Long time no start

This past weekend was International Hermit & Stitch Weekend (IHSW) and I didn't have the time or energy to work on any of my current projects. As I was tidying up Sunday night (and bemoaning the fact I had no progress to show for IHSW), I accidently on purpose prepped the fabric for something new.

It's been a while since I've had a new start on a project that isn't a gift. I've been wanting to start Ciara Blue by Blackwork Journey since last December, but just haven't been able to find the time (or make decisions about fabric and floss).

I finally decided to stitch it on 32 ct white lugana using HDF silk in black and Carrie's Creations silk in Marina.

I must admit I am loving it! The colours are very me and I love the rich boldness of the turquoise. It's a pretty fiddly chart, but only an hour or two in and it is stunning!

Adding borders

Over the past few weeks I haven't done nearly as much stitching as I'd like -- mostly because I've become preoccupied with other crafts! However, I have managed a little progress on my counted canvas piece (Birds of a Feather by Nancy's Needles).

Two of the five borders are now complete. I can see the beginning of the end of this piece and I am loving every stitch. I can confidently say I am addicted to counted canvas. Plans are in action for several new canvas starts later this year.

About that quilting thing

As I said in my last post, I've been convinced to try English paper piecing. It didn't take much really - a gentle suggestion goes a long way with me and crafting. Anyway, a day was spent with my friend Caroline learning to use a rotary cutter for the first time (still have all my fingers!) as I chopped up all my lovely fabric into 3" squares.

I am loving the batiks .... so many delicious swirly patterns!

Once I had a pile (or ten), I was shown how to baste hexagons (so cute), and off I went.

And this is what a box of crafty happiness looks like:

I ended up at the auto mechanic's the other day, and I took my hexies with me. So quick and easy to do and it really helped pass the time. I'm still new and rather slow, but I'm quite happy with 15 hexies basted in an hour. :)

Nothing like a little enhancement

As much as I like to think I have a sense of restraint, I don't. I'm an incredibly impulsive, addictive person. And oooh boy, am I ever addicted to stash.

I picked up my crochet hook again recently, bought a little yarn, and started work on a lapghan. I can't ever be satisfied with just one project on the go -- I always start planning and prepping for the next 3-4 projects too. So now I have decided to make scarves for my Dad and brothers for Christmas, and I have the yarn to do it! I bought several balls of Palette Yarn (fingering weight 100% Peruvian highland wool) from Knitpicks.com.

The intended scarf pattern (from the e-book Scarves for All Seasons by Deja Jetmir):

Colours for Dad:

Colours clockwise from top:
 Hollyberry, Ash, and Black

Colours for Brother 1:

Colours clockwise from top:
Canary, Orange, and Serrano

Colours for Brother 2:

Colours clockwise from top left:
Alphalfa, Bark, Semolina, Macaw, and Almond

I bought some lovely Shimmer Hand Dyed Lace Yarn (70% baby alpaca, 30% silk) for some curlique scarves for my neices and a shawl for my SIL.

Colours clockwise from top left:
Sherry, Shallows, Spice, and Elderberry

I am also on the verge of trying quilting by hand using English paper piecing. Of course I need fabric for that, so I went a bit wild at ConnectingThreads.com. (More on this project next week.)

I do love me some batiks!

The pocketbook has certainly earned a well-deserved (and extended) break. Now I can play with all the pretties!

The Granny Square Grows

I've put a few more rounds into my granny square lapghan -- progress is beginning to slow down now that the rounds are getting bigger.

I have a few new projects slated to start soon and I've even put a little work into an old UFO. Look out for more updates!