Grandma's Kitchen Table

1 Baby Blanket Finished; 1 Quilt Block Started

      Hello...no, it's not Craft Day Wednesday, but Clarice and the television were victims of Tuesday night's storms and neither were up and running until today...I didn't miss the television, but I sure did miss Clarice.  So, today will be a craft post, and a favs post later on.

      Enthusiastic knitting continues...I know that you are probably all sighing with boredom at my little efforts here at knitting, but I figure that Rome wasn't built in a day, as the saying goes, and therefore I am working toward something absolutely spectacular that will wow you all.  (I just don't know what that is going to be yet.) 

      I finished the little blue denim-looking baby blanket for Christine's new baby boy.  It is meant to be used in the car and just left in there...we had such when our boys were little and found them very handy as in summer the air conditioning would make their little bare legs cold and in winter it seemed like there was always a chill in the air.  Anyway, it's all completed and ready to be shipped to St. Louis.  I hope she likes it! 

      Lin, my knitting instructor, and Molli, the owner of the knitting shop I frequent, suggested that Jan and I go to www.ravelry.com and keep a notebook there of our projects, so we did that...oh, my word...this site is so amazing.  I typed in all my projects and the yarns, needle sizes, laundering instructions, dates started and completed, etc. and it keeps them all right there...only a click away.  I ran out of yarn and needed a dye lot number and YEP, YOU GUESSED IT, all the shop had to do was click onto my Ravelry notebook and the number was right there, no going back home to retrieve the little label.  How great is this?  You can also see patterns and yarns, other people's projects, and be in a group that includes everyone else who frequents the same yarn shop and attends classes there, etc.  Who knew, WHO KNEW???  (Now, I am sorta hoping no one actually looks at my projects for awhile, until I get up to speed as there are some amazing things on that site and mine pale in comparison indeed.  I am working on it...working on it...working on it.  Rome truly was not built in a day, or a week, or a year, etc.  Someday I will get there...or maybe not, but it is really nice just enjoying it all as it is now.  I never thought I would see the day!) 

       On another front, my first quilting class was last Thursday night.  We learned a lot from the introductory information, made our templates, chose our project, picked out and purchased the material for the project.  Overload for me for sure...a lot in one two hour class. 

      So this week our homework was that we needed to cut out the first block of our project with the templates we made and the material we purchased...today's assignment in the photo above.  My first block only has two colors in it, so I didn't cut into the others yet.  I wanted to just go ahead and cut them all out, but I was afraid that I might not be doing it exactly correctly (this seemed too easy in other words).  I decided to go to class tonight and see how I did with this first one.  It's a fun class with Katie and Suzanne in it also, so I am definitely looking forward to having a go at it again tonight. 

      Oh, and the project for the class was a four block wall hanging, but I thought maybe I would enjoy something else a little more, so I am making a four block table runner with my blocks instead.  I really love the idea of making useful things and when I am done, I can put it on the table and use it right away...how gratifying!  The colors are (I am certain you will all be very surprised...NOT):  Cranberry, Navy, Hunter Green, and Beige.  I know, I know...but those are the colors in my dining room, so lighten up with me being so uncreative and boring.  I love them!

The Beginnings of Hat, Golf Head Cover, and Baby Blanket

    I got to spend a decent amount of time knitting at the swim meet last weekend, so I completed another market bag (not pictured as I figure you are all getting tired of those...but I am not...I love making them, such fun), knitted until I got stuck on the pattern directions for the golf club head covers, started a beanie type hat for Matt for when he has a shaved head and comes out in the cold after swim practice (per his request), and also started a baby blanket for a recent arrival of the blue variety.  (This will be a sort of denim-looking blanket meant for car travel as we always found it useful to have a separate blanket for the car for the boys in summer as well as winter due to the air conditioning being cold on their bare legs, etc.)  So the photo is all this laid out as nothing is complete, but I do have a lot going on. 

