Category: Fairies

Juggling Four Projects
cross stitch · Fabric · Fairies · Floss · Fox and Rabbit · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Mirabilia · yarn

Juggling Four Projects

My Time Stitching11 Comments

It is April 9 and it does not feel like Spring yet. I woke up to a dusting of snow this morning 😦 I had planned on going to a Spring Fiber Fest today, but too many other things came up this morning and then it just seemed to be too late for the drive. Hopefully tomorrow I can get there. Even though I really do not need to add any more yarn to my stash. I did find out that there will be a booth carrying not only yarn, but cross stitch products too. Oh yeah, gotta go 😉

So as my title indicates, I have been juggling 4 projects lately. I have juggled 2 in the past, but not 4 that I can remember. Usually I knit in the morning and cross stitch at night. But I am all over the place with 4 projects. So, first up is the Liva Cardigan.

Liva Cardigan

Yep, this one is still on my needles. This is a pattern in one of the Berroco books and can be found on Ravelry. I am using the called for yarn, Topaz by Berroco. I have picked up stitches along the left and right front and for the collar. I have to knit 6″ on about 300 stitches. I think I have 4 1/2″ stitches in right now. So, it is going slow, but I am getting there. Once that is finished all I will have to do is to sew on pockets (of course pockets) and weave in ends. It has been a few days since I put any stitches in. The Fairy Correspondence Shawl is the reason why.

Section 2

This is section 2 and my least favorite of this one. The bobble row took me over 3 hours to get across :O Wow! They are not perfect either, but they are staying as is. There is a little v at the top of them that I don’t think is supposed to be there, but I’m ok with it. The Weeds and Thickets section before and after the bobbles were not fun either. None of these sections were hard, just very time consuming. I love the look of the Weeds and Thickets, but I am really hoping that there are no more of these or bobbles in this shawl. I am loving my color choices. That pop of pink is perfect with the purples. Purple yarns are Jilly & Kiddles Tour de France and Bonjour and the pink is Ishtar from AJHC Wools. Yesterday I finished section 3 and love it!

Section 3

This section was called Conifers and it was so rhythmic and relaxing to knit. I was even able to watch tv while knitting this lace pattern. Though I guess I did get a little too into the “Bridgerton’s” as I forgot a yarn over a couple of times and had to unknit several rows. But I didn’t mind as this pattern was wonderful to knit. Section 4 doesn’t come out for a few days, so hopefully I can get the Liva cardigan finished.

The other 2 projects that have captured my attention are cross stitch. You know I can’t not have a cross stitch project going on in my life 😉 So now I have 2 going, LOL First up is Blossom by Mirabilia.

Blossom

This one is a joy to stitch. The colors are so vivid. There are more than a few stitches in each color, so it isn’t like confetti stitching. I am stitching her on 16ct Busy Izzy from Fabrics by Stephanie. It is such a pretty fabric and I am loving watching Blossom come alive on it.

A special piece of fabric finally arrived for a project that I have been wanting to stitch since February. It is not the normal Aida that the dyer usually dyes so I wasn’t sure it was going to work. It is a rather flimsy Aida and the sizing looked to be off. One of the reasons that I use Aida is that I am a tight stitcher and having a flimsy fabric like Lugana or linen does not work for me. This Aida feels like a Lugana, so I am trying to be conscience of my stitches not being too tight.

Fox & Rabbit MSAL

Yes! I finally started the Fox and Rabbit 2022 Mystery SAL. The fabric is Winter Wishes by Fabrics by Stephanie. Like I said, this Aida is different and the Winter Wishes is a bit lighter than normal. But it is working. The floss I chose is DMC 115. I went with a color way out of my color comfort zone and I feel like I made the right choice. The way the colors change in this floss is awesome! I really like the continuous stitching with one floss. This is where I left this piece last night.

Fox & Rabbit 2022 MSAL

This project is quite large, using a 29″ x 29″ piece of fabric. I am not sure when I will be caught up with this one. The section that is stitched above is the February section. So I have all of the borders of the January section, the March and the April sections to do. I think after this section that I am stitching on now is finished, I will stitch the April section and hopefully have some time to do some catching up before the next section comes out May 1. This pattern is the 2022 Mystery Sampler and is a free design from Fox and Rabbit.

So that is what I have been up to. Juggling these 4 projects has been fun. I am enjoying each of them when I work on them. How many projects have you juggled all at once? I’d love to know.

