Saturday, May 29, 2010

Hot weather means less crafting

This last week has been extremely hot here so have to admit that I haven't got much crafting done.

I was gifted with some part balls of worsted weight yarn so have been working on some granny squares for some lapghans that I will be making when it's cooler. I love having small projects to work on when the weather is hot. I at least can see that I am getting something done even if it isn't what I really want to be working on.

It's great when someone asks if you want some yarn and you can smile and say yes. Thank goodness my husband is understanding when I come home with more yarn. At least this yarn didn't cost me anything so it isn't too bad. Yes it was almost 4,500 grams of yarn but if I work hard on it I should be able to make a pretty good dent in it over the next couple of months.

This isn't the first time I have received yarn as last month my mom gave me some part balls of sports weight yarn and I have been working on making 12" x 17" baby blankets with that yarn. As I say I don't say no to free yarn when I know I will be able to use it.

So right now nothing really to show unless you want to see a pile of granny squares. Well better get back to crocheting so that I can use up some of this yarn.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and if in Ontario enjoyed a cooler day today.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Little progress

I have to admit that I haven't been getting a lot of time to craft lately and it has been showing. I have finished another biscornu (no picture yet) and have been working on some small baby blankets.

Today I went and picked up some linen so that I can work on a 25th anniversary piece for some friends that are celebrating their anniversary this summer. Now I just need to sit down and actually start working on it so that I can get it done in time.

Tonight I have spent the evening crocheting and working on some small baby blankets that will be sent to Sick Kids Hospital. These blankets are used to keep babies warm after they have had surgery so they are only 12"x17" and quick for me to make. I am hoping to be able to finish one or two more this weekend but will see what I actually accomplish.

I am still working on items for the soldiers as I would like to have lots of items to drop off in August. I am currently working on some slippers and want to make some cool ties and even some hats before August but will see what I actually accomplish.

I know that I haven't posted any pictures lately of my cross-stitch progress as I haven't worked on it lately. Also what I have done looks really boring as I have been working on the border instead of the border and motifs. I hope to be able to get back to working on my bell pull soon so that I can get it finished. My goal is to have it completed by a retreat next April so that I can show it at the project parade.

Well off to try and finish one blanket tonight and then see what the rest of the weekend has in store.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

A Major Accomplishment

Before anyone says something this post has nothing to do with crafting but with a personal goal that I had set for myself and achieved this morning.

Over the last 6 years I have been helping organize a charity run/walk for allergies and never had a chance to actually do a walk. This morning my husband and I participated in our very first charity 5km walk and am happy to say that we completed it without any problems. I do have to give my husband a lot of credit as he stayed beside me most of the way due to a hill at the end that I was a little concerned about. I do have asthma so didn't know how the lungs and the legs would handle the hill. My husband did complete the walk a few seconds ahead of me so that he could take a picture of me finishing.

Last week we did a 7.2km walk and it took us 78 minutes so I figured that I should be able to complete this 5km walk in 55 minutes considering the hill up at the end. Now I didn't do much training for this event other than my normal walking so am extremely happy with the final time.

My time for this 5km walk was 49:39 minutes which is more than 5 minutes under what I had set for my goal. It's hard to explain how I am currently feeling other than extremely happy as I proved to myself I could do it and do it within a good time.

We did see someone that had participated last year at the run that we were race directors at and of course he won the 5km run event today. When we were talking he asked me my time and when I told him he was happy that I had done it in that short of time.

Now to put my feet up for a while and enjoy some well deserved crafting time.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Cross stitch time

Yes I still owe you the rest of the retreat write up but tonight I am going to show you what I have been working on. I have been working on a TW Designs pattern called "Celtic Knotwork Crosses" and I am doing the bellpull. It is going to be 5.5" x 22.5 " when it is finished. I started this project just before the retreat so that I had something easy to work on while I was there. I did get quite a bit of back stitching done there.

This is what I had done before I went to retreat.
I got all the back stitching I could get done completed while at retreat and actually did a bit of cross-stitching as well.
I then decided to spend today working on this instead of doing everything else that I should have been doing. I am happy with what I accomplished today and now to see what I can do this weekend as I would like to get the back stitch on the motif completed.

I am looking forward to actually writing about the rest of the retreat as there were lots of laughs but it really did go way to quickly.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Great Retreat

I am currently sitting in my hotel room and figured I would update everyone on how the weekend is going. GREAT!!!! is an understatement for sure as everyone is having a great time and getting to know everyone else.

The retreat last night started with a pajama party and it was a lot of fun and a great way to get to know everyone. Between the interesting pajamas, slippers and playing getting to know you bingo everyone got a chance to talk to each other even if it was "how can you help me?" That was a common question being asked during the bingo game.

This morning started with a Buffet breakfast and then off to a workshop for the morning. The workshop went very quickly and then off to a Buffet style lunch. The staff has been great at the hotel and the food amazing. The afternoon was spent stitching but still not a lot to show yet so hopefully tomorrow I will take a picture of it. Currently getting changed and then heading down for a Banquet dinner and then back to stitching.

Hope to be able to tell more later and tonight the award for the best name tag is going to be awarded so we will see what happens. Don't know how I will do with the name tag contest but will let everyone know how it goes.