A Must Share Picture

 Peyton and the children were over at our house the other day and Evelyn wanted on Pakaw's lap.  Pakaw is what everyone calls my husband.  Peyton started it when she was a little girl and we've never figured out where she got it from.  Anyway, Evelyn just made herself very comfy on his lap and I snapped the picture.  This one is being printed out for safekeeping.

They do have a way of charming you don't they.

Blessings, Barbara

When You Finish Something You Don't Like

 This is what happens.  I've finished the shawl I had been working on and I just don't like it.  It's a beautiful yarn made of Virgin Wool for warmth, Nylon for strength and Cashmere for softness.  As you can see it does have beautiful autumn colors in it and would look good with just about anything.  I have decided to give this shawl away.  If you decide to enter for this giveaway I must tell  you in advance that when you wash this shawl it must not be put in the washing machine or dryer.  You must wash by hand with a gentle soap and lay flat to dry.  This would make a fantastic gift for someone on your Christmas list that feels the chill on autumn days.  Here is the finished shawl.....

It is on the large side for a shawl being at least 60 inches across the upper part.  It is not heavy or cumbersome but light on the shoulders.  The mauve, or purple at the edge of the shawl I did in a shell stitch to match the body and it ended up being a little ruffled.  I think it enhances the overall shawl beautifully.

To be entered into for this drawing you must post a comment to this listing and please don't forget to give your email address so I can contact you if you win.  Let's keep this within the US because of cost of posting to worldwide.  

We had a scare in the family this past week.  Little Zane was running a high fever with a nasty cough.  Peyton and John took him to be tested for Covid and it came back negative Thank God.  All three kids are not sick but getting better.  I thought I would share some updated pics of the little rascals.

This one is of Peyton and Little John snuggling.  I can't believe he will be 5 in a few days.

This one is Zane and Evelyn riding her little pink tricycle.  Zane will be 3 on November 8th.  

And last but not least is little Evelyn.  She turned one on August 23rd.  If you're wondering what she's wearing, Peyton and I had gone that morning to Wally World to pick up some meds and I wanted to get the boys birthday gifts.  Peyton when she was little loved the show "Rugrats" and when she saw these pj pants she had to have them.  Evelyn liked them because they were so soft so I wrapped them around her like a cape.  She thought she was "Queen of the World" and pranced just so.

I think a lot of you are confused about Peyton and her relation to me.  She is our Grand Daughter and the kids are our Great Grandchildren.  Over the years a lot of people have mistaken her for our daughter because before I went grey my hair was brown....and now it's very grey.  So that tells you exactly how old I am and why I love this family so much.  The rest of our family lives in Pennsylvania so Peyton, John and their children are all we are blessed with and we love them dearly.  

So if you want a chance to win this shawl, please leave a message on this post and we'll pick a winner next Sunday.

Blessings To All,

Barbara

 Has it gotten cooler where you live?  Would you believe my air conditioner is still running with the high's near 90.  This is the middle of October and I feel crazy putting up my Halloween decorations in this heat.  I have a sister in law in Pa. who loves owls so I stitched a little cutie for her.  It came from one of the Halloween Yearly issues of JCS and it was designed by Blackberry Lane Designs.  I stitched it on a hand dyed 28ct Jobelan but the name escapes me.

I haven't done any more on the Coming to America design and I don't think I will for the rest of the year.  I went back to a SAL put out by Lizzie Kate that I had started a few years ago called Spirit of Christmas.  Maybe it will help lift my spirits with the pretty Christmas colors.  Here's what I have done so far...

I'm working on part 2 of the SAL so maybe it will be finished by this Christmas.  LOL

I'm also working on a shawl with some beautiful yarn but I'm just not sure how it's going to turn out.  I love the yarn in the skein but while working on it I'm not sure about the colors.  Weird right?  Here's the skein and what I have finished so far.

As you can see it starts out with a taupe which changes into a mustard color and then to orange and finally mauve.  Who knows!!  Maybe I'll like it when it's finished but I have serious doubts about it.

I went with Peyton and the kids to Sea World this past Wednesday but left my phone at home so I have no pics to share.  I will tell you that Zane has turned into Peyton's buddy for roller coaster rides.  He was finally tall enough to go on the one in the kids park and he came off the first time grinning from ear to ear.  He knew I was tired and wanted to go home but he asked so nicely if he and mommy could ride it again. Now I ask you....how am I to say no to that.  The second time he was just as happy.  The last ride of the day was Peyton on the Manta.  Here's what her version of one of the perfect roller coasters are like.  If you think they are hanging upside down you are correct.  You get on it in a sitting position and then you seat tips forward and you're upside down.  NO WAY!!!

