TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE = I AM MORT DA TORT

The beginnings of my next quilt project. My client loves to scuba dive and that became my inspiration for fabric choices. She also specified that she wanted a double wedding ring pattern so I'm now familiarizing myself with this style. It ain't easy! But I'm happy for the challenge and I know those curved seams can only get easier with practice!

Ultimately, there will be several rings interlocking, covering the span of the quilt top. Some wedding ring inspiration via Google Images:

The double wedding ring is an old and traditional pattern, extremely popular in the 1940's.

A modern, sawtooth variation

This looks to be an older quilt but with a modern aesthetic. I love the choice of creating stripes within the pattern and the quirky orange as the background.

Finished arm warmers--100% wool, they're almost too hot.

I also made a pair for my boss, Sarah, and since she's out of town till next week, I think it'll do just fine for me to enjoy them while she's away! I was very hesitant about the color changing yarn but, now that they're finished and I've been wearing them around, they've really grown on me.

An amazing donation got plopped on the doorstep of TSE last week: an incredibly talented knitter's ample collection of unfinished projects! Whether it was that she couldn't stand to look at them anymore or she had sadly passed before these creations were actualized, we don't know, but the knitting enthusiasts who work there (ie-me and Julia!) were a little gaga over them! Probably the most spectacular piece in the collection was the beginning of, what we can assume, a Fair Isle sweater. Julia and I couldn't just let it get thrown into the 50 cent bin (GASP! the yarn alone is worth more than that!!) so we hatched the plan to complete the second repeat of the pattern and end it, making into a cowl neck.

The pattern was easy to decipher because she had already completed it once, so, with Than's help, we transcribed the circle. Oh, and did I mention that the yarn was also donated with the piece?? What luck. Unfortunately we didn't have all the colors but it still made it easy to fudge.

Such a fun project! This was my second attempt at Fair Isle and it was definitely harder than the rug I made. The complexity of the pattern and the teeny tiny needles made it difficult but not wholly scarring! I'm already dreaming up more Fair Isle in my future.

Quick project when you inherit it 75% finished!

Onto the next unfinished knitting project...

...an Entrelac scarf made of beautifully variegating Noro yarn.

I've heard that Entrelac is no easy feat, but I found a similar Noro yarn to finish it with and can't wait to take on the challenge!

Workin', workin', workin', the jeans never stop piling up at the factory...

You know you've been working a lot when you dream of yourself working. I was sewing bar-tacks onto belt loops all night.

Casting on a few whist watching 'Young Frankenstein' and enjoying a warm cup of coffee!

My inspiration for making wrist warmers. I've always felt like they weren't really my style but Donna Karen's neutral colors and scrunched style is making me think otherwise...

(Donna Karen Pre-Fall '11)

This was my favorite present to give this year. A home-made set of boot ornaments to my sister-in-law, Jess. I always associate her and my brother as 'boot people' so when I ran across a couple of little, plastic boots at The Scrap Exchange, I got the idea. I kept hunting for more in the depths of the toy barrell until I had plenty to drill and string up. This idea could really work for any grouping of like, small items -- I also ran across a bunch of Mr. Potato Head mustaches, which could be fun if you're one of those people who still enjoys ironic mustache imagery.

Another budget-friendly Christmas present. Grandma loves to decorate the dinner table for the holidays so I thought I would freshen up her place cards for this year! We thought we would keep them neutral from any Christmas theme so she can use them year-round.

To kick them up a notch and make them really special, I used an alphabet stamp kit to write out everyone's name and brushed them with an embossing powder, to give them a finished look.

We all stay at Susu's house, which is surrounded by Sassafras trees, so it was easy to choose their leaves as decoration. We weren't sure if a glue stick would keep them from falling off so stitching them down with the machine was helpful in knowing that they would stay and also add a nice decorative element. I love when resourcefulness and neccessity can also be beautiful!

New quilt finished!



This quilt was so fun to make and the long-arm quilting machine is a blast! Think about doodling and then think about being able to doodle using a needle and thread like a pencil. An awesome tool for anyone who loves to draw.

This was my very first quilt, made Fall 2007 at SCAD in the Art Quilt class. After all these years and all the quilts I've made since, I still love this one so much! There are definitely technical errors in the sewing but I still enjoy the design and the fabric choices.

After finishing the class and coming home, my mom quickly announced that 'these were her colors!' and 'did I make it for her?'. I think it's genius how she put it on her all-white guest bed and has made use of it despite its size.

The Little Mermaid fabric came from bedsheets from the thrift store and the figures are raw-edge applique. The back is made up of the sheet as well.