A Crafter's Chronology

A Bit of Stitching

2012-01-28T01:46:00.000-05:00

There has been a bit of stitching since my last post. I stitched a gift, but you won't be seeing that for a long while. And I still have one more gift to stitch, so I'm not sure what I'll be showing you while I'm working on that one.

My plan is to continue stitching ornaments throughout the year; we'll see how that goes. For now, though, I have almost completed Frosty in the Firs by Blue Ribbon Designs. It's from the 2011 JCS Christmas Ornaments issue. Although the snowman shows up well in the photograph, in real life, it doesn't, so I've been trying to find a floss color to outline him. I tried a white, but it didn't work, so I have pulled a light grey, but haven't had an opportunity to try it yet. I'll keep you posted!

First Finish of 2012

2012-01-12T03:49:00.001-05:00

This one has taken me a while to post because I've been playing with the pictures in My Memories software, which I won in a giveaway.

Deer in a Forest

Niky's Creations

from the 2011 JCS Ornament Issue

I stitched this on 18 count white Aida (the instructions called for 36 count linen) with DMC floss, and might finish it as an oval as I framed it in the above photo.

I'm hard (?) at work on another ornament, after which I have some gifts I need to stitch.

Birthday Card

2012-01-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

My father was a Christmas baby. I remembered at the last minute that I needed to make him a card, and since I didn't have much time, I made a simple card.

I used my Bic Mark-It permanent markers to color the image. A little coloring, a little layering, and a little ribbon, and the result is a quick, masculine card.

Christmas Gifts

2012-01-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Continuing with my Christmas theme of the week, I wanted to show some of the thoughtful gifts I received.

This knitted Christmas tree is filled with potpourri, and was knitted by my daughter, Sarah. And to be truthful, the tree is for my husband and me, as are . . .

Next up are these adorable snowmen

Aren't they cute? Sarah stitched these. I'll have to find a special place for them.

Sarah did good this year. She also found these . . .

. . . when she went to buy me a gift certificate to a local, privately owned fabric store. There aren't any markings on them, so I don't know which company made them, but they're so cute! And I love the fob she made to go with them, which is nice and long, just as I like them.

My sweet husband bought me what no one else has in the years I've asked for them: a cross stitch chart! He chose this one by The Drawn Thread.

Here are some close-ups of the chart front:

I can't wait to get started on one of these!

I also received a set of Spellbinder's dies, which I'm sure will see a lot of use.

Happy crafting to me!!

A bit of Christmas Decorating

2012-01-05T00:00:00.000-05:00

I love decorating my home for Christmas and the winter. I have an extensive snowman collection, which despite their objections, they keep adding to, and which stays up until the end of March. And unlike many, I like to leave my Christmas decorations up until mid to late January, at which time I am sick of them. It's usually cold, snowy, and overcast here, and I find the lights help me deal with it.

I don't remember where I found this cute basket. I have put it in my front entry for many years now, and after seeing this idea, I added the mini lights this year.

*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~**~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*

I'd like to thank Heidi of The Cranberry Chronicle for helping me with my Christmas centerpiece. For a long time, I've thought of purchasing a hurricane vase, and I finally broke down and did it. After some back and forth in my mind, and discussion with Heidi, I decided to put some table salt in the bottom of the vase, insert my candle, and carefully put two layers of small ball ornaments around it. I did break an ornament in the process . . .

Christmas Ornaments Completed

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

I stitched this design in 2010, but never did the final finishing on it, so when I saw it languishing in my pile, I knew I had to remedy the situation. So here's my finish of JBW's Christmas Tree.

I also did the final finishing on Fresh Fallen Snow, which is by Little House Needleworks, and was published in the 2011 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue. I purchased the wool felt on Black Friday and didn't have the stitching with me, so I was thrilled when the green I chose was perfect. I probably should have used white instead of off-white on the back piece, but I still like the final effect.

My plan is to continue stitching ornaments throughout the year. We'll see how that goes!

Frugal Wrapping

2012-01-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Sarah and I placed a joint order to The Container Store late this autumn, and when it came, there was plenty of brown packing paper in the huge box. I told Sarah to keep it, since I might come up with a use for it. During my Internet browsing, I came upon this idea for wrapping gifts. I knew I had doilies, - some more than 20 years old - and I remembered I had some red raffia with my craft supplies. Here's my take on this frugal gift wrapping idea.

I'll be looking for other frugal and simple gift wrapping ideas during the year, leaving the fancy wrapping paper (of which there is plenty!) for the rest of the family.

Last Finish of 2011

2012-01-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

I have one last finish from 2011.

This is a freebie, available here. Scroll down to 5 December 2009 for the chart. I stitched this on a pink 28 count Monaco evenweave (I'm not sure they still make this color), and used DMC 3687 for the words, DMC 3685 for the flowers, and 3362 for the vines.

I will finish this either as a hanging pillow or do a pinkeep finish.

This was a fun stitch, and a great way to finish the year!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

In her Dear Friends letter in the latest issue of Sew Beautiful magazine (issue No. 140), Martha Pullen included the words to a song by Frances Ridley Havergal, which she wrote in 1874. The tune to which it is commonly sung is by Samuel S. Wesley; you can hear it here.

At this time when many will be making resolutions and setting goals for 2012, I want this to be my prayer. I want this to be a year of living for my Lord and fulfilling His desires for me, not focusing on a bunch of goals I might pull out of thin air.

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

Encouragement Card

2011-12-30T23:06:00.000-05:00

A woman at our church was recently diagnosed with the same cancer my husband has. She's been having a difficult time because the cancer is eating away at her bones, a problem Phil hasn't had, and had surgery to deal with some of the damage right after Thanksgiving. I finally sat down and made her a card to encourage her, which I sent shortly before Christmas.

The patterned paper is by K & Company. I love the pink and green combination! The Scripture verse is by Verve Stamps, which I stamped with Memento Bamboo Leaves ink ; I cut the two layers out with Spellbinders Classic Squares Small. Here's where I started having fun: I purchased Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Accents which I used elements of under the squares, around the circle medallion, and under the ribbon. The medallion in the circle is from my go-to Go Baroque set by Stampin' Up!, which I stamped with clear embossing ink and embossed with gold powder. The ribbon came from Stampin' Up!, which I purchased as part of a clearance sale. Finally, the bling is some I picked up at A. C. Moore.

Birthday Card

2011-12-29T22:46:00.000-05:00

My son-in-law's dad's birthday is December 17, so I made him a card. I've said it before, I have the hardest time making masculine cards. Here's what I came up with.

Starting with the first layer, I cut the dark brown cardstock with Spellbinders Labels Eight, one of my favorite of the labels series. I layered that with a rectangle cut from Classic Rectangles Small; I rounded the corners with my trusty corner rounder. The scene is from Stampin' Up!, and I colored it with BIC Mark It! markers. These are alcohol based markers, like Copics, but much less expensive. I love how the coloring came out! The Happy Birthday in the upper right corner was cut with Spellbinders Standard Circles Small and Large. I used Pop Dots to attach it to the card.

Happy Birthday, Sarah

2011-12-28T00:30:00.000-05:00

Today is my firstborn's birthday. Like most mothers, I wonder where the years have gone.

Sarah, you have grown into a lovely young woman. You are kind and considerate. You are a gifted crafter. You are a good cook. You have a heart for others, willing to help as you are able. Most of all, you love the Lord Jesus with all your heart, soul, and mind, and seek to follow Him every day of your life.

Your dad and I are blessed to call you daughter. I am blessed to also call you friend.

Happy birthday, dear daughter.

The Real Meaning of Christmas

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Christmas is not about the decorations, as much as we enjoy them and they brighten our homes. It is not about the gifts, although we enjoy buying or making them, and giving them to show our love to family and friends. It's not about the wonderful food that we eat too much of this time of the year. Rather, it is about the birth of Jesus Christ, how His coming to earth as a baby was prophesied in the ancient Scriptures, and that as a grown man, He willingly gave His life upon a cross, so that those who believe by faith that His death is the only acceptable payment for our sins which have separated us from fellowship with God the Father. By no other means can we be restored to a right relationship with God, and be granted eternal life with Him in heaven.

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus." (Matthew 1: 18 - 25)

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."
(Luke 2: 1 - 20)

To you and yours, I wish the most blessed of Christmas celebrations.

"In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through him,

and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men."

~ John 1: 1 - 4

Christmas Tree Farm Visit

2011-12-23T22:24:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday we took our annual trek to the Christmas Tree Farm. It was a cold day - under 30 degrees - and we finally had just a bit of snow on the ground.

The reindeer had already returned to the North Pole, or maybe they were resting back at the farm, which was too bad because Kelly was looking forward to seeing them. Instead, we made the manger scene our first stop.

