Category: Uncategorized

The Carolyn Wrap
Knitted Wrap · Knitting · Uncategorized · yarn

The Carolyn Wrap

My Time Stitching11 Comments

Hello my blogging friends! How are you on this last day of February? There were 2 ice storms here within a week.. The second started yesterday and this morning everything was encased in ice. The sun is out and the temperatures rose quickly so it has all melted now. More rain, freezing rain, snow weather to come this week and next. It appears that Mother Nature is going to cram a lot of winter into March. So I am wishing for Spring to hurry up and get here.

Back in December, I saw posts on Instagram from @GamerBabeKnits showing a black and white photo of her advent wrap that she designed for Speckled Finc Studios. The black and white photo was so awesome, that I was so disappointed that I was not able to get in on the advent this last year. And then she put a color photo on her Etsy and I just swooned!

Wow! I instantly fell in love with this. The yarns were made special for the advent, so I knew I would not be able to get this colorway. So I contacted a local dyer, Janice, of Adelaide Fiber Company, and asked if she would dye me a fade for this gorgeous pattern. She said she would and I let her do her thing. She sent me pictures now and then of what she was making and I loved the skeins she showed me and let her build it from there. In January she told me she was finished and would be putting them in the mail. I received them on my Birthday!!

I was so excited when I opened the package! Such beautiful colors! I couldn’t wait to get started. So I got started winding some of the minis and getting all of my supplies ready to go.

I wound the first 12 colors. Mostly because I only have 12 mini yarn snugglers and because 12 mini skeins fit perfectly into my Karolyn bag.

Time to get knitting! I want to see what all of these beautiful skeins look like knitted up!

I have one repeat in and I can say that I am loving this pattern! The first 2 colors are so sweet!

Well, 3 repeats in and this is looking so awesome! The pattern repeat is 24 rows and is pretty easy to do. I can even watch TV and knit this.

I can tell you that this pattern is pretty addicting. I also want to see the next color knitted up. My elbow is aching from constant knitting so I am going to had to cut back a little. My plan was to do at least 1 repeat a day or at least 24 rows. 1 New color a day 🙂

This wrap is growing so fast! I am knitting on it as much as I can do in a sitting. And I still love every stitch and seeing every beautiful skein of yarn come to life.

So many beautiful colors! I am loving how the colors change with each pattern repeat.

Down to the last few skeins! I am knitting more than I should be, wanting to get this finished.

It is finished! I LOVE it!! This wrap took me a little over 3 weeks to knit. This photo is before blocking. For those of you who wonder why block? Well, see all the puckers in the pattern from the decreases? And see how it doesn’t lay flat and the lace is sort of hidden in the puckers?

Here it is on the blocking boards. I used blocking wires down the long sides as well as the blocking pins. Now it will lay flat and that lace is opened up and so pretty.

I am absolutely in love with this wrap! I can wear it as a scarf on the colder days and wear it as a wrap on those chilly nights at the beach. The pattern is very well written and also includes a chart as well as a check off list for each repeat. This pattern, The Carolyn Wrap by Yvonne Poon aka Gamer Babe Knitter, is available on Ravelry and Etsy from GamerBabeDesigns. Yarns by Adelaide Fiber Company are available on Etsy.

I can see myself knitting this pattern again in the future. I think it will be a favorite. Do you have a favorite pattern that you have or would create again and again?

Happy Stitching!

Ginny

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?

Shelter In Place and Craft
Bella Filipina Designs · cross stitch · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitting · Mermaids · Project Bags · Uncategorized · yarn

Shelter In Place and Craft

My Time Stitching20 Comments

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.

 

 

 

Hello December
Crochet · cross stitch · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Uncategorized · yarn

Hello December

My Time Stitching20 Comments

Can you believe December is here?  This year has really flown by.  Except for this last month.  But only because I have had my Yarny Advent Calendar for about a month now and have been dying to dive into it!

advent calendar

This is my first time getting a yarny advent calendar.  This year is actually the first time I have heard of these types of advent calendars and just had to try it out.  I love AJHC Wools yarns, so of course I had to purchase her kit.  I actually purchased this over the summer and it was delivered to my local yarn shop last month.  It’s been a long month and I will not lie…I peeked at box#1 days before December 1.  I didn’t actually open the box.  My hubby did.  But I did beg to peek at it.  I couldn’t wait until December 1 to get started.  The kit has 24 micro skeins, all new colors just for the advent.  And finally December 1 came and I finally was able to get started around noon that day.

day 1 of advent calendar

Oh my gosh!!!  Just look at that skein of pastel goodness!! I enjoyed my self care time, knitting 19 rows of the shawl beginning.  Aaaahhhh.  But it went by so quick.  Waiting until the next day to see the next skein and add more knitting is such a long wait!  Here is my where I am at, after Day 5 this morning.

advent knitting day 5

It’s so beautiful!!  I am loving the colors of the yarns and seeing how they blend each day.  How did I ever miss out on this wonderful idea? Have you purchased a yarny advent calendar before?

