Love Is All We Need~~sampler freebie!

  This past week, has been quiet and I've been working on some goals I set for 2014 that include:

• simplifying my life in all areas
• learning new knit stitches
• reading, reading, reading at least a book a week
• organizing while I'm simplifying
• paying it forward with donations of "too much stuff"
• being more mindful of my morning devotionals
• practicing yoga more often AND learn more from You-tube videos
• learning more about frugal living
• researching more about the products I put on my skin and going more organic
• pulling out my cross stitching I designed to stitch the models
• pulling out my WIPS I have already going and finish some
• start writing a book

So, as you can see, I set some big goals but all in all, so far, it's February and I'm doing as well as I can.

Folks, there are some intelligent, talented writers in the blog world and I really didn't realize the depth of the free education and movies on u-tube that we have available!!!

For example, I've been wanting to learn to use cables in my knitting but it just looks so hard. I'm going outside my comfort zone and found The Casting on Couch series of English knitting on u-tube and she taught a braided cable scarf! It looks quite much easier than I had thought but I will have to get those needles out and work it.......work it baby, work it......

Here is her site for freebies. I highly recommend her tutorials on You Tube. She is great at explaining.

http://www.thecastingoncouch.com/

I have knitted the Chunky Lace pattern on the end of a garter scarf and it turned out well.
I really want to try the Cabled scarf pattern.

For simplifying, I set this goal because I'm at a middle age (huhum) point in my life where cleaning the chaos, having fewer things, promotes a better environment for less stress. I've read a couple of books and found some blogs I really like and without identifying myself a hoarder...........I do tend to cling on to things longer than need be. I don't know if it's the mentality of "some day I'm going to need that" or what. I think I mentioned the book I read that was free on Pixel of Ink about organization and decluttering. I have since found and stashed a couple more on my Kindle. Speaking of that, doesn't Kindle save space for books!!!!  I've got 265 books on my Kindle, most of them from Pixel of Ink freebies.

I started with the down stairs bathroom and took out all that was in the cabinets. Threw away an entire trash bag full of expired or junk. Then, I organized using baskets I already have for different things. I have WAYYYYYYYY too many lip products. :O
But, I'm very girly, so to part with them is hard to think about.
I have gone through the baskets once and taken a week off of that and now I'm going to go through them again. My goal is to have minimal things in my bathroom. Minimal. Less stress. And this is just one room. In January, I finished selling or donating toys that my adult kids didn't want and feel a load is off there. So, still have many rooms to go but by the end of this year, I hope to meet my goal.

The knitting bug has had me for a while now, but I'm digging into my cross stitch WIPS again and going to pick this up more. I do love samplers! I think knitting has just been such a repetitious therapy for the mind and also useful finishes, with Winter being the best time to knit.

Yoga is now a mindful part of most days in the week and I like it best when my hubbie and I find a lesson online and practice together. It's really quite balancing. I've practiced yoga for about 2 years now, maybe 3. There was a time I didn't practice and I could really tell the difference when I started back.

Recently, I've started substituting natural oils for many beauty and cleaning products and I'm really, really enjoying coconut oil. Just Google Coconut Oil and uses and you will find amazing things. I really didn't realize how good for you this is. Make sure if you get coconut oil, you get, Extra Virgin Cold Pressed, Unrefined Coconut Oil. I have replaced my shaving cream, my night cream, day cream, cleanser, makeup remover and body moisturizer/scrubs with it. It's solid at 76 degrees or below and liquid above that. It lasts forever! It is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties so you can use on acne, dry skin, sensitive skin and eczema. In fact it's GREAT healing for eczema and psoriasis type conditions. This also ties into my more simple and wholesome living goal! You can order this online but I just picked it up at a grocery store. I prefer the glass jar brands instead of the plastic.

One of my goals in life I set many years ago is to write a book. I officially started and have a publisher already in the ready. It's in it's baby stages of formulation right now and that's about all I can say at this point. But! When my writing mojo begins, I write a little more. My goal to finish is by the end of this year. I know that sounds like a long time but I want to make sure it's right before releasing. The publisher is supposed to call me again early Summer to check on progress.

My camera is really on the blink. I hope to get it to squeeze a few pictures of the snow we are getting. The most of this storm, Pax is hitting our area in the mountains with prediction totals of 9-12 inches by Thursday morning. Folks, that is ALOT of snow. I'm concerned about the icing conditions as well. But for the most part, hubbie and I are huddling inside until Thursday.

 Louie the outside cat, has checked in the Lodge at Fox mountain through the end of the week! We already have had constant snow since 5am. He is ever so glad to curl in the back of the bathroom cabinet that is open and hibernate. Can't wait to see what he does when I turn on a blow dryer.