Oh, wait! There's a reindeer!

Sorry, I guess I was mistaken. That's just Kelly, the reindeer dog.

We took some time to walk, and were surprised at how empty the tree fields were. I read in the newspaper that several tree farms had to close early because they ran out of trees to cut; the warm weather we've had this December took people into the fields more than in previous years. I don't know if this was the case here at Stokoe Farms or not.

The last picture is the wonderful straw fort they always have. When our girls were little, they crawled through the fort.

Inside the barn there were a few small critters.

Our next stop was for some free hot chocolate and sugar cookies. This was set up in one area of the expanded concession area, where they had a long table made of old lumber and the coolest stools made of various tractor parts, milk cans, and wood chunks.

At one end of the barn, they had a scene set up in the loft area.

Our last stop was the gift shop. I purchased a few items, but didn't photograph them. I will try to remember to do that and share the pictures later.

I hope you enjoyed these pictures of our visit to the tree farm.

The Three Little Critters

2011-12-21T02:29:00.000-05:00

Here are some recent pictures of our three pets.

See Cassie hiding? Or is she in jail?

Nope! Just waiting to jump up on the chair. (She wasn't too happy about my chasing her with a camera.)

Joy of the Snowflake

2011-12-19T02:25:00.000-05:00

But wait! There's more! No, this isn't an infomercial. <grin> I just like saying it.

Because I finished my other ornaments early, I decided to stitch some more.

It was the colors that attracted me to this design. I love the blue and brown, maybe because these are the colors in my bedroom and bathroom. I also think snowflakes are one of God's most special creations, since no two of them are ever alike.

This design is Joy of the Snowflake by Little by Little Design Company, from the JCS 2011 Ornament Issue. I stitched this on white 28 count Monaco evenweave using DMC thread.

This was the first ornament in which I used all cotton batting (Warm and Natural, I believe), and I'm a believer. It is smooth and even in thickness, and has a firmness to it that polyester batting lacks.

Oh, and the ornament to the left of the snowflake one in the picture above? That was the one Phil and I bought the year we were married.

Adeste Fideles

2011-12-17T02:01:00.000-05:00

This is the ornament I made for Phil and me this Christmas. Once again, it's from the Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament issue, this time from 2008. As with Sarah's ornament, it is by Fancy Work. I stitched it on 28 count Monaco evenweave; I believe the color is mushroom, which is much darker than it is in the picture, and I used DMC thread. I was able to finish this in the shape the designer called for. The trim around the outside I found at Hobby Lobby in their clearance section.

Joy to the World

2011-12-15T01:50:00.000-05:00

This is the ornament I stitched for Sarah this year. It's from the 2010 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue, appropriately titled Joy to the World. The designer is Fancy Work, and I used DMC floss.

The design was supposed to be finished in this shape -

_____

/ \

| |

\ /

---------

- but because I used 28 count evenweave (what else do I ever use?), instead of the 30 count that was called for, the template provided for finishing wasn't the right size, and no matter how I fiddled with it, I wasn't satisfied, so I gave up and went with the oval instead.

When I finish pieces, I always check my collection of Spellbinders die templates to see if I have one that will work. Then I cut three or four pieces of lightweight cardboard - from empty cereal or cracker boxes - and glue them together to form a thicker piece. This way I get accurately cut pieces, which is especially helpful when I am making a pinkeep or flatfold which require two identical pieces of matboard or thick cardboard. Yes, it does take a lot of die cut pieces, but I find this method works well, especially because accuracy isn't always easy for me.

Snowy Morning

2011-12-14T01:30:00.000-05:00

One morning last week, we awoke to an unfamiliar sight.

We've only seen this ground cover one other time this season, so it was quite a sight to see! I took these pictures through the windows, which included the screens, so you see a bit of that in the photos. Oh, and the snow melted. We haven't had any more.

Season of Love

2011-12-12T01:22:00.001-05:00

Last year, I started what I hope will become an annual tradition: I cross stitched ornaments for my daughter and her husband, my still-single daughter, and my husband and I. This year, I did the same, and I handed them out when we decorated our tree. This one was for Grace and Anthony.

Season of Love

Country Cottage Needleworks

from the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Preview, 2010

I stitched this on 28 count Monaco evenweave using DMC thread. I'm not sure what color this is, but I know it's not white or antique white. The piping around the outside is handmade.

Q-Snaps

2011-12-08T03:02:00.000-05:00

A lot of stitchers swear by Q-snaps, but I have always used either a round embroidery hoop or sometimes a scroll frame (mostly for larger pieces). Then when my daughter and I were at Hobby Lobby, I spied this 6" square version of Q-snaps, which is apparently brand new to the embroidery market*. I decided this would be perfect for stitching ornaments, and it turns out I was correct! It makes stitching on the small pieces of cloth easy, and holds the fabric taut. Here you can see me using it for Fresh Fallen Snow, which I highlighted in my last post. I see a lot more small pieces in my future.

[*EDITED TO ADD: the 6" square version is new; Q-snaps aren't!)

Fresh Fallen Snow

2011-12-05T02:54:00.000-05:00

This has been my year to stitch Christmas ornaments. I have three completed that I can't yet show, but this one I can share.

Fresh Fallen Snow

by Little House Needleworks

from the JCS 2011 Christmas Ornaments issue

Stitched on 28 count Monaco evenweave in "Tea"

using over 1 using 1 strand DMC thread

I purchased some wool felt at JoAnn Fabrics' Black Friday sale and will use that for finishing, following Vonna's excellent instructions found here.

Blessings Abound Finish

2011-12-03T02:41:00.000-05:00

This piece has been languishing in my "to finish" pile since July 1, 2009! I guess I was waiting for some inspiration.

Blessings Abound by Bent Creek

Stitched on 14 count Aida using DMC thread

Too bad I have to take it down to put up Christmas decorations!

Indian Summer Finishing

2011-12-01T02:27:00.001-05:00

Before Thanksgiving, I completed the final finishing on Indian Summer. I found a piece of wood in my husband's scrap box, covered the front with a needlepunched fleece (Thermolam Plus), then with my fabric. The stitched piece I mounted on a piece of cardboard which I also covered with Thermolam. I then glued the stitched piece to the wood piece. The hanger is made from some anodized wire I found in my craft box.

Indian Summer

Freebie from With Thy Needle and Thread

Stitched on coffee-dyed 28 count Monaco

DMC thread

Thanksgiving, 2011

2011-11-24T00:06:00.001-05:00

There is a hymn we used to sing in church often. It was written in 1897, and is appropriate for not only Thanksgiving Day (which those of us in the United States are celebrating today), but for every single day of the year.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one, 
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care? 
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? 
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, 
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. 
Wealth can never buy your reward in heaven, 
nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small, 
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Autumn Towels

2011-11-23T01:56:00.000-05:00

The embroidery function on my sewing machine has long sat unused as I have grown frustrated and despondent over the fact that I will never be able to sew a design bigger than 100 mm x 100 mm, or 170 mm x 100 mm. (Viking chose to abandon my machine when they came out with their Designer series, never improving the technology.) Then when I bought my laptop earlier this year, I discovered that the chances of my 3D Embroidery Software working on its Windows 7 operating system were slim, so while I could still use it on my desktop computer system - which runs Windows XP - for however long that computer remains operational, I would eventually be faced with the task of finding new software, and hoping I had the money to purchase it when the time comes. (I had the software installed on my old laptop, too, which enabled me to unzip, view, and organize designs when I didn't want to be chained to my desk.) And I forgot to mention that it is getting more and more difficult to find designs that will work on my machine, since that size is becoming obsolete as more and more designers are designing for the 5" x 7" hoop and larger.

So that's my story. Only it doesn't end there. I finally decided that I should just snap out of it and work with what I have for as long as I can.

One thing I like to do in my powder room is place a fingertip towel (12" x 18") on top of the hand towel (16" x 26"), even if I end up adjusting it every time I go into the bathroom. <grin> Although I had many FTTs for spring, summer, and Christmas, as well as a few for winter, I had nothing for autumn. And since I thought I might make a simple autumn wall hanging, looking through designs for both at the same time made sense. Here's what I came up with:

I'd still like to make that wall hanging even though I'll have to put it away for NEXT autumn. After all, the designs are already on the embroidery card and it seems like too much work to erase them!

Make Do and Mend Mondays

2011-11-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

I am once again joining Heidi for Make Do and Mend Mondays.

My pile of finished cross stitch designs keeps growing, so I am trying to do the final finishing on them. In early 2009, I completed Little House Needleworks' design, Love and Faithfulness. I have since discovered that it is very difficult to find square picture frames, so when I do come across any, I purchase them. Over the summer, I was at the Dollar Store, and spotted these less-than-attractive frames, and I picked up three of them.

