July coming to and end

Well here we are in the last full week of July and my needle and floss seem to be flowing along at a decent pace.  Late last week though I hit a snag when I was hit with some type of pain and some rather nasty dizzy spells,  I had plans to spend time with my sister and niece at our community pool however I spent the entire day sleeping.  Saturday morning I didn't feel as dizzy or sore so I spent the day reading and crocheting.   I managed to do 7 rows in the Ruana  pattern  I purchased a short time ago.

I didn't feel much better yesterday when I woke so I found myself once again lying around on the sofa managed to finish reading The Hideaway and finally started on The Beach at Painter's Cove.

A Good Read

I had planned to read the Beach at Painter's Cove while I was away but started another book instead.  I really enjoyed The Hideaway.

I did manage to get some hand embroidery stitches in on Friday while resting, I used a split stitch on the Flower Power portion, I have to say I really like the look of the split stitch.

I didn't get as much done as I had hoped to on the Summer of Love piece as I had hoped so I have plans to get some stitching done on it today, it is nearly complete, I just hope I can focus on the stitching.
Yesterday I added another 3 rows to the Ruana pattern and I love the loose, soft feel it has using the Shawl in a Ball yarn, I also changed the stitch from half double crochet to a double crochet for a lighter airy look.

10 rows done

Here is the pattern I am making The Playa Ruana, from Two of Wands website.  I just love the soft flowing look it has.

I am using size "N" crochet hook and Shawl in a Ball metallics yarn from Lion Brand in the Om Opal colorway.

The metallic threads are very subtle throughout but it does give a nice little sparkle to the overall piece.  I have this yarn in other colorways and I plan to use it with beads on the next piece I make. I also ordered a few other colorways last week.

I'll be linking my post to Super Mom No Cape today I hope you will stop by and have a look at what other bloggers are embroidery today.
http://www.supermomnocape.com/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-120/

Hello June

Well Hello June you have arrived and brought with you our first mid-day rains which is much needed. Today also marks the start of hurricane season which we really don't need but those daily rain showers would be nice.

I have been working on my winter Goddess hand embroidery piece though I am kind of dragging my feet on it, I'm just not sure I even like the piece at this point and keep asking myself if I want to finish it.

Here is a look at my ORTS from January 1^st to June 1^st I'd say I accumulated a nice little pile of bits and pieces of threads, floss and some yarn too. Not bad for 6 months of stitching my jar is half full.

Orts January to June

Orts Jar

I have a new project I plan to start crocheting this month, it's this lovely Ruana pattern from Two of Wands I bought a few weeks ago.

I don't usually crochet during the warm weather season but I just loved this pattern when I first saw it I knew I wanted to make it right away. Here is a link to the site I purchased the pattern from:

http://www.twoofwands.com/patterns/women/playa-ruana-pattern?category=Ponchos+%2B+Ruanas

There are other crochet patterns and some lovely knitted patterns too. 

I want to use the Shawl in a Ball yarn I purchased a few months ago from Lion Brand yarn I was just waiting for the right pattern, I think this is the one. Here is a link for the yarn http://www.lionbrand.com/yarn/shawl-in-a-ball-yarn.html

I also need to get started on the Stitch at Home Challenge embroidery project the August 15th deadline will be here before I know it so its time to stop tweaking and get stitching.