Category: Books I am reading

Stitching Keeps Me Sane
Books I am reading · cross stitch · Fairies · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Passione Ricamo · Uncategorized

Stitching Keeps Me Sane

My Time Stitching10 Comments

Wow! 2 posts in one week! That must be a record for me. Instead of making lengthy posts once a month or so, I am going to try to post more frequently. Unless I don’t have anything to share.

This morning I finished Clue #3 of the Sharon Show Shawl by Casapinka.

Clue 3

This clue has been my favorite so far. I am loving all of the different textures. This is my first time knitting a Casapinka pattern, and I have been quite pleased with the directions, the patterns and that I can watch tv while knitting. But I have mostly found myself doing a lot of thinking while knitting. Let’s just say that I have thought out a lot of different things. I feel better about some things and still concerned about other. But being able to think things out is good for the soul.

A few nights ago I pulled out a cross stitch project that needs some love. I haven’t stitched on it very much because of all the knitting. But the block on the right side was empty when I pulled it out.

Passione Ricamo 20 year anniversary piece

Sorry that the picture is a little dark. I thought I had taken a better picture. Anyway, I have started stitching the last block in this row. This is the 20 Year Anniversary piece from Passione Ricamo. I am stitching on 16ct Aida Nantucket Sky from Fabrics by Stephanie. I am hoping I can get this one finished this go around. I am itching to start a new cross stitch project, but so far I have resisted. It does feel good to finish things up. Including this one, I have 6 WIP’s left. There is another one that has maybe 25 stitches in. I’m not counting that one. And another that has been started, but I didn’t like working on the fabric, so it is still in the air as to whether I will continue with that one or not.

That leaves me to a reading goal I have set for myself. I have read a couple of books during this lockdown time. Then I decided that I want to read a series I have put off for a while.

Women’s Murder Club Series

I have been collecting these books for quite some time, and a few weeks ago I decided now is the time to start reading them. I finished book 2 today. My goal is to finish them all by the end of the year. I’m not a fast reader as I usually only read at lunch time or when I am out waiting for an appointment. Not that I go out to any appointments now, so I have lunch time. But I am going to try to read more. I know I am missing book 13 and a few more have been added to the series. I have read quite a few of James Patterson’s books and I really like the short chapters. It does make it easier to get through. “Just one more chapter” LOL.

That is what I am up to. Have you made any recent goals for yourself?

First Finishes of the Month
Books I am reading · cross stitch · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitting · Nora Corbett · Passione Ricamo · Pixie · Poison Pixie · scrapbooking

First Finishes of the Month

My Time Stitching22 Comments

Hello blogging friends!  We are a few weeks into January and already I have a few finishes.  Earlier in the month I finished the 1 ball cowl I had started over the summer and I just love how it turned out.

One ball shawl

The yarn is “Shawl in a Ball” from Lion Brand.  The color is Community Coral. It was pretty mindless knitting in stockinette stitch and so it became my take along project for knitting on car rides that were 1/2 an hour or more.  After the new year, I decided to bite the bullet and knit on it until I finished the skein.  I have already worn it once and it is nice and warm.

Next up I have my first 2 scrapbook pages for the year.  They were part of a kit from my Local Scrapbook store.  January pages of the Calendar Club.

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I have done the calendar club at this shop for the past 4 or 5 years, but this year is going to be my favorite as she will be using products from Blue Fern.  I Love their products and I enjoyed creating these pages.  Hopefully I can get more pictures on them and keep up with it all year.  Photos will hide those finger prints on the 2nd page from me putting lotion on my hands.  Ugh.

Next up is my first book finish.

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I finished this book on Wednesday.  It is the 2nd in The Guardian Trilogy from Nora Roberts.  With all of my hobbies, reading takes a back seat, reading usually only at lunch time or when I am at a hair appointment or take my car in for an oil change.  One of my goals this year is to read more.  I am happy to have my first book finished in January.  This series is pretty good.  I am anxious to start the 3rd book and see how it finishes up.

I finished this sweet little thing last night:

White Angel Trumpet finish

She was a pretty quick stitch.  Binge watching the old X-Files has certainly helped me move right along with her.  She is White Angel Trumpet, a Poison Pixie from Nora Corbet.  I stitched her on a OOAK 16ct Aida from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.  The fabric looks like it has poisonous gasses in greens and grays.  I think it is perfect for her.

So I dug this WIP out to work on for now.

PR 20th anniversary SAL

This one is Passione Ricamo’s 20th Anniversary SAL.  It is quite a large piece and I would love to finish this one this year.  There are many blocks on this one each containing a portion of different PR  patterns from over the years.  I am stitching on 16ct Aida Nantucket Sky from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.  It is truly going to be an amazing piece.  Not sure how long I will stitch on it, but every stitch will put me closer to a finish, right?

