Pumpkin Basket

                             

I have crocheted pumpkins before. I gifted those cute guys to my Mom a few years ago. I decided I wanted some in my home again.  I loved this thicker natural orange in the store more because of its color. When started to make my basic pumpkin and realized that I could create a rather cool basket due to the thicker yarn keeping its shape well. I stopped when I felt I had a good size and created a handle out of the green that was wider at the bottom than at the top. I ended up with a bit of orange yarn left over and decided to make the baby pumpkin, which I stuffed. Of course, I didn't use a pattern and ended up ripping out my stitches when it wasnt the right size. I enjoy this process of figuring it out on my own and making it my very own style.

 I filled the basket pumpkin with candy which made it a fat ole' pumpkin, when it is empty it is a bit floppy which I like. I hope to have these awesome pumpkins for a long time.

Sewing Loves

This is the tree right down the street from my house. There are a lot of beautiful trees in town right now. I love this one in particular. The blue sky against the orange leaves. Very nice indeed. As long as the Oregon rain is holding off, I am enjoying this fall weather.

I am planning ahead for the rainy season and purchased a beautiful vintage Bernina 930 record. I have dreamed of owning a Bernina mechanical machine and this is about as expensive as I can go in the Bernina world. Its amazing to think, a 1984 is consider vintage and it is still worth a nice chunk of change. She was serviced regularly and had one owner.

I found this beauty on craig's list this weekend and jumped on it. The purchase included 12 feet, the manual, original bobbin case, a walking foot, table extension and so many other goodies. The machine was 6 blocks away, the whole time!  The slightly dissapointing items missing from the sale were the case and knee lever, which I may have this welder guy I know make for me. It would cost over $200.00 to replace these missing items through a dealer, so I think that will have to wait a bit. This is a very expensive machine for me but, I think it is a true investment.  I feel if I keep it in great running condition it will hold it's value, if not continue to rise.

Stay tuned to see what projects I come up with. I have quite a few planned. I love the way the machine sounds, much like a ticking clock. I still cant believe it is mine. She is so strong and lovely. 

Adorable Baby Sweater

Don't you just love this sweater. Well, I adore it, and you should too.  I started off really wanting to crochet something and challenge myself all while making a baby gift. Ive never crochet much more than straight rows for scarves and blankets or spirals for hats, bowls and eggs.  I watched a few YouTube videos and settled for this one by Mickey. I liked there was room for a bit of creativity and I didn't need to count stitches much past the second row.  I loved this pattern and and see how easy it would be to size up. Ended up not being so challenging but, more eye opening. Here she is with no trim/border:

Looks so much cleaner with the white trim. I am flipping out I love this so much. I think my dear friend will too.  I want to make another one out of cotton yarn a bit bigger. This is out of acrylic from my stash. I went for the green I had on hand, since they want to go with gender neutral baby items, even though they know they are having a girl. 

I am over the moon also that it only took two evenings while trying to cool off in front of the T.V. Good thing it's a baby sweater since I would be melting while trying to finish this project up. Hopefully it will keep the little one warm in Fall. Maybe Hat to match? I think yes.

Passing the Time

We are finally feeling settled in to our new new home in Eugene. We disliked the first house's neighborhood and location. We are in a cute spot now that is close to everything. It has been a challenge though. This is a very tiny duplex.
I was fortunately still unemployed when we moved again, so I had time to put my organizing skills to work, but now I am bored. I don't currently have a sewing table so I decided to a bit of crocheting. It was lovely today as it has been since we arrived in September. So, I set myself up outside in the sun today under a pretty maple tree and crocheted away.

I wanted to make containers to store items around the house. I found the stash of balls of yarn scraps. I love the earthy colors. Then I went digging for the containers, a glass jar and left over plastic butter container. We had saved the glass salsa jar last week, because I found the shape to be useful. I had scraped the label off but it left a funny mark that needed covering.
I simply crochet a disc/ circle the size of the bottom. Usually starting with a loop and then adding stitches in every other slc stitch. Then when reached desired size I will stop adding stitches and it start creating a tube. For the bowl size I just stopped at desired height and then rolled under the last few easily.
For the jar the curve in the top created a problem. I stitched the tube a far as I could and then I had to deduce stitches. Then the hole became small and I feared I wouldn't be able to get the jar in. So, I ended up having to crochet the rest of the way with the jar in the crochet tube. This was a bit challenging and slowed down the entire process. I think the end result was super worth this annoyance.

