Stash's Spot

Mother's Day on the River

2010-05-09T16:03:00.000-07:00

We had a great Mother's Day on the River. I forgot my camera but Joe got this shot of Sam with his cell phone. We didn't get any of KK.

Hey, Dude...

Birthday Girl!

2010-05-05T22:28:00.000-07:00

KK is 5!

Easter Bunny Babies

2010-04-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

My precious bunny babies at Easter time, 2010

Washer Hooked up

2010-02-10T10:46:00.000-08:00

CocomoJoe and Sam and KK came Saturday and we went out to breakfast. Sam slept through most of it. He sure likes KK. Especially her hair. ggg They are so cute together. Joe hooked up the washer so I am back in business. Way to go Joe!!

Cleaning up a Flood

2010-01-30T20:50:00.000-08:00

Well, the boys came and "installed" my washer and dryer. By load number 2, my apt was flooded. The drain hose fell off the back of the machine. Oy..

KK and I bought a new Washer and Dryer!

2010-01-10T20:50:00.000-08:00

KK helped me choose a washer and dryer yesterday. Uncle Joe and Sammy helped too! I am so happy and can hardly wait until it is installed in the kitchen. Yay! No more frozen pipes out in the laundry room or trips to the laundromat. How kewl is that?

Happy New Year Everybody!

2010-01-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

I sincerely hope everybody has a very good 2010. The most important thing, Good Health!! And, I hope whatever goals you choose for the year, come to pass. Go Ducks!!!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T19:00:00.000-08:00

We had a great day today. Very nice dinner and lots of fun under the tree. Here are the girls in their new shirts and little Santa Sam.

Christmas Kids

2009-12-01T10:29:00.001-08:00

Holloween Kids

2009-11-19T19:37:00.000-08:00

Sam and his Mommy and KK as Tinkerbell on Holloween.

Pam in Jalie top

2009-11-14T00:19:00.000-08:00

Here is Pam in the Jalie top I made for MJ for her birthday. It didn't fit MJ but it fit Pam.

Lunch Buddy has Changed!

2009-10-16T23:58:00.001-07:00

My little Lunch Buddy has matured so much just since her 9th birthday in August. She has grown and she cut her long hair much shorter. We are dreaming up some projects to do this year. I hope to keep up with the knitting?

New Hoody

2009-10-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

I have not made myself anything for about 3 years. This was a simple project but at least it was for me, for a change. I still have about 10 pounds to lose so have few clothes to wear. I see I need to straighten it up on my shoulders so it hangs straighter too before my picture gets taken. Oops! This hoody is to replace the one that was stolen out of my car. I really needed it as it is getting very nippy in the mornings these days.

The Cousins

2009-09-26T14:24:00.000-07:00

Smiley Sam

2009-09-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

Taken September 1, 2009, exactly 2 months old. He is smiling even more now.

Sam Smiled at Me!

2009-08-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

I got to stay with Sam while his parents went out for a little break yesterday. Oh Happy Day!! He slept most of the time they were gone. But, finally, he woke up and I got to play with him. He smiled at me!! Yay!! What a heartthrob he is. How lucky I am to have such wonderful grandchildren. I know it is bragging but I cannot help it!

Lunch Buddy is Turning 9

2009-08-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

My little Lunch Buddy is having her 9th birthday this month. I made her a bag to carry her knitting in, to match the needle wrap I made her for Valentine's Day. The appliqué fabric is what I used for the needle carrier, so now we have a set! We share a love for Poodle dogs. I put her initial on the other side. Guess I need to run up to the yarn store in Washougal to get her a few knitting trinkets to put in her bag. Maybe a few more needles too.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-07-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday. Today we gathered at Andy and Pam's house for a birthday dinner. Andy cooked a wonderful salmon on the grill and made a delicious salad and fresh vegetables. Joe, Sandi and Sam were able to come and KK and Margaret were there too. KK helped her Mommy bake the birthday cake and it was delicious. The weather was beautiful...not too hot but clear and warm. Sam slept through most of it. I had a wonderful time. Here are a few pictures....Pammy and Andy in the kitchen, Joe, Sandi and Sammy, MJ and KK and me....in no particular order....the pictures never end up where I thought I put them anyway. Thank heavens for these kids. Getting older would be no fun at all without them...hehehe

Sam in the Bassinet

2009-07-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

Here is Sam in his bassinet. Also, snoozing through the Mariners game with Gabba holding him. Great way to spend the 4th of July.

