Week 4 of 2026

This week I finished a needlepoint I started a couple of years ago -

This was a painted canvas I bought at a thrift store for 25 cents. Stitched with wool I had - I chose colours that matched Molly. The canvas was portrait shaped and I changed it to a square to make a pillow. Also the background had tropical leaves and I just stitched different shades of green sections. Now I have to block it.

More Holiday Photos - 

The last week of our holiday in Osoyoos, BC, involved lots more walking.

The area is full of orchards and vineyards.

This orchard was along the Irrigation Canal Walkway.

This was along the Dividend Ridge Trail - coming from the flat prairies I couldn't imagine living somewhere with such steep roads.

The above two photos are along the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre (pronounced in-ka-meep) loop, which was lovely.

Our last day in Osoyoos was the coldest, but the fountain was still going.

Driving home we stopped at Hardy Falls (a stream where Kokanee salmon spawn in the spring).

We stayed in Sicamous, BC, for the night.

The next day was the drive through the Rockies.

It didn't take long to look more like home (10 hour drive that day, 3 days of driving in total).

All the best!♥︎

Week 3 of 2026

 This week I finished knitting a pair of socks -

Knit two at a time, toe-up, 64 stitches, with a 2.5mm long circular needle. Made with a handspun, merino/nylon fibre blend that I dyed, and spun (3 ply, fingering weight). The stitch pattern is a 6 by 2 garter stitch rib pattern.

Holiday Snaps -

We are having a great holiday in Osoyoos, B.C.,

We are walking a lot,

The city is full of great walking paths.

All the best!♥️

Week 2 of 2026

This week I had lots of time for knitting in the car -

I finished the body of the sweater I am knitting, and started the sleeves (knitting them two at a time).

The reason for all the knitting time is because-

we have driven west across the prairies,

through the foothills,

and the Rockies,

to the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia for a holiday. 

All the best!❤️

Week 1 of 2026

Works in progress at the start of 2026 -

Handspun socks - knit two at a time, toe-up, with a broken rib pattern (6 stotckinette stitches and 2 garter stitches). This is my take along project so has been on the go for a while.

2026 cross stitch project - I started a Christmas one since I plan to take all year to finish it.

The pattern is Flying Santa from Lotus Lake Stitching on Etsy (the store is on a break so I can't link the pattern at the moment).

Handspun crochet project - the pattern is Hot Chili by Carmen Herffernan (link to the free pattern)

Handspun sweater - the pattern is the Hanstholm Sweater by PetiteKnit (link to paid for pattern on Ravelry).

I did sew another bra this week. I was sent the wrong fabric (it ended up being free), so I didn't have the matching elastic and findings for it, but it does the job.

Photos from Around -

The older chickens spend the night in the heated part of their coop (last year they didn't),

and the young ones spend the night in the unheated part of the coop.

The nesting boxes are in the heated part, so they all lay their eggs there (5 to 8 eggs a day).

Wishing you a wonderful new year!♥︎

Week 52 of 2025!

This week I sewed a pair of slippers -

The pattern is the Wayfarer Shoes by Twig +Tale. It is such a good pattern (this is the fourth pair I have made), with clear instructions. I used leftover fabric (from a camel hair coat I made a few years ago) for the outer upper and sole lining, some leftover quilting cotton for the upper lining, and some scraps of moose hide leather for the outer sole.

For the first time I added an extra layer of felted wool padding to the sole (in between the outer leather and sole lining). This worked really well, and makes the seam around the foot less noticeable when wearing the slippers.

I also finished stitching the advent cross stitch from ArtMishka Cross Stitch on Facebook (the pattern is free until December 31st, then it will be for sale on Etsy). It was a fun stitch along, with a very manageable amount of stitching everyday. Now I have to fully finish it (it fits in an embroidery hoop, and that's how I will finish it).

Photos from Around -

All the pets at the end of 2025

Some of the 12 chickens.

Molly

GingerSnap!

And the matriarch Miss Maggie.

All the best!♥︎

Week 51 of 2025

This week I finished weaving a set of tea towels -

This is my own pattern from the Goose Eye draft in the book A Handweaver's Pattern Book by Marguerite Porter Davison (the green one). I chose the draft because there are quite a few tie-ups and treadling patterns. Each towel is a different pattern. The towels were woven with 2/8 unmercerized cotton from Maurice Brassard.

With the warp ends I was able to make a few more paper towel replacement cloths.

More details can be found on my Ravelry page.

This project marks the end of my year of experimenting with weaving (a sample of the weaving projects hanging behind the loom). I learned a lot, gained confidence with weaving, and had lots of fun. More details about this year long project can be found on my Ravelry page.

Photos from Around-

Sunset yesterday after three days of snow.

My son's Christmas bonus (over 20 colours of poinsettias at the greenhouse where he works, and this one is his favourite, I love it).

Hardy young hens spending time outside.

Proud GingerSnap!

There was a big blizzard this week. I was glad to stay inside while some others went to check on the chickens - you can just see them walking down the driveway.

GingerSnap! was happy to watch the storm from inside too.

All the best!♥︎

Week 50 of 2025

Works in progress this week - 

I am really enjoying the advent cross stitch along from Artmishka Cross Stitch.

Almost finished weaving towels.

The sweater I am knitting is still progressing too.

I enjoyed crocheting my last sweater so much, that I started a new crochet project. This is Hot Chili from Carmen Heffernan (free pattern on her website). It is so easy. I am using handspun from a cowl I knit years ago, never wore, and unraveled. It is a lace weight, BFL, gradient yarn, and I am using a 3.5mm hook.

Photos from Around -

The weather has turned bitterly cold this week, but lots of sunshine.

Of course a pet photo to finish off!

All the best!♥︎