Sunday, September 8, 2019

I love finishes...

Christmas Dazzle is done!

Pattern is found in the book, A Year of Afghans, 1998

I fussed and fussed over what kind of border to make, and finally settled on a simple linen stitch border.  



The whole look kind of makes me think of a sweater.  Hmmm...   It's too late now, but maybe I should have made a faux ribbing border (with alternating front and back post stitches).    Why did I not think of that?!?  Sigh.  


☝ Next time! 


~~~~~

And I found (on Amazon) what I think is a perfect frame for my little silhouette cross stitch picture:
I couldn't be more pleased with how this turned out.  So SWEET!


I found the magazine that published this pattern!  This sweet little silhouette cross stitch is from Just CrossStitch Magazine, February 1992.

And that is absolutely all I touched in the crafts department this past week.

~~~~~

I hope to soon get back to work on my Sacred Space blanket, but we're busy here working on house stuff.  So I may or may not be YOPping much for the next few weeks.  Painting - ugh.  Getting some new carpet - whee!  And cleaning some older carpeting - will be nice when that's done.  AND soon we'll be getting some new furniture for the family room - Yippee. 


Maybe I'll YOP about these things.  
They are projects - to be sure!

And I'm still going through stuff and whittling down so much that is superfluous.  That is an on-going project.

~~~~~

As summer is drawing to a close (on the calendar, anyway), I wanted to snap a picture of a planting that has made me smile for the last few months:



I bought hibiscus and wave petunia plants on clearance in the late spring/early summer and planted them together on a whim.  I really didn't know how it would look together.  I'm amazed at how it all has thrived and how great the colors work with each other.   The one in the background...  not so much.  






To see what other YOPpers are up to, 
visit their blogs in my sidebar.  👉



21 comments:

  1. Hooray for the finished afghan. I love the border you did. Suitable the blanket quite well.

    All you listed.for house stuff is most certainly projects. Post away about it. Maybe it will light a fire under me to continue with my purging of "stuff".

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    1. Thank you, Marsha. I'll try to find ways to write and maybe take pictures of our house projects in a way that I'm comfortable with.

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  2. Okay, here is my second attempt at a comment, I hope I remember what I wrote! Your flowers are so nice! I have my geraniums still growing, it's nice to see flowers this time of year. I think your cross stitch looks really nice in that frame! And your Christmas Dazzle is DAZZLING!! (was that adjective predictable??) ;) I love how you finished it!

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    1. Thank you, Rain. In September I begin to get into the mindset of putting summer plants away (many are tossed as they dry out and fade), but as long as it stays warm, these last weeks of summer are truly beautiful, plant-wise (if the plants survived the scorching heat of earlier weeks). We've had a truly beautiful summer here this year. No sustained heat - though I hear we may be heading into the 90's again this coming week. I am definitely over the 90's!

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  3. Your Dazzle Afghan is lovely the Linen border really sets it off. The frame is asolutely perfect for your cross stitch. Love your flowers I will be planting bowls soon, might copy your colour way!

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    1. Your mention of soon planting flowers reminds me that you'll soon be in hot weather while we start to cool down. As much as I no longer enjoy the heat of summer, I guess it's necessary if we're going to enjoy the beauty of all the changing seasons. And when the snows come, I'll get to enjoy your pretty flower pictures. :)

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  4. Becki, I seriously love your blanket. I don't think any other stitch could possibly look better. I love the silhouette. It is perfect.

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  5. It turned out awesome! I have always wanted to make Christmas quilts and/or blankets but alas....not enough hours in the day! I just love it! I really like that border you chose. Your cross stitch silhouette is beautiful in that frame. You pick the prettiest projects to work on. Yes, please post your house projects. I find it very motivating to see what others are working on in any area and God knows I could use all the motivation I can get! I have house projects on my list....always! Have a great week and it sounds exciting around your house!

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    1. Since blankets are my most favorite thing to crochet, I'm really surprised that I just now got around to making one that's Christmas colored. You are one of my inspirations for getting rid of stuff. I wish my whole house was more photogenic as I'd love to take pictures as we progress through our projects, but I'm afraid it may all still look like a big ol' WIP when we become too Whipped to do any more.

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  6. Wow, Becki, your Christmas Dazzle is gorgeous and I would have mistaken your picture for the pattern pic it's so well done. I like the linen stitch -- it looks elegant. Best of luck with the house projects! I'll wait patiently to see more of your Sacred Space.

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    1. Thanks, Maria! Except for the fringe on the original, it is pretty much an exact replica. :) Sometimes I just have no imagination when it comes to color.

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  7. Your christmas dazzle is...dazzling! I love all your pics. Perfect frame for your little girl xstitch and your flowers are beautiful.

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  8. The Christmas dazzle is beautiful and the border is perfect. The frame definitely sets off the cross stitch. I for one would love to see your house progress pictures, but no pressure!

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    1. I'm glad you added the "no pressure", Lucy. lol It's going to be a slow process, for sure, but hopefully I'll find some things here and there to share.

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  9. I love Dazzle! You have given me a desire to get out a WIP and to get that hook going again, especially now that our temps are cooler.

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    1. We had some lovely weather in August, and now that it's September it's like an oven here! Can't wait for autumn and cool nights again.

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  10. Both the afghan and the cross stitch turned out so beautifully! What a satisfying feeling when projects are finished.

    Thanks for the encouragement!

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