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August 26, 2009

Lazy Days of Summer...

I have been making some progress over the summer in fits and starts, but have found the lack of structure to the days to help me be very very lazy!! We set up play dates and swimming for afternoons and can often still been seen in our jammies here near noon! Nice for a little while but when you are mostly surfing the computer and moving slow, the guilt catches up with and so does the housework...

I have a few things to show though...
Drop Stitch Scarf and Fetching Mitts from yummy Manos Silk Blend
This is the drop stitch scarf and fetching mitts that I finished while on holidays in Portugal.

I found the patchwork scraps from the handbag I made and made some little accessories (no pattern): a keychain, zip bag and sunglasses holder.
Some matching accessories for my handbag I made...using leftover scraps

I couldn't wait to make 50 gazillion double-sided blocks to see if I could piece them together the way I wanted, and felt my chest of drawers needed a runner, so I did a test drive on doing the sashing for the double sided quilt. I finished it all by machine, not quite the proper quilt as you go method for the last seam, and machined down the binding as well, which I never do...but all in all I like it. It isn't perfect but I like the wavy line quilting (great for imperfect quilters!) and like the way the runner turned out...here are some pics of both sides of the runner...
Double Sided Table Runner for my Chest of Drawers
Neutrals side of runner..Civil War Repro side of runner....

My friend Anne Marie is going to open up her own little shop over in Wexford and while I was up visiting her earlier this month I got these yummy fabrics and two patterns...
Purchases from Anne Marie

When my brother arrived last week from the States he brought me these...note the Fig Tree Quilt theme: 2 patterns from Anne Marie and now an FQ stack of Fig and Plum fabrics by Fig Tree Quilts (thanks Anne for selling these to me and throwing in the lovely Terry Thompson fabrics!)
Fig and Plum FQ Stack and some extra goodies from Anne

My brother arrived last week and we have had great fun visiting with him. The lovely guy brought me my newest toy, a waterproof case for an Ipod shuffle. I have finally bought an Ipod and now listen to my music and podcasts while swimming my 60 lengths (1 kilometer!). I have a hard time walking for exercise these days, though thankfully it isn't an MS issue but a fallen arch in my left foot and the doc seems to think some orthotics fitted into my shoes will make a big difference. Swimming is something I've always loved and can do well, so for the last three weeks I've swam three times a week. I haven't started changing my eating habits yet (bro brought too much yummy food and margarita mixes!!) but plan to start when school starts next week. Watch this space for a hopefully shrinking Cathi as I swim and get my eating habits in order. It will all help with MS symptoms too...the healthier the diet the better they say.

I have started a new hand piecing project, a drunkards path that Barbara sent me the fabric and templates for back when I got the bad news about my mother's cancer (she is cancer-free for a year now, woo hoo!!). I hope to be able to show you the progress on that quilt as it grows slowly. I love to have a hand piecing project and aside from my sporadic Dear Jane blocks I am doing for my swap with Katy (latest block received from Katy below...)
DJ Swap with Katy

I definitely like the look of the dresser runner I did, so will work on the full double-sided bed quilt this fall...But have an itch to start some new projects, hmmm...what will I do next? Something with that yummy stack of FQs?

My youngest, Aisling, starts big school next Tuesday. How does time fly by so fast!??

18 comments:

Debbie said...

Hi, Cathi, Glad to hear how you are doing! Your projects are always great. I know what you mean about time flying. My son got his driver's license this summer and will be a junior in High School this year. It seems like yesterday when we went to kindergarten orientation! Enjoy your last week of summer.

Sarah said...

Doesn't look lazy to me. What fun you've been having! The runner looks amazing and fun...can't wait to see the bed quilt materialized, Cathi. Time sure flies...Aisling's going to big school--how exciting is that! Big hugs and kisses to both girls and momma too :D

Thimbleanna said...

Whew! Those don't look like very lazy days to me! You've been busy! Love that pretty scarf and mitts!

Dawn said...

Love the runner on your dresser Cathi, well done...Those Fig fabrics look so yummy I am sure you will have fun sewing with them.
HUGS x x

Andrea said...

You sound like you're having a lovely summer. Hope you're not dreading Aisling's first day of school too much - I'm sure you'll shed a tear or two. And great news about your Mum xx

Barbara said...

Cathi everything looks so gorgeous! You are super-talented! Enjoy the time with your brother. :D

Mary-Kay said...

I'm glad to see you are enjoying the summer, or what's left of it. And that double-sided runner is great. Did you follow a pattern or jut wing it? And where did your brother find a waterprooof IPod case? I need one.

ruthsplace said...

Wow, you have been busy! Love the knitting and the double-sided runner.

Jenny McH said...

Hi Cathi, Love the pattern you used for your scarf. Those patterns & new fabric look exciting. That first morning of seeing your child off to school for the fist time is such a tug at your heart...one moment they are such babes and then you blink and they are growing up so fast.

Hedgehog said...

Looks like you've been busy! I've been wanting to make that scarf for a while - hope to cast on today!

Jordan said...

Wow! I absolutely love that runner! I also adore that scarf... it's gorgeous! check out my blog at www.thescrapbox-jordannichole.blogspot.com

colleen formerly of South Africa said...

The knitting is wonderful...and your brother sure brought you some nice things. Glad all is well. The block runners look good.

Karol-Ann said...

Lovely crafting going on in your house!! Now the kids are back to school - perhaps you'll get even more done. ;-)

Evelyn said...

As always your knitting is fab. My car key chain has a little zipper bag and I keep my debit card (for gas) and driver's license in there - I like your little purse assessories! I like table scarfs - a nice little project - always fun to have a finish that is practical! Take care! Cheers! Evelyn

Heather said...

As a horrible swimmer I'm always impressed with people who can swim distance. Way to go!

Julie said...

Such a pretty scarf! Love it...and your fabric works are so great.

Alessandra said...

wonderful blog. wonderful works.wonderful knitting stitch for the scarf. could you explain it to me?on my blog you can find a migrant tombola.hugs

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