GOOD TO TOSS THE 2025 CALENDAR

I enjoyed the peace of my living room; I finished the one large man-sock for my grandson and began sock #2.

Son's kitty is curled up in front of the fireplace.  The dog didn't hold still but you can see the things he has chewed on and left all over the floor!  It's like cleaning up after a toddler again!

After lunch the other day, my friend gave me two 'kits' to piece and it was just what I needed!  I started the four-patches in reds and blues.  it's nice to see color on the design wall!

And the larger 8 1/2" squares are arranged with the 3 star blocks she requested for a bit of pop!  It is just what it needed!  I will be working on both of these projects today.  I love to work a little while on all of the different projects I love!  

AND I can begin to write in this beautiful Journal from my daughter and family!  

It is just waiting for my opinions and thoughts, joys, tears, fears and faith to be put to paper!  Do you like to journal?  Does it have a theme or is it random as the days unfold?

 

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!

This is what I will be doing today! 

 I like to spend NewYear'sDay doing each of the activities that are my creative outlets!    I have finally found the sweet formula for the beanies on the circular knitting machine, in the far back is the wool and silk blend roving I will be spinning, I will be crocheting some more dishcloths and spend time doing the quilt from Merry Mayhem when they release the new 'clues' every hour! 

 That should keep me busy!

Have a happy new year, blog friends!

 

FIRST DAY FRENZY!

I actually made some time for the lathe! 

 The bowl went pretty smoothly, though the wood is still very green and soft but I was more prepared this time. 

 I'm hoping there will be no surprises in the way of cracks

 over the next few days!

This is what the log looked like when I started out!

Some birthday Fellici to start out the year with sock number 1 !!!!  I worked until I had gone through all of the colors

 in this striped yarn!

I am going to be playing with a theme for this month with watercolors;  I am going to paint moon gates and gateways into the future!  This one is drawn and painted in my notebook to try out shapes and colors and when I feel good about it, 

it will go on 8 x 10" quality paper for framing.  

I am going to work on patience

 and enjoy all of the elements of my subjects! 

 (well, that's the plan!)

 

WELCOME 2021!

The first of Bill's new socks is finished and the second one is established!  This is the first time that I have used a gusset for his pair of toe-up socks and they fit so much better than the short row heel.  

Since he wears out his socks at the heels first,

 I am hoping the better fit will help alleviate that problem!  

I also have not matched up the color pattern for the second sock

 because it is a long repeat and I cannot afford to lose that much yarn

 since these socks are for a size 15 foot!  

I don't think Bill will notice either way!

Yesterday, as I sat in my chair out front to get some fresh air,

 the view was rather lofty

 and so were my feelings about this last year

 which were fraught with challenges but many more cherished moments. 

 I am ever grateful to God for His faithfulness each step of the way.  I am looking forward to tomorrow but so very grateful for today....

Happy New Year to each of you who visit my blog!

 

Welcome to 2020!

 I have this particular tradition on New Year's Day,

I like to sit and plan projects ahead for each of my crafty outlets.

For example, I only have this quilt to finish up on the frame

and two more and then I will need to get piecing again!

 I have a project or two planned for each of the knitting machines!

 I have some yarn to dye and knit!

 And a basket of sock yarn!

 Plus the new yarn to knit in a colorwork vest!

 I also have some fiber to wash and card, some flax and some woolen top to spin.

 I also need to finish up the next 4 ounces of brown Polworth wool.

 A renewed interest has been the hand embroidery;

even though this is the last in the mermaid series, 

I will continue this work on the other pillowcases and wall art I enjoyed again.

Needless to say, I will have to decide if I will continue the 'pillow cover a month' habit with the machine embroidery work.  I enjoyed doing it each month so why not! 

 I can always make them for friends and family so I don't drown in the pile of them!

 I will also put these new tools to use learning how to make bowls-

--on the wood lathe.  

The lathe is working well, so the new tools will make the technical part of this

      art all prepared for the intrinsic yet inexperienced aspect to kick in to become a woodworker!


I am so excited for what the new year will bring creatively; 
but also personally I want to be marked by this--
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

Reasonableness  refers to contentment with and generosity toward others. 
It can also refer to mercy or leniency toward the faults and failures of others.
It can even refer to patience in someone who submits to injustice or mistreatment without retaliating;  graciousness with humility encompasses all the above. 

I hope you can set your sights for all that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable...
think on these things!

 Philippians 4:5 and 8

A Clean Slate-2018!

 I always feel I have to do everything that is important to me on this day!

I also go through shelves and bins in the Studio to see what I didn't do last year 

and if it is something I want to bring to the front of the line for this. 

 My orchids are in a new place-the window in the hall leading to my studio 

so they brighten my walk there so many times a day; 

 and it is ready to bloom where they are-a nice metaphor for all of us!

 This plant is 7 yrs old and still producing blooms that will beautify her corner, no matter what.

I like that idea.

 Speaking of corners, I put up a shelf in my wool station corner of the studio.

 I have several antique pieces related to woolen mills

 and I wanted them out where I could enjoy them.

  Bill found this large wooden spool while up in Georgia and bought it for me. 

 It combines my all-things-woolen fancy and my love of wooden so he scored big!

 I also participated in the Merry Mayhem's New Year's Day Mystery Quilt 

where every hour throughout the day she releases a clue and by dinner time, you have a quilt!

  I always make the lap size out of my scraps which is a challenge in itself!  

I have the backing and binding ready to finish this one, the first one to go on the frame this year!

It's going to be exciting to see what comes out of the studio this year!

High Hopes for the Future!

 These are two memes that struck my fancy for the new year unfolding under us today-

Looking forward to what the Lord has for us!

Acknowledge the Passing

You have been a hard task master 2014 but we are looking forward to your replacement!
Happy New Year!