off to a good start

I have a couple of finishes to share with you this week.  Lately, I've been in a stitching mood, like cross stitch.  Mostly because I want the finished product, ha!  I really love the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery patterns and follow them on Instagram.  Right now one of their new patterns is Trick or Treat Costume Club.  I dig it, but know for myself I need a quicker project.  I saw that there was a smaller pattern similar to the bigger one in the Halloween special issue of Just CrossStitch magazine.    

It turned out so cute!!!  I was going to just clip it on this little pedestal I have on my entryway table.  But, then I remembered seeing some people make little cushions with little patterns.  I did add rick rack around the edges and a ribbon loop.  So, the magazine pattern had a light grey fabric but I could not find any grey cross stitch fabric locally and was too impatient to order any! ha! Due to using black I had to rethink the black bits in the pattern.  So the girl's costume I did a light grey and then the bats I decided lime would be fun.

 So this next project I finished yesterday.  It's funny, while I was knitting socks I was trying to hurry up and finish so I could start a little animal.  The last week I've been hurrying to finish this little mouse so I can start socks! ha

I've made this pattern before basically.  It's the Mrs. Bakery Bear pattern by Kay Jones of the Bakery Bears podcast.  In the previous incarnation I altered the bear pattern to a kitten.  I thought I'd be making another kitten when I started this pattern.

I think I've said before that I feel like a pattern "speaks" to me while I'm making it.  I know that makes me sound crazy.  But, while I'm knitting, crocheting or sewing a doll or animal I start to think of it's story.  Which then influences how the stuffie is made.  This one did not really have a story, which is why it took me until I had finished all the pieces except the nose and ears.  She also does not have a name yet which is also unusual for me.

I'm really pleased with her nose.  I followed the pattern for the bear and thought I'd see if I could make it pointy like a snout.  I did a couple extra decrease rows and that worked!  Then, I stitched the light pink across the point several times to fill it in and then went round to shape it.  The little smile is really what made her personable!  

And the ears.  How sweet are they?  The modification I made on these were stitching them in stockinette instead of garter.  I knew I was going to line them so I wanted the outer part of the ear to be more like the rest of the body, which is stockinette.  I thought about lining them with felt but then changed my tune to fabric.  This has the tiniest rosettes.  I sewed some half circles into the middle of the ear and then pulled the edges towards the center to kind of gather the ear, then sewed them to the head.  I think it worked well.  I'll update once I get the dress finished.

So, I know it's Fall but today really feels like Winter already!  We've had rain, hail and currently it is 40 degrees out!  Brrrrrrr.  I did catch this rainbow in my back yard!  It was a full rainbow but since I was pretty close could only get a portion.  So pretty!

cozy days

When I was younger and the older folk would say things about how quickly time passes, I thought they were nutso.  ha.  My how age and perspective changes those thoughts!  This week flew by.  The summer flew by.  I understand phrases like "trying to stay in the moment".  But, dang, how easy it is to get caught up in the rush of the day to day.

So!  Last weekend I made the quilt top for my giant vintage sheet star quilt.  Yesterday I quilted that bad boy up!!  I did larger free motion than I usually do because I just wanted this done.  Originally I was going to do some sort of straight lines but then that sounded like I would have to use to much brain power and the meandering squiggles of stippling just felt easy.

So I'm sharing this picture because I think it's important to see the mistakes and learn from them!  I got the whole thing done, flipped it over and found this mess.  Now, it's not terrible, no.  Compared to my early quilting is is nothing.  But, I was out of spray basting and just used safety pins.  And I used a vintage sheet for the backing and those cotton/poly blends can be squirrelly! Basically I didn't pay as much attention as I could have.

But guess who cares?  NO ONE!  ha!  Cuz this is a couch quilt to (try) keep Rocky furs off the cushions.

I used another sheet for the binding, a fun hot pink.

And, here it is in use: 

Rocky's rumpus just kills me, he's so cute!  I like to tell him that I wish he could just relax sometimes.  Like, take a chill pill or something!  

