2012 in Review

Happy New Year!  One thing I did not accomplish in 2012 is keeping this blog updated.  As a matter of fact, I started this post on New Year's eve and you see it's just now hitting blog land!  It's a good thing I don't have hundreds of followers anxiously awaiting my next post.  As modern technology improves, I sometimes start to feel left behind.  Like what the heck is a hashtag and why do you need it?  I try too keep up but I do not stay on the cutting edge.  I'm somewhere near the caboose.  I just got a smartphone for Christmas and the darn thing is too smart for me!  I think I have discovered a few cool new things that will help me with my blogging.  Hopefully I will do better this year!  On to my accomplishments, and not in order of completion.......... 

Pillowcases!  I love making these things.  They are instant sewing gratification!

Owls on the left for my youngest grandaughter, middle flowers for my niece to match her quilt, and Spiderman for my youngest daughter!  I make them using the "sausage" method.  An excellent YouTube tutorial can be found  here.

 

A bird themed quilt for my first great niece.

And scarves.....lots of scarves!!!!  I offered to make a couple of scarves for a lady at my church to use for an Alzheimer's fundraiser.  I said "a couple".  She heard "make scarves for a fundraiser".  I ended up making around 20 scarves!  I did have helpers who knitted 5 or 6 for me and it was for a good cause.  This is in addition to the scarves I made for family and friends. 

They are so easy to knit.  Honestly, you do not even need to know how to knit to make them!

I went a little hog wild and have tons of skeins of this stuff!

I don't know what possessed me to buy this yarn in every color available!

Sashay Mambo

Starbella NightClouds

My first attempt at knitting ripples.  The yarn is Acacia Yarns Sweet Dreams baby yarn, colorway 037.  I purchased it online from The Yarn and Fiber Company.  I fondled this yarn at the Mid-Atlantic quilt show in Feb. so I knew I would like it.  I need to finish it for grandbaby #5.  She is due in June!

Bolero sweater for youngest grandaughter who was not in the mood to model!

This was an easy knit for a beginner although I struggled a little because I am dysfunctional in the concentration dept.  The yarn I used is Filatura Di Crosa Zara. It's a merino, so soft and yummy! the pattern can be found in Spring 2012 Creative Knitting Make it this Weekend.





 

Ok, guess that's it.  The majority of it anyway! 

 



In 2012 I discovered the following things:
Guacamole
Toms
The Walking Dead
My Fitness Pal
Picasa

2012 went by and I did not complete a single cross stitch!!  In the first week of this month, I did put 10-20 stitches in Red House Sampler to test out my birthday gift to myself, an OTT Lite with the little magnifying glass attachment.  I like it and it helps a lot but I have trouble with it because my sofa has over sized arms.  No worries, I'm on the hunt for new living room furniture anyway!
No promises, goals, or resolutions!  I have lots of ideas for 2013 but since you never know what life is going to throw at you, I don't plan too far ahead!  That's all for now!  Thanks for visiting!

First Finish of 2009

Actually, it's my first cross stitch finish since sometime in 2007! I did not have any cross stitch finishes in '08! How sad!! However....I sure spent a lot of time with my grandson!

Anyway.......this morning I finished "Find Your Happy Place" by Blue Ribbon Designs. Unfortunately I do not have a pic to post until I get it back from the framers. DD3 had a three hour volleyball clinic in VA Beach today, just five minutes from my (not so local) LNS. I took my stitching with me. I only had a little bit of the border left to stitch so I finished it there and then dropped it off at LNS for framing. I can't wait to get it back. My DH picked out this project earlier in 08 and thought it would be a nice piece to hang in our bedroom.

While at the LNS, I picked up a couple of charts I have been longing for with some of my leftover birthday money. I got "Home is Where you Hang Your Needlework" by Homespun Elegance and Two Fine Houses" by Hands to Work. I am looking forward to stitching both of these in the near future, especially "Home is...."
One more day off then back to the real world, I have been off since 12/23. 12 days off! I haven't had that many days home since I went back to work five years ago. I need 12 more days , please!!!!!!

Monday Holiday

Here's Evergreen! My first 2007 finish. Later today I am going to try to find a frame. There's a sale at Michael's on frames so I'm taking several finished pieces with me. DD only has 1/2 day of school so DH decided to come home early and take us "to town".


I've started a new project. A quickie. It's called Faith, Hope, Love by Cedar Hill.