Hank spent the day while Mom and Dad helped Maddie’s family move so we had a very full day of just trying to keep up with Hank. I closed the gate to the pond forgetting that the gate through the pasture was open and suddenly there was Keeper and Hazel but no Hank. Oh no. Yup, he was swimming in the pond which was actually over full with 2” of rain and quite clean.
I tried to clean but I’m going to add that to my I Do Not Care list. This is the best picture I got today for the club. I agree with this anonymous reader. I no longer care either. I loved this picture!
And this is another good one for the club:
Oh, this is just too much fun!!
Two reader quilts, both Country Threads designs.
Remember we were just discussing improv quilts? Here’s the one I’ve been using on my bed, made completely with mens shirts except for the plain white in the triangle squares.
The thread issue has been solved – Mother Goose was back in stock at several outlets so I’ve got 4 spools coming. Thanks to you all for helping! Now here’s another question: this quilt from the early 90s turned up missing on a trunk show all those years ago. Does anyone have knowledge of this long lost quilt by Country Threads?
And then there’s Wedding Day by Country Threads made back in 1997. It has really faded over the years just like the two of us.
My friend Jane sent me a small handful of hollyhock seeds last year and look at what’s coming up! Lots of little hollyhocks.
These little shoots are nasturtiums that the squirrels got into but I hope I solved that.
I have bought 4 different squirrel repellents and I’ve yet to find one that’s really effective. My best bet is still moth balls but oh does it stink! They dig in my pots and eat certain houseplants which have now moved back into the house, poor things.
Here’s a tease for tomorrow.
Goodnight!
P.S. I forgot to ask my question – how many of you quilters are also cross stitchers?
I have been doing counted cross stitch, for over twenty years, long before I started quilting. I taught my youngest daughter, Debbie, to cross stitch and she loved it. When she was twelve years old, she entered one of her cross stitch pictures in the Stan Hewett Hall needlework show in Akron, Ohio. She was thrilled when they told her she had won a ribbon for the “Peoples Choice Award”. Deb was in college when I started quilting. She was busy with other things and never caught the quilting bug.
I love quilting and have made many quilts over the years. However, I have started cross stitching again within the past few months. I usually stitch in the evenings and find it very relaxing.
I love cross stitching. During the winter I do some almost every night.
Counted cross-stitch never was something I did. Although, I’ve done a lot of things on the plastic mesh with yarn, did some small wall hangings with beads, macrame, and sewing a lot of my clothes. Crocheting became my “keep the hands busy” while watching TV for many years. But, now I choose what a really want to do with my hands and quilting wins the prize. Enjoy the posts, Mary. Thanks.
Jan
Crafters all seem to be busy. I grew up garment sewing in 4-H and Jr high Home Ec classes. When I started teaching I was making most of my clothes. Then I started sewing for my daughters and now my granddaughters, although that is harder to do because they don’t live close enough to “fit” every time I want to. My college roommate taught me to knit. I made a scarf; I knitted and she repaired my holes. Then I didn’t knit again until I retired. Knitting is my take along project. I can sit at the ball games where my husband announces and watch the game as I knit. It is like typing or playing the piano. You don’t have to look at your hands all the time. I finally taught myself to crochet after I retired. Finally figured out what it meant to put the hook in the hole…before I could never figure out which hole. I finished the dish cloth. It looked good enough to give as part of a shower gift and I haven’t tried to crochet since. Back in the days of trace around the shape, cut it out then sew, I made a small quilt for my new daughter. I didn’t make another until I retired and started working with the church’s charity quilts. Now I piece 30-40 a year and we get together to layer, knot and bind once a month. Do I cross stitch? I did a lot at one time. Purchased a kit at a craft party and was hooked. Each year teachers at school would get an ornament. I found that they were easier to finish and could be carried along to games. I do not cross stitch very often now. My eye sight is not what it used to be. I have a magnifying glass that fits around my neck but it is difficult to keep in the right position. I like to cook, bake, I have a window full of flowers and the garden is keeping my husband and me busy now. With the recent rain, the weeds are calling. What a long reply. Mary, I enjoy your blog. I don’t always read it each day. Today I am caught up. I started reading today with your blog about being busy so you may not write each day. I quess I have been busy. I helped with a 4-H clothing workshop today for beginning sewers. I sent a picture to you by email of one of the finished tops.
