Since my last post, I do confess, I've been more contented and less disappointed -- and that's a blessing!
Some of that has to do with sunnier weather -- despite another couple of snowstorms and days of bitter cold. The sunshine lifts my spirits, while the stormy days give me time to do what I love to do indoors, broken up only by shovelling work-outs.
The good news weather-wise is that -- at last! -- it's warming up, so that I can resume my regular afternoon walks. The county has ploughed the streets and sidewalks of our wee hamlet, so I can march along (ahem!) at a good pace, too.
And when I'm inside, well -- the stitching and quilting continues!
This week I sent another three quilt tops and two more hand-knit hats off to A. in Leduc, who tells me that now that the Ukrainian refugees have arrived, the volunteer quilter is busy quilting, and assorted other household items are being gathered and distributed.
In addition to the "Scrappy Starburst" top and the "Scrap Happy Stars" top I posted about earlier, I finished the string pinwheel top and added it to the package:
Shown 1/2-size - folded on the ironing board!
It measures about 57" square.
And I included the two hats I was still working on at the end of February:
Of the two, the "Mash-it-Up" was more fun for me, and I think I'll make more of them -- maybe even one for myself! 😉
When the WIPGO numbers for March were called, I got these "picks" to work on: first, my "oldest cross-stitch WIP"; and second, "something that's more than 50% finished" (knit or stitch).
Aside from my full coverage piece -- the cats in paper bags, which I worked on in January -- I have one that's at least as old: "Benjamin's Sampler" from "Simply Stephie":
The copyright date on it is 1994 (!) and it had an original selling price of $7.00 (!). It's a hand-written chart, and the instructions are rather "mixed" as to clarity. The stickers on the plastic envelope in which I've kept it shows that I bought it several years later -- for $1.00 (!) from The Purple Needle, an LYS in Calgary, back when it was closing its doors. I finished quite a lot of it before I set it aside -- completing the text except for the back-stitching of the letters.
But there are gaps in the work, and those gaps were the clue as to why I stopped working on it, for that's where the "Re-weaving" and "hemstitch" sections are. I did the first one right at the top (under the row of fish), but after that...nothing.
As far as WIPGO goes, I've yet to do anything more on it. I'm undecided. Part of me wants to finish everything that's not cut work and then go back to see if I can do it -- risking ruining the entire piece if I screw it up -- and part of me wants to forge ahead and take the risk now.
Whaddya think, Gentle Readers? What would you do?
Blessedly, I've another cross-stitch project to take my mind off "Benjamin's Sampler" -- and that's the "Arabesque Wedding Sampler" from the Wishing Thorn. Yes, it's a new start -- but it's the project for which I'd ordered the thread that took several weeks to arrive. Seeing as it's for the 50th wedding anniversary of some dear friends -- which is May 24 -- I've got to make it my focus for the time being. "Benjamin" has waited at least 20 years; he can wait a bit longer to be finished!
I started "Arabesque" on Feb. 27 and here's where I am as of last evening:
I'm working it on 36-count "Grey" (formerly "Confederate Grey") from Weeks Dye Works, using the called-for DMC plus 1 silk -- the variegated thread in the motif on the left and some of the border above -- Caron "Waterlilies" in colour #077, "Royal Jewels" (the thread that took so long to come in). It's a tiny piece -- I'm stitching it with 1 strand of floss over 2 fabric threads -- but it's dense and a bit complex. There will be beads and Kreinik Very Fine Braid #4 in antique gold -- I'll add those after the main stitching is finished. I'm loving every stitch, and not missing "Benjamin" one little bit! LOL!
As for "something that's 50% or more finished" -- for that I've resumed a knitting WIP, a little "advent" shawl designed in 2019, which I started in November 2021. Alas, I've taken no progress photos -- but it's a 154-row pattern and I've now finished row 110, so I'm about 2/3 of the way along. I'm making it from a set of six minis that I was given as a gift for Xmas 2019. In the photo you can see my wee start, back in 2021.
