A few weeks ago Terry and I attended a machine quilting class. I won't say that either of us were bowed over by the class…that's a story for another time, but I did hang on to the fabric that I purchased to practice on at home.

You can't see my stippling very well on the fabric as I used a thread that was very close in color, but over all I was really pleased with the results…..but what the heck do you do with a 1/2 yard piece of fabric in a color that is definitely not one of your favorites?  Hmmmm…………

A few weeks ago I was reading one of my favorite quilting blogs and stumbled upon this tutorial. (thanks Christina!) 

Wow……..how perfect and timely for my stippled fabric that I just couldn't bear to throw away!  Now mind you, I prefer Christina's bright cheery colors against the linen, but I also knew that the pink and brown matched the living room of the potential recipient, so yay it would work!!

Basically what I did was cut 3.25 inch squares from my quilted fabric, followed by 2 4 inch squares from my other fabric.
(I differed a bit here from Christina's directions)

Using a glass for my circle template, I traced it onto the top of the brown fabric and then randomly stitched 3 times around….easy peasy.

Next a little reverse applique.  Just cut the fabric inside of the circle that you stitched and then stitch 1/4 inch around the outside of the fabric.

Extra special treat… I got to play with a toy I bought earlier this summer.  Ken will tell you that I am a sucker for gadgets and I will tell you straight up I swooned when I saw this antique singer pinking machine on a quilting blog.

A quick search on ebay and one was mine for a ridiculously inexpensive..ok…cheap amount of money.  (MUCH less than the link…so hang in there for a cheaper one…they are out there)

Works a charm on pinking edges….sooooooo much easier than my clunky pinking shears!

This past spring at the NH Sheep and Wool festival I bought 2 nice bags of roving from Friends Folly Farm.  I bought these with a specific project in mind to spin for.

A good number of years ago now I once bought some beautiful roving from Spinner's Hill.  That roving became the yarn for my favorite vest.

Anyone who has been to my home more than once has probably seen me in it……I loved it that much.

As you can see however it has really taken a beating over the years.  The buttons are no longer there so it is held together with a pin and sadly there is a big hole in it….look close you will see it.

Who knows how it got started…maybe a moth, although nothing else has holes so probably not, but I could not bear to part with it.  I just pin it and wear it when I am dyeing or working in the barn.  Yes, I could have sewn it at one time before it got too big, but somehow I never found or rather I should say made the time.

Anyhoo, the first new vest is half finished so I am excited about that.  I think I am going to make a few of these as they work up quickly and are soooo comfortable and something fun to make with handspun yarn. 🙂

So what are you knitting with your handspun this winter?

As November comes to a close, I thought that you might enjoy seeing how my colors of November turned out.  The neck warmer is the one I posted about the other day with Ashley and the beautiful Rouenneries fabric became a project bag.

I have to tell you, I am completely and utterly smitten with this line of fabric from
The French General.

Rouenneries were the cotton
prints printed in Rouen, France during the mid-18th century. This line of
designs is based on a collection of old prints and stripes from this
era…..and I just love it!  Some of the fabric is a bit pricey for cotton…but it is SO worth it.  I know a lot of this fabric is going to be just for me. 🙂

That giggle quickly turned into a full body laugh….somehow she was not feeling the model thing as I was snapping away…LOL. Click, click…snap, snap…

This pretty shawl is one of the things that I made while I was away.  The pattern is Aestlight and is constructed in a manner that I have never done before.  It has you start where the garter stitch point is…..knit your all of your garter work and then basically flip it, pick up stitches and continue on with the open lace work.

I'm not entirely sure that I really enjoyed this process, but I am really pleased with how it turned out.  I made the smaller sized shawl which made for a fast knit, but it is still big enough to wrap around your neck and who doesn't like a little cashmere around their neck?

……and of course the flying shawl picture …..

Now if I can only find my notes for Wing of Moth to figure out where I left off….hmmmm

Sadly my computer is still down, but thankfully Ken has been bringing his laptop home in the evening for me, so that I can feel somewhat connected to my peeps. 🙂

Spring was a time of swaggering declarations.
Reaching autumn one finds few absolutes.
Life is mystery and ambiguity.
Toward winter, that now seems agreeable and comfortable.
Deng Ming~Dao

I've missed you!  Summer has ushered autumn in which is now waning while I have been away and if you can believe it Old Man Winter has actually paid us a visit in the form of snow flurries and crazy cold temperatures as well…acck!  It's a wee bit early even for me!

 Do you not love those little bees sleeping in my lone sunflower?  Those bees stayed in that same spot for 3 days!  I thought for sure they must have died.  Dying a blissful death surrounded by the pollen they so love……but no……as soon as it finally warmed up they were on their merry way.  Go figure……I never knew they could hibernate like that.

September was a busy month getting ready for the fair and then working those 14 hour days.  It's always a fun time, but I am thankful when it comes to a close for another year.  It is exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time.

Unfortunately during my time away my computer died.  Yes……a sad death indeed.  Thankfully I regularly back up my files so when the new computer makes it's way to me I will be able get right back to work again.  It's wildly frustrating, but there's not much I can do about it, so I am plugging along with other things. 🙂

I have lots of things to show you!  New yarns, new color's and a few finished items, but for now I have to wait as I only have access to a computer for a few hours in the evening.  Ken is good about bringing his laptop home for us to use.

The new computer should be here some time next week, so until then..Bee Happy!!