A Teeny Hallowe'en Blog Hop!

Helloooo, blogland~ I hope you guys are ready for another fun Blog Hop courtesy of our Spooktacular Hostess, Jo! I've been remarkably (regrettably) remiss with blogging this latter part of the year but how can I miss these fun hops?!  If you're happening upon my post randomly, please start your journey at Jo's blog to collect the letters in order~

Google-y Oogley

This year I accomplished a tiny finish of a Mill Hill kit. I bought this in a thrift store when visiting my Grandma last year, and I brought it back to her house this year to work on! Grandmas make enthusiastic observers and she was suitably impressed with the tiny beads, teasing me for stitching with "grains of sand".

Wendy's Rosey's cat

Obviously I had to have this one because of the black cat, right!  I really liked the black "rainbow" beads.  It's like they were a beaded oil slick of color.  This is the first Mill Hill I've worked on where it had one of the special, fancy beads (the pumpkin collar charm).  Of course I made a few minor changes because what's a piece without personalization~?  I regret not using more floss though.  The kit suggested using three strands for the cross-stitches but I like my loop starts.  This has been done in two strands and hindsight being 20/20, I should've gone up to four strands.  There were definitely enough materials to do so!  So kitty looks a little bald in spots haha~  It's mostly noticeable here in the photos; it's not bad in person.

oil slick black beads

To finish it off, I glued (eeeeek!) some black felt to the back to hide protect the stitches, and then attached the magnet that came with the kit.  I considered making this another ornament finish but now I can decorate my fridge for Hallowe'en instead of an ornament tree that I don't have. Win/win!

Technical Details

• "Wendy's Cat" - MH18-5206, a counted glass bead kit by Mill Hill.
• Perforated paper, teeny tiny beads (most were petites), magnet.
• Started October 4, 2019; finished October 18, 2019; unknown hours.

🎃💀👻🎃💀👻🎃💀👻🎃💀👻🎃💀👻🎃💀👻🎃💀👻🎃💀👻🎃💀👻🎃
And of course, you're here for the letter!

capital i, not lowercase L!

So ghoul your way on to the next haunting, which is Tiffstitches a Blog! She always has some awesome Hallowe'eny stuff.   Since I schedule these posts for the early morning hours, I'll come back and edit the links to go to the specific pages once they're (and I'm!) up.

HAPPY HALLOWE'EN!

GG August ~ Sleep

Howdy, everyone! Hope all's been swell with you guys~ This will be a short post as I am about to fall asleep at the keyboard.

click for more info!

I'd say the mojo is pretty much gone, for everything. I'm just too tired to work on anything without falling asleep 5 minutes into it. I know better than to pick up cross stitch when I'm in this state; it just results in mistakes. Speaking of mistakes, the knitting project thought about the error of its ways and came out of time out for a few minutes at a time!

before

after

This part is really simple to knit, but also very boring which does nothing for motivation. It's only got a few (~20) more rows though so at least I can see the end which does make me feel hopeful.

No one wanted the Southwest Spirit pattern so I added it to the donation bin.  I'm gonna skip this month's giveaway because I'm tired haha.  Silly excuse, but it is what it is.

dinner for two?

I did manage to rescue this fluff ball who almost got run over by the lawnmower. Just a little bitty one! Screamed up a storm when I picked it up (as bunnies will do) but soon settled down. I set it free nearby but out of the mower's path.  There must have been a nest near the house; the next day I saw two more on the other side (but they stayed out of the mower's path).

That's all from me, thanks for the look-through!  I've purposely locked comments on this post.  I'm sorry; I've been too tired to keep up with blogging lately.  It might not be the constant physical activity but more the lack of cohesive schedule throwing me off (I really like a structured week).  Maybe when things settle down again, I can get back into a regularly scheduled life.

EDIT:  I thought I posted this back on the 15th.  *facepalm*   Since I don't have comments enabled, I figured nothing was amiss.  I guess that's just how tired I was then!  I'm a bit better now, since it's a whole six days between mowings now (though that might change again as we got a whopping 10" (25 cm) of rain this week sigh).

