finishing fridays

I haven’t put one stitch in today except for beginning a finishing project which consists of back stitching a border to ready it for floss tagging.

This is the backside of the tag and for some stupid, stupid reason the front side image kept rotating during download. Why does Blogger do that? UGH!!!! This is the only photo I took of the front so I’ll need to take more and re-download tomorrow – sorry. Anyway, I did assemble the January Primitive Floss Tag from The Needle’s Content today. I have February and will soon get March and will continue to get the remaining months.

[Not the best photo in the world. My camera sucks at taking close-ups.] I’m still not ready to show my fully assembled kitty, but here is yet another sneak peak of the backing fabric. I’m going to be honest. The kitty is for my Aunt. I mentioned to my Aunt awhile back that I was stitching a kitty for her but she hasn’t seen it; and I know you’re reading this Aunt Pam. :D This was a fun stitch and easier to assemble than I first thought.

Call me crazy! “I am unconditionally and irrevocably in love with Edward Cullen.” I know what I said about the movie not being as good as I thought it should have been even though the book was an amazing read. I enjoyed the movie, don’t get me wrong, and since owning Twilight I’ve watched it three times. I know, call me crazy! I’m so in love with the vampire that I cannot help myself from learning about Robert Pattinson who played him. He is smoken! Then add in his British accent ~ OMG! Double smoken! He is soooooo young though, but even still he needs his cradle rocked. LOL STOP!!!

I am stitching a border around the design and I believe I’ll make it into a floss tag; therefore, it’ll get used just about every day (hee hee). This was a freebie from Paulette and it’s still available if you want one. I stitched it on black Belfast, 2 over 2. I was able to stitch it in one night; last night, but started the assembly today. I’m using a red fabric for the back to compliment the red apple.

I made a decision for Friday’s position. I took The Heart’s Content Seahorse Fob & Scissors out of the WIP’s basket and transferred to the current rotation. I started this last fall during ‘Celebration’ in Louisville, KY and shortly thereafter stopped. It’s so cute and vibrant and done 1 over 1. Maureen Appleton’s over 1 techniques really prove themselves and I enjoyed the outcome thus far, so I’m looking forward to getting this done. Besides, it comes with seahorse scissors which are really neat. You can never have too many pairs of scissors, right!?!?

I haven’t made a decision about my other opened days yet. I’m thinking I may start the Little House Needleworks The Traveler. My mom ordered the finishing companions from Mary Kathryn and they arrived so quickly ~ thank you Mary Kathryn! Ours are the spring collection and are green instead of the pink that sold out and they are truly lovely.

I’m getting really excited about April. Country Sampler just announced that Stacy Nash club members will be receiving the second cross stitch kit for the year. We have no idea what it’s going to be, or at least I don’t think anyone does, but it should be here as soon as April arrives. Woo-Hoo!!!

That’s it for now. Talk soon!

progress underway

My needles must have flames behind them because I have finished another project and I’m half way done with my carrot. I don’t know where this fire is coming from because lately I haven’t been feeling well. I’m not ill; just not well. I’ve had my migraines and headaches for days now so I’m heavily medicated and regularly. I’m not having such a good time either. I am faint-like, light headed, run down, a bit slow even, and a tad on the confused side. All I can do is lay around and luckily I’ve been able to stitch once the pounding subsides and then it’s time to take more meds to keep myself functioning for Cameron’s sake. I keep crossing my fingers hoping each new day will be a brighter one. Onto stitching though…

I finished the January Primitive Floss Tag by The Needle’s Content. I hand-dyed 32 ct natural linen with walnut crystals and sprayed distressing solution on it, then baked it. I did this before stitching because I used Gentle Art Sampler Threads and as we all know are not colorfast. I’ll assemble this little cutie in the next couple days. I’ve already purchased February and March floss tags and they are really cute. Annemiek is designing floss tags for all 12 months ~ so cool!

This is my progress on the carrot. I used two DMC colors (green and rusty orange), but I’m using WDW Carrot for the body. The pattern came from a punchneedle book of mine. I traced the pattern using an iron-on pencil and then transferred it onto plain weaver’s cloth. I should have given more thought to this little project. From the beginning I planned to stuff this carrot and lay in a basket for Easter or something like that (who knows!), but what I should have contemplated was the color of weaver’s cloth. I should have used a spring color like pink, yellow or purple. I mean, I have those colors. I just didn’t think all this through. Oh well, you live and learn!

This morning I was resting on the couch and Cameron nestled up on my side. He must have been really comfy (although it doesn’t look that way) because he fell asleep before his actual nap. He looks like a little monkey all rolled up.

I'm excited that I have another finish in one week. This means I have two days open now for something new or something old. Decisions. Decisions. That's it for now. Talk soon!

i love being productive

Finishing
Cutting
Baking fabric
Coffee staining
Distressing
Ironing
Piecing
Gluing
Mod Podging
Measuring
Fabric sorting

"these are a few of my favorite things..." (this is my effort to sing like Julie Andrews -ahem!)

