a roof over miss thistle’s head
Big news in tiny world: Miss Thistle’s house finally has a roof! Fully shingled (with cardboard, of course). I’ll be sharing all the DIY details soon—it was super easy. Still to come: a few charming touches on the exterior and shutters (I think) stay tuned for a dedicated cardboard doll house post.
aroma- a layered approach
I’m all about a good smell, nothing too loud or perfumy, I describe it as earthy and fresh. After years of experimenting I think I’ve perfected it:
- A bunch of fresh eucalyptus – I get one every Friday.
- This handmade soap by Saipua. All the scents are glorious but my top pick is clay and dill.
- Santa Maria Novella Potpourri – I’ve got little dishes of it all over the place. I’ve had the same bag for over a year and it’s still going strong. It’s pricy but good.
- Lavender cleaner. So simple. There are lots of ways to make it, I used equal parts vinegar and distilled water and about 20 drops of lavender oil.
bramble
It gets me through the winter. I get an outsized amount of joy from wandering around outside looking for exquisite little sticks and dead plants to bring home and put in my tiny vases.
happy plants
You know I love a houseplant. My collection has officially tipped into “plant lady” territory—and I’m fine with that.
new story bottles
New little delft /early american inspired rustic bottles. After a few more get fired I’ll put them in the shop. There is a giant artwork shop update in the works.
daffodils
They almost don’t look real! A magical occurrence every time. It’s still so wintery when they make their magnificent appearance.
NYT puzzles
Now I’m also a puzzle lady. My goodness. But I can’t help it – I love wordle, connections and strands. Obsessed. A huge amount of my discretionary time budget is spent on them. Who knows – maybe it’s helping my rapidly aging brain.
the stitch book home stretch
Friends! We are less than 20 days away from the finish line!! I will be a little bit happy and a little bit sad when this is finished. I’m excited about putting the book together and overflowing with ideas for my last pages. The process builds idea generating momentum and I don’t have enough pages left for all the things I’d like to try. It’s exactly the problem I hoped to have. The official end is Saturday 4/26.
Will you be putting out another post on how to finish and assemble the books or should I rely on the initial post you made? I still have it perfectly guarded in my emails. Thank you.
Hi Janet,
The assembly post is always lined on the 100 day stitch book page in the menu. I won’t recreate the tutorial this year but I will post some highlights as I organize and assemble my 2025 book. You can fin the tutorial right here to review: https://www.annwoodhandmade.com/textile-book-tutorial-part-one-organizing-and-assembling/
I am both a plant lady and a puzzle lady. I do the same ones that you mentioned plus the NYT mini crossword and the spelling bee. That is how I start my day.
Me too! Also, fabric collector, sewist, and foodie.
Its how I start my day too !
I, too, am a word & jigsaw puzzle woman. NYT ones are done w/ my first cup of coffee. I also have a rapidly aging brain (and body!), and am enjoying my creating/making processes more than ever.
Coffee and puzzles – breakfast of champions!
Cryptic crosswords are my favourite but any kind will suffice if necessary.
Breakfast pot of coffee (I must have food too) and crosswords set me up for the day. I’m still trying to find my mojo – sadly it has disappeared lately, I so wanted to do the book but……
PS I do so love your work
I have totally and enthusiastically enjoyed this challenge. I lost my struggle with technology early and have not posted my pages for a long while. But today I’m going to try and remedy that, lol, it will either be a cascade of photos or nothing….but I will get stitching done too! I’ll need to get some mindful stitches in after wrestling with the technology monster.
I also love my plants and puzzles. I do all those mentioned plus Letter Boxed on the NYT puzzle app. Love that one. My plant collection gives me a lot of pleasure and my orchid is going through another bloom which is especially nice right now.
I don’t get out of bed until I’ve done the wordle and connections (and read your newsletter on newsletter days). The eucalyptus!!! Not only does that smell so good it’s an easy plant to eco print. It’s featured in several of my stitch pages this year. I’m getting a little boost of creative energy now that we’re so close to the 100 day finish. I’ve been distracted. It’s a wonder I’ve kept up this far.
Yes! I can get stuck in bed with a tough connections puzzle. they can be diabolicle. I find a big surge of energy and ideas at the end of the stitch book – deadlines are magic.
I’m also a huge fan of puzzles. They help me feel ready to begin my day. I start my day with the daily Sudoku, Diagonal Sudoku, and Hurdle (which is like Wordle) on arkadium.com. Then I go to Jigsaw Explorer for my daily puzzle. My morning bonus is seeing your newsletter in my inbox.
