Livin' La Needle Loca

...and the last day of March. No photos of WIPs today because I am very close to finishing a handspun and I'm a little frustrated with the by the Sea sampler. Instead, here's today's sunrise. In other news, I went to a store for the first time since 3/13/2020. I took my sewing machine to a local shop for routine service - cleaning and adjusting tension. I also asked them check for a replacement for a part that is broken, but still functional. It felt strange being in a store and it made me a little anxious. However, the staff was pleasant and friendly and everyone in the store was masked. Baby steps! WIPs Roll Call Worked On: By the Sea needle roll (cross stitch) Making progress, but some of the designer's decisions are a little frustrating. I'm stitching this on 32-count fabric. The designer has a phrase to be stitched towards the bottom of the sampler. The space between the legs of the lower-case letters is only one ...

 ...just general randomness. The moon was full last night: The Husband and I are now fully immunized! Yesterday marked 2 weeks since we received our second COVID vaccinations. I'm looking forward to spending time with The Daughter!  I pressed the fabric for The Mermaid and the Sea. I then realized that I didn't have a set of scroll rods long enough for this piece. I ordered a longer set and am waiting for their delivery.  I finished the singles for the Earthen Hues handspun [ Ravelry ]. I may do the plying today just to get it finished.  I finally hit the center of the shawl collar for the Pure Comfort Cardigan [ Ravelry ]. Thank goodness! Hopefully, I'll have enough yarn to finish this collar. I started a tapestry piece. Using one of my reference books for guidance, I placed waste yarn and wove the header of the piece. I need to find a more comfortable position for the loom or my chair. It's very hard on the shoulders in my current set-up. ...

...and the sun is out! Several flowers in our garden are only open when the sun is up. For example, the feverfew needs full sun to open completely up: California poppies are the same: Full sun makes taking photos of other flowers challenging, which is why I usually take photos earlier in the morning. This sparaxis is a good example: Flowers that are at least partially in the shade of another plant are easier to photograph, like these cherry blossoms. Regardless of sun or no sun, flowers and blossoms are my favorite things to photograph.

 ...and I'm looking at what the next big project will be. In the interim, I found a small project that I could get done easily. At cross stitch festivals, it was common for vendors to offer a free cross stitch chart if you bought the embellishment that went with it. Blue Moon is one of them. Specs: Started 3/21/2021 Finished 3/23/2021 Chart and button from Sunflower Samplings I've added it to the finishing pile. I'll probably make it into a mini pillow. Here are two of the projects that might join rotation soon. The Mermaid and the Sea from Exemplars From The Heart: And Lilith, another mermaid from Miraiblia: Until I decide which project to start, I'll continue to work on my spinning. This is Earthen Hues [ Ravelry ]: WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Earthen Hues (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Started 3/15/2021 Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Almost to the center point of the collar. Works In Prog...

 ...and it's been a long time coming. After complaining about not being able to find the embellishment pack for Peacock Majesty, you know that I found it when I stopped looking for it. 😜 Here's the completed project. Specs: Started 7/1/2004 Back into rotation on 4/27/2020 Finished 3/20/2021 Chart and embellishments by Just Nan When I started this project, I was really into stitching needle rolls and samplers. I fell in love with Peacock Majesty when I saw a completed one in the needlework competition at a cross stitch festival. I had to have it! My issues Stitching on dark fabric is harder than I thought it would be. I could only work on it under a magnifying lamp.  I worked this from the top down as the directions specified. I've since learned that it is easier for me to start in the middle and work my way out from there.  After stitching the first two rows, I found that I wasn't enjoying the project at all. I tried many times to bring ...

...and Spring is tomorrow. Our apricot tree is dropping blossoms and setting leaves. Daffodils continue to appear through the yard. The bleeding heart flowers are blooming below the cherry tree. Yesterday was a little frustrating for me. I had hoped to complete Peacock Majesty, the cross stitch sampler I've been working on since 2004. I did finish the stitching portion. However, I couldn't find the beads and charm to attach to the sample. I looked everywhere! I believe I had them at one point because I have the specialty silk that came in the embellishment pack. And of course, this pattern and its embellishment pack are out of print.  I spent some time cruising the internet looking for an alternative to the gold peacock charm. The problem is that I have no idea of the original charm's dimensions. I have another peacock charm from the same designer that I think I can use, but it won't have the same impact. As for the beads, I had to place ...

 ...two days after my second COVID-19 vaccination. I had the shot on Monday and was able to work on my crafts without any issues. However, yesterday was not so good. I had an elevated temperature, sore arm, and I felt like I was getting the flu. It got worse as the day wore on. I couldn't concentrate on anything. Today, I'm feeling much better. I've been working on Peacock Majesty. I'm hoping to finish this piece very soon. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch) Working on the last row of stitching Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Almost to the center point of the collar. Works In Progress: By the Sea needle roll (cross stitch) Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Malachite (needlepoint) Marionberry Shawl [ Ravelry ] Queued Lilith of Labrador mermaid (cross stitch) Gathering supp...

