Finishing Day

I am determined to have two finishes today.  I am going to finish Mistress L and I am going to finish the Elsa Costume.
BFF#2 helped me keep my nose to the grindstone yesterday and fill in that blackwork space.

 There are just a few finishing touches needed and the stitching will be done!  I wanted to add a few flourishes to the top of the arcade.

I wonder when I started this back up.  I'll have to look on this blog to be able to remember.  It seems like forever.  But it was a very big project.  I am very proud of it.  I can't believe I did it on 40 count linen.  Now I'm not afraid of 40 count like I once was.  I also learned that stitching over three is no big deal, I can handle it.  I have made changes to Mistress L so this sampler is truly my own.

Then on Elsa, there are many tiny mistakes.  I hope they aren't noticeable.

I counted seven small things that have to be done today.  Four hems, a repair, a hedebo and a button. Then off it will fly to California.  I haven't sewn any clothing for a while, I'm a little rusty.

I got the Ornament issue of Just Cross Stitch in the mail.

 The ornaments were nicely organized.  I didn't find anything that I wanted to make.  There were a few designers missing.  I didn't see one by Shepherd's Bush.  I'll have to check but I don't think I saw a Jackie one either.  Maybe I'm not into ornaments as much as I once was.  Does that mean I'm getting old?  Or maybe I just have too many other things to do.
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Today

Today was the perfect day for walking.  Cool but not cold.  Beautiful blue sky.  You would think it was Santa Barbara (one of my favorite places).

I am almost done with Elsa.  She needs another sleeve and a couple of hems.  Yeah!!

Hopefully she will fit Miss Claire.
Then I can be on to other things.

Santa has a face.  However, if you look closely you will see that he needs an arm.

Mistress L only needs the blackwork finished and a couple of finishing touches.

If I hemstitch the edge that means I can display the sampler in all its natural glory, like a quilt on the wall.  I don't like to put my stitchery under glass anyway because to me the texture of what I made is a big part of the design.  But that's just me.  I understand some people want to protect their work from dust and dirt and other unmentionables.

BFF#2 is coming over to stitch today.  Yeah!  That will be so fun.  I want to hear all about the class she just went to.
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Thirty Two and a Half

I am so almost done with Mistress L.  I started the very last rows.  When I get all the bands completed, she will be thirty two and a half inches long.  Whew!

  I can see the end now.  But several sections need to be completed.  I got the flower row all done.  I added Claire and Evan's initials at either end.

 Then the last row is easy (just sets of leaves) and I can finish that today.  But the blackwork section is taking forever.

I am contemplating how I want to finish-finish the sampler.  I could frame it but I think I would rather hemstitch it.

I spent my walk this morning talking to another walker and it sure made the time go faster.  The bathrooms are clean.  BFF#2 will be back in town today so maybe we can stitch or meet up at Chocolatea.  That is so fun.

I need to finish up the Elsa costume.  Boy, do I hope it fits.
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And Now For Something Completely Different

I got good mail yesterday.  I saw a design that I liked for a pin cushion and decided to order it.  The design was by Hands On but the place you order it from is Stitchy Box.

It was a complete kit with fabric (32 ct. linen) and five full skein of overdyed floss.

I love getting a full kit.  It even had stuffing in it.  The directions for finishing have nice clear photos and will be easy to follow.  I couldn't resist starting it.  There are actually four designs to choose from.  I choose the Summer Light version but there is also an Indian Summer colorway.

 It was easy to pay for this kit with paypal and the kit came quickly.  Stitchy Box also offers a monthy subscription for a box of cross stitch supplies.  But I have enough stash as it is.
It was nice to do something new after some frustrating adventures with Elsa.
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On my Way to Iron

I need to iron the Elsa Costume to see if it will look okay.  For some reason, it feels like the skirt fabric is cut the wrong way.  But I think it will be okay.  So far:

Even though the bodice is not sparkly, I think it is okay.  I decided the skirt is way long.  It is long enough to fit me.  Really.  I held it up to myself.  Patterns are so out of whack sometimes.

Then I want to iron Mistress L.  I am soooo close to the bottom.

The blackwork is going soooo slowly.  Maybe I can finish one of the bands today.  I am itching to be done with this.
I'm working on Santa's head.

It was misting while I was walking this morning.  That means it is a bad hair day.  My hair is flat as a pancake.  The farmer's market was a bit sparse today, people and tables of goods.  We are still waiting to get some red delicious apples.  Maybe next week.  I got a cinnamon roll for my trouble.  Delish.
My BFFs are taking classes in Madison this weekend.  Wish I was there.
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Set Back

I cut out some parts of the Elsa costume and started the sewing.

 But I've had a set back.  The bodice material has so much glue in it that it was gumming up my sewing machine needle and presser foot.  ARGH.

 So I'm rethinking my strategy.  The bodice material has to go.  I went to the fabric store looking for a sparkly replacement.  Then I decided to layer two materials for the bodice instead.  DH reminded me that this isn't the prom but a costume for a four-year-old.  So whatever.  I will try again.
I worked a bit on Santa on Evan's Christmas stocking.  It is coming along.  I'm up to piece 48 now (out of 120).

I am so envious of those attending Salty Yarns classes this weekend.  What fun to be by the ocean!  I love Salty Yarns.   But I have a Jackie class in a couple of weeks.  Jackie showed some more teaser photos of the finished product.  It looks very nice.  How lucky am I to get to go to the Ode class?
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Another Project

I went off to the fabric store yesterday searching for the ingredients to make an Elsa dress. Yes. it is for Claire.  How could I resist an opportunity to make my only granddaughter a Halloween costume?  I was so lucky, I got the pattern for 1.97 when the price marked on the pattern was 18.95.

 Then the tricky part was finding the right fabrics.  It needed a sparkly bodice fabric and  a coordinating satiny skirt.

 Then there is an overlay of lace. The net fabric with snowflakes on it looked a little cheap so I went for the more expensive.

 I hope the fabrics will be okay.  The next challenge is to make a dress to fit a little girl that lives far away.  DIL got some measurements for me.  I'm going to start it today.  Keep your fingers crossed that everything works out.
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