Crafting and Baking

I cleaned off my sewing machine table and came across a UFO that just needed to be framed. It is a small piece that I stitched a few years ago, but hadn't decided how to finish. I went online and found a YouTube video that taught how to lace your needlework. I decided to learn a new technique on a small piece and then use a frame that I had on hand.
First I laced the long sides and folded in the short ones.

Next the short sides were laced.

It is even and just the right tautness (is that a word?).

Here it is in just an ordinary 5"x7" frame.

It now resides in my son's room as he gave me the kit as a gift. Isn't it adorable.

I have also made some progress on Three Boats. 

There is a whole lot of black still to stitch.

I have been filling up some of my days with baking. My MIL loves pound cake.

I have never made a pound cake before, but I had a Betty Crocker cookbook that had a recipe for Sour Cream Pound Cake with a Blueberry alternative so that is what I made. 

My MIL loves anything with blueberries. I tried a slice and it was really good. MIL liked it too.

That same day I made Nestle Toll House cookies. 

These are my absolute favorite cookie. I think I will be making them a lot now that we are home providing I can buy chocolate chips and flour.  I just have to limit myself to no more than one or two a day. 

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. I think I will add some stitches to Jingle today.

Stay safe, stay healthy and STAY HOME!

Thanks for stopping by!

Crafting and Social Distancing

Many of you know that I live on Long Island in New York which is the USA's epicenter of this awful coronavirus. I have been home from both of my teaching jobs now for 2+ weeks and will continue to be at least until April 30th as per our governor's order. His steady level-headed approach has made the reasons for  this social distancing easy to understand. I am amazed though that there still are those people who don't get the gravity of the situation. There are a few people in my own neighborhood that are organizing large play dates and interacting themselves without taking the necessary distancing precautions. 

Hubby and I have been mostly staying in our home except for walks around the neighborhood or visits to our elderly mothers to bring food and perform household chores that they are no longer able to do on their own. We try to limit any shopping to once per week or less. I must say that if COVID-19 hasn't made it to your area yet be grateful, but be on guard. Wash your hands and stay home when it does eventually arrive. This is scary.

Here is a video of what life is like in my neck of the woods. I didn't make the video, but I know each and every one of these places. Please, please stay home.

Okay, enough of my rant. Life is scary and crafting can make it more bearable. I have definitely had more time to craft as I am home all day. Sure I still have to prepare lectures and complete grading for my now online university class, as well as conduct twice weekly extra help sessions for my high school position. That being said, I finished the ear warmer that I started over the winter.

I love the sparkly purple yarn. This is the first time that I have attempted cables and I think I succeeded quite nicely. The pattern is Woven Cable Headband from Ravelry.

I have also made good progress on Jingle.

That "e" had to be frogged once which is why it has yet to be completed. It turns out the "e" is one row lower than the rest of the word. Once I got to the end of the floss I was just done for the day at the time. I am enjoying working on this now. I think I will go finish that "e".

Thanks for stopping by!

Stitch-a-Long

It's time for me to share my progress on Three Boats with everyone.

Three weeks ago I joined this SAL and showed the meager beginnings of this large piece....all black.

 I have added another 100+ stitches and finally have a little bit of color.

You can find out more about this Stitch-a-long hosted by Avis at Sewing Beside the Sea. Please visit the other participants below and see what wonderful projects they are working on.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda

I am also joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. I think I will add some stitches to Three Boats today. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Spring is Here!

I am sitting here in my living room writing this post and listening to the birds sing in the early morning. Spring is here! The cold weather may not be cooperating, but nature is. I have had one lonely crocus ...

and the first daffodils bloom in my yard.

These are out front with andromeda blooming behind them.

 These I can see from my kitchen window.

I truly love daffodils. There should be plenty more emerging over the next few days.

I did some baking this week in order to use up the buttermilk I bought to make Irish Soda Bread. These are Irish Soda Scones and they are oh so delicious.

They have a powdered sugar glaze with orange rind that adds just the right hint of sweetness. I used raisins instead of currants and left out the caraway seeds as I don't like them. Yum...

I have been getting a fair amount of stitching completed with all this social distancing.

I finally added that bright blue to Three Boats.

It still doesn't look like much, but it is just the beginning.

I also added more red stitching to Jingle.

You can see that I added the last word of the saying "go" and started the J in the second Jingle. I had actually finished that J and then realized that although the top row was correct every other row was one stitch too far left. I had to "unstitch" all that and start over. As you can see, I didn't get to finish it again.

