I'm sew excited!

Hi all, not a whole lot new on the sewing front here, but I think that's gonna change. Every year there is a large shop hop in Amish country that I participate in.  Its a lot of fun, but some of the shops are a little far flung, and I usually have to work most evenings, so I rarely ever get to them all. Well, when I was visiting the shops this past fall, I found a flyer for this...

Quilts and food. Two of my favorite things together? How could I pass this one up!  Its this Saturday, and I have the day off!  I am so excited I am about to burst :cD  I'm not exactly sure what to expect at each of the stores, but I'm pretty sure there is a pattern and recipe you receive from each shop, a quilt show and food sampling afterwards and prizes.  And on top of that the shops are relatively close so I know I can get to them all. Yippee!!!  I'll be sure to do a show and tell about my weekend ;cD

My poor sewing machine is probably feeling a bit neglected of late, but my knitting needles are getting quite a workout.  I just can't seem to put them down! I did some more practicing, and even tried a knitted cable (which came out pretty well for a first attempt, but the picture I tried to take doesn't show up too well). I did find a very simple pattern for something cute I'm trying to make, so when it comes together, I'll share a picture of that too.  I do, however, have another picture to share.  I had someone ask me how big my pin toppers are, so I tried to get a decent picture to show their relative size.

Some are a little bigger, some are a little smaller, but these are about average size toppers. 

Finally, on the home front, I am going through one of those stretches where you find yourself asking "why?"....a lot. Things have been stressful, and I feel like my options are so limited sometimes.  I have very little family in the area, work is never ending (be it in the home or outside the home) and responsibilites can feel overwhelming.  I feel like I follow down a path to realize I should have taken a right when I took a left, then have to backtrack.  Ever have those days?  I am trying to keep a positive attitude because I know full well life always has a way of evening its self out.  I am a firm believer that when something bad or stressful happens, something good is around the corner to balance it all out. I know you don't go through trials for no reason, everything you experience is to help you learn and grow.  But, boy sometimes getting through those experiences....  I know I will emerge from this sronger and smarter, and that is what keeps me going. I did make it outside for a walk today to help relieve some stress, now I think I may spend some time with my sewing machine to help too.  Come on, who can say playing with fabric doesn't help them feel better ;cD

Well, I'm off again, I hope wherever you are the sun is shining, your sewing machine is humming, and things are happy.  Warmest country wishes!!