Monday, October 31, 2016

Close But No Cigar

I am very close to finishing up the Pioneer Girl's Book Etui.  I've got the hive lid stitched and its box made.  It took all day!



Then, to have something to attach it to, I worked on the cover and its lining.  That took forever.

I put in the pin cushion spine.

The last piece I had to do was the bird cage lid.  I finished that up and now I am lining it.  The box sides are made.

It will look like this when it is all done.

It will be good to have this all done.  I still haven't stitched the scissors case though.

The bathrooms are clean.  The walking is done.  BFF#2 is coming over to stitch this afternoon.  That will be fun.  DH thinks we need more candy.  If I get more candy, I'm getting some I like!
A

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Good Mail

Mr. Mailman brought me a package yesterday.  It was a surprise package.  I was notified that it was sent but I didn't know what in it.  I suspected it was the next kit in the Silver Needle Circle of Friends Club.  And it was!

The designer for the kit this time was The Cricket Collection.  The design started out as a pin cushion but kind of grew larger than that.

 I like the design.  Even though the linen is an overdyed, I like it too.  There are a lot of threads.  Four bunches to sort out and put on a thread card.

I love that the Silver Needle always encloses a few jelly bellies in their packages.
This is the gift:

It was specially made to match the project.

It was raining when I got up to walk so I had to wait until the rain was gone.  That meant I walked when it was light.  Daylight Savings Time changes next Sunday.  Early morning walking will be easier and lighter.  I saw eleven deer today.

I finished the box I wanted to make yesterday.  I'm trying to finish the other box today.  I'll show you tomorrow.
A

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Let's Make a Box

That's my goal for today, to make a box.  I finished the stitching on the hive box lid.

 I even ironed it.  Now to turn it into a box.  Then I'll feel like I am making progress on the Pioneer Girl's Book Etui.


Strike while the iron is hot!  (That's a saying my Dad used to say.  He thought it was funny.)  I also ironed the lining for Mistress L.  I told Paola that I would bring Mistress L to Williamsburg and have it all lined so she could see.  So now I have to get busy and do it.  At least the first step has been taken.  I need to pin it on but first I have to go back and check if I need to do any more stitching.  I put my initials near the alphabet but there is a space left.

 The AW looks like AM because of the font.  If I add a y then it would look like "Amy".  I've been trying to decide whether to do that.  It is now or never.  When I stitched the queens the first time for my casket, I put little paillettes (spangles) in the background.  Do I add those?

 Again, it is now or never.   What do you think Paola?

I got the label on The Owl and the Pussycat.

 There is more that goes on around the label but that is done later.  The next step is leaves on a Bong tree.  I've never heard of that kind of tree.  I'll have to google it.

I've just looked at the Home Sweet Home posts on Janet Granger's blog.  Oh, my, I want to get back to making that.  What has stopped me?  A leaf.  Or should I say a lack of confidence in embroidering a leaf.

It was 65 degrees for walking this morning.  Lovely!
A

Friday, October 28, 2016

Finish The Hive

My goal today is to finish the hive on the inside lid of Pioneer Girl's Book Etui.  I got a good amount done yesterday.

I am changing just a few tiny things in the colors and stitches department.

I still haven't finished the birdcage on the other lid.  I'm always slowed down by over one stitching.

I stitched silver thread around the clouds and moon on The Owl and the Pussycat.  Next is the label stitched over some copper paper stuff.  I am making progress.

DH is off to the grocery store.  Walking was long this morning.  Maybe I ate too much yesterday and it was hard to drag it around.  We went to a pizza place last night.  DH made me order dessert.  A brownie sundae.  I was very bad.  But today is another day, I will be good today.  Well, if you don't count the leftover pizza I plan to have for lunch!
A

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Thursday

I finished off the pin cushion for Pioneer Girl's Book Etui.

 I am getting parts done for this very slowly.  I started the bird cage which is mostly over one.

 It will be on the lid of one of the inside boxes.  Today I'm going to start the other box lid which is a bee hive that I like very much.

I stitched the organdy to the satin for the Owl and the Pussycat.

Looking at the finished picture, I see that what I've done so far is just background for the  main event

.  Next I have to outline the clouds and moon with silver thread.

I walked outside this morning.  Yesterday's rain is all gone.  Do I dare open the Halloween candy and put it in a basket?  No problem,  I bought stuff I don't really like.  DS#2 would love it.  Skiddles!
A

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Italian Mesh Ribbon

I didn't get much done on the Pioneer Girl's Book Etui.  But at least the border is started.

I got much more done on The Owl and the Pussycat.  I worked hard to get all the organdy embroidering done.

 I finished it and went on to the next step which is the sky on the satin layer.  The  sky is done in various colors of Italian mesh ribbon.  This is very interesting stuff.

 I love how the water on my Hampton Court is done with this ribbon.

  It comes in various colors, not just white.  My friend Janet told me where I could order some of this ribbon.  Specialty Beads.  I ordered some not really having a plan to use it.  Now it is good to see this ribbon used in a different way.  Italian ribbon is stretchable into shapes.  On the Owl and the Pussycat, it is supposed to look like clouds in the sky.
 I have couched down five different colors of it.

 It looks a little weird but it is going to be covered by the embroidered organdy which will soften the effect.

 There are so many pieces to this kit.  It will be amazing when it is done.  I orginally ordered this kit because Betsy Morgan told me about it.  I wonder if Betsy has finished hers.  Maybe we can have a stitch along.

