IT HAS BEEN AWHILE

It is funny how time just gets away from you. I sit down on my day off to post and then everything seems to get in the way.

I am working in Knoxville, TN, as I post this. I have been here for 2 months. I am hoping that this is the last month but who knows.

This weekend was the AQS Quilt Show & Contest at the Knoxville Convention Center. The show ran from July 13-16. I went on Saturday, the 16th. Every time I go to one of those shows I come away wanting to quilt. The talent is just amazing.

I did buy some fabric and a CD that I can use in my digital scrapbooking. The CD is entitled Fabric Studio Deluxe. You can create and print fabric at home using your computer. I liked the idea not only for making my own fabric but it will be great for my digital scrapbooking. I thought I had lost it but when I was cleaning out the rental car to take it back....I found the CD between the seat. Am I happy....You Bet!!!

My friend Sue came to visit me here in Knoxville, last month. We went to fabric and yarn stores of course but we also went on a River Cruise. That was fun and I am glad that she found out about it. We took a picture while on the boat, I do not have a scanner so I tried to take a picture of the picture, this is what I got but you get the idea that we had a great time.

I have been knitting and sewing. I made some project bags and two shawls so far. I am working on a KAL of the Miami Vice Shawl , this is a free pattern. I am calling mine South of Miami since the colors are southwest. I am using Wolle's Color Changing Yarn in the colorway Gemstones. No picture yet because I still have the last 11 row repeat to do. This is a very enjoyable knit, especially if you use the ChiaoGoo Red Lace Circular needles. They are very pointy which I found that I never split the fibers of Wolle's yarn. I am enjoying knitting it but mine will not be half the size of some of the ones I have seen. They must have blocked that shawl within an inch of its life to get that size. The shawl takes one mega skein of Wolle's Yarn or 560 yds of worsted weight.

I really love my finished Weekend Shawl, I am calling mine "Bejeweled Weekend Shawl" since I decide to bead the spine parts. I WILL be making another. I used two skeins of Dream in Color Smooshy that I purchased while I was in Chicago at their warehouse sale. There was no color on the skein so I can't tell you the colorway.

The other shawl that I have finished is the Astilbe Shawl. I love this one as well and will be making another one. I used my favorite yarn, Wolle's Coloring Changing Yarn. The colorway is Lake Night. I am calling my shawl "Evening Shade,". I used one 100g ball. I have purchased another ball to make another one, I really love this and plan on taking it on my cruise in September.

Both shawls will need a good blocking when I get home, I did the best I could in a hotel room.

Besides the shawl I am working on a weekend bag to carry in September. I like making a new carryon for my trips. The pattern is by Amy Butler. One picture is a picture of the pattern and the other is the bag completed by the owner of the blog 'Big Bad Wool'. I only hope mine comes out half as nice. If it does, I am making one for my daughter.

That is it for tonight, I will try not taking so long next time.