20 Little Bears

 I managed to get 20 more bears finished up for Project Linus. I dropped them off yesterday. About 20 more to finish...

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Spring House Finish

 I needed a "carry along" project to work on away from the house.  And, I also needed something for Spring to to make into a pillowcase for my bench in the kitchen.  After rummaging in my pattern stash I found this old pattern and pulled it out. I wanted the design to finish up a certain size, which was perfect for 14 stitches per inch.  I really don't like stitching on 14 ct but this time it was necessary.  I had an old piece of 14 ct Aida the right color.  I have several new pieces of 28 ct Lugana and Monaco in that color as well for when I stitch 1 over 1, but I couldn't bring myself to cut into either piece!  Crazy, huh?  And...I can see the 14 ct better when away from home without good lighting!!

Spring House

The Needle and I

c. 1987

14 ct. Aida Khaki

2 over 1

And, I've also finished up some bears for Project Linus. 10 were dropped off in February and the other 10 will be going this afternoon. We still aren't meeting as a large group at the library, and haven't for a year now. But some of the group meets at a nearby park in the open, so I will be going this afternoon for a while.

Thanks for stopping by! Stay safe!

During The Stay At Home Time

Well, it has been a while since I've posted!  So much has been happening, hasn't it?

Since having to stay mostly at home I feel like I've been really busy.  The days just seem to fly by!  I never get bored, as there is always something to do.  There is always something to clean, organize, re-organize and clean again!  HA!  Then there are the 3 meals every day and the clean up after...

My stitching has kind of taken a back seat recently...just couldn't settle long enough to really get into it.  But, I did manage to stitch up this cutie from Lizzie*Kate.  A freebie from her website designed for the COVID-19 pandemic.  So, I thought it would be appropriate to stitch it while staying at home.  It's really cute and I have plans to finish it to display in my bowl.

But, when I sit down in the evening after dinner, I have been crocheting more little bears for Project Linus.  (I am wanting to use up all the yarn in my craft room :) ) At last count, I have 70+ bears in various stages of completion.  I love the crocheting, but the finishing...not so much!

I had started a larger piece at the start of the new year.  A sampler that I really do love, but quickly lost interest in.  I think that I'm not enjoying such large pieces right now. Actually, I might be out of the larger designs...haven't really enjoyed one for quite a while now.  Soooo, maybe I'll stick to the smaller ones and clean out my stash and start letting things go...

Here are a few more recent finishes.

Clockwise, from upper left:

Be Kind  Be Happy  Be Well

Lizzie * Kate

c. 2020

Santa with Pineapple

St. Nicholas II

The Prairie Schooler

c. 1992

Old Glory

Little House Needleworks

c. 2014

Our Daily Bread

Lori Markovic/La D Da

c. 2005

I plan to make a little pillowcase for this next one. I'll use it on the kitchen bench.

Jacobean Design # 15

Jacobean Designs

Leisure Arts/Vicki Neil Getchell

c. 1980

Looking back through some of my older posts, I see that I never posted a pic of this crocheted piece.  It was a CAL in 2015, but I worked it in 2016, one block after the other. I really would like to make another one to use as a sofa cushion in the colors of my living room.  

Circles of the Sun

Lilla Bjorn Crochet CAL

c. 2015

Thanks for stopping by!  Stay safe!

A Few More Finishes

I feel like I am so behind with adding pics of my recent finishes!  I've been so busy with...everything!  I'll try to put them in the order that they were stitched.

Santa's Train (part 2)

Ibex Designs

c. 1970's ??

I stitched part 1 a while ago and it can be seen on this post.

 This ornament I stitched for my daughter and SIL for 2019...it is displayed on the backing fabric which has gold sparkles which isn't picked up in the photo:

Christmas Tree

Elizabeth's Designs/JCS Ornaments 2005

c. 2005

This one is for my 5 year old granddaughter who is really into princesses! It looks like an angel with the wings, but the dress and wand and color is all princess to her!!  Also on the backing fabric.

Christmas Magic

Charlotte's Web Needlework/ JCS Ornaments 2010

c. 2010

This cutie is for my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter.  It looks so cute with the snowflakes, beads and the wee red button nose!  Also on the backing fabric.

 Santa's Buddies

Angel Stitchin/JCS Ornaments 2009

c. 2009

I managed to get a bit of crocheting done as well.  These are little purses and the stitch is dragon scale, I believe.  Turned out kinda cute.

This one I stitched for daughter and SIL, as they have moved back to the beach!  This was a fun little stitch.  The shell was one I'd found along the Galveston shore during the spring.  It's mounted on a weathered wooden piece that fit perfectly!  It can be hung or be a stand up.

To The Beach and Back

Needle Bling Designs

c. 2017

Well, that's probably enough for now...I have some more pics to add for 2019...will be back with them to get caught up for the year!!

