Eye Candy Everyday...

 ...because I forgot on Friday. (Oops!)

Our Marc Chagall rose doesn't know that it's January.

 

WIP-it Wednesday...

 ...still working on getting back to [craft] normal.

I made a little progress on the latest mermaid. The Sea Merchant's Wife doesn't look like much right now, but it's always a slow process with the mermaids.

WIPs Roll Call
Worked On:

1. Balaclava Hood (knitting) [Ravelry]
   Added a couple of inches to the hood portion.
   
2. Finishing work
   Reviewed the amount of work to do; stuffed one of the pillows.
   
3. Mom's cookbook (cooking)
   Added a couple of recipes
4. Sea Merchant's Wife (cross stitch)
   Working on the mid-tail portion
   
5. Teal No-Noro Hat (knitting) [Ravelry] 
   Started the crown portion of the hat.
   

No Work This Week:

1. Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)

Finishing Work In Progress:

1. Collector's Heart 2024 (cross stitch)
2. Crystal Heart mini (cross stitch)
3. Dreaming Cleo (cross stitch) 
4. Frost Flower mini (cross stitch)
   
5. Jasmine Mix mini (cross stitch)
6. Pearl Orchid mini (cross stitch)
   
7. Tulip Time mini (cross stitch)
8. Underwater City mini (cross stitch)
9. Winged Dreams (cross stitch) 
10. Witchy Dreams (cross stitch)
    

Ready for Finishing:

1. Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing)
2. Happy Pumpkin needleroll (cross stitch)
3. Peaceful Night (cross stitch)
   

IDJ (It's Dead, Jim):

1. Chaca II (needlepoint)

UFOs/Hibernation:

1. Bear Paw pottery (needlepoint)
2. California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
3. Illusion Cube Blanket (knitting) [Ravelry] 
4. Ocean Ripples Wrap (knitting) [Ravelry] 
5. Sky Lanterns Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
   
6. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)
7. Website (other)

First Completed Project for 2025...

 ...but I'm still spinning my wheels on everything else!

I decided I needed a feeling of accomplishment so I did some spinning. This is Ethereal [Ravelry]:

and the close-up:

Specs:
Started and Finished 1/13/2025
Merino (4.1 oz.) from the Yarn Wench
68.75 yds. Bulky weight
Single plied with Silver Gold Rush yarn (Lincatex) and Millefiori Light in 6885 by Berroco

If I can't get myself in gear with stitching, et al, I may just keep spinning!

2024 Year-End Recap...

 ...not as diverse this year. A little more stitching than normal, but back on track with spinning.

Finished:
Baking, etc.

1. Christmas Baking
1. Grand Marnier biscotti - 77
2. Mexican Wedding cookies  - 54 
3. Spritz - 79
4. Sugar cookies - 25
   
2. Almond Fruitcake - double batch of fruitcake for my brother
   
3. Lots of scones
4. Sourdough rolls and bread loaves
   

Knitting

1. 4/17 Peacock Wrist Warmers (knitting) [Ravelry]
2. 8/4 Mermaid’s Lagoon Socks  [Ravelry]
3. 11/17 Bumble Bee Buddy for Jane  [Ravelry]
4. 11/23 Wee Fishies for Jane [Ravelry]
5. 11/24 Catnip Mousies for Jane  [Ravelry]
6. 12/3 Little Penguins  [Ravelry]

Needlework, All Cross Stitch

1. 1/20 Winged Dreams (cross stitch)
   
2. 1/23 Frost Flower mini (cross stitch)
3. 4/1 Dreaming Cleo (cross stitch)
   
4. 4/3 Pearl Orchid mini (cross stitch)
5. 5/5 Tulip Time mini (cross stitch)
6. 6/2 Collector's Heart (cross stitch)
7. 6/17 Jasmine Mix (cross stitch)
   
8. 7/23 Crystal Heart mini (cross stitch)
   
9. 8/27 Witchy Dreams (cross stitch)
10. 10/2 Underwater City (cross stitch)
11. 10/30 Happy Pumpkin Needleroll (cross stitch)
12. 12/31 Peaceful Night (cross stitch)

