Another Finish and a start

 I finished my Milanese Lace Cowl! I even blocked it already. It is amazing what you can get done with a week off.

 Can you see how light and airy it is?

 I have to admit that I am very proud of myself for mastering this pattern.

I had to leave out the last ten rows because I was running out of yarn, but is actually the perfect width even so.

I have also been working on my Granny Rose Squares. I have finished all of them...I think. Now I have to lay them out and decide how I want to connect them. I may have to buy more yarn for that. 

Here is the beginning of my new Advent Calendar project. I ironed the background piece and have added a few sequins. It is a little hard to see the blue sequins on the blue background but trust me they're there.

Right now I am working on this at my kitchen table so that I don't get sequins and beads all over the place. I may try to work on this using one of our large ottomans as a table.

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. It is a miserable rainy day here that would be perfect for stitching, but my son is visiting and there are assignments to be graded so I don't know how much stitching I will get done today. We shall see.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ta-da! Baker Beach is finished!

I sat down with Baker Beach lat Sunday morning and finished it just after noon. 

It has been washed and ironed (though it looks like I need to do more ironing) and is ready to be brought to the framer. I think I will wait until my son visits so that he can have a say in how it is framed as it is a gift for him.

This took over three years and consisted of 36,000 stitches. I made sure initial and date it although it is a little hard to see in this photo.

All in all I love how this turned out!

Next up is this felt Advent Calendar. 

In reading the directions I realized that all those mittens and stockings are actually permanently attached which is not what I really want, so I may have to adjust how this is made near the end. I would prefer that each stocking could be hung on its own button or bead. I have a long way to go before I really have to worry about that. I will be starting work on this today as my hands are itching to do some sewing. 

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Olympic crafting

I love the Olympics. Not only do I enjoy watching the huge variety of sporting events, but it is a great excuse to just sit and stitch all day long. I am even thinking of moving Baker Beach to the living room so that I can actually finish it today. Do you see how close I am to that finish? 

It is definitely going to happen today! 

I am wondering if I have enough yarn to complete all 80 rows of my cowl. I am really not worried about it as I will either stop at 70 or keep going to the full 80. It will be fine either way. The yarn is lace weight so there may be enough.

I am just loving this pattern and I am so glad that I tried a pattern out of my comfort zone. I am a fairly novice knitter, but I am usually willing to try anything at least once. This lacy pattern was easy once I got the hang of it. 

Hubby and I got a surprise in the mail yesterday. This little box of chocolates came from Adelphi University where we both completed our graduate studies.

The little card speculates that we met while on campus. Little do they know that Hubby and I met in High School and started dating just before I graduated. That was several years before we were at Adelphi.

My MIL gifted Hubby and I these little bottles of champagne to celebrate the end of our mortgage payments.

 Yes, we own our house free and clear after 30 years! Yay! Of course now I am thinking that it is in need of some updating. You know: carpeting, painting, ....maybe a craft room. We shall see.

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching.

Thanks for stopping by!

  

Closer

I am inching closer to finishing Baker Beach. I was able to spend about an hour yesterday stitching sand. You can see that I have made it down to the bottom left corner. 

I am oh so close. I just want to sit and stitch until it is done. Unfortunately, there are the basics of life that get in the way, but that is okay. With a February Break coming up, I know that it will be done by the end of this month. Wow, did I actually say that?
I have also spent some more time working on my cowl. I am loving the way it is looking.

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching today. Baker Beach is on my stitching radar. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching.

Thanks for stopping by!