I was excited to find that it fits this design, but thought it needed sprucing up, so I turned to my trusty spray paint cans, finding just the right color in our collection.

I still haven't gotten the stitched piece into the frame, but you can see what it will look like in this photo:

Happy Birthday!

2011-11-20T02:27:00.001-05:00

Today is my hubby's birthday. He doesn't look a day over 35, does he? LOL (Ok, he WAS younger when this picture was taken last New Year's Eve. It was the most recent picture I could find. He's making the best meatballs our family has ever eaten - his specialty!)

Those of you who have read my blog for a while know that nearly six years ago, Phil was diagnosed with a relatively rare blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma. Unfortunately, this cancer has no cure, although with new treatments, patients are living longer than when Phil was diagnosed. It has been a very difficult year for Phil, as he has endured one painful medical problem after another, most not related to the Myeloma.

And so on this very special day, I wish you a very happy birthday, Phil, and if God grants it, another year of walking with the Lord and growing in His Grace. I love you!

Birthday Flowers

2011-11-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

My birthday was back in October, and my sweet daughter, Grace, came home with these lovely flowers, which she arranged herself. (She's so talented! You might remember that she made the bridesmaids' bouquets for her wedding, and did a wonderful job.) Don't you agree that sunflowers are such cheerful flowers? They certainly brighten these dull fall days!

Let It Snow . . .

2011-11-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

. . . but not yet!

Seriously, I purchased this 2006 Lizzie Kate design at my LNS. I didn't realize until some time later that the chart states at the bottom, "This design may be reproduced for newsletter or handout. It is not to be sold or kitted." It was actually both SOLD and KITTED. Not sure what's up with that.

I stitched this design in just a few hours. I don't recall whether the fabric came with the kit or not, but I tend to think it didn't. The color isn't true; blame that on the dark, rainy, and dreary days we have this time of year.

I plan to finish this as a pinkeep, and will use my Spinster for the first time to make the cording to go around the outside.

Indian Summer

2011-11-10T04:05:00.000-05:00

It's taken me a long time to photograph this finish of Indian Summer by With Thy Needle and Thread, but here it is. I couldn't get the color to come out right, despite manipulating the photo in my editing software; the fabric is much darker than how it photographed. You may recall that this is the fabric that I coffee dyed, which you can see here.

This project is now on the craft table, waiting patiently while I try to decide how to do the final finishing. I have an idea, so we'll see how it comes out!

Make Do and Mend Mondays

2011-11-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Today I'm joining Heidi in Make Do and Mend Mondays. This project has been well over a year in the making; sad, but true.

When we built our home, we couldn't decide on kitchen cabinet door and drawer pulls, so we told the builder to leave the cabinets without them and we would choose something later, which we did. In September, 2005, I drilled holes for and installed 23 pulls*, leaving me with a great sense of satisfaction and tendonitis in my left elbow (which still occasionally bothers me to this day). By last summer, here's what they looked like:

Ridiculous, given what these things cost! I had seen an HGTV show in which they had spray painted these types of handles with a product called Plasti Dip, and thought it was worth a try. I had saved some pieces of packing styrofoam, and by placing toothpicks in it, I was able to line up the handles for painting.

I'd like to say this was the end of it, but I discovered that it's imperative that the paint make contact with itself all the way around the handle, because I missed the underside of quite a few handles, and had to peel the paint off (really!) and repaint them. All's good now, which is great because it's turned too cold to paint outside.

Don't you think these look better? For about $6.00, I have "new" handles, which look almost new again.
----------------------------------

*You might think we have a large kitchen based on this number, but the reality is we have only four drawers and many little cabinets in our small kitchen.

Decorating with Vintage Items

2011-11-05T03:54:00.000-04:00

The definition of antique varies, even among experts. According to the U.S. Customs Service, an item must be over 100 years old to be considered antique, but the term can be used loosely and applied to items much younger than that. I'll use the term vintage to describe a collection of items I received recently from my mother-in-law, since I know none of these are over 100 years old, but may well be 50 years old.

This is one side of my U-shaped kitchen.

Close-Up of the above items.

Horlick's Malted Milk jar. I looked on Ebay and this is worth some money!

See the two metal cans stacked up on each other? One is a lard container.

This is the cabinet to the right of my sink.

Close-Up of the above cabinet.

You can see that I mostly got old Ball jars, some with zinc lids. I appreciate my mother-in-law sharing what she can no longer use with the family, and I'm thrilled to have these vintage items to display in my kitchen.

Shhh!

2011-11-02T03:31:00.001-04:00

There's been some secret stitching going on in my house! I had set a goal of stitching three ornaments this year, and unbelievably, they are all done, except for the final finishing. But of course I can't share them with you. Not yet. I'll be back soon with some other pictures, though.

End of Summer Gardens

2011-10-11T19:50:00.000-04:00

The summer flowers are almost at an end, but some of them are still covered with blooms.

Morning Glories Galore

2011-10-09T19:45:00.000-04:00

This year, I decided to plant Morning Glories. As you can see from these photos, they grew well!

I think they are lovely flowers. Do you agree?

Caught in the Act!

2011-10-07T19:38:00.000-04:00

I keep Cassie's dry food in a large tin that used to contain Danish Butter Cookies. Here's what happened the last time I filled it up.

Cross Stitch Progress

2011-10-03T02:31:00.000-04:00

This is a freebie from With Thy Needle and Thread which you can find here. I have actually completed the entire inside and am currently working on the border.

A Finished Finish

2011-09-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, I braved the craft room - being very careful with all the sharp things in there <grin> - and turned Sunflowers 'N' Crows into a pillow.

I am pleased to report that all my fingers are still intact.

Vonna, The Twisted Stitcher, has been graciously compiling tutorials for finishing and sharing them on her finishing blog. I was reading her latest tutorials and was intrigued when she said to iron interfacing on the back of finished projects such as pillow ornaments. Now I've been sewing since I was young, but it never occurred to me to do that. I tried it with this pillow though, and am amazed at the difference it made. I ended up using interfacing on all the fabric pieces, and it made for a crisp, yet soft, pillow that should maintain its shape well. Thanks, Vonna!

As I was looking at the precarious pile of items on my sewing table to be completed, I decided that I will finish the Blackbird Designs Reward of Merit pincushions that I've stitched next. We have only one medical appointment this week - on Monday afternoon - so I am hopeful the week will be quiet.

Heidi commented that she hoped my husband is doing well. His recovery from this surgery has been much more difficult than we anticipated, although he is progressing as the doctor expected. The dressing on his skin graft donor site has nearly fallen off, but the skin underneath is raw (think large rug burn - OUCH!), so we keep it covered. And the 2.5" nearly circular area on his wrist where the melanoma was removed is healing, but still looks yucky (for lack of a better term). It will probably be a long time before the area looks more like a cut than, well, what it looks like now. Unfortunately, his chemo meds have left him exhausted, and the surgery on top of that hasn't helped. Because his cancer numbers have fallen precipitously (he's within six points of returning to normal range), the oncologist agreed to a two week drug break, instead of the usual one. Hopefully this will make a difference. Thanks for asking, Heidi.

I noticed the leaves suddenly turning this past week, although the weather has been warm. Come next weekend, though, it is supposed to turn chilly, with highs in the very low 60s (F). Saturday IS the first day of October, so we can't hope for too many more days in the 70s.

Make Do and Mend Monday

2011-09-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

I'm joining in Heidi's Make Do and Mend Mondays with a bit of a twist today.

These pieces, seven in all, came from a small touch lamp that started looking worn after many years of use. My husband didn't think we could re-paint the metal parts and retain the "touch" properties, so I saved these curved pieces from the "shade" and tossed the rest.

If you look in the upper left corner, you can see these have holes, and there are protectors on either side. They are so pretty, and I couldn't bear to part with them (this is a continuing theme with me!). My original thought was to string them on fishing line and hang them from something to make a mobile or wind chime of sorts. But now I'm not sure that's a good idea because if they knock against each other, they could break.

So what do YOU think? Do you have any ideas about what I could do with them? Or would I be better off throwing them away? I can't wait to read your ideas!

Finished!

2011-09-23T23:17:00.000-04:00

The final stitches were put into Primitive Betty's Sunflowers 'N' Crows the other night. What a fun little stitch that I can't wait to finish finish! I think I'll make a pillow; maybe tomorrow I can look through my fat quarters and see if I have something appropriate to use.

The picture is a little dark, but I used 28 count Carolina Linen by Charles Craft. It's an Aida but with the feel of linen. The color is Sand.

