I finished the first mug rug today and I’ll probably be doing several more tonight…except binding. That can wait. I hand stitched the back of the binding while curled up watching Sherlock with Kearsey.

It’s been washed and dried, as I’m sure you can tell from the crinkly goodness. It’s now been claimed by hubby. Strange, huh?

That’s all for tonight. I’ll catch up with all of you tomorrow, provided school with the kids goes to plan.

Mug rug in progress

Fridays are movie and/or game night at our house. Half the kids wanted to battle each other on the computer. The other two wanted movie time with Mom and Dad. So I ended up putting away the sewing for the evening and working on the circle scarf I’ve got on my knitting needles right now. I was really too tired to do sit at the kitchen table all night anyway, so it worked out.  Well, there, you have it. My first FNSI was sort of uneventful and didn’t quite go to plan, but what in my life ever does?

We were up till 4:30 this morning though. I was T.I.R.E.D. But I was back up at nine anxiously waiting for the delivery of Bessie 2.

She is all that and a bag of chips, I tell ya. I’m loving her, but holy crap…free motion quilting when done properly is TOUGH. Like really tough. My shoulders are tired and strained and my test piece for setting the tension on the new machine looks like a thread store had sex with a knot company and their baby barfed all over the material. It’s that bad. But I did get my tension set properly for quilting, I cut apart a darning foot and rigged it to quit bouncing and I practiced. And practiced. And practiced. And it still looks like shit, but I’m going to call it a night for FMQ.

FMQ take 2 on Bessie 2

Anyway, I’m getting surly, so I’m going to go shut up, set up Bessie 1 and get back to stitch in the ditch quilting. It’s comfortable and right now, my shoulders need a little comfort (plus I feel like I’m cheating on Bessie 1 with Bessie 2).

Last, but definitely not least, today is my loverly hubby’s birthday. He turned 35. I truly enjoy razzing him for being almost 4 years older than me. I told him today that if his life expectancy is 70, he’s half way to dead. I also told him I’m thankful he’s still alive because that means I get another year to torture him. He wasn’t really impressed with either of my birthday remarks. I am not sure why. 

On the left, Bessie 1, on the right, Bessie's pretty daughter, Bessie 2

Did I mention that I can’t wait till Bessie 2 shows up here tomorrow?

If that wasn’t enough awesome for one day, I got a few Kiki Comen (of Kiki Creates) prints in the mail today. I can’t wait to get them framed and gifted! The light here today was deplorable, so I’ll try to get some decent pics to share tomorrow. Kiki & Company is her new store, and to make me happy (OK she has no idea who I am, but I love her prints anyway) she’s got an overstock sale going on as she transitions to the new store. Head on over. The overstock prints are 50% off, so you can’t beat THAT. Especially for a print that is going to make someone have a brighter day!

And, last, but not least for the day, this evening, I’m participating in the Friday Night Sew-In hosted, this week, by Crafty Vegas Mom. I’ve got a few mug rugs in the works that need some more attention because, although I planned on sewing earlier today, that did not happen. I’m snuggled in my comfy sweats with a glass (or three) of wine, and hoping like hell I can still stitch straight by the time the wine gets me all warm and fuzzy.

That’s all for today, folks. I’ll be back around tomorrow to squee about Bessie 2, and, possibly, show off my prints. That last bit all depends on if it’s another dreary day tomorrow.

Happy weekending!

First I was busy. Then I was sick. Then I was knocked on my ass by being busy while being sick. Then I was lazy. Then I was busy. Then I was sick some more. And now I’m back to busy, although, between you and me, I’d much rather be lazy right now.

So, I’ve been doing the knitterly stuff not much at all. Instead I’ve been working on getting things together for my swap and finding out all sorts of cool things about my swap partner and, generally, making a new friend. It’s fun!

Oh my lord, I have such a TERRIBLE time keeping the goodies a secret though. Every time I find something cool to pack in the swap box, I want to pop over to my partner’s house and thrust it at her right away simply because I am too easily excited about giving gifts.  And then I remember that it’s a secret, so I get all bummed out until I find something new to put in the package and the whole evil process repeats.

So, today, instead of thinking about the swap and how bummed I am that I don’t have everything in yet so I can send it, I worked on my free motion quilting. I would like to take this opportunity to inform you that it’s quite likely I’m the worst free motion quilter. EVAH. I may have mentioned today that I hate it. I would not have been lying, at that point. My shoulders are strained and tense, my machine won almost every battle we had today, and the straight pin I dropped in my lap poked through my sweats and into my leg while I was rounding a corner. That corner is now more cornerly than roundy.

Here’s the horror, warts and all:

Jan FMQ challenge. (AKA the project from hell) It makes me want to hang myself.

Since the challenge is to learn how to do this well enough to work the design into a quilt, I’ve obviously got a long way to go before I can call this month’s challenge a success. But hey, I’m doing something new. Check another 2012 resolution off the damn list already!! That makes at least 2 things off my list. I’m a freaking success this year compared to most years.

