Smalls SAL

I managed to finish two smalls this month for the Smalls SAL hosted by Heather of Stitching Lotus. I didn't do too much other stitching though; I've been spending a lot of time getting ready for the other SALs and CALs starting soon.

Started December 12, 2014

Finished December 16, 2014

Total Stitches: 617

 Started December 16, 2014

Finished December 30, 2014

Total Stitches: 798

Both charts are freebies from Lizzie Kate.

Please be safe tonight in your celebration of the New Year. Our plans include a games night at church until 9:30, a nap until 11:45, wake up and shout Happy New Year, and back to bed. We're a bunch of party animals :-)

Thank you for all the wonderful comments throughout the year; they mean so much to me even if I don't get a chance to answer.

Blessings for the new year!

Today's Inspiration

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Monday Musings

Thank you for all the get well and birthday wishes :-)
I'm still sick but a little better each day, and I require less medicine each day, so that's a plus.
Friday was a good day. We took Hope and her friend to see ICE at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine.

Tim took them through the 9 degree exhibit; Alex and I decided to stay in the lobby.

They also went snow tubing. I couldn't get a very clear picture for some reason; that's Tim on the tube.

We had lunch at Applebee's and did a little shopping. I was very happy to find the closest needlework shop to us in Arlington, the Stitch Niche. Very nice owner, great prices, impressive selection. Because it was my birthday, I splurged a little.

Too many charts, not enough time :-)

My old phone finally bit the dust, and I had to upgrade. Friends had given us their old phones, so all we had to do was switch the service. I'm trying to like it. I miss my QWERTY keyboard and have to use a stylus on the touch screen because the buttons are so tiny. But it has a talk-to-text feature that's neat. I have no idea how to use most of the features.

That's about it. I'm supposed to be doing laundry, but I'm crocheting and cross stitching and playing on the computer instead. Priorities.

Thanks for reading and looking.

Blessings :-)

Today's Inspiration

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Mini Rings of Change CAL Week 1

Welcome to the Mini Rings of Change Crochet Along! We'll be working this pattern for the next several weeks. This CAL is designed for turtle crocheters like me who always have too many projects on the hook but can't resist starting another one. 

 

We'll have weekly assignments every Friday, but they're supposed to be stress free; if you don't finish by the next Friday, don't worry and don't give up.

If you'd like me to post your progress pictures, email them to me at bookworm187@earthlink.net.

If you have any questions about anything, please don't hesitate to ask. I'll do my best to help. 

This is the first CAL I've ever hosted, so I'm open to any suggestions on how to run it.

Ready?

Let's go!

This week's assignment: Rows 1-5.

I know it seems like a lot for the first week, but this is a circular afghan; the center is small and will work up quickly. We'll be wishing for those short rows later! 

The first five rows use single crochet, double crochet and treble crochet.

Have fun!

35 Things To Do In The Next Year

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In honor of my 35th birthday today, I've made a list of 35 things I'd like to do in 2015:

1. Travel to Florida to see family and friends.
2. Plan a monthly date night with Tim.
3. Learn to sew.
4. Donate 100 crocheted items to charity.
5. Complete a major decluttering of the house.
6. Make a first year scrapbook of Alex.
7. Start a pillow journal with Hope on her 13th birthday.
8. Perform 2 random acts of kindness every month.
9. Read 12 books (one a month).
10. Finish my crochet UFOs.
11.Learn Tunisian crochet.
12. Take a daily walk around the neighborhood.
13. Complete a Women of the Bible study.
14. Participate in the 2015 Moogly Afghan Crochet Along.
15-18.Participate in the following SALs: Smalls SAL,  Turtle Trot, YOTA, and SDUCJC.
19. Participate in Stitch From Stash.
20. Host the Mini Rings of Change CAL.
21. Crochet new patterns from my stash.
22. Teach a different craft each month at the church ladies ministry.
23. Plant a vegetable garden.
24. Teach a beginners crochet class.
25. Spend more time in prayer.
26. Plan two BIG birthday parties; ages 1 and 13 are major milestones.
27. Start a crocheted Christmas gifts bin and fill it.
28. Continue the Blogging Through the Bible reading plan, a chapter a day.
29. Start a crochet charity group for the Waxahachie Children's Home.
30. Make a Blessings jar and fill it through the year.
31. Relearn how to play chess and teach Hope.
32. Go to Sea World in San Antonio.
33. Take more pictures.
34. Try a new recipe once a week.
35. Get out of the house more. I'm such a hermit!

These aren't in any particular order of time or importance. Some will be quickly accomplished and checked off, others will take all year, some will get lost in the chaos of life and be added to next year's list. But I wanted to put my goals out there and have a focus for the year.

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Thanks for reading and looking.
I'll have a separate post in a little while with the Mini Rings of Change CAL information.
Blessings :-)

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours,

wishing you a blessed, joyous Christmas.

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Last Minute Stashbuster Gift

Today's the first day I've felt human; I've been the toxic slug on the couch for the last three days. This cold/flu I have is brutal. I'm still not 100% but definitely on the mend. 