The stitches came out of my fingers on Tuesday afternoon and while they were tender at first, I can now type with only a bit of discomfort. The doctor said it would take up to a year for them to feel as normal as they ever will, given my fibromyalgia. Every time I think about my accident, I am thankful anew that it wasn't worse. If anyone missed the story, you can catch up here.

Distressed Fabric

2011-09-18T11:50:00.000-04:00

My next project, once Sunflowers 'N' Crows is finished, will be another freebie, this time from With Thy Needle and Thread. It's another autumn crow design and you can see it here. I thought it would be fun to try my hand at coffee dying some fabric, and after some fussing, here's my finished result.

Yes, its all the same piece of 18 count Aida, which started out as Antique White. I will be using a mix of DMC threads, some which the designer suggested, and some which I chose myself. I didn't want to use the greens for the letters, so I pulled some browns and greys. Once I begin stitching, I might change my mind, but that's the prerogative of the stitcher, right?

For anyone who loves to see pictures of other people's injuries, you can see what I did to my fingers here. They're cleaned up nicely, so all you see is the cuts and the stitches . I have to keep them bandaged, which is good since I hit them often!

Sunflowers 'N' Crows

2011-09-16T20:59:00.000-04:00

A quick post to show you what I've been working on while I recover.

This is Primitive Bettys' Sunflowers 'N' Crows. You can find the free chart - and many more - at http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/18669910

Too bad I won't be able to do the final finishing until my fingers feel better.

The Best Laid Plans

2011-09-14T01:19:00.000-04:00

I had hoped to have several blog posts written, ready to go, but God had other plans.

First, my husband is having a difficult time recovering from his surgery. He has four wounds, the worst of which is the skin graft donor site. He is supposed to have the various stitches and staples removed on Thursday. That is, I suppose, if he's over what appears to be a stomach bug, which assaulted him earlier this evening.

What is really holding me back is a difficulty typing. On Saturday night, I was cleaning up after making a few things in my food processor, and instead of blowing the few remaining bread crumbs off my food processor blade, as my brain told me to do, I used my left hand. Oops. I now have four stitches in my left index finger and three in the left middle finger. I'm not allowed to do anything which keeps my hand in water for any length of time, such as dishwashing, and Phil can't get his right arm wet, so the three young people are pitching in. I did my best to cook on Monday, but it was painful and very slow, so I've arranged for meals to be brought in on my next two cooking days. My stitches come out next Tuesday.

The only craft I can do is a bit of cross stitch, although I have to stop frequently and allow my fingers to rest and stop hurting. I am thankful, though, that all my fingers are intact, that it's the left hand (I'm right-handed), and that my thumb wasn't affected. Typing is difficult, as you might imagine, so for now, my blogging break will continue. I expect the fingers will remain tender for a while, especially the index finger, where the laceration goes up onto the fingertip. Meanwhile, I'll try to compose some blog posts in my head.

Short Blog Break

2011-08-29T21:00:00.000-04:00

I am going to take a short - but planned - blogging break. My husband is having surgery on September 2, and rather than leave you wondering, I thought I'd tell you what is happening.

Phil had a dermatologist look at a spot on his right wrist three years ago, and after a cursory glance, the doctor declared "it's not cancerous, don't worry about it". Well, we didn't, and that was a mistake: he now has a melanoma that is "of medium depth". The dermatologist referred us to a surgeon because he was concerned the cancer might have spread to the lymph nodes, so on that Friday, Phil will have the melanoma removed, which will require a skin graft to close, as well as a lymph node biopsy, as well as removal of a strange spot on his right ear. If you know anything about skin grafts, they require the use of a vacuum machine to remove moisture from the graft, which Phil will have to carry around for six days following surgery. We were told that there shouldn't be too much pain, but that remains to be seen. At the least, it will be a long couple of weeks as Phil heals, and I will have to help him with some of his basic needs until he can get the wounds wet.

Some of my readers know that I suffer from fibromyalgia. Stress is a trigger, and I certainly have been enduring a lot of that. I was also recently diagnosed with TMJ, which is not uncommon amongst fibro patients. My doctor told me to take my muscle relaxant on a regular basis - at bedtime - to help with it; it was also helping with terrible pain in my right arm. Unfortunately, it made me terribly sleepy, but after several days without it, my TMJ has gotten very bad, so I'm taking it again. It's a terrible place to be in - needing to be alert to drive, interface with medical personnel, care for my home and family, but being so sleepy that I can hardly function.

Hence my blogging break. I hope that by the time I'm back - probably in a couple of weeks - I'll have a new purse to share, as well as a cross stitch project or two. See you then!

P.S. I'll be updating my husband's Caring Bridge site following his surgery, if anyone wants to stop by and read it. Click here.

Anniversary Card

2011-08-27T00:57:00.000-04:00

The last event on August 23 is my parent's anniversary. They have been married 53 years!

The paper is all from my stash.

The greeting stamp doesn't have any company listed on it. I stamped it with Brilliance "Lightening Black" ink, then cut it out using "Lattice Rectangles" by Spellbinders. I used my sponge dauber and Memento "Angel Pink" ink to add interest. The squares are Spellbinders Classic Squares Large and Small, and the circles are Classic Scalloped Circles Small and Standard Circles Small. The medallion is from the "Baroque Motifs" set by Stampin' Up! This has been my go to set of late. I again used "Angel Pink" ink by Memento.

The mauve ribbon is by Stampin' Up! (discontinued), and the white embossed ribbon I believe came from Home Sew. The pearls in the upper right corner are by Queen & Co. The color is "orchid", and I purchased them at A. C. Moore.

Another Birthday Card

2011-08-25T00:49:00.000-04:00

August 23 is also my son-in-law's birthday! Anthony's card is much simpler than the last one I shared, but then masculine cards don't call for all the bling and other pretties, right?

I purchased the paper at Tuesday Morning , but have torn the paper pad apart, so I don't know who made it. The greeting is by Stampin' Up!, and I used Fresco "Vesuvian Ash" ink to stamp it. I used Spellbinders' Classic Squares Large & Small for the greeting. The polka dot paper was cut using Creative Memories' Oval Patterns.

Birthday Card

2011-08-23T09:00:00.000-04:00

August 23 is a busy day on my calendar! One anniversary and two birthdays make it an easy-to-remember day.

First up is a birthday card for a dear friend. I started with a sketch from the 'net, but I'm afraid I don't know where I got it.

The paper is from K & Company, my first time using their paper. I stamped "Happy Birthday" by Hero Arts in Lightening Black Brilliance ink by Tseukineko, then cut it out with Labels 4 by Spellbinders, layering it on a larger piece cut with the same die.

The pink ribbon under the lace is by Stampin' Up! (no longer available), and the lace is from Home Sew.

I believe the pink bling is by Recollections, which you can purchase at Michael's.

Crocheted Flowers

2011-08-20T03:32:00.000-04:00

Using crocheted flowers on cards is popular right now, so I thought I would try my hand at making some. It's been a long time since I've done any thread crochet, so working with the #10 thread took a bit to get used to again. After trying several sets of directions, I settled on the ones here, and made several flowers.

The white and black one in the upper left corner was done with two strands of thread, but the others were all a single strand. And the ones that look white and yellow are really off-white.

I will put a large brad or button in the center. Now to make a card to use one of these on!

Garden Produce

2011-08-13T00:24:00.000-04:00

Our wet spring, which has been followed by a dry summer, has caused problems for local farmers. Our herbs have been growing faster than we can use them, but not so the vegetables. We finally resorted to watering the vegetable garden, which is beginning to yield its bounty. Tuesday evening's dinner included yellow squash sauteed in margarine, to which we added a can of diced tomatoes, and seasoned with fresh ground pepper, some thyme, and a pinch of salt. Yummy! After dinner, Sarah and I went out to see what else needed to be picked, and found these cucumbers

which measured 13.5" and 14.5" and weighed 17.2 and 23.8 ounces respectively! There are a lot more cukes coming, from which we will probably make sweet relish (if anyone has a good recipe, let me know). We also picked this yellow squash

which was 12" long and weighed 25.6 ounces.

In addition, we picked a pound of tomatoes - mostly Roma's. A lot of the other hybrid tomatoes have end rot, which Sarah tells me happens because of growing conditions (i.e., too little rain). Sarah harvested her garlic and some onions quite a while ago, and they are drying in the garage.

There's nothing like fresh produce, don't you agree?

Simple Joys

2011-08-10T02:24:00.000-04:00

Simple Joys is finished! I loved stitching this design, and was rather sorry to see it come to an end.

Simple Joys by Little House Needleworks

Stitched 1 over 2

on 28 count Monaco Evenweave in Antique White

using suggested DMC threads

I will frame this one and am hoping I have a frame I can use, but I suspect all my square ones will be too small.

