tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35473591677200746482024-03-18T10:06:31.087-04:00Bits of My OwnThis blog is intended to be a record of my crafting efforts, though from time to time I expect it will take a wander through the other stuff that gets in the way!Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.comBlogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-19966029749925193312024-03-17T11:57:00.006-04:002024-03-17T18:17:48.909-04:00Happy St. Patrick's Day!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can't think of St Patrick's Day without thinking of my dad. He was Irish to the core, and believed in celebrating it! Not with bar hopping and carousing, but with family, friends, and good food!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This was a freebie design that I stitched way back in 2011.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22QmcqoU2b650s_fAkBuig4F0INbVf0_nfTmmmLVw5SqzWcWNJbhGCRUq2vvSyMNjuIb0eT1-60m1DKrrtf8RhT_8tcvx_xZPkISs9meTZZx1nDl1rMWwVHeoRcaOIrpmN1lD3hJ_1S-6HG3lGmsL3E1P763QTGOxGTbiGZ2GHNg5ObebXcoXEo2mcnHk/s2449/Nil%20aon%20tintean%20mar%20do%20fein3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="2449" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22QmcqoU2b650s_fAkBuig4F0INbVf0_nfTmmmLVw5SqzWcWNJbhGCRUq2vvSyMNjuIb0eT1-60m1DKrrtf8RhT_8tcvx_xZPkISs9meTZZx1nDl1rMWwVHeoRcaOIrpmN1lD3hJ_1S-6HG3lGmsL3E1P763QTGOxGTbiGZ2GHNg5ObebXcoXEo2mcnHk/w400-h246/Nil%20aon%20tintean%20mar%20do%20fein3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><strong><em><span style="color: #006600;">Nil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">aon</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tintean</span> mar do <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">thintean</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">fein</span></span></em></strong> translates to "No hearth like your own hearth", or "Home Sweet Home".</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stitched from a freebie found at <a href="http://www.gryphonsmoon.com/" style="color: #5588aa; text-decoration-line: none;">http://www.gryphonsmoon.com/</a>, although I do not think it is still available there.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">I stitched it on 32ct Natural Irish linen with 4 skeins of </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">DMC</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> 935 (dark green). </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">I don't put much stock in New Year's resolutions, but this year I wanted to do some serious finishing! Originally I thought I might frame this, but now I am thinking maybe it would be better as a pillow. Let's hope this is the year I can get this one finished!</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Right now, I am working on this little stitch from an old magazine.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1693" data-original-width="1651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK12eHlFLthYlLQNGBXJ6J4CthZBniurrVKEcVTrJxS3iz4OrfzVEwbg2KFZpPYQ0tJIjnw8sx9stJaAyiUNVZu73pi_OVlqhxP9On8ommzfCxA7NCu8Iye6u2dBS2q18OaQO-tlXyYHD2QbmbveKga54HxWbUAU225B3Gm6zsFYZBAw8K-cTBfLrbS6_W/w390-h400/Gaelic%20Alphabet%20Sampler.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="390" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Gaelic Alphabet Sampler</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK12eHlFLthYlLQNGBXJ6J4CthZBniurrVKEcVTrJxS3iz4OrfzVEwbg2KFZpPYQ0tJIjnw8sx9stJaAyiUNVZu73pi_OVlqhxP9On8ommzfCxA7NCu8Iye6u2dBS2q18OaQO-tlXyYHD2QbmbveKga54HxWbUAU225B3Gm6zsFYZBAw8K-cTBfLrbS6_W/s1693/Gaelic%20Alphabet%20Sampler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i></i></a></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="background-color: white;">It called for 18 count Floba, and DMC perle, but I decided on32ct natural linen and variegated threads. I am using "Swamp Water" for the brown, and I am a little concerned that I won't have enough. I will have to order another I think.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is what I have so far:</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWQ9JQsIwnnJ7MZ-X40YoLqvn-7tjF25Js-mbPR9BTJSRLvwtFM82G5O9pDPi_HjA4jxfQbTf09T4KLksTvE-TZpYC_sMy0v3cXTRQtXgjD8XX19knDvZjsth-MN_4JqkOCISiVjaswgz7cuka9RNxS1XBs73RDf9hqSaUZVdSNG9go0mQt-pduzocF40/s2142/Gaelic%20Alphabet%20Sampler1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="2142" height="573" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWQ9JQsIwnnJ7MZ-X40YoLqvn-7tjF25Js-mbPR9BTJSRLvwtFM82G5O9pDPi_HjA4jxfQbTf09T4KLksTvE-TZpYC_sMy0v3cXTRQtXgjD8XX19knDvZjsth-MN_4JqkOCISiVjaswgz7cuka9RNxS1XBs73RDf9hqSaUZVdSNG9go0mQt-pduzocF40/w640-h573/Gaelic%20Alphabet%20Sampler1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><br /><span style="background-color: white;">The verse is done one over one, so that may prove to be a challenge for my eyes. It translates to "My Sweet Home", another variation on the theme! I think I see a trend here! </span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white;">Happy St. Pat's everybody! As my dad believed, life is too short, the little days in life need to be celebrated!</span></span></p><p><br /></p>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-54141669397128317062024-03-15T17:22:00.000-04:002024-03-15T17:22:33.517-04:00Welcome in Bloom is Finished!<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hurray! It was a long distracting week or so, but I finally finished off the back-stitching. I decided to frame it. Originally I was going to frame it the same way it appeared in the magazine. I liked the way it looked with the blue mat. That turned out to be easier said than done!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">It would have been an unusual size for both the mat and the frame. Also, it would have grown quite large. I am looking to put this in a small guest room where there isn't a lot of wall space.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I decided to buy an inexpensive frame on Amazon, and then paint it navy blue. I haven't gotten the frame yet. I hope it turns out ok. Remains to be seen I guess. I always forget what a pain in the neck framing is!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I will post the photo when I get it framed, but for now, here it is:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswJ8ugTSpTZ6yA6FRDNPW-6snVqzt1yKUjtzcvvID2pLTeCwTK9u8kBdFv_njYcr0PD3uCPEGBvGwO61BBmDwavFD197kdr6TDrKwFVsBUbLQmfRK1k07sHK_GLQ3imBXzNDdUmciyNJvzwLPMqEyWm8K1LevJoysvRFzgCsYu0UGI9EmKIO4Gkff_FhN/s2040/welcome3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1459" data-original-width="2040" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswJ8ugTSpTZ6yA6FRDNPW-6snVqzt1yKUjtzcvvID2pLTeCwTK9u8kBdFv_njYcr0PD3uCPEGBvGwO61BBmDwavFD197kdr6TDrKwFVsBUbLQmfRK1k07sHK_GLQ3imBXzNDdUmciyNJvzwLPMqEyWm8K1LevJoysvRFzgCsYu0UGI9EmKIO4Gkff_FhN/w400-h286/welcome3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplKf6bECraO-BlJ67V-tV9ABP5IRA64fyD8Mz3AvRDCsQhOTcBc1297Fa5XskprEoGlPK66SH3ibZOpifqOkXT1RTgLoHCC7CTpigUI0NRhzgYlFRxyx8nGLDAVSZqHROvKIXcdoKNgFHC0I_hiKd_27LU0AzLAniQ5qNfsLTJm1olguWnLuf9FNJ6kwT/s808/welcome4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="808" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplKf6bECraO-BlJ67V-tV9ABP5IRA64fyD8Mz3AvRDCsQhOTcBc1297Fa5XskprEoGlPK66SH3ibZOpifqOkXT1RTgLoHCC7CTpigUI0NRhzgYlFRxyx8nGLDAVSZqHROvKIXcdoKNgFHC0I_hiKd_27LU0AzLAniQ5qNfsLTJm1olguWnLuf9FNJ6kwT/w400-h289/welcome4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I started working on a new little design, but I don't have that much to show yet.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Will be back in a few days with some photos.</span></p>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-23011841174395462472024-02-28T16:44:00.000-05:002024-02-28T16:44:06.917-05:00Nearing Febuary's End!<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hard to believe! I have just about recovered from the Holidays!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I didn't want to start anything large, so I picked this little design. I think it has a sort of "deco" look to it.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9u-I4bk_TnTNgfC7TJSD_FD1liPg0kuabqD4UYB89IfrVQXvrtS-tCroMjuiZOKtL4C7rMOHvVCzFyFbat3Vh4dqtceZmB-DE3VFmwcJwsMiXgAD8-JlZ_lmGCZ1PDjqOdtVZK9tpSq8mvd0wkLhqI5RbKKDBrgWjfNCj9zRGyL8D_j1MXNnebtm9NkSy/s704/welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="704" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9u-I4bk_TnTNgfC7TJSD_FD1liPg0kuabqD4UYB89IfrVQXvrtS-tCroMjuiZOKtL4C7rMOHvVCzFyFbat3Vh4dqtceZmB-DE3VFmwcJwsMiXgAD8-JlZ_lmGCZ1PDjqOdtVZK9tpSq8mvd0wkLhqI5RbKKDBrgWjfNCj9zRGyL8D_j1MXNnebtm9NkSy/w400-h314/welcome.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Welcome in Bloom by Jennifer Rodriguez</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This came out of the August 2008 edition of The Cross Stitcher Magazine.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This is what I have so far:</span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMVcSv1bQRGsnZIwAxB8jPd53U8Pwm8im8xMpi9L84zzYETai0v4uB4SOQkG1MWDIRBS9O2UisiTVuN7X9MKxxUbF4mgZsao9kQNahPRKCzRdrHuYd4mv9UjOYFVcBL62Rhvl1NKyZZjYzX1jkRvwQUUY3bIAX7LBjUdL4QaQBCfqZI5WMS_cFj5u9o6s/s1979/welcome2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="1979" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMVcSv1bQRGsnZIwAxB8jPd53U8Pwm8im8xMpi9L84zzYETai0v4uB4SOQkG1MWDIRBS9O2UisiTVuN7X9MKxxUbF4mgZsao9kQNahPRKCzRdrHuYd4mv9UjOYFVcBL62Rhvl1NKyZZjYzX1jkRvwQUUY3bIAX7LBjUdL4QaQBCfqZI5WMS_cFj5u9o6s/w400-h304/welcome2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I have finished all of the cross stitching. Now I have to do the back stitching, and there is quite a lot of it! I made a very small start on the leaves in the upper left.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I have had a lot of trouble concentrating lately. I have an upcoming medical appointment which seems to occupy most of my brain! I will be so glad when it is over!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-84763297760018837862024-02-14T10:05:00.002-05:002024-02-14T10:07:39.469-05:00Happy St. Valentine's Day Everyone!<p> <span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">This holiday always presents me with a splendid opportunity to use my pink floss!</span></p><div class="yiv9955354072userEdit" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </div><div class="yiv9955354072userEdit" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This year I took part in the Secret Stitching Sweetheart, sponsored by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching <a href="https://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com</a>.</div><div class="yiv9955354072userEdit" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </div><div class="yiv9955354072userEdit" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is the beautiful little piece I received! </div><div class="yiv9955354072userEdit" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiTjkZ8vQFH6gbYMHhNlxKxdTmXj57gi9ipX4El6UaUmf8YNKrroyh1m3az0v277ogF-96PF8TDkb_koQqDd-aP0ttp1vW_v_jDB25ozrzXhqc32k3puqS_PFK70rMQPvr4aqF80cJFTYORjZ6DRzYGXTEgFLyyul9dsBuI9iD2BTwQi8yKMxwxPi_57K/s1888/Valentine%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="1888" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiTjkZ8vQFH6gbYMHhNlxKxdTmXj57gi9ipX4El6UaUmf8YNKrroyh1m3az0v277ogF-96PF8TDkb_koQqDd-aP0ttp1vW_v_jDB25ozrzXhqc32k3puqS_PFK70rMQPvr4aqF80cJFTYORjZ6DRzYGXTEgFLyyul9dsBuI9iD2BTwQi8yKMxwxPi_57K/w400-h380/Valentine%2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="yiv9955354072userEdit" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The finishing is absolutely beautiful!</div><div class="yiv9955354072userEdit" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></div><div class="yiv9955354072userEdit" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I will be hopping around the blogs later to find out who the talented stitcher is.</div><div class="yiv9955354072userEdit" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></div><div class="yiv9955354072userEdit" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Enjoy the day everybody!</div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-34832665153732597182024-02-10T15:12:00.021-05:002024-02-10T17:34:30.022-05:00My Little LOVE Pillow is Finished!<p> It has been a while since I have stitched on black linen OMG! My eyes have gotten worse! 32 count black linen is tough to see, so this is not my best work, but it is finished.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiOmjCrNmrv8wf-0j5r-g-roJHlpRufiFqti7Y0_kUL-z_xdjLcQCYm3cB_YOGGzMgApeZDGp_BYkjchtYuZPs_y742S-pkUqBvH3ydVWBG3_hD8q_Igid7JSXP3fP4LZKZnHWuFyhKXyPXKe9dMDT-w_l0wpMopE9yMoqizgk1zXn-QefGXEnsx_U8tb/s1720/LOVE3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1720" data-original-width="990" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiOmjCrNmrv8wf-0j5r-g-roJHlpRufiFqti7Y0_kUL-z_xdjLcQCYm3cB_YOGGzMgApeZDGp_BYkjchtYuZPs_y742S-pkUqBvH3ydVWBG3_hD8q_Igid7JSXP3fP4LZKZnHWuFyhKXyPXKe9dMDT-w_l0wpMopE9yMoqizgk1zXn-QefGXEnsx_U8tb/w368-h640/LOVE3.jpg" width="368" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Love" - Ezia Gladstone - New York Dreamer</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iHNpD_xVj55Preh8-XZGijYoxJ0W11H1YrAKQmkCSgp3xHmWFlZTRkN41I630ayMDeFzu0H5dF9xsTQUeqCH6a4IYU2NSiJGw7ARd9leb3WzeMqe99IWF5ohwPbLHP13CKUuVRByI8Teb1mwsPo28D0tVetKHoeucJfhsFwUwSj8tKvtByWOi0-E5NiC/s1112/LOVE5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1112" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iHNpD_xVj55Preh8-XZGijYoxJ0W11H1YrAKQmkCSgp3xHmWFlZTRkN41I630ayMDeFzu0H5dF9xsTQUeqCH6a4IYU2NSiJGw7ARd9leb3WzeMqe99IWF5ohwPbLHP13CKUuVRByI8Teb1mwsPo28D0tVetKHoeucJfhsFwUwSj8tKvtByWOi0-E5NiC/w400-h383/LOVE5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The backing is unremarkable, but I had trouble finding something that did not detract.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqF8luurlBA9RY54WrhPdushWIDTaz-3Tc3lhQnCRRIm8r_sM1wZ2rQGyEX7Wk9mNIqUGIPKWidBgV7f_DVVkHLJJCR6xDpDoqT8lPTnw1zFi3LoWX512rXD8hfSVbfIMKgYxvp5S122LALrVEkVi0bMVhZdIhZvAEQARdZFf0cAbm__eTGJ4uisXfpV8O/s1289/LOVE4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="1289" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqF8luurlBA9RY54WrhPdushWIDTaz-3Tc3lhQnCRRIm8r_sM1wZ2rQGyEX7Wk9mNIqUGIPKWidBgV7f_DVVkHLJJCR6xDpDoqT8lPTnw1zFi3LoWX512rXD8hfSVbfIMKgYxvp5S122LALrVEkVi0bMVhZdIhZvAEQARdZFf0cAbm__eTGJ4uisXfpV8O/w400-h381/LOVE4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>So, this is my St. Valentine's Day display this year:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9DaFRA6ddLqfC5DxFAylBt5eJKRe_Yn_CxwJynmc2rSPeaSK3IPNDZ1_PJnAqqloXF44wM0044okGXpLjG4BBa-i-v61JiMOxq1L6eKNpMuVK4RLokgRTg_VC-GKHcKiCOJ1GYAQZY0wJWv1GNvzqvghQ0uyTiAtkP-ccd9n66i0UqZ9lDJnIZslzUqL/s2442/Feb2024b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1915" data-original-width="2442" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9DaFRA6ddLqfC5DxFAylBt5eJKRe_Yn_CxwJynmc2rSPeaSK3IPNDZ1_PJnAqqloXF44wM0044okGXpLjG4BBa-i-v61JiMOxq1L6eKNpMuVK4RLokgRTg_VC-GKHcKiCOJ1GYAQZY0wJWv1GNvzqvghQ0uyTiAtkP-ccd9n66i0UqZ9lDJnIZslzUqL/w640-h502/Feb2024b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I know this is a pretty silly holiday, largely made up by the card and candy companies, but I do love pink, so it is a good excuse for me!</p><p>We are expecting to get a snow storm on Monday night. We haven't had much snow this winter, but now frankly I hope we don't get any! We have been feeding some feral cats on our deck, and I always worry about where they go when it snows. They have enough trouble with all the raccoons, dogs, possums, and foxes! We have tried to lure them closer, but they are true ferals and are very afraid of humans. To make matters worse, we think one of them is pregnant. </p><p>I almost forgot. I haven't put this out there in a while. This is my TUSAL! I continued it from last year as it wasn't anywhere near full. A lot of what is in there are snippets from my Nut Border Sweater.