Pisces Link?

I have started swimming at the YMCA. I really, truly enjoy it. I swam as kid and on and off through the years. Before kids, I went to the gym regularly, but swimming was always tough. For some reason, it is coming together for me now. I enjoy the cool water and the solitude - just me and the water. I swim about a mile - sometimes more, sometimes less. I am even getting better at my strokes. I have always loved the breaststroke, but freestyle tires me out. Freestyle is even getting easier. I notice some small changes, but the bigger draw is that I really like it. I am toying with the idea of doing a triathlon (sprint version). The big drawback isn't the running with which I have a love/hate relationship. The part that scares the beejesus out of me is swimming in TEMPE TOWN LAKE - BLECH.

Stealing

I admit it, I shamelessly steal. If I find a good idea, I will use and adapt it. My sister is a great source of ideas as well as my friends. Most of the stealing is kid ideas, but it stretches to crafting as well. I found some great blogs and a flikr site that has all kinds of kid ideas. I really like browsing the Creative Summer flikr group for ideas. One idea I really liked was the frogs and lily pads. I made a set of frogs for us, my nieces and a friend for her birthday. The first two set of lily pads were okay, but then I had an epiphany - felt. I made the gift lily pads out of felt and embroidered the numbers on them. It looks amazing.
Off in search of more stealable ideas.

Finished

The wall-hanging/memory quilt is done.

I just finished the binding tonight. I am so pleased with the final product. As a child, I helped my mom and grandmother cut and piece the quilt for my bed. I didn't do any of the quilting or binding, so this is a first for me.

Here is my first quilt. Finished size is approx 20"L X 15'H. The quilt is meant to signify various natural elements - sky, sun, grass, trees, water, air. These seem to be areas where the recipient most feels her lost child. The elemental portion was hand-quilted. The white "frame" was machine quilted.

Please excuse the poor photo quality. I was too eager to get the finished quilt photographed and proof posted!

A whole lotta crafting has been happening, although there hasn't been much blogging. After finishing the kids' aprons, I made two yoga tops for me. The pattern is McCalls M4664, and it is super easy. It fits pretty well, although with swimming lessons, I haven't had a chance to test it in a yoga class.I have also sewn a few pairs of pajama bottoms. Another easy pattern and very popular around our house. The bottom pair is out of some thrifted material. I also made a yoga top from the piece of fabric which was only $1.


My niece's birthday required the making of a couple gifts. I knit her the Monica shirt from Knitty. Since it is the second one I have made, I had some modifications. I knit it in the round and I used longer straps which you can tie. I also made an apron and matching bag for her art supplies. A good gift I think.

My knitting has been a bit slow due to the sewing. I was able to knit and felt a bag. I have done quite a few bags, so I didn't really follow a pattern. Here is a picture of it drying. I like the size and shape. I am trying to decide if I want to line it and create a fastener.


Finally I started my first quilt. I am making it for a friend of a friend. She is amazingly strong during a very hard time in her life. I wanted to make something for her to remember her baby who just died. The pictures below are the pieces and the pieced quilt. I have finished hand-quilting the middle and machine quilting the border. I just need to sit down and do the binding. I think it will be finished today.