Cari Makes

There's a new craft magazine published in the UK called Mollie Makes.  It is such a fun magazine.  I subscribed to it and receive a digital copy...so 21st century here !!  LOL

The cover of the first issue showed these adorable apple cozies...apple cozies??  Who would need or want an apple cozy...well ME, of course.  I grabbed the pattern and some cotton yarn stash and started my first cozy.  hmmmm......did I follow the instructions correctly???  Was there an error on the pattern?? I searched the internet for errata....none to be found.  Here's my first apply cozy.

I ran out of the green yarn so I added the blue and orange to finish the exact number of rounds called for in the pattern.  Yikes...how huge are the apples in the UK...papaya maybe but an apple??

Oh I get it...it's an apple hat...not a jacket.  Maybe it's a cat hat !!!

I think Belle looks stunning.  Belle....not so much Mom !!

So I decided to search for UK crochet terms vs American terms...and what to you know.... in the UK the term DC means single crochet, while in the USA the term DC means double crochet !!  Yikes.. no wonder the size.  So a started up again and here's the result....

Now...how's that for fun???

Cats..Flora and Fauna..Knit and Stitch

You know I love my cats !  And I especially love it when Jaxon decides to catch that tree frog...NO MATTER WHAT OR WHERE.  He did capture this one but I got it when he dropped it on the floor.  I saved the dehydrated froggers life and tossed him into the ferns outside.  Whew...  Luckily Jaxon is so small and fluffy I get the extra benefit of some serious under the cabinet floor dusting...no extra charge.

 And what's not do love about this Pumpkin colored bowl of fluffy love...Casanova.

 Here's a new little stranger.  I'll eventually trap, neuter and release her/him into my garden.  It's a lovely place to grow up!  Good food and great entertainment with the bird feeder close by.

Here's a female Cardinal and a tiny Titmouse (I think) feed away.  Yesterday the male Cardinal was dive bombing the Blue Jay.  I love watching the birds and squirrels in the backyard.

 Most of you have your lovely fall flowers blooming like crazy.  At this time of year a get a couple of fun orchids blooming.  This orange vanda is brighter than the pic...it must of been overcast yesterday.

 And my pale yellow brasso orchid.  These blooms remind me of dancing fairy's!

And here's a sweet lavender baby sweater I've been working on.  I'm getting ready to start the sleeves.  The entire sweater is knit in the round, top down so it's really a quick knit and so CUTE.

And my lame progress on 'And All Was For An Appil'.  This is a great piece to stitch on when I'm with a group.  I plan ahead and do a good amount of the outline on the piece.  Then at stitch I get to fill in and visit (a nice way to say...run my mouth) without having to frog. 

So that's my update.  The weather is starting to change in the sense that it's cooler with lower humidity one day, then hotter and high humidity the next.  I don't mind the temperature fluctuation, but high humidity is the PITS....and I do mean sweaty pits...along with the head, back chest...you get the idea !!

Thanks for visiting and happy NEEDLEWORK !!

OK OK OK

I've been busy...I've been sick...I've been depressed...I've been cleaning...I've been working in the yard...I've been doing laundry....I've been playing Words With Friends...I've been entertaining...b blah, blah, blah....blah...    AND I've been stitching !!!

Here is Soar, designed by Brenda Gervais from With Thy Needle and Thread, framed by Jill Rensel.  It's just to die for.  The red frame is under the glass.

Garden Glade, designed by Carriage House Samplings using Jean Lea's  - The Attic Needlework fiber adaptation, framed by Jill Rensel.  AMAZING !!  You can find Jill's fabulous work and more pics on her blog here.

I've finished stitching these pieces and they'll be on their way to Jill next week.  This one is Spring Greetings by Blackbird Designs using colors of my choice...actually leftovers from other projects.

 Here We Go a Haunting by Shepherd's Bush.  This piece came in a cute wooden box.  I got tired of looking at the Halloween box on the 4th of July so I decided to stitch the piece!!

 Birds of a Feather Mystery Sampler by Brenda Gervais using a silk adaptation by Jean Lea of Attic Needlework.  (Yes...I am a silk SNOB)

 Ah, Tis Spring by Notforgotten Farm using MY PERSONAL SILK SNOB adaptation!!

The next four pieces are by Shepherd's Bush.  They're to put in top of the round wooden boxes.  They were so much fun to stitch.  This one is called Take Joy.