Here is the end result, they were virtually free with yarn scraps from old gifted projects and recycled containers.  I just had to put in a bit of time. I enjoyed sitting outside today under the tree and watching all the cyclist and kids play. I think this could be a great gift idea with flowers or candy.  I think that older kids could definitely do this project if you teach them the stitch and teach deducing and increasing of stitches. I like projects that dont require a pattern but need a little creativity.

The Atlantic to The Pacific

Today, the cross country trip has officially ended. I really wanted to do the atlantic to the pacific. We started at Litchfield beach, SC on a family vacation before we left the East coast.

So, today we made it to the Pacific, it has a different feel, a different vibe, but it was still absolutely beautiful. It had been a bit grey recently, this morning the sun was out at full blast and so we took advantage of it. We went to Heceta Head, OR from Eugene it was about an hour and half drive. The coast has very few houses on it, in the area I was in, so it was kept wild. 

 In most areas it seemed that the mountains just went straight into the ocean.

 This was near an attraction called The Sea Lion Inn it seemed rather cheesy and expensive so we didn't  go in.

 Other areas were more beach like. The water sure was cold though. the Inn Keeper's home is up on the hill here but, the lighthouse is around the bluff. It was under major renovations and not really picture worthy.

This was a bit farther North in the National Park. It was not very crowed, but you can tell that a storm was rolling in.

It was truly amazing to find such beautiful amazing scenery so close to home, but honestly I think there is so much to explore that we havent discovered yet. Fall is fast approaching so, I was very excited to get out to the ocean before it got too chilly. We hope to explore more, hubby starts his first week of Phd  school tomorrow, so I am not really sure how much time we will have to travel at first.

Sunday Drive

 When I was out of high school I did a lot of driving, not just back and forth from the mountains (college) to home. I also took many long distance trips including driving to CA from NC, and NC to Chicago and New York. I loved to drive and would travel great distances with out stopping. I never just pulled to the side of the road and got out to look around or take a picture. If I stopped there was a purpose; gas, food, sleep or when nature called.  I loved to look out the window and watch the landscape change.

 I drive very little now for many reasons. I have a 10 min commute to work, gas is expensive, and where ever I go the dog has to come with me! Also, we were involved in a horrific accident going 75 mph on the interstate with a tractor trailer that just pulled over on us and totaled our car. This accident happened over 5 years ago but, I have never really gotten over it. I rarely drive on the interstate and generally make hubby take on that task.  I could drive from my home to my parents on I-40, instead I choose a mostly 2 lane hwy. 

 I find myself wanting to stop every mile to take pictures on the Sunday afternoon drive home. The sun is low and red. It creates a beautiful light to take pictures in. I resisted stopping until I got to the lake, I will admit I was talking to my boss and the phone kept cutting out on the hwy. It was perfect way to finish the conversation and feel safe while stepping out on my own and taking some shots.

I have changed how much I travel and which route I take but, I get to take a look at things closer. I stop along the way and take my time and enjoy my travel. Even though, it is not as adventerous as I once was.  I have chose a beaten, slower path and have taken this 3 hour drive near 60 times and see something new every time. I get to see the real North Carolina. These lakes and trees and quite roads and farms are what I think of when I recall my road trips through my home state.

My Playground

This is my Dad's yard and house.  The land was purchased almost  30 years ago outside of the Charlotte city limits, in what I always viewed as the country. Charlotte has grown in leaps and bounds since then and so have the trees on his property. The house is now in the Charlotte city limits and near one of the busiest parts of town. While in the yard you are unaware of how close all this is. His home is a true oasis.
The house is considered passive solar. The sun shines in the high windows in the winter months and heats the tile floors and slab foundation in the main part of the house. In the summer the sun doesn't reach the windows and the ones in the back of the house are opened and the the high ceiling fans pull the cool air off the creek below.
When the land was purchased the lower back yard was a marsh land. Dad carved a trench out and the creek dug itself over time to almost 6 ft deep in some places. The scrub trees have been weeded out and large hardwoods were left. The canopy is very high and the yard lends itself to wandering around on the blue grass. I grew up playing under the canopy and in the creek.
Dad constantly maintains and cultivates the yard. It will always be a work in progress. He loves mountain homes that have stacked stone and wood.  He is currently working on a bridge for a crossing over the creek to a path.

