Shawls....shawls....and more shawls.....

For the last few weeks I've been in a crocheting frame of mind.  I love working with natural fibers....wools, silks, cotton.....the list is endless.  Here are 5 of my shawls I've finished so far.  Peyton was nice enough to be my model.

The above one was made using fingering weight wool.  

This one was made using silk.

The above is my favorite and will remain with me.  It's made using a yarn with Silk, Alpaca, Cashmere and Camel wool.  It's as soft as a babys bottom.

The above is a silk and wool combo.

This one is a fingering weight wool.  

They are basically all over the same pattern with some differences in the edging.  If you are looking for a great pattern that works up super fast, the pattern is on Ravelry and it's called Recuerdos de infancia.

I've started a new one called Cheche a la sauce bidules chouetttes and that one is being made out of a Cascade yarn called Pacific and it's wool and acrylic in a light grey color.

Well that's all for today.  I'm working on a small Sweetheart Tree freebie and hope to start the french SAL any day now.  Until we talk again, have a Blessed day,

Barbara

from Barbara and her family

I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, 

So I got my doctor's permission to

Join a fitness club and start exercising.

I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors.

I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down

and perspired for an hour. But,

By the time I got my leotards on, the class was over. 

Just a chuckle for today,

Blessings,

Barbara

A Quilt finished and on it's way

When I heard that a friend's daughter was expecting her first baby, the wheels starting turning.  I knew I had to do something personal for her and the family.  Well thanks to DH, I was able to personalize it with the baby girl's first name - Henley and at the bottom I did a very cute poem I found.

In case you can't read it, it says:

A child is special - a gift from above.

One to cherish - And to love.

I don't think I could of found anything cuter or more special.

Our grand daughter and two friends were over this weekend and did me and my DH the biggest of favors.  I've wanted my dining room and living room repainted for some time now and they were kind enough to do it for us.  The main color is a light grey with a hint of green in it (think DMC 3013) and I had them paint two walls a dark brown green (think DMC 830).  I absolutely love how it turned out and I highly recommend these 3 for future painting jobs....of which I have plenty.  

I was going to start Letters to Santa but I've changed my mind.  I'm going to take some time and finish up a few other things I have going before I start something new.

It's beginning to get a little chilly down here in Florida.  I put Vallie's little Christmas t-shirt on her today that Jenn bought her last year and she will not let anyone take it off of her.  I've never seen a dog love to wear a shirt so much.

Well enough for now - till we talk again have a Blessed day,

Barbara

Update:  Catherine asked for a picture of Vallie in her shirt.....well here she is in her little Bah Hum Bug shirt.  She went to the vet today to get her heart worm shot so she's a little under the weather.  Who likes shots???  See the blue pillow - well that's where she sleeps while I'm stitching.  I found that at Joann's and all you did was add stuffing and you get the perfect little dog pillow.  She curls right up into it and is very snug.  Our grand daughter Peyton has a little jack russel and I gave her one and she loves it also.  So there ya go.....Vallie in her special shirt.

Just Nan's Gingerbread Mouse

I love Just Nan designs and this little sweetheart is no exception.  He was suppose to be stitched on a brown fabric so it looked like gingerbread but I didn't have any so I decided to do a little grey mouse.  He's really, really tiny at only 1.5 inches tall but there's alot of stitching in that little area.  He will be my addition to our Christmas tree this year.

Now onto the next project which at this time I have no idea what it will be.  I'm thinking about doing Letters for Santa by With Thy Needle and Thread.   I have everything I need to stitch it so that would be a good one to do.  

I finished 3 shawls in the last few weeks and I pick them up from the lady who does my blocking tomorrow.  I will post some pics later this week with how they look all finished up.  I can't wait to see them.

Until we talk again have a Blessed day,

Barbara

On a brighter note.....

