tangled bliss...

Sewing Machines, Blankets & Dogs

I've been so busy!  Time has just flown by since my last post.  So let me update you...  it's been a very exciting 2 weeks :)  Last week Honey surprised me with an early 2nd anniversary gift - check it out I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Did I tell you what a  great guy I have.....  the best around - one of a kind :)

Sewing with it is a dream....  I quickly went to Fabricland bought some very nice fabric (forgot to take pictures of it of course) and made this in two nights ....A baby Blanket with flannelette on the backside.  My sister brought it to work and they really liked the choice of colours.  I think a lot of younger Mom's are looking for things that aren't so babyish...  I know I would.

Not bad eh????  I have to say without any previous sewing experience I'm quite proud of myself.  TOOT TOOT (tooting my own horn)

This week I have been concentrating my6 efforts on finding the perfect mutt to mix with our little family... I think I found him, after two home trials with other dogs, some searching on Petfinder.com, and begging with the heavens I came across Strider a Dutch Shepard (that's where he gets that fancy brindleing) named after one of the characters from one of my all time favourtie movies Lord of the Rings.  He reminds me very much of our Bentley but with a little more umph...  He's still got a lot of puppy in him, but that's OK he'll keep us busy ....  who know we might even lose those unwanted pounds.

Inspiring Corner of my Home

A few months ago my Honey bought this plaque of ABC's for me. 

                                     

We all need little inspirations once in a while so,  I thought the perfect place for it would be at the front door as people they enter and exit.  And I thought you 'lurkers' might enjoy this too :)

                                    

A - Accept Differences            K - Keep Confidences               U - Understand

B - Be Kind                              L - Love Truly                          V -  Value Truth

C - Count Your Blessings        M - Master Something              W - Win Graciously

D - Dream                               N - Nurture Hope                     X - Xeriscape

E - Express Thanks                O - Open Your Mind                 Y- Yearn for Peace

F - Forgive                              P - Pack Lightly                       Z - Zealously Support a Worhty Cause

G - Give Freely                        Q - Quell Rumours

H - Harm No One                     R - Reciprocate

I - Imagine More                      S - Seek Wisdom

J - Jettison Anger                    T - Touch Hearts

Happy Birthday My Love

Happy Birthday to my 1 & Only !!! 

 

This year I was again unable to get him the moon and stars so, the next best thing I could afford  was a helicopter ride!!!  This morning he was spinning, arms out-stretched with excitment.... lol

Honey does so much for me everyday - like making me tea, or going to Tim's for tea, he's great at not cleaning the bathroom and even better at dusting ;)  He truly is my Mr Wonderful!

                                    

July Challenge! Forgotten Projects

The post below has inspired me to challenge each and everyone of you, who have hidden unfinished and forgotten projects to drag out that project from the bottom of your closest, get inspired, get cooking, get determined, get knitting, get FINISHING!!! If it means pulling it apart and starting something new go to it!

Tell everyone your story and post your Forgotten Finished work Aug 01 on your blog for all to see!

Have fun, you can do it!!

Stop Chocolate Cravings with Unfinished Project

Well I started the South Beach Diet this week - if I can loose 15-20lbs I think I'll be much happier.  I've had success with it before and lost 15lbs but with my Thyroid acting up i was easy to put the weight back on.  So, to keep my fingers away from reaching for that creamy milk chocolate, and away from any type of cookie I picked up a new project...  Well it's not new exactly, I started it last summer-got halfway through decided I wasn't happy with it, and dropped the needles leaving the one complete arm rolled up in the bottom of my stash box.

It's a very pretty shrug from Interweave Knits Summer 2005 - Viennese Shrug.  I'm using Rowan Cashsoft in Bloom.  Ahh... extra fine merino wool, microfiber, and cashmere -- and machine washable!  It's a pleasure to work with.  The shrug is knit from the centre out using the provisional cast on.  That was the reason I dropped it ...  I just couldn't get it right so, I started it like you would any blanket, and when it came time to do the other half it turned out messy.  With a little patience this time I endured the cast on and it's looking great.  I feel so satisfied that I finally got it, and now I will have one more unfinished project finished.  There are quite a few of them... My resolution this year was to rid myself of all unfinished deeds including paint touch-ups, framed pics, new powder room and ridding the house of anything unnecessary....  But this all takes time away from those very happy productive moments when I'm knitting, or sewing, or baking, or doing anything but cleaning and organizing.

