Livin' La Needle Loca

...and the bouncing continues. As I mentioned yesterday, the project getting the most play is Dreaming Frida. Here's what it looks like this morning: I started quilting Noche de los Muertos quilt. I'm doing the stitch-in-the-ditch portion first. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Bean Me Up quilt (quilting) Added the binding; did a couple of motifs. I'm putting this quilt into hibernation for now. Dreaming Frida (cross stitch) Finished the hair, face and body. Working on the decorative items around her. Hark Christmas ornament (cross stitch) I had started this the week before and forgot to list it in the WIPs. Working on the person in the center of the ornament. Noche de los Muertos quilt (quilting)  Started machine quilting. Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Still working on the collar - 9-10 inches left!  Singularity Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ]   Added a...

 ...yeah, Monday posts don't seem to be happening yet. I'm still playing with the new camera. I'm not pleased with the way this one focuses (or doesn't focus) with low light. I'm still learning about it, though, so it could just be that I haven't set something correctly. I am putting the coffee quilt aside for now. I was not into machine quilting the coffee cup motifs. It simply wasn't enjoyable. Since I had already done the block and binding machine quilting, I went ahead and attached the binding. The quilt is on a time-out until I'm ready for those coffee cups again. I practiced a little free-motion quilting. I keep trying to do it, but it's not that enjoyable. However, getting a handle on it might make my machine quilting a little easier. I have prepped the sewing machine for the Day of the Dead quilt. It's more in line with what I want to work on right now. The Dreaming Frida cross stitch piece is coming along nicely. I'm really enjoying ...

 ...more photos from the new camera. Purple salvia Pansy Frida Kahlo rose

 ...and I'm still doing a little of this and a little of that. One project is getting more play that the others. This is Dreaming Frida, as of this morning: I'm just not feeling most of the other projects, but I am trying to work on them for a few minutes. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Bean Me Up quilt (quilting) Still working on motifs. Dreaming Frida (cross stitch) Working on her hair Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Still working on the collar. No Work This Week: Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Malachite (needlepoint)  Pacific Waters tapestry (weaving) [ Ravelry ]  Singularity Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ]  Queued Ready to machine quilt: - Mermaid Songs (quilting) - Noche de los Muertos quilt (quilting) Ready to start - Lilith of Labrador mermaid (cross stitch) Waiting for Finishing: Finishing...

 ...I've been a little stressed lately for assorted reasons.  I'm trying to get back to an even keel, but I'm letting a few things fall on the floor for now. I need to get back to taking photos, to walking, and to spending time looking up instead of inward. To that end, I treated myself to a new point-and-shoot camera for my birthday. As with all new cameras, I need a little practice finding how to use this one's features. It's a start.

 ...sorry, no photos this time. I started something new yesterday, but it doesn't look like much yet. I was having trouble concentrating again and bounced between projects all day. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Bean Me Up quilt (quilting) Finished border stitching. Started on motifs. Dreaming Frida (cross stitch) Started 9/15/2021 Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Finished one and started another. Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Working on the collar again. Singularity Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Added another few rows No Work This Week: Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Malachite (needlepoint)  Pacific Waters tapestry (weaving) [ Ravelry ]  Queued Ready to machine quilt: - Mermaid Songs (quilting) - Noche de los Muertos quilt (quilting) Ready to start - Lilith of Labrador mermaid (cross stitch) Waiting for Finishing: Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing) UFOs/Hibernation: ...

 ...yay! I needed something quick to work on while I cycled through my large projects. This is Scare Ewe: Specs: Started 9/11/2021 Finished 9/13/2021 Kit by Shepherd’s Bush The kit came with backing fabric to make it into a pillow. I've been working on my coffee quilt, but it's taking a while because I'm not happy with the fabric quality. It's too soft, if there's such a thing, and tends to bunch. Most of the quilts I make tread the line between art and utility. This is definitely a utility quilt. I'll be happy when I'm done with it!

...and eye candy Friday, too. I finished the Sirens of the Sea sampler yesterday. Specs: Sirens of the Sea sampler Started 8/4/2021 Finished 9/9/2021 Design by Just Nan I haven't decided whether to finish this as a flat or frame it. I'll let it sit for a while before I decide. I've started looking upwards again after several weeks of looking inward. This morning's sunrise was beautiful: Flowers are everywhere right now. I love this lily in the birthday bouquet that my sister sent: The sunflowers are coming to an end for the year. We had to move the Frida Kahlo rose from the courtyard into the backyard. The courtyard was way too hot for the rose and it was burning up. It' been in the backyard for 3 weeks or so and it much happier. It's starting to flower again!

 ...and I'm getting close to finishing one of my larger projects! I finishing the stitching portion of the Sirens of the Sea sampler (cross stitch): I've washed and pressed the sampler. I can start the beading today! WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Sirens of the Sea sampler (cross stitch) Finished stitching; ready for beading. No Work This Week: Bean Me Up quilt (quilting) Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Malachite (needlepoint)  Pacific Waters tapestry (weaving) [ Ravelry ]  Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Singularity Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Queued Ready to machine quilt: - Mermaid Songs (quilting) - Noche de los Muertos quilt (quilting) Ready to start - Lilith of Labrador mermaid (cross stitch) Waiting for Finishing: Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing) UFOs/Hibernati...

 ...a little of this, a little of that with a trip to mom's towards the end of the month. Finished: 8/1 Marionberry Shawl 8/2 Summer Stroll (cross stitch) 8/16 Catnip mice - 2 (knitting) [ Ravelry ] 8/20 Finishing work for 9 cross stitch items (sewing) 8/30 Catnip mice - 7 (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Books Honor Bound, Helen Harper Veiled Threat, Helen Harper Last Wish, Helen Harper These Toxic Things, Rachel Howzell Hall Dark Secrets, Linsey Hall Devilish Game, Linsey Hall Cursed Mate, Linsey Hall Started: 8/4 Finishing work for 9 cross stitch items (sewing) 8/15 Catnip mice - 2 (knitting) [ Ravelry ] 8/22 Catnip mice - 7 (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Works In Progress: Bean Me Up! (quilting) Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Malachite (needlepoint) Pacific Waters tapestry (weaving) [ Ravelry ] Pure Comfort Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ]   Singularity Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Summer Stroll mi...

 ...yay! I needed that sense of accomplishment, so I turned to spinning. This is Dragon Fruit [ Ravelry ]: and the close up: Specs: Started 9/1/2021 Finished 9/9/2021 Merino-Stellina (4.0 oz.) from Greenwood Fiberworks 228 yds. chain-plied, 14 WPI OK, time to go back to the larger projects.

...and I'm looking forward to my birthday weekend. The Daughter sent me a birthday bouquet a day early. It contains some beautiful roses pink mums and a stunning ranunculus. I'm looking forward to having a special dinner tomorrow to celebrate.

...no photos today.  I haven't made significant progress on my larger projects (yet). Since I finished the catnip mice, I've spent a little time on a couple of them. However, the majority of my time has been trying to recover from a computer glitch on my new Mac mini. When I shut it down the last time, it got into some sort of loop and would not start up again. I spent some quality time with Apple support and was able to bring it back to life. Unfortunately, I had to reinstall the operating system. As a result, some of my old applications were left in a state that they could not be recovered or they had to be reinstalled. I'm about halfway through the process. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Singularity Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Added a few more rows. Sirens of the Sea sampler (cross stitch) Working on band 6. No Work This Week: Bean Me Up quilt (quilting) Illusion hexagons [ Ravelry ] Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting)  Malachite (ne...