"Shades of Brown" got a new name...

After weeks of spilling my angst here over this project, let me introduce you to...

The Cinnamon Latte Blanket:

I came to terms with the colors as the blanket grew.  And at some point, being finished began to feel more important than how I, personally, felt about the colors.  TB, totally reframed the colors for me into imagining a cup of coffee. I told my friend this and she dubbed it Cinnamon Latte.  Perfect!

And you know what...  while I questioned the colors most of the time I was crocheting this blanket, at my friend's house, with her warmly painted walls, it looked great!

I have to admit... I'm loving the cozy vibes.

What I especially love about the pattern is that when it's finished, it's finished.  The pretty edges eliminate the need for a border, and I've never had to block any of the four blankets I've now made from this pattern. That said, I was actually surprised, using five different colors, and slightly different types of yarn that I did not need to block this to make the edges lay pretty and even.

With the Cinnamon Latte finished and delivered, progress on some other projects began immediately.  My colorful large granny square blanket is once again being worked on.  And I've been motivated to get back to working on some Christmas stitches.  Hopefully they'll show up here finished soon.

Pattern is called Autumn Leaves and is found in the book, Weekend Afghans (ISBN 0806964863). I started with a chain just over 200, and undid the unneeded chains once I had it wide enough.  Yarns used: Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn in Cinnamon, Almond Toast, and Latte; Yarn Bee ID in Fawn, and Yarn Bee Soft and Sleek in Tobacco (this is my new favorite yarn - so squishy.  I just wish it came in more colors)

A little Valentine's stitch, a little late...

Late last week I was feeling the need to take another short break from the "shades-of-brown" blanket. Fortunately, I had this sweet little cross stitch waiting in the wings to be finished:

I enjoyed using a variegated floss and somewhat strategically working out where the light and dark shades would be on the design.  And then twisting the variegated with a solid red floss for the trim.  You can perhaps see the different shades in the lighter floss of the cording in this close-up:

And just look at the sweet fabric on the back:

I'm so glad I snatched up this pretty "Valentine's" fabric (from the tiny holiday section in Hobby Lobby's fabric department) when it was first discounted right after Christmas. I think it was gone by January.

To be honest, what I like most about the fabric is that it's not overly Valentine-themed. I'm already imagining other uses for it. 

While I mentioned this the first time I showed this project in progress, I'll note again (mostly for myself) that the cross stitch pattern was found in the February 2015 Just Cross Stitch magazine.  The variegated floss is DMC 48, and the solid red used in the cording is DMC 321.  To get this size cording, I used 4 lengths of each color (solid and variegated, all six strands in each length).  And the length of each color used was 5 times the perimeter of the square pillow.  I'm so glad I tried making my own cording again.  Using my Kreinik Custom Corder was a cinch this time.

 

Lenten reflections...

Popping in today to share a new resource for the Lenten season that the pastors of our church are offering this year.  The podcasts are short (today's is 11 minutes) - which makes it nearly impossible for me to come up with a reason NOT to tune in.   The short format will also make it easy for me to catch up if I miss any. 

The official description is below the graphic.  If you click the graphic, it will take you to the podcasts.  I'm also keeping this graphic/link at the top of my sidebar during Lent this year - to make it easy to find.  

"In Light of the Cross is a 40-day devotional podcast helping us view every part of life - our sin and failures, our relationships, our suffering, our calling, and our hopes - in light of the cross. Through a daily P.R.A.Y. rhythm (Pause, Reflect, Apply, Yield) we'll consider how the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ cast a different light on everything - revealing the truth about our sin, the depth of God's love, and the unshakable hope that carries us through suffering and into resurrection. Join us as we slow down, listen to Scripture, and learn to live anchored in grace. 

On a mission to finish...

A short and sweet post today.   I've gotten back to the shades of brown blanket, and it's still giving me angst.

The two mid-range browns are very similar.  To the point that I'm second-guessing them again.  

I have to say, though, that it's kind of amazing how quickly I can make progress when I plough forward through my uncertainties and stop ripping back and starting over again.  I keep telling myself the recipient will love me (and maybe the blanket) in spite of whether or not I am comfortable with it.

There are, no doubt, several life lessons in the making of this project.  Some, yet to be discovered, I think...

Visions of growing things dance in my head...

Every once a while in central Indiana we get to experience a few amazingly warm days during the winter months.  Yesterday, it reached 70℉, and today may see a high of 65 before the rains and winds blow in more seasonably cold weather for the next week of days.  

I celebrated this spring-like weather by sitting myself in the sun and planting some seeds in pots.  Just whatever struck my fancy.

Mostly, lettuces and other leafy greens.  And a few herbs.  And kohlrabi - which is possibly a ridiculous thing to plant in a pot, but I did it anyway.

I also moved my hibiscus plants (above) into the sunroom, and fertilized them. If these perk up, I will repot them to a larger planter outside when the temperatures have stabilized.  These were bought on clearance last summer. Years ago, I had great success with clearanced hibiscus - keeping them for a couple of summers.  I'm hoping I can get at least another summer out of these.

And the amaryllis (above) that my neighbor gave me last spring is producing some growth, so it got a side dressing of new soil and some fertilizer.  Since Easter is early this year (at least in my mind it is) I might be a tad late getting this back in the sun if I hope for a bloom by then.  I'm not overly hoping.  I'll just be thrilled if it blooms again, given my complete neglect of it since its blooms died off last spring.

We'll see if anything above grows.  Just planting and tending these things made me happy yesterday. And then dinner and good discussion with youngest son made my day complete.  The snow here has finally melted. Birds are singing. Sandhill cranes are flying overhead with their distinct call.  

Spring is coming!