Winter Wonderland

All of the Christmas preparation is completed except for baking some cookies and making some fudge. My darlin' daughter will be helping me with that this Thursday and Friday. So I have actually found myself with more time for crafting than I typically have.

It is bitter cold out there this week. We are to see temps down to zero tonight. Over the weekend we received a blanket of snow. It's definitely starting to look like Christmas out there. So staying inside and crafting while enjoying some coffee or hot cocoa is a wonderful way to spend a cold evening.

I have a couple more finishes to share. They were both freebies that I picked up somewhere. They were both fun projects. Tonight I started on a new project. I am stitching some of the designs from an old Prairie Schooler book called A Prairie Christmas.

Hope your holidays are filled with love, family and blessings.

Christmas season is here!

I've not been updating my blog but I have been crafting. So I decided to finally take a few minutes here to post some pics. This first picture is a knitted scarf and hat set that I have made to give as a Christmas present. I hope it keeps the receiver warm in the wintery weather.

This afghan (Crochet) was made for my hubby. I realized not too long ago that I have made a lot of warm afghans for others but haven't made him one. So it is wrapped and under the tree for Christmas morning. So shhhh don't tell him. I don't have to worry about him seeing it here as he isn't one for being online much and I don't think he even knows I have a blog LOL

These are some cross-stitched cards that I made for spreading Christmas cheer. I love doing simple projects like this.

Winter has started to arrive in Indiana. This weekend we got some snow. It is starting to feel like Christmas out there. Yesterday I enjoyed the open house at Warm Glow Candle Outlet in Centerville, Indiana. My son, Levi sang for the open house as he has for several years now. It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon and get a little extra Christmas shopping done. My shopping has been finished for awhile, except for a few little things I am picking up as I am out and about.

It has been good weather for sipping hot chocolate, reading and crafting in a comfy chair. There was a point in my life I used to dread winter but last year I made up my mind to try to see the beauty of the season and surprisingly I found myself appreciating the natural slow down that the winter brings. There is a certain hush and peace on a cold winter morning you find at no other time of the year. This year I am even looking forward to winter.

Pastor Berry has been speaking about the celebration of Christmas. I've enjoyed the sermons and it has really helped me to take pause this year and remember the heart of why we celebrate. If you strip away all the lights, the glitter, the gifts and the busy schedules you are left with a babe. Not just any babe but one that came into this world and changed EVERYTHING. May your Christmas be full of the realizaton of what Christ has done for you.

A cold weather finish

We had a few days break from the heat and humidity but we are once again back dealing with it. As a result I have been inside more. Ironically my latest craft project finish is a cold weather item. This is a Christmas present for someone. Worked up fast...and now am on to another project.

Good weather for staying inside

Indiana, like many areas, is experiencing a lot of hot humid weather. Good weather for staying inside where it is cool and stitching. I was cross-stitching and enjoying the company of my family Wednesday night when a storm blew in knocking out our electricity. I'm not one for stitching by candlelight so spent the rest of the evening just talking. We were without power until 3;30am. It was only six hours but it sure makes one realize how dependent we are on electricity.

We are on well water so no electricity also means no water. The air was humid so the house got a bit uncomfortable. I was sure glad when things came back on again. Nothing like doing without something awhile to make one grateful.

Both patterns are from the leaflet Country Cupboard Trademarks from Grandmother's Kitchen. I did adapt the boy though as the towel simply wasn't large enough for me to put his entire body. I have made both to give to someone for their birthday. I hope they like them.

Crafting with my darlin' daughter

It has been hot and humid here in Indiana. A bit too hot to enjoy the outdoors so my daughter and I have been finding indoor things to do while we chat. Wednesday we painted. Please make note that I am not posting a picture of my painting....made a rediscovery...I still can't paint. My daughter has the talent there. One of these days I will have to post some pics of her work.

Yesterday she started a knitting project but took a break to do a very small cross-stitch. She isn't fond of cross-stitching so even the small one was a surprise. Here is her lil bird project.

I finished a piece this morning. It is from the October 2009 issue of The Cross Stitcher magazine. It is called Tea with a Welcome Guest. This is a reproduction piece by Margaret Kohl. I stitched it on a piece of Silkweavers hand dyed 28 count Lugana called Rock Quarry. I used DMC 3750 for all stitches. It went together pretty fast. Now I have to decide what I am going to stitch next.

Recently I picked up a new devotional book entitled The Simple Life and a few days ago Matthew 5:16 was the focus of the devotional. At the end it had a food for thought quote I thought was worth sharing. "Lamps do not talk; they shine." I think that would make a good quote to put on a sampler. What do you think?

It's been awhile

I've been crafting but seem to forget to update my blog. For those of you with blogs, share your secrets to keeping it up with me.


This first finish is a freebie pattern from DMC that I made for my daughter.




This was a quick stitch that is also a freebie that I found online from a UK magazine. It is a different way to give a gift of $$. I made this for my niece for her upcoming wedding shower.