That's all that's been going on in my little world.  I know everyone is so sick of wearing masks and it's really hard down here when it's so hot.  I haven't found a mask yet that I can breathe through with very little effort.  Hopefully I hope all of you are doing well and your families.  It's such a toll on everyone and we must hang together as a country.  I know it's difficult but we can do anything we put our minds to.

Stay Safe and Many Blessings,

Barbara

PS.  Melody has asked for the name of the shawl pattern and you can find it on Ravelry and it's called 'Recuerdos de infancia'

Fall Has Arrived

 Yes here it is September 30th and the rain trees are turning red so I know cooler weather is coming finally to Florida.  One thing that we don't have to worry about anymore is raking up the maple tree leaves that always cover the front yard.  We had to have the tree removed and with it went the leaves and the whirlies that always got over my car.  I hated those things.  

I've finished knitting the shawl I was working on and I had to get a longer cable for my interchangeable needles.  I sent away for a 60 inch one and wow that made a world of difference in the ease of knitting so many stitches.  The finished shawl turned out about 70 inches wide and about 30 inches deep to the point.  I love it and will use it hopefully several times this winter.  Here's the finished product....

The last stripe at the top I only did for half the number of rows because I wanted to do a crocheted edging around the shawl so I saved some of the yarn.  Now I'm looking for a nice black pin to wear with it.  I'm going to try Etsy because it would be nice to have a hand made one to go with it.

I haven't done any stitching on the Coming to America cross stitch.  I really wanted to finish my shawl but now I can get back to it.  

I'm still depressed as ever and  can't seem to get myself out of it.  I've talked with several others and it seems to be a condition that quite a few people are experiencing.  I hate it and I hate how I feel.  My attention span is shot and I can't concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes.  I babysit Zane and Evelyn twice a week for about 2 hours each day while Little John is in school and Peyton is taking one of her college courses.  That breaks up the week some but what do I do for the other 5 days?  I find myself sleeping a lot and that's not good either.  I have an appointment coming up with the family doctor so maybe he can give me some hints on what to do about this funk I'm in.

Hope all of you are enjoying the fall season and the beautiful colors it brings,

Blessings, Barbara

Chugging Along

 Good Wednesday to all you chicks.  I'm still working on the knitted shawl and I wanted to share something with you about it.  In between ball number 1 and ball number 2 I did 2 rows of black alpaca.  Between ball number 2 and number 3 I did 4 rows of black alpaca.  Now I bought all these 4 skeins at the same time and they were from the same dye lot.  Take a look at the difference between 1 and 2....

Do you see more red in the second ball?  I didn't even take notice of this until I had added the 4 rows of black at the top.  Strange how it's different even from the same dye lot.  Can't wait to see skein 3 and 4 knitted up.  Should be interesting.

Well I've started the Coming to America sampler and I decided on 20ct. Lugana over 1 with 2 threads.  It covers really well and it's pretty easy for me to see.  If anyone out there is wanting to do this pattern on 28ct. Mocha Linen that the design calls for, I have a piece I can sell you if you're having problems finding it in your area.  Here's what I have done....not much but it shows how wide it will be.

I went with the kids on Monday to Daytona Beach to initiate Evelyn to the ocean.  Wow did she love it.  Peyton had to keep a good eye on her because she wanted to chase the waves back out to sea.  We ate at a restaurant on a pier called Joe's Crab House and wow were they good.  I love seafood and their blue crab sandwich hit the spot.   Here's the view from our table.

I hope all of you had a safe and happy Labor Day.  

Blessings, Barbara

The End Product

 Hello everyone.  I hope you're gearing up for a great weekend.  I'm not sure what I'll be doing but I know it will have something to do with stitching or my great-grandbabies.

I finished the BBD design and I have actually done the finishing work and turned it into a pincushion.  I walnut stained the linen and pillow fabric and I do love how they both turned out.  There's some blotchiness which is great and it adds to the theme.  Here it is.....

I had fun sewing this together and planning what I was going to add to it.  The plastic clips on the side are called Wonder Clips and even if you're not a quilter they are great to have on hand.  I like using them to hold fabric for sewing instead of pins because these don't cause me to bleed.  I don't know how many of my projects get blood on them because I'm horrible with pins.  The color of the linen and fabric is darker than what is posted here because of my lighting I guess.

