Livin' La Needle Loca

 ...and there are more flowers! The Husband bought me a few more flowers for Mother's Day. Between the new plants and the exzisting plants, we have flowers every where. New to the garden are Raspberry Lemonade nemesia: and Orange jessamine: Our primroses are going strong: and the blanket flowers are back: I also finished the Flock of Emotional Support Chickies [ Ravelry ]: Specs: Started 5/8/2026 Finished 5/11/2026 Emotional Support Chicken® Little Chickie by Annette Corsino Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Paints in Springbrook; Loops & Threads Soft & Shiny Ombres in Shimmer; Loops & Threads Soft Classic in Peach Tree Multi and Bluebird Multi; Trendsetter Yarns Tonalita in Rio

...I finished two things and I'm showing them even though they are gifts. They are too cute for words. First up, is Highland Cow 3 [ Ravelry ]: and another view: Specs: Started 12/12/2025 Finished 12/18/2025 Pattern: Clara’s Critter Crew Cow Modified the pattern to make Highland cow version The second is Corgi 2 [ Ravelry ]: and another view: Specs: Started 12/7/2025 Finished 12/19/2025 Pattern: Corgi by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne Modified pattern to reduce the body length I declared Corgi 1 [ Ravelry ] as IDJ (It's Dead, Jim). I didn't like the way it was working up and didn't enjoy the pattern.

 ...my week was interrupted by a planned trip to handle the last item in my mother's estate. It was raining on the trip down and the clouds were really interesting. With the help of Siri, I was able to get this shot: At my mother's old house, there were a lot of weeds in the yard. Among the weeds were a couple of rogue gazanias: And there was a lone hibiscus near the front door: Here's the finished object. I finished stitching CATrina. As with most Barbara Ana projects, it was fun to stitch and I love the way it looked. Specs: Started 9/10/2025 Finished 11/3/2025 Design by Barbara Ana Design  When I finish stitching a project, I usually wash and press it. Because I mostly stitch on light fabrics, I want to make sure that I clean off anything that might have accidentally landed on the fabric. In general, I'm a clean stitcher - I wash my hands before I start stitching and I work in Q-Snaps or on scroll bars with a stand to kee...

 ...and finished objects! I've been spinning singles for a couple of weeks for 3 different tops. My go-to is always Falkland from The Yarn Wench. This is Simplicity [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: < Specs: Started 5/24/2025 Finished 6/4/2025 Falkland (4.0 oz.) from The Yarn Wench 81.25 yds., Bulky  I found a few pencil rovings in my stash. This one caught my eye because it's the color of the primroses in our backyard and it's name. This is Primroses [ Ravelry ]:  and the close-up: Specs: Started 5/26/2025 Finished 6/5/2025 Corriedale pencil roving (8.0 oz.) from Crown Mountain Farms Skein 1) 114.6 yds. Skein 2) 106.25 yds. 10 WPI  In the garden, the Love-in-the-Mist is popping up everywhere: And the chocolate sunflowers are blooming: We have a bunch of fruit ripening on our trees, like the Blenheim apricots. (Can't wait for these!)  Here's hoping that the squirrels and birds let us have some!

 ...another week has gone by very quickly! And I have a finished object! This is The Sea Merchant's Wife: Specs: Started 1/6/2025 Finished 5/22/2025 Pattern: Mirabilia The clematis is blooming: as are the marigolds: The pink lantana is popping up under the cherry tree: and this sun face is peeking our through the trumpet vine.

 ...one last finish for February. I plied the Wensleydale singles. I was surprised that it turned out softer than I expected. I'll take that as a win. This is Walk In The Forest Handspun [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 2/24/2024 Finished 2/28/2024 Wensleydale (4.2 oz.) from DeGoatnsheep Ranch 100 yds. chain-ply, 9 WPI Things are starting to bloom. This iris bloomed in the backyard: In the courtyard, the freesias are starting to emerge: The Husband has planted more flowers in the courtyard, but our recent rain storm mushed up the blooms. I'll take photos when they are in better shape.

 ...and Eye Candy Friday. I finished spinning the Tour de Fleece 2023 Handspun [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 2/7/2024 Finished 2/15/2024 Merino-Bamboo-Silk (4 oz.) from Greenwood Fiberworks 208.3 yds. chain-ply, 13 WPI Things are starting to bloom in the backyard. These are from our flowering plum tree:

 ...I finished another spinning project! First the eye candy. Our canna lilies are blooming: and our Hydrangea is setting more blooms and is very happy right now: I finished spinning 1972 [ Ravelry ] that I started at mom's last month: and the close-up: Specs: Started 7/2/2023 Finished 8/31/2023 Falkland (4.0 oz) from Greenwood Fiberworks Started on spindle and moved to Lendrum DT wheel 252 yds. chain-ply, 13 WPI

 ...finally finished something! This is Smoothie 2, the first handspun I created on my new Ashford Kiwi spinning wheel: < and the close-up: Specs: Started 7/27/2023 Finished 8/11/2023 Falkland (4.0 oz) from The Yarn Wench 122.9 yds, 11 WPI This is Cherry Blossom. It was intended to be the first handspun I created for Tour de Fleece 2023. That got derailed with everything going on with my mother. and the close-up: Specs: Started 7/16/2023 Finished 8/17/2023 Falkland (4.0 oz) from Greenwood Fiberworks 97.9 yds, 8 WPI On the eye candy front, our garden continues to bloom. This is evening primrose begonias and mallows:

 ...with a couple of finished items. I've been working through the finishing work this month. Here are 3 items that are now complete. This is Summer Garden, finished as a flat: Specs: Started 6/2/2022 Finished 6/6/2022 Finishing work complete 4/11/2023 Pattern and buttons from JABC This is Beach Please, finished as a pillow: Specs: Started 10/1/2022 Finished 1/4/2023 Finishing work complete 4/11/2023 Design by Hands On Design This is Frida Kathlo, also finished as a pillow: Specs: Started 3/5/2023 Finished 3/29/2023 Finishing work complete 4/11/2023 Pattern by Barbara Ana Designs I finished assembling the Mid Century Deco quilt top: Specs: Started 4/10/2023 Top completed 4/21/2023 Quilt based on Carbide quilt by Modern Moon Quilt Design and Deco Quilt Pattern blog post by Brittany Lloyd Mid Century Modern fabric colors And a little eye candy in the form of sunrise on 4/18, as seen from our backyard.

 ...and a finished object. First, the finished object. This is O Little Town Christmas ornament: Specs: Started 11/15/2021 Finished 11/18/2021 Shepherd's Bush 2015 Christmas ornament, chart+button The Husband planted some new flowers this week. Lavender violas: Purple and yellow violas: And orange Gerbera daisies: