2010 Winter Sowing and Sewing Projects

I just checked the containers on the back patio to see if anything is happening yet.

Nope!

The 'sowing' project is in the waiting mode today.

However, since I've worked on being more wise with my time I've nearly finished the socks being worked in the picture below. Because they were too short for my stepdaughter they've been reworked...more than once. The toe is being woven together now on one, and the other toe is ready for finishing!

I love how they match the colors in the quilt behind me as I visited

my sister's quilting group in Vancouver.

The red socks below are nearly finished also.

They are for me, and I knit on them when I'm in a circumstance that

doesn't allow me to count stitches easily.

The bamboo yarn is sooooo soft!

The last project I've taken up this winter is a quilted wall-hanging.

I'd like to display my dear husband's fly-fishing poles, and it would be nice to hang

something 'fishy'

from them on a wall in the living room which needs some color.

I've chosen batik fabrics to work with,

and I'm embellishing the small quilt with embroidery, buttons,

and fancy stitches on my machine.

You can see that I am certainly a novice, and I am getting wonderful instruction and help from some experienced quilters like my sister and a couple of women from the quilting group in my town.

They meet every 1st and 3rd Tuesday for dinner, a business meeting, and a 'show and tell'.

I can hardly wait to show mine!

I worked this fish's mouth with too many stitches, so it will be taken out and redone.

It does give you an idea of what's going on in the sewing department over here

in the wilds of Idaho!

Margy's Quilt...and more!

This is my sister Margy's Spiders'-Web and Stars paper-piecing quilt which is to be hung at her favorite quilt store. I'm so proud of her; I could just bust my buttons! She's been quilting for only a year, and is SO talented.

While I was visiting in the west of Oregon and Washington Margy and I trekked to McMinnville for some shopping at a store called Boersma's, a HUGE store on one street for quilters and another across the street for knitters.

This jungly quilt on display caught my eye with its engaging colors and style.

I spent my time chosing sock yarn which Isabella wanted to fondle and count and hold. She has ordered up a pair of purple socks for herself. They would match these pajamas, of course.

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Displayed in the comfortable loft were these knitted treasures I couldn't help but photograph for future ideas when I max out on socks.

The three women in the store were immeasurably helpful and encouraging, pointing out the best books, showing me new techniques, and laughing with me about my knitting foibles.