ornaments and such

I can’t believe it’s October already – month 10! This year has gone by so quickly and as if it couldn’t get any worse it’s chilly outside, but that hasn’t stopped my daily walks and exercise. I am feeling healthy and strong.

I finally finished assembling Winter Love by SamSarah. This ornament is from the 2007 JCS ornament issue. I don’t know what I was thinking though. I do not like how I attached the ribbon on this pillow ornament. I should have attached the ribbon to each corner, but after it was together and really noticing this I didn’t want to take the time to take it all apart and redo it. Let this be a learning lesson to thy self. I love the fabric though – 32 ct. Autumn Field. Very pretty and easy to stitch on.

I also finished assembling Dreaming of Halloween by Stacy Nash. This one was fun to stitch even though witchy woman’s dress was the pits at times I did enjoy putting this one together b/c of its interesting shape. It reminds me of a tombstone so it’s very fall-ish/Halloween-ish, don’t you think? :) I used 32 ct. Pearl Grey linen and decided not to dye it. I managed to nestle my initials and year into the vines which I am really pleased with. I was afraid it wasn’t going to work.

Here is the backing for both pieces. I especially love the pillow case ticking that my Aunt Pam gifted me some time ago, so not only does this fabric compliment the dream theme of this Stacy Nash piece, but every time I glance over at it I think of my aunt for making this project that much more special. It just worked out perfectly for this.

And here are the odd couples now. Both all finished up. This isn’t where they reside. The ornament pillow is put away until xmas, but Witchy Woman is working on getting into the fall basket for placement.

I have many 2007 JCS ornament issued kits ready to start. Mom and I became part of a club that signed up to receive kits of chosen ornaments and I have fallen lazy. Mom has 9 of hers complete and the only one I’ve done is the SamSarah. I still have 2008 ornaments coming as well. Anyway, I recently started another 2007 ornament from Brightneedle called 2007 Merry Xmas Pinkeep. As we all know it’s done one-over-one: fun, fun, fun! This one is stitched all in WDW which is really pretty and it actually is going by rather fast for being so small. It’s stitched on Antique White. The ornaments on the tree were fun to do, but I hate finishing off a thread when stitching over one b/c the threads are so tight.

Fantastic news!!! I had my Jane Austen sampler framed and she has returned home. She deserves a post all to her own so I’ll post pics of her at another time. Naturally, photos don’t do anything any justice and especially Jane so when I say she looks gorgeous trust that she does. It’s just a shame that my camera is broke and I have to use my 12 year old son’s camera to take photos now. Ugh! I’ve had a stressful day and would like some zzzz’s. Talk soon!

first day

Cameron started his first day of daycare today. He won't be going everyday. Just one or two days a week to start, but he was extra excited this morning.

Once Cameron saw where we were he got so tickled. He actually posed for me so I could take his picture.

Such a big boy! He went up the stairs. Knocked on the door and off he went with one of the teachers to his classroom. Even held her hand. He's never been to a daycare before and never played with children his own age so Mama was very proud and not at all surprised.

Cameron and I visited this daycare two times before to make sure THIS was the place for Cameron and he had his set on the giant school bus from the get-go. So of course when we arrived this morning the first thing Cameron looked for was the giant school bus and the Elmo doll to go inside it. The pictures are a little blurry, I know, but this just goes to show how busy 2 year olds are. They never stay in one place for too long. LOL

Here's my little tyke home from his first day at school. He had so much fun and he was a good toddler for them. He ate all his breakfast, lunch and snacks and even took a nap like everyone else. He cried for about 3 minutes when I left, but that was it. He had a very productive day. Some stickers came in the mail and you can tell he was happy about his day and getting smiley stickers too. I love my Cameron!

Btw, here is the backing fabric and 3/8 ribbon I've picked for Winter Love. I haven't really had an opportunity to sit and put it together, but I will. Talk soon!

winter love

I finished stitching a JCS 2007 ornament called Winter Love by SamSarah Designs using Belle Soie silks. Very smooth and fun. Loved the fabby. It'll be made into a hanging pillow ornament. Now for picking the backing fabric...

Talk soon!

classroom fun & good friends

Yesterday was such a fun-filled time. As I said, I attended a Susan Greening Davis class. My friends, Sally and Susan, were there and my lovely mother too. There were a couple of new faces. I had the privilege of meeting another Ohioan named Joanie. She was a delight to sit next to. She and her husband recently moved to the area so I felt it only necessary to bring her under my wing and tell her about the upcoming Moonlight Stitching at our LNS.

