Welcome to 2022

I want to start off the new year with a review of what I did in 2021. 

I quilted a total of 76 charity quilts in 2021. That exceeded my personal goal of 52 in a calendar year. This scrappy quilt is just one.

I made so many pairs of socks. These are likely my favorite because I made them using leftovers of Thick Sock from Knitterly Things. And, they are for me. Now that winter has arrived in the northern hemisphere I get to wear my wool socks every day and that's just wonderful!

I bought so much yarn! I need to go on a fiber diet! 

I made more masks. I'm sure I'll end up making more this year, too. 

I made 100 quilt blocks along with hundreds of other quilters. It was my introduction to Gnome Angel and the Kinship: 100 Block Fusion Sampler. 

I knit and crocheted a stack of hats for Knots of Love. 

I used my embroidery machine to make vaccine card holders for my friends. The (no longer available) design is from Off With Their Threads. 

I bought a pair of roller skates and got rolling. I hadn't been on skates in several decades so safety gear was a must. Wear your safety gear!

Then I bought another pair. I now have more skates than I need but I have so many options! Do something new this year! Learn to roller skate, learn to skateboard, get back on your bike. Get out and move!

The absolute best part was upgrading from the (Tin Lizzie) Empress long arm quilting machine on a 10-foot frame to this Innova, with Autopilot, on a 11-foot frame. Quilting with this machine a real dream. I'm glad I found a great deal on it second-hand. 

Have you looked back on 2021 to see what you've accomplished and overcome? It wasn't all bad, I promise. I hope you stick around this year to see what other things I make. 

Safety is Sexy

 

When I decided to start skating I knew I had to buy safety gear. I'm not a young person, I've broken many bones over my lifetime, and don't fancy doing it again. I bought this helmet because it was easily accessible during the pandemic (Amazon). But, geez, is it boring. 

I have a handful of stickers from different designers and hobbies. It was time to put them to use. 

This is the most important one. I cannot tell you how much fun it IS NOT to hit your noggin' on the pavement. Safety is important and sexy. 

I'm going to need some more stickers. So much real estate waiting for sticker flair. 

Get out there, get moving. Wear your safety gear and skate like you don't care who sees you fall down. If you fall down, just do what Steve Rogers would do: get back up. 

Rainbow Femme roller skate and Safety is Sexy stickers by Cheers to the Queers

Tentacle kitten sticker by Motley Thread

Sew Sassy stickers by Hunter's Design Studio

Moxi roller skate sticker by Moxi Skates (included with my Moxi Juicy Wheels)

Skate accessories I bought to support this crazy new hobby (affiliate links):
Zeato All-in-One Skate Tool
Triple Eight Saver Series Pad Set
Triple Eight The Certified Helmet

Derby Laces

Yellow Jacket Skate Bearings

Get Rolling

I want to share the many things I've been doing. However, it seems I haven't been doing many things. I did get some roller skating in last week. I bought these great wheels from Roller Skate Nation. Let me tell you, they are fast!

Don't forget your safety gear!

Skate accessories I bought to support this crazy new hobby (affiliate links):
Zeato All-in-One Skate Tool
Triple Eight Saver Series Pad Set
Triple Eight The Certified Helmet

Derby Laces

Yellow Jacket Skate Bearings

Luminous Wheels

This week this smashed box showed up on my doorstep. 

Inside, and unharmed, were these wheels, new bearings, and laces for my skates. Because skating is all about the accessories. I bought these from Roller Skate Nation. I don't blame them for the smashed box. I'm sure the box didn't look like that when it left them. 

Here are my skates before the change. I was using the dirty Moxi wheels from my Beach Bunnies on my Moonlight Rollers. 

Here is the after. That's right, I decided to get Luminous wheels. Because I wanted light up wheels. I'm pretty happy with this set up. This is how I roll. 

Skating Sugar Skulls

Last week my new skates showed up, these are Sapphire from Moonlight Rollers. I hadn't seen a comparable blue in other skates and these spoke to me. I'm super happy I decided to give them a try. These are at a higher price-point than my Moxi Beach Bunnies but less than a pair of Moxi Lollies. Unlike my Beach Bunnies these didn't come with toe caps. That got my crafty mind churning.

