Big Change - More Later - It's Later

 More Later - It's Later ...

I promised more news later on the changes that May would bring ...

WE MOVED!

And by we, I mean me and my daughter. We bought a house together!

I packed up my little house and my sewing room and moved into a split level rancher with my daughter.

We have been talking about buying a house together for several years and NOW seemed the perfect time. As I head toward retirement in a few years it just made sense to find the home of our dreams that fits our plans for the future.

And, we found it!!!

We closed on the sale of my house and the purchase of our new house last week on Friday.

I enjoyed my coffee on our new deck ... while waiting on the movers to arrive with all of my things.

And, in the midst of the move my children celebrated me with flowers, calls, and a lovely lunch on Mother's Day.

The Lord has blessed me beyond measure.

2026 - Here We Go!

 2026 - Here We Go!!!

The past few years I have completed a yearly BINGO card of goals. I love a list!

I won't lie ... a blank BINGO card is pretty intimidating!

But, pretty exciting too!

The possibilities are endless!

2026 ... Here We Go!!!

Finally Finished

 Finally Finished

Yes, I have finally finished knitting "THE" sweater ... but I lost at yarn chicken and had to reach out to my daughter for possible yarn to finish the final sleeve cuff.

Fortunately she had a yarn that worked.

Yarn chicken FAIL!

Even with the yarn chicken fail, here she is ... in all of her glory ... finally finished and wearable.

Only a small, not very noticeable yarn difference in the final cuff.

I'm proud of myself for learning how to knit a sweater.

Now, I am not only a sock knitter, I'm a sweater knitter, too! 

Makers Gonna Make Make Make

 Makers Gonna Make Make Make

Knitting machine hat making ...

The last Saturday in October my daughter and I took a knitting machine class at our favorite local yarn shop.

The Bees Knits

We had a great time! If you have never been to The Bees Knits you are missing out. The shop is full of beautiful yarns and anything you might need for your projects.

Classes, project ideas, and private lessons should you prefer.

We picked up yarn for our newest project 

The Sophie Shawl by PetiteKnit

Pictured here with our newly machine knitted hats.

Turkish Mosaic Tile Lamp

 Turkish Mosaic Tile Lamp

My daughter and I attended an event by craftforart.com and learned how to make a Turkish Mosaic Tile Lamp. WE HAD A BLAST!

You can visit their website or check them out on instagram @craft.for.art 

Appalachian Basket Weaving - God's Eye

  Appalachian Basket Weaving

God's Eye - Red/White Basket

My daughter and I took an Appalachian Basket Weaving class at the Knoxville Crafts and Art Center. We had a blast! Basket weaving is an amazing craft. I really enjoyed the class and learning how to make a basket.

My Girl 💖

Sweater Project

 Sweater Project

I began this project in March of 2024 ... as you know, I am a sock knitter and I don't normally venture to far from knitting socks.

Well, here we are ... 

The pattern = Fall Bluff Sweater by Ashley Lillis

Ashley can be found on YouTube, Instagram, and she has a shop on Etsy

The yarn = Wool Ease by Lion Brand

This is a raglan sweater, the neckline (yoke) is in a sky blue color. I used this yarn on a different project so, I don't know the color name of the blue yarn. The yarn is however, Wool Ease by Lion Brand.

There are new to me knitting techniques in sweater making and I won't lie the entire sweater knitting process intimidates me. Ashley's pattern is well written and she also has a YouTube video on the making of this sweater that has been extremely valuable in any progress I have made thus far.

Progress as of April 2025

At which point I got into my head about this project and set it aside.

September 1, 2025

And my courage to pick this project back up returns ...

Working to complete the body of the sweater.

The yarn label with information.

The yarn color for the body is Carousel

I was able to complete the body of the sweater and the 1x1 ribbing.

Very exciting, I need to weave in my bind off yarn tail and the body of my sweater will be completely finished.

By the evening ... I had picked up all of the stitches from the waste yarn holding them to begin working the first sleeve.

Yay!!!!

Celebrations

 Celebrations

At the end of June my daughter and I had the pleasure and honor of attending the wedding of a long time friend's daughter. It is an honor to attend the wedding of a child you have watched grow up.

The bride was beautiful, the shared vows were heartfelt, the couple glowed with happiness, and it was a perfect wedding. We enjoyed every moment and ended up with 2 pictures due to enjoying every moment.

One picture at the wedding and one picture of the morning after the wedding.

As it should be.

We traveled a bit for the wedding and the venue chosen was amazing and absolutely perfect.

Our hotel accommodations included breakfast which was delicious. 

Local Thrifting Event

 Local Thrifting Event

Social media does have it's usefulness ... I enjoy the EVENT Suggestions of upcoming happenings in my area.

That being said, yesterday I spent a nice afternoon browsing all of the booths at the Bargain Hunters Antique & Flea Market. I also went to Nostalgia's 2nd location which is in the same center as the Antique & Flea Market.

Anything and everything could be found here!

As you know, it is my mission this year to have a handmade Christmas. Handmade and thrifted. What I mean by thrifted, is that I need a few unique containers, vessels, and/or box type items to contain the handmade gifts.

End of Spring Cleaning - AFTER

 End of Spring Cleaning

AFTER

Decluttered, organized, and scoured clean.

Another project completed.

But now, I think I want to ...

Paint and figure out a different flooring option.

Off to YouTube to look into the Pros and Cons of painting vinyl flooring ...

It never ends, one completed projects leads to another and another and another ... 

Quilt Shop Hop Tennessee

 Quilt Shop Hop Tennessee

Now that there is no longer a Joann Fabrics I hit my GPS for fabric shops nearby where ever I go. It's been a fun little adventurous exercise for me.

That being said, me and Jo, my friend and fellow quilter spent Saturday on a little quilt shop hop of quilt shops in my hometown of Crossville.

I never leave a quilt shop without a bit of red/white fabrics for future Red/White quilt projects and Saturday was no different.

Fabrics from both Mountain Top Fabrics & More and Little Blessing Quilt Shop.

One of these fabrics will be the lining for a crochet Easter Basket that I am presently working on. I haven't decided the use for the other one yet.

Fabrics from Little Blessings Quilt Shop

These Bella Solids will be for a future quilt project and some for my stash. I am trying to build my solid color fabrics stash as well.

Fabrics from Mountain Top Fabrics and More

I needed this batik to complete the binding for the Mermaid quilts.

Fabrics from Mountain Top Fabrics and More

I love fishing around in fat quarter bins ... I can always find some inspiration there.

I was drawn to these fat quarters and I just couldn't leave them behind.

Fabrics from Mountain Top Fabrics and More

Fabri shopping, then pizza at Gondola, it was a great day.