Almost

I am so almost done with the top of the Eleonora's Box.

 I like it!  The cameo is not attached yet.  It has a hole in the top and the bottom to sew it on with.  I probably ought to read the directions so I know when and how to sew it on.

 Hopefully the direction will tell me.  Now to go back and finish stitching the front and bottom.  Progress!

I went to look for the Just Nan thing in the Big Bag of Stuff and couldn't find it.  It is in there somewhere.  So I picked up another Just Nan that I had already started.

I was very frustrated with this.  I made so many mistakes and had to take out so much and then the border didn't meet up  ARGH.  But I had better luck picking it up yesterday.  I got one whole corner almost finished.  It need beads and backstitching.  I like it a lot better now.

We got a bunch of snow and it is very cold so there is no school today.  I waited till mid-morning to go walking at the Y.  I feel like getting out one of my big WIPs to work on.  But we'll see. I started something else yesterday but you will have to wait until tomorrow to see it.
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Patterns

I got some more of the top of Eleonora's Box done.

 If I work diligently I can finish it today.  It's very easy.  But I'm feeling the itch to start something new.  I put just a few stitches in a kit I got for Christmas from Moss Creek.  The first thing you have to do is broad chain stitch around the design.  So I started that.  How exciting is this:

It would be fun to actually get to the stitching of the design.  It will be kind of challenging as it involves Schwalm work too.

 Then in the back of my mind is that sweet limited edition kit from Just Nan that I haven't even started.  It is calling to me from the Big Bag of Stuff I bought last year.

Mary Corbet is getting me into trouble again.  On her blog today she talked about some Benton & Johnson kits that use goldwork.  Of course I had to look at them.  I love crowns and all stuff English.

 I have no idea how big this is.  I ordered one.  What a sucker I am!  I'm still waiting for those scissors I ordered last August.
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Frustration

I was quite frustrated yesterday.  I was trying to get more done on the Shining Needle Society Barbara Jackson ornament that should have been finished weeks ago.

 I kept making mistakes and having to take out over one on a high count.  It seems like it is 40 count but I need to look to be sure.  UGH.  Finally, I just gave up.  It was hard to see and I should have figured out a way to see better.  Stitching with cream color  floss on cream linen is hard also.   But I was also getting loops on the back side.  ARGH.  So forget that!

Then I decided I needed to get the top of Eleonora's Box going.  So I counted and then stitched.  I did much better stitching in a straight line.

 Not very exciting but I did make progress.  I love how the Weeks Dye Works Whiskey varies in color in the border so I'm looking forward to putting that in.

 Did I get the cording sewn on to the edge of the scissors case?  Nope, not yet.

I enjoyed the season opener of Downton Abbey.  I need to see it again to pick up the words that I missed.  Either I'm old and deaf or they are mumbling.  Or maybe it is the English accent.

I'm very glad things are back to normal and the holidays are behind us.  It is very cold here.  7 degrees this morning.  We are expecting several inches of snow each day this week.  I wish it were summer.  BFF is going to Arizona this week.  I wish I was going too.  I'll just be going to the Y to walk instead.  But it's okay, I can catch up on some stitching (or curse at the stupid ornament!).
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Eleonora's Scissors Case

Eleonora's scissors case is almost finished.  I put some extra work in this.  The back of the case was just to be plain fabric.  I put the flower motif on it and my initial.

This is the front:

I think it needs some twisted cording around the edge to I made a two color cording.

The pattern also shows a tassel on the bottom point.  I don't have the threads to do that right now so I'm going to just think about it.  I want to make the top of the box so I can put the cameo on it.  That means I have to count stitches.  That's why it isn't started yet.

Here is what an hour of stitching looks like.  This is the before:

This is the after:

Like watching paint dry.  It is starting to take shape- slowly.  This is the Anne Hathaway Needlebook.  It will be really cute when it is done.  In the next century.
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Wild Goose Chase

Just before Christmas I went on a Wild Goose Chase - on the internet.  I regularly read Mockingbird Hill blog and she mentioned a Putz house that she puts out as a Christmas decoration.  I had never heard of a Putz house.  What is it?  So I googled it. The search took me to Etsy and Pinterest (Time sink). One place said it means a Christmas village.   I ended up ordering a Putz house kit on Etsy.  My plan was to make it for next Christmas for Claire.  I always like to give her a couple of ornaments every year.  But being the person that I am, I ordered a set of four.  They came in the mail yesterday.

 The houses have little bottle brush trees to go around them and ribbons and tinsel.  Ones I saw on Pinterest also had little deer too.

 You can choose the color of the trees that you want.  I wanted light and dark green.

 This is what is inside of each little package along with two pages of directions on finishing them.

They are so cute!  I will love making them.  I am trying to decide what colors to paint them.  After looking at Pinterest Putz's, I think I like the pastel ones in light blue.  I want to make one in light green as Claire's house is green.  You can actually find many patterns online for Putz houses. Then I ran across a picture of the latest issue of Martha Stewart's Living magazine.  Guess what is on the front?  A wreath with Putz houses on it.

I went to Zinio and bought a digital copy just so I could read about it.
Now where is that extra fine glitter I got years ago?
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First Finish

I have a finish for the year 2015!  I got the grapes scissors case all done.  It is so fun when all the pieces come together.  Thank you Amy Mitten for a brilliant design and wonderful step-by-step directions to get me through stumpwork which I have no clue about.  This is the front:

This is the back:

The grapes on the back are flatter.
This is inside:

This is me holding it upside down to show you that the scissors are held inside by a magnet sewn under the center grape on the front of the case:

Okay, so now I'm ready for Amy Mitten's Quaker Sewing box that comes out on the 19th.

Things always come up that you never expect.  I was tickled pink yesterday when the Shining Needle Society offered a class for Barbara Jackson's Sylvan Scenes Basket.  I saw it offered at Celebrations and I so wanted to take it.  So it is great to have the opportunity.  I found a basket that will be perfect for it too.  I ordered it through my guild a couple of years ago.  I have a thing for baskets.  I made Barbara's Tea Time Basket a couple of years ago.  They said this is her last basket since the baskets are so hard to find.

I think I am going to keep working on Eleonora's Box.  First I want to finish the scissors case since it is mostly stitched.
I put a few stitches in Anne Hathaway's Cottage Needlebook just because it was on the floor by my stitching chair.  So you can see how I choose what to do next:  location, location, location.
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Last Finish

Would you believe that I had a finish yesterday?  I surprised myself.  But once I get going on something, I get momentum and push myself.  The pomegranate threadwinder holder is done!!!

I finished up the pouch, braided the drawstrings, whipped stitched the sides together and various other  things to get it done..  Today the goal is to finish the grapes scissors case completely.

I have taken down the Christmas tree.  That was another goal for today.  I'm ready for the new year.

Here is how I keep my needles:

I know, I'm a slob.  No organization here at all.  It amazes me how many needles I collect over time.  One of these days I will figure out and be able to tell the difference between needles.  However I can tell the difference between big ones and small ones.  Big eyes and teeny tiny eyes.  But that is about as far as it goes.
Maybe I should start something new in honor of the new year.
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