Holiday Stitching and Holiday Giveaways!

Santa Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a wonderful giveaway for the holiday season that includes floss, patterns, necessaires ~ all created or dyed by her!  Head on over there if you have the chance!

Last December, I gifted myself with two items online.  The first was a zippered project bag purchased from Faye at Carolina Stitcher.  Not only does she make these great project bags but she also does "finishing" work that is to dye for.  If you ever need inspiration on how to finish a project, just head over to Faye's blog!

At the same time, I also ordered a "necessaire" from the Victorian Motto shoppe. I ordered this and the project bag both in red so I could enjoy them during the Holidays but because they don't scream Christmas, I can continue using them into February.  The necessaire came with all kinds of trims that I can use to finish off ornaments other projects.  

When the necessaire arrived, I was just beginning "Holiday Patchwork"  by Threadwork Primitives.  I loved the Antique Turkey Red floss I had received from Victorian Motto and subbed that in for the mulberry that came with the pattern.  I wanted it just a tad brighter.   

Now that I've pulled the project out again, I'm debating whether to stay with straw bonnet for the snowflake or switch it out to oatmeal.  It will lighten it just a tad without being white white.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and thank you for stopping by!  

Full Moon Complete ~ On to Thanksgiving!

I have finished Drawn Thread's Full Moon ~ fun project!  I love the way it's autumn without screaming HALLOWEEN so I can keep it out for more then just October.  I purchased the black box that it goes in from Elegant Stitch at the same time as the pattern.  I love how the scissor fob has two sides to it.  I included a photo of how they looked before so that you could see the other side of the scissor fob.  Next summer I will be stitching Chillin also from DT.

To get into the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am starting Turkey Sausage by Plum Street Samplers.  I love the colors and it is going so quick!

I am also working on finishing Blue Ribbon Sewing Box ~ Designed by Sherri Jones of Patrick's Woods.  I had hoped to finish most of it by the time I went to the workshop at The Attic in Arizona last week but it was not to be.  My fear of stitching one over one caused me to delay it all too late but no worries!  I've got the hang of it now and with what we were shown at the workshop, I'm sure this will be done early in the new year.  Yes - I am already planning my 2015 stitching!

I've learned all kinds of new stitches in this piece so it's been a great learning experience!  I can't wait to share photos of how it looks all put together!

Stashing Linen & Fall Stitching

I don't know if any of you follow the blog Santas and Samplers but she always has great tips to share.  Back in February of 2014, she was showing how she stored linen to try and avoid those nasty fold marks.  Some of my linen stash has been around too long to help but I have made a resolution to start storing newly purchased linen on tubes the way she does.

Above are the first 3 tubes I've made.  I used plastic pvc pipes but I think cardboard tubes would be lighter if I decide to make more.  The top one is wrapped with fabric and the bottom two are wrapped in felt.  .  

Here are the same 3 tubes again with a small project stored on the top one.  The middle tube is storing a long-term large project and the bottom tube currently has 3 large pieces of linen waiting for future projects.  Since I work "in hand", I think this will be a much better way to store the linen rather then folding in it up as I've done in the past.  

I've also "finished" one of my stitched pieces into an ornament for Halloween.  

This is Night Owl by Prairie Schooler and was in the JCS Halloween ornament issue a few years back?  I used 32 ct belfast cream linen and DMC threads switching black for the dark brown.  

The weather teased us last week with cool early mornings and evenings only to jump back up to 100 degrees this week.  Hopefully our Indian Summer will end soon.  I'm so in the mood for Fall!  

I purchased two Drawn Thread patterns from Elegant Stitch last week and started in on one the moment it arrived.  I think these patterns are even cuter in person!   

 This pattern is "Chillin" and while it called for the 'chestnut' color that you see in the back, I'll be using a piece of 32 ct 'natural' Belfast that I had in my stash.

This is "Full Moon" and I couldn't wait to get started on it!  I'm using a piece of 32 ct lt mocha that was also in my stash and changing up the thread colors a bit.

That's it for now ~ Happy Fall Stitching!  

Is it FALL yet?

I retired in June from teaching ~ YAY!  It was a wonderful 28 years with kids but I was so so ready to retire after 40+ years of working!  So why haven't I posted more since June?  I spent the first month of retirement literally napping two to three times a day and still sleeping through the night so one word - exhaustion.

Now I am awake and ready to get back into the world of stitching.  I had so many goals back in January but for now, I will now concentrate on the successes . . . .  

I saw this darling pattern, "A Wee Bit" by Angel Stitchin, in the October 2014 issue of Just Cross Stitch online.  I loved the colors and instantly downloaded the digital version of the magazine just so I could stitch on it the same day.  I still have some small star buttons to add and then I will finish it into an ornament.

Back in July, I finished stitching "Old Glory" by Little House Needleworks.
Next June, I will turn it into a small pillow.

I've also been working on a long term project . . . .

Blackbird Design's "A Christmas Garden"

Thank you for visiting and hopefully soon, I will have more finishes to share.

What is it with men and bifocals?

Scenario One

Me:  Bro - you almost cut your fingers there while chopping the veggies.  Have you considered bifocals?

Big Brother:  I see just fine.  I don't need bifocals.      

One year later:  Big Bro is upset that he had to call someone to drive him to the emergency room to have his finger literally reattached.  Thank God he wrapped it in ice. 

Scenario Two

Ex Husband:  They fired me because these old women I work with didn't like my humor.

Me:  I've noticed you don't see things right in front of you these days.  Didn't your job require that? 

 

EH:  They had the nerve to take me into a room to look at footage on a camera and say "see, you didn't see that".  I told them "That's not me because I see just fine".

 

Scenario Three

Son (soon to turn 30):  I borrowed a new toothbrush from you because mine is missing.

Me:  Isn't that your toothbrush right in front of you on the sink below the mirror?

Son:  blank stare

.                     ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    

As for STITCHING, I joined Little House Needleworks Showcase and Stitch-A-Long, a blog started by the wonderful Vonna  ~ The Twisted Stitcher.  This weekend is a WIP-IT weekend and I chose to finish LHN's "A Stitcher's Heart", a piece I began in mid-2013.  It's worked on 40 ct porcelain with crescent colour threads.  

It's my first finish for 2014 and I hope to have it sewn together tomorrow!

Happy January Everyone!