Knitting for the First Time in Almost Fifty Years

There was very kind lady in my church who taught the 9-11 year old girls how to knit, crochet and embroider. I can't remember her name, but I do remember going to her house, sitting in her little living room and watching her gentle worn hands teaching us a new skill.    Every time I pass her house (which is right off Grant Road in Los Altos), I think of her.

Ever since then, I have had a desire to knit but have been intimidated by it.   I know how to sew,  embroider, quilt, needlepoint...but knitting, well that has always scared the bejesus out of me.  I have been in awe of those who create such beautiful things with yarn.

For Christmas, my dear husband gave me a knitting class put on by a wonderful store in town called uncommon threads , a full service yarn shop which is filled with all sorts of knitting and crocheting supplies.

In two class sessions, we learned how to cast on, knit, purl, make some holes, and cast off.
This is my finished sample product:

There are all sorts of mistakes and I was tempted to rip it all out and start over.
 My daughter encouraged me to keep it.
I think I will find a nice little spot on the wall in my sewing room to hang it.

At first I felt awkward and clumsy but after awhile got into the rhythm of knitting/purling.  I soon felt that nice calming affect that knitting provides.  And I understand why it has become so popular.

I can already envision some serious knitting projects in my future.  I see knitted scarfs, baby hats, blankets, and perhaps a sweater (eventually).  Before I get ahead of my self though, I think I should continue with  a lot more practice.

 A LOT more.

An Afternoon in the City By the Bay

Spent the afternoon with these three....
 

Such a cute family

Starting at the Asian Art Museum, which is housed in the old San Francisco main library.

Chandelier in the Samsung Hall at Asian Art Museum

Love these quotes which are engraved in the cornice above the loggia and grand staircase.

We then walked (over a mile up and down SF hills) to Grace Cathedral to view this beautiful art installation using 20 miles of ribbon.

Beautiful...highly recommend you check it out.  It will be removed at the end of the month.

It was fun to walk the Labryinth

How do you like my Cole Hahn "glitter shoes"?

He did the whole thing!

In front of the beautiful bronze front doors to Grace Cathedral

Ended the day by walking (another mile or so) to Chinatown and eating at Great Eastern restaurant
(my favorite and has been voted best by Zagat since 2006).  There are pictures of President Obama eating here in 2010.

Chinatown at dusk on February 1st.

 Oh, so deelish.

A most wonderful afternoon spent in my favorite city by the bay.

Queen of Hearts for a Day

The decree was issued....there was to be celebration for the upcoming arrival of a sweet baby princess. I would attend the event as Queen of Hearts .  So I quickly got busy sewing  my queenly outfit.  Brushed off my crown and prepared for a most exquisite event.

And oh, what an event it was! 
The minute I entered Wheatley Castle, I was met with flowers and crowns everywhere.

Fairy godmothers, and princesses galore...



(The performance of these three beauties' serenade to the mother to be was delightful.)

Queens, a Prince (or two) and two "Rapunzels"...



Found my sweet Princess and her little Pea.



The tables were impeccably set with the utmost care.



The food was delicious but the desserts were to die for...




And in the end, a carriage filled with pink, white and gold was presented to the soon to be mother and her  little princess.

Oooolala.....a most memorable event indeed.

Sewing a Vintage Style Blessing Outfit

It was so much fun to make this little outfit for my newest grandson's blessing (a "blessing" in my church is similar to a "christening" in other Christen churches ...our church just names the baby and does not baptize the child at this time):

One day I will have some labels made...for now I just sew them on my machine.  The buttons (both front and back) are true blue vintage...got them from an estate sale.  It is hard to see, but the band in front is upcycled from a vintage linen napkin.  I liked it because it added a bit of texture.

The linen fabric and supplies all came from my stash.  I didn't have to go to the store to purchase a thing!  That makes me very happy.. 

Sophie made the little shoes.

A most precious little baby.
J&GMcLean

I could hold this little one all day.

J&GMcLean



Sewing Vintage No. 2

Here is the second in my year long series of sewing vintage.

Again, I re-purposed a hand embroidered dresser scarf for the collar.

The hat is the real deal...it came from my mother-in-law's collection.

I got the fabric for a dollar a yard from the clearance section at Wallmart.
What a deal.

I used this 1956 Retro Butterick pattern:

I sure do love the styles from yesteryear.

Sewing Vintage No. 1

I have this HUGE stack of vintage patterns. I love the styles from the forties and fifties, so much so that I have decided to sew a vintage frock every month.

For September, I used this Vogue pattern:

Vintage Vogue Pattern #2903

The fun thing about sewing this dress is I didn't have to go to the store to purchase one thing... I had everything already in my stash....everything down to the hot pink piping, thread and zipper.

I used six yards of a very lightweight linen.  I upcycled a hand embroidered dresser scarf  edged
with hand crochet and incorporated it in the collar/yoke.  

I love the feel of all that fabric swishing and swirling  around my legs as I walk.

Next week I will share my October frock.

A Very Merry Christmas From My House To Yours

HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS.
SPENT THE DAY RELAXING WITH FAMILY, 
GOING TO A MOVIE (saw Saving Mr. Banks), 
LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC, 
WATCHING CHRISTMAS SHOWS
AND OF COURSE EATING.

I made the embroidered velvet backed ornaments over 33 years ago before I was married.
The Charlie Brown ornament hung on David's tree when he was a child.

This creche was placed under David's Christmas tree each year when he was a child. 

This year I filled my tree with  vintage, homemade and my annual crystal
or sterling ornaments.  The ornaments on the right came from David's grandparents.

Raggedy Ann and Andy were two of my favorite dolls when I was a child.
I bought these two handmade dolls at Mormon Handicraft over twenty-five years
ago for my oldest daughter.  Today they sit proudly under my Christmas tree.

Two of my favorite creches.  Sophie and David picked up the one on the left in Italy last year
and Adeline picked up the one on the right in Spain several years ago.

Vintage vignette in a pine cupboard.

Scene from "It's A Wonderful Life" in my kitchen window:

My collection of nutcrackers...

Still need to find a nutcracker for Matt and my two grandkids.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND A GOOD NIGHT.