Keeping Random.org busy today...

I'm very happy to announce that Therese G. is the winner of the Craftsy class giveaway. Therese, Craftsy has sent a link for you class directly to you. Thank you!!

The winner of the second Craftsy class is Margene!! I may have squealed out loud this morning as I counted and landed on her name, and I couldn't wait to send her gift! Since she recently expressed her interest in Alabama Chanin style sewing, I'm pretty confident that I know which class she'll choose.

Thanks for all the 10-year fun. I've written over 2500 posts in the 10 years I've been blogging and shortly -- very shortly -- someone will leave the 22,000th comment on one of those posts. The milestones just keep coming!

I scored some new 4XL men's t-shirts the other day -- so much fabric! I couldn't wait to start deconstruction and am already busy making another top! This one is a mash-up of two favorite styles for summer.

I can't stop!

This weekend, though, I really need to finish knitting a hat I've had on the needles for too long!

And work at getting rid of a cold. Yuck.

Maybe it's the world telling me that it's House of Cards S2 weekend at my house. heh.

TODAY!! It's the First Day of Spring (yahoo!) and my 10th Blogiversary! Here's the last installment of TEN for TEN.

TEN - YOU!

I'm not altogether sure I'd have kept this up for 10 years if it wasn't for you.

You've offered advice and support through some bad times, and you've celebrated the joys and triumphs of many good times! You've certainly encouraged, enabled, and influenced me. I wouldn't be half the knitter I am if it weren't for blogging. And I'm pretty sure I wouldn't presently have my foot stuck in the rabbit hole of hand sewing, either, if it weren't for blogging.

It's not always easy writing this blog and, in glancing back these last 10 days over the past decade, I can see how much things have changed -- what I share, how I write, and the pictures. Sheesh! There are certainly some cringe-worthy photos, but I did what I could with what I had (P.S. I still love you, Sony DSC-85!). What struck me most was the size! I recall bandwidth being an issue at times, back in the day, but postage stamp photos -- I guess everyone just "clicked to make big" the photos they really wanted to see. Because, wow, TINY. (I fixed some of those as I ran across them.)

But holy cow, 10 years! 

Thank you!! Thank you for reading, laughing, crying, encouraging, enabling, and just for being there. It's always comforting to know that there's a big collective shoulder here, and someone willing to listen.

* * * * *

So, all week I've posted the link for the Craftsy Class Giveaway and I think I'll be ready to announce the winner tomorrow. That giveaway doesn't really have anything to do with me, I've just given it some space and airtime, so I've decided that I will give away another Craftsy Class and probably some other presents, too! Because, holy cow, 10 years!

I'll randomly draw winners from all who leave or have left a comment on any of the Ten for Ten posts, including this one, through midnight CST tonight.

*Giveaways have ended*

Thanks again!

* * * * *

Previously:

• One - Knitting
• Two - Sewing
• Three - The Kids
• Four - Family
• Five - Home
• Six - Travel
• Seven - 9 Years Quit
• Eight - Blog Friends & Travel
• Nine - Sheep & Wool

That's Ten for Ten!

* * * * *

I'm hosting a Craftsy giveaway. Follow the link below and you could win a class of your choice, up to $59.99 in value -- only 1 more day to enter. 

Enter to win a Craftsy class!

*Giveaway has ended*

You will need to either log in or create an account to enter the giveaway. Entries will be accepted through midnight CST on Thursday, March 20th -- the First Day of Spring and also my 10th Blogiversary! The winner will be chosen (using Random.org) and directly notified (via email with the free-class link) by Craftsy!

Some of the Craftsy classes I've enjoyed include Natalie Chanin's Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric: Stenciling, Appliqué, Beading and Embroidery, Angela Tong's Rigid Heddle Weaving, and Amy Herzog's Knit To Flatter. There's much to choose from!

NEW ON CRAFTSY!!
Clara Parkes' Know Your Yarn: Choose the Perfect Yarn Every Time!

I'm celebrating my 10th Blogiversary on the First Day of Spring! To mark the occasion, which totally blows my mind, I thought I'd share TEN for TEN.