July GG ~ Craft Group Distractions

Guess what, guys!  It finally went one whole week without raining!  YAY.  Of course, it is supposed to get very hot now so not sure if I'm 100% on board with this change.  The grass will still grow, and mowing in extreme heat is probably one of the grossest, most tiring, foolish things ever.  Don't worry, I take a ton of breaks so I don't suffer heat stroke but it still turns one half of the yard into a whole day affair.  Maybe I should just xeriscape. Or create a wildebeest habitat à la Jo.

click for more info!

I have a bit of progress on the double-knit potholder, being worked up for a friend.  I thought it was a great project to take to craft group, especially now that the "main" image is complete.

before

after

Of course, when you get to talking you stop paying attention and wind up with a glaring mistake that will have to be removed.  I've no idea how it happened as this should just be alternating colors at this point! I do not like mistakes in double knitting; it's very tedious to undo them.  Instead of pulling out the stitches, I "tink" or unknit everything, one stitch at a time. Cross stitch is so much easier (but probably not any less demoralizing) with a snip-snip!

don't do this to me

So now this project is in time out to think about the error of its ways.

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image found through Google search

Lastly, here is the next giveaway and the winner of the last chart!   The winner of The Bee Book chart from last month is RJ at Stitching Friends Forever!  They're having an amazing giveaway of their own now if you'd like to check that out.  RJ, I don't have your address so drop an email when you can and I'll get it sent out.

giveaway as stitched by me!

The pattern up for grabs this month is Southwest Spirit, a design by Gloria Eriksen and is one I have actually stitched, way back in 2010!  I picked it up in a thrift store, along with the already-started fabric.  I finished off the stitch and loved it, especially that little brown pot on the left.  It was a highly enjoyable piece to work on, maybe because the colors are so soothing.  The original owner unfortunately did not make a working copy of the pattern and so, there are pen marks on it, crossing out stitched places.   This is mostly on the buildings in the upper left.  Since the piece has some fairly large bricks of color, it doesn't make it difficult to know what color to use, nor where to use it.  Just keep in mind this is not going to be a very pristine chart!

Southwest Spirit

Since I did it on the original 14-count Aida, it worked out to be 13" x 10" which at the time was really, really big for my ventures into cross-stitching haha!  This is also the first piece I ever did on my floor stand and caused me to fall in love with two-handed stitching!  You will not be receiving the efforts of my hard work, however.  My mother liked this stitch very much!  :)

Gifted Gorgeousness Giveaway Guidelines

1. Be a minion follower (upper right corner of my blog)!  Feedly, bloglovin', etc. do not count as there is no way to show it!  I am sorry; blame blogger for this one.
2. Comment and tell me you would like to be included in the drawing!
3. Open worldwide! 
4. No winning twice in a row (example: the winner of October's drawing would not be eligible for November's).
5. Closing date: July 29th, 2019 23:59 CST.

it's a trap

And that is all for this edition of Ishkabibble Babble!

GG June ~ A Different Mojo

I think the blogging mojo has drifted into a lack of crafting mojo as well.  I used to get really upset when my crafting mojo vanishes thinking I've become some sort of failure but this time, I'm rolling with it.  Instead, my reading mojo has skyrocketed!  Catching up on my neglected National Geographics (I've made it to 2019 finally), and tons of manga (really, I've probably read around 200 volumes worth so far).  Tastes change, things I'm interested in change (often) so I know I'll eventually come back to crafts.  This tends to happen with any one of my hobbies, really.  I notice it most with gaming but typing this out makes me realize everything I enjoy doing seems to take a cycle.

It's still raining quite a bit here too, something I'm getting quite tired of dealing with.  Usually by this time of year, I can cut back to mowing the yard once a week.  Alas.  It's still every 4-5 days which is really starting to wear on me.  Hiring it out is looking awfully tempting.  I'm sure this is part of the reason the crafting mojo took a hit; I just get too tired in the evenings.  Anyway, you are here for GG!

click for more info!

