Clara's Knitting: Lace Sweater from Vintage Knits

Known in Sarah Dallas' Vintage Knits only as the "Lace Sweater," it was meant to be knitted in cotton. It's quite different in the lace-weight merino Clara chose, and it's oh so heavenly. Short bodice, long sleeves, and she's planning to wear it over a jersey dress I'm about to make her. That's the jersey covering the buttons now.

Now I'm Really Done

After finishing another log cabin quilt top with Clara today, I'm quitting for the week.

A Portrait of Clara

Clara needed a photo for her senior recital.

A Pitcher of Creamy Roses

Beautiful creamy roses inside, cold and blustery day outside.

Daisy's Cardboard Skyscraper of Cuteness

She found six matching shoeboxes, all with round "windows" already cut out.

And furnished them with little animals and their couches and beds and rugs.

And taped them all together in a skyscraper of cuteness.

Ashes of Roses Log Cabin Quilt

In an epic flurry (assisted by BBC's "North and South") Clara and I quilted this top in just four days. 

It's pieced in shades of pink, fuschia, and gray. The vintage cello skirt that inspired the project had one hidden pocket inside made from this alphabet fabric. We cut out four squares and put them in the corners of the quilt.

It's all quilted in black perle cotton, and the back is a lovely length of rose wool I found at the thrift store. 

 I bound it in navy blue, not the expected black. Just for fun.

My Knitted Short Stays

I knitted this crazy--but in an alluring way--garment from Jane Austen Knits, maybe the Fall 2013 issue? It's patterned after the short stays worn under dresses, for support.

As an outer, knitted garment, it's something completely different--an abbreviated but cozy vest.

Let's talk about the fact that the ribbing is deliberately off-center in the back. It kind of freaks me out.

Also, I maybe should have knitted a swatch. But it is cozy and fun!

A Year in Log Cabin Quilts 2014

And Then a Highly Saturated Blue Log Cabin Quilt Top

After Saturday's quilt binge, I sat down to start another quilt. This one was going to be all different bright and saturated colors, really loud and wild. But then I kept seeing this collection of blue and green rejects off to the side, and I realized that I would have to turn my pile of "no's" into a big "yes."

So Clara and I put this quilt together yesterday. It was quite a bit of work, since it's thirty-six strips that are seven strips across. It's several acres. But it sure is beautiful.

Clara says not to ask her to make a quilt tomorrow. But maybe I can talk her into the next day!!

Cello Skirt Log Cabin Quilt Top

Clara and I made an afternoon of piecing our quilt top. With both of us working assiduously, it's a four-to-five hour job.

That's starting with the strips already cut--I had prepared them weeks ago and stored them neatly in a basket until we had some time together. Because it's really nice having help!

As usual, we were stunned by the successful alchemy that is scrapwork piecing. No matter what, it seems like scrap quilts come out gorgeous. Clara gets the design credit on this one.

Ruminant Nurse

Daisy is currently engrossed in the Cherry Ames series. Cherry Ames, Rural Nurse. Cherry Ames, Private Duty Nurse. Etc.

 Excellent preparation for being a nurse all this morning. The neighbor brought over a baby who had gotten too cold and weak and seemed to be dying.

Several hours by a *hot* fire, constant respiration and "rumen motility" checks, and droppers full of goats' milk, and he returned to health.

Thanks to Daisy, Ruminant Nurse.

The Light Shines in the Darkness, and Darkness Has Never Put It Out

Merry Christmas 2014

(Next year I hope to also have pictures of my older daughters--somehow they were always just out of the frame this year!)

Snowflake Cookies for the Windows

We hung them from the branch that hangs in the sitting room window.

And we hung them from the wreaths we put in the living room windows for Christmas.

5:00 P.M. Cozy

A Jersey Shirt Pattern, with Back Extensions

I picked this up at the thrift store because of the back extension that comes up and over the shoulder.

However,  I don't believe I will be making contrasting shirt halves and sleeves. Or sewing that neckline as is, because who looks their best in a crew neck? No one I know. I'll be scooping it out a little.

Garland Do-Over

My garland of yesteryear fell off its string when I picked it up out of the box. So I've been restringing the wool circles on perle cotton. I've made about five miles of it, which is too much, but it's lots of fun. 

Another Sunrise, and Some Fruitcakes for the Gluten-Free

Another gorgeous sunrise, the first of the Return of the Exiles (as the Composer calls it when the adult children come home), and several fabulous fruitcakes.

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Felix is the first one in the door of the three Away Kids. It didn't take him long to ensconce himself in what we call "Inventor's Corner"--a computer, a calculator, and a notebook not too far from the woodstove. Serious inventing going on today.

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I've found fantastic fruitcake recipes that don't rely on any kind of flour at all! Just ground almonds and lots of fruit:

Christmas-Spiced Chocolate Cake by Nigella (oh my)

Gorgeously Golden Fruitcake also by Nigella, much more traditional

Alsatian Christmas Bread (not a bread at all. I didn't use this recipe, but it was the closest I could find. Mine required only dried fruit, fruit juice, spices, and ground almonds)

The Colors of Early Winter

These are the colors of early winter around here. Warm browns, gray-browns, and long golden light.

In Goat News . . .

Anyone who loves baby goats will be glad to know that over at the neighbors' house Jezebel, Ruby, and Cinnamon have all had their kids. Seven of them, all together!

This is Cinnamon, a very good mother. She had twins. Baby goats are just about the best, for cuteness.