I got into a good embroidery groove last week during an online conference, I was able to get a bunch of the light green leaves started and work on the outline. And then, I broke the needle. I had a backup, but it was difficult to rethread the needle while it was attached to the work. I haven’t broken a hand needle in ages. It was surprising when I heard the snap.

While embroidering, I learned why people wear thimbles. I stabbed my thumb so hard it bled. I didn’t notice until I saw the blood on my index finger, but in good news I didn’t get any on my project! After deciding that having my blood, sweat, and tears going into a project was a bit too much for the day. I relaxed for a bit and in the evening decided to make cookie bars.

As I have started working from home, I use candles to keep me at my desk and working. It is silly, but it works for me in some sort of weird Pomodoro type way. I refuse to leave a lit candle alone and I wait until the wax is melted evenly across before I blow it out. With my new scented candle life, I have encountered problems I have never had before.

I had made little bundt shaped brownies earlier in the day and was craving ice cream. The problem was that it was late at night and all the stores close early. The solution… start up my ice cream maker I haven’t used in years. It took some time to find a recipe I could use. I have a dairy allergy and a nut allergy. I finally settled on a creamer based recipe as I still had oat milk creamer.

I learned to crochet from my great aunt decades ago. I’ve only just gotten back into it after two decades away. Tools and supplies Required supplies: crochet hooks yarn yarn needle scissors Nice to have: split or locking stitch markers Favorite links Ravelry

I don’t always crochet only in Zoom calls, I also watch bad movies and crochet! I am still zooming through projects. I started this shawl because my friend Amanda was asking which pattern to try first, a rectangular shawl or a triangular one. I prefer triangles because they are routinely less stitches to cast on. I hate casting on in both knitting and crochet. I am always afraid of having too many or too few stitches.

I had made little bundt shaped brownies earlier in the day and was craving ice cream. The problem was that it was late at night and all the stores close early. The solution… start up my ice cream maker I haven’t used in years. It took some time to find a recipe I could use. I have a dairy allergy and a nut allergy. I finally settled on a creamer based recipe as I still had oat milk creamer.

In this time of pandemic and stay at home orders, Zoom cocktail and social hours have become a thing. Which means I have things now on Tuesdays and Fridays and I am sure I could be doing things other days as well. But virtual cocktail hours mean I don’t leave my house, wear comfy clothes, and I can drink what I want. It is the BEST!!!! I have started to crochet during these, especially in the bigger calls.

I got the urge to clean up by the side of my bed. It really was a quest to find the lemon yellow yarn to make another bag. I ended up filling my new bag full of skeins and projects. I didn’t realize I had that much cotton yarn hanging out next to me. I am going to be making SOO MANY bags. I have been busy watching Disney movies and crocheting.

I completed the French market bag I was crocheting but first I had to frog a completely different project to get the accent yarn I wanted. It was from an entrelac blanket I was crocheting but hadn’t worked on in months. I think it makes a superior bag than it did blanket. I think I am going to steal the yellow yarn that was in that blanket to make another bag….

Oops! I really got into the movie I was watching last night that I didn’t realize I had missed a bunch of stitches on a row of my netting. The problem just kept compounding as I was crocheting mindlessly away. Thankfully frogging (ripping stitches out because you “rip it, rip it”) is easy and I was able to redo the rows.

As it is the end of the month, I’d thought I take inventory of all my obvious works in progress (also known as WIP). Some things like the pair of socks that ride around in my trunk and my mother’s mittens are omitted from this list as they are forever projects. Handwriting I am currently working through copybook #1 of Spencerian System of Practical Penmanship. Most days when I practice I can only get through one page, today I got through two!

My state is under a stay at home order which means I have all sorts of time to craft now. I currently have an embroidery project, several crochet projects, and knitting stashed everywhere. I keep meaning to finish things but a new pattern is always more interesting than the mittens I have been working on for a decade. Completed projects Instead of showing off my current projects, I thought I’d give a tour of recent completed projects that better fit the current mood.

