Only a zipper away

I finished sewing Allison's cardigan. I finished knitting the collar on Sunday night. All I need now is a zipper and time to sew the zipper to the cardigan. There are no zipper stores in my neighbourhood (the purchasing of a zipper will require an field trip outside of the Annex...). I wonder if there is still a Fabricland at Yonge and Bloor? Then all I need is to remember what the zipper foot looks like for the sewing machine.

I have begun work on Trish's cardigan again. I have sewn the shoulders and am in the process of making the collar. I'll take some photos this week and post them next weekend.

We are still knitting at work for Street Knit Project. We gained our first male knitter this past week. Jim is a natural. He has been knitting on his breaks. We should have completed 50 scarves, 24 hats and 3 pairs of mittens by the end of the month in total since we started.

Several of the indoor plants are blooming. I'll take photos of them this week to post (help liven up the blog).

Next weekend is going to be busy. I'm having brunch on Sunday with Brian (since he left work to go back to school in August we have been trying to meet up for brunch once a month). Wendy and Lucie Jane are in Toronto for the ONDP convention. They left a few of Lucie Jane's toys behind at New Years that I should return. I think I also have tentative plans to meet up with Allison (she found the quilting pattern she misplaced at Christmas). I need to make a trip to the Goodwill to get rid of some old cloths.

Soon I'll start to work on Mish Mash again. I know I could get it machine quilted, but it is not that big. It is the basting that seems rather daunting to me. I need to iron the top and prep the backing. I also need to get the wrinkles out of the batting. I have only had that since September folded up in a bag. It will be nice to get it our from underneath the bed (although I am concerned to find other things that I have hidden under the bed).

Time to start dinner (there is a marinade that requires 2 hours of resting or whatever it does). I will have photos for next week and maybe funny stories about knitting and quilting.

More later.

L

It is actually snowing

I think today is the first time it has snowed this winter for an extended period of time. It probably won't stick around for long, so I have not gone out back to make a snowman. Of course we'll end up with a blizzard in mid-May.

I have been working on finishing Allison's cardigan. I have sewn the shoulders together and have started to sew the sides. Then I need to get a zipper and machine sew it in. The yarn is 100% Lopi wool.

Looking at the cardigan as I was taking the photo I had a nervous feeling that perhaps the sleeves were short. I tried it on to check (yes Allison I wore your sweater) and the sleeves seem fine. I can make an adjustment if they are short on Allison (knit a few extra rows in the rib pattern afterwards). I made one sweater for Trish that required extra length in the sleeves and body. It worked out well due to the pattern of the sweater. So no worries... okay maybe just a little one.

Last year I made Dad, Len and Trish one each of this sweater pattern in different colours. Maybe Mom and I will get one next year...

I'm trying to figure out how best to finish Trish's cardigan. The pattern calls for a ribbon, but Trish is concerned about washing. Maybe we'll try a button approach.

We ordered our two daylilies this week from We're In the Hayfield Now (http://www.hayfield.ca). We went with Hayfield Sunrise and Hayfield Sunset (they should come as a set). The 2007 introductions have been updated on the website.

I have booked my flight to Halifax for May. I had a credit with Air Canada I had to use before June 10, 2007. I compared the airline ticket prices to that of the train and a return train trip is $10 less. But it takes a day and half each way and there is the need to buy food.

I am still distracted by all the fabric I got at Christmas. I have found a couple of ideas, but I cannot start working on them until my Christmas knitting and Mish Mash is done.

I should get back to finishing Allison's cardigan. I may need to shove the walkway this afternoon. Where did I put the shovel?

More later.

L

Settling into 2007

My father called at 6:40 this morning to let me know that they arrived home safely. I spoke with both my parents tonight. I think it is best for me to talk to people when I have at least finished my first coffee of the day.


I took a photo of the white Amaryllis today. It will have three blooms on this stalk.

I hope to get the Ansel Adams exhibit before it closes on February 4th. The Emily Carr starts in March. When I first learned of the Carr exhibit, March 2007 seemed so far away. The restaurant at the AGO is closed during the renovations. We have lost a fancy brunch place.