So, here’s a brief rundown of the week so far:

• Hubby back to work, but still on a holiday stand-down schedule which is totally borking MY schedule
• Kids (and by default, me) back to school. Much less time for slowing down and enjoying life.
• I found Ravelry. Good lord, that website can suck. you. in. So many patterns, so many yarns, so many people.
• I found a local knitting group through Ravelry, got to go out to it on Wednesday evening, and had a great time. This was my first time without kids and hubby in well over a year and a half–and I’m going to have to repeat the awesomeness every week, I think. I don’t hate my life, but I felt like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders for a couple of hours just because I didn’t have to be catering to the family every second of those two hours.
• I joined a craft swap, and I’m looking forward to getting to know my partners. This is a big deal for me since I’m not very sociable.
• I helped a couple of people with their websites, and sadly didn’t get a minute to spend on any of my own.
• I tried (and failed) to catch up on laundry. I got most of it done…there’s just the bulky stuff left.
• I started the new year purge because I can’t stand the clutter that accumulates and I want to minimalize all our crap.
• I worked on my checkerboard scarf and borked it, so I spent a few hours ripping it out and catching my stitches and threading my needles back through. Spending a few hours on that sucked, but it’s better than losing the whole thing.

Today, I’m hoping to get my laundry put away and my desk cleaned up. If I can get those two things done, I can move on to the fun stuff like making goodies for the boxes I hope to get mailed out next weekend. Goodies like these pecans:

Honey Sugar Pecans

So, I’m off to do the housework and hopefully knock a couple extra things off my gigantic weekend to-do list. Think of me. If I don’t come back it’s probably because I died under an avalanche of laundry.

A very Punky New Year

See the galoshes in the background? Yeah, she was wearing those with her twirly outfit. She and her sibs are anxiously waiting to get their faux drunk on here in a few minutes when they get their yearly sparkling cider and juice. The little non-speaker is adamant that “I gonna get my BEER!!!”  Daddy is bringing in the new year with margaritas and shrimp and Momma is going bring in the year with screwdrivers and…screwdrivers. And maybe some wine. It’s been a hell of a year.

Happy new year to all of you. I hope it’s wonderful and that you’re able to accomplish all the things that will mean the most to you.

The bike is safely (for now) ensconced where she can’t get her hands on it yet, so we’ll move on to other Christmas presents. For the doll, she fell in love with the Black Apple Doll (template and instructions and a video are all on the webpage) from Emily Winfield Martin.

Here is the Punky version:

Punky's Black Apple Doll

Here’s my big secret regarding this particular doll…I put her stupid arms on upside down.  I have a feeling this blog is going to turn into more of a crafting misadventure blog than I’d like.  *Sigh* In my defense, it’s bloody difficult to pay attention to what you’re doing when you have four kids hanging on you, two cats scrambling over everything, and one huge dog who thinks he should take up residence in your lap. However, that’s no excuse for putting arms on upside down. I guess I’ll have to make her another one eventually…perhaps with the arms attached correctly. The older girls think she looks like she’s getting ready to give out hugs, so they like the mistake. It does sort of look like she’s ready to throw her arms around you (or maybe she just woke up from her nap and she’s stretching). Either way, she’s here to stay, flaws and all.

Oval Pleated Bag

Oval Pleated Bag Lining

Pay no attention to the disaster that is the background of the picture. I’m not exactly the most organized person on the best of days, but I’ve got baskets of fabric everywhere, the ironing board out, and I’ve ignored the mess the kids have made of the bookshelves while I’ve been working on the ridiculous number of projects on my plate lately.

I am making progress though, thank God. The apron patterns for the kiddos are made, the fabric is washed and dried and waiting to be ironed so I can cut the aprons out and put them together tonight after the freaks are asleep.

I’ve been hard at work on bags for the girls. Kearsey is a country bumpkin and wanted jean and pink cowgirl material for her purse. At least the jean is cute…the other material…well, let’s just say that if it weren’t for my fanatical daughter, I wouldn’t have bought it.

Oval Pleated Bag in progress

Next week or after New Year’s, I’ll post some pictures of the finished bag, and maybe even a free pattern for the bag if I can recover enough from the holiday insanity to draw one up and post it. I made it super simply without interfacing  or box pleats at the bottom because the jean is so heavy that it kind of stands on its own, but I’ll add the box pleats and interfacing into the pattern when I make it and make one showing them used just to give you some perspective.

I’ve got another bag to make as well, for Arianna, but I’m using a pattern I got from Keyka Lou. If you head to her shop, she’s retiring some patterns, and those being retired are on sale for $3.00 US each. I picked up four. I’m a sucker for her bags. They’re gorgeous.

We finally managed to get out and pick up our groceries, the kids’ bikes for Christmas, and our Christmas tree last night, so we’ll either be decorating tonight (not bloody likely since I have my ironing board set up right where the tree has to go) or tomorrow afternoon when Eddie gets out of work since he only has a half day tomorrow.

Speaking of my lovely husband, he’s currently out in the garage working on the wooden bowl he’s carving for me. So far, it’s gorgeous. I might just start pimping his work out and selling it. I could certainly support my fabric and yarn addictions if I did so. Will post pics after Christmas since it’s not done yet.

So how close are you to completing your Christmas prep? On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being, “Oh dear Lord, I’m drowning” and 10 being “I’m the shiz-nit because I’m absolutely totally prepared”) I’m nearing a three, I think. Like I said, way behind.

Oh, these wash cloths bring back so many memories! one of my favorite Christmas traditions was when we would get a “christmas carepackage” from my grandma…they always incuded handmade dish cloths…just like the ones you make!!

Congratulations, Tara! I’ve sent you an email requesting your mailing information. Please be sure to check your spam folder if you have not received an email from me (jwingard@chezcrazy.com). If I don’t hear from you in 48 hours, I’ll move on to the next in the sequence.