First 2020 Finish and New Start chit chat!

I'm so glad to be done with my project!

 

I'm happy with how it turned out! I kind of lost a month due to health issues, so I can't be too hard on myself for this being my first finish of the year I guess.

Now, I'm attempting another go at Notforgotten Farm's Flag Folk. I really don't like the red and blue that is used. I think the blue is too light and the red too orange (for my taste only!). So I may swap those for some DMC colors. And I don't like stitching one full "x" at a time because the rows don't match up when you go back the other way, lol. So I don't think I'll be doing that either.
I tried to start this on the "Murky" fabric from PTP, but dang. It's 36 count linen and I just had the WORST time trying to see this. I use readers in strength of 3, so I guess I need to move up. But man, there was just no way. Sooooooo...........

I dyed my own version of "Murky". Tell me what you think. Here is the original.

PTP Murky

And here is my own version of this gorgeous fabric in 16 ct. Aida.

My own hand dyed version on 16 ct. aida

I'm really happy with it. For anyone that wants to know, I used RIT Taupe, and Charcoal Gray, then mixed some Navy Blue in with the Charcoal Gray.

My wonderful Momma send me a sweet pandemic survival present.

I have the Clover hooks, but wanted to keep another set by my be and I really wanted that blush pink T-Shirt yarn.....yay! Such a sweet thing for her to do. We love her so much, and I treasure our relationship so much. I need to find a little something special for her as well.

Take care, be well,, and I'll be back soon with an update on my Flag Folk project! Until then,

Nearing the finish line! How are we this week?

I hope everyone is doing well, and staying healthy. This is a bit of a frightening time, isn't it? A few days ago, everyone was saying stay inside. This morning, some government officials are now saying "gee we can't sustain this, so we're seeing how we can get everyone back to work." Hunh? My head is spinning. 

So, instead of a long rambling post about the government, lets get down to stitching updates! I am on the home stretch of this pattern. The ONLY thing left to do is the snow below the house, which I have started on!

Let me not get too excited until that last stitch, however. Hopefully it'll be done this week. Because I really don't want to drag this snowy piece into April.

I also made another crochet basket. I think my other one was completed inside out. It's still cute, but I did another one with a bulkier yarn, and I love this one too!

It's a fun little pattern! It takes only an hour or an our and a half to complete one of them. I see more in my future.

I'm working on a new crochet pattern too, called the Little Meringue Shawl.

Lots of people have used the Sheepjes Whirl cakes on this one, but I picked up a nice, and nearly identical one at Hobby Lobby a couple weeks ago. It's the same blend as Sheepjes and very lightweight. It's coming along nicely I think.

Take care of yourselves and your loved ones out there. Be gentle with one another, and make sure people know you love them. It's so important while we are all isolating ourselves. FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, or whatever you can do to connect, laugh, check in, and keep up!

Meanwhile, I'll be here stitching! Until next time,

How's everyone doing? Crochet and stitchy updates!

I spent today inside just stitching. Had a stressful work week, and I really needed the break. Plus, with all the virus talk out in the world, I figured I'd keep to myself today. Normally, I'd have been out and about, probably having lunch with my mom and talking or going to a crafty store. But instead, we chatted on the phone about yarn we saw online, sharing links, and photos over email. I'm certainly not going in to total lockdown, but I will rethink where I want to go, and how often.

Woodlawn needlework show has been suspended. Don't know if we'll make it up there. But hopefully we will visit In Stitches soon, regardless. I want to put together a list of a couple projects to kit up and get my fabric and floss there. What a bummer to maybe miss the show this year.  We were also scheduled to go see Celtic Woman tomorrow. Mom declined to go (don't blame her a bit), but I got the news this morning that the concert was cancelled and they won't be back until 2021. Sad about that too, but safety first.

Here is my Christmastide update! I will be done SOON! I can see the light at the tunnel's end!

Last night, I got the itch to make a little crochet basket. I will get some tshirt yarn and make a bigger one, but I just did this one from worsted weight and it turned out super cute!

I mean, seriously??!! How adorable? I bought the pattern on Etsy, and you can find it HERE. It was really easy and I finished it in about two hours. I just took my time so I didn't have to rip any rows out. It paid off.

With this virus making the news, we should all probably be able to finish lots of WIPs, learn new skills, read some books we'd been putting off, or maybe even write some emails, or snail mail letters to people. I have the best intentions of what I'd like to do with some down time, but I'm not going to be hard on myself if I don't do any of it. You just have to take life day by day and try to enjoy the time we have. Newsflash: it IS limited. So, be good to everyone, especially yourselves. Do some online shopping, check out YouTube or some new Netflix series. Snuggle in, and wait it out!

Until next time,

Stash and stitchy update

Received a tiny bit of stash from one of my stash groups on facebook. I'd been wanting both these for a while now.

I just love them.

Wee house appearing in Christmastide!

With the complete lack of winter this year, I am really wanting to be done with this one. Hopefully in the next couple weeks, I will be. I need to move on to something spring or summery. Goodness knows, I have more than enough to choose from.

Stitching just makes me so happy. I enjoy so much the pulling of thread from back to front, seeing the design take shape and just meditating on my stitches while I go. I do the same with crochet. I'd like to do some embroidery this year too. And watercolor painting! My wonderful mom got me a sweet watercolor book for Christmas and I need to start trying some every day.

Recuperating the past week and a half (with a couple complications-nothing too serious), has given me the opportunity to think about my goals, and I'll be looking over them to see what's up in the que next for me to concentrate on.

We did have a glorious, fiery sunset the other night that I wanted to share. It took my breath away, even through the trees.

I hope everyone has a lovely stitchy week upcoming! Until next time,