      It seems to be rather helpful to have a lot going on so that if one thing is at the "stuck" stage, there is something else to work on (until it also gets in the "stuck" stage).  Lin, my knitting instructor, can always solve all my "stucks" at class in a matter of seconds it seems. It is very important to have a Lin in your life when attempting something crazy like knitting.  It is enjoyable to be learning all the new bits and pieces for each type of item.  I'm having fun with it all, truly, I am! 

      Okay...it's sunny, it's warm, dinner is all ready to go, all I need to do is run to the pool to pick up Matt, finish, serve, and eat the dinner (I love grilling season as Mark can grill every night...and he is very good at it), and then head out to the golf course.  I can knit when I get home, and read before bed, and as I fall asleep I can think, "Wow, this was a great day...and nothing special even happened...it was just a great day!"  I so don't deserve it.  But you do...so I hope you had one, too.

The Market Bag Addiction Continues

      My goodness, these Tuesday craft days at the Table come around quickly each week.  I made three more market bags...for Shelley, Karen, and Susan as they expressed so sweetly how much they really would love to have one.  Shelley's was the pastel color combination of the one I made for The Lovely Tess last week. The ones for Karen and Susan are like this one pictured at the right...a blue, purple, turquoise, pink combination that I just loved working with and may need to make one in that color combo for myself.  Yep, may need to do that.  The handles on these bags are different as I did a little experimenting and decided I liked the way these carried better for Karen and Susan's bags for the way they wanted to use them.  Who knew I would be able to alter and adjust a pattern and have it turn out?  It just gets better and better, I tell you.  Love it, love it.

      I am also working on the golf club head covers, but do not have one completely finished yet, so that will need to wait for a peek next week. 

       The second photo here is of Meg and Sunny today at Book-It.  Meg had entered the dishcloth giveaway (and I couldn't give one to Meg without giving one to her sister, right?), so I wrapped them up all girly-like and gave them to them today.  They were so thrilled...this is my very favorite thing about Meg and Sunny...they are the sweetest things going, always respectful, fun, and always so appreciative of anything that comes their way.  Truly, very sweet always.  I think it took Meg about 10 minutes to talk herself into opening the package as she kept saying, "Oh, I just love a package, and it is so pretty I hate to rip it open."  (Me, too...I am always that way with a package.) 

      The last photo is evidence of the grief to which I am being subjected to from my non-crafting friends.  At Book-It Shelley sketched a little "sign" for me on a napkin about opening up a crafts boutique of some sort...all in jest of course...so here's her little sign, complete with the country painted flowers, wooden-look lettering, and dressed up goose (with extra long legs just for me).  They were all teasing me about being "really scared" of this new part of me and threatened that if I took up macrame that they would call the men in white coats.  Can you believe I am being subjected to this sort of abuse?  I can...I figured it was coming...but someday, when they are all thinking, "Hmmmm...maybe I should learn to (fill in the blank with a craft).....," I will be very kind and just smile sweetly.  Do you hear that Shelley, Katie, Margaret, Debbie, Jerri, Anne C., Anne G., Kimarlee, Gloria, etc.?  Sweetly...I will smile nicely...because when it hits, it is addicting!

The Market Bag

      Last week in knitting class, we made a market bag.  It was fun and surprisingly easy...who knew I could make anything so useful so soon? (It is pictured here in two views...neither color really true to the actual color, which is a sort of cranberry wine.  You can click on all photos to enlarge if you like.)

       I decided that it was too much fun to make just one, so I made another for The Lovely Tess to use this summer as a swim tote bag...to tote her suit, towel, sunblock, etc. to the pool.  The Lovely Tess, although only 15 and in high school, has her own little crafting business called Kromar Kreations that she owns and operates with her sister.  She crafts silverware with beading. (Very difficult to explain this, and I don't want to photograph it here as I don't know of anyone else who has come up with this idea.  I would not want anyone to "borrow" Tess' idea from this site since it is very unique.)  The Lovely Tess made for me a very special dessert serving piece for my birthday, so I thought I would craft something for her as a surprise.  (It is pictured here on the right.)  I sent it with Matt to give to her after her Lacrosse game this evening.  I hope she likes it! 

