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Posts Tagged ‘family’

Pillows and more pillows

Posted in Family, Gift, knitting, Sewing, tagged Afghans, Christmas, Cowboys, Envelope Style Pillow Cover, family, knitting, Pillow Cases, Sewing, Wedding, Western Theme on January 31, 2018| 2 Comments »

Pillows (envelope style), pillow cases and one blanket…..the theme for this year’s (well past year) for belated wedding present and Christmas presents. My sewing machine was really stitching but as so often happens with me my creativity dreams do not match my available time.

My youngest sister LaBerta and Dustin celebrated their life together – they married on July 4, 2017 in Flager, Colorado. It was a joyous outdoor wedding that was a couple days after the annual Pugh Family Reunion in Stratton, Colorado. I love cowboy theme things….so the I found the perfect fabric to carry that theme from their wedding to a pillow and pillowcases.

LaBerta gave me some clues as to the themes/colors in each of the four kids rooms.

First up….here is Jade’s. Teal is her color so I think this compliments.

Abby coloring

Next up is Abby’s….each child got a “coloring” Christmas card and Abby shared hers. Wish my coloring was a good as hers.

I heard that Carson was resting on his pillow first thing….

Bella asked for a knitted blanket…..she got a gift certificate for this design. My needles are clicking….clicking!

It’s done!

A close up of the feather and fan pattern

These were and are fun projects.

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The “Glazed Carrot” Hat

Posted in Crafting, Creativity, Family, knitting, tagged Avenue Yarns, family, Fiber Trends, knitting, Malabrigo Rios, Tower Cap on October 13, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Not too long ago I received news that one of my favorite cousins, Freddie, was just diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his tongue. This came on the eve of me almost completing my chemo treatment….and it threw me for a loop. I quickly decided that I wanted to knit him a tower cap (Fiber Trends Pattern #AC-20). I asked the color….he chose “fiery orange” to wear when he is on the mountain trails of Colorado and Wyoming….not too far from his Colorado home.

I made a quick trip to Avenue Yarns and with their help found the perfect yarn….Malabrigo Rios in “glazed carrot”. This yarn was a joy to knit….will have to knit another one for me! I added glow-yarn……yarn that glows when light hits it…..perfect for this mountain man.

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Baby Aria and her Mountain Chickadee Blanket

Posted in knitting, tagged Baby Blankets, Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, family, knitting, Mountain Chickadee on October 16, 2015| Leave a Comment »

I can hardly wait to see her personality emerge during this next year!

Aria’s mom Shelby (my great niece) shared this recent photo of Aria covered with the Mountain Chickadee blanket (knit in Brown Sheep’s Cotton Fleece) that I knit specially for her. Thank you again to Kimberly for inspiring me with her version of this wonderful design.….and a fun knit. Baby Aria, the first born of our next generation, is now three weeks old this coming Sunday.

During her first week of life she met many of her family….and, in particular, Aria met her grandma Sundee’s maternal family at a family brunch gathering a week after she was born. This little girl, born weighing 9lbs 2 ozs, is just as cute as can be…..and of course, I am not biased!

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Bella’s “First” Coloring

Posted in knitting, tagged Coloring, Enchanted Forest, family, San Francisco, Secret Garden, Tourist on August 1, 2015| Leave a Comment »

My Idaho nieces were just here for their annual 24-hour whirlwind visit. We played tourist….we visited……we ate……and we fantasized about the latest new craze of coloring….”Secret Garden” and “Enchanted Forest”. Some of my knitting friends – Kimberly, Bonnie, Merle, Karen (I think there are more) – have embarked on the adult coloring books that are so popular. I succumbed…have purchased copy for myself…well I had too because I decided to gift my nieces and nephew with these books. I was so happy that the girls were engulfed in their books (my nephew’s book is being mailed to him). Jade said, “I am so into this!” Jade and Abby were sharing comments Friday morning as they were waking up for the day.

Just before they left yesterday Bella (almost 13) asked for my phone # so that she could text. She did a few times in the afternoon….and the last one was her “first” coloring. Her message “finished my first one…but this is in Abby’s book” which is Enchanted Forest. The older girls, Bella and Jade, and I have Secret Garden…..Abby and Carson have “Enchanted Forest”.

So happy that these lovely coloring books are being enjoyed….off to get my coloring pencils today. Bella said I could share her work….so, of course, I am.

Our Annual Stair-step Photo

“Reading” their color books

The coloring books

Bella’s first coloring

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Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted in Crafting, tagged Bookmarks, crafts, family, Valentine's Day on February 14, 2015| 1 Comment »

Last weekend I saw an idea for Valentine’s gifts for my three nieces and nephew in Idaho. The next day (Sunday) I am in local fabric shop buying red felt for these Valentine themed bookmarks. The bookmarks were assembled by Sunday night with the exception of the ribbon and buttons (to weight the book mark). It was then a simple matter of sewing the button to the ribbon which I did on Wednesday night….don’t want to rush into these things. Haha! I packaged these Thursday morning…drove to Safeway early (@ 6:45 am on my way to work) to add Barnes and Noble gift cards (my late night idea)..mailed Priority Package. Should be in Idaho today.

