Livin' La Needle Loca

...Happy September! I finished a quilt! Burying the threads took a while, but I finally go them done. This is the Road to Chaos quilt. Specs: Started 2/10/2025 Top completed 6/11/2025 Finished 8/29/2026 Pattern: Yellow Brick Road by Atkinson Designs with some modifications Fabric: Happy Hour March 2020 Fat Quarter pack from The Granary; Grunge Basics in Blue Steel from Moda WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Herding Cats (quilting) Switched to using invisible thread for the top and black thread for the bottom. I'm much happier with how it looks! Morgana (cross stitch) Finished the hair. Working on the final fin. Room Divider/quilt wall. Worked on how to attach the felt and ordered some clips.  Starwoman (cross stitch) Still working on the face.  Studio Cleaned up the fabric scrap container No Work This Week: California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ]   Gypsy Rose Lee Handspun...

 ...and a little eye candy, too. My latest finished objects are covers for my spinning wheels. I needed covers to protect my wheels and my loom from both dust and sun.  In looking at fabric for the covers, I realized that getting the right amount of yardage would cost me more than I wanted to spend. Instead I found a set of bed sheets in a pattern that I liked. I'm using the flat sheet to cover my Baby Wolf loom. I cut apart the fitted sheet to make two covers for my spinning wheels. I lined them with white-on-white fabric from my stash. I added a teal ribbon from the stash to the top as a handle. They're not the greatest looking things but they'll be quite functional. Specs: Started 8/3/2026 Finished 8/7/2026 No pattern Fabric: Main fabric from  Southshore Geometric Maze sheets and white-on-white fabric from stash.  

...and I managed one more handspun before the end. I spun Sappho [ Ravelry ], a merino wool from The Yarn Wench: and the close-up: Specs: Started and finished 7/26/2026 Merino (4.1 oz.) from The Yarn Wench 66.7 yds. chain-ply, 8 WPI  Tour recap: Total number of handspun produced: 9 Works in progress: 1 Total ounces spun: 37.2 Total yardage: 599.95 

 ...and we're coming towards the end of the Tour. First, some eye candy. The Husband is buying flowers to put in the courtyard now that construction is done. He's also adding flowers to the backyard to brighten things up.  Lisianthus: Petchoa: Ivy-leaved pelagonium: and our canna lilies are blooming again: TdF 2026, 7/22 Chain-plied Olivia [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 7/21/2026 Finished 7/22/2026 Falkland (4.2 oz.) from The Yarn Wench 79.2 yds. chain-ply, 9 WPI  TdF 2026, 7/23 I decided to do an art yarn. This is Martha [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Falkland (4.1 oz.) from The Yarn Wench 83.3 yds., 9 WPI Single plied with Bernat Matrix in Browser Blue and Piedmont Yarn’s Skyline

 ...decided not to take a rest day this week. TdF 2026, 7/19 Chain-plied Tippy [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 7/14/2026 Finished 7/19/2026 Falkland (4.0 oz.) from The Yarn Wench 66.7 yds., 9 WPI The day before, I received the additional drawer organizers that I orders. I started putting them in place and re-organzing my supplies. I tested my new coffee maker. (It works!) TdF 2026, 7/20 I spun Aurora [ Ravelry ] as an art yarn. I plied it with a yarn from the stash. and the close-up: Specs: Started and finished 7/20/2026 Falkland  (4.2 oz.) from the Yarn Wench 64.5 yds. chain-ply with Lala Berlin Shiny by Lana Grossa in color 8 In the studio, I washed the silverware for the coffee bar. I also put away more stuff in the new organizers. I rearranged some of the Expedit cubes so I could put away the puzzle mats. I also brought in the DMC floss chest. I'm still trying to put everything away so I can finally take photos ...

 ...the studio has drawn my attention away from many things, including posting. Yesterday, The Husband and I took a trip to IKEA to buy some replacement drawer units for my old cube storage. I bought two Alex units, which give me a file drawer for the remaining files that I have to keep and several drawers to store the remaining supplies that I can't find space for. I put them together yesterday and today I will get them in place. The last piece of furniture (for now) that I need has been ordered and will arrive tomorrow. It is a coffee bar cabinet that will house a refrigerator, glasses, cups, and utensils. On top will be my electric teapot and a one-cup coffee maker. The refrigerator will arrive next week. In the meantime, I am arranging my books on the bookshelves on the Murphy bed, using bookends to keep the books in place and museum putty to hold photo frames and small items TdF 2026, Day 8, 7/11 Continued chain-plying Gypsy Rose Lee [ R...

