Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I hope to be posting more in 2012 with projects and plans and how I am trying to take one day at a time.

It has been a long time....

...since I last posted. Work has been keeping me busy. But I am trying to find a few minutes of knitting peace to work on my Devon socks for my niece who is flying home from Italy this week for a 2 week visit. I can't wait to see here and I had gotten this first sock past the gusset and heel when I realized I had done something wrong. Still don't know what I did, but I kept ending up with one side higher than the other. Finally ended up ripping it completely apart and starting over. Oh well. At least I can see how fast I can knit a pair of socks now.

I finally got up the guts to purchase this house plan this evening. It is just the right size for me. I can see that I will be adding a few more windows (I love sunlight and being able to see the weather outside) but I can't wait to start building.

The land is available, I just need to clear it first and remove the current trailer that is setting there. Once it is gone I will have access to natural gas (cooking and heating), city water, electricity and a septic tank. I know the process will take several years, but I am committed to it, now that my car is paid off. Fingers cross the car lasts me until I can get the house built and under roof.

Crafting is such a great pleasure

I was able to spend today with a friend of mine creating our own coasters. Tutorials abound on the internet for any coaster you want to make.

I wanted tile so I bought stone tile for $3.97 for 9 of them (roughly one square foot size wise) from Home Depot last weekend then picked up some scrapbook paper, Mod Podge and other assorted materials and had a craft day with my friend T. The fatigues-looking one is for my nephew J, SpongeBob is for my niece K and the checkerboard is for me to take to the office in the morning and use.

Forgive

I'm working on this piece for my niece. She loves anything I make so I try to make lots of things for her. She is currently living with her husband in Italy while he is stationed over there with the military. Living in a foreign country isn't all it's roses. There's the language barrier and the rudeness of the Italian people against Americans. I find it hard to forgive the actions of some of these people and their treatment of visitors to their country. I would love to go back and visit her, but I don't know if I can.

So I try to make her things that will bring a smile to her face and give her a little bit of home, like the quilt I made earlier. I hope the next sixteen months go quickly and that she and her husband can be back home soon.

Inspiration pics

I have two thick art books that contain pictures I have cut out of magazines and printed off the internet of items that inspire me, make me smile, or that I want to eventuallly purchase one day. I may not get the exact item, but something similar is fine with me.

The pictures come from all kinds of magazines, from Country Living to Southern Living to Country Living (UK edition) to Fresh Home and many others. I now have subscriptions to all of them, since it is cheaper and I give away to my friend T who goes through them as well then pitches them.

I started putting them on the back of my bedroom door this year to be displayed. And I find that when I have a hard day at work, just seeing the items on the door can bring a smile to my face. I so look forward each day to coming home and seeing these. A few of them I have already purchased (book about Agatha Christie is one) and look forward to getting more.

new and unfinished projects

For the longest time the only craft I participated in was cross stitching. Then I found a pattern of a knitted scarf that looked like police line (do not cross) and that lone pattern started me on my trip to where I am now. I am knitting (slowly) and branching out into others, like sewing and quilting. I have completed one lap quilt, one wall hanging and made myself a pair of pajama bottoms. Work takes up a lot of my time and the hour drive to and from work (each way!) also takes up a lot of time. But I try to do what I can.

The knitting above will, I hope, be my first completed pair of knitted socks. If you saw my Flickr favorites, a majority of the pics are knitting related or craft related. I have learned that I need to do more craft work in order to get over the stress that comes from work. (More on this in a later post)

So hopefully I will be able to finish my socks and find some other projects to get into.

Temp closet

I recently purchased this closet from Amazon and got it put together today in about 30 minutes, the recommended time the instructions said it would take. No special tools were needed, however a rubber mallet would have been nice to have on hand.

My real closet is so cluttered that I've taken to putting storage into my bedroom. What I really need to do is to clean out the closet (AGAIN!) and then I wouldn't have to buy additional storage. Might have to add this as a fall project. What I really need to do is to give away or pitch those items that I do not need or an no longer using. I am such a pack rat that I can't give much away because I can always come up with some reason or another for keeping something. And those somethings begin to add up after time.

Dirt cake and a homesteading plan

I thought I had kept a photo of the dirt cake I made last weekend but I guess I have deleted it. My niece can't even find the one copy I sent to her so I'm picture-less of the new recipe I tried. My goal at the beginning of the year was to make one new food stuff each month. I have collect recipes for years and it was time to try them out and either keep it or pitch the recipe. I stopped around March but finally tried again here in July with Dirt Cake. My good friend T has made the same thing at her 4th of July weekend bash and I had to try it at home I loved it that much.