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjsdIf8VFhlChZlFQ8wgboH0E-muog53l9X_3G6D8pV7MGEM6KbE6VRT0mdzjc8Sq2Yllfuwvt-D2OOk0zWyIWWl8HDvLWNHv9VhtslT5GigFO8nCkCuUAVyivUBPliIAhg2r1RKk_1zRmdQXBTY7mgmU5DxiaIuoStjtGMCtP-HLW_4Rri4vWruHqLCP/s1068/Feb2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="998" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjsdIf8VFhlChZlFQ8wgboH0E-muog53l9X_3G6D8pV7MGEM6KbE6VRT0mdzjc8Sq2Yllfuwvt-D2OOk0zWyIWWl8HDvLWNHv9VhtslT5GigFO8nCkCuUAVyivUBPliIAhg2r1RKk_1zRmdQXBTY7mgmU5DxiaIuoStjtGMCtP-HLW_4Rri4vWruHqLCP/s320/Feb2024.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><p>I love seeing all of your stitching feats. It keeps me creative!</p><p><br /></p>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-6215280431365161572024-02-09T14:38:00.000-05:002024-02-09T14:38:22.573-05:00Where have all the Pussy Willows gone?<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Pussy Willows are my all time favorite flower! Some of my favorite memories are finding them unexpectedly along the roadside.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Usually every February I could count on cutting bunches of them. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Now when I pass by where I used to find them. they are nowhere to be seen. What has happened to the roadside weeds? They are all mowed down. It seems every bit of roadside has now been thatched, mowed, sprayed with herbicide, or otherwise "landscaped"!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday my husband came back from Trader Joe's with two beautiful bunches of pussy willows! I was thrilled to see them. </span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></blockquote><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54jFt8Efyvw3A_qjGBn3YXMAYXak4YLl96eOKnbmAxUqZ0YpXUyWtwAT-77viHH0HoYagB8aKQYiNo_s4ujfk2dvQGAYgk5Kaev05P795n4JdDdp5B6IToPIUbhRsuJUFJufQy9jmRb-Am6R_iOqVnkI0weudX9YkETwxfRIVyMzguEZtSK-kx-7EIwco/s1811/pussywillows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1811" data-original-width="1108" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54jFt8Efyvw3A_qjGBn3YXMAYXak4YLl96eOKnbmAxUqZ0YpXUyWtwAT-77viHH0HoYagB8aKQYiNo_s4ujfk2dvQGAYgk5Kaev05P795n4JdDdp5B6IToPIUbhRsuJUFJufQy9jmRb-Am6R_iOqVnkI0weudX9YkETwxfRIVyMzguEZtSK-kx-7EIwco/w392-h640/pussywillows.jpg" width="392" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwX0EzW2BenbbQrvunHRo4sTlEH4jOGT9fZUftZYpzPlkRJR6AtQKan2GbKOBsf8Mr7rRRfR5kTplISucw_jwXZMP50nVzLb-2NbcPm_GlPloym6ecwN4Tslkh_5yyaWhZRRtmThfSVrORx0F8GGs1OJ-Ia2_4iPmGDjvSnHUf9ahfN6z4u4DBIimY9eP/s2259/pussywillow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1945" data-original-width="2259" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwX0EzW2BenbbQrvunHRo4sTlEH4jOGT9fZUftZYpzPlkRJR6AtQKan2GbKOBsf8Mr7rRRfR5kTplISucw_jwXZMP50nVzLb-2NbcPm_GlPloym6ecwN4Tslkh_5yyaWhZRRtmThfSVrORx0F8GGs1OJ-Ia2_4iPmGDjvSnHUf9ahfN6z4u4DBIimY9eP/w640-h552/pussywillow3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKnCnyiH7ogfRc2QnvVtVRMZDJuA3rHkTkiI32R5AFGeUmoZX1dCHztyb3t3fW7F-VXPDgUYDF-1jUa_74nVy-sl8eRyqoM2OVXn3c9lrXkjMrxpr9wpY2SiuopNEAe9G-aUhsZYTGHMKPF0pOEEjFEQ2AGJmJucyjvzGjccph8SM7rBtwWjke9qaO2Nw/s1975/pussywillows4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1975" data-original-width="1360" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKnCnyiH7ogfRc2QnvVtVRMZDJuA3rHkTkiI32R5AFGeUmoZX1dCHztyb3t3fW7F-VXPDgUYDF-1jUa_74nVy-sl8eRyqoM2OVXn3c9lrXkjMrxpr9wpY2SiuopNEAe9G-aUhsZYTGHMKPF0pOEEjFEQ2AGJmJucyjvzGjccph8SM7rBtwWjke9qaO2Nw/w440-h640/pussywillows4.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><br /><div>They are absolutely gorgeous! They are full and beautiful, completely all in bloom, but they have a look of "farmed" florist flowers.</div><div><br /></div><div>The pussy willows from the side of the road never had so many blooms. They were definitely more scruffy looking, but I do miss my roadside weeds!</div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-157721056166003652024-01-27T13:35:00.000-05:002024-01-27T13:36:49.653-05:00Early Valentine's Finish<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have mixed feelings about this little finish. On the one hand, I am very pleased that is exactly fits in the hand carved little heart dish that my husband gave me several Christmases ago, but I was not super impressed with the kit it came in. The materials were shall we say, on the skimpy side! I'm glad I didn't make any mistakes, or I don't think I would have been able to finish it.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLF74daRaSM3-DwBv0-T7cttlJ2HLsUhnb1eEnuFBOJjHo9gLwaKMXheEM0d-eLxBXJNiHwhxWnkYYE5t15JSSLJH7MncF-yqk5azY_wEpsk9N7Y6RNDX-GVJ1DZVdni3MU81iB847IkHOarMMXgiJAzlc5SZKbNRPphaiX4qPRBM-8neHZ671R6udhTMw/s1350/Sachetheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1267" data-original-width="1350" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLF74daRaSM3-DwBv0-T7cttlJ2HLsUhnb1eEnuFBOJjHo9gLwaKMXheEM0d-eLxBXJNiHwhxWnkYYE5t15JSSLJH7MncF-yqk5azY_wEpsk9N7Y6RNDX-GVJ1DZVdni3MU81iB847IkHOarMMXgiJAzlc5SZKbNRPphaiX4qPRBM-8neHZ671R6udhTMw/w400-h375/Sachetheart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAqSBN1d2CIKTYTUjcAkKnuZuRBvuhgVRYKbTp_b5uVOSxXtX1BDstKtfL73C_g_2dXfVNyFMyONgHKYqaWBkXUclTF71a9bIIXIppOEijYeQNa__EBT3DvhGFz5sb8tUXww89JAm1OMPFY1ecYOZe_bVWprSA8w7p_pRRnJXoQ2HPXWnrGnVQ3HpWiQ1/s1413/sachetheart2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1413" data-original-width="1235" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHAqSBN1d2CIKTYTUjcAkKnuZuRBvuhgVRYKbTp_b5uVOSxXtX1BDstKtfL73C_g_2dXfVNyFMyONgHKYqaWBkXUclTF71a9bIIXIppOEijYeQNa__EBT3DvhGFz5sb8tUXww89JAm1OMPFY1ecYOZe_bVWprSA8w7p_pRRnJXoQ2HPXWnrGnVQ3HpWiQ1/w350-h400/sachetheart2.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpBLygHvclxQ-Nf8qrL-AvKtqGy-9d0zTwxhpxH1xT6bn1kfbRMhY71LG-R6C6xwAHKMIc_CbdpgOgaKRmoGgBEdvHElhgbOPxxpixYY0Jk-0eE0f6bA2C50fTfZUNIJENF3da5kvw3IyAKC7D_yM25EV_g3jSOu-i5jr7N0A3pkjXKmP-R5Io9CFvas3/s1893/sachetheart3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="1893" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpBLygHvclxQ-Nf8qrL-AvKtqGy-9d0zTwxhpxH1xT6bn1kfbRMhY71LG-R6C6xwAHKMIc_CbdpgOgaKRmoGgBEdvHElhgbOPxxpixYY0Jk-0eE0f6bA2C50fTfZUNIJENF3da5kvw3IyAKC7D_yM25EV_g3jSOu-i5jr7N0A3pkjXKmP-R5Io9CFvas3/w400-h313/sachetheart3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSK6IHmf6YSRMlihGgAuN3Goex00gIKgG7mNlv4jtYLNOEXYwufSGWQqXvhWWJerDvBhLm4PRnzl7ADY-_PkYVuOwFdreaGCBywLl-fuGrfxeIVtrBYoh8z-mupooFvKI7tddRnW0BBa-VuSFC3oNduA8iWRJczEz3oqJYW80rm8lr3Wd90shuzqynOJiu/s1524/sachetheart4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1524" data-original-width="1466" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSK6IHmf6YSRMlihGgAuN3Goex00gIKgG7mNlv4jtYLNOEXYwufSGWQqXvhWWJerDvBhLm4PRnzl7ADY-_PkYVuOwFdreaGCBywLl-fuGrfxeIVtrBYoh8z-mupooFvKI7tddRnW0BBa-VuSFC3oNduA8iWRJczEz3oqJYW80rm8lr3Wd90shuzqynOJiu/w385-h400/sachetheart4.jpg" width="385" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Hopefully I will have time for another Valentine's Day finish soon.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy stitching!</span></p>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-91437241497431202822024-01-14T14:41:00.000-05:002024-01-14T14:41:49.906-05:00My First Finish of 2024 was . . .<p>the <b><i>Nut Border Cardigan</i></b>, designed by Sasha Kagan. I saved this pattern and squirrelled away the yarn for it years ago. I finally decided to give it a go.</p><p>I guess I would give it a passing grade, but not my best work. The color work seems a little sloppy. I had done some color work before, but not with so many changes. It was a learning process!</p><p>There's a certain rhythm that you get into when you are working on a project, whether it is stitching, knitting, or anything else. I never got into that rhythm with this project. It was a constant struggle!</p><p>Here it is:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRDtmflgoPTsQHq-60lxucBR-ZGNJEKGiBI-XCCivylBJUazSgqIEjnnrlIPnwouxtXGLtyPx6GTr9nffUVhdTd_wXqZloeVokzqHvoZq_LtK_6ZhafSREbEuPdpevYuDelIrXBS7CpQgHyYU8UMnzUS4qLH10n36F0_FUXUApiwGmk2KOoHESOYmZpK1/s2796/NutBorderSweater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="2796" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRDtmflgoPTsQHq-60lxucBR-ZGNJEKGiBI-XCCivylBJUazSgqIEjnnrlIPnwouxtXGLtyPx6GTr9nffUVhdTd_wXqZloeVokzqHvoZq_LtK_6ZhafSREbEuPdpevYuDelIrXBS7CpQgHyYU8UMnzUS4qLH10n36F0_FUXUApiwGmk2KOoHESOYmZpK1/w640-h366/NutBorderSweater.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nut Border Cardigan - Design by Sasha Kagan</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It came out a little too big, which surprised me because I made the smallest size. I may try to re-block it, but I am not sure that would do much good. It is too large around the neck in particular.</p><p>My next project will be a bit of a rest compared to the sweater. I just started Heart Sachet Ornament, an oldie from BH & G.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri_Zro_TCHg1nP11lMIEZvzEbniAXeS4D4b5VVNTCbCxlK7Nojddw6sDsIQQqGlg4aVKY94blAhuXQootvBPnwrLySZoE2LehoewbqULJs1IRxU5PgZHqheAV7e_ZV0G_TJXzQ5oXZO2giT8z6OBRI61xSX-cYTFb2v8UAh53k0HX3KB-Ypi7UHQTO7xp/s1382/heartsachetorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="1229" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri_Zro_TCHg1nP11lMIEZvzEbniAXeS4D4b5VVNTCbCxlK7Nojddw6sDsIQQqGlg4aVKY94blAhuXQootvBPnwrLySZoE2LehoewbqULJs1IRxU5PgZHqheAV7e_ZV0G_TJXzQ5oXZO2giT8z6OBRI61xSX-cYTFb2v8UAh53k0HX3KB-Ypi7UHQTO7xp/s320/heartsachetorn.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br /><p>I made a small start.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ0KLcpfxhEBI_XgOleeOGie5Db-eWboaOpUNNemqfUcp_qTRkeZjlORNtamiyiglgBlxSAjbRKGtCalhEDtS-56FInvsCTSVZWvSGyALNcAfMcpkKXgwixCGgzb-mq3QCX4Xi72KOAbJxNLL89PIWrZOKnpoAyhT-fIEu-5vmz7wsjrWOIFonhEs4iTB/s1073/heartsachet3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1073" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ0KLcpfxhEBI_XgOleeOGie5Db-eWboaOpUNNemqfUcp_qTRkeZjlORNtamiyiglgBlxSAjbRKGtCalhEDtS-56FInvsCTSVZWvSGyALNcAfMcpkKXgwixCGgzb-mq3QCX4Xi72KOAbJxNLL89PIWrZOKnpoAyhT-fIEu-5vmz7wsjrWOIFonhEs4iTB/s320/heartsachet3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>This one should finish up soon.</p><p>Enjoy the rest of your weekend!</p>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-79008316418999326572023-12-27T15:12:00.000-05:002023-12-27T15:13:14.189-05:00Still playing catch-up<p>Hope all of you have had a very nice and memorable time over the holidays.</p><p>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!</p><p>Oh well, you can only <i>attempt</i> to control what happens in your own life.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuh68IvGMqcFTVtNUvG_hPc27t1mVkhE6z_3b5_5sIcVWpRixF58IU5vfBYcvHRmSyYi-Rn_A2lMIo6rh0DHwj43AmL8k1HSsi6MD-aqjOFnLwVlOcE_QPnUz9i1EO-xseEwVFRgyNyh_Lrwmur_uLnBskOy6tptL-yQgOSAQuBnCmpmIAr0F0aY0aT8tp/s1708/2023ornaments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1708" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuh68IvGMqcFTVtNUvG_hPc27t1mVkhE6z_3b5_5sIcVWpRixF58IU5vfBYcvHRmSyYi-Rn_A2lMIo6rh0DHwj43AmL8k1HSsi6MD-aqjOFnLwVlOcE_QPnUz9i1EO-xseEwVFRgyNyh_Lrwmur_uLnBskOy6tptL-yQgOSAQuBnCmpmIAr0F0aY0aT8tp/w400-h250/2023ornaments.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Mill Hill Ornaments</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>'<b><i>Feed the Birds</i></b>' had been in my stash for years. I finally got to it in 2022.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoP8iYV2wDeMXT-REzrRQT8cQcvA7TEhx3Bx_jV8xEF_9LbZiMC9qLG_hMiLT9ZfU-YwTJZJKIkS8Sdb3BsTUS-4gBr6GxcNqnVAYiuo3MmBF7MS2443Om1tb3A-Ip5JTigRz5xxMUPUKEYSaPwHVXAPdUUWOtJAZn1w5-dXTpouXqSMAgRm8iaEWWdJG-/s2444/FeedtheBirds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1517" data-original-width="2444" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoP8iYV2wDeMXT-REzrRQT8cQcvA7TEhx3Bx_jV8xEF_9LbZiMC9qLG_hMiLT9ZfU-YwTJZJKIkS8Sdb3BsTUS-4gBr6GxcNqnVAYiuo3MmBF7MS2443Om1tb3A-Ip5JTigRz5xxMUPUKEYSaPwHVXAPdUUWOtJAZn1w5-dXTpouXqSMAgRm8iaEWWdJG-/w400-h249/FeedtheBirds.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Feed the Birds</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Also, earlier this year, I finished '<b><i>Bluebird Family</i></b>' No. 4, from Crossed Wing Collection. Here is the photo.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4l_j9s0XMAyxJN8HCDiS-qkuU3ZfafuS1G6d8Ecq11IqM-jdayHCta1L6ta2Hml1yU96kbDsUS97X0aqI-OAfwRfHhMExwzBpnrGNE6Jb6cPsPoWXlVbEDE8PlziaVSnxDmEtAmZLma1QjknHmJqFSxxoF0F6ZmQx-1_CDSF6cHDMErgWr6hXNQABPE_t/s1740/WinterFeeder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="1740" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4l_j9s0XMAyxJN8HCDiS-qkuU3ZfafuS1G6d8Ecq11IqM-jdayHCta1L6ta2Hml1yU96kbDsUS97X0aqI-OAfwRfHhMExwzBpnrGNE6Jb6cPsPoWXlVbEDE8PlziaVSnxDmEtAmZLma1QjknHmJqFSxxoF0F6ZmQx-1_CDSF6cHDMErgWr6hXNQABPE_t/w400-h374/WinterFeeder.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Bluebird Family - Crossed Wing Collection No. 4</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>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.</p><p>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!</p><p>Wishing you all a very <b><i>Happy New Year!</i></b></p><p>Erica</p>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-45091272436827258072023-12-09T18:57:00.049-05:002023-12-10T11:03:44.083-05:00Three years gone by were just a blur!<p>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!</p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>Some of these came out a little dark, but here are some photos of the finished quilt:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXbdHtahL8UaQw2DSoGeWNqnYtgC3i5xZ2JV00p1piScGnY402kf9BRnZU3KGfpkVWf8Xh2Cx389XbiAVWY6x3_S3cz-fz3Ub0MGV29W6X8f11QfYf2f4nM2IXyMPIAV5ZRFzPKgSYxywzfjXaTOfY2xwk4Exq1MliLE_ASN5kKG5UfjmdYtpnQpS-d2p/s2088/HST4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1943" data-original-width="2088" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXbdHtahL8UaQw2DSoGeWNqnYtgC3i5xZ2JV00p1piScGnY402kf9BRnZU3KGfpkVWf8Xh2Cx389XbiAVWY6x3_S3cz-fz3Ub0MGV29W6X8f11QfYf2f4nM2IXyMPIAV5ZRFzPKgSYxywzfjXaTOfY2xwk4Exq1MliLE_ASN5kKG5UfjmdYtpnQpS-d2p/w400-h373/HST4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54naJ1tI0lZZVvyiUcK2Y9Lc9fFSMneHs202fEwte_vLYaJEMS0Va_3TOGJIBcVxXYywlh07ViS8zJXo_8gPnyDZblhkw8TvbND1T6JYL5O0h16H0eRP_4NdADmlI8DJ_1AeOnwlsq7fJgzPuvZ_xjznfGmb7A-sTaOzc4okkNfY4p1KDBxpG3urhLuOh/s2792/HSTquilta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="2792" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54naJ1tI0lZZVvyiUcK2Y9Lc9fFSMneHs202fEwte_vLYaJEMS0Va_3TOGJIBcVxXYywlh07ViS8zJXo_8gPnyDZblhkw8TvbND1T6JYL5O0h16H0eRP_4NdADmlI8DJ_1AeOnwlsq7fJgzPuvZ_xjznfGmb7A-sTaOzc4okkNfY4p1KDBxpG3urhLuOh/w400-h240/HSTquilta.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTSOjyAXS6-3JNoxu-gLoRfrAaFNzkc2NfYb1h_KkELjb0zJ1W6Kj7amP2O1KIFkoo-Y7LfLyn_UjpWrYWe_GksL6T83FXB3plCBLFBoIYxLA8nRwX4fYy47IBlCL-tylBZtcXTQOENPx7JX-18RUfaK9I8To52CTajXccIlCtH2uPO5-tt6pgAbemF6I/s2266/HSTquiltb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1956" data-original-width="2266" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTSOjyAXS6-3JNoxu-gLoRfrAaFNzkc2NfYb1h_KkELjb0zJ1W6Kj7amP2O1KIFkoo-Y7LfLyn_UjpWrYWe_GksL6T83FXB3plCBLFBoIYxLA8nRwX4fYy47IBlCL-tylBZtcXTQOENPx7JX-18RUfaK9I8To52CTajXccIlCtH2uPO5-tt6pgAbemF6I/w400-h345/HSTquiltb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>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!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighxYY1vJEhaVTNopQaFn90dIdGe-1bZ-JdtoR5T63jEFdB39mW6mV5GZ2DO3UdIhxzIqYDTUawHHmW7IS9R_KmG8-X7WgS_BJcaVRx_9QAaxDbkmFx0uGC6BNFuXyh5UtLMzRUnSYyZ-byof30g_CwJmaHYT7JHchTY2wCynYcrcKECYS_5vRZn1digdX/s1798/HSTquiltlabel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1634" data-original-width="1798" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighxYY1vJEhaVTNopQaFn90dIdGe-1bZ-JdtoR5T63jEFdB39mW6mV5GZ2DO3UdIhxzIqYDTUawHHmW7IS9R_KmG8-X7WgS_BJcaVRx_9QAaxDbkmFx0uGC6BNFuXyh5UtLMzRUnSYyZ-byof30g_CwJmaHYT7JHchTY2wCynYcrcKECYS_5vRZn1digdX/w640-h582/HSTquiltlabel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I finished the quilting this year, in 2023.</p><p><br /></p><p>Another from 2020 was this little Halloween cat. I still haven't made it into an ornament.