a post in which i reveal a bit too much of my childhood self

When I was a little girl, I had a kitten that was black with white paws. Most people would have named it Socks, Boots, Mittens, you know, something along those lines. I called my kitten Whitey Paws. I'm blushing as I type this and wondering why on earth I'm telling you this.

Unfortunately, my naming skills haven't gotten any better with time (which is why I'm thankful that Susan names most of my quilts) and my daughter seems to be following in my footsteps. (Poor short girl, LOL!!!) I knit up this new little friend yesterday. We should have named it before she could.

Meet Yarn Bear.

It's a good thing he's cute. He's going to need all the help he can get with a name like that. Can you imagine how the kids at school are going to make fun of him?

The cutie pattern is here. I'm planning on making a whole passel of yarn friends. They are a little fiddley, but soooooooo worth it!

After lunch, I found Yarn Bear in the living room with little A's beloved blankie posed just like this. Isn't that so stinkin' adorable? I love it when my kids love what I make. They can't wait to each have one (or ten) of their own. They are smitten and so am I.

Modifications:

For the arms and legs I cast on 7 stitches rather than 4. I knit 12 rows for the legs and 9 rows for the arms.

I knit the body in the round on double pointed needles. Next time I plan to knit it flat and sew up the seams as directed in the pattern. Being a novice knitter I had a few problems with color changes and holes in the back.

baby log cabin quilt

I'm not normally one to hang quilts on the wall, but after finishing this baby log cabin quilt a few weeks ago, I discovered that it fit perfectly in my daughter's room. I couldn't resist.

My husband hung up the pottery barn inspired shelf that I made years ago beneath it, which is a lovely place to have Milly and Melvin sit. (Thankfully, I finally got those two clothed!)

here's a close up of one of the quilt blocks....
(the white on white polka dot came from the very generous Marcia...I love that fabric.)

the backing/binding...

and all together it creates a cozy little reading nook for my daughter. After nearly a year in this house, I am finally decorating. Ya-hoo!

There is a tutorial here for the log cabin blocks.

Check out the beautiful one that Jane made using the same pattern.

finishing feels good*

edited to add: the pattern for the pincushion is from the December 2007 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine.


finishing up wee bunnies (or bunny bombs, as we call them) feels good.

finishing up coasters from Christmastime feels (really) good.

finishing the quilting on the charity quilt feels good.

(nearly) finishing the pincushions feels good.
(I ran out of embroidery floss.)

finishing up some packages to send off to friends feels good.


*inspiration for this post came from this book.

progress

the bunnies are sewn together...

the quilting has begun on the charity quilt...

but nothing finished.

I'm not giving up though.

How is your finishing it up week going?

corner of my home

This is a little shelf I made several years ago.

(I am not only a quilter, I also do a bit of woodworking.)
(I had more power tools than my husband when we got married.)
This shelf was in the boys' room in our last house.
I added a fresh coat of white paint.
I added the knobs (target clearance-from many years ago).
Now it hangs in little A's room.
And this is what it normally looks like.

Fiona (the cat) and Milly (the bear) look right at home up there, don't you think?
The weather is finally warming up, and I am anxious to do some woodworking projects soon.

we have a new pet at our house

thankfully she doesn't need a litter box