NINE - SHEEP & WOOL

That's what it's all about, isn't it? It is for me, at least; wool being the fiber I knit with most. There are fiber festivals everywhere -- I think the Events page at Knitter's Review is probably the most complete yet very concise list. Probably one of the biggest and well known is New York Sheep & Wool Festival (or Rhinebeck), which I've gone to three times; Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival isn't too shabby, and I finally made it there a few years ago (and a couple of times since).

Rhinebeck 2005.

My first and, man, was it wet! Flight delays, traffic delays, juggled plans... it's a wonder I made it at all. St. Brigid was my sweater that year.

Rhinebeck 2006 -- Rhinebeck Bingo!

We had a soundtrack! So much fun that year -- I met so many people (Carole, it was 2006!). My sweater was Fib.

Rhinebeck 2007.

I don't think I had a sweater that year, it was the year of the cowl (for me)!  If I'm not mistaken, it was fairly warm that year, anyway.

Besides the people -- the people are always the best part of these things -- and the wool, the next best things about Rhinebeck are definitely Artichokes French and chicken pot pies! People, Wool, Food... in that order. Or People, Food, Wool? I guess it depends on how hungry I am.

WI Sheep & Wool - 2010.

My first time! Sharon had just rented her apartment there, but didn't move in for another month. Compared to Rhinebeck, this festival is a lot smaller, but the quality of vendors is right up there -- many of the same! In fact, Susan's Fiber Shop is located in Wisconsin but I've only ever shopped there at festivals!

WI Sheep & Wool - 2011.

I met my cousin Rae and her husband in Jefferson for a fun wooly day in 2011. I still have that mohair... still really love it! Ha.

WI Sheep & Wool - 2012.

I went to Wisconsin Sheep & Wool in 2012 to assist Dixie in her booth for Yellow Dog Knitting. In return, she gave me some space to display and sell a few of my wares. I hadn't worked as a vendor at a festival in a long time... it was fun!

Slightly abbreviated today (compared to some of the other posts in this series) because it's Junah Day! Tomorrow promises to be much the same as I'll be away for most of the day.

* * * * *

Previously:

• One - Knitting
• Two - Sewing
• Three - The Kids
• Four - Family
• Five - Home
• Six - Travel
• Seven - 9 Years Quit
• Eight - Blog Friends & Travel

There's more to come... One to go!

* * * * *

I'm hosting a Craftsy giveaway. Follow the link below and you could win a class of your choice, up to $59.99 in value -- only 1 more day to enter. 

Enter to win a Craftsy class!

*Giveaway has ended*

You will need to either log in or create an account to enter the giveaway. Entries will be accepted through midnight CST on Thursday, March 20th -- the First Day of Spring and also my 10th Blogiversary! The winner will be chosen (using Random.org) and directly notified (via email with the free-class link) by Craftsy!

Some of the Craftsy classes I've enjoyed include Natalie Chanin's Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric: Stenciling, Appliqué, Beading and Embroidery, Angela Tong's Rigid Heddle Weaving, and Amy Herzog's Knit To Flatter. There's much to choose from!

NEW ON CRAFTSY!!
Clara Parkes' Know Your Yarn: Choose the Perfect Yarn Every Time!

I'm celebrating my 10th Blogiversary on the First Day of Spring! To mark the occasion, which totally blows my mind, I thought I'd share TEN for TEN.

EIGHT - BLOG FRIENDS & TRAVEL

One of the best things to happen in 10 years of blogging is connecting with other like-minded people. I discovered a small (& growing) group of people blogging about knitting 10 years ago. Knitting initially drew us together, of course, but as time has passed and life happened, some of those people are blogging about other things (instead of or in addition to knitting), they're occupied by caring for their families or busy at work, they aren't blogging at all, or maybe they're more often found on less time-intensive social media such as Twitter or Facebook or Instagram -- more or less (like, I'm on Twitter, but I'm hardly ever on Twitter). Some people have dropped out altogether over the years and, sadly, some have passed.

And blogging has exploded... there's a whole galaxy of blogs out there beyond the knit-blog system. There are new and interesting blogs on all kinds of subjects to discover all the time.

I've often felt that the curse of the internet is that we are able to make connections with all these people that we'd love to maybe sit down and have coffee & knit with... except that they live 1000 miles away, in another country, or over an ocean! It's only natural that there would be a desire to connect one-on-one with some of those like-minded people and I have been fortunate to do so, with knitters both near and far.

