Slow Sunday Stitching and October TUSAL

Oops I missed it again the New Moon for October and I forgot to post my orts for the October TUSAL report, better late then never here are my orts and if you don't know what a TUSAL it's the acronym for Totally Useless Stitch A Long. https://itsdaffycat.blogspot.com/2018/10/late-orts.html

For more information and to join in the fun of posting orts check out the link and see for yourself.
https://itsdaffycat.blogspot.com/2018/01/a-totally-useless-stitch-long.html
My orts include bits of blue yarns from two crochet projects I've been working on, the Granny Square afghan throw I made for my sister is completed and she loves it, I gave it to her yesterday when we met to do some shopping.

It's not a great photo but it does show the different shades of blues and gray of the Mandala yarn, I didn't take measurements but it fits nicely on a queen size bed.  I have also started a new afghan throw for my brother in law in the Echo Caves colorway of the Mandala yarn.

I enjoy all manner of slow stitching and besides the crochet I do love hand embroidery, I'm working on a kit a friend bought and asked me to stitch for her, we always trade off each others skills since she doesn't hand embroider I'm stitching it.

I have to admit these are the best satin stitches I have made in a long time seriously I think I stared at them for 5 minutes after I finished them.  This is the kit. I'm linking my post today to Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2018/10/slow-sunday-stitching_14.html

The Fall issue of Wool Works has some lovely projects in it which has peaked my interest in learning to do punch needle work. I love primitive patterns  and over the years I have made a few penny rugs too. The photo under the issue is part of a project I want to make.

So I purchased a starter kit a few days ago mainly because I am too lazy to dig through the bins in my garage to find the ones passed to me by a late friend.

I have never tried punch needle embroidery, I have done rug making using a latch hook and also a punch needle so I'm wondering if its similar method for punch needle embroidery.

Last week at Joann's I picked up the fall issue of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher  and Redwork Blizzard Buddies which is full of snowmen motifs and I just  love snowmen. I'm going to give it a try and if I don't like the punch needle I can always use the patterns for hand embroidery which I have done before.
I did a little online shopping over the weekend, the newest line of DMC Etoile floss has been released so I order a set, it comes in 35 colors with a bit of sparkle packed in a collectors tin you can also purchase the skeins separately. Here is a link if you want to have a look:
https://www.dmc.com/us/thread-5000/embroidery-thread-5001/etoile-embroidery-thread-9000495.html
Here's a link to Stitched Modern's informative post about the using the new Etoile Floss:
https://stitchedmodern.com/blogs/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-dmcs-new-mouline-etoile-sparkle-thread

DMC Etoile floss

Working our way into the month of October the weather has seen a few changes one being hurricane Michael that blew  through the panhandle leaving massive damages, here in my area of Ocala the only sign the weather  had changed was my wind chimes tinkling non-stop for a few hours the day the hurricane hit landfall in the panhandle, we had some light rain the day before but nothing like we usually get during a hurricane.  The day after we had some wonderful cool dry air and temps hanging in the upper 70's for most of the day.  Fall has arrived in Ocala.

I am not affiliated with any of the products or publications mentioned in my post. I include the links for convenience.
I leave you with a little bit of sunshine

Slow Sunday Stitching, August TUSAL, a New Granny Square, and a Few new Reads

This week has flown by with a few projects underway and a few in the design or planning stage life is good.

I finally got my car back from the repair shop with a nice little surprise which had me slightly irritated but what can you do.  The mechanic nicely pointed out the drivers side door was hit by a piece of equipment which left a nice little dent in the door so I need to get an estimate for the shop owner will be paying for the repair.

The following morning on my way to the post office I notice the window control panel was sunken in the buttons still work which is great because the long buttons control my door locks and the round on adjust my mirror.

I don't think it happened at the shop because the bottom buttons looked a bit recessed a few weeks ago, I believe the Florida heat melted the glue that holds it in place. one of the reasons automated window come off the track is the glue disintergrates in the heat or at least its the most common explanation we are given.  So that will need repair next which will be some time this week or the next but not at the same garage.

On the up side of things we finally got a good soaking rain yesterday afternoon, and the hand embroidery for this Green Woman project has been started, it's not my design it's from a decal I purchased a while ago and enlarged.

So once again I am working with mostly green floss. Yesterday was the New Moon for August which means it's time once again to post a photo of my Orts for the August TUSAL which is the Titally Useless Stitch Along.

You can see all those green threads with a few snippets of pink and purple yarns from the Granny Square afghan I crocheted for Tessa my 5 year old great niece. It measures 60 inches square.

 I started another Granny Square for my sister which was slow going over the weekend because my hands we aching so I put it aside for a while.

This one is being done in the Mandala yarn Spirit colorway, I may have mentioned this yarn has quickly become a slight obsession I just love the colorways and the way the flow when worked.

In my last post I mentioned having to abandon my shopping cart the other day after being overcome by an odor that left me quite breathless.  Well I went back on Friday morning to see if those cakes of yarn were still in stock and to my surprise they were.

The six on the left is the Magic Moon colorway with lots of luscious purples in the mix, the 6 on the right are actually 2 different colorways 3 Echo Caves and 3 Wishing Well, I am going to combine them for an afghan. The Wishing Well looks very beachy,  the Echo Caves has 3 of the same or nearly the same colors which should work up very nicely.  I want to try my hand at knitting with one of these yarns.

I am linking up my post to these wonderful blogs today:
https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2018/08/slow-sunday-stitching_12.html

https://itsdaffycat.blogspot.com/2018/08/august-orts.html

On my reading table I have a two new to me publications I am reading, the first feeds the earthy side of me and the second one feeds my love of plants and natural dying.

http://www.ravenous-craft.com/zine

https://rebeccadesnos.com/plants-are-magic-magazine/

 These are just what I need to lose myself in when my fingers and hands are too sore to pick up a needle or a hook. I included a link below each photo if you want to check out the sites.

And finally a recent jewelry making project is my stone cairn pendant with a small piece of green beach glass dangle from the bottom.