Sorry for the neglect....

 Oh gosh!  It's been a while since I've posted, hasn't it?  I seem to have slowed down on social media in general this summer and am way behind on blog reading and commenting and posting and etc.  Sorry!  

I do have something to tease in knitting, and a couple of pieces to show off in stitching.  First the knitting.  I did some preview knitting for Brooklyn Tweed!!!  For stitchers, this is like doing model stitching for Hands Across the Sea Samplers or Scarlett House, except you get to keep your sampler from the beginning.  lol!  Very exciting, in other words.  So for now I can only show sneak peeks of my knitting. (Yes, it's already finished.  No, you can't see it yet.). Here are a couple of peeks.  I used Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in the color Button Jar.  

I can't wait to show off my sweater!  It's being released as part of the Terre Verte Collection, which releases October 7.

OK, now I will show you a stitching finish.  Here it is, EF 1864 by Needlework Press.

I love her so much!  She was from  Sampler and Antique Needlework magazine, summer 2011.  I used the called for NPI silks and I have no clue what fabric I used, except that it was 40ct.  I find Berlin style stitching to be a bit of a chore so it took me a while to get back to this one.  But I'm so glad I did!

Speaking of getting back to something, I picked up my neglected Prairie Schooler Alphabet as well.  In this spurt of activity, I finished the L and B blocks.

I'm stitching it over one, which is probably one reason why I keep picking it up and putting it down again.  Maybe someday I'll finish it!  I'm using DMC floss for it.

This past weekend we managed to drive down to see DD in her new apartment.  It's very odd to drive down instead of using mass transit.  So many changes to everyday life -- it's also the first time I've really been out and about since the pandemic started except for essential things.  We had a beautiful day out, along with lots of walking, social distancing, masking up, and outdoor eating.

It was a nice change to get out and to see our sweet girl.  She stayed with us for about a month, but was going crazy in the 'burbs.  lol!

And of course, Mia is, as always, the diva of the household.  She is happy to have her boy around all the time now.  And she didn't mind having DD around for a month either.

This has gotten long enough, so I'll save what I'm working on right now for later.  I hope everyone is safe and well.  Happy Autumn!

A knitting finish and some stitching too

 Just a quick post under the wire for the month of May to show a knitting finish.  It's the Anker's Summer Shirt by Petite Knit.

I got the yarn from my LYS, Pick Up Every Stitch, and also took an online class they ran on tightening your rib, which was very helpful.   The yarn is Sandnes Garn Line, a cotton/linen/viscose blend.

Here is a picture of what stitching I managed.  It's the EF Sampler 1864 -- an old UFO.  I love this sampler (it's from an old SANQ magazine and it's by Needlework Press).  I put my knitting where the pictorial stuff will go.  ETA: Thanks to Sue for forcing my hand -- I looked it up after her comment, and yes it is from the summer 2011 issue for those who are wondering.  Thanks, Sue!

The big news at home is that the boy child is now back at home from Buffalo.  It's so nice to have him home again!

Mia is enjoying having her sleeping partner home again.  She had to show her annoyance at having been abandoned, but picked up sleeping with DS right away.  She's spent most of her time in his room as well!  We've all missed him.

The girl child is still in NYC.  She's been safe and sound so far, knock on wood.  We miss seeing her, but she doesn't want to chance coming home.  :(

I hope everyone is staying safe.

Spring! And stitching?!!

I finished my Handbrake Cowl!

It is a pattern by Dan Jones with help from his wife Kay Jones of the Bakery Bears Podcast.  The pattern is 1 pound, all proceeds going to support cancer research.  I used Fancy Tiger Crafts Heirloom Romney in Blue Maize.  I gave it to the Father type -- here he is modeling it.

I think he likes it.  :D

I know this will be a shock but I'm stitching again!!!

I picked up an old WIP, the EF 1864 Sampler from an issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework Magazine.  I need to check which issue it is.  Here is how far I've gotten so far.