I like to think that I'd be a Quitter by now, no matter what, but I know that I'm 9 years Quit right now because of Ann & Cara. I'd never met them -- they hadn't met each other yet -- we barely even knew what each other looked like when Ann & I decided to quit smoking together in March of 2005! I think most people were still in the "shy" stages of blogging back then.

My recollection is that a few weeks in, Ann & I briefly mentioned taking a celebratory trip where we would actually meet each other -- maybe half-way, like someplace in Ohio -- and maybe after a year.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK!

Lo, my husband had an opportunity to participate in a New York show just three months after the Quit and I jumped at the chance to go along! New York 2005. It was only my second time visiting in NYC, and one of the best little get-aways ever! I met Cara, Ann, Katy, Nancy, Cassie, and others. 

We stayed at The Benjamin and I had fun making choice from the pillow menu!

We shopped for buttons and at yarn stores galore; knit at the library; ate bagels, NY pizza, and burgers in the park; had so much fun making virtual friends real.

RHINEBECK

If that wasn't enough, I found myself in NY again in the Autumn of 2005 (and 2006 & 2007) to visit Ann & Cara and go to the New York Sheep & Wool Festival, aka Rhinebeck!

Sheep & Wool Festivals merit a post of their own (coming up), but here's a teaser photo -- Peggy, Cara & Ann at The Fold's booth, Rhinebeck 2005.

YARN HARLOT IN EAU CLAIRE

In September 2006, I helped Dixie at Yellow Dog Knitting spread the word that Stephanie would be spending A Sunday in Eau Claire on a book tour stop.

It was a fun day and I met face-to-face with even more knit-blog friends from Wisconsin & Minnesota.

One of the many highlights of that day was meeting Joyce Williams again. I'd taken a class about a year and a half earlier that she'd given with Lizbeth Upitis. I just loved her spirit! I love this KNIT POWER photo of Joyce, Dixie & I wearing our knitting rings!

WISCONSIN

In December 2006, after seeing an amazing Elizabeth Zimmermann exhibit in Madison, I waxed poetic about how wonderful Wisconsin is... for knitters.

1st meet up with Angie - 2007

A few undocumented meet-ups before and since this photo - 2012

 Knitting (looks like a Parcheesi square) in Luck with Kathy - May 2010

I've met/met up with numerous knit-bloggers around the state -- Madison & surrounding area, Marshfield, Luck, and locally -- both on purpose and accidentally (Bobbi - as our daughters began college at the same school!), and of course knitting almost weekly with my local knitting groups! I've visited blog friends/campers at Knitting Camp, and at the Knit-In.

MINNEAPOLIS

March 2008. After about a year delay, I hitched a ride with Katie and finally made it to Minneapolis for a visit with Deb! I also met (for the first time or again) Kathy, Chris, Brenda, CursingMama, and Renee; visited a couple of wonderful yarn shops and, really, just had the most wonderful time.

NJ/NY - MoMA - LONG ISLAND

An exhibit at MoMA that Katie wanted to see was the spark that led to another fun trip in August 2008 with Maddy, too! We visited with Cara in NJ, Ann in NY, drove out to Montauk, and also were able to meet up with Terry & her family, Katy, and Claire.

BERKELEY

A mutual interest in both knitting and photography, not to mention some other similarities in our lives, led to a most enjoyable trip to Berkeley and the San Francisco area to visit Celia in October 2010.

Among the many highlights of that trip was dinner and a Parcheesi mash up (mine still in pieces) with Janine (pattern info here), Rachael and Lala, and more!

I was able to meet up with Celia again in November 2012 when I traveled to San Francisco to meet Rusty for a long birthday weekend.

UTAH!

In September 2011, I flew out to Salt Lake City for the Rocky Mountain Knitters' Retreat at Alta. But, of course, the real reason the opportunity to spend time with Margene (we'd previously met at Rhinebeck) and visit Silver Lake. I also met Cheryl at the retreat, and a chance meeting with Mim later!

