In No Particular Order

On the weekend, Marilyn and I attended the Ukrainian bazaar in Oshawa. There were lots of vendors but we were particularly drawn to the crafty ones.

I thought this was a clever way to use those battery operated tea lights:

We also found a display of beautifully hand-stitched and finished Christmas ornaments:

We learned that these were Bev's (the vendor's) original designs. We were impressed with the quality of her work and her use of beads, specialty threads, and specialty stitches. We told her we thought she'd really enjoy being involved with our guild as she mentioned she doesn't have any other stitcherly friends. We assured her she'd definitely find 'her people' among us.

At stitching yesterday morning, we had a little celebration for MaryK's birthday.

I worked on Smitten, only to realize I had used white for the beginnings of the snowman rather than DMC 3033. I'm now deciding if I'll pick out all the white and restitch with 3033 or just stitch the rest of him with the white.

At guild this week, I'm doing a little session on Rhodes stitches. They're variations of straight stitches that are layered, usually in a rotation fashion. Some examples:

I was inspired when I stitched this Drawn Thread piece called 'Stars':

There were three sizes of stars:

Also that rust-coloured item is an 'octagonal Leviathan' stitch. 

I still haven't FFOd this piece but will put it on my list of 'things to do' now that it's seen the light of day again since I finished stitching it in 2019.

I've also been prepping an introductory class on punch needle which I'll be doing at the guild's December stitch day. It'll be a project-based workshop where we stitch a poinsettia pin.

It's a free pattern but I've contacted the designer PlanetJune for permission to teach it in the class. I was very pleased to learn she is a Canadian designer so am very happy to support her design business. She has graciously consented.

I've been assembling all the stuff I'll use for demonstration and will have extras of everything for anyone who doesn't have everything needed for the class. 

I have extra locking hoops and will hand out pins to any who want them for the back of their piece.

I couldn't find the fabric I thought I'd use - a couple of yards from someone's stash. I spent some time trying to figure out where I'd get some for my students. Then I remembered that I had a whole bin of punch needle stuff that I hadn't looked into for quite a while.

Inside was a whole bunch of fabric - weaver's cloth and osnaburg - that I had stashed away for future punch needle projects. Yay! Not only is there more than enough for my students, it'll put a welcome dent in my vast stash of crafting supplies.

I finished stuffing and stitching a couple more Little Buddies. (I just can't help myself, they're so stinkin' cute!). This is how little they are - about 18cm (5") tall.

Rusty, Reginald, and Ernest

Rusty, Ernest, Reginald, and Davis like to stand around looking cool. I have sought suggestions for names for future Little Buddies. They knit up very quickly but finishing (knitting and attaching the ears, stuffing, stitching the legs/arms, and embroidering the faces) takes almost as much time as the actual knitting.

Rusty and Reginald's 'fur' is Rowan British Breeds DK yarn we were given on our UK knitting tour in 2011. 

We spent the day at Rowan in  Holmfirth, Yorkshire and in the afternoon had an intarsia class taught by a couple of the Rowan designers, Emma King and Jemma Weston.

Rusty's sweater is some Cleckheaton DK from my stash and Reginald's is some lovely KnitPicks Andean Treasure 100% Baby Alpaca yarn. 

Last night I got caught up on the Arne and Carlos Christmas Stocking KAL.

The blue bits are the start of snowflakes, I think.

And finally, I got good mail the other day. The results of my mammogram I had last week.

Had there been any concern after the mammogram, I would have received a phone call within a couple of days of the scan. The Ontario screening program also includes cervical checks (PAP smears) and colon cancer screening (at home test and occasional colonoscopies) every two years, in which I participate. 

Although our universal healthcare system is not perfect, I am grateful for the preventative measures such as these tests and regular check ups. I believe they lead to early detection of many treatable illnesses hence contribute to the good health and longevity of our citizens.