Gearing up for the 2024 Library Love Challenge

 December 31st always has me signing up for a reading challenge or two.  I have done the Goodreads Reading Challenge since 2017 I have completed all but 1 year meaning I read the number of books I said I would read or surpassed the number. The year I didn't complete was in 2020  I read 22 of 25, which isn't too bad.  You would think with the lockdown of Covid 19 I would have read twice as many, unfortunately for me 2020 was the year of an illness that had me hospitalized several times and without a diagnosis for nearly 2 years.

At the time reading wasn't always possible because I was in so much physical pain I couldn't do much except sleep through the pain. I couldn't concentrate on reading or  recall what I read from page to page so I often just put the book aside.  It was a very long year.

The first reading challenge I plan to join is the Library Love Reading Challenge.  I love using the library its one of the first things I do when I move to a new town, register to vote and get a library card. Our local library is going to see more of me this year for several reasons:

1- I am clearing out many of my books from my bookshelves and donating them to the library. (This is part of my 2024 big purge of personal stuff).

2- I am buying less books this year mainly because I have quite a few new books (more than 20) I haven't read yet and I want to read them before I buy a new book.

3- Using the local library helps with funding for the library and if we want new books and programs we need to use the library.

Here is the link if you would like to join the 2024 Library Love Challenge

https://booksofmyheart.net/2023/12/02/2024-library-love-challenge-sign-up-giveaway/

I mentioned in my earlier post the first book I have planned to read in 2024 is The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl.

My plan is to read at least 25 books for the challenge, but if I go down my to read list on my library page it will be twice as many, but I remove and add books from the list all the time.  My TO READ list changes on my Goodreads page too.

 

Sunday Slow Stitching, What's up for October

This is the last Slow Stitch Sunday for September, is it me or did this month go by in the blink of an eye? It sure seems that way to me. 

I finished the hand embroidery on the Green-woman #2 piece, held my breath while I rinsed out the stitch and wash product hoping the over dyed floss wouldn't run, pressed it lightly so I could snap a nice photo.  

I am going to finish her either in a frame or hoop not sure yet which so I will shop around for a frame to my liking. I used mostly Weeks Dye Works and a few Gentle Arts floss in colors named after herbs and other vegetation, DMC floss for the flowers and the pine cones and the eyes are done in Weeks Amber. She is stitched on 100% cotton muslin.  I'll link my post to Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching here:https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2018/09/slow-sunday-stitching_30.html

I do love checking out the other bloggers that link to the site each Sunday there are so many creative people crafting some lovely quilts, embroidery, a bit of crochet and knitting too.  

I will also be linking up at Supermom No Cape here https://www.supermomnocape.com/gratitude-embroidery-pattern/

This week has been eventful my car went back to my mechanic who once again address the oil leak problem, he didn't do the initial work but was able to de-grease the leaky mess that was left and he tightened the gasket that was supposed to be done at the other shop I had the car at.  I also needed a new tire that's the fourth tire I replaced so I sent a copy of my receipts to the place I bought the original 4 tires requesting a refund for defective tires they sold me.   Then Friday afternoon as I was leaving the car wash I noticed the rear window was down a little bit, you guessed it another regulator will need to be replaced so I will drop the car off this week for that to be done. it seems the heat of the Florida sun melts the glue that holds the window on the track my son has had to have all of his windows redone.    

There are 16 new floss colors available from DMC as individual skeins that were once offered as a set in 2013.  They came in the mail last week.

The colors are numbered 3880 through 3895, I think I might have the set so now I'll have two of each which is fine with me.  Sometime in October DMC will be releasing a new floss with a sparkle I'm hoping it will handle better then the light effects.  

I just love these New Age Muslin fat quarters 26 colors in the stack, I love using muslin when I do

hand embroidery, with 26 colors to choose from it could take me forever to plan a project, I'm sure not all of it will be used for embroidery I see potential autumn projects just begging to be made, something with a pumpkin or two.  These came through Craftsy's sale last week arriving in 2 days.