Quilting

• 1/4 Hip To Be Square quilt (quilting)

Reading

• Read 204 books; see Reading List below

Sewing, Finishing

Nothing completed

Spinning

1. 1/13 Opal Handspun [Ravelry] from Greenwood Fiberworks; 95.8 yds. chain-ply, 8 WPI
2. 1/27 Less Salmon More Run Handspun [Ravelry] from Seattle Sky Dyeworks; 204.2 yds. chain-ply, 13 WPI
3. 2/3 Sherbet Handspun [Ravelry] from Greenwood Fiberworks; 243.75 yds., 14 WPI
   
4. 2/15 Tour de Fleece 2023 Handspun [Ravelry] from Greenwood Fiberworks; 208.3 yds. chain-ply, 13 WPI
5. 2/28 Walk in the Forest Handspun (spinning) [Ravelry] from DeGoatnsheep Ranch;100 yds. chain-ply, 9 WPI
6. 3/15 Sunflower [Ravelry] from Greenwood Fiberworks; 335.4 yds 2-ply, 15 WPI
   
7. 3/30 Meadow Moss Handspun [Ravelry] from Greenwood Fiberworks; 31.25 yds., 3-ply, bulky weight
8. 4/28 Here Comes The Sun (spinning) [Ravelry] from Greenwood Fiberworks; 220 yds. chain-ply, 12 WPI
   
9. 5/29 Amethyst Handspun  [Ravelry] from Greenwood Fiberworks; 256.25 yds. chain-ply; 13 WPI
10. 6/15 Peridot Handspun [Ravelry] from Greenwood Fiberworks; 231.25 yds. chain-ply, WPI 14
    
11. 6/29 Tidal 2 Handspun [Ravelry] from Yarn Wench; 48 yds. 3-ply bulky and 20.8 yds. 3-ply bulky
12. 7/1 Copperhead Handspun [Ravelry] from Yarn Wench; 81.25 yds. chain-ply, 9 WPI
13. 7/2 Techno Handspun [Ravelry] from Yarn Wench; 120.8 yds, Bulky
    
14. 7/9 Sheen Handspun [Ravelry] from Yarn Wench; 89.6 yds., super-bulky
    
15. 7/10 Copper Hills Handspun [Ravelry] from Greenwood Fiberworks; 241.7 yds, chain-ply; 13 WPI
    
16. 7/12 Rose Sapphire Handspun [Ravelry] from Yarn Wench; 77.1 yds, chain-ply; 8 WPI
    
17. 7/15 Plumpine Handspun [Ravelry] from Yarn Wench; 37.5 yds 2-ply with variegated rayon thread
18. 7/15 Stanley Handspun [Ravelry] from Greenwood Fiberworks; 300 yds, chain-ply, 16 WPI
19. 7/18 Storm’s a Brewing Handspun [Ravelry] from Yarn Wench; 56.25 yds. 3 ply
    
20. 7/19 Horizon Handspun [Ravelry] from Greenwood Fiberworks; 254.2 yds. chain-ply, 15 WPI
21. 7/20 Agate 2 Handspun [Ravelry] from Yarn Wench; 47.9 yds 3-ply, Super bulky
    
22. 7/21 Glo-Girl Handspun  [Ravelry] from Yarn Wench; 66.7 yds chain-ply, 9 WPI
    
23. 8/13 Forest Flowers Handspun [Ravelry]from Greenwood Fiberworks; 226.1 yds. chain-ply 14 WPI
24. 11/14 Jellyfish Handspun [Ravelry] from Greenwood Fiberworks; 237.5 yds. chain-ply, 14 WPI

Weaving

Nothing completed 

Other Crafts

Nothing completed 

IDJ (It's Dead, Jim):

•  Craft IDJ:
1. Be My Baby for My Baby (knitting) [Ravelry] 
   
2. Singularity Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]

• Reading IDJ:
  1. Box of Frogs, Helen Harper
  2. Daughter of Fire, Sofia Robleda
  3. Dead Game, Jennifer Chase
  4. His Ex-Wife, Maria Franklin
  5. Life Support, Tess Gerritsen
  6. The Lost Children, Elle Gray
  7. Magic and Bones, Laken Cane
  8. Outfox, Annabel Chase
  9. Red Hawk, Helen Hawk
  10. Rise of the Fae, Linsey Hall
  11. Soul Bite, DN Erikson
  12. Unbearable Lightness, Portia de Rossi
  13. Ward’s Siren, Stephanie Hudson

