the blue blog archives: a couple of mavericks

I thought I was going to go to Rhinebeck. For real. Hubby had been making plans for how to entertain the kiddos for the day and a half I would be gone. It was all set. Then Rhinebeck snuck up on me. Suddenly it was "this coming Saturday" and I was in the middle of sewing Halloween costumes and fall outfits for wee one. Out of nowhere this image popped into my head: the possibility of spending my free weekend at home, sewing. My knitting and sewing buddy, Rhinebeck ride, and now fellow maverick, Johanna, had the exact same idea. So we did it. Our husbands took the kids out and away and we sewed and sewed and sewed and ate and sewed and sewed some more. It was awesome! I felt like a kid again, with no place to be and no responsibilities. I felt like Ron Livingston in Office Space when he decides not to care about work anymore. I felt like the maverick John McCain imagines himself to be. I'm not saying that having a family, being a knitter, or going to Rhinebeck are burdens I needed to be liberated from. It's just that it was so ridiculously fun to throw all my plans aside and do something totally different.

I finished the quilt top of my 2007 block of the month quilt. Twelve blocks, sashing and a pretty, pretty Kaffe Fassett border.

And I pieced together the big blocks for the sock monkey quilt. Wee one can tell that it'll be all hers once I get the border and backing fabric. For now, she'll have to be content with her new ruffly corduroy pants.

These are from another Pink Fig pattern, the Bella Pants. They were so fun to make and I totally adore them! Wee one likes to shuffle around in them, watching the ruffles flop around and listening to them swish up against each other.

So I may have been a maverick this weekend, but I'm not switching parties just yet. I missed all of you whom I usually see at Rhinebeck! I've shown you what I did this weekend. Now you tell me a little about what you did and what I missed!

posted by alison at 1:45 pm | in 5 little monkeys jumping on the bed , it's the bom! , sew pretty

Comments

I was at Rhinebeck for the first time this year. I'm not very good with crowds, so while it was fun it was also really tiring. I loved seeing what people had made and all of the interesting spindles and wheels that I don't have the skill to justify.

Posted by: Seanna Lea at October 20, 2008 3:54 PM

Sounds like fun!! Me--I missed Rhinebeck again--but I will see my pals tonight and drool over their new acquisitions. I figured out how to post a video of my Mom knitting!! See my blog for that :)

Posted by: cath at October 20, 2008 4:21 PM

She looks so much like her brothers! I love those pants =)

Posted by: Helen at October 20, 2008 4:21 PM

I was wondering why I didn't you and Johanna this weekend! Looks like you guys were very productive, though.

I'll post about Rhinebeck as soon as I get up the energy to sort through 106 photos... Oy.

Posted by: Alexis at October 20, 2008 4:23 PM

Your twelve block quilt looks beautiful and the KF fabric really makes the colors come together too. The sock monkey quilt is so cute. Your daughter is growing up so fast and is just so cute. She is obviously a true girl, loving all her frilly clothes. My daughter is the same.

Posted by: sue at October 20, 2008 4:36 PM

Seanna Lea, it really is fun seeing all the amazing knits people are wearing at the fairgrounds. Glad you had a good time on your first visit! :)

It's so silly Alexis (since we see each other every Sunday at Knitsmiths!) but we missed seeing you at Rhinebeck too! Bring some of your goodies next Sunday so we can see them, okay?!

Posted by: ALISON at October 20, 2008 4:59 PM

I've been thinking that I could use a throw-the-plan-out-the-window-and-have-fun weekend, too: you inspire me! Your work is amazing!

Posted by: ruth at October 20, 2008 5:40 PM

I love the monkey quilt! Hadn't caught that one in a previous post, it's adorable. Costumes looking good too - we're creating a tiger and a zombie bride over here, and it's coming along.

Missed Rhinebeck as well, but since it was due to the surgery, not so much a luxurious miss. Figured the walking around and hours in the car might do me a mischief - next year, though. I so want to check it out! In the meantime, maybe I'll keep working down the stash and deserve a little something?

Posted by: thea at October 20, 2008 6:18 PM

I don't live near Rhinebeck and as much as I'd like the chance to go- I totally understand your parallel indulgence. On Sunday I was feeling poorly and spent almost the whole day in bed, drinking tea and reading. Simple pleasures.

Posted by: Angie at October 20, 2008 9:40 PM

Those pants are the cutest!
Rhinebeck was a lot of fun- it was really great this year because it was actually cold enough for sweaters!! And the Rav party was top notch. Sounds like your sewing weekend was a blast!

Posted by: lindsey at October 21, 2008 8:21 AM

Ooh, lovely quilts. Have you seen the jersey/or percale pink sock monkey sheets in the Company Kids catalogue? (Or was it Garnet Hill?) I'm so tempted to get them and "sock" them away in my someday grandmother's hope chest.

Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport at October 21, 2008 8:42 AM

Wow! You got alot of work done. It's a MIRACLE! You must feel like the messiah that Barack Obama imagines he is. ;)
I love the bella pants! However, I don't think you can do better for the boys than the Thing I and Thing II costumes. I still tell people about those.

Posted by: Holly at October 22, 2008 10:37 AM

Good one, Holly! :0D

Posted by: ALISON at October 22, 2008 1:48 PM

Those ruffley pants are TOO cute.

I love both of your gorgeous quilts!
You have a really amazing eye!

Posted by: Miz Booshay at October 22, 2008 11:10 PM