Judy – I LOVE long replies! I love hearing about everyone’s lives and daily activities – I don’t have a coffee group but the blog comments are my coffee friends. Sometimes at night I can’t wait to get up to hear what you guys have to say!!
This was a good post today, along with many good comments. I like the shirt quilt. I love hollyhocks; there is the fun memory of making hollyhock dolls and floating several in a bowl of water. I have planted nasturtiums and hope they come up; then I will likely need to protect them from the deer.
I started off with crocheting, taught by my grandmother, knitting with the help of a Learn How book, and garment sewing with the help of my mother, 4-H and home ec. I’ve not done much of those recently, but do have a desire to get back into garment sewing.
I do counted cross stitch, mainly as a portable project for travel and waiting rooms. Quilting is my main at home craft. I have a stack of completed cross stitch projects with no reason to frame or finish. I also have several quilt tops waiting to be quilted.
I do have an interest in rug hooking, due to a display from a local rug hooking guild. However, I probably won’t pursue that as I have enough hobbies filling the house.
Hard for me to decide what I love best – quilting, knitting, or cross stitching. If I could only do one thing (God forbid!) I suppose it would be knitting, but I divide my time between the three.
Before I started quilting, I tried every craft I found … cross-stitch, needlepoint, ceramics (my mom taught this and had her own kiln), knitting, crochet, weaving, macrame , etc.. When I got bit by the ‘quilting bug’, just about everything else went by the wayside. I’ve done a couple of cross-stitch pictures in the last few years, but it doesn’t really entice me like quilting. I really don’t understand the appeal of cross-stitch samplers … how many alphabets does a person need on the wall? Maybe that’s just me, lol! All that being said … I’m having a hard time dragging my butt into my sewing room these days … no ambition. And gardening … I REALLY don’t care! Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us today, Mary … you’re piano room looks great!
Candy – I didn’t want to say what you just said BUT all cross stitch looks the same to me – no big change – alphabets and houses? Really? You want to do another one? I think I may have mentioned that to Connie one time and I think she thought I was nuts. We are soul sisters, Girlfriend!!!
Our car will never see the inside of our garage and I don’t care!
I used to do a lot of counted cross stitch when I was in highschool and college, and for a few years after. But then I learned to quilt and there was no more time for cross stitching; while I was still working, there wasn’t much time for quilting either. I did buy a small cross stitch kit while on a trip last year, that I hope to start in the not-too-distant future. And I have also started doing hand embroidery, which I’m enjoying learning the new stitches. I like piecing by machine, but also enjoy having a hand work project to do. It’s very relaxing and calming.
Whew! Lots of comments; I love it. Kids and dogs are drawn to ponds aren’t they? It is so much fun to hear about the dogs’ antics. We just returned from Iceland. It was a great trip. They started their Parliament in 930!! I did cross stitch and still have some little kits to finish this winter. I also did crewel work, macrame, and knitting, but quilting took over. Your shirt quilt is beautiful. I need to get back in the sewing room today. I have always loved your wedding quilt, Mary. Nice here today. 73*
Diane – ICELAND!! Please tell us a bit about your trip – my niece Jenny is in Australia right now – can’t wait to hear about that, too!!
Oh, Hank loves water whether it’s dirty or not! Ick!
Hi Mary. Iceland was fascinating. The people sieak excellent English and are friendly and nice. Our guide was a HS history teacher and knew so much! The landscape is so different. It is mostly solid lava with some fields for sheep, cows, and horses. Not many trees so when we saw a few, our guide said it was a forest😹. We were in three cities. They are not big and easy to get around by walking. The food was delicious. Lots of lamb and fish which I love both. The history goes soooo far back and is very interesting. The Parliament started in 930! They have Sagas sort of like myths with Thor and Odin. The textile museum was lots of wool blankets, sweaters—gorgeous, hand embroidery, etc. They had lots of folk villages with furnishings that were period appropriate. There is more, but this is long enough!🙀
Diane – thank you for a brief look at Iceland! A forest, huh? Was this trip to Iceland on your bucket list? How long were you gone?