I designed a freebie offered for a short while here for you!!!  I want to thank you for all your support and taking time out to read my blog. Valentine's Day is just around the corner so I was inspired to design this one. I will have it out free for a couple of weeks. Again, if you stitch it up, please, please, please send me a pic. I will put it on the blog here and especially adore the different ways you finish it.

 

Love Is All We Need

designed by Jennifer Fox, Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2014

 

I'm humming the Beatles song now in my head...........................................

 

Use colors of choice and linen of choice! From muted pinks to bright pinks, this sampler can take many décor options. I would love to see this in a primitive sampler.

Please keep pattern as is except changing the initials to suit you and your sweetheart!

To enlarge to print, just click on the picture and then print in your computer software.

 

I can't wait to see some finishes! You really do make my day. I hope this makes someone happy at least and if your heart is happy, then so is mine.

 

I have two knitting projects on the needles. A shawl and a Spring light airy scarf.

Stay-tuned for pics and progress.

 

And finally, this creature that was stealing all of Louie's food outside on the back porch is not around anymore. He actually growled at me and hissed. Scared me to death.

He met his demise at the end of last week.

 

 

I failed to use the Opossum Pie recipe that is in one of my cookbooks......YUCK.

 

Now this is a much prettier furbaby. Yup, she is a B.A.B.Y

 

 

So on the needles I went from this:

 

 

 

 

I have another one, a thick cranberry shawl in another pattern on more needles but at this time my camera has met it's demise. I will have to get hubbie to take a pic of it for the next post.

 

 

This red headed woodpecker was seen prior to the snow coming. I guess he was "going to the grocery for milk and bread before the storm".

 

Stay tuned. Soon some snow pics today with hubbie's nice camera!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Knitting warm and cozy,

Jennifer

 

A Freebie from Notforgotten Farms blog---Cool!

Notforgotten Farms is one of my favorite blogs to read. I love all her things, her creativity and she has a great freebie for any special person in your life for a quick stitch. I've printed it off and hope to stitch it up soon. In  case you haven't seen it click here:

http://farmhousenotforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/01/token-of-friendship-free-pattern-for.html

It's called A Token of Friendship designed by Lorrie at Notforgotten Farm.

Visit her blog for more primitive designs. She also hooks. (ok, ok, I know that sounds weird) but honestly she is a very talented lady.

I hope your week started off yesterday with lots of love and warmth.

After being out of the swing of things for a while, I've finally gotten back into Yoga and already can feel the difference in the way I feel. I love the stretches and learning new poses. I'm amazed at the flexibility it builds and how much each day to add to this.

Yoga. It does a body good.

Yada. A new word I learned, in Hebrew yesterday in reading. It means "showing love" and a deep close connection with someone. I thought it was cool to learn that.

Yada is dedicating ourselves to a person so we can engage them with our love and affection.

Yada for Valentines month!

My designing mind may work further with that thought today in between a list of chores to get done.

Namaste to Tuesday!

Wordless Wednesday

Abbie~~"how long do I hold this yoga pose with you?"

While the world is in turmoil........

I hook. I sew. I stitch. I design. I stress. I stare at the TV in awe.

Yep, I wouldn't call myself a professional hooker but I was determinedd to fix this chair cushion that Abbie tore up before it was paid for. LOL  I don't know if you have seen this in the past but now it's semi-fixed.
I don't have hooking supplies but I sat down and used a large needle and knitting needle to poke this back and through until I thought it was presentable enough as a headrest on my stitching chair! :p

 Yeppers, she doesn't want to talk about it, her separation anxiety when I'm at work or upstairs.

She tries to keep her place nicely.

 But obviously had a bad day a few months ago.

I think she wanted me to learn to be a hooker.

The pillow she dug in was not as bad, not at all, so a quick fix for it.

This is when I took up the practice of yoga for times like these.

I love yoga now and it's part of my daily activities.

 Now that Obama has dipped us in a 3rd war at the same time, I probably will be practicing 3 times a day.

I digress.......

But honestly, power yoga is not a good first one to start unless you have muscle relaxers handy at the house.

 I have gotten into this level now, still a little sore the next day but better.

Last night I started stitching another blue sampler. My brother-in-law, his wife, and my MIL lost their little Pepsi doggie a couple of weeks ago and I was inspired to make Sir Pepsi a pillow keep.

I started by putting a rainbow in the middle and this is the part I have left to stitch.

I stitched it on a piece of linen of which I didn't have labeled but it's a Smokey Blue color. 32 count. Any guesses?

Using CC Cornflower Blue, Chili Pepper, and Gold Leaf so far. Today I will put the Rainbow above this with year when he crossed Rainbow Bridge.

Abbie met Sir Pepsi last September on our trip to Chicago.

He will be missed.

I visualize one day both meeting again with us across Rainbow Bridge where there is lots of green grass and no more illnesses, just sunshine and peace.

The Spring fever giveaway, going once....going twice......

