My First Attempt at a Biscornu

 My first attempt at my latest counted cross stitching interest....the biscornu...or should  say "les bicornus". The pattern is by Belinda Karls-Nace of Blue Ribbon Designs.   http://www.blueribbondesigns.com/ 
The pattern is one of Belinda's freebies available on her website and is called "Leprechaun Lodge".   So after I did all the counted cross stitching, I put it together by machine and stuffed it full of crushed walnuts.  Of course afterwards I thought of checking Youtube.com for a video to figure out how I could have made it better.  Youtube has a couple but they aren't detailed or they are not in English.  C'est la vie.  Apparently most people put them together by hand.....glad I didn't know that when I was doing it by machine or it might have turned out worse :)  It could be better. The points could be pointier.  The length of all the sides is probably not exact but for a first attempt I'm really happy with it.   

Merci beaucoup Janie for the St. Patrick's Day lamb :) That was so sweet of you "Snugs" :)

And I promise no more French out of me :)

Added Gadgets

I added two new gadgets to my blog...the page views meter and favorite pages links...yeah I know I'm a real computer genius  :)  If I ever figure out how to add music to the blog, I'll throw a party :)

What I Feel Like :) What I Look Like :)

 Have you seen the photos on Facebook or Pinterest of the "what I feel like" and "what I look likes".  They do it with all sorts of things like running or zumba.  I'd like to come up with one about knitting :) 

What I feel like when I'm knitting :)



What I look like when I'm knitting :)



Still Getting My HoHo On :)

Yes I'm still recovering from not being able to do Christmas this year.  It may require professional therapy :)  So last Christmas I noticed my counted cross stitch decorations were looking a bit old and dated...much like myself :)....so I'm trying to make a few new ones for this year.  This was a one night project...the stitching anyway. I finished putting it together (minus the beaded hanger) this morning.

St. Patrick's Day Helix Scarf

 This has to be the slowest moving scarf I have ever made. Started it before St. Patty's Day 2011 and I just finished it.  There are two short rows in every rotation of the pattern which is bad enough but like an idiot I USED SOCK YARN to make it!!! Really why not be completely nuts and use lace weight?  I'm feeling the need to make something out of bulky or chunky weight now and no short rows :)

http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2011/03/14/free-pattern-the-helix-scarf.aspx

Three Cheese Layered Chicken Enchiladas

I found this recipe in the latest issue of the Williams and Somona catalog.  I should say the most recently delivered Williams and Sonoma catalog.  I was still getting Thanksgiving catalogs and Christmas catalogs at the end of January.  I love the postal system....they have no shame. 

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/layered-chicken-three-cheese-enchilada.html

Ingredients:
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 yellow onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 1/4 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 3/4 cups red enchilada sauce
9 corn tortillas, each about 6 inches in diameter
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
3/4 cup shredded yellow cheddar cheese
Sliced green onion tops for garnish
Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

Directions:
In a large nonstick sauté pan over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.

Add the chicken to the onion and stir well to combine.

Spread 1/4 cup of the enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 3 1/2-quart round wide Dutch oven. Arrange 3 tortillas in a single layer on the sauce, overlapping them as needed to cover the sauce. Top with a generous 1 cup of the chicken-onion mixture, 1/2 cup of the sauce and 1/4 cup of each cheese. Repeat the layering 2 more times, alternating the direction of the tortilla layers and finishing with 1/2 cup sauce and 1/4 cup of each cheese.
Transfer to the oven and bake until the ingredients are heated through and the cheese is melted, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and garnish with green onions and cilantro. Serves 4 to 6.

I forgot to top it with green onions and did not use the cilantro and it was still AWESOME!  The recipe is definitely a keeper :)

Cancer Fundraiser Quilt

Simple pattern using various lines of cancer awareness fabrics.  Full size. Added a little bit of blue to break up all the pinkness.  Done and ready to be mailed off Monday....adorable dog not included  :)

.

Belated Valentine's Wishes

I missed Valentine's Day this year.  We're so busy getting the house ready to sell, looking for a new house, packing and cleaning that I completely spaced wishing all of you Happy Valentine's Day.  We're celebrating this weekend at our house. Hubster is coming home for the three day weekend.  I'm making a new recipe.  Three cheese layered chicken enchiladas.  I also found a cake pan on a clearance sale at Joann's Fabrics.  The filling inside is heart shaped when you slice it :)  Pictures and recipe to follow soon :)

Summer House Pincushion from Blackbird Design's Honeysuckle Manor book

Finished the second project from this book.  :)
Making two of these pin cushions for special quilting and knitting friends. 
















