I found it at last!

Yes, indeed I did find it. Lois at Elegant Stitch had one left and it's on the way to me. Thanks Lois. And thank you all, who looked for this kit for me. I appreciate the time and trouble you all went through looking at the various sites for me. You ladies are the greatest! And isn't Lois the sweetest person out there? Drema is a close second. I'm sending out a great big hug to all of you who joined the search.

THANK YOU ALL!!!

Finally, a Shepherd's Bush Finish

Yes, you read that right, after weeks and weeks of stitching, I finally have a SB finish to report. And a blue SB--almost unheard of. Not that it took me that long to stitch this--I just couldn't get going on it with so much else in front of me. This was started Sunday afternoon, while hubby was watching the race, and the front was nearly finished before I started dinner. Which, of course, meant that I really resented starting dinner when I could have continued stitching and had a faster finish. OH, well, it's now done, and I'm off to clean out some of my unfinished items. Think I'll stick to the SB ones, like Fright and Jingle that have been started.

Don't you just hate seeing something that you would love to stitch and then you can't find it at any of the online stores? I saw a finish on Legacy Finis forum, Victorian Elegance by Indigo Rose, that I just fell in love with. But, none of the stores I'm familiar with is carrying it. I'm wondering if it's a limited edition piece. It looks fabulous in her Black on White but I think it would look really pretty done on antique lavender linen in a deep purple silk. Or even done on a dark linen with a lovely variegated pastel silk. Oh, the possibilities.

Alyssum Pocket

Finally, a new finish. This one was an easy stitch, Alyssum Pocket by Cat's Whisker, but a very difficult finish for me. I loved the color of the Dinky Dye used, and the silk was really lovely to use. I also liked the shape and everything about it--except the finishing. But, for those of you who are doing it, or have done it, you'll know what I'm talking about.

I'm planning on using the small design of the plant in the vase that is on the back to make a matching fob for the scissors. I've already gotten the design stitched, just have to decide exactly how I want to do the finishing.

Next project? Shepherd's Bush 2007 Scissor Fob, which I've already started this afternoon. Hope to have another finish soon. After that? I have to do some clean up--way too many projects partially completed, and sitting on my table.

My question to all of you? What are you working on? And do you have way too many unfinished projects sitting around your house? And what is the next thing on your stash buying list? I think my next purchase will be Indigo Rose's Victorian Elegance. I saw it finished on Legacy Finis Forum and just fell in love with it. Actually, I'd like to find just the chart as I'd prefer a different color rather than black. I'm thinking a nice lovely deep purple would look smashing. Maybe on antique lavender linen?

As always, I love reading your comments, suggestions, and such, as much as I love reading your blogs. Its just so much fun sharing our love of stitching.

A Gift for a Friend

I've mentioned that I was working on a gift for a friend that I couldn't post until she received it. She got it today, so now I'm free to share with everyone what it looks like.

It started out a kit from Elegant Stitch, called From the Heart, pocket smalls. It took me a while to understand all of Lois' instructions as it was the first project I'd done of hers, beyond the Essy kits. There was a lot of pulled stitches and over one stitching, with perle cotton no less, but I think it turned out really well. After stitching and finishing the scissor fob, for the scissors included in the kit, and the needlebook, I decided the set needed a pincushion. Using the chart for the front of the fob, I enlarged it a bit, to make it square, with the pulled stitches around the outside, and used the rice stitches to make it a bit more colorful. The bottom side only has the pulled stitches. It made a very small biscornu but looked very nice and matched the set quite well.

This set was sent to Beth, Cabin Cross Stitch, with love and gratitude. She knew we have been going through some financial hardships and without even asking, took it upon herself to send me stitching kits. She has, over the last few months, sent me most of the new Shepherd's Bush kits. She's also sent me fabric and other projects we've both had an interest in stitching. Beth, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are a friend, indeed.

Side bar. Beth has been trying to start an online cross stitch store, and posted on the SBBB about a sale, to introduce herself to the community of stitchers. She offered a 30% off any item Shepherd's Bush; leaflets, kits, etc. Besides me, she had one person take her up on her offer. So, if there are any of you out there contemplating adding a few more projects to your stash, give her a shout, or send her an email. Her email is: bethstricklin@yahoo.com I give you my guarantee, she's the best.

My thanks to you, the readers who leave such encouraging comments.

An Essy Kit Finish

I haven't posted for about two weeks. Usually only post when I have a finish and my last finish can't be posted as its a gift for a friend and I don't want her to see it here first. I have taken pictures so I'll post it as soon as she receives it.

