This is Day 1 of Arne & Carlos' Christmas Stocking SAL. The stocking starts with the toe, then will continue each day with 6 rows being released. This makes the stocking very accessible and easy to complete! Each day has a download. I really want to start, but my yarn isn't here yet. I'm hoping it arrives soon so that I can easily catch up.
I am looking forward to opening my Advent Calendars. I'm trying to ignore the boxes and haven't even peaked. That's quite unusual for me. Lately, though, I've been working on my WIPs and trying to keep busy so I don't bother with the boxes until it's time. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
Another thing I have been wanting to do (and I'm really terrible at) is general crafting. Painting, clay, wood, etc. I have been looking around a bit, to find something I can work on. I have to search the net for some free patterns. Hopefully, I can find some cute things to make. I really don't understand the desire to do general crafts but it seems to get stronger every day.
My kitty must have some desire to work on some yarn crafts, too. I had a nice and quite new skein of Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool that I had set aside in what I thought was a safe place. Notice the word "thought". Yup, my kitty decided that the skein was nice and tasty and left me with a skein that now looks like this:
I love my cat. I love my cat...
My daughter just got back from Japan. She said it is a gorgeous place to visit and the people are so nice. She said that is one country she definitely wants to go back to. I most definitely understand that want.
Christmas has come and gone with everyone being content with how the day went. It was a quiet day that started with over a 2-1/2 hour phone call from my daughter. I wish she wasn't so far away, but she loves it where she's at. That's all that matters.
During the phone call, she had us open our gifts (so much for not exchanging any!) and she gave me the most adorable candle I've ever seen! It's called Snowman Campfire Candle and is by Forever Ricky - a shop on Etsy. She also gave me a candle care kit complete with trimmer, snuffer and an USB lighter.
My son gave me a generous gift certificate and hubby gave me my traditional House Mouse calendar and date book. Yes - I'm totally spoiled!!
There are only 5 days left in 2024. The year has gone by so quickly. Usually, I take this time between Christmas and New Years to reflect on this year's accomplishments and plans for next year. I started early this year and I've been doing that over the past month. The last 2 years haven't been the best - family health issues, the deaths of both family members and friends and 2 years of failed garden were tough but I'm looking forward to turning the page and starting a new year. I have my new planner started and my list of goals to complete. Here's to a new, hopefully better year to come.
The numbers were called in WIPGO - numbers 11 and 20. Number 11 for me is Lanarte's Romantic Picnic that I started stitching 1-6-2006. I haven't really touched that piece since I had to put it aside for a new model that had come in. Number 20 is Curtis Boehringer's Needlewoman's Murder Mystery that was started on 1-3-2005. I actually put a few stitches in that piece earlier this year when I was playing the 2024 BRR-ingo Challenge. I put it aside when I first started stitching it, as I heard there was an error on one of the charts. I set it aside until I could find out more about the error and correction and again, a model came in to be stitched and I never really got back to it until I decided to put it on my BRR-ingo card. Since that was a daily call, I was only able to put a couple hours of stitching on it. As much as I loved playing BRR-ingo and other games with that group, I've decided that I wanted to focus a little more time on these pieces. I'll see which method/group works best for me.
I must say I'm excited about participating in WIPGO and WIPocalypse. I've had so many pieces that I started because I really wanted to stitch on them only to have to put them aside to work on a model that arrived. Some were planned, some just came in whenever the shop or designer needed it done. Other times it was a gift or request that would make me set aside my personal stitching. After sending the model back or finishing the gift, I seemed to not have the desire to pick the beloved piece back up and would move on. There was a time when I was just stitching freebies or smalls just so I could just finish something for me. Unfortunately, those all still sit in a box waiting to be fully finished.
I will be posting before and after photos each month. My goal is 3 days per piece, but I'm hoping for more than that. I want some finishes next year. I need to move these old WIPs to the FO pile!
Christmas has arrived and I still haven't figured out how it came so quickly. It seems like we just finished putting up the straggling vegetables from the garden, then blinked and it was Christmas. I guess I'm not the only one that says that, because everyone I've spoken to has had the same feeling. One of my dear friends said two days ago that she still doesn't have all her shopping and preparations done. That's so unlike her!
We have decided that since we are all adults in our family, that we wouldn't exchange gifts. I know for a fact that no one has kept to that decision. We will get together and exchange things after dinner. The menu has a huge beef roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, stuffing and cranberry sauce. I didn't make any pies this year as we have so many other things to eat. Maybe for New Years Day.
I am looking forward to the posting on WIPGO today. This is my first time participating and I'm looking to see what will be chosen for the first 2 WIPs.
I can't believe Christmas has already arrived. It's been a long year full of heartbreaking news of a loved one with terminal cancer and the near loss of my hubby. With all this going on, it seems that Christmas has snuck up on me - even though I've been trying to prepare for it.
To be honest, my heart's not in it. Gift purchasing seemed like more of a chore than anything. I had a hard time with Christmas carols this year because I could see and hear my Mom singing and dancing around the kitchen as she was helping us decorate cookies. It made me miss her so much. Quite a surprise, as she's been gone for 28-1/2 years. I don't know why it hit so hard now.