Works in Progress:

1. Finishing work
1. Collector's Heart 2024 (cross stitch)
2. Crystal Heart mini (cross stitch)
3. Dreaming Cleo (cross stitch) 
4. Frost Flower mini (cross stitch)
   
5. Jasmine Mix mini (cross stitch)
6. Pearl Orchid mini (cross stitch)
   
7. Tulip Time mini (cross stitch)
8. Underwater City mini (cross stitch)
9. Winged Dreams (cross stitch) 
10. Witchy Dreams (cross stitch)
2. Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)
3. Mom's Cookbook (cooking)
   
4. Peaceful Night (cross stitch)
5. Hip To Be Square quilt (quilting)
   
6. Winged Dreams (cross stitch)

Ready for Finishing:

1. Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing)
2. Happy Pumpkin needleroll (cross stitch)

UFOs/Hibernation:

1. Bear Paw pottery (needlepoint)
2. California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
3. Illusion Cube Blanket (knitting) [Ravelry] 
4. Ocean Ripples Wrap (knitting) [Ravelry] 
5. Sky Lanterns Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
   
6. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)
7. Website (other)

Reading (Too long to put under Finished):

The leading words “A” and “The” have been ignored during the alphabetic sort.

1. The 24th Hour, James Patterson
2. The Albright Hotel, Katie Winters
3. Ambler Gambler, Hailey Edwards
4. Archangel’s Lineage, Nalini Singh
5. The Asheville Christmas, Hope Holloway
6. At the River, Kendra Elliot
7. The Beach Quilt, Holly Chamberlain
8. The Beachside Home 1, Hayley Summers
9. The Beachside Home 2, Hayley Summers
10. The Beachside Home 3, Hayley Summers
11. The Beachside Home 4, Hayley Summers
12. The Beachside Home 5, Hayley Summers
13. The Beachside Home 6, Hayley Summers
14. Becoming a Beaufont, Sara Noffke
15. Big Sur - My Childhood Memories, Jane Laurie Hirsch
16. Birds of a Feather, Katie Winters
17. Black Magic Market, Sarah Noffke
18. A Blink of Time, Katie Winters
19. Brittle Midnight, Helen Harper
20. Broken Mate, Jen L Grey
21. The Broken Promise, Sophia Kenna
22. Cables and Conjurers, Nancy Warren
23. Caged by Fate, Shannon Mayer
24. Captiva Christmas, Annie Cabot
25. Captiva Ever After, Annie Cabot
26. Captiva Hearts, Annie Cabot
27. Captiva Hideaway, Annie Cabot
28. Captiva Memories, Annie Cabot
29. Captiva Nights, Annie Cabot
30. A Captiva Wedding, Annie Cabot
31. The Changing Winds, Sophie Kenna
32. The Chocolate Shop, Hope Holloway
33. A Christmas To Remember, Fiona Baker
34. The Christmas Wedding Guest, Susan Mallery
35. Cocoa Beach Bakery, Cecelia Scott
36. Cocoa Beach Boardwalk, Cecelia Scott
37. Cocoa Beach Bride, Cecelia Scott
38. Cocoa Beach Cabana, Cecelia Scott
39. Cocoa Beach Cottage, Cecelia Scott
40. Cocoa Beach Reunion, Cecelia Scott
41. Cocoa Beach Sunrise, Cecelia Scott
42. Completely Smitten, Susan Mallery
43. Compulsion, Katie Winters
44. Count Their Graves, Jennifer Chase
45. The Curse of the Flores Women, Angelica Lopes
46. Dark Tomorrow, Helen Harper
47. Dead Heat, Annabel Chase
48. Dead Last, Annabel Chase