I am also about a quarter of the way done with a baby blanket. The pattern is from the Blossom street book by Debbie Macomber. I have used this pattern before. Nice and simple but very pretty. I also have a cross-stitch in progress. It is a reproduction of an old sampler done in one color. I've also finished several beanies and a blanket for Covered with Love.

Sometimes I think I need to go back to working on one project at a time or just a couple at a time. I overwhelm myself when I get to many things going at one time. Anyone else have that issue?


Let's talk UFO projects....I started Starry Night several years ago. I went at it pretty good for awhile but it is such a big project that I lost interest and put it down and haven't taken a stitch in quite some time. When you meet with a project like that do you 1) Sit it aside until it grabs your interest again because you can't NOT finish or 2) Get rid of it...Life is too short to torture yourself stitching something you don't have the interest to do anymore.

I love working with yarn!

I spent yesterday finishing up a shawl that I have been working on for awhile. I discovered something...I am not fond of using large knitting needles. The entire time I was working on it I felt like I was trying to color with those really big crayons that you use in preschool. But rarely do I start a project and not finish it so I marched on despite the feel of the fat needles in my hands. The results turned out pretty good for my first shawl attempt. I simply made a triangle shape by increasing one at the beginning and end of each row. The entire project took less than two skeins of yarn. While I like the lacy open look of using the bigger needles I am thinking the next time I will use something a bit smaller.

The next project I started and finished withing 24 hours. I guess cupcakes are just addictive even if these were not for munching. This was a free pattern a friend showed me on the web. The first picture I put them in a cupcake tin as I think this would be an adorable way to present them. The second picture I took them out so you could see more of the detail.

We are finally seeing the sun today here in Indiana. It is going to be 50 degrees this weekend, which is a welcome change. The winter has felt rather long to this Hoosier. I am ready to see the sunshine and be able to get outside. There is no light better for stitching than the sun.

Today I think I am going to work on a beanie for Covered With Love. I still have a cross-stitch project going that I might spend some time on as well. If you stop by my blog, leave me a comment and let me know what you crafting!

Something about snowy days puts me in the mood to craft...perhaps because it is because I prefer observing snow from inside the warmth of my house. I am admittedly not a winter person but have really been trying this year to appreciate the beauty of winter.

As I type we have just had another snow move through and apparently there is more to follow tonight. It has been a very snowy February for the Hoosier State. It has given to some beautiful landscapes. Several morning we woke up to fog freeze glazing the trees like diamonds. Very pretty. But enough is enough...I am so ready for some sun and warmer weather.

As you can see my recent finishes are fall themed. Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I love the colors and the quietness of an autumn day. The Thanksgiving Sampler is a design by Frony Ritter from The Cross Stitcher magazine October 2009

I have put my first stitches on a new project. It is a freebie from DMC. I will be back when it is finished. In the meantime I hope you are surrounded by blessings and have been enjoying the beauty of the winter.

While we experienced some unseasonably warmer temps and rain over the weekend, we were quickly reminded here in Indiana that it is still indeed winter. It has been a very gloomy month and there is about an inch of snow on the ground. So it is proving good weather to craft and do one of my other favorite things...read.

Crafting first...I have been knitting on beanies for Covered with Love and since they look a lot like the ones I have posted before I didn't take pictures of them. I love knitting in the winter. Something about it it warms the soul.

I did finish the freebie from The Chocolate Cat that I was working on and am posting a picture. The chart is called Love Letters. Not decided yet as to how I am going to finish this one. Usually when I do a cross-stitch project I have a purpose in mind or someone I know I am giving it to, but this one I just stitched for the fun of it so am not sure what I am going to end up doing with it just yet.

I have been reading a book my kids' vocal coach loaned them called Tortured for Christ. It is writting by a pastor from Romania who preached Underground and suffered much at the hands of Communists. It has been a very insightful read thus far. A lot of self-examination with this one...How dedicated would I be as a Christian if faced with the things this man experienced? Would I be bold or would I cave if my life were on the line?

While I would love to say I would die for Him...would I really? Would I have the courage of my convictions to look down the barrel of a gun and refuse to deny Him? Would you? It is easy to say yes but I can't imagine being in that sort of situation, yet there are people even in our day and age find themselves in similar situations in various parts of the word.

It has been a hard book to read at times knowing the stories recounted are real. These things happened to real people not so very different from you and I. Sometimes as an American I can take my freedoms for granted. Lord forbid I ever get so comfortable in my "religion" that I forget there are many brothers and sisters that serve Him under persecution.

I started a new cross-stitch project this morning. It is a freebie from The Chocolate Cat. It won't take long to stitch up so I should be posting a pic soon.

Winter has arrived in Indiana and for some reason I am pulled more towards knitting when it is cold outside. So I have been working on some beanies for charity. There is just something warming about sitting on the sofa, watching tv, sipping a hot drink and knitting.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and that everyone is getting a great start to the new year.