A Mysterious Tiny Stitching Sampler Framed and Birthday Box Goodies

Making a final box of handmades for a special friend's birthday. 

I unfortunately couldn't attend her special 90th party as it was in June when I was having complications after my shoulder surgery. However, she knows I am sending her a gift. And I hope to see her soon when I am able.

 Her daughter and I were very close, like sisters growing up.

We reconnected the week of daddy's funeral and I was so glad we did. I miss the family alot.

Her mother was like a second momma to me growing up. She had all the attributes I would strive for in being a momma. She listened many times on her front porch and we would talk for hours.

She baked the best cakes I've ever eaten in my life. She was just as much a friend with a listening ear after school and at that time I so needed.

She was truthful, gave much needed wisdom throughout my teen years and the nicest ever. Her and her husband had 5 children. The first 4 boys and then a girl.

Her daughter was a bit younger than me but we grew up together like sisters.

I felt so honored to be invited to her 90th birthday party. I was so disappointed I couldn't make the 4 hour drive.

I still am in contact with her daughter again and we just started talking like we never had lost connection. I guess you could say she is one of Kindred Spirits.

I knitted these up at different times.

Today while rambling through my finishes but not yet "finished" in my stitching studio, I found a tiny one over one sampler I made in 2011. I can't remember the designer. Maybe one of you can jog my memory so I can give credit where credit is due.

I wish I also knew the fabric because it's a very pretty muted deep red.

I think it was supposed to be a pin keep because the other side of the pin keep I finished with the year 2011 (when my vision was better) was on the back also finished.

So I got a new frame from my stitching stash that I've had a while. It's about 2 x 3 in and framed it.

I thought it would be sweet to add to her box.

I have a knit scarf for the Fall and Winter, some local Shea butter soaps, 2 of the silk/bamboo facial cloths for the bath, and one all cotton dishcloth for the kitchen.

I tied them with sweet ribbon from my studio.

And added this framed piece I hope she will like.

I thought the frame was perfect. I believe this frame I got from Hobby Lobby for storage for finishes like this.

On the home front

Mr. Darcy and I have had a busy 10 or more days. About 2 weeks ago went to the eye doctor and had pain in my left one with glaucoma and a corneal problem. To make a long story short, I've been through 2 amniotic tissue transplants from 3 donors.

I had to go every day since then to the doctor for them to check it.

The second one placed because the area was not completely healed on Thursday.

This one didn't do well at all. My body I guess rejected it. By Thursday night hubby was calling the eye doc after hours and he drove from his house 2 hours away and met us at the clinic at 9pm. I had the most pain ever and couldn't tolerate any light at all without feeling like having electric shocks. Even sunglasses didn't help. I developed uveitis evidently. He removed the disc but had a hard time. My cornea was swollen and not getting oxygen. To a dark room with dilating drops twice a day for past 3 days until tomorrow. Also oral antibiotics, steroid eye drops (couldn't be helped even though making glaucoma not good), and dilating drops twice a day.

For the last 2 days, following all the medications and steroid drops, it's getting much, much better.

I can see the computer better with UV glasses though.

I'm so not a person to just lie down in a dark room but I had to.

I'm so glad I'm better. I hope tomorrow's visit I can stop dilating my eyes twice a day.

That is the second uveitis flare I've had. It's pretty much an autoimmune reaction. Was told to eliminate anything or anyone stressful 2 weeks ago when this started.

Working on that!

I hope to mail off this box tomorrow and get a good report from the eye doc.

I will probably he said have to go to a corneal specialist in Atlanta again for a check.

I think the worse part is losing vision in my left eye to be legally blind in it.

I'm so thankful I have 2 eyes.

Mr. Darcy has planned a much needed vacay for us soon. Hotel is booked.  He thinks I need a reprieve from alot of things happening at one time in the past year. 

I can't say I don't agree.

Just will make sure I pack a hat, sunglasses and my vitamins for energy!!!!!

I hope you are having a good Sunday and a healthy one.

I'm still listening to audio books all Ann of Green Gables. Audio version came in handy this past week.

To all my kindred spirits,

Jennifer

Knitting Washcloths --- Bamboo with Silk

Yesterday, I spent the day making a small gift for someone's 90th birthday! I will not be able to attend due to multiple factors but I wanted to so much. So these will go out in the mail when I'm finished.

I used Yarn Bee Hint of Silk from Hobby Lobby in the colorway Obi.

I love the colors and how they pool in different areas.

I used the simple Grandma's washcloth pattern on Ravelry. I think this simple pattern has been around for 100 years. 

CLICK HERE for the pattern

I love knitting with this fiber. It's 85% Bamboo and 15% silk

MUCH nicer than cotton. I think it's about the softest yarn I've felt. I found in reading that bamboo is absorbent like cotton and gets better with more use.

I will add 3 or 4 special little soaps I got from a local shop. They are awesome as I've used them before. Shea Butter yummy.

I have another skein of this Yarn Bee's Hint of Silk in an ivory color.

I want to make 1-2 more for this little package.

The full skein of ivory color is Silk Pearl.

This yarn has been in my stash for a year. Hobby Lobby was having a sale a year ago and I stocked up on this.

I did research the fiber's behavior before knitting as a washcloth and was surprised this is machine washable and can tumble dry on low heat.

The bamboo will stretch out again but the added silk is like knitting with butter.

I just realize that  with the solid color you get more yardage.

130 yards for solids

107 yards for variated

I found some baby patterns  using this yarn so I know it has to be soft and washable.

I found a pattern on Ravelry using this yarn for washcloths because of it's softness.

One skein made 2,  8 inch washclothes.

My gauge is a bit loose since I had shoulder surgery for some reason so I used a size 7 needle instead of the recommended size 8.

When I touched this yarn, I knew this would be so much softer than cotton.

I had about 15 yards left over from the skein. This can go in my Cozy Memories Blanket!!

About this time of year, Hobby Lobby has a sale on this yarn. Keep a look out for it. The colors are limited in the store; however, online I found other colors not in the store.

I totally think this yarn has so much drape and buttery feel, that I will in the future pick up 5 of them for a shawl.

I still am amazed at how many washcloth/dishcloth patterns that are on Ravelry for free!

I would not use this for a dishcloth. Definitely too soft and luxurious feeling. The perfect for a pampering washcloth/facial cloth.

On the homefront here, we have had our share of heavy rains and gloomy days this past week.

We are actually under a flash flood warning until 8pm tonight.

I hope your Saturday is full of rest and happiness!

Jennifer

Finishing a Shawl, Finishing a Half Century

  I'm finally finishing ball number 2 of this huge shawl. I will probably finish off the small amount left of the second ball, approximately 700 yards, and bind off. This will be a nice snuggly go-to for around the homestead on cool nights and into the Fall/Winter.

It's colorway is burgundy. Bernat yarn in acrylic and wool blend. Gartered the entire shawl, making increases on each end. I have a nice silver ring holder that will work with this one well.
I had a meltdown moment when the cord came unscrewed on one end, I pulled and the entire top came out leaving live stitches, about 250 of them. BUT, I saved them by threading them carefully back on. That made me stop and make sure the interchangeable cord was secure each row.

Yup, this is on a 60 inch cord.

 

 

 

On the cooking home front, I baked these last evening for weekend snacking.

 

Speaking of Yummy!  Look at this color yarn I got at Joanne's during their GREAT sale this past week. I didn't have my coupons with me but these were on sale without coupons. I LOVE French blue and the yarn is very soft.

Colorway is Blue Heather. I loved ALL the heather colors they have but decided on this colorway for now. Pink Heather was a close second.

 

Speaking of blue, this morning is gorgeous here in the North GA mountains with lots of sun, low humidity and cool on the back porch.

 

 

finally. Sun!

 

 

My progress this week on At Home with Jane Austen designer The Sampler Girl

 

I would be finished if I could keep my hands off the knitting needles!!!

 

Really not much left to this sampler to finish.

 

 

 

Even though there's no place like staying home for real comfort, Mr. Darcy and I can't wait for another trip to see my mama and daddy. Speaking of this sampler, I actually have a collection of keys to all the houses I have lived in in my life. I have the ORIGINAL house key still for my parents house. And oh, I remember many days coming home from school with my key for after school.

 It's 49 years old because I was 13 months old when they moved in it.

I couldn't find a frame to fit perfectly for this sampler but I played around with putting it in the center with some calico fabbie on the background and my old keys on each side and it looked pretty cool!

 

I hope I finish it soon so I can show them.

 

Speaking of birthdays, I turned the big 5-0 this past week. I had a really nice birthday thanks to Mr. Darcy for all his love. We had a nice time eating out at Red Lobster!

