TNT: Something New

 There is something odd in my stitching kit.

 It's a grime guard. I didn't make it. I bought it. You can get a peek at my new little sheep standing on her flower mountain in the middle of it.

I didn't buy it for grime as much as I bought it for tucking in the excess. The Sheep Virtues is big and it's always getting in the way when I put it on my floor stand.

I paid $15 for it from a vendor on Etsy. I know, I know, I could have made my own. I have even watched tutorials and bought the elastic and material to make one but.....I'm just lazy. I may try one down the road but right now I just want to stitch and play with my quilts.

Speaking of stitching, I'm still making steady progress on the other sampler. I hope to have that roof and that left border done by next Tuesday. For something that I've been working on for 10 years, I'm impressed that I've gotten this far.

Knit Not

 My knitting mojo seems to have disappeared. I'm still slogging away on the Willow Cowl. It's not a bad knit but it's just not calling my name as I walk by its knitting bag.

 I did finish another dishcloth but it took me two weeks. Maybe more.

I had to force myself to get the first row started on the big blanket. Its days might be numbered. Big blankets and spring don't work for me. I guess spring and knitting isn't working for me either.

Ooooops.......

 It seems like my bunnies will have to wait another week for the giveaway. I have no idea why but I thought today was the 31st. Silly me.

 How did I figure it out? The soap told me. When I went to test the last few batches they were a bit too soft. Hmmm.....A check of the calendar confirmed what I suspected. Tomorrow is not the 31st. Duh.

 I've been working like crazy all week getting things ready for the giveaway thinking the month was running out. That's what happens when you retire. You have no idea what day it is anymore. That's not always a bad thing unless you're in the middle of wrapping soap.

I promise it will be worth the wait. These new Brambleberry fragrances are heavenly.

Oh, Graupel

 I wanted to title this post Oh, Hail but my weatherman just informed me that this mess is not hail.

 It's grauple. Grauple is softer and wetter than hail.

 Who knew?

All I know is that it made a mess, gave me a migraine and scared the beejeezus out of the cats yesterday.

In other pet news, Pup had another trip to the vets. It seems she has torn an ACL in her right leg. More pills, more bills and even worse, a poor pup that can't get around. It's pitiful.

 It's a good thing I bought that doggie stroller.

She's not taking no walkies for an answer.

Wrapping It Up

This is what my tub looks like when I'm testing soap. I'm almost done and there wasn't a clinker in the lot. These are some great little soaps. 

 As soon as they pass their test they get wrapped. I love wrapping my little babies.

The cards are all made. I just need to put them on their base and stuff them in an envelope.

The little inserts are done too. I use them to personalize the cards instead of writing in them so you can recycle them in case you wondered.
Don't forget! I'm counting on you to take all this off my hands. The Spring Giveaway will be announced on Sunday.
Stay tuned!!!

Pretty Pieces

Anytime I get to play with the batiks I'm happy.

 Adding the pieced border was a joy.

 I used the "close enough is good enough" mantra.

 I didn't measure anything or try to make it all come out at the corners. I just eyeballed it.

Not bad. Not bad at all. Now I have to go see if I have anything in the stash for a backing. I just spent a lot of money online buying backing for another quilt and forgot all about this one. The problem is that now I don't trust myself to go online fabric shopping again because I do believe another quilt kit somehow got in that order and the last thing I need is another quilt kit.

Men's Wear

 Yesterday The Mister and I did something we never do.

 We went shopping for clothes.

For him.
We have Son's wedding coming up and he needed some updates to his wardrobe.

 At first it seemed like a big yawn of a day but I actually had fun. A half a grand later and The Mister is all set-right down to the socks in understated sophistication.

 As for me, Daughter is taking me out later to squeeze me into something presentable. It's prom season now so I had fun oohing and ahhhing at all the inappropriate dresses for a mature and rather chubby Mother of the Groom. I did like the realistically sized mannequins they now have next to the reed thin ones. It makes me feel that when it's my turn, there may be hope.

 Speaking of squeezing into something....

I know, I know....this is naughty but we shared the dessert and I brought half my sandwich and half the fries home for dinner. We don't get out often and I'm not passing up a chance to eat something I didn't have to cook first. I may be calorie conscious but I'm not crazy.