Christmas Vacation - Crafting

I was really excited to be able to pick up my yarn and work on different projects during my four week vacation. Here are a few things I have completed during this time.

A Seed Stitch Infinity Scarf for Small T.  I used Red Heart With Love yarn in White.  It's the same pattern I have used previously, just half the width.  I started by casting on 19 stitches, which is just right for Small T's slight frame, and isn't so overpowering. This is finished now, and she loves it.  I just don't have a photo to share.  Sorry.

I made this hat for a friend's son. I used Red Heart Team Spirit yarn.

I completed this Homespun Knitted Baby Doll Blanket.

I finished this Diagonal Striped Knitted Baby Blanket.

I crocheted this Doll Blanket.

And this one too.

I knitted this doll blanket with more of my scrap yarn.

And this one too.

And I made myself some new slouchy hats. This one is Celestial (blue).

I really like this one.  It's Celestial, Autumn Red, and Charcoal Grey.

This one is Autumn Red and Charcoal Grey.  I like it too.

Small T made me clean my book shelves around the fireplace and in the process, I found all my crochet notebooks.  I didn't realize I had so many of them.  I've had a good time looking through them.

When I got tired of knitting and crocheting, I broke out my needlepoint bucket and started on a set of cross stitched pillow cases.

I have one of them done and have started on the second one.

Then I knitted another doll blanket.

I've really enjoyed spending time with my crochet and knitting projects and I'm really going to miss them when classes start again.  I'm going to need to find myself some small projects that I can work on every now and then, in short doses, so I'm not missing it so much these next four months.

Needlework

I've finished up the needlework that I've been working on.  When I broke out my tin of supplies to work on Super D's face, I found several pieces of needlework that I had started but not finished.  So...it was high time I completed them.

  Several years ago, I made what I call "Primitive Family Portraits".  They aren't everyone's style, but ... they do have a bit of uniqueness to them.

This one is for my sister Annie.  I just finished it.

This one is for my sister Lea.  I finished it yesterday.

I also have one for my sister Marie.  It was previously finished and in the tin.  The one for my sister Dea was given to her a couple of years ago.  Mine is the first one I made and it hangs on my bedroom wall.  I also need to frame the one I made of all my sisters and brother.  That will also go in my room.

Some of these will be given as Christmas presents after I frame them.  Speaking of frames, I had Big Daddy take me to the dollar store today so I could buy frames (and a lot of other stuff too...geez...I cannot be turned loose in that store...as I just love it!)  Tomorrow, in between cooking, I will have Big C help me frame these up and get them wrapped.  Saturday is our annual Wine Family Christmas and one set of family members live a long way away, so their gifts have to be handed out then as I won't see them again until after Christmas.  This also means that I need to make a couple of more hackey sacks asap.  Good thing they are easy to make.

Finished...

I just finished up the needlework on this.  Now I need to iron it and frame it.  That will be one more gift ready.  :)

I'm on a roll today.  And I even made TWO dinners tonight.  LOL  I'm feeding some picky eaters.

Change of pace...

Continuing with the "working on Christmas projects" theme....I'm now working on a quick needlework project.  (It helps that I have my tin of needlework projects and supplies out.) This will be for one of my nieces.

Working on...

Today, I'm working on a few Christmas presents.  I finished the pillow earlier and now I'm adding the finishing touches to "Super D".

 She's looked like this for several days now.  She has sat patiently on the end table next to my recliner...waiting and waiting for some attention.  After consulting with my WitchDoctor Nurse ... Miss Pattycake, a plan was hatched for adding Super D a face.

 Nurse Pattycake insisted that Super D needed "1 or 3 eyes...and fangs with her smile".  So that's what she got.  I had to break out my needleworking skills for this.  I used embroidery floss for the face, in case you are wondering.

I tried (a tad unsuccessfully, I might add) to outline the emblem on Super D's chest.  It looks "ok".  But not the fabulous that I was aiming for.

Now...I'm making Super D's cape.  After all, how can you be a Super D without a cape???

Cross Stitching...

Around mid-May, I told my stepmom I would help her out with some quilt squares she needed cross stitched.  I've been being pretty lazy and had only worked on one of them.  The cross stitching part was fine, but all the back stitching that needed to be done was really kicking my butt and keeping me from wanting to do them.  So...when I called her to chat the other night, she suggested that I do the cross stitching and she would do the back stitching.  Heck Yeah!!!!  So...I've been working diligently the past two days and have completed five of the twelve squares.  Woo Hoo!  Here's a little preview....

Needlepoint/Embroidery Project

Well, looks like I'm going to be working on some Needlepoint/Embroidery quilt squares for my stepmom.  She's needing them done for a quilt that was commissioned (she a quilter) so I offered to help her out.  I can't crochet at the pool because it's too hot but I can do some needlepoint when I'm not busy.  She's started this first square, but there are plenty of them to work on.  I don't do a lot of needlepoint, but every now and then, I'll do some.  It's a fun project to break up the monotony when I get tired of working with yarn.  Plus, it's good to help family out with their projects when they need help.

Embroidery/Stitchery Project

I did a quick little embroidery/stitchery project yesterday. I think it turned out pretty good!

