Friday Happenings

I'm still working on Mr. E's afghan. I should be able to finish this weekend. I'll post a photo when it's done.

Tuesday was my first day babysitting Mr. E. He arrived early in the morning. When he decided to wake up I put him in his bouncy chair. He gave me this look when I snapped his photo. When I sent the photo to Grampa Boo he asked what was up with Mr. E's "evil" eye? I love this photo of him.
Mr. E has discovered holding eye contact and when he's watching you he is trying to make sounds. I like to think we had a couple of "deep" conversations that afternoon.
Since I work in a fabric and craft store I generally am not an impulse buyer and I seldom buy Christmas themed fabric. But, this morning that changed. The Fat Quarter Shop has this wonderful Christmas fabric in stock and when I read about it on her blog I couldn't resist and ordered half-yard cuts of the fabrics.
I've seen a few Australian designers talk about the Stitchery of the Month Club being offered by Under The Mulberry Tree. I've thought about it for quite a while and this morning I decided I would sign up for it. I'm excited to get projects from 9 Australian designers. I truly think I should live in Australia so I can enjoy the Australian patterns easier!

I hope everyone has had a great week!

Sweet P

I Interrupt This Blog For Some Yarn

Some days I never know where my Muse is going to take me. DIL and Mr. E. came over to spend the day with Grampa Boo and I. She and I finished the baptism invitations for Mr. E's upcoming day. I asked her if her grandmother had found the family's baptism outfit yet and she hasn't. Her grandma has been ill and hasn't had a chance to look for the outfit.

Anyway, I decided that Mr. E needs a special covering for the day. As we were getting ready to leave the house for an errand my Muse decided I should crochet Mr. E an afghan for the baptism. I ran into my studio and pulled out my crochet picnic basket, found the baby afghan pattern book and thumbed through it. I found the perfect pattern for a baptism. My DIL approved the pattern and a stop at Spinning Yarn in downtown was added to the list of errands.

Crocheting was the first fiber art I learned from my grandmother. I'm a lefty and she was right-handed. She patiently taught me to crochet by having me sit and face her while she worked. Thanks, grandma!

I purchased six skeins of Plymouth Encore white yarn, came home and started Mr. E's afghan. By the time I went to the bed last night I had crocheted this far on the afghan and am already on the second ball of yarn. This is a quick and easy pattern and I should have the afghan done soon.

Here is a close up of the design.

Mr. E is getting bigger every time I see him (which is at least once a week).
Yesterday we started tummy time on his boppy pillow. He liked it for a while, then decided it was time for a diaper change.

This Tuesday will be my first Mr. E babysitting day. Oh, I bet we'll have lots of fun!

I hope you are having a great weekend!

Sweet P
Please visit my other blog: Coffee Time At Home to see what's happening around our home that's not related to playing with fabric and thread.

Boxes, Boxes, I Got Boxes

The last 24 hours has been all about boxes in my house.

Yesterday DH presented me with a bag of chocolates handmade by Megan Romano, the pastry chef at Aureole at Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort in Las Vegas, NV. I immediately fell in love with the box. It had a gorgeous purple and black ribbon on it.

The ribbon slid off and the box opened to reveal the yummy chocolates inside. What's so cool about the box is the top has a magnet on it and is the perfect size to hold a sewing kit. I'm still nibbling on the chocolates, but when I'm done the box will have another life. When DH handed me the box he commented that when he saw the box he knew I would want to keep it and use it for something. Does he know me or what????

Here is the other box I've been playing with today.
Lizzie, this photo is for you. Your Kitchen Swap package is winging its way to you today.

Another swap has been crossed of my list. I've signed up for a few of them lately and I'm having fun working on the projects.

I've started posting more on my Coffee Time At Home blog. I hope you stop be there to say hello.

Sweet P

What I've Been Working On

I can finally show a few of the projects I've been working on lately. First up is the bag for the Snickerdoodle Bag Swap partner, Bev at Kainga Happenings. The pattern came from Bend The Rules Sewing by Amy Karol. I had the striped fabric in my stash and wanted to work with a new fabric. I chose this green embroidered linen. I enjoyed making the bag and I'm happy with the finished bag.

