Year End Thoughts

This weekend marks the second turning of the year -- when in the respective hemispheres -- north and south -- change places for the second time in twelve months, and here up north, our daylight hours begin to increase, while those down south of the Equator begin to decrease.  

In the depths of winter here, we're moving toward light, the spring and the summer.  In the waning days of summer, our Australian friends (for example) are moving toward days of shorter light, into autumn and on to winter.

I'm someone who loves the light -- metaphorically and in reality. These short days are hard for me...even as I treasure the cloke of quiet, candle-light reflection that starts my days, especially now.  

As I write, I'm watching the sun set --  it's 4:07 p.m. Mountain Time -- and I'm preparing to light the candles for this 6th night of Hanukkah, in keeping with my late husband's traditions.  Remembering, too, that Jesus was born into a Jewish family, i smile to think he and his parents -- and siblings, eventually, for there were many -- might have also lit lamps, using precious oil, to mark that miracle wrought in days of old.

But I won't get into that here. Suffice to say that as this year draws to a close, and the new year hovers in the wings...

I want to wish you all blessings, strength, resilience, creativity and courage for 2026.

Makers need to make -- because making keeps us whole, sane, sensible, reflective and strong in the face of the whirlwind around us.

I'm in for another year. Will you join me, Gentle Readers?

First, I am continuing with my Keep It Out Of the Landfill Project, which means I'm continuing to make quilts (throw-sized) to give away.  I've now finished the 2025 BOM (Block of the Month) from Sheri at A Quilting Life.  I've decided that given its size, it's likely that I won't add a border -- even a narrow one -- but rather will sandwich, quilt and bind "as is" -- at 54" (or so) by 72" (or so).  I tried to arrange the blocks so that the distribution of the focus colours -- blue, red, green and gold -- would be fairly evenily distributed. This was a challenge, given the 'directional' nature of some of the blocks.

This project accomplished two things for me: first, creating a new piece with the log cabin block as its inspiration; and second, using up almost all of the last of a line of Thimbleberries fabrics that I've had in my "stash" for well over 20 years!

With that top finished, I've moved into one of my favourite annual projects: Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Mystery.  This year the title is "Lupines and Laughter", inspired by her recent trip to Iceland.  I love lupines and have lots of them in my flower beds and wildflower "meadow", so I was immediately "IN" for this project!

Bonnie's quilts are always big, so once again I'm reducing mine by 25% which this year, means taking it from an expected 80" square to 60" square. Although I can quilt a top this size on my domestic machine, I still might have it long-armed because Bonnie's scrappy style makes for many pieces, and many seams.  Making it smaller than called-for simply means there's a better chance I'll use only fabrics from my stash for the top -- and maybe even for the backing -- and only have to pay for batting and (probably) quilting.

I've finished all the units I need from Clue #1, and the first set of three for Clue #2:

As this weekend's forecast is for bitterly cold temps, I think I'll stay cozy indoors and finish Clue #2!

In my last post, I was in the throes of making Christmas gifts.  The two stitched ones have been delivered to their recipients, and I finished the socks for that young man in my family:

I also remembered -- at last! -- to take a photo of the gloves I knit for my son:

Thick and serviceable -- from a pattern used to make them for soldiers in WWII!

And I've tucked gift cards into the socks and gloves, just for fun. 😁

I took my box of Warm Things -- a couple of hats, a couple pair of socks, a shawlette and the child-sized mittens I showed in my last post -- to the church to be distributed, and while I was at it, gave our pastor a pair of long-cuffed fingerless mittens, because her hands are always cold.  She was thrilled, and put them on immediately.

I have to thank my cyber-friend, Kate, of the "Arts and Socks" blog, as this is her pattern -- and they turned out beautifully! For those interested, it's "Lawn Bowling Mitts", free on Ravelry. I used the last of the yarn that I'd also used for the child-sized mittens: Schoeller & Stahl's Limbo Mexiko Color, colour-way #2594.

