One more project completed!

Darn, I forgot another sewing project finished! Of course I don't have a picture of it as I quickly gave it to Amanda to tote Reese around.

Its a baby sling! I found this pattern online some time ago in preparation for all these babies! This is the site for the pattern. Be sure to book mark it as I have tried to just get there from the home page with no luck.

It is very easy to make. I used two fabrics to make it reversible. With one heavier fabric you only need two yards, with 2 fabrics you will need 2 of each fabric and you will get 2 slings with both methods.

Photo to come.................

It is however another finished project! I am on a roll for 2009!

Have fun with this one!

Current projects

Lets see, current projects................

Project finished: 2 stockings for the twins.

Well I am working on the knitting pure and simple neck down bolero for Abygail's birthday. That is February 19. She will be 5 years old. Hard to believe!! I am knitting hers in Plymouth encore color spun worsted number 7515. I only have a few rows done at this time.

I picked up a book at Barnes and Noble with sewing projects in it. One of which is just an inspiration for me as I made the pattern my own making it a different size and also adding a front pocket.

Now I bet you would like to know what book I got? Grandma Dee sent me a gift card for my Birthday and one for hubby and I for Christmas. We like to go and have a coffee and browse books and magazines, of course with me purchasing a few now and then. Ha! You should see my library...............oh my.Finally I have found the book on Amazon. The New Handmade : Simple Sewing for Contemporary Style. Amazon has the feature so that you can take a look at what you are buying online.

If you look at a few of the photos, its all pretty simple. But very inspiring! I made the ipod cover for my ipod but added a front pocket that can hold the cord or earphones. I used a strange vinyl type fabric with some stretch. Just a scrap of an old bit of clothing I cut up and used for something else. I then lined it with flannel because you all know how much you don't want your ipod scratched! Its a vintage flannel that my step mom had in her stash and I know for a fact its over 20 years old. But cute. For my padding or batting I used felt because that's what I had on hand.

The only other project I have been working on is finishing a sweater for a customer. I think that I have another month before she comes back to town. Snow Bird I think.

I try to keep my projects to only a few.........if I get too many going at one time I get overwhelmed! That is why one of my Christmas gifts hasn't been used yet too! I got a Cricut machine and 2 cartridges. I am dying to use it.....but feel that I must get the things that I am behind on finished in order to really enjoy it! I got an extra font cartridge and the paper doll one! That will be so fun to use with the granddaughters! Cut out dolls and let them pick hair, dress etc. fabric or pattern paper to dress them and decorate them in.

My Birthday...........

Every year like most of you I have a Birthday..........This year could have been one of the best, but my husband didn't approve of what Tiffany got me for my birthday present. Oh and before I show and tell my present...........it is also our wedding anniversary. Sixteen years married and 20 together.

Show and tell is..................we got matching tattoos! I have wanted this tiny butterfly on my left wrist for the past 3 years. I already have one tattoo that I got 16 years ago at the bikini line. How did I manage that you ask with hubby's disapproval? We were separated at the time!

This photo is the day after I got it so its a bit red still. I will have to replace this photo with a more current one. But I LOVE IT!! So that's all that matters right?

My birthday/ anniversary is on Dec. 21 yes 4 days before Christmas. Lets just say that I had a lot of peace and quiet..........at least 2 days worth before he talked to me again! No present for either birthday or anniversary.

I am 45, yes fourty five years old and its my day!

I do like tattoos, but c'mon I am not going to go and fill up my whole arm or something! Oh and by the way for anyone thinking of getting one I am not going to lie to you IT HURTS LIKE HECK! Really, brought tears to my eyes. But for me it was worth it, I love it. Do I have plans for any more. No not at this time.

Christmas knitting

How have all of you done with your Christmas or Holiday knitting? Did you finish? In a round about way...........I did. What I mean by round about is that Rob & Deb wanted stockings for each of them since they are pretty sure that there family is now complete. My goal was to at a minimum make the parents stockings. I was able to get that finished and here are the photos!

The first one was of course dad Robbie's stocking. I tried my hand at some colorwork, cheated some with self patterning yarn too! But the results are awesome!

Second was mom Debbie's stocking. Again some hot pink fair isle snowflakes on black.

And third Miss Abygail's stocking. My thought here was to be able to re-decorate it each year. I purchased some stiffened craft felt and cut shapes for a princess or diva. Star, diamond ring, high heel shoe etc. Just cut a slit for a button hole and ta Da! Next year we can make some new shapes together when they are ready to decorate for Christmas! Cool Huh?

But......yes there is always a but! I had also planned on making each of the bigger girls Abby and Madison a bolero sweater. Now of course that part did not happen! Madison got a sweater (her first from me) and since I knew that I would not have time for another one before Christmas I was able to knit Abby a stocking so that she did get something knitted also. Whew! Yes her stocking is with the photo of the parents stockings........

However.........Look here! I do have a photo of Madison's bolero sweater!! The pattern is from knitting pure and simple called Children's neck down bolero #275 I used a Plymouth encore color spun worsted number 7511. Take a look.

