The Busy Beehive

 or a warm summer sun as I work in the yard… it’s been so cold for so long.  I am tired of snow, and the ache in my hands!  And I’ve misplaced my camera, so I can’t take a picture of my “Lo, How a Rose” progress, or anything else!  (I’m sure I’ll find my camera soon.  I think it’s at my sister’s house!)

So, rather than concentrate on the chilly air, I thought I’d share a picture from last summer.  It is a picture of the hollyhocks in bloom at a restored pioneer home.  I was there with our young women and young men for an overnighter.  The home was really fun, and if I close my eyes, I can feel the sunshine.

So, I’ll find my camera and get a pic up of my progress.  Until then, have a great day and enjoy the sunshine, no matter how little there is in your corner of the world.

I was able to meet with the Swan board on Monday  night, and I think we can get the website up and running in the next few weeks.  While I was there, Lynn surprised me with one of my wish list items, the Prairie Schooler chart “December”.  What a fun and thoughtful surprise!  It’s always fun to see some of the Swans.  I hope to be able to attend more meetings after the semester is over.

I decided that I needed to make the most of my trip up to Salt Lake so I returned to The Wool Cabin before grabbing a bite to eat and heading to the meeting.  While there, I hunted around for something fun to make for my sister’s birthday, that would be quick.  There was a funky hat with ear flaps they had stitched up in Malabrigo worsted.  I’m a knitting newbie, so I hadn’t heard of this yarn yet.  They didn’t have many colors to choose from, but I found that they did have one that was a variegated aqua, purple, pink and the colors in between.  I picked that up, and I finished it last night!  However, I stitched the medium hat, and I think it might be a bit small for my sister’s head!  Oh well, my niece will love it.  I’m still getting used to knitting patterns and figuring out just how large/small I need to make something.

But, I have decided that I must add some more of the Malabrigo to my stash.  I”m on the hunt to find shops that carry it.  There aren’t many.   I can say that I really love The Wool Cabin.  I’ve been there twice now, and this is the first store that has offered to wind my yarn for me.  They have a nice open feel to the store, with lots of samples, and free patterns for simple things like hats.  They have a nice selection of books, but I really like that they carry tons of Cascade 220 in lots of colors.  Their yarn selection is very good and they have what I want to buy.  I’m not having to substitute like I sometimes have to do at Heindelman’s.

After looking again at the fun felted bags at The Wool Cabin, I’ve decided that I must use the left-over Cascade 220 that I’ll have from the niece’s matching hats to try out a felting project.

Because I’ve been knitting, I haven’t stitched on “Lo, How a Rose” this week.  But, I did start a new sampler for my aunt and uncle’s 50th wedding anniversary.  It will be late, because I just found out they’re celebrating 50 years.  But it’s the sampler in Fine Lines isses Fall 2001 and Winter 2002 by Lauren Sauer.  I’ve picked out NPS colors that are deeper and richer, and switched the coral to more of a carnation pink range of colors.  And, I’m stitching it on 36 count maple sugar by Lakeside Linens.  I had that in my stash.

Now if I could just knit or stitch while I did homework.  If anyone has that figured out, will you let me know?  I suppose I ought to be responsible and stay on top of things.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, so it’s easier.

Sorry no pics.  I still can’t get a good one of “Lo” and didn’t remember to try on the weekend when I’m home during daylight.

I started Brightneedle’s “Lo, How a Rose” sampler last night. I couldn’t pass up the SAL that Staci and Vonna are doing on it. But, I was a teeny bit behind, and I won’t be able to stitch tomorrow night, so I decided I would work on it last night. I took a picture, but it’s blurry, because it’s late, and when I use the flash, the whole thing is washed out. So, I’ll have to wait until the weekend when I’m home and it’s light, and a picture will turn out.

I will say that I am LOVING it already. I can’t believe I waited so long to start it!  I am using the antique white linen and the weeks dye works threads called for in the pattern.  The colors are wonderful together, and it’s a fun one to stitch.

