Craft On: Making Some Progress

Linking with Nicole of Frontier Dreams  (This is last weeks post for Nicole as she is in the middle of a move:)

I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I am participating in the 100 Day Project LINK HERE. It seems that it's more geared towards artists than crafters, but there are several of us crafters that have joined in. Look up #100dayproject on instagram and you will see lots of different projects going on. My journey can be found at #100daysofmymaking on instagram:)

I've gotten a few knitting projects off the needles in the past two weeks.

First is a Sockhead Slouch hat I made for my daughter. I really like the colors in this. Black, of course as that is mostly what my daughter wears, but the pops of blue and a grey/purple kept it fun to knit. This is the 3rd of these hats that I have made and I'm thinking the last. I hope next time she wants a hat we can pick a different pattern:)

I also finally finished my Hermione Socks and I really love how they turned out!! 

I did have a problem with the toe on the first sock I knit though. I have done kitchener stitch before on the other socks that I've made, but it didn't seem right this time. I decided to knit up the second sock and see what the toe looked like on it before fixing the first one. Sure enough, my kitchener stitch worked out just fine on the second one, so I took out the toe on the first one, and fixed it.

I also have a stitching finish. I finally finished the first of the Farmhouse Christmas series: Red Barn by Little House Needleworks. This series is perfect for our little 'homestead'*. I love the little sheep on this one!!

I said I didn't have any set goals for my 100 Day Project a couple weeks ago, but I did end up making up a list of what I hope to accomplish over the 100 day period. This is the first page of my goals and so far I am right on schedule, actually a little ahead of the game. I'm happy to be a bit ahead as I tend to slack off as a deadline comes closer to the end:)

We will see how far I get on this list which includes finishing the 3 Farmhouse Christmas charts that I currently own - I will have a few more by the time this challenge is done, finishing up my O'Tannenbaum stitching project and making/finishing two more pair of socks. I would also like to see some progress on the Cloud Wrap I am working on.  I will keep you updated on my progress:) 

Note: *Homesteading has many different definitions for many different people. I see homesteaders as as people actively using their land/property, whether acreage or their backyard, to partially provide for themselves or family. This can mean growing a garden, raising animals, and/or finding a way to use the land to provide monetarily, by providing money or saving money - ie cutting wood for sale or own use, canning their produce, sewing for profit or family ect. Technically then, I don't see us as actively doing this, yet, but we are working on it.  Everyone can have their own opinion on this, of course:)

Crafting On - Keep on Knitting

Linking up with Nicole at Frontier Dreams and her Craft On Blog Hop.

I am still mostly knitting on my sock. I got down to the heel flap on what will be the first usable sock...

But then I decided I needed another project to work on as well. I really want to start something new, but I also really want to get a couple things completed first. So I pulled out my Tidal Sands Cowl...

This project is just not wanting to cooperate with me!!! I pulled it out to knit on it, and after two rows around (over 600 stitches) I realized that there was a mistake a couple rows before where I started. :/ Hmm, maybe that was why I put it away in the first place? But not this time, I'm tinking away on it, going to fix that mistake (and the few others I made while tinking back lace) and then go from there.

I just joined The Knit Girllls Stash Dash on Ravelry so that is a little more incentive to finish up some WIP projects instead of starting something new:) I would really like to be able to complete the 3K finish line, but if I'm being really honest, I'll be doing good to finish the 1K!!

Now I'm off to see what you've all been working on!!!

12 Projects of Christmas Update

I've kept my hands busy-busy trying to at least work on the projects that will become Christmas gifts. I just finished both of my daughter's hats (pictures of these on Wednesday's post), and am coming along with the stitching project. I have decided that at least one of the ornaments that I finish stitching will become a gift as well. Friday Night Sew In is this Friday, so that will be perfect for finishing off some things:)

So here is where I am with what will be my mother-in-law's gift...

She Feeds Them Well by The Scarlett House. I am hoping to frame this myself, but if that doesn't work out I will make it into either a wall hanging or a pillow.

I also finished stitching a stocking ornament...

Winter Snow by Heartstrings Samplery  was a Ladies Prim Society club kit. Love this design and I can see doing this in many different color combinations.

And I spruced up my wreath. Not exactly how I had envisioned it, but I think I really like it.

Lastly, I bought, but haven't put together, the items I will need to do the 'JOY' addition to our Christmas decor. I am planning on decoupaging the letters with the papers and then adding beads and such.

I'm super excited at how well these projects are all coming along!! Hoping to get several more finished up soon!!

It's Officially AUTUMN!!!

But it doesn't feel like it!!! The weather forecast says it will be 92 degrees today:(

That's okay, because I have a plan this year. I think I'm like most of you who have good intentions on making the most of everyday only to find yourself 3 weeks later wondering how time has flown by so fast and all the little fun things that you wanted to enjoy with your family and friends are now over and done without you ever having even noticed.

This happens to me all the time. I even have started to set goals out at the beginning of the year of things I want to accomplish (some personal, some family related, and a lot of crafty goals:). But this has proved to be too big of a list and by a few months in I usually have abandoned it, or forgotten about it - or just lost the list. So I'm thinking that smaller lists that go along with the seasons/holidays are a better option - plus I love making lists, so I'm good with needing to do this over and over throughout the year:)

So here it is, and with the exception of the crafting category, I think it's all doable. I always over do the crafting list:) Also, I really don't want to watch a scary movie, I hate them!! But dd and dh both like them, so I'll give it a go, maybe. Here's to hoping we have a productive and memorable Autumn season!! Anything you would add to this list that I didn't???