Love the photos today! And love hearing about the animal antics…
I’m both a quilter and a cross-stitcher… my grandmother showed me how to hand-piece when I was really young (she passed when I was in first grade; she also had some really cool beads that I could string and re-string) and my cousin started me on stamped cross-stitch a few years later. My family was big on creating and fostered an attitude of “try it!” – 4-H was a part of my life too. We often sewed clothing items because it was so much more affordable plus trips to a store didn’t happen often in our rural area. (I did peruse catalogs a lot…) I’ve tried a lot of stitching hobbies and crafts over the years and will still try whatever appeals to me at the time.
At the moment, it’s mostly quilting and counted cross-stitching for me for my own enjoyment (altering, repairing, and hemming for my chorus’ costumes sometimes interrupts…). That way I can enjoy both worlds and indulge my whim at the moment! I will go to my sewing area and quilt one day and later spend a couple of hours in my recliner in the evening with my cross-stitch. I found a while back that doing either of those helps me focus on the task at hand and tune out all the other distractions like digital screens, the news, etc. – I tend to relax and sleep better on those nights. I get the best of both worlds! My time is shortened now because I need to mow and trim, but I still manage to indulge… 🙂
I’m a cross-stitcher, more recently focused on fresh, modern designs rather than samplers. I also enjoy hand-piecing as well as machine piecing. And LEGOs, of all things. A friend brought over a couple sets to have a “build day” not long after my husband passed 5 years ago, and now I find it pretty absorbing. I feel I’m more calm and productive when I keep things tidy, there’s a visual stress when it gets messy. So maybe I’m not a full-fledged member of the don’t care club but it’s for me, no one else. Love the blue improv quilt!
I love the shirt quilt! I like to make scrap quilts, and have a rule that every quilt I make must contain at least one piece from a shirt. Except when I make a small quilt from wool – those use thrifted wool skirts. As for cross stitch – I used to do lots of it; worked several kits from Denmark. These days, it’s quilting, knitting and crocheting. In my long life, I’ve also done garment sewing, bobbin lace, inkle weaving, card weaving, regular embroidery. But not a twined rag rug yet!
Dot – you’ve tried nearly everything! I was immersed in shirt quilts a couple years ago and have several finishes. I can’t get rid of my shirts just yet – I might get the urge to make another.
Good morning Mary,
I’m a cross stitcher, but not lately. I still love a beautiful sampler. I’m glad I cross stitched when I did, when my eyes could see great and I didn’t wear glasses. Ha, ha.
In the picture of Hank and Keeper on the bed is a quilt that is so simply beautiful. A square in a square. It looks so great on the wall. It made me think that maybe it was in the Quilts for Aunt Amy. I pulled out my book and got stuck on looking at Amy’s sampler quilt. It’s so wonderful. Thank you for putting the block chart with the names next to it. I am once again inspired today!
I’m a cross-stitcher but not a quilter! My mom turned me onto your blog and I don’t know how she found it because she’s not a quilter either! 😁 She just likes reading about farm life, your animals, your plants, and loves reading the comments. Same for me except I don’t always have time to look at the comments. She will always make sure to email me if there’s something especially interesting in them, though! 🙂
Well hi Noel and I loved your comment! Welcome to a group of fun people from all over the world. Mary encourages comments to keep us all engaged with each other so you’ll get to know us as we will you too.
I use to cross stitch when I had better eyes to focus so now I save what’s left of them for quilting and piecing and for reading.
Hopefully most are having some good summer weather now to help our gardens grow.
I DO NOT cross-stitch. I have tried a few times, but I find it just doesn’t thrill me. Quilting and sewing still do, though, My machine is out for a month, at least, to be cleaned and serviced and I am at a loss. So, I am doing some embroidering. At least, there is a needle involved.
