Art, Craft and Needlework, January, 2023

[Harriet]

Thanks to everyone who made this thread so interesting in 2022!

Dove came in to encourage! ❤️
DeeClutter came in to encourage! ❤️
Mystery Woman created this lovely stitched bookmark - here's her photo
btw, Cathy created a lovely songbird cross stitch for her dh, 200 stitches per day!
Kathryn shared photographs of her creative decorating, and keeping ornaments child-proof
Twins' Mom made greeting cards from her new "share" of card-making materials
Harmony shopped and is considering a craft kit, planning creative time
Harriet made a 5-point scrappy patchwork star ornament from a handmade template
And what did Nancy do, you ask?
Nancy chose from among her creations, of all the 2022 year long, to give Christmas gifts at year's end!
Hurray, everyone!

[Nancy]

Popping in to say I have done a bit of knitting nearly each day.
Working on my goal of at least one ascot scarf every month for gifting later in the year.
A few rows makes a stripe on these and I am trying to get a stripe done each day.
The current one is coming along nicely.

[Nancy]

I finished knitting the brightly colored striped ascot scarf.
Got crochet edging on the granny square triangle throw.
Started the next ascot scarf it is grey.

I painted a serving tray black, and I added some white accent dots.

I know of a couple of baby blankets I could be making up but do not have the fabric would have to be in neutral colors.

[Nancy]

Painted a crate grey I had in the shed a find I did not get painted yet, I thinking of using it in the rec. room hoping it will work in the entertainment center I just cleaned up.

I know of two new babies that are due later this year. Trying to decided on receiving blankets to hem,
or a quilt. I need to get the supplies.

[Elizabeth]

Hi everyone! I finished Baby Orbit, a juvenile version of the mascot of the Albuquerque Isotopes baseball team. When I try to upload the picture, I get "the board attachment quota has been reached".

[Nancy]

I have gotten some teal yarn for my next scarf.

Also got fabric for three receiving blankets to hem, pre - rinsing this is next,
a project to do later in the week.
I decided not to do quilts or more than one layer of fabric because it gets too hot here for these summer babies.

To change things up a bit I am painting on two rocks it is fun.
-----

Up Date:
Got the first one pressed and pinned to hemmed got it done.
I remembered I still need fabric for one more forgot about a diff. one on the way as well at church.
JoAnn's is calling/ texting! LOL.

Got the other fabric needed plus one more piece to make one ahead.
Pressed the first pass on two more of these.
I new have 2 blankets hemmed one more and I will be half done.

[Harmony]

Harriet, it got so crazy here before Christmas, I never got over to look at the kit I wanted. Recently I was in that store and looked where they were and they must be all gone. I do know a place online to get one and I've been looking at them for over a year now. I am torn between wanting one and not wanting another project to do around here and I just can't decide. I never seem to get everything caught up sufficiently to where I think I have time and space for it. So, still in the thinking stage. I know if I could have held one in my hands and looked at it I'd probably have brought it home. There is another place to check...maybe for my birthday?

I'm thinking of how to consolidate my fabric into something that does not take up so much space on that shelf unit. Maybe putting all the individual boxes in a bin that I can stack more out of the way. Right now I'm not in a sewing mode.

But I have to report on the Bonsai trees. The Norway Spruce has 2 tiny tiny little trees growing in the pots they provided. There are even 2 of those in the "extra" Styrofoam cups I used for the extras. They have little stems and some feathery stuff at the tops. Fun to see. I am watering all the cups with a spray bottle almost every day.

[Nancy]

So there was a flaw in the selvage of one of the fabrics I got I trimmed it off and
got it pressed ready to hem now. But it was 50% off so I do not feel bad.

I finished the grey scarf.
I started a hot pad this one is white.

Got the next blanket hemmed.
One more to do.

----
Wed.
Prepped one seam this morning for a hem trimmed off the selvage.
That one is hemmed.
Started the plackets on the teal colored scarf.
Placket done scarf is half done now.

Thinking of doing up some pillow cases next.
Sat. update got the pillow cases cut pressed and pinned they are ready to seam up and then press again.
My sewing room is so nice and cozy! Gotta luv that.
Sun.
Pillow cases are done and they turned out well yea!
I took three of the baby blankets for the gals that are expecting
and those were well received.

[Harriet]

Harmony, wow, what a sudden success with what I would think of as a looooooong term project. You really must have done something right. Hope it is a bright spot for you.

Elizabeth, I'm kinda bummed that the photo possibilities aren't working now. Your project sounds great, and so specific it would be fun to see the details. Hmmm... ..

Nancy you are getting so much done.

I think Nancy and Harmony are both working on pillowcases.

I've been re-organizing sewing room storage and placement.

Ds' children asked me to repair a stuffed animal that has ripped open. I think I see just how to do it. Definitely by hand and needs brown thread which I think I can manage.

[Harmony]

Good report on the bonsai trees. A few days ago I noticed the Flame Tree was beginning to sprout. The stem was actually trying to come up, it was in an upside down U shape...and the next morning it was actually standing up tall with fuzz at the top. Now it has a 4" tall stem and the stem is about the diameter of those tiny straws they put in alcoholic drinks. It's quite the grower! Then, in the little Styrofoam "extra seeds" cup a little Bristle Cone Pine has sprouted.

That flame tree, if it continues to grow this fast, seems to be an odd choice for a bonsai!

I am glad to have my sewing done for the time being. My sheet now has a sturdy border at the top which coordinates with the pillow case cuffs and the blanket. I even found 2 pink buttons to put on the travel pillow case to hold it shut. I think I'm actually getting more skilled putting the buttonholes in. My machine is 50 years old and still going strong!