In the city - MyWorld Tuesday XI

(Check out other MyWorld posts too!) Phoenix has finally opened its light rail system. It's not very convenient for me since I live in one of the suburbs, but a friend and I gave it a try today. The first picture is of some "public art" - I didn't get a very close look so don't ask me to explain it! Next is the train...
It didn't quite run on the advertised 10 minute schedule, and it was PACKED. Hopefully some of the riders were just trying it out for free during vacation, and next week the commuters will have room to relax.

Baby K is a source of endless entertainment. Last night, she had socks on her hands as she played with her stuffed animals.
Here she is trying to take her own picture:
And a better pose...we have a budding camera hog, she was directing me to take this photo!

Short Recap

Christmas was delightful! We gave Baby K a garbage truck...not because we are enamored of a "gender neutral" toybox, but because she is fascinated by them. Last week we had to follow a trash truck through the neighborhood before going to school! The other big hits were Play-Doh and a tricycle.

After 4 months (I wish I had kept a detailed log of my quilting time) I finished quilting the Hawaiian Star for my mom. Here is a close up of some of the background fill and the outer border.
She was too busy on Friday to take a full size picture, but I will post one in a week or so. I was very intimidated by this project, but once I started it was a joy to work on. There are portions that I would do differently...aren't there always?...but overall I think it looks great. Next up - one quick charity project and then I need to tackle my entry for the March AQG show.

Christmas Vacation

We are getting in the Christmas spirit with some wintry weather. No snow, but below 60 degrees and rainy sends all desert dwellers into a panic. Baby K enjoyed playing with an umbrella.

Here's a big smile for Grandma and Aunt Gretchen!
Since I finished my sock project, I went back to my sweater. It's knit side to side, and I just finished the neckline and am working on the second sleeve. The stripes come from holding two yarns together and changing colors every 16 rows. It's a fun project!

Holidaze

Christmas Knitting - DONE. I made our little family some matching socks. Baby K has a meltdown about wearing socks, so I'm hoping she'll tolerate them for 5 minutes of picture-taking!

I've been working on a pattern from Patchwork Times - it's called Shine On Bayou Cane. I have 5 rows of stars and there are some interesting pieced borders coming next. Do you think these colors are manly enough to give to a 23 year old?

My school had a holiday party for staff children and Baby K had a great time! We decorated cookies...
made a snowman with cotton balls...

and made a popsicle ornament. She's quite adept with the glitter!

Super Seminar

Here is baby K, all ready for school (daycare) with a fresh package of wipes. She has been so funny when I comb her hair in the morning. She always reminds me: "Be gentle Mommy, gentle with the baby!"

I spent the last two and a half days at the Ricky Tims Super Seminar with special guests Alex Anderson and Libby Lehman. (These people are rock stars in the quilting world!!) All of them do beautiful work and are very entertaining teachers.
Someday, I want to be able to quilt a nice feathered cable border like Alex...I think my first project will be a kaleidoscope, like Ricky's on the left. Then I'll start designing a Rhapsocy quilt like his on the right. These are spectacular applique pieces! Too bad I had such a hard time holding the camera still. I'm off to check out The Quilt Show and the Ricky Tims website. The Quilt Show is an online quilter's gallery...the closest thing to Ravelry in the fabric world!

Literature

Baby K loves her books!
Pretending to read. How can you choose if they are all packed on a shelf? Much easier to have them spread out on the floor...

Hi Grandma!

Baby K decided the bunny needed to be in the picture tonight. (It's the same bunny as her monthly baby pictures...I'll do annual bunnies from now on.)

Trying to get her to look at the camera at the same time the shutter clicked was a challenge!

I have some sewing and knitting to share, but that will have to wait until later in the week. Stay tuned ;-)

Play at the Park

We are very lucky to have a park at the end of our street with a picnic pavilion, a big field to play soccer, and a jungle gym. Baby K runs everywhere! She can go down the slide by herself.

She asks us to follow her through the tunnels.

And she can balance on the curb and find a good spot to jump down.

Oh my stars

All done with nap time! (I was trying to get her to pose with her hand on her cheek)

Sewing time...I quilted some mis-matched feathers on the Hawaiian Star
Here is a wider view...that light green to the right is the outer border. The end is in sight!
I'm using a JudyL Quilt for an Hour pattern to make some batik stars:

My colors got a little wonky in a few places, but that will give it a scrappy feel :-)

Thanksgiving Festivities

Playing with spoons, spatulas, etc is great fun. Today we're using an ice cream scoop.

Even when there is no blood, we sometimes need a band-aid. Baby K pulled up a chair and was singing "Bringing home a baby bumblebee" when I grabbed the camera:
At lunch time, we progressed to a scoop, and enjoyed some spaghetti for lunch.


After naptime, we got ready for the big turkey dinner.
I made three dishes of stuffing, since there were 20 of us for dinner. Note to self...don't bother expanding the recipe...I came home with two full dishes. Good thing I love stuffing, I'll be eating it for a week!

Three views

Shredded Wheat for breakfast this morning.


A few pushes on the swing this afternoon.


Trying on Mommy's windbreaker. We love zippers!

Tuesday Pictures

Grandma is out of town, and she needs a baby fix every day!
When I said I was going to take a picture this morning, baby K immediately laid down on the floor. What an imp. (don't adjust your monitor, the picture really is that blurry, sorry.)


Here she is when I picked her up after school. I try to remember the apple juice if I stop at home first, because she asks for it right away.
Then we took a picture with no cup in the way.

Here she is with a lollipop.
It's a bluuuuuuuue one!

Early Turkey Day

My brother in law is a GOOD cook! Baby K sat right up and tasted most everything.

Uncle Grant let her lick the bowl of fresh whipped cream.

And Monday morning we put on a new purple outfit.