Livin' La Needle Loca

 ...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 .

...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 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 ...

 ...yeah, it's been a while. Between trying to empty the studio for a remodel that keeps being delayed and Thanksgiving, blogging has been the last thing on my mind. Our Thanksgiving celebration was small, but wonderful. Given how crowded the house is right now with things from the studio, we couldn't host this year. We took the feast to The Daughter's house and spent an enjoyable day there. The studio is now empty, with the only remaining items being the washer/dryer and the Ikea Expedit bookcase that is too heavy and unwieldy for us to move. In theory, the remodel starts on Monday. Keeping my fingers crossed for that! I did manage to finish a couple of things before November ended. This is Making Spirits Bright, a pin cushion kit from Shepherd's Bush: Specs: Started 11/8/2025 Finished 11/30/2025 Kit from Shepherd’s Bush Shepherd's Bush makes my favorite Christmas minis, but I sometimes wish that they didn't use so many ...

 ...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 (...

 ...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...

 ...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 finished object. I finished spinning Critical Hit [ Ravelry ]: and the close-up: Specs: Started 4/7/2025 Finished 4/22/2025 4.0 oz. Merino-Stellina from Greenwood Fiberworks 267 yds. chain-ply, 14 WPI  WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Brighter Day quilt (quilting) Still rearranging blocks. Sea Merchant's Wife (cross stitch) Finished the back stitching. Washed the mermaid and some of the colors ran. Working on removing the stains. Website (other) Continuing replacing embedded photos with links; combined weaving pages into fewer pages; deleted unused photos from Media Library. No Work This Week: Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Mom's cookbook (cooking)  Teal No-Noro Hat (knitting) [ Ravelry ]   Ready for Finishing: Finishing work for some old crewel pictures (sewing) Happy Pumpkin needleroll (cross stitch) Herding Cats quilt (quilting) Mom's cookbook (cooking) Peaceful Night (cross stitch) Sea Dandelion (cro...

...is finally finished! Specs: Completed 3/17/2025 Row 1: Dreaming Cleo, Underwater City, Witchy Dreams Row 2: Winged Dreams, Tulip Time mini; Pearl Orchid mini, Crystal Heart mini, Jasmine Mix, and Collector's Heart

...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. I finished stitching the Happy Pumpkin needle roll: Specs: Started 10/21/2024 Finished 10/30/2024 Kit from Shepherd’s Bush I haven't decided how I want to finish this item. I am no longer making needlerolls, but I'm not sure whether this will work as a pillow. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Peaceful Night (cross stitch) Working on the face. Mom's cookbook Entering recipes from recipe cards No Work This Week: Finishing work Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Ocean Ripples Wrap (knitting) [ Ravelry ]  Sky Lanterns Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Queued: The Sea Merchant's Wife (cross stitch) Ready to start. 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) Pearl Orchid mini (cross stitch) Tulip Time...

 ...and a finished object. First up, the finished object. Halloween is sneaking up on us and I'm ready for it. I decided to spin a Halloween-themed yarn. This is Candy Corn [ Ravelry ]: and the close up: Specs: Started 10/17/2024 Finished 10/20/2024 4.0 oz. Merino-Tencel from Greenwood Fiberworks 1) 170.8 yds. chain-ply, 13 WPI 2) 16 yds. 2-ply I started this year as a 2-ply, but really hated the way that the colors were flowing. I swapped over to chain-ply and like the way that the yarn turned out. To continue the Halloween theme, I started an old kit from my stash. This is Happy Pumpkin Needle roll from Shepherd's Bush: I also worked on Peaceful Night (no photo). WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Happy Pumpkin Needle roll (cross stitch) Started 10/17/2024 Peaceful Night (cross stitch) Working on the face. No Work This Week: Finishing work Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Ocean Ripples Wrap (knit...