Now that the Warm Things box is empty, I've begun a new item for the next go 'round: the Sylph Cowl.  It's named after a particular yarn, which I don't have, but I've found two stash yarns -- knitting them together -- that seem to be working.  Because it's knit flat, it'll take some time, but it's a broken rib pattern -- interesting enough to keep from being boring, but simple enough to be meditative and relaxing too. Too early for a photo...so stay tuned!

I've also picked up a couple of sweaters I started last winter, in hopes of finishing at least one of them before the winter's over.  

As for stitching, I've put "A Quilter's Dream" away until our next 'date', in February, but here's what it looked like when I took it up at the start of November:

And here's what it looked like at the end of November:

Fabric: 40-count "Porcelain"
Floss: 'Pippy' and 'Greater
Porpoise' -- all from Roxy Floss Co.

I've moved well into the next section of the pattern!

To follow on from that focus, I first stitched another little Modern Folk Embroidery pattern, "Cranky Owl", which seemed to suit my mood from time to time as the daylight hours grew shorter.  And yes! I even Fully Finished it in a wee embroidery hoop.  It now hangs in my sewing studio, and makes me smile whenever I see it:

Fabric: 40-count "Wren" from 
Picture This Plus
Floss: "Gomez" from Roxy Floss Co.

Having finished my last Sunday Stitch, "Hope" from Carolyn Manning Designs (see my last post), I started a new one: "A Thousand Hills" from Plum Street.  This is an older pattern (2017) but I was inspired to acquire it when I saw it worked by Carol Whitchurch ("Saltbox Stitcher" on YouTube).  It's substantial, but it's going to be beautiful!  It's early days yet, so I've no photo to show you, but I can say this: I'm loving the stitching thus far.

I'm working it on a piece of 'mystery' fabric, estimated at 40-count, using a combination of DMC and hand-dyed flosses, one strand over two fabric threads.

For a 'regular' stitch, to mark the official start of Winter, I've taken up a tiny piece entitled "Wintertime", designed by Cathy Jean at The Victoria Sampler.  It's one of her "Bitty Buttons" patterns, and is absolutely delightful!

I'm working it on a scrap of 28-count linen using DMC and the occasional over-dyed floss, using 2 strands over 2 fabric threads.  It'll finish at about 4" square so I'll probably turn it into a pillow.

And speaking of pillows, I have another Fully Finished Object to show you that's...well...sort of a pillow.  It's the biscornu I mentioned in my last post. It's only the second one I've ever made, and I had to put on my Big Girl Pants to stop procrastinating and "Just DO It"!

Here's the view from the top:

And here's the view from the under-side:

The pattern is "Flanders Fields Biscornu" from Heartstring Samplery, and it was given me by a friend for my birthday in 2024.  I worked it on 36-count "Grey" from Weeks Dye Works, using mostly the called-for flosses, 1 strand over 2 fabric threads. 

And is there still one Fully Finished Object that bears mentioning? Why, yes!  

Again, in my last post I talked about having one more Hinzeit kit to finish: "Coffee" -- complete with charms.  I really didn't want to turn it into a pillow and doubted I could find a frame to fit, so what to do? I wanted to give it to neighbours for Christmas.

Inspiration struck!  Coffee, as we all know, Gentle Readers, has become very expensive.  It's now up there in the "suitable as a gift for neighbours" or a "hostess gift" and the like.  So...I bought a package of dark roast coffee and made a 'sleeve' for it!

Measuring around the package, I trimmed the excess even-weave of the stitch, and attached borders and backing in a dark coffee-coloured print.  I top-stitched the lot, and added snaps:

I then wrapped it around the package of coffee and snapped it closed. Here's the back view:

And here's the front:

I put it in a gift bag with a card and left it at their door yesterday while they were out!  Truth be told, I don't care whether or not they can fit this 'sleeve' around any other coffee container.  It's served my purpose and was a fun project to do, so I'm leaving it at that! 😊

With all my Christmas/holiday cards written and mailed, and all the 'away' parcels delivered, I'm left with only a bit of gift-wrapping for my family, who'll be here Christmas Day (weather permitting) -- and with a wee bit of grocery shopping for the casual buffet of nibbles I'm offering this year. No big meal, because my son and his family will have one later that evening, and my daughter will likely dine with friends that night, both back home in Edmonton.  Keeping it simple, guarding against the Antics of Young Cats, I'll have only my nativity scene out on display, and forego the tree for yet another year.

