Finished a Nook Cozy

Well, no pattern indeed for this one. Just playing with rows of stitches and measuring for a Barnes and Noble Nook e-reader for a gift.

This project took 1 whole ball of yarn. Stitched with my glass knitting needles and learning how to yarn over and decrease stitches with this one. Started out with the garter stitch. I only had one skein of this yarn so a scarf was not possible..............or a long scarf that is......

then I practiced some yarn overs (YO) and through several U tubes learned how to decrease, increase, and yarn over. I was nearing the end of this yarn skein and I thought this would measure out perfect for a NOOK reader.

The finished project is like this:

You can see Abbie is begging for attention with her "Virginia baby". OK, I will spare the details of how she got named that one........

Anyhoo, I initially used some large gold rickrack through the yarn over smaller section and I did and secured it by hand sewing in the back. Then I decided to make a decorative tie from a scrap of the material, roughed it up a bit and pulled through the open sections and secured with a wood heart button.

To make this piece initially, I simply folded over the knitted piece to fit a NOOK and used a blind stitch with yarn x 2 on the sides for a good hold.

I then machine stitched a piece of calico fabric for a lining.

I then whipstitched it by hand in the inside.

The large rickrack ribbon gave it some stability and also for the heart button as well.

My stitches are not perfect but I did like the general look of it.

I also love the fabbie I got from my stash cabinet for the liner.

The back is not perfect but I'm still learning. :P

and there ya go for a first attempt at a NOOK e-reader cozy.

Now.........tonight is Downton Abbey!!!

Can't wait to see the next episode.

 I sprained my right foot putting on a pair of new boots. The boots are my Christmas present from Mr. Darcy and they initially were too small. Then after a month they finally returned the right size and they also were almost impossible unless you don't wear socks to get on in the instep. The length was actually a little large. 

But in my excitement I twisted my right foot down and the heel went down sideways. NOT a good thing.

So here's my Santa present! 

Country Outfitter--Durango

Hope you all had a great weekend and especially a good start Monday!

Jennifer

Playing with Something Different in Yarn

Knitting a little different for practice. I saw a tutorial and don't even know what this is called but you drop a stitch every 5 rows and it makes this pattern from the typical garter stitch.

I had one ball of this Mossy Green left and so I'm putting it to use probably as a table mat because I don't have 2 skeins for a scarf. I will probably put some wooden buttons on the end of it.

I made mistakes here and there but by the last row it was getting better.

And so is life, the more we practice, the better we get at it.

And this one has only gotten a few stitches. Amazing to me on Oyster white linen that Milady's Teal looks a grayish light blue!

 AND! to be loaded in my Needlework 4 system to get some speed on it. 

Stay warm and cozy! The ice here has gone. It's a Saturday morning/ evening now and back to working in my office with Mr. Darcy. I do love him so.

For his office I plan to make some simple patriotic curtains. When finished, I will post one day.

I am getting quite used to the new washer. I love it. It's quiet, plays a tune when finished and the dryer is stacked on top.

I hope to get all the rooms together by Spring time. Ready to open the window a bit for warm sunshiney breezes and guests to visit.

till later,

Jennifer

Merry Christmas to All!

Here's hoping that all kind readers of this blog have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2013!!!!

 

 

The Fox homestead is cozy this morning. We opened gifts, Mr. Darcy and I together cooked French Toast and bacon, cleaned it up and now reading by the wood stove. As he is a early to rise person ( not me...LOL) he had been up early, early and built a fire in the woodstove to make it nice a cozy with coffee morning for me.

 

I had many Christmas blessings this year. My parents came by to see me for a few minutes and that just made my Christmas bright. My dad brought some fat lighter for the new stove which I so dearly needed, in fact, I was about to go out to Walmart to get some starter pieces when he came by.  A very surprise indeed. Wish they could have stayed for Christmas Eve dinner as I had just pulled out of the oven a Dutch Apple Pie and had a beef roast and veggies ready for the Christmas plates but they had to go. My mama wanted to stay so bad.

