Working on St. Pat's Mat

Yesterday was "Party with Patrick" time at my sewing store.

My Janome Memory Craft 12000 screen.

  I like these sessions because we don't have to drag our huge embroidery machines and all the millions of accessories to the store. 

TruEmbroidery software on my MAC.

We have a nice instructor who walks us through the steps of sewing the next month's project and then we have a "show and tell" where we brag about our last month's work of art.   

TruEmbroidery prints out true size and stitch steps for the design.

On this post I'm showing off my Patrick Lose Feburary Mug Rug Club project ably called...

"St. Pat's Mug Mat".  

Patrick Lose's pattern instruction sheet.

It's thisclose to being done. 

Stitching down the fabric for the four leaf clover appliqué.

 I still have the bias binding to make and sew on in the light green fabric. 

Bias binding will be in light green background fabric.

One thing I like about my TruEmbroidery for my MAC is I can print out the design in it's true size and print out the stitch pattern.  

The colors of the stitch steps are different so you can tell each step apart.  

The actual thread colors I used were three shades of green.

Who would have ever thought computers would be such a part of sewing!

I was so proud of myself yesterday.

Hubby was out and about and I had to download my design onto a thumb drive ALL BY MYSELF.

I'm pretty good with computers (you know..Word, Excel all that stuff) - but I have to do "it" frequently or I can't remember how to do "it". 

"It" is anything on the computer.

I have to do "it" over and over before "it" stays in my mind.     

   

Source:  Pinerest

Moving on...I haven't forgotten my crocheting.

You may remember me going on about this quilt pattern (above) that I thought would be lovely as a crochet throw.

I made that trip to Michael's yesterday and picked up a few ...ok, more than a few...skeins of Caron Simply Soft yarn in off white, turquoise (blue mint), light (soft pink) and dark pink (watermelon) and gray (grey heather).  

Free pattern for Star Granny Coaster (here)

On the way home I realized I forgot to buy the red yarn.  

Duh!

Of course, I could use the watermelon for the red yarn and the soft pink for the pink.

Well, I need my morning coffee!

That is…my second cuppa!

Getting Ready for St. Patrick's Day

Have I mentioned I love being retired.  

Oh, yes, I do.  

Finally I have time to spend with my Hubby... and my hobbies. 

I bought this expensive digital embroidery software - TruEmbroidery - because it is for MACs. 

Yesterday I had to shout out to my tech guy (sweet Hubby) to help me insert a design.   

I was so frustrated.  

It only took him less than five minutes to figure out what I was doing wrong.

  

Anyways I'm sure I will learn how to use the TruEmbroidery Software…someday.  

It will just take practice…lots of it.

But today has been a fun day of embroidery after being without my sewing machine for a week.  

It's annual inspection is completed so I was able to stitch up my St. Patrick's Day design today.

    

I've been inspired too.  

I found a quilt design on Pinerest that I think would be lovely as a crochet throw.

  

My Inspiration.
Source:  Pinterest

I can see this in my mind as crocheted granny squares.

I could crochet the solid granny squares like these for the center in red and pink. 

Source:  Pinterest

And the red and pink yarn in colors like these for the outer round. 

Source:  Pinerest

Here's another inspiration. 

I like the color pattern and stitch used on this one too. 

I love this one too!
Source:  Pinerest

Unfortunately there is no written pattern for this one but maybe I can figure it out. 

Now I have to get over to Michael's and buy some yarn for my first inspiration piece.  

I won't be able to stop thinking about a red, turquoise, pink and white throw.  

How about you?

Have you been inspired?

I ❤️ Coffee !

Brenda over at a "Cosy Little House" is a fellow coffee lover.  

She's showing us her coffee stations today and telling us about her coffee habits.  

Yes, that is not one.. but two coffee stations. 

My Tinkerbell Coffee Mug!

I haven't posted for awhile.   

With my sewing machine in for a check up and not much going on with my crocheting there's not much to share here.

But then I saw Brenda's coffee posting and thought it would be fun to join in.

My name is Sandy.  

And I am a coffee addict.

I must have my coffee. 

It started when I graduated from high school and began my working career. 

For years I used to microwave my water and use instant coffee.

{I'm the only coffee drinker here so more than one cup goes to waste.}  

Several years I bought a ten-cup Cusinart coffee maker to use for BUNCO when hosting.

