Almost But No Cigar

I am almost done with lacing, backstitching or whatever you call the side stitching.  It feels like weaving actually.  I have about two more rows to go.

There is a part that I don't like and need to fix.  At the bottom the foamcore shows a bit.  I like that the scissors fit in well.  There is a magnet in the handle of the mirror so they don't fall out.  I'm thinking how I can add a few lacing stitches to the sides.

The bathrooms are clean.

I opened the gingerbread house kit and the house is already put together!  And the icing is already mixed and ready to go!   The box actually says that the house is fully assembled.  But I didn't read the box until now.  I wrapped up Dylan's gifts so I am ready.  I just have a bunch of stuff to carry.  The snow has let up a bit (it is supposed to snow more tonight) so driving should be okay on the main roads.  I always worry anyway.

My knee is feeling stronger and I want to get my steps in today as I am at a new low weight-wise.
Life is good.
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Great Strides

I am making great strides in getting Mermaid Treasures to the finish line.  I put together the other side of the mirror frame yesterday.

Then I started the lacing together of the two sides.  Not easy.  But I'm using a different technique than when I put the snail together.  (This is the reason I am remaking the snail - so I can lace it together more neatly.)  I like this way much better.  So far, so good.  Now all that is left to do is the backstitched edge.  I am ready to start that.

It is still snowing.  Our street hasn't been plowed yet.  My knee feels better today and hopefully I'll be able to get back to my walking tomorrow.

I finished stitching the Queen Victoria Scissors Case.  I love the flowers on her skirt.  I've decided to just finish her off with fabric rather than make her double sided.

We got the last instructions for Barbara Jackson's Peace on Earth ornament so I want to get busy on that.
I think I will try to put together the large gingerbread house kit so that Dylan can just decorate it tomorrow.  He forgot his glasses last week so no Pizza Hut personal pan pizza this week.  I think maybe I'll take the ingredients to make a smoothie instead.  Of course, I have a few gifts for him.
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Tweaked

As I was walking the track at the Y yesterday, my knee got tweaked.  I must have twisted it somehow.  Rats.  I'm a bit gimpy.  Since we had a bunch of snow last night and I don't want to drive in it, I'm not going to exercise today.  So I'll just stay home and stitch and watch it snow out the window.

I resisted as long as I could.  Then I called and signed up for the Shepherd's Fold club thing.  It will be fun to get some kits in the mail every so often.  I love making smalls anyway.  I guess that it starts in February.

I am on the next step with Mermaid's Treasures which is using the detached buttonhole stitch to join the front lining to the front of the mirror like so:

I am so thrilled with how it is turning out.  Every once in a while, I say to myself "I made this!"
I love those little clippy things.  I got them with a gift certificate from son#1 to Amazon (they carry an amazing array of things).  The clips are very handy.  I've got my eye on some things at Amazon just in case Santa gets me another gift certificate.

I made a bit of progress on the Queen Victoria Scissors case.  I am one stitch off on the bottom (the  greenish border is one stitch taller than it should be) but I've chosen not to worry about it.  Now the question is do I do the back in a lovely fabric or do I stitch another Victoria?  I'd like to stitch another Victoria but I have so many things to stitch.  I'm thinking . . .
Wishing you a fun weekend!
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Back to the Mermaid

Since we got the last lesson of Mermaid Treasures, I started the finishing.  The first thing was to cut out the stumpwork mermaid.  Scary!  But easy to do.  Then stitch it on the mirror backing.  Easy to do.  Then buttonhole stitch the frame that I finished in the previous lesson over the mermaid.

 I can do that.  I'm half way around the mirror frame and I like how it looks.  So far, so good.

 I like how the tail sticks out a bit.  Everything is coming together.  I was motivated to get going on this because I got an email that the Casket Keepsakes kit has been sent.  It will take a while to get here but it is on its way.  Yeah!

Then I read Shepherd's Bush Blog and they are offering "Fold".  It is a club where every month for a year you get a kit of some needlework related item to stitch and it all fits into a (very expensive but optional) box.  Oh-oh, I'm tempted to sign up!