      This week in knitting class we are making golf club head covers...I have been wanting to make these since I first saw some on another blogger's site more than a year ago, and now I am going to get the chance to make some...can't wait!  Maybe I will have at least one completed to post next week.

      Earlier today, Patty and I had a good time up at Guerin setting up the Staff Appreciation Luncheon in the teacher's lounge...Patty being her crafty self made very pretty flower centerpieces...a nice photo of Patty before we started working away this morning. 

      The day has been long, the evening almost at a close, and tomorrow is going to be one very hectic busy day, so might not see you here until Thursday...in the meantime, go out and do something special for someone for no apparent reason whatsoever...and you don't even have to tell them I sent you.  Good night, everyone.

ANd the Dishcloth Winner Is...

     Twenty-One Dishcloths ready to be shipped out of here...enjoy! 

      Four posts today (go ahead and scroll down and count!)...way too many, but it is craft day and I do need to post my crafting because I actually have some things to post!

      Craft day...first, result(s) from the Wonderfully Constructed Hand Knitted Dishcloth GKT Blog Giveaway drawing:  you are all winners. 

      Twenty-one people entered the drawing for one of these lovelies, and I couldn't bear to draw just one name for those of you being such good sports about this, when I know you all make wondrous things yourselves.  Winners are:  Meg, Susan, Hollie, Shelley, Katie B., Karen, Anne, Helen, Maggie, Kristina, Jan, Jane, Linda, Amanda, Carol, Theresa, Myra, Darcy, MK, Jill, and Melissa.  Your dishcloth is on its way to you...enjoy...and thanks for the fun! 

      In making the dishcloths, I learned ten new stitches, got to work with different kinds of yarns (all washable, of course), and loved having all the different colors flowing through my fingers.  This week we are going to finish our Market Day Bag, and I am very excited about that project...I am not sure what is next. 

      Second, the best part about all of this is that I found several charities that request knitted items for babies, as well as scarves, hats, mittens, sweaters, etc. for young children, and I am really LOVING that I could knit things to donate...that appeals to me immensely, so that is definitely where all this is taking me in this knitting venture. 

      And, third, and last, I have to say this knitting thing is just great.  For my birthday from Matt and Alex I got the Denise travel knitting needle kit and a Denise organizer, so I can take this knitting jones on the road at any moment...whenever I am sitting and waiting for these guys, I can knit...you can do it most anywhere.  I just love that. 

      And, of course, the first thing everyone says is, "I didn't know you could knit.  I have never once pictured you knitting."  Followed closely by, "Okay, what gives...where is your book?"  More than one reference has been made to the possibility of the "real me" having been replaced by a "pod person"....I wonder...hmmmm...maybe.

ANnouncement

      Last week I practiced different knitting stitches for various weights of yarn, etc. on dishcloths...very useful indeed.  The Navy, Wine, and Green ones are staying here.  The others have homes already.  Oh, I just love this knitting thing...it is so portable!  Whenever I need to wait, I can knit if people are around that want to chat, and I can read if there are not people around wanting to chat.  What a deal! 

      Several blogs I check in on now and again are crafting blogs, i.e. quilting, knitting, crocheting, jewelry making, pottery, etc., and occasionally the owners of the blogs will sponsor a "swap," i.e. several of them agree to make things and then swap with each other, each receiving something special and unique from the others, and at other times, they do a "giveaway," which is usually in the form of some sort of drawing, the recipient of the draw being sent something that the owner makes. 

      I have never had anything to swap or make before, so I haven't done anything like this.  In that spirit, however, and in light of the fact that I ACTUALLY MADE SOMETHING useful, I am hereby announcing that I am going to have a giveaway here at the Table.  (Don't get too excited as I can't make anything really great yet.) 