The best part of Christmas for me is the candlelight service on the Eve, and the gathering with my children on the Day.

Meanwhile, I'll link you to Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday, where this week she's trying to stay on top of her 'To Do' list.  

I hope that however you celebrate this year, which has been a tough year for so many of us in this ol' world, that your "list" is short, and that you and yours are safe, well, and able to...

Patterns from Hands On Design,
stitched by me.

Blessings to you all, Gentle Readers, as we close out 2025 and open a new door to 2026.  Until then...a bientot!

I Did a Thing!

A thing or two, actually.  

I'm in the midst of Christmas gift-making, which is proceeding well, but this year has involved a few new challenges that I want to crow about (at least, a little bit).

"A Winter's Night", the exhibit, launched last week but the weather kept me from the Opening Reception, so I dropped by when in town on Tuesday and took this photo of my piece in situ, as it were:

(Photos taken with permission of the Gallery staff.)

Here it is, a bit closer -- the one at the top:

I've not got anything new on my rug-hooking frame yet, but that will come -- probably after Christmas.

In quilting, I finished quilting, binding and washing that comfort throw quilt for the folks I mentioned in my last post -- the ones who'd had a house fire.  

The backing gave me some challenges, as it was a softer fabric than the top, and I had to wrestle with its tendency to want to pleat as it was being quilted, no matter how closely I'd pin-basted it.  The quilting was simple -- in the 'ditch' around each square -- but it was fussy!

When I gave it to Pastor Bev to take to the family in question, she was delighted, and said they had just moved in to a new place so she'd be taking it to them soon.

Once that was done, I moved on to make a smaller gift: a table runner for friends who are about to celebrate their 50th anniversary.  They're a Jewish couple, so I used a pattern designed for Hanukkah and/or Passover celebrations:

Pattern: Hanukkah Stars 
Table Runner
Designer: Pamelaquilts
on Etsy.

It's been a long time since I've done fused applique, but I took my time and I think the stars turned out well.  To be on the safe side, I sealed each one with 'Fray-Stop' before I washed it and much to my relief, it survived with no problems!  It's in the mail now, and they should get it well in time for their Dec. 7th anniversary. 🥰

The next quilting challenge was more applique -- in the November block for the 2025 BOM at A Quilting Life. And...it involved templates, which, as I mentioned in my last post, I tend to avoid!

I decided to make the templates out of freezer paper, and it worked a treat.  Here's the finished block, wearing it's current "position number" for what might be the eventual lay-out:

And here it is in its place...for now -- waiting for the last block, which will be revealed on December 1:

I have a feeling I'll be doing some rearranging, as I'm not sure I want to concentrate the reds or the blues.  The challenge is dealing with the blocks that have a directional centre, as I've got a 'thing' about them being 'right way up'!

I've got a bit of time now to sort the scraps in the studio, before starting on Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery project. For the time being, I'm just collecting clues, and will see where it leads.  I'm determined -- as usual -- to use only fabric from stash, with the exception of the backing if need be.

Speaking of stash...I'm doing that with my knitting and stitching too.

In the knitting department, my son's Xmas gloves are finished, washed and ready to wrap.  I also finally put thumbs on a pair of child-sized mittens for my Warm Things box:

I'm using the same yarn for the "Lawn Bowling Mitts" I mentioned in my last post -- and I've finished the first one -- but alas, no photo to share yet.  I'm a bit concerned I'll be playing "Yarn Chicken" with the second one, so haven't done the thumb on the first one yet.

I've set aside those projects in order to make a pair of house socks for the teen in my son's household.  I'm using Bravo 'Crazy Color' from deep stash.  Yes, I know it's 100% Acrylic -- and I don't usually use that for socks -- but these need to be easy to launder and hard-wearing!  I've finished the first one and am about 2" into the 6" leg on the second:

Yarn: Bravo Crazy Color #84 - 'Cairo'
Pattern: "Comfy DK Socks" by Handwerks
- free on Ravelry

I know I could probably get by without a pattern -- they're just a basic ribbed sock, after all -- but I like to have something to refer to for sizes.  I've taken a guess at foot length, but they're for a gangly almost-16-years-old boy so I don't think I'll be too far off!

