Two finishes and two starts

First off, I'd like to thank Patricia, Lisa, Christina, Emma and Jennifer for posting on our blog "Never Enough Stash".  If you haven't already been over there to check it out, you might want to because there are some wonderful things for sale and a few of us are looking for patterns.  This will work if it's supported by us stitchers.

Now I'm sure you're sick and tired of hearing about the Better Not Pout design.....so here it is finished.  I was going to put cord binding around the outside but I really didn't care for how it looked.  The pillow is too small I think. 

 The pattern called for it to be stitched with Sampler Threads but I decided to go with HDF silks and I stitched it on 32ct. cream Belfast.  

 The finishing is pretty much the way the designer showed it.  Why mess with perfection!!

The next finish is my Noro silk shawl.  I haven't blocked it yet and I will show you better pictures once it is.  I crocheted a border along the bottom edge out of a wonderful wool/silk lace weight black yarn that I would love to make a sweater out of.....but I have to be realistic here....no way could I finish a sweater out of lace weight yarn.  

This next design is by Brenda Gervais ofWith My Needle and Thread and that's my next project.  I have to paint the Whitman Chocolate Sampler box and stain the newspaper fabric to make it look primitive and then I'm all set.  I've started the stitching on 36ct. Days Gone By linen and I'm using Sampler Threads which the designer calls for.  I want to stitch this entire set so it's going to take me awhile.

The box is in the top left, then there's a huswife (top right), pincushion (bottom left) and last but not least, a scissor and pinkeep out of wool felt.  This will make a stunning set to sit on my living room coffee table.

Yes I am a Nascar buff and my guy Dale Earnhardt Jr won last week at Michigan.  This week they are at Sonoma which is a road course and he's just not the greatest at those.  I think Mouse must of heard me screaming way across the pond last week when he crossed the finished line.  LOL  

Well duh.....I forgot to tell you about my second start.  It's a shrug made out of a bulky weight yarn and I'm crocheting it.  I'll have updated photos and I get more into it.

Well I'm off to do some stitching on the Strawberry Hill Sampler and I hope each and every one of you has a fantastic weekend ahead.  We did some grass mowing this morning before the rain starts up again.    This is the rainy season down here and this year it's earning it's name.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

A thank you and a start

I want to thank everyone who gave such a positive response to my suggestion of having a blog for stash.  I have started it and there's already two postings so you really should check it out.  The name is Never Enough Stash (appropriate right?) and you can find it here.  Become a follower and that way you'll always know when new things are added.  

The other day I posted about a Noro yarn I purchased and I thought I'd show you how it looked knitted. I've started the shawl and it's one you do from the neck down.  I'm going to try something a little different with this one.....I'm going to add crocheted lace that I will do out of a black lace weight yarn around the bottom edge.  What do you think?  I think black will be a good contrast to all the beautiful bright colors that are in the yarn.   I'm just starting the second ball and since I have 5 of them, it should turn out a nice size after it's blocked.

I hope your Monday has started your week out fine.  I had a doctors appointment this morning and then came home and did some knitting and stitching.   Tomorrow is laundry day....ho hum boring!!!

Hope the rest of your week goes great.......

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Some new goodies to share

I have been a really bad girl lately and I thought I'd share it with you.  LOL  Although I'm sure that most of you would say I'm just being "normal".  I like that!!!!  

First off, the new issue of JCS came out and it's the one with the preview of the ornament issue.  If this is any indication of that issue, it should be a good one!  I'm in love with 3 of the designs and have purchased the threads to stitch them with.  I will share them with you at a later time.  I was also up at the Sewing Studio and I was looking for fabric with newspaper print on it.  Would you believe they actually had it!!  It's for an upcoming pattern from With Needle and Thread that involves a Whitman chocolate sampler box.  When I get the pattern I will show you what I mean.  It promises to be a lot of fun.

 Next up.....I received the Better Not Pout pattern today so I'll be starting that this weekend.  I have everything for it which is a miracle.  The other pattern is one I came across at Sewing Studio.  I love making bags and this one caught my eye because of the name...."Jennifer's Bag".  It has tons of pockets outside and inside and I'm going to see what fabric I have on hand before I go shopping.  I know....I know....miracles do happen.

 Next is the knitting project I've been working on this week.  Jennifer loves teal and I came across this yarn at my local shop and I knew she'd love it.  It's a wool/acrylic blend and it's soooo soft.  I'm knitting her a cowl which should be large enough to cover her head and hopefully wrap around her neck to help keep her warm out there in Colorado.  This should be finished tonite or tomorrow.

 Next is a small needlepoint canvas I purchased the other day at Needle Orts.  It's of a small witch and she's so cute I just had to have her.  As you can see I'm doing most of the stitching with DMC floss but the background will be a soft lavender Sparkle Rays.  

I might of told you that I discovered a new knitting store here in Orlando and I am in love!!  The name is The Knitting Patch  and it's the most fantastic knitting store I have ever been in.  Needless to say, my budget really took a beating there but it was worth it.  Here is what I bought:

 Above first off is Noro which is silk/mohair/lamb's wool blend that is to die for.  That will end up as a shawl for myself and that's my next knitting project.  The blue is Wunderklecks by Schoppel Wolle and is a fingering weight wool blend from Germany.  The brown ball is lace weight by Schoppel Wolle also and is a wool blend.  I don't have projects picked out for these two yet.

Above is what I purchased for Jennifer.  She loves doing lace work so I bought her a skein of Madelinetosh which is 100% silk and is 1,000 yards....plenty for a nice shawl or whatever she chooses.  The other is a silk also by Tilli Tomas in a stunning burgundy color.  I think she'll be happy with both of these.

