Do All That You Can To Live In Peace With Everyone

Last week I went thrifting.  I found a bag of folded cross stitch fabric.

I'm always happy when I find cross stitch fabric whether it be aida, linen, or evenweave in colors other than white or off white.  But, I was very surprised and happy to find this finished piece folded up in the middle of the fabrics.

It's so beautiful.  I'm not sure how I will finish it yet.



I'm still working on MarBek's Christmas Angel.

I was working on it last night and discovered that one of the symbols is not listed in the key.  Its the dark blue snowflake areas in the orange.  From the cover photo it looked like the same dark blue used elsewhere in the pattern. 


I'm feeling like I want to start stitching on one of my BAPs again.  The only problem is that I don't know where I put it.  I'll have to continue looking.


I finished my Emily Scarf several days ago.  I washed and blocked it.  It did give off a bit of the green dye while it was soaking.  The blocking process really opened up the stitch pattern.  I love it.  My only problem is that it is an asymmetrical scarf.  I'm not really sure how to wear it yet.

He fights our battles

I've been busy pulling apart sweaters to recycle the yarn.  I need to get through the backlog of sweaters I have because Goodwill is having another 50% off sale this weekend.  I hope to get more sweaters for yarn then.  I'm really loving the sherbet color of this ribbon yarn.  I ended up with 450 grams of the yarn. 

Blessings by Erica Michaels Designs is finished.  I have no idea of how I'm going to finish it. 

I started a new cross stitch design.  It is Christmas Angel by MarBek.  I'm stitching it on a 14 count aida with the called for DMC colors.  I have several MarBek patterns and all the pictures of the stitched pieces are rather washed out.  And, the coverage of the floss over the fabric is rather poor. 

I have also been crocheting dishcloths.  I'm using the pattern Clean Sweep which can be found on Ravelry.  The first one I crocheted was done per the pattern.  For the other ones I then made, I changed from doing double crochets to half double crochets.  I don't like a dishcloth with holes in it. 

He reigns from heaven above

I have a cold.  YUCK!  I really try hard to wash my hands often and not touch my face when I'm out but some how a germ got through. 

I am still beading my Moon Fairy and still loving it.

I love Mirabilias.


I'm almost done stitching on Blessings by Erica Michael Designs.  Originally, I had stitched God bless us in a pink color.  But, after stitching the other parts of the design I decided that the pink just didn't work.  I frogged and restitched it in this burgundy color.  I like it better this way.

I also like to do adult coloring books.  Here is what I'm working on now. 

Now and Forever, God You Reign

I have been working away at my Fairy Moon by Mirabilia.  I have a couple of beading needles but I could only find one of them.  Unfortunately, the one I found is extremely hard to thread.  Like it can take me five or six tries before I can thread it.  I went to Joann Fabrics today and found some short beading needles.

I'm having much better success at threading these needles.  I also like that they are shorter than the beading needles I have been accustomed to.  Here is a picture to compare the length.

And, here is Fairy Moon.

I wish I could stitch a Mirabilia a month. 

I will trust Him

How I wish I could duplicate or even quadruplicate myself!  There are so many craft projects I want to do but just not enough time in the day to do them.

 I worked on several things today.  First off is my Fairy Moon by Mirabilia.  I'm slowly doing the beading.  I started in the moon.  There are so many beads crammed in there that there is not enough space for the beads to lay uniformly.  I'm doing this on 14 count aida so I know its not that I'm using too high of a count of fabric.  I know when I view the finished piece from a distance it will look fine but I still don't like the beads looking messy.  So, I worked a bit in her hair and around her neck. 

I finished the shawl I was crocheting.  It's called Dixie Charm and I used a K hook.   I've washed it already and can't wait for cooler weather to wear it in. 

No photo is complete without a cat in it!  That was is Violet.