This simple knitting has given my brain a rest in between challenges, as in the quilting (above) and my stitching projects.

I'm still working on "A Quilter's Dream" from Modern Folk Embroidery, my focus piece for this month, and I'll update that with a photo in my next post.

Meanwhile, though, I finished my latest "Sunday Stitch" -- the "Hope" pattern from Carolyn Manning's "One Color Wonders" series:

It's quite small, having been stitched on a remnant of 35-count "Royal Icing" from Access Commodities, with 1 strand of hand-dyed floss over 2 fabric threads.  The floss is a beautiful variegated blue, deep stash from Needle Necessities, in colour #1101.  SO pretty!

And then yesterday, as the title to this post says, "I did a thing!"

Carol and Jennifer, the Two Tall Stitchers on YouTube, put out a challenge a while back, which they call their "Big Girl Pants" -- or BGP -- challenge.  They're daring their viewers to dig out those projects -- knitting, crochet, quilting, stitching, you name it! -- that have been set aside because we just don't want to face Fully Finishing them.

Well...yeah.  I have a few in the stitching department.  At least six --but yesterday I Fully Finished two of those!

First, I turned this stitch from Hinzeit Designs into a notions pouch -- lined, and with a top zipper, no less!

Pouch front

Pouch lining, seen from the front

Pouch lining, seen from the back

And then I made my first-ever true 'pin pillow', filled with crushed walnut shells -- and I didn't make a mess! 😆

Front view

Back view

Will wonders ever cease?!

What about the other four projects?  Well...two will be small pillows, which I've done before, stuffed with wool.  No real challenges there; I just don't like fully finishing things! LOL!  And the other two...the "Coffee" stitch -- another Hinzeit design -- will likely be a hanging. Or a pillow. Again, not that challenging.  But the last one is a biscornu -- and it's a Christmas gift, so I'd best get on it.  Pullin' up those Big Girl Pants..

What about you, Gentle Readers?  I know I'm not the Lone Procrastinator out there... 😉

I'll leave you for now to ponder the possibility of procrastination, with a wish for a creative, joyous weekend and a link to Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday.  As my American friends and family celebrate Thanksgiving, here in snowy central Alberta I remain thankful for her regular connection the crafting community, and as always, I'm thankful for you, too, Gentle Readers.  

And so...a bientot!

My Mother Always Said...

 "After you turn 21, the years disappear."  She was right! 🤣

'Love Lives in the Stars'

So...where have I been for over a month?  Well, Gentle Readers...ticking along.  Ticking along. 

I've been taking pains to further 'curate' my news-watching, which has been helping my mental health a great deal.  Some days are still better than others, but I'm finding the better ones out-number the others now.

For one thing, I've found a new faith community, one similar to my Anglican (Episcopalian for you in the US) roots, but also different.  A bit less formal, but with the sound theology I'm used to. One that's warm and welcoming, despite its modest size, and one with a gracious and caring woman as Pastor.  I'm sure my contributions will be very different than they were in my former parish, but that whatever I bring to the community will be accepted with loving grace.

For another thing -- I've been renovating, after a fashion.  I've finally stripped away the cat-damaged wall paper along my hallway, right down to the panel board (it's a late seventies mobile home dressed up to look like a real house).  There's still a bit of under-paper -- the last of the two (count 'em!) layers of wall paper -- and I'll remove that slowly over time.  Then I'm going to prime the wall and paint it in some sort of light, neutral colour, and re-hang my "Rogues Gallery" -- all those family photos I hold so dear.

For a third thing -- I've developed rosacea, which is apparently very common in Women of a Certain Age who enjoy waking up to a fresh cup of coffee or tea, going out to get some sunshine, excercising in said sunshine, maybe having a spicy dish for lunch (me? not so much) and a glass of wine with dinner.   What's left? Breathing? Sleeping? Creating with fabric, fibre or floss?!  Sheesh!

Anyway, I'm treating my face more gently these days to make up for the fact that I'm not giving up any of the above "causes"!  