.....I finished the Lizzie Kate!!!!  Yeah!!!!!  I never had a small design take so long to stitch but I guess that's what happens when you do too many things at one time.  I am certainly happy that this is now off of my frame and ready to be framed.  I think I'll wait until after the holidays to look for a frame....I'm hoping for some good sales.

 I stitched the design on 32ct. Cream Belfast using DMC floss.  It called for some overdyeds but I decided against them.  I really and truly dislike stitching with the cotton overdyeds.....Weeks, Sampler, Crescent....it doesn't matter which one.....I dislike them all.  I have quite a few of them and they will be going on the selling blog shortly.  

Now I want to tell you about the pincushion you see in the upper left hand corner of the above picture.  This was very simple to make and it actually has a double purpose.  I took a canning lid and glued the two pieces together and sat them aside.  Then I made a regular old tomato pincushion and stuffed it really tightly.  I then glued the pincushion inside the lid with some strong glue.  I placed rubber bands up and over and all around it to keep the pincushion tightly inside the lid.  I left this dry overnight and the next morning I glued a magnet in the center of the bottom lid.  Why did I do that?  I use magnets to hold my pattern to my fabric in the frame when I am stitching and this gives me a nice strong magnet to hold my pattern...but also gives me a really pretty pincushion that will hold my needle when I'm not using it.

This is a very simple to make so try it and send me a pic of what yours looks like.  I would love to see different interpretations.

That's all for now.....back to Christmas stitching and until we talk again, have a Blessed day,

Barbara

In mourning

for our country

A surprise in the mail

This afternoon when I went down to my mail box, I found a large envelope sent all the way from New Zealand.  I was very suspicious but then I remembered some teasing from Claire about a project she was working on for me.  I was so excited!!!!!  I opened it very carefully and she had a beautifully worded card telling me about her working on this project and a glimpse into her every day life.  Anyone who knows me that I have always been fascinated by New Zealand and Australia because of my father being stationed there during WWII.  This touched me greatly because someone who I will probably never meet in this life, who lives halfway around the world, thought enough of me to spend time stitching this absolutely beautiful needlework set.

Claire, I cannot thank you enough for sharing a part of your talent with me.  You even remembered my love for pink and green!  This will definitely be treasured by me not only for the talent it took to make this but for the thought that went into it.  Claire - all my love!

I also want to say thank you to all you ladies who posted comments about the email I received.  I was and still am overwhelmed with your generosity.  I love each and every one of my followers and I always try to hold up my end of having an interesting blog for you to visit.

I'm still plucking away on my Christmas stitching and hopefully will be finished with it soon.  There is one thing in particular I want to share with you but I can't till after the holidays are over.  The recipient reads my blog so I can't show it till she opens it.  Sorry Rhonda.....no hints.  LOL

Again, I thank Claire for her beautiful RAK and all my wonderful followers and to those in the northeast, my prayers are with you.

Till we talk again have a Blessed day,

Barbara

Add your prayers

I'm very much concerned for my family and friends who live in the northeast.  This storm is going to be a monster and I believe it's going to end up hurting alot of people.  All we can do is pray and hope for the best.  So please add a prayer to your list for those in harms way.

Till we talk again, have a Blessed day,

Barbara

I guess i'm quilty

I received a very unexpected email from a follower who had some very harsh words for me.  Apparently, in their eyes, I am a show off and not worth the time to read.  I was accused of only posting whenever I purchase something so to showoff what I have.  I have to say that this hurt me very deeply.  I guess this person just can't pass my blog on by and read the next one in line.  I don't force anyone to read or look at what I've posted and I hope I don't come across that way.  I'm not posting this to get sympathy but I'm hoping that none of you have received an email about your blog like this one.  I'm going to take a little break and concentrate on things I have to finish for the holidays but I will still post anything that comes my way for the SAL starting January 1st.  

Just incase I forget, all of you have a Happy Halloween and don't eat too much chocolate......what am I saying!.....eat!

Until we talk again Have a Blessed Day,

Barbara