A New Chapter!

I'm an avid blog reader! Blogs about knitting, quilting, food, gardening and more recently rug hooking I really enjoy and have some favourites that I visit daily. Time consuming, yeah but fun! The reason I now have the time is because I retired about six months ago. This also means I have more time for those crafts I love and so hope to post more frequently.
One of my retirement goals was to start rug hooking. Sure I had dallied at it a bit years ago making a small coaster or two, but now have the time for the real deal! I find it a perfect activity for those moments when you have some spare time but don't feel like finding a pattern or putting together tools or materials. It is there and ready to go for a few moments hooking!
I have accomplished quite a bit at a weekly hooking with friends and so a peek at my current work is below. Mind you, like knitting and hand quilting you need to develop a rhythm for even stitches or loops in this case which isn't quite there yet for me, but will come in time. I call this my practice rug. It is an old pattern which I really love.

 

 

  The early April weather is still chilly here in Nova Scotia. Spring bulbs are starting to show and last week I planted tomato seeds. Hoping for a bit more warmth soon!

Very excited to hear George Canyon at a concert locally tonight!

 

Happy stitching and hooking!

 

Joanne

Merry Christmas!

Amazingly another Christmas Day has quickly arrived and is almost over here on the south shore of wind blown Nova Scotia. In October this special date seems so far away, but it creeps up quickly. I especially enjoy the pre Christmas preps excluding the shopping of course- I'm not one who enjoys shopping. Making some gifts, baking, and a few social events are the preferred activities to get in the Christmas mood. We have enjoyed all of this, even got gifts wrapped a few days early to reduce some of the last minute stress. An activity which I have heard about, a cookie exchange was one I partook in this year. It was lots of fun and it was interesting to see the variety of goodies everyone brought to the event.
Last night we spent a pleasant time with my husband's families and enjoyed great company and a delicious lobster chowder. This evening has been pretty quiet after helping prepare a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings for about 24 of my family members at a noon meal. There didn't seem to be a need for an evening meal after all that feasting.
My Christmas knitting projects were few, but well received. Now it's time to start a new project. I have supplies for a sweater and a couple of socks. The sweater requires a pattern search but I would like to get that done quickly for a grand daughter so it can be worn during the cooler months.

Merry Christmas!

Big Easter Snow!

Well its been two months since updating as I've been very busy and having problems with signing in to blogger also. Guess I finally did it!

This weather is pretty crazy. Tomorrow is Easter and we are having the largest snowfall of the winter tonight! So far we have about ten inches.

I have been in a pretty active period in my knitting, busy with socks which I find are an easy project to take on trips in the car or just to pick up for a little relaxation after work in the evening. On the left above is a completed Ripple Sock pattern which I found online in Patons Kroy in Denim Jacquard. The colour has really turned out to be a blackish grey. If I make this pattern again, I may use brighter colours with more blues, but the pattern was fun to do. On the right below is a work in progress- just a plain sock pattern in Fortissima Denim Blue- awesome results with plain knitting!

Lots of shovelling ahead tomorrow morning. Hopefully after a nice ham with the trimmings dinner, I may have some time to knit also while admiring the snowy white world outside!

Stitches

Finally!

After much thought, I'm finally jumping in and starting a blog. Many of my posts will be related to my hobbies- stitching of various kinds, thus the name. Quilting, cross stitch, knitting and sewing are all favourite pass times.
Today has been really weird weather wise as was yesterday- snow squalls, and then short sunny periods over and over!
Recently I have been working on a cute sweater for my grand daughter. It has been a bit of a challenge as I don't have the pattern, but saw the sweater online. So, I am using a standard pattern and making the rest up by looking at online pictures of it.
Off to do some more stitching!