It's a pretty simple knit, so I do a few rows here and there, but my main focus is another pair of socks, promised to a friend last fall -- for her daughter (a gift, not a commission). The young woman who'll get these works in agriculture, both ranching with her mom and doing some sort of ranch/farming inspection work, so when I made her mom a pair of wool/alpaca blend socks, I promised I'd make her daughter a pair too. These ones are simple ribbed socks, out of the same yarn but in an 'old gold' colour-way:
A lovely, simple, mindless knit that's completely relaxing!
That's pretty much how life's been rolling along these days, at least in my little corner of the world. Given all the turmoil swirling Out There in the Wild, I'm thankful to have creative routines to keep me from being overwhelmed with things I can't control.
So I'll close off this post with my usual link to Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday. This week she's talking about Organizing Your Studio...and the use of peg-boards to do so. I 💕 peg-boards and have three small ones in my studio -- one for my embroidery floss and hoops, one for my knitting needles and one for assorted other supplies. In her post, Nina-Marie shows the results of some of her research into studio organization -- and how peg-boards enables small spaces to be used more effectively.
Studio re-org can be a chore -- but it can also be energizing, so I hope you find something in her post that will boost your spirits and give you ideas to use in your own space.
Till next time, Gentle Readers, thanks for stopping by. A bientot!
We've been experiencing a "Polar Vortex" in Western Canadafor most of this week. The wind chills over night have dipped down into the minus mid-fifties Celsius (!) and into the minus forties during the day.
A couple of days ago I managed to get out to feed the birds, shovelling my way to the garage where I store their food, and to put out my garbage -- again, shovelling my way to the alley to put the pail out for the Friday a.m. pick-up.
On Wednesday, a neighbour, who was collecting mail for others, offered to fetch mine too; otherwise it would still be at the Post Office! Our Anglican parish priest has cancelled the service for this Sunday, which means you know the weather's bad.
The kitties are all rather stir-crazy. The little ones have upped their games of 'race' and 'wrestle', while Miss Pookie, the elder-cat, sits in her favourite spot behind my laptop, and glares at the weather.
I've been in pretty good form as far as food goes, but will be glad when the weather warms up -- possibly Tuesday. Then I hope to get to town for groceries. I'm a decent cook but not a foodie; as my supplies dwindle -- and it's too @@!!** cold to walk the four or five blocks to the General Store here in this tiny hamlet -- I've had to get creative.
Before it got too brutal -- on Monday, after Sunday's snow day -- I got down there and bought the smallest bag of pasta (spiral noodles) I could find (I don't eat pasta or potatoes as a general rule) plus a tin of mushroom soup and 2 litres of low-fat milk.
I still have bacon (a full package in the freezer), but otherwise have no fresh meat; I'm not a vegetarian and need the protein! I have some tuna, and some frozen mixed veggies, so I put together a tuna casserole -- something I've not made (as far as I know) since my kids left home! That lasted me four meals. I also took out the chicken/veg soup I'd made in the slow cooker on Xmas night, and I made a batch of cranberry muffins for breakfasts.
Now that the muffins are finished, I've turned to oatmeal with raisins and wheat germ for my breakfast, along with the above-mentioned bacon. And for a change of soups, today I cobbled together an "Italian-style Zucchini and Tomato Soup"**, using shredded zuke (from the freezer) and half a can of diced tomatoes, lacking anything fresh. Delicious, if I may say so myself. And for an alternate carb, I've made a loaf of whole grain bread in my bread-maker. The recipe is one of my favourites -- very 'grainy' -- because it includes 1/3 cup of Sunny Boy cereal. Yum! ** NOTE: If you click the recipe link, scroll down to get the 'recipe card' you can print. There are an annoying number of flashing adverts etc. on the silly website!!
My hands have been busy with other things as well: knitting, quilting and stitching in my usual round. I've been following the WIPGO board I described in my last post and am progressing rather well on the called squares for January: #9 and #22.
I started with #22: "Monochromatic". In that last post I showed you where I'd left off in August 2023. At the time, I was one-and-a-half motifs into a "9-patch-style" pattern:
My rule for my WIPGO is to do 7 days work on whatever project is in the squares called in a given month. By 7 days I don't mean 8 hours' work at a stretch! 😆 Rather, I simply mean I have to put some time in for seven days during the month.
