December Recap

Recap:

Read:

1. Honor Among Thieves by James A. Corey
2. Out of the East by Lafcadio Hearn
3. Razor's Edge by Martha Wells
4. Glimpse of Unfamiliar Japan Volume 2 by Lafcadio Hearn
5. Exotics and Retrospectives by Lafcadio Hearn
6. Vector Prime by R.A. Salvatore
7. Geomancer by Susan and Clay Griffith
8. The Lando Calrissian Adventures by L. Neil Smith

Crafts:
1. Whisper amigurumi
2. Super Mario Boo amigurumi

Sampler 4 Saisons Cross Stitch

Joining the Kitten Frolics cross stitch group has definitely helped me stay motivated about stitching on WIPs that are in my stash.

As my next WIP project, I pulled out my Sampler 4 Saisons by Anagram Diffusion. I hadn't stitched on it since the December of 2013. I was hoping to stitch on it more that month, but I ended up getting the flu that month and afterwards never got back to it. Shame on me, I know.....especially since two years have gone by.

So this is my progress this week after having weather days and the holiday off. Not bad progress for sure since last time I stopped at the second line of alphabet letters!!

I've always loved the color scheme on this pattern, DMC 498 and B5200. I think I will stitch on this design for the remainder of the year before moving on to other projects. No worries though! I plan on stitching on this pattern on Fridays after the New Year for the Kitten Frolics group.

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday!!

Until next time >___<

Sunday Baking - Strawberry Lemon Cake

Yesterday while at my local Target store, I ran across some yummy looking Duncan Hines Perfect Size cake mixes in their Valentine's section. I immediately picked up the strawberry lemon kiss flavor.

After taking all our Christmas decorations down and packing them up this morning, I decided to try baking the cake.

I preheated the oven to 275° and set my bunny timer. After 37 minutes, I was rewarded with a lovely fragrant strawberry cake.

I let it cool per the directions and added the lemon icing. I realized that when adding the icing I shouldn't have scraped the icing that had started to cool in the bowl as it started to clump up on the cake. So next time I'll know to pour the warm icing as much as possible and leave the leftover icing in the bowl so the cake will have a smoother look.

The cake was delicious! And the lemon icing paired well with the strawberry flavor of the cake.

I will definitely be buying a few more of these the next time I am at the store. They are perfect for small families to eat as desserts or even as a cute birthday cake!!!

Until next time >___<

Christmas Stitching - Horn of Plenty Finish

Good morning! I joined Kitten Stitching and the Friday Frolics blog in October after seeing it on At Brigitte's Place blog. I have to say that I'm glad I found it as I was in some need of motivation to finish a project that I started in October of 2012.

I started off where I left off in October 2012.....

Pattern: Horn of Plenty by Sharon Pope in Just Cross Stitch October 2012 issue
Threads: recommended DMC
Fabric: 28 ct doubloon Cashel linen by Picture This Plus
Start/Finish: October 2012 - November 2015

And with the kind comments and motivation from all my fellow stitchers on Kitten Stitching's blog, I was able to finish the pattern.

I took my finished design to Hobby Lobby and got it framed as my Christmas gift for my aunt.

Thanks to all my fellow stitchers for helping stay motivated to finish this gift!!

Until next time ^___^

Package to Canada

I sent a small package to my friend Constance and her family. Since she is expecting, I included lots of chocolate and two packages of peppermint mug cake.

For her cross stitch gift, I included the mini Christmas pincushion that was decorated with a snowflake.

I hope you like your little package :)

Until next time ^____^

Anime Christmas Party 2015

 My friends and I met up last night for our annual anime Christmas party, not that we watched anything last night. We sat around and talked for the most part since a lot of us haven't seen one another in a while because of work schedules, etc.

I received a lot of lovely gifts from my friends: lots of books (yay!), a Krispy Kreme donut candle, candy, magnetic bookmarks, a HB gift card, a cute Christmas pot holder, and a framed Sherlock poster!!!

I can't wait to read the books, especially the Fearless Ghost manga. Shambhala Publications has published Lafcadio Hearn's Kwaidan book as a graphic novel adaptation called The Fearless Ghost.

Ever since my sister had gotten me one of Lafcadio Hearn's books by Tuttle, I have read several of his books on 19th century Japan. I love the fact that his stories have been adapted in a new form by Sean Wilson and Michiru Morikawa.

Thank you for the lovely gifts!!!

Until next time ^____^

Christmas Package to CA

Here is my package to Amanda this year for Christmas. I had a gingerbread theme with the amigurumi, pincushion jar, and the Emily Fortune Cookie in gingerbread flavor.

I got her some candy, reindeer socks, stamps, coffee/cocoa stencils, an octopus shaped tea infuser, a Hanabi card game, and a Spectrum Noir marker holder.

