Livin' La Needle Loca

 ...and a finished object. I finished the latest Shepherd's Bush Christmas ornament, Dashing Through The Snow: Specs : Started 9/1/2025 Finished 9/8/2025 2023 Christmas Ornament chart from Shepherd’s Bush; buttons and beads from stash WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Mom's Recipes (cooking) Searched through photos for a suitable cover photo; cleaned up a few spelling errors. My Recipes (cooking) Continued adding recipes from my Christmas cookbook. No Work This Week: California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Website (other)  Queued for Starting: Cat-Trina (cross stitch) 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) Happy Pumpkin needleroll (cross stitch) Herding Cats quilt (quilting) Horrified! mini (cross stitch)  La Cat-trina quilt (quilting...

 ...it went very quickly! This is Horrified!, a mini from Just Nan: Specs: Started 8/26/2025 Finished 9/1/2025 Chart from Just Nan  I believe that there is a matching frame for this piece, but it might already be packed up in the studio. I have one place to check. If it's not there, then it is in one of the many boxes that I've packed up and it will have to wait.

 ...things are in a state of upheaval. We accepted a quote and have met with the company's architect, who will create the studio plans. Once we approve them, they'll pull permits, etc. In the meantime, I'm packing up the contents of the studio. As I pack things up, I'm purging the yarn stash of skeins that I'll never use. The less expensive ones will go to Goodwill. I've allocated some for friends and some for sale through Ravelry.  I've set aside some supplies and projects for spinning, weaving, and stitching, and I went through my office stuff to pull out the essentials (stapler, paperclips, etc.).  I finished Seaology, a chart that I purchased in 2005.  < Specs: Started 7/5/2025 Finished 8/24/2025 Chart from The Trilogy  I wasn't happy with the lack of contrast in colors of the fish. This happens with overdyed threads, no two skeins are exact;y alike. I ended up with darker colors of Scuppernong (Weeks), Seaweed (...

 ...the last spin and the recap. Tour de Fleece, 7/27 last day I finished spinning Vineyard Variation [ Ravelry ] that I started yesterday. and close-up: Specs: Started 7/26/2025 Finished 7/27/2025 Falkland (3.8 oz.) from The Yarn Wench  60.4 yds. chain-ply, 10 WPI  Tour de Fleece Recap Stats: Plied 2 sets of singles started before the Tour: 327.1 yds. Spun 12 yarns --Total ounces spun: 48.9 oz. --Total yardage: 1,643.05 yds. Yardage grand total: 1,970.15 yds. Row 1: Pumpkin Spice, Japan, Flahriduh, Sprite Row 2: Grapevine, Peacock Zen Row 3: Spill The Wine, TdF 2024, Sangria Sunset, Alice Row 4: Portsmouth, Jingle Bells, Indigo Ikat, Vineyard Variation

 ...rolling towards the end! This is Indigo Ikat Handspun [ Ravelry ]: and the close-UP Specs: Started and finished 7/26/2025 Merino (3.8 oz.) from The Yarn Wench 54.2 yds., 6 WPI Plied with Bernat Matrix color 02110 and Berroco Opulent TX in 7809

...and another finish. I chain plied Jingle Bells [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 7/23/2025 Finished 7/25/2025 Merino-Camel-Silk (4.0 oz.) from Greenwood Fiberworks 233.3 yds. chain-ply, 14 WPI

 ...I keep forgetting to post over here. Tour de Fleece, 7/18 I started spinning Portsmouth Handspun [ Ravelry ], a merino-silk top from Lisa Souza. The Alice Handspun [ Ravelry ] is on hold until I decide how to ply it. Tour de Fleece, 7/19 and 7/20 I finished spinning the singles for Portsmouth [ Ravelry ]. It took longer than expected because my hands were cramping up. Tour de Fleece, 7/21 I plied Alice Handspun [ Ravelry ] with a Facets yarn from the stash. I didn't have quite enough, so I pulled a partial skein of Eros II in green to finish the last few yards. and the close-ups: Specs: Started 7/18/2025 Finished 7/21/2025 Falkland (4.0 oz.) from The Yarn Wench 1) 52 yds. 2-ply, 11 WPI; plied with Eros II in 3263 2) 189 yds. 2-ply, 9 WPI; plied with Facets in Dark Ocean  Tour de Fleece, 7/22 I plied the Portsmouth singles [ Ravelry ]. I love how this one turned out! and the close-up: Specs: Started 7/19/2025 Finished 7/22/2025 Me...

 ...another finish!  This is Sangria Sunset [ Ravelry ], another Falkland from The Yarn Wench. and the close-up: Specs: Started and finished 7/16/2025 Falkland (4.1 oz.) from The Yarn Wench 77.1 yds. 2-ply; Bulky weight 1 ply Falkland and 1 ply Trendsetter Dune in color 95  

...spun on Rest Day anyway.  I finished the TdF 2024 Handspun [Ravelry]: and the close up: Specs: Started 7/11/2025 Finished 7/15/2025 4.0 oz. Merino-Cashmere-Silk from Greenwood Fiberworks 210.4 yds., chain-ply, 13 WPI   WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Mom's cookbook (cooking) Talked to my brothers and clarified the instructions on a recipe. Seaology (cross stitch) Finished mermaid block; started lighthouse block No Work This Week: California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ]   Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Website (other)  Ready for Finishing: Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing) August 1997 Hat-of-the-Month (cross stitch) Happy Pumpkin needleroll (cross stitch) Herding Cats quilt (quilting) La Cat-trina quilt (quilting) Peaceful Night (cross stitch) Road to Chaos (quilting)   Sea Dandelion (cross stitch) IDJ (It's Dead, Jim): ...