And now I leave you with a most glorious sunset that I just saw out of my craft room window ❤

Ginny

Catching Up With Some Finishes
cross stitch · Fairies · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Passione Ricamo · yarn

Catching Up With Some Finishes

My Time Stitching11 Comments

Hello friends! Today was a lazy day and I didn’t get much done. It looks cold and gloomy outside, maybe that explains my mood today. Anyway, I promised a photo of my finished 20 Year Celebration piece.

20 Year Celebration

Please excuse the wrinkles. It was on the scrolls for a long time. I can’t tell you how happy I am to finish this piece. It is so beautiful in person. I love the Round Robin feel to it. A little bit of 12 different designs by Passione Ricamo. I am still looking for a framer, but this piece definitely has to be framed. Another one out of the WIP pile!! I stitched this on 16ct Aida Nantucket Sky from Fabrics By Stephanie.

While I was finishing up the Jolie shawl, a local yarn dyer, AJHC Wools, posted a picture of her yarns in a pink to black fade that I absolutely fell in love with! So I checked my stash and ordered what I needed to make the Grevillea Shawl by Ambah O’Brien. Here are the yarns in all of their gloriousness:

AJHC Wools Yarns

Isn’t it just fabulous? I couldn’t wait to get started on it.

Grevillea Shawl start
My Progress

With every repeat of this pattern, I fell more and more in love. The pink section was so long. I was so happy to have added my first mini skein, Blizzard. And did you happen to see that adorable progress marker? A Starbucks coffee cup from my Best Stitchy Friend ❤

Pink fade!

The colors are looking so awesome together! Four out of 10 so far!

Grevillea Shawl

Almost finished! Just one more mini skein to go!

The knitting is finished!

I am so in love with this shawl! I love the long section of the light pink and the fade is so perfect! Just the blocking left to do. This shawl is the perfect example why blocking is necessary. The pattern is so blocky and lumpy. Here is a close-up.

Close up of Grevillea shawl

The pattern is broken up into puffy squares and the lace pattern is barely visible. Blocking allows the fabric to lay flat and opens up the lace pattern. And here is the finished shawl, which I have already worn and LOVE it!

See how that lace opened up and the pattern isn’t puffy anymore. Love how this one turned out. Again, the pattern is the Grevillea Shawl by Ambah O’brien. Yarn is from AJHC Wools.

So that is it for my finishes from over the summer. Stop back again soon to see what is on my knitting needles and what I am cross stitching now. What are you stitching?

November??
Autumn Lane Stitchery · Fairies · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Passione Ricamo

November??

My Time Stitching12 Comments

Hi! How can it be November already? The last post I made was in July! Everything is fine, just busy I suppose. I spent part of the summer getting the spare bedroom ready for my Mother-in-Law’s visit in September. That was fun. I turned it into “The Mermaid room”. My MIL really liked the room. She visited for a month and we had lots of fun. We visited the zoo, went to a wedding, went up north, did lots of shopping, knitting and I taught her to do Diamond Painting, which I think she really enjoyed.

So, let me back-track and see where I left off over the summer…Oh yes. The Jolie Shawl. I finished it and it turned out very nice. So soft and sparkly.

Jolie Shawl

The pattern was from the July 2021 Seed Club from the Yarn Garden in Charlotte, Michigan. I don’t think the pattern is up on Ravelry yet, but you can contact the shop if you are interested. The yarn is from Britty Rae Knits and is just scrumptious.

I have also finished a cross stitch I was working on.

Dark Queen of the Seas

The Dark Queen is finished. I did leave off the corner elements and the crown. I also left off a ton of back stitching on her tentacles. Lots of gold lines and symbols. I thought her tentacles looked fine as is and that would have been way to much backstitching for me. I am not a fan of backstitch, so the less, the better 😉 Design is by Autumn Lane Stitchery. Fabric is 16ct Aida Iris from Fabrics by Stephanie.

I also finished these:

Galatea
Summer Lady
Spring Fae
Iris Goddess

I have a few more finishes to share next time, including the full 20 Year Celebration.

So what have you been up to the last few months?

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?