I'm still working slowly on a few items, including the little cherry potholder which will be a gift for a friend.  I'm glad I started it when I did; there's no real timeline to finish but when you work slowly.... well.  Don't be blown away by my mountains of progress.

before

after

I'm also working on a shawl made from the sweater I unraveled but it's not a GG contestant unless I do some serious shoehorning haha.  I took this to our local crafty group one night and they were suitably impressed with this little bit and the yarn from the sweater!  The red and purple strands are "lifelines" -- the lower color is 100% correct, the upper color seems correct.  After I knit another pair of rows, I move the lower color up as I now know the upper line is definitely correct.  It makes sense while working haha.  I've already had to use them -- this it NOT a project to actually work on during craft night.  Too much brain power making sure those lace patterns work out correctly; one missed YO and I'm doomed hahah.  The beads have been fun though.  I probably should've used size 8/0 but I couldn't find any.  6/0 it is.

a slow process

And here's the next GG offering~  This month's giveaway is a Stitches from the Heartland chart titled "The Bee Book".  I am not sure this company exists anymore, or maybe has been renamed/absorbed into CC & Company out near Kansas City, MO.  This pattern is a totally clean, slightly primitive design with hand-drawn charts featuring our helpful gardening friends.  It does call for some Mill Hill and Debbie Mumm buttons which I don't have, but I know some of you have collections to use up, right?  ;)

The Bee Book

Gifted Gorgeousness Giveaway Guidelines

1. Be a minion follower (upper right corner of my blog)!  Feedly, bloglovin', etc. do not count as there is no way to show it!  I am sorry; blame blogger for this one.
2. Comment and tell me you would like to be included in the drawing!
3. Open worldwide! 
4. No winning twice in a row (example: the winner of October's drawing would not be eligible for November's).
5. Closing date: June 29th, 2019 23:59 CST.

a closer look at the small chart

Re: Previous Giveaways!  No one was interested in Those Darn Accessories from last month, so I donated it to the thrift store.  I had been keeping my eyes on my email (and spam section) for the winner of the Victoria Sampler piece, but never received word, so I have redrawn the name, none other than our fabulous GG hostess, Jo!  I'm pretty sure I have your address unless you've moved house suddenly!  Miniz Diary, who won the Calico Crossroads chart way back in March, has gotten (mostly) settled in her new abode, so I have sent that chart on its way.  We're both curious how long it will take as the mail to her previous location could be... Interesting!

It's been really fun sending these all around the world!  :D  That's all from me this time, a rather rambly post for nothing going on haha.  Adios, friends~  

GG May ~ A Severe Lack of Mojo

I think somehow we all fear titles like that. In my case, it's thankfully not a lack of crafting mojo, just blogging mojo!  I think a lot of it is the mowing schedule, or lack thereof.  We've been having scandalous amounts of rain here and it's basically turned into mowing whenever it's dry enough to get out... and that usually means the whole yard in one day because the grass is growing so fast!  Which absolutely exhausts me and reminds me I'm not kid anymore, hrmph.  And that one day is enough to throw all the others off kilter!  Guess I'm a creature of habit.  Let's just dive right into the Gorgeousness of the Gifted world, shall we~?

click for more info!

before

after

I feel like I had decent progress on this huck towel but when I think the last update was March... well... But another flower has bloomed and this one confused me excessively while working on it. I print the black-and-white versions of these patterns it did NOT make sense! At least, not until I started stitching it and realized the flower is facing "away"!  If you need reminding, this counts for GG because the huck towel itself was a gift from TiffStitches and makes use of some floss gifted to me by my husband~

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before

after

There's also been a bit more progress on the double-knit potholder, enough that you might have an educated guess what the motif is now!  This has been a nice project to take along to places where I know I'll have a good sit down time.  Maybe next update there will be enough to flip up and show the backside and what this double knitting is all about!  This little creation will be a gift for a friend.

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image found through Google search

Lastly, the giveaway part!  Both old and new this time as I didn't get up my regularly scheduled "everything else" post at the end of April/beginning of May.  I had a whopping five entrants last time (I suspected a Victoria Sampler would be popular).  The random number generator chose #1 who is Elfie, congrats!  I do not have your address so we'll need to get into contact with each other.