Sue – I have 4 machines – wish I could bring you one! I am not interested in cross stitch at all. In fact I think all the finished projects look pretty much alike – that’s how much I’m not interested. Cross stitch for me is in my I Do Not Care category!
I was raised with two thoughts :”if your are going to do something, be committed 100%, but know it won’t be perfect”. The other “you are not responsible for what other people think”. Results: I don’t care what others think, but I do care what I expect of myself. Guess I can’t really belong to the “club”
When first married, money and time were limited so one hobby at a time. Ceramics, crewel kits, counted cross stitch, iron-on and paint shirts -which started my fabric stash. Those have all past on – ran out of wall space, storage space and relatives!. Now I concentrate on quilting and genealogy along with jigsaw puzzles and reading.
The various hobbies were all great learning processes and I have kept a few pieces of each of the old hobbies (except the painted shirts). I rarely ripped out mistakes – they are records of my learning experience.
I’m a cat type person; however Leon is 16 and not very exciting anymore. I so enjoy reading the antics of Hazel, Keeper, and Hank.
Linda – you have a great attitude about life in general. I agree that commitment is a big part of anything – sort of like committing to be in church every Sunday to play. No matter what might come up on a Sunday morning I am completely committed to being there and they know it. I love that you tried all those different crafts! The capers of Hank, Hazel and Keeper are a big part of my life. Thanks for being a cat person – I do love my cats and wonder what would happen to them if something happened to me. They have never been outside cats and they wouldn’t make it. Read any good books lately that you would recommend?
Another cross-stitching quilter here! When I was a young child I learned to stich using embroidery kits with printed designs on the fabric. I was still doing those in the 70’s when I was introduced to counted thread stitching AND quilting. Learned to knit as an 8 year old and still love puttering with it, but am not terribly skilled. Almost anything that involves fabric, thread or fibers is interesting to me. What I DON’T care about anymore is COOKiNG. LOL
Suzanne – I dislike cooking very much – Rick and I don’t like the same things so it’s not fun to cook. I could get by on a bowl of cereal.
So fun to see Keeper and Hank frolicking around! And the cat sleeping on the arm of the chair, I hope he doesn’t roll off! The improv quilt is awesome! I may try that! I’ve done counted cross stitch, it’s not my favorite hobby though. I love traditional (or primitive) rug hooking, quilting, knitting – still learning this one – and now I’m learning how to spin yarn and weave. I paint a little too. It’s cold here again in MA. This is really getting depressing – but I don’t look forward to blazing hot either! We’re on our way to an eye appointment for my husband. His cataract surgery hasn’t seemed to help his sight and I’m praying there is something they can do to help. He is so tired of the eye drops and so frustrated. This is his eye with glaucoma and they did a laser procedure along with the cataract surgery. Now he’s hesitant to do the other eye – and I don’t blame him! Jan in MA
Jan – I know several people who have had trouble after cataract surgery. That’s really too bad – I had it done plus laser but I still wear glasses because I can’t see to read and I don’t want to always be searching for a pair of readers. I sure hope he can have the other eye done without issues. Today it’s finally going to warm up here and be summer! I’m tired of cold weather!! It’s summer and too short in my opinion.
Mary I am with you on the glasses. After my cataract surgery I no longer need glasses for distance but still need them for reading. I couldn’t stand putting them on and off, looking over the top of readers to see TV. It was just a pain in the neck. Also, i have worn glasses for 70 years and just couldn’t get used to myself without them. Not wearing glasses felt kind of like not wearing a bra!
Ginger – Bingo! I understand perfectly even though when I work outside I do leave my glasses in the house – if I remember. I know people who have dozens of pairs of readers! I just didn’t have time to look for a pair everytime I wanted to look at my phone.
I also was a cross stitcher first. Still love it, but now I’m accumulating a stack of finished but unframed pieces. That’s one of my I don’t care club issues. I’m a quilt piecer. I don’t have a longarm quilt machine. I hate quilting on my sewing machine so I don’t do it much. I bought one of those magnifiers that is on a stand and it is right by my chair for cross stitching. It works very well. Loved the picture of the cat on the chair arm.