I have been pretty busy lately and I haven't posted in a couple days because of that. I wanted to have something worth posting so here it goes. I have been in a storm of craft supplies.

I finished 2 projects, yes 2 projects in one week. How's that for having a rotation and sticking to it?!?! I'm very pleased with myself. I even had time to do "extra" projects and I still have more to tackle. Yay!!!

I finished Sarah's ABC Pincushion Tuesday night. I changed Sarah Tobias to my own name (duh!) and stitched '09 at the end. I used a different silk than what was called for ~ I used Kelp by Waterlilies. It turned out really really pretty. The fabric behind the piece is what I am going to use to finish the pillow pincushion.

I finished Pig and Chicken by Hooked on Rugs. I may just frame these two but their fate hasn't been sealed just yet. This was punched on weaver's cloth using WDW and GAST.

Now that I have finished two projects this week, Tuesday and Wednesday are open for something new or something old to fill those days. I think I'll take one project from my WIP's basket and move it to rotation, and I'll start a new project for the remaining open day, even though I shouldn't. :o)

Other than that, I have been crafting up a storm in the last couple days, let me tell you! For the first time ever I took a stab at covering a paper box with fabric and then adorned the top with a punchneedle piece. The punchneedle piece was actually a mini rug design for a dollhouse, but I had other ideas. I even took my fabric-covered box even further and made a little stitchery word ("LOVE") using a piece of white felt and blanket stitching around the edge. I coffee stained the felt, sprayed distressing solution in the bowl, baked it for 5 minutes, pressed it with the iron for a few seconds, and applied it to the side of my box.

I am happy with the results overall. I used Mod Podge to apply the fabric and I used this tutorial to make it all happen. I think I'm going to add twisted cord around the rug edge to soften that up a bit. I used the same piece of fabric that came from the quilt I made my MIL, so the fabric has meaning. I have to give Beth credit for inspiring me to even attempt this project or else I would have never done so. Thanks, Beth!

This is the progress I'm making on the January Primitive Floss Tag by Annemiek (aka The Needle's Content). I dyed the fabric myself with walnut crystals. It's a cute little tag. I'm also waiting patiently for February's tag, but I know that Annemiek is very busy keeping shop and doing her thing. :o)

This is what came in the mail today.

From the Notforgotten Farm, obviously. This little charm is so teeny-tiny and sweet. I can't wait to wear it. I like it so much that I ordered the red saltbox house from Lori this evening.

I've done so much since Saturday. I ironed and planned out my Be Still piece ~ I'm thinkin' I'll lace it onto board instead of using tape. I finally decided the fate of my punchneedle piece Family, and I also went through all my fabric and have chosen a coordinating fabric for it to be mounted on and then framed. It is prim so I like it a lot. I've steamed and pressed all my pieces and are now awaiting Finishing Fridays. :D

I'm still working on re-organizing my crafting area and still there are shelves that need to come down in order for newer and bigger ones to go up. I'm in the process of revising my current rotation too. The rotation is still working, but I'd like to have more than one project per day, but not everyday; just a couple of days a week. Also, my mother and I are in a round robin together and we've chosen to work on Carriage House Samplings' Shores. She is almost done with the first block and I cannot wait to get my hands on this piece. I'll take photos once I receive it from my mom. And here is what I picked up from Market on Sunday.

It's late and I must head off to bed. G-night! Will post Saturday's adventure soon.

more progress and my pursuits

I have been working on Sarah's ABC Pincushion and loving every minute of it. I have one more row which is actually the name. I haven't decided if I'll keep it saying Sarah Tobias or change it to my own. What do you think I should do? Here's my progress on the pincushion.

Friday morning (tomorrow) me and mom board a plane to St. Augustine, Florida to attend a Susan Greening Davis class at the beach. We hear it's going to be in the mid to upper 60's and that beats our cold temps. Right now it's cold in Nashville, but today's high will be 54, which is considerably nice. I just can't wait to hear the crash of the waves and the sewing of my needle. It's going to be so nice and much deserved on my part. Now I just have to get through the flight. Yikes!

Annemiek from The Needle's Content has just released A Primitive Year of Floss Tags design series. The first floss tag is a primitive snowman and it is so cute! You order through paypal and receive the chart by .pdf. I'll be ordering mine tonight so I can get it quick quick quick! I'll probably take this little snowman to stitch on the plane.

Here's the latest on Cameron - he is too funny lately.

Yesterday ----

Cameron went and got Jose's swimming goggles. Bug Boy!!!

This morning ----

I asked Cameron to show me where he put his donut and here it is...such a donut face!

And later this morning ----

Cameron and Chloe were in the dining room with me and suddenly it was quiet. Oh my! 'What are those two doing?' I thought. I took the camera, just in case, and I'm glad I did. There they were...Chloe laying on the rug and Cameron leaning up against her playing with his foam blocks. So so cute these two!

Today's Stitching: Sarah's ABC Pincushion
Watching Today: not decided