Crafty Goodness

Bonjourno everyone!!

I've got lots of great crafty goodness to share with you all so I hope you have something to warm your hands with a good cup of something.   I'm holding a cup of coffee since my hands are freezing.  Perhaps I should put on one of my mug cozies I've been crocheting up?! I can't though since they are gifts for people. The other night, my husband watched me jump from project to project with reckless abandon; stitching, crocheting, pinning, gluing and painting.  I caught the Christmas craft bug in a big way.  I found a great tutorial on how to make crocheted stars and have made three already.  I'm hoping to whip up more of these as cute little gifts for my friends and family.  They take less than 20 minutes to make and all I need now is some starch to spray onto the stars for them to retain their shape.  That and some glitter...my hubby's suggestion.  He's such a great guy!! If you are interested in making some of these charming stars, check out this great blog by Matt: According to Matt. He adds glue on his stars but another blog suggests starch, so that's what I'm going to use.  I still need to attach some bells at the end and then they are finished. I also started a deer silhouette for my brother's bullet box.  I'll be painting the box brown or may stain it.  What do you think I should do?  I've never stained anything before.  Anyone have suggestions?

I find it funny to upload this photo here since I've already uploaded it first to Facebook and Instagram.  It seems there are a lot of us stitchers on both media platforms finding each other more and more everyday.  Is blogging going to be a thing of the past? Although I do enjoy Instagram and facebook, I hope blogging stays because I do enjoy reading people's posts in a diary/journal type form!

Onto more crafty goodness.  I'm happy to announce that Meari has received my mailart!! After the people (rather the young buck) at the post office looked at me like I was crazy and was not helpful at all, I mailed the envelope with some trepidation.  I had visions of people at the letter sorting place pulling it out of the line and opening it or destroying it!! Why, I don't know...I was just worried!! So glad that it made it to her and she told me her parents thought it was really cool to receive mail from BC so they got out an atlas to find me! Check out her post! I can hardly wait to receive mine.  This is my first private exchange and I enjoyed every bit, even the worrying part!

The inside fabric

the back

the front

The design on the back is a freebie from The Little Stitcher. The design on the front is a freebie from Gazette94.  I stitched the tree and a bunch of the snowflakes randomly all around the tree.  I used DMC threads for all of the stitching.  The variegated red is 119 I believe.  I used some sort of evenweave fabric that was in my stash.  I hope to do this again...wink wink Meari!

Finally one of my giveaway prizes has been received. Pat from Southpaw Stitcher loved the pillow I made for her and the treats I included for her to use.  I am happy with the finish too.  For some reason I do "perfect" finishes for others....just not for myself.  Maybe I should pretend that the finish I'm working on is for someone else and then it will turn out ok! I stitched it on 32 ct. Lambswool with DMC threads. Her photos on her blog are much better than mine. 

Prairie Schooler Fall

Still waiting for the other two to arrive...but they have further to travel.  

So on that crafty crazy day, I finished my Two White birds.  Not happy with the finish at all.  It's crooked, the ribbon bow is bunchy, the ribbon around the pinkeep is wonky...sigh.  I'm sure none of you will see any of these flaws, but I do.  Not only is it not what I envisioned, but there's some sort of pink blog dot on one of the bird's tails.  You can't see it in the photo since the ribbon covers it.  

I haven't posted a TUSAL in ages, so here's my year end orts.  The bowl is overflowing and I have to figure out what to do with all of those orts. 

We finally put our Christmas tree up last night! Yay! We listened to Christmas tunes and Loreena McKennitt's Christmas album.  The song "Snow" always makes me emotional and nostalgic for Christmas times past.  I remember listening to this song in the kitchen while making sugar cookies with my mom when I was16 years old.  We listened to the tape on a tape player and stayed up until 1 am making cookies.  That night it was snowing and everything was quiet save for Loreena's voice echoing in our kitchen.  Magical...isn't it?

Take care everyone and thank you for staying with me this long! I appreciate all of the lovely comments and well wishes everyone is sending me and my husband.  He appreciates it too and thanks everyone who has taken a moment to think of him.  

Anne

IHSW and Some Finishing!!

My weekend of stitching was not too shabby! Although I was busy, I did get some time at night to stitch on Jane.  I managed to finish two pieces too and prep for more finishing for next weekend!

Jane....just the snake and 1 over 1 verse to complete! I'm getting so close!

Plum Street Samplers "Coffee Bean Christmas Tree" I didn't have the rusted bells but I think these turned out nicely.  The green gingham I used for the backing.

I finally finished Le Chalet des Perelles using that perle cotton stuff and some pretty silk ribbon from Vicki Clayton.

