It's been a while

So much for the thought that working from home would get me blogging more.  I've been stitching and crocheting and knitting and reading blogs and watching floss tube but I haven't been posting.  Mostly it's boiling down to I think that because I've gone One-at-a-Time it will be boring to see the same thing over and over.

While it may be boring to blog about, OAAT has been wonderful for my productivity.  In May I stitched every day but one and logged 116.5 hours of stitching time.  30 of those hours were finishing up Candy Nutcracker and the rest were for Sweet Pea.  When I posted last, Sweet Pea was here:

and on May 31st, I finished her/them I have always thought that this looks like a mother celebrating her child

Here's a better idea of what the fabric looks like:

This picture is still not very good as the green is more vibrant and there are areas of gold sparkles (you can see them in the before photo).  Not sure why it doesn't want to photograph, but it's 32-count Water Color Meadow by Sunny Dyes Fabrics - I really like their fabrics and they provided wonderful customer service helping me choose a fabric for this piece.  I used all the called for threads and beads.  Mom has requested it be made into a pillow so once I have the baby's name and birth day I will finish it up.  I'm thinking of doing a narrow border around the piece and printing the baby's name and birth day on that piece and then the main pillow color (which I have no idea of yet).

Having finished Sweet Pea, on June 1st I started Vintage Baubles by Shannon Christine Designs:

This is the toe area.  It's stitched on a 28-count white Jobelan with the called for DMCs and Kreinik (so much Kreinik).  The blank spaces in the pink and green ornaments are for beads.  I finally found a store that sold the colors I needed in less than massive quantities and am just waiting for delivery.  This stocking is going to sparkle.  This is another piece with fairly limited colors but the designer does a wonderful job combining them to make it look like there are more.

I have taken a little time from stitching the last couple of days to:

learn to knit socks.  This is about 1" of ribbing.  And no, you haven't seen any other knitting on this blog, I know how, but I'm not a knitter.  EXCEPT that years ago, I got it into my head that hand-knit socks were absolutely necessary and I was going to learn how to make them.  I've read books, watched videos, etc. but never felt ready to jump in and then I saw a You Tube video that used a 9" circular needle rather than DPN (double-pointed needles) or Magic Loop and it all suddenly made sense.  I bought a circular needle, grabbed one of the numerous balls of sock yarn I've stashed (I will, someday, have very warm, comfy feet all winter with all the socks I will knit from the yarn I have stashed) and started.   Maybe it's the video, maybe it's the needle, maybe it's my mindset, maybe Mars is in retrograde, I don't know, but it was all so much easier than I had thought.  I had added another little bit of ribbing after I took this picture but ended up tearing this all back and starting again as there was an error that I couldn't fix.  I'm okay with that as the next try will be better than the first.

My office has started Phase I of a three phase reopening but our director said that she doesn't expect any of us will be called back under Phase I or II and we should expect to work from home through June.  Each phase is two weeks and moving backwards is possible.  Based on previous HR issues, I was honestly expecting an all or nothing situation so am pleasantly surprised by the slow and cautious tone that has been set so far. 

I hope you and yours are all safe and healthy.

On time for once

The time is simultaneously standing still and whizzing past - a very strange phenomena (da dee da dee dee) apologies for any earworm this caused.  Still working from home (and very much enjoying my job), still staying home as much as possible, and still stitching. 

Central Virginia has also into summer.  We're supposed to be in the upper 80s this weekend - I'm not sure I'm ready for that just yet.  Fortunately, it's not humid so it's not oppressive, just warm.

Before I get to the stitching it's time for a baby update.

Jack is looking so grown up in this picture.  He's definitely turned into a toddler and is losing his baby looks.

Grady is growing so fast.  He's a bit over 3 months old.  That smile just melts me and aren't those booties the best?

Calder and Vance are almost 9 months old and are cruising and crawling like champs.

Jack's sister is still due the end of June and we're all excited to welcome her to the family. 

I received a photo of Grady's finished birth announcement:

Grady received it yesterday.  I think it was well worth the time it took to complete the framing.

So babies and finished stitching, now current stitching and crafting - also baby related.  Fortunately, they all fit into .  Gifted Gorgeousness is hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching - if you click on that picture it should take you to the SAL page.  Gifted Gorgeousness is a fun way to thank those that have given us stitching goodness or show pieces we're stitching for gifts or anything you can shoehorn into the SAL.  All of my crafting the last few months have been gifts and fit into the SAL perfectly.

