AAN Chandelier · Crochet · cross stitch · Hand Dyed Fabrics · knitted scarves · Sampler · vacation

Getting Caught Up

Hello friends!  It’s been a little bit.  So much has happened in the last 2 months.  I can’t even seem to recall it all at this minute, so I will write about my stitchy stuff 🙂  First, I am now caught up with the Chandelier SAL from AA Needleworks.

WIN_20171029_131448

I am stitching this one 16ct Aida Winter Solstice from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.  While the holographic thread doesn’t show up well on the fabric, I decided to go ahead and stitch with it, hoping that it will give some added shimmer to the beads.  I believe that the last section is to be released on November 1, 2017, but not much has been posted in the group.  I am also supposed to be receiving a bead pack from the designer, but haven’t received that either.  I guess there are only 7 people that signed up for this one, but it really hasn’t been covered or updated well in the facebook group.  I LOVE chandeliers, so I knew I just had to do this one.

Next up is the Mystery Sampler from Linen and Threads.  I finished the October section yesterday.

img_2063-2.jpg

I am stitching this one 16ct Aida Castleview from Silkweaver.  I am using Sullivan threads “London Fog” and DMC 3888.  This is an amazing sampler.  I have loved every stitch of this one.  You can still get in on this one, for FREE!  All 11 sections (November was released a couple of days ago) are on the Linen and Threads website.  And I hear the designer is working on one for 2018!!!  And it will also be FREE!  How generous and awesome is that?

Remember the Temperature blanket I was working on?  Well, I have abandoned that project.  It seems I still don’t have the hang of ending and beginning my rows without a pattern.  So rather than tear it all out, I ended it and will figure out something to do with it.  I really didn’t like the colors anyway, so no sweat on ditching that one.  I have started “The Spicier Life Blanket” from Sandra at Cherry Heart Blog.  I have the first section done.

IMG_2066 (2)

I’m not sure I like the bottom colors, but hoping it will look better as a whole.  Sections 2, 3 and 4 have been released, but I haven’t been confident enough to pick it back up as of yet.  I hear there are some difficult rows in those sections and I don’t want to get frustrated right now.

I have also worked on the cowl I started with the Lion Brand “Shawl in a Ball.  It is getting quite long.

WIN_20171029_131816

This project has been deemed my “travel project”.  So I pretty much have only worked on it in the car.  I am nearing the end of the skein, so I may pick it up a bit more to get it finished.  It has knitted up soft and I just love the colors.  I can’t wait to finish it so I can wear it this winter, which is coming soon I hear.  But, fall is still here and I will leave you with a couple of photos I took last week while hubby and I visited Northern Michigan to see the beautiful colors.  The first day we were there was beautiful and sunny.  After we had driven through the tunnel of trees for about 1/2 hour, it started raining.  I didn’t get as many nice pictures as I had wanted.  Instead, I chose to breathe in the beauty not behind the camera.  And it was hard to get good pictures through the windshield of the car anyway.

IMG_2018 (2)

IMG_2003 (2)

This was the view from our hotel room.  I wish it had been a sunny day, as the view of the bay was beautiful the day before.  But here you can see the beautiful colors of the changing trees.

IMG_2055 (2)

So what have you been up to lately?

 

20 thoughts on “Getting Caught Up

  1. You have been busy! That chandelier is going to be lovely when finished. And a bit of shimmer to a chandelier sounds very appropriate!
    I was thinking about doing something ‘temperature’ based this year when it was all talked about at the beginning of the year. But I don’t have the time to think about that sort of a project. And I see no point in continuing with a project if you aren’t enjoying it, whatever the reason!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Catherine. I have been busy and am happy to have caught up with 2 projects. Hopefully I will have at least 2 more finishes by the end of the year. I was not that happy with the way the temperature blanket looked with all the random stripes. I am not missing it all 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. You will love stitching on the sampler when you get to it. It is such a relaxing stitch. I can’t wait to see the last section of this one and get started on the new one for next year. I look forward to seeing your fabric and thread choices when you get this one started 🙂

      Like

  2. All of your projects are beautiful. Bet you will get a lot of use from the beautiful cowl-many, many talents you have! Really pretty trees in your photos~

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Marsha. I can’t wait to get the cowl done. It will be my first cowl. It is a super simple pattern, but I really wanted to try the yarn out. I loved seeing all the beautiful colors up north. We don’t get anything here that compares.