I Fought The Frog...

but the frog won. I fought the frog but the frog won. (Insert music notes:) From the song 'I fought the law, and the law won...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16u0wwCfoJ4





Yes, the frog won on my knitting. After having success kicking the frog out of my stitching, he took up residence with my knitting project and won. It would have been okay if I hadn't lost my patience, or if maybe I hadn't been trying to knit at 12:30 in the  morning:) But alas, after knitting 54 rows of my shawl this is what I ended up with...

Thankfully, I love this pattern, and I LOVE this yarn, so I started over again and here is where I am now (again!!)...

I'll have to work really hard to make my end of February finish date now, but I think I can still do it:)

 

On a side note, I had no idea how many versions of 'I Broke the Law' there were!! I listened to some really good ones and a couple that may give me nightmares!! Hopefully I chose one that you like:)   

Project Progress

So how has this year been treating you so far? I have really been taking things slow and easy. Mostly been working on my Jan 1st projects, puttering around the house and trying to convince myself that all this lovely holiday time must come to an end. Not doing so well on that last part:) But school will resume today as well as house chores and grocery shopping.

As for my project progress, here's how it's coming along...

 

 Madam Cottontail from With thy Needle and Thread, almost has a head now:) I love the colors in this piece!! So far the fibers have all been from Weeks Dye Works, which I have a love/hate relationship with. I LOVE the colors they have, they are rich and turn out just beautiful. But I have troubles with the thread itself. It tends to knot on me more than others and it doesn't have as good of coverage as other I usually use. This piece is on 36 ct fabric, however, so coverage isn't as much of an issue.

 

Here's my crochet project. These will be fingerless mitts and it is coming along nicely. I really like the color, but I'm thinking I should have chosen a non-variegated yarn for this project. I'm losing the stitch detail with all the color shifting. That's okay for these since they are my first mitts and I will use them either way, but it's something I want to be aware of in the future.

 

And finally, my knitting project, Guernsey Wrap from Jared Flood. The yarn is SOOOOOO soft!!! I can't wait to wrap up in this one!! It may be a while though, as I'm on row 32 of 464. :) My goal is to have this one done at the end of next month, but I'm pretty slow at knitting, so we will see.

Today I am wanting to start pulling the projects I will focus on for the YOTA Sal and the Turtle Trot Sal as well as find a project to work on for the Smalls Sal (I will be choosing Christmas ornies for these so I will be ahead for next year:). Lots of fun 'work' for me!!

New Year, New Blog, New Goals

Well, here I am at my new 'home'. Like it is many times, my new 'home' has yet to be decorated, nor has it had all it's finishing touches. Hopefully by the end of this week I'll get the header up and do a bit of work to make it just right. But I didn't want to wait any longer to move in and start posting:) I will leave 'Around the Homestead' open for a while as new and old friends start coming by here, but I will eventually shut it down, I'm just not sure when yet.

Yesterday (at the other blog) I mentioned that I had a stitchy finish and also received a couple stitchy related gifts this year. First I finished a couple of ornies to give as Christmas presents...

 

The top one is Winter Song from BBD found in the 2008 ornament issue of JCS. This was a gift to my sil, Marianne Meyer. I also made this for my 12 Days of Christmas exchange partner, but used an 'A' as her name is April:)  The bottom one is Snowbirds from CCN found in the 2013 ornament issue of JCS. This one was done for my mil who loves birds:)

 



I was also able to get this done just in the (St.) Nick of time!! Except I still haven't finished it into a stocking:) Luckily this one is for me, so it didn't matter so much. This is Christmas Stocking from Plum Street Samplers found in the 2013 Ornie issue of JCS.

 

I LOVE stockings!! And I *think* I mentioned this to my sil, so she made this adorable stocking for me!! This was her first stocking finish, and I think she did great!! I believe this is part of the December Stockings that BBD did.

 

Every year my sil and I also receive a gift card to our local needle work store. It just so happens that our LNS also has an inventory sale at the end of the year and every thing in stock is 20% off. Of course that means that we have to have a little shopping day to spend our Christmas money!!

 
It wouldn't be a New Year without some New Starts!! This year I have 3 new starts.

A stitching start...


Madam Cottontail from Brenda Gervais/With thy Needle and Thread

And a new knitting and crocheting project!! :) The purple/grey wool blend sock yarn with be for crocheted mitts. The teal yarn is for a knitted wrap. It is a bamboo/silk blend and is OH SO SOFT!! The pattern is called Guernsey Wrap created by Jared Flood and can be found at Brooklyn Tweed website.

I've been spending a bit of time for the last couple of weeks trying to decide what handwork goals and challenges I want to try and tackle this year. Here's what I've come up with so far...

Smalls SAL from Stitching Lotus - Stitch and finish a small project and post on the last Wednesday of the month.

IHSW from Joysze at Random Wonderings - Work on a project(s) of your choice on the 3rd weekend of the month, trying to devote as much time as possible that weekend just for your stitching.

YOTA from Pull the Other Thread - Pick a project to focus on for the month and show off your progress on the first Sat of the month.

Turtle Trot from Claudette at BAP Attack - Pick 10 projects you would like to finish this year and post progress on them on the 10th of every month.

Gail Pan Patterns Sew Along from Martina at Sunshine Quilting - This is a embroidery/quilting/sewing SAL that I participated in last year and was a lot of fun. You pick any Gail Pan pattern to work on and post your finish/progress on the last week of the month.

I think this will be the bulk of my stitching goals/challenges. I haven't decided/found any that I want to do yet with knitting/crocheting, but will add them if I do. I do want to make sure to continue with the knitting and crocheting in order to build skill and confidence with them, plus it's a lot of fun!!

Of course, I would love it if you would cheer me along as I will cheer you along in your stitching/knitting/sewing/crafting adventures!!

Here's to a wonderfully creative 2015 year!!!