It is a rainy day here.  Just right for stitching.
A

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Back to the Future

Today is a nice but chilly day.  It was freezing when I went walking this morning.  Literally.  I miss summer.  Now it is time to get to work.  I worked on three things yesterday.  I got the backstitching started for the box lids on the inside of Pioneer Girl.

I know, they are empty.  The goal today is to fill in these two rectangles.

I forgot to show you yesterday my brave new attempt at eyelets on organdy for The Owl and the Pussy Cat.

I hope I'm doing it right.  I hope to finish the eyelets today.

Then just for some spice in my life, I picked up Mehitable Payson.  That's a name and a half.  It is one of the workshops I took at Winterthur.  I decided to change one of the colors.  Chartreuse is not me.  But baby blue, that is so me.  So far:

It is supposed to be stitched to be reversible.  No.  Not going to happen.  I'll be lucky to get it done at all, no way is it going to be reversible.

I had a very nice birthday.  Thank you for all your birthday wishes.
Sara, you are a no reply.  So to answer your question.  Jenny Adin Christie's website does not list all the kits she has.  Email her and she will sent you a list.  I would have forwarded the list but you are no reply.
A

Monday, October 24, 2016

United Nations Day

Today is United Nations Day.  It is also my birthday.  Many people have expressed kind thoughts for today.  Thank you!  Special thanks to Torrie who knows what I like!  By the way, I am letting the orange peel I made on Saturday dry out.  It is a bit soggy at the moment but that won't stop me!  Even without chocolate, it is very good.

Today is also a regular day.  I cleaned the bathrooms.  Stasi suggested someone else do it for me.  But alas, there isn't anyone around here willing to do it.  DH never thinks they need cleaning anyway.

I got the pin cushion and one side of a scissor fob stitched for the Pioneer Girl's Book Etui.  I cut out some of the pieces of comic board.  Putting this together will be a challenge.  But it will be so cool when it is done.

I found out who the designer is of that wonderful bird.  It is Jenny Adin-Christie.  My favorite!

 I also found out lots more about this bird.  He is a Wren.  His mouth is a thread cutter.  Under his wings is a needle page.  His body is made with a 3D printer. His beak and feet are bronze. Wow.  He has a stitched hillock he can stand on.  The hillock can be the top of a wooden box that can have a tape measure mechanism in it.  Be still my heart.  Not only all that, but I can order him!  I promptly did just that.  Then I had a stab of guilt.  I already have an unfinished Jenny kit.  It is the Owl and the Pussy Cat book cover.  So I took out the parts.  I was being held back by fear.  I was afraid of the eyelets on organdy.  That sounds so silly.  How can you be afraid of eyelets? So I dove right in and started them.  So far, so good.  I have a new goal, to finish the Owl and the Pussy Cat before the Wren arrives.  Just being able to order the Wren feels like a fantastic birthday present.

I am going to make an angel food cake and ice it with my favorite fudgey frosting.

 I''m a very lucky girl!
A

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Googling

I went googling to see what I could see.  I found something I would like to stitch although it would be quite challenging.  I have a thing for birds.  This is fantastic.
Isn't that the most interesting piece?  I'll have to see if I can track it down.

I also found this one:
How beautiful!

I started another piece on the Pioneer Girl's Book Etui.
Maybe I can finish this part today.
I am going to the Farmer's Market now.  I hope they still have some things.  We'll see.  Can't wait to talk to Claire and Evan this week.  I missed them last week.
A

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Flowers

DH got me flowers!  They are for my birthday that is soon.  How sweet!


I got the front of Pioneer Girl's Book Etui all stitched.

 Time to move on to the other pieces.  There are two box lids that will go on the inside.  Everything else in this project is smaller and should go faster than the cover.

Boo-hoo, there is no Farmer's Market today.  No cinnamon rolls.  The library's farmer's market is still going on so I'll go up there tomorrow.
Would you believe that I am ordering Christmas stuff now?  We start early.  We just get stuff for me and the grandkids, everybody else gets a gift card.
It was 40 degrees when I went walking this morning.  Brrrr.
I'm making candied orange peel.  Yum.

I checked when my Just Cross Stitch magazine expires, 2019.
A

Friday, October 21, 2016

I Had a Thought

Two things happened close together this week.  I got an email that my Just Cross Stitch magazine was in the mail.  Then I saw that there was a new Inspirations magazine out.   I wondered, why can't Just Cross Stitch be like Inspirations?  I went on line and looked through the Just Cross Stitch magazine digitally.  Only one thing was vaguely interesting.  Most of the projects were too simple, a motif and graphed words.  Am I too picky?  I don't think I have ever made anything except a Christmas ornament from that magazine.
Then I bought the latest issue of Inspirations from Zinio.  I looked at it digitally too.  Wow, I loved three projects in the magazine and printed out those three.  Betsy Morgan's little pin cushions are so cute.

 Barbara Jackson had a little pocket that was sweet.

I loved the small pansy from Carolyn Pearce.

I stitched up one of the little pin cushions.

I got some covered buttons forms from the fabric store along with some velveteen.

 I finished the pin cushion and it is cute.



 I'd like to make several of the other ones too.  They work up very fast.

Why can't Just Cross Stitch be like Inspirations?  One reason is that the people who work on JCS do not stitch.  What?  How can you pick projects when you don't even love cross stitch?
A