I finished Grady's Christmas stocking:

I am not sure what color I'm going to use for the backing and cording.  I'm going to go through my fabric stash and see if any of them will work.  I'm thrilled with how it turned out.

Once I finished the stocking, I started Nora Corbett's Sweet Pea.  This will be Baby Girl's birth announcement:

I'm stitching this on 32-count Water Color Meadow from Sunny Dyes Fabrics with the called for threads and beads.  I'm using one of the called for Kreinik but switched out the other for a Petite Treasure Braid.  I really like the colors together - very vibrant (which I think Baby Girl is going to be). 

The other piece I finished was her blanket

Here's a close up of the border I added:

Three rows of single crochet - simple but effective.

I'm going to focus on Sweet Pea.  Once that's finished  Vintage Baubles  will become my focus piece.  Once those are done, rather than start my rotation again, I may do a new start, but will decide when I get there. 

Stay well and safe.

April WIPocalypse and an almost finish

I hope every one is still healthy.  Everyone in my family is still doing well and I'll keep knocking wood for the foreseeable future.  Not sure how we got to the end of April already, but I have literally lost days so I'm not surprised that it's April 30th already.

I haven't been very good about SAL check-ins, but I am in time for .  WIPocalypse is hosted by Melissa at Measi's Musings.  No special patterns, fabric or floss is required just stitch on what you've already started and post about it once a month.  The posting part is the hardest thing for me.  Melissa also gives us questions so we can all get to know each other and maybe find a chart we didn't know we needed.  

April's question is really a prompt:  Talk to us about your longest running WIP or UFO.  I honestly don't know. A large percentage of my WIPs - I consider everything a WIP as I AM going to finish them - were started in the 1997 to 2000 range.  My first husband passed away in 1997 and I did a lot of comfort shopping and starting.  The only one I have the starting year for is Linda Driskell's Sampler in a Year 1999.  

 

I first saw this series of samplers at Celebration of Needlework - way back when it was a new thing.  An EGA friend and I picked out the newest one and started it together.  I don't think either of us got much further than here.  I've lost touch with her since my move so don't know if she ever pulled it out and finished it.  It is done all in white and mostly perle cottons.  I don't even remember what the finished project looks like, but it's started so it's going to get finished. :-)

Speaking of finishes...  I've finished crossing all the Xs in Grady's stocking.  In April, it went from here:

to here:

I've started the backstitching at the bottom and am working my way up.  I wasn't going to do the outlining backstitching as it's all done on black and really doesn't show up, but it does seem to make a difference so outlining I'm doing. I was hoping to finish this in April, but that isn't going to happen.  It will definitely be finished in early May.  FFOing will have to wait until I can get to the store.  I was thinking of ordering fabric but most places have a minimum order and it is way more than I need.  If anyone is interested in statistics I stitched for 99 hours in April (so far - I do plan to stitch a bit tonight) all of them on the stocking.  So far, I've stitched 164.25 hours on it.  In April I stitched 26 days so I'm averaging just slightly more than 3.75 hours a day.  

Once I'm done with the stocking, I'll be starting Sweet Pea from Nora Corbett.  I'm doing it as the birth announcement for Baby Girl due the end of June.  I think it will be done fairly quickly.  Her brother's announcement was finished as a pillow, but I'm not sure how Mom will want this one finished.  Once that's done, I'll be starting her Christmas stocking - Vintage Baubles by Shannon Christine Designs.  

I am not sure how I'm going to put her name on it - I'm thinking of a fruffy tag, but may try to work up a band for her name.  I think a space above those half motifs at the top for her name and another band of half motifs or maybe just the tops above the name.  I got the notice today that my order has shipped so I should have the pattern, floss and fabric in another week or so.

   

Hopefully I can get myself around to posting more often.  Maybe once the stocking is finished - right now it's just black outlining on black fabric so not a lot to see.

I hope you all stay safe and healthy. 

Here we are again

Hope this finds everyone well.  I think it's been a week since my last post.  I have to be honest, time is running together.  I was thinking the other day about how it had been such a long time since I started working from home.   Then I looked at a calendar and it's only been a bit over two weeks.  Virginia announced a stay-at-home order (guess folks weren't paying attention to the "please don't go out" request) until June 10th in conjunction with Maryland and Washington DC.  Maryland's order is indefinite and DC didn't set a date.  Given that it seems like forever since March 17th, June is almost incomprehensible.  I've been catching up on a lot of shows and plan to take advantage of several channel offers - The Great Courses* has extended their free trial to a month from its normal 7 days and I'm sure there are many more companies doing the same - and oh my the FlossTube that's been going on (I get just about caught up and another flurry of videos are added).  If you've got little ones Audible* is offering free streaming at stories.audible.com of books for kids up to 18 (no membership required).  There are several classics too, so even if you're not a kid you might find something of interest.