October is just a few hours away and I have a few projects I plan to get started on this week. I need to get the afghan I'm crocheting for my sister done this week so I can start on this long vest pattern I purchased from  Etsy   https://www.etsy.com/transaction/1492612640

I have a few embroidery designs ready to trace onto fabric today so I can start stitching them, there are a few patterns in the new Kathy Schmitz book I think will look nice done on some of the new muslin fabrics above. 

In between stitching and crochet I have been reading to give my hands a rest they have been very achy this week. I finished reading Grandma Greenwood Takes a Walk  by Ben Montgomery which I enjoyed thoroughly.

I just started On the Beaten Path by by Robert Alden Rubin and so far it has my attention which is a good thing.

I have through hiked the Appalachian Trail alone several times in my life the first time at age 20 and reading other accounts of walking the trail brings back those memories as if it were only yesterday, I have been tossing about the idea of doing it one final time maybe when I'm 65. 

I finished reading The Bookshop of Yesterdays and while I liked the story I did not like the main character, has that ever happened to you?

 I'm nearly through reading The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes McCoy I'm

enjoying it very much which I had my doubts because a friend recommended it and usually the books she suggest just don't hold my attention after the third chapter in the 30 years we have known one another we have rarely ever read the same books.

I have decided starting in October to change my walking routine up a bit and go for a few longer walks perhaps a few day hikes, my usual walks in the park are nice but I need a change of scenery so I plan to find a few new places.

I'll leave you with a lovely bit of sunshine to brighten your day.

Welcome October

October first came so quickly it seems, I guess with hurricanes and yard clean up and other daily distractions the month did feel like it flew by.

This week I spent some much needed me time reading, writing a few letters, watering plants and looking over my garden and cleaning up more sticks and twigs, I barely had time to stitch.

I did get in a few more stitches on my newest project so all is well on the stitching front and I even put in a row or two of crochet on the Ruana.

Mostly though I did a lot of reading in my free time, it was one of those books that I can't stop turning the pages of and before you know it you just want to get to the end to see what happens.

For me Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore is one of those mystery books I happily finished late last night and it was worth every minute. It is also one of those books that break your heart just a little and stays with you a while after you read it.

I'm going to link to Kathy's Quilt https://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca/2017/10/slow-sunday-stitching.html
Today is the first Sunday in October I plan to get some slow stitching in today before I start the next book waiting, The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

I made my pick up at the library last week expecting two books I had reserved and left with four, two of the others I wanted had just arrived that morning.  I really need to space out my request of new books better too often they all come in at the same time so I drop everything so I can read them all before they are due, new books can't be renewed and I try not to return them late.

Happy October Everyone I hope it's getting to look and feel like Autumn where you are.

Slowly Stitching August Away

This month has been moving through it's days faster than water through a sieve; I'm not at all sorry to see this month end, August weather in Florida can be brutal to say the least, hot days filled with sunshine and heavy gray clouds, humidity so thick it feels like you're parting a veil just to breathe.

I have my newest project set up for stitching, it's a Sashiko project from a kit I purchased a few months ago.

The kit included the printed indigo fabric, a packet of needles and the hank of white DMC perle cotton thread.  I'm using a light blue chambray cotton to back the indigo fabric for more stability since the dark fabric feel thin and I'm not sure how it will stitch with the perle cotton.
The kit can be found at this Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/225743049/aine-a-celtic-design-sashiko-kit
I loved the pattern when I saw it, Aine as it is called with it's Celtic knotwork look just called to me as you may have noticed over the years many of my hand embroideries are of Celtic knot work or symbols.  Aine is the name of a Celtic/Irish goddess and  I have made quite a few hand embroidered goddesses over the last year or two.

Speaking of goddess embroidery here is the latest goddess project I completed this week:

Goddess stitched

She started as a simple sketch of this lovely little figurine I have, the figurine is an Abby Willowroot design.