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nDuaYgpTp6VxVdZbm7F3BzCIy0KSGLLbnN8sMFyeBvTKj1FNwHLUdiG4iHUOnKJAPKZtlbUM5b0UvUwbboeYO1C9G91FJ-J6trMWwIZHcNM-xCEDaqZNiO61TCG35qUFWg9Nw8feVvr0MxDdPZbYvy8J2FuUfknZ0vTp5e_xwUIUaZ5WSoUOtPyW0pQ_/s1012/HalloweenCat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="858" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nDuaYgpTp6VxVdZbm7F3BzCIy0KSGLLbnN8sMFyeBvTKj1FNwHLUdiG4iHUOnKJAPKZtlbUM5b0UvUwbboeYO1C9G91FJ-J6trMWwIZHcNM-xCEDaqZNiO61TCG35qUFWg9Nw8feVvr0MxDdPZbYvy8J2FuUfknZ0vTp5e_xwUIUaZ5WSoUOtPyW0pQ_/w339-h400/HalloweenCat.jpg" width="339" /></a></div><br /><p>Another one that didn't get posted:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWybo2rHlSaEp5Yx1ETqMbIjgrxmwO7fxURocc5QXt-inaM23bnwxBbxv5tCXnmw0AvsuOeVm4eN_hLXlryL5YOr4y5mUTBKuSCUdA1v9m-__gpLKvdHboQw67EbkM8m0rAZUtfj8eCV31s3YgmPL3MJfSsInDxLynFqKBF10A5vwwFONbqXH18q_x1rie/s2075/bettertofeed1cat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1949" data-original-width="2075" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWybo2rHlSaEp5Yx1ETqMbIjgrxmwO7fxURocc5QXt-inaM23bnwxBbxv5tCXnmw0AvsuOeVm4eN_hLXlryL5YOr4y5mUTBKuSCUdA1v9m-__gpLKvdHboQw67EbkM8m0rAZUtfj8eCV31s3YgmPL3MJfSsInDxLynFqKBF10A5vwwFONbqXH18q_x1rie/w400-h376/bettertofeed1cat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I am planning to make this Goose into a pillow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcHcgKQqdlAwy3UcvG-ycj93HZ4gi5CznxZsRsKuhEHlL5NVbHRAoRxE6C5B_To-QDUb3nZz6ZZnhqcJiRm3kkT6MszNQ-Jz3CG0pBGT3W92BnbBb_zGLGVf3l3Vc4LbrdttZj9cdH3nzdNwSCxgedC2RNj0r1ALh-H1yXB_VWe4HkmEFPFonMpqcm0__/s2617/Gooseinbasket.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1829" data-original-width="2617" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcHcgKQqdlAwy3UcvG-ycj93HZ4gi5CznxZsRsKuhEHlL5NVbHRAoRxE6C5B_To-QDUb3nZz6ZZnhqcJiRm3kkT6MszNQ-Jz3CG0pBGT3W92BnbBb_zGLGVf3l3Vc4LbrdttZj9cdH3nzdNwSCxgedC2RNj0r1ALh-H1yXB_VWe4HkmEFPFonMpqcm0__/w400-h280/Gooseinbasket.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I stitched this tiny little pillow on 40ct linen.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi376DBf1LVon1LRTfH3sW-Abwivm-ckyzr9QqSvKX1oB6m-prFXOOQTBujQCZv7RECwqEtjfSv1PY-O3gmRWSpWxpT0l17R8JuI9VyNftEr1krJq1wHqmCGcVgtEn8CFw4a4uxrvFA7L6Rmf5Ks7EEyuzW2-MJyBh4iQZvi1JGppuqmUfLcyJ8wrFmU-HN/s1355/Myheartisfixed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1355" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi376DBf1LVon1LRTfH3sW-Abwivm-ckyzr9QqSvKX1oB6m-prFXOOQTBujQCZv7RECwqEtjfSv1PY-O3gmRWSpWxpT0l17R8JuI9VyNftEr1krJq1wHqmCGcVgtEn8CFw4a4uxrvFA7L6Rmf5Ks7EEyuzW2-MJyBh4iQZvi1JGppuqmUfLcyJ8wrFmU-HN/w400-h256/Myheartisfixed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwM79AD1mLV57jllnNL4xMlG40Jd3Ft2DJ0SPO9JWXjabA9ympMjlokKekN3trOuGfGevFJmc6Af3Esr2ihfAOzmb14FatnHYZ9KXGo6nV6AD4Lyy12gjpb04tepJwHEXn0i42Lpv4YGJy9iIIZ9xtZGuGTN7w19feTmGl10XpvRXx1hzmEjPRqzffe37v/s1359/Heartisfixed2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1359" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwM79AD1mLV57jllnNL4xMlG40Jd3Ft2DJ0SPO9JWXjabA9ympMjlokKekN3trOuGfGevFJmc6Af3Esr2ihfAOzmb14FatnHYZ9KXGo6nV6AD4Lyy12gjpb04tepJwHEXn0i42Lpv4YGJy9iIIZ9xtZGuGTN7w19feTmGl10XpvRXx1hzmEjPRqzffe37v/s320/Heartisfixed2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p>This oldie but goodie needs to be framed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tWKZup8U9bQ_F2d3cASWFVHqCwMwAbogRTDiSGldrtgmvjVsiSnBuaIIGNaNbU4CcV_VRB4rfarrByAr57kfb9UigFg4e5mDH2wphopwhYb_VtuoM7eWHlRFQkaKpORlVJCegX7GLyQDcX8N6KXw20tzqpJF0Yjh2KwcwUt2eOn3FTjwgR_4eLi5wAU6/s1818/NoelCat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1681" data-original-width="1818" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tWKZup8U9bQ_F2d3cASWFVHqCwMwAbogRTDiSGldrtgmvjVsiSnBuaIIGNaNbU4CcV_VRB4rfarrByAr57kfb9UigFg4e5mDH2wphopwhYb_VtuoM7eWHlRFQkaKpORlVJCegX7GLyQDcX8N6KXw20tzqpJF0Yjh2KwcwUt2eOn3FTjwgR_4eLi5wAU6/s320/NoelCat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Gracie and Olllie Needle Keep</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BQyr4hxLl_VcOtrdLSJ0EXq2kNzBb1oQjgK_FkdLPI90dNy6C0reSGMGmIz_lJbmwL6l4DqoJG7SSQX5t_6PYx0NuABsd0BG9K1_AcZboYQRWfvLmSpWc0Anhg4-gABmMaEfWmX0TAtYSO-_2eSs8Hc2ASzuJK1XCO_aqMCMaagT7cybXN-3qW7zdYlE/s1077/catneedlecase2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1077" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BQyr4hxLl_VcOtrdLSJ0EXq2kNzBb1oQjgK_FkdLPI90dNy6C0reSGMGmIz_lJbmwL6l4DqoJG7SSQX5t_6PYx0NuABsd0BG9K1_AcZboYQRWfvLmSpWc0Anhg4-gABmMaEfWmX0TAtYSO-_2eSs8Hc2ASzuJK1XCO_aqMCMaagT7cybXN-3qW7zdYlE/w400-h353/catneedlecase2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>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!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3f3nIbL3Evk9CRneXKcE46DDKkVebjoQP0aQxZcTTgIkyiOewPBpBTfozdTbBqgq6u01c1jLQxv7vNUU2cXX6u_GznQtpHpOOHq0BVYIwwp_qV3JYRMoyselGd1QUVLAQIbK707kVzCoFBELjugsjmwZ-TaukvhB3vc5JxYyMy6rgtv8mnj8eHYbYxuT/s1970/catneedlecase4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1970" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3f3nIbL3Evk9CRneXKcE46DDKkVebjoQP0aQxZcTTgIkyiOewPBpBTfozdTbBqgq6u01c1jLQxv7vNUU2cXX6u_GznQtpHpOOHq0BVYIwwp_qV3JYRMoyselGd1QUVLAQIbK707kVzCoFBELjugsjmwZ-TaukvhB3vc5JxYyMy6rgtv8mnj8eHYbYxuT/w400-h174/catneedlecase4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QpH9OvZNvb021Gok5w_EwQorpIMTPJ9OWkRC0PAnmuNtdYNBttVWtJI8K-4i2-hepCbxjrcXY6DItxLbeU5kaNfwuVcPwREUDPBrRqmoSIdezTX9M2QRDMrLbYWSECmCHYbHsPX7iYQ1xpdE74vJVffu4aP_LqLhOv0YanGUYhczOYB5FsMB7f67-5uE/s901/catneedlecase3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="901" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QpH9OvZNvb021Gok5w_EwQorpIMTPJ9OWkRC0PAnmuNtdYNBttVWtJI8K-4i2-hepCbxjrcXY6DItxLbeU5kaNfwuVcPwREUDPBrRqmoSIdezTX9M2QRDMrLbYWSECmCHYbHsPX7iYQ1xpdE74vJVffu4aP_LqLhOv0YanGUYhczOYB5FsMB7f67-5uE/s320/catneedlecase3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA759q-r5j_Acv1gnzOA-SnzN6zWnFiksAKn3TNi83dFeYIdQnQka9PZPuqXCLeLrCICN21pZld4SW25_0cwKHBABNA-xTdSb5LVLWsqrN7Xp1JX8S1yKzgnbqM3IwmIaZVtkstWwYwXGv_SZqdOP6dCnfe1A9vVBvGFuZeBX4YzFuMhpo6tBbs3WA2Vo/s1048/catneedlecase.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1048" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcA759q-r5j_Acv1gnzOA-SnzN6zWnFiksAKn3TNi83dFeYIdQnQka9PZPuqXCLeLrCICN21pZld4SW25_0cwKHBABNA-xTdSb5LVLWsqrN7Xp1JX8S1yKzgnbqM3IwmIaZVtkstWwYwXGv_SZqdOP6dCnfe1A9vVBvGFuZeBX4YzFuMhpo6tBbs3WA2Vo/w400-h351/catneedlecase.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirAUutqmqtaQiXNWdWI1hBYu7eKwV1QZMND5UwBQ_UZunZ5Oz9VbsgjPhfaFg8bchY3KTNSfExGyEXp8nzoAn05C2Wk7O_yUY3ngMh0GoZdEcoHOUnF436WippqMr_cw-YpjFtCSyWPfw7p_W0e2nPLZOpS24Hqm7K3yq1R5glmXdMmFzUiEAJ7dOUE3b/s838/Gracie%20and%20Ollie%20oncouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="838" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirAUutqmqtaQiXNWdWI1hBYu7eKwV1QZMND5UwBQ_UZunZ5Oz9VbsgjPhfaFg8bchY3KTNSfExGyEXp8nzoAn05C2Wk7O_yUY3ngMh0GoZdEcoHOUnF436WippqMr_cw-YpjFtCSyWPfw7p_W0e2nPLZOpS24Hqm7K3yq1R5glmXdMmFzUiEAJ7dOUE3b/w400-h297/Gracie%20and%20Ollie%20oncouch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Gracie and Ollie (2003 - 2023)</b></i></div></i><p dir="rtl" style="text-align: center;"> </p><p>I also finished <b>Garden Friend</b> from the Sue Hill Collection.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohRwLY8OO59Iba5zfKhvncUJgopJqgO_t4PRdC03N6789Q4-o6mjv07649x5wSAMgqEiRsAqKE48gXAwYM6S_mq8VdAwi1Mu4vD8xTSyvGCSRdliNa4LLIvM1F9pi5ftrUcey1AuosFBCK6noTj-VtvCbGqdNE4wKEMOS7LDsg4cGa6NxNHF3qblny3Ei/s1551/GardenFriend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1551" data-original-width="1529" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohRwLY8OO59Iba5zfKhvncUJgopJqgO_t4PRdC03N6789Q4-o6mjv07649x5wSAMgqEiRsAqKE48gXAwYM6S_mq8VdAwi1Mu4vD8xTSyvGCSRdliNa4LLIvM1F9pi5ftrUcey1AuosFBCK6noTj-VtvCbGqdNE4wKEMOS7LDsg4cGa6NxNHF3qblny3Ei/w394-h400/GardenFriend.jpg" width="394" /></a></div><br /><p>After that I stitched "<b>Good Morning</b>" from Prairie Schooler.</p><p>I have had this in my stash for years! I am still not sure how I want to finish it though.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJ1jcV1an23S8v17PQ5EvCBEcIpR94x4XKaigZKq_L7q3wehapjLsh5-Yv_0mRHZ-hg80x4PJxrZ4GW0HWUeODgGGUvu9XBbr_VG5ZvC75cbznNa8wvTTbYxmviDyEgjJxtHJ3QkJbhtkLlLMRaeXxhbZl4tMu3HPhwLWo8QfpVxt9dkwXBxuPlLkgNdY/s1253/GoodMorning.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="1253" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJ1jcV1an23S8v17PQ5EvCBEcIpR94x4XKaigZKq_L7q3wehapjLsh5-Yv_0mRHZ-hg80x4PJxrZ4GW0HWUeODgGGUvu9XBbr_VG5ZvC75cbznNa8wvTTbYxmviDyEgjJxtHJ3QkJbhtkLlLMRaeXxhbZl4tMu3HPhwLWo8QfpVxt9dkwXBxuPlLkgNdY/w640-h480/GoodMorning.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Then I moved on to "<b>Waders</b>" from Bothy Threads.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzH43Q-5xp0Ob4pZkp3GAGsbXohvBsS3zG1oc2wMzEESq9ytjYfgWjKfL0QZe1kBJRw7UtLmcdBqCrxg2MAuF9ktNQDIayb2zADHBs4AAMEchEp_xEF7tKFX96Vw6NUeELmyB2LWG2t7XV6_lPn12oV7hulP3Z20UvgDk7zF43prS1gte7ewWyxKQczq7/s3008/Waders.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3008" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzH43Q-5xp0Ob4pZkp3GAGsbXohvBsS3zG1oc2wMzEESq9ytjYfgWjKfL0QZe1kBJRw7UtLmcdBqCrxg2MAuF9ktNQDIayb2zADHBs4AAMEchEp_xEF7tKFX96Vw6NUeELmyB2LWG2t7XV6_lPn12oV7hulP3Z20UvgDk7zF43prS1gte7ewWyxKQczq7/w640-h426/Waders.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Well, I think that is it for 2020 to 2022, although I am sure I have left some out!</p><p>2023 will be next, but I will save that for another post.</p><p>Hope all of you have been well and have been stitching away!</p><p>Erica</p><p><br /></p></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-42056992687155169662020-11-18T14:29:00.000-05:002020-11-18T14:29:01.296-05:00What a Year!<p>Where to even begin?</p><p>My last post was back before the world changed.</p><p>I am pleased to announce that I <u>finally</u> finished <b><i>Flower Power </i>!</b></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This was interrupted so many times, that I was afraid I would never get to finish it. The older I get, the more I hate unfinished projects!</span></h4><p>This design is <b><i>big</i></b> !</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenoKHL3LFl0TwDhlkyLlGQzsC2dRHiW8nRIeTVqeQa4ZLBkwZU550-rFZxXYZyNbvoQdk7VwxXRc_6vwOxxnGE64ShToTLxb8vEG4tCMG1Emrof_FBzedYcdSJChyphenhyphenz7GdS1nuISORScR1/s2762/fp9.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2762" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenoKHL3LFl0TwDhlkyLlGQzsC2dRHiW8nRIeTVqeQa4ZLBkwZU550-rFZxXYZyNbvoQdk7VwxXRc_6vwOxxnGE64ShToTLxb8vEG4tCMG1Emrof_FBzedYcdSJChyphenhyphenz7GdS1nuISORScR1/w640-h264/fp9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><div><b>Flower Power - Crossed Wing Collection</b></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zRua2supspWjh5bKDiv33RKhdDT5BXolYuceOJ8eAhc4M7GWaxzchGH0ncO8OimcaCCiiGEuF_ERQZh_SKNdkuhdxscpyPKX3uEGVFx9axS22PTgrA53TVI0GnHF62RBm7A5zpgy5Vyf/s2048/fp10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zRua2supspWjh5bKDiv33RKhdDT5BXolYuceOJ8eAhc4M7GWaxzchGH0ncO8OimcaCCiiGEuF_ERQZh_SKNdkuhdxscpyPKX3uEGVFx9axS22PTgrA53TVI0GnHF62RBm7A5zpgy5Vyf/w640-h426/fp10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7NqhCgydBbp4nKYdSeyogetga0wfua_0-mgvyZSCfDdemiAwbM2pTuw88BvV9dr2-S6Og3ihwL4JT-_v1k0Krr8fOjwfnDqn6CpZuXEhg6HpoVIzehYxIbHzoVwBoXkelF_ZV1Qz5TYJ/s2048/fp11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="2048" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7NqhCgydBbp4nKYdSeyogetga0wfua_0-mgvyZSCfDdemiAwbM2pTuw88BvV9dr2-S6Og3ihwL4JT-_v1k0Krr8fOjwfnDqn6CpZuXEhg6HpoVIzehYxIbHzoVwBoXkelF_ZV1Qz5TYJ/w640-h336/fp11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>It is quite an odd size. I don't have a frame in the attic for this one!<div><br /></div><div>Another little one I stitched was <b><i>Sew Happy</i></b>, a folk design from All Through the Night.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgpnmsaRhXn48PEIG1z-kq4l0gQNsAkUK-5rNNwQRkFOK8s09p7Utnb8SiyKlJ_z1a7DU5wgxRfNG-cF5R-fMeNAkqOeGaG-zlKCpCT8w4nUQSRxmI1h86dxh-SGT5WBCFgmUQ0but5aW/s1356/Sewhappy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="1201" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgpnmsaRhXn48PEIG1z-kq4l0gQNsAkUK-5rNNwQRkFOK8s09p7Utnb8SiyKlJ_z1a7DU5wgxRfNG-cF5R-fMeNAkqOeGaG-zlKCpCT8w4nUQSRxmI1h86dxh-SGT5WBCFgmUQ0but5aW/w354-h400/Sewhappy.jpg" width="354" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oNSd_eYwhXl8YdBwY_xPFywSSrE6dfaQ5F12JjYC0gY37NPJUBWqeL4_06B6bIz2pbBRPi9beGRiF02nk2g7ID69614uAJhh3zzjCIhMV2E6p5OS5POQ83WEY3lskrL1f9E223dBvrZv/s1565/Sewhappy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1483" data-original-width="1565" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oNSd_eYwhXl8YdBwY_xPFywSSrE6dfaQ5F12JjYC0gY37NPJUBWqeL4_06B6bIz2pbBRPi9beGRiF02nk2g7ID69614uAJhh3zzjCIhMV2E6p5OS5POQ83WEY3lskrL1f9E223dBvrZv/w400-h379/Sewhappy2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Sew Happy - All through the Night</b></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>I have a much better chance of framing this one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over the summer, I made a HST (Half square triangle) quilt top for Martha, my mother-in-law. I used some plain muslin pieces to embroider.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxhhyphenhyphen5FgqNY3evEQnn3MuzbqEaLsLqxK-vTFDxFBukT_WArgT5V_500r8e5AXkt3onHejYcaLNQXtQvRD-7e45bcPzkUtVfruMvO53eDiFvCqSnuCCftrspLn0yq1swrKJ-DXw8e_HvsI/s1910/HalfSquareTrianglewithChickensandSquirrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="1910" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxhhyphenhyphen5FgqNY3evEQnn3MuzbqEaLsLqxK-vTFDxFBukT_WArgT5V_500r8e5AXkt3onHejYcaLNQXtQvRD-7e45bcPzkUtVfruMvO53eDiFvCqSnuCCftrspLn0yq1swrKJ-DXw8e_HvsI/w640-h438/HalfSquareTrianglewithChickensandSquirrel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KzNmuGhsxRB6sYqEztJ3NOaaVUK0e4NleM3-03GSDh4WUhkSMvWT_3skZ9ORpxU1JysLQNsTANAIdf6JQsVqC9X-2CKb8BYb1BUI3zAKeyvHeMnsYWBIzkGN4ifL0Euf34pr5Aj03Sek/s2048/HST3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="2048" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KzNmuGhsxRB6sYqEztJ3NOaaVUK0e4NleM3-03GSDh4WUhkSMvWT_3skZ9ORpxU1JysLQNsTANAIdf6JQsVqC9X-2CKb8BYb1BUI3zAKeyvHeMnsYWBIzkGN4ifL0Euf34pr5Aj03Sek/w640-h392/HST3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVDg02CeCeiwxaN4K38Y5yOo23b0Kj2-ESytUWygVQpDg9WPXVGla7c5Iy-bXphuojlAYhh2YSph-VDwTgkxAtegF9mbZIXeEvLdB8DI53sjJqEpBblngBJf4J52xvnVVAwCQ66Xiz24b/s2048/HST4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1656" data-original-width="2048" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVDg02CeCeiwxaN4K38Y5yOo23b0Kj2-ESytUWygVQpDg9WPXVGla7c5Iy-bXphuojlAYhh2YSph-VDwTgkxAtegF9mbZIXeEvLdB8DI53sjJqEpBblngBJf4J52xvnVVAwCQ66Xiz24b/w640-h518/HST4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphDdPh8aE8hIgspBXZSdhUdnTQkBK6Mpp90oPour9IsMAG2YQJIbnNolCsD-H3jOBOJZLwAz_F016mZdma_sHi35xK8AApg6v9JMn5gQO3B9xBjysjnvG7IiHRcc1pOALbOu-G3CY8ee0/s2048/HST5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphDdPh8aE8hIgspBXZSdhUdnTQkBK6Mpp90oPour9IsMAG2YQJIbnNolCsD-H3jOBOJZLwAz_F016mZdma_sHi35xK8AApg6v9JMn5gQO3B9xBjysjnvG7IiHRcc1pOALbOu-G3CY8ee0/w640-h426/HST5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSxniZ9gKud7Drh2-0WOJuVhZR2uECWMQw5XU3RDaE0NDf7WEUQ7zOf7-5WgurBJRGQBxGbTG_eeYDVTGXusNKjZ3DcPW_dj5Hr9sFeHnXIPFTxBPM5i2_wFksSfaxeIxLxgFWQbWJfXB/s2048/HST6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1726" data-original-width="2048" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSxniZ9gKud7Drh2-0WOJuVhZR2uECWMQw5XU3RDaE0NDf7WEUQ7zOf7-5WgurBJRGQBxGbTG_eeYDVTGXusNKjZ3DcPW_dj5Hr9sFeHnXIPFTxBPM5i2_wFksSfaxeIxLxgFWQbWJfXB/w640-h540/HST6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfw1rqrKHO5BzctI1dtid-AEFIMAeQ8WuJWaW-mOqS7M2236cxrfLtkWibSDC2MgYcfIZlTTbPcZse5ecxB9EIDJlWXsKQmjr3LXVtiW1ofS4m037SjulvJmRdE_JcJ9qUSDFjbKxNDdo/s2048/HST7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="2048" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnfw1rqrKHO5BzctI1dtid-AEFIMAeQ8WuJWaW-mOqS7M2236cxrfLtkWibSDC2MgYcfIZlTTbPcZse5ecxB9EIDJlWXsKQmjr3LXVtiW1ofS4m037SjulvJmRdE_JcJ9qUSDFjbKxNDdo/w640-h342/HST7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxJJr_3B_m1pUQ4AM7zu-Q62p8MUt3WnkM_L02T8AaHw3teAwN3JQtfA8LfokulT84LWTEbZXxh1R7H3rMwStwHFdEVpvMQjdiKChVrQy6KdkwReCFDSxeKD9oByiHte-EUgMqYFYnSVu/s2048/HST8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="2048" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxJJr_3B_m1pUQ4AM7zu-Q62p8MUt3WnkM_L02T8AaHw3teAwN3JQtfA8LfokulT84LWTEbZXxh1R7H3rMwStwHFdEVpvMQjdiKChVrQy6KdkwReCFDSxeKD9oByiHte-EUgMqYFYnSVu/w640-h358/HST8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div> I miss you quilt! Atleast I thought to take some photos of it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Currently, I am knitting a pair of socks. I always forget how long that takes. I guess I am a slow knitter!</div><div><br /></div><div>After that I am not sure what I will do. Usually I have it all planned out. I think that Flower Power took so long that I got out of the habit of thinking what was to come next.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope all of you are staying safe out there. I hope we will be looking back on this year very soon!</div>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-30118255301668504482020-02-10T17:03:00.002-05:002020-02-10T17:03:15.143-05:00First Finish of 2020!I finished one of these socks in 2019, and the second one a few days after New Years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmjsfF0K6cbAzPXJuVVzURmUDYSzB8sBD2XR7kRYX1u9t4DsFeMVIp2-fIwsRSlsaHkWsPgiwi1LBv2h2gCoQP7L6ziXRyYCbM-2VjNVc7lqe-pL2rdLu1TeiicnO5UQZMj8CKbHQzBvj/s1600/redsocks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1423" data-original-width="1600" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmjsfF0K6cbAzPXJuVVzURmUDYSzB8sBD2XR7kRYX1u9t4DsFeMVIp2-fIwsRSlsaHkWsPgiwi1LBv2h2gCoQP7L6ziXRyYCbM-2VjNVc7lqe-pL2rdLu1TeiicnO5UQZMj8CKbHQzBvj/s400/redsocks2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I guess I can wear them on St Valentine's Day. Otherwise, I'm all set for next Christmas!<br />
