Thistles and Spells, on to the border!

I can't believe how quickly I've moved on this one! I think it's looking good, and I'm officially beginning the border today.

Now, I've changed her dress to be straight all the way down. I loved the design, but I was never keen on the bubble butt this little witch had. So I just took the dress all the way down instead of big around the hips and skinny around the legs. I think it really looks good.

Work has been so busy this week. And life has been busy too! My son started a new job with his company (HUGE promotion!). His girlfriend, Tiara, had her young siblings staying with us this week for a vacation visit and I think they had fun. She took them to all kinds of great places like a bounce house, a jumping center and the movies. They are too cute. 

It's been a bit much for my little Jenny, lol.

I've also been intermittently working on a ripple crochet scarf in some pretty colors. This was an early pic, as I've gotten lots more done on it by now. I love these yummy fall colors. You can find the free pattern HERE.

And a shout out to one of my visitors, Joanne. She read my post from the Woodlawn needlework show, and send me a magazine that had one of the patterns I NEEDED to find (I had no idea what it was or where it came from!). She had some eagle eyes and was so kind to send it to me. I tell you, cross stitch friends are the best, aren't they? Very kind and sweet of her.

I hope everyone has a great weekend, and gets lots of stitching done. I'll try to work on this border and then I have a new project brewing, so I need to get working on it soon! Until then,

Thistles & Spells Progress!

So happy with my new start! The fabric is so pretty and the pattern is so fun to work up.

 Made an eye appointment for a little over a week from now. I'm a bit nervous about what he'll say. My left eye is getting worse all the time. I'm sure my cataracts are no better than three years ago, lol. He said I had five to eight years of good sight left before I'd have to have something done, but I'm feeling like I'm on the shorter end of that estimate. I'll be stitching till I can't stitch no more!

It's hot as literal hell here. My goodness. I would love to be sitting outside to stitch at some point, but dang, there is no relief in sight for at least 10 days or more! Stay hydrated if you are in VA. Whew.

So, is blogging dead? Do people like the flosstube thing better nowadays? Give me opinions! I like the flosstube videos too, but I just don't have that amount of time to devote to watching. I suppose I could listen while I work--however, looking at all the goodies is what it's all about and some people have videos that are an hour or more, regularly!

Have a good weekend, and 'till next time,

New Project Picked Out and Fabric Dyeing !

After shopping in my stash, I decided upon Thistles and Spells by Stacy Nash. It shows it as a pinkeep, but I'll be framing this one when I'm done. I had purchased some fabric for this, a linen, but it was 28 count, and I wanted something smaller. I've really begun to enjoy a smaller count and only using one strand of floss. I had only ever stitched on either 14 count or 28 count, unless it was a kit or something. You'd think that with my eyesight going the way it is, I would opt for larger count, but I really, really, like stitching with one strand.

I dyed my own 16 ct. aida again! It was originally a piece of oatmeal, and I overdyed it with some light brown. While I loved the color, it wasn't going to let that apple cider (gold) floss pop off the fabric. So I mixed up some gray and overdyed it again and it's really beautiful! I think I was a little too pleased with myself, lol.

If you haven't tried dyeing your own fabric, linen or aida, please consider it. If you get a piece of cheap aida and you ruin it totally, you haven't lost much money at all, and it'll give you so much confidence to try it again, I promise! This is probably the fifth or sixth piece I've done and it is such a fun thing, and you get something that is truly your own! If you want to try it and have any questions, please just reply and I will get back to you with whatever advice I can!

Until next time,

Pineberry Lane Hurrah is DONE!

Another finish! She turned out too cute!

Not quite sure what I'm going to start next, but maybe the Flag Folk by Notforgotten Farm. I'll see. I have so much to choose from. That is a wonderful problem to have.

We did absolutely nothing for the 4th and it was great. It rained here most of the day and the kids set off some fireworks in the back yard. Pretty nice too! They enjoyed it, that's what matters.

Until next time,