My two Autumn pieces.

While I was working on my smalls, look what the mailman brought me!!

My first Prairie Schooler Chart!! Woohoo!! Although I'm a wee bit late getting this, it'll be great to stitch more fall designs for next year.  Now I am trying to choose some cute Christmas ornies to stitch. 

Thank you all for your suggestions on getting "gray" linen.  I'm going to try both Zweigart and WDW and see what I end up with.  If neither are gray, I may just have to do some dyeing of my own!

Hope you all had a wonderful hermitty weekend and that you enjoyed my finishes! I hope to finish some more next weekend...fingers crossed though since it's getting close to report time!

Hugs 

Anne

Stitching, Threads and Sipping Red Wine

Is drinking red wine a good thing while blogging?

Hmm.....Well even if it's a no..WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!! I'm celebrating by myself! Isn't that fabulous?!?! Funny how the day you can actually go out and do anything, everyone is either away, or busy.  I think that's what people call....Murphy's Law? No wait...that's something else....what do you call it?

Anywho.

You didn't come here for that, but if you did, grab a tea, coffee or wine like me and sit back and enjoy what I'm about to show you. Join me in celebrating!!!

First off.  I managed to stitch 1 design while at Tatuk Lake (really far away from any sort of civilization...no cell phone reception..AT ALL!!!! ACK!) I really enjoyed my time with my family and wish it could have been a longer visit.  I fished, as many of you saw in the last photo, I stitched, I played LOADS of crib (only won 2 games...sigh), and made the morning fires without my Dad's firestarter...hehehe! I really wished I had a video of my brother, a firefighter, splitting wood with an axe.  He's got so much strength it's insane.  I think all of us were awestruck watching the log split into two and fly.  SERIOUSLY!!  I had many wonderful walks and took lots of pictures, some of which I will upload and create an album on picasa and link it...not yet though!

Here's my little autumn stitch that I really loved stitching.  It's a freebie from Le Chalet des Perelles stitched on 28 ct. R&R18th century brown, using DMC, NPI silks, GAST and WDW.  My Uncle Paul really enjoyed watching me stitch this piece and liked that I had a beautiful hobby.

We saw loads of beautiful birds flying above us such as Pelicans, Osprey and Sparrows.  My camera couldn't zoom out enough to catch the Ospreys diving down to catch the Kokanee salmon but I could get this little guy. Isn't he the cutest?!!

He looks like he's pissed at something.  Maybe he doesn't like his picture being taken?!!

Enjoy these...it gives you a good feeling :D

Stunning rainbow hey? There's a photo I'll post of me that my dearest sweet mamma took of me...and you have to laugh.  A BUG FLEW INTO MY EYE PRECISELY THE MOMENT SHE TOOK THE PHOTO.  Okay I'll post it here for your viewing pleasure.

Love it!

Seriously though.  The bug had a LOT of space to fly around in....why my eye???????????????????????????

Okay now onto another freebie I stitched while in the car driving to and from Edmonton.  It's Plum Street Sampler's Christmas Coffee tree that I think was made for me.  I stitched the tree trunk with GAST Espresso, the beans with WDW Molasses, the green is Nancy's Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe..super lush to work with, and the off white is GAST's Oatmeal.  I stitched it on 32 ct Natural linen and loooooved stitching it.  I have a finish in mind but can't get to that until later on in the month. 

I went through the Rocky Mountains for my first time, well my second but my first time was when I was 16 traveling with my Ukrainian dancing troupe and it was night, didn't see a thing....so my first time really.  Um where was I.....

Ah...mountains.  Amazing!

The pandemonium of trying to take a photo of baby elk.

Oh, you want a Titus pic? Here is my big, beautiful baby!!

Some stash that arrived while I was in no man's land. 

Um....any of you work with that perle cotton stuff? Or know what it's used for? I tried some last night and I'm not liking it at all.  I didn't know when I ordered it that it would be so thick.  I don't do canvas work and can't foresee myself doing that anytime in the future.  I think I may give them to the 2nd or 3rd place winner...still mulling that part out.

Some Vikki Clayton silks and silk threads since I read on a person's blog (sorry can't remember where) that she is discontinuing her silks line :( Big booo from me since I just found out about her when I ordered her silks for Jane.  Oh well.  Her silks are amazing. I can't wait to work with them.

Looooove the colours!!!!

The last bit I want to share with you is the AMAZING gift that Jo from Serendipitous Stitching sent to me for being her 2000th comment post.  I was tickled pink, literally, when I saw what she made for me.  She also sent me a BBD chart that I can't wait to stitch! THANK YOU DEAREST JO!!!!! 