Now to start the Coming to America design.  I have two choices for fabric which I can't decide between.  I have a 20ct. Lugana in the color Clay where my design would turn out 6.25" wide x 21" in height.  Now that's pretty big but manageable.  It will be harder for me to stitch but the framing won't be as costly either.  Or I have the color Vintage Country Mocha that it calls for in 28ct.  Now this turns out a whopping 9" x 30" which would be harder to work with because of the amount of fabric but easier to see.  There's also the cost of framing something so big and where to hang it.  You see my problem.  I will probably end up tossing a coin to decide but whichever I choose it will stay that.

You all probably get tired of me posting pics of the great-grandbabies but this one I can't resist.  Peyton asked Little John to get his clothes on for school but she didn't say who he was suppose to put them on.  Out came Evelyn wearing Little John's clothes and she is happy as all get out.  She does love her big brother.

Many Blessings, Barbara

For a Chuckle

 

Have a Blessed Day,

Barbara

Thank You

 I must say thank you to some very special followers of my blog.  They made me realize that my life is better without worrying about what goes on on a website that I can live without.  I don't even know why I bother with it because I have so many patterns I'll never make them all.  LOL  Back to important things.....like stitching.

I'm not sure how many are aware of this design that Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle and Thread has come out with but I thought I'd share it with you.  She did this for the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower landing at Plymouth rock.  Here is what you get:

This shows the fabric, pattern and all the fibers needed.

This shows the pincushion that you can make as a companion piece.

This shows the captain of the Mayflower and you get a piece of fabric for the backing of the pincushion that has part of his diary printed on it.  Also a needle minder and a card to put on the back after it is framed to add you name and date it was finished.

This is the box that everything fits into.  I plan on starting this very soon but I want to finish my BBD pincushion first.  I was hoping for tomorrow but that's not going to happen.  I'm making headway but not as fast as I would like.  Here's today's progress.

Yesterday was Evelyn's first birthday and she was an angel.  Here she is with her big brother John opening some of her presents..

We have been blessed with such love  from our grand daughter and her family.  I truly do not know what we would do without them.  My wish is for all my followers to have such a family that loves them without reservation.

Blessings, Barbara

I am so angry I could spit

 We still live in the United States of America right?  We still have freedom of speech right?  We still have supposedly elections that are unbiased right?

Then how come I can't post on Ravelry an avatar of my choosing?  I used a Trump 2020 avatar and they have deleted it and my entire profile. Since when do people have the right to tell you how to think and act?  The more this goes on the more I have grave doubts for this country.  I already know this coming election will be a hard one because lets face it.... Washington is corrupt.....and I mean everyone there.  They no longer care for the common man and woman they care about is getting re-elected and keeping the money flowing into their bank accounts.  I'm sorry I've gotten on my soap box but this really bothers me and I wanted to see if it does anyone else.

Stay safe,

Blessing, Barbara

Back in the swing.....i hope

I've been really down in the dumps lately but I think I'm finding my way out of them....hopefully.  I started a new cross stitch piece called "My Home" by BBD.  I'm stitching it on 32ct cream Belfast linen and when I'm finished with the stitching I will soak it in some coffee or crushed walnuts.  I not only want the linen to be stained but also the floss.  I'm using DMC instead of the hand dyes they call for and I'm loving it.  Here's what I have so far...

When finished this is what it should look like and the next picture is the book by BBD that it comes from.  I have a dream of doing every design in this book because I think it's the best they've ever come out with.

I've also been slowly working on the knitted shawl I'm making.  It's very slow going but I do like the effect.  I have 4 skeins and I'm still on the first skein.  I've decided to add some black alpaca into the design but I haven't come up with the design yet.  Here's how far I've gotten and I must change to a longer needle soon or I'll be dropping stitches off the end tips.

Today was Little John's first day at pre-school and he was so excited to go.  He's getting to be such a big boy.....they grow too fast!

For the giveaway on the last post, Eeen's name was drawn and I have emailed her at the address she gave.  I have not heard from her but we'll give her a few more days and if I don't hear from her I'll draw another name.  I just don't want these patterns going to waste.

I should open up my Etsy store again but I just don't have the energy to do it.  One thing I will say on here, when you see that I have stitched a pattern from an individual packet or book, I never stitch it again so I am willing to sell it.  If you see that I've done something that you might like to stitch, drop me an email and I will see about getting it to you.  The price I sell at is always 1/2 of what the original price was.

That's all for now.  Stay safe.

Blessings, Barbara