 

My mama gave me a beautiful necklace that I wore perfectly to match a sweater dress last night for Mr. Darcy at dinner. And this morning Mr. Darcy gave me some beautiful Country Outfitter brown leather boots and a diamond necklace that has a heart within a heart. He said he specifically looked for a heart within a heart for the symbolic meaning. I thought that was so sweet.

 

Abbie got some new treats, a mat for dinner with her name on it, and extra love.

 

Mr. Darcy got a personalized football coffee mug for travel and at home, and a silver pocket watch with his initials on it and the inside says "I'll always have time for you Love, Jennifer Ann Fox"

 

We are looking forward this week of redesigning the basement level to include his Presidential desk which is HUGE and painting and such. I've curtains to make and just getting the area clean again without toys and clutter, the place looks s different. Pictures to follow this next week as we transform all the spaces. I will have a space just for sewing and also room for stitching friends to visit Fox mountain in the future. I'm really excited!

 

Thank you to all who participated in the Faith Hope and Love Giveaway!!!

I will be drawing a name soon and letting you know the winner!!!

 

 

Peace to You

 

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2010

 

Here's an old design that I made a couple of years ago about this time of year, looking for peace in the year 2013!

 

I made a HUGE boo-boo with my knitting and had to frogg out after trying to change to a new ball of yarn. I will be going to a yarn store tomorrow to get back on track. I'm halfway done with Mr. Darcy's scarf. I'll take pics soon when I get this back on track!!!!!

 

In the mean time, I may finish Mr. Abe Lincoln in cross stitch.

 

Back to my cuppa,

Jennifer

Warm and Cozy

I'm finally going to slow down XXXX fingers....maybe until Christmas. We are enjoying a new Buck wood stove insert which puts out alot of heat once it gets going!

The hum of the blower is putting me into a relaxing state.

Going to see what's on for Christmas movies in a few.

 

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Birthday and repeat again. I do think this will be a good investment and lower utility bills by half. We have plenty of trees and wood naturally. Just takes a little time to get it started. When it reaches 700 degrees the blower turns on and it's heaven.

I sold something to get this as times are hard. At first I didn't think I would like it. Now, I love it.

 

And guess who also loves it? Miss Abbie!  I made her a fleece easy-peazy blanket up from 60 % off fabbie from Joanne's. Since she is so small, a yard wraps around her 10 times but she loves it.

The print is like this:

 

 

 

A pink, girly Sock Monkey with hearts.

It's her early christmas present.

She needed it last night when the electricity went off from 11pm to 2am due to high winds out here.

SO glad I had the wood stove already heated up good!

Oil lamps lit and just silence. To think. To slow me up. To  hault my overdrive brain from a long day of work.

 

So at 2am when the lights came back on, off to bed late. Again.

 

 

My scarf progress is here:

 

 

 

I'm having to learn to add in some chunky stripes/sections to lengthen it.

I have one and 1/2 skein of the brown left and underestimated the length for Mr. Darcy so:

 

 

 

Next lesson for me is to learn how to add another color in for several rows.

 

He definitely will need this for January and February here.

 

If anything he can use it outside at home.

 

Well, folks, it's 80 degrees now on the inside thermometer. I think I can crank this wood stove down a little now but it is 43 outside. Furnace hasn't cut on one time. I think it was a good investment to lower the utility bills.

 

Warm and cozy,

Jennifer

A Special Day of Thanks

How Great Thou Art

 

designed by Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2012

This is a reposting of special, heart-to-heart design I made last year. I have even the special order Sage Green, wide trim frame when finishing. Soon things will slow down and I can stitch models, in hopes XXX fingers!!!!

I thought I would repost again for all those that love this hymn.

