Wyoming Breezes

The Western Region Oddball Knitters have been busy. Below are the blankets that have been finished since November on which I had the honor to knit a section. Vari-unique started June 2012 Little Frog Prince started October 2012 Garden Vegetables started June 2012 Sand Dollar started July 2012 Peter Pan started June 2012 Faerie Delight started July 2012 Around the World started September 2012

Ziggy circa 2003 Click to enlarge

Vending Machine April 2012 Today, Sheila shares some vending machine photos. Vending machine outside a plumbing shop April 2012 In the late 70s vending machines ( seen in this previous post ) were commonly seen on the side of the road. The machines sold cigarettes, beer, soft drinks, snacks, nectars, and magazines. Note: the magazines were the "adult" variety. More on Japanese vending machines on this post by Michael Weening.

Winter Storm Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started December 2012 Red Heart Sparking (White) Size 9 needles Box Stitch My white section must have prompted the 3 - 4 inches of snow that fell on Christmas Eve. The snow was too light and fluffy to contain much moisture, but it was welcome just the same. Update : March 15, 2013

Butterfly quilt #2 65 x 89 inches I am glad this project is finished and ready for the long-arm quilter. I am relieved that the outer borders are flat and wave-free. Corner detail Previous posts about this quilt can be found  here  and  here . Quilt back 

a favorite ornament from the 50s or 60s  my mother hung tinsel strand by strand on the Christmas tree Wishing you a Joyous Christmas and a  Happy and Peaceful New Year

Fruit Smoothie Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started September 2012 Since the knitter of the lavender section only added three inches (four inches are required), I knit five inches to compensate for the shortage. Caron Simply Soft (Grape) Size 6 needles Checks and Ridges stitch Update : March 23, 2013

Coloring Contestants: Kristi, NancyKay, Chan, Sheri, Tea Mouse, Kathy, Bev Grand prize : Kristi First prize : NancyKay Kristi and NancyKay will have first choice on the prize offerings; however, each of the contestants in the contest will receive a prize for participating. Please contact me with your mailing address. Thank you all for picking up some crayons or markers and for becoming a child again.

Holiday Decorations Lapeyre Restaurant Riverton, WY December 2012 Isn't this a great way to decorate a large wall and to add some holiday cheer?

Today is the  LAST  day to enter the  coloring contest . Entries are due before midnight. Complete "rules" can be found  here . Chan , aka SissySees She wrote, "The Knight helped. Colored with Sharpies and dry-erase markers." Don't you love the clothes pin?  How about that beautiful cowl?

Today is the LAST day to enter the  coloring contest . Entries are due before midnight. Complete "rules" can be found  here . Kristi She wrote, "Thanks for such a fun idea. I had a lot of fun coloring, making paper snowflakes, and framing the picture."

Shinto Shrine Southern Japan Spring 1980

December 1958 Second-grade Christmas party Mrs. Blair's classroom My mother took this photo of my second-grade Christmas party. I'm the one wearing the white top directly in front of the teacher. I think the four students around the teacher are helping to distribute gifts. I remember playing Heads Up, Seven Up during elementary classroom parties. (Do you remember playing that game?) At Christmas, we also sang carols, had special treats, and exchanged an inexpensive gift with the person whose name we had drawn earlier. From first to sixth grades, we made special Christmas gifts for our parents. Some gifts I remember making and giving - a bread board in the shape of a pig, and a wooden serving tray with rope handles (the varnish was still tacky when I took it home), a plate with a specially painted edge, and a plaster plate with my hand-print. Mrs. Blair's classroom was in the two-story, brick building built in 1940 or 1941 and directly to south of the high schoo...

Chan posted recently about decorating gingerbread houses at a Junior League event. I have always wanted to try it, so when I saw a kit at a local grocery store, I slipped it into my cart. I was pleased that the kit included a building tray, the house parts, icing, and candies. The box also had great instructions and a website address for a video demonstration . How could I go wrong? The building tray was a great feature: it had 1/2 inch channels for the house to set inside and those channels give the cookie pieces some stability. I wish the kit had another bag of icing because I ran out and didn't have enough to trim the side windows, the chimney, the back of the house, and the second gingerbread man - I ate him instead. It would have also been nice to have a smaller tip to add the finer details on the tree, the gingerbread man, and the door. The icing bag was great for the larger areas, but clunky for the finer details. For example, my gingerbread man's smile looks ...

Fremont County Fiber Guild Co-president, Bea R. and Lucy O. are intrigued with Jamie D.'s new knitting needles Jamie recently commissioned a man to make these special knitting needles for her. She intends to knit wool roving into rugs with the giant, wooden needles, and I hope to get a photo of her knitting with them at the guild Spin-in early in January. Jamie is also in my Tuesday night knitting group. She knits clever baby hats and fun projects that she designs.

Looks like everyone is having fun preparing for the  coloring contest Sheri (no blog) "Rebel Follower" She wrote, "Here is my entry. Choose me!!" It's not too late to enter the contest. Entries are due before midnight, December 21st. Complete "rules" can be found  here .

Looks like there has been a run on crayon sales, as more  coloring contest  entries are arriving: Tea Mouse She wrote, "Thanks for the contest. It bring out the kid in me. This reminded me of Christmas as a child. My Mom would draw a large Christmas scene, and we would help her colour it. My mom always colored with us. It was especially fun at Christmas as we sat with our Christmas coloring books and 64 box of crayons, tree twinkling, and carols playing. Thanks for the memories! I reduced the size on my work copier, colored it with my newly purchased 60 box of pencil crayons, cut around it close, then glued it to some red construction paper and trimmed it. This is on my fridge when I get home!" It's not too late to enter the contest. Entries are due before midnight, December 21st. Complete "rules" can be found  here .

Looks like it is "game on," as more  coloring contest  entries are arriving: Bev She wrote, "Hi Nancy. I was catching up on my 'reading' and saw your contest. I have so much to do. We are having our family Christmas early. I thought I just don't have time.  Well, I thought again and thought heh I can do this before I go to bed. I was trying to take a picture with my camera and the timer. Brian was wondering what all the clicking was and got out of bed and took the picture. Anyways, I got my "colouring' done. Hopefully, I can go to sleep now. So here is the little snow man with googly eyes wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!" It's not too late to enter the contest. Entries are due before midnight, December 21st. Complete "rules" can be found  here .

No doubt, you have inner voice that has cajoled and pleaded with you from time to time. Lately, my inner voice has been working overtime. Even though the little voice was persistent, I didn't listen when it whispered at my ear, urging me to steer clear of a quilting project. You may remember this quilt  I made for a friend from vintage, butterfly blocks constructed of muslin and cotton. That quilt was fun to assemble because the blocks were well made. Knowing that the poly-blend blocks would test my patience, I returned them to my friend a couple of months ago, secretly hoping I would not see them again. Yet, in a weak moment, I agreed to turn them into a quilt, and my little voice was not happy. As I took the pile of poly-blend butterfly blocks and a bag of fabric for the second quilt from my friend, my inner voice echoed through my head, but it was too late - I was committed. My little voice grumbled and grumbled and then began to laugh as I attempted to wo...