If anyone knows Phyllis from Fla personally please let her know she won a great giveaway. I hope she is ok. I try to give enough time in case of no internet access, out of town, etc but after 5 or 6 days, I will have to do the random thingamajig again.

 I've gone through my emails again tonight and on the blog with  no response from her so if I don't get a response by Sunday morning, I will be picking another winner as I will not know where to snail mail her prizes!

Today was a full day of work and then welcomed home with a roaring, warm fire in the fireplace, pizza in the oven, and a yoga mat waiting for a session! I'm so exciting to find something so relaxing and mind-soothing as yoga and it's stretching muscles and toning up as well too. My beautiful pool-blue mat came in the mail last week and with a jumbo yoga ball and lessons from online, books, etc. I'm trying to devote at least 30 minutes a day and 45 minutes on days off during the week. I used to think yoga was a bit hokey but it's GREAT and definitely not hokey! And it's always something new to learn about it. I didn't realize the complexity of the poses and reasoning until I started practicing.

Interestingly enough, I was reading tonight online about Walter Reed Hospital doing a study ongoing now with Yoga and PTSD with soldiers and they are finding very positive results. The article was interesting. The results were so impressive that they compare with medications, so this is a great learning experience for me and also I can share this with others in my career as well.

There is a 100% chance of rain here tomorrow and it has turned cold again so I plan to work on some sewing projects and organize my stash a bit before starting a new sampler. I really don't know what will pull at my heart next though but for sure an inside, cozy by the fire weekend. ;)

I'm working on designing a Dutch sampler, inspired by no other than the Dalenberg family!
More on that later. I actually started this design several months ago and tweaking it a bit. So if you like Dutch samplers, stay-tuned. I'm using overdyed threads on this one.

Peace.

Tweet, Tweet friends this week

This past whole week I've not had a camera memory card so I have alot to show you in a little bit of time because in an hour I have to be ready and out to take BG to the hospital for some minor surgery. He will be fine even though he has been pacing the floor since 7am. ;)  Usually when he is hyper, I'm all calm, so I'm sure that will change when we get there in a few.

I have a few mail goodies to show you. One I just received last night from Sandy and it made me cry it was so sweet!   Sandy I did get it yesterday in the mail!!!  It was waiting on me when I got home from a long day of work. Sandy and I both share a love for furbabies and this book will be treasured forever.

I popped that new memory card out this morning......finally!!!

Sandy's gift came in the mail last night with a most beautiful card.

With the sweetest stickers on the card and package. Sandy you are the greatest!

With a book that has this in the front

Isn't this sooooo cool?

Love it!  Meditations for Dog Lovers (that's me)

I thought of Ren the whole time and his little sweet self across Rainbow Bridge waiting for me.

I will hold this in my heart forever. Thank you Sandy.

Last week, Ma Teakettle, Karyn, sent me this to me as a RAK and make sure you are sitting when you sent what else here. I almost passed out.

Yes, you wouldn't BELIEVE the pile of big linen cuts here! I can't thank you enough Ma!

this is the most beautiful elegant linen color!

And all this as I drool again looking through it~~~~~in a STACK

That is absolutely stunning when I opened that. Karyn you really are WAY too generous. 

Before this last weekend, I was thrifting in a store while shopping for some things to go in a remodeled room, and happened upon this.

I couldn't resist. It had no musty odor, there as no marks on it.   All wool. And stitchable.

4 yards of it. 19.00.

I bunched it for you to see the whole piece.

I did a major happy dance in that store. Body guard thought I was nuts as I was skipping to the register with my find.

I played a bit on it with one over one and one over two. It's very stitchy for samplers.

4 yards!

I will fold it back up.

My new craze to add to my already developing meditation morning and night is this. Yoga. Power Yoga.

I got this yesterday and have done morning and night sessions. This is definitely hard core yoga.

It tones every muscle of the body. This morning, I took it slower as my muscles were sore from last night of 25 minutes session.

So far though I know I will love it. I loved going dancing and the flexibility of it for my joints is what I need.

After passing the sore muscle phase, maybe my breathing will improve...LOL

Last night I was on the floor in front of the TV trying to do all this and Abbie was nipping and biting at my face and pulling out every toy in her basket and dropping it on my head as she thought I was playing with her.

This morning, she is tuckered out in one of her poses. Is this the dog pose?

Speaking of Abbie, this is what she did to my new chair pad. I have to save this if I can.

I need all hookers in blogland to look at this.......(I know, you know what I mean) really, I have never done punchneedle or hooking (thank God)......but would I get a punchneedle to fix it or what??????

Is is saveable?

This is the back of it.

Thank you again and I have to scoot soon for an afternoon at the hospital, so I will be back to anxiously read your  comments. They make my day!

Say a prayer for us if you can at 1pm today. We will need it.

Till later,

Jennifer