Those are most of the highlights -- I'm sure I've missed something! I've not been spending a ton of time nor exhaustively researching any of these topics... it's all been by the seat of my pants, just the way I've always blogged! (I have learned that I could make better use of Categories in my blog posts. Heh.)

Anyway, it's  unlikely I'd have met most, if not all, of these people had I not started blogging 10 years ago, much less traveled to meet with them, knit with them, laugh and drink and take pictures and make merry with them!! The $21K I've saved by not buying cigarettes over the past 9 years has certainly helped to fund some of this travel... it's all connected. It's all pretty wonderful. And I am definitely looking forward to more.

* * * * *

Previously:

• One - Knitting
• Two - Sewing
• Three - The Kids
• Four - Family
• Five - Home
• Six - Travel
• Seven - 9 Years Quit

There's plenty more to come... Two to go!

* * * * *

I'm hosting a Craftsy giveaway. Follow the link below and you could win a class of your choice, up to $59.99 in value -- only 2 more days to enter. 

Enter to win a Craftsy class!

*Giveaway has ended*

You will need to either log in or create an account to enter the giveaway. Entries will be accepted through midnight CST on Thursday, March 20th -- the First Day of Spring and also my 10th Blogiversary! The winner will be chosen (using Random.org) and directly notified (via email with the free-class link) by Craftsy!

Some of the Craftsy classes I've enjoyed include Natalie Chanin's Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric: Stenciling, Appliqué, Beading and Embroidery, Angela Tong's Rigid Heddle Weaving, and Amy Herzog's Knit To Flatter. There's much to choose from!

If you just can't wait, there's a sale! Save up to 50% off all classes during Craftsy's Endless Creativity Sale -- sale extended through midnight (MT) TODAY.

I'm celebrating my 10th Blogiversary on the First Day of Spring! To mark the occasion, which totally blows my mind, I thought I'd share TEN for TEN.

SEVEN - I QUIT!

According to a website that's not Quitnet (I can't get them to recognize me!):

I've been smoke free for 3287 days!

That's 65,739 cigarettes NOT smoked (at least).

$21,365+ saved!

502 days lifetime saved (approx. 1 year, 4.5 months).

That's 502 days more I get to spend with this guy:

9 Weeks.

As always (well, for the past 9 years), I congratulate my fellow quitters, Ann, Claire, my sister Karen, and thank blog readers for their support and encouragement, especially Cara.

Sleepy Leprechaun wishes you a Happy St. Paddy's Day!

* * * * *

Previously

• One - Knitting
• Two - Sewing
• Three - The Kids
• Four - Family
• Five - Home
• Six - Travel

There's plenty more to come... Three to go!

* * * * *

I'm hosting a Craftsy giveaway. Follow the link below and you could win a class of your choice, up to $59.99 in value. 

Enter to win a Craftsy class!

*Giveaway has ended*

You will need to either log in or create an account to enter the giveaway. Entries will be accepted through midnight CST on Thursday, March 20th -- the First Day of Spring and also my 10th Blogiversary! The winner will be chosen (using Random.org) and directly notified (via email with the free-class link) by Craftsy!

Some of the Craftsy classes I've enjoyed include Natalie Chanin's Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric: Stenciling, Appliqué, Beading and Embroidery, Angela Tong's Rigid Heddle Weaving, and Amy Herzog's Knit To Flatter. There's much to choose from!

If you just can't wait, there's a sale! Save up to 50% off all classes during Craftsy's Endless Creativity Sale -- sale ends TODAY at midnight (MT).

I'm celebrating my 10th Blogiversary on the First Day of Spring, with the St. Patrick's Day observance of 9 years Quit (Smoking) along the way! To mark the occasion, which totally blows my mind, I thought I'd share TEN for TEN.

SIX - TRAVEL*

I've been fortunate over the past 10 years to do some traveling.

There have been lots of jaunts around Wisconsin -- "up north" to the lake, to visit my sister Karen, to explore Lake Superior; Madison area to visit my sister Ann; Door County for day-trips, and for bike rides & beer festivals; Marshfield, Milwaukee, Lake Geneva.

Into Michigan, Minnesota, and Iowa, as well as some jaunts down to Chicago.

To Las Vegas with Sharon.

To San Francisco for my birthday.