I hope you liked your gifts :)

Until next time ^____^

Super Mario Boo Amigurumi

Pattern: Boo by WolfDreamer
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft White
Notions: black, red, and white felt
Start/Finish: 12/12-13/2015

For one of my coworkers for Christmas this year, I made a Super Mario Boo ghost amigurumi as his gift.

The pattern is quite easy. I noticed in the comments on the post for this pattern that people complained of the shape they got after stitching. So if you do stitch this pattern, remember to stuff it firmly and shape the amigurumi with your hands to get the round shape that you need for the ghost.

Until next time ^____^

Gingerbread Amigurumi

Pattern: Gingerbread amigurumi by Frosty Sheep
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft limelight, maize, red, and white
Hook: size C
Notions: 6mm safety eyes and white yarn
Start/Finish: 11/26-27/2015

I made this little gingerbread man amigurumi for my friend Amanda as part of her Christmas package this year

I took strands of yarn and glued them to the arms and legs as white frosting. Green yarn for gum drop buttons and red for a tiny candy bow.

Until next time ^___^

Mini Cross Stitch Christmas Pincushion Jars

I stitched up these mini Christmas designs in October and finished them up at the end of November.

I found the containers at Michael's in their dollar section during October. I knew I could make them into something fun as Christmas gifts.

I used metallic cording and ribbon to embellish the edges of the lid and around the cross stitch design on each container.

I opened one of the containers (in lower right of picture). All of them have a shiny silver finish in the inside.

I filled each jar with Hershey kisses for my friends as part of their Christmas gifts.

Until next time ^____^

Christmas Cards for Cross Stitch Friends :)

I wanted to send Christmas cards to the ladies I've stitched for or received gifts from the Hooked on Exchanging blog. I found some adorable buttons at Joann's Fabrics and added those to each card.

I hope everyone in the HoE group is having a wonderful holiday season :)

Until next time ^___^

Yokai Watch Whisper Amigurumi

Whisper Amigurumi
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft White
Hook: size H
Notions: black, dark pink, purple, and white felt
Start/Finish: 12/5-6/2015

I had a customer on Etsy who bought the Yokai Watch Jibunyan amigurumi from my shop and asked if I had any other amigurumi characters from the anime/game. I didn't have any made, but she said she would love to purchase a Yokai Watch Whisper amigurumi for her daughter.

So after fiddling a bit, I was able to stitch up a Whisper amigurumi. I think he came out great for a first try.

I really hope my customer loved the amigurumis for her daughter :)

Until next time ^____^

Several Monthly Recaps

I've been neglectful about keeping up with my monthly recaps. Yikes!!!

June:
Read:
1. For All the Tea in China by Sarah Rose
2. Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
3. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
4. The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
5. Ladies of the Field by Amanda Adams
6. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna

Crafts:
1. Jibunyan amigurumi
2. Bunny sundae amigurumi

July:
1. Itazura No Kiss volume 3 by Kaoru Tada
2. Heart of the World by Henry Rider Haggard
3. The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe
4. The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper
5. Colorworld by Rachel Kelly
6. Peace of Evon by Dorothy Tinker

Crafts:
1. Neapolitan Ice Cream Girl by Soda Stitch

August:
Read:
1. The Dragon Men by Steven Harpet
2. The Good Shufu by Tracy Slater
3. The Obelisk and the Englishman by Dorothy U. Seyler
4. The Shadow Revolution by Clay and Susan Griffith
5. The Undying Legion by Clay and Susan Griffith
6. The Conquering Dark by Clay and Susan Griffith
7. Jess by Henry Rider Haggard
8. Teleworld by Rachel Kelly

Crafts:
1. Green Tea Ice Cream Girl by Soda Stitch
2. Halloween Ornaments by JBW Designs
3. Strawberry Ice Cream Girl by Soda Stitch
4. Fingerless Crochet Gloves

September:
Read:
1. His Precious Inheritance by Dorothy Clark
2. Lumaworld by Rachel Kelly

Crafts:
1. Halloween House by Les Grilles de Maryse and no sew cube finish
2. Halloween Sampler by Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery
3. French Country Witch by JBW Designs and pinkeep finish
4. Squirrel biscornu by Frimousse
5. Ghost Coasters crochet

October:
Read:
1. The Shadows by J.R. Ward
2. Imagined London by Anna Quindlen
3. Sisters of Blood and Sister by Kady Cross
4. Gilded Ashes by Rosamund Hodge
6. Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George
7. Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor by Matthew Stover
8. Mycroft Holmes by Abdul-Jabbar and Anna Waterhouse

November:
Read:
1. Death Star by Michael Reeves and Steve Perry
2. Survivor's Quest by Timothy Zahn
3. Scoundrels by Timothy Zahn
4. Warheart by Terry Goodkind
5. Allegiance by Timothy Zahn
6. Japan by Burton Holmes
7. Choices of One by Timothy Zahn

Crafts:
1. Cross stitch mini jar pincushions