      Like

  3. Your chandelier piece is going to be a real beauty when it’s finished.
    The mystery sampler is amazing. It puts me in mind of castles tapestries.
    I like temperature blankets, but I’m not patient enough to make one.
    Your Spicier Life blanket is looking pretty.
    Great cowl. It’s going to be warm and snuggly when you get it finished.
    Gorgeous photos. You captured the firey rainbow of autumn colors wonderfully.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much, E.C. I can’t wait to get the final section of the chandelier and see what beads I will be getting. I have some ideas of my own for sparklies to hang on the chandelier, but I want to see what I will get in the embellishment pack. The Sampler is amazing. It is my first sampler and I am loving every bit of it. I am sure I will be stitching the new one in 2018 also. The temperature blanket I was doing was not pretty. Maybe if I had done a different pattern and changed the color legend. Maybe I will try again in the future. The autumn colors were so gorgeous up north. I am so glad we went when we did as according to the news, most of the colors are gone where we went. Now we have winter to look forward to, Yuk.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. The chandelier looks like it’s going to be awesome, and the mystery sampler just gets more gorgeous with every update.
    Good luck with your knitting and crochet projects – they seem to be coming along well.
    Love the fall pictures!

    Like

    1. Thank you, Anita. I can’t wait to finish the last section of the chandelier and add lots of sparklies! The Sampler is so awesome. I plan to start the November section tomorrow and then all that is left is the December section. The fall colors up north were so gorgeous! I still think about them and so glad to have gone there when we did.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. The Chandelier is pretty.
    Love your fabric choice for the L&T Mystery.
    Very pretty cowl too.
    I am finishing up a Halloween piece, and crocheting a Packer afghan for my nephew.
    Marilyn

    Like

    1. Thank you, Marilyn. I am so happy to be caught up with both SAL’s and am looking forward to finishing them both. I am already thinking about fabric and threads for the 2018 Sampler. Every time I see someone’s sampler on the Facebook group, I have more color combinations to think about. I still have time 😉 Sounds like you are busy with your stitchings, too. Happy Stitching 🙂

      Like

  6. Hello again, I am glad you got time to post. Lovely stitching going on, as usual. I still love the sampler, it is a favourite of mine, thats for sure.
    I think I like the new blanket, 🙂 it has an interesting looking pattern going for it.
    Great cowl knitting, it looks so soft.
    🙂 Thank You for sharing all the Fall pictures. I love the colours so much. It is so beautiful out there.
    Enjoy the week, stay warm if your part of the world if Fall is setting in and cooling down. Nice and hot here, after a chilly weekend. Spring is moving towards Summer down here now. 🙂
    Take care and happy stitching.

    Like

    1. Thank you, Joey. The new blanket has a lot of different stitches, every couple of rows. I enjoyed crocheting the Spice of Life blanket and so far am enjoying the Spicier Life blanket. I am sure I will pick it up again soon.
      The trees are getting bare here. With all the rain, the leaves have been falling fast. This morning, when I went to get coffee, snow flurries were flying! I am dreading winter. I want to head to your neck of the woods with Spring and Summer coming. Enjoy what is left of your Spring and have a wonderful Summer.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. The blankets are lovely. I like the idea of so many different stitches. It is a great way to use ones knowledge of stitches, and learn new ones as well.
        Snow flurries already? But then, it is November. I think when, like me, you dont see snow for years on end, it is a novelty and you like it a lot. Although I think having it each winter may become to much.
        Seasons here are very moderate and mild, without huge differences in temps.
        🙂 so funny, I want to visit snowy places, and you want to visit warmer places. We should swap.
        I think you will enjoy Spring here, or early summer. Mid summer gets to hot, and at the coast it is pretty humid.
        Take care and stay warm and cosy. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  7. wow – the stitching you do! I love that sampler, have ever since January. 🙂 And the chandelier promises to be beautiful too. Glad you got a get away, even if the weather was not perfect. Lovely time of year for weekends away! The knitting and crocheting look good, too! Cars are great for getting those done. And good on you to frog what you don’t love. Too many projects and not enough time to spend it doing something you don’t love.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Salpal1. I haven’t started the November section of the Sampler just yet. I picked up a WIP and have fallen in love with “colors” again 😉 Still no word on the last section of the Chandelier. I am really getting impatient with that one. You are so right that there is no time to be spent crafting something that is not fun 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment