Already February ...

It is amazing how fast time flies. My mother used to tell me that the older I got the faster time would fly by and I sure am a believer now. Almost the end of January, and what have I accomplished?

Starting with our return to the USA, the first "get re-acquainted with" Miss Betsy was the first UFO finish of the year. I needed to do this to get my mojo back in place after it's long hiatus. Winter's Coming did just that.

But then my declining mojo was interrupted again as we took a flying trip to Canada to visit my folks. What could I take that was easy and quick? The cowl that Brooke indirectly asked me to make for her. It knit up quickly and by the 3rd day of visiting (taking into account that I had hours and hours of flight time) I had the required 54+" done.

Once home I quickly got it sewn up and mailed.

When I finished with the knitting the next thing out of the bag was the third in the Golden Cracker Christmas series.

This looked like a fairly easy one to do until I looked closer at it. A lot of beads to be attached which is not a good thing for air travel. Too much to worry about in too little of arm/maneuvering room to fiddle with beads. So I got that to the bead stage before leaving. I have since added some of the beads and continued on while parked here in the RV in the Coooold weather of Texas.

As a result of this, I ended up buying a second set of knitting needles in Edmonton for the trip back to Texas. Started a second cowl, this one for me, which will be a "in the car" project only. By the time I got home, I had 1bout 12" done on it. Rocking and rolling.

With the weather here in Texas taking a turn for the worse, I then started to organize my stashes here in the RV. There is way too much and I need to learn to concentrate on only a couple of projects in each medium at a time. Listed out a ziplock bag of stash so that I know where it is when I need it and it will go into the storage unit next trip.

For now I started on the One Toe Out of the Box  January challenge - Snow: A rug mug. I decided that for each month I would make a mug rug and give the series to my DDIL in Texas for her desk at work (she eats at her desk all the time). This will be her Christmas present for 2014. Fabric cut to 8"x11", quilted and bound with a monthly theme.

 Didn't realize before that the one side is a little wonky. Should have looked at that a little more closely. Guess I will be going back and fixing that!

Next up, getting started on piecing Brooke's quilt. I cut out the fabric to make the first of the blocks to see how I like them one evening while trying to stay out of the elements. This is where I am currently at: Ziplock bags labeled with each unit.

 From here I will construct the blocks, section by section. I am sure that there is a better way that I can organize them but for the life of me, I can't come up with one. I will have to go to the store to see what I can find to organize them in a manner that makes it easy to use and to store on a daily basis. 

Having had a discussion on leaders and enders, I am going to see what I can put together to try that out. For now, however, I will use Zach's quilt blocks in between each snowball square in Brooke's to simplify the sewing - no struggling with each corner square, one on top of the other. Zach's blocky is taken from the Wonky Log Cabin block found at Just Jude's blog made with blocks like this ... 

 only out of blue and lime greens.

As for UFO completions, I am working on getting my "Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" (girl) quilted. As a UFO, this is how it looks, being taken out of the from Panamá box.

 This is really cute fabric and I bought enough to make another but in a Friendship pattern as well as the same fabric in blues for boys. The Friendship is a UFO not even listed: It is still in the Panamá Box while the boys one is still in the wanna make pile. The last time I went to the storage unit I was able to find the fabric that I bought for the binding so now it is simply a matter of getting it completed. Working diligently on it: 

I foresee a break in my mojo coming fairly soon. A trip to Panama is in the works and later, a trip to Iraq, but in the meantime, onward with the sewing/quilting/needlework.

Updating web presence

I have spent the day updating my web presence. Phew! What a job that is and I am still no where near finished. Still, it had to be done. The links on the right hand side are being updated with up-to-date information and hopeful plans. No crafting of any kind while this is being done.

Now that I have my firs quilting UFO out of the way, I can do this with an easy conscience.

More later ...

Excited...

The count down begins: Only 2 more days until we leave to return to the USA. I am so excited as that means only 7 more days until Miss Betsy makes her appearance. Along with her appearance however, comes a required complete re-organization of my projects, UFOs and travel accoutrements. And not to forget the same for my needlework.

Just remembered, need to put a photo of the completed BOM #1 of the Merry Merry Snowmen.

When I went to start the 2nd block, I realized that the thread that I received with the project was far too light for the reindeer. I ordered more but it won't be available until we pick up our stored mail. So now it languishes. Oh well, 1 finish is better than none.

I have made great strides on my knitted silk scarf. A long way to go to finish but because of limitations of available fiber, the length will be dependent on the fiber available, not vice versa. All in all however, it will make a great scarf to complement my denim-colored leather jacket, which is a fair weather, spring and autumn jacket. A perfect time to wear a lightweight scarf.

So let the clock tick down ...

Happy New Year ...

Happy New Year to all my friends out there. May your 2014 be filled with health, happiness and prosperity within whatever life may bring you. This will be a good year and attitude has a lot to do with how it is perceived. For me it is going to be a great year!

I look forward to getting back to the US in a few days where I will be able to once again get at my various endeavors. I have joined the Stashbuster's UFO Challenge again this year and due to timing will probably have to pay a forfeit right away. I am #11 on the list and with all those who state they are close to finishing, it probably won't be many days hence 'til I am crowned queen.  That is the fun of this group.

I also read an inspirational quote a few days back and felt the call. "Today is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one." by Brad Paisley. Life is what you make of it and only you can make the deciding factors, so I decided to rite on the blank page, each of the 365 pages. Although this literal meanng is far from what he meant, I am choosing to see it that way as I have already decided to make the best of every ebb and flow that comes my way. Not a "NYE resolution" but rather a goal; to record my progress through my 64th year on this earth, as I choose to live it, along with my thoughts and observations.

My journey will be documented on my blog:     http://travelinduo.net/2014/Index.html

Enjoy and have a great one!

2014 UFO Listings

As we come down to the end of the year, the advent of the new year comes time for reflection and review. And with this comes new lists, lists of UFOs to be precise. So here goes ...

Quilting:
1. Merry Merry Snowmen* - have only 1 block partially done
2. Twin pink/green block
3. Twin black/red/white
4.   Roundtrip, Homeward Bound*
5. Rainbow Jane - have only 1 block done
6. Craftsy BOM - have 6 blocks done
7. Watermelon Picnic Tablecloth
8. Medallion QofV*
9. Bed Throw Christmas
10. Spicy Spiral topper*
11. Princess coloring book
12. Lap Christmas Toys
13. Twin Monkeys Jumping on the Bed – girl - needs to be finished quilting
14.  I Believe in Family wall hanger
15. Quilted photo of grand puppy*
16. Dash cover*
17. flying geese baby quilt*

* = those that have been added for this year. The rest of them are hanger-ons from 2013. With all the traveling I did not accomplish much in the way of finishes but also, I did manage to put more flimsies on the list.

Needlework:
1.   Father Frost
2.   Cleopatra’s Cat - have the second side to finish, the Christmas side. The blue side is done
3.   Golden Crackers
4.   StitchPlay

Of course, there are always those projects that one wants, or feels that they need to start, knowing that there is a whole pile of UFOs waiting in the wings ... 

baseball wall hangers x2
grandkids quilts - queen x3
donation quilts ... and so it goes.

The photos will have to wait until I get back to the US and the storage unit in order to make the lists anywhere near manageable....

Happy Holidays everyone. May the memories made last a lifetime and the smiles be ever there.