cross stitch · Fabric · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mermaids · Mystery Stitch A Long · Project Bags · Stitch A Long · Tiny Modernist

I Started A New SAL and Project Bags


Hello blogging friends! Spring still has not arrived where I am. Severe weather is in order for today, so I am getting my blogging done early.

In a previous post I told you a little about a new SAL that I signed up for.

The Ocean Pearl Series by Tiny Modernist. The word Ocean grabbed me as well as the cute little mermaid. I showed you that I found fabric in my stash (Bonus!!) and ordered the threads. The fabric is 16ct Aida in color Cascade by Fabrics By Stephanie. I am using the dyed flosses from Classic Colorworks and Weeks Dye Works as well as 3 DMC colors as recommended.

The first section came out on April 1 and I was so excited to get started.

So I was stitching on this project and the hanging threads were driving me crazy. So I pulled out some of my extra clear bobbins from GWStitchinDepot and my label printer.

I don’t think I can be a floss drop stitcher. I know that there is not much floss on Classic Color Works cards, but I don’t like working with them hanging and having to put the floss back through the hole. I am a bobbin girl and I love these clear bobbins that I had purchased a while ago. I had put some CCW threads and Waterlilies threads on these bobbins before, so I already had a file saved in my PT Touch. So all I had to do was open the file, change the text for each color and print them out. I did have to trim them a little so they would fit at the top of my bobbin.

Ahhh. This is so much better! Now I can continue stitching. This is where I am at with Ocean Pearl.

Just look at that cute little seahorse and those little fish! This is a cutesy pattern, but I am really liking it. And I do like stitching with Classic Color Works threads and Weeks Dye Works threads. There is something about stitching one X at a time that feels different, but fun. And of course, a cute mermaid bag for a cute mermaid project. I’m not sure if I showed that bag before or not. These are my favorite project bags from @clevergirldesignsco. She does a beautiful job on her construction and choosing fabrics. At the end of 2022 my husband bought me another year of bags. One a month for a year, but I let Kristine know that she can do them anytime and the last couple of years she has been doing 2 or 3 at a time.

These are my November and December bags plus an added bonus of an extra mermaid tail zipper pull or knitting progress marker. These bags have the vinyl fronts which I LOVE. That way I don’t have to unzip the bag to see what is inside. I have many of these bags and love that I can just flip through them.

Here are my January, February and March bags. This is the front of the bags with the vinyl fronts.

This is the back of the bags. I never have any idea what my bags will look like. They are all a surprise when I get them. But I know they will be beautiful and very well made. Kristine has a knack for putting prints with prints that look amazing together. All of my bags have projects in them. The yellow bag on the right contains my Rainbow Dice project because the colors are so similar.

I recently purchased some pink bins to hold all of my project bags. The other pink bin on the shelf above holds all of my leftover yarn from projects. It is full.

All of my project bags have a kitted project in them. And as you can see in the left bin, I still have to replace some of those little plastic bags with pretty Clevergirl bags. I think by the end of the year I will make that goal.

So that is what I have been up to. How do you store your kitted projects?

Happy Stitching!

ginny

Bella Filipina Designs · cross stitch · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Mermaids · Project Bags

Stitching, Knitting and Shopping


Hello blogging friends. The temps are getting cooler here after a few days of surprisingly wonderful warm and sunny days. The dreaded white stuff is coming though. About an inch or two of snow is predicted for this weekend 😦 Are you a fan of snow and cold weather? I am not looking forward to winter and can only hope that it will fly by as fast as my summer did.

I need to plan out some projects for the winter. But for now, let’s talk about what I am stitching on right now.

Pearl’s Tail

I finished the tail on Pearl of the Orient Seas, minus the beads. I have moved scrolls to the middle of the design to work upwards.

Progress on Pearl

While I am enjoying the stitching on this one, the colors are starting to bring me down and I am getting the itch to start something new. I am trying really hard to resist, but I do see some smaller projects creeping into my plans. For now, I stitch on 🙂 Just to remind you, the design is Pearl of the Orient Seas by Bella Filipina Designs. Fabric is 16ct aida, a one of a kind dye from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.