Those Darn Accessories

This time the chart is charmingly titled "Those Darn Accessories" by Hillside Samplings.  This is a rather nice primitive design chart featuring a cute sampler-like sewing case about darning over eggs... and what we say today haha.  The little pincushion is in this chart as well.  There were other items that matched this set floating about out there; I think you can still purchase "That Darn Basket" pattern but I don't know about the scissor keep.  This giveaway is just for the accessories chart!

Gifted Gorgeousness Giveaway Guidelines

1. Be a minion follower (upper right corner of my blog)!  Feedly, bloglovin', etc. do not count as there is no way to show it!  I am sorry; blame blogger for this one.
2. Comment and tell me you would like to be included in the drawing!
3. Open worldwide! 
4. No winning twice in a row (example: the winner of June's drawing would not be eligible for July's).
5. Closing date: May 29th, 2019 23:59 CST.

Okay, that's all folks! I've been trying to get this post typed for two weeks now, whenever I got the chance to sit down at the computer. Makes it hard when you just want to zone out instead hah!

A Easter Blog Hop Extravaganza!

Hooray, it's time for Jo's Easter Blog Hop! If you're happening upon this post with no idea what's going on, please start here at her blog and hop around like the little bunny you are and collect the letters. They'll spell out a mystery phrase!

they're too cute to not reuse

Here is my little contribution! These blog hops are turning into a great way to experiment with finishing things in new (to me) ways!  And to get me to make more pretty floral pieces! I present to you my first ever needle book.

a needle book blossoms

I hadn't originally planned to finish it this way; it just sort of happened!   I had thought to stitch the whole lovely tile but very quickly realized my turtle pace wasn't going to let that happen this century.  Luckily Whim Crafting came to the rescue!  I really like the center motif with its pretty hydrangeas and dahlia.  That dahlia caused its own kerfuffle -- my DMC 602 and 603 dyelots are indistinguishable from each other!  I wound up unpicking half the flower and making a blend of 602 and 605 in order to get some contrast in.  I did change the borders to a white color instead of the charted pink because, well, there was enough pink for me in the dahlia!

backside

On the back, I made a same-sized square and used the "porch brackets" from the corner motifs of the pattern.  Then, I crocheted a tiny rose using up a little bit of vintage thread.  I've never seen a yellow and pink colorway, even in modern colors, so I lightly tinted the white and cream bits with pink marker so it would be reminiscent of my rose bush.  Of course, it could've (should've?) been a daffodil, but all the patterns I've found are not flat; the trumpet would stick out a good deal, moreso than the rose currently does.

a safe haven

I used up some scrap felt I have floating around as padding and for the leaves.  Also I found a little piece of fabric from the remnant bin at JoAnn Fabrics that fit in with the soft feel of the piece! Little bits of ribbon for the closure and to hide the sewn seam of the leaves and voilà~! I have a needle book!  It's not quite perfect as I am not so great at sewing, especially when it came time to turn it right side out and finish off the unclosed seam....  Note to Self: start on the top and front next time so they can be perfect, instead of the bottom and back hah!

Technical Details

• "Spring Floral Tile" freebie pattern by Aurelia Eglantine, found here!
• Rose from "Rose Ruffled Centerpiece", Lily Design book #76
• Mystery 18-count blue-ish lilac Aida
• Started: March ??, Finished: April 17, unknown hours.  

★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
And here's what you've been breathlessly waiting for -- the letter!

the letter H

Your next stop is with Christine at The Alchymyst's Study! Since I've scheduled this post to appear in the wee hours of the morning here in 'Merica, I'll come back to update the links to go to the specific page. EDIT: Updated links! :)

Happy Easter!