This finish is the last Essy Kit by Elegant Stitch and its a cutie. Its a stitched case for chapstick brand lip balm. It could easily have been finished a bit larger to hold a different brand. These are the things I love, every day useable objects made pretty and special with a little stitching. They make a person feel special just using them.

I'm sad that this is the last kit Lois is doing. I have had a wonderful time stitching her monthly kits and she has done such great work for Breast Cancer. It was always such a surprise when the kits arrived in the mail box, and without fail, I had to drop anything I was doing to stitch the new kit. Thank you, Lois.

So, what do you think?

Topiary Ornament

This is Topiary Ornament, 2000, by Hillside Samplings. I made it into a scissor fob, because I needed a heavy fob to balance these scissors. It is filled with the poly pellets. The top charm, a glass star is by Mill Hill and the bow is from Threadgatherer, Gilded Lavender. I think it turned out well, but I didn't enjoy working on this particular linen. For some reason, the fabric seemed to reflect the light, and that made it difficult to see just where the stitches went.

I have several other things in the works right now, which I can't talk about or show you, as its a gift for a friend. As soon as she receives the gift, I'll post a picture here. Next project will probably be the Shepherd's Bush 2007 Fob kit, or I might act responsible and finish Jingle. Or maybe I should find something new--learn a new skill. Oh wait. That will come when I finish off that gift--its lined in regular fabric, and not linen. And I have a few changes I want to make to the inside of it.

Thats all for now. Thank you all for your kind comments and for visiting. Until the next time. Happy Stitching.

Bee Charmer Biscornu

For some reason, I have become addicted to "smalls". Those of you in the same position will understand. Is it because they are small? Compact? Intricate? Addicting? All of the above, I would say. Yet, how can I possibly use that many needle books, pincushions, biscornu ? I don't add fobs to that list because I use every one of them, for all the scissors I've collected. A quick sidebar to the fob situation. I'm about 8 fobs behind for the scissors I have, so if anyone would like to stitch up a fob for me, or design something special, I'd be very happy to have some more. Like most stitchers, I treasure what other stitchers spend their time stitching for me.

Lately, I've been working on the biscornu, those cute little 8 sided tuffets that look so complicated to sew but are relatively easy to do, once you know the trick. And they do look very elegant. I've been displaying them in the china cabinet, sitting on top of pretty china cups. One of these days, I want to make an entire matching set, little pockets and fobs, needlebooks and ruler holders, pincushions and beeswax holders, all to fit into my Shaker box--when I find the right Shepherd's Bush picture for the oval top. (If anyone has a suggestion, please, I'm all ears. I've been searching for the "just right" one for years now.)

Here is my latest biscornu--and just how is that pronounced? Its The Bee Charmer by Indigo Rose. It came as a kit, and the nicest packaged kit I've ever gotten. The silks were all in their own little baggies, the Bee and the bottom button, along with the tassel beads, in another. The linen was of the very best quality, and the stuffing was included. Yes, isn't that amazing? A baggie of plastic pellets, the ones used for fobs and dolls, was included. I'd never even considered using those pellets to stuff a biscornu but it makes the cushion fairly heavy, and it feels good in your hand. Also makes it easier to position it for display. It does make the button a lot harder to sew on.

My pictures aren't the best--it was a bit dark in the house and I was in a hurry. We're going to watch a movie, make popcorn, and I'm going to stitch. Last night, after finishing this biscornu, I started the Elegant Stitch From the Heart, pocket smalls. Another needlebook and fob--just what I need, eh?

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read my blathers. Have a great weekend and get those needles smokin'.

Look what I just finished

I saw this design and fell in love. The stitching was not a problem. I did change the colors because blue is more to my taste than the colors the designer choose. Finishing was going to be a problem. I'd never done anything like this, or on this scale. And let me tell you, even with all the pieces stitched, the cording made, the special pieces done, and all the prep work done, it still took me all day Sunday to get it put together, and nearly two hours to sew it all the way around. Had to do the pincushion twice and it doesn't look exactly like it should as the designer used silk to cover it and I had to use linen. (No silk in the house of the right color.) I did change the way the scissor pocket was finished. I didn't like the way it was tucked and sewn so I finished it like the inside pages were finished. Instead of lining it with silk, which the scissor tips would pierce and damage, I applied a backing of ultra suede and that worked just fine. I'm hoping to find a pair of blue handled scissors to match the set.