To the U.K.

And to Rio de Janeiro.

Some of those places -- especially the U.K. and Rio -- were barely in my dreams 10 years ago! You just never know where your kids are going to end up going to school or where your sister's going to move for her job! I can't wait for the next 10 years... now that I have a passport, I wouldn't mind using it some more!

* * * * *

Previously

• One - Knitting
• Two - Sewing
• Three - The Kids
• Four - Family
• Five - Home

There's plenty more to come... Four to go!

* * * * *

I'm hosting a Craftsy giveaway. Follow the link below and you could win a class of your choice, up to $59.99 in value. 

Enter to win a Craftsy class!

*Giveaway has ended*

You will need to either log in or create an account to enter the giveaway. Entries will be accepted through midnight CST on Thursday, March 20th -- the First Day of Spring and also my 10th Blogiversary! The winner will be chosen (using Random.org) and directly notified (via email with the free-class link) by Craftsy!

Some of the Craftsy classes I've enjoyed include Natalie Chanin's Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric: Stenciling, Appliqué, Beading and Embroidery, Angela Tong's Rigid Heddle Weaving, and Amy Herzog's Knit To Flatter. There's much to choose from!

If you just can't wait, there's a sale! Save up to 50% off all classes through Monday, March 17th at midnight (MT) during Craftsy's Endless Creativity Sale.

 *Non-blog-related travel -- that deserves a post (or two) alone!

I'm celebrating my 10th Blogiversary on the First Day of Spring, with the St. Patrick's Day observance of 9 years Quit (Smoking) along the way! To mark the occasion, which totally blows my mind, I thought I'd share TEN for TEN.

FIVE - HOME

Our house is almost 130 years old and we've been working on it -- maintenance, repairs, improvements -- since we bought it 27 years ago. A rebuilt retaining wall, reconfiguring a wrap-around enclosed porch into more useable space, a complete exterior paint job, a new roof, a new driveway & garage, bathroom updates, refurbished floors, a new kitchen... that was all in the first 17 years! In the 10 years I've been blogging, we've even seen updates to previous updates!

One of the first I blogged about was a re-do of our stairway and upstairs hall -- a While You Were Out gift from my family for Mother's Day 2004.

I reciprocated on Father's Day with While You Were Out II and a re-do of our bedroom!

The Pergola -- a project for Labor Day Weekend 2006 -- was finished on November 1st of that year!

There have been bathrooms. Upstairs.

Downstairs.

A big hole punched into a bedroom ceiling to reveal an attic loft. Heh.

Most recently, the French door project!

I do love my house. Our biggest achievement over the past few years has been downsizing in our own home. "Closing the door" at the top of the stairs and turning the majority of the second floor back into an apartment makes it feel more manageable, at least on the inside!

* * * * *

Previously

• One - Knitting
• Two - Sewing
• Three - The Kids
• Four - Family

There's plenty more to come... Five to go!

* * * * *

I'm hosting a Craftsy giveaway. Follow the link below and you could win a class of your choice, up to $59.99 in value. 

Enter to win a Craftsy class!

*Giveaway has ended*

You will need to either log in or create an account to enter the giveaway. Entries will be accepted through midnight CST on Thursday, March 20th -- the First Day of Spring and also my 10th Blogiversary! The winner will be chosen (using Random.org) and directly notified (via email with the free-class link) by Craftsy!

Some of the classes I've enjoyed include Natalie Chanin's Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric: Stenciling, Appliqué, Beading and Embroidery, Angela Tong's Rigid Heddle Weaving, and Amy Herzog's Knit To Flatter. There's so much to choose from!

If you just can't wait, there's a sale! Save up to 50% off all classes through March 17th at midnight (MT) during Craftsy's Endless Creativity Sale.

I'm celebrating my 10th Blogiversary on the First Day of Spring, with the St. Patrick's Day observance of 9 years Quit (Smoking) along the way! To mark the occasion, which totally blows my mind, I thought I'd share TEN for TEN.

FOUR - FAMILY

We've experienced tragedy and devastating heartbreak in 10 years, as I imagine almost any family could say.