Stitching Is Keeping Me Sane
cross stitch · Fairies · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mermaids · Passione Ricamo · Passione Ricamo SAL · Sampler · Shannon Christine designs

Stitching Is Keeping Me Sane

My Time Stitching27 Comments

Hi!  I am still here, and stitching, packing, getting over a stomach virus and still cleaning out the basement.   Hubby and I just about have the basement cleaned out in preparation for the waterproofing.  Just a few pieces of smaller furniture left to bring up and the 3 bigger pieces that we won’t be able to bring up. Our garage is filled from floor to ceiling with lots of bins and boxes.  A few weeks ago we had new gutters installed and for some reason we are now getting water in the basement when it rains.  Ugh!  We have never had water, just a damp carpet on one side of the basement.  So one night, while hubby and I were both sick with a stomach bug, he had to go out at 10:30 at night to buy a shop vac.  We were up until 1 am vacuuming up water.  And we have bought a dehumidifier to help dry everything up.  I will be so happy when this is all done with.  And then we get to figure out if everything gets to go back into the  basement.  I’m almost  to the point that it can stay an unfinished basement.  We’ll see how long it will be until it is all back to normal.

Through it all, my stitching has been there to lift my spirits and take me away.  So what have I been stitching on?

I finished the peacock on the 2019 Mystery Sampler from Linen and Threads.

peacock sampler 2

I stitched the peacock in DMC 3810 on 16ct Aida Graceful Gray from Wichelt.  I also finished the borders using Gloriana Silk Rain Forest.  I love the colors in that thread!

peacock-sampler-1.jpg

I ran out of thread for the bottom middle block, but I have some on order and fingers crossed it will match what I have done.  And I finished the March block in no time.

Peacock sampler 3

I am hoping I can complete this sampler with just the DMC 310. But if it turns out that I need to add more color, I can pull colors from the Rain Forest thread.  I like the March block and wonder if all the blocks will be similar.  So for now it is tucked away until the April section comes out.  I have decided to work on some of my WIP’s and pulled this one out:

PR 20th anniversary SAL update1

I love this piece and would love to get it finished.  I completed the second block from the left and am working on the 3rd block.  This is Passione Ricamo‘s 20th anniversary piece.  I am stitching it on 16ct Aida Nantucket Sky from Fabrics by Stephanie.

PR 20th anniversary SAL update2

I will stitch on this one until I finish the block I am working on and then pull another WIP out.  I am hoping to finish a couple of projects this year.

This weekend I picked this up from the cross stitch store, all framed up by Way Cool Mats:  Treasures of The Deep, by Shannon Christine Designs.

Treasures of the Deep framed

I thought I captured a good image of this one, but I didn’t.  It really has a lot of beads.  So much so, that in some angles it looks really gaudy, like in the top of the photo.  And then from a different angle, it looks like the bottom of the image.  Sometimes the mermaids get drowned out by all of the beads.  I didn’t think there could ever be too many beads on a project, but this one I think may just have too many.  I do love all the little mermaids though.

March 1 was my 7 year Blogaversary!  I can’t believe I have been posting on this little ole blog for 7 years now!  And I still love it.  I just need to make the time to post more often. I will try this year 😉

So that is all I have for now.  I do have a few knitting projects and crochet projects going on, too.  I will post about them next time.  So what are you stitching on today?

Crazy Busy, But I’m Still Stitching
Afghans · Crochet · cross stitch · Fairies · Hand Stamped Cards · Passione Ricamo SAL · temperature blanket

Crazy Busy, But I’m Still Stitching

My Time Stitching30 Comments

Wow!  I can’t believe it’s been so long since my last post!  And where did June go?  I swear just the other day it was June 1 and now here we are in July!  Summer please slow down 🙂  So even though I have been going at full speed almost every day the last few weeks, I have managed to get my regular stitching in 🙂  So here is what I have been up to:

Moon Sweet Moon start

Here is where I am with Moon, Sweet Moon, Mystery SAL by Passione Ricamo.  I am stitching her on 16ct Aida OOAK from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.  It is actually a gray color with hints of purple.  Bad photo, sorry.  It is really beautiful in person. Unfortunately, this is no longer a SAL.  Someone has passed the first few sections onto the internet, illegally, so Laura ended the SAL.  So sad for someone to do this.  She has released the full pattern to each person that signed up, with watermarked pattern in their name.  This is how it will look when finished:

18699799_1539128752777906_6659353882627873875_n

It is so beautiful and I am so sad to see it end as a SAL.  It is now available for purchase on Laura’s website if you are wanting to stitch this beauty.  You can find it here. I am waiting on threads for the moon, so I have put her aside and picked up this one:

Mystery Sampler April started

This is the Linen and Threads Mystery Sampler.  I can’t begin to tell you how I much I LOVE stitching on this piece.  I have just started stitching the April section, so I am a bit behind.  But it is such a relaxing stitch.  I am using Sullivan’s variegated thread London Fog and DMC 3888.  The fabric is 16ct Aida Castleview by Silkweaver.  I am hoping to get this caught up before getting back to something else or starting something else.  If you would like to stitch this piece, it is a FREE SAL put out by Linen and Threads and the January through July sections are on their website.  Here is another view:

Mystery Sampler April started 2

I have also been adding a row or two, now and then on my Temperature blanket.  I am somewhere at the beginning of April and here is how it is looking so far:

Temperature blanket progress

Temperature blanket progress 2

I’ve added another row of yellow and a row of light purple.  Hoping there will be more of these colors as I am really getting bored of the darker ones.  This is nice to work on when I have a few minutes here and there.  It is getting too big to carry around, so I will keep adding to it now and then and hope to also get caught up with it, too.

In my last post I told you briefly about a new stamp obsession of mine.  Here are some cards using products from Heartfelt Creations:

dove and dogwood card

Here is a close-up of those beautiful 3-d flowers!

 

close up of dogwood flowers

19665594_10213351911617615_2179036371146842016_n

And this one is my favorite:

19756345_10213351915977724_1166069017475398606_n

I am having such fun making 3-d flowers with glitter, and frosting and beaded centers.  I need to play more 🙂  I have also added these 3-d flowers to my scrapbook pages.  I will have to get photos of those for next time.  Right now it’s time to go play 🙂

19756462_10213351921657866_7034146263746440016_n

What are you busy playing with these days?

 

My New Look And An Update
cross stitch · Fairies · Nora Corbett · Passione Ricamo

My New Look And An Update

My Time Stitching47 Comments

If you have been following my blog and are visiting today, you will notice my blog has a new look.  The theme I was using has been retired, and I thought I needed an update.  I spent hours this morning looking at themes WordPress has to offer.  I just couldn’t find what I wanted.  Or let’s just say I am not a big fan of change.  I think that is more the issue than finding something I liked.  I’m not that great of a computer user either, so the choice was hard.  I have settled on this look for now.  I am still looking 😉  So now for an update on what I have been up to.

I have finished Ella, the Frog Princess.  I finished her on May 8, and am so pleased with how she turned out. Have a look:

ella-completed-1.jpg

She is not heavily beaded, but enough to add some sparkle to her.  She is a Mirabilia pattern and is stitched on 16ct Aida Pandora from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

I have also started the Passione Ricamo Mystery SAL, Moon Sweet Moon and am loving this one.

PR Mystery SAL 5 start

This will be a fairy and a very large moon.  I can’t wait to see if the fairy will be sitting in the moon or flying in front of it.  I believe that Laura has re-opened this one for purchase if you want to get in on this one.  Click here for the info on her site.  I am on section 3 and have section 4 to do before section 5 comes out next week.  I am stitching her on a 16ct Aida fabric that was special made for me by Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.  I love it.  It has a bit of a purple hue to it that the photo doesn’t show, but I think it will be perfect for a night sky.

I have also put a few stitches into the Mystery Sampler from Linen and Threads.

Mystery Sampler February section

I am afraid I am quite a bit behind on this one.  I am still working on the February section.  But that’s ok.  I am totally loving this one, too.  I am stitching this on 16ct Aida Castle View from Silkweaver.  I am using Sullivans Variegated thread London Fog and DMC 3888 (which is not part of their line, but a specialty thread).

So that is what I have been up to aside from making cards with some new products I found at the local Scrapbook convention.  More on that in my next post 🙂  So what are you working on these days?

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My Framing is Such Joy
Afghans · cross stitch · Elegant Ladies · Fairies · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mirabilia · yarn

My Framing is Such Joy

My Time Stitching37 Comments

Hello blogging friends.  Hubby took 1/2 a day off today and he surprised me by taking me to the Rocking Horse to pick up my latest framing.

joy-framed

Isn’t it lovely?  I was so afraid of how it was going to turn out because my framing session was not enjoyable.  And I didn’t have it framed like the model in the store because I felt it was too much green.  My fabric is a darker green than theirs, and I am not a fan of green.  So I went with the red mat.  And then I was afraid it wouldn’t match the stitching, but I really like it.  The frame was my first choice.  I didn’t even look at any others and I think it is perfect.   So now to find a temporary hanging place for it.  Just for a while so I can enjoy it a bit.  So sweet.