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After that I got back to work on<b><i> Flower Power</i></b>.<br />
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I finished up the blue Delphiniums and the two little hummingbirds at the top of them.<br />
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Then, I went back to the middle of the design to finish up the little blue butterfly and the bird flying over head.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDGw5vdr4y_gu7T-UpLL-tNNuDwdulmKoD9_qUAkVcQjMn1_sHmc2-iy-fUIJq_YxIh7eFGmyQJH8fQI8SvifvCFHu5uuIV_sF6QBkM-hTR1LQQc4m2iMpu8MaspMLTK0cYDuRWDU1ile/s1600/Bird+butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="1214" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDGw5vdr4y_gu7T-UpLL-tNNuDwdulmKoD9_qUAkVcQjMn1_sHmc2-iy-fUIJq_YxIh7eFGmyQJH8fQI8SvifvCFHu5uuIV_sF6QBkM-hTR1LQQc4m2iMpu8MaspMLTK0cYDuRWDU1ile/s320/Bird+butterfly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is how it looks so far:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscNNN2ezLmcyY-Vm-DUnVlJr9CLhdyrZfcTSo4hmUoZ5Cxsm83r2UJ8f2pKVj9RGsjnUWLXWFXnKYh91PL8OjuUCWYthhxpjNgSbZ0xfCNzLHXHWhvd6BslyNuZ1wfg97dFB2RSx7YEsH/s1600/fp7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscNNN2ezLmcyY-Vm-DUnVlJr9CLhdyrZfcTSo4hmUoZ5Cxsm83r2UJ8f2pKVj9RGsjnUWLXWFXnKYh91PL8OjuUCWYthhxpjNgSbZ0xfCNzLHXHWhvd6BslyNuZ1wfg97dFB2RSx7YEsH/s640/fp7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Please forgive the wrinkles!<br />
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Next I will move over to the left side, to start on the Columbines. If you look closely, you can see one that I finished (next to the Day lily and on top of the daisies).<br />
I am determined to finish this design <b><i>this</i></b> year, however, it does get tiresome working on something this large without a break. I am thinking that I might make a small quilt next for a change of pace.<br />
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Once I get started, I will post back and let you know.<br />
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That's all for now. Hope everyone's having a good year so far!Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-35289518042022145962019-12-28T16:15:00.000-05:002020-02-10T16:45:08.875-05:00It's been a very busy and distracting year!I don't have too many finishes this year, but some of the projects I worked on were quite large.<br />
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Most of the year, I worked on <b><i>Flower Power</i></b>. I would say I am not quite two thirds of the way through. It is so much bigger than I thought! Hopefully it will be a 2020 finish.<br />
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I left off in the Delphiniums over on the lower right.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3ONF_2mzxaLhVwq0K2izq1hgk6btdzb3CAXSj-OPtTdalmEOCfV_AXBM40wQY3sfWqWhENx-3FkiAULAqBiemf0IWhKrYnVZTgUXISIAjDdAFU5kWfOB_vjPB3SbsPH_DYzRjHeLGQc4/s1600/flowerpower4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1600" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3ONF_2mzxaLhVwq0K2izq1hgk6btdzb3CAXSj-OPtTdalmEOCfV_AXBM40wQY3sfWqWhENx-3FkiAULAqBiemf0IWhKrYnVZTgUXISIAjDdAFU5kWfOB_vjPB3SbsPH_DYzRjHeLGQc4/s640/flowerpower4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nasturtium and Caterpillar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyXbPjZiIigyt0QIu02nQHW1rhsOmaEe-ipgyIZsTAXo6ETNK-dJZ2pNejFJA4Gqta_DSEDRkiJplKw6OVfaOq-mCBCcq7O_k_JDJW8GBmREWSmDyJfqbU3CusXtBTVOq1XWeSBg6BlZL/s1600/flowerpower6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyXbPjZiIigyt0QIu02nQHW1rhsOmaEe-ipgyIZsTAXo6ETNK-dJZ2pNejFJA4Gqta_DSEDRkiJplKw6OVfaOq-mCBCcq7O_k_JDJW8GBmREWSmDyJfqbU3CusXtBTVOq1XWeSBg6BlZL/s640/flowerpower6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daylilies, Shasta Daisies, Delphiniums and Hummingbirds </td></tr>
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Please forgive the wrinkles!<br />
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In between I worked on several family projects, as well as the constant home improvement painting projects that seem to never end.<br />
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Then I worked on a little pattern that was gifted to me by my friend Sonia.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-L_vOlFpc8MY2RU1ehwwdqalAVr-rQT87wVG2OjOaIXrhjDBMuQ0mfFayoXR_gKOhuKrfIM5igHSWQzoMGVTkSXPymF1C-2tDr-OeME9cpdfFf5SG2W3iDT40wywsV5eT4v9_fUqZtYb/s1600/SewingMice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1507" data-original-width="1251" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-L_vOlFpc8MY2RU1ehwwdqalAVr-rQT87wVG2OjOaIXrhjDBMuQ0mfFayoXR_gKOhuKrfIM5igHSWQzoMGVTkSXPymF1C-2tDr-OeME9cpdfFf5SG2W3iDT40wywsV5eT4v9_fUqZtYb/s400/SewingMice.jpg" width="330" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mice Sewing from Designs for the Needle</i></b> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCItW3sqkQXm2Sdlotld3mH6EFv5e-Tlu5W6-0cvkmdIfR0-W5PqHdO-OBhNSSrlONekUr0vEnbU7KQBXlVUvFjXuE6Am8yhUU1IXL4mTGkCAHFRC1GXvqQH6OqZQPRgb3uD7IuOZGjg3/s1600/sewingmice3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1507" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCItW3sqkQXm2Sdlotld3mH6EFv5e-Tlu5W6-0cvkmdIfR0-W5PqHdO-OBhNSSrlONekUr0vEnbU7KQBXlVUvFjXuE6Am8yhUU1IXL4mTGkCAHFRC1GXvqQH6OqZQPRgb3uD7IuOZGjg3/s640/sewingmice3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sewing Mice on 14ct Fiddlers Cloth using DMC</b></td></tr>
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This was a bit of a change of pace for me, not the usual type of design I stitch, but I thought this would be cute when it was framed and hanging in my sewing room. I will post a photo when I find a frame.<br />
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Next, I worked on the Autumn Velvet Acorns. This was a kit by MJ Hiney which I had my eye on for some time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Qs5PAs8vTKEvvkwu5LeHkWHFVxQGkhVRwvmZxgmn_IUAeFKx6YrEqr10WoCyT3Sk_I0ACUOQLVuwnfyUw-kQizPiitLuuo3I8vmbwhYWFIzU4TQDdJbxtqeLAwkNdrtIEe7BayGAWf0R/s1600/VelvetAcorns1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="1094" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Qs5PAs8vTKEvvkwu5LeHkWHFVxQGkhVRwvmZxgmn_IUAeFKx6YrEqr10WoCyT3Sk_I0ACUOQLVuwnfyUw-kQizPiitLuuo3I8vmbwhYWFIzU4TQDdJbxtqeLAwkNdrtIEe7BayGAWf0R/s640/VelvetAcorns1.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Autumn Velvet Acorns - MJ Hiney</i></b></td></tr>
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The Autumn color palette is my favorite, but there is also another color palette kit for the Holidays available.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP31-aqo8WYaq3rL_JnciC9d48IvTZGaVgllt9ZHzRbpW_WBLO_XANP3OZTnlxhWyc-_cCniWvN_Mf4yyutirusOmKoI6jb6GsNwYos_vU8qLnq4mUEQ8hjyhBPzUxpTL8H-Cv14DaCU2p/s1600/VelvetAcorns2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1600" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP31-aqo8WYaq3rL_JnciC9d48IvTZGaVgllt9ZHzRbpW_WBLO_XANP3OZTnlxhWyc-_cCniWvN_Mf4yyutirusOmKoI6jb6GsNwYos_vU8qLnq4mUEQ8hjyhBPzUxpTL8H-Cv14DaCU2p/s640/VelvetAcorns2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is a lovely kit that includes 3 pieces of hand-dyed silk/rayon velvet, hand dyed silk ribbon for the acorn caps, embroidery floss for the stems, metallic floss for the criss-crossing, and beads and sequins.<br />
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These are quite detailed, and took me a long time, but I managed to I finished them up in time to put on the Thanksgiving dinner table!<br />
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Then, I started the Christmas stitching. I finished up a little Mill Hill beaded ornament, the little Glory Angel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9pr45dLCDv4suPFX8zgDwq99A9VcZI-JQTdJPgYp4urrWko6P3rZ_3dM-YeXNUoWcYw6EEf-XpLJ58CQTIPIfhkd-geahU8ZLCohTFxBjG7cwRcTgMC_iQDsyNYgbpFhtqcKAzSdS9-3/s1600/Blueangel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="838" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9pr45dLCDv4suPFX8zgDwq99A9VcZI-JQTdJPgYp4urrWko6P3rZ_3dM-YeXNUoWcYw6EEf-XpLJ58CQTIPIfhkd-geahU8ZLCohTFxBjG7cwRcTgMC_iQDsyNYgbpFhtqcKAzSdS9-3/s320/Blueangel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqbYMOkYMFKxMmwpKZySn74M7ZCHcK2sobb58C4QT4cdSq60sxTW3kiIVBKDXIlmjxQucNG_JNGkRFhXEvP9EARWKn456yn2Vr49WEnCi4K8YnS_l7UcVF2Z4XZva3jpvziQJIxKRRsVl/s1600/Blueangel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="820" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqbYMOkYMFKxMmwpKZySn74M7ZCHcK2sobb58C4QT4cdSq60sxTW3kiIVBKDXIlmjxQucNG_JNGkRFhXEvP9EARWKn456yn2Vr49WEnCi4K8YnS_l7UcVF2Z4XZva3jpvziQJIxKRRsVl/s320/Blueangel2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mill Hill Glory Angel</i></b></td></tr>
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I made two of these and whip stitch them together, so I can display them in my bay window.<br />
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Then I worked on the Mill Hill Sapphire Crystal.<br />
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I have been making these over the last few years, usually one a year. This was the 6th and last in the series.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkWG3jONK3Wb_JPjoZ8mJOGTOSwLwCAp_Ri4T2nVAXkIZbHqfhpuUD7rpxpEpA4B4w3wb15mGn5AXvCWgXeq7BP_mr4yvRVhQn_jxIwbLHOELvQMI_eyEL4OQMyed1yRBsD0QgUPMkiah/s1600/MHSaffirecrystal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1145" data-original-width="876" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTkWG3jONK3Wb_JPjoZ8mJOGTOSwLwCAp_Ri4T2nVAXkIZbHqfhpuUD7rpxpEpA4B4w3wb15mGn5AXvCWgXeq7BP_mr4yvRVhQn_jxIwbLHOELvQMI_eyEL4OQMyed1yRBsD0QgUPMkiah/s400/MHSaffirecrystal2.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mill Hill Sapphire Crystal</i></b></td></tr>
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All of these are also two ornaments whip stitched back to back, so they can be seen from both sides.<br />
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Here are all 6 of the crystals.<br />
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Not the best picture I'm afraid! They look much better hanging up. It is surprising how heavy they are.<br />
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I'm sure I left somethings out. As I said this was a very distracting year. At times I didn't know if I was coming or going!<br />
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Now I am working on a pair of bright red socks (for me)!<br />
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Should be my first finish of 2020. Ha! It will be in time for Christmas 2020 anyway!<br />
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I hope all of you have a very <b><span style="color: red;"><u>Happy and Healthy New Year!</u></span></b><br />
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-3918338656220409812019-01-07T20:54:00.001-05:002019-01-07T20:54:38.199-05:00First Finish of the Year!I saw a little kit that was on sale on Craftsy.<br />
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I have wanted to practice my fair isle knitting because I have in my stash some yarn and a pattern for a sweater. This kit was on sale, and I couldn't resist the price.<br />
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The pattern itself was very easy, but there was something wrong with the gauge. I read all the reviews and everyone said that it came out too large. So, I decided to drop down one size on the needles. Well, it was still too big, so I ripped it all out and came down one more size on the needles. I had to add some rows to it because it was coming out to short, but I finally got something that was wearable.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrCKgWheDCAUC5KGsYnmxoEt4cZqFuAQonX9jTDb-qU4iArWCUjhMp3BSNadDKddQxx4HWgLLkGSWmVFHKC467XIVCE9OdvuDMNojhZRuawsktQA1644_hVuI5eZgr4Wu41sAZ_BB__cW/s1600/Snowflake+hat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="1132" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrCKgWheDCAUC5KGsYnmxoEt4cZqFuAQonX9jTDb-qU4iArWCUjhMp3BSNadDKddQxx4HWgLLkGSWmVFHKC467XIVCE9OdvuDMNojhZRuawsktQA1644_hVuI5eZgr4Wu41sAZ_BB__cW/s400/Snowflake+hat2.jpg" width="337" /></a></div>
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I am not too thrilled with the acrylic yarn. I prefer natural fibers, but it will be good as an extra hat.<br />
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I also have this hat that I knitted last month. I forgot to put it into my 2018 finishes.<br />
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This one was also knitted of acrylic yarn in my stash. Ha! The pompom kinda got away from me on this one!<br />
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Stay warm!Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-21559377277298376022018-12-30T19:40:00.000-05:002019-01-07T20:55:10.837-05:00What I have been up to . . .For most of the past year, I have spent my energy on home improvement type jobs. I finally finished painting my 1980's orangey oak kitchen cabinets a new white color. That was a much bigger job than I thought it would be. I also painted an old table and chairs that we had in our cellar. I painted them to match the cabinets. Then I painted the kitchen walls, and made curtains. Phew!<br />
I am hoping my husband will paint the ceiling.<br />
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Here is a pic of the new (old) table and chairs. Mickey loves sitting on the tablecloth and looking out the window.(The radiator is right under the table). He's no fool! Sorry about the blurriness, but the auto-focus was off on my camera when I took it.<br />
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While I was getting ready to do my 2018 update, I found a few from 2017, that I neglected to include.<br />
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I finished up <b><i>The Industrious Bee Sampler</i></b>.<br />
I like the way it looks on the raw linen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfAua6EqAiAwdJRODoR0MY0vyGQYmy8Mru_g2UKIBDQ1U7bq_Z0YcY_J_8jjGzKpX57uv3Icz-BQrcEz97TIW-aXMwFBjATOs9dppgh75KzCX_2WzTsWcyPffrYc4sil3Aw1YFm48ANXR/s1600/IndustriousBee5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="1057" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfAua6EqAiAwdJRODoR0MY0vyGQYmy8Mru_g2UKIBDQ1U7bq_Z0YcY_J_8jjGzKpX57uv3Icz-BQrcEz97TIW-aXMwFBjATOs9dppgh75KzCX_2WzTsWcyPffrYc4sil3Aw1YFm48ANXR/s400/IndustriousBee5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Industrious Bee Sampler</i></b><br />
28 ct Irish Linen using DMC</td></tr>