Hey Honey what about a maid??

Got Mail!!!

What a great day it was yesterday!!  To my surprise the books I ordered from YesAsia arrived.  Can you believe they were mailed out from Japan on Friday and got here yesterday.  I love getting mail -  any mail that of course isn't junk or bills  ;)

Though the instructions are in Japanese, which I can't make heads or tails of, instructions are also shown step-by-step in pictures-fantastic.  I can't wait to start!!!  I have a project and recipient in mind,  but it's going to have to wait.  I really have to hold myself back from just diving in,  I have the newest little one who'll be showing up soon to think of - I'm half way finished my project for him/her.  All my other baby gifts came to them for thier month b-day's...  I'd like this one to be there for day one.

Fabricland is having a huge sale on selected items...  I made a trip a few days ago and came back with a couple armloads of some lovely new prints...   I must have been in a green and orange mood...  the yellow on wit the large flowers reminds of something I had when I was a child.    See anything you like?

I feel like it's been ages since I last posted but it's really only been about a week.  Not too much has happened.  On the weekend we had two furry visitors stay with us for the day Sarah and Smokey.  For some reason I thought we would be able to manage caring for two dogs.  It is much more work that one might think. If we had kids I don't think we would have anytime to ourselves and what about time to craft!  Thank goodness Adrienne let us borrow Ben for a couple hours to try it out  - impossible is all I have to say.  It will definitely be quite sometime before we seriously search for a new pet - the paws that need filling are huge.

Needless to say with all the chaos of the weekend I hardly had time for any serious crafting or knitting, but I did mange to finish another purse.   Not such a great pic but I'll post more later.  I used an old pair of cords and some blue and beige yarn I felted.  My next projects are going to include zippers and buttons...

This week priority is going to getting throught the 1st season of Boston Legal - James Spader where have you been hiding?  He's great! Shameless and insane. I'm very disappointed that I missed his stint on The Practice.

Long Weekend Success

This long weekend was perfect...  the weather sucked which meant I had lots of time for crafting.  The weekend started off great with an early morning trip to the Humane Society,followed by a very quick 'in & out' at the local yarn store - Phil was with Michelle and me so we weren't allowed to linger.  We made it home for a long nap got ready and made our way back to the city for a wonderful meal at one of our very favorite restaurants Thai Magic and then we were off to the b-day party.  Sunday brought more gray skies and lots of time for movies and crafting as posted earlier - I finished my very 1st sofite in memory of Bentley.  Monday I made another denim and felted tote.  This one is much larger, about the size of a diaper bag.  I like to use Paton's Classic Merino on 6.5mm needles and toss in the wash for 15 min.  This makes a very dense fabric that's great for these bags.
     

When I finished the bag I started a new knitting project in this very buttery yellow...  And put together new fabric for my next small tote.

Tuesday i went to go get my hair done...  a cut colour and a few summer highlights as requested by my hubby.  I love getting my hair   Then we went to watch The Davinci Code.

So, all in all a very successful weekend...  I can't wait for the next one-I hope it rains :)

1st Softie

Yesterday i concentrated my efforts on a Softie I designed in memory of Bentley.  I used a pair of my sister's old cords and some buttons I had lying around.  I think I'll keep him by the front door to ward off intruders. 

Milo was very happy to have something to remind him of Bentley.  He and Charlie have been moping around the house looking for him.  I hope that they aren't too sad.  We'll find them another pet to boss around soon.  :)

He enjoyed his first day with us smelling flowers and eating delicious thai nooldes that my hubby cooked up

Long weekend here I come!!!!

Yipeee!!!  The first long weekend of the summer is here!!  I took Tuesday off so I have a little mini vacation  - lots of time to to make more purses.  Here are pics of the last two I did.  My favourite so far is the pink and demim one.  I love the combination of the two different fabrics.  I'm hoping to get a good stock of purses made and maybe open my very own ESTY shop.  I have dreams of running my own little business - who knows this may be it!!

 

Weekend plans include - 1 birthday party, 1 visit to the local Humane Society, countless hours working on my purses, 2-3 hours blogging, more sewing and knitting...  and if I can find some time perhaps I'll make the bed and do some groceries ( or find someone to do it for me ;)).