Family Day

First up, a finish! I’ve completed the first Santa design of PrairieSchooler’s Woodland Santas. I will be stitching all four designs horizontally with some sort of dividing border in between each. I’m looking for something that looks like a bit of holly in a row, something simple with the look that suits this designer. I’ve stitched it on 32 count linen with the called for DMC threads. It’s off the frame now and I’m working on part two of Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers – Autumn. I’ll post a photo when there’s actual progress to show.

We’ve had a quiet weekend. It snowed, and snowed and then snowed some more. We were to go to a Valentine’s party on Saturday and didn’t, and then were to drive to Niagara to visit my family and didn’t do that either. It really was just best to stay safe at home with roads that were too snowy to be safe. My husband loves (really loves) winter driving, it’s his favourite. not me. I’m a Class A winter road worrier. I think it’s genetic – my maternal grandmother would hide in her basement with a hand crank radio every time there was a thunder storm, convinced that a bolt of lightening would strike a tree which would then fall on her house. Don’t get me wrong, I love snow. Winter is my most favourite time of year. I just prefer to be inside beside the fire, knitting or stitching with a hot cup of coffee.

See? Far too much snow to go out.

Last week, I contacted a woman I met online through Ginny’s yarnalong – Natalie, from Marigold’s Loft. I follow her Instagram feed and when she posted some amazing weaving photos I reached out to her to ask for her help. Last summer I purchased a used loom after the beginner weaving class that I took. Well, let me tell you – this loom is a totally different kettle of fish. The woman I bought it from had it warped and left it for me to play with. For the life of me, I could not figure it out, and so the loom sat, and sat, and I’ve been too embarrassed to contact the seller to ask for help after almost 10 months. Can you understand? Natalie, lovely kind Natalie spent some email time with me trying to sort out my loom and warp and it became very clear to me (and probably abundantly clear to her from the outset) that I had no clue and would really need to start from the beginning again. She suggested a Craftsy class on weaving and I think it will be just the ticket. I need to have a free day to watch the lessons, then I will cut the warp and re-thread the heddles for a much simpler pattern. Wish me luck. Please note that as a small thank you to Natalie, I have linked to her affiliate link for that particular Craftsy class – the instructor is great and the speed of the instruction is perfect and very clear.