I stitched this project on white Belfast linen, with Threadgatherer Silk 'n Colors Alpine Grass and Irish Blues. The cording was made from the Irish Blues, with the scissor bow made of 6 strands and the outside cording made with 9 strands each.

This was sort of a challenge piece for me, it's something I've never done. It was, in some ways, more difficult than I had thought, and in some ways easier. So, my challenge for you--to try something you have never done before and post about it. One of these days, I'll finish the edging on my first crocheted sweater, and post a picture of it. Took me all last winter to get it crocheted and by then it was too warm to wear it. (Of course, most of the sweater was crocheted while riding in the truck.) With the 24 hours of snow heading our way, its just the time for it. And I think I'll pull the yarn I have to start my first knitted sweater. But, if we are stuck in the house by the 8-12 inches of snow heading our way, maybe I'll just stitch. Get those WIP's out and get the needles smoking.

Keep safe, keep warm, and keep stitching.

A Fabulous Gift from a Sister

Most of you reading, don't know that I have four younger sisters. The five of us are all crafty, in a manner of speaking. Middle sister P is very crafty. She started with stitching and found that it took too much time--she's also a tax expert so is often quite busy--and she has a family to care for. She's tried several different crafts, can do most of them, but a few years ago, she found beading. Found it in a big way. I have been the lucky recipient of several lovely bracelets with matching earrings, but this Christmas, she outdid herself. Isn't this the most lovely necklace you have ever seen? The charm is sterling silver, with Austrian crystal beads, hematite beads, and those lovely black beads. And I got a pair of matching earrings. The necklace has a good weight to it, and is the perfect length.

I think all of you would agree, my sister is really great at making jewelry. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

My Bourse

I finally did it. Made a bourse. Not sure I'm happy with how it turned out, but now that I know how to do it, I can make another one and omit the obvious mistakes. The fabric I chose was beautiful but unsuitable for this project. It was a patchwork fabric, with a lot of seams, which made it difficult to construct the bourse, and it doesn't gather very well.

The sampler inside was inspired by Shepherd's Bush Pretty Pincushion but I changed it all around, added specialty rows and special stitches, more hearts, even a Rhodes heart in the middle. I picked all my favorite colors of silk and really enjoyed the stitching part. The sewing part, not so much. Its been so long since I sat in front of the machine that I got a bit rusty. As I have a ton of leather scissor sheaths to sew up, I'd better get some practice in.

So, what do YOU think?

Sharing My Gifts

After looking at several blogs which featured gifts the writers had received, I thought I'd do the same. NO, I'm not going to photograph every single gift that I got, just a few special ones.

Most of you don't know that hubby and I collect Boyd's Bears and Hares. This year, we got 4 new ones to add to the collection. Isn't the orangutan cute? His name is Hank. Our eldest son found him. Also from our eldest was a box of stitching tools, which I think are wonderful.

The grandchildren know that Grama loves snowmen. So, everyone of them got me a snowman, of one kind or another. One was a snowman coffee cup which is not pictured.

But, I think one of my favorite gifts was this teddy bear. It was a gift from the eldest son's girlfriend and its a build a bear. She came all dressed up in a lovely red dress with ruby shoes, but came prepared for daily life with this really cute denim skirt, tee shirt and jacket. Looks like she's ready to go for a ride in the truck, doesn't she?

My sister made me a lovely beaded necklace which I'll post about later.

Biscornu # 2

This is my second attempt to make a tuffet, or biscornu. I hope I am spelling that correctly. It was a fun stitch, a design by Indigo Rose, called Mary's Pin Pillow. Took me about three days to stitch and finish. This one was quite a bit easier than the first one, being so much larger. It's not perfect, I found a mistake while attaching the tassels, but I'm proud of it. What do you think?

Next project? I think, finish Jingle and then get busy with some framing should be in order. With January half over, I can breathe a sigh of relief and do what ever I want to do. I'm hoping for a bit of snow, so I can cozy in and stitch by the fire. Not too much snow, with dh on the road, and ds driving to work every day. I want them to be safe, but seeing a bit of white covering the drab grasses still left over from autumn would be really nice. The world looks so new and clean with a light blanket of snow.

Thanks for reading, and I hope all of you are snuggling in by the fire with your stitching, too. Until next time. . . . . . . . .