I am still waiting for threads for the Mystery Sampler.  My LNS says they are on back-order from the manufacturer, so no telling when I will get them.  However, a very sweet gal on the sampler group has offered to send me 3 skeins that she has as she is undecided about her sampler.  Stitcher’s are such sweet people ❤  While waiting on threads,  I have been working on Ella.  Here is where I left her last night:

ella-progress-1

Not too much added since my last post, but every stitch counts, right?  The empty area in the dress is getting smaller, so I am excited about that.  Once I finish the bottom of the dress, I will have to move the scrolls up and work from the middle up.  But that will be a lot less stitching than the bottom.  This photo also represents my fabric perfectly, as it is a beautiful sunny day with 60 degrees!   It is 16ct Aida Pandora from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

I also started my Temperature blanket the other day.  What is a temperature blanket you ask?  Well, it is a blanket that is crocheted or knitted, with each row based on the high temperature of where you live.  So I found this color scheme on-line and tweaked it a bit for my blanket:

img_3232-2

I ordered my yarn from LoveKnitting and if finally arrived on Thursday.  I am using Stlyecraft DK instead of worsted weight.  Here is my start:

temp-blanket-start-1

I am using a G hook and chained 250 stitches.  I decided to do my blanket 3dc, sk 2. Then do 3dc in the skip 2 space of the previous row.  Today, while in the car, I noticed my blanket is bowing and my ends are not even.  I should have started with maybe an I hook and then switched down to a G after my foundation row.  I will have to brush up on my chaining on the ends and where to stick my hook for the first stitch.  So today I will be ripping this out and starting over.  I will probably be doing a different stitch, too.  Something where I can make sure I have the right amount of stitches every row.  My crochet skills are still not very well without a specific pattern and some visual tutorials, so I will be sure to have all that when I re-start.  It will be a fun blanket to stitch on every day or do a couple of rows once a week, based on the high temps.  If you are wanting to get started on your own Temperature blanket, you can knit or crochet, whatever pattern you want, whatever yarn and color scheme you want.  I do believe that Lion Brand also has some info on their website.  For the high temperatures, there is a website called weatherunderground.com that you can get the history of high temps in your area.

So, what are your needles creating today?

The “O” is Finished!
Fairies · Fairy Letter · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Nora Corbett · Uncategorized

The “O” is Finished!

My Time Stitching42 Comments

Hello my blogging friends.  Last night I finished the letter “O” in my Joy piece and she turned out quite cute 🙂

completed-o

I wish I could capture the true color of the fabric, but I am just not able to.  I just love the little peppermint buttons.  They really make it feel Christmasy 🙂

close-up-of-o

So now I am on to the Y which I put a few stitches in last night.

start-on-y

This photo probably shows the Sage fabric in how looks in person.  More green than the gray in the above photos.  Some day, I will get some sun and hopefully take some better photos.  In case you are just tuning in to this project, I am stitching Nora Corbett’s Fariy Letters on 16ct Aida Sage from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie and I am using a conversion from The Rocking Horse.  So what are you stitching these days?

Today is my birthday, so I am heading out to treat myself to a Tim Horton’s Cappuccino, which I used to drink everyday, but quit on December 7.  I had one yesterday and have only had one other since.  But since today is my special day, I am going to treat myself.  Have a fabulous day and go stitch something!

First Finish for 2017
Fairies · Fairy Letter · Nora Corbett · Uncategorized

First Finish for 2017

My Time Stitching25 Comments

finished-j

I finished this sweet little fairy last night.  I just love how she turned out.  And she was a pretty quick stitch, too.  Taking me only 11 days to complete.  She is Nora Corbett’s Fairy letter J and I used the conversion from The Rocking Horse.  Stitched on 16ct Aida Sage from Hand Dyed Fabrics By Stephanie.

close-up-of-fairy-on-j-piece

j-close-up

j-pattern-finished

This morning, I found this on my porch.

img_3132-2

I had posted on my facebook page earlier in the week that I wanted seashells instead of snowflakes.  And some sweet person actually brought me seashells and just made my day.  So thank you to the sweet fairy who left me seashells. I just love them ❤ My heart is so filled with joy from such kindness.