Frances – I have decided that I can piece to my hearts content and they don’t have to be quilted! Who cares? If one really speaks to me I’ll quilt it but no longer all of them – it’s the part of the process I don’t like even though I have a longarm to use. You can feel the same about your cross stitch projects. People can buy them at your estate sale and finish them.
Mary, if you put human hair around your plants in pots it helps keep varmints from digging your plants out.
I get the hair from beautician, so it’s a mixture to be sure!!
Sibyl – ooh, what a good idea! Thank you!
I’m excited to see more of what’s coming from behind the glass doors. I enjoy cross stitch also. Some knitting. Have a great day. Lynda
I love the pictures today and all the comments. I too used to do counted cross stitch, there were always some boo boos but at a distance it really didn’t matter so I didn’t care! I have become a member of the “I don’t care club”, mostly thanks to my husband. He is getting more mobile, but he doesn’t care about anything anymore so why should I kill myself doing everything. All of our equipment he used to maintain is broken and he doesn’t care if anything works so the grass is up to Nelson’s belly, Sammie is half consumed by deep grass and weeds are almost my height but if I don’t care I would go nuttier than I already am. I’m going to have to see if my hay farmer can come and bale the yard.
As far as weight – I am stuck and don’t go up or down – down especially if I don’t eat for a few days. I certainly don’t care to impress anyone so what should it matter.
I bet is was adorable seeing Hank swimming in the pond. Those goldens won’t stay out of the water and labs are a real close second when it comes to taking a dunk.
Thanks for the tomorrow teaser, looks fabulous!!
Linda – if I were closer I’d loan you a mower. I bought a backup last year so I don’t get in your position! I bought it from the local dealer so that he’d help me when I needed it. Sounds like your hubby is very depressed which I know a thing about and it takes meds to deal with it. Hope he gets help soon before you lose your mind about it all.
I absolutely LOVE the I Don’t Care Club! 👏🎉 I’m at that point in life too! Looking forward to all the photos submitted about this topic 😁
Intrigued by your quilt on the floor – anticipating that post! Have a good day everyone 😊
I love the blue quilt with all of those tiny hst’s. I crossed stitched many years ago but now I seldom pick it up unless I need a small project as a carry along. I am doing a series of those Mill Hill Santas & they use perforated paper so it’s easier to see the holes for my old eyes. The story of Hank’s swim reminded me of a Golden we once had who just loved to swim. If there was any water in the vicinity you can be sure that she would find it! As for squirrel problems, they were digging my impatiens out of my planter boxes. Tom cut old chicken wire & used it to cover the soil. Worked like a charm. Those don’t care posts bring a smile to my face. If you care what my body, yard or sewing room look like you have too much time on your hands.
I love the blue quilt with all of those tiny hst’s. I crossed stitched many years ago but now I seldom pick it up unless I need a small project as a carry along. I am doing a series of those Mill Hill Santas & they use perforated paper so it’s easier to see the holes for my old eyes. The story of Hank’s swim reminded me of a Golden we once had who just loved to swim. If there was any water in the vicinity you can be sure that she would find it! As for squirrel problems, they were digging my impatiens out of my planter boxes. Tom cut old chicken wire & used it to cover the soil. Worked like a charm. Those don’t care posts bring a smile to my face. If you care what my body, yard or sewing room look like you have too much time on your hands.
Love your comment ” if you care what my body, yard or sewing room look like you have too much time on your hands.” I’m at that point in life 😁
How in the world can the cat sleep like that?
To keep rabbits out of my flowers, I get a bar of Irish Spring soap and use a potato peeler to shred it around the edges of the bed. It might work for squirrels.
At times, I have tried cross stitch but it is so frustrating to keep track of the threads that I soon give up. When I wanted to learn to knit, my dad taught me. He had watched his mother so much that he picked up a few of the basics. When I wanted to learn to crochet, my grandmother taught me. Never did much with either craft but I sure am glad for the memories. Currently, I have started a cross stitch but, there it sits. Oh well, don’t care.
Hubby and I are kinda homebound right now. Last Monday, I had a total knee replacement. An amazing experience. The experts told me to expect various degrees of pain especially the third and fourth day. Well it’s been 7 days and still only minimal pain unless you count the muscle cramps. Honest to pete, they ripped your entire leg open, shouldn’t we expect a little discomfort. Anyhow, doing well – moving forward and back to reading my favorite blog.
My knee replacement was the hardest thing I’ve ever had done. Sad it was a partial because I don’t want to go through that again. I’m happy to hear you are getting along so well!
Janet – I’ve had both knees replaced and after the anesthetic and pain killers wore off I did have pain for a couple days but no pain has been close to my rotator cuff repair.
Hmm, Janet you are encouraging me about the total knee replacement and subsequent pain. Mine is set for the 26th and I am scheduled for 2 meetings to discuss it and class to discuss it all some more. I’m planning on getting an ice machine for my knee and a purple cane.
That was my Penny straddling the rocker arm. I just came in the room and she was like that, hanging out. 😻
Hi Mary. I started cross stitch again in 2020. Using linen now instead of Aida cloth and really like the look. I also embroider occasionally. Doing more hand stitching these days now that big stitch is popular. Never could hand quilt with tiny stitches. As long as I like it I don’t care if anyone else does! God bless you Mary.
I did cross stitch many years ago but not interested in it anymore. Quilting is what I like to do. I do want to try primitive rug hooking. I have the supplies to get started but, just have to start.
I love the idea of plastic forks in plants to deter squirrels. Genius.
Yes, confused about the missing quilt you mentioned. I think picture of it is also missing.
I have picked up cross stitch again in the past couple years. Right now I am working on a very fun camping scene, all the campers are animals. It’s 40 count over 2 and it’s slow going. I like to do seasonal bowl fillers as well. I can’t hand quilt anymore. Country Sampker has wonderful pieces for inspiration and there is lots of inspiration online.
Love the shirt quilt. That’s a lot of sewing!
Wish we had received that rain, getting dry here again. I don’t sew as much in summer, until it gets too hot to enjoy being outside.
Ada was here last week and she spontaneously pinned up an improv quilt out of my scrap basket!
Mary – you’re so lucky to have Ada! I’ll post her improv piece in tonight’s blog. My fingers can’t hold a needle much anymore – too much arthritis. Does your wrist still bother you?
Mary, I see Connie noticed the same thing I did . . .confusion about a missing quilt you mention but no photo of it . . . did you forget to include the photo? Janice in Traverse city area
Janice – it seems I did or it didn’t load but I’ll add it tonight.
Connie R – I didn’t notice that it didn’t load – I’ll try again tonite – thanks for the heads up.
Yes, I am a counted cross stitcher. I haven’t tried it again since I had my cataracts done, but I struggled before that. I will take a picture and send to you.
Well, we are suppose to get hot! today. Ninety they say. That’s cruel and hot.
I really have not accomplished much since we came home last Thursday, I was bushed last Friday, Saturday I did make rhubarb dessert, etc. for our grandson and his bride, Sunday I stayed home and Monday I went to the doctor and she gave me medicine for a sinus infection! I do feel better already!! Yay!
For the club…. I’m going to make more rhubarb dessert! I’m 76, I love rhubarb dessert! 😀😋
Hank is a character! He is so like my daughter’s Goldens! Full of ambition!
Joy – Hank is too full of energy – either that or I’m too old to keep track of him – I’ll bet that’s it.
The photos are all great! That improv quilt is terrific and a great use for all the HSTs!
One benefit of getting older is getting priorities in shape; there’s a lot I just don’t care about anymore, though I do not go in public in my pajamas.
I ordered a cross-stitch kit, opened it, stared at it, and put it back in its package. It’s probably just as well that I don’t have yet another thing to take up space. Piecing, quilting on my sit-down longarm, and hand quilting take up tons of room already. I’ve done tons of other things, like thread crochet, garment sewing, etc., but quilting is my true passion.
I believe I’m confused about the lost quilt, too. Did the picture not load?
Susan – I guess not – I’ll try tonite.
I use black plastic forks, tines up, in my pots on the deck. Squirrels don’t like those sharp points! This really works.
