Stitch Maynia Day #1

Before I show you my first project, I have to show you what came in the mail today from my new found 'stitchy' friends on Stitching With the Housewives Facebook Group.   It was like Christmas!  I had mentioned that I wasn't sure I could do all of Stitch Maynia as I just didn't have enough projects and supplies because I had started back xs'ing fairly recently.  I did tell everyone where to find free designs though.  Well, I had several gals that reached out to me and wanted to send me stuff so here's what I received............it's amazing!
From Karen I got all these materials..........I swear there's one in every color! LOL!

 From Carol I got all these kits and patterns...........

I wanted to do an ornament a month this year and now it looks like I can!  I just have to work hard to catch up!

These are really sweet for April and May but they might be a bit big for me as I am so slow......

They are really cute though.............

and take a look at these...Ball jar ornaments..........love them!

My other new friend, Joanie sent a package yesterday but it hasn't arrived yet.  These ladies were so generous and wouldn't even accept money for postage!  So, I will be writing them and sending them some things in the mail too.........it won't be cross stitching but something homemade with other goodies included.  Who doesn't love to get packages in the mail?
So, now for Stitch Maynia Day #1.  First, I must tell you that I will not be making 31 projects.  I discovered that the original Maynia was to do as many projects as the year so I will do 19 and I will be doing the Blimey Cat method by the originator which means that for every project in Maynia this year that I finish, it opens up a slot to start something new next year plus it will be 2020 so you always get to start at least 1 new project each year for sure.  I think that fits me better and makes more sense to me.  For projects you don't finish this year, next year you work on them on the same day you did this year for Maynia.
DISCLAIMER:  I know this first project is almost like cheating but it's not! LOL!  I finished

 my first project...........the stitching anyway...............actually the final finishing will take me longer than the stitching.............this was a free pattern by The Primitive Hare over in Italy and I used my hand dyed Aida 14 ct and DMC floss but I changed the colors.............

This is what it will hopefully look like when I finish it.............those are felted wool hearts and there are some bells on it too.  Not bad for my first day of Maynia....even though it was a teeny tiny stitchery.

That's all for today folks........tune in tomorrow for Stitch Maynia Day #2!
Also, if you want some super inspiration watch The Real Housewives of Cross Stitch with Kimberly from the Fat Quarter Shop as they all reveal their 2019 Maynia projects......94 total I think.  In fact Priscilla is doing like 35....talk about an over achiever!  It's on You Tube for Fat Quarter Floss Tube, I think.....it's good....I think I've got my list for next year just from watching that episode!
Happy Trails!!!   

A little bit of everything........

It's been crazy here.....par for the course.  Nitty is not doing well....I know it's just a matter of time.  What's going  to be the issue is she won't be able to walk.  She's eating and drinking and eliminating but she is having a hard time with her legs and getting up.  She's doing it but it's a struggle and God knows I can't help her.  She is on another med for pain now and I put rugs down all over the garage to help her with traction.  I almost took her this morning but she was bright eyed and got up and ate and drank and went outside...it's hard to know when but it's coming...that I know.  Annie does really well except for steps but she still does them and even runs around in the yard.   Her nickname is"Speedy".
See how Nitty's paw is twisted?  Some days are tougher than others.............for both of us.....

  So, beside that I had some financial stuff that needed to be taken care of and shouldn't have taken all morning but it did and then I had to run to the post office over in Franklin.  So, I'm home now and finally got the kitchen cleaned up and some bread dough rising.........

 Got some laundry going...........

and sat down for a few minutes and knit a few rounds..........I'm on sock #2 now.............

It's going to rain here and there's a flood watch.....but I swear the weather people sensationalize the weather so much it's like they cry wolf and then no one pays attention......they're still talking about 'severe weather' in the South but I haven't seen any...yet....I better watch my mouth! LOL!
So before it rained I went out and took some pictures of the growth spurts around here........the pansies are blooming like crazy!  Ive' never had such healthy ones..............

the clematis is going gangbusters.....at least one is...........

the other one is trying..............it has 1 bloom..............

the kale is doing well..............I should probably transplant some or thin it shouldn't I?

the coral bells are starting to bloom......OMG!  Is that a weed in the front there?  I'm going to have to have a serious talk with the gardener!

the strawberries are flowering..............

and the peas need the rain.  They have entwined themselves in the netting but I guess that's okay.  I'm sure I'll find a way to get in there and harvest them when the time comes.....no flowers yet though.

I hope your Spring is behaving like a real Spring for you and that all is well in your part of the world!
Happy Trails!!!
P.S.  Don't forget.............tomorrow is Day 1 of Stitch Maynia......stop by here to see the first project and there are all kinds of Maynia podcasts going on tomorrow and for the entire month of May!   Also, it is May Day tomorrow!

EDITED FOR UPDATE!!!  I just went out to check on Nitty and she was out and about and ate all her food and was standing up drinking her water......we live to fight another day!  Thank you, Lord!

YOP Week #46

Finishes:none

 WIPs (works in progress):
1) This week it has been all about Stitch Maynia!  I have cut fabric to size for the projects from the fabric I had, then zigzagged them on my sewing machine and then spent the day today dyeing them.
I am starting a new project each day of May so that is 31........so far I have 18 but I'll make it!  I belong to Priscilla and Chelsea's FB group "Stitching With the Housewives" and in sharing some links with them for free patterns there were several that are sending me duplicates that they have and some are even sending me fabric so I can get to my "31 Projects"...I cannot believe people's generosity.  On top of that, I won Priscilla and Chelsea's drawing from last week!  I was so excited and it is 2 patterns that I love!   I'll be sure and show them when I receive them.
I am sorry it is all about Maynia this week but hopefully once I have everything 'kitted up' it will be smooth sailing.....like that ever happens around here!  

So, here are some photos of what I've been up to and yes, now the house looks like we did have a tornado here!  I found over 31 free xs patterns on designers websites mostly.

These are some of the fabrics I had left from years ago and I purposely chose "smalls" so I could utilize the little scraps I had..............

I used Rit dyes....a few that I had and then used Priscilla and Chelsea's coffee/tea dye procedure.......

this is blue Rit and I will keep it in the frig for later use.........

and yellow............

These I probably should have left alone but instead I put them in the coffee/tea dye too..........

You wet the fabric before you put it in a dye bath of any kind...........plus add lots of salt it helps it retain the color

After they came out of the coffee/tea bath you tuck in the edges and scrunch them up and bake them for 30 minutes at 200 degrees F...................

and there they are................I'm going out to pick them now and they will get ironed at some point but for now I am going to have supper and head to bed! I'm pretty tuckered out........

Acquisitions:
None this week

New Starts Planned: they're all secret! LOL!



YOP Goals from last week:
*1.  work on sock #2
2. audition and cut fabric for Pickle Dish #6 of 11 solid ones
3. trim all completed xs
4. kit up house ornament
5. work on Frida Kahlo basket
6. kit up and start Summer cross stitch
***7. get ready for Stitch Maynia


YOP Goals for this week:
1.  work on sock #2
2. audition and cut fabric for Pickle Dish #6 of 11 solid ones
3. trim all completed xs
4. kit up house ornament
5. work on Frida Kahlo basket
6. kit up and start Summer cross stitch
7. get ready for Stitch Maynia and participate starting May 1st!


TOP 10 (or more) WIP's:

1)  Pickle Dish
2)  Stars and Stripes Saturday - America x-stitch - done but needs finishing
3)  Amy's Frido Kahlo basket (July birthday) - done but needs to be sewn together
4)  Pin's embroidery
5)  socks
6)  C2C blanket for Grayson (July birthday) 
7)  Monthly Monday - HRH January
8)  Witchy Wednesday - Button-Eyed Cat
9)  Fall Friday -
10)  Santa Sunday -Old St. Nick - done but needs 'finishing' work
11.  Turkey Thursday
12.  Seasonal Sunday -Summer
13.  Santa Sunday - new house ornament

 Finishes so far in 2018-19: 
1.  4th of July cross stitch pillow/ornie
2.  Hitchhiker shawl
3.  Felici Hibiscus self-striping socks
4.  Felted wool loafer slippers with leather soles for me Sam
5.  washcloth (extra large) and back scrubber for Christmas or birthday for SIL
6.   Iowa Hawkeye hats for Sam and Grayson
7.  Techniques learned so far this year: a) knit cast on, b) reading a knitting chart, c) lace work, d) inserting and using a lifeline e) charting a graphghan
8.   dishcloth(s)...I need to count them
9. Cubs hat for Uriah
10. 12 days of Christmas Advent gifts
11. Cowl for Ben
12. Cowl for Tracy
13. Cowl for Natalie
14.  # 2018 Collectible ornaments for the grands
15.  Cowl for me or gift basket
16.  11 scrubbies for gift basket
17.  1 pot handle cover for gift basket
18.  Ben's Bear's hat
19.  Falling Leaves Scarf
20.  Tissue Box Cover - 5 of them!
21.  Granny Square Shawl
22.  Kathleen Tracy doll quilt
23.  Pumpkin Spice Farm xs
24.  Spring xs

 Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other YOP'ers are working on.  Plus, stop by here each day to see each new xs project starting May 1st through the 31st!  All will be revealed! LOL! 
Happy Trails!!!

Maniacal over Stitch Maynia!

If you're not familiar with Stitch Maynia and the flosstube podcasts on You Tube, each year starting on the 1st of May, cross stitchers all over the world start new projects throughout the month.   They then work on those projects throughout the year. I have seen myself accomplish more by working on several projects as opposed to just one because it keeps you from becoming bored with the same project all the time.   This is so much fun and I was able to work around my inability to purchase 31 projects and supporting materials all at once!  I am doing 31 projects in May, some people do 19 for the year 2019, some work on WIPs.  It's up to you how much you want to participate, if at all.  Last year I didn't participate because I was just getting back into cross stitch but I watched the You Tube Maynia 'starts' on floss tube and I was inspired !  So this year I am going for it! 

First, I organized all my floss as I had purchased a few boxes at garage sales filled with floss............

 Now it is all organized and floss from finished projects is back in the containers and in numercial order!  Ready, set, go! 

The floss below is from sales and it is either Coats or unlabeled neither of which I will put in with my others but I may use when I substitute colors.

There are also some full skeins which need to be put on cards and that will be a good t.v. watching  project.

Stitch Maynia for cross stitchers starts May 1st and you can really do as many or as few projects as  you want but of course I am following some of the great ones and starting a new project each day of May.  Then the object is to rotate them and finish throughout the year until May 1st 2020 when you do it all over again! LOL!    I am choosing small projects this year as not only do they work up faster but they utilize less material.   I do not have a bunch of money to be laying out for a years worth of cross stitch projects.  I spent a lot of time searching the internet and I was able to gather up over 31 designs for free from various cross stitch designers!  Now I just need some more material and kit them up!  I am truly excited about this!  

Are any of you out there cross stitchers?  Are you joining in for Stitch Maynia 2019?  This and the YOP  group on Ravelry have me planning like a fool!   I'll keep you informed and come May 1st there will be posts each day with my new start for that day!  

Meanwhile, as I was running around gathering and organizing my cross stitch, Miss Peeps left this on my desk chair............this is one of her 'babies'...she will leave it on my chair...I think she wants me to babysit...lol!

she has 2 babies.....this is her other one and it is on another chair........or it could be that they were fighting and she had to separate them..........that girl is too funny!

That's all the excitement for now.  I've been to the vets, the pharmacy and Walmart and filled the car with gas.  Now, I need to cut up a melon, make some bread and wash rugs and get them hung outside.  No rain today.....beautiful and sunny!

Happy Trails!!!

How did I miss World Book Day yesterday?

Evidently I need a 'specialty' calendar that has all those 'special' days on it.  I did finish a book which was very well written and enjoyable but mostly it dragged on and on.  I think I'll recommend it to Joanna at Stitching the High Notes because there was a lot about opera in it and the love of opera.  I had wanted to try this author and now that I have I am done with her....lol~

 I'm still reading Yonder which is a non-fiction about a PBS Film Producer who bought an old dude ranch in Montana and fixed it up and delved into the history of all the past owners of the ranch.  I like it but he's not the greatest writer.  He throws in words I've never heard of and I have a good vocabulary but it doesn't seem to fit with his desire to be a 'cow hand'!
My next non-fiction is this one...............I thought I should read this now before it's too late! LOL!
Yonder is my own book but Bel Canto and this one are from the library so they have been pushed to the front of the line. 

 I am ready for a lighthearted fiction mystery along the lines of Joanna Fluke's Minnesota baker mysteries.  Hallmark liked them too as they have made them into t.v. movies.  I haven't seen them as I don't get the Hallmark channel.  Have any of you seen them?   Are they good? 
I tried to read The Mueller Report but I cannot read that much from sitting at my desk on my PC so I bought a copy from Amazon but couldn't download it......I guess I'll have to order a hard copy.   It would cost and arm and a leg to print it off.
I have been focusing on preparing for Stitch Maynia and trying to figure out how to afford 31 projects!  You have one for every day of May and you start a new one every day in May....or not.  But I am going for the 31 day version.  I did get a glimmer of hope today as there are a few patterns out there that have a booklet of 'smalls' for a certain season which would get me lots of patterns for a smaller chunk of change.  Also, I have cross stitch books and magazines from 'days gone by' so I need to utilize those.  That brings it down to fabric and some additional floss.  Things are looking up! 
This morning I watched Priscilla and Chelsea and Cash (the cutest baby on the planet, I swear!) at the Fat Quarter Shop.  Fat Quarter is carrying cross stitch supplies now and Lori Holt, a fabric and quilt designer, is now designing cross stitch too!  There is one I have to get called Farmgirl....but of course!  They also have a Cross Stitch Journal that keeps track of your Maynia projects but it was $14!  I looked at it and what info they were tracking and made my own.  I'll have to hand write it but I'm okay with that...........here's my feeble attempt...........

I looked at theirs and drew a little schematic...........

It's good enough for me to keep track of my Maynia projects and it's in my Daily Bullet Journal so it won't get lost!
It rained today and will be raining again tonight.....nothing bad though and only one warning that expired, so far.  I did laundry, ran the dishwasher and shook rugs before it started.  Tonight I will be perusing my old cross stitch magazines and books.  I love it when a plan comes together!
Oh, my clematis is blooming.....they look a little bedraggled after repotting but I'm sure they'll adjust in time and at least they're blooming!    What have you been up to?

 Happy Trails!!!

Renewed vigor~we'll see how long it lasts! LOL!

My headache went away and I felt great yesterday.  I must admit it wasn't even dark when I went to bed Sunday night but I slept a good long time!  I think I have avoided several illnesses by going to bed when I'm tired and of course now a days there is no alarm set.  So, I got busy Monday morning and picked up the yard and filled the mower and was off mowing.  It was a beautiful day and after the rain the lawn looks good.  It's supposed to rain again this week starting tonight so I wanted to get it mowed before it got any taller.   While I was mowing I noticed something way up high in the big cedar tree...............I couldn't believe it!  A wisteria vine had climbed all the way to almost the top of the huge cedar at the end of my yard and was blooming like crazy up there!  Obviously it was not afraid of heights.  

 

I have no idea where it came from and I never noticed it before this year.  My old neighbor had one but had it chopped down but I hear that once you have a wisteria you ALWAYS have a wisteria!  They are hard to get rid of.  I'm not sure if it will damage the tree or if they can live harmoniously....we shall see!  I was sad when the neighbor cut hers down because I thought it was beautiful.  It was a darker purple than this one but this one is probably drained from climbing all the way up that tree!

After mowing I came inside and made my Easter dinner albeit a day late.  I made the ham with the cherry glaze and it was delicious.  Very moist and not salty.  It was a Smithfield ham which I had never had before but it was a rump and it still had the skin on and was very fatty.  I looked for a shank but there was none.  I carved it up today and there is as much meat for me as there are scraps for the girls.  I also saved the juice and pour some on their food each night.    I got a nice ham bone from it with lots of meat left on it.  I was going to vacuum seal but I was out of bags.

The riced cauliflower was easy but a bit watery but draining it in it's  'riced' condition was out of the question so I just used a slotted spoon for it.  I probably won't be buying it again as I prefer fresh.  The fresh seems to be more flavorful.  

Now, on to the ginger and maple syrup glazed carrots!  Oh baby, oh baby!  I will be making those again and again and again!  This is before they were roasted in the oven......the recipe called for those fancy colorful carrots but I just bought the organic ones and that was the only variety they had.  I quartered them length wise and then in about 2 inch segments......I wanted to utilize that 'glaze' which made these carrots my favorites!

I think both recipes were from Midwest Living recipes online.  If you need the link let me know.  I'm off to have supper now......I can't wait!

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #45

Happy Easter!!!

Finishes:

1)  Sock #1 of my Blueberry Speckle socks.........and sock #2 is started....the cuff only has a few more rows and it will be done.........