I love how she made it in my favourite colours and stitched my name! It's very precious to me.  Every little stitched piece that has been made for me is cherished so much.  It's my third piece from someone other than myself and I love it to bits :D 

Okay....I hope you made it thus far and haven't been too bored.  I started looking through the blogs today but had to jet off to go school supply shopping.  I ended up buying a new computer chair that was half off and will be delivered Tuesday.  The Ikea one I'm sitting on is broken and has no back. LOL!!!

Love and hugs to you all 

Anne

Edited: Fixed link for the French autumn freebie!

100 Followers/1st Year Blogoversary Giveaway!!!

'Allo!!

Okay, I've finally figured out what I'm going to do for my 100th follower/blogoversary giveaway.  I'm actually at 112 followers, so a big thank you to those who have joined my blog!!! I've been trying to go through all of your photos and add myself to your blogs, but sometimes your blog isn't linked.  Check out my post about how to do this here: blogging help.

Before I go headlong into the giveaway, here's a pic of my not so "small" pillow.  It may look small but it isn't, and it's not really big enough to be an actual pillow.

My husband thinks the length is a bit strange but what does he know!! I kind of like it: all oblong like and odd! I'm glad I made use of some of Denise's lace trims that I won awhile back.  Thanks again Denise!

Okay....drunk roll (typo and I'm keeping it....not drunk at all by the way!)....

Oof, sorry about the photos.  They looked so much better on my cell than up here! Alas, what can I do?
Anywho, I chose 3 fabrics:  27 ct. natural linen, 28 ct. beige linen, unknown count evenweave from my mother's old stash.  Both my sister, me and now you will have a piece of this really soft evenweave, perfect for smalls! Assorted DMC threads that I seem to have doubles/triples of and won't use in the near future.  Some left over Carrie's Threads from Tanglewood that is somewhat substantial compared to the remaining threads that I have leftover.  The colours are: Mud Pie, Double Fudge Brownie, and Blue Dreams. Some pretty lace, cord and pins for finishing. Plus the TBA pincushion and tea!!


Giveaway!!! Rules, yes there are. I'm a teacher so I like me some rules!

1. Be a follower

2. Comment on this post

3. Tell me your favourite colour or colour combo, i.e. blue/green, purple/red, etc.

4. What kind of tea you like to drink, i.e., black, green, herbal, etc.

That's it! No need to post anywhere, just enjoy my blog and spread the love!!

The reason I need your fav colour and tea is because I will be contacting the winner and showing him/her three or four designs to choose from to make a pin cushion that will be in this style: pincushion.  Just scroll down a bit and you will see what I mean.  It will be faster for me to stitch and sew something simple yet elegant.  My friend loves hers and uses it to stick her pins in when she's sewing.  I also want to add a super yummy tea to the mix from my favourite Canadian tea store, David's Tea.  Take a look through the website when you can and let me know which one you would love to try.

Okay there you have it, my giveaway.  I will have this open for two weeks, so you can join until September 30th at midnight.  I will do the draw on Saturday morning.  I will have my hubby draw for me.  Last time it was my darling Lucy who pulled out Joyce's name by her wee wet paw. I guess my man will have to do.

Good luck to all and I will be happily stitching tonight and a wee bit tomorrow before I go off dancing with my gf's!!

Ciao!

Happy Dance! Tanglewood Completed! Great IHSW Weedkend!

The epic journey of Tanglewood has been completed as of today.  With the IHSW weekend, I managed to finish the clouds off and think about what to do with the stain.  So today, I added my name and year to the bottom, and stitched a butterfly to cover the stain.  I tinkered with my initials over it but the stain would not have been covered very well, hence why I chose the wee lil' butterfly to float into my Tangelwood! The stain will be a fond reminder of my darling Lucy and not at all a blemish to the piece.  I remember all the trials and tribulations I had whilst stitching Tanglewood, and I can hardly wait to find the perfect frame for my first major project!

HAPPY DANCE!!

Started February 2011, Finished August 22, 2011

Stitched on 32 Sandstone Linen with Carrie's Threads

Not only did I complete Tanglewood on Sunday, but I also worked on the Queen's Sampler.  The Queen is nearly complete and I only have a few more motifs to add and it too will be finished!

My brain is already over flowing with ideas for new smalls for this autumn and winter.  Along with Chatelaine's Tiny Rose Mandala, HAED's Tea Bath Fairy, I think I will start on a cute autumn pumpkin and crow pattern that is a freebie (from where I don't know and if you do let me know!), and start on Shepherd's Bush Tiny Garden. With a massive finish like I had today, I feel the need to tackle more!!

Take care!

Anne