There was one thing, though, that I have given up in the last couple of weeks: most of my living room furniture.

Yep. You read that right.

I moved here in the fall of 2008, two years into widowhood and still grieving.  It's taken a long time for that grief to ease up to the point where I could be honest and start sifting and sorting my material memories -- but that time is NOW.

During those 17 years, I've let my furniture go to the cats.  A little research showed that perhaps the down-to-the innards mess they made of my over-stuffed love seat and two chairs, combined with the fact they were crammed into a small space that made vacuuming a challenge, was ...well...not good for me.  At least, not good for my skin!

So...at the end of October I went to a furniture store in the town up the road, and bought two new small chairs.  They're "tub" shaped, with wooden frames, including wooden arms, beautifully finished, and with upholstered backs, seats and back cushions. Those cushions have zippers -- the fabric can be washed!

Armed with a bottle of "No Scratch" from the pet store and some of my own quilts and coverlets, I am now enjoying both chairs immensely.

But...uh-oh!  Now the carpet -- a sort of 'Berber' type -- is very visible.  So...I went out and bought one of those light-weight upright warm-water-and-detergent motorized carpet cleaners (a Hoover PowerDash Pet Carpet Cleaner) from my local Home Hardware (a Canadian chain of small-box hardware stores staffed by folks who remember your name).  In between assorted other activities, I've set up a schedule of weekly carpet cleaning sessions.  It's going to take a while, and my carpet will never look "like new", but it's making a difference!

The fact that my furniture is no longer spewing bits of dust, dander, sponge rubber etc. into the air, and my carpet is giving up all that the vacuum couldn't reach for over a decade has worked wonders on both my skin and my sense of peace.

Furthermore, having to clear out a small book-case in order to 'do' the hall carpet has meant that I've just filled my second and third box of books and old DVDs to donate to the local lending library -- for sale or circulation: their choice.

And of course the 'making' hasn't stopped!  We all know that our crafting, hand-work, etc. keep us sane, so let's explore what that's meant for me since my last post, eh?

In rug-hooking, as far as the Women's Show in Red Deer...it wasn't a roaring success for Curiosity Art and Framing, where I show my work.  It was an experiment, and won't be tried again.

But...I'm happy to report that my piece, "Love Lives in the Stars" (see the photo above left) was accepted into the "Winter's Night" exhibit in the lobby gallery of the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre!  The exhibit opens November 17 and runs through January 8, 2026, though it will be closed for the holidays:

I hope to go to the opening reception next week -- if the weather behaves!

In knitting, I've finished that one pair of mittens, and have been working on the gloves my son requested for Xmas.  I've finished one, and have only the ring finger, the pinky finger and the thumb to finish on the second. Given that I am challenged by 'reversing' a pattern -- in this case, for a right- and left-hand glove -- it's been a bit of "one step forward, two steps back", but I'm on track now and the pair will be finished, washed and blocked well before Xmas...

Pattern: Modified Army Gloves
Designer: Selyn Birnbaum
Yarn: 100% Corriedale
Handspun by Kristi, Alberta, Canada

As for my own handspun, the hat is progressing -- I'm past the ribbing -- but it's a "car knit" which means "while I'm waiting for the train" or "when I'm out with a friend for coffee" or whatever...so stay tuned for progress!

That said, once the give-away mittens were done, using the last of the same yarn, I cast on a pair of "Lawn Bowling Mitts" designed by my cyber-friend Kate -- she of "Arts and Socks" blog.  I've finished one (but for the thumb) and will cast on the second soon. They'll join the other things in the "Warm Things" give-away box.

And then there's quilting.  I finished the "Four-patch Fun" top -- Bonnie Hunter's 2025 "Leaders and Enders" project. As you may recall, I used the left-overs from the "Celtic Knots" mega-quilt project from the summer.  I opted for a 'straight-on' layout, rather than 'on point' -- and I'm glad I did. It's SO pretty!

It'll stay as a flimsy until its needed.