49. Dead of Night, Annabel Chase
50. Dead to the World, Annabel Chase
51. Dead Weight, Annabel Chase
52. Dead Woman Crossing, JR Adler
53. Dead Wrong, Annabel Chase
54. Deeper Than the Dead, Debra Webb
55. Dire Straits, Helen Harper
56. Divine Rivals, Rebecca Ross
57. The Dressmaker on Amelia Island, Hope Holloway
58. Easton Family Dynasty, Hope Callaghan
59. Echo Key Haven, Katie Prescott
60. Echo Key Legacy, Katie Prescott
61. Echo Key Promise, Katie Prescott
62. Echo Key Secrets, Katie Prescott
63. Echo Key Wedding, Katie Prescott
64. Echo Key Whispers, Katie Prescott
65. Echo Road, Kendra Alliot
66. Fair Market Value, Hailey Edwards
67. Familia, Lauren E Rico
68. Fatal Lies, Elle Gray
69. Father in Training, Susan Mallery
70. The Feared Witch Hunter, Sarah Noffke
71. Fiendish Delight, Helen Harper
72. Filthy Rich Vampires 1, Geneva Lee
73. Filthy Rich Vampires 2, Geneva Lee
74. Filthy Rich Vampires 3, Geneva Lee
75. Filthy Rich Vampires For Eternity, Geneva Lee
76. A Fine Romance, Candice Bergin
77. The First Girl, Jennifer Chase
78. The Five Star Weekend, Elon Hilderbrand
79. Flowers on Her Grave, Jennifer Chase
80. Forbidden in the Falls, Elle Gray
81. The Forbidden Wolf King, Leia Stone
82. The Fragile Ones, Jennifer Chase
83. Free as a Bird, Hailey Edwards
84. Friends in Napa, Sheila Yasmin Marikar
85. The Girl in the Springs, Elle Gray
86. The Girl in Town, Elle Gray
87. Golden Sunsets in Rosemary Beach, Cecilia Scott
88. Good as Gold, Katie Winters
89. Good Husband Material, Susan Mallery
90. Gray Dawn, Hailey Edwards
91. The Happiness Plan, Susan Mallery
92. Hart’s Ridge, Kay Bratt
93. Harvest, Tess Gerritsen
94. A Haven in the Keys, Hope Holloway
95. Her Dying Kiss, Jennifer Chase
96. Her Last Whisper, Jennifer Chase
97. High Stakes, Helen Harper
98. Holly and Mistletoe, Susan Mallery
99. Home Sweet Christmas, Susan Mallery
100. The Hotel at Beach and Forgotten, Nellie Brooks
101. The Housewife, Elle Gray
102. Husband by the Hour, Susan Mallery
103. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Erika L Sanchez
104. The Ice Sisters, Rita Herron
105. The Inn at Evergreen Hollow, Fiona Baker
106. The Inn on Amelia Island, Hope Holloway
107. Just the Nicest Couple, Mary Kubica
108. Key Lime Garden Inn, Annie Cabot
109. Labor of Love, Katie Winters
110. Last Day Alive, JR Adler
111. Last Girls Alive, Jennifer Chase
112. The Last Letters, Sophia Kenna
113. Last Night, Luanne Rice
114. The Legend of the Falls, Elle Gray
115. The Lies in the Falls, Elle Gray
116. A Lighthouse of Ocean and Fog, Nellie Brooks
117. Little Girls Sleeping, Jennifer Chase
118. The Mendocino Beach House, Nellie Brooks
119. The Mendocino Book Club, Nellie Brooks
120. The Mysterious Daughter, Sarah Noffke
121. Nantucket Nights, Elin Hilderbrand
122. New Beginnings in Rosemary Beach, Cecilia Scott
123. New Order, Helen Harper
124. The Next Grave, Kendra Elliot
125. Old Friends in Rosemary Beach, Cecilia Scott
126. On Her Watch, Melinda Leigh