Ok.  In other news and happenings this week.  I finally ordered this book and got it Thursday: 

I've been reading the author's blog for awhile now, Can you stay for dinner?, and I really like her writing.  She's super descriptive and conversational.  Basically she was very overweight growing up, alcoholic father, absent overworking mother, brother escaping, explosive at times family dynamic.  I forget what age, maybe 20, she lost 135lbs and so far has kept it off.  So, she's very honest about her family life - puts it out there.  It's also clear she loves her family.  She's just telling it like it was from her perspective and how that affected her.

  

 I also finally finished the July (!!!) frame for my Storytime Sampler.  Oh man I'm so behind!  This one is the Lady of Shalott.  So the only reason I even know about this poem is because in Anne of Green Gables she recites the poem and gets in a boat to float down the river to act it out.  I only made two modifications from the pattern.  One is that I gave her a somber expression instead of a smile.  The other is that after reading the poem it says she is wearing a pearl crown, so I added little french knots to look like pearls.

Also, I've been knitting away on my Duchess shawl.  I am just about to start the last eyelet section, then there is one last garter section and the border to go.  I moved it up to my longer circular needles.  This yarn is so squishy and pretty.  I think once it's blocked, it will suit the pattern better as you'll be able to see the eyelet sections more clearly.

Today is overcast and was rainy this morning so I'm being lazy and cozy.  I have a chili in the crock pot.  I soaked the beans last night thinking it sounded good and then when I woke up to rain I was like perfect!  

first bit of Fall

Since I got that dresser set up in the spare room I've been determined to get the room put together into a functional guest room.  I went through the rest of the boxes and sorted out stuff I no longer use.  And I found this little llama!!!!  I love this llama.  Love.it.  It was a gift from Scott.  I have no idea where he came up with it...but he knew how much I've always loved llamas and that it would make me smile :)  I thought it had gotten lost or tossed somewhere along the say and a few months ago I looked high and low for it but didn't find it.  I had tucked it into a box with picture frames!  It is now perched atop the dresser.  Months had sort of munched it's fleece and yarn poms.  I am thinking maybe I'll make some new little poms to dress it up?

I just have to share this picture of my Rocky dog.  This is his thing, he eats laying down.  He does drink standing up, apparently eating, though, is too exhausting!

I've been picking the pears from the tree in the back corner of the yard.  They are small, relatively pest free fruit!  I just get the ones I can reach on the low branches.  The ones up high are pretty big!  It's been a treat.

All weekend I've been super lazy.  Kind of.  Like I've done the laundry and things around the house that need done but not the organizing I had planned in the craft house.  Instead I distracted myself with stitching!  I honestly don't know the last time I cross stitched on my Story time Sampler.  But, I'm now 4 months behind on the frames.  

I got stuck on the Peter Pan month, which was June's frame.  I really liked the frame except it didn't have Tinkerbell!  So I was waiting to see what the other people stitching came up with.  The cool thing about Instagram is that you can #(hashtag) your pictures and they go into a pool of similar pictures from other people.  So there's a pool for story time sampler stitchers and usually there are lots of cool modifications where I can get ideas.  This time there were maybe 3-4 Tinks.  So I got stuck.  But, I've come up with a plan to modify the pattern so was inspired again.  Plus, I need a break from knitting.

This week we've had a definite dip in temps - 40 in the morning and maybe 60-ish in the afternoon.  The air has a brisk, icy chill to it.  So I put the first flannel backed quilt on my bed today.  My lightweight summer quilt is just not warm enough at night.  This is the first time I've used this quilt!

I hope you all have a great week!

fat camp and wips

So there's a wellness incentive program from the hospital I work for that we've been calling "fat camp".  Fat camp started this week for me.  We did a series of screening labs and entered in body measurements and answered health and lifestyle questions.  Then were sorted into two groups, green (fatties) and blue.  The green group, if they choose to, can participate in the program.  It's funny because my labs are better than my super svelte friends!  But, alas, my girth has landed me in the green (fatty) group.

