Week 8 of 2026

I finished the set of three cross stitch characters -

The patterns are part of the Animal Cracker Series from Stacy Nash.

I used a tutorial from Helen D. on YouTube for the finishing (I should have read her comment about how she uses oval bases now instead of a circle, but the circles worked fine this time, next time I will try oval).

These were enjoyable to stitch because once the design was blocked in, it was easy to just fill in the stitches. I used a handdyed 36 count linen, with overdyed threads (some commercial and some I over dyed) - 1 thread over 2.

Photos from Around -

The chickens enjoying some outside time (they bring the straw out of their coop).

Red sky one morning.

The rough, hard snow must feel good on her back, she loves to roll on it.

All the best!♥︎

Week 6 of 2026

Works in progress this week -

The handspun crochet scarf is growing slowly- free pattern Hot Chili.

Woven utility cloths on the loom (this is #5).

Cross stitching a few of Stacy Nash's Animal Crackers - I finished Miss Hazel this week, now I am working on Maggie Mae.

Taking a break from knitting socks as a take along project and knitting a hat - the Musselburgh by Ysolda Teague. This is some of my first handspun and has been a few things, so I am hoping it works well for this hat pattern. The yarn is about lace weight/light fingering, and I am knitting it on 2.5mm needles.

Photos from Around - 

I came out of the chicken coop to this one morning - Molly waiting for me to throw her ball.

We had some amazing sunrises this week.

All the best!♥︎

Week 48 of 2025

I needed a change of pace this week and made a few small things-

A little cross stitch using some leftover linen - a Christmas decoration tag for an old key (Santa has a magical key for homes that don't have chimneys). It's my own design - the patterns for the S and K are from the book 'Sajou: Passion des Alphabets Anciens' by Veronique Maillard.

Some quick knit projects using scraps of handspun yarn - the pattern is Peapod Marble Fidget Toy by Shana S. Cohen.

My husband made a frame for the cross stitch I finished last week. The oak was from a couple of old drawer fronts from somewhere, and the glass was leftover from the last cross stitch I framed at the beginning of the year from a thrifted frame - it was good to be able to use what we have.

Photos from Around -

The youngest hens experienced snow for the first time this week.

Ten hens laid eggs one day this week - the most ever in one day (the dark ones are from the three youngest) we had been getting about 5 eggs a day before (the older hens were molting and egg production slowed).

All the best!♥︎

Week 17 of 2025

This week I sewed a pair of slippers -

The pattern is the Wayfarer Shoes by Twig and Tale. This is the third pair I have made. It is such a great pattern - well drafted, with well explained, easy to follow instructions (there are videos too). For this pair I used some linen, that I think was once curtains, for the outside, moose hide for the sole, leftover quilting cotton for the lining and a piece of thick wool, from an old coat, for the insole.

I also finished weaving a set of towels. This is another one of my year of experimenting with weaving projects - this is a different weave structure - Turned Taqueté for the first time.

The pattern is Mission Style Dish Towels from Handwoven magazine, issue Sept/Oct 2015. Warp and weft in 2/8 cotton from Maurice Brassard, and one towel with cotton bouclé warp, also from Maurice Brassard. More details can be found on my Ravelry project page.

Works in Progress - 

Another 'new to me' weave structure on the loom.

Over 260 5" Broken Dishes quilt blocks so far - I need 400.

Year long cross stitch.

Handspun socks have heels now.

Spinning more yarn for socks, almost finished.

Photos from Around - 

With the nice weather, the chickens are back to wandering in the yard.

We didn't know how Molly would be with them after the winter, but she is still good.

GingerSnap! waiting inside for a snack.

Miss Maggie out hunting for snacks.

All the best!♥︎

Week 1 of 2025

I had a few finishes this week -

The 2024 temperature blanket was finished on the last day of the year!

It was a fun knit, and made me pay attention to everyday of the year in a different way.

A set of tea towels is off the loom.

These are at the same pattern as the last set I wove in December, but using different colours for the warp.

It is an 8 shaft twill pattern. The towel in the above photo is just woven with red - stripes appear in certain sections, and the diagonal line in the twill changes directions, weaving is magical!

We framed the cross stitch I finished earlier using a frame from the thrift store that we cut to size. It was less than $3, solid oak and had the glass (it framed a piece of needlepoint and looked like it had been made with reclaimed wood).

It hangs in my kitchen with two other cross stitch samplers I had made (one from 30 years ago, and one I designed and stitched a couple of years ago to fit the thrifted frame it is in).

On January 1st I started another cross stitch - this is my cross stitch for 2025 (the challenge will be making it last for the year), a quarter of the border is stitched.

Photos from Around - 

Cold temperatures this week made for a few days of amazing sundogs.

Pets at the Start of 2025-

GingerSnap

Maggie

Molly (her turn in a cone this week).

Some of the nine chickens.

We plan on adding a few chickens this year, but hopefully no other pets show up wanting to move in (GingerSnap!).

All the best!♥︎

Week 51 of 2024

This week I finished a cross stitch -

The pattern is All Creatures Great and Small by Barbara Ana.

I stitched it on 40 count linen, with DMC floss (1 strand of floss over 2 fabric threads, so 20 stitches per inch). It is 12"x15". I thought it would be a three year project but I finished it in just over two and a half years (May 2022 to December 2024).It was really enjoyable to stitch because all the little motifs made for many satisfying finishes along the way. I added my maternal grandmother's initials and her date of birth, because her work inspired my love of embroidery. 

Here she is on the left, aged about 15 years around 1908, along with an older sister and her mother (I was surprised to realize that I am about the same age as my great grandmother in this photo - late fifties).

This is a sampler that my grandmother made at school (probably around the same time as the above photo), it includes different embroidery stitches, quilting, mending, patching, and crochet.

My next cross stitch is all ready (this will be a 2025 project).

I also made a couple of little "kicker" cat toys (with winter just starting someone is inside a lot more and needs ways to burn off energy that don't involve eating plants and climbing in the basement ceiling joists!). Simple squares of leftover thick fabric, sewn into rectangles, stuffed with scraps of wool batting, with some little braids of crochet cotton on the corners for added fun.

Very entertaining!

Weaving number four of the six tea towels on the loom.

Hard to believe only one and a half weeks left!

Photos from Around - 

Nose freckles.

GingerSnap blends well with the quilt.

There are so many photos of GingerSnap because he is always close by (he is the most affectionate of all the pets).

Everyone waiting for treats (someone more excited than the others).

The hens get their treats too (still laying lots of eggs).

Beautiful winter walks.

All the best!♥︎