I have also been working on my granny squares for the Natures Walk Blanket.  I have one more square to crochet up and 11 more to block.

blocking squares

I have enough of these very cool blocking pins from Knitters Pride to block 6 squares at a time.  So I have been switching them out every night.  I was very disappointed the first day I removed pins.  My squares, that were stretched to 6 1/2″, shrunk back to the 6 1/4″ they started at.  I could literally see the block shrink when I removed the pins.  Ugh.  All the work I have done, to be undone.  I thought I was doing something wrong, but I am told by a friend that some yarns have yarn memory.  She said to be sure that all of my blocks are the same size and to continue blocking them.  All of my blocks are between 6 1/4″ and 6 1/2″.  So I am hoping they will all line up ok once I start stitching them together.  Which will be pretty soon!!  I am so excited!  Here are my squares so far:

IMG_5613

The stack on the left has been blocked and lay so flat now.  I can see how blocking helps the stitches lay flat even though they are not blocking to size.  The mauve ones on top look wavy, but they have buds on them that have some dimension to them.  They actually do lay flat except for the buds.

And lastly, I have been keeping up with the 2019 Mystery Sampler from Linen and Threads.  I am on the last border and it is fabulous!!

2019 mystery sampler border

I am hoping to finish this by the end of December.  I’d show you the whole piece now, but the frame that it is on has become a bit wonky and a piece of it broke, so I don’t want to unroll it until I have to.  I don’t remember the name of this frame type.  The rods at the top and bottom are split and have little nails all the way across that you put your fabric into.  I can say I am not a fan of this style and this one will have to go in the garbage when I am done with it. It did serve it’s purpose this year, I suppose.

So that is what I have been up to for now.  I don’t remember what else I have worked on, but I think I have shared my main projects.  What have you been crafting on lately?

For now I will leave you with one of my favorite fall  photos I took on October 28, and then 2 weeks later, our first snow fall of 9″.

fall trees and pool reflection

I love the beautiful reflection of the trees in the pool.

first snow

 

 

Summertime Stitching
cross stitch · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · mystery sampler · Nora Corbett · Sampler · Uncategorized

Summertime Stitching

My Time Stitching21 Comments

Hello my friends!  The summer is getting away from me and I know it’s been a little while since I last posted.  Our basement has come along nicely.  The waterproofing is done, the construction is done, it has been painted and carpeted, finally.  It is furnished with a couple of chairs and tv.  Office furniture has been put together and the computer and printer set up and files in the filing cabinets.  Mostly my cross stitch patterns, but some files, too, LOL.  Book shelves have been put together and books on the shelves.  They were filled pretty quickly with both hubby’s and my book collection.  And my Scrapbook cabinets have been brought down and filled with the scrapbooks.  The only thing left to do is get the doors sanded as they don’t fit now with the carpeting, and go through all the bins and boxes in the garage and bring down what we want stored in the storage room.  That will be a slow process as it has been so hot in the garage, and up and down 3 floors is taking a toll on my knees.  But it will get done.

I have been stitching whenever I get a chance.  Mostly evenings and when I am not so tired.  So I will share what I have worked on the last month or so.

Wherefore art thou progress 3

Nora Corbett’s Wherefore Art Thou came out for a little bit and I got quite a bit done on her.  Hopefully the next time I pull her out I will get her finished.  I am stitching her on 16ct Aida, a one of a kind from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.  I am using all hand dyed threads on this one.

wingspan progress

I haven’t worked on this one in a few weeks, but so far so good on this one.  It is the famous WingSpan Shawl by Kyle Vey.  There are about 45-50 rows on my needles, even though it does not look like it.  I have finished row 24-1 and am looking forward to getting back to this one.  I am knitting this one for someone and maybe I will get it done before X-mas, LOL.    I have ordered yarn from Blue Brick to make one for myself, and hopefully I can get through this pattern without any problems and want to do it again for me.  The yarn I am using on this one is Mirasol’s Qulla in Moonlight colorway.  This pattern is available on Ravelry if you want to give it a go.

