Happy Mail

 I wasn't going to order these charts from the Needlework Expo. Really. But I wanted some floss and the store had them. There is just so much temptation I can resist!

I got the charm pack to go with the French Kitchen Cuisine Francais chart I already have.

Flowers get me everytime.

I'm not sure about this one as I thought each flower was different and didn't realize how primitive they are. 

Again, flowers.

I just like this one and its friend the ship. I don't think these are new but I bet they will be a quick fun stitch.

I got the bird and nest done yesterday on Margaret Light's Blackbird Needlecase. Yeah! Now onto the butterfly and flower.

It's supposed to be 67 today, a great day for walking.

A

Monday

 It's Monday and my colostomy hurts. Wish I or the doctors knew how to fix it. But enough whining. Well one more whine, The Price is Right has been interrupted by bad news. Rats.

I worked very hard on the Blackbird Needlecase.  I got the oak leaves done and stitched the acorns. Just the blackbird and nest to finish in this section.

The oak leaves are stitched with filament silk. Filament silk is awful to work with. It catches on everything. The only thing positive I can say about it is that it is shiny. I also like the color. I started on the eggs in the nest. After I do the big flower the front will be all done! The goal today is to work on the nest and the bird.

A

Flag and Strawberries

 This is as far as I got. I didn't get around to looking for rick rack.

The back is messy, I could cover a circle of comic board with fabric and glue it to the back.

Maybe it doesn't need rick rack at all. But I should secure it somehow in the bowl.  I'm still thinking . . .

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Finishing Friday

 I did it! I finally figured out a way to finish Emie's Etui. There was one part I didn't understand so I did my own thing. Also I didn't have red ribbon for the lacing so I ende up using a green that I had.

This is the front. Open it up and there is a pocket on the inside.

Open up the other side and this is what you see. My confusion was that it seemed like you stitch lining over an already lined section. So Instead I folded that side back and made another pocket.

This is the back which has a pocket for the needlebook that I haven't made yet.

This is the lacing on the side of the needlebook pocket.

Glad to have this done. 

I was able to finish the round bird with the flag. I'm going looking for some rick rack for the edge.

I'll show you tomorrow.

A

The Hunt

 I was reading the Blue Ribbon Sampler Girl's blog and she was talking about visiting the Quilted Sunflower, a store in Kansas (I think). I saw some fabric in one of her photos that I really liked. So I went to the Quilted Sunflower's site and tried to track it down. And I did! So I ordered some. It came in the mail yesterday.

Isn't it pretty? I don't have any plans for this fabric right now.

I am working on some finishing today. I started over on sewing the lining to Emie's Etui. 

I also found a way to finish the round bird design.  I found a knee high hose and put some fiberfill in it so it looks like a ball. I gathered the linen around it. Now I'm ready to put in some comic board in the bottom. The comic board fits inside the bowl I want to use.

We'll see how it works out tomorrow.

DH got his first vaccine shot today! I'm so happy!

A

A Finish

 I finished stitching the Hands On design With This Needle I Thee Thread.  It was an easy quick stitch. I read the finishing instructions and it will be no trouble to finish finish. 

I have to find a bit of lining fabric.

I spent the morning trying to sew the lining in Emie's Etui only to realize that I was sewing it in backwards. Rats. So I took it out and will try another day to sew it in.

I was forewarned that this project was hard to finish by Ann's blog. Evidently I messed up anyway.

I've been kitting up a couple of new starts.  

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Needlework Expo

 I got my order from the Silver Needle of Needlework Expo stuff. I was very good and only ordered a few things. I know, I don't need anything more to stitch. This is what I bought:

This was a kit and it looked so sweet. I couldn't resist.

I liked the colors and motifs on this Teresa Kogut sampler, especially the butterfly.

I love this box. It has some charms that go with it but I haven't ordered those yet (maybe I order today).

Too much fun!

A

I Tried

 I decided to try and make the Renaissance Ribbons bag with as much of a zipper as I could and see what other mistakes I made along the way. So I tried to follow the directions. It wasn't as easy as you might think. The instructions and videos use ribbons for the outside of the bag. I had a combination of ribbons and fabric for the outside of the bag. The pattern includes an addendum to the directions for using  fabric.  I think they should give you complete directions for what you have in the kit. I'm an experienced sewer but I still made mistakes. I decided to unsubscribe to the club. But I also ordered a new zipper so I could sew the bag correctly. The bag turned out smaller than I thought it would be,  I'm not sure I like the soft and stable used as interfacing. It looks pretty good actually.

Seams show on the inside of mine but that is because I goofed and quilted the lining to the soft and stable when I shouldn't have.

Vicki Solberg makes such nice bags. I have lots of her project bags. I should just order from her.

A

Happy Mail

 I got this kit yesterday from Amy Mitten.  It was mailed from Calgary Canada on February 24th and I just got it yesterday, March 19th. 