I began January with four days' work on this project -- it's "Peace" from Carolyn Manning, and I'm stitching it on 28-count pearl grey linen using a hand-dyed tencel yarn (ostensibly for knitting!) that I bought from a vendor at Fibre Week in Olds, Alberta last June. I have three more days to go to meet my January commitment, but here's what it looks like after those four;
And here's a close-up of the first motif:
It's so pretty! I'll get back to it in the next week or so to finish those last few days (at least!)
This week I switched to #9 from my board: "Full Coverage". And yes, I dug out this half-finished piece I abandoned a good 20 years ago: "Bag Ladies" -- a kit from Sunset Counted Cross Stitch:
In my last post I spoke about the stain you see on the right side, and how I couldn't get it out for love nor money. Blessedly, I think pretty much all of it will eventually be covered by stitches. I've worked on it daily from Monday through Friday this week, and just might do so today and tomorrow too, thus completing my 7 days for the month.
Here's how it looks as of last evening. I'm starting to encroach on the stain to the right, but want to get that striped cat done first!
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On the knitting front, I've been working on the socks for my friend Brenda, who's a rancher and the "birth mom" of my kitties;
Yes, the second sock is nearly finished! In fact, after I took this photo, I finished the pattern on the foot, and am nearly finished the toe. They'll be finished completely by the end of today. 😊 (While there is knitting on my WIPGO board, these are a gift, so they're not part of the WIPGO project.)
And with the onset of the Vortex, I got the urge to knit a blanket. Yep. I rarely knit blankets, but this one was highlighted for me last year by Marsha (Betterinmotion on Ravelry). I tried it then in some of the mystery yarn my daughter gave me for Xmas 2022, but frogged that. Turns out the yarn was better suited to weaving, so I gave it to my friend Anne who's used it to make small rugs, to great effect!
This go 'round, I dug out an acrylic/cotton/wool blend I'd bought back when I worked at The Crafty Lady's brick-and-mortar shop (now gone): Diamond Select Stonewash in the colour "Chalk" (#501).
The pattern Marsha used is aptly named "January Blanket"; the other day I cast on using a slightly-shorter-than-called-for circular needle, and got the first border (seed stitch) done:
It doesn't look like much now, but I think it's going to be worth the time and effort -- and the yarn is a treat to work with for this project.
The "Wee Lima" pullover I showed in my last post is now finished but for the buttons; the "Chandelier" crib quilt is sandwiched and pin basted. It's been too cold to get down to the PO to mail them, so I just decided to finish them once it warms up a bit -- they'll go out later this month.
Here it was earlier this week, as I assembled the rows with sashing. Note that my design 'wall' is leaning up against the wall of the closet in my studio, instead of hanging on the wall. That's because Sylvie Kitten tried to climb it once too many times, and pulled it right off the wall!! I reinforced and cleaned the fabric covering the thick blue foam insulation slab that forms the base, but couldn't get it back onto the wall without moving my entire sewing table -- that just wasn't happening! -- so I'm making do.
Rows/sashing under construction
And here it is -- the finished top draped over the love seat in my living room because it's too cold to take a photo outside:
Top (unfinished) measures about 54 1/2" x 64 1/2"
I don't think I have enough batting to sandwich it right now, so I'll leave it for the moment. I've got sets of blocks ready to assemble into two more throw-sized tops: string blocks that I'm turning into string-HSTs:
String blocks = 6 1/2"; HSTs = 6" unfinished
And a stack of postage-stamp blocks:
Each block = 6 1/2" unfinished
I was going to turn the postage stamp blocks into curtains, but decided that putting them into a comfort quilt was a better use for them.
So now...cooking, stitching, knitting and quilting. That's what I've been up to, to stay cozy during this Polar Vortex. I've also entered a SAQA Regional (All Canadian) exhibit, but can't share the entry photos with you until April, when the acceptance/"so sorry" letters are due to go out. There are only 30 spots available, so competition will be stiff!
This week, after it warms up some, I'm taking three pieces in to the Viewpoint Gallery in Red Deer, for the "Craft & Care" exhibit into which I was juried. The installation is February 15, but I wanted to be sure my work got there -- and that I got to see the gallery space -- well before hand, given the wintry weather and road conditions. The show will run through the last Saturday in April, and there's to be a First Friday opening on March 1, which I also hope to attend.