As for the rest of my Christmas knitting, I made Tiffany a pair of fingerless mitts pattern and yarn from knit picks. Pattern called 2-needle fingerless mitts . I used a knit picks yarn but for the life of me I can't remember the name or colorway! And it was purchased 1-2 years ago just for this purpose..................so..................it may be lost forever. Once she opened the box she was so thrilled that I haven't seen them since! So, no photo at this point. The only change to the pattern I made was to knit them two at a time and make the cuff, thumb and finger area a bit longer. At the cuff you can wear them long or cuff them for a shorter mitt. Very quick and easy to make, I might try them again knitting in the round two at a time.

Happy New Year!!!!!! 2009

Well I have been so busy since that sweet granddaughter Reese was born that blogging has taken the big ole back seat!! But not for long.

I am going to catch you all up on events, I am quite sure that this will take more that one entry.

Baby came home the day after Thanksgiving (Yippee). During her stay in the hospital, Grandma (that's me) knitted her a beautiful sleep sack with matching hat. The pattern is from Knitting at Knoon and called Sweat Pea

The pattern worked out beautifully.

Isn't she beautiful?

Current events...........

My current events are as such: Baby Reese is still in hospital. Breathing on her own but not as good as Dr.'s want. She is also not sucking bottles as she should. So just a bit longer. But she is beautiful and such a princess already.
Whats on my needles? I am now working on a sleep sack for Baby Reese. Made from Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino yarn in white, yellow and pink stripes. I will post a photo soon of my progress. I hope to get it finished before Reese goes home. I estimate another week. She is now 2 weeks old today! And also today would have been her delivery date for the c-section. But her real due date if it would have been a natural birth with no complications would have been Dec. 15th. So she is early and it might take her a bit longer to get used to things outside the womb. Now if we could only convince her mom of that!
Speaking of mom, I also have a photo to post of mom's first time holding baby and first time for grandma and grandpa too!
more later!
Lorrie

Photo of finished blanket

I so forgot to post this photo!

So here is the completed baby blanket made from the knitted baby wash cloths with had sewn flannel backing and in the second photo you will see a really cool ribbon label that I had made to put on the back!

The blanket is now on baby Reese's incubator top and all the nurses just love it and comment all the time! I have even had many ask if I am the one that made it!

Quick baby update

Hello all!
Just a quick note to fill in some baby blanks.

Baby was named Reese Louise, she was 5lbs. 8oz and 17" long. Shortly after her very stressful birth she did develop pneumonia or what the Dr. thought could be so they started treating her immediately. She has had a very hard time breathing and been on CPAP machine.

Mom was able to hold her for the first time on Friday the 7th and Dad for the first time Sunday the 9th. They have both changed a couple diapers too. Grandpa and I are hoping it will soon be our turn! Yesterday the nurses were going to start to nipple feed her. Mom has been pumping and baby has been fed via ng tube.

I have knitted her a pair of Peeps in pink along with a hat of my design that I will post photos of when I get the hat finished.

Grandpa and I got to baby sit the twin grand kids while mom and dad took Abygail up to see baby Reese and Aunt Amanda. We had such a nice time, the babies are starting to coo and giggle and smile. They are so adorable!

Photos to follow in a bit!
Take care all,
Lorrie

Surprise surprise!!!!

This was the biggest surprise of the day for our family! This is our newest grand daughter who will either be named McKenzie Louise or Reece McKenzie..........

She was born at 12:03 on Nov. 4 approx. 6 weeks early. Her scheduled C-section date was Nov. 18. She weighs in at 5 lbs. 8 oz. and we didn't have a length yet. Both mom and baby are doing wonderful!

The photo to the left was taken seconds after delivery and the top 2 are within 2 hours old.

Isn't she precious? She looks just like her half sister Madison who is 3 1/2 years old.

Ok and for my other surprise................THE PIT SLUG HAS BEEN LOCATED!!!! He actually did make it to his new home with Miss Violet! If you listen to the LimenViolet podcast you would have actually heard me mentioned! I bust out laughing with my headphones on listening to the podcast at work and boy did I get some looks! Looks like what the heck is happening to her NOW? LOL.

And for the knitting schedule....................TOTALLY BLOWN NOW!

I had planned for finishing new babies pink booties today. Then on the the sleeper sack (can't remember the name of the pattern right now will fill in later). I will be putting a rush on that now! Still having to finish them booties on the second one now............BUT yes you know there is always a but. I am hooked on making the Sweet Peeps booties! They are just too fun! I was working on number 2 after midnight waiting for both mom and baby.......that was a mistake I have found out. So this morning on the way to work I had to pull out maybe 12 rounds. Instead of 4 purl rows and 4 knit rows in some places I had 5 rows. I am not one to be overly perfect, if it had only been say one section I would have left it but it was in all three knit or purl sections! That adds up to too much height in the foot area.

So I am back on track. Should be out in the shop working but just had to get my thoughts up here to share while fresh in my mind.

Seems that all my best thoughts for blogging are while I am doing something else! So that when I get to actually blog about stuff, it just doesn't come out like I think.

So take care and I will be back!

Trick or Treat!!

As promised, here are photos of Halloween. Babies in hats, Abygail as 'Hannah Montana' with her dad posing for song!