Since I finished crocheting something I started a new project.  It is called the Emily Shawl and is a free pattern on Ravelry.  I'm using a new to me yarn that I got from Ice yarns last week.  It is a Silk Merino blend in a category 1 weight.  The shawl is quite a simple but beautiful pattern.  Once you get started you don't have to get looking at the pattern instructions. 

I have called you by name; you are Mine

I have so many projects on the go that it seemed to make good sense to me to start another one last night.  I started the Dixie Charm crochet shawl pattern by Kathy Lashley.  This pattern can be found on Ravelry.

I'm using a worsted weight yarn I got on clearance at Hobby Lobby.  Its Sugarwheel in the colorway cherried away.  I'm using a size K hook.  Its crocheting up extremely quickly.  I'm just finishing up the first cake of yarn. 

Its looking very patriotic.  Too bad the fourth of July isn't in the winter!


I also got a bit more done on Blessings.

He always remembers His promise

I had quite a nice crafting day today.  I finished the pineapple motif I started yesterday.

I love how fresh and summery the floss looks.  Now I have to figure out how I want to finish it.


I also finished the Alpine Frost scarf I was crocheting.  I blocked it and the pattern really opened up nicely.  The scarf feels so soft.  I can't wait to wear it.

I also started two new things today.  From the Just CrossStitch 2009 Christmas Ornament issue, page 21, I started Blessings by Erica Michaels Designs.

I have the pattern for this but not the color key.  So, I'm just using leftover bits of floss I have from other kits and whatever else that is in my stash. 

I also started a crochet shawl from Interweave's The Best of Crochet book I got from the library.  The shawl is called the Dragonfly Shawl and is on page 34.  I'm using a yarn I got in a thrift store.

I am who you say I am

I have a finish!  My Christmas ornament is done.  Hopefully, tomorrow I will wash and press it.  Then, I can decide how to FFO it. 

Instead of working on the beading on Moon Fairy, I decided to start a small pattern.  

It calls for DMC 909 but I'm using a J & P floss instead.  I'm not planning to use this as a Christmas ornament.  I want to make it into a small pillow to put in a basket.  Here is my progress:

I spent much of my day organizing parts of my stash.  I making my older daughter's room my sewing room.  I moved all my yarn into my bedroom.  I would like to further organize my yarn by weight.  But, to be honest, that is rather a daunting process.  

The Lord will never desert His people

Today I worked on a cross stitch Christmas ornament.  It comes from the Just CrossStitch magazine, July/August 2012 issue, page 34.  I'm using DMC instead of the called for threads and a scrap piece of 18 count aida. 

I really need to get a move on making Christmas ornaments.  Last year, instead of packing up the ornaments after Christmas, I threw them all away.  They were very old ones I had gotten from a thrift store and were in bad shape.  

I'm trying very hard to keep myself off the Ice Yarn website.  I am drowning in yarn.  I certainly don't need more of it.  But, its so hard to resist.

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine

Ingrid, my older daughter, and I went to Goodwill today.  They were having their 50% off sale.  I got some wonderful goodies.

This is some incredibly soft Baby Alpaca yarn.  There is a total of 200 grams.

I don't know what type of yarn this is but it feels like a wool.

I didn't get this Mandala yarn at Goodwill.  Afterwards, we went to Walmart and there is no way I'm walking out of that store without yarn.

I got a couple of sweaters.  I recycle the yarn to knit and crochet with.  This orangey colored sweater is an unknown fiber.  The label was removed but it feels like a wool.

This one is a cotton/linen blend.

This mustard colored one is a wool/acrylic/rayon blend.

 

I got these placemats to make project bags.

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I like to do paper crafting.  I thought this kit would be fun.

I love House Mouse designs and this stamp is so cute.

This is a really cute book of labels I can use in my paper crafting.  Below is a page from inside the book.  

I ordered two items from Stash Unload.  I've been wanting this pattern of Norman Rockwell's for quite some time.  So, I was very happy to get this one.

I thought this one was so beautiful!  I can't wait to start it!