April GG ~ Plodding Along

Hiya!  I've kind of had a continuation of a sparse month.  No sickness, no real busy-ness, just a sort of lethargy as we start throwing ourselves into spring.  I did the first mowing of the season last week and am amazed at just how many dandelions are in our yard!  Where did they all come from?!  I won't spray them though... they're the first thing bees tend to go for and bees are having a hard enough time in the USA as it is.  As for the weather, well... typical for a Midwest spring, it was in the 80s (26C+) and now it's snowing.  Let's not ponder the mysteries of the atmosphere just now and dive into Gifted Gorgeousness, where we parade our gifts given, being made, being used, being received, being shoehorned in.

click for more info!

a picture grows

For my sad little addition to the crafting world, a bit of knitting.  This will be a large potholder for a friend but I won't say any details until it's finished and received as I'm not sure if said friend spies on my blog!  I don't think they do but one can never tell.  It's done in double-knitting which is a way of knitting both sides of a design at the same time but with the image colors/design reversed.  This is a new-to-me technique and I have found it to be sooo slooow to progress.  It's neat watching the pattern emerge though.  If there's any technique out there that's taught me how to read my stitches, it's this one, whew!

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one day my yard will look like this

total bliss

My husband took me and our bikes to a local nature reserve where there are thousands and thousands of daffodils.  This is probably one of my favorite places on earth to see in spring time.  The weather was amazing to be out in and I wound up with a serious case of Post-Winter Bicycle Butt ahaha.  Some of the hills had to be walked up!

his

hers

You guys seemed to enjoy the last milkshakes we had so why not some more?  This time it is a  S'mores shake (with a gigantic marshmallow covered in chocolate and graham cracker dust) and a Gooey shake (topped and mixed with gooey butter cake).  These were perfect after our daffodil bike excursion!  Since the weather was so beautiful, the line at the shop stretched out onto the sidewalk.  It moved along quickly so we didn't perish from hunger or anticipation.

A side note on the Gooey Butter Cake -- if you've never had nor heard of this amazing delicacy, you might owe it to your stomachs to try it once.  It is very, Very, VERY sweet and rich (look at the amount of butter involved)!  A small piece goes a long way.  Here is a recipe if you're just dying to try it.  Many of the recipes online start with a box of yellow cake mix but it's really better from scratch... though it does take quite a while to make (it has a yeast crust that needs time to rise).  The cake mix versions don't taste or feel authentic.

...I promise, we're generally healthy individuals.

EDIT: I tried to direct link the recipe for ease of printing...  That didn't work out so well so the main page is linked and if you scroll enough, you eventually get to the recipe!

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Victoria Sampler ~ Thoughts of You

Lastly, another Gifted Gorgeous Giveaway in a rather dark photo!  This is for a discontinued Victoria Sampler set of patterns by Thea Dueck that contain options for the sampler/needle-roll, scissor case, and chatelaine.  The teeny tiny name tag pictured on the front is actually an additional, matching pattern that can be found for free here!  It's a totally clean pattern featuring cute little pansies which are done in ribbon embroidery.  This giveaway is just the chart, not the fancy pack of materials that you used to be able to order.  You'll get to make your own rainbow pansies!

Gifted Gorgeousness Giveaway Guidelines

1. Be a minion follower (upper right corner of my blog)!  Feedly, bloglovin', etc. do not count as there is no way to show it!  I am sorry; blame blogger for this one.
2. Comment and tell me you would like to be included in the drawing!
3. Open worldwide! 
4. No winning twice in a row (example: the winner of June's drawing would not be eligible for July's).
5. Closing date: April 29th, 2019 23:59 CST.

That's all, folks!  I'll see you soon enough for Jo's Easter Blog Hop!  \:D/

Random #3: Experimental Crafting!

Howdy!  Now it's really, truly, officially spring!  I planted my bargain bin daffodils purchased late last year (it was too late to plant in fall).  With these and the ones I planted last year, I may finally have enough to make a small bouquet this year!  It's been too long since I've had a bunch of daffodils in the house so I'm really excited for them.

First up in the crafty world, it's time for the winner announcement!  I'm glad each pattern has had a few people like it each time. This past giveaway was a Calico Crossroads design called Furever. It had two people enter and the random number generator chose number one!

image found through Google search

Mini, you are the winner~  I know you will be moving soon, so if you want me to hold onto the pattern until you get settled down, I don't mind.