That said, on my first Sunday at my new worship community, I found out that a family with whom they were acquainted had recently lost everything in a house fire.  The couple in question are not in great financial shape, as they work as health care aids (not well paid here in this province).  So...this week I sandwiched and quilted one of the comfort throw 'tops' I keep on hand. All that's left to do is to bind it, stitch in thread ends and wash it.  I'll have it ready for the next service in the parish, on Nov. 23.  Below is a photo of the top that I finished a few months ago:

As for the November BOM from A Quilting Life...well...I've prepped the templates on freezer paper, but that's as far as I've gone.  Some of you will know how much I dislike templates. I'll just leave that there for now!

On to stitching!

In my last post I mentioned that I had some 'smalls' I wanted to stitch for Xmas gifts.  I'm happy to report that all three have been stitched!

Alas, it seems that as of this writing, I've photographed only one of them -- and it's only stitched.  It needs to be embellished with the charms that come with it, and then fully finished:

Design: "Coffee"
Designer: Hinzeit
28-count unlabelled fabric
2 over 2 with the called-for colours

NOTE: the above link is to US-based 123 Stitch -- a great company but not where I purchased this pattern. I've owned it for years, and bought it from a Canadian source. It appears to be unavailable from 123 Stitch; I have no idea where you can get it now, let alone the charms that go with it.  Sorry, eh?

In other stitching...

My November focus is once again on "A Quilter's Dream" from Modern Folk Embroidery.  Why?  Because this is a tribute piece to my late husband, my greatest fan as I took up quilting and then moved to explore art quilting not long before he died in 2006.  I began to work on this some months ago -- in February 2025, marking 50 years from our engagement to be married:

In August is/was our wedding anniversary -- the 9th of that month.  He died on that same date, 31 years after we were married -- so here is my progress on Aug. 31 this year:

And November is a) Diabetes Month in Canada (Canadians Dr. Frederick Banting and his partner Dr. Best and their team discovered insulin. Dr. Banting -- aka Sir Frederick Banting, was born Nov. 14, 1891); b) my father's birth month - Nov. 14, 1904; and c) my husband's birth month - Nov. 29, 1952.

So here is my progress to date.  With another 2 weeks to go, I've finished the first two pages (top and bottom left) of this piece.

As for spinning...no...nothing going on there in the last few weeks. No rug-hooking since "Love Lives in the Stars" either.  But that doesn't mean all is lost on those fronts.

I'm learning to go where my hands want to go, and to trust in my "little art spirit" (as Deanne Fitzpatrick is wont to say) as well as the greater spirit that governs us all.

Americans will be celebrating their Thanksgiving soon.  They continue to live in Very Troubled Times there, and up north here we can only watch and pray -- not only for them, but for those up here who would emulate some of the nastier forces at play south of our border.

So I leave you, Gentle Readers, first, with my usual link to dear Nina Marie, with her inspiring posts; and second, with hopes and prayers for a safe, happy, celebratory Thanksgiving -- in the US and every day wherever the ROTW (Rest Of The World) lives...for we have each other, the work of our hands, the skies above, the earth beneath, and the One, the Universe...however you express that...who cares for each and every one of us.

Blessings, a bientot!

It's October...and I'm Still Here!

 

Hello, Gentle Readers! Thank you for being patient with me.  I still have days when I wake up thinking, "WTF?!" but most of the time now, I'm less tired, less stressed.  It was good to take some time away from some of my social media.

You'll probably chuckle at this, though: my "social media" consists of e-mails, blog posts, YouTube videos and Facebook groups -- most of those, private, requiring membership and the answers to a series of questions to determine one's level of genuine interest.  I focus on creative pages (the groups supporting cross-stitch; quilting; hooking rugs -- including for the wall; spinning and knitting.  

Then there's a couple of groups that are political -- but locally (as in my province and the country as a whole).  And that's it.

I'm a big YouTube fan and my list of 'subscriptions' is centred on cross-stitch (aka "flosstube") and knitting, with a bit of quilting and rug-hooking thrown in.  Good for the soul!  

I do admit to enjoying some news and politics but since my time off, I've been curating these items closely. Working outdoors -- prepping for Winter (yep!) as well as working in the studio has also been a big help in dissipating angst.  So...let's see what I've been up to, shall we?