Up next - and already started - is Coffee Menu - also by Little House Needleworks. I'm stitching this one for Sarah.

Purse Project Planning

2011-08-03T23:50:00.000-04:00

Last week was quite a week for errands! I had a few more to do on Friday afternoon, so I headed out to do them in the afternoon. One of my stops was JoAnn's (it's the only fabric store in the area, although our WalMart does still carry a good selection of fabric, which I've often found to be of better quality than what they sell at JoAnn's, but that's another post.) I decided to check out the special patterns in the quilting area, which include a lot of bag patterns. You know how I can't resist a good purse pattern, so when I spotted Juliet by Me and My Sister Designs, I knew I had to get it. It didn't hurt that I had a 40% off coupon, either!

The entire bag is cute, but I especially love the bow that is threaded through the handles on the upper edge of the purse. I have seen other patterns with a similar bow treatment.

This pattern doesn't require much fabric, so I'm sure I'll be able to find enough in my stash to make it. It calls for 1-1/4 yards for the exterior and handles, 3/4 yard for the cuff and pockets, and 1 yard for the lining and tie. I may need to add extra pockets to the inside because I love pockets, but I'll have to carefully read through the instructions first.

My motto: A girl can never have too many purses!

OttLite Giveaway

2011-08-02T23:07:00.004-04:00

Jessica over at Sew Chic is giving away an OttLite! I have one in our living room that I use when I am cross stitching, and it cuts down on eye strain tremendously. Hop over to her blog and sign up!

Make Do and Mend Mondays

2011-08-01T00:01:00.003-04:00

It's Monday, and time for another Make Do and Mend Mondays post.

Have you ever purchased one of these over the sink shelves?

(This one is from Collections, Etc., and would look nice in my bathroom.) Unfortunately, if you use the water from your bathroom sink, the unit probably won't last long. Quite a few years ago I had one of these, and it started rotting because of all the water that got under and around it, so rather than discarding it, I had my husband cut off the shelf, which I discarded, along with one of the boxes. I was left with

which I covered with clear contact paper. It now holds dental floss and barrettes. So for a few pennies' worth of contact paper, I have a cute little box that is functional. Maybe all that water wasn't a bad thing?

Clothespin Holder

2011-07-29T23:46:00.000-04:00

My poor clothespins have been languishing in a plastic store bag for several years, ever since the holder that I've had for more years than I can recall literally fell apart. During one of my fabric buying trips to JoAnn Fabrics this spring, I picked up some fun fabric to make a new one.

I used a McCall's pattern, #M6051, which contains a number of cute laundry room accessories, some of which would look great in other rooms of the house, too.

I made a couple of changes to the pattern. First, I interfaced the lining fabric with Craft Bond to give the bag extra stability. I chose the lining fabric because it was thinner than the outer fabric. I also used packaged double fold bias tape because I still find making my own to be tedious.

Now all we have to do is start hanging the laundry outside, instead of using the dryer.

Lunch Bag

2011-07-22T03:17:00.000-04:00

We broke a record on Thursday - 98 sultry degrees. It rarely gets that hot here! I decided that tackling a sewing project after dinner would be a good way to stay cool.

Sarah asked for a new lunch bag, so a couple of weeks ago, I started sewing one. I kept asking myself when the lining should be added . . . turns out it was step two, and I was nearly done when I realized that. So off came the pockets and straps. With a little fudging, I got the lining sewn on and the bag completed.

The pattern is Simplicity 3822, View B. I used purchased bias binding instead of making my own.

For the lining, we bought vinyl tablecloth yardage, an economical alternative to oilcloth or similar waterproof fabrics.

I will make some type of zipper pull, either beaded or a machine embroidered tag, depending on what Sarah wants.

Too bad Sarah's job is ending in a couple of weeks. But maybe when she gets another job she'll be taking her lunch, too.

Cats - Enjoying Some R & R

2011-07-21T00:01:00.000-04:00

Cassie has discovered that the sun makes nice pools of warmth in which to roll around.

Klaus, who is somewhere around 16 years old, much prefers sleeping on top of her scratching mat. I guess when you are that old, you can do what you want.

Small Token

2011-07-19T00:53:00.000-04:00

Another finish! Woohoo!! I started Small Token by Blackbird Designs immediately upon completing Buttons & Pins, which I mentioned in my last post. These two designs, along with many others, are part of the Reward of Merit pincushion designs, of which I believe I have one more chart to stitch at some point. I am surprised how quickly this stitched up; now I can finish them both at the same time.

Buttons & Pins

2011-07-17T03:15:00.001-04:00

Last August, when we went on vacation, I started Buttons & Pins by Blackbird Designs. Like so many cross stitch projects I do, I found I immediately started making mistakes which I have to take out. (Now you know why it takes me so long to finish anything!) I set the project aside for a long time because I was having trouble with the satin stitching in the diamonds around the outside, probably because I used 28 count fabric instead of the 32 count that was recommended. After much trial and error, I decided to simply cross stitch inside them; I am happy with the result. All I have left to do is sew some buttons in the space between the diamonds on the left side, then follow the wonderful instructions and turn the piece into a pincushion. I will be stuffing it with the recommended walnut litter, which I purchased at PetSmart.

The Lazy Days of Summer

2011-07-15T00:01:00.000-04:00

Don't you wish you could be this lazy?

New Fabric

2011-07-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

My daughter usually does the weekly shopping for me, something her dad and I appreciate greatly. But occasionally, I do it, or we will do it together. That is what we did last week. The problem is that I will always deviate from my written list and spend more money than I intended. But what else can I do when I find an outstanding bargain? This time, I wanted to look in the fabric department for some vintagey fabrics, and while I didn't find exactly what I was looking for, I did find this:

It was marked down 30%, making it $3.50 per yard, and the bundle contains 2 yards composed of eight fat quarters. The nice thing is that I don't have to make sure they all coordinate. My plan is to make a purse from them.

I also found this:

which consists of 24 - 2.5" x 42" pieces. The prints are the same ones in the fat quarter bundle. I am not sure what I will make from these. Perhaps I'll try my hand at a small quilt; since the pieces are already cut, and cutting is my biggest challenge, I might actually be successful.

Make Do and Mend Mondays

2011-07-11T00:01:00.003-04:00

My blogging friend Heidi started Make Do and Mend Mondays back in May. This week I am joining in!

We recently painted our master bathroom. Not having a lot of money, we needed to "make do" with the items we already had, with the exception of the towel bars, hand towel ring, toilet paper holder, and light fixture, all of which I got at a great price. Anyway, as builders are wont to do, our vanity is plain and not very functional, so we had placed an old bathroom storage cabinet in there to store our excess. It always stood out since it was white, and the vanity is oak, so I decided to cover it - with contact paper. I have had much success doing that in the past, including covering an old kitchen countertop in our last house (it held up well), so I took the cabinet apart, and painstakingly covered each piece before putting it back together. I am pleased with the results, and that old cabinet no longer stands out.

I hope to have some more projects to share with you before too long.

Simple Joys

2011-07-09T00:23:00.000-04:00

When I had to decide which cross stitch project to start next, I originally pulled out a Brightneedle Design, but quickly changed my mind in favor of another Little House Needleworks one. This time I chose Simple Joys, which I am stitching 1/2 on 28 count Monaco evenweave in Antique White. I have already made one mistake, and am not going to frog to correct it, so I am correcting for it as I go along. It will be our (very public) secret.

I started working on some Christmas stitching when Sarah and I got together with my friend this past Wednesday, but that will have to remain a secret for a long time!

Singing the Blues

2011-07-07T02:23:00.000-04:00

My card making has been put aside for a while so I can work on some cross stitch. I love settling down on the couch in the evenings, finding an old movie or TV show to instantly stream via Netflix, and pulling out my stitching. Although I had intended to sit on the front porch to stitch this summer, it has been too warm for me to do so comfortably, especially since the porch faces west and gets the intense afternoon and evening sun, so I instead sit in the air conditioned living room.

I completed Singing the Blues by Little House Needleworks a while ago. Or, I should say, I almost completed it. I started to stitch the border, and as I got to the bottom left, I realized my count was off. I fail to understand how I could have made two mistakes that canceled each other out, especially since I was carefully moving a Post-It Note from line to line as I stitched. I am not sure what to do. Should I frog the border and leave it off completely? Should I somehow adjust the border to make it fit? I do like the design - that zigzag seems to make the entire design pop. So perhaps I just answered my own question. I will have to contemplate the matter further.

I stitched this on 28 count "Mushroom" Monaco evenweave using the recommended Crescent Colors threads. The Tartan color (blue) is one of the most variegated I have worked with, and I loved the effect.