mermaids garden mkal

A couple of weeks ago I joined the Mermaid’s Garden MKAL from Softyarn Designs.  At first I thought my knitting was too loose.  I was getting gauge, but it just seemed off for me.  Not sure why, as it is a mystery and  I really didn’t know how it was supposed to look.  So after about the 5th start, I decided to keep going and busted butt to get caught up this week.  I am LOVING this shawl!  I’ve learned some new stitches with this one like Sea Urchins, Little Sea Shells and stitches that look like mermaid scales.

close up of mermaid shawl 2

I can’t wait for Clue #4 to come out tomorrow, and then the final Clue #5 next week.  So there is still time to get in on this one.  It is available on Ravelry. The yarn I am using is Mermaid’s Ass from A Whimsical Wood Yarn Co.  How appropriate, right?  I also purchased some yarn from AJHC Wools in DK in Tawaret colorway to make this one again.  It is a mauve color with some blue/purples specks throughout, but more of a solid color.

2019 Mystery sampler progress

I added the June section (lower left corner) to the 2019 Mystery Sampler from Linen and Threads.  I am stitching this on 16ct Graceful Gray from Wichelt and using DMC 3810 and Gloriana thread in Rainforest.

sunflower pillow progress 2

And in between all the projects, I have worked on the pillow.  I don’t want to show all of my progress because I want it to be a surprise for the recipient.  This one goes slow, with so much confetti stitching.  But it is really growing on me and I am liking the colors right now.  So bright and cheery.

I have also put a tiny few stitches into a new afghan project, but there really isn’t much to show on that one, so I will share when I have more to show.  I have also tried my hand at Tunisian Crochet, but not having a lot of luck with it.  As with all of my crochet, my edges are wonky and I still struggle with where to insert my hook.  I have 2 more classes left, so I’ll see what I can absorb and if it will finally click with me. My teacher, Jen, says I can do it, so I keep trying.  Wish me luck!

So that is what I have been doing with my summer so far.  What fun projects are you working on?

Extra Hour of Stitching
cross stitch · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitting · New stash! · Passione Ricamo · Uncategorized · yarn

Extra Hour of Stitching

My Time Stitching19 Comments

Hello my blogging friends.  This last weekend we turned the clocks back an hour for Daylight Savings Time.  So now it will get darker earlier and be lighter earlier in the morning.  I used my extra hour wisely.  By stitching 😉

Pink princess progress 2

In between laundry yesterday, and with my extra hour, I was able to finish the bottom half of the dress, minus the beads.  This piece is so wonderful to stitch on.  I am loving every stitch and do not want to put it down.  But this morning I put her away so that I can get to stitching on the November section of the Mystery Sampler.  For those seeing this one for the first time, it is Dawn, the Fairy Spirit of Grace by Passione Ricamo.  I am stitching her on 16ct Aida Tintagel from Fabrics by Stephanie.  It truly is a gorgeous piece of fabric.  The next time I pull her out, I do hope to finish her.  I plan on stitching her without the wings, just because I think she looks like a Princess.  My Pink Princess.

This weekend, I also fell off the wagon 😦  After going through all of my knitting and crochet projects and writing them all down and organizing them, I put myself on the “Do Not Buy More Yarn” list.  Well, my local yarn shop was celebrating their 1 year anniversary and having a trunk show with AJHC Wools yarns and a bag show.  I couldn’t resist either! Here is what I purchased:

New yarn stash and shawl pattern

The yarn is from a gal in Michigan who dyes her own yarns.  There were so many beautiful yarns, I had trouble deciding.  But I settled on a peach yarn with orange to rust speckles called “Rhea”.  I will be using it on the shawl pattern which I have been eyeing from Janina Kallio of Woolenberry called Floral.  It is a beautiful lacy shawl with a sweet picot edging. It is available on Ravelry if you are interested.  Woolenberry has the most beautiful shawl patterns.  I can tell this one will take my undivided attention.  No tv watching on this one! And this makes #62 in my stash of projects!  I do have a serious problem, but no judging!

The bag is from Mid Mitten Designs, and I just LOVE the clear window in the front.  There were 3 different size bags, this one being the middle sized one. They are a bit pricey, but are very well made.  It is perfect for holding this project until I am ready to get started on it.  My husband says I can’t start it until I get the other 61 projects done. Ha Ha Ha!  I am so tempted to start it now,  but I will have to wait a bit as I am still having issues with my elbows.  I am trying to be patient, but it is taking so long.

