Eye Candy Friday...

...blog and run.

This morning's sunrise was wonderful:

Our cape mallow seems to be happy in the backyard:

WIP-it Wednesday...

...I finished a couple of things.

I finished the Hooded Cowl (formerly called Balaclava) [Ravelry]:

Specs:
Started 12/6/2024
Finished 2/15/2025
Pattern: Hooded Cowl by Rosann Fleischauer
Added additional stitches to fit a larger head; applied i-cord finish

I also finished Sea Dandelion:

Specs:
Started 2/1/2025
Finished 2/15/2025
Pattern by Barbara Ana Design 

Then, I went down the rabbit hole of quilting. I'm currently working on two quilts at once:

1. Herding Cats: I've been collecting cat fabrics for years (read: 20+ years), wanting to create a quilt with nothing but cats. Some of the fabric is old-fashioned and very soft. Fabric quality and printing have improved a lot over the years. I'm determined to include the older fabric with the new fabric. I;'m working on the layout and  just need to make sure that the older fabrics are spread throughout the quilt.
   
   
2. Brighter Day: I purchased a fat quarter pack from the local quilt store. It's a 12-pack, which lends itself to my favorite quilt pattern, Yellow Brock Road by Atkinson Design. The colors are bright and light, something I need right now.

WIPs Roll Call
Worked On:

1. Brighter Day quilt (quilting)
   Started 2/10/2025
2. Herding Cats quilt (quilting)
   Ordered backing fabric; cut remaining squares
3. Mom's cookbook (cooking)
   Entered a few more recipes
   
4. Sea Merchant's Wife (cross stitch)
   Working down to the lower tail.
   

No Work This Week:

1. Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)
2. Finishing work 
3. Teal No-Noro Hat (knitting) [Ravelry]  
   

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)
4. Sea Dandelion (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)

WIP-it Wednesday...

and a finished object that I forgot to post. (oops)

I made a new pillow for the couch. I was unhappy with the yellow-gold pillow that I made when we first got the teal couches. I finally found some fabric that I liked better and made this pillow:

Specs:
Started 1/30/2025
Finished 2/1/2025
No pattern; used standard zipper
18x18 square pillow form

WIPs Roll Call
Worked On:

1. Balaclava Hood (knitting) [Ravelry]
   Finished hood portion and Kitchenered the top seam. Next up: applied i-cord edging
   
2. Herding Cats quilt (quilting)
   Ordered backing fabric; cut remaining squares
3. Mom's cookbook (cooking)
   Entered a few more recipes
   
4. Sea Merchant's Wife (cross stitch)
   Working down to the lower tail.
   
5. Sea Dandelion (cross stitch)
   Working on the background motifs
   

No Work This Week:

1. Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)
2. Finishing work 
3. Teal No-Noro Hat (knitting) [Ravelry]  
   

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)

Eye Candy Friday...

 ...a short week at home.

I had to go to the central coast to take care of a couple of things for mom's estate. It was just an overnight trip. 

I had to cool my heels for about 30 minutes before I could check into my hotel, so I stopped at the local park. The park is only five minutes from the hotel.

Waller Park has been the location for many a family reunion. and my sister's wedding. I found a dry spot on a bench and watched the ducks and geese until it was time for me to check in. It was quiet and peaceful.

WIP-it Wednesday...

 ...more cross stitch in process.

I started a new project, Sea Dandelion by Barbara Ana Designs..

I'm swapping off with the mermaid project. I'm still cutting squares for the cat quilt. Knitting is temporarily on hold.

WIPs Roll Call
Worked On:

1. Herding Cats quilt (quilting)
   Still cutting feature fabrics
   
2. Sea Merchant's Wife (cross stitch)
   Working down to the lower tail.
   
3. Sea Dandelion (cross stitch)
   Started 2/1; did most of the dandelion and started on the tail of the mermaid.
   

No Work This Week:

1. Balaclava Hood (knitting) [Ravelry]
2. Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)
3. Finishing work 
4. Mom's cookbook (cooking)
5. Teal No-Noro Hat (knitting) [Ravelry]  
   

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)

A Finished Object from January...

 ...I totally missed posting it.

I'm not sure how it happened, but catching up now. This is Schoolhouse Rock [Ravelry]:

and the close-up:

Specs:
Started 1/20/2025
Finished 1/26/2025
Merino 4.0 oz from Greenwood Fiberworks
239.6 yds. chain-ply; 13 WPI

January 2024 Recap...

 ...trying to get back in the groove.

Finished:

1. 1/26 Schoolhouse Rock Handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
   from Greenwood Fiberworks
   239.6 yds. chain-ply; 13 WPI
   
2. 1/13 Ethereal Handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
   from the Yarn Wench
   68.75 yds. Bulky weight
   
3. Books:
   
   1. The Wives, Valerie Keogh
   2. A New Year in the Keys, Hope Holloway
   3. Half Dead, Annabel Chase
   4. Into the Fall, Tamara Miller
   5. Affairs of the Heart, Hope Callaghan
   6. Kentucky Rich, Fern Michaels
   7. Kentucky Heat, Fern Michaels
   8. Kentucky Sunrise, Fern Michaels
   9. Sins of the Falls, Elle Gray
   10. Track Her Down, Melinda Leigh
   11. The Runaway Girls, Elle Gray
   12. Awakening of the Pack, Heather G Harris
   13. Resurgence of the Pack, Heather G Harris
   14. Ascension of the Pack, Heather G Harris
   15. When She’s Gone, Rea Frey
   16. Midnight Auto Parts, Hailey Edwards
   17. Bloodfire, Helen Harper
   18. Bloodmagic, Helen Harper
   19. Bloodrage, Helen Harper

Started:

1. 1/6 The Sea Merchant's Wife (cross stitch)
2. 1/13 Ethereal Handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]
3. 1/17 Herding Cats quilt (quilting)
4. 1/20 Schoolhouse Rock Handspun (spinning) [Ravelry]

WIPs:

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

IDJ (It's Dead, Jim):

• Chaca II (needlepoint)

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)