First Blogiversary!

I am not sure what I expected when I started this blog one year ago today, but I am enjoying sharing with all of you.

I think today I will look back on the projects that I have worked on this past year.

In my very first blog post I showed you the beginnings of Scary Cat

and a few Granny Square Roses.

Well Scary Cat became this Halloween pillow

and I am still working on the Granny Square Roses, some of which are now at this point.

Since I have no real plan for these Roses they keep being pushed aside.

So here are all my finishes from my first year of blogging:

Fingerless mitts for my daughter.

Scary Cat coordinating towel.

Two different coaster sets.

Daisy Square Afghan

Richmond Lace Infinity Scarf

2 Wasatch Back Country Hats (one for Hubby and one for my son) that were exactly the same.

Winter Angel

Barn Jacket

Little House Needleworks "Love"

and "Over the River and Through the Woods"

Wow, I finished so much more than I thought I did.

Of course there are a few WIPs right now also.
On the Tracks Infinity Scarf
Larger Cross-stitch #1
Stamped Cross-stitch
Granny Square Roses

Hmm, I think I need to start something new. There aren't enough WIPs. How did that happen?

I want to thank all of my followers. I love reading everyone's comments. They always put a smile on my face.

Thanks for stopping by!

Almost finished!

Why is it that when you are so close to finishing (2 measly rows) a WIP it seems to go so slowly? Sometimes I wonder if I just avoid finishing it because it means I have to move on to either another WIP or something new. I am talking about On the Tracks. I have only two rows until it is finished. Only 500 stitches to go. I  really do love it!

I already finished reading Divergent and I have put Insurgent on hold for my Kindle. If you like The Hunger Games, you are going to like this book. There are some violent scenes in the book, but much less than in The Hunger Games. It is a very quick, "can't put down the book", read. Yes, it is aimed at young adults, but truly it is a fine book for anyone. I never knew I could enjoy books of this genre before The Hunger Games, but I can hardly wait for Insurgent to be available.

Speaking of The Hunger Games, I finally borrowed the DVD from the library and actually watched the movie. It was quite true to the book minus of course all of Katniss' thoughts which obviously give the book more substance. You can only guess at her innermost thoughts through her facial expressions in the movie. I am glad I saw it and I will borrow the other movies in the trilogy, but I wouldn't rush to see this in the movie theater.

I made a visit to my local library on Monday and borrowed these books.

I have read a Gil McNeil book before so I have started Needles and Purls first. This is a good book, but not as much of a page-turner as Divergent. Quite a different genre also. I am only a few chapters into it so I will not pass judgment just yet.

I am joining Ginny's Yarn Along once more. What are you knitting/crocheting? What are you reading? Pop on over to her site to find out what other bloggers are up to.

Thanks for stopping by!



A finish!

I have finished "Over the river and through the woods". I knew that all I had to do was put my mind to it and it would be done in no time and now it is. 

Of course it will need to be framed but December is still a ways away so I have time. 

I haven't done any other cross-stitching this week. I am looking forward to getting back to the other two WIPs.

I spent some time on my front porch yesterday hand-quilting my daughter's Peanuts's Christmas quilt. Since I gave her the quilt top for Christmas 2012 it would be nice to have the quilt totally finished for this holiday season. 

This is my next WIP that I am planning on finishing. I keep putting off starting another quilt project because this one isn't finished. 
I am joining Kathy today for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site see what other bloggers are stitching.

My astilbe, clematis and lilles are in bloom! 

I just love no fuss flowers.

Hubby and I went back to the beach again last night. It is only about 15 minutes from home so it is nice to walk the boardwalk at night.

We found a walkway down to the water last night and got some ocean pictures.

The sky was just beautiful.

This was about 8 pm. Still light out on the first night of summer.

Thanks for stopping by!

New yarn start

First I am sharing with you a beautiful sunset I saw from my back deck a few days ago.