127. One in a Million, Susan Mallery
128. Part-Time Wife, Susan Mallery
129. Passions in Death, JD Robb
130. The Perfect Marriage, Jeneva Rose
131. Play Dead, Annabel Chase
132. Pretty Broken Dolls, Jennifer Chase
133. A Promise in the Keys, Hope Holloway
134. Quinn’s Woman, Susan Mallery
135. Random in Death, JD Robb
136. Red Angel, Helen Harper
137. Return to Captiva, Annie Cabot
138. A Return in the Keys, Hope Holloway
139. A Reunion in the Keys, Hope Holloway
140. Rising Darkness, Jen L Grey
141. The Road Best Traveled, Hope Callaghan
142. The Rose Girls, Jennifer Chase
143. Runaway Black Magic, Sarah Noffke
144. The Ruthless Fae King, Leia Stone
145. A Saga of Sisters and Secrets, Nellie Brooks
146. Saltwater Secrets, Amelia Adler
147. Sanibel Dreams, Hope Holloway
148. Sanibel Moonlight, Hope Holloway
149. Sanibel Mornings, Hope Holloway
150. Sanibel Sisters, Hope Holloway
151. Sanibel Sunsets, Hope Holloway
152. Sanibel Tides, Hope Holloway
153. Sanibel Treasures, Hope Holloway
154. Scallops and Sorcerers, Nancy Warren
155. The Sea Glass Girls, Annie Cabot
156. A Sea of Past and Present, Nellie Brooks
157. Seaside House, Sophia Kenna
158. A Season in the Keys, Hope Holloway
159. The Second Chance, Sophie Kenna
160. A Secret in the Keys, Hope Holloway
161. Shadows of the Falls, Elle Gray
162. The Shifting Tides, Sophia Kenna
163. Shrill Dusk, Helen Harper
164. Silenced in the Falls, Elle Gray
165. Silent Little Angels, Jennifer Chase
166. A Silver Lining, Katie Winters
167. Silver Moon, Jen L Grey
168. The Sister Effect, Susan Mallory
169. The Sleeping Girls, Rita Herron
170. Snowed in at the Ranch, RaeAnne Thayne
171. Snowflakes and Surprises, Fiona Baker
172. The Starlight Sisters, Olivia Miles
173. The Store of Love and Lost, Nellie Brooks
174. Stroke of Luck, Katie Winter
175. Suddenly Magical, Sarah Noffke
176. The Summer Breeze: Bed & Breakfast, Helen Harper
177. The Summer Breeze: Flowers & Forgiveness, Helen Harper
178. The Summer Breeze: Love & Misfortunes, Helen Harper
179. The Summer Getaway, Susan Mallery
180. Summer in the Falls, Elle Gray
181. Summer Rose, Katie Winters
182. Sunset Bay, Susan Mallery
183. Tattered Huntress, Helen Harper
184. Three Small Bones, Jennifer Chase
185. Too Soon for Adios, Annette Chavez Macias
186. Trick of the Light, Katie Winters
187. Twisted Witchcraft, Sarah Noffke
188. Unspoken Secrets, Katie Winters
189. Unspoken Sunsets, Katie Winters
190. Unspoken Tides, Katie Winters
191. Vigilante Vampire, Helen Harper
192. Warlock Warfare, Sarah Noffke
193. A Wedding in the Keys, Hope Holloway
194. A Wedding of Hearts and Tides, Nellie Brooks
195. When We Were Widows, Annette Chavez Macias
196. Whispers at the Reunion, Elle Gray
197. Whispers in the Falls, Elle Gray
198. Wild Lilies, Katie Winters
199. Willow in the Wind, Katie Winters
200. Winter Lost, Patricia Briggs
201. Winter Sun, Katie Winters
202. Witch Hunter Extraordinaire, Sarah Noffke
203. Witch Slapped, Sarah Noffke
204. Wrapped in You, Katie Winters