2 WIP Completed

OK...I thought and thought and messed around and so on, and I decided to frame the Stitchery/Needlepoint project as is. This is a Christmas present for one of my nieces.

I finished up the Lacy Accent Doily. I couldn't stand letting it sit around just because I didn't want to go out and buy another skein of yarn. So...I went to the dimestore and bought the yarn. It took me less than 20 minutes to finish the crocheting and weave in all the ends. I like the finished product quite well. However, I have a HUGE couch, so...I will need two of these if I'm going to use them as decoration. I might possibly give this to my mom for Christmas. She could put it on the back of her lazy boy arm chair.

Needlepoint/Stitchery Project

Well, my Needlepoint/Stitchery Project is coming along nicely. I've spent a little bit working on it this morning. I'm not too happy with the freehand stuff I'm doing, but...I think I've come up with an idea to make it "tie in" with the rest of the project, so...we'll see what happens.

Edit::: I think...I'm going to pull out all of the extra little stitchery items at the bottom and at the top. I really don't care for it. What do you think? I feel like it doesn't tie into the whole picture that I'm trying to create.

Thursday's Projects

I did a bit of needlework on this project while sitting at the school for Parent/Teacher conferences.

I made a few Nana Squares in the morning.

And spent as much time as possible on the Lacy Accent Doily. I'm soooooo upset. At the end of the night, I ran out of yarn. And I was almost done. So far, I've used 2 (7 oz.) skeins of Red Heart worsted weight yarn in Soft White. It looks like I'll need one more. *sigh*

Two New Projects

Today, I got tired of working on projects that "I have to do" and decided to do a couple of fun things instead.

I started a needlepoint project for my niece Dani. I plan to give this to her for Christmas.

I also started a crochet project that I've been dying to make for at least 6 months now. It's called "Lacy Accent Doily" and you can find it at www.redheart.com . I am making this with Red Heart worsted weight yarn and an I hook. I'm going to put it on the back of my couch. Go check the pattern out...it's BEAUTIFUL!

Possibilities

I have to work at the pool again today. And it's probably going to be slow. The weather has not been co-operating. So...I need a couple of things to keep me busy while we are waiting for swimmers. I have a stitchery project picked out. If that's something I choose to work on. I also have four (count them....four) magazines piled up that I haven't read yet. (This is unbelievable since I am a magazine freak.) And I have my crochet that I could take. It would be a perfect time to work on the red and purple afghan or some Nana Squares. It just depends on how hot it is outside. I can't work with yarn when I'm sweating. You know? So...today has some good possibilities lined up for me in the "no boredom" zone.

Primitive Stitchery Finished

I finished one of my sisters' "Primitive Family Portraits" last night after work. I guess I didn't pay close enough attention to what I was doing, because I totally screwed up. I put the boys' names in black, instead of using the same color as their pants. *sigh* I absolutely refuse to pull it out though. I didn't like working on this one for some reason. Doing the girls was fun, but that's about it. I'm also tired of this stitch that I'm using. Anyway, at least this one is done. I have two more to go. This is my second finished one.

Progress on my Stitchery

Here is the current state of my stitchery. I've been working on it when I get up in the mornings and I'm drinking my coffee. This is what I got done this morning (and a bit last night). I wasn't sure about the green showing up for "cleopatra", but you can see it in the photo. It's just not as bright at the pink for "arejadnea". When I get through with the girls, it will be on to the boys section.

Progress on my Stitchery

I'm not making very much progress on this. Then again, I have spent very little time with it. I dug it out last night and started outlining the second little girl. I'm going to try to work on this whenever I'm not crocheting on a project. (I wonder if this "vow" will last?) I still have quite a bit of work left on this stitchery to complete. I think once I get started, it won't take long.

Last Week In Review

Oh what a week it was! I wasn't able to get much done since it was the first week that the pool opened for the summer. I'm the manager, so it took up a lot of my time from noon to 8 pm each day. However, I did find the time to finish up a stitchery project (the pretty flowers), watch my daughter at two softball games (that's her at bat), start another stitchery project that will be for one of my sisters, crochet a treasure bag, and make up a menu for the week's dinner meals (we're trying to clean out the freezer and buy as few groceries as possible this month). I hope you enjoyed my week in review photo collage! I wish I had taken more photos, but I didn't. That's the way it goes sometimes. **I've also started to work on another design. I'm hoping to get it finished up soon so I can post it. This should give you all something to look forward to.**

Today's Project - Stitching

Since I'm going to be outside all day today, I decided to do a bit of stitching for my project. I think it's going to be too warm for crochet. We'll see. I got the idea for this little stitching scene from a primitive stitching site. I freehanded the drawing on muslin with a water soluble fabric pen. Opening day at the pool is typically very busy, so we'll see how much of it I get done today. I'll post a photo when it's finished.

Stitchery Projects Finished

I finally finished up the stitchery projects that I started in April. I had all the stitching done, I just needed to frame them up. I know, I'm a procrastinator. These two little lovelies are now in the hands of Sassy and Pattycake. My sister is hanging them on the wall in their newly decorated bedroom.

If you remember, I had the girls write their names with a fabric marker on the material and then I did the rest of of the "decorating".