Now, I just don't like the infinity scarf I have been crocheting. I ran out of yarn so I can't get the correct length. I am not in love with the yarn either. So I decided to start to crochet On The Tracks with the same yarn. You guessed it, I didn't like the way the yarn works in this pattern either.

I do really like this pattern though, so I decided to use the Fiddle Knits yarn that I purchased at the Fiber Festival for this cowl. 

I am a little less than halfway finished.

I have had to adjust the pattern slightly, but I love it. It will not be as wide as my original pattern choice for this yarn which turned out be a somewhat challenging knit for me. I may use the yarn that is giving me fits to try knitting To Infinity and Beyond which was the original choice for the yarn above.

I am now reading Saturday Night Widows by Becky Aikman. Despite the possibly dreary title this is quite an entertaining book exploring the interactions of six widows. I am glad I made note of it on the recommendations of other bloggers. 

I am joining Ginny at Small Things for this week's Yarn Along. What are you knitting/crocheting? What are you reading? Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are up to.

Finally, Hubby and I went to the beach last night to walk on the boardwalk. 

It was hazy so the ocean didn't look real blue and there is more sand to see than ocean but, the sunset was gorgeous. I had just enough time to capture these pictures.

Thanks for stopping by!



June WIPocalypse

 I was quite productive with my cross-stitching this past month.

I have made great progress on "Over the river and through the woods".

I have decided that I really want to get this finished so all my stitching is currently concentrated on doing that.

Prior to making that decision though, I got a lot of stitching done on Large Cross-stitch #1. Here is my last posting....

and this is where I am now.

I also worked on my stamped cross-stitch. I am working on stitching up the left hand side first. I needed to see some color variety and some definite features of the picture. Once again, here is my last posting.....

and this is where I am now.

Measi's question this month is about stitching retreats and festivals. I have never attended any of these. I am sort of a lone stitcher. Pop on over to her site to check out what others are stitching.
One last picture of the coral bells currently blooming in my garden.

Thanks for stopping by!



A Ribbon in the 2014 Peconic Quilt Show!

This weekend Hubby and I went to the Peconic Quilt Show from the Eastern Long Island Quilter's Guild. This year's theme was "Around the World in 80 Quilts". The cross-stitch in my header would fit right in.

Upon entering Hubby and I each chose a program and his had a sticker for a door prize! This what he won....and promptly gave to me. Maybe all these goodies will spur me to try applique.

You can also see the yard of fabric that I bought in this picture. 

 I entered my Fly Away Blues quilt in the Duet Large category (for quilts pieced by one person and quilted by another). I was awarded second place! This is the first judged show that I have entered. I was so excited. Hubby took these pictures.

This is the quilt that won first prize in my category. It was pieced by Ann Bove and is called My Spring Garden. 

Here are some other notable quilts. Butterfly Garden by Patricia Bandura.

This is a great interpretation of a Log Cabin quilt. It was pieced and appliqued by Beverly A. Delaney and is called My Paducah Splurge.

Tiny Cabins by Barbara A Fein. I love the graphic nature of Log Cabin Quilts.

Another variation is Frost Valley Log Cabin by Dorothy A. Braunstein.

Wander Through My Mystical Garden by Audrey Collins.

Asian Garden by Sandra Curry.

Follow the Leader by Barbara Arnold.

More Than Just Flowers by Cathy Barta. So much great applique.

New York, What a Beauty! by Marcia Schulman. Look at all those wonderfully stitched points.

Hawaiian Quilt by Ellen Weider. I want to try one of these someday also.

The Great Pumpkin Quilt by Patricia Hallock.

Another impressive appliqued quilt: Floral Rhapsody by Judith Craddock.

A Night in Sedona by Rae Wilson.

Angel Wisdom by Judith Roush Knorr.

Lisa's Wedding Memory by JoAnn Maddalena. All the white strips of fabric have hand-written messages from the guests at the quilter's daughter's wedding. What a great keepsake.

I hope you enjoyed your tour of the quilt show!

Thanks for stopping by!