I will share some of the research on this great song with you:

~it was the favorite gospel song of 3 of the US presidents

~has been performed in Broadway in New York in productions

~Lawrence Welk had stated this was the most requested song he ever had on his TV series

~it has received 2 Grammy awards

~the first major recording of the son was by Bill Carle

~in the 70's it was presented, it won an award for 1 million performances on TV and radio

~Billy Graham used this song many times in his TV broadcasts

~the song lyrics were first written as a poem in 1886

~the poem was translated into "O Great God" in English

~the first 3 verses were inspired in the Carpathian mountains

In the early 1920’s, English missionaries, Mr. Stuart K. Hine and his wife, ministered in Poland. It was there they learned the Russian version of Boberg’s poem, “O Store Gud”, coupled with the original Swedish melody. Later, under inspiration, Stuart K. Hine wrote original English words, and made his own arrangement of the Swedish melody, which became popular and is now known as the hymn, HOW GREAT THOU ART.

The first three verses were inspired, line upon line, amidst unforgettable experiences in the Carpathian Mountains. In a village to which he had climbed, Mr. Hine stood in the street singing a Gospel hymn and reading aloud “John, Chapter Three”. Among the sympathetic listeners was a local village schoolmaster. A storm was gathering, and when it was evident that no further travel could be made that night, the friendly schoolmaster offered his hospitality. Awe-inspiring was the mighty thunder echoing through the mountains, and it was this impression that was to bring about the birth of the first verse.

Pushing on, Mr. Hine crossed the mountain frontier into Romania and into Bukovina. Together with some young people, through the woods and forest glades he wandered, and heard the birds sing sweetly in the trees. Thus, the second verse came into being.

Verse three was inspired through the conversion of many of the Carpathian mountain-dwellers. The fourth Verse did not come about until Mr. Hine’s return to Britain.


Stuart K. Hine was born in 1899 in England. His parents were at that time worshipping with the Salvation Army, and dedicated him to God during a time when opposition was strong against those who proclaimed Christ.

After serving in the Armed Forces, Mr. Hine was called to the mission field. For many years he served in Poland and Czechoslovakia. It was during missionary work in these countries that Mr. Hine composed many of the songs for which he’s well-known today.

Stuart K. Hine died in 1989.

reference  http://www.mannamusicinc.com/hgta.htm


This song has always meant alot to me. If you would like to stitch this, I think Thanksgiving is the perfect time as we all have blessings bestowed among us and to thank first our Creator, is an honor.

I hope this day is special for you and that you find happiness among those you love as you get ready for the holidays.

Till later,
Jennifer

Junkin' and Jumpin'

First I went junkin'.

 

Then I went jumpin'.

 

 

I know it's that time of year for all kinds of things with many legs to appear out here but I literally got wrapped in a HUGE spider web and the spider ran across to the flowers but the web was stretched from the roof, to the table, to the birdfeeder and back to the front of the porch.

 

 

I had my camera outside to take a picture of the sweet sunset this evening but ran into this one that has definitely taken up the porch.

 

 

Oh yeah! Rounding the corner of the porch was "entangling".

 

 

I'm sorry to say it but he is not boarding here at the homestead any longer........

 

 

The day otherwise has been awesome! The sun is out for one!!  And I feel some change ever so slight back to the drier air and hopefully much cooler this weekend I hear.

 

I went junkin' today. I think I've adopted Thursday for junkin' day. I had something in mind I needed in the kitchen but instead found a gallon bag of  38 forks and 40 spoons for 8 bucks. Stainless steel.

 

 

Now I think I have enough for guests!

 

 

I even found a stitching frame for a large project still new in bag and all the hardware looks great......5 bucks.

 

 

and I couldn't resist this little Colonial Williamsburg piece for 3 bucks.

 

 

 

 

saw a sweet, heavy pewter angel frame in a pile for 2.00. I can't wait to stitch a small in this.

 

 

and finally a small bit of progress this morning, early with my coffee before I started the day.....

