Well, the good news is:

The daffodils are blooming.

And:

I got past the killer “chart C”.

And then I promptly got stuck on Chart D.

My pitiful brain seems not to be able to focus on exactly how many k1 y/o ssk’s I’ve just done, or was it a y/o k1 k2tog?  Sigh…  So, this time when the Pretty as a Peacock shawl goes back into the WIP pile – it will be one chart larger than it was the last time it got thrown there.  I may try taking that row out again one more time and see if I can land the triple lutz.  Maybe.

So, yeah, my Olympic progress was kind of pitiful, but I learned some things and that’s never bad.

Meanwhile, back at the sewing machine – I’ve been accomplishing similar feats of disaster – and had a few successes as well.  I will leave the disaster stories untold for now and share a couple of successes here.

We have a special occasion coming up, and I wanted the grandkids to have a little something special to wear.  Since they live too far away for me to measure and fit them, I decided on accessories.

This first little handbag was made from a pattern I found online. And – even better – it’s free! I love “free” when it’s definition is not “cheezy.”  It was designed by the sister of one of my favorite knitters.

I made mine from a silk twill for the outside, and a silk dupioni for the inside.   (Both fabrics were in my stash – and had been there for maybe five years – the original project they’d been bought for long since forgotten.)  My only modification is that I added a pocket to the inside lining.

I decided to leave the buttercup bag tailored looking, rather than embellish it, because I think it looks a little more sophisticated that way, and this one was for the big sister part of my two beautiful granddaughters.

Next up – this little thing took quite a bit more time – but came out kind of adorable, I’m thinking.  This one’s for little sister, and is more a piece of “fluff” than anything useful.  Just thought it would be sweet for a little girl to have a cute little thing like this on her arm.

It is included in the pattern “Hannah” a Petite Poche pattern by Wendy Schoen Design.  (I’ve mentioned before how much I love Wendy’s stuff.  Here’s her web site: WendySchoen.com.)

Techniques used on this bag were  fused applique (pattern calls for regular applique and hand stitching – but i used the machine for the embroidery stitches as well as the applique).  The cording around the pocketbook that is also used for the handle, calls for perle cotton that you spin and ply back upon itself – but I used Caron Watercolours – also from my stash – which has a similar feel to Perle cotton.  I hand-tacked it around all edges and then stitched the handle down also by hand.  (Couldn’t get completely away from handwork I guess.)  The flower is made from seam tape that you run a running stitch (basting stitch) thru and then ruffle it up and tack it down to the purse.  So cute!  I didn’t have a lot of selection in my seam tape stash, but I think this coral color with off white center worked pretty well with the lilac.

Last but certainly not least – we have the two year old baby brother.  I’m sure he’d probably have been fine with his very own PURSE – but I decided to make him a matching wallet from some of the scrap material.  This pattern I just made up as I went along.  It’s basically just a bunch of rectangles stitched together.  I used a business card to come up with a size – so those little pockets in the front will hold a business card.  I didn’t try putting money in it – he’s two after all! – but I think a bill would fit in there if one of his other grandmas happen to spot him some folding money.