      So, what am I giving away?  Why, a new, hand-knitted dishcloth, of course...STOP LAUGHING.  Here's how it works:  if you would like to have this lovely piece of goodness, destined NOT to become a collector's item or anything valuable, but rather destined for certain demise in a certain amount of months of a certain amount of hard use, then all you need to do to put yourself in the running is to send me an email saying such, including the colors in your kitchen. 

      I then put all the names into some sort of hat or bowl or something along those lines, and draw from it one perfect name.  After that, it is just a matter of time before the postman brings it in his wagon and deposits a package at your door/mailbox, and you open it and shout with glee, "Hey, I won something!"   

      There is no age requirement (alas, kids, something for which you DON"T have to be at least 18).  I will collect email names from this Tuesday's craft blog until this coming Monday and announce on next Tuesday's craft blog the winner of said wonderfully constructed original hand-knitted dishcloth of custom design.  Bet you just can't wait, right? 

      So, what are you waiting for...send an email to me and put in the subject line:  "Blog Contest" or some such thing so I won't think you are just SPAM.  If this turns out to be fun, there may be something even more exciting down the line...like mittens or a market day bag!  Made by me...who knew???

ANd now...Taa-Dah!

       Well, here it is CRAFT DAY at GKT and I have some things to actually show.  Stop laughing.  Right now.  Our knitting class was Thursday (I finally made it to a knitting class).  The photo shows what I have managed to eke out in the past four days (be kind as I have never done this before). 

      Please note:  One long wine-colored scarf, completely knitted in the garter stitch, but lacking fringe on the ends as that is included in next week's lesson, when hopefully Jan will have her scarf finished also and can fringe hers at the same time; one green dishcloth, large size, garter stitch; one wine-colored dish cloth, small size, garter/purl stitch with something called a popcorn stitch in it (I think this is a bit small, but we are just using these dishcloths for practice on the different patterns so we can get a feel for things, while at the same time ending up with a completely useful item, also, somewhat "green"; and one blue dishcloth, "still on the needles", medium size, garter stitch, which I started last night during the final game of the NCAA playoffs.  (How on earth did Memphis get all the way to the finals and NOT KNOW HOW TO MANAGE PLAYING THE LAST ONE MINUTE OF A GAME WITH HIGH STAKES????  Enough said.) 

      So, what is next in the knitting realm?  Jan and I have a little list of practical things that the instructor says is manageable as we move along...things I have seen on other blogs and in the examples they have around the shop which are on display:  dishcloths for pattern practice, scarves, mittens, maybe a hat (Matt wants some warm stocking hats for the winter to wear to and from the pool in the cold), market day bags, golf club head covers, a felted purse, socks, maybe eventually vests/sweaters...possibly an throw (although we have many of those from relatives who so lovingly provided us with such over the years)...and then, maybe I can make some baby/little kid things.  So, that's the list...enough to keep me busy for a good long while and then some. 

      And, lastly to answer your questions about why I am feeling compelled to knit, etc.  The answer is fairly simple:  I want something to do while I am waiting around for the boys at various activities, especially Matt with the swimming and choir rehearsal gigs which go on for hours and hours at a time.  In years past, I had plenty to keep me busy as I was homeschooling the boys and would write/adjust curriculum, plan lessons, write tests, grade papers, record grades, etc., to send in to Seton Homeschool.  There was always plenty to keep me occupied.  Now, not so much.  The knitting, etc. seemed like something that would keep me occupied and also be something useful.  (I don't sit still well without something to keep me occupied.)  So far, I like it...and I always like learning something new.  So, stop laughing.  Right. Now.  Can't wait to see what you all post this week! 

Needl-ING

     "Whoa....what is this?" you say.  Indeed.  Not the usual fare to be found on my kitchen table. 

    Next week is a big craft week as a few of us have created a group that we are calling OGPG, which stands for Our Grandmotherly Phase Group, designed to take us into the next phase where we will all be empty-nesters and looking for things to tide us over until we have grandchildren to entertain!  Grandchildren...yikes, just the thought of that is fairly scary.  (I am figuring a lot of this would also be quite handy for the hours and hours I spend in the USA, and now also high school, swimming world as a spectator.) 