In rug-hooking, the four pieces I showed in my last post have been trimmed, bound, blocked and taken to be framed at "my" gallery/frame shop -- Curiosity Art & Framing in Red Deer, Alberta.  The Gallery has a booth at an up-coming Women's Show in Red Deer, and some of my other work will be there -- October 17 and 18. I expect to be there too -- either helping behind the scenes with set-up or take-down, and/or doing a short artist's talk.  Not sure yet -- but I'm looking forward to it.

My newest piece is a wintry one, in answer to a Call for Entry from the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre.  Sorry...won't be sharing more info until it's framed and my response to the Call is accepted 😊...or not 😞  Stay tuned!

In knitting...well...there have been stops and starts.  My son wants a pair of real gloves -- that is, ones with fingers -- for Xmas.  I made a start.  I got past the cuff and palm onto the fingers of the first one and...they were huge!  So I've frogged that one and started over with a new pattern and fewer stitches.  I'm now working on the thumb gusset; life is good. I know...if you're not a knitter, you're already yawning. 😉

Also in knitting (!) my "sock mojo" has been sorely lacking, but I managed to finish a shawl for "One-skein September" (inspired by Karen of 'Recreational Knitting' podcast on YouTube).  I chose the "Get Set and Go!" pattern from Jem Arrowsmith on Ravelry.  

The pattern is great -- but what had me wondering was my yarn choice: a from-stash skein of "Uneek" fingering from Urth in colourway #3010.  It looked beautiful in the skein and even lovely in the small photo of it knit up (at left above).  Even when I laid it out for blocking, I was uncertain -- but now that it's dry and I've been wearing it, well, let's just say I'm chuffed!  It blocked beautifully and the colours blossomed into a coordinated collection instead of a weird mess!  

Photo taken while being blocked
on an old pale green towel

I've returned to 'give-away' knitting with yet another pair of child-sized mittens from my favourite Tin Can Knits pattern -- The World's Simplest Mittens -- using some more stash self-patterning yarn, and have only the thumbs to do to finish them off.  And my car knitting -- aka my "waiting at the train crossing" knitting?  I've started a simple toque for me, using my own handspun -- a sort-of DK weight marl...

I'm doing a 2x2 ribbing for the brim and then will knit solidly until I get to where I want to decrease stitches for the top.  This lively marled-and-striped colour-way would obliterate any sort of cable or texture pattern; it needs to show itself off! LOL!

In the quilting department, now that I've finished the Celtic Knot Behemoth (my name, not the actual name!) and it's been given to the happy recipients, what's next?

Well...piecing, of course -- it soothes the soul (as I may have said before!)  I'm assembling two things with my scraps -- string blocks (on recycled phone book paper) and crumb blocks.  I'm also working on a "Four Patch Fun" quilt (Bonnie Hunter's "Leaders and Enders" project for this year). For this, I'm using whatever neutrals I can find that work, plus left-over fabric from the Celtic Knot Behemoth.  I made up one block, just to see how it would turn out, and am delighted with it, so have prepped units for several more.  Given the size of the components I'm using, the blocks finish larger than those in the pattern -- 8" square.  I'll need 56 of them (7 blocks wide by 8 long) to make a decent throw for giving away -- and only hope I can find enough lights/neutrals that are suitable!

And...it wouldn't be October without another block for the Block of the Month (BOM) from A Quilting Life. Here it is laid out with its friends on my bedroom floor (bottom left)...

And here's its solo shot:

If you've been following along, you'll know that I've focused on using up a twenty+ year old stash of Thimbleberries fabrics, and have now pretty much exhausted the selection of lights/neutrals, so I'm scrounging from other parts of my stash.  No matter!  I seem to be able to find something that works every time.  I think this is a testament to the talent of that group of designers -- their use of colour, their choice of prints, their knowledge of how colours go together to make a cohesive whole, even decades after the fabric's been discontinued.

Nowadays fabric lines take months to design, but are brought to birth quickly and within months are discontinued.  This seems to be a waste of talent and design time but if the design -- including print and colour selection -- is well done, it can outlive its "fad" or "trend" stage and become timeless.  For me, these Thimbleberries fabrics from 2005 and earlier have that quality.