So, how much yarn is in your projects or cross stitch projects are in your stash?  I’d love to hear about them 🙂

 

 

What Have I Been Up To?
cross stitch · Fabric · Hand Dyed Fabrics · knitted cowl · Mermaids · Mirabilia · Shannon Christine designs · Uncategorized

What Have I Been Up To?

My Time Stitching30 Comments

Hello my Blogging friends.  It’s been a little while since I last posted.  In my last post in April, I had noted that I tore the meniscus in my knee.  I had surgery on May 23, and have been going to physical therapy since.  It was a more difficult recovery than I was led to believe.  And Monday I found out that my knee cap is not moving, so that is hindering my progress as far as going down the steps normally and going from standing to sitting and sitting to standing.  So yesterday my therapist taped my knee and I am hoping this will help with the pain in trying to  put more weight on it when bending the knee.  The stairs are the worst and I live in a quad level house.  Ugh. But I am getting around better and have ditched the cane.  Woo Hoo!  Tonight I am going to try to walk the zoo at hubby’s company family night.  We’ll see how much I can do.

But I have been crafting and am now able to sit at my desk to make cards and scrapbook for longer lengths of time now.  And I have been stitching.  Let’s see… where to begin…

WIN_20180622_125537

This has ben my travel project and go to project when I have a few minutes here and there.  It is a going to be a cowl.  The pattern is from Katia and the yarn is Katia’s Funny Rainbow.  When I purchased this back in April on a weekend trip, I wasn’t sure how it would knit up.  But I am so glad I decided to get it.  The yarn is so, so soft!  I am loving this. It is straight garter stitch, increasing a stitch each row on one end.  I love how the striping colors are coming out, too.

WIN_20180622_133457

Next up is the Mermaid SAL designed by Shannon Christine.  The June mermaid is out, but I haven’t gotten to it yet.  Mainly because I have been working on this:

WIN_20180622_130431

The Mystery Sampler from Linen and Threads.  I am working on the June/July section and just loving every stitch of it.  I am stitching this on 16ct Aida, OOAK from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.  It is more of a peach color than shown here.  I apologize for my photos.  I took them with my Surface and they didn’t come out very well.  Anyway, I am using DMC 53 and DMC 310.

Last weekend I picked up this beauty from the cross stitch shop:

WIN_20180622_122706

She is Mirabilia’s Ella, the Frog Princess.  I finished her in 2017, but recently put her in for framing.  And she turned out lovely.  I even picked her up on Mirabilia’s  25th anniversary, so I thought that was so perfect.  Happy 25th Miss Nora!! I can’t believe that I have been stitching Nora’s designs for nearly 25 years!!    I stitched her on 16ct Aida Pandora from Fabrics by Stephanie.

As if I don’t have enough to do… this happened:

WIN_20180622_133804

Yep, I started a new project.  I am stitching Enchanted Mermaid again.  I gave my other one to a dear friend, so I am stitching her again.  This time I am using a hand dyed fabric, 16ct Aida OOAK from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.  I can’t wait to get back to her.  She is so blingy!

And yesterday I received this beautiful piece of fabric in the mail.

WIN_20180622_132603

It is a OOAK 16ct Aida from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.  It is so gorgeous in person.  Now to find the perfect pattern for it.

Well, that is about all I have to update you on for now.  I have signed up for a knitted shawl MAL at a new local yarn shop I found in May.  The first session meets next week, so I will fill you in on that soon.  So what are you crafting on today?

BLOGAVERSARY GIVE-AWAY!
Give-away · Uncategorized

BLOGAVERSARY GIVE-AWAY!

My Time Stitching47 Comments

cake-5yr

Yesterday was my 5 year anniversary of this little ole’ blog of mine!  Wow, how time does fly!  I can’t believe it has been 5 years.  And I have had so much fun and have met so many wonderful people and have been introduced to so many awesome blogs.  So thank you for visiting me over the years and if you are new to my blog, welcome.  I hope to spend many more with you.

