Busy lately

But the garden is doing well and I'm full of ideas. I hope to post some of my progress soon! :)

Happy Valentines Day

Virtual strawberry cupcakes, chocolate-dipped strawberries and marshmallows for you! :)

Ripples Galore

I've been wanting to work on a ripple blanket for a while, but am a beginner at this crochet thing (all I've done so far is a bathroom rug in single and double crochet...) but I'd already done my homework and had the necessary pattern for the ripple blanket and even some yarn to get started stashed away since before my move. So I dug out my instructions and got started with two ripples and once I figured out what I was doing, I got started on the real deal. I did have to rip out a few times (probably due to my lack of experience, not the instructions) but finally got it and am making progress.

I decided to go with warm colors to match my new family room and am randomly attaching colors as I feel like it rather than planning it all ahead of time (I hope I don't regret this later!) and am so happy to see the ripples come together. It's a fairly relaxing pattern and I'm enjoying it.

Whew!

Well, I feel as though the move and holidays ate the past couple of months (is this what the "dog ate my homework" excuses sound like?) but life is finally starting to get back to normal - I hope to post here a bit more often. I have a ton of projects that I want to work on this year.

The oven at my new place is working and I've baked a few things, here are last night's strawberry bran muffins (original recipe from Farmgirl Fare) I of course tweaked the recipe to use what I had and ended up making several substitutions. This recipe is like a wonderful blank canvas, and I've several ideas already for future batches. I had one for breakfast this morning and have to agree with Farmgirl that they taste better the next day.

Oops...

My apologies for dropping off the face of the earth! I shouldn't have started a new blog while in the middle of moving! :)

Quilting Inspiration

Spent most of the weekend working on the yard, but still made time for the weekly library visit and a quick stop by our large used book sale (held in spring and fall) and grab a few more books.

I'm not making as much progress as I'd like with the blanket squares, I have one I've ripped out several times (this is what I get for trying to do something new while talking to people at the same time!) so I'm just going back to plain squares for now. Sorry, Michaela, I should have left it but I had just finished ripping it out when I saw your comment - thank you for stopping by! :)

I did spend some time reading the Art Quilt Workbook copy I got from the library on Saturday and am so inspired to start work on a doll quilt or two! I loved the colors and layouts and suggestions for exercises. I can't wait until the studio in the new place is set up.

Weekend Baking and Knitting

I got The Laurel's Kitchen Bread Book: A Guide to Whole-Grain Breadmaking through interlibrary loan and I baked some whole grain bread this past weekend. I was very happy with the results, and am looking forward to trying more recipes.

I also made some progress with the knitting of the squares for Oliver's Blanket, and have finished three so far (though sadly enough they are slightly different sizes even with the same number of stitches!) I hope to finish one more square and send them off soon so they will arrive before the end of the month.

I Missed Knitting

I have been in the middle of a large home renovation project (and impending move), and all my craft supplies have been packed up and moved to the new place - I have been missing them terribly. I finally broke down and brought some knitting needles home and knitted these baby booties in one evening.

I also got some yarn for making 4" squares for Oliver's Blanket. I already made my first one last evening and hope to make a few more in the next several days.