 16

This would be the view of the sky along Otter Pond on the way to New London, NH. This is one of the scenic views that Scarlett passes every day on the way to work...and I go by once a week. People who do not live here in New Hampshire have no idea how many lakes and ponds we really have. We have been blessed with such natural beauty. There is also an area called Wendell Marsh - which boasts a huge sign that simply says "MOOSE"...and Scarlett actually has seen several - alive and well - one walked along side her car for a few moments. They say you should never look them in the eye if they are standing along the side of the road as they will try and ram your car. Me - if I saw one - I think I'd be throwing my vehicle in reverse...quickly!

Favorite Color Swap Pal Package...

This is it! My wonderful gift from my Favorite Color Swap Pal, Sandra. The beautiful skein of yarn on the left is homespun which she spun and it is so pretty and so soft. Some knitting needles and darning needles and case, a cute note pad, and two items which were on my wish list...Trekking yarn in the most awesome colors of purple and lavender and the 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar. How lucky can one girl get!!! Thanks again Sandra for being so generous and also for the cool notes you sent me throughout the swap.

I'm Stunned...and Delighted...

My entry in the Bitchin' Mittens Challenge won for Best Interpretation of the Theme! Have to say I am thrilled...and overjoyed...and excited! And, the best part was I didn't know until I got home last night and checked my e-mail and found a note from Dave and some congratulations notes.

This Challenge was truly a lot of fun...and I learned a lot and found some of my creativity flowing back...Thanks to Dave for running the challenge and to the judges for thinking my work was good enough to win...and to Ann for the lovely prize of a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.

We were gone over the week-end to Burlington, Vermont to see the Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit and guess what...we were able to go to the Vermont Sheep and Wool on Sunday! How cool was that...but more about those things tomorrow...today is catch up day...so, I need to get busy around the house...

Favorite Color Swap Pal...

WOW is about all I can say! I received a wonderful package from my Favorite Color Swap Pal. Sandy just made my day with all the wonderful things she sent me...I will be posting some photos on Monday...Not only did she send lovely items...but, she wrapped everything up in purple tissue paper...and always managed to send me neat comments on my blog. She truly was a great PAL!

My inner European...

Your Inner European is French!

Smart and sophisticated. You have the best of everything - at least, *you* think so.

Who's Your Inner European?

Georgia O'Keefe...

I enjoy art...don't know a lot about it...but, I know what I like and what I don't like...

For years I have been fascinated by the art of Georgia O'Keeffe! The Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont is currently running an exhibit titled: Simple Beauty: Paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe. This exhibit runs through October 31 and we are going! This is the last week-end our roommate, Tammy, has off before school starts - and she just likes to chill at home in preparation for her hectic work/school routine on that week-end. So, she said that she would watch mother while we drove up to see the exhibit.

One of the other exhibits that is currently showing is Art and Illusion: Kaleidoscope Quilts at Shelburne Museum. And, of course, you know who will be looking at that one too.

So, those are our plans for the week-end...what are you going to do???

Easy Knitting...It's a good thing...

I've never done any charity type knitting. I have friends like Ann, Jen, and others who are always knitting things up for charity. While visiting Ann's blog I noticed this:

I went to the site and liked what I saw...a chance to knit a nice warm Red Scarf for a college student. This really blew me away:

"Care packages from home are a practical and emotional lifeline for most college students. But thousands of former foster youth can only look on as their roommates and friends open boxes from home filled with love and support."

So I just knew I had to knit at least one scarf. I found some really pretty red yarn that I had bought a while back...and decided to try my hand at knitting a scarf with no pattern. So far so good - and am doing a very simple (I think it is either seed stitch or moss stitch) scarf that is 8" wide and will be about 5 or 6 feet long...besides...it is easy and requires no thinking - and I need that right now...

It's a good thing...

That Damn Book Thing...

My dear friend, Paul tagged me for this meme...and since I am a book lover from way back - I gotta do it...

One book that changed your life: Better Homes & Gardens American Patchwork and Quilting. The book just inspired me to quilt and to become a better quilter. It showed me that I can be creative.

One book that you've read more than once: That would have to be Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. I read it in my teens and for years I read it every single year.

One book you'd want on a desert island: No idea...so many books...but probably The All New Joy of Cooking - so that I could figure out how to cook whatever I found on that island to eat.

One book that made you laugh: Six of One by Rita Mae Brown. I can remember laughing out loud while riding the bus to work when I was reading it.

One book that made you cry: No doubt about it - Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind. I just cried throughout that book!

One book that you wish had been written: Everything you ever needed to know to raise a child...enuf said...

One book you wish had never been written: Oliver Twist by Dickens. Actually every book by Charles Dickens - what a bunch of depressing crap they are!

One book you are currently reading: Peyton Place by Grace Metalious. She was way ahead of her time...and a damn good writer to have kept that story line going with it's many characters.

One book you've been meaning to read: Actually it is a trilogy - Blue Dahlia, Black Rose, and Red Lily by Nora Roberts. I never start a series of books until I have them all in my hands - that way I can just go from one to the other.

Now this is where I am supposed to tag someone - so, if you want to play just leave me a note in the comments - and post to your blog...I'll jump over and see what's on you have to say on That Damn Book Thing... :)

Saturday Sky...September 2...

Rain, rain go away...
Sara wants the Labor Day weekend to play...

My Bitchin' Mittens...

My friend, Dave proposed a wonderful challenge this summer...you can read all about here. But, I'll fill you in on the details - create a pair of mittens as art ... they did not have to be wearable...
(that's the short version...)

So, here is what I created....

I decided to try my hand at crazy quilting...first I created a block 15" of crazy quilting...then I cut out the mittens...from there I did my crazy quilting stitches, added beads and buttons, some lace...and played with embroidery and embroidery stitched. I then appliqued the mittens on to a black square - 12-1/2" square...using a buttonhole stitch...then I sandwiched it and made it a quilt...which I hand quilted.

So, Ladies and Gentlemen: my entry into Bitchin' Mittens!