Good Bye 2015 and Good Bye to the Hummingbirds…

Hello All!

I know it has been three months since my last post. 2015 was tough, especially the end of it. I am not sad to see it in my rear view mirror. And strangely, I have several friends that feel the exact same way. But its done… The hummingbirds are also done, after 100 birds I lost steam and it just wasn’t fun anymore. So I am calling it. I have plenty for a really nice size wall hanging and I ended it with my grandmother’s block which makes me happy. My new goal is to get them all set and over to Karen for quilting before the end of the year.

Even though I haven’t been blogging I have been busy making things. Here is a tour of the last couple months:

I made this bag for my mother-in-law with a new batting/stabilizing product called “Annie’s Soft and Stable”. It was amazing. The bag is sturdy, holds its shape and stands nicely with no interfacing, no Pellon, no batting; nothing but this new product that is basically a sturdy batting with fabric on both sides. Got her some yarn too 😉

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I was in desperate need of yarn and the very nice ladies that own an alpaca farm near my parents opened up the shop for me over the holiday. And I got to meet this guy (and 20 of his friends).

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And lastly, I have spent the last half of this month making scarves for the 2016 Special Olympics Winter Games. Each year the Special Olympics presents every athlete that participates in the winter games with a scarf (I just found out about this). There is a call out to knitters and crocheters in each state to make scarves. Each state picks a different color scheme each year and the guidelines are pretty broad. I would encourage you to get involved and make a couple scarves for these kids. I decided to crochet because I am a very slow knitter but I did try to mix it up pattern-wise.

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I hope you all have an awesome 2016! I’ll be posting, probably not as frequently but I will be back.

Paula Sue

Disappointed…

  
I’ve been MIA with sickness and work lately. So no birds and no new socks. But, I did pull out an old knitting project, an infinity scarf which I’m not sure I’ll ever finish. I thought about it tonight when a fellow blogger mentioned that she started a knitted afgan and the realized it will take forever to finish. I feel the exact same way…

But this yarn is fantastical. It is the softest sock yarn ever. And in thinking about that I became disappointed. I bought this yarn at my local yarn store and they always had such an amazing, large selection. A couple weeks ago I went to the store, excited to get more yarn only to find out it had downsized to the half the space. In that space, it didn’t have 1/4 of the inventory and had become very specialized. Practically overnight. It was so disappointing. 

I hate this. I don’t like shopping online for things that must be touched. I get it though, the economy is bad right now and will be until oil prices go back up. Also, with so much available online and in chain stores, shop owners have to change tactics to stay in business. 

So please support your locally owned businesses so I can continue to touch things before I buy them!

Sock delima…

No birds tonight, way too tired to sew without cutting off a finger.

But I did get some knitting done today while sitting in the hospital deli waiting for the pharmacy to open after my doctors appointment. I was at the point of needing to try it on. But I just couldn’t bring myself to take off my sock and shoe in Au Bon Pain… I really wanted to. 

  

Hello Strangers

It’s been awhile since my last bird or post. Insomnia has me cranking out my first blog in ages. In the middle of the night; on my phone, with my husband snoring next to me. 

Life and work have been crazy and my sewing machine hasn’t seen my face in 3 months. I miss it and I miss surfing WP and looking at all your beautiful creations. 

I have been able to pick up a few stitches here and there on some socks and my new project at work has me meeting new people and getting lots of new material for bird stories. I will get back to it soon. But, it will likely be a different pace. I feel like I need a whiteboarding session and a project plan to get it done….

 I finished this guy. Worst yarn ever. And the lace pattern…. Ugh. Not going for a pair. Might make it into an art piece for the laundry room.

Lonely Sock, Never To Be Mated

 

My current sock project. I think this marks the end of the gusset heal for me. Back to short row. Maybe I’ll try this fishy heal I’ve been reading about.

big ‘ol foot

Hello There…

Sock #5 - I know it looks weird but it's for my husband's big 'ol feet. LOL

Sock #5 – I know it looks weird but it’s for my husband’s big ‘ol feet. LOL

A fellow blogger reminded me that it has been a very long time since my last post. Unfortunately, I didn’t see her message until 20 days after she sent it. So I feel like a complete and total heel. Life has been crazy, but that is no excuse. I felt bad the first time I missed a bird, but when you miss 10 in a row, the 11th is nothing. Life has gotten in the way or sewing and knitting and I miss it. I can’t even live in denial – there is electronic proof on my site that I haven’t made a post since April 27th. More than a month…

I walked into my sewing room last night, saw the mess and promptly walked right back out. Last time I was in there I tore it up looking for some fun buttons for Kristen. Never found them, but the mess remains.

So can only leave you with a sock i finished about a week ago. Sock #5. Thank you FC5 for turning me on to knitting and giving me a kick in the pants to get back on it.

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My first pattern. I may not do patterns again…

 

Sock Catastrophy…

I haven’t mastered the art of correcting my mistakes so Sock #4 which once looked like this:Now looks like this:

Too lazy to re-wind, it I started the same sock in this horrible angora sock yarn that knots so bad that I’ve cut it twice.  Ready to turn the heel, can’t believe I have to suffer through this yarn for another sock… #shouldausedbiggerneedles #socknightmare 

Road Trip 2015 – Done

1900+ miles, 4 states, 11 family members, 1 bed and breakfast, 2 hotels, 3 quilts shops, one finished pair of socks and one week later… the 2015 road trip is in the books. The bird factory was shut down for this but it will be back up and running tomorrow. Thanks to the 3 quilt shops, I have lots of new bird fabric.

We had a lot of fun and got to see some family we haven’t seen in 15 years. But, ultimately, nothing is better than your own bed.

Finished Socks (Pair #2)

Finished Socks (Pair #2)

Critters

Critters on Trip

Read The Small Print: "Caution, Hot. But You're Smart Enough To Know That"

“Caution, Hot. But You’re Smart Enough To Know That”

Came home to "Monster Cabbage"

Came home to “Monster Cabbage”

 

I’m back! Sort of…

It’s been awhile since my last bird. While the bird factory is temporarily shut down some knitting has occurred. I’m almost done with my second pair of socks and I have a good start on my infinity scarf. I am still learning socks. My husband tells everyone “well she’s made 4 socks and none of them are the same size.” Thanks babe…

  

3 Socks Complete!

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I am still learning socks. This is my first gusset heel. The short row heel was easy to do, but the results for the gusset are much better. My only problem is knowing when to start it. I think I started it about 1/2 inch too late. And if you are thinking “That’s one looooong sock” it actually fits ok. Kinda sad… But my feet are 10 inches long 😦 It does look funny though.

In addition to finishing a sock today, I made my customary bird and got some bird fabric. The husband got some plants. The quilt shop and the nursery are right next to each other. It works out.

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For Him

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For Me