Celebrate Michael Day came and went without much fanfare two weeks ago. I actually forgot until his wife wrote a small post on FB. It's not a day he really cares to remember or "celebrate," but I reminded him that it's a little different for the rest of us. He has a birthday in a few days!

Illness and fucking cancer have reared their heads.

Sharon -- 1960-2010

Besides my sister, my grandmother, cousins, a stepbrother, aunts, and uncles have also passed away in the last 10 years.

As heartrending as the hurdles and losses are, the never-ending circle of life continues... and there is overwhelming joy... BABIES!

Mack, Addy, Junah

Love and happiness... and goofiness.

* * * * *

Previously

• One - Knitting
• Two - Sewing
• Three - The Kids

There's plenty more to come... Six to go!

* * * * *

I'm hosting a Craftsy giveaway. Follow the link below and you could win a class of your choice, up to $59.99 in value. 

Enter to win a Craftsy class!

*Giveaway has ended*

You will need to either log in or create an account to enter the giveaway. Entries will be accepted through midnight CST on Thursday, March 20th -- the First Day of Spring and also my 10th Blogiversary! The winner will be chosen (using Random.org) and directly notified (via email with the free-class link) by Craftsy!

Some of the classes I've enjoyed include Natalie Chanin's Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric: Stenciling, Appliqué, Beading and Embroidery, Angela Tong's Rigid Heddle Weaving, and Amy Herzog's Knit To Flatter. There's so much to choose from!

If you just can't wait, there's a sale! Save up to 50% off all classes through March 17th at midnight (MT) during Craftsy's Endless Creativity Sale.

I'm celebrating my 10th Blogiversary on the First Day of Spring, with the St. Patrick's Day observance of 9 years Quit (Smoking) along the way! To mark the occasion, which totally blows my mind, I thought I'd share TEN for TEN.

THREE - THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

One of the things that freaks me out about doing this for 10 years is my kids and, well, that they were actually kids when I started blogging! They're definitely not kids anymore; in fact, one of them now has a kid of her own!

Maddy

Maddy was still in middle school when this all began! She's in college now, working on her education degree. It took a little while to find her path, but she's definitely found her footing and her enthusiasm for teaching is infectious. I'm so happy for her.

Maddy-moo's new tattoo -- "adding to the garden," she likes to say -- a big bee, and pansies for her mum!

Spring Break is next week and she's heading over the pond. First stop is London, where she'll visit friends and also attend the Country To Country Music Festival -- a lucky fluke! Not generally a huge country music fan, the line-up is incredible and we're giddy over it: Brad Paisley, Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley, Zac Brown Band, The Band Perry. Music festivals are always fun. In London? She'll hop the train to Edinburgh and spend a few days there with Katie, then they'll both head back to London before Maddy catches the plane back home. We'll see her again at the end of the month when she's here for practicum.

Ali

Ali was in her junior year at high school. She's now married, owns a coffee shop, and is a brand new mama!

Yeah! 'Nuff said!!

8 Weeks Old!

I'm already enjoying the change in our relationship now that she's a mother. I see her even more often and we do more together. And that little grandson... it's no secret how I feel about him!

Kate

In the Spring of 2004, Katie already had a semester at Humboldt State University under her belt (and the only one at that school). She returned to school in the Fall of 2004, the same one that Maddy's attending now, studied a semester abroad, and eventually earned her BA from UW-Madison. Working for a few years as a book seller while figuring out the next step, she's currently working on that in Edinburgh, earning her Master's in Art History -- enjoying every minute and sharing many of them!

We share a lot of interests -- travel, food, cooking, music -- and I'm so looking forward to exploring a few of those things again with her this May in Scotland!

I'm so proud of my girls and can't wait to see what happens next!

* * * * *

I'm hosting a Craftsy giveaway. Follow the link below and you could win the class by Natalie Chanin that I love so much, Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric: Stenciling, Appliqué, Beading and Embroidery -- or another class of your choice, up to $59.99 value!

Enter to win a Craftsy class!

*Giveaway has ended*

You will need to either log in or create an account to enter the giveaway. Entries will be accepted through midnight CST on Thursday, March 20th -- the First Day of Spring and also my 10th Blogiversary! The winner will be chosen (using Random.org) and directly notified (via email with the free-class link) by Craftsy!