He has a Name

2009-07-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

Our new boy is Samuel Joseph, Sam for short. Joseph is his Daddy's name. Finally, we can call him by his name instead of Peanut, Joe Jr etc. Yay!

We are SO PROUD!!

2009-07-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

We are still waiting to find out his name. Here he is, our new baby boy. His Daddy called me this morning about 6:45 to say that Sandi was in labor and they were at the hospital. The other grandparents and I waited all morning and he was born at 1:29 pm. He weighed 7 pounds 2 oz and I think he is19 inches long. The epidural worked as it was supposed to and Mommy and baby are doing great. He is really a beautiful baby and barely makes a peep. Very wide eyed and alert. We are so happy!!

Joe is 40!!

2009-06-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Joe's birthday. Joe and Sandi, MJ and Andy and Pammy came for dinner. Sandi is doing OK but the doctor says the baby is ready and the due date is 2 weeks away. She looks terrific but is not that comfortable now. We are getting anxious to meet our new little guy. I did not get a photo of MJ and none of me but here are the 2 I did get. KK is on vacation with her Dad so she was not there. We had a shrimp Louie and a side dish of black beans and rice with peppers and mangoes. Yum! Cocomo Joe did not get his carrot cake this year. Instead, he got a strawberry pie, which he also loves. It was just too hot to bake....no AC here.

Time Flies When You're Moving

2009-06-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

Circumstances changed at my apartment complex so that it made sense to move. I found a 2 bedroom apartment that I love. It allows me to have a work room. I have a new sewing cabinet, thanks to the kids. So, there is a place for my machines and they are no longer on the kitchen table or in the living room.

My sewing got interrupted. That's for sure! But, I did manage to prepare the bassinet for our new baby boy. I can hardly wait to see him. I wish he had a name. So far I have to call him Joe Jr or just Junior. I haven't quite finished knitting the blanket. Almost!

There are rose bushes a few feet from my back door......Aren't these beautiful?

Yay! It's a boy!!

2009-03-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

Joe and Sandi are having a boy! I am so glad! Somebody to carry on the kids' family name. They had an ultra sound this morning and learned the happy news.

Tracing patterns for DDIL

2009-02-28T18:47:00.000-08:00

Today I traced a couple of patterns to make Sandi some tops. She probably has enough, but I want to contribute to the enterprise. Her parents live close by so I won't be called upon much, but still, it is fun to do something? Joe and Sandi find out the gender soon. I can hardly wait. As soon as I know, I will start the blanket for the bassinet. I can't believe it has been more than 4 years since I did this for KK.

Credit Card Interest Rate.....Yikes!!

2009-02-17T18:58:00.000-08:00

I could hardly believe my eyes today when I read a notice from my CC company/bank that they were raising my interest rate 10 points!!!???! What's up with that? I keep my balance low, make big payments on time and have never gone over my limit or not paid on time. Guess we credit card holders are going to pay for the banks' losses, huh?

Big Hit with Lunch Buddy

2009-02-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

My Lunch Buddy loved her knitting needle roll. She had hinted around a few weeks ago and I told her to have patience....Valentine's Day was coming up and there was always her birthday in August....She was surprised and VERY pleased. Such a darling girl.

No Room for Spunky to Snooze

2009-02-04T22:30:00.000-08:00

I am out of room in this tiny apt. There isn't even any room for Spunky to snooze in his favorite chair.

Lunch Buddy Valentine

2009-02-03T17:31:00.000-08:00

I have been a Lunch Buddy at the local elementary school for the last 5 years. For 3 years I had a wonderful boy named Tim, who has gone on to Middle School. Last year they assigned me a little girl who is adorable. AND, best of all, she likes needle work. I am teaching her to knit this year and she is making her Mom and Grandmother dishcloths for Mother's Day. So, I made this needle wrap for her Valentine this year. She only has a few sets of needles but we are adding as we go.

Tomorrow I will work on my vintage pattern again. It isn't that much fun, really....rather tedious. Now, in my basket, I also have window treatments for DD, maternity tops I want to try for DDIL. Also, I have several muslins to make for KK as I think ahead. She will be 4 in April. Also, must knit the blanket for the bassinet and make a new liner. It may need a new coat of paint?