So a bit of good news since my last post.  My son's employer has begun providing protective equipment (oh and I was reminded that he wears a baseball cap and not a hairnet).  Even if it is providing me a false sense of security, I'm relieved.  And

A long story on exposures and times and doctors, but the result is that Jack and mom are home again.

I haven't posted that many Grady pictures and everyone needs cute baby pictures right now so:

He turned 2 months yesterday.   Those eyes get me every time.  That nose in the upper right is his dog Winston.

Stitching?  Oh yes, stitching has been happening. In March I logged 82 hours.  I haven't done any averaging but I know I'm doing between 3 and 4 hours each week night.  I have decided to put my rotation on hold and focus solely on Grady's stocking.  Unless I run out a color (which is a real possibility), I think I could finish the stitching this month.  I'm not sure about getting all the backstitching done, but the crosses are a definite possibility.

Last week, it was here:

and when I finished up last night it was here:

I've had to roll it up the scroll rods, so imagine a green and white stripe along the top.

My goal for today is to finish the three candies in this section and then move down to the ribbon candy that is right below it.  After that it's finishing up the arms/hands and then to the legs and all the filler in the toe area (I've got a plan mapped out based on how much white is in a section.  Grady's name is charted and I was planning on putting that in early, but when I started it, the centering was off and I really didn't feel like figuring out why, so the math will wait until the stitching is done.

If you're able to, place an order with your LNS - it doesn't have to be a huge order, a pattern, a gift card or a few skeins of floss.  I've made a list of charts that I'm interested in (FlossTube and Instagram are full of ideas if you need them) and will be placing orders with Deb at Stitches 'n Things* in Fenton, Michigan over the next few months.

Stay well, stay safe and keep stitching.

*I am not affiliated in any way with any of the companies mentioned, I just like the service or products mentioned.

Certainly different

Hard to believe it's only been two weeks since I posted last - everything has changed so drastically. 

I have been on full-time telework since the 17th.  Fortunately, in the past my department had a fairly robust telework program so the switch to full-time wasn't difficult.  April 3rd is the end date.  I suspect it may go longer as the surrounding states have imposed fairly strict requirements.  Virginia is, except for essential businesses, closed for 30 days.  Non-essential businesses can be open but they can't open their stores to the public so lots of mail order business is happening.  Schools are closed for the rest of the school year.  As I seldom did more than go to the grocery store, the direct impact to my life has been minimal, but I know my experience is an anomaly.

|soapbox moment here.  If you just want to see stitching scroll down a bit|

Hopefully it's not needed, but this picture:

is your reminder to stay home.  This is Jack "with" his dad.  Jack's dad (my nephew) is a firefighter for the city of Detroit and out of an abundance of caution Jack and mom went to stay with her parents.  This is how Jack has seen his dad for the last week.  They got news yesterday that one of dad's co-workers has tested positive so dad's now in isolation for at least 14 days.  That's at least 21 days that Jack has to interact with his dad through a window.

This

is my son.  If you see someone that looks like him (minus the tiara and mud) in your local grocery store please understand that he's doing the best he can right now.  It's not his fault that there isn't any meat or toilet paper.  It wasn't his decision to limit you to two gallons of milk.  Management is trying their best to make sure that there is enough to go around.  The supply lines are backed up right now and yelling at him is not going to unblock them.  He's not holding back product so you can't have it or for his friends.  He's going into work every day and working very long hours.  He interacts with the public with no protective gear.  My son is a butcher so he at least has a white coat and a hair net (neither of which is proven as personal protective equipment but he can take the coat off and leave those germs at the store).  The cashiers, stockers and folks in other parts of the store?  They have a name tag between them and you and it really doesn't provide that much protection.  And finally, because the cashiers can't say this to you - Those new fangled sneeze guards some of the stores are putting at the cash registers?  Please don't stand to either side of them, it sort of defeats the purpose. 