The Marit Shawl by Amy Christoffers is still on my needles. It is going well, but still looking a little small to me.

Marit shawl

I am actually on the decrease tier now and making half triangles for the top edge.

Almost finished!

Maybe blocking will give me the size I need. This shawl will also have tassels.

Now onto the shopping as mentioned in my title. Last week Shop Hop started at local yarn shops. I decided not to shop hop this year, but just visit my very local shop, The Knitting Nest. I picked up some yarn for the newly published on Ravelery, Urchins and Scallops shawl from Soft Yarn Designs. This one should definitely be put into my winter knitting plans 😉

Shop Hop Haul

After getting home, I realized the yarn colors are very similar to the colors used in the pattern. I think they are perfect. The lovely shop owners also pointed out that they had some new stitch markers that they knew I would be interested it. Mermaids! Yes, please. And I couldn’t help but pick up another Project Bag by CleverGirl Designs. This one is a little bigger than the bags I usually order from her. It just fits into the bin I keep them in, but is taller than the other bags. I don’t think I can ever have too many of Kristine’s bags. Hubby ordered me another year of the Bag of the Month from her in August. I have received August, September and October, but I cannot find the pictures. Today I was surprised with the November and December bags and they are Awesome! Here is my November bag…ready?

Front of the Gnomie bag

Oh my gosh! It’s Gnomies!! so stinking cute! I LOVE it! And here is the back;

Cute Gnomes project bag (back)

My December bag was just as awesome.

Mermaid bag and Floss Catcher

She knows my love for mermaids and I do love this one. In fact, it matched the mask I was wearing when I went to the yarn shop to pick them up. Did you catch that cute Seashell zipper pull/progress marker? So cute! And check out that cute wallet looking matching piece! Have to show the back and the open wallet, too!

Mermaid set

Just look at that cute little Floss Catcher! I just love all of Kristine’s bags. They are so well made and her attention to detail and choice of fabrics is amazing. You can find her on Instagram @clevergirldesignsco

This is how I store my CleverGirl Project Bags.

Bins of Project Bags

There are 20 bags in these bins. It doesn’t include the one I am using for Pearl or the 2 new ones I picked up today. I can still use some more, LOL

Another bin full of projects

This been is full of not so pretty bags filled with wonderful projects. Some day it will be filled with pretty CleverGirl Design bags.

While at the Yarn Shop today, I was looking for even more yarn. This time for a sweater. Yep, a sweater, not a shawl! I haven’t made a sweater in years and I think I need to add one to my winter stitching plan 😉 I didn’t buy any, as I need to figure out what I want to use. So, I am off to make a swatch. What are you up to? What are your crafty plans for the weekend?

Craft projects · cross stitch · Elegant Ladies · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Mermaids · Mirabilia · Project Bags · storage bags · yarn

Knitting, Cross Stitch and Vampire Diaries


Hi! How are you? Are you still hunkered down? Are you finding things to keep you busy? For me, the answer to both questions is Yes. I have submerged myself into crafting and watching The Vampire Diaries on Netflix. I have been enjoying the series immensely and will be sad when I am finished. Which will be pretty soon, as I am on the last season. So I think I slowed down on the viewing, trying to drag it out as long as I possible can. So what have I been working on while I have been getting my Vampire fix?

Well, I finished stitching Lady Mirabilia. She turned out beautifully!

Just look at all of those sweet, sparkly beads!!
I love that the designer chose this design to commemorate her 25 years of designing Mirabilia designs.

I have pulled another WIP to work on, but haven’t stitched on it too much. I will post more about it in my next post.

I have done quite a bit of knitting. So much so, that my tennis elbow has flared up. So I have been wearing my brace and trying not to knit so much at one time. On July 28, I joined the Mermaids in the Waves shawl. It has mermaid in the title; I just had to 🙂

For this shawl, I decided on yarns from AJHC Wools. I chose colors Min and Blushing Bride (the variegated) both in Basic sock. I had it in my mind to do a Coral mermaid, and these colors are perfect.