* * * * *

Previously:  One - Knitting, Two - Sewing

There's plenty more to come... Seven to go!

I'm celebrating my 10th Blogiversary on the First Day of Spring, with the St. Patrick's Day observance of 9 years Quit (Smoking) along the way! To mark the occasion, which totally blows my mind, I thought I'd share TEN for TEN.

TWO - SEWING

Alabama Chanin Baby Bib
1. My first @alabamachanin project, needing all the scissors!, 2. There will be no cutting on this one, 3. I cut one!, 4. Cut.

While I've always sewn -- there's never been a time when I've not had a sewing machine -- and I've even done some sewing in the past 10 years (skirts, a bag), it's never something I've been passionate about. I've had fun over the years sewing up curtains, making a few pieces of clothing for myself, and sewing some things for the girls, but mostly "sewing" has always been more like "mending" and that's not something I've ever enjoyed. Part of the problem is that I've never had the ideal location for sewing and set-up/tear-down of the machine was always a chore.

It's funny that hand sewing has never crossed my mind. I'm a cross-stitcher from way back, working plenty of reproduction samplers on tiny-count linen, and I've even done some (a very little) hand piecing and quilting, but I never thought to join to pieces of fabric together by hand to actually make clothing.

Enter Alabama Chanin. I'm pretty sure my introduction was via Kay, as I read all of the Alabama Chanin-tagged posts at Mason-Dixon Knitting and this one, in particular. I didn't hesitate for a second when Craftsy introduced Natalie Chanin's class, Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric: Stenciling, Appliqué, Beading and Embroidery.

I purchased Natalie's class last March and watched straight through. After agonizing over which one of the three AC books to make mine, I finally bought Alabama Studio Sewing + Design in April. I had the brilliant idea to actually send the link to my Amazon Wish List to my family this year, so between birthday and Christmas, my book collection was completed!

The rest of spring and summer was busy with wedding details, and then baby prep! In my case, that meant months of non-stop baby knitting!

On the first of the year, though, things changed and in the spirit of "I begin as I mean to go on," knowing that I wanted to make it a priority this year, I began... to sew. There's a very real possibility that I suffered a little knitting burn-out as a result of all those baby projects and, as it turns out, there's been a LOT more sewing so far this year -- hand sewing -- in the knitorious Making and Doing departments.

Alabama Chanin DIY Onesie + Baby Blanket
1. Alabama Chanin Baby Blanket, 2. Stitched by me!, 3. One of these is not like the other, 4. Onesie.

The bibs were practice for the DIY Onesie + Baby Blanket. I lucked out with the fabulously printed fabric for the bibs, and the Onesie + Blanket came already stenciled. There's a lot to these projects, start to finish, and having a few steps already done was a great way to begin without feeling overwhelmed.

I'm all for Slow, but I also know a few things about myself. For instance, I know that I don't want to cut a large stencil by hand. I don't even want to cut a small one. After agonizing over the choices, I ordered the pre-cut all-over stencil for Angie's Fall during a recent promotion. I intend to use it instead of the Paisley design for the coat pattern that's part of the Craftsy class... and much more.

I made my first Alabama Chanin-style top using a favorite boatneck to cut the pattern and stenciled with Angie's Fall! I rushed in and made a couple of mistakes -- not cutting the armholes and neck as close as I should have (figured out in time to fix) -- and it was just a wee bit wonky overall. I cut a white t-shirt for the front & back, and rummaged around in Rusty's closet until I found a tan t-shirt I liked for the underlayer. An experimental piece in many ways, I only doubled up the front; the back is a single layer of fabric, left plain.

Boatneck Top in the Alabama Chanin Style
1. Cutting. New project..., 2. I'm pretty sure there was an involuntary audible gasp, 3. Basted, 4. Decisions, decisions, 5. More than a little bit thrilled, 6. The best way to spend a Wednesday morning..., 7. The sewing is done!, 8. Maddy snapped a couple, 9. Boatneck

For the stenciling, I mixed acrylic paint with fabric medium that I found in my craft cupboard, and thinned it with water to fill a small pump spray bottle. I used the dogwood-colored thread for the reverse applique stitching, leaving all of the smaller shapes and the stems unstitched. I very crudely worked a large cross-stitch for the armhole and neck binding.

