Tah and Dah!!!

A finished landscape!

I introduce 'Cobwebs and Splinters' 

FOR SALE!

I decided as I worked on this one that I would attempt to keep loose track of how many hours I put into it and you might be surprised to learn that it comes pretty close to a hundred hours.  And they say I'm possessed!

I know we all feel pretty helpless to know what we can possibly do to show our support for the Ukraine.  Prayers, of course - but there has to be more.  Reading THIS post made me stop and think about the fact that we can help support a fellow artist in that country by purchasing their designs.  Yes, perhaps it's a mere pittance but if enough of us supported people in this way it would make a difference.  I am trying to decide which patterns I will purchase and make for our grandies.  Remember - if this particular artist isn't your 'thing', look for others who live in the Ukraine and do your best to support them.  (UPDATED TO ADD: I visited the designer and placed my order for several of her patterns.  Go HERE if you want to see the possibilities!).

- If you need to convert different embroidery flosses to another brand, THESE charts will be invaluable.

- THIS is rather pretty and could be created in a multitude of different colourways.

- Have a scroll through THESE - who knew paper could be so pretty!

- It's hard to believe that THESE are made from paper.

An ittty bit more

 There's been some more progress on the landscape - mostly in the embroidery area in the corner.  Another 4 hours I think - maybe more.

And....on the knitting front I completed this 1898 hat which is destined for the Christmas box.  Yarn is leftover from another project.  Fingers crossed (going to play a game of yarn chicken) there's enough left in the ball to create a pair of mittens too.  

The color is more navy than the photo appears

- THIS is one of those strokes of brilliance that I'm definitely going to try!

- Take a peek at the work by THIS amazing artist!  Wonder how many hours go into each of her pieces!

- THIS combines fabric and crochet to make something very pretty.

- THIS is a somewhat different design that would be great for using up scraps of yarn.

- THIS takes you to a pdf for another great scrap yarn project - think it exceeds my level of expertise but it sure is pretty!

Today our hearts are with the Ukraine so instead of a quote I thought I'd share this...

Teeny bit

 I've added more to the side of the outhouse as you can see from the photo.  I still have a lot I want to add to the previously shown embroidered area but I'm pondering what/how to create what I'd like to see.   And yes, the title of this post is 'teeny bit' and it really does look like I've just done a teeny bit....however....there's nearly 10 hours of embroidery in this shrub!!

- You might enjoy having a peek through the gallery of shows found HERE.  

- And the galleries found HERE.  (both this link and the one above were found via Judy Cooper's blog).

- Some things are just brilliant and one wonders why I haven't thought of doing THIS before!!

- If you are like many people you have some unidentified yarn lurking in your stash that has parted company with the label.  THIS tutorial might help you to know how much is in a skein and from that you can determine the yardage.  

- If you're thinking about starting your garden seeds, I thought this might be a good idea (Resident Chef is going to try it)...

Today's quote is from Robert Louis Stevenson..."Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant"

For lack of.....

 I didn't manage to accomplish as much as I had hoped on the landscape, but I will share a partially completed corner so at least you have something to see.   There's a lot more going to happen with this but you can get the general idea...maybe!

Our corner of the world has had some snow 'events' the past few days and the driving has been quite dangerous due to blowing snow, whiteouts and black ice.  All sorts of accidents and even a county just south of us declaring a state of emergency.  

This is more like the winters I remember from childhood but not something we've seen in many years. During the winter of 1959-60 I remember my dad and all the men that lived on our country road having to shovel ahead of the snowplow in order for it to get through the huge snowbanks.  

- Donna of Brynwood Needleworks posted a link to THIS and of course I got excited about it.  I doubt most of you know this about me, but I am an organizational book junkie.  I compulsively read them and enjoy them just like a great novel.  Yes, I'm weird.  Now, having said that, does much of what I read filter into my brain?  Why no, no it doesn't.  

- If you're like me and like working with recycled denim, perhaps some of THESE ideas might catch your eye.  I've pretty much given up working with it though because my hands no longer like it.  

- THESE are intriguing - could be a number of uses for them.