I have done cross stitch for 50 years, and this recent resurgence of cross stitch is astonishing. Floss Tube is part of the reason, I guess, as well as all the beautiful colors of linen and flosses. Just like quilting, color is addictive.. (and more portable, at times)
I’ll have to try that!!! I have chipmunks or squirrels digging in my containers at times… thanks!
I do embroidery but not cross stitch. I’m intrigued about the quilt on your floor.
I quilt and cross stitch and knit. And do a little gardening. Yay!
I was a cross stitcher in the 80’s. Funny thing – my cross stitch pieces were all quilt motifs! My mom and I used to share patterns and threads. Then her eye sight became poor, and I was just quilting.
Yesterday my hubs mowed the neighbor’s lawn and was complaining about the railroad ties around his garden. They are not anchored and every time he mowed too close, they fell over. He was all hot and bothered by it, and I said who cares? Not our issue. He only had to mow once, no reason to obsess about it. Remember the saying don’t sweat the small stuff? More relevant today than ever.
Busy week here. Kids have vacation Bible school. My Pfaff crapped out Sunday, so she’s headed to the shop. Good time to get it cleaned, too busy to sew anyway.
Not looking forward to hot temps this week.
This past winter i did a lot of knitting for relaxation. I’ve done cross stitch in the past.Both printed and counted. My eyesight isn’t what it used to be. Never heard of readers over glasses. May have to give it a try. Been a while since I’ve done any quilting, too. Oh, and I loved to do needlepoint in the past as well. And crewel embroidery.
What I have been doing since I retired is dabbling in watercolor. Another thing I do for relaxation. I’m very grateful to YouTube for tutorials.
Another thing I do not care about is the news. For peace of mind.
I love the blue improve quilt. You are amazing with your creativity. I love all the pictures of the dogs. They make me happy. And I love the quilt shows.
Carolyn – my sister, Becky, learned watercolor on YouTube and she’s good at it! She’s done all my dogs, my house, my piano keys, succulents – and more!! She does not sew, crochet or knit however.
If you are careful because it is so pungent (we do it outside) try citronella as a repellant. Sprayed rarely around the edge lavenders it seems to allow pets to walk on by until the lavender can refresh the damage a little bit. Maybe the squirrels can be deterred as well. We dilute the oil with ten parts water so as not to harm any pets.
I cross stitch as well as quilt. I learnt the Danish style of cross stitch when I was nine, and have been doing that on and off ever since, mostly in the summer when it is sometimes too hot to quilt! And when I travel because it is easy to take a small cross stitch project along. I also do needlepoint every now and then, and I can sew clothes, knit, crochet and weave, but haven’t done that for years. I started to do patchwork and quilting when I was 15 and was immediately hooked. So quilting is my passion: my sewing room is stuffed full of quilting fabric not cross stitch supplies! I’d always say I was a quilter is asked, not a stitcher.
Fiona – what is the Danish style of cross stitch?
I agree with Janette. I did counted cross stitch and several other things when I was younger, but now I only quilt. My daughter quilted and CS when she was in high school and college, and now all she does is cross stitch. She works from home with three kids, ages ten and younger and can find time to fit that in easier.
Oh, I do Cross stitch, and needlepoint and quilt and anything else that trips my trigger. Husband is gone, no one hardly comes here, so no one cares that I have ideas laying all around. I have barn kitties, and today I saw a baby groundhog out back. Off to meet daughter tomorrow in Des Moines. Went stitching with friends today, and Wednesday is another stitching day . And Friday and Saturday are class reunion.
Dee – you are busy this week!!! You obviously do t have a dog if you actually saw a baby groundhog. Oh, Hazel is deadly with varmints.
I am mostly a cross-stitcher now because it is so easy to transport while traveling. Besides my sewing room is a disaster right now. I’m trying to convince hubs to build a “shed” near the house and use part for sewing and part for woodworking. The current sewing room is also the guest bedroom. I really wish that when we built the house, we had finished the basement, too. Enough rambling and back to my cross-stitching.
Martha – you definitely need more room! A shed for both hobbies sounds like a good answer.
