Retirement

I have retired from the workplace. Now I will have so much more time to work on knitting, cross stitch, quilting. I can hardly wait to get my spinning wheel and really have the time to learn to spin. There are so many things that I want to put my hands to. I have two quilts to finish for my daughters that have been handed down from my grandmother, great-grandmother and my uncle. I also have two quilts ready to quilt that I have made for grandson and my daughter. So many, many things. Hopefully, I will get my Etsy shop Somerset Stitchery on the move now.

This was my first attempt at double knitting.  I decided to try a tiger strip and pays on a lap robe to be knitted for a charity auction.  Once

Once I completed the lap robe, i decided to try some fingerless gloves incorporating some of the same design elements in them.

Finished Stole

I completed the stole finally.  I blocked it over this weekend.  At this point I decided that I need to get some lace blocking wires

But after much repinning and smoothing I was satisfied and let it lay on the table under the ceiling fan to dry.  Here are pics of it on a dress form.  

singin bells stole

I have been working on this project for a friend of mine.  She will be getting married soon.  I have made it from my stash of lace weight Missouri wool.  I found the pattern on the internet it is by Patusha.  The ends of the stole resemble wedding bells.  But my friend says they remind her of a cup that is used in Jewish ceremonies which at this time I cannot remember the name.  This should make it an even more memorable gift once it is completed.  I will be posting more pics once it is completed  and once I find out for sure the name of the cup she feels is represented in this pattern.

I truly hope that the stitches I have placed in this stole hold her happiness together.  Helps to contain their love for each other.  I want to see her happy as she should be.  No stress, only smiles from now on.

outside work to do today

We just had rain storms come through Friday and was raining yesterday.  So today will probably be out getting my roses back up on trellis.  The shepherd hook that I sank into the ground behind did not work.  I think that I will have to search for a large trellis or connect them to the porch somehow to get them to stand up. 

shawl and sundress finished

This is the little sundress I just completed and it will soon be on Etsy.  This is made from an acrylic and will be easy care.

I will be taking pictures to add my shop hopefully today. 

This is a lightweight, spring shawlette that is also made from acrylic.  It is machine washable but will need to be laid flat to dry to make the points on the edging.  It is also another sample of the Haruni Shawl.

knock out roses are blooming

My knock out roses are blooming!

Tomorrow we are going to get the dirt and refresh our raised beds for our vegetables.  I am hoping that we will at least have tomatoes, cucumbers and zuchini.  I plan on making my own sweet relish this year.  I make it out of cucumbers, green peppers and onions.  It is much better than store bought relish.

I plan on raising my own herbs this summer.  May break out the dehyrdrater this summer to put up my own herbs for the winter.  Will see how it all works out.

Last year was so dry here that hardly any of our tomato plants made anything.  Maybe it will be better this year.  I think that I will add a soaker hose to the raised beds for easier morning watering.