Today the quote is from Carl Reiner ..."A lot of people like snow.  I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water"

A little bit of progress

 You will have seen that there's been an 'extra' post that shows my commissioned and sold landscapes that I put up last night.  It's for my own reference so I can easily see which ones have sold without having to haul out the pile and go through them.  Sorry about the repeats!

Yes, there's been a bit of progress on the new landscape as you can see from this photo....

And...I finished the 'supposed-to-be-a-scarf' cowl and I think it turned out okay.  My trusty magpie was happy to model it for me....

- THIS is a great little sweater for a baby.  Might have to make one of these!

- And HERE's another one of those things that just made me saw 'awwwww'.

- And THESE are just as cute! Be sure to scroll down!

Today's quote is from Mahatma Gandhi..."Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed"

LANDSCAPES - COMMISSIONS AND SALES

 

THESE LANDSCAPES
HAVE BEEN SOLD OR HAVE BEEN CREATED ON COMMISSION

 After I finished working on the socks I switched gears and started knitting a scarf.  Not exactly one of my brighter moments because I knew before I started that I would get tired of the process long before I was done.  So....I'm carrying on, but the plan is to try to figure out how to make it into a cowl instead.  I have plans.  And who was it who keeps saying that the best laid plans are bound to go amuck??  Stay tuned...

If you'd like the easy pattern for the scarf, here it is...

Cast on 43 sts (using a worsted weight yarn) with 5mm needles.  Knit 3 rows.  Next row:  K2, *YO, K2 tog*, repeat from * to * until 1 stitch remains and simply K it.     Repeat those 4 rows for the pattern.

There's been more progress on the landscape as you can see from the photo...

I needed to create the borders so that I could carry the tree top over onto it.  Normally I would have completed the building first but in this case I did it back way 'round.  

Oh - and there's been a special request for Resident Chef to model his new socks so I aim to please...

- Perhaps some of you might want to take part in THIS?

- I'm currently working on the  scarf but I know I will fizzle out before I get to the end....so....it's being changed into a cowl.  That, in turn, led me down the google path to see how to join the two ends together and I found THIS that I thought you might find of interest too.

- Oh wow!  I just checked into her patterns section on her blog and talk about a rabbit hole!!  Go HERE (pour yourself a cuppa first though!)

- HERE is another of those things that are just plain too cute not to share.

Today's quote..."Find the time - the time to read, to smell the flowers, to paint your dreams, to have coffee with a friend.  Find the time to learn a new craft, to write a letter, to bake a surprise cake.  Find the time to really BE with the person you love, or even to do nothing for awhile"

Outhouses and socks

  

There's been some progress on the landscape project although I know it's pretty hard for you to see.  I have the sky (mostly) quilted, as well as the grass area.  For now, the tree is just pieces scattered on awaiting their final placement (hooray for glue sticks!).

Over the weekend I completed another pair of socks now happily adorning Resident Chef's feet.  I changed the 'recipe' I use for making socks and replaced the ribbed legs and foot tops with stockinette (although I did do 16 rows of rib at the top to help hold them up).  Remains to be seen if they're stretchy enough to suit the Chef  and if they're not I'll go back to my original pattern.  

I think the yarn is Regia, but of course I've
misplaced the ball band so can't say for sure.

- Although THIS is sort of a commercial site, the design made me smile so I hope you do too!

- Have a look through the gallery of THIS amazing artist.  

- THESE are really pretty and would be a great use for scraps.

- THIS is one of those things that would be handy for so many purposes.

Today's quote is from Charles M. Schulz...."All you need is love.  But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt"

.....and....a wee update to this post.  This morning my sweetie Resident Chef arrived in my sewing room doorway with this...

Handmade chocolate! 
(which he, of course, will help me eat)

A container!

I finally finished crocheting this container from a link I shared with you awhile ago.  It's a tad larger than I had wanted and I really don't know what I will use it for although I'm sure I will think of something.  For the moment it might end up storing balls of yarn.  I think I might putz with the pattern and see about making something like some 'covers' for plant pots.  

 - THIS is one of those things that just makes me say awwwwwww.

- I don't think I have a use for THIS but some of you might! And HERE are a few ideas of what to do with it.

- THIS is intriguing but I suspect I might do myself bodily harm in the attempt.  

- But making one of THESE would be fairly simple and useful too, not only as shown in the tutorial.   It would certainly be handy in the sewing room but I imagine guys would like it in their workshops too.

