a productively fun day

Jose and I had a fun lunch with our friends today and afterwards we went to McKay’s - a used book, CD, and more store. We had a delightful time together. We giggled like two little kids (I would say two little school girls, but he might get offended). I had store credit so that made it guilt-free spending, sort of. He got a video game and a couple of books. I found an Elmo movie for Cameron, a movie for myself, a new edition dictionary, and my favorite find, the Anne of Green Gables book on CD. I can’t wait to listen to this. I’m thinking I can sync this to the iPod and listen to literature while I walk.

One can never have too many fat quarters, wouldn’t you agree? I went to the LQS looking for a specific pattern. Reproduction of course. I couldn’t find it. I asked about it and they can’t get it. It’s Moda! Go figure…Anyway, there are other places. However, these fat quarters are exceptionally close to the pattern I want with a mere difference of base color. Six fat quarters for fifteen dollars – not bad in my book. I even had a helper named Jose. :)

I also went by the LNS and picked up some WDW and GAST threads so I can frog the crud out of Crows (that sounds funny – lol), start on another project, and bought a piece of 32 ct. linen so I can hand dye it.



Here is the Dutch beauty. Trees by The Workbasket. I’m stitching it on 32 ct. Exampler Vintage which is probably one of my favorite hand-dyed linens. It’s gorgeous and has plenty of variation. Plus, it’s versatile enough for so many designs. I love the owl, but so many more cute animals to come.

I normally wouldn't bash JCS and I'll try not to, but I am extremely disappointed with the latest issue. I think I managed to get through it in 0.8 seconds it was that terrible. I didn't enjoy it at all. There are two things of slight interest. One is an ad I saw - I'm going to visit the website at least. And two, was a dainty little design that says Happy Holidays (I think). Not sure that I'll make it into a mitten, but I do like the "primitive" feel and the Charlie Brown tree. Other than that this issue is blah.

On a more positive note, I'm adopting a system from Aunt Pam to implement a new way of organizing my DMC threads. I still use the Lorann cards and the bobbins and the floss bags and ALL this for storage. I don't like it. My aunt has a fabulous system set up for her DMC and I think it'll work beautifully for me as well. So far I have the 3x5 index cards and zip lock bags. Next I need storage containers so I think this calls for a trip to Dollar General or the like. Tomorrow might be a good day for that since it's a "me" day. Friday is movie day for me and my biggest baby. :) Talk soon!

the good, the bad & the ugly

The good…

I measured and fitted Elmo for his finishing into a pillow for Cameron. I stitched Elmo 10 years ago for Jose but never got around to framing it. Cameron smiles every time I show him Elmo so why not make use out of something I made long time ago. All that’s left is sewing up the opening and it's all Cameron.

Betty (primitivebettys) recently put out another wonderful freebie on her blog just in time for fall and Thanksgiving. I love how Betty allots plenty of time for us all to stitch them up. However, I can’t decide which color to use. I want it monochromatic and obviously in fall tone. I have the colors pictured to choose from, but I would really like to use Sarsaparilla by WDW most of all. Have you seen that color? It’s fabulously Thanksgiving-ish. It’s the same color that borders my Crows I’m working on by Bent Creek. Anyway, Betty’s primitive Thankful is so sweet and I’ll be starting that as soon as I pick out the color I want.

The bad…

Cameron is soooooo bad but in such a gooooood way. I took half a dozen photos of Cameron in the cowboy hat. I just couldn’t help myself. Then he showed me his nose.

The ugly…

Don’t EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER stitch while sleeping. To Self: Duly noted. Look at this mess!!! Notice the bottom left hand border. From pumpkin to left corner is down one stitch?? Ahhhhhhhh…I could literally strangle myself. I see frogs in my future. I know better than to stitch when I’m asleep, but its become such a ritual to stitch in bed. The positive note is that it is only that bottom left side ~ WHEW! The only other issue is that I have to stop by my LNS Wednesday (which isn't a bad thing) b/c I have no more of Sarsaparilla to fix this or finish that teeny tiny speck you see still left un-stitched at the top. (I haven’t forgotten about you Shari ;-)

The rest of the week should be pleasant enough. Since Jose is on break we have some things planned. Cameron goes to daycare and I’ll go for my walk the rest of the week. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been on the treadmill in the mornings since Sunday and I need to be outside in the open air. Afterwards we’re having lunch with a buddy of mine. We have other errands too before picking up Cameron.

Thursday or Friday we’re going to see a movie together. Something scary and jumpy. One of those days I’m dedicating to myself though so I can hit the library, Joann’s, and any other place I can get into trouble in. LOL Bottom line…I need away from my house.

I’m off to continue stitching on Trees. I’ll show this Dutch beauty off soon. I’ve almost got the first tree stitched. This piece is really cute. Talk soon!

Edited to say...that I was wrong in thinking that Sarsaparilla is a WDW thread. It isn't. It's a Gentle Art thread.

grandma’s pillow finis

I finally finished Grandma’s Pillow and I am jumping up and down with joy. After sewing the back and pressing it with my iron I literally stood back and my legs wiggled I was so excited at the outcome. ;o) This is the best pillow finishing I’ve ever done! Grandma would be proud. I found a way to make ALL four corners look identical to which I am ecstatic about. I was having trouble before...but…not…anymore. I love finding new ways to “up the ante” especially when you happen to stumble across them instead of planning them out. That’s the best way to learn, imho.

Sequence of events…

I added buttons and vintage lace. Grandma would have loved this idea. I’m quite pleased, if I may say so myself. ;-)

I love the fabric I picked. I was unsure at the LQS, but bought it anyway. I am so glad I did. It is from Windham Fabrics, Colonies Pink and Blue III circa 1870. Grandma’s Pillow measures 13”w x 9”h – a perfect size, I think. I ironed interfacing and pressed the entire piece once I turned it right side out.

I’m so happy with the finish ~ one of my favs! I went to moms today and had a show and tell. She was quite impressed as I knew she would be. I’m getting better at finishing which Aunt Pam would be proud of b/c she’s an appliqué/embroidery queen. Her threads are hidden so well and she would be so surprised at my skills on this piece. I may have to bring Grandma’s Pillow along to the next moonlight stitching to show it off to my ‘home girls.’ ;-p

In the foreground, notice the tiny black and white photo encased in the gold frame? That’s my grandma when she was just a toddler; Anna Kaufhold as stitched on the pillow. That picture was maybe taken around 1919-1920. She looks like a doll.

Gotta run! My final 2009 Stacy Nash club kit came in the mail today. Yay! It is Christmasy and oh so darling. I’m stitching on my Crows tonight. I think I can get it done this evening. And I finished kitting up Trees by The Workbasket last night and even started it, but more on that later. I’m typing out loud…lol…Talk soon!

the chia head

I can only imagine what this thing will look like with a head full of grass. Already it appears out of a horror flick. Look at those side burns...Talk soon!

table: before & after

Yesterday I posted about having numerous projects I wanted to tackle. In order to wrangle those projects I need space, clean space. But I have one problem. My craft table is a mess.

So what's a girl to do???

Clean it up, sillies!!!

Whew!!! Now I can begin my projects. After my walk this morning I came home and started cleaning this area up. I stated yesterday that living in Tennessee you learn fairly quickly that weather forecasts are usually wrong and I was correct. It was cold and very windy this morning. It was 40 degrees, but it did not rain one bit. Not at all today. Then I find out that the remainder of the week we’re to see almost 70 degrees. I can live with that. That’s if that is correct weather forecasting. But I digress; back to the projects…

I’m adding buttons and cotton vintage lace to ‘Grandma’s Pillow’ (as I’m calling it from now on). Lace will be added atop too. I really can’t wait to get this complete and laying on my bed. Since the “photo shoot” I began sewing the lace onto the piece. I concurred with Aunt Pam and decided to use fiber fill instead of a store-bought pillow form. This way I can make it any size my heart desires. I’m really pleased with my choices thus far.

[Play video]

First, please ignore the floor. We have long overdue plans to replace it. It’s partly ripped up so it looks pretty raunchy (and that’s an understatement) at this point. Second, try, try, try and put out of your mind the music DH is playing in the background. He's categorizing music on his PC. Anyway, Cameron was sitting on Chloe, our 80 lb Vizsla. She didn’t mind. Then she nonchalantly rolled on her side. Play the video of Cameron – he’ll do anything to get her back up. Too cute.

Sunday…Chia Head status. Yay! LOL Talk soon!

supplies and fabric and progress, oh my!

Today Cameron went to daycare and Jose was home from school. Fall break began today and will continue through next week. I went walking this morning. It was pretty chilly out but nothing a good hard walk couldn’t do to help heat things up. It was perfect! I spent a lot of time in the parking lot afterwards to cool down and do some thinking as if I don’t do enough of that already. Oh well. Afterwards, I headed home to freshen up and check on Jose. I drove to the LQS after lunch. Here are the goodies I picked up…

[Sorry the photos are blurry. I’m still using Jose’s camera. I can’t afford a new one for myself at this point.] I found tons of rick rack (baby rick rack too) which really pleased my heart - made me think of grandma. I had some vintage lace cut and that was satisfying to find that on huge spools for next trip out. I love variety and abundance. I also bought other odds and ends. I basically just stocked up on accessories for when I sew and embellish needlework. I had more purpose to be at the LQS than just for accessories though. I went for fabric. Not a lot, but enough for specific small projects I would really like finished by year's end. For instance,

this is Petite Rouge Lettres that Blackbird Designs gave as a freebie earlier this year. I finished this some time ago, but never finish-finished it. I’m finishing it into a pillow. I picked reddish/white reproduction fabric to compliment the color palette of the piece. I may add some vintage lace but haven’t decided just yet. And,

this is 2007 Christmas Special Edition by Lizzie*Kate. I started stitching this when I was recovering from my cesarean after having Cameron. However, I didn’t complete it until 2008. Here we are in 2009 and I just now decided on its finish. A wall hanging for the Christmas/Winter season. The green and red fabrics are both reproduction and I haven’t decided on the backing fabric, but I can decide on that later. I just want to piece the front together. “Baby steps, baby steps, baby steps into the elevator…” Lastly,

there’s progress on Crows – a fine day by Bent Creek. While I was shopping around I decided to pick up fabric for this one too (why not get a head start, right?). The mottled star pattern was with the Halloween fabs. There are some really sweet Halloween prints, I must admit! This fabric will work nicely with Crows, and it plays off the star perfectly, imho.

I’ve just been informed that the final Stacy Nash kit for 2009 will be coming my way very soon. I cannot wait! I’ve stitched and finished all the ones I’ve received so far this year (there have been 3). Each one has been unique and fun. Quick too.

First thing Saturday morning, and I mean first thing, I’ll be taking one of my long, hard walks. The weather calls for rain and 49 degrees as the high, which the temp may be even lower that early in the morning but I do not care. Well, I do, just not enough to stop me from my daily routine. Besides, living in Tennessee means the weather forecast is usually wrong; dead wrong. All the time. Anyway, I need this time to walk. It does a body gooooooood! I’m off to sit n’ stitch, and I should probably get crackin' on some of these projects too. Oh wait...I still have that table runner to start cutting and piecing ~ duh ~ LOL. Talk soon!