...and we're off! I started the Tour with an art yarn, like I have in many years. It was particularly important since I haven't spun in a while.  I decided to pull all Yarn Wench fiber with colors that sound like people names. This is Desiree [ Ravelry ] and the close up: Specs: Started and finished 7/4/2026 Falkland (4.0 oz.) from The Yarn Wench 37.5 yds., Super Bulky, 5.0 oz total Plied with Berroco Quest in Magenta

 ...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

 ...and a belated finish. I finally got photos of the Daisy Handspun that I finished last week: and the close-up: Specs: Started 3/26/2026 Finished 4/8/2026 Merino-Stellina (4.0 oz) from Greenwood Fiberworks 189.6 yds., 12 WPI I queued up a couple of projects, but just haven't had the energy to start anything new. In the meantime, there's plenty to do on the latest mermaid, Morgana. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Illusion Cube Blanket (knitting) [ Ravelry ]   Started another cube. Morgana (cross stitch) Still working on the lower fins and tail. No Work This Week: California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ]  My Recipes (cooking)  Website (other)  Queued for Starting Moon Lets Sun Shine (or Luna y Sol) quilt (quilting) Ready for Finishing: Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing) August 1997 Hat-of-the-Month (cross stitch) Bring Us Good Cheer CATrina ...

...and I'm a little behind. I've actually finished two projects this week, but I've only photographed one. This is Stay Warm. Specs: Started 2/26/2026 Finished 4/7/2026 Free pattern from Barbara Ana Designs I'll take photos of the other when I get a chance. This week in the garden, we have a bunch of new flowers. The Husband and I went to a local nursery and picked out some colorful additions.  We have Blackberry petunias: Electric Purple Sky petunias: Classy Carmine Dahlias: and Havana Calla Lilies: There are more in my Flickr photostream .

 ...and I really enjoyed spinning while watching ice skating. This is Midnight Amethyst [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 2/12/2026 Finished 2/19/2026 Merino-silk (4.0 oz.) from Wonderland Dyeworks Ravellenics 2026, Event: Freestyle Spinning I wouldn't exactly call its color "amethyst" as I thinks that it should be more purple than it is. However, with handspun, I usually keep the name that the dyer called the fiber. So, Midnight Amethyst it is.  

...yay! Spinning is the perfect thing to do while watching Olympic figure skating. I can easily shift my attention to the TV while my hands rely on muscle memory to continue spinning. This is Waterlily Handspun [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 2/10/2026 Finished 2/1/2026 4.0 Merino-tencel (4.0 oz.) from Greenwood Fiberworks 185.4 yds. chain ply; 13 WPI I started another handspun, but I'm not sure whether I'll enter it into Ravellenics.

...and I'm working away on my Ravellenics projects. Unlike Tour de Fleece, I usually participate in Ravellenics without a team. Not many of my spinning buddies participate, and the existing teams really don't match with my interests or group affiliations. Anyway, now that I've finished my WIP Dancing entries, I'm working on my Freestyle Spinning entries. I spun Meriadoc Handspun [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 2/5/2026 Finished 2/9/2026 4.0 oz Polwarth-silk from Into The Whirled 162.5 yds. chain-ply; 11 WPI  I've started a second handspun, but it might be the last one for this event. I'd like to get back to the mermaid now that I've completely removed the Waterlilies silk stitches that looked muddy. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Morgana (cross stitch) Finished removing Waterlilies Fir stitches and restarted the stitching. Waterlilies Handspun [ Ravelry ] Started 2/10  No Work This We...

