Livin' La Needle Loca

 ...short and sweet. I went down a rabbit hole on Wednesday, compiling tax information. It took a couple of days, so I didn't post a WIP-it  post. I did manage to take a photo or two. This is a bee in the germander in our courtyard.

 ...yay! I needed some spinning meditation so I pulled out a Greenwood Fiberworks sparkle fiber. I love how this spins up and I just let it decide how thick it wanted to be. This is Northern Lights [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 2/19/2025 Finished 2/22/2025 Merino-Tencel (4.0 oz) from Greenwood Fiberworks 154.2 yds. chain-ply, 12 WPI

...blog and run. This morning's sunrise was wonderful: Our cape mallow seems to be happy in the backyard:

...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: 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. Brighter Day: I purchased a fat quarter pack from the local quilt store. It's a 1...

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: Balaclava Hood (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Finished hood portion and Kitchenered the top seam. Next up: applied i-cord edging Herding Cats quilt (quilting) Ordered backing fabric; cut remaining squares Mom's cookbook (cooking) Entered a few more recipes Sea Merchant's Wife (cross stitch) Working down to the lower tail. Sea Dandelion (cross stitch) Working on the background motifs No Work This Week: Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Finishing work  Teal No-Noro Hat (knitting) [ Ravelry ]   Finishing Work In Pro...

 ...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.

 ...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: Herding Cats quilt (quilting) Still cutting feature fabrics Sea Merchant's Wife (cross stitch) Working down to the lower tail. Sea Dandelion (cross stitch) Started 2/1; did most of the dandelion and started on the tail of the mermaid. No Work This Week: Balaclava Hood (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Finishing work  Mom's cookbook (cooking) Teal No-Noro Hat (knitting) [ Ravelry ]   Finishing Work In Progress: Collector's Heart 2024 (cross stitch) Crystal Heart mini (cross stitch) Dreaming Cleo (cross stitch)  Frost Flower mini (cross stitch) Jasmine Mix mini (cross stitch) ...

 ...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

 ...trying to get back in the groove. Finished: 1/26 Schoolhouse Rock Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] from Greenwood Fiberworks 239.6 yds. chain-ply; 13 WPI 1/13 Ethereal Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] from the Yarn Wench 68.75 yds. Bulky weight Books: The Wives, Valerie Keogh A New Year in the Keys, Hope Holloway Half Dead, Annabel Chase Into the Fall, Tamara Miller Affairs of the Heart, Hope Callaghan Kentucky Rich, Fern Michaels Kentucky Heat, Fern Michaels Kentucky Sunrise, Fern Michaels Sins of the Falls, Elle Gray Track Her Down, Melinda Leigh The Runaway Girls, Elle Gray Awakening of the Pack, Heather G Harris Resurgence of the Pack, Heather G Harris Ascension of the Pack, Heather G Harris When She’s Gone, Rea Frey Midnight Auto Parts, Hailey Edwards Bloodfire, Helen Harper Bloodmagic, Helen Harper Bloodrage, Helen Harper Started: 1/6 The Sea Merchant's Wife (cross stitch) 1/13 Ethereal Handspun (spinning) [...

 ...blog and run. I took photos for Eye Candy Friday, but got caught up in organizing and forgot to post yesterday. Our first Dutch iris of the year bloomed in the backyard. And a close-up using my macro lens.