Cup of Joe, Anyone?

Not a lot of knitting has been going on around these parts lately only a couple of rows here and there. Since the the Quilt Show earlier this month it seams that the needle and thread have somewhat taken hold. Not just with me but with the rest of the girls. Susan is working on a skirt, Jessica is trying to find the ultimate pattern for her Japanese fabric, Kim is Yo-Yoing herself a dog, and Nancy is working on quilts for all of her children. And our long distance friend, Heidi is pondering summer cover-ups for the afternoons at the pool. I've made an apron and a pair of pajamas (pictures to come) and we are collecting fabric. With bags and French Press Cozies in mind. It's too funny on how infectious it has turned out. While in my hunt of fabric that I must collect I came across Aunt Martha's iron on transfers. Didn't give it much thought. I had seen them before and never paid much attention. Don't ask me what happened because the other morning, like a sudden surge of energy, I decided that I must try embroidery. And try it now! So off to the craft store I went. I've cross-stitched before (which is a totally different post) but never anything without predefined holes. When I saw the coffee transfers that was all she wrote. I'd seen red work and blue work before.... decided on brown work. I figured that if I wasn't worrying about what color to use where that I could focus on creating even stitches. Plan worked well. Below is my first finished product. I loved the entire process! Now I don't know if it is because it is new and exciting or if it is something that I'm really going to enjoy.... but its got my attention right now!

On a side note - I am frustrated that the flour sacks you buy today are not even close to the quality of that actual flour sacks that were used in my Mom and Grandma's kitchens.

Busy

The past couple of weeks have been busy in my little neck of the woods. I should be showing you pictures of all of the adventures however I just couldn't get it together. For some reasons I didn't understand the concept that in order to take a picture you must have a working camera. You can't leave the battery on the charger or the memory card in your laptop and expect your camera to work. It just isn't possible. But if you figure out how to take a picture without those two key items please let me know as it appears that is my new M.O. on my trips! Towards the end of March I went to the Tri-City Annual Quilt show with Jes, Nancy, and Kim. Not only was I overwhelmed by the gorgeous quilts and handcraft but I was overwhelmed with future plans zooming in and out of my head. I'd love to show you some pictures however on this trip my memory card decided to stay home. The Quilt Show did spark up my interest in quilting again. I ended up coming home with a Jelly Roll and a variety of half yard fabrics. We did locate some fabric with a knitting print and planned a future sewing day to make bags. The first weekend in April it was announced that one of the local yarn stores was closing the end of the month! I was very good in staying away from the 40% discount temptation until I found out that no one else resisted. So a little trip with Jes and Kim was planned. Shopping with Kim is very difficult. You usually end up buying more than you intended. I was quite impressed with myself and resisting her. I ended up with 4 skeins of Silky Wool, a skein of Mtn Colors, and a skein of Manos. Although resisting Kim's enabling drew a large appetite so we all had to go to Fat Olives afterwards. I strongly suggest the ABC sandwich. Gourmet grilled cheese with Bacon and Green Apple is where its at! Our first spring hike commenced also. We went to the Petrified Forest near Vantage. I was really expecting to see large upright stone trees and was some what disappointed when they were all in the ground. You stood looking into the square grate covered cutout in the ground. A couple miles further up the road Kim showed us the Desert Violets that were blooming along with Yellow Bells and Buttercups. Of course my battery for the camera was at home on the charger. On the home front the garden is prepped and ready to be planted. DH did some pretty fancy tilling and irrigation this year. In years past we typically just do the pumpkin this. However our need for a large pumpkin patch is dwindling so we can now plant a traditional garden. Carrots, radishes, cucumbers, pumpkins, sugar snap peas, and strawberries. Our neighbors also gave us a bunch of raspberry plants promising that I will have fruit this summer! I'm more excited about the berries than anything else! So stay tuned and I promise that I will figure this whole camera needs battery and memory card thing out!