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Next I stitched The <b><i>Mini Bunny Egg</i> </b>from Waxing Moon Designs. This was intended as an ornament. I bought some trim for it, but never got around to making it up. I was disappointed that the stitching didn't show up better.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKe2OgoQoPrGvyU9tj2frv0OsTQE-BCyw4J5NjjlQloLAnRkZtxbUvX2_717ne_vNdAZOE7vhyphenhyphen8vRTcK789sihvEGNEHT9wUflO95i7oz18spXORbnWnztSQiWOcrjykurz2c7rR7K6st/s1600/minibunnyegg2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="595" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKe2OgoQoPrGvyU9tj2frv0OsTQE-BCyw4J5NjjlQloLAnRkZtxbUvX2_717ne_vNdAZOE7vhyphenhyphen8vRTcK789sihvEGNEHT9wUflO95i7oz18spXORbnWnztSQiWOcrjykurz2c7rR7K6st/s400/minibunnyegg2.jpg" width="383" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mini Bunny Egg - Waxing Moon Designs</i></b><br />
40 ct hand dyed raspberry linen and DMC threads</td></tr>
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Then I finished up my Victorian Velveteen Rabbit.<br />
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Meet Sebastian . . .<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Sebastian</i></b></td></tr>
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He has movable joints and poseable ears. I like how his face came out, but ooooh those ears!<br />
The pattern said to use pipe cleaners. I didn't have any. I used the only wire I had which was very very thin, too thin! It either broke, or popped right out of place. I fussed and fussed with it, but I really couldn't do anything about it.<br />
I would like to revisit the situation someday, but I really don't have a good idea how to fix them without taking the whole head and ears apart.<br />
It was a disappointment after all that work!<br />
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He mostly looks like this now. His ears are floppy and no longer poseable.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn23R6hRhQomzhPJoiZA4XToMW0ntylH2Xkq_Xrdlu0OJ9h9uMGL4F5P8aeYr3RXixRoUnMO-z_PzY_x_aKcPtwx8iL8PTyycnhvH9Uq8zz4w0pET1BdkknV5sFDq-2xyWj0nPNESeoQB_/s1600/rabbit5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1313" data-original-width="1120" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn23R6hRhQomzhPJoiZA4XToMW0ntylH2Xkq_Xrdlu0OJ9h9uMGL4F5P8aeYr3RXixRoUnMO-z_PzY_x_aKcPtwx8iL8PTyycnhvH9Uq8zz4w0pET1BdkknV5sFDq-2xyWj0nPNESeoQB_/s320/rabbit5.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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Oh well, I still like him.<br />
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I knitted a linen stitch scarf, which I actually finished last December 2017, but I never took a picture of it. I used Kougi hand painted merino yarn. this was a fun project to do, and it came out just the way it was supposed to for a change!<br />
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After this, I know I worked on several beaded Christmas ornaments, but I don't have the photos here.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2018</span></b><br />
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I started 2018 with an old stamped sampler that I have had in my stash for ages.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBc7ef2ZO5MSqGBQsTrehAt4O87OALoDwuG_EoegzCEwOZUnJF6ofG_PlVlS4FFd4zHij-d7npF22WCMeNms-CX9UFwZkIKPAcPqUuZOn66HKDCnxFrxGpYahmT4nusC3bWIzV_Nb84Dz/s1600/GivetotheWorld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="901" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBc7ef2ZO5MSqGBQsTrehAt4O87OALoDwuG_EoegzCEwOZUnJF6ofG_PlVlS4FFd4zHij-d7npF22WCMeNms-CX9UFwZkIKPAcPqUuZOn66HKDCnxFrxGpYahmT4nusC3bWIzV_Nb84Dz/s320/GivetotheWorld.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMdAk0JG-PtwjeWXBukfXbB6jiQ2INvkeI8OlWUqWEM3eE75j-B5rr1yqdaz_PFihoQiXeqCGZYduyDipZuO9JdLBcFndojxv8dv_NN7FYyiJ7DY1x7iSt5m7mtvMb-OWelUh_LZSPbul/s1600/Givetotheworld3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1600" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMdAk0JG-PtwjeWXBukfXbB6jiQ2INvkeI8OlWUqWEM3eE75j-B5rr1yqdaz_PFihoQiXeqCGZYduyDipZuO9JdLBcFndojxv8dv_NN7FYyiJ7DY1x7iSt5m7mtvMb-OWelUh_LZSPbul/s640/Givetotheworld3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Give to the World Your Best Sampler - Paragon</i></b></td></tr>
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These stamped samplers are great when you just want to relax and not think too much!<br />
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<br />
Next, I stitched <b><i>Counting Magpies</i></b> from Birds of a Feather.<br />
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This is an old English rhyme that goes:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>1 for sorrow, 2 for mirth,</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>3 for a wedding, 4 for a birth</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>5 for silver, 6 for gold,</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>7 for a secret, not to be told.</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>8 for heaven, and 9 for hell,</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>10 for the devil's own sel.</b></i></div>
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I stitched it on overdyed linen using weeks threads.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5IDnUCikAwY-m-pCWQdcBceXCPI2t7Mgf6t1FV295vwSV-QP_nRj_gxzBOpD2E-LIq_8l1jjjuUWPPn5gYhXf2p62QeoNQmWiCNuMC3q8iyFg9aig3Ti7hIDaz2nxx5IkYe9l_cwER-a/s1600/countingcrows3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="1595" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5IDnUCikAwY-m-pCWQdcBceXCPI2t7Mgf6t1FV295vwSV-QP_nRj_gxzBOpD2E-LIq_8l1jjjuUWPPn5gYhXf2p62QeoNQmWiCNuMC3q8iyFg9aig3Ti7hIDaz2nxx5IkYe9l_cwER-a/s400/countingcrows3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Counting Magpies - Birds of a Feather<br />28ct overdyed linen with Weeks Threads</b></i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWFJxFd5ILCwcG9vvpH7DwWwJQtax-CW177ZlMyVKe74i0xuOFxmissQDwI2i_e11h9wOZ7pLk57vI_ClRO_sn1WNoP-n5uGFDrnrOcvOf0QBy_z8xETMsN5E4GuH6qecP2Cj_5xnzhke/s1600/countingcrows4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="1600" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWFJxFd5ILCwcG9vvpH7DwWwJQtax-CW177ZlMyVKe74i0xuOFxmissQDwI2i_e11h9wOZ7pLk57vI_ClRO_sn1WNoP-n5uGFDrnrOcvOf0QBy_z8xETMsN5E4GuH6qecP2Cj_5xnzhke/s400/countingcrows4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Next. I stitched <b><i>Americana Sampler</i></b> from The City Stitcher. I have long been a fan of The City Stitcher!<br />
This one worked up quickly. I like the primitive look of it on the 28 count raw linen.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuorZqCe8u8nP3S_N30Q9vxzyL9v6mCMMycEqRm05gMejp61TI6gmibc4iheiQ7KfF5-7cyIA8jnHREcWckWY3EHQ0QUNZUqbQyyWzPcCCfmaU4t2YbXQgrUMEPBOeSG0HqZZQKHt8fN3_/s1600/americanasampler5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1411" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuorZqCe8u8nP3S_N30Q9vxzyL9v6mCMMycEqRm05gMejp61TI6gmibc4iheiQ7KfF5-7cyIA8jnHREcWckWY3EHQ0QUNZUqbQyyWzPcCCfmaU4t2YbXQgrUMEPBOeSG0HqZZQKHt8fN3_/s400/americanasampler5.jpg" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Americana Sampler - The City Stitcher<br />28ct raw linen and DMC threads</i></b></td></tr>
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After that, I worked on <b><i>Dragonflies</i></b>, an arts and crafts style pillow cover.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTefejdWOVyNMx1XBxqmnAkWXxlmaeDHuuJ5QEXxvo-Fu6vKUgVszNKQHWEfiE2jzyqX6gXAboascoGQkci5yjbT4KJZpkxz6H9XvcFiNqx4jrkbiw0deFdIZttaQ42p6C5dpocBSFFUY/s1600/Dragonflypillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1600" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTefejdWOVyNMx1XBxqmnAkWXxlmaeDHuuJ5QEXxvo-Fu6vKUgVszNKQHWEfiE2jzyqX6gXAboascoGQkci5yjbT4KJZpkxz6H9XvcFiNqx4jrkbiw0deFdIZttaQ42p6C5dpocBSFFUY/s640/Dragonflypillow.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Dragonfly Pillow Cover</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is worked on linen using gold and olive DMC perle.<br />
The body and wings are worked in satin stitch. Other stitches used are stem stitch, and French knots.<br />
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Please forgive the wrinkles!<br />
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I have not gotten a chance to make the pillow, but it will work up to 21" X 21".<br />
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Then, I started my new project.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuztc2W_HLNoK14NE87pIYAChkLwWy6pDHOYlHMY9s_ou4AJO7uvH03vOhUOQn2ayCZaJ5aQ_vFbM21luoMrIjmn8Os9A0iQWRixlo-uTMGGiJDPBPsPNrzhrjrZublFeuPy34GB1yZD0U/s1600/Flowerpower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1527" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuztc2W_HLNoK14NE87pIYAChkLwWy6pDHOYlHMY9s_ou4AJO7uvH03vOhUOQn2ayCZaJ5aQ_vFbM21luoMrIjmn8Os9A0iQWRixlo-uTMGGiJDPBPsPNrzhrjrZublFeuPy34GB1yZD0U/s640/Flowerpower.jpg" width="609" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Flower Power - Crossed Wing Collection<br />32 Ct Antique White linen with DMC and metallic threads</i></b></td></tr>
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This design is <b>HUGE</b>, an absolute monster. I knew it was big, but I didn't get a full sense of it until I started it. It will take me <i><b>forever</b></i> to finish this one!<br />
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I put it aside for a while to work on the Christmas stitching. This is what I have so far.<br />
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Please forgive the wrinkles.<br />
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I left off working on the nasturtiums on the lower right corner. I love how realistic everything is.<br />
I love the bugs the best. Notice the caterpillar on the leaves.<br />
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I love the bee on the Shasta daisies below too!<br />
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The insects are all done one over one, so they take quite a while, but it does give them great detail.<br />
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I will go back to this after the holidays.<br />
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<br />
Next I turned my attention to some goldwork.<br />
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For the longest time, I have wanted to stitch the goldwork Christmas ornaments from <b>Benton & Johnson</b>. For those of you not familiar with Benton & Johnson, they are an English company that has been providing the gold metal threads for the Queen of England's Wardrobes and badges. They have been around for ages and ages!<br />
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They are now part of Toye Kenning & Spencer. Their website is not very easy to use, but if you do a search on Christmas ornament kits, you will find them. There are three of them, a Dove, a Snowflake, and an Angel, and best yet, they are on sale.<br />
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<br />
All things considered, these kits are really quite a good value considering the quality of everything included. The problem however is with the shipping from England! OMG! $$$.<br />
Because of this, I thought about it for a long time before I decided to go for it.<br />
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These kits are all designated for beginners, but I would say that it would be good to know something about stitching. None of the stitches in themselves are difficult, but working with the metal is, well, fiddly at times.<br />
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The Dove looked the easiest, so I decided to start with that one.<br />
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<br />
The kit included the pattern with a little instruction booklet, the calico (ground fabric), the backing fabric, the felt padding, red wool felt, the spooled couching, the sewing threads in yellow, red and<span style="background-color: white; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: "georgia" , "cambria" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.375px;"> metallic gold, and all the gold threads, and the spangles. </span>There aren't a lot of photographs in it, mostly drawn diagrams. Also included is a heavier gold thread for hanging the ornament.<br />
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There are directions for tracing the design and transferring it to the ground fabric. I traced the design onto some waxed paper and basted over the design.<br />
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After that I carefully pulled off the waxed paper to see the design on the red felt.<br />
Then I couched the gold perle on top of the stitching. This part is a little tricky. The gold has to be stretched a little so the yellow thread will go inside the coil, and will not show. You have to be careful not to overstretch it.<br />
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It was a pleasure working with all these materials. They were clearly of very fine quality.<br />
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I made the snowflake next, saving the angel, which seemed the hardest until last.<br />
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The hardest thing about the angel was using the gold plate. It had to be folded back against it self over and over again, all the while minding the direction and shape of the angel's wing.<br />
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Well, I'm certainly not in the same league as the Benton & Johnson people, but I got it done!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDYOxkXlWaVNYOMXexEVZ-w2otCcCr-P8I7wzAVof-Z59SvosdogK3BvV_8S-XXPVMRBd_fOgW_-6gNDnet-wifEOuhgITBzRzPX5UArhPE0pLpaMYkZb0BValCzXMZTltx6HELetmWnI/s1600/Goldworkangel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="1045" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDYOxkXlWaVNYOMXexEVZ-w2otCcCr-P8I7wzAVof-Z59SvosdogK3BvV_8S-XXPVMRBd_fOgW_-6gNDnet-wifEOuhgITBzRzPX5UArhPE0pLpaMYkZb0BValCzXMZTltx6HELetmWnI/s400/Goldworkangel.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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Here are all three of them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLm-lwP3Xxo34WvuLk_kS-yuxTnR2y9Vy8RCdozfQ4Su4jdikTuhkWHOuLYM1loB44yrO7I7qQcYY-h5pZeXhPSxFVwmyR39-XzPzv-bUuRW2ch8DrpLoy4J_Q0Lc_dhWi9jNLkHiLt8N/s1600/Xmastrio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1600" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLm-lwP3Xxo34WvuLk_kS-yuxTnR2y9Vy8RCdozfQ4Su4jdikTuhkWHOuLYM1loB44yrO7I7qQcYY-h5pZeXhPSxFVwmyR39-XzPzv-bUuRW2ch8DrpLoy4J_Q0Lc_dhWi9jNLkHiLt8N/s640/Xmastrio.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I am glad I got them done. We will enjoy them for years to come!<br />
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After these, I worked on some Mill Hill beaded ornaments. I have been working them double, and then whip stitching them together so they can be seen from both sides. Some of them I had done one side last year, and just had to finish them,<br />
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I worked the Aqua Crystal this year. It is the 5th of 6 in the series of crystals.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUplt0jrEYx_iG3_5BTg-lmVD6GSBHi9IHlmc6LC9DC3ow-78qx2-pMrD0oPfMFBAC5JzKzNk-di4AQ2giPMh5blQVmAiqGBsbiI87Y0HSbkbDv2CzQe3Du1h83GSDznn5G-qEyWu9MOK/s1600/aquacrystal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="726" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUplt0jrEYx_iG3_5BTg-lmVD6GSBHi9IHlmc6LC9DC3ow-78qx2-pMrD0oPfMFBAC5JzKzNk-di4AQ2giPMh5blQVmAiqGBsbiI87Y0HSbkbDv2CzQe3Du1h83GSDznn5G-qEyWu9MOK/s640/aquacrystal.jpg" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Aqua Crystal Snowflake - Mill Hill</i></b></td></tr>
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There is one left in the series. I will save for next Christmas.<br />
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I also finished a few others:<br />
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I made a few others but I can't seem to locate the photos.<br />