 ...it was a plying day.  This is Grapevine 2 [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: > Specs: Started 7/7/2025 Finished 7/10/2025 Merino (4.2 oz.) from The Yarn Wench 95.8 yds. chain-ply, 7 WPI   This is Peacock [ Ravelry ] that I started before the Tour: and the close-up: Specs: Started 6/22/2025 Finished 7/10/2025 4.0 oz. Merino-Bamboo-Silk from Lisa Souza 239.6 yds chain-ply, 14 WPI 

 ...in which spinning seems to be the only thing I can handle.  I plied Flahriduh Zen [ Ravelry ] for my third finish of the tour: and the close-up: Specs: Started 6/28/2025 Finished 7/8/2025 4.0 oz. Merino-Bamboo-Silk from Lisa Souza  214.6 yds. chain-ply, 13 WPI  I have a couple more sets of singles to ply, but I might work on an art yarn instead. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Grapevine 2 Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Finished the singles; ready for plying Seaology (cross stitch) Started 7/5/2025; working on mermaid block  No Work This Week: California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ]   Japan Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Mom's cookbook (cooking) Peacock Zen Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Website (other)  Ready for Finishing: Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing) ...

 ...first day of the Tour! As I have in previous Tours, I started with an art yarn. This is Pumpkin Spice [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started and finished 7/5/2025 Falkland (4.4 oz.) from The Yarn Wench 45.8 yds. 3-ply, Bulky weight Plied with purple variegated thread and Blue Heron Rayon Metallic 88/12 (copper)  I had time, so I also plied the Falkland singles that I spun last week. This is Japan [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 6/18/2025 Finished 7/5/2025 Falkland (4.1 oz) from the Yarn Wench 112.5 yds., chain-plied; 9 WPI 

 ...and a finished object! I hoped to finish this for June, but I had to swap out a couple of colors because they wouldn't show up on the linenband. The color of the linenband was too dark and the original color choices were kind of bland. Fortunately, I was able to find some brighter versions of floss. I wish I had done that with the hat, but it is what it is. This is August 1997 Hat-of-the-Month: Specs: Started 6/23/2025 Finished 7/1/2025 Chart from Fanci That; Buttons from Just My Imagination  WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Flahridah Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Started 6/28  Mom's cookbook (cooking) Finished adding mom's recipes into the app; working on the order of the recipes. Peacock Zen Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Finished the singles; ready for plying No Work This Week: California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ]   Japan Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Look Through My Window quilt for me (qu...

 ...and a finished object. This is Happy Bluebird, another mini cross stitch piece from Just Nan: Specs: Happy Bluebird mini Started 5/24/2025 Finished 6/23/2025 Chart and charm from Just Nan WIPs Roll Call Worked On: August 1997 Hat-of-the-Month (cross stitch) Started 6/23/2025 Japan Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ]  Started 6/18; finished singles Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Did a little block rearranging Mom's cookbook (cooking) Added 20 more recipes to the app. I'm down to the last 2 recipes - the most complex of her recipes. Peacock Zen Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ] Started 6/22/2025; working on singles No Work This Week: California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ]   Sky Lanterns Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Website (other)  Ready for Finishing: Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing) Happy Pumpkin needleroll (cross stitch...

...with a finished object. I finished the top for The Road to Chaos quilt.  Specs: Started 2/10/2025 Top completed  6/11/2025 Pattern: Yellow Brick Road by Atkinson with some modifications Fabric: Happy Hour March 2020 Fat Quarter pack from The Granary; Grunge Basics in Blue Steel from Moda  I now have 3 quilt tops ready for sandwiching. My only problem now is that I need to buy the batting for the quilts.I used to get the batting from JoAnn, but with the company in bankruptcy and all the stores closed, I need to find a new local source. I've already tried the local quilt store, but they don't have enough in stock. I may have to order from an online source. WIPs Roll Call Worked On:  Mom's cookbook (cooking) Added 19 more recipes to the app. Worked on queueing more projects. No Work This Week: California Red Poppy Handspun (spinning) [ Ravelry ]   Happy Bluebird mini (cross stitch) Look Through My W...

 ...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.

...and a couple of finishes. First, I finally finished the Teal No-Noro Hat [ Ravelry ] that has been my car project for a while. Also when Cassia decided she needed to be in my lap, I'd work on the hat since I couldn't work on anything else.   Specs: Started 11/12/2024 Finished 5/12/2025 Pattern: Noro Spiral one-skein hat by Manuèle Ducret On Cinco de Mayo, I started working on another cat quilt, this one based on a Day of The Dead quilt panel from Timeless Treasures. I made a quick trip to the quilt store to get fabric for an additional border. Yesterday, I finished adding the borders. This is La Cat-trina: Specs: Started 5/5/2025 Top completed 5/13/2025 Fabrics from the Day of the Dead line by Timeless Treasures; additional raspberry batik fabric for border WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Color Chaos quilt, formerly Brighter Day (quilting) Still rearranging the blocks; switched some fabrics in the blocks Sea Merch...

 ...and a finished object. I finished spinning Red Alder [ Ravelry ], another top from Greenwood Fiberworks. I really love their fiber!  and the close-up: Specs: Started 4/28/2025 Finished 5/7/2025 4.0 oz. Merino-Tencel from Greenwood Fiberworks 235.4 yds chain-ply, 14 WPI Our garden path is looking more lush: The Husband has planted more petunias: The Marc Chagall rose is going crazy.  The peonies are now blooming: