What beautiful day it's shaping up to be today.  Colorado blue skies and sunshine!!

I’ve really been into knitting lately as you can see from my finished projects:  My 2nd pair of socks is finished, just waiting to accompany me with the right outfit. 





I am on to socks number 3 so I decided to try a new pattern with a little more design.  This circle sock is really turning out to be a fun knit.  The pattern is pretty easy so far.  I’m on the heel just about ready to start the turn.  After knitting a long time yesterday, my hands are crying out for a break.   Maybe a trip outside is in order today as the weather is really nice, that pretty Colorado blue sky and hardly a cloud in sight. 

Other knitting happy dances include some spa cloths for a birthday gift.  These knit up so fast and are so cheerful looking, they're a great break from bigger projects.  And one can never have too many spa cloths, can they?  I found these patterns online on ravelry.com, along with many more.

Here's my adventure into the world of cable knit: a scarf and mittens.  They will probably end up as a gift as well since the mittens are a little snug for me.  But I think I have the cable stitch down.  It was really much easier than I thought it would be.  The yarn is a soft wool/acrylic blend that should be nice and warm.

Cross stitching has taken a back seat temporarily, although I do get a few stitches in every couple days or so.   Today may be a cross stitch day to give my hands that afore-mentioned break.  The BIG cross stitch is on pg. 4 of 25 and really starting to look like something.  I can’t believe how many stitches are in this thing!  Alternately, I’m working on a smaller picture of a beach scene.  It’s only 2 pages of stitches. :)

On the sewing/quilting front, I recently brought home some sample fabric from work and decided to make this fun tote.  It worked up pretty easily and will make a nice variety in my tote collection.  I can retire on of the uglier, more worn ones.  

Here’s an art quilt I had fun making, adding beads and lots of embellishment.  I love the irregular shape of it and it was a good project to practice machine quilting.  Look for more of this style as I sort thru my stash of fabric and beads.  There’s a blue/green in the works that I show you in coming weeks as it goes on its transforming journey thru the bead stash

That's about it for today.  Gotta go enjoy that sunshine!! 

What has happened to February?  I guess I have been busy.  Cross stitching has taken a bit of a back seat as I work on my knitting skills.  I've also done some sewing and quilting.  Right now I'm working on an art quilt using a new technique.  When I get finished with the beadwork, I'll show you.

Meanwhile - here's my first socks.  I wore them last weekend--very comfy and warm.  Knitted using Berocco self striping sock yarn.  Turning the heel was easier than I thought.  I'm now working on my second pair in a green/brown wool.

On the cross stitch front, the BIG project is progressing, tho' only a 100 or so stitches a day. I'm over half done with the 2nd page.  Only 23 more to go after that. :) Still missing one color so there are some holes to fill in when I get it. 
In the evenings when I'm not knitting, I started a seaside window cross stitch that hubby got me for Christmas last year.  Not much to show on it yet, I started on the sandy beach part to get it out of the way because it's not very colorful.

Wow!  For a retired person I sure have been busy.  My business is picking up a bit, including designings a couple websites.  It takes time to get them going, lots of fiddling around with pictures, resizing, and content.  And I started a new part-time job at the local fabric and yarn shop.  Boy was I tired last night when I got home from my first full day.  But it was lots of fun! 
I have been stitching in the evenings and some afternoons.  I have decided to work on the BIG cross stitch project in the afternoons and save evenings for smaller things that don't take so much concentration (DH expects me to be watching TV with him).  I did finish a WIP a couple nights ago.

I picked this kit up at a garage sale early last summer and thought it looked like a fun project and the price was right - I think it was all of $.50, maybe a dollar.  Everything was there and I got busy sorting the floss colors right away.  After finishing all the crosses, the daunting task of outlining began.  So many lines on the pattern was confusing but eventually it got done.  In looking back, I think I should have done some of the outlining as I finished a section then I wouldn't have put it off and the picture would have been finished much sooner.

I know it's January but my cherry tomato plant seems to be so happy taking over the dining room table that it keeps giving me little tomatoes.  I don't have the heart to get rid of it when it's doing this well. 

And finally a day early,  my ORT jar picture for TUSAL.  I can't believe how many old ratty threads I've collected this month.  If you're wondering about ORT's and TUSAL check out this link.

I heard a new term yesterday:  "confetti stitching".  Have you heard of it?  Well, I did some research and found that it refers to those loney single cross stitches that are "out there" all by themselves.  Do you trail your thread out to them, making the back look messy or do you stop and start each one separately to look nice on back?  I've haven't decided which camp I hail from, guess it will be decided on a project by project situation. 

Last night I got busy and finished 9 of 10.  Only one more to go.  This photo shows where I started last night.    You'll have to look at the pic below to see the finished stitching.

And here I am well into 10 of 10 which I started late last night.  I decided to work on the blended filiment stitches first to get them out of the way.  As I'm stitching, I'm daydreaming about my next project.

I've  been practicing for TUSAL 2012!  This is my jar since Thanksgiving, a little bit of knitting and a lot of cross stitching.  Still looking for my pretty glass jar to display them.

Ok, if hubby is going to wrap Christmas gifts (well, put them in gift bags) then I better get the tree up.  We have a tiny living room so our tree is also tiny.  It's about 2.5 ft. tall and decorated mostly with beaded things.  He wanted to know how many things I've gotten him so he could keep things kind of even.  I giggled and said none yet.  Of course, he didn't believe me but...  I haven't.hahaha!
I'm planning on getting some things next week as well as make him something. 

Back to my stitch and a Christmas movie.  I love December!

What is TUSAL?  For a full description check here: http://itsdaffycat.blogspot.com/2011/11/totally-useless-stitch-long.html
After looking at several bloggers and seeing what has been happening in the stitching world, I've decided to join the fun.  I never thought of keeping my thread scraps to monitor progress but it looks fun.  And all the stitching projects currently in progress out there in blogland is amazing.  I have been truly inspired to get the needle moving again.  In fact I'm almost
done with Christmas ornament 7 that I just started night before last and can hardly wait to get going again this morning. 

So, Christmas movies-on, needle and floss threaded and ready, computer off.  GO!