I'm still working on finishing Allison's cardigan, then Trish's (I'll take photos of them in progress this weekend). My new years resolution is to minimize the number of projects I have going at the same time. Once the knitting is done, I can move onto finishing Mish Mash. I need to baste, then hand quilt it. First it will need to be ironed. I also need to de-wrinkle the batting.

I am still tempted by the new Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler fabric I got at Christmas. I also have about 25 fat quarters of Asian fabric to figure out something with.

I received the copy of Kaffe Fassett's Kaleidoscope of Quilts. I am disappointed. I ordered it on-line without seeing first. Basically it is the same patterns with his new fabric.

The Street Knit Project group at work is still going. I guess we will keep working until we are told to stop.

More later.

l

The Year is Almost Over

I'm waiting for Trish and Trotsky to return home. Every once in a while I think I have done the required housework, I realize that there is something else that needs to done.


I have today's Star and Globe to entertain me. I also have the latest Karin Fossum book (Calling Out For You) to read. Trish gave it to me for Christmas. I enjoyed her other two books. Fossum is from Norway and writes mystery novels.


I'm also listening to the Yahoo radio station. I have discovered that you can skip songs that you don't like or don't feel like listening to. You can also rate the performer, song and album. It is keeping me amused.


Calle is doing her part to keep me entertained. She is now playing with the felt ball I got her for Christmas (Trotsky got one too). She will hid behind the Christmas tree to have a sneak attack. What a crazy cat.


I have discovered a stash of things left behind my parents. Unfortunately they only left behind a penny in terms of money (what a lousy tip). I think they will have to drop by to gather up the rest of their belongs before heading home.

This is the night light my parents (okay mother) gave me. It is made by Seagull. I will have to find a better place for next year. That will require Trish's help, as she has a much better sense of these things than I do.

This is the stash of fat quarters Allison gave me. It is the newest Kaffe Fassett. There is a pattern for it, but she misplaced it...

Calle is not going to give up her title as best Christmas present without a fight. Once some presents were put under the tree, she was unable to de-skirt the tree. Even my cat has a better interior design flare, than me... Allison made the skirt last Christmas. It was originally for herself, but I kind of guilted her into giving it to me...

Our friends Wendy and Jeff are bringing their daughters Olivia and Lucinda Jane for a visit tomorrow afternoon. The morning will involve child-proofing the upstairs and grocery shopping. If there is time maybe a stop at Bookcity to find a kid's book for Olivia. Tomorrow evening we are staying home. The plan at this point is for a Moroccan dinner and watch a movie or two.

I'm still working on a New Year's resolution. Although it is not a resolution and it is rather obvious, I'm not going to start any new projects until I have finished the three I have in progress. I have to finish Trish's cardigan, Allison's cardigan and Mish Mash. The knitting I'll work on first.

Okay I need to start my book.

More later.

L

Happy Boxing Day

Here are some photos of the cats. They are now able to be in the same room without hissing...

My parents and I went to Allison and Len's for Christmas dinner yesterday. It was a fabulous turkey dinner.

Today we are off to Ikea. They need to pick up something for my Aunt Gloria. And I need to some under the bed storage boxes.

I should make sure everyone has breakfast.

More later.

L

Christmas Eve

I went grocery shopping with my Mom first thing today. This afternoon I went to Dufferin Mall for the first time. I went with my Dad for his last minute shopping.

I hosted a Christmas Eve gathering tonight. Allison, Len and his parents (Walter and Evelyn) came over from Oakville for Christmas Eve dinner. I made a beef stew for dinner (of course it had a red wine base). Mom took care of the appetizer. Trish (even though she is away) made dessert (chocolates).

On the topic of Trish's Christmas treats. She added two new chocolates to her collection this year. The first was an orange and dark chocolate bark, the second was a Jackson Pollack inspired chocolate with dried apricots and nuts. I have voted that they make the list for next year and so did everyone else. They are gooood.

