As of today...

- our Christmas tree is thawing out in the bath tub
- i have about 6 hours of sewing left on Christmas presents as long as i stick to my already updated goal
- i have about 2 hours of knitting/crocheting presents to do
- i have yet to mail out Christmas cards
- not one decoration is hung except the forgotten stuffed candy cane that has been on the back of the bathroom door since last Christmas
- Thinking of nixing it all and going and buying a cozy chair that I have finally made room for in our living room
- ba hum bug

Obsession

One small problem that comes with house hunting is the ever growing desire to buy new furniture. And get rid of a lot of what I already have. What is that? Honestly alot actually if not all of it was given to me when I first moved out on my own because others didn't want them anymore, and it is just time to start adding my own stuff to the collection. So I decided to slowly weed out what I can and replace with items that I will love. I am so excited to show you my newest purchase, I am dying to spread the word. I have admired these Tolix chairs since I first saw them a year or so ago in the Sundance Catalog. Figured someday I would break down but for now that was just too much money to spend. I was heart broken when I discovered that Pottery Barn had them over the summer and had placed them on clearance and then was happy to find out that you can now back order them, and at the clearance price. Now I am in search of the dining room table. I really want one made of recycled barn wood and was told of a place around here that makes them pretty cheap. Here is a picture of the chairs that I got:



Love them! Oh thanks to all those who joined in on my giveaway. The winner has been contacted and her little package will be on its way this weekend. Speaking of the weekend I am excited to be going a little trip up to Jim Thorpe. It will be beautiful and this is the fall foliage weekend with vendors outside and we are going to a Ghost Story Telling of the Old Jail at night. Hopefully I get some good pictures to share. Things have been really sparse around here but honestly that is what has been going on, pretty much nothing.

Fall Mini Quilt and Giveaway

Fall Mini Quilt
Originally uploaded by quietlygoingmad

I have been so inspired by all the mini quilts and fall patchwork that I have seen on flickr and online that I had to make one for myself. I quickly placed two small fabric orders on etsy for the more fall prints and the rest I pulled from my stash. I decided to sketch out a pattern so things couldn't go to awry. It was a quick and satisfying project from picking the fabrics to the binding. Finally figured out my bias tape maker but learned I had the wrong size late in the game so the binding isn't perfect but I like it learning curves and all.

I realized that it has been a long time since I have done any sort of Giveaway on my blog so I thought in the spirit of fall and fun patchwork I would give out some extra squares that I had left over from my project and some other fall goodies. Just leave a comment and I will pick a winner by next Thursday!

bee fabric and my folklore blooms are from www.beesquaresfabric.etsy.com

fall trees are from www.orientalfabrics.etsy.com

Summer Breeze Quilt-finished

Summer Breeze Quilt
Originally uploaded by quietlygoingmad

Finally here is a picture of my finished Summer Breeze Quilt. It has been done for quite some time and already put in use. Especially this past weekend, I have caught some horrible bug that is just physically wiping me out. All I wanted to do was curl up on the couch and veg which I did all weekend and will be doing again tonight. Here's wishing you and me healthy thoughts for fall.

Currently...

You think you can hat
Originally uploaded by quietlygoingmad

Currently I am:

- waiting for Fall patiently
- dying to buy a new winter coat to go with all my new knitted items (like this hat) and a new pair of boots maybe these or these
-reading The Diving Bell and the Butterfly; it is beautiful and was a score for a quarter at my thrift store
-desperately squeezing in time to finish my nine patch quilt top because I would love to start the next one
-trying to adjust to our new schedule as Bobby starts his new job
-working on forgiving myself for the choices I have made; one of those if I had only known then what I know now situations

Progess...slow but steady or this may be a painful read

I find myself scatter brained lately. I am unable to focus on things or read complete sentences. I have no clue what it is that is going on in this brain of mine but I hope that things improve. I have been working on quilt No.3, and amazingly No.2 is finished. I can't figure out a good way to take a picture of it though with good sunlight but I am working on that.

