Tiny Needle Tuesday 2/20/24

 Hello One and All,

It is only 21 degrees this morning, but I'm here to tell you Spring is on the way.  Fletch spotted our first crocus blooms yesterday along the edge of our driveway bed.

We were remembering years ago we used to drive a road in the Bryn Mawr area and there was a house with crocus bulbs planted in their lawn that once up and blooming spelled out SPRING.  It was always such a joy to see them and I wonder if they are still there.

It's Tuesday and time for a Tiny Needle update.  I have a finish and a new start!  My Queen Bee has been finished - I even finished it into a pincushion!

I love how this turned out.  I also love the fabric I found for backing:

The backing fabric is some upholstery remnant I picked up years ago.  Upholstery remnants are what I often make my tablecloths from.  I think I had a little jacket in mind for this fabric, but that never happened.  I still have a lot of it, so who knows?  It could end up as a tablecloth.

My new start is a surprise to me.  I typically shy away from samplers or pieces stitched in only one color (unless quite small) as I tend to get bored.  But, I was having a difficult time choosing a new piece to work on and this one kept grabbing my attention.  So, I picked it.  It is The Hunt Sampler by Homespun Samplar.

(Please click to enlarge to see the full piece better)

I found some 36 count linen in my stash and I am stitching it in silk threads from Vicki Clayton (one silk thread over 2 linen threads).  I decided to stitch my initials in a different color.  The main color is Aqua Marine and my initials will be stitched in Deep Ocean.  I'm loving this so far.

I like the way the two blues look together and this is stitching up faster than I expected.  Last night I did have to frog some...I had somehow completely skipped a couple of rows in the outline motif around the stag.  It's a mess frogging silk thread!

There are a few things needing my attention today:  grocery shopping, lining up an appointment with our tax person, bathrooms need cleaning, etc., etc.  There is always something.  We'll see how much of those things I get done.  I'm more interested in stitching, knitting and reading.  LOL

Only 8 days left now!  Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Tiny Needle Tuesday 2/13/24

 Good Morning All,

Well, the snow is here.  I had guessed (wrong) that we would just get rain.  It was raining pretty hard when I went to bed at 10:30 last night and was still raining when Mabel asked to go out at 4:30.  But, when I got up at 6:15, the street, cars, lawn - everything - was (and is) covered in snow and it's coming down at a pretty good clip.  Luckily I ran out yesterday afternoon for milk (was just about out) and sunflower seeds for the birds, so we can stay put today - no need to go out.

Luckily I did get out for a walk yesterday morning.  I went early - 9 a.m. - and there were not many on the trail.  Once again I walked alongside the Perkiomen Creek in Oaks.  No sign of a blue heron or red winged blackbirds (I keep hoping to see them) but just about a gazillion geese.  At one point I didn't know if I would be able to continue down the trail as the geese were covering it.  Fortunately they moved out of the way.  These are not nasty geese.  I did spot a sign of spring along the side of the trail - little bulbs coming up:

Now, of course, these gentle little plants are covered in snow.  That's Spring!

Happy Mardi Gras!  It kind of snuck up on me this year.  Colin was soaking beans last night to make red beans and rice.  I didn't even think of that, so we are having pasta with sauce that I made a few weeks ago.

So here we are at Tiny Needle Tuesday and I do have an update to share.  My Queen Bee has gotten her wings!

Don't her wings look lacey and delicate?  I'm planning on finishing the border at the top today.  There is also a bottom border and then sort of a honeycomb design on either side.

Since I will be house-bound today, I may take the opportunity to stash dive and pick out my next project...this one is nearing completion.  Of course, I could easily get distracted by any one of a million other things.

Have a wonderful Tuesday and if you are in the path of this storm (or any other), stay warm and safe.

Tiny Needle Tuesday 2/6/24

 Good Morning My Friends,

It's on the chilly side here in Eastern Pa - just in the lower 20's, but once again the sun is shining and I am glad for that.

Things are looking so different in my office!  Yesterday when I arrived I first noticed that all the furniture in the lobby is gone.  When I walked into the kitchen to get a sip of water, all the tables and chairs are gone!  NONE of the furniture that we have is being moved downstairs to our new space...it's all just being junked.  I may go over tonight with Colin to score a bookcase for him - there are tons of tall bookcases up for grabs.

Anyway, I was at the office longer than I wanted (till after 2 p.m.), but training with both people went well.  I may have another session or two with Heather, but that will be it.  Winding down!!

All that brings us to today which is Tuesday, so time for a TNT update.  I managed to stitch a little bit over the weekend on my Queen Bee.

She now has a full body, legs and antenna.  Hopefully her wings will be stitched soon.

My plan was to look in my stash and pick out a large project to start, but that did not happen yet...and probably won't until maybe the weekend.  Today I have some laundry I want to do and we will go grocery shopping (senior discount on Tuesdays!!).  Colin is going to his office and will plan to come to dinner from there.  Sunny skies mean grilling and we will have burgers.

Tomorrow we will finally be driving down to Delaware to see my brother and his wife.  Christmas celebrations!!  Our visit with them was postponed initially because they came down with Covid at Christmas and then later postponed due to my work schedule.  Although we talk fairly regularly, we have not seen them in months, so it will be good to get together.

And right now I need to find a shawl (chilly) and pour a second cup of coffee.  Here's hoping your Tuesday unfolds peacefully and pleasantly.  Enjoy!

Tiny Needle Tuesday 1/30/24

Hello and Good Morning,

Our temps have dropped (below freezing now) and I think/hope that the wind has stopped.  Yesterday was so windy.  It was a good day to stay inside, so I did.

We are at the last TNT for January 2024 and I have a finish to show you!  The Cactus Triptych was finished last Friday and I love it.

 Obviously not ironed yet, but it will be because folks, I am actually going to have this one framed!!  I plan to hang it in my office room where I will see it regularly.  I'm thinking just a plain skinny black frame will do nicely.

Of course I needed to start another piece and I did that yesterday afternoon.  The design is from Blackbird Design's Honeybee Hill and I am stitching the bee which will be made into a pincushion.

My start.  See the cute zippered bag Fletch bought for me?  I'm keeping threads in it.

And here is what it should look like once I am finished stitching it.

The designers call it "Her Majesty," but to me she is "Queen Bee."

As I mentioined, we had such a windy day yesterday and by the time the sun was getting ready to set we wondered if we were in for some stormy weather.  This was the view out my west-facing kitchen window while I was getting dinner ready.

Pretty ominous looking, but we never had any storms.

And, another view from last night.  Our very own Queen enjoying her cactus filled with catnip!

Fletch and I have been enjoying Mabel's reactions to sounds and pictures on the TV.  A crying baby will make her sit up and look.  Last night it was some animals on a nature program we were watching.

Time for me to pour some more coffee and then dry my hair (my head is cold!).  Here's hoping that your Tuesday will bring some fun!