2) Pickle Dish #5 is done but still needs to be pressed........you can see it trying to curl up..........the bottom hexie really is the same as the other ones but the lighting wasn't very good............

here's a picture of all of them so far..........it could also be my lumpy bed! LOL!

 WIPs (works in progress): 
1) I worked on the corner-to-corner blanket a bit............

 I need to measure and see how wide a twin blanket is......I still have one more skein after this one and so far I've used 1 skein of 3 that I have..............

I did no cross stitching this week whatsoever!  I was trying to keep  up with cleaning up after the girls, grocery shopping. financial stuff and then cooking.........it's been a busy and tiring week.  I made an iron skillet pizza last night for supper using my own dough...very good.......

I also made dough for cinnamon rolls that I baked off this morning............they were alright but I prefer caramel pecan....oh yeah!

I had planned on making a cherry glazed ham, riced cauliflower  (did you know you can get it already 'riced' at Walmart in the freezer section along with some other 'riced' and 'spiraled' vegetables?  I had no idea!) and some maple sugar glazed carrots but we'll see.....I'm really tired this week and it may have to wait until tomorrow.  So much for my Easter dinner! LOL!  But I'm not having company so what difference does it make?  Oh, I also sent the grands some Easter 'boxes' which took some time putting together this week and mailing.  My friend, Vickie, sent me a card that had me laughing............thanks Vickie!

  

 Acquisitions:
None this week

New Starts Planned: they're all secret! LOL!

YOP Goals from last week: (better than the week before!)

DONE 1.  finish stitching Pumpkin Spice Farm
DONE 2.  finish hexies and stitch together for Pickle Dish #5 of 11 (there are also 2 half PD's on the vertical and 6 half PD's on the horizontal plus 4 quarter PD's and then the connecting hexies)    
3.  Work on Amy's Frida Kahlo basket
4.  Start house ornament
6.  do the finishing work on "America" xs
7.  do the finishing work on "Merry Xmas" xs
8.  do the finishing work on "Primitive Santa"
DONE 9.  finish rest of sock #1
10.  make sock box and ornament box for 12 of each in a year (yeah right) lol!

YOP Goals for this coming week:
1.  work on sock #2
2. audition and cut fabric for Pickle Dish #6 of 11 solid ones
3. trim all completed xs
4. kit up house ornament
5. work on Frida Kahlo basket
6. kit up and start Summer cross stitch
7. get ready for Stitch Maynia

 TOP 10 (or more) WIP's:

1)  Pickle Dish
2)  Stars and Stripes Saturday - America x-stitch - done but needs finishing
3)  Amy's Frido Kahlo basket (July birthday) - done but needs to be sewn together
4)  Pin's embroidery
5)  socks
6)  C2C blanket for Grayson (July birthday) 
7)  Monthly Monday - HRH January
8)  Witchy Wednesday - Button-Eyed Cat
9)  Fall Friday -
10)  Santa Sunday -Old St. Nick - done but needs 'finishing' work
11.  Turkey Thursday
12.  Seasonal Sunday -Summer
13.  Santa Sunday - new house ornament

 Finishes so far in 2018-19: 
1.  4th of July cross stitch pillow/ornie
2.  Hitchhiker shawl
3.  Felici Hibiscus self-striping socks
4.  Felted wool loafer slippers with leather soles for me Sam
5.  washcloth (extra large) and back scrubber for Christmas or birthday for SIL
6.   Iowa Hawkeye hats for Sam and Grayson
7.  Techniques learned so far this year: a) knit cast on, b) reading a knitting chart, c) lace work, d) inserting and using a lifeline e) charting a graphghan
8.   dishcloth(s)...I need to count them
9. Cubs hat for Uriah
10. 12 days of Christmas Advent gifts
11. Cowl for Ben
12. Cowl for Tracy
13. Cowl for Natalie
14.  # 2018 Collectible ornaments for the grands
15.  Cowl for me or gift basket
16.  11 scrubbies for gift basket
17.  1 pot handle cover for gift basket
18.  Ben's Bear's hat
19.  Falling Leaves Scarf
20.  Tissue Box Cover - 5 of them!
21.  Granny Square Shawl
22.  Kathleen Tracy doll quilt
23.  Pumpkin Spice Farm xs
24.  Spring xs

 Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other  YOP'ers are working on.
Happy Trails!!!