I used it a few times for my BUNCO gals but the rest of the year it sat in my cupboard.

I could make four cups with it but after sitting out the coffee was cold.

  

Then two Christmases ago "Santa" bought me a Keurig Single Server coffee maker and life hasn't been the same here since. 

I love my Keurig!  

Now my coffee automatically comes out the right temperature to drink and I can have a fresh cup anytime I want...quickly and in just about any flavor too. 

I love the hot teas too.

And the hot chocolate and hot apple cider.

Yummy!

I stock up on the flavors I like in K-cups. 

 I  favor light roasted coffee...like these.

I gave up sugar in my coffee in my twenties…too sweet for me. 

Just milk or creamer for me.

I can't stand it black.  

Cute Mickey Mug…wish it was mine.

I don't just drink it in the morning though. 

I like a cuppa... ALL.DAY.LONG.  

When I worked in an office and needed that afternoon pick me up there was never any coffee made.

It used to drive me crazy!  

The only negative is that it goes right through me.   

I think you know what I mean. 

Oh, and my Cusinart Ten Cup coffee maker…

I gave it to my brother's family.

They are all coffee drinkers.

I think I NEED another cup…right now!

Want to join me?

Happy ❤️ Valentine's Day ❤️

It's a beautiful ❤️Valentine's Day❤️ here with the sun shining. 

Another inch or two of snow fell last night.  

It's an unbelievable 43 degrees out. 

So pretty!

Have a lovable & huggable Valentine's day.  

Source:  Facebook

Emily's "Candy Corn" Blankie

Hurray!

I'm finished!

Whew!

Thanks to all that gave me such great names suggestions for this little baby throw.  

I'm terrible at naming anything.  

So I really appreciate your help. 

I'm 29 inches by 24 and 1/2 inches.

I needed a name not too long (for embroidery reasons) and appropriate for a baby.  

Kim at Snug Harbor Bay said the blankie looked like Candy Corn to her and I couldn't agree more.

I also liked Danette's "Sleeptime Sun".

Such wonderful names. 

Thanks dear friends!  

The winner is…."Candy Corn"!

Thank you Kim!   

That's the perfect name  for Emily's blankie. 

I'm learning how to use my sewing machine's monogram embroidery feature to spell and place words on a label.  

❤️ I love it ❤️

Now my machine does all the work for me.   

Oh, I crocheted a simple single crochet edging - one round of orange (persimmon), one of black and then I turned the throw to add the last round of single crochet in white. 

Now that the label is sewn on I just have to wrap it up and deliver it to a little baby named

 "Emily Grace".

Isn't that a pretty name for a little girl! 

And if you are interested clink (here) for the free pattern

 and

 (here) for my Ravelry project page with all the details.  

What To Name Me?

I am at a loss to come up with an appropriate name for my little baby throw.

The free pattern is called "Leaping Stripes and Blocks Blanket".   

But that's not a cute name for a baby throw.  

This morning I was showing it off to my Hubby and he said it reminded him of a Navaho blanket.  

That's when I thought maybe I could call it "Night & Day" or "Setting Sun".  

I like those names but for the life of me I can't think of something more appropriate for a baby throw.

What do you think?

I found a stitch in one of my old crochet books, "The Pattern Library CROCHET" that looks similar to this pattern called "Brick stitch".

Don't you just love crochet with all the different stitches?  

I just have the edging left to do on this little throw.  

I've single crocheted in the orangy yarn all the way around before I almost ran out of that color of yarn.  

I'm not sure if I have enough of the cream yarn left to do another round.  

I do have more black yarn.  

So I may have to use black yarn to finish her up. 

I think it will make a nice car seat baby blankie.  

It's a very solid weave with no holes for tiny fingers to catch in.  

It's a gift for a neighbor who just had a baby girl.   

The sex of her baby was a secret - if I had known I may have used more girly colors. 

Off to do a little hooking and finish this baby up.  

I'll share my color row selection pattern when it is all done.

Check out my Ravelry page for more details (here).

The joy of this pattern is there are few ends to weave in because you carry the yarn along the side edge as you crochet the rows.  

I.LOVE.IT!

PS - I'm feeling so much better.  The muscle spasms in my back (and side) finally stopped - it took two full days for the soreness to go away.