The pictures I have included are from my grandmother's trailer, or rather what's left of it. She died in 2008 but she was in a nursing home for a few years before that and the place was left to ruin. Vandals have already been inside taking the copper and whatever other stuff they could find.

I'm currently waiting on cooler weather (November) to begin clearing the land. I need to cut down what trees haven't fallen over and get them out of the way before I can start dismantling the trailer itself. I'm tempted to keep the frame where it is and build a kind of three season outdoor area that is screened it but that has water and cooking available for cookouts, etc. Possibly even have a sleepover in it. Not sure if that will stay the plan but that is one option.

All I want is a place of my own. A place for solitude and to be able to do what I want when I want.

Life in the Country - my own version

I recently received an email from the Apartment Therapy people that let me know the IKEA 2012 catalog was on the way. I can't wait to get my copy!

There was a picture using the item from the left that I totally fell in love with. I wish there was a store closer to me, but as long as I can get stuff delivered I have a feeling that IKEA and I are going to be best friends.

I will post more on where I'm going to building my home, what it will look like, and how long it will take. I plan to do what I can myself and hire out only those things I cannot do or not willing to do (electrical!!) to keep my costs as low as possible. This way I can pay as I go and not have HUGE loan at the end that I now have to pay back. Same process will be used on decorating the inside, one room at a time.

New mug for my bathroom

I had found a fine bone china cup with owls on it in all kinds of colors but my niece wanted it so I went back to Marshall's to look for another one in a different store and found this one instead. So Kait will get her owls (I like them too) and I get my British/England-ish mug. I plan to put it in the bathroom to hold my toothbrush and toothpaste.

Antique clothes rack

I have a book where I keep pictures I have cut out of magazines about things I like, might put in my house or that inspire my creativity.

Right now I'm wanting to make one of these. I can see that I will need to stain it and not paint it white like I have done everything else in my bedroom. I like white. I need the lightness.

So I am now on a search for plans to build my own. Fingers crossed.

It's been awhile...

...since my last post. Life has gotten in the way but I think I am now able to look around the obstacles and see the light at the end.

I went shopping with a friend today and ended up buying this beauty at Marshall's. It will make a great new addition to my bathroom. Right after I clean it. :)

Haven't worked on many craft/sewing/quilting projects since my last post and I really need to get back to it. I miss it and all the creativity that comes from working on projects.

I'm currently attempting to do the beta version of Camp NaNoWriMo but it isn't working out. I have an outline, but the interest in the story just isn't there. So I think I am going to wait until August when the real version starts and work on coming up with an idea that will keep me interested the entire month.

I'm also hoping to get my bedroom painted this next weekend. It really needs it. I'm wanting to make it a relaxing place to be. An escape from the world, if you want to think of it that way. Aqua tones for the curtains, white walls and a new white and aqua quilt (to be made by me) will be pure bliss, once I get it all together.

Until next time.....

Completed Wall hanging

Finally quilted this thing by using the 'stippling' method - I have to say it was a wild ride trying to do it, and I'm sure I made lots of mistakes, but I think I like this method.

More to follow, I'm sure.

I should have gone to bed hours ago....

But I just had to see how hard it was to put one of these things together. I'm so glad this was a small one.

I'm hoping to practice free-motion quilting with it. If I screw it up, then I'll keep this for myself. If I do OK, then I have a plan to gift it to someone.

One of my New Year goals 1/12 met: Apple Fritters

One of my goals for 2011 is to make/cook/bake something I never have each month. January's food item was apple fritters. I love apple pie so these just seemed the next step after pies.

I liked them (my dad liked them even better) but I don't know if I will make them again. I did love the "dough" part, as it tasted like funnel cake batter. So I may keep it around for that part alone. If I don't make another batch during the year, then I'll pitch the recipe.

New friend and quilt along

More Happiness

My new toy for the new year

I can't wait to get started on more sewing projects. But this also means I have to find a spot for it - good thing I have a three day weekend coming up to clean out a spot.

Happy New Year!!!

So 2010 has now come and gone and 2011 is here to stay for awhile. I, for one, am thankful.

I finally caught the quilting bug so I may have to sit my knitting aside for a little bit. The quilt on the bottom I made for my niece in Italy living with her MP husband. My very first one.

The single jelly roll (Central Park by Kate Spain for Moda) is for a queen size quilt for myself. I have also ordered two layer cakes in the same pattern and will order the white I need later in the month.

The two jelly rolls (12 Days of Christmas by Kate Spain as well) are for at least three projects, a lap quilt, a table runner and a Christmas tree skirt. I also have 35 fat quarters to go along with it so I'll have to come up with another project or two to use up the fabric.

Hope all of you have a Happy New Year.