 Warm Heart

 Hold Hope

 And Keep Love for my granddaughters Corinne, Taylor and Carly.  See...I'm ahead for Valentines Day.

 This design is from Chessie & Me.  It will be made into a pin cushion and scissor fob.  The initial 'B' is for my pretty Belle.  This stitch looks just like her (except her tail is shorter...don't tell her).

 And from Blackbird Designs the Partridge Sewing Box (top).  My stitching posse will be over for a  box paint day in the very near future!!

Chessie & Me Hillside Sheep Needlebook.  A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E

 When I saw the black specs on the pattern I though...geeze...this copy is messed up.  DUH  Then I realized these were the bees!!

 Inside....

And the rest of my Blackbird Designs stockings.  I finished stitching them earlier this year and finally sewed them up.  I took them to our Library stitch yesterday and got them trimmed and turned.  I'll finish the bead hangers this weekend watching FOOTBALL !!!

Phew...so finally the blog is updated.  I have more to show...of course I do but I'll save that for another day.  And I promise...it will be sooner than 4 months !!

Hugs and Happy Stitching ...

My loves....

You all know I am head over heals in love with the Decorah eagle family...my family also knows.  Look at this fun balloon eagle the kids delivered to me one evening!

And I finished this adorable sweater for a brand spankin' new baby.  Eleanor Grace was born on 5/25 to the daughter of my dear friend Mary.  I'm so happy Mary's a GRANDmother.  Congratulations!

And on to some stitchy things.  I finished Liberty Belles, 1 over 1 on 29 ct.  Glenshee Linen.  It's a fun Memorial Day, Flag Day and 4th of July Day STITCH!!

And some WIP's.  This is Molly from CHS.

Please excuse the wrinkles...I don't like to iron until the piece is finished.  I love that cat.  It reminds me of my Pretty Belle...lookin' at me sayin'....Mommy...is there a BIRD on my head???  LOL

Hillside Sheep Needlebook by Chessie & Me.

It's stitched with Belle Soie on 32 ct. Lakeside Linen Vintage Sienna Night.  The pics are 'clickable'.  Love the french knots on the black face sheep, and the white faced sheep and goat are stitched with the Smyrna Cross.  This has been such a fun stitch.

Now a stash addition that my itchy stitchy fingers are anxious to get a hold on....  Rosewood Manor's English Sewing Box.  This piece was inspired by William Morris and I LOVE IT.  It's the carrot on my stick!!  Love the color of the linen and all the SILK floss.

Have a simply fabulous week and enjoy all your needlework time!!  I love and appreciate all of your comments!

God Blessed America

God blessed America and I am so very proud of our national bird, the Bald Eagle.  Brenda Gervais of With thy Needle & Thread designed this "Soar" sampler.   It was inspired by a family of eagles, living in Iowa, that captured the hearts of America.  I fell in love with this family at first look and when Brenda offered this piece on her blog  www.withthyneedleandthread.blogspot.com   it was a must have for me.  This pattern is only available from Brenda's blog.  A portion of the purchase price is donated to the Raptor Resource Project, the organization responsible for the live feed of this amazing Bald Eagle family. 

I stitched this design on 32 ct. Lakeside Linen, Vintage Sienna Night-double dyed.  I did my own color conversion from the suggested DMC to assorted Crescent Colors Belle Soie and Thread Gatherers Silk 'n Colors from my stash.  I am delighted with the results.

I must include some pics of the cats too.  I was searching for some fabric for the Soar sampler and one of the drawers in my fabric dresser was STUCK.  So I pulled another drawer out, searched around for fabric and took some outside to check the color.  OK...back in the house and Belle had found a new napping place.  It was quite an effort to get her out of there!!

I usually put my stitching projects in various serving trays so I can easily move from outside table, to inside table, to stitching chair.  Obviously when my project was on the table, Cassanova decided to hold down the 'fort' so to speak.  Now that is one full tray of 'Red Cat'.

Thanks for stopping by.  I so enjoy your comments and friendship.  Happy Stitching

Color Me Happy.....

From this.......

To this.....

Garden Glade stitched with design adaptation and floss conversions by Jean Lea, Attic Needlework.  I enjoyed EVERY SINGLE STITCH.

And what's not to love with all of those colorful animals, birds and flowers?  I may have completed this stitch about 10 days sooner but I have become simply enthralled with the Bald Eagle family in Decorah, Iowa.  If you haven't been joyfully sucked into this wonderful display of nature at it's finest, you are really missing a great opportunity.  (www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles)