Started

I just had to get started on "Three Boats". It has been calling to me. 

Yesterday, I sat down and put in all the grid lines that I will need for the first 3 pages and then I stitched a few stitches in the upper left corner. 

I am stitching this on 18-count Aida cloth to keep the overall size manageable, but I really prefer 14-count. This is going to be quite a long stitching journey. It has started.

Last weekend I finished the ribbon and leaves and started on the second crow of Jingle. Just the head is done.

 I will put some more stitches on the body today. I might even finish it, though probably not.

I have almost completed my crocheted hat too. 

It is 9 and 1/2 inches long and needs to be 10 inches before I stitch the border row. So close. I should be able to finish it very soon. I can't believe that it has taken me so long, but the arthritis in both my hands has been very limiting. Once the hat is done, I can go back to working on the scarf. 

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! 

Slow Sunday Stitching

I added all the snow on the top of Jingle. If you click on the picture you can see the snowflake confetti. I really don't like stitching confetti so I just sat down and made myself do it.

I started working on the bottom half of Jingle yesterday. Yay! You can see the green ribbon on the right side of the picture under "Enter". 

I finally feel like I am making some progress on this piece. Now I am looking forward to working on it.
I have also added some rows to my hat. 

It is dark and rainy here today which probably explains why the color looks blue rather than lavender. I need to make it 10 inches long so that the bottom can be folded up. I have just about 8 inches completed.

My university job started again this past week. I am only teaching one class so it is somewhat more manageable. I made Individual Chicken Pot Pies last week that I froze. All I have to do is take them out of the freezer when I get home and pop them in the oven.

We have a late dinner, but at least it isn't take-out. Today I want to make some baked ziti and Swedish meatballs to put in the freezer for future dinners. 

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. I will add a few more stitches to Jingle in between my cooking.

Thanks for stopping by!

Slow Sunday Stitching

I finished the words of the first part of Jingle and added the green ribbon in the right corner.

Next, I want to fill in all the scattered stars and snowflakes that go on the right side. Then Jingle will be almost halfway done. 

I also attached the fabric to the frame to start "Three Boats". 

I started putting in a grid on the left using a color of floss that isn't in the picture so that I have some sort of reference to work off of. I did the same with "Baker Beach" and found it very helpful. 

I didn't show you all the yarn goodies that I purchased from my local ACMoore store that is going out of business.

I was happy to find the two variegated yarns. I have wanted to make the Which Way Filet blanket for a while and although a solid color is recommended I think the pastel variegated yarn on the upper right is what I want to use for it. The flecked yarn at the bottom will become a sweater and the other variegated yarn just caught my eye.

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. I want to see if I can complete the snowflakes and stars on Jingle today. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Treating myself

I used some Christmas gift money to buy myself some goodies.

I bought some supplies from 123Stitch. I got myself the hook and loop tape needed to attach my Aida cloth to my lap stand. I needed it to finally start this large piece beachy scene I am calling "Three Boats" for my daughter and her husband. I also bought the stocking you see above to make a stocking for my son-in-law as the rest of us all have stockings made by me.

 

I purchase this blue even-weave fabric so that I can make this pretty pattern sometime soon. I don't know whether this will be for me or my daughter. She loves snow globes.

I have been spending a few minutes each day working on "Jingle as ye enter, Jingle as ye go". This is where I was on the last update. 

I have made a lot of progress on the words. The "Jingle" that I have completed is actually one stitch too far to the left, but I am not going to move it. I will adjust the ribbon above it as I stitch it and no one will know. It doesn't bother me, because this is a fairly free-form design anyway.

It is a snowing here today on the first day of a three day weekend and I am taking advantage of staying inside by getting some baking done. 
First I made a favorite granola.

Then I made some blueberry muffins to share with my mom and MIL. They both like these particular muffins the best of those that I make. I always make sure I have some blueberries in the freezer so I can make these any time.

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 getting "Three Boats" set up on the frame and do a little more stitching on "Jingle".

Thanks for stopping by!

More from the Met!

I have completed a few more rows on my hat. It is about halfway done.

I also started reading a new book. It has been sitting in a basket waiting to be read for quite a while.

I want to share the American furniture that we saw at the Metropolitan Museum of Art a few weeks ago. The decoration on this clock is beautiful.

 Below is a Connecticut desk. I really love the fan design.

 Don't you love the beautiful inlaid compass design on the desk below. 

 I tried very hard to get a good picture of them, but the light was shining just so.

 There were even whole rooms set up. My son called me over to this vignette to show me the card table with places to hold candlesticks in the the corners. You really had to be careful when dealing cards I guess. I also love the built-in china cabinet in the corner.

 Below is a bureau table from Rhode Island. That fan design occurs again. 

 I think this bedstead is beautiful. I have always loved the sleigh style.

Isn't this dining room gorgeous?

There was also an American pottery display.

This Rosewood piece really caught my eye. I love daffodils.

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 put a few stitches on Jingle. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Frogging in the New Year

That nasty frog visited me bright and early this year. 

It appears that I miscounted 5 stitches for 4 on the green ribbon in the upper left corner. That meant that I also misplaced the green ribbon above the bird. I didn't frog the corner ribbon, I am just going to add a two stitch row at the top, but I had to frog the ribbon above the bird, because I couldn't accurately place the star. All is well now and I did just sit down that day and stitch and make some good progress on the word Jingle.

I have been crocheting my lavender hat, but my right thumb is quite unhappy about it. Now I am back to doing my exercises, icing it and taking pain meds. The hat is growing slowly, but I love the way it looks.

On the last Saturday of December, my son, Hubby and I took the train into NYC and toured a small part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The first thing we saw was the Christmas tree. This is a view from the side.

The Nativity was quite complex and interesting. Look at the detail of this little scene.

They had an exhibit of Dutch Masters that was quite interesting. This is "Flora" by Rembrandt.

"Self Portrait" by Rembrandt.

"Merrymakers at Shrovetide" by Frans Hals.

"The Hague and its Formal Garden" by Jan Van Der Heyden.

"Castle by a River" by Jan Van Goyen.

"Allegory of the Catholic Faith" by Johannes Vermeer

"Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints" by Raphael.

There were many more paintings, but these are the ones that captured my interest. The museum was crowded, so I couldn't always get a straight on picture.

We also saw an American Furniture and Pottery exhibit as well as an Egyptian exhibit. I will add pictures of those in my next post.

I am joining Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching. Pop on over to her site to see what other bloggers are stitching. I hope to get some more stitches done on Jingle today. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy New Year!