A Very Small Finish

My very small finish is Shepherd's Bush " Snow for All". The kit came with Heatherfield Stardust, 10 count and cotton floss. Since I love snowmen, I just had to do this one. But working on the Heatherfield just doesn't do anything for me so I opted to work a second "Snow for All" on 32 count linen with the same cotton floss. It made up small enough to make into a scissor fob. Couldn't find a mitten charm/button small enough so I had to substitute a little heart charm/button. I think it turned out really cute. What do you think?

A Brand New Year

It's been nearly two months since I've updated this blog--head hung low in shame. Why, you might ask? It's been crazy around here, starting just after I last wrote. That was two weeks before Thanksgiving.

Just after my last post, hubby and I headed for Cleveland, Tennessee, so he could sign on with a new company. It was supposed to last two days. It ended up lasting five days. I packed for two, of course, and what's a woman to do, when she runs out of clothing? Just had to buy more. We had a good time even though the weather was terribly rainy and dismal. We arrived home on Friday, and I was glad to be there.

That Sunday, I was told about company coming for Thanksgiving, in three days! And it was going to be overnight company. We'd just been gone nearly a week, the house was a wreck, and I hadn't bought the turkey. The rush was on. By Wednesday night, the house was clean, the turkey was defrosting and we were waiting on our company.

Jump to the day after Thanksgiving, and I realize, three weeks until Christmas and I haven't started shopping at all. And. . . . . I have five grandchildren. And hubby just started a new job and paychecks won't start for at least a week. Of course, I panic. So, the rest of the month of December was a blur, a rush, and I don't remember hardly any of it. That might be a blessing. Made it through to Christmas morning, the kids were all happy with their gifts, and grinning when they left. My house was once again a huge disaster but this time, I didn't care. Well, not much anyway. Shopping started the day after Christmas for family gifts, as we were leaving that Thursday for Holland, Michigan. Hubby wasn't working that week so we headed for the most incredible shop for gifts that I've ever been in, the D Shoppe in Wabash, Indiana. That wonderful lady that runs the shop even wrapped the gifts for me, for FREE!

Now the holidays are over, its time to sit back, reflect on the year's happenings, the friends met, emails exchanged, projects stitched, and plan on the coming year. Oh, wait, the new year is already here. And that brings me to my favorite subject--stitching. With all the holiday comings and goings, I've not had a lot of time to stitch and actually get anything done. I knitted 10 hats and three scarves for gifts. I've started three different kits, but until today, hadn't finished one stitching project. Here it is, my finished Vintage Red Whitman Set, designed by Fancy Works. It's also my first biscornu.

A Gift, Stitched

Adana brought this gift from SB retreat to me at our Hoosier Stitch in September of this year. Isn't it lovely? Not my stitching, but the gift. It was a big surprise, but she knows just how much I love scissor fobs, and SB. I didn't do the greatest job on this new trim style--much prefer the cording method. I'm going to look at Hobby Lobby and see if I can find a pair of scissors with orange handles, to match the pumpkin.





This month, Esmeralda's Friends brought this lovely kit to my door. Isn't it adorable?

A New Endeavor

After finishing Come Tarry, I didn't want to get involved with anything huge or intricate, so I chose to work on a few "smalls" designs. These are Indigo Rose designs, with a few changes in colors. The fob with the Rhodes hearts should have been light around the outside edge but I choose to match it to the hearts. The blue one is called 3 Penny Fob, but with the size it is, I doubt I could have gotten 3 pennies in it. It was designed for congress cloth but I did all of these on 32 count Belfast. I designed the Needlebook from the 3 Penny fob because I liked the stitch and how the fabric looked after the beads were added. I did not add beads to the back "page" but a cross stitch in that area. It's been fun playing with these tiny pieces, usually only took two or three evenings to complete, and they make a joyful addition to my fobs.

I have recently started working on the SB Retreat Fob, which my friend Adana brought me back from Retreat. As soon as I get it finished, I'll post a picture here. Thanks, Adana.

A New Finish

It was a long time coming. Started last year, but with Christmas stitching, and 20 scarves to knit, it languished in the bottom of my pile for months. Seemed to take forever to get done, but finally, I'm happy to report, I got it finished, ironed, and scanned. Had to scan it in two parts, but my friend Deb "stitched" the two pictures together for me so that I could show it in its entirety. Was it worth the several months spent stitching it?

There were spots in this sampler that I despised doing. The whitework section was the worst for me. And the top hill seemed to take forever. I'll always be thankful to Lancy for sending me some Williamsburg green to finish it. My favorite section was the sheepies. I'm thinking I can use those cute sheep for other things. In fact, I have this Adam's Original bag with a linen front that they would look perfect on.

