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!♥︎