My daughter lives on the other coast so we don't get to celebrate with her. My son arranged for a family Zoom where we will all be opening our presents together. I miss her as well, but have settled in with the idea that she won't be coming home. She loves it where she is. Sadly, we haven't seen her in person in more than two years. We had plans of visiting her his past summer, but plans changed drastically with hubby's emergency surgery. He's still on the road to recovery, so we'll play it by ear.
I wish you a happy and healthy Christmas. May it be full of family, friends, love and good food. (hey - nothing better than a good home cooked Christmas dinner!)
My Christmas list has grown significantly over the past couple of years, and I have been searching for something useful and "different" to make for those on my list. I found a very interesting cowl on Ravelry, and knew I had to make it! It looked quite complicated although it was listed as being super easy to make. On Ravelry, the pattern is available for purchase as well as a link to a video. I viewed the video to see if it was something that I'd like to try and found that I really didn't need to purchase the pattern, as the designer, Karen Valladares, gives all the counts as well as very detailed instructions in her video!
After viewing the video, I just had to dig out a Lion Brand Mandala cake and start hooking right away. I chose the Unicorn colorway and found in no time, I had the beginnings of a most odd looking cowl developing. My husband took one look at it and asked exactly what was I making and who on earth was I making this odd thing for?!!
I have to admit, it does look quite strange in the stitching process, but the beauty is in the piecing together. I continued until I reached about 35 inches, then finished it off. I did have someone in mind when I picked the colorway, but after finishing the length, I'm not sure if I'll still give it to her or someone else. The person I made it for loves the color pink, but there's not a lot of pink on it.
After braiding the loops together, the cowl had quite a different look. Hubby certainly liked it better than the wild loop look, but he dislikes the colorway. Personally, I think it's pretty, and even though it's called Unicorn, it makes me think more of Hello Kitty. That's why I thought about someone else - because she's a Hello Kitty nut and has things in her wardrobe that will match the color scheme of this cowl. Oh the decisions!
The cowl is finished except for weaving in the 2 ends and adding buttons. I'm going to have to go to Michael's, JoAnn's and/or Walmart to see if I can find buttons the correct size and color to match. I hope the recipient will love it as much as I loved making it. It should be warm and easy to put on and take off without messing up one's hair. I love cowls, but the one thing I dislike is how easy it is to muss your hair when taking it off.
If you'd like to make your own Braids Crochet Scarf Cowl, I've included the video below. If you prefer to have a written pattern, you can find Karen's instructions for sale here.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Happy Holidays!
The past few days were busy but filled with wonderful things: family, friends, great food, and much love and laughter. As much as I love the holidays, I am always glad when things come to a close so I can get back to a nice normal and boring life. A party person I am not.
Can you believe it? Not one piece of new XS stash for Mom for Christmas this year. Do you think that's a hint that I need to stitch some of what I have? LOL No complaints, though, as I got a lot of lovely and well thought out presents. One of the nicest things I got was some hand-made stitch markers for my knitting. DD made them all herself.
Actually, DD made all her presents this year. She miscalculated her time though, and didn't get all her knitting projects done, so she gave the WIPs with the promise of finishing them. She said as soon as they are done, she's starting her projects for next Christmas. Hmmmm - sounds like something I suggested she do this past year, but she was sure she had enough time. :)
I gave DS the Gettysburg kit from Dimensions that he really wanted. I thought that I would be stitching it, but he totally blew me away by telling me he wanted to do it himself. It's not a small piece by any means 12" x 14" on 18 ct. It really is a neat piece. I got lucky, and found the CrossStitcher issue 194 at Borders. It has a sepia tone pattern of Captain Jack Sparrow in it, so I had to get it to stitch for DD. (That is, unless she, too, wants to stitch it herself.)
I did get a bit of time to stitch, even with all the activities, and am thrilled to post this WIP. A Mother's Work is almost finished. All that needs done is back stitching and some lettering - plus a few half stitches to do the bubbles. I'm hoping to be able to post a finish tomorrow.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the fold in the banding (where momma mouse is) will come out when it's washed and pressed. Folds and hoop marks are one of my biggest gripes about aida.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Shopping is Finished
Christmas is almost here, and all my shopping is finished. All gifts have arrived safely and with lots of time to spare. Yes, internet shopping is definately the way to go in my book. The kids are finishing up on their homemade gifts, and we have started baking the cookies. The house smells sooooo good these days.
WIP
From the Heart Needle Roll is so close to being done. I've only one band and part of one to go. DD used all the fiberfill up, so I won't be able to finish the roll until after we get more. That's ok though.
New Project Start
DH bought me a couple of House-Mouse Designs kits for Christmas last year, and I never started any of them. I overheard him talking one day about them and wondering if I liked them because I didn't do any of them. So, on Saturday, I pulled one out and started. He saw me stitching it, and said he was just thinking about them the other day. Oh really? What a coincidence! LOL!! This is a Banner kit put out by Dimensions called "A Mother's Work".
