Heart Pinkeep

This is, I believe, the last stitched piece from my aunt. I wasn't sure I liked the design, but now that it's a pinkeep, I adore it! Although you can't see it in the picture, there is one additional pin at the bottom.

Sleepers

If I weren't so fatigued, I'd say it was fun making these two sleepers for friends who are expecting their first baby in early November. This is an old pattern - my mother bought it to make two sleepers for Sarah back in 1986 - and since then, I've used it several times. The original pattern calls for a drawstring at the bottom, but being concerned with safety, I inserted a zipper instead.

On the first one, I used buttons that spell B-A-B-Y; they aren't functioning buttons, as I prefer snaps.
Close-up of the zipper:
The second sleeper. I used bright yellow buttons, which you can see in the second picture.
Since the parents aren't telling whether the baby is a girl or boy (they may not know), I had to choose gender neutral fabric, which was hard to come by. I hope the little one gets much use out of these!

Small Pinkeep

Here's another pinkeep made from the stitched piece on one of my aunt's cards. This one is tiny - about 1" x 2-1/2", which made it difficult to work with. You'll see in the photo of the back that I need to get some of the glue off it.

My Guy

I am so blessed to be married to the most wonderful man in the world. And he grills a mean hamburger, too!
I love you, sweetie!

Good Eats

With apologies to Alton Brown for using the title of his wonderful Food Network show, this pizza sauce that Sarah is making certainly qualifies as Good Eats. And this is only the beginning: there's another bushel of tomatoes waiting to be made into this tasty pizza topping.

Autumn Flowers

There are still flowers blooming in our gardens. The calendula is just about done, but we still have Zinnas (which I've been cutting and bringing in the house):
Chrysanthemum and unknown flower:
Black-eyed Susan Vine:
This "volunteer" Portulaca, aka Moss Rose (I never planted them at this house, so I'm not sure where they came from!)
Sarah's garden, with Cosmos, Anise Hyssop, Four-O'Clocks, Yarrow, Calendula, and other things I don't recognize:
Happy Autumn!

Nature Craft

This clean-up job . . .
yielded these:

New Pinkeep

Tonight's project was to dismantle an anniversary card my aunt made us and turn it into a pinkeep. I'm very pleased with how it came out! Thanks, Aunt Barb, for such a wonderful stitched piece to use!!

Biscornu

The pile of finished cross stitch projects has been calling to me for weeks now, and tonight I decided to do something about it. Unfortunately, it takes an entire evening to complete one finish.

Tonight I completed my first biscornu using Annette's excellent instructions. It seems a bit out of shape; most likely, I didn't stuff it as carefully as I could have. The buttons I used are for doll clothes - they were the only ones that wouldn't hide the stitching. Definitely a fun and unique finish. Oh - the designs are from Tantes Zolder.

"Love and Faithfulness"

Tonight I got together with my friend to stitch. It was the first time in several weeks since we'd seen each other, and it was good to catch up and to get some stitching done. Cheri has been working on "A Virtuous Woman" (Proverbs 31 Sampler) by Leisure Arts for a long time, a project which I did some years ago. She's getting close to having it completed.

As for me, I have so many projects in my bag that it's difficult to choose what to work on! "Love and Faithfulness" by Little House Needleworks won out tonight. I started this while I waited for Grace to have her MRI back in August, and am enjoying it, but then I always like projects that include Scripture verses. I am thrilled with the shading created by the Crescent Colors threads.

Blouse Project

With the weather turning cooler, I decided I should sew together my latest Casablanca Blouse. This is the fifth time I've made up this particular pattern! I really don't need any more clothes, but one day when I was at JoAnn Fabrics I spotted this fabric (which I believe is a linen or linen look) and just had to have it, especially since it was, as I recall, 40% off, making it affordable.
This blouse is so comfortable, although I do find them too warm for me to wear in the summer since I have a hard time cooling down, due probably to my fibromyalgia. Perhaps someday I'll make the long-sleeved version, which would be nice for church or those relatively warmer winter days.

Here's a close-up so you can see the fabric. If you look hard enough, you can also see one of the buttons just below the "V".

1st Blogaversary

Today is my one-year blogaversary! I wish I had thought ahead and planned a giveaway, but since I didn't, I will simply say "Thank You" to everyone who has read my blog, and those who have left comments. I appreciate you!

Cute Critters

Kelly

Klaus

The Other Side of the Paint Can

It took a mere two days for me to paint the entire bedroom! I had planned on at least three, but things obviously went much faster than I had anticipated, presumably because there was plenty of room to move around. I am so pleased with the result, but then, almost anything would look better than the dirty off-white the builder used.

Here are a couple of before pictures. The wall color looks darker than it actually was.
And the result:
The window wall is the only one that's blue I know it looks purple in the pictures, but it's Valspar's "Prairie Sky". The other three walls are Valspar's "Homestead Resort Buff."

I need to move the rest of the books and decorations back into the room before the girls return from their vacation with my parents either late Friday or sometime Saturday, although I'm not in a hurry to redecorate.

Did I mention how thrilled I am with the outcome of this project?