For all the people that have to get up every day and go to work, please stay home unless absolutely necessary and if you're not feeling well, please just stay home. The sooner we can break the infection cycle, the sooner Jack's dad can get a hug. 

|stepping off soapbox|

Well, that was a little heavier than I thought it would be, but that picture of Jack hurts my heart and this same picture is being taken around the world every day.  Please remember, it's not necessarily about you getting it, it's who you might give it to.  Our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents fought wars to keep us safe, we're being asked to stay home to keep them safe.

So stitching anyone?  I have had a lot of time for stitching and I've been focusing on Candy Nutcracker by Barbara Baatz Hillman through Kooler Design Studio.  Last time I posted, I was here:

and as of tonight it's here:

It's stitched on a 28-count black Jobelan with DMC. Very few colors but LOTS of color changes.  It's also stitched with three strands of floss so it's taking more time to make sure the threads are smooth, but I'm very happy with my progress.

I also added some more leaves to my Temperature Tree:

and added a bit to the scene in Time for Seasons:

Those are missed stitches in the lawn - it's a sheep!

I FOUND MY UNICORN CHART!!!!  Yes, I did.  I had pretty much given up on it, but I set an alert on Ebay and it popped up.  I was actually shaking when I placed the order but it's here and my set is complete.  It's all kitted and now I just need to stitch them all.

La Époque Nouveau by Dimple Designs with all the called for threads and fabric.  Look at all those Kreiniks!!!  It is going to sparkle.  The pattern came with the bead pack and there are lots of those too.  It's going to be so amazing when done.

Another pieces that is going to be amazing when done is Virginia - a Cumberland County Inspiration by Heart's Ease Examplar Workes.  I showed a picture a few posts back and mentioned that the designer was going to release it as a class.  Apparently the good folks at In Stitches Needlework in Alexandria convinced her otherwise as they posted on their Instagram last week that they had them.  I was on the phone the next day placing my order (they ordered 25 and had 3 left but have an order in for additional copies) and it's now in my hot little hands:

Horrible cover picture as usual, but it is a beautiful sampler.  There are specialty stitches but nothing too unusual.  For the ones that are new or different the directions are very good.  If you're interested, right now I think In Stitches is the only store that has them so give them a call (be warned it's not a cheap pattern).  I was thinking of starting it as I have the DMCs and a piece of fabric that is big enough, but I don't think the fabric is going to work.  The called for is Vintage Strawflower by Lakeside Linens which is warm fabric.  The fabric I have is more of a grey/brown and on the cool side.  It's a very good neutral but I don't think it's right for this piece, so the search begins.

I'm off to stitch for a bit tonight and have plans for more stitching this weekend - actually, that's all I have planned for this weekend.  I hope you are all well and are able to find some peace and happiness right now.  

o' mice an' men

Mr. Burns (Robert not the Simpson version) had it right on best laid schemes and all.  Miss one weekend of blogging and suddenly it's a month later.

On the non-stitching front, my trip to Michigan was wonderful.  Grady is as cute and amazing as I thought he would be.  There is something so soothing about holding a baby (as long as you can hand them off to someone else when they need changing or get fussy).  Here's a picture of him from this morning:

Doesn't that smile just melt you?  You can't tell from the picture but he's got the deepest blue eyes.  Everyone is hoping that he keeps them.

After visiting Grady, my sister and I headed up to my mom's house.  Had a fun weekend there as not only was mom there but Jack and his dad were too.  Jack is doing (and into) so much.  So much fun to watch him discover and learn. Many opportunities to try really hard not to laugh or smile when he did something he wasn't supposed to do because he's just so darn cute while doing it.  He got to try out his new sled (Dad was a great draft horse):

and make a snowman with Dad and Oma:

All in all it was a very enjoyable trip.

It's all a blur of work and weekends since I got home. :-)  On the stitching front:

Yes, I have another finish!

Magic Dream by Cute Patterns by Maria is done.  It is stitched on a 32-count Midnight Tryst from Fabrics by Stephanie with the called for DMC.  I did substitute white Etoile for some of the white in the stars and moon.  It was sent off to Rensel Studios this morning and I can't wait to see what they come up with for it.

I then started Candy Nutcracker Stocking by Barbara Baatz Hillman for Kooler Design Studios.

The contrast of the very bright, primary colors on the black makes it very hard to get a decent picture.  The fabric is a 28-count black (very much darker than in the picture) Jobelan and I'm using the called for DMCs.  I'm stitching with the called for 3 strands of floss.  If I were stitching on white I think 2 strands would work, but trying to get good coverage on black is tough.  Once I get that row of berries(?) done, I'll go back and put Grady's name in.