Let's see...what's next?  Cross stitch!  In September I focused on samplers, and made great headway on my focus piece, "Memories of the Past" from Hands Across the Sea designs.

Here's where I'd left it in September 2024:

And here's where I left it at the end of September this year:

I'm absolutely in love with this piece, but it's large, and I've quite a way to go yet!

Near the end of September I stumbled on a reference to a new-to-me pattern from SewBe Stitchery (Etsy).  I am careful about which patterns I purchase; they have to speak to me in their design and/or in their text, and this one did.  I bought it and I stitched it -- finishing it about a week ago.  It's on a scrap of 40-count unlabelled fabric, using 1 strand of Soie 100.3, colour #648 (bought a good 20 years ago), over 2 fabric threads.  I'll probably make it into a pillow.

Alcott was (and is) one of my favourite authors, and I have the series: Little Women, Little Men, Eight Cousins and Jo's Boys. I identified with 'Jo' as a reader, a lover of russet apples, and a thinker, and I identified with Meg as a maker -- talented with a needle for knitting and/or stitching.  I admired Jo's independent spirit so even though I was never a "tomboy", I was (and still am) an independent thinker.  

My senior high English Comp teacher was sure I'd become a lawyer, but no.  That said, my father's interest in politics and debate seem to have come down to me, which might explain my keen interest in politics, human rights etc.  This attitude has also enabled me to survive my marriage to a man, a man I loved and cared for, for over a decade until his illness (Type 1 Diabetes) took his life -- and all the while I was also caring for my aging mother, aunt and godmother, and raising, with my husband's help, two kids...

I am a Determined Woman

What's next in stitching? Xmas gifts, of course!  I have at least three 'smalls' I want to finish, all from Hinzeit designs, in kits I've owned for years: "Stitching","Knitting" and "Coffee".  The first two are for friends who do those things, and the last is for my neighbours who love coffee. I've finished the 'skeleton' of "Stitching, but have yet to add the charms (yes; it was a pattern/charms kit -- I added floss and fabric)...so stay tuned for more! (NOTE: I'm not sure where you can get these patterns any more. 123 Stitch has some, but not all of them. Sorry.)

Let me see...rug-hooked art, knitting, quilting, stitching...that's about it from my end at the moment.  

"What about spinning?!" you might be asking. Well...yeah.  I took a fantastic, intense 3-hour (well...almost 4 hours as it went over-time) class at the Prairie Fibre Festival in Lacombe in mid-September...and learned a lot -- but haven't touched my wheel since.  That said, I'm culling my fibre stash (slowly) with a plan to spin up only those fibres I really want to spin up. I have a wet-felting friend to whom I'll be giving fibres she might be more interested in than I am. By next spring, I'll know more what I want to use, and what I don't. I like to spin outside in the summer, so there probably won't be more action in this area for several months now.  I'll be busy rug-hooking at the frame, knitting, piecing quilt tops and working on my cross-stitch.  All of those are cozy activities for the rainy/snowy months to come.

No matter.  All bring colour, calm and rhythm into my world -- my tiny corner that, no matter what, continues to be bombarded with political noise and fearful threats from far beyond my sweet Canadian borders.

Fabric, fibre and floss are just what I need to keep me calmer and kinder just now.

And for those skills, I am thankful.

Yes, it's Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada.

And I am grateful. Thankful. Blessed...

- for the work of my hands and the opportunities to share my art;

- for my children, my son's partner and her son, my sister, my cousins; 

- for my dear friends, near and far, and for good neighbours;

- for the hope of living into my eighties;

- for enough to live on and give some away; and

- for YOU, Gentle Readers, who follow and read and put up with whatever I throw at you.

For all of these, I am truly thankful.

Yes, we do turkey, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes with gravy.

No Pilgrims, though.  Our Thanksgiving is more...well...like this:

Here's to all for whom and for which we are truly grateful... a bientot...

Linking to dear Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Friday"... Have a great weekend wherever you are and whatever you're doing.  And for Canadian followers: Happy Thanksgiving! 🩷