"Order Out of Chaos (aka Chaos Can be Colourful") -- at right, is one of the pieces that will be in the exhibit, along with "Frayed" and "And It's Only June".
I'm one of only eleven textile artists chosen for this show, and as far as I know, I'm the only art quilter. There are two silk artists (I own a scarf created by one of them), some felt artists, and several whose names I couldn't connect with anything online -- so there might be another quilter in there somewhere. I'm looking forward to meeting them!
Now it's time to sign off so I can get to finishing that sock toe -- and go back to quilting and stitching for the afternoon! Nina-Marie is back with her Off the Wall Friday link-up, so I'll leave you with that and the hopes that wherever you are you're well, safe, warm, cared for and caring.
Do you make New Year's Resolutions? I don't -- any more, that is. Haven't for years. That said, I've often written in this blog about my susceptibility to "Startitis" -- both in September (the start of a school year) and now, as we move from one calendar year to another.
This year, for the first time, I'm going to try to corral that "infection" by jumping on the WIPGO bandwagon.
"What's WIPGO?!" you might ask. It's...a process for working on ones WIPs (Works In Progress) in order to finish them -- or at least make some progress on them -- throughout a given year.
It's 'founder' is Jessie Marie, who created it some years ago now, in order to manage her cross-stitch WIPs. It's a flexible game, really, that's adopted from Bingo -- and uses a 25-square "board". You assign either projects or processes or categories of project -- or whatever you want, really -- to each square. Each month -- on the 25th -- Jessie Marie "calls" (posts) two numbers to be worked on in the following month. They're called about a week before the end of the month so you can prep your projects ahead of time -- the better to accomplish whatever your goals are for the month.
You might be able to tell that I've put both cross-stitch and knitting on my 'board'. No quilting? No spinning? No rug hooking? Nope. I don't have a plethora of WIPs for any of those crafts.
If you want company, or advice, or encouragement, there's a Facebook Group (you have to answer questions to join) and there's action on Instagram (but I don't do Instagram so you'll have to look for it there yourself).
Here's a link to her "how-to" video from 2022:
I found both of these resources very helpful when setting up my first "board".
The mantra for the process is "Your board; your rules." Some folks discover it doesn't work for them, and that's okay. If you're a first-timer, though, you're encouraged to try it for the year before you decide whether or not it suits your practice.
And of course, just because only two board numbers are called each month doesn't mean that's all you work on! Heck, no! Work on any and all of your other crafts, hobbies and practices. After all, there are 28 to 31 days in any given month (and 2024 is a Leap Year so February has 29 this go 'round) -- you can decide to work on a project for "100 stitches" or "300 stitches" or "3 days" (and a 'day' is what you say it is -- five minutes or 12 hours!)
I've decided that when a number is called, I'll work on a project in the designated category for 7 days during the given month. I decided to use categories of project rather than get specific, because I have 19 cross-stitch WIPs and 16 knitting WIPs, and some fall into more than one category.
For January, the numbers 9 and 22 have been called.
Looking at my 'board' -- photo above -- "9" is designated "Full Coverage"! I've only one of those, which I began...oh...some twenty years ago (give or take). Entitled "Bag Ladies", it came as a kit from Sunset Counted Cross Stitch of Reading, PA. The pattern cover indicates it was designed by Braldt Bralds -- or perhaps more appropriately, used a design based on one of his paintings or illustrations -- and was kitted up for stitchers in 1999. It included a large two-page pattern, all the floss, a needle and a piece of 16-count grey aida.
When planning my WIPGO board, I dug it out -- only to discover some sort of weird rust-coloured stain on a portion of the fabric! Having stored it carefully (I thought) in a cloth tote, and having no recollection of having spilled anything on it, I'm at a loss as to what it is. I tried soaking it in my eco-friendly laundry detergent and warm water. No visible change. Tried again with blue Dawn in slightly hotter water. Ditto. Scrubbed with a soft brush and mild hand soap. Maybe it's a bit lighter.
