I am a better crafter than I am a blogger!

I am not a good blogger but I have been crafting. Right now I am working on the second sock in my first pair of socks. I am a bit bummed though because despite the yarn being the same dye lot there is a very noticeable difference in the shades of the two skeins. Unfortunately I didn't notice when I purchased it several months ago and so now my socks are not going to be an exact shade match.

I finished up some Easter crafts prior to Easter so sharing a pic of those.

Also we remodeled our bedoroom and I am sharing a picture of that.

Summer is a busy time around here so not sure how much I will be blogging but you can bet I will be soaking up the sunshine with a needle in hand.

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.