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WOW! I feel like I have been writing for hours! That's what I get for not updating more often!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">
I hope everyone has a very Happy and Peaceful 2019!</span></h2>
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<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-80791468914783384042017-04-19T16:26:00.000-04:002018-12-20T09:47:15.548-05:00Catching up<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last year sort of got away from me, so I thought I'd do a quick wrap up here, before I start with this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">During the Christmas season, I worked on several beaded ornaments. I was planning to complete the entire Mill Hill Crystal series. I got the first one, Ice Crystals, done earlier and showed the photos in a previous post. There are 6 in the series all together. They take a while to finish, because I am doing 2 of each, and stitching them back to back so I can hang them in my bay window, and have them displayed on both sides. I have 2 more left to do. They will be this year's project.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I also did a kitty ornament and a Santa ornament which are only one-sided.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These are quick little stitches that display well when finished.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I took a few photos.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEF9MRPCiX-uo_IjP1Uj8Sfjfs8iRm8ySggWyFh5x4VE0Ju_POuf5tPg3sDmUXreGAbkS0324J0W43hh1IAMh_YqftG9cFvsYe54OIFGRbXOhmle9EnczozwWjID8Gmi8it-VWrL-dQ0c8/s1600/MHornaments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEF9MRPCiX-uo_IjP1Uj8Sfjfs8iRm8ySggWyFh5x4VE0Ju_POuf5tPg3sDmUXreGAbkS0324J0W43hh1IAMh_YqftG9cFvsYe54OIFGRbXOhmle9EnczozwWjID8Gmi8it-VWrL-dQ0c8/s640/MHornaments.jpg" width="499" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dGoktoaHmzDJtuR8AJsfMPfMWT97FIMc1w0fSexGBW4M9PfPCAiYYO-VTjEzofgVQfzLPPxCK_O-VN4foLY8AkgXVT1-dSpibhb0W5tjsW6e7Eya67mZVa5d9BhqsNxyg_7x9raxKSKV/s1600/Cathelpers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dGoktoaHmzDJtuR8AJsfMPfMWT97FIMc1w0fSexGBW4M9PfPCAiYYO-VTjEzofgVQfzLPPxCK_O-VN4foLY8AkgXVT1-dSpibhb0W5tjsW6e7Eya67mZVa5d9BhqsNxyg_7x9raxKSKV/s640/Cathelpers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I get such help with my photography!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">That second photo brings me to another bit of news.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our house seemed very quiet after the loss of our cats last year, so we went to the local shelter, and brought home some new friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meet the new kids on the block:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCh93Sg2RyEwkJnzDqGOjhqjK5Q-3fMSV_jgB4eUd5P8KDOZiIVnJJ4hGCOFb5rgX4mZJbSpA187aRd-Smw4dXRZ0JbreJtXrFCTUWI-wdOjn1EmGJnF1azeYqIW9IDVoGhyphenhyphenfe5sDand1/s1600/Mickey+and+Fred3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCh93Sg2RyEwkJnzDqGOjhqjK5Q-3fMSV_jgB4eUd5P8KDOZiIVnJJ4hGCOFb5rgX4mZJbSpA187aRd-Smw4dXRZ0JbreJtXrFCTUWI-wdOjn1EmGJnF1azeYqIW9IDVoGhyphenhyphenfe5sDand1/s640/Mickey+and+Fred3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Mickey on the left, and Freddy on the right.</b></span></div>
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If you ever go to a shelter to look for a pet, please consider getting an older one. Everyone loves the kittens, but all too often these guys just languish there. The two of them were just so happy to get out of those cages! They act just like kittens, chasing each other up and down the stairs. There was a bit of an uproar in the beginning of course, but now the old and the new cats are all getting along just fine!<br />
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There were so many cats at the shelter, but unfortunately, we could only bring these two home.<br />
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Most of the winter I spent working on this little lap/couch quilt.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSypjd0djUj8X71XWgqKogLVs_qiu-xlsYoCnJ-JD6Zpo-aF6YnhDSpK9GpAifn0c93UBUtSuQDM9hSmrqWv92sMyMseJqgA4HEupifHIa_F7Ob8pusb8027Bbue4ydQR82YDKVGkfZYI/s1600/Emma%2526Friends2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcSypjd0djUj8X71XWgqKogLVs_qiu-xlsYoCnJ-JD6Zpo-aF6YnhDSpK9GpAifn0c93UBUtSuQDM9hSmrqWv92sMyMseJqgA4HEupifHIa_F7Ob8pusb8027Bbue4ydQR82YDKVGkfZYI/s640/Emma%2526Friends2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Emma & Friends - Dimensions</i></b></td></tr>
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It took longer to finish this than I planned, but that was my fault. I didn't like the way the pre-quilted fabric looked with the cross stitching, so I added a backing to it, and quilted it. I picked a blue binding to bring it all together,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JNyWB6JZ6yBlP_53JDwauWNJYCUqGs5oitYjQl1oPbKJDDkA20Y_cS89jZAc-oYecshqnxgrmDWOgfWUah4Uvx0DUE1npKAfTkbWlz5ne9c3gKNE8NccIX_oLxBhEk2VvMCsDUDYwpEo/s1600/Emma%2526Friends3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JNyWB6JZ6yBlP_53JDwauWNJYCUqGs5oitYjQl1oPbKJDDkA20Y_cS89jZAc-oYecshqnxgrmDWOgfWUah4Uvx0DUE1npKAfTkbWlz5ne9c3gKNE8NccIX_oLxBhEk2VvMCsDUDYwpEo/s640/Emma%2526Friends3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It seemed like spring was late for us this year, but it is definitely here now!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have resolved to try to same some money on garden plants this year. Hope springs eternal!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Behold my little tomato seedlings:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tOeg7fVdoBJQAHHF1xcvm3NGS0TVFofbJ4GKWEasvVQikGwNZrMhqcKwm_F2VJgPTYOLq3JqJhb-zzSLN-FhLHcAKiXQOKw00DSBLWXwNdk4qGvacJHisEIe3pbrQJQwR00HgEePkqNg/s1600/tomatostarts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tOeg7fVdoBJQAHHF1xcvm3NGS0TVFofbJ4GKWEasvVQikGwNZrMhqcKwm_F2VJgPTYOLq3JqJhb-zzSLN-FhLHcAKiXQOKw00DSBLWXwNdk4qGvacJHisEIe3pbrQJQwR00HgEePkqNg/s320/tomatostarts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My next project is a bit of a departure from the usual. It is only just coming together. I haven't worked out all the details yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I always wanted to make a velveteen rabbit. It was a favorite book as a child.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I never quite liked modern stuffed animals. Yes, they are child-safe, and very plush and cuddly, but somehow they don't seem to have the personality of the older ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It took me a long time to find a pattern that was not so cutesy, and was more realistic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We shall see. I have made stuffed animals before, but I have never made any with the old fashioned glass eyes and jointed head and limbs. Hope it doesn't turn out to be too difficult!</span>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-26222701703987810492017-01-01T15:15:00.000-05:002017-01-01T15:15:17.796-05:00Yesterday was a terrible day!We lost our little Furrytail.<br />
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I have been through this all too many times, but it is even harder with Furry.<br />
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He was so much a part of my life. He followed me from room to room. If I went out to the garden, he had to go with me. He watched everything I did. Every time I took a photo of anything, he would jump up to be in the picture. I know he was old, but he didn't act it. He didn't sleep all day, he was active and interested in everything I did.<br />
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We thought we would have him longer, but his health deteriorated very quickly from the week before Christmas. Yesterday, he could no longer walk. We knew it was time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVFTDgLHgAq9SANY52k-3N7Kwi7GZSwyKNQVU2WlbYlygSRZO9uc-UkADRqy3EpseV-UhlcIAZCLfqfh_3hOqSm6ysQKcMWnqzmdxmKjko9UfFlRJ3Vs_Jiclu173EbryranVHwoEcjuP/s1600/Furry+on+table3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVFTDgLHgAq9SANY52k-3N7Kwi7GZSwyKNQVU2WlbYlygSRZO9uc-UkADRqy3EpseV-UhlcIAZCLfqfh_3hOqSm6ysQKcMWnqzmdxmKjko9UfFlRJ3Vs_Jiclu173EbryranVHwoEcjuP/s640/Furry+on+table3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Furrytail<br />2000 - 2016</b></td></tr>
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I keep looking for him everywhere.<br />
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My heart is broken.Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-67242452752460772062016-11-27T19:28:00.000-05:002016-11-27T19:28:11.969-05:00Catching Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This posting is more than overdue!<br />
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This year has not been without challenges and sorrows. It has taken me a while to be able to write about it.<br />
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In a year's time, we have lost 3 of our cats,<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Hermie</i></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Hermie enjoying the sunshine</i></b></td></tr>
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Hermie was a stray. He made up his mind that he was going to live with us, and wouldn't take no for an answer!<br />
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He had cancer in his intestines, and also on his face. By the time it was found, it was too late for him.<br />
I feel very bad about him because I think he was in a lot of pain and we didn't know it. Cats are very stoic.<br />
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Several months later, McGruff was diagnosed with heart failure. He was a stray who had a very hard life. He had been living outside for quite a while. He was missing teeth and had other health problems. He warmed up to us very quickly, but unfortunately it was some time before we could let him in the house because he always wanted to fight with our cats. We have a cat-door going into our cellar, and he spent about a year coming and going. Finally, he stopped fighting with the cats so we could let him in. Unfortunately, soon after, we lost him.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>McGruff</i></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>McGruff, the tough guy</i></b></td></tr>
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About a month after we lost McGruff, our Furrytail was diagnosed with lung cancer. We made an appointment with the vet to get an ultrasound done on the mass. <i><u><b>While</b></u></i> we were waiting for the phone call from the vet, to come pick up Furry, I noticed that Blue had started acting odd, turning in circles. First, I thought he was playing, but I soon realized that something was terribly wrong. We rushed him to the vet, but there was nothing they could do for him. He had to be put down. We have been just reeling from this!<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The shy Blue</b></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Our cabinet cat Blue</i></b></td></tr>
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Blue's death was so unexpected. He was our youngest cat about 8 years old, also a stray. He wandered into our yard, and was living under our shed. We would see him coming and going, but it took us months to coax him out to get food. We started putting the food closer and closer to the deck. He got to know the time we would feed him, and would wait on the deck for us. During a snowstorm, I threw a towel over him, grabbed him, and brought him inside. Blue never quite got over his shyness, but he did like to follow us around and peek at us from the top of the cabinets. He was just becoming a real member of the family when he had the stroke.</div>
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So now, we are watching poor Furrytail like a hawk. Furry is all over my blog. He always has to be in all my photos! He is older now, 16-1/2 years, but he seems to be doing ok. We decided against surgery because of his age. The vet thinks that because the cancer is fairly slow growing, that he may be able to live out his normal lifespan. I certainly hope so. I cannot stand the thought of him being in pain. </div>
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UGH! As I said, quite a year!<br /><br />I will remember these little faces forever!<br />
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Ok, on to some stitching.<br />
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I finished up <b><i>Cape Cod's Girls</i></b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDQESgSkL0RxQ_1Z_5snd8a2bbHCaD48DaNzJ2Ird3MIE-TCodwvnsMTinfdD0Q-PmN3qu4wGY8_aVzhtTUCdUkCwfunrmFYbolN6nlSE3iUADtbnjoUF3yEwSpCTGGqZYrlwDIkBu1A6/s1600/Capecodgirls3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeDQESgSkL0RxQ_1Z_5snd8a2bbHCaD48DaNzJ2Ird3MIE-TCodwvnsMTinfdD0Q-PmN3qu4wGY8_aVzhtTUCdUkCwfunrmFYbolN6nlSE3iUADtbnjoUF3yEwSpCTGGqZYrlwDIkBu1A6/s400/Capecodgirls3.jpg" width="372" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Cape Cod's Girls - The Primitive Needle 36ct linen</i></b></td></tr>
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<br />Then I decided to stitch the companion piece, <b>Cape Cod's Boys</b>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONghVQ6s4aZAfqjtHsZ2-dBHFnp4Z9whqCNIIVy1ABZGGnqJUAxjBfNaN013enW_Ypttb0JgG_upanHahuK5eqKHqNdwWccPxK3J9WOXIEMpgY2hk_Ekkj6wArCo3G-42jkv8UK6Tx0I2/s1600/CapeCodBoys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONghVQ6s4aZAfqjtHsZ2-dBHFnp4Z9whqCNIIVy1ABZGGnqJUAxjBfNaN013enW_Ypttb0JgG_upanHahuK5eqKHqNdwWccPxK3J9WOXIEMpgY2hk_Ekkj6wArCo3G-42jkv8UK6Tx0I2/s320/CapeCodBoys.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Cape Cod's Boys - The Primitive Needle</i></b></td></tr>
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<br /> Here is the completed stitch:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Cape Cod's Boys - The Primitive Needle 36 ct linen</i></b></td></tr>
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Next, I started work on one that I have had in my stash for ages!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Industrious Bee Sampler - Theron Traditions</i></b></td></tr>
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I have been plodding along on this one. This is what I have so far.<br />
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It is very slow-going. The two yellow flowers, under the birds took forever. They are done in Queen stitch. The visibility gets very limited doing this stitch, especially towards the end when it is so crowded with stitches, but it does give it a nice 3-d type effect.<br />
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I took a little break here to work on some holiday stitching.<br />
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I am stitching <i><b>The Ice Crystal ornament</b></i> from Mill Hill.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT3S-P-_KD9uy2qYFJ62tO7PlePXYxk-FqOxf7wnMjRoFPcsIJ-Pt6wMtY_wauMvGfBKFuwFsj9gXBpfoWVEJe-4cwFhQgIPjDqlh-hV93IfHWoQfSb-ia-zFH929i-oGtTefW0FTq3mQ/s1600/MHIceCrystal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilT3S-P-_KD9uy2qYFJ62tO7PlePXYxk-FqOxf7wnMjRoFPcsIJ-Pt6wMtY_wauMvGfBKFuwFsj9gXBpfoWVEJe-4cwFhQgIPjDqlh-hV93IfHWoQfSb-ia-zFH929i-oGtTefW0FTq3mQ/s400/MHIceCrystal.jpg" width="380" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Mill Hill Ice Crystal</b></i></td></tr>
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I am designing this to be hung in my bay window. I love the Mill Hill ornaments, but in the past, I haven't liked how they looked from the back. For that reason, I decided to make two, and put them together.<br />
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I finished the first one, and attached the charm at the bottom and the hanger at the top.<br />