There are a lot of pages of instructions. But Amy Mitten's kits have great instructions. I'm always impressed with what I was able to accomplish after I make one of her kits.

This is what is in the kit.

I love the design on the cards.

There are precut boards to make the box. It is work on 40 count. I can't start it yet. I've got to finish a couple of things first. It will be gorgeous when it is done. 

A

I'm an Idiot Parts 685 and 686

 I got a great kit in the mail yesterday. I saw it on Facebook and ended up joining the club, hoping I would be able to make these bags. I like Kaffe Fassett fabric and these looked like fun. 

I read the directions but wasn't quite sure about making it. So I watched the recommended videos. That's when I realized I messed up. I cut both ends off the zipper. That was all fine. But then I assumed I needed to cut the zipper in half. Nope. Now what do I do? Can I fix it? We'll see. I may have to order another zipper. Rats.

Then I remembered that I was going to show you the Strawberry project all stitched yesterday. Totally slipped my mind. So here it is.

I measured a small bowl that I got from Stitchville and I think it will fit nicely in it.

Basketball is on instead of The Young and the Restless. Happens every year. 

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New Start

 I started a Hands-On Design yesterday. 

I'm using 36 count instead of the recommended 32 count. Also I'm using one strand over two, Hands-On recommends using two strands on 32 count. What a rebel I am!

I think this will go fast. I love that the chart includes some charms.

I also faced my closet dilemma and dug down to the bin with the dupioni silk in it. The pattern uses red silk and I found some! 

I have about five packages in route to me. It's going to be a happy mail week!

A

Miscellaneous

 This is where I am on the "A".

I had to do some frogging. I broke the first rule of cross stitch (according to me) which is start in the right place. I do have some issues with this chart. Too similar symbols, no overlap for the pages. I still have some moe stitches to frog but I'm waiting until I get to that point. I am trying to finish a small section everyday.

I got this in the mail yesterday. I have to decide how large I want it to be. Well, actually I want it small but not over one on forty.

This is the comic board laced to the inside of Emie's Etui. I have to dig around in my closet to find some dupioni lining fabric. But that box is the third one down and it will be a hassle to get it out - and put it back.

I finished the little strawberry design from yesterday. I'll show you tomorrow.

A

A New Start

 Guess what my BFF sent me?

I couldn't believe they make this flavor! Yum. She sent me a whole bunch of goodies. Thanks BFF!

This is my new start. Yes, strawberries again. I wonder if I have a container to finish this in.

I'm more than half done so this should be done soon.

A

Back to the Future

 With a couple of things finished, I have to decide what to work on next. I picked up the Blackbird Needlecase. I had to figure out where I was and what comes next. I had to finish up the seven mounds along the bottom. That meant I had to finally stitch that black dog. I did him but still want to put a white highlight in his eyes and on his nose. Then I have wanted to stitch the pansy. So I did. I tried changing it a bit here and there, I substituted a different thread for two of the petals and added a black center. I'm happy with it. This project reminds me how much I prefer a more delicate embroidery using silk floss.

I have afew more mounds to finish off and I can start on the other elements.

I made thumbprint cookies but didn't put jelly in the middle. I sprinkled some raw sugar on them instead. They are quick to make and only make around a dozen cookies.

I watched part of the Grammies last night. I thought it was well done but I'm not into rapping.

A

Finished Finished

 I got the Sweet Summer, Come Again projects all done.  Finishing sure takes a long time.

The needle roll is so cute. 

It was 21 degrees when we woke up this morning. Cold. At least the sun is shining. 

I been cutting the pieces to finish Emie's Etui. I need to get that one all done. 

I've got the bug to make cookies this morning. 

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Finishing Friday

 I was able to finish the little needle roll that goes with the drum on Sweet Summer, Come Again.

This is the perfect fabric for the side of the drum.

Then I finally cut some comic board for the scissor fob on Emie's Etui. So I can sew this together.

It is colder today. I'm not ready to spring ahead this weekend!

A

Finish

 I have another finish! I love this strawberry design and I finished it this morning.  I have to make it into a drum.  I think I have the perfect William Morris fabric for it. 

I didn't have Weeks Dye Works Dolphin for the blue flowers so I substituted.  Dolphin is very gray and I prefer bluer anyway. I want to make the little roll too. Maybe I'll start that this afternoon. This will be a four inch round drum.

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DONE!!!

 Okay, I couldn't just leave the Blackwell Roundel un-put-together. It wasn't easy but I did it. The pin cushion on top is installed. The embroidery has been mounted and laced. I did it!

The embroidery looks pretty good. It is hard embroidering on two pieces of organza and making sure no threads on the back show on the front. I really learned a lot. I'm glad I stuck with it to the end. 

I think I'll have a pina colada tonight to celebrate!

A