Joanie, if you’re reading this, I do hope that you will join us. You will have a really fun time and I’d love to see you again. Remember, it’s Saturday, May 30 from 4:00-10:00 pm and BRING STITCHING!!! If you would like to bring your own drink that is fine too. We usually bring our own even though Pat does supply something to drink ~ some of us girls are addicted to Diet Cokes and Diet Dr. Peppers :o). Hope to see you there, girl!

The Three Wise Men Whitman tin is what I picked for my class project. The other option was the traditional yellow Whitman tin. We also were able to choose coordinating colors as well. Those were two spools of perle cotton and one Watercolours thread. I decided to match mine with the robes of the Wise Men since there was already an abundance of blue in the tin. In class we used a doodle cloth for practice as there were stitches some of us have never stitched before or even seen for that matter - like me.

I also bought a few extra items from Susan. She had these really neat books. One was a stitch guide that stands up. Susan is known for her accuracy of the traditional stitch and/or how the stitch originated and not so much how it is taught today, but how it was taught historically in centuries past. It’s amazing what Susan can teach you!

I also picked up the needle index. How many of us have loose needles lying around and we really have no clue what they are??? (C’mon, be honest! We all have them. ;o) This book is a must have. Each page has a picture of every needle one can possibly own. You hold your unnamed needle to the picture and if it matches you’ve found it. On the facing page is a piece of wool felt attached to the book where you can store that needle for safe keeping. It’s an excellent book. I’m looking forward to going through my rogue needles and giving them a proper home.

I also purchased Susan’s “Orts” chart. I have a glass ORTS jar that I hand painted, but I need something to travel with me around the house for when I stitch and need a place to drop my orts temporarily until they find refuge in the ORTS jar. We also got a tote bag too and as a stitcher you know we can’t have too many totes…well, mom has too many totes but that’s another story for another time.

Lastly, my mother was kind enough (as always) to purchase Susan’s Sweet Sarah Doll for me. I love, love, love this prim doll. Inside the bag is a kit to stitch “Sarah” an apron that says I Love Cross Stitch, a chart to make a teeny-tiny biscornu for Sarah to hold, along with a tiny pair of golden scissors. I can’t wait to stitch this little piece. I fell in love with the reproduction fabric of the bag and then the doll's dress. So sweet, I must say!

I had such a nice time. The lunch and desserts were d-lish. Afterwards a lot of us traveled over to the LNS to see what else we could get our hands on. I bought a few more project bags and some Piecemakers. While at the class, my friend Sally had a bag full of books that she thought I would enjoy. We’re not talking just a couple of books. I’m talking like 30 books…TO KEEP!!! I started reading The Rosewood Casket by Sharyn McCrumb this morning. Such a great time, I had. And then I went home…with a headache.

Winter Love by SamSarah – I love how the scarf flows into the word LOVE. It’s finally taking more of a shape now. I hope I can get this finished next week. My mom came up with a good plan of switching JCS ornament years. This is from 2007 and next ornament will come from the 2008 issue. We belong to a club where we select so many ornaments and then we receive the kitted materials throughout the following year.

I made very little progress on Friday’s rotation project which is my Seahorse Scissor Fob from The Heart’s Content. It’s difficult to see the progress bc of it being over one, but I can show more next week.

Friday afternoon a severe thunderstorm came through. It blew our neighbor’s tree over and thankfully into his own yard. If it had fallen in our yard it would have hit our house and that would have been Jose’s bedroom at risk. Hail accompanied this storm, as well as very strong winds. I got the camera out to capture Mother Nature’s drama, so sorry the photos are a little blurry. The last image is a video of the hail hitting our patio roof. It was extremely loud ~ ear piercing.

Neighbor's tree down, but it took out our fence.

some flooding

hail

I'm off to start stitching on my Susan tin piece. Talk soon!

the "s's"

Yesterday we didn’t get a speck of rain, but today rain, rain, rain, rain, rain. I’m so tired of all the rain. It messes with my allergies. My friend Sally is going to borrow The Host by Stephanie Meyer from me. I started this book but I’m not very far at all. I’m going to let her use my copy so she doesn’t have to purchase one. Besides, she’ll get it done in like a day so no worries.

I get to see my friends, Sally and Susan, Saturday because we’re all signed up for a Susan Greening Davis class. Mom is going too. The project is called Susan's Sampler Sweet Tin and it should be a lot of fun. Susan’s classes are always a lot of fun! I have already picked out my floss and tin-top I want. I'm very excited!

Here is the before photo on the Dutch Band Sampler.