So to celebrate, I have a couple of give-aways!  Yay!!!  The first is a cross stitch give-away.  Cross stitch is my passion. And my favorite thing to stitch is mermaids 🙂  So, I have a mermaid pattern from Nora Corbett.  And you can’t have a pattern without a hand dyed piece of fabric.  And I have a beautiful piece from my favorite dyer from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.  It is a piece of 28ct Monaco and is plenty big for just about anything, sized at 20 x 25.

cross stitch giveaway

The second giveaway is a knitting project.  A scrumptious ball of sock yarn called Poems Sock yarn by Wisdom Yarns and a pattern for a Trellis Garter Lace Scarf.

knitting giveaway

All you have to do to be entered for the giveaway is leave me a comment telling me what is your most favorite or treasured craft project that you have made, and which giveaway you would choose; either the cross stitch or knitting.  I’m not sure I can pick a favorite, but if I had to choose one, it would be definitely be a mermaid 😉  I am just not sure which one at the moment.  I will draw 2 names on March 31, 2017.

I do have some updates on my current WIP pieces, but I will post about them tomorrow 🙂  Until then, happy creating and Enjoy Every Stitch ❤

So Many Projects!
Crochet · cross stitch · Fabric · storage bags · Uncategorized

So Many Projects!

My Time Stitching34 Comments

Hello my blogging friends.  Happy March!  Can you believe February passed us by so quickly?  Spring has to be just around the corner for my neck of the woods, though we had a bit of Spring last week with one day reaching 70 degrees!  In February!  Usually a month when we are covered in snow that doesn’t start to melt until that first week of nice spring weather.  So what have I been up to?

ella-progress-2

I have been slowly stitching on Ella.  But that gap at the bottom of the dress is getting close to finishing!  So excited about that.  Then I can move my scrolls up.  I was working on Ella while waiting for my Sullivan thread order to come into my LNS.  Thanks to a wonderful stitching friend, I will be able to continue on my Mystery Sampler possibly tonight 🙂

mystery-sampler-threads

Yep, a wonderful stitcher in the Mystery Sampler SAL group offered to send me 3 skeins of London Fog so that I can continue stitching.  I am hoping to pick it up tonight, if not tonight, then on Sunday.  Thank you so much, Heather.  You are a sweetie!

And did you happen to notice the cute scroll covers on my scroll frame?  Yep, I had to buy a new bag and covers to fit this project.  Let me show you a better picture.

new-deanna-bag

My new Deanna bag and grime guards.  They have little birds and Eiffel Towers on them.  And the lining is a beautiful pink!  Love them!!  If you are interested in Frame covers or bags for your scrolls or Q-snaps, check her out at Deanna’s Frame Covers and Storage.  She is awesome.

temperature-blanket

I have also re-started my Temperature blanket and it is going much better.  I switched to all half double crochet, since that is easier for me to keep track of the stitches.  Though I have already lost 4 stitches somewhere.  Probably in the ends, but I am not going to worry about it.  Carole gave me a tip:   put a marker in my last stitch, so I know where to put my hook when I turn.  It has helped tremendously.  Thank you, Carole.  I am on row 25 so far.  I am not too fond of the colors, but it is winter.  I can’t wait to get to some happy colors.

temperature-blanket-yarn

Just look at all those yummy colors I will be getting to someday 🙂  All Stylecraft DK yarn.  Love working with this yarn. So soft and doesn’t split when I crochet or knit. I still have a lot of catching up to do.  Row 25 means that is the 25th of January.  I should see some nice color changes when I get through February.  As I said in the beginning of my post, we have had some nice, spring like temps.

And lastly, let me show you some pretty fabrics I received last week:

more-fdf-fabrics

Sorry about the sideways photo.  But they are beautiful any way you look at them. All are from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.  So pretty!  I had plans to use the one on the right for Mirabilia’s Snow Queen, but it is a bit too small.  I didn’t have anything in mind for any of them when I bought them.  I am sure I will find something wonderful to put on all of them some day.  If you would like to see more of Fantasy Dyed Fabrics, check out her facebook page and Etsy shop.  She posts new fabrics at least once a week, but I will warn you, they sell out almost immediately.

At the end of this month, my little old blog will be 5 years old!  I can’t believe I have kept up with it for 5 years!  Not as much as I would like, but as much as I can.  And it has been so much fun and I have met so many wonderful people. So watch out for my next post.  I will be posting a give-away to celebrate my 5 wonderful years 🙂

Well, that is about all I have to share today.  I am also getting ready for a scrapbook fundraiser that I give a make n take class at, twice a year.  As you can see, I have just a little going on, and can you believe that I want to add a few more projects to my ever growing list?  But not until at least next week 😉  So how many projects are you juggling these days and are they all the same hobby or all different hobbies?  I’d love to hear all about them.

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!