A very belated post about my Spring Thing project

~~~Sew, Mama, Sew May Giveaway is here.~~~

I cannot believe that no one has posted about their Spring Thing yet! It's already been well over a month since the meeting where we shared our fun creations with each other and it's high time to share with everyone else!

If you remember, our challenge was to make something for ourselves, since we're always making for others it's nice to have something to call our own once in awhile! I knew exactly what I wanted and am fairly happy with the way it turned out. My Spring Thing was a pretty quilted table runner.

I used some gorgeous fabric with birds, wood pattern, birdhouses, and trees in soft natural colors. What I am most proud of is the binding. I made it myself and even hand stitched the backside, it turned out beautifully and I am no longer scared to make it! Yay me! {the composition book cover was an after thought just to use up some strips left over from my runner, i love it!}

Usually we bring a bag lunch to our Knotty meetings but for this special day we had a potluck buffet. Bea (mom) made delicious tortilla roll-ups; one filled with cream cheese and crab, and one with cream cheese and ham. Aimee brought yummy crab cakes to share. I tried my hand at making three different quiches, and a big bowl of fruit salad. the quiches turned out okay, I think next time they really need to be served warm.

After everyone left Amanda, Mom, and I had fun trying to get a decent picture... this is the best one... notice our lovely "I am so DONE with this" expressions, lol, Love you girls!

Now ladies, let me see your Spring Thing Posts too!

Highlights from March Knotty meeting

That's Amanda's crocheted Camo blanket!

The Knotty Christmas Party

Well the holidays are over but not forgotten! Our first Knotty Christmas turned out to be just what we needed to unwind right before the Christmas festivities! Our hostess Edith's home was merry with Christmas decorations and cheer as we enjoyed each other's company. For the month or so before the party everyone had been fervently working on their Secret Santa Gift. With little hints and gentle inquiries, everyone was getting very excited to see who had made them what!

We piled our gifts under Edith's beautiful tree. Then tortured ourselves by crocheting, knitting, and chatting for an hour! We also enjoyed a delicious luncheon of a deli tray, croissants that Leann shared, cookies and homemade pie that Edith shared, and hot coffee, tea and peppermint hot chocolate that was so good. After that we were finally ready to share our gifts with each other!

At our Thanksgiving meeting we had written our names on slips of paper and everyone had drawn one out of a basket. That is who we made a gift for.

First up to open her gift was Bea. She received a really darling bib style apron from Edith. In the pocket she also found a matching pot holder and a poem about the history of aprons. I will have to remember to ask Bea to post the poem, it is truly heartwarming. I think she loved her gift because she wore it the entire meeting, lol!

Next Up Leann opened her gift. It was a gorgeous knitted scarf. Leann guessed it was from either Edith or Aimee since they are the only two who knit. Aimee had knitted the scarf in a pretty pastel variegated yarn. It is a nice width and has such a pretty delicate look to it that I'm sure Leann will find many uses for it!

The gift with Amanda's name was the biggest one, we were all itching to know what was inside! Amanda had a tough time getting the box open (tape!) What an adorable pillow! Bea used cute kitten fabric to make this super cute bolster pillow for this kitty lover! The pretty red ruffle and checkered trim made it really pop. She was in love :)

Finally! It was my turn! Right off the bat I knew I'd like whatever it was because my gift was wrapped with a rooster kitchen towel. What was inside was even better though! Leann had crocheted me a set of simply sweet and crazy cute kitchen accessories! She had made a pretty doily, a big chickie potholder, and a peepin' cute tea cozy, which I promptly decided could also be worn as a hat :) Love them!

Now it was Aimee's turn, eek I was nervous! She liked it! So it was safe to tell her that I had made her the sturdy green project bag. The front has a filet crochet monogram with an accent four leaf clover. The special touch though was the surprise inside - pretty sparkly purple and black cat material! Aimee is a kitty lover too, she started using the bag that day :)

Poor Aunt Edith had to wait until the very last, we should have let her go first since it was her home! What were we thinking? Aunt Edith was delighted with her gifts from Amanda. She had made Edith a pretty pastel and flowery mini bag that's perfect to take along small projects. Edith also loved the crochet shell stitch trivets, they match her victorian / cottage style home just so.

Our Christmas party was such a fun time. it was so wonderful to see what everyone had come up with for their friend, and nice to laugh, giggle, and be silly with each other. I truly hope that we carry this tradition  on and do a similar gift exchange next year! Get those thinking caps on ladies! 

In other news, we all decided to continue with making more baby items for the local hospital. Honestly baby things are one of my favorite things to crochet, they are quick, simple and you can be creative about the styles and trims used to spruce them up. Plus I just love imagining all those sweet little ones being bundled in our creations! Remember ladies if you find, or know of, any patterns you would like to share or add to our pattern list we'd all love some ideas! I'd love to see a few posts with pictures any of you had taken from the party too!