The first appointment was with the doctor, going over health history.  Very easy for me as I really am healthy.  Second appointment was yesterday with the therapist.  That one was also easy for me because I know a lot of the whys of my obesity.  I know when I started gaining and I know why.  I've gained 40 lbs since Scott died.  I was overweight before that and now it's just too much.  So, I feel like I'm a pretty straightforward person, right?  It's really about motivation for me - I know what to do, its just the actual doing of it.

I really liked this therapist.  I feel like she 'got' me.  So, the homework she gave me makes total sense and is also really hard for me.  She said she wants me to work on my negative self talk.  Start to be aware of it and why and reprogram.  Huh.  Yep.

It's one of those things that I've heard before but maybe it wasn't the right time for me to really hear it.  I have noticed that I am pretty hard on myself. And my first reaction to difficult things is 'nope I can't do that' or 'I can't afford that'.  And, then lo and behold, I do figure things out.  On some things I see other people do things and think I can do that and then become determined to do whatever it is.  Like quilting or knitting two socks on one needle.

So we'll see what happens.  I'm pretty excited, actually, to have the help.

In other news, I've finished the March frame for the year long stitch along from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery .  It's Sherlock Holmes!  Which you know I love so I really took my time adding in extras that I felt reflected the stories, and the newer UK version of Sherlock.  There's an instagram community that has been super fun!  People have been adding their pictures to the pool with the hashtag #storytimesampler and I've gotten great ideas from there.  There are so many clever and talented stitchers out there!

 This week I'm going to try and knit a little more than I have been.  I've been knitting on breaks at work but that's pretty much it!  Here's an update of where I am currently:

I really like the stripes!  

stitching some more

Well this week started off with a bang!  Well, more of a crunch.  I was in a car accident Monday night and was pretty shaken up by it.  I was very lucky though, just driving through a 4 way stop intersection and the guy who hit me wasn't going very fast.  I did hit my head on the window so went to ER to have it checked along with my neck.  I now have radiologic proof that there is a brain!!  

So, I have been taking it easy.  I am now best friends with a heating pad.  I still have a bit of a brain fog but am way less sore than I was.  God has taken care of me.  My car still drives.  It is munched in the front but all in all I'm not going to worry about this.

I've been stitching and hanging out on the couch a lot with the heating pad and my pooches.  Here's how far I've gotten on the Stitchalong.  Not far.  This is January's frame and February has already come out.  I'm not worried about it though, just stitching as I can.  I have to say I bought that little needle minder from Etsy after seeing it on someone else's work and I love it!  It's magnetic and I've also been using it to keep the pattern right next to the work.  

Anyway!  What I was going to tell you about the needle minder is that it was a great online shopping experience!  I buy a lot of things online so I can safely say this was special.  I received the package really quickly for one, two it was enclosed in a super cute thank you card that was taped with pretty washi tape and a handwritten thank you from the shop owner!!!!!  Such thoughtful things.  Here's the link: Knitting Geisha on Etsy.  And no, I'm not being paid to say that or getting anything free, just thought I'd share a great thing.

I've been stewing on trying two at a time socks.  On one needle.  I've watched a couple youtube tutes.  I stalled a bit telling myself I needed to have a ball winder to make two balls.  Then watched a youtube tute on how to wind your own center pull ball.  Hopefully this time won't be disastrous like the last time I wound my own!  Eeeek.  BUT!  I thought, quit stalling!

So, there you go.  Two toe beanies on one needle!  They are actually from the same skein and if I cared I'd have made sure the colors started at the same spot but - eh.  I'm just stoked that I'm doing it, you know?  It's definitely different than my double points.  I really love my double points but I am determined to at least do one pair this way.