And here is last night’s progress…

I’m not sure why it’s called a sampler. The “sampler” part can only be referred to the initials, I’m assuming, but my assumptions are probably incorrect. Anyway, I’m really enjoying this design. I’m using DMC instead of silk and stitching it on 36 ct which I’m really loving.

Cameron is napping right now and I’m going to sit and stitch on Thursday’s piece which is Winter Love by SamSarah. I haven’t picked this piece up in quite awhile. Here was the before shot. Hope to talk soon!

wimpy indeed

[was]

[is]

[what it is]

I’ve had no stitching mojo this week. Probably because I’ve had my head slammed into these Twilight saga books. I’m on page 367 of Breaking Dawn and I’ve nearly cried. I even laughed a few times ~ that dog (Jacob) cracks me up sometimes! I have to admit that I haven’t been thrilled with Jacob. I haven’t disliked him, just not my favorite (for obvious reasons, ahem, Edward). But he is funny and so I’m beginning to like him. The author has really made him into a character that we all can identify with. His antics are that of someone we might even know in our own life…aside from the wolfery (I made this word up) of course. So far so good with Breaking Dawn.

I don’t have much to report on the side of stitching, unfortunately. I’ve been so preoccupied with reading that I’ve kind of put stitching aside. Don’t get me wrong, I have stitched a little each day just not a whole lot. It’s wimpy stitching indeed, but I must post a couple of pictures of what I have done.

Winter Love by SamSarah is a pleasant piece to stitch on because of the Belle Soie silks. I just wished I was done with this already. My 2008 JCS Ornamanets are steadily on their way and I still have 5 more left from 2007 to start on. Ugh! Me and my mother are involved in a mother-daughter round robin and we decided on Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by Carriage House Samplings. My mother stitched the first block, which she did a spectacular job at (no surprises there!) and I have the second block to which the progress is anything but. Since this piece isn’t in my current rotation I stitch on this when I can – at least an hour each day if that’s even possible. Plus, I’m not used to 40 ct linen so I’m still adjusting. Good thing though, my mom is currently working on a model for Just Cross Stitch so she wouldn’t have time to stitch on Shores right now even IF I had my block complete. So I guess I’m doing okay for now.

The weather is terrible right now. It is extremely gray and dark outside and in the house. Thunder too. OMG!!! I think I hear the tornado siren right now--------I do! I’m going to have to jet. I just turned the weather on and we’re under a tornado watch. Jeez…not this again! Third week in a row for this type of weather.

Talk soon.

seahorse & winter love progress

I want to share a few progress photos of Seahorse Scissors & Fob and Winter Love…if you can call them “progress.” I suppose more x's stitched into a project (no matter how many) constitutes progress. It's been a little slow the last couple days on the stitching front but here they are.

[once was]

[is]
Winter Love
SamSarah Designs
JCS Ornament Issue 2007

[once was]

[is]
Seahorse Scissors & Fob
The Heart’s Content

I managed to get a little more red into Winter Love and the Seahorse has more shape to his head now, with a hint of pink added to the tail. The seahorse is stitched 1-over-1 on 29 ct so it has detail to it and the colors spring out. It looks like artwork as opposed to needlework. It's nice! Today I've been working on Traveling Stitcher by LHN and the colors are lovely. I'm not a huge fan of pink, but the Ladybug pink from Crescent Colours is so pretty and soft. I'm havin' fun with it.

Gotta split! We’re having a friend over for dinner this evening and we’re preparing the meal now to be ready around 6:00. Plus, I want to continue stitching on my Traveling Stitcher too.

Talk soon!

show and tell

First things first! Check out Tanya’s new “do.” The Sampler Girl has a brand new website and she did it ALL by herself. Go check it out.

I have been slacking, majorly! I don’t know what has gotten into me. I have been up to a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but as my “how I’m feeling” face displays, I am beside myself – don’t know what’s wrong. I hope after this post I’ll get back on track. Maybe I have spring fever or something. It is warm right now.

Several little goodies have come in the mail lately and that has cheered me up. I bought one of Tanya’s motif magnets from her Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago and it came last week, along with this cute little tote bag. I love it on my fridge.

Me and my mom stumbled onto these sweet little necklace charms. She got one and I got two. They are so very sweet. We found them here. One has a youthful woman sewing. Her verse reads “I feed my soul with the stitches I sew” and we both have that one. It also has a catching verse from Nathanial Hawthorne on the back. I just loved the little girl sewing next to her needfuls and had to have it. Behind the charm it reads "Take your needle child, and work at your pattern; it will come out a rose by and by. Life is like that - one stitch at a time taken patiently and the pattern come out all right like the embroidery." Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Last Saturday me and my mom went to the fabric store and had a very confusing, yet fun and exhausting time trying to sort through the thousands of bolts of fabric just trying effortlessly to search for complimentary colors and prints. I am merely a blooming quilter and mom isn’t one. We wished my Aunt Pam was there because we would have had everything we needed in no time. My aunt has such a keen high for this stuff.