My next project will be a Christmas gift for my Father. And I'll also add Drawn Thread's Gameboard as my next SAL with Adana. She's so far ahead of me, I don't know if I can catch up. But, I'll have some extra time when she heads for Utah to the SB retreat. While she's having a great time, I'll be feverishly stitching.

Until next time, keep those needles smokin'.

Trip to House of Stitches

Our drive to House of Stitches, in LaPorte, IN takes over two hours. We set out fairly early, at least for us. Before 10 a.m. For the five days prior, DH had been stuck in a truck, with no one to talk with, except for when he called me. So, the trip to HOS was non-stop talking. On his side. Even going over my list and putting some music on didn't hinder him.

At last, we reached HOS. Made pretty good time, too. Only had one potty stop. Linda and all the ladies were waiting, and knowing what dh's tolerance point was, I had my shopping all planned out. I walked into the store, and all those plans just flew out the door behind me. It had been close to two years since I'd been in a stitching store and I was going to enjoy every minute.

But, wait. I have to set the scene for you. Here is this lovely store, a bit cramped for all the great things to see. Enter this big bear of a man, in a store generally visited by ladies, and he stuck out like a sore thumb. He towered over all the women there, didn't seem to know what to do with his hands, until I stuck a calculator into them. So, he wandered around behind me, carrying the calculator and the shopping basket, until I reached the fabric cutting table. He found a chair and ensconced himself in it, along with the basket, so I got to run around the shop and take things back to him, while he added it all up. I was in heaven. Until I found all the new Waterlilies silks. A ton of new ones, that Lois hasn't put up on her website. Now it was time to go to work, get the colors I was missing, while dh tried to keep up with imputing prices. The higher the total got, the higher his eyebrows.

I walked out of the store with 39 skeins of silk, two pair of scissors, a few leaflets, one kit, four pieces of fabric, two magazines, a silk "remember the ladies" kit and a few JABC buttons. Dh laughed over the look on my face. And for his patience, he got a lunch out.

We arrived home just at dinner time, and ds had dinner ready. It was my best birthday ever.

A Special Birthday Surprise

I sort of dreaded my birthday this year. It wasn't a milestone or anything like that, but it has slowly been penetrating my brain--I'm getting old. Don't really feel older but when you hit 53 years, its a bit of a shock when you still feel 30. My family started asking in June "what do you want for your birthday?" How could I tell them, "to be younger"?

I knew right off the bat, what my dear husband was planning. A long awaited trip to a cross stitch store. House of Stitches. Best shop in Indiana. He'd been promising that since Christmas. And I'd been saving money so I could go nuts in the shop, which I did. More about that later.

Anyway, back to not looking forward to my birthday. About two weeks before the dreaded day, I got a package in the mail. Wasn't expecting anything, no orders being shipped so I was really surprised. My friend Adana's return address was on the box. Couldn't wait to open it. This is what was inside. She made this herself--a lovely wooden box, all lined inside with pretty blue fabric, with a cute card, a pair of scissors and a bookmark. She chose all the things I loved. Shepherd's Bush sheepie design, scissors, the color blue and teapots. She sanded and stained the box herself. Stitched the top motif, which is from Garden Gate, did all the finishing work, and it turned out most lovely. And she made me feel special. How could I dread my birthday when I had friends like Adana?

She doesn't even know how much she did for me. How she brightened my outlook on life, how being friends with her has opened me up to more possibilities. Thank you Adana, you ROCK!

My birthday turned out just fine. My son, his wife Olivia, and my grandkids took me out for dinner, gifted me with a game, and a stuffed animal Garfield, for my car. My son Chad gave me a photo printer. My parents sent me money to add to my shopping spree at House of Stitches. And my darling Shawn took me there. But, that is another story for another time. Thanks for reading.

SAL updated

The stitching part of our SAL is finished and all there is left is the finishing. I've completed mine, put the top into a pincushion box and sewed up the fob--even attached the scissors. It makes a cute little table top set. Adana is thinking of making her box top into a needle roll, and I think that will look great. She was to work on her fob tonight. I'm hoping to get a picture of her set soon. Until then, here is mine.

What is the quarter all about? We're doing an estimated size difference. I worked mine on 40 count lambswool linen, and Adana worked on 32 count. We wanted to find out how much of a difference it made, using two counts.