As Christmas is only two days away (Yikes!), I whipped up a last minute gift for Tim.

 He's the only one in the family without a pair, and he recently expressed an interest in having some. I used Red Heart Super Saver in Royal and Coffee and this pattern.

I'm linking up with the December Stashbuster Link Party at Linda's Crafty Corner.

Thanks for reading and looking.
Blessings :-)

Getting Ready for the CAL

Thanks for all the well wishes :-) Hope is all better from her cold, and Alex is doing fine still. Now it's my turn :-( Been absolutely miserable the last two days. 

I know everyone has lots to do in the next week for Christmas, but I wanted to drop a quick reminder note for my ladies who are doing the Mini Rings of Change CAL with me.

Go ahead and gather your yarn this week (or thread if you're making a doily with the pattern) because we're starting one week from today on the 26th.

We'll have weekly assignments just to keep us on track, but don't stress if you fall behind. Remember, this is for turtle crocheters; chances are I'll fall behind right with you! 

I've added a CAL page for progress pictures. Every week, if you want me to show your progress, email me a photo at bookworm187@earthlink.net. Or, if you post your own picture on your blog but would also like it here, I can use your picture with permission.

So far, we have Linda of Linda's Crafty Corner and Linda of Stitchin With My Furbabies along for the ride. If anyone else would like to join us for some stitchy fun, you're more than welcome anytime. I'm looking forward to it!

Now it's time for more cold medicine and a nice soft bed.

Thanks for reading and looking.

Blessings :-)

Shawl and Sick

I finished the red shawl today. You can find the pattern here.

Hope has been sick with a nasty cold all week, so I've been busy taking care of her and at the same time trying to keep Alex and myself from getting sick.

I haven't taken any pictures for Photo a Day this week. Maybe next week. 

Thanks for reading and looking.

Blessings :-)

Another Ornament

This one's for the Christmas ornament exchange at church tonight. I need to add a hanging loop as soon as the spray starch dries. You can find the pattern here.

December Photo a Day Challenge

December 11

Red

Another one of my storage boxes from Michaels.

I love the cross stitch pattern on it, so I keep

my small cross stitch WIPs inside.

Today's prompt is skyline, and I might have to skip this one.

I can't get a decent picture of the skyline from my house.

Thanks for reading and looking.

Blessings :-)

Today's Inspiration

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Tickled Thursday

I'm forever caught between two worlds: crochet and cross stitch. When I sit down to craft, which do I choose? It's a constant struggle.

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I hope at least one of these made your day a little brighter.
Thanks for reading and looking.
Blessings :-)

WIP Wednesday

I finally have a little cross stitch progress to show.

 Lid Up: almost finished the left side of the toilet tank

September Roly Poly Cherished Teddy: finished the center blue section

and started the left side

Next Trick:finished the bottom of the toilet paper

Collection: stitched more of the cabinet

Disney Heroes: filled in another 70 stitches

I've crocheted about a quarter of the shawl.

 I was very excited yesterday. My yarn for the Mini Rings of Change CAL arrived!

Top to bottom, left to right:

Neon Coral, Neon Orange, Neon Yellow, Neon Green,

Blue Mint, Grape, Black

Just 16 days until we start :-)

December Photo a Day Challenge

December 10

Closed Door

Hope's bedroom door.

Can you tell what her favorite animal is?

Thanks for reading and looking.

Blessings :-)

Today's Inspiration

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Two Tuesday

Thank you for all your lovely comments on my last post :-)

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Two Things I'm Grateful For

1. Sales and coupons at Joanns. I bought some Deborah Norville Serenity yarn for another Cozy Comfort Prayer Shawl (on sale for $2.99 each), DMC floss and aida fabric for the Super Duper Ultimate Crazy Challenge (floss on sale for $0.33 each plus a 20% coupon, fabric 40% off with coupons) and fabric for a church project (25% off cut fabric, 50% remnants).

2. Christmas cards from friends and family. We live in the age of technology. So few people mail cards anymore; I cherish each one I get.

We found a new park to explore this past weekend. It's in Oak Cliff near Dallas.

Tim did some fishing. He caught the exotic weed fish.

Hope sat on the pond bank and worked on her landscape drawing skills.

I crocheted and entertained Alex.

I love all the colors of the leaves this time of year :-)

On the way to dinner, we passed over the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. I love the architecture.

After dinner, we drove through neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights. There were some spectacular displays. This is definitely something you'd find in Texas, a western Santa with longhorns.

With the exception of Tim fighting a bad sinus infection off an on (he's much better today), it was a good weekend.

 

December Photo a Day Challenge 

December 6

Joy Is...

 Joy is spending a day with my family. 

December 7

Weekends Are For...

Weekends are for relaxing with a favorite hobby. 

I worked a little more on my doily but didn't get any cross stitching done.

December 8

Simple Pleasure

Starting the day curled up under a blanket with that first cup of coffee

(and second, and third...)

December 9

Decoration

Hope loves making these stocking hat decorations every Christmas.

Thanks for reading and looking.

Blessings :-)

Today's Inspiration