New Monthly Stitch starting!

 Happy New Year! To ring in the new year I decided to start another monthly stitch series from Hands On Designs called A Year in Chalk. They are so cute and I think they will go well with the CCN Monthly Cottages I finished before. I am also chugging along on my knitting, as I am working on a wrap in autumn colors.  For spring I want to do a series of posts on organizing floss and cross stitch supplies. My stash needs some tweaking and straightening up.  I also need to bring out my UFOs from last year and finish them up. Goals are great but as a terrible procrastinator its good posting goals here as it keeps me motivated. Anyone else stitching the Year in Chalk?

Still Knitting Away...

Current Project is a scarf for my niece..
For the time being I am still knitting away although I picked up some gorgeous thread from yarnplayer on Etsy. I will take pics of that tomorrow. The weather here in Southern Oregon is rainy and cold with a winter storm on the way.  I have been spending my days curled up in my comfy chair with one or both cats sharing my lap with my knitting while I watch Netflix.

Sage likes to be swaddled practically with blankets save for his nose and two front feet.

Vince prefers the knead blanket, snuggle on blanket instead...

Knitting? Who me?

I can honestly say I am finally a knitter. This after who knows how many failed attempts over the years to "get" it. I can craft up a storm but knitting never took til now! By George! I think I got it! My reason for trying again is my love of Dr. Watson's scarf from Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows. I bought Wool of the Andes yarn from Knitpicks and had them sitting around for over a year. When Fall began I got out my yarn and tried using Clover Takumi bamboo knitting needles instead of the metal or plastic ones. I think for me that was the breakthrough as I was always slipping off the needles before. Little by little I worked on it through October and finished it in early November.

My SO modeling my finished scarf

From there I discovered chunky and super chunky yarns! 

Also made a pair of fingerless gloves. They are a tiny bit big but I am still learning how gauge works..lol
I am learning all this from tutorials online which are great for me because I can pause and rewind if I didn't get it the first time. My next goal is learn crochet.

A Big Thank You!

I entered for a giveaway from Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler shop on her blog and was lucky enough to win 5 skiens of her wonderful hand dyed thread! Thank you so much Nancy, the threads are lovely! I chose these colors from her new 1840 line.

I am using Victorian Motto Sampler thread right now for my current project. 

Just Nan SAL a little late and progress pics..

Ugh! 101 yesterday, today tomorrow and thru Wednesday here in Southern Oregon. I haven't been stitching as its been too hot to hold a frame in my lap. We have fires nearby in Ashland burning 11,000 acres so far. I am dreaming of fall and raining cold nights but its still a long ways off. Here are pics of how far I progressed...

Here I finished the top section and moved up the fabric. 

I finished the border detail here but I am a little worried I started too low on this fabric and may have to work some elements of the next section over one to get it to fit.

 Here be Monsters is coming along, I am loving the Victorian Motto threads as the colors are so rich.

Here be a monster! Or almost all of one, next will be the too border and lettering.

We had some thunderstorms last week roll through with dark clouds and not much rain.

A little funny relating to my summer movie marathon. I am working my way through my DVDs watching movies while staying cool in our bedroom. Its all of the Harry Potter movies, two a day til they are all watched..

Summer Projects

Here are a couple of photos of my blue glass collections. I wish I had more stitchy photos for you but the summer heat makes my stitching bug lay down for a nap. Instead I broke out my watercolors and have painted. I also with the help of my best friend began the task of organizing the house. These are my kitchen windows with shiny clean and dust free glass (on the inside..lol outside well not so much). We have a high temp forecasted in a couple of days between 105-108! Part and parcel for July here in Southern Oregon but I don't do well at all in the heat. I become my regular nocturnal self and am up during the cooler hours of the night and spend the hot hours of the afternoon in the AC in our bedroom. I will back to stitching when the hear breaks but til then I will share my other crafty projects and of course puddle cats!

Just Nan SAL update and a New Start

Here is my progress pic, although I got further than this and did more. I have to take pics but we have been busy.

I changed one of the framed items to a detail of another JN pattern because I liked it more. A few color changes as well but not too drastic.

Here is my new start, Here there be Monsters by Elizabeth Designs. I swapped out the called for threads with Victorian Motto Shoppe colors that are just amazing. I wanted deep oceany colors so I ordered up some of her new 1840s colors as well as a few of her regular colors. Love that thread!

I also finished this pincushion and found perfect pins to match on Etsy. I will add the link to the Etsy store asap, they are just so cute.