A Visit to my Studio

I have a studio in a room next to my bedroom, which makes it very convenient when I want to work late at night without disturbing the rest of the household. This is where I sew and sketch my designs.

These are the trusty sewing machines my daughter and I use. I sew most things by hand, but I do use the sewing machine for bigger designs.

 One of the corkboards (I have two) that hold my inspirations and memorabilia.

 My reference books

More reference books and magazines and sewing notions.

Some of my fabric

 A few buttons

Some thread and ribbon

 More fabrics

Some of my yarn stash and finished bears waiting to be sold.

 A dress form and some friends

 More yarn stash and sewing notions

The corner of my desk

 And this little bear was an early pattern I was working on and she decided to remain with me, her name is Anne. I work hard trying to keep organized, but I must admit that at times it gets out of control and I spend hours looking for something I have misplaced. I keep my patterns and information in a metal filing cabinet, but I admit that it need to be organized. I will try to accomplish that this fall.

A Day on Ocean City Boardwalk

I went Ocean City with my two daughters, Janna and Miakoda. We spent the day on the boardwalk playing games and eating. First we headed over to Ma France Creperie for lunch. 

My two girls waiting for their crepes.

 

 Yum! The crepes were delicious!

 Then we headed across the street for some bubble tea at Oishii Sushi. Janna has been waiting for weeks to go here for bubble tea.

 Then it was on to the boardwalk. The famous Shrivers is on this corner of the boardwalk in Ocean City.

We walked the boardwalk to soak up some sun.

 I liked the color of this bike.

Only on the boardwalk can you see such sights.

 Not for the faint at heart.

  We walked on over to Playland and played some games.

Aren't they cute!

 We found this lane with murals painted on the walls, and who can resist a photo op here.

The clouds were pretty and the beach was covered with umbrellas.

 Hermit crab shells painted up in a variety of designs.

 We just couldn't pass up a ride on the carousel!

I picked a horse that didn't go up and down, too late to change horses.

 Besides he was a pretty little horse!

 We were tired and decided it was time for dinner, so we headed off the boardwalk. While waiting at the light, we saw this car with friendly people.

 We ate falafel at a small Greek restaurant called Katina's. the falafel was delicious and inexpensive, we will definitely eat there again. After dinner we headed home, with a lot of fun memories.

A Day at Eastpoint Lighthouse

My three daughters, grandson and I spent the day on the beach at East Point Lighthouse

 My grandson, Jacob wanted to hunt for sea glass, so we all pitched in to help

 This is my daughter, Janna and Jacob heading down the beach in search of sea glass

 My grandson Jacob.  We found lots of sea glass and I filled my pocket with small stones of different colors, with a craft in mind

 My daughter Miakoda, with her fake mustache, pausing from searching for sea glass to strike a pose

 Danielle found a place to stand and watch the waves

 Then Jacob decided to do a little Karate Kid posing

 My three daughters, Miakoda, Janna and Danielle

 Then we all got a little silly (notice the rocks bulging in my pocket)

 Miakoda in a quiet moment

 We had fun!

 

Today

Today isn't special or exciting, just another day that I woke to sun streaming in my bedroom window, the cat climbing over my head, and the dog scratching at my arm. I slipped on my flip-flops, used the bathroom, took the dog out for his morning constitutional, poured myself a cup of coffee, picked up my knitting and knit a few rows on the scarf I am knitting for my sister-in-law. I like to knit the pattern knit rows more than the purl wrong side rows. I keep wondering if she will like the color I have chosen for this scarf, I spent months searching for the right pattern, and as soon as I saw this one, I knew it was perfect.

I am using the yarn they suggested for this pattern, even the color. I think it will be perfect for her.

This is the beginning. I hope to finish it in a week, but I am still working on my brother's sweater and a baby blanket.

We are going to Port Norris for a few days to visit my daughter. I will be taking my camera in hopes of getting some good pictures. I am thinking of taking my Holga and shooting some black and white film with it.

The Chairs That No One Sits In

by Billy Collins

You see them on porches and on lawns
down by the lakeside,
usually arranged in pairs implying a couple

who might sit there and look out
at the water or the big shade trees.
The trouble is you never see anyone

sitting in these forlorn chairs
though at one time it must have seemed 
a good place to stop and do nothing for a while.

Sometimes there is a little table
between the chairs where no one 
is resting a glass or placing a book facedown.

It might be none of my business,
but it might be a good idea one day
for everyone who placed those vacant chairs

on a veranda or a dock to sit down in them
for the sake of remembering
whatever it was they thought deserved

to be viewed from two chairs 
side by side with a table in between.
The clouds are high and massive that day.

The woman looks up from her book.
The man takes a sip of his drink.
Then there is nothing but the sound of their looking,

the lapping of lake water, and a call of one bird
then another, cries of joy or warning—
it passes the time to wonder which.

Happy Birthday to my Wonderful Brother!

Today is my brother's birthday, I won't say how old he is, but he's older than me (I'm such a devil). I wanted to take this time to wish him a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RON!

YUMMY YARNS

I have some yummy yarns waiting in my stash. I have been searching for the right project to use them on, perhaps a sweater for myself, since I rarely make anything for myself. I bought 12 skeins of cashmere/silk at a show several years ago and have been holding it ever since, waiting for just the right project.

Yum, yum, I love the heavenly softness of this yarn, it deserves something very special. I did use a skein of it to make a sweater for a baby gift, but there is more!

 This is Jamieson's 100% Shetland wool. Isn't it beautiful?

And this is luscious Alpaca, but sadly I have only one skein of this.

 I purchased this recently just because I loved the color and softness. I have enough to make a sweater, I just have to find the right pattern.

I bought this a long time ago when I was going to make a vest from an Alice Starmore book. I started the vest and then put it down for a number of years, and now am not so thrilled with it. I will find something else to make with this scarce yarn.

 And last, is the Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed. I only have four skeins, so it limits what I can use it for, but I will find something special.

These are just a few of the yummy skeins I have in my stash, but these are the ones on my mind at the moment. I have been planning for projects for the fall and winter, but first I have to finish the sweater I have been knitting for my brother.

 I am finishing up the back now.

 Off to work on a new design!