This picture shows the progress of No.3 and how it goes from the nine patch to a really pretty blend of small squares and rectangles amongst the larger squares. (wow is this post even making sense haha) You can check out a closer view on my flickr.

Here are the fabrics that I picked for quilt No.4 already. No clue what pattern I plan to make or follow but the fabrics are picked. I am going to call this the "sweet" quilt because that is the word that comes to mind when I look at these fabrics. Any pattern suggestions? Makes me think of my obsession with Hello Kitty and pink and I even used to have a banana seat bike just like the one pictured.
Still working on last minute post cards from this post so if you are interested in joining still leave me a message.

not quite down the second, but already planning No. 3 & 4

Fabrics for next quilt
Originally uploaded by kprange1

I am very excited about this quilt. I am going to attempt the disappearing 9 patch quilt that has swept the internet and intrigued me. I was determined to use fabrics from my stash and did just that. I even have it all ironed and cut so far. I want to do a little bit of patch work on the back of the quilt too but I haven't sat down to draw that out yet. I just purchased some of Anna Maria Horner's fabric, received Drawing room and I love it and Garden Party should be on its way. I already have plans for the Drawing Room quilt but have no idea what I will do with Garden Party. Other projects on the list are more cube bags, zipper pouch for circular needles, purse and knitting bag. I am going to attempt my first Amy Butler pattern, wish me luck!

in the mood to send a postcard...want to join me? {edited}

I have been in the mood to send off some postcards. Any one want to join me? Just random. I have seen some really inspiring ones on etsy like this set (maybe because of the typewriter) and this one. Beautiful. Also I am loving this idea to make a little postcard keeper. I want to go home and pick fabrics right now! I even think I am going to try to make my own seam binding finally for this project, another task I have been wanting to accomplish. Leave a comment if you want to do a postcard swap with me!

{Katy, e-mail me your addy to kprange1@verizon.net!!!}

Crafty Lady

Handmade Knitting Goods
Originally uploaded by kprange1

Sewing away over here with a little bit of knitting in between. And I finally cleaned off my scrap table and may be in the mood to scrap, watch out. I still need to finish my Summer Breeze quilt that got pushed to the side with all these bags I had to make. I plan on starting the finishing process this week though. I am already trying to figure out what I want my next quilt to be.I am hoping to use up a bit of the ever growing stash so that will be somewhat of a challenge.
I also participated in a Little Button Swap which was fun, my package was sent off on Saturday.

summer breeze

what do you think? I am so excited about how soft this one is. I have it all ready to start tying the knots I just don't know when I am going to get around to doing them. I have been busy cleaning up around the apartment and moving things around to make it feel fresh. In doing that I had a yard sale and felt like I sold half my life away and only made $100. I have seriously turned into my Mother and need to stop buying stuff #1 and if I do buy it it better be cheap because I seem to get over stuff way to quickly recently. Not that I want new just that I want to get rid of it or am tired of looking at it. I used to joke to my Mom that if I stood in one spot long enough she might get rid of me, look out Bobby.

Yarn obsession currently is Sundara Yarn. Her colors are gorgeous, just scored some more yesterday too! I have no idea what my first project is going to be with all that I have but I intend on knitting with it instead of hoarding it like my Sister and praying that wool becomes more valuable then the dollar some day.

I will leave you with a little spring. hope everyone is doing well and hope to start making more regular appearances soon, one of my many goals!

I must be stupid

How do I upload a photo from flickr? All I can figure out how to do is link it???? I have lots to share but they are all stuck in flickr right now.

blogging the dying art

i have been everywhere and no where, and that is exactly how I feel.

1. here is one of my current knitting projects i am working on (note the one of because apparently one is not enough and 4 or 5 is more like it).

2. i actually tried to sit down and sew a little last night. ended in a big disappointment, i hate that. i wish the days of drawing my own patterns and just making them would appear again.

3. loving that the weather is getting warmer and it is time for the bug to come out of hibernation.