By the by, this is the yarn that my Mom found at a thrift store!  What are the chances?  It's a beautiful Opal yarn that's called Fairies and Elves.  It's perfect.  Thanks Mom!

new to instagram

I got a new toy!  I had been resisting buying a new ipod for sooooo long.  I just couldn't justify the expense since I have an ipod already that I love.  I have a little ipod shuffle which has been perfect for me!  Plus, Scott bought it for me so it's sentimental to me as well.  But!  I mentioned to Jan that I was thinking about it and she said her daughter wanted to sell her older model....which they get me a great bargain.  And, now I had no excuse not to be on instagram as well!  So I've been playing with it this week, getting used to it.

My regular camera is so much better for pictures but I haven't figured a way to transfer pictures from computer to ipod.  It might not be possible.  It's kind of fun though to just snap a quick picture of what's going on right that minute and share it.  So, this is what has been going on this week:

I'm re-watching Gilmore Girls.  I'm on season 6, which is not my favorite.  The two main characters are a mother and daughter and I really enjoy their relationship and banter and the beginning of this season they aren't talking to each other at all.  So up until about 1/2 way though the season it's missing that camaraderie.

I have been working on my year long stitch along, Storytime Sampler.  I'm pretty slow at it!  But, it's starting to take shape and that makes me happy. 

I have such an itch to cast on a new pair of socks!  I can't believe I don't have anything on my needles.  But!  The reason is that I want to try 2 at a time socks and I need to have a skein wound into two balls.  Which last time I tried to wind my own it was a disaster so I need to go into the yarn shop.  So, until that happens the needles are empty.  It's okay it's giving me time to also figure out what pattern I'd like to knit.

getting ready to stitch along

It's kind of late-ish (11:20pm) and I'm having trouble winding down.  So, I'm sitting here at the computer looking at blogs, ravelry, pinterest....the usual suspects.  I thought for a second I could start my new cross stitch project, but feel like maybe it's too much brain power for right now.  But, I could take a picture and post about it.  So, I am going to do my first ever year long stitch along.  I bought the pattern Story Time Sampler from the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.  It is a pattern that has a portion sent once a month every month for a year.  I thought that would be a good pace for me, just a little bit at a time so I don't get overwhelmed.

 I just got the fabric for it today in the mail, really fast delivery!  I bought the embroidery thread colors and frame last weekend.  Today I thought it would be fun to make a bag just for this project.  The frame just barely fits in the bag to pull the drawstring but I think it will still work okay.  There is plenty of room for thread, notions and the pattern.  I used fabric I had left from a charm pack (5" squares) I bought a few years ago called A Walk in the Woods.  I really just love the little toadstools!

Hot chocolate, sleeping puppies.....hoping I will be able to join them!

goals for 2015

Aye yay yay.  The past few days have been heavy.  Tuesday the 30th was my wedding anniversary.  Scott and I were married that day 17 years ago.  It was a hard day, going through it with no one knowing how important that day is to me.  I don't expect people to do or say anything - it's just sad that a day that was celebrated between us is now just another day to everyone else.  And then New Year's.  I have entered another year that Scott didn't live to see.  And, yet, I am hopeful that 2015 will be better somehow.

So!  I started my new year by sleeping in until 10:30!!!!  hahaha.  And, got to talk to Mom.  A good way to start I think.

I said I wasn't going to make resolutions, buuuuut.  I keep thinking of things I'd like to accomplish this year!  Which, I think is a good thing ultimately.  I'm not going to beat myself up if I don't do these things, is just stuff that would be cool to do.

* make more socks!  Maybe 6 pairs this year?
* start a sweater - at least start and see what happens :)
* ride my bike to work this Summer at least once a week
* re-examine dress making - some comfortable casual options would be nice.
* finish the quilt tops I started
* finish reading the Hobbit! and try to read more
* memorize 2 scriptures a month with the Siesta Scripture Memory Team with Beth Moore
* cross stitch! I signed up for a year long sampler from Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery, which I have long admired and just decided to jump in! I'm going to do the Storytime Sampler

I think these things are pretty manageable and leave room to add on.  I've done the scripture memory verses before and didn't quite make it the full year but what I did manage to do was a blessing so I'm going to give it another go.