Like so many other replies, I too, am a puzzle lady and enjoy the word games from NYT as well as jigsaw puzzles. I have to admit though, that I am a bit behind on the challenge and need at least 8 more pages – argh!!! I will have to do some “woodshedding” to finish. This is the exact opposite of last year. I regret that I have not posted any pics on Instagram, but suffice it so say that I’ve enjoyed seeing everyone’s wonderful handiwork!
I love the fresh eucalyptus idea!
I’ve been under the weather, with lots of time to stitch….your chicks and eggs pattern! Adorable results! Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Plants (succulents and cacti and African violets), and interesting sticks and rocks all the time. I have to be cautious with scent—hay fever can kick in with the wrong one. But mint and desert sage are my favorites.
I lean towards being a night owl. I will sometimes catch Wordle and Connections when the new ones open at midnight.
I will be sad when 100 day Stitchbook is finished!
I will start a new one !
There are now 5 free daily logic & word puzzles on LinkedIn. I’m sure it helps their algorithm to have people go in daily. But they are fun diversions.
Obsessed with those puzzles, also! Put the phone down. The big project this spring was finishing with the husband’s help, the bookcase dollhouse for the grands! Thank you for the wonderful clothespin bed and mattress tutorials! Love your patterns! So far I’ve made several fleets of ships, small sailboats and I am always inspired by your many designs and paintings! Thank you!!
So much plant lady action at my house: I’m pretty sure they throw parties when I’m at work. Also, living room floor covered with a string quilt in progress…
Those hands!!!!!!!!! Magnificent!
Thank you!
Plants, puzzles and knitting. All keeping my brain fit and my senses joyfully engaged.
I too love the NYT puzzles so much. They eat into my knitting time!
Hi Ann love your somewhat weekly updates. I am thrilled to see Miss Thistles house. My almost 12 year old granddaughter loves to make diaramas out of cardboard boxes. She made me a shoe box that contained a Christmas tree, a quilting table, complete with scissors a hearth and Christmas stockings all made out of air dry clay, complete with tiny LED lights! I was so impressed. I am sure she willlove making Miss Thistles house,maybe she will even let me help her!
Hi Ann love your somewhat weekly updates. I am thrilled to see Miss Thistles house. My almost 12 year old granddaughter loves to make diaramas out of cardboard boxes. She made me a shoe box that contained a Christmas tree, a quilting table, complete with scissors a hearth and Christmas stockings all made out of air dry clay, complete with tiny LED lights! I was so impressed. I am sure she willlove making Miss Thistles house,maybe she will even let me help her!
I’m a puzzle lady, too – Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections. Now I need to try strands. Gorgeous daffodils !
I did not know you were a potter! Love these! That house is the cutest thing ever.
I do try to be plant lady! And my wonderful Ponytail palm called Groot has been with me for 16 years!! So can’t be too bad
Looove puzzles of all kinds…. keeps your brain alive
Is it too late to take part in the Stitch book challenge?
Daffodils are gorgeous … they grow really tall here in Australia
Yes to all of it Ann, and you are spot on with the magic of daffodils. I love the many varieties of hellebores (Lenton Rose) for their beauty and early giving as well. The double varieties are particularly captivating. Living in the northwest, I am hoping to be able to get to LaConner Washington to see the tulip festival and the fields of incredible color this time of year. It’s spectacular.
Thanks for keeping us inspired by the creative thoughts. I not only like the online puzzles you mentioned, I keep coming back to actual physical puzzles too. Spent a girls weekend putting together two 1000-piece puzzles (and sewing too)! The sense of accomplishment from the puzzles is real!
So enjoy your posts and seeing what is inspiring you. The pottery is beautiful. Love little vases. The fish one is speaking to me! Enjoy spring, it’s such an uplifting season.
Can more pages be added to the book?
Hi Ann. I’ve enjoyed the stitchbook challenge, and it’s really helped to post a photo on Instagram each morning. I’m definitely giving serious consideration to continuing it after the 100 days end. I’m a plant lady too. I bought a single cheese plant. Then discovered how to propagate it and – bingo! – nine cheese plants are flourishing. (Though for the life of me I can’t keep an aloe vera alive. I’m the kiss of death for the poor things. No idea why.) Your home looks lovely. Very restful and full of lots of interesting things. I despair of modern interiors where they’re a sea of bland greige and white, no sign of books or the kind of clutter that makes a house a home. Best wishes, Valerie
For all who are NYT puzzle devotees, may I suggest the daily puzzle game called Globle? You try to guess that day’s mystery country in as few guesses as possible, and it is similarly addictive!