Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Heather finished her shrug

Hello, Everyone,
It'a a lovely sunny warm winter Tuesday afternoon in San Diego.  I gotta run, I'll edit this later with the details, but I'm not giving up a post where blogger allowed the photo, LOL.




OK, I'm back. I'm listening to Chris Botti's Italia. The man really understands the trumpet.  Like it's part of him. 

The pix above are Heather wearing the new shrug she just finished.  It's for Yvonne, who is smaller than Heather, so it should fit her loosely. 

Nice yarn with gradations of gray.  

My daughter sent me a present today.  A sewing machine.  I guess she thought it was too hard to sew all the baby stuff we're planning by hand.   Youza, what a great pressie.  Thank you, Amber!!!  Dan just brought it in so I'll have to go and unpack it.

Lilo sez, "Hello, to all the many beautiful people who are my admirers."  She can always tell when I'm blogging and comes to help.

Julie




Monday, February 21, 2011

Yeah! Photos coming across

Hello Everyone,

It's a cold, clear late Monday night at home in San Diego and I'm feeling better.  No music right now.

Blogspot is having a better day and I was able to upload another couple of photos of the baby quilt.  Here is the backside.  Lots of Sesame Street figures.



and here is the new sweater...

Oops, blogspot blocked that one again, big sigh.  Well, I'll show you when I can.

Lilo is helping me blog and sez a very gracious howdy-do to her fans.  She's being so good these days.  Dan says it's because it's too cold to go outside at night and she wants to be welcome in my bed.... maybe....

g'nite,
Julie

Sunday, February 20, 2011

the second quilt of 2011

Hello, Everyone,

It's a cold Sunday night after the storm has blown out.  I'm listening to Latin jazz on Iceberg.  I'm feeling better after a crazy night and day of painful muscle spasms. No idea why, but they're gone now.  We had a great dinner with Dare at Amarin Thai.

The Mambo-Mambo Chicken is still the best ever.  As are the Thai beef salad, Tom Kha soup. chicken satay, beef padthai, and spicy fish cakes.  Never had a bad dish there.  Amarin Thai rocks.

I got the quilt for Brad's grand-baby done.  That's Heather's new sweater, too.


On the top left corner you can see there is some writing.  It says,
"JL 2011 Sleep tight... " with a figure of a bug with a loopy trail to show movement.   
I hope Tiffany likes it.  Heather sent me several pics, but blogspot doesn't like the others and won't post them.  I wonder why?

Taking us home is a pic from Nate's party.

Cake is good.

G'nite,
Julie

Monday, February 7, 2011

International Dragon Sailboat 1M paint shop & test tank

Hello, Everyone,

It's a lovely spring San Diego Monday afternoon in winter. Sunny, bright, calm, about 77 degrees.   I had a good night's sleep and I feel great.  I'm listening to Nestor Torres play his happy flute in "This Side of Paradise".  Next up is his "Talk to me".

My brother-in-law, Ron, sent more photos of the boat.   It has been painted and then was tested in the tank.  He sez,  "We have news and good tidings.  A crack team of engineers, mechanics, and boatwrights have managed to bring the Solana Dragon Project to an important milestone.  On Saturday, February 5th at around noon the one meter model was graded a complete success by all observers in the fresh-water tank testing phase.  

It was obvious to all that on first contact with water  the INTERNATIONAL DRAGON 1M SAILBOAT needed no further trim or ballast whatsoever.  Hull #101 was quick to stabilize in fresh water on the design fresh water line.  We are now on the way to be under sail in salt water by the Ides of March.   Multiple wood varieties were used in the hull design including Minnesota Bass Wood -- of the type used in making decoys."

Here it is drying in the paint shop.  That's Ron "shopped " in so it looks like a full size boat, LOL.

Here's the hull test in the jacuzzi.





Proud designer.



Here's his blog:  http://www.jagrafx.blogspot.com/

Everything is A-OK.  The boat looks really nice.  Holds the right position in the water when it floats, so they got the weight distribution right, too.  Nice. 