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I am working on the second one now. I have finished all the stitching. Now I have to finish up sewing on all the beads. This should go faster because I will not be sewing on another charm, or making another hanger.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiO76v9YSqVbM3n5VTchPvfXXpAvf13K59yenjkHLLrBL37BIvohdL8Qi2Xk22f3P8cHzIdFs6IrYHV3oCtZ8vT-0jfXfXtQI7j5FgVRRMI8vSNxT5CuZfTFKeFSnmZU4wjnPg1cbd7Bqj/s1600/MHIceCrystal3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiO76v9YSqVbM3n5VTchPvfXXpAvf13K59yenjkHLLrBL37BIvohdL8Qi2Xk22f3P8cHzIdFs6IrYHV3oCtZ8vT-0jfXfXtQI7j5FgVRRMI8vSNxT5CuZfTFKeFSnmZU4wjnPg1cbd7Bqj/s400/MHIceCrystal3.jpg" width="393" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mill Hill Ice Crystal - Front and back </i></b></td></tr>
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After I finish up the beading, I will whip-stitch them together, and hopefully they will hang nicely in the bay window.<br />
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This has been a very long post. I will leave it at that. I will be back to show the finished ornament soon.</div>
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Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-25404165648460556812016-04-20T17:15:00.000-04:002016-04-20T17:27:33.367-04:00The Big Reveal !The "<i><b>Constellations of the Northern Hemisphere</b></i>" quilt is finished!<br />
Yay!<br />
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I finally finished all the stitching and quilting.<br />
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Next, I had to peel off the transfer paper. I totally underestimated how long this would take. It had to<br />
be done very carefully so the stitches were not pulled out. This was a very tedious job, and I am still finding stitches that were pulled out!<br />
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I spent 5 evenings working at pulling it away with tweezers.<br />
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After this, the binding was next. I decided against a contrasting binding. I think using the same dark sky color for the binding gives it more of a feeling of infinity to it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MTsz1vKR3gZmxl3tEzsiJSETkGbvr961pvy-OkODwdYSsXXDuW_lwvDDrMYY8N2Dsn05cjXGYjU6f2wDZWC5dpCwGSsgXx-_3kbl4thkO6mcOu_pqOk9p41Y6CF35IVlNJZS1OgriT86/s1600/stars13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MTsz1vKR3gZmxl3tEzsiJSETkGbvr961pvy-OkODwdYSsXXDuW_lwvDDrMYY8N2Dsn05cjXGYjU6f2wDZWC5dpCwGSsgXx-_3kbl4thkO6mcOu_pqOk9p41Y6CF35IVlNJZS1OgriT86/s320/stars13.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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Finally, a finish!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpigoYpLbvyZZisCr9-c5WH0B_LgTQxAP7BFrqz54kxhZZ0xp7LywhYMzT7sCOPPFgsNailErye2M5zQ5pjWxKaV25nQHybwS3KCgtkRFbCT_dThQdLeZxUHiKv4CITeYbj75aCC5cSrs9/s1600/starsfinish1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpigoYpLbvyZZisCr9-c5WH0B_LgTQxAP7BFrqz54kxhZZ0xp7LywhYMzT7sCOPPFgsNailErye2M5zQ5pjWxKaV25nQHybwS3KCgtkRFbCT_dThQdLeZxUHiKv4CITeYbj75aCC5cSrs9/s640/starsfinish1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This was hard to photograph. I did the best I could to get it all in.<br />
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Here is a close up of the Milky Way that took forever with all those French Knots!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqSV3ATsA12Qgjk4LfDjGmTmmb_tDofjNn7PnSSMCKrAkDPZksuDWpxWcN9pOBjXoBbf0a0UTQqSt1WBdCUafuLpMpkYqnQluwaHtAqZgwxisoizeb89G_s_-hDwpbG5RvzdqEyUP_SC4/s1600/Milkywaycloseup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqSV3ATsA12Qgjk4LfDjGmTmmb_tDofjNn7PnSSMCKrAkDPZksuDWpxWcN9pOBjXoBbf0a0UTQqSt1WBdCUafuLpMpkYqnQluwaHtAqZgwxisoizeb89G_s_-hDwpbG5RvzdqEyUP_SC4/s640/Milkywaycloseup.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is a shot of the back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjfchU5t_E0P9vDjbVfjHlzBk1omAMrKB4cpE2_kPh_xsLX5HyYfjAZrApUq_ai-xPEurO2h5KprX6XfNmlA8f45cDj0N8_gkSnj_l23rLQGEESAdmu5qxKPgMTgnsi3dme8T4LoydtvA/s1600/backbinding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjfchU5t_E0P9vDjbVfjHlzBk1omAMrKB4cpE2_kPh_xsLX5HyYfjAZrApUq_ai-xPEurO2h5KprX6XfNmlA8f45cDj0N8_gkSnj_l23rLQGEESAdmu5qxKPgMTgnsi3dme8T4LoydtvA/s400/backbinding.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSZSqXSTtVYbkFMCL3y3swX5cXR66wf9ErhyyTmlsTPgDD8jA9KR6lMaH3IIy4MSNHvy98-26gFMRFMCAitD8V82Ln3862hqIG1GaO-REA9JJDSkhxoWehtBBsTF8zp1RfhkHJ5OyWk4Y/s1600/Starsfinish2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivSZSqXSTtVYbkFMCL3y3swX5cXR66wf9ErhyyTmlsTPgDD8jA9KR6lMaH3IIy4MSNHvy98-26gFMRFMCAitD8V82Ln3862hqIG1GaO-REA9JJDSkhxoWehtBBsTF8zp1RfhkHJ5OyWk4Y/s640/Starsfinish2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It feels very good to have finished this! I still don't have the hangers on the back, but that is a problem for another day!<br />
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In between working on the quilt, I made a new start. I have had this in my stash for ages.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IgHR5uE4SvxysnDmE6YmWSN62NbNSzudCotMWhq6-z7ZD1PMEUR14rMAqWHnDBjV2_ce6UQt1NYEXBKDkoGbkSoe2EgQCUPmzom84U6k3KCUeiBMbOXqlpmn_2lCVZymzUP9W-MUxjpB/s1600/Cape+Cod%2527sGirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IgHR5uE4SvxysnDmE6YmWSN62NbNSzudCotMWhq6-z7ZD1PMEUR14rMAqWHnDBjV2_ce6UQt1NYEXBKDkoGbkSoe2EgQCUPmzom84U6k3KCUeiBMbOXqlpmn_2lCVZymzUP9W-MUxjpB/s400/Cape+Cod%2527sGirls.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am stitching it on 40 count Picture this Plus linen in Heritage. It is hard to tell from the photo, but it has a green murky color to it that looks like the water.<br />
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This is what I have so far.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCEtqljCXXA9OGHNm8iMqzyP9-ZCoOfu-9L7gvu39leTePOM_bE8x2zzykn_fsqjQF2OA_60rlsyyXIsXJ2B09VqZAVZBh6vqfUpnCcrYmssw61M9i8DXPEshPZExAUb1kxyg98b3mglm/s1600/CapeCodGirls2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCEtqljCXXA9OGHNm8iMqzyP9-ZCoOfu-9L7gvu39leTePOM_bE8x2zzykn_fsqjQF2OA_60rlsyyXIsXJ2B09VqZAVZBh6vqfUpnCcrYmssw61M9i8DXPEshPZExAUb1kxyg98b3mglm/s400/CapeCodGirls2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I didn't realize quite how small it would be. I wish I had saved some of the linen. I didn't need this big of a piece, and it was pretty expensive! Oh well, better too big than too small!<br />
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I will be back with more photos soon.<br />
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Enjoy the Spring everyone!Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-63866696540838324292016-03-23T09:40:00.001-04:002016-03-23T13:12:34.950-04:00Caught between the Moon and New York City . . . <br />
or, more accurately, between the Milky Way and a suburb north of NYC!<br />
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I have been working on the <i><b>Constellation quilt</b></i>. I have stitched many of the stars, all except those around the outer rim.<br />
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The part that has really slowed me down is the band of stars in the Milky Way, <i><u>all French Knots</u></i>!<br />
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For the past four evenings, I have done nothing but French Knots. I have done hundreds of them! It is very fatiguing to do them through the quilt hoop and template, and, I am sure I will have to re-do many of them. It is hard to see with the template on top.<br />
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Here is a photo of the whole quilt so far.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdyYU7GBfm4i0VERChhl2a1zhXauiJrxcI38WKzcEnro0VAYXI6N6pw4asKlWVsMBN4jyepMLKIcNkmYrKXXSyZGHiG05EUrwuO4nIEIOfNWkvDCkf-7HsOVEwQ9u5dyLf_E3aQ8Tamns/s1600/Stars8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdyYU7GBfm4i0VERChhl2a1zhXauiJrxcI38WKzcEnro0VAYXI6N6pw4asKlWVsMBN4jyepMLKIcNkmYrKXXSyZGHiG05EUrwuO4nIEIOfNWkvDCkf-7HsOVEwQ9u5dyLf_E3aQ8Tamns/s640/Stars8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(click on photo to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
(Whenever I lay out anything on the dining room table, Furry insists on jumping up to see what's going on)!<br />
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It is hard to see the progress with the template. You can probably make out the tiny white dots in the middle of the screen. That is perhaps a third of the Milky Way. I have a long way to go!<br />
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The construction lines of the quilt are stitched with quilting thread, but I am using DMC Glow-in-the-dark white floss. It looks like regular DMC, but it tends to get fuzzy, especially when it catches on the template. It really does glow in the dark, but I don't know how to show it here in a photo. It needs to be very dark. I am not sure who will be looking at it in the dark, but it's an interesting idea!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR_2xi7IkIKPGSwLlM22dgfz49vgeseqDCjKipbKOOIiSOwfVQrILcRVnC3nFSW7iHhziBECYf0qJG346nzJbqudHvZc-OKxbqgbTpeVqhi9tqcbWuUBvTvtPbfr4xWpvscjxFPI5Mxhv/s1600/Furry+in+the+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglR_2xi7IkIKPGSwLlM22dgfz49vgeseqDCjKipbKOOIiSOwfVQrILcRVnC3nFSW7iHhziBECYf0qJG346nzJbqudHvZc-OKxbqgbTpeVqhi9tqcbWuUBvTvtPbfr4xWpvscjxFPI5Mxhv/s640/Furry+in+the+stars.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuFyL5fhaTgAFrA3f0qYVl2JkfbzN0tasHdhBuByEzuLxIEgWp3Se835o3QOCJYVNIn5_8aLH9PIENo1-oKVPuWOxrGjMlRF_ipjDX02RSo-sJxWwyOnx4zKeIv8PY3tVVrJRV234nF6e/s1600/FrenchKnots2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuFyL5fhaTgAFrA3f0qYVl2JkfbzN0tasHdhBuByEzuLxIEgWp3Se835o3QOCJYVNIn5_8aLH9PIENo1-oKVPuWOxrGjMlRF_ipjDX02RSo-sJxWwyOnx4zKeIv8PY3tVVrJRV234nF6e/s640/FrenchKnots2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French Knots</td></tr>
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I think I may need to order more of the Glow-in-the-dark floss. The French Knots eat up a lot of it.</div>
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The stars themselves use a very interesting notation system. It was inspired by the system developed in the 1950's by H. A. Rey. Rey was an amateur astronomer, but is probably best known as the author of the Curious George books.</div>
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Each star is represented by their visual magnitude (brightness as seen from the planet Earth).</div>
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The stars have six corresponding sizes on a scale of 0 (brightest) to 5 (faintest or smallest).</div>
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Each star is stitched using a backstitch. This is how they appear on the quilt.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweAMYEDIVp-Rpe5X5P-m8OY1zVNnEqzii1JG9jRvVifMfsTWq05KMZm3KbHAtXxh6Bwi5tfeKRfyMuvz4P171VWXP5OuA1G_RnIbwnuSm4ATb2SdD3-YP0_qlvJ0FlrZZGLqND7gPEq9k/s1600/Starsb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweAMYEDIVp-Rpe5X5P-m8OY1zVNnEqzii1JG9jRvVifMfsTWq05KMZm3KbHAtXxh6Bwi5tfeKRfyMuvz4P171VWXP5OuA1G_RnIbwnuSm4ATb2SdD3-YP0_qlvJ0FlrZZGLqND7gPEq9k/s400/Starsb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The quilt is coming along, but I still have a long way to go. I am a little nervous about the big reveal, when I tear off the template. I hope the stitching is not too sloppy. I cannot imagine making a full size quilt. The option is to make x's instead of French Knots. I would definitely do that if I were making the larger quilt!<br />
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I do have another finish for 2016. Before I started the quilt, I finished up a pair of socks for Keith's birthday. They are knitted with Kroy sock yarn. I couldn't post them before this, or it would have spoiled the surprise. I hope they fit. Every pair I make fits a little differently. Here they are.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiXxmE8vVo1RkAX3i8tlPmMS18ADYt4QCPNlrFWeUsg3pbILxhwOBjjxmcuxMqGR67u1nYZPeoLpANSLWmb7pK5hqYCgOMUDT047nmD24P_tZTVZs7UPXu074YO9VqDQ_-w5RTyUYq5GT/s1600/KBirthdaysocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiXxmE8vVo1RkAX3i8tlPmMS18ADYt4QCPNlrFWeUsg3pbILxhwOBjjxmcuxMqGR67u1nYZPeoLpANSLWmb7pK5hqYCgOMUDT047nmD24P_tZTVZs7UPXu074YO9VqDQ_-w5RTyUYq5GT/s400/KBirthdaysocks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hope he like them!<br />
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I am currently thinking about how I will finish the quilt. I guess it should be hung on a wall. That means I will have to sew quilt hangers on the back. I have never actually done that with a quilt, although I have read about it. Hmmm, another experiment!<br />
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That's all I have for now. Enjoy the Spring everyone.<br />
<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-69543038948795604692016-03-08T11:14:00.000-05:002016-03-23T09:14:12.911-04:00A Finish, and a Very Cool New Project!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b>Love Heart</b></i> from Bothy Threads is finished!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNtabNv6WLSm0OVbhSA6gP7uHcTsOVlggUDgfTINThvV2mPmlMQGwmC2HDeaDzgW5uB5gmsh4lHaBNAOcOXh-2qNpRRqYLuYciD2IA2aJhX6LpqPI6cuvT0X8Gh4Akx08WLiM8F9wtntT/s1600/LoveHeart5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNtabNv6WLSm0OVbhSA6gP7uHcTsOVlggUDgfTINThvV2mPmlMQGwmC2HDeaDzgW5uB5gmsh4lHaBNAOcOXh-2qNpRRqYLuYciD2IA2aJhX6LpqPI6cuvT0X8Gh4Akx08WLiM8F9wtntT/s640/LoveHeart5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Love Heart from Bothy Threads</b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I sewed on the last of the beads yesterday. It is hard to see them, but here is a close-up.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNS4h1Ny723X-jCSuOOCpgLmljhXFSxmp0w6s9YSlmfC2hc9xdC6QlI7_tkvoep5qDHwV1CNQZNWlXoRZwOdskfHsZYbcImXy5hRKYQ0nnC6tiI4s0pBKIFwEsAg6NZnaHt-86qArDZRc/s1600/LoveHeartbeads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNS4h1Ny723X-jCSuOOCpgLmljhXFSxmp0w6s9YSlmfC2hc9xdC6QlI7_tkvoep5qDHwV1CNQZNWlXoRZwOdskfHsZYbcImXy5hRKYQ0nnC6tiI4s0pBKIFwEsAg6NZnaHt-86qArDZRc/s640/LoveHeartbeads.jpg" width="432" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I always forget how big heart-shapes are. I do wish now I had stitched it on 32 ct instead of 28 ct.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">And now for my cool new project!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Keith gave me this for Christmas!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have always loved astronomy. When I saw this quilt from <i><b>Haptic Lab</b></i>, I knew I had to stitch it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you are not familiar with Haptic Lab, you can read about them <i><b><a href="http://www.hapticlab.com/" target="_blank">here</a></b></i>. They have city quilts from all over the world, and a map of the constellations from the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Very cool!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am stitching the Northern Hemisphere Constellations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For the night sky, I chose a marbled cotton from Moda.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2t_F7zEvbUf_SIPUbVgng3lS1h1ulaqRNiGAsHkYTPixzPFipUqLw5d1R9k1jG75sfOk8Xkg8KpVHXRA20OHFDgOi3y7QuJvpHPTJHfrj0WhVxSnUhsGFlgpHhEhx-qQLXw_6pg5ljlZ9/s1600/Stars1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2t_F7zEvbUf_SIPUbVgng3lS1h1ulaqRNiGAsHkYTPixzPFipUqLw5d1R9k1jG75sfOk8Xkg8KpVHXRA20OHFDgOi3y7QuJvpHPTJHfrj0WhVxSnUhsGFlgpHhEhx-qQLXw_6pg5ljlZ9/s320/Stars1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The template is placed over the quilt sandwich.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is a bit awkward stitching this way. I am making the wall or crib size. I cannot imagine stitching the full size version. The template is very stiff, but at the same time, it is fragile. It tears very easily when the stitches are pulled through it. I tried to tape it together in some places but the tape doesn't stick to it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am a very traditional quilter, and stitches on this quilt are larger than I am used to making. Also, it is a leap of faith how the stitches will look, because I won't see them until the template is removed. The stitches need to be tight, but it you pull too tight, it tears the template.</span><br />