Birthday Card

2011-06-30T02:52:00.002-04:00

When I began pulling together the elements for Grace's birthday card, I had no idea the end result would be so Victorian. That isn't Grace's style, but I liked the card so much that I wasn't going to start again.

Card details:

~ Flowers by Anna Griffin for All Night Media
~ Birthday Blessings stamp from Stenciled Spring by Gina K. Designs
~ Classic Rectangles Small by Spellbinders
~ Ribbon and Lace from my stash

My inspiration was Mojo Monday sketch #190.

Happy Birthday, Grace!

2011-06-28T08:00:00.001-04:00

Shortly before midnight on Thursday, June 28, 1990, our beautiful daughter Grace was born. Phil and I both recall those first moments after her cesarean section delivery, looking over at this new life and commenting that she had a full head of hair, and that she certainly looked bigger than the 6 - 7 pounds the doctor said she would weigh (she was 8 pounds, 9 ounces!) As she grew, Grace demonstrated a love of horses, drawing, music, and photography. She is a phenomenal piano player, and a superb photographer. Grace has also become a wonderful cook. And last year, she married her price charming.

Grace, as you turn 21, my prayer for you is echoed in the words written by Lincoln Brewster:

Love the Lord your God
With all your heart
With all your soul
With all your mind
And with all your strength (2x)

With all your heart
With all your soul
With all your mind
And with all your strength
Love the Lord your God
With all your heart
With all your soul
With all your mind
And with all your strength

Happy Birthday, Grace!!

A Warm Hello

2011-06-28T02:22:00.028-04:00

Howdy! Are you ready for another card? This one is continuing the encouragement theme from my last post.

I was inspired by Becca of Amazing Paper Grace to try using lace on my cards, so I dug into my sewing stash and found a remnant that I couldn't use for sewing. I think it gives an elegant look to the card, don't you?

Card Details:

~ Standard Circles large and small by Spellbinders
~ Fancy Tags by Spellbinders
~ Medallion from Baroque Motifs by Stampin' Up!
~ Ribbon by Stampin' Up! and Celebrate It (Basic-Basics) from Michael's
~ A Warm Hello by Hero Arts
~ Pearls by Recollections

Thinking of You

2011-06-26T02:22:00.000-04:00

Hello! Is anyone still out there? I've been such a bad blogger, not posting anything for weeks on end. My excuse is that I've been too lazy to take pictures and edit them. Not buying it, are you?

It seems there are always people who need encouragement. So many are hurting or suffering, and I know firsthand how uplifting it can be when someone takes the time to send a card, so I am trying to do more of that.

Card details:

~ Eyelet Lace from Martha Stewart

~ Fancy Tags by Spellbinders

~ Stamp from the Stenciled Spring set by Gina K. Designs

~ Ribbon by Offray

~ Silver embossing powder

Anniversary Card for Phil

2011-06-08T01:42:00.025-04:00

On May 26th, Phil and I celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary. We took the family to dinner at Romano's Macaroni Grill, and had a joint celebration with Grace and Anthony. Sarah came along for the ride.

You guessed it: I made a card for Phil.

Details:

~ Paper: "Summer Dream Stack" by DCWV
~ Spellbinders: Classic Ovals Small & Large, Standard Circles Small & Large
~ Stamp: Sailboat by PSX; "I Love You" unknown

First Anniversary Card

2011-06-05T01:23:00.034-04:00

Grace and Anthony celebrated their first anniversary this past Sunday. If I were a betting woman, I'd wager you have already guessed that I made them a card. Such a card it was! I went all out, using ribbon, lace, and pearls. I know this was based on a sketch I found on the Internet, but I'm not sure which one. The card is much prettier in real life.

Details:

~ Stamp: Unknown
~ Embossing Powder: "Bridal" by Personal Stamp Exchange
~ Spellbinders: Labels 4, Labels 11
~ Paper: "The Luxury Stack" by DCWV
~ Pearls: Shaped pearls by Recollections; Pink pearls by Queen & Co. in "Orchid"
~ Ribbon: Dollar Store
~ Lace: a scrap from my sewing stash

Although this was a labor intensive card, and definitely challenging, I loved designing and making it.

Sympathy Card II

2011-06-02T01:23:00.000-04:00

Summer has arrived! We had a hot Memorial Day weekend, but temps have now dropped, and today's predicted high is only 64 F. Not to fear, though, since we'll be heading back into the upper 70s in a few days.

Sarah asked me to make a sympathy card for her a bit ago. I've said before that I find them the most difficult card to make. Here's what I came up with:

Details:

~ Stamp - Psalm 46: 1 by Verve Stamps
~ Spellbinders dies - Labels 1, Labels 5
~ DSP - "Soft Florals Lavender Roses" by Paper Pizazz
~ Pearls - Queen & Co., "Lavender"
~ Ribbon - Dollar Store (purple grosgrain); purple gingham unknown

"My Beloved's" - Finished!

2011-05-21T01:20:00.000-04:00

Late last night, I put the final stitches into "My Beloved's" by Country Cottage Needleworks. I was able to complete this project in just two weeks, which you will know if you are a regular reader, is quite an accomplishment for me.

(I apologize for the hoop marks in the pictures; I generally don't press my finished pieces until I am ready to frame or otherwise finish them.)

I think if I were to stitch this design again, I would choose a color other than the green (Crescent Colors' Dandelion Stem) for the words; if it were a gift, I'd try to learn what color would match the recipient's decor.

This was a great project to stitch, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

My Beloved's

2011-05-12T02:19:00.000-04:00

What a beautiful day we enjoyed today! Sunshine, warm temps. Cassie sat in some of the windows, intent upon the scenery outside. Unfortunately, I spent my afternoon entering receipts into Quicken, something I haven't done in months.

Contrary to what the content of this blog might lead you to believe, I do still love cross stitch. I don't have a picture yet, but I finished the wedding sampler for Grace & Anthony. I need to take it to Joann's or Michael's and choose a frame. I also came across our 25th anniversary sampler; I'll take that to the store, too.

Meanwhile, I started a new project! I began last Thursday, the day I got the injection in my knee, and have worked on it every day since. I guess that's one nice thing about being laid up. I chose Country Cottage Needleworks' My Beloved's. It is stitching up quickly. Please excuse the poor picture; I propped the piece up on my computer to take it.

Mother's Day Cards

2011-05-08T01:40:00.000-04:00

I made Mother's Day cards for my mom, and my mother-in-law. They are identical, except for the background paper.

Card recipes:

Paper: 1st card - from the "Lemon Flower" stack by DCWV
2nd card - from the "Linen Closet" stack by DCWV
Ribbon: Dollar Store
Stamp: Anita's
Nestabilities: Classic Ovals Small and Large
Silver Embossing Powder

Birthday Card

2011-05-06T01:34:00.000-04:00

Things have continued to be difficult around our home, although we are hopeful things are looking up. My husband had a bad reaction to the new chemo drug, which caused terrible pain and suffering. (The condition is called Hand-Foot Syndrome, but Phil developed it under his arms from the crutches, on his hands, a small patch on his stomach, and one other place. It looked like a horrible sunburn, which is now peeling. You can see a picture of what his hands now look like on Wikipedia.) Thankfully, he is on the mend, although the oncologist says it will be another two or three weeks before he is completely healed. Needless to say, he will not be receiving any more of the drug. And he's still wearing the immobilizing boot for his foot problem and must continue to stay off his feet as much as possible.

This weekend, I am also off my feet, following my (I think) fourth Synvisc injection in my knee, so I thought I should try to catch up on blog posts. First up is a birthday card I made for my mom, whose birthday was at the beginning of April.

I used another Stamp TV technique called Watercolor Spritz. I will embed the video at the end of this post. I chose to use watercolor paper, even though in the video it says you don't have to, since I didn't have any heavy white cardstock. Here's my card recipe:

Stamp: Vintage Labels by Stampin' Up!
Ink: Memento Bamboo Leaves, Impress dye ink in Wisteria
Markers: Impress markers in #7 - Pansy & #12 - Spring Green
Nestabilities: Labels 4 & 8, Fancy Tags

Birthday Card

2011-04-20T03:40:00.000-04:00

You guessed it - I have yet another card to share with you! I love how this card came out, and more importantly, the recipient - my son-in-law's mother - appreciated that it was handmade.

To create the purple background paper, I tried a new technique - Letterpress with Impressabilities - using the Spellbinders Flourish Impressabilities, which I inked with Wisteria by Impress and then ran through my Cuttlebug. It took me two tries to get an even impression, I think because of the poorer quality of the cardstock I chose. Using the same ink, I stamped Happy Birthday by Stampin' Up!, then cut it out using Nestabilities Labels 5. I created the bow with my Bow Easy and affixed it to my diagonally-placed yellow ribbon with a glue dot.