Picture of the sample in the book


  

  

Stitched and sewn to backing fabric unstuffed



Blackbird Design's Hannah Lovina Joslin Sampler (modified)

Picked it up from the "Frame A Lot" today :) Karen always does such a great job framing my stitchery.  She makes my stuff look better than my stuff really is :)  

:)

Hmmmm more things I will never make :)

Can you imagine grocery shopping in this outfit?  Popping into the bank?  Going to the movies on a Friday night?  Do you think gauge really matters for a "sweater" like this???  I'd kill for those abs though :)

I've been pinned :)

http://celticheartquiltingandknitting.blogspot.com/search?q=St.+patrick%27s+day+quilt

So yesterday I was on Pinterest looking for some St. Patty's Day decorating ideas and as I am scrolling down looking at the pictures....up pops this picture of my St. Patrick's Day Quilt!!  About a year ago (long before I ever heard of Pinterest), a lady found this picture on my blog and pinned it on Pinterest.  Well that just made my day :)

Going Away Quilt Blocks

Went out to lunch with the girls today and was surprised with these lovely blocks as a going away present. Disappearing 4 Patch pattern...LOL because I'm disappearing :)  Civil War Reproduction fabrics are just beautiful. Thanks again girls if you're reading this :)

James River Blues Quilt in the works



Bonnie Blues James River Blues Pattern



Getting My Ho Ho on!!!

 Got a bit of stitching done during the Playoff Games yesterday.  GO GIANTS!!! 

4th panel to the Fisherman Afghan Started

 The horseshoe cable strip for the Easy Fisherman Knit Afghan is finished.  Now I'm on strip #4.  The seed stitch strip is boring me to death so it may or may not be making an appearance in the afghan.  Last night I decided to try my hand at the honeycomb pattern.  In an Aran sweater this pattern symbolizes hard work. I can see why. All the cable fronts and cable backs are a lot of work and very time consuming but I think the end result is worth the added effort.

So at this point, my afghan probably will not resemble the original "Super Easy Fisherman" afghan pattern at all.  I'm starting to think the other patterns in the book like the "Fisherman's Rapture" and "Aran Isles" may not have been out of my league after all.  Sigh! Even their names just sound better. I will keep plugging along with this one. I have over 216 inches of strips done not including the six inches of seed stitch snooze.  :) Then the big debate.....to add the fringe or not.   

Found this picture on Pinterest.  For those of us who can't make a real Aran sweater :)

Another Jewelry Box

Pattern by Shepherd's Bush
Came as a kit so I'm not sure what the thread count is on the pink fabric. 
Happy Valentine's Day S.L. :) Now stop giving my dog treats :)

Blackbird Designs Hannah Lovina Joslin Sampler

From the Honeysuckle Manor Samplers and Projects in Vintage Style book (2010)
Stitched on straw linen

I changed the bird in the lower left corner.  The original pattern had the bird's head butted up against that lower left flower.  I shifted the bird's neck only (not the body) 4 threads to the right to separate it from the flower.  Once the main vein that goes around the left, top and right sides of the stitchery were done, the placement of the rest set up pretty quickly.  Goes to the frame shop this week :)  

Knitting Pure and Simple Neckdown Pulover for Women #9724

 I should have this sweater done in a week or so. Using the Queensland Collection Rustic Tweed (worsted weight). Bought a whole bag of this yarn at the Sew Expo Show in Chantilly. My friend Miriam and I were so thrilled to find a knitting store vender who had this huge vat of bagged yarns at a SEWING expo :)  I think one or both of us may have fallen in ...but what a way to go :)  It's a blend of wool, alpaca and Donegal. 278 yards per skein. I'm on the 3rd skein finishing up the bottom and will probably need 2 more to finish up the sleeves. Easy pattern...brainless. Sure hope it fits me.  I've been wanting to make a nice fall sweater and this color will be fun to wear when there is a nip in the air, the leaves are turning colors and my hair is in a red mood :)   

What the sweater looks like on the pattern