Two Black Sheep

B is for Blankets

Ok, so 'B' is late.  Ava will make up for my slip.  She'll make 'C'  fantastic. 

When Ava signed up for the ABC Along, I knew right away what I'd use for the letter B.  It represents an example of how Ava & I are different; I don't sleep & Ava can fall asleep sitting up.  Because of my curse (our mother often apologizes for passing this trait along), I appreciate a good nap.  15 minutes or 2 hours is an amazing gift.  But I need the perfect storm for it to happen.  I can't be in a bed.  I must be on the couch with the TV on, but I can't be facing the TV.  And finally, I need a blanket.  No matter how hot it is, I've got to be covered.

I also think that making someone a blanket is the an excellent way to show the recipient that they are really loved.  Blankets aren't a quick an easy gift.  You are going to be working on it for a while, so you'd better find materials & pattern that you love.  My all-time favorite project is still the Amy Butler Lotus quilt.  It gets used everyday & the colors actually make me feel better.  Amy Butler fabrics have that effect on me.  Two current favorites were gifts.  First, Tuck's Serenity blanket from Ava.  Every time I cover him with it, I'm reminded by the love that he was guaranteed before he was even born.  Second, receiving blankets from my mother.  These are very simple flannel squares, but they are essential in our home.  Both boys have benefited from a good swaddle.  Commercial receiving blankets just aren't big enough to get a tight & lasting swaddle.  Gus asks SK (King of the Swaddle) to wrap Tuck like a burrito. It's only a matter of time before Gus is "swaddled" in the Lotus quilt.

My love for blankets is on-going.  I feel good when I've got one (or 3) in a WIP pile.  My goal for this maternity leave, is to complete Gus' Big Boy blanket.  I started piecing it together this weekend.  I also hope to have V's graduation quilt started.  I've chosen a pattern from Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in the Sun.  Should be simple enough, but I'd like to use a different method to quilt it.  The past quilts have been quilted with the Stitch in the Ditch method.  I want that random stitch look, but I'm not sure how to go about it.  Here is a beautiful example of what I'd like to achieve.  You think that you just load the quilt into the machine & go at it?

That's my take on 'B'.  I could have taken the easy route & chosen Baby, Boys, Boobs, or Breast-feeding.  All very important 'B' words.  But sleep time is precious these days, so I'll honor my favorite friend, the Blanket.

-L

The Ecstasy of Gold

So yesterday, I sent Vicki an email asking to join the ABC Along, but I may have forgotten to tell Lola. This happens every once and awhile . . . I figure she has more to occupy her time than trying to find something that represents her beginning with the letter A. Probably we'll both submit an entry for the rest of the letters, but I'm sure that it might be just one of us now and then.

A is for . . . airplanes, Ava, adagio, action figures, April and August - anything really. The Flyer spends half his time on an airplane, I picked that name, the girls translate pretty Italian words for orchestra, my "boy" has tons, my two favorite months . . . you get the picture. But truly, for me it would have to be my Addi Turbos. I know, I know - who doesn't own a pair of these lovely needles. I didn't for the longest time because the price made me blush. I mean, $13 for a pair of needles? What the hell? I could run to Wal-Mart and buy a set of straights for $2.50. The first time I bought a pair was the last time that I questioned the price, and probably the last time I bought any other type of needle until I picked up my interchangeables. Has my knitting time increased so much that I can verify the "turbo" portion of name? Not likely. Do I use my 1s for just about every pair of socks? Ummm . . . I own four 40 inch needles so that would be a yes. Will I give them up in favor of another brand? Not on your life.

I promise that the next installment will be more thoughtful and better photographed. The Addis look pathetic in the photo as half are tied up in other projects and I didn't feel like digging them out. My mind was clearly on my girls tonight at their concert. The orchestra sounded lovely during the entire event, even during "Buckaroo Holiday," which I just didn't get. "Mom, it was hard to play so say you liked it." Fine, I liked it very much.

Ava