I just looked at the date - besides being Pi day, it's the day before .  Gifted Gorgeousness is hosted by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching and is a way to thank people for stitching gifts (and what better way then using them) or to show stitching that are gifts (see the two above) or anything else you can shoehorn into the theme.

I also did a bit of stitching on Temperature Tree from Stitchin' Mommy on Etsy.

Finished all the February leaves and have May's branch almost done. 

I swear I stitched on more, but guess I didn't take any pictures. 

With all the coronavirus prep that's going on - I'm not panicked but I'd rather we look back on it and say we were over-prepared - I did some stocking up:

Priorities right?

I plan to stitch once the housework is done.  I'm making tentative stitching plans in the event we go to full-time telework - I'll have hours in the evening so need to figure how best to use them!  Schools in Virginia, Maryland and DC are closed for at least the next two weeks (three if you add in spring breaks) so I suspect it's just a matter of time before we get the go for full-time telework, at least I hope so - I'm not so much concerned about catching anything in the building but the train is a whole 'nother story.  Despite all the warnings about staying home if you don't feel well, there will be a group of "dedicated" folks that will battle their way to work when obviously sick - we have a quiet car on the train, maybe we could have a sick car too - and I'd just as soon avoid them.  Hope everyone is well and stays that way.

Finishing, stitching and crafting

Whew, it was a busy crafting weekend.  I spent most of Friday (it was my day off) pillowizing Forever and Ever.  I used Peg Baker's YouTube video on sewing a pillow with piping and a zipper again and I'm really pleased with the results.

 Pardon the ironing board cover - it's been crafted on a lot and I really should get a new one.  The border and backing fabric is the same and is really a very deep, rich red.  This picture was taken right after I put the pillow form in so it's a bit wonky.  I've been pushing and pulling to get it to fill the corners so it looks a bit better today.

Saturday I had to do the usual grocery run and finish up the laundry.  For some reason I had the urge to start another project - I really do have to try to tamp that down as I do need to finish some of my WIPs.  So I pulled out Poinsettia Fairy by Reuben McHugh and charted by Charting Creations.  Not much of a start but it was fun.  Here's what it will look like done:

  I really do like his style and use of colors.  And here's where it is after 195 stitches (of 148,903 that's something I'm not sure I like about Pattern Keeper.  It's nice to see how much I did during my stitching session, but not sure I like seeing I'm .03% through).

This is 28-count white Monaco 1 over 1.  I'm trying the stitching on the diagonal that seems to be the rage right now.  It's okay.  I'm not sure I"m any faster stitching this way, but it's kind of fun doing something new and please excuse that cat hair in the middle of the picture - it looks like Salem or Spot's.

Speaking of new:

Grady is just so stinkin' cute.  He (and Mom and Dad) are doing well.  I leave Friday for Michigan and will be meeting him Saturday morning.

Speaking of cute:

You just have to have your Starbucks (or Starbucks cup) when you go grocery shopping.  Not sure if I'll see Jack Friday but sure will at Sunday dinner. 

We found out this week that Jack's going to have a sister come the end of June!  Everyone is so excited and can't wait to meet her.  It's fun to go baby shopping right now as you can buy boy and girl clothes and not moan that all the cute stuff is for the other. :-)

So back to stitching...

I worked on Magic Dreams Saturday evening and again on Sunday.  I didn't do my usual rotation as I really do want to get it finished before Grady is 16 and I'd spent more time than planned on errands and Poinsettia Fairy.  I'm happy to report that the whale is almost done:

I am still contemplating the best way to deal with all the individual white and light blue stitches on the background.  All that's left on the whale is that little bit of the belly and another fin.  After that the moon, background stars and LOTS of backstitching.  I think I'm going to put Grady's name and birth information on the lower right side of the piece just off the flipper.

And I had another finish - not stitching but crochet.  I couldn't find anywhere to get a good picture, but the first Kaleidoscope Shawl is done.  I'll try to get a picture and will post it later.  This one is a Christmas gift for one of the nieces.  I have yarn to do two more - one for the other niece and one for my MIL.

As I mentioned, I'm heading to Michigan for the weekend, and I'm not planning on taking any stitching with me.  I will be taking some yarn as I have to decide on and hopefully start a baby blanket.