Still playing catch-up

Hope all of you have had a very nice and memorable time over the holidays.

For me, it was not so great. My husband and I always enjoy this time of the year, but this year, it was marred by a lot of drama from the in-laws. It was unfortunate. It turned out to be really quite unpleasant, and it left me feeling a bit shaken. It is amazing to me that such mature adults have not yet come to appreciate what really matters in life. Petty squabbling over nothing at all!

Oh well, you can only attempt to control what happens in your own life.

I was working on knitting a sweater right up to the holidays. I thought I could finish before the holidays, but realized it would take much longer. When I started working on some ornaments, there wasn't a lot of time. I did manage to finish a few.

Here are some Mill Hill ornaments that I finished up. The candy cane and the ice skates are done on both sides. The elf and Christmas tree are backed with red and green felt.

Mill Hill Ornaments

I have quite a collection of these tiny beaded ornaments. Next year I am going to set up a small table-top tree to display them, as they seem to get lost on the larger tree.

I am still playing catch-up from my recent blogging hiatus. While searching for the ornaments, I found a few more projects that I finished.

'Feed the Birds' had been in my stash for years. I finally got to it in 2022.

Feed the Birds

Also, earlier this year, I finished 'Bluebird Family' No. 4, from Crossed Wing Collection. Here is the photo.

Bluebird Family - Crossed Wing Collection No. 4

For now, I will be working on my sweater. I hope to finish it up soon. It is a cardigan, and I am currently working on the button and button hole bands, always a tricky part.

I am looking forward to saying good bye to this year, and turning the page to the New Year, always a time for a new start!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

Erica

Three years gone by were just a blur!

I would be surprised if I have any readers left, but I am going to post this update anyway. I am not going to even try to explain my absence for the last three years. I am not sure I could. I am just going to move forward, which is generally my life philosophy!

I have been crafting during this time however. I will post things sporadically as think of them. Here's about where I left off in 2020. 

I did finish quilting my HST, "In and About my Garden". I just did a simple 'stitch in the ditch' pattern. It is only a double size, so I can't use it on my bed, but I am glad to have it for my spare bedroom.

Some of these came out a little dark, but here are some photos of the finished quilt:

Here is a photo of the label I made up. I have always wanted to make a miniature quilt for the label. Boy, was that a lot of work! Took way longer than I thought it would! Lots of math involved in those tiny HSTs!

I finished the quilting this year, in 2023.

Another from 2020 was this little Halloween cat. I still haven't made it into an ornament.

Another one that didn't get posted:

I am planning to make this Goose into a pillow.

I stitched this tiny little pillow on 40ct linen.

This oldie but goodie needs to be framed.

Gracie and Olllie Needle Keep

This one was special to me. We lost both Gracie and Ollie this year. Ollie had just turned 20 years old, and Gracie was 19 years and 11 months. They died within a month of each other. We got them when they were tiny kittens and could fit in the palm of our hands. I know how lucky we were to have them for so many years! I miss them so much!

Gracie and Ollie (2003 - 2023)

 

I also finished Garden Friend from the Sue Hill Collection.

After that I stitched "Good Morning" from Prairie Schooler.

I have had this in my stash for years! I am still not sure how I want to finish it though.

Then I moved on to "Waders" from Bothy Threads.

Well, I think that is it for 2020 to 2022, although I am sure I have left some out!

2023 will be next, but I will save that for another post.

Hope all of you have been well and have been stitching away!

Erica