Vonna asked me if my santa was a Tournicot.  I’m not sure I know what that is!  It is a pattern by Lavender Wings called “Naughty or Nice”.  I’m using the threads called for, which are really fun (you have to love WDW thread named “Louisiana Hot Sauce”), and a piece of overdyed jobelan that was packaged with the pattern at The Craft Center.

No, not the Saturday Night Live “Weekend Update”. Although that would be funny. It has been a busy week back at work. I spent the first two days in training all day, while trying to double-task and triple-task, because the new semester started on Wednesday. There are always lots of things to do just before the semester starts, but especially when everyone is coming off of a holiday. It’s pretty amazing that our enrollments have increased so much again this semester, especially in light of recent and looming budget cuts. If you live in Utah, write your legislators. Especially if you value education, both higher ed and K-12!

Okay, off of my soap box and onto some progress pics. First, I have pulled out Mouline Rouge again. I just love this piece, but haven’t made much progress since I first started. So, I have vowed that I will stitch on it once per week, and I have been able to stitch a portion of another motif, which is the motif you see on the far right. I am using Gloriana Rosewood silk, and R&R Park City Blend linen. The colors on these pictures aren’t great, but you get the idea.

Second, I have been knitting.  I have a pic of one of the hats I’ve completed.  These are for my nieces, and were intended for Christmas.  I finished one for my nephew Riley, which was red and gray, and I hear he is wearing and loving it.  The pic below shows all of the colors I will be using for the four total hats.  I will use each color as the main color for one hat, and the remaining three for the stripes.

Lime flap cap

I have nearly finished “Naughty or Nice” by Lavendar Wings and I have a pic of that.  I also have LHN’s “Heart of America” and La-D-Da’s “All Our Troubles” in the mix.  I am stitching “All Our Troubles” with the Weeks Dye Works colors called for, on 40 count Meadow Rue.  I really like how it’s turning out. I’ll get pics of those pieces for next time.

Naughty or Nice?

And, I’m working on an exchange item, which should be fun. Homework has started though, and there are other things to be done around the house as well.  One thing I surely need to do is to get more firewood in from the woodpile.  Our 18″ of accumulated snow in the yard is melting fairly quickly now, so I don’t lose little Chloe when I take her out to do her business.  We did have a nice snow ball fight the other night though.  How do you have a snowball fight with a Schnauzer?  You gently toss big snowballs on them, so that they break apart, and they run around and around in circles.  I’d better leave you now, so that I can get back to stitching and knitting asap!

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas holiday!  I was able to finish my nephew’s hat, which was actually my first complete knitting finish.  He loves it, and so I’m happy.  I owe four nieces similar hats.  I’ve finished one and have three more to go.  They are quick knits, but I will probably not finish them all for a couple of weeks.  I wish they were done, because it’s so stinking cold here in Utah, and I know that they’d be wearing them if they had them!

I have set up the serger and sewing machine and have been able to make a minke blanket for my mom and serging lots of linen.  I found a great deal at the Craft Center. They had some linen odd and end packages for five bucks each.  I bought two, and came away with some pretty nice pieces for ornaments and small projects.

Of course, the hats and the blanket, as well as some other items were to have been finished for Christmas.  Thankfully, my family and friends accept IOU’s, which is what most of them got this year.  School, work, and everything else were just too much, and I determined to follow my motto: “If it’s not done by now, it’s not going to get done in time, so just chill!”  I’ve learned that when I have too much on my to do list, it’s nice to know that everything doesn’t HAVE to be done.  Just the important things.  And that’s what I focused on this year.  I still have neighbor gifts to deliver and I’ve decided that they will be delivered in January.  I’m going to adjust the note on them, and just enjoy the leisurely deliveries… after this cold snap though!

I am back to work tomorrow after almost two weeks off.  I think this was the most relaxing two weeks I’ve had in a long time.  And, while my to do list was hardly touched, I did take care of the things that matter most.  So, I wish all of you a happy stitching year, and hope that you and your loved ones are safe, healthy and happy.  I’ll post pictures of some of my stitching and other progress in a few days.