And then I took a close look at what I had left to stitch. Lo and behold, I think the remaining stitching will cover most -- if not all -- of it up! Here's what it would look like finished:
The red bag with the feathery tail at the upper right will cover quite a bit -- as will the rest of the bags and cats therein! And the background is only partly bare fabric -- there are stitches all along the top, creating shading and dimension.
With my love of cats, and the fact that I'm just starting the second page of the pattern, how can I not finish it -- or at least, try to?!
As for square #22 -- that's "Monochromatic". I have two stitching pieces that fit that description. One is the Holiday Countdown 2022 from Evertote and Modern Folk Embroidery. I decided to stitch it on a piece of fabric in a gorgeous red, using a creamy perle cotton from Caron. Both are from deep stash:
That said, my start was so small that I didn't even photograph it!
I'm stitchiing it on a piece of 28-count pearl grey linen that I got from a sale table somewhere. It has no identifying maker, but it also hasn't the trade-mark orange stripe in the selvedge that would say "Zweigart". It's perfect for this project though, and suits my choice of thread perfectly, to my mind. I'm stitching it with a single strand of a hand-dyed tencel yarn (!) that I bought at the vendor's market at Olds Fibre Week last June; it's in a variegated purple:
Preparing my WIPGO board gave me a great opportunity to track down all my WIPs -- including some which were tipping into the UFO category. The Mystery shawls fit that bill, along with a pair of socks that had succumbed to Serious Second Sock Syndrome:
One piece that's probably not going to get on the board is "No Winter Lasts Forever" from Silver Creek Samplers. That's because I'm planning to finish it this weekend!
I'm not following the "12 x 12" event closely, but I'm going to stitch like I am. For one thing, I won't get home from church before noon on December 31; for another, I'm in bed by 9 p.m. and sleep through the entry of the New Year! But I expect to have a good six or seven hours in which to stitch, and "No Winter" will be part of that (if it isn't finished even before that!)
All I have left to stitch is the snow, my initials and the year at the bottom!
Pattern: No Winter Lasts Forever Designer: Silver Creek Samplers Fabric: 28-count Pewter from Picture This Plus Floss: DMC and a bit of Weeks Dye Works
Another item that probably won't make the WIPGO board is a sweater I'm knitting for a just-turned-18-months-old little girl -- the granddaughter of a long-time friend, who lives in Ontario.
As you can see, I've only a portion of a sleeve to knit -- and it'll be finished except for sewing on the buttons (See the large stitch holder, shaped like a safety pin? That's where the buttons go!), sewing in the ends, and washing/blocking it.
Now little Sophie -- the future recipient -- also has a new baby sister, Ivy (2 months old). She'll be getting a little crib quilt. I made the top last March and when I learned of her arrival I decided to quilt it up for her. Here's a photo of the top:
Note that neither of those projects is on the WIPGO board. That's because I've classified them as Priority Projects because they're gifts -- and will be finished come heck or high water, WIPGO or no WIPGO!
Speaking of gifts...being who I am, and being who my friends and family are, I received some lovely yarny and stitchy gifts for Christmas and "just because"!
My son's partner gave me a gift certificate for a southern Alberta indie yarn dyer -- Arcane Fibre Works. His colours are fantastic -- but his yarn base is all extra-fine merino. His prices are reasonable but I was hoping for a skein of fingering for socks. And y'all probably know by now that unless colour palate is an issue, I won't make socks from high-grade merino. They don't wear well. They might stretch/slouch more than other socks. They pill. And they might felt -- even if they're super-wash treated. Oh -- and feet don't need socks that soft. Never test sock yarn on your face or neck. Your feet aren't that fussy!!
So...I've got a colour-way in mind but will reserve a purchase until I can afford (even with the gift cert) two skeins for a shawl. (And yes; two skeins will equal free shipping -- at least in Canada.) I'm willing to bide my time...
My friend Mary W. gave me two balls of yarn. This is admirable, because a) she doesn't wear wool; and b) she doesn't knit! (True friendship: supporting a friend's passion even when you don't share it!)
She gave me a lovely ball of German sock yarn (NOT 'extra-fine merino' -- the Germans know their sock yarn!) in one of my daughter's favourite colour-ways. And my daugher? She's always up for a pair of sturdy, well-wearing, hand-knit-by-Mom socks! So...her January birthday prezzie is taken care of!