      Anyway, next week we have a sort of whirlwind craft craze going:  we are taking classes on learning to knit and crochet, learning to locker hook, learning to quilt (the quilt deal is actually ten classes learning different aspects that goes throughout the summer...omw).  I have never found the need to quilt as we have a whole lot of them around here since our grandmothers and various other family members all quilted and were very generous in sharing their output.  I am finding, however, that our quilters are no longer quilting, many of them being dead and all, so maybe I should step up and carry on the legacy. 

      With the advent of Books on Tape (CD), I am thinking I can give up a little of my book reading time and still feel like my mind is not going to atrophy anytime soon since I can listen to taped versions of things.  (Mark does this on his drives to and from work, etc. each day and he finds it quite enjoyable.)  The boys are all having a hoot over the thought of me sitting around knitting, crocheting, locker hooking, and quilting.  They may be right.  We shall see. 

      It is so quiet around here as Matt is down at the pool watching finals and cheering for his teammates who qualified for those, while Mark is driving Alex up to the scout camping venue as he also wanted a chance to peer through the telescopes with the scouts, etc.  Tomorrow is the big rocket launching deal, so Mark may go back up for that, but, he informs me, his scout-camping-in-the-tents-overnight-on-the-cold-hard-ground days are over.  Over.  Alex didn't seem too disappointed as the one thing Alex has been gung ho for since, oh, let's say age 2 or so, is independence and freedom from the parental yoke of being accountable 24/7.  (In other words, no one to tell him to turn lights out at 11:00 p.m., to eat a well balanced meal, to brush his teeth three times a day, and to CHANGE HIS CLOTHES ON A CAMPOUT ONCE IN AWHILE.)  Freedom.   I am planning on curling up here by the fire, yes it is still cold enough for a fire here, with my book for the evening.  What's up over there?  See you back here on Monday!  Life is good.

Craft-ING

        I am thinking of making Tuesdays Craft Day here at the Table. (I can see where this is leading my compulsive self:  Tuesdays, Craft Day; Wednesdays, Recipe Day; Thursdays, Favorites List Day; Friday, Anticipation of the Weekend Day; and Monday, Actuality of the Weekend Day...an organized plan, an outline, a method, a system, a direction...you all knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, right?)

     I really have no idea why I am feeling the urge to craft, especially since it might just cut into my book reading time...something I guard jealously as it is.  Whatever the reason, maybe if I devote a day to it here, I will be more committed. Don't expect much...you all have your little specialties and I really like reading about and looking at all those, but you all know me...a less likely crafter you will probably never meet...maybe that is why it seems appealing...you know, the challenge of just the thought of trying some new things:  well, new to me.  (Please note that this could be really ugly and abandoned quite quickly...we shall see.) 

      Last week on the Martha Stewart show, Martha and her crew (very important to note that she has a CREW and I do NOT have a CREW), made these really cute lacey girly colored Easter eggs.  She demonstrated IT all very carefully and IT looked foolproof (even for me the oh-so-untalented-crafter) and IT needed very few supplies.   

      The premise was that you take a hard boiled egg, wrap a piece of lace around IT, secure the lace with a rubber band, and dunk the whole bit into the egg dye, leaving IT for 15 minutes, whereupon one would remove the egg, cut off the rubber band, remove the lace, pat the egg dry, and voila...one very nifty pretty little lacey patterned Easter egg dyed in lovely shades of, well...whatever color you desired. 

      Well, I tried IT, and the eggs you see above are the result.  Really, they don't look anything like Martha's lovely lacey colored eggs.  Not. At. All.  They look more like Shroud of Turin dyed Easter eggs.  Sort of foggy and with an intermittent pattern. 

      Maybe this particular crafty idea was not my forte...but at least it felt good trying IT and they are rather colorful and pretty looking.  Okay, stop laughing, they are colorful.  I am not certain what went wrong here...but I know one thing:  IT is not going to stop me from finding SOME KIND of craft to do.  Maybe something on her show this week...bring IT on, Martha!