We did our gift exhange. I got some of the new line of Kaffe Fassett fabric and from Allison. She also gave me a bracelet she made. A flower press from my parents. I gave Allison her yet to be finished sweater. I'll get it sewn this week, then I just need to get a zipper for it.

It is late and I need to get some rest. Tomorrow we go to Oakville...

I'll post photos tomorrow.

They have arrived

My parents arrived yesterday afternoon. Their room was ready for them. They even got new sheets on the bed.




The quilt on the chair is the quilt my mom made two years. Allison and Len also got a quilt. Last year she gave me fabric to make my own quilt.


The cats are co-existing. They may spend time in the same room without hissing at some point. Elizabeth is being kept in the bedroom with my parents overnight to allow Calle to wander the house. The photo of Calle is before our company arrived. Elizabeth made herself at home quickly.



I should go. I'm being a bad bed and breakfast person. Day 2 has begun.

More later.

L

The calm before the storm...

The bedroom has been refurnished. Gone is the old futon. In its place is a new mattress and Ikea bedframe and two new dressers. The room is now parent friendly. My parents would not have survived a night on the futon. They should be nice to Trish as she insisted on the new bed.

I have meet Harry the hairless dog. He definitely has an attitude. He is very adorable.

This is the coat that Trish gave to Allison for her birthday for Harry.

What is about my family now naming pets after the Royal family? My parents' cat is Elizabeth and now Allison has a prince.

Our tree has been decorated. It is a good height for our living room. Also it is a decoration friendly tree if that makes sense. The branches are evenly distributed with room for the ornaments to hang. To see the tree correctly flip your monitor to the left. I'm sorry I did fix the orientation of the photo before posting it.

I'll post photos of my cats with the tree next time.

I have a few days to finish preparing for my parents' visit. I need to finish cleaning the house, get some groceries that they eat and some activities to keep them busy since I don't have cable television. I also have to wrap Christmas gifts. I should get some rest for all that.

More later.

L

It's almost Christmas

On Saturday I dropped off 10 scarves and 2 hats at Knit-O-Matic. I still have more completed scarves and hats at work to donate. I have been taking kits that Haley at Knit-O-Matic has made up to donate to knitters to make scarves with. I have been raffling them to knitters who have completed projects.

Trish and her parents delivered our tree on Sunday. With our fancy swivel tree stand it took five minutes to set up the tree. All we need is time to decorate it and the cats not to knock it over.

I'm almost done knitting Allison's cardigan. I should have enough time to sew it together. I will need to get a zipper for it. This weekend I need to make the catnip toys for Calle and Trotsky.

I got the new Scissor Sisters' CD today. I have only been able to listen it once. So far I really like it. At work Chris' radio station is only playing Christmas songs and it is mostly the bad ones. The rarities are covers of Joni Mitchell's River and a few others. I have been listening to Aimee Mann's Christmas CD (OneMore Drifter in the Snow).

On Sunday Trish and I are going to Oakville to meet Harry the hairless dog.

That is all for now. I'll leave you with a photo of Harry.

More later.

L

Update

Okay so it has it been a little while...

I finally finished the Baby Brick quilt. All that needs to happen now is for the baby to be born. That happened last Sunday night.

I'm still working on Allison's Christmas cardigan. It should be done by Christmas. For Trish's cardigan I need to figure out what to use as a tie. Then I can sew it together.


Today I took a taxi to the Goodwill. I filled the trunk and the backseat. On my way home I stopped at Knit-O-Matic and dropped off the 10 scarves, 6 hats and 1 pair of mittens that my work knitting group completed for the Street Knits Project. There is still more at my desk. I also picked up 3 kits that Haley at Knit-O-Matic put together for Street Knits. I'll put the names of people who have completed projects in a hat and draw 3 winners.



I set up our wireless network today. This is the first post from not only the wireless network but from my new laptop. I have named it "Tinman". It is very shiny. It works on my laptop and Trish's work laptop.

I'm saving my housework for tomorrow. Also tomorrow is the Kids' Activity Party at work. I'm going to help out. I'm also going to work on my powerpoint photo show for our Holiday Gala. Another busy day.

The hockey game is about to start...

More later.

L