4. loving trips to philadelphia with my beloved topaz and it didn't rain this time.

5. i actually scrapbooked, two layouts at a get together the other weekend and i started a mini last weekend. all that is done is the cover but it rocks.

6. loving snacks from trader joes; not loving freezed dried bananas what was i thinking?

7. loving the new limerick outlets that are conveniently 15 minutes away from my home

8. loving no cable television and watching all gilmore girls all the time

9. loving that flea market and yard sale season is here.

10. in absolute need of a home makeover and don't know where to begin.

i {heart} etsy

I have fallen off this blogging wagon quite abroptly due mostly to laziness and the fact that I have become an obsessive knitter. I even knit in the kitchen while waiting for water to boil for dinner, I think I have crossed that invisible line. I have no pictures to post at this moment because I am somewhere where I do not have access to my photos (well I would have access if I would be better about uploading my photos on flicker but that is another story). So I decided to post about my current etsy obsessions since I got many compliments over the Scrapbowl weekend about items I had that I had bought on etsy. Speaking of scrapbowl, fabulous weekend with some gorgeous and get down and dirty fun girls. It was so much fun and those pesky 4 hours drives were hilarious! From the slippery seats to Dane to gorging on Godiva and Turtle cheese cake at a rest stop. If there are no scrapping events coming up ladies we should make a road trip and create our own in some random hotel which hopefully is not being renovated.
Ok on to the etsy love:

lovin Kristina's new shop those t-shirts are so awesome!

Jewelry made from recycled skateboards, this is a must check out shop!

Cheap letterpress blank flat cards can be found in this shop

I am drawn to these earrings for some reason in this shop I think it is because of the posts!

Another must see shop very inspiring.

And ofcourse there is always room for fabric found in this shop

bud light_ suck one

Loving Morgan's list form blog posts so I am going to give it go (more, more, more.... watching way to many comercials during the super tonight).


* sewed a little cozy for my favorite mug and a new mat for our coffee table

* still working on my quilt, finally bought a new machine that sews like a dream. could not take the pressor foot dying out on me every 30 seconds anymore
* took a 3 hour nap today that was much needed after a mentally stressful week
* missing the l word because of the damn super bowl your lucky we have on demand B
* thought this was really cool so joined in on the fun
* getting really excited for scrap bowl and even more excited that Kristi put sneaks on her site
* recent etsy love this and this


* loving hyena in petticoats
* i joined weight watchers online, I have lost 9 lbs in 5 weeks for a total of 14 lbs since last june my "i can do this" attitude has been restored

Finally...

Although I have been feeling very creative lately but was getting very frustrated. The yarn was crappy, paint wouldn't dry fast enough, no room to work on anything. But finally today I have a had a break through. just about finished knitting my first hat, and finally sewed together all the rows of squares for my quilt. Here are the pics Nat, not even close to your glamorous quilt but I am very relieved that this is finally in the works and not living in a box under my bed like it has been for the last 5 years. I have also been buying more fabric for some projects. Cloth blocks and a bib for my friends baby boy.

Also hoping to knit him some little thumb-less mittens. And also bought a ton of yarn to hopefully conquer my first afghan. I think I am going to crochet this one though not sure how fun it would be to knit one, little bulky. So many things so little time. I have been coming across allot of really inspiring blogs lately and loving it. Makes me want to do even more. I am slowing trying to add them to the side bar as I go. Well I hope everyone had a happy Christmas and wishing you all a Happy New Year!!!

clean slate...

growing up remember when you would picture what you wanted/or thought your life would be like? Your home, your favorite things, your clothes, etc. Have you ever taken a moment to sit back and look to see if you are in all those things you dreamed of? I am constantly looking at my life and only seeing bits and pieces of what I wanted. Other pieces have just found their way in out of convenience or cost or dare I say laziness? That really gets to me. I am hoping that this year more things will start falling into the dreamed of pile and not the laziness pile. what do you wish you had from your dreamed of pile?