I was given a counted cross stitch kit years ago. I always have at least one or two projects in progress. My current oldest piece is a dragonfly in gold thread on black Aida. One day I will finish it (probably when the thread stops breaking while I pull it through). Tools and supplies Required supplies: needles scissors fabric (linen, even-weave, or Aida) thread hoop or frame Nice to have:

Lots of things have happened since I last posted this May. The pandemic is still on. I have a job. And I have craft supplies exploded everywhere over the house. I have started to do diamond painting. It is like cross stitch but I am sticking little plastic drils onto a canvas. Sometimes I don’t want to be stabbed by a needle when crafting. The unicorn called to me. It demanded to be made.

My state is under a stay at home order which means I have all sorts of time to craft now. I currently have an embroidery project, several crochet projects, and knitting stashed everywhere. I keep meaning to finish things but a new pattern is always more interesting than the mittens I have been working on for a decade. Completed projects Instead of showing off my current projects, I thought I’d give a tour of recent completed projects that better fit the current mood.

Another month, another hobby. This month, I decided to try out needle felting. It is a craft where you felt wool by stabbing it repeatedly with a needle. Through adding more wool and using different colors, you can build up little figures and shapes. It only took one afternoon of stabbing to make this little unicorn. It is a nice “snack” sized hobby. A craft for when I want to complete a thing that same day.

Lots of things have happened since I last posted this May. The pandemic is still on. I have a job. And I have craft supplies exploded everywhere over the house. I have started to do diamond painting. It is like cross stitch but I am sticking little plastic drils onto a canvas. Sometimes I don’t want to be stabbed by a needle when crafting. The unicorn called to me. It demanded to be made.

Another month, another hobby. This month, I decided to try out needle felting. It is a craft where you felt wool by stabbing it repeatedly with a needle. Through adding more wool and using different colors, you can build up little figures and shapes. It only took one afternoon of stabbing to make this little unicorn. It is a nice “snack” sized hobby. A craft for when I want to complete a thing that same day.

Lots of things have happened since I last posted this May. The pandemic is still on. I have a job. And I have craft supplies exploded everywhere over the house. I have started to do diamond painting. It is like cross stitch but I am sticking little plastic drils onto a canvas. Sometimes I don’t want to be stabbed by a needle when crafting. The unicorn called to me. It demanded to be made.

I got into a good embroidery groove last week during an online conference, I was able to get a bunch of the light green leaves started and work on the outline. And then, I broke the needle. I had a backup, but it was difficult to rethread the needle while it was attached to the work. I haven’t broken a hand needle in ages. It was surprising when I heard the snap.

I had made little bundt shaped brownies earlier in the day and was craving ice cream. The problem was that it was late at night and all the stores close early. The solution… start up my ice cream maker I haven’t used in years. It took some time to find a recipe I could use. I have a dairy allergy and a nut allergy. I finally settled on a creamer based recipe as I still had oat milk creamer.

Thank you The Princess Bride and the Dread Pirate Roberts for that memorable and oh so applicable quote. Thanks to this pandemic, I decided to try my hand at sewing masks. I documented my process on Twitter, but feel free to enjoy this long form version as well. My soldering station has been switched to sewing. pic.twitter.com/hODEzsEGux — Jenn (@geekgalgroks) April 13, 2020 This was the first mask I have tried and I followed this Craft Passion pattern.

I completed the French market bag I was crocheting but first I had to frog a completely different project to get the accent yarn I wanted. It was from an entrelac blanket I was crocheting but hadn’t worked on in months. I think it makes a superior bag than it did blanket. I think I am going to steal the yellow yarn that was in that blanket to make another bag….

My state is under a stay at home order which means I have all sorts of time to craft now. I currently have an embroidery project, several crochet projects, and knitting stashed everywhere. I keep meaning to finish things but a new pattern is always more interesting than the mittens I have been working on for a decade. Completed projects Instead of showing off my current projects, I thought I’d give a tour of recent completed projects that better fit the current mood.