She also gave me a ball of 80% acrylic (!)/20% wool yarn from James C. Brett -- a lovely UK-based company. The colours are similar, but the yarn is clearly for a shawl or something cozy; it has a 'halo' that makes it look like mohair but there's no mohair to be found in it. And...I have a friend who suits this colour palate (she has auburn hair and complexion)...so maybe this will become something for her. Hmmmm....or given to her -- because she knits. She knits shawls (and I found a pattern for this yarn). Prayer shawls, even. Hmmmmm....the possibilities!
Isn't it delicious?!
Yarn: "Shhh" DK (but it's more like fingering) Supplier: James C. Brett Fibre: 80% acrylic, 20% wool
I'm not lacking in stitchy gifts, either. Today I had lunch with my friend C. (we do this every 2-3 weeks -- two-hour lunches at Mae's Kitchen here in Mirror, AB. Food and friendliness par excellence!) She had a major reno to her home this past summer (don't ask; it wasn't planned!) and now is putting things back where they should go. In the course of doing that, she's sifting and sorting her "stuff" and gave me this beautiful book: Sampler & Antique Needlework: A Year in Stitches. It's available on Amazon.ca (and probably "dot com") for a pretty reasonable price but oh! The treasure of it!
I managed some years decades ago to procure a couple of the original magazines by that name, which used to be published quarterly, but I wasn't aware of this book. The publisher of the magazine is/was Phyllis Hoffman, and she published the book under the company called "Symbol of Excellence Publishers, Inc." That title is appropriate -- even as I gaze on the cover of the book, having yet to open it and go through it. C. is a stitcher too -- but she knows how I've fallen in love with reproduction samplers, and so this is a very special gift honouring that affection for this genre.
And then...the piece de resistance! My friend A. is a quilter known for her album quilts and the beauty of her applique and hand-quilting. She also knits and stitches, and is a lot of fun to be with.
This year, she gave me the most delightful, exquisitely executed gift for Christmas. I have it out on the table in my living room, where I hang out to stitch, where I can see it. It's useful, yes, but the artistry and detail make it so very special. The pattern is from the "Block Party Series" from Hands On Designs; this one is "Meow". A. knows I'm a Certified Cat Person...with an Elder Grumpy Cat and two 6-month old kittens...so she paid tribute!
I just had to show you the top and all four sides (the bottom is plain but for her initials and the date):
Her stitching is par excellence, because she never does anything by halves. 💓
And now, my friends...I've spoken of plans and gifts -- but what about hopes and dreams?
My hopes for 2024 are too numerous to list, but in the main consist of these:
"They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." -- Isaiah 2:4 -- that the lust for power and dominance globally, nationally, regionally, locally and within families disappear and be gone forever.
That the US doesn't fall into fascism;
That in all times and all places we can -- as Fred Rogers' mother instructed -- look for AND FIND the Helpers. May there always be helpers.
My Dreams? Well...in a concrete sense, I've only one. It's far smaller than my plans or hopes. I long to return to Scotland...just one more time. I have a friend -- Anne H. -- who is willing and eager to come with me. Both of us knit. She crochets; I do a bit. She weaves; I do not. I spin; she doesn't. We both walk. And we are on a wait list to be notified for the registration to sign on to a Knitting/Walking Tour of the Shetland Isles in 2025.
I may never go home (to Quebec) again this side of heaven (though I'd like to do so too) but if I get to Shetland...to walk the isles, experience the sheep, the scenery, the skills of the knitters there...oh! That's my Dream.
All that said, I told Anne recently that if I never made it there, I'd not die disappointed. Sometimes the Dream is enough.
And so, Gentle Readers, I close this with a message of thanksgiving, and hope for you all: that you will find your space, your purpose, your calling. That you will know the peace of God (however you understand that) that passes all understanding. May that Peace enfold you, enable you, inspire you, encourage you and bring you to where you need to be for your own equanimity and for your giving of who you are and what you are to others -- a light in the darkness; a safe haven in the storm; a quiet centre in the whirlwind; a refuge. May you be given the resources to do and be so -- and may you know that you are held in love in the Everlasting Arms -- however you understand that to be.
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