I put a few stitches into the Queen Victoria scissors case.  I'm missing DMC 642.  I should have a ton of that color but I can't find any.  I may have to make a run to Hobby Lobby or substitute.

We're expecting more snow tonight.  Estimates range from one inch to 7 inches.   I can handle one inch of snow.  If we get seven, I'm staying home.
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Boxes Done

The packages to my kids are sent off!  Now I can get back to stitching.  The step stool is on its way to Claire.  I made some mistakes on it but it will do.  The living room can be cleared of a multitude of boxes and packing materials.  Now I just have to figure out where to put the Christmas tree.

I got something in the mail yesterday that I won on ebay.  I had been looking for it for a long time and when it finally came up I made a bid and swore not to go any higher and if I won it, it was meant to be.  It is the Mary Beale design "Queen Victoria - a doll for scissors".

 It's small and cute and I had to start it.  I had to go diving in the floss bin to find the recommended colors.  I've already changed a color, as her eyes were too light a blue.  It is a fun stitch.

Then I got the last (!) lesson in the Mermaid's Treasures tutorial.  Yeah!  I can finish this.  Wow, this has been an all year project.  I want to get this finished before the Casket Keepsakes tutorial begins on December 21st - nine days away.

Luckily, we did not get the snow forecast for yesterday.  Every day here is an adventure when it comes to driving.  So far, I'm still alive.

Here is my caramel corn recipe from Deanna House who was a wonderful cooking teacher:
Oven-Made Caramel Corn
5 quarts popped corn
1 cup butter or margarine (butter!)
2 cups brown sugar firmly packed  (I use dark brown sugar)
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1. Spread freshly popped corn in a large baking pan.  ( DH does the popping
and measuring for me and I use a large foil pan designed to cook turkeys in)
Put it in a 250 degree oven to keep warm and crisp
2. Combine butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and salt in a 2 quart heavy
saucepan.
3.  Place over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.  Continue to
stir and cook to 248 degrees on your candy thermometer (firm ball stage).
This takes about 5 minutes.  ( in what universe??  it takes me way longer
than that)
4.  Remove from heat and stir in baking soda.  Syrup will foam.
5.  Take popped corn from oven and pour hot caramel mixture over it in a
fine stream. (You can't pour it in a fine stream)  Stir and mix well.
6.  Return to 250 degree oven for 45 - 50 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
( I take it out of the oven and stir it around trying to get the syrup on
the bottom of the pan to coat the popcorn)
7.  Cool and package for gift giving or eating!

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Not Much Stitching

I spent the day cooking yesterday so not a lot of stitching got done.  I used my sewing machine to stitch the linen and lining together on the Ebony and Ivory Neccessaire.

 I need to iron it nicely and see how it looks.  The tool pockets made of black ultrasuede still need to be sewn to the back of the pinkeep.

We are expecting snow today.  The estimates range from 2 to 8 inches.  I think we've already gotten two inches.  Luckily I'm home and warm.  Time to play Santa and box up the stuff for the kids.  I'm trying not to munch on all the goodies here.  The step stool is done.  I've decided it is folk art so it doesn't need to be perfect.
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Caramel Corn Day

It is Caramel Corn Day here at the Chateau.  Every year I make caramel corn for the kids (who aren't kids anymore) and the neighbors and DH and me.  So today is the day.

The first batch of caramel corn is in the oven.  A large batch of fudge has been made.

 The kids don't like nuts in their fudge but we do.  I have a few more special recipes to make.  This is all in preparation for sending off Christmas packages by the end of the week.

I am finishing the sewing on the pin keep/pocket of Ebony and Ivory.  The ribbon is just to be pinned on but I think that is cheating and am sewing it on.

 I also made the thread tunnels on the lining of the Ebony and Ivory Neccessaire.  But I'm thinking, How do you store threads in the tunnels?  How does one use this part?

The  finishing directions on this piece are from the school of  "you know what I mean".  As a Montessori teacher we learned to break down each lesson into very basic steps.  I've found that good directions do this too.  On this project there isn't even the basic direction in the finishing instructions that says  "sew the lining to the linen using this method".  So a lot of what I done, I've guessed at what she means for us to do.

It is very cold here today.  I've licked the pan of fudge.  Bad girl.
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