a busy bee

I felt like a queen bee today tending to my hive. In this case the “hive” stands for all my activities not home. First I went for my routine walk. It was g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! Our high was in the mid-70's - can’t beat that. Afterwards, I went to the FedEx office store (used to be Kinko's) to make copies and print off my Jane Austen sampler for an upcoming project. Here are the ingredients:

Not too long ago, Alma and Barb’s blog had the best tutorial on how to cover a paper mache box, which I’ve done before, but they added one small clever detail to their box that I have not yet tried. They copied a favorite Quaker sampler and inserted it inside the entire box. It is so, so adorable. I just had to make one so I began the process today. The two pieces of reproduction fabric above are of original color. I adopted Blackbird’s way of removing color.

I experimented with removing color from two pieces of fabric with Rit dye color remover as they did. Blackbird was right. You have to remove that fabric quick or else. Thankfully I read their instructions twice over and was ready to take the fabric out as fast as I was at putting them in. I let the pieces air dry in the sun for a couple of hours. Here they are color removed, after drying, and before ironing. I’ve ironed them since and they look so soft and old. I love how they turned out. I’ll work on the sizing and slicing of fabric as soon as possible. I’m in no rush.

Jo March says…

I finished stitching Little Women Saturday night. I started it Friday afternoon so a fairly quick stitch indeed. I picked these two pieces of fabric a year ago for this design and they look better now than they did before. I’m glad I picked them. =)

I’m shocked I had bells in my finishing drawer, but they work, don’t they? They add a nice “ring” to the piece – LOL. Tanya was right. Christmas doesn’t always have to be in red and green. PINK will work just as well. The pink and green stripes remind me of candy canes so it definitely works for this piece. The pink with green stripes is the backing fabric while the just pink stripes are for the bottom panel.

Here it is all made up. It’s done on 28 ct linen that I hand-dyed with a pomegranate and that was a year ago. Surprisingly its managed to keep its color nicely. I used the recommended DMC thread – only three colors. I used a ribbon that had polka dots on it which compliments the berries, wouldn’t you agree? :o) Anyhoo, can’t wait to get this out for Christmas and jingle those bells!

While I was in the spirit of finishing projects and starting others I decided to get threads together for the November flip-it by Lizzie*Kate. This needs to get stitched b/c it is November – can’t waste anymore time. Aren’t the colors pretty with this one? I think so. I love those rich colors. I’m going to turn this one into a little needle cushion.

Last, but never ever, ever least is Cameron being ever so sweet and cute. I cut his hair Saturday night and as mothers we know how much older our toddlers look once we make those snips. I leave you with him playing outside today in the yard and the car.

Enjoy your Monday! We’re spending ours at Nana’s house – Yay!!! Talk soon!

pillow talk

NOT!!! We aren’t that intimate, are we? LOL But I do have finished pillows to share with you. The first…

Give Thanks by Heartstring Primitives. I decided on a cupboard pillow finish for this one b/c of its width yet small size. To keep with fall and the pumpkin theme I used a jute-type cording for a hanger which I really like. Stitched on 18th Century Grey linen by R&R. I used a combination of Crescent Colours and GAST threads. There are a couple of mistakes, but I decided on keeping them. I backed it with an orange batik fabric which really compliments the pumpkins and the overall feel of autumn. I am pleased overall. I hope Beth likes it too! =) It’s my first finish of hers.

My other conversation pillow piece is…

Crows by Bent Creek. I finished stitching this a couple of weeks ago but procrastinated sewing it up into a long pillow. I kept with the fall theme again and filled it with crushed corn that I got from the pet store months and months ago. I’ve used it before for filling and it works great. I’m just happy I have it finished-finished. I’m pleased with having something else for fall.

Finally, this will ultimately become a pillow…

Little Women by The Sampler Girl. This design comes from Booklet One back in December 2008. I pulled this out for two reasons. First, because I recently started reading "Little Women" in which the very first sentence reads “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents” grumbled Jo March. This brings me to my second reason. Reading that sentence reminded me that I had Booklet One; that this design was included, and that I began gathering materials when it came out. Right after I took the photo of my necessaries, I put the first several stitches in. See, it says Christ already. I hand-dyed that fabric myself with pomegranate – that was a fun and messy experience. Ironically I feel in the spirit to stitch something Christmas-y (so not me) so in feeling this way I had to watch something Christmas-y…so in went Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase. I’m a weirdo, I know. Chevy doesn’t coincide with the March sisters, but that’s me. Miss. Weirdo!

Anyway, I can’t wait to go walking Saturday. Nashville’s high will be in the 70’s and not a cloud to touch us with low humidity. OMG! That is P*E*R*F*E*C*T weather people and I’m taking advantage of it with a nice looooong walk. Ah, I cannot wait to get out there! I’ve been pumped all day for it. I must go. I want to stitch more on Little Women. Thanks for listening to my “pillow talk” ;-). 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!