I Want to Do All The Things!

It has taken me a while to come back here to post.  Part of the delay was that I use the camera on my phone to take photos and email them to my laptop so that I can upload them here.  For some reason, after the last IPhone update my phone would no longer email my photos.  I think I have the issue resolved but only after much googling and tinkering.  

It is hard to have so many interests which compete for my time.  I love my stitching, quilting, cooking, gardening, calligraphy, home décor, reading, and crocheting.  At the same time, there are so many things that I want to learn, such as water color painting.  Only recently, I rediscovered working on my family history again.  A couple of months ago, I re-upped with Ancestry.com after a five year absence.  I can't believe how easy it is to work with now, although you still have to be careful as there are also a lot of errors out there.  I have found several ancestors who fought in the American Revolution, which made me feel incredibly humbled for the sacrifice they made.

In between all of the competing interests, I had to make a little gift for my sweet baboo's little granddaughter, who just turned four and loves all things ballet.  The pattern is Country Cottage Needleworks, Little Ballerinas.  I did use the fancy floss and was happy that I did, because I loved the colors. 

 

A couple of weeks ago, I ran across a gorgeous pattern for a crocheted afghan.  (You can never have too many throw blankets and afghans.)   This one is worked in Lemon Peel Stitch.  I so loved the pattern that I used the same colors that the creator of the pattern used.  It is done in Caron Big Cakes - Summer Berry Tart.  I LOVE the colors.  The pattern calls to use to two strands at one time.  This is a bit challenging, but the result is gorgeous.  You can find the pattern here:  https://www.hookedonhomemadehappiness.com/color-kaleidoscope-crochet-blanket-pattern/?epik=02O4vE_IW3-t2

A word of warning here.  It is a little harder on your hands to work two strands at one and it can dry your hands out. However, it will be really cozy when it is complete.

Have a great week!

Stitchy Stuff

Well, it has been a little longer than I thought it would be before I made it back to post here.  The first quarter of the year is generally crazy for me as an accountant.  This year has not been any different and my brain is a little mushy as a result.  I have been able to stitch a little bit and I am finishing up the piece above although not in time for Easter 2018.  It is a pretty fun stitch.  Next year I will have it finished and ready to display.

I usually have a little shopping cart accumulating over time at 123stitch.  I decided to treat myself and checked out a couple of weeks ago.  123stitch has such an amazing selection and they are supersonic fast at shipping.  Here was my haul:

 

Some time back, I shared my love of fruit in cross stitch and paintings.  I knew I had to have the fruit smalls to be stitched on the black background.  The bunnies were just too cute to pass up and I really like them on the black background.  I know that a lot of stitchers avoid black fabric, but I enjoy working with it and stitching really pops against the background.

I love these snow people.  My son is getting married in October, and I immediately thought of him and his fiancé when I saw this.  We live in on the Central Coast of California and have not seen a snowman in about fifteen years but this just made me think of the happy couple when I saw it.  It's so gosh darn cute.

"Bloom Where You Are Planted" is one of my favorite sayings.  I love this small, especially the hummingbird.  I think it will be a great reminder to flourish and be joyful. 

The Monterey Peninsula is a beautiful place full of natural seaside gorgeousness.  It is why I love it so much here.  However, it is not a retail metropolis.  It takes a while (like years) for us to get stores that you will find elsewhere.  I was giddy with excitement, as were my fellow Peninsula residents when a HomeGoods opened here back in September.  I have to have full restraint when I go in there, which is not often.  

Last week, I had the opportunity to go into the local HomeGoods, just to look around.  I did not find anything for the humans in the household.  I did come across some cute things for my furry soul sister though.  Liesl normally has two bowls, and it never fails, generally both would be dirty and in the dishwasher when I would prepare her dinner.  I happened upon a whole bunch of Rae Dunn dog bowls for $5.99 each so I bought five to use as food and water bowls so that I can always have a clean one at the ready.  Liesl is now stylin' when she devours her dinner.  The top one there makes me laugh, because schnauzers are pretty turfy about everything.  

Hope you have a great week!