Whew!

I spent the better part of a couple of days this week assembling ornaments, but I'm finally done! I fought with my sewing machine for a while trying to sew the linings and backing on the stitched pieces. Then I twisted about a mile and a half of cording, then I stuffed about 20 lbs of polyfil into the little suckers. Then the fun part started...attaching the cording to the ornaments. But they're done, pictures are taken and they are ready to mail.

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Busy as a Bee

I've been so busy, I haven't even thought about blogging...well, that's not exactly true. I've thought about it, but haven't done anything about it! You'll have to be patient if you want to see the sampler I'm working on right now because somebody reads my blog who can't see it yet.

But I have been doing a little sewing for Christmas. And I do mean 'a little'. This table runner is call the 10 Minute Table Runner for a reason. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm sure there's a reason. I took a little longer than that but mostly because I use my sewing machine so rarely that it takes me a while to figure out what's going on. Yesterday, I spent quite a bit of time yelling at it because the tension was so loose. I won't tell you how long it took me to figure out that the needle had come loose and almost unseated. Duh. Once I got it in gear, everything moved along pretty quickly. The really fun part is standing in the fabric department playing with color combinations. 

  

Please excuse the lovely backdrop for my photos. It's hard to find a well lit place without going outside and laying them in the driveway!

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Cool and Refreshing, But It's Not the Weather!

Okay, folks, I'm finding a little difficult to think about winter when the temps are up in the 70s and I'm wearing shorts again! Not that I'm complaining. It's just messing with my mind...and I really can't afford that!

However, I continue to work on Christmas ornaments. 22 down, 6 to go! This Peppermint one is a fav of mine.

And this is my purple version of the blue Mill Hill ornament I completed recently.

And this snowman should probably go to somebody who won't see any snow this year...

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Do you think in DMC colors? You know, when you go to buy a pair of shoes to match an outfit, do you ask the clerk for something in '823' instead of 'navy blue'? Well, I do. Not all the time, but it happens. Last week I was working on a custom scissor fob (actually two) for someone and I just couldn't get a feel for what she wanted, so I asked her for the DMC colors. She went one better and sent me a picture of the scissors that will go with the fob. Here's what I came up with.

 There are lots of choices in my Etsy shop, but I am always open to custom work.

Still working on ornaments, but I did a count last night. Nineteen down, only eight to go! Woohoo! I managed to stitch quite a bit while watching football this weekend. (Go Wolfpack!!! Our season might as well be over, since we beat Carolina!) 

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It's Okay to Start Shopping Now

I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off this week, so there's not a lot of stitching show and tell. I did finish the "Tweet" and "Baked Goods" ornaments by Little House.

But what I've been concentrating on is new scissor fobs and counting pins. Great gift idea for your stitch group gift exchange! I haven't listed these yet in my Etsy shop, but I will soon. If you don't want to wait that long, just comment and leave me a way to get in touch with you. You can purchase each item separately or as a set. I'll include a color coordinated needle threader with each set.

And, of course, I have lots of pretty stitch markers for the knitters and crocheters on your list...or treat yourself.

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Featured Artisan - I Knit Quilt Sew!

This week's Featured Artisan is Sandi Levy - I Knit Quilt Sew!

Sandy has delightful creations in here shop. Something for everyone!

You can find I Knit Quilt Sew on:

Etsy

Handmade Artists Shop

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Facebook

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It's been a busy and fun week, even though I haven't had much time to stitch. Mom has been visiting with us this week and we had a great time. A productive trip to the second hand book store and some cool, but sunny weather made for some very relaxing afternoons.

I did finish a couple more Mill Hill ornaments, but I really have to get that needle smokin' soon or I'll never have all of them ready in time.  I'm going to try to hide out this week and really get some serious stitching done, but you know how that goes!

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Signs of Autumn

When you think of Autumn, leaves changing color and cooler weather spring to mind. Well, when you live at the beach in North Carolina the signs are a little different. The weather is usually cooler, but not always, and the few leaves that change don't do it until much later in the season.  The Confederate Rose, which is really a hibiscus, blooms in October and November and yachts begin heading south on the Intracoastal Waterway for the winter. I managed to get a photo of our Confederate Rose, but I never have my camera with me when I see the yachts sailing by. So use your imagination. At night, before the temperatures get too cold, we sleep with the door open and can sometimes hear them motoring by. It's very soothing.

 

The other sign of Autumn in my house is Christmas ornaments being stitched. Here are the latest finishes of the Mill Hill beaded ornaments this year.

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On Fire Featured Artistan - Jewelry by NaLa

This weeks Featured Artisan is Jewelry by Nala! Nala has beautiful creations in her shop!