I am THRILLED with the result. I love this wonky little top!

I mentioned that I found some t-shirts while thrift shopping over the weekend. Fascinated by the construction of the piece, while not at all certain it's actually going to work for me style-wise, I have begun to sew the Corset Top from the Alabama Stitch Book. After one false start -- lessons learned and a trashed t-shirt -- I'm on my way with an old Hootie & The Blowfish concert tour tee.

* * * * *

Previously:  One - Knitting

There's plenty more to come... Eight to go!

Ten on Tuesday:  10 Things I Can Do Myself But Get My Husband/Someone Else To Do Instead

Well, I'm pretty much of the mind that I can do anything, it's a question of whether I want to do a particular thing. And maybe I've been there, done that (installed a dishwasher) and see no need to do it again if there's someone else who can! Heh. I'm always sometimes happy to assist!

1.  Anything plumbing related.

2.  Ditto electrical.

3.  If I can, I'll pass on any painting projects, too.

4.  I have dug a trench for footings, helped with framing, sheathing, shingling, roofing -- I've a pretty good grasp of construction from start-to-finish -- but I have no pressing desire to do anything more now than occasionally assist in the short-term. That goes for any project needing a saw, hammer, or shovel.

5.  Cat care. Food, water, pills, puke, poop. I will feed and water if there's no one else to do it. I'd prefer not to clean up the puke, but sometimes I have to... because I sure hate when I step in it!

6.  Shovel snow. I do it when I have to (when Rusty's gone), but otherwise... No, thank you.

7.  Ditto raking leaves.

8.  And mowing the lawn. I am more likely to mow my mother's (much bigger) lawn!

9.  Cleaning gutters.

10.  Dishes.

* * * * *

TEN MORE THINGS...

Hey, guess what!??? I'll be celebrating my 10th Blogiversary on the First Day of Spring, which is why I hardly ever forget! The St. Patrick's Day observance of 9 years Quit (Smoking) will be along the way! To mark the occasion, which totally blows my mind, I thought I'd share TEN for TEN.

ONE - KNITTING

Let's start with that, since knitting is the reason I started writing this blog 10 years ago. Oh, the knitting! As of right now, there are 209 entries on my Ravelry project page. Here are 10 of my faves, in no particular order:

1.  Puerperium

I dyed this yarn as part of Project Spectrum. It was back to Basics with Lolly that year -- so much fun. And that is truly one of my favorite sweater patterns for a newborn.

2.  Garter Yoke Baby Cardi (bonus Aviatrix)

3.  Demne

I also dyed the yarn for the Garter Yoke Baby Cardi, Aviatrix, and Demne. Junah has worn both of those cardis quite a bit. The process for knitting Demne all in one piece makes it one of the most interesting things I've ever made.

 4.  Hero Quimby's Sweater & Hat

These were made for Cara's first-born! It, too, was an interesting sweater pattern to knit but it was the yarn I loved most! The divine Handmaiden Casbah and utilitarian Baby Ull made a fine match.

5.  Habu Birthday To You!

This is so perfect for Mom, and she wears it a lot!

6.  Wedding Shawls - Wisconsin Wedding for Ali, Frambuesa for me. LOVE!

 7.  Williamsro

The yarn was an early reward for the Quit, the sweater was my project for the 2006 Winter Olympics as part of the US Cable Team. Gold!

8.  Fib

A personal best in the Leftovers category. It will always be special in that the yarn was my sister's.

 9.  St. Brigid

Oh, for the love of cables and Alice Starmore! Preferring cardigans these days, I haven't worn it in a while but it'll always be special. I consider it one of my greatest knitting achievements.

10.  Parcheesi

Parcheesi is another accomplishment in the area of Leftovers & Oddballs. Folded diagonally, I wear Parcheesi as a shawl when it's chilly (almost every evening), and also spread it out on my bed most nights. If my house was on fire and I could only save one of my projects, it would be Parcheesi. Lots of love and memories knit into those stitches.

Ha, well, thanks for hanging in there -- this turned out to be a VERY long post! Tune in tomorrow to see what I come up with for #2 as the Ten-for-Ten Blogiversary party continues!!