I finished the baby quilt top for Brad's new grand-baby.  I basted together the 3 layers and sewed the binding on.  Now I have 12 squares that are waiting for me to hand quilt a motif in them.  I'm currently auditioning motifs.  I think I'll make a few quilted potholders with the short list motifs.  They have to be not only pretty, but doable.  I think some of the ones I'm looking at are too complex for the size of the block.  The blocks are only 6" x 6", so I can't go too crazy on the quilt motifs.  Hopefully I can send pics soon.

Lilo is being Miss Lovey-dovey today.  Love you, too, Lilo.

Dan just made a French press full of really strong coffee and the wonderful smell has me jonesing for a cuppa joe.  Gotta go.  Lunch is calling my name.  Toasted cheesy kaiser rolls to dunk in the great coffee. Yum.

Julie and Lilo.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

INTERNATIONAL DRAGON 1M SAILBOAT TEAM

Hello, Everyone,

It's a lovely, bright, sunny, warm Superbowl Sunday afternoon.  A little flash of spring in this silly winter.  I'm listening to David Maldonaldo play Spanish Guitar.  I used to work with him when he had to have a "day job".  Then his gigs took off and he quit his day job.  We had a department potluck and he brought his guitar.  He asked if anyone had any requests, and I asked for "Memories of the Alhambra".  His eyes got big but he played it. 

I feel great emotionally, having a little trouble with my silly old legs, but that should be OK, no long walking planned for today, and I can always use the chair if I need to.  Just having a chair is a great relief, because I know I can never be put in a too-difficult-to-handle-with-canes walking situation.  If my legs won't work I can always use the chair as a backup plan.  It's a great relief to have "Plan B" in the closet, although I only use it from time to time when there is now way to arrange things so I do not have to walk far.  I'm so glad I live in an era of grocery stores having electric carts.  At the recent birthday party, the staff called for their guy with the electric cart and he took me around, wasn't that nice?

My brother-in-law, Ron, sent me some pictures of his boats, including the new one under construction, which is very exciting.

Ron is the designer, he's in the middle.  Brad and Kevin are to the left, they are the actual hands-on craftsmen, mostly Brad.  Kevin is a bit tied up right now building full scale things for aerospace!  You may remember Brad from the wedding last October to Shannon, blogged here.  Shannon is the one who wore the hand knit bridal veil I made.  If you want to knit one, the pattern is on Ravelry, just search on Shannon.  A handful of people are trying to knit it right now.  Just a "little" something for hardcore lace knitters.

Here are some other boat pics. from Ron 








This time it let me rotate it, go figure.


Lilo is sleeping in the sweater drawer.  Nice and cozy.  When I walked past she reached out a paw to pat me so I would know she is in there.  Silly Lilo.  So, that's where you have been.

See ya,
Julie

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Happy Birthday!

 Hello, Everyone,

It's a coolish Saturday night after a coolish but very busy day.  Tomorrow I have 8 calls to return, big sigh.  Today was just crazy busy.  I'm feeling ok, but my legs are not cooperating at all, so no running for me tonight, lol.

I'm listening to Mozart again.  Cheerful guy, ain't he? Next up is Metropolis, Love Kills, a little darker, lol.

OK, now let's talk about the recent birthday.  Warning... lots of pics...


Number 7 as you can see.


We had cake. A football theme.  And cousins...

and more relatives...


and more...

and more... some complete with silly noses...



and we opened presents...
 Lots of presents...  New silly flip flops are very nice...

More silly noses...


Cut the cake...  Licking excess frosting is a very important job...

Played a little football...

More silly noses...
And some more football.  Heather was the photographer, so no pics of her.  Next time we'll have to remember to "turn about" and get one of her. 

A great, fun day was had by all, despite the pouring rain.  Happy Birthday, Nate!

Lilo sez, G'nite, Fans,  I'm not going out.  It's nice and warm in here. 

Love,
Gramma

Friday, February 4, 2011

It's raining babies

Hello, Everyone,


It's a warm (70 degree) Friday morning after a very cold night in San Diego.  This year you just can't tell what you're going to get.  I'm listening to Mozart.  I got a good night's rest and now I feel fine.  Good-by bug.  Don't let the door hit you in the ....  I don't know if bugs have them, haha.

Today I have so much I want to show you that I'll have to choose one thing or this post will be a book.  Let's talk about the pretty baby quilt I just finished. 