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cozy comfort

I did manage to finish the cover for the hot water bottle!  And it has already been put to use... nightly.  The propane for our furnace is very low and it's so expensive to restock this time of year, eep.  So, we've been rationing which leads to some cold feet at night.  Hooray for hot water bottles (and my husband, the disbeliever that he was, loves it)!  And hooray for Banana Berry colorways!  I still have a healthy amount of this yarn left too.

My gauge was a little off since I used size 10½ needles.  10 would've been better, I think.  I just adjusted the increases and decreases to fit my bottle. I used Jeny's super stretchy bind off for the cuff which was an interesting experience.  It really is stretchy, thank goodness, but I feel like the sewn bind off would've been moreso.  This cover is a little awkward to use as-is.  The bottle has to be empty to slip in/out of the cover.  I have to be a bit more careful when filling/emptying it or the cover would get wet from splashes.

Technical Details

• "All You Need - A Classic" freebie pattern by LondonLeo can be found here (ravelry).
• My ravelry project page found here.
• Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver acrylic in colorway banana berry. ♥♥♥♥
• Needles: 10½ (6.5mm) short tips and 16" cable.
• Started February 17, 2019, finished March 10, 2019; unknown hours.

All in all, this is such a simple pattern!  And hugely customizable since it includes all the math with the pattern.  I'm glad I made this useful and pretty little thing!  I love that folks over the puddle call these "hotties".  They're just "hot water bottles" here.  What're they know as for you?

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vintage stash!

I occasionally tease myself with looking things up on eBay but I couldn't pass up this lot of (mostly) vintage craft booklets, especially when it wound up being about $0.50 per booklet.  The Priscilla Irish Crochet Book is a reproduction but it's nicely done.  There were lots(!) of different edging books in this lot which are always so fun to go through and think of the dainty trims to put on everything.  It's also kind of fun to see my collection so far on the "shelves" of Ravelry! (That link may only work for those who have an account; I'm not sure.)

make everything

Here are some of my favorites of the lot, partly because of the beautiful patterns, partly because of the fun covers!  I'm really interested in the two needle mittens.  I think this will be a great way to practice seaming for a future sweater.  Speaking of sweaters...

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start with an older sweater

This is a new-to-me attempt at being thrifty, possibly thrifty to the extreme.  I've often seen people take apart sweaters to reclaim the yarn but have never braved it myself.  I picked a sweater with a somewhat nice fiber content, but was too big for me, and also wasn't quite my style.  This sweater cost a terrible $0.87 at a thrift store and net 9oz (255g) over 4 hanks of wool.  I learned what sort of construction to watch for so I didn't wind up with 20 billion tiny pieces of yarn.

looks remarkably like ramen noodles

Unraveling the sweater was sort of cathartic.  It took quite a long time too, with the unpicking of the seams, unraveling, and winding the yarn onto the back of a chair to make the hanks.  I would guess I spent around 10 hours total undoing everything.

a gentle bath

I had to be quite careful washing the yarn or else it would felt into an unusable mess.  I soaked it in cold water with a small amount of a gentle soap.  No swishing around!  It was more like... smooshing.  Then it was rolled in a towel to remove excess wetness and then hung to dry.  Washing it like this helped get rid of some of the ramen-noodliness.  I'm sure I could've weighted it down some to stretch it out more, but I was afraid of over-stretching it.

a healthy weight

It's not very fancy yarn, but it is 45% angora, 40% wool, and 15% nylon.  I'll probably never afford true angora wool unless it appears by luck but I can certainly buy sweaters in thrift stores (I'm watching for a pretty cashmere next)!  I estimate it to be somewhere between a light fingering/heavy lace weight so maybe about 1,000-1,200 yards?  While undoing the sweater, the yarn seemed to be whispering that it would like to become a shawl in its next life.  I've picked out (and even printed so you know it's serious) the pattern I'd like to attempt.

It will be a lot of firsts!  First reclaimed wool.  First knit lace.  First beading (oh my!).  First nupps which I've never even heard of before this pattern.  I'm a little anxious to see how the yarn will work up since it was reclaimed plus I have very little experience using actual wool fibers.  I hope the shawl will be wonderful and maybe make me feel like a princess instead of my usual tomboy self.  :)

yes, they are in a small daffodil glass

:D