We went to the Appalachian mountains...

 We drove over to Lenoir NC today to look at some land.  It is beautiful country.  Can't imagine how great it would look in spring!  We decided afterward to drive further up Rt. 321 into the higher mountains.  We went up to the to which was at an elevation of about 3300 ft.  The city we live in is at 800 ft!

We stopped at a general store on the side of the road and took these photos.

It was very hazy but you can see the tops of the surrounding mountains.

I realized after we got home (and looking at a map) that we drove almost all the way to Tennessee.
Amazing day!

Advent Calendar

Whenever I could find Chocolate Advent calendars I bought them for my kids.  It's been harder and harder to find them anymore.  This year I lucked out and saw some at Trader Joe's.

Even though Sophia is 12 she still enjoys these!

Surprisingly, she did not open the first door this morning!

If you want to make one here are some links...
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4

Beauty

Today is November 21st.  It is very warm here.  Feels like September!!  I am loving it. 
And I am very THANKFUL!!
I have a pot of pansies on the mini deck!!  I just had to share it. 
Don't think I would be having these beauties in Pennsylvania!!

Christmas Stocking Part 2

Here's how the stocking looks today....I haven't worked on it that much this week.  I don't know why but the days have slipped away!!  But I have made progress!!

Great Homemade Play Dough

Great Homemade Play Dough

2 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 package of Kool-Aid (without sugar)
3 T oil
2 cup boiling water

1. Mix flour, Kool-Aid and salt in a large bowl.
2. Add oil and water.  Mix with spoon until it is cool enough to knead. 
3. When mixture is completely kneaded and smooth  - store in an airtight bag. 

It will harden if let out in the air!!

Mix up a batch to hand out at Halloween parties. You can make orange or lime!

Christmas Stocking

I have always wanted to cross stitch a Christmas Stocking.  Sophia picked this one, Elisabeth's Stocking, from Shepherd's Bush.

Since this is sewn on linen I needed to get a magnifying light so I could sew it, old eyes!!.  I finally did last week and got started on it!!  Here's my progress....I hope I can stick to this and get it finished this year, as I tend to get bored with projects!

What A Beautiful Morning

We had gotten a couple of new pillows at Ikea a few weeks ago.  Then last week I realized that Sophia did not have a pillow case for her pillow so I embroidered this for her.  She loves it!!  The photo of the whole thing did not come out, bummer!

Patterns...

Need some new patterns to knit?  I found this really cool site, Sweaterbabe. There are some really pretty and feminine items here.
Here are some of my favorites!!

Americano Vest from Berroco

I think the hottest thing for fall will be vests.  So I looked around for a pattern to make for Sophia.  We found this one.  I ordered everything I needed from Jimmy Beans Wool.  It came like 2 days later!! I was very surprised.

The Berroco Vintage Chunky yarn is very nice to work with. I zipped right through the back piece.  I had no problem with the left front BUT I have been knitting the right front while I am in another world.  I was almost done and realized I had forgotten to knit in the buttonholes, frog it!  2nd time, I didn't get the buttonholes even, frog it!  3rd time, I was almost done knitting the piece and I forgot to stop knitting the pattern and it was 5 inches too long.  I guess I just zone out while I am knitting!!  4th time - hopefully I get it right this time!!

Wish me luck!!  Maybe the 4th time is the charm! haha!

Sophia's Hat

I had leftover yarn from making Cat's hat so I made one for Sophia.  I used this pattern, Lemon Curd Slouch, by Ali Tong.  The hat does not slouch though because I used bulky yarn instead of the heavy worsted yarn the pattern calls for.  But that was okay because Sophia really liked it!!  It will really keep her warm if it gets cold this winter.

Cat's Hat

Cat wanted me to make a hat for her and I finally finished it!!  TADA!!  I hope she likes it.

This is Sophia in the photos!  Isn't she cute?!

I used Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky yarn and this pattern, Thorpe by Kristin Kapur.
The pattern started at the top which was a bit difficult for me because I don't use DPNs that often and the yarn kept sliding off of the needles. But after I got going it was fine....

How Does My Garden Grow?

Since we live in a 3rd floor apt., there is no outside space except for a tiny balcony that is not very attractive.
We had gotten some seeds a few months ago and started them in 2 small pots.  We have been sticking them outside during the day and bringing them in at night but it is warm enough to leave them out at night now.
Yesterday we got some larger pots and some soil and transplanted them.  We have tomatoes and basil.  I also got a bell pepper plant at Lowe's too.
Ta Da!!

I can't wait until I can have a Caprese salad!

Celtic Christmas

I have always loved the designs of Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum.  Check out her designs here http://www.tiag.com/division/ll.html

I don't remember when I got this pattern but I found it again recently.  This is a photo of the finished project.

This is what I done so far.  The pattern calls for a green linen but I cannot see the linen to stitch on it.  I need to get a magnifying lamp.  So I found a piece of 18 count Aida but it was bright white.  Sophia and I dyed it with tea.  We should have let it soak in the tea over night.  The tea bath took the edge off the brightness.

I better get back to work!!

Jig of the Ladybug by Bent Creek

I made this cross stitch last week. I need to add some charms.  The pattern came with gold star charms.  But I cannot find any.  I got Frank to take me to Hobby Lobby.  I found a great frame at half price and some small silver heart charms to finish it off.

Magic of Summer Progress

I have been doing a lot on this cross stitch.  The right side has a lot more.  I also added some stitches on the left side of the house. 

Free Stuff

Yesterday we went to our local Food Lion.  The Cabot lady was there.  She gave us this free stuff AND we got a coupon for a dollar off 2 packs of cheese.  Cabot cheese is the best.  Sophia and I went home and made mac and cheese!  Yummy!

Wysocki Cross Stitch - The Magic of Summer

My mom gave me this cross stitch kit years ago for Christmas.  I take it out and work on it and get bored or move on to other things.  I worked on it it some in Sicily.  About a month and a half ago when we were repacking our shipment I came across it and brought it to the apt. I have been working on it again for a couple of weeks now and making some great progress.

This is what it will look like when it is done.  I have a ton of stitching to do!!

Charlotte, NC

 Duke Energy Building - the funky looking one

This gorgeous mural was downtown.  If it was sunny it would have been a better photo!

We drove to South Carolina on Saturday to look at some land.  Of course we had to drive right through downtown Charlotte to get there.  Somebody tell me what is up with these GPS directions!!  I got some photos of the buildings and Panther Stadium on the way back.

Tea Towels Are Finished!!

Don't these look pretty hanging on my stove??  I am going to do more of this.  I have big plans!

Coffee Embroidery

I have gotten tired of knitting.  I picked up this iron pattern and a few skeins of thread (all of my stuff is packed away).  I haven't done any embroidery in a long time.  The "cappuccino" is almost done.  I have to outline the spoon and the steam.
A friend is having a baby girl in a few months and I was thinking of doing something for the baby.  Maybe an Alice in Wonderland theme.  I must think on this awhile!!

Snowstorm Hat

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90022AD.html?noImages=

i knitted this hat for Sophia.  I thought she had downloaded photos of her it but I guess they are on her camera.  It's VERY EASY.  The hardest part was getting used to the size 15 needles I used.  The pattern calls for 2 skeins of yarn but I only used one.  I didn't make the pompom, though.

Check out this Blog...

I got a book from the library about embroidery (my stuff is still packed away!). I liked this book a lot.  It has some really fun things in it.

The author of the book has a website. http://littledeartracks.blogspot.com/
Aimee has some really cool stuff on this site.
She also has another book out too.  I must see if the library has a copy of it.
Do you embroider???