Here is the video from Stamp TV which shows how to do the letterpress technique.

Summer Dream Thank You

2011-04-18T03:30:00.000-04:00

Hello! I have another thank you card to share. This one is based on the Viva la Verve February Week 4 sketch over at Splitcoast Stampers.

Here's what I used to make this card:

Paper: Summer Dream Stack by DCWV (no longer available) and a coordinating piece of cardstock from my stash.

Ribbon: Dollar Store. Gotta love it!

Cuttlebug folder: Swiss Dots

Nestabilities: Labels 1 and Labels 4.

Stamp: unknown

It was a challenge to make a red and green card that did not look Christmassy!

Elegant Thank You

2011-04-16T03:30:00.000-04:00

It's been a month since I last shared any projects with you! Between my husband starting on a new chemo drug after the last one stopped working after just over two years, and then being diagnosed with sinus tarsitis (that's NOT tartar sauce in the sinuses!), for which the doctor has immobilized his foot and ordered him to stay off it at least until April 26, things have been difficult around our home. I don't think any of us realized how many chores Phil did until we had to split them up among us. There have been pictures on my hard drive since March 24, waiting to be tweaked and uploaded, but I just haven't had the energy to do anything with them until tonight, although I dealt with only a few of them.

First up is a thank you card in my favorite shade of blue.

First, I ran a piece of blue cardstock through the Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots embossing folder. You'll notice that I left a blank space; to achieve this, I put the paper in the embossing folder sideways and embossed the top part, then I repeated that process for the bottom section. I then used my Martha Stewart Scoring Board to score three lines above and below the embossed area. You can see that more clearly in the second photo. I stamped Stampin' Up's Elegant Thank You with Versacolor Mountain Lake and heat embossed it using clear embossing powder. I cut it out using Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Ovals Large and layered it on another oval cut with Nestabilities Classic Ovals Small. Finally, I added some pearls along the bottom of the scalloped oval.

To learn how to do this technique, you can watch Stamp TV's video.

Sympathy Card

2011-03-18T02:08:00.001-04:00

Sympathy cards are probably the most difficult ones to make. They need to be serious, yet for a Christian, they convey hope of the life to come. I find myself using blue for these cards; to me it conveys calm and peace.

Supplies:

~ DSP - Vintage Blue Flowers by Paper Pizazz
~ Spellbinders Labels Four
~ The Lord Himself by Uptown Rubber Stamps

This sketch was my inspiration:

More Cassie II!

2011-03-16T02:03:00.001-04:00

Just Thinking of You

2011-03-14T01:38:00.006-04:00

Does it seem like all I am creating these days are cards? Just a few . . .

Do you see the white rather free form flower? That is a patterned vellum-like paper.

Supplies:

~ DSP - Mint Swirl by Paper Pizazz
~ Spellbinders Standard Circles Small
~ Martha Stewart punch - Eyelet Lace
~ Just Thinking by Rubber Stampede

Here is the sketch I used.

Thank You Cards II

2011-03-11T01:35:00.003-05:00

In addition to making encouragement cards, I have also been creating some thank you cards. Here are two:

Supplies:

~ DSP - "La Creme" matstack by DCWV
~ Spellbinders Standard Circles Small, Classic Squares Small, Labels 1
~ Elegant Thank You from Stampin' Up!
~ Baroque Motifs by Stampin' Up!

I used this sketch from I {heart} 2 stamp!

Supplies:

~ Unknown DSP
~ Elegant Thank You from Stampin' Up!

Here's the sketch I used:

More Cassie!

2011-03-09T00:24:00.004-05:00

It's a sad fact of life that the more expensive the cat toy, the less likely the animal is to actually play with it. Take Cassie, for example. When we brought her home from the animal shelter, the staff had put quite a few toys in her box, but it turns out she plays with only 2.5 of them - a ball, a pipe cleaner that was wrapped around a pencil to make it twisty, and sometimes a little crocheted mouse (the 1/2). Her favorite toys, though, are a long old sweatshirt string and the blue pull tab from a gallon milk jug. She loves to bring that milk ring, as we call it, up on the bed. In the first three pictures you can see her hiding it under my body pillow, and if you look carefully at her mouth in the fourth picture, you can see the little blue ring. The fifth picture speaks for itself.

Encouragement Card IV

2011-03-07T00:12:00.001-05:00

Supplies:

~ DSP Lavender Rosebuds by Paper Pizazz
~ Nestabilities Classic Ovals Large, Classic Ovals Small
~ Psalm 111:1 stamp - unknown
~ Sizzix Embosslits Sweetest Stem from Stampin' Up!

Great Giveaway!

2011-03-06T22:41:00.000-05:00

Carolyn over at Just One More Stitch is having a great giveaway. Click on over to her blog to see details and to enter!

Valentine Pillows

2011-03-05T01:45:00.001-05:00

Since I made a Valentine's Day gift for Phil, I thought I should do something for Grace & Anthony, and also for Sarah. I had originally planned to make wall hangings, but decided pillows would be easier.

I found this cute machine embroidery design called Monkeys in Valentine Pajamas, and since Grace loves monkeys, and Anthony supports her obsession, I decided it was perfect for them. Next time I'll try to find something film related for Anthony.

This is the backing fabric I used.

On this pillow for Sarah, I used this wonderful heirloom heart I found on my hard drive, and used cotton heirloom lace and entredeux to join everything together. I ended up sewing the lace around the outside by hand because I forgot to sandwich it between the front and back pieces before stitching them together. The last picture is the backing fabric I chose.

For both these projects I used materials from my stash, so other than the $1.07 for the sale-priced monkey design, there was no outlay of cash. I love projects like that!

Valentine's Booklet

2011-03-03T01:26:00.001-05:00

When I saw Bekka Feeken's booklet, Hopeful Hearts, I knew I wanted to create my own version as a Valentine's Gift for my husband.

Here are the supplies I used:

Spellbinders -

Renaissance Hearts Shapeabilities Pendant
Nestabilities Classic Hearts
Fancy Tags
Classic Ovals Large
Labels Four, Eight, Eleven
Classic Scalloped Ovals Large
Decorative Photo Corners
Ribbon Tags Trio
Standard Circles Small
Fleur de Lis Pendant

Sissix -

Tags, Scallop Combo #2

Rubber Stamps -

Psalm 96:4 - Biblical Impressions
I Peter 5:7 - Biblical Impressions
Psalm 135: 3 - Biblical Impressions
Psalm 113: 3 - My Heart Stamps for You
Trust in the Lord - Uptown Rubber Stamps
The Lord is My Rock - Uptown Rubber Stamps

God is Our Refuge - Stampin' Up!

I used Brillance ink pads in Lightning Black and Mediterranean Blue

Cassie

2011-03-01T01:16:00.001-05:00

Here are some random shots of Cassie.

One night, she thought it would be fun to attack KB, my Koala Bear.

All that shenanigans made her sleepy!

Encouragement Card III

2011-02-27T01:10:00.003-05:00

Supplies include Spellbinders Labels Four, Cuttlebug embossing folder Divine Swirls, and ribbon from the Dollar Store.

Encouragement Card II

2011-02-25T01:10:00.000-05:00

Another encouragement card I made recently. I used Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Small, and for the punched piece at the bottom, a Martha Stewart border punch. The verse is by Stampin' Up!

Encouragement Card

2011-02-24T02:42:00.000-05:00

Here is another card I made recently. I'm not sure where I put my list of supplies, but I know the large decorative element set en pointe in the center is Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Pendant. The circle in the center was cut with Spellbinders Standard Circles Small, and I believe the Scripture verse is by Uptown Rubber Stamps, which appears to be no longer in business.

Busy Days, a New Computer, and a Card to Share

2011-02-19T22:40:00.000-05:00

My dear hubby started physical therapy at the beginning of the month. He has been dealing with chronic sciatica since summer; he had an MRI in August, and although the results indicated no damage from his Myeloma, (which is known to eat holes in the bones), they did show some disk problems, and slight impingement of the sciatic nerve, and depending on which of Phil's doctors we spoke to, generated different opinions as to the severity of the problem. Ultimately, we heeded the advice of Phil's oncologist and saw a spinal surgeon in January, and of all her recommendations, pursuing physical therapy seemed the best option since it wasn't invasive or likely to add to his fatigue. So between February 4 and 18, we have had five appointments, the first of which was in the middle of a bad snowstorm! Phil has made remarkable progress according to his therapist is now down to once-a-week visits, and his pain level is significantly reduced. There are no promises of being pain free, and he will have good days and bad, but to be able to walk for longer than a couple minutes without tremendous pain is a huge improvement.