Goddess figurine

A few weeks ago I was listening to the rain fall while recovering from a nasty bout of finger pain so I grabbed my sketchbook and began to sketch, after my sketch was done I thought to embroider her. I gave her a spiral labyrinth look to her head, the actual figurine has a spiral on the other side of it.  I left off some of the lines and didn't add the stars to the embroidered piece.

sketch of statue

I scanned my sketch to my computer and printed it out on my favorite stitch and wash away product, then found the fabric I wanted a few days later I would chose the colors and begin the stitching process.  I used variegated embroidery floss throughout except for the moons for those I used DMC satin floss.

I have another two witch bonnet sue blocks put together and a few more waiting to be pieced I decided to wait until all the blocks are done before I begin embellishing them.

witch bonnet sue blocks

I will be linking up today at Kathy's Quilts for slow Sunday Stitching stop on over to see what other bloggers are slow stitching today  https://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca/2017/08/slow-sunday-stitching_20.html

I just finished reading a lovely book  by Kathleen Rooney titled Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk  I couldn't put it down until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

I also started the newest Susan Wittig Albert book The Last Chance Olive Ranch  I love her China Bayles mysteries, what began as cozy mysteries over the years have evolved  into some well written mystery stories filled with information on various aspects of herbs and herb gardening, these books inspired me to expand my own interest in herbal medicine and herb gardening years ago.  The photo is my last haul of books for the library, I'll start the Garden of Small beginnings later this week.

Speaking of gardening the near daily rains come in torrential down pours which is great when it comes to watering my plants and keeping my bamboo plants growing by the foot. Unfortunately the bamboo isn't the only thing growing by leaps and bounds in my garden, after so much rain the weeds are going to be jungle height and thoughts of replacing the weed whacker with a machete has crossed my mind more than once this week.

I would like to plant one of the small dormant beds this autumn, I don't feel the connection to the earth as much tending a potted plant as I do when I am bent over a garden bed taking in all the beauty the scent of the sun warming the plants, seeing them grow, pulling the never ending weeds growing whether it rains or not, so I think it's time I prepare at least one of the beds for a Fall garden.

Until then I will spend my days stitching away on one project or another in my free time, and reading a good book or three.

Monday Update:

My Summer of Love challenge piece has been completed I added two tabs for hanging, I missed the deadline to send the actual piece (like many others I sent just a photo) now it will be another prayer flag for the garden.

It measures 16x17 inches with 3 inch tabs it is not hemmed as prayer flags are meant to unravel over time.  I missed the deadline to send it because I had circled the wrong day on my calendar to mail it by, such a silly mistake but it happens.  

I forgot to mention it above I plan to add embroidery to the corners of the new goddess piece or surround her with a flowering vine.  I have a few ideas brewing in my

head I just need to stir things up, lay the designs out over the fabric so I can choose what feels right.  I know I should go with what I originally planned but that never seems to happen.  

I'm linking up today at Super Mom No Cape come take a look at what other bloggers are hand embroidering today: 

http://www.supermomnocape.com/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-124/  

A Cozy Mystery Challenge for the New Year

I found another reading challenge for 2016 this one is for Cozy Mysteries which I find thoroughly entertaining.

 http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/11/cruisin-thru-cozies-reading-challenge.html

 The link above will take you to the site if this is a reading challenge for you.

To find out exactly what a cozy mystery is, check out Cozy-Mystery.com. This site is dedicated to cozy mysteries and does a great job of defining them as well as giving a list of cozy mysteries. This challenge is NOT restricted to what is on their list, it's just to be used as a guideline in case you need some hints on what to read.

So, here are the rules...

1. Choose the level you wish to participate:

Level 1 - Snoop - Read at least 6 books

Level 2 - Investigator - Read 7-12 books

Level 3 - Super Sleuth - Read 13-20 books

Level 4 - Sleuth Extraordinaire - Read 21 or more books

2. The challenge runs from January 1, 2016 and ends December 31, 2016.

3. You don't have to choose your books in advance. If you do, you can change your list at any time during the year. Books can overlap with other challenges.

4. Books can be in any format - paper, audio, ebooks...it all counts!

5. You don't have to post a review, but I'm sure others would love to know about the books you are reading and may even want to add it to their reading lists. 

