Livin' La Needle Loca

 ...day after our anniversary. Yesterday, we celebrated 38 years married/43 year together. We took a quick trip to Pescadero Beach to enjoy a perfect weather day. We followed it up with lunch at the classic Duarte's restaurant.  Pescadero Beach Pelican perched on a rock Pink ice plant flower <

 ...and a finished object. I love working on minis. They are fast to complete and give me a sense of accomplishment. They are small enough that I don't have a chance to get bored with the project. Just Nan has (had?) a set of mini designs and accompanying frames, which really gives you that sense of accomplishment. This is the latest one that I finished - this is Frost Flower. Specs: Started 12/27/2023 Finished  1/23/2024 Design by Just Nan Since I retired in 2019, I've been avoiding working on a lot of things that require significant computer time. After years of doing technical documentation and productions work, I needed a break. With the handling of my mom's estate, I've had to dive back into that world. For my own sanity, I've been alternating mom's stuff with some of my own. My website is seriously out of date as is my project database. While I'm not ready to dive back into either of those, I can update my proje...

...this time it's a cross stitch item. This is Winged Dreams. Specs: Started 9/29/2023 Finished 1/20/2024 Design by Barbara Ana Design I'm trying to keep my forward progress going. Keeping my fingers crossed that I can continue!

 ...a little progress this week. I've reviewed my WIPs and decided to hibernate the Illusion Cube project [ Ravelry ]. I might pick it up again sometime, but right now I have no motivation to work on it. The only reason that I am not declaring it IDJ (It's Dead, Jim) is because I still find the cubes interesting and they are an easy knit. I hope to move the Ocean Ripples Shawl [ Ravelry ] back into rotation. It's a fairly straight-forward knit and I still love the yarn. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Winged Dreams (cross stitch) Working on the large star and above the figure. No Work This Week: Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Mermaid’s Lagoon Socks (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Ocean Ripples Wrap (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Singularity Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Sky Lanterns Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch) Ready for Finis...

 ...I actually remembered to take some photos. Our garden is looking pretty scraggly, as it does in the winter. There are a few bright spots, these nasturtiums: and a few Zion Copper Amethyst osteospermums: I hope to get better at posting eye candy this year. Fingers crossed!

 ...I'm making slow progress. Winged Dreams has been getting the most play this last week. I've been distracted by some family things and the cold weather. I'm still trying to get into some sort of rhythm. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Illusion Cube Blanket (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Finished a cube that was one third complete. Buried ends on another cube. Trying to decide whether to declare it done or IDJ. Mermaid’s Lagoon Socks (knitting) [ Ravelry ] I completed the second pattern return, again. Winged Dreams (cross stitch) Finished the wings and started stitching the decorative items of the piece No Work This Week: Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Ocean Ripples Wrap (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Singularity Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Sky Lanterns Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch) Ready for Finishing: Finishing ...

 ....in which we finished our remodel and faced family challenges and loss - all of which impacted my project time. Finished: Baking, etc. No Christmas baking this year Almond Fruitcake for my brother Lots of scones Knitting 4/30 Effortless Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ]  5/1 Pillow Embellishment (knitting) [ Ravelry ] 12/19 Wee Fishie for Hov (knitting) [ Ravelry ] 12/19 Navy Bankhead Hat (knitting [ Ravelry ] 12/20 Wee Fishies [ Ravelry ]  Needlework, All Cross Stitch 1/29 More Beach (cross stitch) 2/27 Purple Heart Flowers (cross stitch) 3/29 Frida Kathlo pillow (cross stitch) 11/11 Mermaids of the Deep Blue Sea (cross stitch) Quilting 6/11 Good Day Sunshine (quilting) 9/30 Mid Century Deco Quilt (quilting) Reading Read 183 books, two of them twice in the same year, for a total of 185; see Reading List below Sewing, Finishing S...

...December was a bit more productive, craft-wise. ...I guess I completely missed posting this recap, not that there's much here. Chalk it up to being sick the first two weeks of December and then Christmas. Finished: 12/12 MCM Christmas Wreath (general craft) 12/19 Wee Fishie for Hov (knitting) [ Ravelry ] 12/19 Navy Bankhead Hat (knitting [ Ravelry ] 12/20 Wee Fishies [ Ravelry ]  12/21 Christmas Stocking for Hov (sewing) 12/31 Mom's Turquoise Handspun [ Ravelry ] Falkland (4.1 oz) from the Yarn Wench in Navajo Turquoise Plied  with Rayon thread in Turquoise and 10/2 Mercerized cotton in Blue Turquoise beads from Mom’s collection 54.2 yds 3 ply, Super-Bulky weight Books: The Cafe on Amelia Island, Hope Holloway  Romance Rules for Werewolves, Linsey Hall  Payback in Death, JD Robb  Dead as a Dodo, Hailey Edwards  Pink Lemonade Cake Murder, Joanne Fluke  The Lies you Wrote, Brianna Labuskes  The...

 ...I guess I completely missed posting this recap, not that there's much here. Chalk it up to being sick the first two weeks of December and then Christmas. Finished: 11/11 Mermaids of the Deep Blue Sea (cross stitch) Books: The Cafe on Amelia Island, Hope Holloway  The Bookstore on Amelia Island, Hope Holloway  The Florist on Amelia Island, Hope Holloway  Into the Night, Elle Gray  The Nature of Secrets, Debra Webb  In Want of a Knife, Nancy Warren  All the Little Truths, Debra Webb  The Asheville Christmas Cabin, Hope Holloway  The Asheville Christmas Gift, Hope Holloway  Redwood Cafe, Christine Gael  Redwood Meadow, Christine Gael  Redwood House, Christine Gael  Golden in Death, JD Robb  Shadows in Death, JD Robb  Faithless in Death, JD Robb  Forgotten in Death, JD Robb  Abandoned in Death, JD Robb  Desperation in Death, JD Robb  Encore in Death, JD Robb ...

 Wow, 17 years blogging! It’s been hard blogging regularly for the past couple of years. I’m hoping that 2024 lets me get back to some of my normal routines.  I finished the Hip to be Square quilt - my first finish of the year. Specs: Started 8/28/2023 Finished 01/04/2024 No pattern Fabrics: Grunge Basics, Grunge Hits the Spot, and Grunge Seeing Stars fabrics by Moda

 ...first of the year. I need to review the items in my rotation and decide whether any projects is done or ready to be IDJ (It's Dead, Jim). I'm almost done with a quilt, so no photos today! WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Hip To Be Square quilt (quilting) Finished machine quilting, added binding, and working on burying the loose threads. Mermaid’s Lagoon Socks (knitting) [ Ravelry ]  Pulled out the last 6 rows because I missed a pattern row somewhere. I'm now back to a point where I can move forward again. Sigh. Winged Dreams (cross stitch) Still working on the wings. No Work This Week: Illusion Cube Blanket (knitting) [ Ravelry ]  Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Ocean Ripples Wrap (knitting) [ Ravelry ]  Singularity Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ]   Sky Lanterns Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ]   Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch) Ready for Finishing: Finishing work for some old...