Anyway, I receive the Fons & Porter Love of Quilting Magazine (thanks to Aunt Pam!) and I saw a pattern for a table runner in the January/February issue I want to tackle. We thought this process was going to be easy, but boy were we wrong. I can admit failure, but I cannot accept defeat. I picked a print fabric for my focus but me and mom could not for the life of us find matching or bouncing fabrics. After over an hour of searching for what seemed like an eternity, not to mention I think we were searching for a needle, we gave up on that color palette and quoting words from an anonymous woman, “I started from scratch.” Back to the ole’ drawing board we went.

The left side is the pattern done in Valentine theme from my magazine. On the right, I chose colors to match my decor and interest. I think we did pretty well considering what we picked out in the beginning. Gorgeous but trivial.

Finally, we picked our jump-off fabric and all of a sudden as if the heavens opened and angels sang we had our matching fabrics. Everything just came together and we were more than thrilled, excited, happy we were about to get the h*** out of there. We love the fabric store, but we were in there too long. My dad took Jose to the movie and they made it back to our house before me and my mom, and they dropped her off with me prior to their movie. Now that is just way too long people…admit it! LOL

Not only did I purchase fabric for my new project, I also picked out an extra Civil War Reproduction piece (1/2 yard) and two full yards of each of the 1930’s reproduction fabric. I plan on making a reversible sewing machine cover that ties on the sides with these 2 pieces. I can’t wait! The cover that comes with the Viking is a hard plastic and it takes over the room (too BIG) so I need something more me and more attractive. :D

A not too far distant past I said I had ripped my craft area apart in order to get it organized and get my things within hands’ reach. I’m almost there and I will post photos, but not now ~ sorry! However, my fabric stash is organized and here’s what that looks like.

I think for having this stash of fabrics for about 5 years and not being a queen quilter, I think this is a nice little beginner stash, don’t you think? I do more crafting and stitching and I love using fabrics to “finish” pieces up. It fascinates me and it’s personal. I also have some of my grandma’s fabrics from years ago. I’ve labeled those Grandma’s Textiles. I know…I’m a complete dork. ;o) I also have her laces, crochet accessories, and lots of little of this and that going on. I’m honored to have it and will find some use.

I started early on a Christmas ornament this year bc I started way too late last year. I haven’t done a lot of stitching lately bc of all my other things, but this is the progress on SamSarah's Winter Love from the JCS 2007 issue. I enjoy stitching with Belle Soie and I love the over-dyed fabric. I should have my floss tag done, but I don’t. As soon as I get one of these little stitchings complete I’ll start on my table runner or sewing machine cover. There is just so much to do and not enough seconds, minutes, hours, in a day or rather my lifetime to get all that I want done.

My Just Cross Stitch magazine came today and I am not too thrilled with it. Nothing appeals to me this issue. The blackwork bookmarks design is the model my mother stitched so I’m proud to say that, but other than this nothing yells at me. Maybe better luck next time.

Me and the boys went to mom’s today and Cameron got a haircut. He looks like such a big boy, but still so sweet. His hair was getting really long and needed a good trim. While at mom’s a book and DVD came for me. My mom is so wonderful! She does a lot for me and I hope she realizes how appreciative I am towards her affection, love, attention and generosity (I hope you do mom.). I know it’s because she loves me so so much. I recently told her that I had an idea of stitching a selection of Ohio reproduction samplers and giving them a home on their own wall of sampler fame. She is the best mom ever! She bought me a book called Ohio Is My Dwelling Place. I can't begin to explain the price, but she got a fantastic deal with her wise shopping ways. Now, I haven’t gone through the whole thing because I plan on reading it thoroughly, but it has the entire history of Ohio samplers and the regions and counties. I am in awe over this gift. The photos that I have seen are stunning! I’ll post more about it later.

The other item that came from mom was a DVD called Judith Baker Montano Teaches You Crazy Quilting, which I’ve been interested in exploring for a year or so. I watched a little bit of it this afternoon while I put Cameron down for a nap. Let’s just say, I got far enough into the lessons to realize what we did wrong with color in the fabric store on Saturday. LOL

You live and learn…and laughing along the way always helps. :o) Talk soon because I still have more show and tell to offer.

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.