I borrowed a library book to my Kindle. 

I have read this book before, but it is easy reading and easy to lose yourself in the story. I decided that was just what I needed right now. I think I will read the entire trilogy plus one in order to keep my mind engaged. I have also been enjoying watching "Too Cute" on Animal Planet and of course some good old Hallmark movies. 

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. I will finish that J for Jingle today and maybe move on the to rest of the word.

Stay safe, stay healthy and stay home.

Thanks for stopping by!

Another finish!

Having some time off has been beneficial to my crafting.
 I have a finish!  I finally finished the scarf that matches the hat!

Here is a close-up of the stitch pattern.

 It was a very easy crocheted pattern called Soft Seed Stitch Hat and Scarf Set that I found on Ravelry. Winter is over, but I can use it next year or decide to donate the set which was the original plan.

I am now knitting an ear warmer....also no longer needed this year.
This is my first attempt at cables and was very easy to learn. It is Woven Cable Headband also found on Ravelry. I am so very happy with how it is coming along.

The yarn has a sparkly silver thread running through it. I love it. I will definitely keeping this for myself. 

I think I will be having a few more finishes and be starting several more projects as I hunker down at home. The schools here are closed for the next two weeks, but I suspect that will continue for much longer. I will be teaching my university class twice a week via an online program starting next week. I am not sure how easy/difficult that is going to be, nor do I have any idea how I will administer exams.

I am visiting my elderly mother most days as she is alone in her home. It isn't possible to bring her to my home and she is comfortable in hers. She struggles to cook dinner and can't do the laundry in the basement, so that is what I am doing for her. I will only visit the grocery store when it is necessary and I am cancelling all unnecessary appointments. 

Please follow the guidelines and stay healthy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Changing times

I am staying home a lot more these days. The university where I teach was one of the first to close as there was a student with a possible case of coronavirus. They tested negative, but we had a week of classes basically canceled and now we are entering Spring Break. Following that, we are moving to online instruction. There is a learning curve there for me, but Hubby has already conducted a couple of classes using the online tool and will help me get up to speed to continue teaching my students.

The school district that I work at has not yet closed down, but will have two days at the beginning of the week just for faculty and staff to learn online instruction. I don't teach at the school....I work as more of a full time tutor so I don't know why I need to attend these days. I am not sure what will happen after these first two days. I would rather not have go in as both Hubby and I are the primary aides to our elderly mothers. I don't want to be carrying the virus into their homes. Both of them are staying home..no shopping, unnecessary doctor's or hairdresser appointments. 

I hope all of you stay healthy. Keep washing those hands!!

On a lighter note, I received a wonderful gift from Gail at The Cozy Quilter. A few weeks ago she showed three beautiful table runners that she had finished and was planning on donating. I absolutely adored one of them. Gail very kindly gifted it to me and it has a new home on my kitchen table where I can enjoy it every day.

 Here is a pic without the candle.

Isn't this gorgeous!

I have had some time to cross-stitch after my high-school job as a result of all the above. I added quite a few stitches to Jingle.

I have almost finished the ribbon that goes around the corner. I have started the berries near the bird....I got tired of stitching green. 

I also added just under 100 more stitches to Three Boats. I am finally adding some color. Not much....but some.

You can see that beautiful bright blue that I have laid out. That is the next color that I will be adding! Finally some brightness. 

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. I will be adding some stitches to Jingle today. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stitch-a-long

So I did it. I joined a Stitch-a-long hosted by Avis at Sewing Beside the Sea. This is a different kind of stitch-a-long. You work at your own pace on a project of your choice and post your progress every three weeks. This is right up my alley and will allow me to focus on Three Boats at least once ever three weeks...more if I want to. 

That being said, the project I am working on is Three Boats on a Tropical Beach, by Artecy cross-stitch. 

Those of you who follow my blog know that I made my son Baker Beach by the same company a few years ago. You can see that finished project here.

This is being made for my daughter and her husband, because you can't make something for one child and not give the other something similar. I owe her a quilt also.

I just recently started this project and my first session stitching on it resulted in this much being completed.....all black floss so far.

Yesterday, I spent some more time stitching and below is where I am as of today. Still all black.

Although it hardly looks like it, that was another 150+ stitches in the top left-hand corner.

Please follow the links below and visit the other bloggers who are part of this SAL:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie

I am also joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. I think I will try to add some color to Three Boats today.

Thanks for stopping by!