 Unfolding, now wait for it...


 
 Here's the front.  It was made from a baby print panel I got on sale many years ago (like maybe 20 years ago) and somehow it never got made into a quilt.  It was washed and preped several times to make a baby quilt, but it never made it all the way to a quilt.  Finally I used it this time.  From so many washings it is soft and flexible, so I like it better this way.  It was a little narrow for a crib quilt, so I added some cute teddy bear print panels to the sides. That narrowness (and the need for side panels) is probably why it was not used before.  I found the side panels stored with the quilt, so I had gotten that far last time.

This is the back, a cute teddy bear playing in toys print.




The front and back are seamed to each other and then the quilt is turned right side out.  No binding this way.  I'm not sure why, but I do not like sewing binding.  It's not that it's needle and thread hand work, because I pieced the whole thing, seamed it and quilted it, all by hand.  100% hand made.  No I'm not crazy.  The sewing machine was on the fritz.  We were organizing in the craft room and Dan was helping me move things and he dropped the sewing machine on it's face and the tension knob shaft is broken.  Hmmm, sounds expensive.  Actually, it's Heather's machine, so someday I'll get it fixed for her.  But until then, you can see I am not stopping at all, I just do it all by hand.  Very meditative.  Makes me feel a connection to my grandmother who sewed everything, even men's long sleeve dress shirts for her sons, all by hand. 

I wish we had gotten a close up picture of the little label I affixed to the front with my signature and the date embroidered on it.  


Notice the softly luminous quality of the light in the pictures.  We were under an awning because it was raining cats and dogs.  But we just ignored it and went ahead and had a good time.  We were dry.


The rooster came over to inspect the quilt. Pretty boy.


Lilo is sitting here helping me post.  She is not used to morning blog posts, but she is doing her best to help out, with a pained expression. 


See ya next time,
Julie

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Same but different, are we in Olso or Munich?

Hello, Everyone,

It's a late, cold Thursday night after a windy, cold winter day in San Diego.  Like maybe 60 degrees this afternoon and 44 or so right now.  I guess we should not complain here in the Southland.  My sister, Evva, is in New Hampshire shoveling snow.  Her hubby is snow raking the roof.  Cold is a relative concept.

I'm feeling ok now after a rough afternoon.  I took along nap after my swim session, had a fever.  Then I had dinner and went to World Peace Prayer this evening and it straightened me right out...  Maybe I had a touch of a bug.  I'm listening to Julian Bream play Greensleeves on classical guitar.  Peaceful.

I got a couple of pix of the new Munich Shawl I made, inspired by the Olso Walk Shawl.


From the back

In this light (it was raining) you can't see the sparkle of all the beads along the edge.  While a few things are the same as Oslo, many are different.  It is also worked from the outer edge inwards with a wide lace border using short rows to shape the semi-circle.   Now the differences: mine has lots of  beads all along the outer edge.  The lace is 6 inches wide instead of 8.  The lace pattern is different.  The lace points are not blocked out to points.  (Although I might do that later.)   It's made of yummy hand dye fingering weight sock yarn by Pagewood Farms in Alaska instead of laceweight.  The center semi-circle is garter.  The outer edges are 4 stitches of garter.  The top edge is an I-cord bind-off.  It is 48 inches wide instead of 65.


From the front.

Maybe next time I will pin it in place. I think a pin would look nice.  It adds a surprising lot of warmth, wool is like that.  If I get requests I will write up the pattern.  Sales for Shannon 's bridal shawl keep trickling in, so you never know. 

Lilo is hating the cold.   She wants to go out and play but she is too cold.  She is grumpy tonight.


I have lots to tell you, but I need to go to bed now.  Next time I will tell you about the great birthday party we had in spite of the cold and rain.  Guess whose?  Also, 2 new babies coming in the family. One quilt is done and gifted.   I'm going to be a great-great aunt!!!  Pretty baby Quilt is forthcoming for that one, I hope. The top is pieced, now I'm top stitching.  Then I'll assemble on the sesame street backing and hand quilt some pretty motifs, maybe flowers, bind the edges. Lots still to do.  

G'nite,
Julie