...I'm just amazed that I even know what day it is. In honor of getting my second Moderna shot today, I made two new masks for myself. Specs: Completed 3/14/2021 Pattern: Crisis Mask Cover distributed by Masks Now I got my shot this morning and I'm waiting to see what kind of side-effects show up. The Husband gets his shot this afternoon. We'll be very relieved to get that done. Now if I could only convince my mother to get one!

...and a finished object. I finally finished Tucson Twilight (needlepoint): Specs: Started 6/8/14 Finished 3/11/2021 Charted needlepoint design by Laura J Perin Modifications: Replaced the original Caron Watercolors and Wildflowers color (Bark) with Scheherazade with some strands of Amethyst; did not place all of the stitches in a couple of sections. This project sat in hiatus for a few years because I hated the colors called for in the design . The whole reason I bought this chart was because I liked the copper and purple combination displayed in its photo. As I stitched the project, it was too brown for my taste.  The Watercolors and Waterlilies color Bark had too much brown. Because these fibers were used extensively in the project. By replacing Bark with Scheherazade, I was able to have more  copper and purple. However, they were in short runs. Adding strands of Amethyst allowed me to add more purple to the piece.  I modified th...

 ...one day until my second COVID shot. Yay! I'm very close to finishing the Tucson Twilight needlepoint, so I decided not to post a photo of it today. Instead, here's a look at the By The Sea needle roll that I started last June. I'll put this project back into the rotation after I finish the needlepoint project. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Marionberry Shawl [ Ravelry ] Still working on the second round of the pattern repeats Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] I had to pull out about 2 inches of the shawl collar because there was a funky twist in one of the ribs. Back on track knitting towards the center point of the collar. Tucson Twilight (needlepoint) Working on the final diagonal section Works In Progress: By the Sea needle roll (cross stitch) Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Malachite (needlepoint) Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch) Queu...

 ...a little of this and a little of that. I helped the Husband go through a bunch of stuff in our off-site storage unit. Some stuff was set-aside for donation and and some for disposal or recycle. In the middle of everything, I found two projects that I made several years ago before I started photographing completed items. I took photos before we placed them in the donation pile. This is the Tiger Kitten Latch Hook Rug: Specs: Completed: Mid-80s, best guess I made this for The Daughter's bedroom when she was in elementary school. I only made two latch hook rugs; this was the second. Another project was this Shells Pillow: Specs: Completed for Christmas 1984 Gift for my mother-in-law   I made 2 or 3 candlewicking projects and decided that I didn't enjoy that craft  as much as cross stitch and needlepoint. I've spent most of the week working on the Tucson Twilight needlepoint picture. I am so ready to be done with this project! Today...

...and I finally finished a big project. Finished: 2/9 Cappuccino handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Camel-Silk (4.0 oz) from Greenwood Fiberworks 156.2 yds. chain-ply, 12 WPI 2/27 Renaissance Mermaid (cross stitch) Books See Her Die, Melina Leigh More Than Love, Natasha Gregson Wagner Faithless in Death, JD Robb Dragons Don’t Eat Meat, Kim McDougall Midlife Bounty Hunter, Shannon Mayer A Wild Legacy, Celeste De Blasis 1st Case, James Patterson Started: None Works In Progress: Bean Me Up quilt (quilting) By the Sea needle roll (cross stitch) Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Malachite (needlepoint) Marionberry Shawl [ Ravelry ]  Peacock Majesty by Just Nan (cross stitch) Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Tucson Twilight (needlepoint) Waiting for Finishing: Deco Royale (quilting) Do You Hear ornament (cross stitch) ...

...another week gone.  I decided that I needed to spin something new. This is Minty Fresh handspun [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started and finished 3/4/2021 Corriedale top (4.0 oz) in Exhaust from Judy’s Novelty Wool Plied with Plied with Sesia Carioca in Shamrock 65 yds., bulky weight In the garden, apricot blossoms are beginning to appear. As well as this Pacific Coast iris.

 ...and another finished object (sort of). I finished the top of the Bean Me Up! quilt: Specs: Started 1/31/2021 Top completed 3/1/2021 Pattern: none, winging it Fabrics: Jumping Java panels and fabrics from Clothworks In honor of the sourdough bread class that I took last year (right before COVID impacted our lives), I fed my sourdough starter and made bread dough on Monday. After 24 hours of proofing in the refrigerator, I baked it last night. It turned out beautifully! WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Marionberry Shawl [ Ravelry ] Working on the second round of the pattern repeats Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Still working towards the center point of the collar. Tucson Twilight (needlepoint) Finished one diagonal section; starting another Works In Progress: By the Sea needle roll (cross stitch) Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Ma...

 ...and Happy March! I finished the Renaissance Mermaid! And in under a year...yay! Here's the first look: Specs: Started 5/27/2020 Finished 2/27/2021 Pattern by Mirabilia I need to get some acid-free foam core so I can frame the piece. That might have to wait until I feel safe going out among people. I get my second vaccination shot in a couple of weeks, so it won't be too long.