Livin' La Needle Loca

 ...day after our anniversary. Yesterday, we celebrated 38 years married/43 year together. We took a quick trip to Pescadero Beach to enjoy a perfect weather day. We followed it up with lunch at the classic Duarte's restaurant.  Pescadero Beach Pelican perched on a rock Pink ice plant flower <

 ...and a finished object. I love working on minis. They are fast to complete and give me a sense of accomplishment. They are small enough that I don't have a chance to get bored with the project. Just Nan has (had?) a set of mini designs and accompanying frames, which really gives you that sense of accomplishment. This is the latest one that I finished - this is Frost Flower. Specs: Started 12/27/2023 Finished  1/23/2024 Design by Just Nan Since I retired in 2019, I've been avoiding working on a lot of things that require significant computer time. After years of doing technical documentation and productions work, I needed a break. With the handling of my mom's estate, I've had to dive back into that world. For my own sanity, I've been alternating mom's stuff with some of my own. My website is seriously out of date as is my project database. While I'm not ready to dive back into either of those, I can update my proje...

...this time it's a cross stitch item. This is Winged Dreams. Specs: Started 9/29/2023 Finished 1/20/2024 Design by Barbara Ana Design I'm trying to keep my forward progress going. Keeping my fingers crossed that I can continue!

 ...a little progress this week. I've reviewed my WIPs and decided to hibernate the Illusion Cube project [ Ravelry ]. I might pick it up again sometime, but right now I have no motivation to work on it. The only reason that I am not declaring it IDJ (It's Dead, Jim) is because I still find the cubes interesting and they are an easy knit. I hope to move the Ocean Ripples Shawl [ Ravelry ] back into rotation. It's a fairly straight-forward knit and I still love the yarn. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Winged Dreams (cross stitch) Working on the large star and above the figure. No Work This Week: Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Mermaid’s Lagoon Socks (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Ocean Ripples Wrap (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Singularity Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Sky Lanterns Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch) Ready for Finis...

 ...I actually remembered to take some photos. Our garden is looking pretty scraggly, as it does in the winter. There are a few bright spots, these nasturtiums: and a few Zion Copper Amethyst osteospermums: I hope to get better at posting eye candy this year. Fingers crossed!

 ...I'm making slow progress. Winged Dreams has been getting the most play this last week. I've been distracted by some family things and the cold weather. I'm still trying to get into some sort of rhythm. WIPs Roll Call Worked On: Illusion Cube Blanket (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Finished a cube that was one third complete. Buried ends on another cube. Trying to decide whether to declare it done or IDJ. Mermaid’s Lagoon Socks (knitting) [ Ravelry ] I completed the second pattern return, again. Winged Dreams (cross stitch) Finished the wings and started stitching the decorative items of the piece No Work This Week: Look Through My Window quilt for me (quilting) Ocean Ripples Wrap (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Singularity Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Sky Lanterns Shawl (knitting) [ Ravelry ] Valley of the Heart's Delight sampler design (cross stitch) Ready for Finishing: Finishing ...

 ....in which we finished our remodel and faced family challenges and loss - all of which impacted my project time. Finished: Baking, etc. No Christmas baking this year Almond Fruitcake for my brother Lots of scones Knitting 4/30 Effortless Cardigan (knitting) [ Ravelry ]  5/1 Pillow Embellishment (knitting) [ Ravelry ] 12/19 Wee Fishie for Hov (knitting) [ Ravelry ] 12/19 Navy Bankhead Hat (knitting [ Ravelry ] 12/20 Wee Fishies [ Ravelry ]  Needlework, All Cross Stitch 1/29 More Beach (cross stitch) 2/27 Purple Heart Flowers (cross stitch) 3/29 Frida Kathlo pillow (cross stitch) 11/11 Mermaids of the Deep Blue Sea (cross stitch) Quilting 6/11 Good Day Sunshine (quilting) 9/30 Mid Century Deco Quilt (quilting) Reading Read 183 books, two of them twice in the same year, for a total of 185; see Reading List below Sewing, Finishing S...