It's nice to be stitching again!  But I'm not sure how I will fare with this one.  I love Berlin woolwork, but it's not my favorite kind of stitching.   And that's what the bulk of the piece is.

This weekend was the first time in a week that we've had any sunshine.  Sunday was a glorious day!  Sunshine and temps in the 60s.  Yum!  The father type and I took a nice long walk in one of our local state parks, visited a bookstore, and just had a nice day!

And when we got home, we opened the windows for the first time this year!  Hooray!  Someone enjoyed the fresh air immensely.

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

A lovely time was had by all

Here are some random pictures of my EF 1864 Sampler as I was stitching on it this week.

Such pretty flowers!

I also started another knitting project, Annabella's Cowl by Churchmouse Yarns, using Blue Sky Alpaca Silk and Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

We had the kids home for Thanksgiving.  Hooray!  The boy child got picked up at the train station Tuesday afternoon.  It was so good to see him and hug him!

The girl child drove home on Thanksgiving Day.  Everyone pitched in to help with the cooking, but the father type was the main cook as he always is for the holidays.

Here's the father type carving the turkey.  (please ignore the mess in the background.)  

Here is a selfie that the father type took of the family.

And here is the girl child's selfie of us.

But of course, everyone had to go home eventually.  The girl child drove off Saturday night, ready to enjoy some tango in the city.  And we took the boy child to the train on Sunday afternoon.

So sad.

Mia was showing her displeasure at being abandoned by the boy child all the time he was home.  But she slept with him every night, and she grudgingly let him pet her once in a while.

Such a silly cat.

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  I hope everyone has a great week.  Time to finish off the Christmas shopping.  Yikes!

Not again......

I got some more done on the EF 1864 Sampler.

It really is a pretty one.

But once again, I got distracted.  And started something new.  I had to try out the 52/64ct linen that Jean from the Attic keeps touting.  Soooooo, I had to start a new sampler.  Of course!

1837 Crown Sampler by Plum Street Antiques
52/64ct Vintage Light Examplar linen by Lakeside
Gloriana Tudor Silks

This is how far I've gotten so far on the 1837 Crown Sampler.  I'm so happy that I CAN see the holes on this linen!  And I'm loving working with this linen.  It's a pleasure to work with!  I put my magnifiers in the picture to give you an idea of the size.

I've been feeling the urge to do a bit of knitting again as well.  My shoulder has been bothering me, which is why I put the knitting aside for a while.  But I couldn't stand it anymore.  So I continued with my Color Play Mohair Wrap.

Not much done yet.  But the Rowan Kid Silk Haze Stripe is wonderful stuff!

I have to put a picture of my pretty girl here.  She sent this picture to me to show me something, and I'm sure she doesn't expect the pic to appear on my blog.  But too bad.  :D  I just had to put it here anyway.

I'm very excited.  We just purchased tickets for next year to see one of my favorite people/groups ever, Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers.

I guess I'm just a fan girl.  :D

Mia has been doing her best to be cute recently.

In this picture, she had just heard me feed her.  She's been sleeping under that cover there all week.

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  I hope everyone has a great week -- and for those in the US, I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!  (Yes, the kids are coming home for Thanksgiving!  Yay!)

Color

As I've said before, color seems to be the big draw for me when it comes to what I stitch.  Thus my attraction to what I picked up to stitch next.

EF 1864 Sampler by Christy Schmitz & Vickie LoPiccolo Jennett
from SANQ magazine, Summer 2011
40ct Vintage Sand Dune
NPI called for

I've had this one kitted up since it first came out.  The colors are wonderful.

This is what I've gotten done so far.

So pretty!

Here are a few pictures of the only child left in the house at the moment, Mia.  Up to all sorts of things.

Mia's current favorite place to sleep (besides my lap).  Yup, she's under there.

She's not actually interested in what I'm doing on the computer.  She just wants me to stop doing what I'm doing on the computer.  lol!

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