WIP-it Wednesday...

 ...a little hit and miss.

I'm having trouble getting going again after the holidays.  I spent a few days reorganizing things in the studio. My new Bernina sewing machine has a bigger footprint that my old one. The Bernina blocks my TV when I'm sitting in my stitching chair. 

Most of my sewing furniture is modular cubes that stack on one another. I rearranged some of the modules to make more space between the sewing machine and the TV. By doing so, I had to remove one of my modular towers as there wouldn't be enough room to walk between the sewing table and my work table. As a result, I had to find new places for a couple of the modules. In the process, 1 set aside some stuff for donations and reorganize the contents of some drawers. I think the new configuration will work until we do the remodel of the studio.

WIPs Roll Call
Worked On:

1. Balaclava Hood (knitting) [Ravelry]
   Still working on the hood portion.
   
2. Mom's cookbook (cooking)
   Added a couple of recipes
3. Sea Merchant's Wife (cross stitch)
   Started 1/6/2025
   
4. Teal No-Noro Hat (knitting) [Ravelry] 
   Finished the ribbing.
   

No Work This Week:

1. Finishing work
2. Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)

Finishing Work In Progress:

1. Collector's Heart 2024 (cross stitch)
2. Crystal Heart mini (cross stitch)
3. Dreaming Cleo (cross stitch) 
4. Frost Flower mini (cross stitch)
   
5. Jasmine Mix mini (cross stitch)
6. Pearl Orchid mini (cross stitch)
   
7. Tulip Time mini (cross stitch)
8. Underwater City mini (cross stitch)
9. Winged Dreams (cross stitch) 
10. Witchy Dreams (cross stitch)
    

Ready for Finishing:

1. Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing)
2. Happy Pumpkin needleroll (cross stitch)
3. Peaceful Night (cross stitch)
   

IDJ (It's Dead, Jim):

1. Chaca II (needlepoint)

UFOs/Hibernation:

1. Bear Paw pottery (needlepoint)
2. California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
3. Illusion Cube Blanket (knitting) [Ravelry] 
4. Ocean Ripples Wrap (knitting) [Ravelry] 
5. Sky Lanterns Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry]
   
6. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)
7. Website (other)

December 2024 Recap...

 ...such as it is.

Finished:

1. 12/3 Little Penguins (knitting) [Ravelry]
   
2. 12/31 Peaceful Night (cross stitch)
   
3. Books:
   
   1. The Mendocino Beach House, Nellie Brooks
   2. Ambler Gambler, Hailey Edwards
   3. The Perfect Marriage, Jeneva Rose
   4. Whispers in the Falls, Elle Gray
   5. Echo Key Haven, Katie Prescott
   6. Echo Key Secrets, Katie Prescott
   7. Echo Key Whispers, Katie Prescott
   8. Echo Key Legacy, Katie Prescott
   9. Echo Key Promise, Katie Prescott
   10. Echo Key Wedding, Katie Prescott
   11. The Next Grave, Kendra Elliot
   12. Wrapped in You, Katie Winters
   13. Dead Woman Crossing, JR Adler
   14. Last Day Alive, JR Adler
   15. Broken Mate, Jen L Grey
   16. Rising Darkness, Jen L Grey
   17. Silver Moon, Jen L Grey

Started:

1. 12/6 Balaclava Hood (knitting) [Ravelry]
   

WIPs:

1. Finishing work for 10 cross stitch projects
2. Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)
3. Mom's Cookbook (cooking)
   
4. Teal No-Noro Hat (knitting) [Ravelry]

Queued:

• The Sea Merchant's Wife (cross stitch)

Ready for Finishing:

1. Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing)
2. Happy Pumpkin needleroll (cross stitch)

UFOs/Hibernation:

1. Bear Paw pottery (needlepoint)
2. California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
3. Chaca II (needlepoint)
4. Illusion Cube Blanket (knitting) [Ravelry] 
5. Ocean Ripples Wrap (knitting) [Ravelry]   
6. Sky Lanterns Shawl (knitting) [Ravelry] 
7. Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch)
8. Website (other)

Happy Blogiversary to me!

...it's number 19. Wow.

When I started this blog, I didn't have any idea whether it would last or how long. A lot of my friends who used to blog have all but abandoned their own blogs. I think I've kept up with mine for so long because it is a project journal. It's easier for me to type a quick post about my projects than it is to write something down.

The last couple of years have been challenging, affecting many aspects of my life, including blogging. I've tried to post when I could, but many days I just wasn't feeling it. Dealing with my mother and my mother's estate has just drained me.

Now that the majority of the estate has been handled, I no longer have to travel to Santa Maria every 5 to 6 weeks.I'm hoping to get back to some sense of normal and that includes more frequent blocking.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Sunrise 1/1/2025