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The Sewing Machine Was “Smoking”

Posted in Christmas, Crafting, Friendship, Holiday, Sewing, tagged Christmas, family, French seamed pillowcases, friendship, Gifts, Sewing on December 30, 2014| 1 Comment »

Years ago….19 to be exact…. while visiting family in Geelong, Australia I bought an Australian themed jersey-type fabric to make a quilt for newly-born nephew Daniel. That material stayed stored in a safe place for the right time….this year I decided I must do something with it. It was a little late for the baby quilt but what about a pillow case? I happen to know that he likes themed things and I thought this idea might be a go (it was). That simple thought was the impetus to create themed pillowcases with French seams for this year’s Christmas gifts.

The first round of pillow cases did not include Daniel’s as I had to get five done and in the mail before Christmas….made it with two days to spare. Four were for my Idaho nieces and nephew. The pillow case for each was the same color with the cuff themes being girly for my nieces and a western theme for my nephew.

My life-long friend Mary (who lives in Colorado) is often on the road and I thought she needed a special case for her well-traveled pillow. She is a Western kind of gal. She is the friend who first “borrowed” the horses that we rode in high school. It was years before I figured out where she borrowed…and I did get some help from Mary with that!

Four pillowcases

Package on its way

Western for my friend Mary

Alrighty… five done and seven more to go as well as one requested apron (for my niece Honara to use in her RV kitchen when they are camping). Here’s that line up.

I see more pillow cases on the horizon! It’s a lot of fun to “theme” them. While Betsy’s doesn’t look particularly themed, it compliments one I made for her in the spring. I added a lace floral piece to this pillow case.

For Daniel

For Betsy

For Betty

For Shelby

For Shelby’s husband

For Chloe

For Honara

For Sundee

The pillowcase collection

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Just Off The Needles

Posted in knitting, tagged Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, family, Gift, knitting on October 19, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Young Jacob, Bill’s great grandson, was born June 8…..and we, Bill and I, delivered, Jacob’s knitted vest (just finished and wash blocked last night) today while we were at family anniversary celebration . I had another idea in mind for Jacob’s gift, but Bill wanted a “vanilla” blue vest with red accents in the neckline and ribbing….so that’s what it is. Of course, I used Brown Sheep’s Cotton Fleece (80% cotton and 20% wool).

The most engaging part of this knit was the neckline….I pulled the pattern from Michelle Wyman’s baby pullover sweater. Michelle was the master of truly “finished” center V-neckline.

Now onto the gift for Grace…..born into my extended family a couple of weeks ago. Grace’s grandfather and I are 2nd cousins. I already have one gift for Grace….but she was born early and is tiny…so I want to knit a gift that is a little more fitting for her when she comes home from the hospital next month. Her early arrival is being celebrated this coming Sunday….so I really need to click those needles!!

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French Seam Pillow Case

Posted in Crafting, Family, Sewing, Treasures, tagged family, Gifts, Pillow Cases, Sewing on May 9, 2014| 3 Comments »

Whoohoo! Another pillow case gifted…a “just because” gift for niece Betsy who is at Fresno State. She is in finals this week. With this one I learned a different technique to add the pillow case cuff and to finish it off with a French seam…..which is so much easier than one could imagine. Karen Larsen pointed me to this video which gave perfect step-by-step directions. As I was sewing the French Seam, I remembered that Grandma Elizabeth in her youth sewed French Seams by hand.

The French Seam

It’s finished

It’s ready for mailing

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The latest from the sewing machine!

Posted in Birthday Celebrations, Family, Sewing, tagged Baseball, Birthdays, Fabric, family, Pillow Cases, Sewing, Special Events, Sports on March 20, 2014| 1 Comment »

My nephew Sam turned 16 yesterday…..it seems just the other that he was a baby….and just the other day that I was 16!! As well as trying to remember the young people in our family’s birthdays, I am on a sewing mission. The last 6 weeks have seen an apron with the theme of hearts and cherries for niece Jade, an apron with a cowboy theme for nephew Carson, a Batman pillowcase (check out Skein Lane’s FB page) for nephew Daniel (a “just because gift” because he is such a Batman “geek”…hey I use to like Batman in college), and now a baseball theme pillowcase for Sam. With my usual unpossessed self I am now thinking about all kinds of personalized themes for pillow cases and aprons. I am on the outlook for theme-related fabric…..I’ll know it when I see it!

Here is the latest re Sam’s 16th birthday. He is the youngest of “our” second generation. My 4-yr old nephew Carson is the youngest of “our” first generation. Our family certainly crosses a great age span in generations. Two more celebrations are coming up in May….stay tuned!

Pillow Case for Sam’s 16th BD

Sam and his dad

Sam – Dec 2013 ,USS Jeramiah

Sam

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We found it!!

Posted in Family, Quilting, tagged Baby, crafting, family, Quilt on March 9, 2014| 2 Comments »

The other day my sister Betty and I were going through some of her things….and much to my delight we came upon the baby quilt that I and my nieces made for the anticipated new baby to be born into this family in late Dec 1976/early 1977. Betty and I thought it got lost over the years….but there it was on her closet shelf. In 1976 I was thrilled that my sister and her husband were adding to their family of two girls. I wanted my nieces to be really engaged in this new event….I told them my plan.

“Let’s make a quilt for the baby. Draw your favorite pictures and we can embroider them. Every other square will be one of your designs offset with butterflies stitched/quilted on gingham squares.” The girls “signed” up and we were off to the drawing table. The oldest, Honara, was a budding artist and I had to reign her in a bit…..the cheerleader’s pom-pom was getting quite full and in truth I knew that I would be doing the bulk of the embroidery.

I loved stitching this quilt with my young nieces! Michael was born Jan 1977!