I loved knitting this shawl so much. It took me 17 days, in between another knitting project. I will get to that one in a minute. It still needs blocking and I still have to figure out how to wear it, but I love it. I think I may need a shawl cuff. We’ll see. The pattern is by Softyarn Designs and is available on Ravelry.

So the other knitting project I started is the Sharon Show MKAL by Casapinka that started on August 7. I chose yarn from Miss Babs in some pretty pastel colors.

The yarn is Caroline, and I have mixed feelings about it so far. It has knitted up nicely, but so far 3 of the 4 balls have been a mess, coming out in hunks from the center. I have wound many, many cakes of yarn and this is the first time I have had this happen. That is why I am leaning towards it being the yarns fault 😉 This yarn creates some little fuzz balls that attach and tangle the yarn! How in the heck does that happen? And I have found some places where the double strand is broken 😦 So, I will see how this ends up. For now I will keep knitting.

Clue one complete.
Clue 2 complete

I am now working on clue 3 and I will try to get a better picture when I am finished. I am really enjoying the knitting on this one and so far, I have been able to watch the Vampires while knitting without any trouble.

Did you notice the knitting bag in my photo above? I had Clevergirl Designs make it to match my June project bag. It is so cute and was just perfect for the mermaid KAL. And here is my July Project Bag. My special order knitting bag arrived with it.

July Project bag and Mermaid knitting bag

Another mermaid project bag! Squee!! I forgot to get a picture of the back of it. But it has lots of cute mermaids on it. I will have to get a picture for next time. I received my August project bag on Friday. A sweet Summer theme!

August Project Bag

The back has the same fabric as the top. It is so cute and perfect for summer. I wonder what project I will put inside….

So this post has taken me many hours to do. WordPress has changed their format again, and I have no idea what I am doing. All these blocks keep popping up and boxes with a plus sign in them. I was just getting used to the old way. I really want the old way back. I do not like this block thing at all. But I got throughit with most of my now gray hair in tact. I had better hurry up and hit publish before I lose it all.

So that is what I have been up to. What have you been doing the last month and a half?

Bella Filipina Designs · cross stitch · Cross Stitch Patterns · Elegant Ladies · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Mermaids · Project Bags · Storage · storage bags · WIP

Still At Home, Still Crafting


It’s been almost 4 months at home during this Pandemic.  I am sad, frustrated, depressed, angry and lost.  I am sad for all of those that have been sick with this virus and for those that have lost loved ones.  I am frustrated and depressed because I can’t go out and do the things I used to do or go to the places I used to go.  And I am angry because the numbers of cases are going up again and hospitals are reaching capacity in some states.  I cry watching the news, wishing I could magically make everything ok.  And I have periods where I just don’t want to do anything.  My husband is going back to work tomorrow, and I am really sad about this.  I will miss him being home and I worry about him being in a place where the risk goes up.  So I turn to my crafting to take my mind off of things.  So, what exactly have I been up to?

First, I want to talk about a product that I purchased on-line a month or so ago from a yarn shop.  I saw this product last summer at a fiber fest, but chose to spend my money on yarn at the time.  But it has been in the back of my mind as a great organizational piece.  How do you store your circular needles?  This is what I decided to use:

circular needle holder

Sorry about the poor photo.  It was the best I could get while it was empty.  It is hand made by Wonderfully Made and I thought it was a great idea.  So as soon as it arrived, I started pulling my needles out of their original packages and threading them onto the holder.

circular needle holder with needles 1

Now I am not so sure.  Now I will have to put the needles in a needle gauge to find the size I want (which was included with this holder)  and will have to measure to see how long they are.  And I always forget if I am supposed to measure from tip to tip or just the cable.  I think it was easier to flip through the packages in my accordion needle holder to find what I wanted.  It looks nice and I love the concept.  Maybe in time I will forget all of the packages.  What do you think?

In my last post, I forgot to post my May project bag.  It took 19 days to get to me by mail and from a driving distance of about 20 minutes.  It really took the scenic route.

