inspiration

I'm feeling so inspired today. After speaking to my Aunt Pam this morning about our favorite subject... ah-ha - the needlearts... I found a gem of a blog called Cose y calla; and after 5 seconds of scrolling I was addicted. Naturally, I immediately called Aunt Pam to rant and rave and ooh! and ahh! about it. I can't get over this woman's creativity and how beautifully perfect everything turns out. 

I'm hooked!

And punchneedle... It's calling my name again. I have a WIP, but after going back to Notforgotten Farm's blog and surfing through her Etsy shop all I want to do is punch my little heart out. After seeing this box (find it here), I'm done. It's mine! Wait till you see the 'extras'. It comes in many different colors. I like Robin's Egg or Black; haven't decided.

This even inspired me to research ways to feed a large family on a budget. 

Tonight's meal: Bean & Beef Chili with Cornbread.

~*Soul Food*~

"Making amends isn't just saying, 'I'm sorry,' It means responding differently from our new understanding."

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.

finishing fridays

I have another finish for 2009! Thursday night I finished Be Still…a freebie by The Sampler Girl. I’ll probably frame it myself or get it framed by my LNS. I added my own personal touches. With one strand over one I back stitched the verse from the Bible under the word “God” and I put my initials and the year in the bottom left hand corner ~ both in matching DMC colors of the word and design. More than likely I am going to hang it by my side of the bed for that much needed “wake-up call" from God each morning. Thanks, Tanya, for thinking of me during this creation! I’ll never forget it.

28 ct Jobelan Sand Castle using called for DMC

This wall space will be Be Still's new home once I frame it ~ right under my Antique Wedding Sampler.

As of this morning I ordered the cutest pendant from Lori over at Farmhouse Notforgotten. It’s called Bluebird Love with Roses. It is so precious! I cannot wait to wear this proudly around my neck, or I could say, “Mr. Bluebird on my shoulder” but it isn’t a broach…or could it be!?! Lori is great to do business with and her artwork is just that; a-r-t-w-o-r-k. Go check out her Etsy shop. She has really lovely handmade items for sale. I AM going to get one of those dolls one of these days. Thank you, Lori, for such an easy and relaxing purchase!

Now that I have finished a cross stitch piece I need something to take Thursday’s rotation place. Now…let’s see….what shall that be? I know! Two years ago me and mom signed up for an ornament club through Mimi’s Attic. We chose any of the ornaments we’d like to stitch, pay a little bit of mullah, submit the order to Mimi’s Attic, and she kits those ornaments and sends them your way. You don’t need the chart because more than likely you have the JCS Ornament issue for that year.

With that being said, I ordered 2007 ornaments awhile back (well obviously – it’s 2009 now – ah!) and wanted 5 from that issue. I need to stitch up an ornament and what better time than to add it to my current rotation now. Sounds only fair, right! LOL I’m going to stitch Winter Love by SamSarah. It’s really sweet ~ one snowman and one snowwoman hugging. Very cute! I’ll start on this next week.

I have decided to name all Fridays “finishing fridays.” I don’t intend to finish-finish every project or even one project; even though that would be nice. No, I’m going to at least make Friday a day that I begin a project to get it finished. I think this will be fun and encouraging. I have many of the supplies on-hand to begin and today is the day. I punched a design by Erica Michaels called Family years ago. It was one of the first punchneedle designs I attempted. I’ve had it punched all this time but never knowing how to finish it it’s been stuck in my “Needs Finishing” container. After looking at my punchneedle books (I own 3 and need more) I finally stumbled onto something. Here’s what my “Family” looks like all punched up but no place to call home yet.

I also have another punchneedle piece all punched and ready to be finished. I already had the finishing idea, supplies and fabric to use. I had every intention of covering a paper/cardboard circular box I bought from Michael’s some years ago and had a sweet little fabric to cover it with and then apply the punchneedle on the lid, but I haven’t gotten around to it. I just recently bought Mod Podge so now I can get started. Whew! What has been wrong with me?!?!

I’m just relieved that thoughts are flooding in with respect to finishing. I have a lot of YOU to thank ~ you are all so inspiring! YOU really uncover buried creativity. Thanks YOU!!!

I have the sweetest baby, I think! He’s very affectionate and loving at such a young young age. Here’s a small video of a special ‘Cameron and Mama moment’. Click 'play' to begin…

I had this post all ready to send when I had to leave to pick up Jose from chess club. On my way home I stopped at my LNS to get a few things. I decided to try another punchneedle and purchased the Cameo needle. I have heard quite the rave on this needle. I've been using the Igolochkoy Russian punchneedle for years now. In fact, this is the needle I learned to punch with. I checked the mail this afternoon and boom! There was a pleasant surprise from my very thoughtful Aunt Pam. As a 'just because' gift she bought me a subscription to the Love of Quilt magazine. I am completely surprised and extremely excited to get this magazine. This is my first subscription to a quilt magazine and I cannot wait to get more. I'll think of my Aunt every time I receive one and it'll make me smile. Thank you, Aunt Pam! I love you!

Contents of the photo are the magazine my aunt bought me, and the items I picked up from my LNS were the Cameo punchneedle, green and purple weaver's cloth, linen banding, 32 ct black Belfast, vintage buttons, and the golden frame was only a $1.00. I'm going to mess the frame up a bit and use it for Be Still.

My rotation piece for today was Hallow's Eve by Stacy Nash, but I haven't even picked up a needle yet today and it's almost 9:30 p.m. Have a good night everyone! Hope to post something tomorrow.