A Must have for everone's jewelry box! You can find in her shop!

Jewelry by Nala on:

Etsy

Facebook

Blog

Twitter

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Stash Enhancement

Remember when I got all the threads for the Honeysuckle Sampler? Well, I neglected to show you what else was in that package. Both of these are definitely at the top of the stack in my in-basket! I'm actually going to stitch the ornaments as individual ornaments, minus the ribbon behind them. What do you think of stitching them on perforated paper and mounting them on a real ribbon?

And Quaker Christmas II is probably going to be my first 2012 project!

And I stayed up until I finished this beautiful bejeweled ornament from Mill Hill. The backing isn't on it yet. I'll probably do all of them at the same time, assembly line style.

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It's So Pretty...and it's Not Even Finished!

These Mill Hill ornaments are a lot of fun and the colors are fabulous. Of course, the glistening beads add a glamorous touch. I just got started, but I'm having a lot of fun and I didn't spill any beads yet! Knock on wood. I haven't decided what fabric to back them with, but fusible interfacing and an iron make this style of ornament a finishing breeze. That's good, because the ones requiring a sewing machine and twisted cord and stuffing...always get put off until the last minute. Like most of you, I'd rather stitch than finish.

Of course, I had to finish the Star Sampler before I could bring myself to start the beaded ornaments. Too many WIPs makes my brain hurt.

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I am sooooo close to finishing the Star Sampler SAL! Love the feeling you get when you finish a project.

And I added to my ornament stash at work Wednesday. I can get into so much trouble just going to work. I plan to get started on these this weekend while watching some football. Hope I don't throw beads all over the room during a hissy fit.

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It Was a Dark and Dreary Day...

Don't you just love those dreary, rainy days when the temps are cool and the breeze is blowing?  Most folks find it a little depressing, but I love it because it's the perfect weather for curling up with a good book or, better yet, a beautiful sampler!

I don't do a lot of SALs (stitch-a-longs, for the non-stitchers in the crowd), but I was intrigued by the Star Sampler SAL by Periphaeria Designs.  I spent quite a bit of time choosing my fabric and floss. I'm not normally enticed by warm colors, but this piece of fabric that I had in my stash just called out to me. I haven't worked on it in a few weeks, but the final section was made available this week. So I'm thinking I'll finish it this week.

Of course, those ornaments won't stitch themselves, so who knows what I'll be working on. I'm starting to think I have Stitcher's ADD!

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Attitude Adjustments

It's amazing how my attitude improves when I take time to stitch every day! I don't mind my chores (much) when I can look forward to hours of working on something that is really enjoyable. And isn't that the whole point? 

The ornaments have not been totally ignored since I started the "Honeysuckle Sampler". Two more are done from Blue Ribbon Designs' "Red Letter Ornaments".

I had a little trouble remembering how to do double backstitch on the diagonal (the filling of the vine), but all in all, this piece gives me a bad case of 'just one more stitch syndrome'. 

I love the texture of the brick stitch in the outer petals of the flower and the rows of satin stitch in the inner petals.

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Woman Seduced by Band Sampler

My Christmas ornaments are in peril! Oh no, I've been seduced by the Honeysuckle Sampler. When those final skeins of Au Ver a Soie  and Soie Perlee came in the other day, I just could not resist. I did manage to finish the ornie I was working on (that makes four complete), but I really just wanted to put in one band. Quit snickering! So I put in the first dividing band, which is off white four-sided stitches. Then I decided I just needed to see a little color, so I put in the first band. Then it looked sad without the matching dividing band... Are you getting the picture?

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Oh, What a Dilemma

My ornies are progressing nicely, thank you. However, some supplies I ordered for a new project have finally arrived and I want to start it so badly I can't stand it!

 
Some of you may know that I used to own two needlework shops, but I sold them several years ago. Consequently, I have a monstrous stash. I have so many samplers, most of which I still want and intend to stitch, that my friend, Donna, came to look through them when she opened her shop. She said it was better than looking through the Hoffman catalog. Anyway, when you own a shop you are compelled to stitch pieces that you can use as models. But the best part of being retired is that I can stitch whatever I want, whenever I want! If it happens to be something that is current or popular, I loan it to my LNS, but quite often I pick a project that is out of print or something that most people wouldn't want to stitch. And sometimes, it's something that's been in my stash for YEARS, like the Honeysuckle Sampler.

My dilemma is: Do I start the Honeysuckle Sampler or do I stitch ornaments and gaze longingly at my waiting project? Answer: I'll stitch ornies now and start HS after supper. Tomorrow I'll go thru the whole process again and hope my brain doesn't explode from the stress.

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