May project bag

This is the front.  I love the pink and yellow watercolor top of this one.  And the striped border looks awesome with the Spring colors.

back of May project bag

Here is the back.  Just look at all of those pink boots!  So fun and totally a surprise.  And since then, I have received the June bag.  It arrived in record time, getting to me in a day.

June Project bag

I was over the moon when I received this one.  It is now my favorite 😉

back of June project bag

And here is the back.  SO SWEET!  Kristine knows me well.  And she does an awesome job with all of her project bags.  Different shapes and styles for everything you want to store.  She is Clevergirl Designs and you can find her on intsagram.  Oh, and this bag is already filled with a project  gifted to me from a very sweet friend.

june project bag filled

I can’t wait to start stitching this beauty.  I still need to find a fabric.  So for now, I am still stitching on Lady Mirabilia and here is how she looks this morning.

Lady Mirabilia progress 1

She is getting there.  She has been a joy to stitch and I find myself relaxing while stitching on her.  Unlike my knitting project…

wingspan progress 5

I pulled out the Wingspan yesterday and knitted 3 rows and was so done.  This pattern is not hard, just requires my complete attention and I feel like I hold my breath and really tense up during every row.  Ugh!  But it is my only knitting project on needles right now and I really would love to get it finished.  A few rows every day 😉  So far,  I am very proud of myself that I have not started anything new.  Still trying to get WIP’s finished.

I spent last weekend getting some of this and that done.  And I crossed 2 bigger projects off of my to do list.  I finally redid all of my cross stitch files.  They were still mostly in boxes from when we remodeled the basement.  They all wouldn’t fit in the 2 filing drawers I had planned, so they went into the old file cabinet and with a few more files added.

cross stitch files

It took 2 1/2 drawers, but they are like I want them.  And all patterns are filed.  Woo Hoo!

I also reorganized most of my yarn.  I put a lot of it in the 2 file drawers that would not hold all of my cross stitch files. the top drawer is all AJHC Wools yarn.  Just love her yarn.  The 2nd drawer is mostly 2 skein project yarns.  It will be fun to rummage through the drawers when I want to start a new project.

yarn files

My ottoman is also home to some pretty yarn,  Mostly one skeiners.

Yarn storage

So that is what I have been up to.  Trying to keep myself a little busy and away from the tv, except to watch Vampire Diaries.  How are you spending your time these days?

 

 

Bella Filipina Designs · cross stitch · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitting · Mermaids · Project Bags · Uncategorized · yarn

Shelter In Place and Craft


Wow!  It has been over a month since my last post.  So much has happened in the world since then.  Just 2 days after my last post, we decided to shelter in place.  Hubby’s work suggested that people who can work from home,  do so.  The next week our state issued a stay at home order.  Today is day 42.  Home is my happy place, but I can’t say that it has been totally easy.  There are some days that just get away from me without getting much done.  I have so many  things to do that sometimes I don’t know what to do and I do nothing.  But I am trying to get something done everyday.  Today, is my blog post 🙂   So I have pulled my pictures to share with you what I have been up to this last month.  I actually have a couple of finishes!  First, remember the black and white photo I shared of a project I had started last month?

Baby Fallon blanket black and white

Well, it is a baby blanket.  The yarn is AJHC Wools in color Aether.  It is so gorgeous and I knew it was the perfect color for a friend who was expecting a little boy.

baby blanket progress

 The pattern is Simple Eyelet Baby Blanket by LeeLee Knits and is available on Ravelry.  I really enjoyed working on this blanket.  The pattern was nice and simple, but elegant looking.

Sadly, my friend lost her baby.  My heart aches for her and her husband.  I cannot even imagine what they are going through.  I finished the blanket.  It still needs to be blocked.  Then I will tuck it away for now.

baby blanket finish

I also finished Aquamarina this last week and she turned out so beautiful and sparkly!

aquamarina headshot

Aquamarina close up

aquamarina finish

I am thrilled with how she turned out.  She is my first Bella Filipina finish and I can honestly say she will not be my last.  The fabric is 16ct Aida, a one of a kind from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics and is really is the perfect fabric for her.