So that's what I've been doing this past week.....shopping.  Maybe it's all the rain we've had....buying beautiful yarns and patterns always brightens my day.

I hope your week has been as productive as mine has been.  I did some stitching on Fallen Roses and I'm still thinking I should have this finished by my October deadline.  I'm almost finished with Jenn's cowl and then I can block it and mail it to her.  I should have over a skein leftover and I'm sending that to her and she's going to make herself some fingerless gloves to match it.  I will be starting Better Not Pout tomorrow and that shouldn't take too long to stitch.  

Here's hoping that all of you get to do some stitching this weekend and not have to "frog" one stitch....pesty frog, who wants him anyways!

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Jenns Case is Finished

I had posted that I was going to make Jenn a case for her set of Harmony needles like mine and I just finished it.  There are some differences though.  On the outside of the case I used a design from Tante Zolder and placed Jenn's initials in the center.  She loves teals and browns and I was lucky enough to find a beautiful collection of fabrics which incorporated these colors.

 The next picture shows the outside of the case and the beautiful striped fabric I used.  This has teal, brown, olive greens and tans and in between the stripes are tiny stripes of gold metallic.  I love this fabric!!!

 The next pictures shows the zippered case at the bottom for her cables and I included a small case above that for her crochet hooks.  This I didn't include on mine and how I wish I had.  Oh well.....

 The next picture shows the place for her needles.  The bottom row will hold her straight needles and the top row will hold her double pointed needles.  I even found a pair of scissors that have the colors of this case in them so I made a place for them also.

 The last pictures shows the small case at the top for her little markers and such.  This was alot of fun to make and I love it when a plan comes together.  LOL

And now I'm faced with finding something else to work on.  Back to my sewing room I go.  LOL

I hope all of you are having a lovely week so far and that you've gotten plenty of stitchie time in.  I find it helps me maintain my sanity.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Sweetheart Tree Country French....

is the name for this design so I took the liberty of stitching it during my "traveling month".  This came as a kit and if you have ever stitched a Sweetheart Tree design, you will understand when I say this was a "pain in the a@@" to stitch.  Sandra really packs alot of stitching into a little square.  This isn't to say that I don't enjoy her designs, but I'm not sad that it's finished.  LOL  If you are interested, you will find this one in my store for sale.

My next project is a pattern I designed myself.  Its a monotone (gasp....really?) and I'm still debating what color I want to stitch this in.  It has specialty stitches and when I'm finished, I will be posting the pattern here for you to download.  It shouldn't take me too long to stitch it....few days at the most.  

As I'm stitching this, I'm also working on a knitted doll that I found on Ravelry.  When I was little, my favorite aunt bought me this little fabric doll that I just treasured for years.  She was about 8 inches long, very floppsy and for the life of me I can't remember what happened to her.  All these years later, I can still remember playing with this little doll.  I have looked for her on Ebay and other doll sites but never found anything like her.  Well this pattern is very similiar except it's knitted so here I am in my late 50's knitting a doll for myself.  LOL  How's that saying go about a second childhood?  Well I'm there and I can't wait to work on her.  I will post a picture of her when I'm finished.  The above picture is the designers finished doll.  Isn't she adorable?  

Well I'm off to do some knitting and stitching and I hope all of you lovely ladies have a fantastic weekend. Blessings as always,

Barbara

A knitting project finished - happy dance time

I love happy dances!!! I finished the wool head band I was knitting for Jenn to wear when she goes jogging this winter. Since she lives in Colorado, I figured this would come in very handy. It buttons at the base of the neck and won't be in the way of her wearing a pony tail when she jogs. I absolutely loved the wool yarn I used....a superwash wool from Ella Rae which is super soft and will feel wonderful covering her ears.

I've started another knitting project. It's an actual hat for Jenn knitted in a fingering weight wool that is made just a little different. I will wait until I'm finished to post a picture because I sincerely doubt I could describe it in a way that you would understand.

Well tomorrow is Labor Day and I hope for the millions without a job, that you are able to find work soon. November cannot get here fast enough for me.

Everyone have a Blessed Sunday and a safe and happy Labor Day.

As always, Barbara

Knitting with Double Pointed Needles

I'm not sure how many of you knit, but this weekend I knitted my first thing with double pointed needles. I picked something very easy like a hat that was done on large needles. What made this one so easy is that you started at the brim with the k1, p1 ribbing and work towards the crown. I actually only had to do 6 rows with the dp's and that was fine with me. Below you will see the finished item. It's called "merinque" and I think it looks very french with the ribbon laced thru the yo's and tied into a bow.

One of the reasons I was determined to learns this was my daughter, Jenn. She is a wonder when it comes to knitting and I can't let her get ahead of me.....especially since I taught her to knit. :o)

Below you will see a halloween sock pattern that she designed and is selling on Ravelry. You can find her selling page at this link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/just-batty-socks

if you are interested in purchasing the pattern. Aren't they adorable??? Can't you see yourself wearing them this Halloween while you're giving out candy to the little ones that come for treats?

.

That's all for now. I've been working on the BBD Berry Time design and it's coming along slowly. I was at my local shop yesterday and came away with a couple of new things. I purchased on of the Just Another Button Cos. new teaspoon patterns. I'm working on that too and it's turning out adorable. I do love their patterns and I have 4 of their teapots to stitch yet. So many patterns....so little time. I have decided that I could get alot more stitching done if 3 things did not interfere. 1. Eating 2. Sleeping 3. Bathroom.....am I right or what??? :o) Everyone have a blessed Sunday, As always Barbara