- I really like THIS and would definitely attempt making one if I had a spot to put it.  

- There are lots of links HERE for some easy sewing projects.

Today's quote..."Some days life is all about your hopes and dreams and creating the perfect future.  But there are other days when life is just about putting one foot in front of the other, and that's OK too"

 I've been working on the outhouse project but have nothing that's notable to show you as yet.  Everything I've done involves yawn-worthy things like sandwiching batting and interfacing and then basting.  Kinda boring really.

So....instead....I thought I'd show you the beautiful orchid that I treated myself to....

In case you can't tell from the photo, it's a mini-orchid.  I've never had any luck with them re-blooming but at least I know I can enjoy the blooms for as long as they last.  

- Although none of us are doing much traveling right now, perhaps making one of THESE might be useful for other things.  

- Maybe you'd like to try making some of THESE?

- And aren't THESE cute?  Lots of uses for them!

- THESE are really pretty and would make a lovely gift.  Further in the same vein (see what I did there?) THESE are targeted towards kids but why couldn't adults make them as well? And HERE is another version that would use lots of scraps. 

- HERE is another fun idea that has a number of uses.

- And THIS one too!

Today I found this quote for you....

Yet another beginning

 I'll admit it.  When I'm working on other things (lately, of course, it's been baby things) my mind is sifting through ideas for another landscape and this one has been working it's way to the fore.  To put the fact that I want to do something as 'interesting' (or not, depending on your viewpoint) as an outhouse into some form of context, I'll tell you a little story.  I grew up on a farm where our family had very little money to spare and so we had no indoor bathroom.  We had an outhouse in the warm months and a porta-potty in the basement in the winter.  Baths were only on Saturday nights and were taken in a big round metal 'tub'.  The bath water was heated on the stove and poured in and in I would climb.  When I was done another kettle of hot water was added and Mom took her turn.  Lastly, another kettle of hot water and Dad had his bath.  The water (at least in the summer) was kept and the following day was poured onto the garden plants.  There were no daily showers to be had.  Water itself was in short supply and the farm animals got first dibs on what there was.  

When I was in grade 11 my paternal grandfather passed away and left a little bit of money which my parents turned into drilling a second well and they converted a bedroom into a 'real' bathroom.  It was heaven to know that trips to that outhouse were at an end.  Little did I know that by that time my parents were losing money on the farm and their putting in the bathroom meant the farm was about to be sold.  Having indoor plumbing was a good selling feature I suppose.  

All that to tell you the reasons/justification for the subject matter for the next landscape.  

Today's quote is from Dale Carnegie..."Remember, happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely upon what you think.  So start each day by thinking of all the things you have to be thankful for.  Your future will depend very largely on the thoughts you think today.  So think thoughts of hope and confidence and love and success"

Just a wee bit of catch up

 Today I have a hodge-podge of things to show you, beginning with the title page for the quiet book that I promised to show you...

Not a great picture because the lighting was awful the day I took the photo.  The book, along with all the other 'goodies' I made for her, have arrived safely in BC.

Next, is a picture of the beautiful amaryllis my friend MEK gave me for Christmas.  Four massive blooms that brightened my life for awhile.  Thank you MEK!

Lastly, I needed a project to do throughout the 'computer withdrawal' phase so I picked up one of the UFO's I've been storing for far too long.  Some of you might remember that I took an online course from Rhonda Dort several years ago that utilized some of my stash of hankies, doilies and laces.  The poor project has languished in my sewing room needing to be quilted.  I am SO not a  quilter!!  But, being quite desperate for something to occupy myself (although I could have started the next landscape I guess) I hauled it out and unearthed my embroidery/quilting frame and set to work.  I thought hearts would be a good design choice.  

I managed two rows of quilting before my hands (and my neck!) decided enough was enough for the time being.  I simply cannot imagine how ladies can sit for hours in front of a quilting frame - most definitely a yawn-worthy enterprise if you ask me!  I would have coughed up the bucks and had this one done by a longarm quilter but there's too much lace and 'gee haws' that would most likely mire in their machines.  

A closeup to show the quilting design

Today, the quote is from Ralph Waldo Emerson...