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It will be hard to show my progress on this because the stitches do not show on the template.<br />
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Here is a shot of the back. I think you can see the stitching better here. I chose the same marbled pattern from Moda for the back, but in a light blue, for the day sky.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I haven't gotten to stitching any of the stars yet. I am still working on the construction quilting that holds it together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">By next time, I will hopefully have some of the stars done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The weather looks like is is starting to warm up here. I am certainly looking forward to that! The chickens and bees are too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks for all of your kind word about my stitching. Some of you, I tried to get in touch with, but the email was bounced. I have no idea whether is is you or me. Please know that I appreciate all of your comments though.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-61287952582236138622016-02-20T13:55:00.002-05:002016-02-21T13:38:02.139-05:00The PillowThis was not my first pillow!<br />
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I have made pillows with piping before, and I have installed many zippers in my time.<br />
I have no idea why all of this went so wrong. It seemed like everything that could go wrong, went wrong!<br />
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I finally finished <b><i>Winter Watch</i></b>, after what seemed like forever filling in all that gray and then making all the French knot snowflakes!<br />
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I decided to turn it into a pillow. I remembered that I had a piece of gray velveteen in the attic that I thought would be perfect for the backing. As it turned out, it wasn't the best match, but it was ok. I wanted to stay away from the Christmas reds, so it would be displayable in January-March.<br />
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Well, then my troubles began. My trusty 50+ year old Kenmore was acting up! The tension was all messed up, and the clutch for some reason wouldn't engage. How does this happen when the last time I used it, it was perfectly fine?<br />
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Well, after an entire afternoon of fiddling with it, I got it so it would work, not perfectly, but enough to get me through hopefully.<br />
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I had a lot of trouble with it. First I made the piping out of the same material, Then I basted it to the canvas, and sewed it on. That went ok. Next step was to put the invisible zipper in. The side of the zipper that went onto the canvas went in ok, but when I tried to sew the other half to the velveteen backing I had a lot of trouble.<br />
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No matter what I did, I couldn't get that pillow to line up! It seemed like the backing had skewed itself, so it was crooked. I don't know how this happened because I basted everything, but it slid around somehow!<br />
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After hours of trying to straighten it out, I gave up. This is what it looks like:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT_mnDULzev2NoUGgrd0KuXjbLm5pbIT4B3BiBbyOxrkIKFz_7DBcWmtLLy9DFalgj1YAYftrT3W36W8P3kZba-OEcmdgC5JbO4EByaapyqjTFB8g7wovKrrvoE7naCjisXxe0ZuTEihV/s1600/WinterWatch9.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT_mnDULzev2NoUGgrd0KuXjbLm5pbIT4B3BiBbyOxrkIKFz_7DBcWmtLLy9DFalgj1YAYftrT3W36W8P3kZba-OEcmdgC5JbO4EByaapyqjTFB8g7wovKrrvoE7naCjisXxe0ZuTEihV/s400/WinterWatch9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was going to make a pillow liner for it but I didn't, thinking that maybe someday I would go back and revisit it. For now though, I am so frustrated, I can't even look at it!</div>
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I guess it is ok if no one turns it over, but people always do, don't they?<br />
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I would love to fix this, but I really don't know how I can make it any better. I can feel my blood pressure going up just thinking about this! What a disappointment! Maybe I shouldn't have attempted the zipper with the piping on such a thick fabric as the velveteen. Certainly <i><u>not</u></i> my best work! Oh well! Moving on . . .<br />
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I knitted a pair of socks for me! This was actually my first finish for the year.<br />
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I knitted these using Kroy sock yarn, in Brown Marl. I liked the colors. They seem so cozy.<br />
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For a change of pace, I am now stitching <b style="font-style: italic;">Love Heart </b>from<b style="font-style: italic;"> Bothy Threads</b>. I love this design. It is so fun and quirky!<br />
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This is what I have so far:<br />
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I did swop out the aida for 28 ct linen, which I much prefer. In hind sight however, I wish I had chosen 32 count linen instead of the 28ct. I didn't realize how big this design was. I would like to frame this one, but my wall space is somewhat limited<br />
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That's all I have for now. I am looking forward to spring as I am sure all of your are. I suspect that winter is not quite done with us though! March is always a tricky one!Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-68958158262108528682016-01-01T11:13:00.001-05:002016-01-01T11:13:33.177-05:002015 FinishesClearly, from these photos, 2015 was the year of the sock!<br />
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I didn't count in here the unfinished Christmas ornaments. I guess they will be early 2016 finishes.<br />
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Have a Happy New Year everyone!Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-51085207714948931992015-12-27T22:55:00.001-05:002015-12-30T09:27:57.499-05:002015<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What a blur!</span><br />
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I had always heard that time passes quicker when you get older, but this year went by at a dizzying speed!<br />
I felt that if I turned my head, I would get vertigo!<br />
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I did keep working steadily on my projects though. Warning! This is going to be a long post to catch up on 6 months!<br />
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I finished <b><i>Sarah Elizabeth Brooke</i></b>.<br />
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I love the verse on this one. A girl after my own heart!<br />
<h4>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">No glory I covet no riches I want</span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Ambition is nothing to me</i></div>
</i><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The one thing I beg of good Heaven to grant</i></div>
</i></span><i><div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Is a mind independent and free</span></i></div>
</i></h4>
She is still not framed of course.<br />
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Next I decided to work on a few Christmas presents. I had planned to knit the <b><i>Winter Wonderland socks</i></b> for Martha, my mother-in-law.<br />
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This one took a lot of planning. I had to find just the right color yarn, and send away for the miyuki beads. The pattern called for a cream color, but I didn't think the mohair "snow" would show up well enough against it. I chose a gray-blue cashmere blend yarn. Unfortunately the "snow" didn't show up as well as I had hoped on this color either.<br />
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This is a very interesting pattern that presented quite a few challenges. All the beads all had to be counted out and placed on the yarn (backwards in order of use) before the knitting could start. I had to string 1144 silver-lined clear beads, and 480 green-lined crystal beads! I was in fear the whole time that I hadn't counted right, or I had placed the wrong color bead in the wrong place!<br />
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The next challenge was the provisional cast on. I had never done this before. The top part of the sock, with the crystal snowflakes, is knitted sideways in stocking knit stitch.<br />
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The piece is then sewn together. Then the stitches are picked up to complete the body of the sock.<br />
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The mohair is knitted along with the blue yarn to create the snow drifts. Again, I was a little disappointed that it didn't show up better.<br />
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So far, so good. Now all I needed to do was knit my way down the foot.<br />
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It went well. The only thing was, now I had to do it <i><b><u>all over again for the other foot</u></b></i>!<br />
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In the end, thankfully, they turned out very well.<br />
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Now, it they only fit!<br />
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<br />
Next, I knitted a simple pair of socks for Keith using an Opal self-striping yarn.<br />
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He liked these. He wore them on Christmas day.<br />
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Then, I knitted him another pair in brown merino wool.<br />
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Hard to tell from the photo, but this was gorgeous wool, very luxurious to work!<br />
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Then, I knitted this tan pair for Martha.<br />
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After all the knitting, I decided to finish <b><i>A Crossed Wing Christmas</i></b>.<br />
I had been working on this one off and on for a long time, and it felt good to have it done.<br />
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It is hard to tell from the photo, but there are many pearlescent beads sewn all over the snow.<br />
This also has yet to be framed.<br />
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Next, it was time to stitch some Christmas ornaments. I picked <b><i>Merry Christmas</i></b> by Samplers Not Forgotten, from the 2015 JCS Ornament issue.<br />
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I am still working on the finishing.<br />
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This is the backing fabric I chose.<br />
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This will be finished up tomorrow.<br />
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Also, I stitched the cat from Prairie Schooler's<i><b> Christmas Past</b></i>.<br />
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This will be a quick finish too.<br />
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After that, I stitched two of the <b><i>Old World Santas</i></b> from Prairie Schooler.<br />
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I love these old Prairie Schooler designs. I may hold off finishing these two because I would like to stitch the whole collection, and have a similar backing on them.<br />
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After that, I made myself some socks! I used Opal Yarn's Neon yarn to make these.<br />
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During the last few days, I have been plugging away on <i><b>Winter Watch</b></i>. This just might be the year I finish it, although I can't think of many things more boring than filling in a large background with gray stitches!<br />
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This year has had losses for us. About a month ago, we lost our little Hermie to cancer.<br />
He came to us right around this time back in 2008. You do not pick a cat. The cat picks you!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hermie</td></tr>
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We hadn't gotten over that, when a week later, our McGruff was diagnosed with a very serious case of heart failure. We are taking care of him as best we can. Hermie and McGruff were the youngest cats. My others are older, so I worry about what is to come of course.<br />
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Well. lets hope next year will be full of good things for all of us!<br />
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If you have made it all the way to the end of this post, you deserve a medal! That's what happens when you try to put 6 months into one post!<br />
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<br />Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3547359167720074648.post-42339640250308982862015-06-03T09:26:00.000-04:002015-06-03T09:26:40.390-04:00My ProjectsI can never seem to find the time to post, but I have been busy.<br />
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Last November, I began stitching <b><i>A Crossed Wing Christmas</i></b>.<br />
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This is a deceptively large sampler, with lots of 3/4, and blended stitches. I think it will be very pretty when it is finished, but it is a slow-go.<br />
I got to the point where I just couldn't look at any more snow and ice after the winter we had, and I put it aside for a while.<br />
This where it was when I left off:<br />
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It is a little hard to see the details on the light blue linen. There is a lot of snow, as well as the many birds of course, and some apples, pine cones and an orange.<br />
I will get back to it in a few months.<br />
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Next, I picked <b><i>The Sarah Elizabeth Brooke Sampler</i></b>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sarah Elizabeth Brooke 1842 Sampler</b></td></tr>
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I have had my eye on this one for quite a while!<br />
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The linen is 40 count, and I am using the suggested Belle Soie silk threads.<br />
I am currently working on this one, and have made some more progress. I will post a new photo soon.<br />
Those bricks are taking forever! I feel like I am actually building the house brick by brick!<br />
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In between these projects, I knitted a pair of socks for Martha, my mother-in-law. Unfortunately I neglected to get a photo. I hope they fit, but I suspect they might have been a bit large. It is always hard to knit socks for someone else.<br />
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Also, I completed 2 other projects! Because they are secret, I cannot post the photos just yet, but I will in a few months.<br />
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I am spending a lot of time in the garden these days. I got a late start and didn't get my seeds going. Next year, no matter how cold it is, I am resolving to start my plants from seed! The nurseries and farms around here are all disappearing to make room for more developments. It is a shame to see them go. The result is to pay higher and higher prices for plants from the remaining nurseries, or be satisfied with the paltry selection of plants from the big box stores. Not great alternatives!<br />
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As soon as it stops raining, I am going to take photos of my garden. I will come back to post them along with my progress on Sarah Elizabeth.<br />
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Enjoy the Spring everyone!Ericahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12006690360122489350noreply@blogger.com5