...cross stitch and knitting for Ravellenics 2026. I finished Collector's Heart 2026. I did not use the ribbon included in the chart pack and I changed the position of the year: Specs: Started 1/22/2026 Finished 2/6/2026 Collector’s Heart 2001 chart pack from Heart in Hand Needleart For Ravellenics 2026 in the WIP Dancing event, I finished two sets of Melt the ICE Badges - 3D [ Ravelry ] and the flat version [ Ravelry ]: Specs: Started 2/5/2026 Finished 2/8/2026 Pattern: Melt the ICE Badge - 3D and Melt the ICE badge 1.2, by Hasani Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Harvest Red 

...I'm on so much of a roll that I forgot that yesterday was Wednesday. 🙄 I finished Bring Us Good Cheer yesterday: Specs: Started 1/16/2026 Finished 1/21/2026 Chart from Shepherd’s Bush I'm calling it DONE even though I don't have the buttons that the design specifies. I ordered them, but I'm not sure whether I'll add them. There is a snowflake that goes in the empty area under the Santa hat, between the reindeer and a tree. That one I'll probably add. The star button goes up in the right-hand corner, which already has enough in it. We'll see once I receive the buttons.  WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Morgana (cross stitch) Started 1/21/2026; printing the charts and getting the fibers and fabric ready. I had this queued once, but then let it sit for a year. No Work This Week: California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ]  Gladiolus Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] My Recipes (cook...

...I finished it a few days ago. It just needed photos. This is Gladiolus Handspun [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up Specs: Started 1/7/2026 Finished 1/16/2026 Merino-bamboo-silk (4 oz.) from Greenwood Fiberworks 200.5 yds. chain-ply, 13 WPI   I probably won't start any more spinning projects until the Winter Ravellenic Games start. I plan on spinning for the entire time.

 ...I love Just Nan minis because they stitch up so quickly. This is Cherub Garden: Specs: Started 1/13/2026 Finished 1/15/2026 Chart and frame from Just Nan  Modifications: There were a lot of beads provided in the chart pack, so I added more flowers in the center motif. The disadvantage of completing a project so quickly is that I have to find another project to stitch. While I contemplated my choices, I plied the Gladiolus Handspun that I started A week or so ago. No photos yet.  My needlework choices were a bunch of Halloween cross stitch projects, a couple of Mirabilia Mermaids, some Susan Portra counted needlepoint projects, and a needlepoint mini that I have been avoiding for quite a long time. There are also a handful of knitting projects, but I'm not in the mood for that right now. I picked another Shepherd's Bush Christmas ornament because it's small and I had all of the fibers for it. I'm a little bored with Christmas project...

...started it in November and put it off until I finished the Christmas project. This is Primrose Path: Specs: Started 11/7/2025 Finished 1/12/2026 Chart and charm from Just Nan I need to pick the next cross stitch project. It could be another Just Nan or another Christmas project from Shepherd's Bush. I like both designers. Or I could pick something else out of the stash. Decisions, decisions.

...and it's a cross stitch piece. This is To All A Good Night, a kit from Shepherds Bush: Specs: Started 12/24/2025 Finished 1/3/2026 Kit with button from Shepherd’s Bush This fabric came with the kit. I'm not a fan of how dark it is. The threads just fade into the fabric. This kit contained 4 shades of green and it was sometimes difficult to distinguish between the shades. I might have used the wrong shade in some places.🙄 I don't mind using Weeks Dyeworks threads as they have some wonderful colors. But sometimes the variations within the colorway make for some odd pooling. For example, the crescent moon is stitched in Olive (!?), which varies from gold to green. The gold is OK for the moon, but green? I was also unhappy with the gray used for the words. It varies from dark gray to very light gray. The very light gray is hard to read on the dark fabric. If I was using full versions of the threads, I could have controlled i...

 ...and Merry Christmas Eve! Our Christmas tree this year is not our usual 9-footer. As I've mentioned before, it's a little chaotic in the house with my studio stuff everywhere. We decided to use the Star Trek tree instead. There is one Star Trek ornament on the tree as a nod to its normal purpose. I added some of my favorite ornaments and it looks pretty good. We’ll go back to our normal tree next year! I have a couple of Finished Objects. This is Star: Specs: Started 12/2/2025 Finished 12/21/2025 An Occasional Musing pattern by Shepherd’s Bush I'm not fond of the color for the stars - it blends in too much with the fabric. But, this is the last "Musing" pattern I own and I just want to finish them! This is Ewe Can Build a Snowman: Specs: Started 12/21/2025 Finished 12/23/2025 Kit with button from Shepherd’s Bush  Assembly of both projects is in the queue for finishing, once I can figure our where (when) I can actually ...