I'm going to choose Level 3-Super Sleuth I don't have any books in mind just yet but I'm sure I'll have a few on hand once the New Year rolls around.

Marching toward Spring with a few new stitches and a good book.

Well here we are with a new month ahead of us anxious to brush off the last remnants of winter and head into Spring.

Last Friday's quilt class was good despite me having a very off day from the start, when I arrived at the quilt shop I caught up with Dee Ann who was the instructor for the Hand Embroidery classes I attended last October, she will be offering a few new hand embroidery classes in the coming months

While looking at the pattern for the class she is teaching on the 3rd,  I don't care for the quilt so I didn't sign up for the class. I do like the embroidery centerpiece.

I came across this pattern hanging right next to the one she is doing for class and bought it.

If you know me I love the beach and just the other day I was looking for a seahorse embroidery pattern for a friend so I picked up the pattern which includes these motifs to hand embroider.

If I make this quilt I'm thinking seashell fabric or some light pastels to frame each block, change all the thread colors too. The pattern would not be my only purchase of the day, as I said earlier my day didn't go so well from the start I was feeling sick in the morning, my blood pressure has been wonky and my medications tweaked, which often leaves me feeling out of sorts, Friday was one of those days, I left my cutting mat and large ruler at home, so I purchased new ones so I wouldn't hold up class borrowing from someone, which believe me was offered, thank you ladies. 

Here are a few more blocks pieced from the quilt class, we did my favorite quilt block the log cabin. I used the same fabrics for both blocks but changed the piecing just a bit.

The other block pieces are flying geese which I am not overly thrilled with so I may remake them. All need to be pressed again after spending a few hours packed in my messy bag of fabric.  I was not feeling so good on Friday morning but didn't want to miss this class since I  missed class on the 6th.
The log cabin blocks were supposed to be done on the 6th and I was going to work it at home but I could not grasp the instructions in the book for the piecing method, lucky for me the instructor switched the blocks to be pieced and then changed the piecing method to the one I have used for decades which is sewing one piece at a time. 

I have to complete another log cabin block as well as two set of the flying geese and I need to make 3 friendship stars before next weeks class. We have 2 more classes to go and next week we should be ready to sew the blocks and add the borders. (I better count all my blocks to be sure I have them all).

On the Greenman #2 hand embroidery piece, the first few stitches were added last night 

This piece is approximately on a 16 inch block of white muslin fabric with another block of white adhered to the block to give the stitching more stability and to keep the threads in back from showing through.

On Thursday I attended the Thread Therapy group and made good progress crocheting the little bag, I am making the purple bag in the photo.

I managed to get 40 rows stitched which may not seem like much but using steel hook number 7 its great well at least it is for me. I also picked up a few more balls of crochet thread.

The silver thread in the photo has sequins throughout, I am not sure how well it will work up alone, depending on the results I may use it combined with another thread or yarn.

My new Brother sewing machine didn't give me any problems during class except user error when I reached across the top and somehow reset the stitch width and had to rip out stitches 3 times when it dawned on me what I had happened,  readjusted and I was off and stitching my last two pieces. 

When I not putting together a quilt block or hand stitching I can usually be found reading a book or two. This week I am reading

If ever I was going to reread a book the China Bayles mysteries would be my choice hands down. My love of reading, herbs and gardening keeps me turning the pages long into the night. 

It was while reading these novels that had me planning my first outdoor herb garden here in Florida, I had several herbs on the window sill of my first apartment when I decided I could plant more herbs in the space outside my bedroom window, it was a small space indeed but it thrived for the few years I gardened there, in fact that little 3x5 foot space was the most successful garden I have had since moving here twenty years ago and some day I would like to have my garden thrive like that again, but it won't be this year.

Last Saturday while shopping for the elusive comfy chair I found this very comfortable love seat and bought it, I should be delivered in about 4 weeks. I am still looking for a comfy chain but I think this may fill the need. This is a stock photo of the chair which is dark brown and turquoise, I have a dark brown sofa, this will add a little color to the room.