So far I have not pulled another cross stitch out to work on, but I am really itching to.  Instead, I have been knitting in the evenings on a cowl  project I had started last September. The Wilma Cowl.

Wilma cowl

It is a project I picked up last September during a Shop Hop.  The pattern is from a book and the yarn is Heritage from Cascade Yarns in colorway #502.  It is supposed to have chevron pattern all around, but they really are not showing up well in this yarn, even though it is the yarn called for.  When I stretch it I can see it somewhat, but for the most part it just looks like random knitting.  The yarn is soft and the color is perfect for fall, so I  will continue on with it in between working on this project:

wingspan progress 4

Yeah, it is the Wingspan.  And if I wasn’t turning gray from the Corona Virus, I would be from this project.  I pulled it out and put in my second lifeline right away.  Knitted 4 or 5 rows and had to rip back to the lifeline.  Picked up the stitches and knit the rows back in.  Now I am up to Section D, another transition section.  So I add another lifeline.  I hold my breath the entire row and UGH!  I have 2 stitches left over.  So I rip out to the lifeline and boy were they a bear to pick back up this time!  Finally got them back on the needle and knitted the row again.  Perfect. Thank heavens for Lifelines.  But for now,  the project is in a time out!  I wanted to knit a couple of rows everyday so I can get this finished, but it is too stressful some days.  So I will wait until later this week to take it out of time out.  I thought I had been working on this project for 2 years, but turns out that I started in June 2019, so it hasn’t even been a year.  Just maybe I can get it done before the year is up 😉 But then again…maybe not.  There is a newproject start in my near future!  More about that in a minute…

I have also pulled out my sewing machine and have been making masks for family and friends. I made 25  until I ran out of elastic. I received a small shipment of elastic on Thursday, so I need to get back to sewing to fill some more orders I have received.  I will sew again until I run out of elastic and wait for my original shipment to arrive, hopefully soon.  It is a little something I can do to help out during this pandemic.

making masks

 

Since I last posted, I have received my March and April project bags from CleverGirl Designs.  They are so cute!

March and April project bags fronts

I love the knitting on the March bag on the left.  And the April bag has such cheery colors!

march and april project bags backs

This is the back side of both bags.  March on the left with little kitties to go with the yarn balls. Fun, vintage typewriters on the back of the April bag.  I love them both and have yet to fill them with a future cross stitch project.  But don’t worry.  I have a gazillion projects to choose from 😉  They won’t be empty for too long.  I have really enjoyed getting these happy mail packages every month, especially now during stay at home.

So, this leads me to the very near future project I mentioned earlier.  If you are a knitter, you probably have heard about Casapinka’s new shawl pattern that is out this weekend.  This weekend was supposed to be National LYS day and she designed a pattern for the shops to give for FREE when purchasing the yarn for the shawl.  This is the Breathe and Hope shawl:

breathe and hope shawl by casapinka

I fell in love with this as soon as I saw it in my email!! I love the colors and the pattern.  She is not telling us the yarn used, so that we can shop at the yarn shops.  I do hope that someday she reveals the yarn used, as it definitely deserves recognition.  The day before this photo arrived in my email, I had purchased a special bag and matching yarn from Tippy Tree Yarns.  The spring bag made by Knit 2 Together, has a matching skein of yarn dyed by Tippy Tree Yarns. I contacted her after receiving the email from Casapinka asking if she had a solid color to match the yarn.  She did and I ordered it and it  should arrive this week. It is a dark coral and I think it will be perfect with the yarn I just received yesterday.

tippytree bag and yarn

I am so excited for a new start this week.  I know I shouldn’t, but the Breathe and Hope shawl is perfect for this situation we are all in.

So, that is what I have been up to.  How are you spending your days while sheltering in place?  Do you have any new projects started?  Finish anything during our quarantine?  I’d love to hear about it!  And as always, be safe and stay healthy.

