Livin' La Needle Loca

 ...and I have a couple of things to show. Earlier in the month, the Daughter requested that I create some masks for her Elf on the Shelf elves. She does a series of elf postings in her Instagram and Facebook accounts. Suffice it to say that she needed masks for her elves. I had an elf to use as a model, so... Specs: Started 11/11/2020 Finished 11/12/2020 Custom masks for Flexi Lexi and Logi the Yogi I had a lot of fun making these! I also made Christmas stockings for the kittens. We have always hung stockings for our cats, but usually they are store-bought. Because the Daughter's handwriting is better than mine, I have her write the cat's name on the stocking in glitter paint. This year, since we're not sure when we'll be able to get together with her, I decided to make the stockings myself. I took one of the commercial stockings and traced it. I pulled some felt out of the stash and sewed the stockings. I printed their names in ...

 ...which is going to double as eye candy today. I finished stitching another Christmas ornament. This is Santa's Flight: Specs: Started 11/22/2020 Finished 11/27/2020 Pattern: Shepherd's Bush from the 2009 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue I'm adding it to the stack of finishing work. We had a laid-back Thanksgiving. I actually let the Husband help with some of the cooking. (I know, shocker!) We had a wonderful FaceTime call with the Daughter, followed by an early dinner. And now it's time to swap over to Christmas. I started my online shopping today. ;-)

 ...and not photos today. It's Thanksgiving Eve and I have things to accomplish today. Even thought it will only be the Husband and I tomorrow, I still was to prepare some dishes ahead of time. I've been working mostly on small projects. I'm nearly done with another Christmas ornament, so I decided to hold off taking a photo since I'm so close to finishing it. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Finished the variegated hexagon. Picking the next colors to do. Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Still knitting the second sleeve, about 4 inches in Christmas Ornament 2009 (cross stitch) Started 11/22/2020 Works In Progress, Did Not Work On This Week: By the Sea needle roll (cross stitch) Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Malachite (needlepoint)  Marionberry Shawl [ Ravelry] Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch) Renaissance Mermaid (cross stitch) Tucson Twilight (needlepoint) Waiting for F...

 ...and I just realized that I missed Eye Candy Friday. Oops. I finished the Merry Christmas scissor fob: Specs: Started 11/17/2020 Finished 11/22/2020 Kit from Shepherd’s Bush I started another Shepherd's Bush Christmas ornament.  When we cleaned up our storage room a week ago, I found some red felt yardage that I forgot I had. Since I need Christmas stockings for the kittens, I decided to make them instead of buying them. I didn't have enough white felt, so I ordered some from Michael's. (I also ordered paint and fray check.) I cut out the stocking pieces yesterday and will sew them together in the next day or so.

 ...I've worked on a little bit of everything this week. I finished the first sleeve and the second pocket liner on my Pure Comfort Cardigan [ Ravelry ]: I started a new cross stitch scissor fob and worked on a couple more hexagons. I really need to get back to my cross stitch mermaid, but this new toy may get in my way: This is my new Arras tapestry loom from Schacht. Technically, it's my mom's birthday present to me, but I didn't get around to ordering it until October. Once I figure out what the first tapestry project should be, I'll warp it. I might have to decide RSN because I can't wait to get my hands on it! WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Trying a variegated yarn to see how that affects the hexagon. Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Now that I've finished the first sleeve and the second pocket liner, I'm knitting the second sleeve. Christmas ...

 ...and we started off the day cleaning out our storage room. Most people who own a house use their garage for storage. Since our garage was converted to a room years ago, we've had to use our extra bedroom and an off-site storage unit to hold things that normally go in a garage, including things to be donated to Goodwill. This morning, we decided to attack the room to gather all the Goodwill donations, clear out things we didn't need to keep any more, and consolidate The Daughter's things in one place. It took all morning, but it was so worth it. An added bonus is that we can now let the kittens into the room! This morning's sunrise was wonderful! I especially liked the view from our backyard:

 ...and an F.O. I finished another Pine Mountain pillow. This is Happy Holidays: Specs: Started 11/4/2020 Finished 11/9/2020 Kit from Pine Mountain Designs I'm still playing with knitted hexagons, AKA cubes [ Ravelry ]. Here's what I have so far: WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Still playing with hexagon knitting Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Still trying to figure out what to do with the sleeve. In the meantime, I started the second pocket liner. Works In Progress, Did Not Work On This Week: By the Sea needle roll (cross stitch) Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Malachite (needlepoint)  Marionberry Shawl [ Ravelry] Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch) Renaissance Mermaid (cross stitch) Tucson Twilight (needlepoint) Waiting for Finishing: Deco Royale (quilting) Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing) Hoc...

...this time it's spinning. During the election madness, I've been spinning as a form of meditation. It kept my hands busy and off of my devices. I finished this on Saturday after the election was called. :) This is Twilight #2 [ Ravelry ]: And the close-up: Specs: Started 11/2/2020 Finished 11/7/2020 Merino-Silk-Cashmere (4.0 oz.) from Greenwood Fiberworks 206.25 yds. chain-ply, 11 WPI

 ...not much new in the garden. Today's sunrise was an actual sunrise. It's been foggy or overcast the last few days, so it was nice to see some color and clouds today. It's been an anxious few days. I'm glad this week is almost over.

 ...no photos today. I'm experimenting with knitted hexagons. I found the Illusion Cube Blanket pattern [ Ravelry ] and was intrigued by the way the colors were used and how each hexagon is assembled.  WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Playing with hexagon knitting Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Knitting the first sleeve - deciding whether to add the ribbing as defined in the pattern or knit a short ribbing for decorative purposes Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch) Worked on one row Renaissance Mermaid (cross stitch) Still working on the tail fins Works In Progress, Did Not Work On This Week: By the Sea needle roll (cross stitch) Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Malachite (needlepoint)  Marionberry Shawl [ Ravelry] Tucson Twilight (needlepoint) Waiting for Finishing: Deco Royale (quilting) Finishing work for s...

 ...more cross stitch than anything else. Finished: 10/3 Sweet Baby Christmas ornament (cross stitch) 10/14 Hooded Baby Cardigan [ Ravelry ] 10/17 Hocus Pocus Sheep (cross stitch) 10/21 Meadow Sheep (cross stitch) 10/26 Gatitas quilt (quilting) 10/28 Joy to Ewe (cross stitch) Books How to Survive an Undead Honeymoon, Hailey Edwards Troubles in Paradise, Elin Hilderbrand A Wild Hope, Celeste De Blasis How to Rattle an Undead Couple, Hailey Edwards Diamonds and Daggers, Nancy Warren Christmas Cupcake Murder, Joanne Fluke The Heir Affair, Heather Cocks The Country Guesthouse, Robyn Carr Started: 10/4 Hocus Pocus Sheep (cross stitch) 10/17 Meadow Sheep (cross stitch) 10/22 Joy to Ewe (cross stitch) 10/31 Winter Snowy Days (cross stitch) Works In Progress: By the Sea needle roll (cross stitch) Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Malachite (needlepoint) Marionberry Shawl [ Ravelry ]  Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross ...

 ...and like many people, I'm holding my breath to see what happens. In the meantime, I'll be spinning as a form of meditation. I do have one item finished already for November. This is Winter Snowy Days pillow: Specs: Started 10/31/2020 Finished 11/2//2020 Kit from Pine Mountain Designs