In the Mood to Sew

2009-01-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

I have been struggling with a Vintage Vogue jacket pattern from 1954. There are no markings and it has been cut. How did they know where to cut back then? Little holes for markings, like darts, roll lines etc. Whoever cut it out was very sloppy and they altered it in places. I actually spent HOURS taping pieces back together, lining up cut edges, matching nicks and notches from prior cuts. I feel like a CSI agent. But I can't finish tracing the pattern until all the pieces are in their original shape. There is a beautiful piece of Pendleton Wool black and white houndstooth fabric waiting.....no doubt a muslin or two before then.

2009-01-30T11:56:00.000-08:00

Just finished these pants for KK. The outfit was supposed to be for Christmas but I didn't get the pants finished in time.

Great Christmas

2008-12-29T21:31:00.001-08:00

We really had a wonderful Christmas, in spite of the snow and ice, which set records here. There was a small window of opportunity to drive over the river and spend the day with the family. My small sewing projects were a hit and KK loved her Cinderella dress and her doll house. The best part of Christmas was learning that I am to be a grandma again.....KK is having a cousin in July! Yay!! Here are the parents to be.

People are buying my bibs

2008-05-24T17:55:00.000-07:00

Word is getting around, locally, about my bibs. Several people have asked for them. I have sold 13 in the last couple of weeks but am worried I am not charging enough. They cost a bit to make and take forever. I really must work out a little spread sheet of the true cost, not counting my time of course. They are very cute, if I do say so. Here is an example of one I made for a little girl named "Amelia".

Sewing Frustration!

2008-04-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

This tiny apartment is getting to me. I have 5 machines (so far), a computer desk and toys all over my living room. My couch is long gone in favor of a smaller loveseat. My bedroom is crammed with bedroom furniture, a cedar chest my father made in about 1928 or so and a rollaway bed for KK. There is also a hobby table I use to cut things out. I cannot have the rollaway bed and the hobby table up at the same time so I am constantly putting up and folding down. All the closets are full and the space under the bed is taken up with bins. I am so frustrated!

I just embroidered these for KK. She will be 3 on the 17th.

Where did the year go?

2008-03-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

Oh, my Goodness!! KK is going to be 3 soon. Where did the year go? She is learning to ride a 2 wheeler with training wheels already.

My Janome 6600 did come home and it has been a struggle. I do miss the free arm. The first 3-4 months were really awful. This is my first computerized machine and that was part of the problem. But, this machine is far too sensitive when it comes to presser foot level. I am learning to use the "jiminy jig" tool which helps, but if I had known about this problem, I would not have purchased this machine. Another sewist who has forgotten more than I will ever know about sewing has the same complaint with this machine. She has other machines including Bernina, Pfaff and Janome and knows full well what to expect from a sewing machine. The fabric does not feed evenly unless the presser foot is perfectly level. This is true whether I am using the Accufeed or not. My old Viking 6460 does not have this problem so it is very frustrating. My new machine does have features that I like.....especially the needle up and down and the thread cutter. I have done quite a bit of successful sewing this year so I will continue to learn it as best I can.

Last week I traveled to my dealer about 70 miles away to spend the day seeing Sue Hauseman. It was fun to spend time with other sewists and see all the machines on display too. I did bring home a Janome Coverpro 1000CP which I have not had time to play with yet.

One of these days I will learn how to post a photo to this site.

Tomorrow is the Day

2007-05-07T23:50:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! Tomorrow morning I am going to drive about an hour and a half to the dealer and pick up my new 6600p. I live so far away that I cannot just drop in for lessons, so they are going to give me a 3 hour lesson. Since I do not quilt, I hope this machine was a wise choice because it was really designed for quilters. It doesn't have a free arm but Big Red has one and she will still be out. I wonder what name my new machine will end up with? I hope she has a cooperative personality.

Success......Not so much?

2007-04-13T19:29:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness! I am starting to remember the fitting frustrations of the past. Patterns for KK vary so much in size that I am doing alot of test garments for her. I made her new jammies and a short and t-shirt outfit and did not realize by stitching down the hems with a straight stitch, I was making the openings too tight. I unstitched the side seams about an inch up from the hem on her jammies and will have to slash the t-shirt at the center back neck and make a keyhole opening with a button and loop. So many old things to remember/learn before I can even think about learning new things. Maybe I am too old for this?

Her Burda 4763 winter coat was a very big success. She had her picture taken in her Butterick 4432 dress too. I will post pictures as soon as I figure out how to do it. Tomorrow is her birthday party. She will be 2 next Tuesday.