 

 

 

Bella Filipina Designs · cross stitch · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitting · Mermaids · Nora Corbett · Project Bags

Craft and Stay Calm


Hello my blogging friends.  With the Corona Virus news everywhere, it is hard to not wonder and worry.  So I craft and try not to think about it too much.  I do hope that you are safe and healthy where you are.

I have gotten out of the habit of getting on my computer and checking my mail and blogs on a daily basis and I do miss it.  Can you believe that it is already about mid March?  The year is flying by so quickly.  One thing I am glad of is that Spring will be here soon.  We have been flirting with 40’s and 50’s, but I am looking forward to the grass turning green, trees and shrubs budding and flowers breaking through the softening soil.

So, what have I been up to?  Well, I finished the Rainbow of Hope Advent shawl.

Rainbow of Hope shawl finished

Rainbow of Hope shawl finish

It still needs blocking,  but it is finished.  It is so beautiful.  AJ Wools did an awesome job with this Advent shawl.  I am proud of myself for keeping up with it and finishing it on February 2.  Another finish for 2020 😉

Remember the Travel shawl I was working on?  I finally finished that one, too!

Travel Shawl

travel shawl finished

I used the Rainbow Shawl pattern from Katia, but I am not as thrilled with this one.  I had trouble trying to figure out how to wear it.  Lots of fabric at the back of my neck which I don’t like.  But I love the colors and it is so soft.  I used Knit One, Crochet Two Kettle Tweed in color Winter Blossom.  I started this project in October 2018 and finished it March 1, 2020.  So happy to have this one off of my needles.

I picked up a framing from the framer on February 15. Here is Wherefore Art Thou by Nora Corbett.

Wherefore Art Thou framed

She turned out so beautifully!  While this piece is not one of  my very  favorites that I have stitched, she is one of my favorite framings.  Because of the large bead in the middle, it had to be framed almost like a shadow box.  Juanita from Way Cool Mats did an awesome job, as usual.  I just love it so much.  I did find out a few days later that Juanita will be retiring from framing in May.  I have no idea where I will take my stitchings to be framed in the future.  She has framed just about all of my pieces for the last 25 years.  I wish her well, but I will sure miss her.

That brings us to my current projects.  I pulled out Aquamarina on January 17 and have been working on her as much as I can. I am stitching on 16ct Aida one of a kind fabric from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.

Aquamarina in progress

I have been loving stitching on her.  Her tail is massive and I didn’t think I would ever get through it.  But I did, and here is where I am at with her today.

Aquamarina progress 1

Her colors are much brighter than my photo.  Not sure why they look like that.  The photo on my camera is much brighter.  Anway, I am hoping to finish her in time to get her to the framer before she retires.  I would love for this one to be framed by her.

I am also working on a new knitting project.  I know, I am on a stash diet.  But I have a good reason for buying this yarn and starting this project.  It is a baby blanket for someone special.   And since she may just see this post, I have to turn it black and white. But believe me, the yarn is gorgeous!!  It is from AJHC Wools and it is not your traditional baby color 😉

Baby Fallon blanket black and white

I will show more of this one later.

I received my February Project Bag and it is so pretty and already filled with a future project.

February Project Bag front

I think this is my favorite bag so far.  It is pink 😉  And here is the back.

February Project Back

Febrruary Project bag filled

I am anxiously awaiting my March bag which I am sure will arrive any day now.  I will be sure to share in my next post.

So…that is what I have been up to.  And what I am doing to take my mind off of what it is out there in the world.  What are you doing to keep yourself busy?

Bella Filipina Designs · cross stitch · Fabric · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · New stash! · Nora Corbett · Project Bags · storage bags · yarn

Crafty Progress In January


Hello my blogging friends!  It seems like I blinked a few times, and now January is just about over.  Wow!  But I was productive. So grab your coffee or favorite beverage and I hope I don’t bore you too much 😉

Early in January, I was reluctant to make a New Year’s Resolution list.  I know that there are things I want to accomplish this year, but I didn’t want to call them Resolutions.  So that first week in January I decided to go with a “word” for 2020 and that word is “conquer”.  I want to conquer all of my started knitted, crochet and cross stitch projects.  I want to conquer all of my scrapbook kits and photos.  I want to conquer some things in my personal life also.  So conquer is a good word for me for 2020.  And I have made some progress.  On January 16 I finished a cross stitch project that has been in the works since 2016.