2017 Smalls SAL finish and a Little Crocheting

Here is the first cross stitch finish of 2017 and the one I stitched for the 2017 Smalls SAL.  This will be finished as a wee pillow for my seasonal dough bowl.

September Schoolhouse

A Prairie Year  Book 13

The Prairie Schooler

c. 1986

And here are little bears that I've crocheted for my knit/crochet group's charity project, Project Linus.  These are pretty quick and are fun to do.  We get lots of donated yarn throughout the year and I have a big box of assorted colors...some are just little bits. I try to use everything up by making stripes.  They are great little "to go" projects, so I try to keep one or two kitted and ready to pick up at a moment's notice!

These two were made for a friend that is having a baby in June.

  
We've gotten lots of snow and rain these past couple of weeks since the beginning of the new year.  Here is a pic from my laundry room window late in the day of the snow covered mountains with low clouds hovering above them.  It's a bit hard to tell where the mountains end and the clouds begin..Our snow down here is about gone.  I would have gone out to take it, but too cold!! 

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Moorland CAL progress

Here's  my progress on the Moorland blanket CAL for the past week.  I've completed 14 stripes out of 20. Part 2 came out yesterday with another 20 stripe colors. I hope to get a bit more done over the weekend, and maybe even get caught up!  I'm not in a big rush because I'm having fun!

A Quick Update

Two days after I last posted I needed emergency surgery to remove my appendix.  And, it happened on a Saturday at midnight!  No fun! But everything went well and I am fine.

Two weeks after that DH and I went on a 3 week trip that we had been planning all summer.  Wasn't sure that we'd get to go because of my surgery, but we just took it easy and I didn't do any heavy lifting, so was OK.  Our destination was England and Scotland.  We'd been to England twice before, but this was the first time to Scotland. We loved it!  Had a lovely trip and got to see a lot. Spent several days on either end of the trip in London, and  made our way to York, Durham and Newcastle, and Edinburgh.

We spent Thanksgiving in CA with daughter, SIL, and our little 2 year old granddaughter.  Hard to believe that she is already 2.  She is so much fun!  And she is so smart and talks up a storm. Each time we go it's so hard to leave for home.

I've been doing some cross stitching but still am enjoying my knitting and crocheting.  I have been following Lucy at Attic 24 for some time, and just love her use of color!  There is a new CAL beginning in January and I decided to order yarn and join in.  My yarn arrived this morning from the UK and the colors are just gorgeous!  I can't wait to start!

 Here it is:

 Came from Wool Warehouse:

 Yarn was packed in a fabric bag:

 

Don't you just love these colors!

 That's about it for now.  I'll be back with some pics of my recent finishes.  Thanks for stopping by!

Catching Up

Here are some of the toys I've made over the last year.  Most are crocheted.  The pink bunny and grey lamb are knitted, and they are all one toy.  It's an inside out toy!  It was more of a challenge, but fun!  I think Grammy's baby girl has enough for now, don't you agree!

Sweaters, hats, socks, more blankies and of course baby UGG boots!

This is most of what I stitched baby-wise during my absence.  I'll be back with a few things I made for myself and also the cross stitching and canvas projects.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Where to Begin?

How do I catch up after being away for more than a year?  Not really sure where to begin, so I'll just start with HI!  For months after moving I was a bit overwhelmed with the move itself and then getting settled in a new city and state which is so different than any other I've lived in.  And, I kinda got away from cross stitching and started knitting and crocheting again.  I think that meeting with a group of ladies that mostly knit and crochet naturally made me want to be doing the same as them.  And, to be honest, it was really good timing for me.  I'd never been able to read patterns and venture into anything more complicated than a very basic scarf, dishcloth, or very plain afghan.  I'd always wanted to try socks, but on my own had no luck.  But, I guess I was somehow motivated at this point and finally learned to knit socks, and lots of other items.  Nothing too complicated, but I feel more comfortable with trying new things!

And the timing...I also have a new name!!!  GRAMMY!!  My beautiful granddaughter was born in October 2014!  Last year was the year of knitting and crocheting all things baby!!  I made socks, sweaters, blankets, hats, and toys.  I am taking a break from all the baby items, as I probably made more than could possibly be used right now!  I'll be making some more as needed, though!

I've been doing some sort of stitching all along and have taken lots of pics, so I'll pick some and gradually add to my posts.  Also, I have had the hardest time actually being able to access my account.  I was ready to post and then couldn't.  Also, have been visiting your blogs, but couldn't even make comments :(   I finally got back on in the last few days.  Whew!  So glad that I didn't have to start all over again.

Since we were having a fall baby, I made her a pumpkin hat! 

I had a request for grey and white blankie:

Tiny socks:

And, with the left over blankie yarn: 2 little hats

I'll be back with more project pics.  Hopefully, real soon!!  Good to be back!