With a few of the leftover pieces I made a companion wallet from Leanne Beasley's Romancing The Road Trip book.

I finished the Hope block from Gail Pan's A Christmas Wish BOM.
I still have May's block Peace block to trace and stitch.

I finished the top for DS #2's lap quilt.

And the companion lap quilt for his GF. I used navy blue and white Kona cotton and chose coordinating fabrics from the same fabric line.

Today I made a couple items for a Kitchen Swap. No photos as the recipient reads my blog. I should get more sewing time over the next week. I have four of the next seven days off. Woohoo!

Thanks for stopping by and happy stitching!
Sweet P
See What's Happening at Coffee Time At Home

Mr. E's Night With Dema

I promised photos of Mr. E's visit last week and I'm finally getting around to posting them. When we got home he was sleeping so I put him in his bouncy chair.

He slept for a while, woke up and watched TV for a few minutes before deciding it was time to eat.

After eating it was time to watch the Red Sox game. His friend, Wally, had to join him.

Finally it was time to put on his jammies and get ready for bed. I let him test Grampa Boo's pillow and say hi to Hero. He fell asleep on my chest before I put him down on his little bed in my room. He woke up at 1:15 and again at 5:45. He didn't eat much at 5:45 and fell asleep on my chest for another hour and a half before we got up for the day.

After he ate breakfast he took another short nap until it was time to get ready for mommy to pick him up. I let him lounge around in his onesie for a while. It's getting small on him already.

This past weekend my youngest son and his girlfriend came to visit. We had a great time. Now all the out of town visitors have been here and life can return a simpler pace. Tomorrow mommy and Mr. E are coming over for Jammie Day at Dema's. Next Tuesday will be my first babysitting day with Mr. E.

Thanks for stopping by. I'm hoping to have some finished to show you soon.

Sweet P

First Overnight With Dema

Hello there! Not much sewing has been happening here. I am finally over my cold. My mom has returned to MN and DH is on the road again.

Tonight is Mr. E's first overnight with Dema. DS and DIL need a good night's sleep and I offered to keep him for the night. I picked him up about an hour ago. He fell asleep on the way home and I put him in his new bouncy chair. He seems to be stirring a little bit right now.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. Mine was quiet with a short visit from Mr. E. I will be seeing DS #2 and his GF this weekend when they come to visit to meet Mr. E.

I am nearly done with the Hope stitchery, a few more french knots and crosses and I'm done. I've been working on the lap quilts from DS #2 and his GF. I have about 6 rows left to connect. I'm going to tie the quilts instead of quilting.

I'll have more photos of Mr. E's visit tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by and happy stitching!
Sweet P

I'm Almost Back

Thanks for all the well wishes. I am slowly getting better. Of course it helps to have DH come home for a few days. I have finished the March block from Gail Pan. I'm almost done with the April block too.
I received my Redwork Cushion Swap package from Cathi of Cathi Crafts. Besides the cushion she included a few other goodies: a photo album that will come in handy for keeping photos of Mr. E; an assortment of embellishments (ribbon, thread, button and pin); and Bailey's Irish Cream chocolate that didn't last for the photo. :(

Here's a photo of the back of the cushion. It's a lovely heart stripe fabric.

And here is the gorgeous front. The next time pillow forms are on sale I will be sure to buy one. The pillow will find a special place in my studio. Thanks for a great package Cathi!

Mr. E is now the proud owner of his first Red Sox hat. It's a little big, but he'll grow into it. He was cranky today and finally settled down about 4 pm. He then proceeded to put himself to sleep on his boppy pillow. I couldn't resist resting the hat on his head. After all, the Red Sox are playing against the Yankees. He slept for nearly 3 1/2 hours before mommy decided to wake him up.

In three weeks I'll get my first full day of babysitting him. That's when mommy goes back to work. I can't wait!

Happy Stitching and thanks for stopping by!
Sweet P

I'll Be Back

It's been a long week. I came down with a nasty cold - 24 hours before my mom arrived for a 12-day visit. I've been sniffling, sneezing, achy, stuffy head, sleeping all week. Mr. E has been over to visit, but I've kept my distance.

I've done some stitching, some sewing, but nothing I can show yet.

I'll be back when I'm feeling better.

Sweet P