Wherefore art thou finish

I have to apologize for the photos of her.  They are from my phone and are not the greatest.  For some reason I forgot to photograph her before I put her in for framing.

Wherefore art thou 1

Just look at that large, beautiful bead that was made in Italy!  So beautiful.  It is quite bulky and I wasn’t going to add it, but then couldn’t resist as it is beautiful.

wherefore art thou at framer

Here she is at my Local Needlework Shop, looking to find the perfect frame that is also deep enough to accommodate that bead.  I think I chose well 🙂  Can’t wait for her to go to the framer and come back.  I will be sure to take photos with my camera 😉  She is stitched on 16ct Aida Pink Impatiens from Silkweaver.  All the threads are hand dyed  The pattern is Wherefore Art Thou from Nora Corbett.

I almost have a knitting finish.  I am so close.  Like tomorrow I will probably finish it.

rainbow shawl in progress

This is the Rainbow of Hope shawl from AJHC Wools.  It is the advent shawl that I started on December 1. I have 1 1/2 more leftover micro skeins to add and it will be finished, aside from blocking.  It is so big and so beautiful.  The colors are so scrumptious!  The pattern is available on Ravelry and some kits are available on her Etsy at http://www.ajhcwools.com

A couple of months ago I knitted a baby blanket for a friend, but didn’t want to post it until it had been gifted.  Then I forgot to take pictures.  I do have one photo of it all folded up:

baby blanket

This was made with Plymouth Encore yarn, held double.  The pattern book said all the patterns could be made in 8 hours.  Not true.  Not for me anyway, and I am a pretty quick knitter.  Maybe it could have been made in a weekend if that was all I did.  But it is a blanket that could be made pretty quickly if you were in a pinch to get one done.  I love how it turned out.  It is soft and cuddly and I do love how the striping came out on this one.

Back in November, I went to my LYS and Clevergirl designs was having a pop up shop there.  I just love her bags.  She had 1 bag that she was introducing that day.  Just one of them.  A flat project bag with a clear front.  Perfect for my cross stitch projects!  So I snatched it up and told her I hoped she would make more in the future. Here is the bag I purchased:

project name

Here is the back of the bag.  Lots of squares sewn together.  So cool.

back of proect bag 1

I love these bags so much! And Hubby was with me when I bought this one.  So guess what I received for Christmas?

xmas gift

Hubby asked Kristene of Clevergirl Designs if she would do a bag a month for a year and she said yes.  I was so surprised when I opened this on Christmas morning.  Hubby also gave me this for Christmas:

project bag from christmas

back of christmas project bag

This one holds my current cross stitch project that I am working on.  And on my birthday last week, I received my January bag.

project bag January

back of january project bag

I just love these bags.  the clear window in the front allows me to see what is inside without having to open the bag.  And they are so pretty and Kristine does such a great job on them.

Here is the next WIP project I have picked up to work on getting finished.

Aquamarina

This is Aquamarina by Bella Filipina Designs.  It feels good to be stitching on her again.  I am hoping she will be my first Bella Filipina finish, soon.  I am stitching her on 16ct aida, a one of a kind fabric from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.  I love it and think Aquamarina is going to look amazing on it.

Since last week was my birthday, Hubby took me to my LNS where I belong to their stitchy club.  Included in the membership is a 20% off birthday shopping spree during your birthday month.  So I picked up a few things 😉  Hubby went next door and bought me chocolate and then took me to dinner.  The Clevergirl bag in the back ground arrived in the mail when I got home that day.  I thought it was a nice background for my photo.

Birthday shopping stash

And I finally had my white birthday cake last night 🙂

birthday cake

I also have scrapbooked 20 pages this month.  So I think I have a pretty good start to conquering the things I want to do in 2020.  Do you have a word or a list for what you want to achieve in 2020?