Cats and blankets

Here is my progress on the Red Deer Sampler.

And here is my fussy cut star for the week -- yet another Jo Morton Woodland fabric.

I also got a bit of knitting done.  After a false start and some swatching, I cast on for a sweater for the boy child.  It's a pattern called Cobblestone by Brooklyn Tweed.  I'm using Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in Plume.  (Boy Child likes purple.)

I won a lovely prize from Dawn of Collector with a Needle!  Dawn has been involved with a quilt exhibit at the Denver Art Museum.  She's been showing pics of the exhibit on her blog, and she gave away a copy of a book of the exhibit.  To me!!

She wrapped the book up in a lovely fabric which I believe is from that coveted Circa 1825 collection from In the Beginning.  Thank you so much, Dawn!  I love the book and wish I could attend the exhibit in person.

The girl child came up to spend Father's Day with her dad.  It seems every time she comes recently, she's used a certain blanket.  For some reason, this certain blanket has become a favorite with Mia.  Well, the blanket became a subject of contention this time around.

Mia decided that she would stake her claim to the blanket by sleeping on the blanket -- on the girl child.  She eventually won the argument.

Thanks for stopping by and saying hi.  (Can't wait for Wimbledon next week!!!!)  I hope everyone has a great week!

A parrot and a couple of those big cats too

After all that knitting, I wanted to get back to some stitching.  So I started A Parrot, A Leopard, A Lion by Scarlet Letter.  Laurie of My Little Corner of Iowa and I are both planning on using this piece for the top and front of our flat caskets from the Cabinet of Curiosities.  This is my progress so far.

I am using 50/62ct linen in Vintage Light Examplar (by Lakeside Linens) using a conversion to Tudor Silks done for me by Jean of the Attic Needlework.  I'm loving it so far!  Laurie has done her own conversion to Tudor Silks so it's fun to watch our two versions progress.

And here's my fussy cut Friday star for the week.  A straight copy of a star in Judie Rothermel Peace and Unity fabric that Temecula Quilt Co. did.

I won a giveaway from Annette of the California Stitcher blog.  The package arrived this week.

And look at what was inside!

A lovely card, some Whitman's chocolates, some linen, the Mrs. Waddelow chart from With My Needle that has been on my wish list forever, and a lovely lovely needlebook and stitch wallet that Annette made herself!

Here is the inside of the needlebook sitting on top of the stitch wallet.  So beautiful!  Thank you so so much, Annette!  I love it all, especially the needlebook and stitch wallet!  I'm putting both to good use already!

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  I hope everyone has a good week!  Here's hoping that polar vortex goes away and leaves us alone.

Mia's new hiding place

Knitting and a gift

Having 3 different crafts that I want to do makes for difficult choices in which one I pick up.  With the cold weather, I seem to be tending toward knitting at the moment.  I cast on the Lightweight Pullover by Knitbot (Hannah Fettig) this week, using the Verdant Gryphon's Bugga yarn in American Rubyspot.  I'm almost ready to start the raglan increases!

I also worked some more on the Color Play Mohair Wrap.

My problem with this project is I dislike working with mohair.  lol!  It's like working with an extra hairy Mia, mohair all over the place.  Bleagh!

I also kept up with the Fussy Cut Fridays by making another star.

I had to cake up my Bugga yarn before I started the Lightweight Pullover, so I pulled out my trusty yarn swift and ball winder.  The father type was very interested in the process and asked if he could do the winding.  He had a great time!

(Please ignore the mess -- we hadn't picked up from the boy child's packing at the time.)

I received a lovely consolation prize from KimM's giveaway on Wisdom with Needle and Thread.  She sent me these lovely hand stitched gift tags!

They're all so lovely and tiny and delicate!  I love them, Kim!  Thank you so much!

Like so much of the country, we've been experiencing too too cold temps, and snow too.  Mia has not liked it anymore than I have.  She's been finding ways to keep warm though.

(Yes, she gets in there by herself.)

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi!  I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

(Hooray for Stan!)

In the Christmas mood?

I've made some progress on my Crown Sampler.

The needle is a size 28 petite.  I put the Clover cutter there for size.  I'm using the 50/62 count linen with Tudor silk conversion from the Attic.

You might notice the adorable needleminder in the picture as well.  It's a gift from Paula of Kelmscott Designs.

See the adorable cat?   I love it so much!  Thanks so much, Paula!

I also won a lovely prize from Elaine of Emily's Cupboard.  It's a lovely kit for embroidery along with a crewel embroidery book.

The Appleton wools are so luscious!  Now I have to get over my fear of crewel work and start embroidering!  Thanks so much, Elaine!

We had our first substantial snow this weekend.  It messed up our plans for the girl child to come home and go cut down a Christmas tree with us.  So instead, the father type and I shoveled ourselves out and went to a local pre-cut tree stall.  I'm happy with our selection -- the tree is nice and tall, but also nice and skinny.

Here's the father type posing for the camera while putting up the lights.

And here's the decorated tree.  The father type and I put up fewer ornaments than usual since it was just the two of us.  Definitely an advantage to a tall, skinny tree.  lol!

The father type finally picked out his retirement gift from IBM.  It was placed on the mantel today, complete with commemorative plaque.

(The plaque is on the side.)  It has a pendulum and it chimes too!  So much fun!

Mia enjoyed an empty box, one of her favorite things to do.

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  I hope everyone has a great week!