Then on February 7th, my daughter, Sarah, started a full time nanny job, so I have been trying to help with some of the household errands she normally does. Because of my own physical problems - fibromyalgia and a badly arthritic knee - and accompanying Phil to his appointments, this has been very tiring for me. It's definitely a period of adjustment for all of us.

In my last entry of January 31, I said that my computer was continuing to act up, and we decided that the most likely problem was either an imminent hard drive failure, or something with the motherboard. Because of the cost involved in fixing either of those, I started researching new laptops and scouring the sale ads each week, hoping to find one that was highly rated but still affordable. I did - and both Phil and I are the new owners of Toshiba Satellite laptops from Best Buy. Well, sort of. We took advantage of their free 18-month financing, since we didn't have the cash on hand, but knew we could pay them off in the allotted time. This new machine is incredibly fast, and although I don't like Windows 7, I am learning to live with it.

I have a card to share with you, although I didn't make it. Anthony has discovered the joy of card making, and we are thrilled that he is using our many tools and putting his own spin on cards. He made this lovely card for his mom, and it's the first one he created. I whited out the verse he wrote when I edited the pictures since it was personal. Didn't he do a great job?

Computers, Snow, and Health

2011-01-31T23:17:00.000-05:00

Still having computer problems. We've tried everything, and are now researching new laptops. Problem is my husband also needs a new computer - and he wants a laptop this time - so all prices double. We were hoping to go looking on Wednesday evening, but . . .

We are expecting our biggest snow storm of the season (so far). Depending on who you ask, we could get anywhere from 12" - 22"! I am watching the weather right now, and the meteorologist I trust is saying a foot, starting Tuesday evening, and ending Thursday morning. It will be cold, too, with temps in the low teens, and not getting out of the single digits on Thursday! Some wind, too . . .

Which means, we may not even get to my husband's first physical therapy appointment at 4:30 on Wednesday (even though it's a four minute drive from our home). In addition to his cancer, Phil has been dealing with what I would label chronic sciatica since this past summer. Some days he is in horrible pain, so we have to do something, but are limited because of his cancer (medications he can take) and what we can afford. We were blessed with the gift of a TENS unit, so we'll be discussing how to use it on Wednesday - if we get to the appointment.

I've been dealing with a sinus infection. I'm on antibiotics, but my teeth and sinuses still hurt, although the pain isn't as bad as it was last week.

To bring us full circle, I have pictures on my camera, but don't want to download them to my computer for fear of losing them. You'll just have to imagine a cross stitch finish, some cards, and adorable Cassie.

Hopefully, we'll be back to your regularly scheduled blog posts soon!

Winter Days

2011-01-16T02:15:00.000-05:00

Snow, snow, snow. After breaking the record for the snowiest December on record, we got a brief reprieve, but are now in another snowy period. When we headed to an oncology appointment (for my husband) last Wednesday, we weren't sure if we would make it since we were in the middle of a snowstorm. We left 50 minutes early, but due to the extremely light traffic, arrived at our destination only five minutes later than we would have if the roads had been clear, even though I drove slowly. Tonight it's very windy and snowing a bit. Sunday's forecast is for blustery and cold weather, with a low of 4 degrees F. As goes our weather, on Tuesday it will warm up to above freezing and we're expecting snow, sleet, freezing rain, and possibly rain. Of course, we have to head to another doctor's appointment! Unfortunately, things go downhill from there, with daytime highs by Saturday a mere 11 degrees. You don't want to know what the low will be! Good thing we're getting more kerosene for our heater 'cause we'll need it or else the furnace will run almost continually.

I am having computer problems - not sure what is going on. We've been running every diagnostic program we can think of, as well as cleaning up the machine, but no real improvement yet. The other possibility is that the laptop is dying; we have had it for quite a while and I know they don't last forever.

Hence, I have no pictures for you, but I have been working on the wedding sampler. I finished the inside (for reference, you can see a picture of the completed sampler here) and have begun stitching the words that go around the outside. Unfortunately, I had to frog the right side of the top ("I Am My Beloved's") because I was one stitch off. So I'll try to put that in again on Sunday night. Then I will chart Grace and Anthony's names and stitch them at the bottom before taking the entire piece out of the scroll frame so I can stitch the sides with the letters facing the correct way. It's too difficult to stitch them sideways.

I would like to try to complete the sampler by the end of the month, but this coming week will be busy (my definition of busy, not necessarily anyone elses!) with that appointment on Tuesday, then Grace is having knee surgery on Thursday and I'll be helping care for her. I'll try sneaking in some stitching time if I can.

Keep warm,

Thank You Cards

2011-01-07T03:10:00.000-05:00

There are many card sketches available on the Internet (do a search for "card sketches", isn't that brilliant?) and after seeing some cards inspired by several of them, I decided to try to find ones I wished to try my hand at. Since I have thank you's to write for Christmas gifts, it seemed a great time to put the two together.

This first card is simple. I paired a blue piece of cardstock with a piece of patterned paper, separated the two with a piece of ribbon, then added a stamped "Thank You" and a flower from the Spellbinder's Flower Bouquet Shapeabilities set (which was a Christmas gift from daughter Sarah).

This next card took me several days to create. I started with the patterned paper, then chose other colors by matching them to those in the patterned paper. I ended up with three nearly full-size layers, each successive one being 1/8" small than the previous one. Underneath the "stripes" on the bottom part of the card, I placed a bit of the Fancy Scalloped Border Spellbinders' Pierceability. (Another gift from Sarah.) The bow I tied with my Bow Easy. To finish it off, I cut two layers with my Spellbinders Labels Eleven. The finishing touch is three large pearls in the upper left corner.

I LOVE this card. Even though it was a lot of work, it was worth it.

I will leave you with some pictures of Crazy Cassie after one of her crazy spells.

(Isn't she just the prettiest little kitty you've ever seen?)

First Finish of 2011

2011-01-05T02:49:00.000-05:00

As difficult as it might be to believe, I already have a finish for 2011! This lovely design by Danybrod was stitched by my blogging friend, Heidi, who graciously gave me permission to copy her changes to the original design. I believe I began the design on December 29 or 30, and I finished it up earlier tonight, January 4. That has to be a record for me! Now to decide how to finish it - frame, wall hanging, pillow?

My next project is to finish the wedding sampler I started back in 2009. I don't have a lot left to stitch, and I'm hoping it will go quickly so I can stitch some of the other designs I've purchased. Now that I've had a break from it, maybe I can once again enjoy working on it.

Happy Birthday!

2010-12-28T17:27:00.000-05:00

24 years ago, just after noon, (and with much help from doctors), our firstborn came into this world. We named her Sarah Elinor. She has grown into a beautiful young woman who loves and serves the Lord, and who brings great joy to us.

Sarah is a crafter just like me, and excels at knitting, cross stitch, scrapbooking, and many more crafts, including her newest hobby, polymer clay crafting. You can visit Sarah's Etsy shop here. She has become a good and patient cook (remember that first - failed - batch of brownies?) and will attempt dishes that require much work, always to our culinary delight. Sarah serves us in many ways, but especially as she braves the stores once a week to do our grocery shopping. She is also a cat lover, just like me.

Happy birthday, dear daughter. May God continue to work in you to conform you to the image of His Son, Jesus, and may you serve Him wholeheartedly all the days of your life. We love you!

Crazy Cassie

2010-12-27T00:08:00.000-05:00

. . . is her nickname. She is wild at times, and seems to have an over-abundance of energy. She especially loves to play rope, and will now bring her rope to us when she wants to play. We're the ones to get tired of playing, as she can keep at it for hours at a time, and when she finished with one person, she will seek out another.

One day I left the vanity door open and when I turned my back to hang up my towel, Cassie had crawled into one of the drawers by climbing over the items in the cabinet! I grabbed my camera and snapped these pictures.

Christmas Ornaments

2010-12-26T00:01:00.001-05:00

This is Lizzie Kate's 1st Christmas, which I made for my daughter and son-in-law. You have to excuse the picture; I took it back at the beginning of the month before the tree was up, so I simply hung it on the wall to photograph it. I stitched this design two years ago for a new baby; you can see it here. It's a quick stitch, although the finishing takes me a long time. I think it would be better to finish it like a pinkeep, so I'm going to make a note of that and keep it with the pattern.

I also stitched Nikademus by Raise the Roof designs, from the 2010 JCS Christmas Ornaments magazine. Grace loves monkeys, and when I saw this design on the magazine cover, I knew I had to not only purchase the magazine, but stitch the design. I especially liked how two different thread colors were combined to stitch his body and face as they were exactly what I'd expect for a sock monkey. He's so cute, I could just squeeze him!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T00:01:00.001-05:00

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this." ~ Isaiah 9: 6 - 7, ESV

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." ~ Luke 2: 8 - 12, ESV