Mary, I hate hollyhocks! They spread and you can never get rid of the roots. I’m confused on which quilt is missing? I think I missed something in reading the blog.
If my memory is right, I was cross stitching in the 70’s? My favorite was 22 count – you couldn’t see the x’s. 18 was alright, too. As in quilting, the more colors the better. I don’t think I could see to do now. There are several pictures on my wallls and patterns waiting to be made — sound familiar??
Your blue shirt quilt is great. The little triangle squares really make it. And of course, it is blue. Love it.
One lady entered 2 quilts at the quilt show. One was made out of 1″ triangle squares . The 2nd was “just” 1″ squares alternating with white. There were over 10,000 pieces of fabric!!! I took a picture, but I’d have to get it developed to see if we can see the details. I wondered how much each quilt weighed. Her husband carried them in for her.
Tomorrow temp is 92. Maybe I can get out in the morning and plant 6 geraniums? One big pot from last year reseeded with Violas and it is FULL this year. I like violas. The purple is so dark, it looks black. Anybody want seed? That is the way God did it and that is how they will stay. There are about 5 varieties of Hen and Chicks or cactus. One very pretty rose. That’s it.
In the meantime, don’t let stuff bother you!
Betty in Rapid City
Betty – I have your darling white cat and flowers cross stitch hanging in my sewing room. Wow, that’s a lot of little squares – all those seams make for a heavy quilt! Hope you were able to rest up today – your hot weather will come our way and then storms again on Wednesday, they say.
Since I have my yearly physical this week, I think I will tell the doctor that I am a member of the “Don’t Care Club” when she tells me (again) that I need to loose a few pounds. I’m sure it will make all the difference.
I found my niche with cross stitch back in the very early 1980’s and it truly is my first love. I took up quilting when I had to wait to for several years to go into bifocals. No one thought of wearing cheaters over glasses way back then. I was never really out of cross stitch totally but did more quilting. I still do a couple of quilts a year but after cataract surgery in 2019 I do more and more cross stitch. I have enough quilt kits to last for 25 years and cross stitch for 50. And I still find more of both that I would like to do. I admit that I am not a crafter; I cross stitch and I quilt and that makes me happy.
Yes, I love cross stitch, too! Sometimes I frame one or make it into a pillow, but generally enjoy the stitching and stack up the finished ones!
love the cat on the chair, LOL
I use to cross stich, and i still have 2 half finished, just not into it
I quilt and sew for my granddaughter.
I Don’t care about the scale anymore either.
I Don’t care what people say, think, or do either.
Mary when squirrels dug up the tulip bulbs in our church garden, we used coyote urine and it worked. Might be worth a try.
I have used the coyote urine also
Kathy – Be my uses that on her back deck when something continues to leave their “calling card”.
I find putting my dogs hair clippings on the top of pots helps to keep the squirrels away.
I do crosstitch occasionally. Sometimes I think I need to stop doing all these different crafts that I do and focus more on just a couple. But, I like to keep learning new things! I’m running out of storage but, I don’t care!
I go back and forth between quilting and cross-stitch. Right now I’m on a cross-stitch binge and can’t seem to want to go into the sewing room. ;
I was actually a cross stitcher before I was a quilter and started with the easy sampler “Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep”. It was a couple of years before I moved from stamped cross stitch to counted cross stitch. I still do a few every now and then but, with turning 70 in a couple of months, the eyesight isn’t what it used to be.
I do about equal amounts of cross stitch and quilting! I was a cross stitcher first. I love both dearly. Hugs,
I am also a cross stitcher. I used to do a lot of cross stitching when my sewing projects were garment construction and home decorating. After quilting became my sewing focus, my cross-stitching time became almost non-existent. I have a cross-stitch project in a basket by my chair that I pick up now and then.
I love anonymous’ picture and when I go to the doctor next, I will not care when I have to step on the scale.
🤭Yes, great don’t care weight photo! Sadly, I weigh more than anonymous, I don’t care…..
I used to do crossstitch before I got totally hooked on quilting. I have basically given up all other hobbies for quilting!
Pamela – Yay! Good for you!!!