Embroidery is “fancy” visible stitching. I have been doing embroidery since I could sew. Tools and supplies Required supplies: embroidery needles fabric hoop thread scissors Nice to have: thimble stabilizer needle minder Favorite links Urban Threads

I got into a good embroidery groove last week during an online conference, I was able to get a bunch of the light green leaves started and work on the outline. And then, I broke the needle. I had a backup, but it was difficult to rethread the needle while it was attached to the work. I haven’t broken a hand needle in ages. It was surprising when I heard the snap.

While embroidering, I learned why people wear thimbles. I stabbed my thumb so hard it bled. I didn’t notice until I saw the blood on my index finger, but in good news I didn’t get any on my project! After deciding that having my blood, sweat, and tears going into a project was a bit too much for the day. I relaxed for a bit and in the evening decided to make cookie bars.

As it is the end of the month, I’d thought I take inventory of all my obvious works in progress (also known as WIP). Some things like the pair of socks that ride around in my trunk and my mother’s mittens are omitted from this list as they are forever projects. Handwriting I am currently working through copybook #1 of Spencerian System of Practical Penmanship. Most days when I practice I can only get through one page, today I got through two!

My state is under a stay at home order which means I have all sorts of time to craft now. I currently have an embroidery project, several crochet projects, and knitting stashed everywhere. I keep meaning to finish things but a new pattern is always more interesting than the mittens I have been working on for a decade. Completed projects Instead of showing off my current projects, I thought I’d give a tour of recent completed projects that better fit the current mood.

I completed the French market bag I was crocheting but first I had to frog a completely different project to get the accent yarn I wanted. It was from an entrelac blanket I was crocheting but hadn’t worked on in months. I think it makes a superior bag than it did blanket. I think I am going to steal the yellow yarn that was in that blanket to make another bag….

Oops! I really got into the movie I was watching last night that I didn’t realize I had missed a bunch of stitches on a row of my netting. The problem just kept compounding as I was crocheting mindlessly away. Thankfully frogging (ripping stitches out because you “rip it, rip it”) is easy and I was able to redo the rows.

I have always liked writing and drawing. I also like collecting all sorts of pens, markers, and paper. Tools and supplies Required supplies: marker, crayon, pen, or pencil paper Nice to have: fountain pens brush pens dip pens gel pens bottle ink converters ink cartridges spare nibs nice paper Favorite links JetPens Goulet Pens

As it is the end of the month, I’d thought I take inventory of all my obvious works in progress (also known as WIP). Some things like the pair of socks that ride around in my trunk and my mother’s mittens are omitted from this list as they are forever projects. Handwriting I am currently working through copybook #1 of Spencerian System of Practical Penmanship. Most days when I practice I can only get through one page, today I got through two!

I don’t always crochet only in Zoom calls, I also watch bad movies and crochet! I am still zooming through projects. I started this shawl because my friend Amanda was asking which pattern to try first, a rectangular shawl or a triangular one. I prefer triangles because they are routinely less stitches to cast on. I hate casting on in both knitting and crochet. I am always afraid of having too many or too few stitches.

I learned to knit the summer before I went to college. I spent my afternoons sitting in my butterfly chair knitting while watching reruns of The Simpsons. I haven’t stopped knitting since. Tools and supplies Required supplies: knitting needles yarn scissors yarn needle Nice to have: stitch markers cable needles double pointed needles circular needles crochet hook (for fixing dropped stitches, finishing, and fancy edging) Favorite links Ravelry

As it is the end of the month, I’d thought I take inventory of all my obvious works in progress (also known as WIP). Some things like the pair of socks that ride around in my trunk and my mother’s mittens are omitted from this list as they are forever projects. Handwriting I am currently working through copybook #1 of Spencerian System of Practical Penmanship. Most days when I practice I can only get through one page, today I got through two!

Another month, another hobby. This month, I decided to try out needle felting. It is a craft where you felt wool by stabbing it repeatedly with a needle. Through adding more wool and using different colors, you can build up little figures and shapes. It only took one afternoon of stabbing to make this little unicorn. It is a nice “snack” sized hobby. A craft for when I want to complete a thing that same day.