Fall has come home!

 I love fall, it is an amazing time of year in the East.  I have traveled to Tennessee, Brookshires in Mass., NY, VA it is all beautiful and breathtaking when the oaks and poplars change. I lived in Boone, NC where people would drive from another state to look at the changing leaves in my backyard. The colors never ceased to amaze me when I would take the turn on the back roads in the Blue Ridge Mountains. There is something every year that gets me super pumped up when the trees around my home change.

Every area seems to boast about the trees. I see the beauty everyday, every where I go. I have been looking at these colors for a month a year my whole life. They make me feel alive. The pictures don't really do them justice. Its okay, my heart knows that golden yellow and scarlet red between the trunks and evergreens.

 We took a walk around a lake near our home. It was amazing to take that breath of warm leaves on the ground as we made our path in the carpet they create. PS. That is Kuma's tail in the bottom right... I just noticed it.

It was a gorgeous day for taking a few shots around Lake Johnston on our 3 mile walk. The blue against the fall leaves and navy lake, I loved every minute of enjoying this opportunity to be outside and enjoying where I live. Its hard to imagine having much more beauty right outside your door.

Large Crochet Bowl

I finally decided to cut up the three yards I had of this fabric when I discovered that something had cut through it while on the bolt, there was a small hole every 2 feet or so. I inherited this fabric in a move as well and was never attached to it. I loved the small pattern and neutral colors. It matches my decor, but I am willing to part with it. I used the rotary cutter to cut 1 inch strips. At the machine they were chained stitched the ends together. It took me about 1 hour to cut and sew the strips and then about 30 minutes in front of the TV trimming the chain apart and rolling two larges balls. It is fairly large bowl, from this point I am moving up. It is much larger than a plate size. I hope to go up at least 1 foot with the other ball. I love it already! The small print looks great all knotted up.
This crochet project does hurt my arms so I can only do so much at a time. I does progress rather quickly.

Brevard, NC

 Zinnias and monarch near the cabin at "Down to Earth" in Brevard, NC. We took a family vacation over Labor Day to celebrate my Mom and Hubby's milestone Birthdays.

 The French Broad that we later floated down in a inner tube, it was lovely and cool.

 View towards Tenn. from the Pisgah National Park. It was really overcast and rained the entire morning of the last day, but we had awesome weather prior.

 Falls near Graveyard Fields, this photo doesn't do it much justice but, it was Labor day and it was very busy and tons of people. It was hard for us to get a shot that didn't have a human body part in it. It was beautiful and there were hints of fall in the air.

One of the Cabins similar to ours. The cabin we rented was two story and had a wrap deck with table and grill.  They all had beautiful stain glass in most windows and simple decorations and tons of books to read. The creek near by was a nice touch. I didn't take a picture of our cabin. The whole thing was covered in kudzu. It was odd in a quaint way. We had an awesomely relaxing weekend.

My favorite month!

OOOOHHHH! I am really excited that my favorite month is approaching! I love October because it means that Fall has really come! The warm fall colors, the crisp cool air, dry earthy smell of leaves, pumpkins, long sleeves, nip in the air that makes me want to eat soup, Halloween! I love fall too! I was a very spoiled southern girl and lived seven years in the Blue Ridge Mountains! I miss it terribly! The colors of the leaves are unmatched (ok! maybe Not in such grand scale) in the piedmont of NC. It is still hot here, just dead leaves, no real color yet. I want to see this:

To be more exact this is the Linn Cove Viaduct that skirts around Grandmother Mountain near Boone, NC, boonejag75 took the image. 

I went to the farmers market here in my city in a sweatshirt on this past cool Sun morning. (Today it is all most 90 degrees). I bought wonderful fresh crisp apples.  The entire time I was there enjoying the fresh produce I was thinking of these images. Soft green mountain leaves turning shades of fire and embers. I hope that I will get to visit soon. Unfortunately it is quite a haul up the mountains.

Ode to fall

I absolutely love the fall. I am forced indoors to create and sew. It is a time of reflection into my imagination. I find that I enjoy creating what ever the craft maybe. I LOVE to be surrounded by fabric whether it be quilted blankets because of the chill in the fall air or it be yards waiting to be cut or tiny scraps  to cherish! My Comfort Circle! So much life in Fabric!  Come see what I create!