Today I am taking it easy.  It's freezing cold out but the sun is bright and shiny.  To anyone reading this, I hope 2015 is kind to you!

and then I stitched some more

This weekend I was scheduled to work on Saturday, which meant that I could take a 1/2 day one of the other days of the work week.  When given the choice, I usually will pick Friday afternoon so I can pretend that I'm getting a full weekend.  So Friday I came home and got to watch the newest podcast from DancingGeek, aka James.  His podcasts are quite lengthy so I usually will watch a bit here or there as I can.  Friday I got to watch the whole thing!  It was really a funny episode.  I had to get a picture of George, who has to be right in the middle of everything.  In fact, right now as I type she is laying across my right arm.  For typing this is fine but if I need to use the mouse she'll be disturbed.

So I finished the first sock of this set.  The yarn colorway is called Dumbledore and I used the stitch pattern Hermione's everyday socks with a fish lips kiss heel.  I've realized that even though I'm following the FLK pattern measurements, my socks are still turning out 1/2 inch too long.  So, I'm going to deviate from the pattern and see what happens.

I haven't cast on sock #2 yet.  I wanted to finish up another project I've had in the works which was this little cross stitch pattern!  It turned out so cute!  

I used embroidery thread that I already had in my stash so the colors are different from the pattern but I like how they turned out together.  The only thing I'd do differently is the turkey body - I'd do a lighter brown.  As it is he's too dark and so I had to give him green eyes because you couldn't see the black eyes against the dark brown body.  I haven't decided if I'm going to frame it or make it into some sort of patchworky goodness.

In other news I'm back to not sleeping through the night!  Uggg. ggg. gggg. aaand faceplant.   I had about a month or so of completely sleeping through the night.  Every morning I'd wake up and be like yes! I slept through the night.  I was starting to feel like maybe I was back to 'normal'.  Ha!  I think it's a combination of work stress and just normal grief not sleepingness.  But dang it felt so good to sleep.  Also I need to get serious about going back to the gym.  I know I say it every single day and then don't do it but for reals now I need to.  I've gained 40lbs since Scott died.  I'm not exaggerating.  I wish I was!  I weigh in every Monday - somehow I always hope I've lost something even though I do the same exact thing, which does not include salads or any form of exercise.

So, I've done pretty well with the spending freeze for craft items and I think I can add a new item to my "disciplines" which would be going to the Y at least 2 times this week.  I know that sounds like nothing but I need to make a realistic goal and I think I can accomplish that.  Will revisit next week.

stitchy

I started a new project - cuz I really needed one, right?  I couldn't resist it though.  I've been going on about it being Fall and everything that feels fallish to me seems like I should be making it.  One of the blogs I read is one of the two ladies of The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.  Last week the first picture of her blog post was this adorable turkey pattern!  And it looked small and manageable to try.  I've been admiring their patterns for a long time but I'm not much of a cross stitcher so have not wanted to take on one of the bigger items.  But they're SO CUTE!  

Anyhow, I saw the picture and was like eeeeeee!  And bought the pattern.  I have tons of embroidery thread that I've acquired and also aida cloth.  So, I went through my stash and picked out colors that are *close* to the pattern.  So even though I did spend money on the pattern I'm still staying in my parameters I set for myself of not buying fabric/craft items until I've checked my stash first.  It's a win.

I started it last night and this is how much I've gotten of the turkey body.  I put on a knitting podcast and stitched.

 So this morning while I was trying to get the above picture, George kept getting in the middle of everything = big surprise, right?  baha!  Silly kitty.  So, I got the picture and then she jumped back up on the table and laid down right on top of the whole lot.

Yesterday I did not leave the house at all.  Well, I did go from the house to the craft house. But I don't really count that.  haha.  I'm so, so, so close to finishing all the squares on my modern maples quilt.  I have 3 squares left to finish and I'm mulling over what colors I want those leaves to be.  I'll add pictures later once they are finished.