I used the Moxi toe cap to create a template and cut out some marine vinyl I had on hand. There are loads of tutorials on how to make your own toe caps out there on. Look around and try to find a style you like. Some are sewn, some are put together with rivets, and others are crocheted. So many options!

Then I hooped some stabilizer and took the frame to the embroidery machine.

There is a risk when cutting before embroidery but it seemed the best way. The Sugar Skull key fob design is from Designs by Little Bee. 

Then I stitched up the sides and closed the loop for the laces at the top. Time for the moment of truth. 

And there you have it! I may play with the pattern a little more to fine tune it but they fit, look cool, and should keep from scuffing the toes of my skates. 

I may use a smaller embroidery design in the future. Overall this was a great holiday project. 

Machine embroidery design: Sugar Skull key fob from Designs by Little Bee

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
Magna-Glide bobbins (absolutely the best for my embroidery machine)
Pellon Stitch-N-Tear, 20" by 30 yd, White

Fiskars curved craft scissors

Nothing New

I wish I had something exciting to share. I do not. Every day the weather is above 45F degrees and sunny I go outside and roll around for at least 30 minutes. Yesterday it was over 50 degrees. The secret to getting up and moving is getting up and moving. Yesterday my socks (yes, I made them) matched my skates. Well, these socks match many things, I'm sure. 

The weekend is nearly here. I'm sure I'll accomplish something productive over the long weekend. 

Skate accessories I bought to support this crazy new hobby (affiliate links):

Zeato All-in-One Skate Tool
Triple Eight Saver Series Pad Set
Triple Eight The Certified Helmet

Practice, practice, practice

When there is sunshine, and the temperature isn't too cold, or the wind isn't blowing, I try to go outside and practice on my skates. Afternoon sunshine is perfect for this. I still love the skate leash I made. 

I'm not great skater by any means. I'm still falling over (occasionally) and learning more every time I practice. Little steps. 

Skate accessories I bought to support this crazy new hobby (affiliate links):
Zeato All-in-One Skate Tool
Triple Eight Saver Series Pad Set
Triple Eight The Certified Helmet

 

Skate Leash

I needed some nylon web to make a leash for my skates. I did a little poking around and didn't find a great tutorial but I did find enough to figure out what I needed. 

Step one is to bring your skates to the project so you can make sure you know how long the webbing needs to be cut.

This is a really simple sew. You just need a loop on each end that will fit over the webbing. 

I couldn't leave them plain so I grabbed this fun print from my collection and stitched it down. 

Slip each of those loops over the front of each skate and you're ready to go!

Over the neck.

Or over one shoulder. Now I can hang them up on the coat hook in the hall.  

Skate accessories I bought to support this crazy new hobby (affiliate links):
Zeato All-in-One Skate Tool
Triple Eight Saver Series Pad Set
Triple Eight The Certified Helmet

Strapworks Colored Flat Nylon Webbing

Skating!

I put the toe guards on my skates, laced them up, and went outside. 

I did fall. I did not break anything. I'm still excited about skating. I'm sad I didn't make this jump earlier in the year. As the weather is changing I am unlikely to want to go out into the cold and skate. I may have start looking for a roller rink. 

Skate accessories I bought to support this crazy new hobby (affiliate links):
Zeato All-in-One Skate Tool
Triple Eight Saver Series Pad Set
Triple Eight The Certified Helmet

More than a Little Crazy

I saw a couple videos about the newest skates from Moxi, the Rainbow Riders. Those were sold out in most sizes the first day and by the time I got making the decision everything in my size was gone.

 

I searched high and low until I found a seller that had Moxi roller skates in stock, in my size.

It was no easy feat. When I looked the next day they had nothing in my size. 

My knee pads are here, my helmet is not. I may need some nicer weather, too. It rained all day. 

I'm more excited than I should be. Like a kid at Christmas.