Quatorze

Last weekend, we headed over to Battle Creek/K-Zoo to visit with Matt's family and celebrate an early Thanksgiving. We made the obligatory stop at Zingerman's in Ann Arbor for dinner. I always say that I want to try a new sandwich and then end up ordering one of my faves. But this little beauty caught my eye ...
#99 Randolph's Grand Début The Deli's take on a classic Parisian croque monsieur Arkansas peppered ham, Switzerland Swiss cheese & Dijon mustard grilled on farm bread with an extra layer of butter & Swiss cheese grilled on the outside.
... so much yum!

And then - you are not going to believe it - but I KNIT! Other than socializing with family and chowing down on delicious Thanksgiving-ness, I spent the day knitting. I started and finished a project in one day, with the exception of the buttons, which I sewed on last night.

I present to you - the Fourteen Neckwarmer ...

And I learned the fisherman's rib, too. It makes such a thick & squishy knit. I love it and think I will be knitting more of these in the near future.

yarn anti-depressants anyone?

Five months later ... I guess I just don't make the time to blog anymore. Or knit anymore. I honestly can't remember the last time I finished a knitting project. Maybe it was a super small project like a bib (that sounds about right). I have many UFOs floating around the house, but none are really calling my name right now.

I spent some time on ravelry yesterday and got inspired! I hadn't realized it ... but I really miss knitting. I also miss finishing my knitting projects, so I know I need to choose something that I can finish in a reasonable amount of time. (Yes, I am the queen of instant gratification)

I am thinking about this pattern for a neckwarmer thingy. The designer has this to say: "One skein projects are like antidepressants in a ball. It’s like, just whip one up and you’re instantly happy." Sounds like the perfect project for me, no? I have some Rowan Chunky Print in my stash. I have never done Brioche rib, so that could make it interesting. If I type it here, maybe I will be more likely to make it happen. What do you think?

Funky Monkeys Changing Pad

A friend of mine is having a baby this summer and this gave me the perfect opportunity to continue to learn some new sewing skills. So, I went to my local quilting shop and found some fabulous fabric - some yellow minky and 5 Funky Monkeys Counting in Lime - that is just perfect for a little baby boy. See?

I borrowed Amy Butler's Little Stitches from the library - it has so many cute projects, as one would expect from Amy Butler. I mean, really ... isn't everything she does amazingly cute?

I figured I could handle the changing pad pattern. Remember ... I am a total beginner, so I am very proud of my small projects. As with knitting, I especially like it when I can complete a project in a night or two. I need the immediate gratification! The final step of the pattern is to quilt it a bit, which I haven't done yet, but that should be easy-peasy. I love this soft little creation ...

Springtime in NC

I cannot believe that I haven't blogged for nearly 2 whole months. Time is flying by!! Maybe I will do a few posts in the coming days to catch up.

Let's start with our trip to North Carolina in April to visit Matt's sister. We spent a week with her and her husband. We took lots of road trips from our home base of Goldsboro. It was the possibly perfect time of year to be there. Spring had not yet arrived in Michigan, so it was a real delight to see all of the dogwoods in bloom. We ate some vinegar-y BBQ in Raleigh. We went to the aquarium near Wilmington. We explored the campus at Chapel Hill.

We spent 2 days in the Outer Banks. It was a bit overcast, but we really enjoyed it. We visited 3 lighthouses and the Wright Brothers Memorial. We dug our toes into the sand and nearly froze our toes off in the Atlantic Ocean. Not bad at all.

Doll Quilt in the works

I have been working on my doll quilt using the tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew. I am so happy that I took on this project! I am learning a lot as I go and quilting on a smaller scale is the perfect way for me to figure out how it all works. I should have been taking pictures all along to show you my progress, but this is the only picture I have.

At this point I had pieced together each row, but I hadn't sewn the rows together yet or added the sides, top and bottom pieces. In the meantime, I basted it and then free motion quilted. I watched a few online videos of free motion quilting and stippling and made some sandwiches to practice on. I was nervous about ruining my quilt, but after some practice I got more comfortable decided to just go for it! Last night, I cut the fabric for my binding, so I am in the home stretch.

In order to complete this little project, I had to acquire some new tools in additional to my new skills ... an acrylic ruler, a rotary cutter and a darning foot. It is so fun to acquire new tools, especially when they make life so much easier.

I love this rotary cutter ... it is my very last minute entry for Heather Bailey's March of the Tools.

A ballband bib & my first apron

It is kind of embarrassing how long I have been working on this (I think I started it back in July), but at long last, I present to you the Ballband Bib in blue, green and yellow ...

When I started this project, I didn't know if the recipient would be a boy or a girl. The knitting part was actually completed about a month ago, but the bib still needed a button, which had to wait until the baby was born. My friends had a girl and named her Clementine, so I promptly went to the store and found an orange-colored daisy button to complete this project.

I have actually been spending more time thinking about sewing lately. I have buying a little bit of fabric. And finding good sewing blogs to read. And interloaning sewing books through the library. And thinking about projects that I'd like to do someday. Since I am a total novice, I have to be realistic when I look at all the patterns and possibilities. I figured an apron might be a good second project for me. So, I made the Psychedelic Squares apron from A is for Apron. Wanna see?

Now I am thinking about tackling the fat quarter doll quilt from Sew, Mama, Sew! I figure that it will be a good way to learn how to quilt ... FUN!

Getting Ready for the Oscars

Matt & I have a busy weekend planned and I am looking forward to it! Melvy & Jeanne (Matt's dad & step-mom) are coming to the D for a little visit. Jeanne hasn't seen the house yet, so we are looking forward to showing it off. We will probably find something delicious to eat downtown - maybe Xochi's? And then we are going to the DFT on Saturday evening to see "Harvard Beats Yale 29-29" (listen to the interview on Fresh Air).

On Sunday, we are having a little Oscar party at our place with a group of friends that I have dubbed our "Dinner Club." For the past several months, we have been taking turns hosting dinner on a Sunday night. It is always an occassion for good food and lots of laughter. Two of my most favorite things! Anyhow, I think we are going to make the most delicious mac&cheese recipe that I know of. Always a hit!

But I was thinking that it would be fun to have food to go along with the Best Picture nominations. I don't know if we will actually be able to pull off something for all 5 movies. The mac&cheese will work for Milk, right? I mean - it does have 5 1/2 cups of milk in it. And I think we can pull off something for Slumdog Millionaire - maybe samosas or naan. I haven't seen Benjamin Button, The Reader or Frost/Nixon ... so I am not as motivated. But I did find an article with some cute recipes to go along with these films.

Even though I haven't seen as many movies as I had hoped to (again), here are my Oscar picks:

• Best Picture & Best Song & Best Score & Directing & Editing & Screenplay & Sound Mixing & Sound Editing & Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire (yeah, I loved it!)
• Short (Animated): undecided ... maybe Lavatory Lovestory or Oktpodi
• Short (Live Action): Manon on the Asphalt (but I also liked The Pig quite a bit)
• Actor in a Leading Role: Mickey Rourke
• Actor in a Supporting Role: Heath Ledger
• Actress in a Leading Role: Kate Winslet