So that is it for my finishes so far this month.  I have a long list of goals for 2018 and I am still trying to put them into a “18 in 2018” order.  I hope to have that list nailed down for my next post.  So what are your goals for 2018?  What are you currently working on? I’d love to hear all about it 🙂

My Wednesday WIP Update
Books I am reading · cross stitch · Fabric · Nora Corbett · Pixie · WIP

My Wednesday WIP Update

My Time Stitching20 Comments

Happy Wednesday, my blogging friends!  Since I took some pictures and added them to facebook, I thought I would update my little ole blog while I am still on the computer.  So, here is my progress on Nora Corbett’s Iris:

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She is really starting to come to life and looking so amazing on that fabric.  It is a one of a kind from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics and is 16ct Aida.  Just loving her so far and amazingly not so tired of the gold yet 😉

Today I finished reading this:

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It took me a long time, but I must say it was a really good read.  It is actually 3 books in one and I don’t take a lot of time to read.  Mostly during my lunch hour when I can or when I am at the salon getting my hair done or waiting to get an oil change.  This is isn’t my usual type of read.  It was suggested by my husband who knew I would like it.  And once I could get past the boring battle stuff and the sometimes boring details from the author, it was a great read.  I really dragged out the last 30 pages or so as I really didn’t want it to end.  So if you like those books about knights, squires, paladins, elves, dwarfs and kingdoms and many battles, then  I do recommend this book.

So what are you up to this fine September day?

What I am Stitching, Reading, and a Finish
Books I am reading · cross stitch · Fabric · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Mermaids · Mirabilia · Passione Ricamo SAL

What I am Stitching, Reading, and a Finish

My Time Stitching20 Comments

So the days have been quite warm, with high humidity.  So staying in and getting things done is what I have been up to.  Over the weekend, I finished Mirabilia’s Aphrodite.

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Isn’t she a beauty!  I will say that I did not like the beading on this one.  I love to bead, but these beads were just too far apart and sometimes carrying my threads was not an option.  So finishing the end threads was a real pain, and the back of my work is a mess!  I just hope that I didn’t stretch some threads too far as to interfere with the framing.  I am so glad to have this one done.  I just love her hair!  So different than anything Nora has done before.  She is stitched on 16ct Aida Kaleidoscope from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.  I could not have chosen a more perfect fabric for her. Here are some more shots of her:

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Since my trip to Mary Maxim, I have been wanting to get some knitting done.  I did finish a project, but forgot to take a picture of it before I gifted it.  And remember this shawl I started sometime ago?

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Well, I had to rip it out and start over again, as I was doing the yoke with the larger needles and was supposed to be using a smaller needle.  I didn’t want to run out of yarn, so thought it best to start it over.  Here is where I left it last night:

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I have 310 stitches on there and every other row is a different pattern.  I did have an extra row in there, but realized I skipped a row, so had to knit back a row and that is where I stopped.  When I pick it back up, I will change to the larger needles and hope and pray every row, that I have the correct amount of stitches.  Fingers crossed for me 😉

And remember this shawl I started a while back also?

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Well, after trying to go on with it, I just wasn’t ending up with the pattern as I was supposed to at this same point.  I had started this shawl about 10 times.  So this time was the breaking point and I have since ripped it all out and ditched the pattern.  I did, however, find another pattern to use this yarn with and can’t wait to start that one after I finish the other shawl.  And the new pattern has beads!  I will be stringing them on before I knit and knitting them in as I go.  I have not done that in years!  Can’t wait!!

I am also trying to find time to keep reading this book that my hubby suggested for me:

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It is a huge book, with very small print.  It is actually 3 books in one.  Not my normal style of reading, but since hubby suggested it, I thought I would give it a try.  I think I have been reading it since February!  I only read if I take time for lunch and then I only get a couple of pages in since the print is so small.  This is where I am in the book:

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I am more than half way through, so it should be downhill from here, right?  It is not the greatest book I have read, but I am anxious to find out what happens to Paksenarrion, the main character.  She is a soldier and has fought in many battles.  She has left the military, and is on the road to becoming a paladin. So I am very curious to find out how it ends.  I can’t wait to be done with it, as I have the first of a Mermaid series arriving in my mailbox today, and I am quite excited to start it.

And, I promised an update on my last few fabrics I have received from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics:

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Such beauties!!!  I just can’t help myself.  I have been trying to cut myself off, but I am totally addicted!  I just love all of her fabrics and have a pixie planned for everyone of these.  Since finishing Aphrodite, I have pulled the Passione Ricamo SAL #2 out and have put a few stitches in, but I think this weekend I just may start Iris Pixie on the fabric on the far right.  The fabric is so perfect for her, it is amazing!

So what new project have you  started or what new products have you added to your stash?