Battle Hymn of the Republic, by LHN, Lakeside Linen, DMC floss

 

 

I even played with a scrap piece of this Gingham linen I got a very long time ago to do one over one on a freebie by Liberty House Primitives "With God All Things Are Possible".

 

And for a nice evening it is, even with spiders.......I can't wait for the weather to change up this weekend!

 

Till later after I watch the show Hoarders,

 

Jennifer

 

A Fun Relaxing Day in the mountains

Mr. Darcy and I took a day just to relax and take a ride through the country in the mountains. Tomorrow evening I will post the pics of our adventures. Alot of folks have asked me by personal email, in person and through the blog about the area as it is a frequent place in October to view a beautiful plethora of nature and its colorful show of hue.

I also got a new stitchy sampler in the mail with a pretty litte pair of scissors to post as well.

Stay tuned tomorrow for many pics.....................

This is just a preview..............it's quiet, and cool here, never gets above 84 degrees even in July ( per the one of the tour guides) and this is about my 7th time nearest to Heaven, I call it.

Brasstown Bald Mountain.

You can see 4 states on a clear day.

I can definitely see the world in DMC up here!  :P

Have a nice evening!

Country porches~~~Color Therapy

I've been blamed for "loving my house too much".

 Ok. I confess, I do like the house because I put alot of work in it over the years and tried to make it a home. Before I moved here, I thought my dream came true to one day live in the mountains. It's honestly almost like a picture I had on the wall and would dream about it.

 I digress........

For the past 3 weeks, still working on the sanding of 5 layers of old bubbled up paint, in order to put a stain only, a redwood stain, on the floors.

I gotta BIG porch on the front, sides and back.

The project definitely took longer than expected but it's really so relaxing to sit outside at night, minus the skeeters. :P

I have to still do the trimming and sides where the pressure washer knocked off some paint on the bottom of the house and also will repaint these rails.

Note to self:  July is not so good a month to do such a job.

Yesterday and the day before we were in triple digits temp; but, the GOOD thing is a week without rain to do all this. I'm hoping and praying that it doesn't rain while the side is being done.

I was really hesitant at first to go with a drastic change in floor color but it really went well with the red tin roof and the front door. The front door is my next project but it will be painted in an oil based redwood. Then I'll put my "nest" sign back on.

I'm really pleased with the wood after the sanding and staining. So much better than painting over and over on bubbled up paint.

Abbie has been minding the computer and emails since I've been busy either working or running errands or chores around the house. However, she is NOT negected. LOL

She gets to watch from the top of the sofa through the windows.

Got the sticky stuff off the door that held the other sign. A good coat of paint in the same color will be good.

This is a pinecone wreath I've had for about 3 years from my Godmother, Dot.

And Thomas really does lay here under the bench on a freshly washed fluffy pillow.

The back porch, done yesterday, except the sides. Today I have to clean all the back porch and side porch furniture and move it back around.

Did this project ever make a sandy mess? Oh yeah!

The little sampler I stitched and was designed by The Sampler Girl about 2 years ago and it's sustained covered porch outside weather.

The lemonbalm helps keep the mosquitoes at bay.

What a project for today!

This table has always been with the house. The previous owner left it and I painted it redwood and it was housed on the back porch for the past few years. The top is an auction piece of stained glass window which fit perfectly on top of the table to have a spot to eat on cool evenings for two.

As you can tell I like red and I like hearts. This old shutter I got for 8 bucks at a local junkin place about 7 or 8 years ago.

Stay tuned for an after pic of the general re-do of the porches and rails.

This house should feel loved after all it's had done to it since moving here.

Even though I was hesitant at Home Depot, picking out this color, I'm glad I did.

I need to get busy cleaning but I"d rather be stitching. :)

Laundry is calling though. Tomorrow evening I think I will actually get some time to stitch. At least finish the sampler I am on and start a new one.......XXXX my fingers. Then it's back to work on Monday time.

The man that is making this sanding project possible

A cool dude who loves me mor-n- his coffee!

Stay cool!

Jennifer