 

My mama and daddy sent me some special momentos and a beautiful card.

My hubbie gave me a sweet card I'll treasure forever too.

 

 

 

I loved it all, the crocheted bookmark was very pretty and the bracelet too.

 

 

 

 

 

I also got 2 great knitting patterns sent as gifties by my special stitching friend Donna!!! I can't wait until I get my printer ink so I can print those off.

 

I also want to thank all readers here, who still follow my journey in this thing called life. I'm thankful for all who have shown me my strengths and weaknesses, shared creativity and interests in homesteading, and welcomed me like we are neighbors. When I first started blogging several years ago, I never dreamed of connecting with so many people, so many all over the globe! It's been a very rewarding experience in my life. Thank you again.

 

I hope your Sunday is peaceful and you are surrounded by those you love. That's probably the most important thing in life.

 

With love,

Jennifer

Orange Cake requested by the Birthday Guy

This evening is about the first chance I've had to cook this birthday cake, requested specifically by Body Guard. His birthday was Thursday and he wanted me to make an Orange Cake but I couldn't that day so............

This is the first time I cooked an Orange Cake so I got help from Duncan Hines for the base of the cake and then played with other stuff in the pantry to make it look PURDY and taste GOOOOOOOOD!

This slice started with the basic Orange cake mix.

from the Dutch oven

I changed up the box additives, less water a bit, and more oil so it would not be dry.

The layers turned out well.

While they were cooking, I got out some PEECANS and put in a bag to crush them with the end of a very old knife sharpener, which looks like a weapon but it's not.  ;)

Cheaper to buy the halves and crush at home and it's also a great stress management option for me. 

Then, I took a bowl and put this cream cheese frosting in it.

Then I pile it in with the nuts, about 2 cups crushed. (PEECANS, I mean.....that sounded kinda painful..)

AND, I definitely, would use 2 cans for this cake when frosting next time as I ran out for the side of it.

Then I put some Mandarin Oranges to the side, because I was too lazy to go to town to get an orange to slice and this is what I had in the pantry.....

Stir the frosting and the PEECANS and try not to taste it, but of course I had to.

took the cooled layers and started playing then.

Then I had a flashback to the Aqua-color, Eazybake oven in the late 60's with the lightbulb.......ok, I know that's crazy.

started with this, adding some dried cranberries on top.

Then finished with the second layer

And it does have alot of calories probably but gotta have fun on birthdays.

And the birthday guy was happy and pleased.

Probably not too healthy for the week, but this was his birthday request for a cake.

 I just kinda did my own thing with it.

And while we were eating our cake and saw how happy he was, I said, "Is it good enough for me to go order all the stitching stash I want?" and giggled.......and he gave me this look........and grunted slightly.

Dang it!

He didn't want me to tell how old he is now, but I can tell you that we have been getting AARP magazines for about 4 years now.....LOL

Stay cool!

Finished up--The Birthday Sampler

The Birthday Feather sampler

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2011

32 ct natural Belgian linen

Crescent colors floss----1 skein of Tyler Boy Blue

monochromatic

Metal Bird Hanger in Blue from Mill Hill

I designed this pattern for Tanya on her birthday this week, Jan 20th and stitched it up and made it in a hanger with some primitive black pins and a Mill Hill Spring Bird metal hanger from my stash!

Happy 1st Birthday, Abigail!

I can't believe she is one year old today.

Her father's name on her papers is "Stormin Norman"

Her mother's name is "Ashby Rose" (sounds like a floss color)

She is the bundle of joy we brought to our home on November 4th 2009 at 8 weeks old.

She constantly gives us laughter and joy, loves us both, shows no favorites, and is the sunshine of our life.

She's our lump of sugar.

Who enjoyed a first Christmas with Ren.

And who blossomed hair this summer like weeds in the yard.

who is a bit spoiled and we like it that way.

And who started out looking like this, content in her new home with her new mini toy, just a handful.

And was the complete inspiration for my first design.

She is most content at the homestead after a spirt of play.

She's played with many toys and her favorites she drops at my feet.

She was there to console me when Ren passed away.

And who can go from Homeland Security with a stoagie.

To chasing laser lights in constant motion.

To a girlie girl.

Happy Birthday, Abbie! May we have many more joyful years with you. Thanks for blessing our life.

Your human brother and sister just don't know what fun they are missing out on! ;)

Love, Mama