As it is the end of the month, I’d thought I take inventory of all my obvious works in progress (also known as WIP). Some things like the pair of socks that ride around in my trunk and my mother’s mittens are omitted from this list as they are forever projects. Handwriting I am currently working through copybook #1 of Spencerian System of Practical Penmanship. Most days when I practice I can only get through one page, today I got through two!

I remember my grandmother using her sewing machine that came in the wooden cabinet. It had a thigh press and cam buttons. The thing was a beast and what I learned to sew on. I later got her sewing machine and used it until the Bakelite reverse button broke in half. I then continued to use it while using a thimble as the button until the post broke. It could sew through anything, silk, jeans, canvas, and sailcloth.

I got into a good embroidery groove last week during an online conference, I was able to get a bunch of the light green leaves started and work on the outline. And then, I broke the needle. I had a backup, but it was difficult to rethread the needle while it was attached to the work. I haven’t broken a hand needle in ages. It was surprising when I heard the snap.

Thank you The Princess Bride and the Dread Pirate Roberts for that memorable and oh so applicable quote. Thanks to this pandemic, I decided to try my hand at sewing masks. I documented my process on Twitter, but feel free to enjoy this long form version as well. My soldering station has been switched to sewing. pic.twitter.com/hODEzsEGux — Jenn (@geekgalgroks) April 13, 2020 This was the first mask I have tried and I followed this Craft Passion pattern.

I got into a good embroidery groove last week during an online conference, I was able to get a bunch of the light green leaves started and work on the outline. And then, I broke the needle. I had a backup, but it was difficult to rethread the needle while it was attached to the work. I haven’t broken a hand needle in ages. It was surprising when I heard the snap.

I don’t always crochet only in Zoom calls, I also watch bad movies and crochet! I am still zooming through projects. I started this shawl because my friend Amanda was asking which pattern to try first, a rectangular shawl or a triangular one. I prefer triangles because they are routinely less stitches to cast on. I hate casting on in both knitting and crochet. I am always afraid of having too many or too few stitches.

In this time of pandemic and stay at home orders, Zoom cocktail and social hours have become a thing. Which means I have things now on Tuesdays and Fridays and I am sure I could be doing things other days as well. But virtual cocktail hours mean I don’t leave my house, wear comfy clothes, and I can drink what I want. It is the BEST!!!! I have started to crochet during these, especially in the bigger calls.

I got the urge to clean up by the side of my bed. It really was a quest to find the lemon yellow yarn to make another bag. I ended up filling my new bag full of skeins and projects. I didn’t realize I had that much cotton yarn hanging out next to me. I am going to be making SOO MANY bags. I have been busy watching Disney movies and crocheting.

While embroidering, I learned why people wear thimbles. I stabbed my thumb so hard it bled. I didn’t notice until I saw the blood on my index finger, but in good news I didn’t get any on my project! After deciding that having my blood, sweat, and tears going into a project was a bit too much for the day. I relaxed for a bit and in the evening decided to make cookie bars.

Oops! I really got into the movie I was watching last night that I didn’t realize I had missed a bunch of stitches on a row of my netting. The problem just kept compounding as I was crocheting mindlessly away. Thankfully frogging (ripping stitches out because you “rip it, rip it”) is easy and I was able to redo the rows.

As it is the end of the month, I’d thought I take inventory of all my obvious works in progress (also known as WIP). Some things like the pair of socks that ride around in my trunk and my mother’s mittens are omitted from this list as they are forever projects. Handwriting I am currently working through copybook #1 of Spencerian System of Practical Penmanship. Most days when I practice I can only get through one page, today I got through two!

I don’t always crochet only in Zoom calls, I also watch bad movies and crochet! I am still zooming through projects. I started this shawl because my friend Amanda was asking which pattern to try first, a rectangular shawl or a triangular one. I prefer triangles because they are routinely less stitches to cast on. I hate casting on in both knitting and crochet. I am always afraid of having too many or too few stitches.