This year I did not do an autumn bucket list. No pumpkin bread, forgot the Hallmark movies and I did not add my autumn bedding. But I did do a mystery Halloween quilt designed by Primrose Cottage My sister even joined along.
The fabric is called Bad to the Bone by My Mind’s Eye. There was just a few pattern flaws but otherwise came out beautiful and was easy to sew. I sent it off to the quilters so chances are I won’t get it back until after Christmas. I pieced the back because it was not large enough. I think it will come out cute.
I am designing a cute quilt label so when I get it back and add the binding I will give you an update.
Since 4th of July is around the corner I decided to stitch up a few small patriotic pieces. To motivate me I jumped on the Primrose Cottage Stitching challenge.
I have done of a few of their ”kisses” patterns. Not only are they cute, they are fast to stitch.
Now for the million dollar question. How do I plan to finish them? I am thinking the small decorative pillows to put in the dough bowl. But we shall see.
To see other great projects from fellow stitches on the challenge use this hashtag #starspangledstitching
It has been quite a while since I made a full sized quilt. I have this love affair with beautiful fabric. I cannot tolerate anything made with cheap, ugly fabric. Similar to my thoughts on scrapbook paper, life is too short to make ugly things with ugly products. So beautiful fabric it is, and quilting is the game. I decided to do the Ruby Star Society summer 2022 sew-along using the Stay Gold collection from RSS. Beautiful fabric with gold accents. It is a simple quilt only using 5 inch squares but still beautiful.
Starting today we will all start to cut out the fabric. On the hashtag #rsssummersewalong I have seen a nice variety of fabric choices. It will be exciting to see what people choose as their fabrics. I will try to cut it out this week but i am struggling with a major toothache. At least I got an appointment. Hopefully it will be a dim memory soon.
I finished part three of the Little Women SAL. I was hoping to catch up on the book but I have been kinda dragging lately.
This part has the dates and names down on the bottom. In an effort to catch up I immediately started Part Four so I can catch up.
I saw someone on Instagram who made a project bag out of the finished project. I am not sure what I want to do with this sampler. I am leaning towards frame art, but framing is so expensive. I can try to frame this myself, but I doubt I can do it justice.
I was not expecting a new SAL so soon. We have not even finished the Bats and Boos Mystery SAL.
But I am game. My sister Janice is even participating. As soon as I saw the items on the New Items page I snatched it up. I am always concerned about the items running out. My sister told me the cloth was already gone.
I was able to snag the Red Project Bag, the Fancy Floss package, the needle minder and the Aida cloth.
Of course this picture shows DMC, but I got the other thread pack.
This time the project goes over 5 weeks. I already went and bought the chalkboard easel from Hobby Lobby so I am prepared. My sister said that her store did not have it. I personally think they do not know their inventory as I have been able to find every item and she never can. But maybe they really dont have it. Who knows.
Again I was tempted to do the quilt but decided not too do it. It will be too much pressure on me.
Besides September is Sunflower September Stitch-a-long where we focus on Sunflower cross stitch projects. I only have two but that is just enough. I cannot do what these professionals accomplish.
So at least count me in for the All The Trimmings Stitch-a-Long.
Part three was a breeze and I finished it on Sunday! It was the star in the middle and took no time at all to finish. Now that allows me a whole week to finish the Little Women SAL. Or at least get a lot done on the sampler.
OK so I am weak. I bought two more cute patterns on Etsy.
I saw this one made up by Kimberly at the Fat Quarter Shop. It was a video from last year and was sadden to see she no longer sells it. But I checked Etsy and there it was. I think this cutie will be framed.
And one little one from Real Housewives of Stitching. This one is called Hello Fall. Very cute fox in a mug. I think I will make it into a small decoration that I can either put on a tiered tray or on an autumn decorative piece if I can find one I like.
Well I need to get back to my chores as no one else will do them for me. Darn it!
I strted to watch Floss Tube on youtube to learn more about cross stitching when I stumbled across videos from The Fat Quarter Shop. This is a great quilting shop that I have bought tons of fabric from. Well I guess they do cross-stitch too. Oh the glory!
They provide project bags, fancy floss, great patterns and a ton of inspiration
Fat Quarter Shop, who is known for thier generosity (Once they sent me a $100 gift certificate because I was such a good customer) decided to do a free stitch-a-long with a Halloween theme. WHHHHHHAAAAAAAATTTTTTT
Halloween, be still my heart.
This time I was able to convince my sister Janice to do it with me. We both bought the fancy threads.
They are also doing a quilt kit but I decided to skip it. I am downloading the pattern should I decide later to do the quilt.
Because they are so cool, I bought the halloween project bag, the ghost zipper pull and a needle minder.
These people think like me, do stuff with cute accessories
and anyone who knows me, knows I love Halloween. How fun! I think I can show this without getting in trouble. I am not sure how long the stitch a long pattern will be free, so go now and get the different parts (click on picture)
Part One was hard as I stitched the bat wing wrong and had to pull out the stitches. The webbing in the background was a bit meandering. But otherwise an easy pattern.
Part two was much easier!
I have started part three so I will have more to post later!
Recently I decided to take up cross-stitch again. I ordered a few kits online that were full coverage and felt a little overwhelmed. Full coverage….gee will that take me a 100 years to finish. I am not known for finishing these projects.
So I decided to try a small piece to warm up the old skills I use to have
I started with a little pumpkin. Lordy I made so many mistakes. Missed stitches. Stitches going the wrong way, misreading the chart. Lordy when did this get so hard. Or was I just getting old. I can do it, I know I can.
I then did a small piece called “Not all Witches Live in Salem” Sorry I do not have a picture, but you can find a pattern at Etsy from the WitchyStitcher.
I started to get my rhythm back. I did make a mistake but it was minor.
But what I was missing is the joy of stitching with friends. Why oh Why am I surrounded by people who do not do crafts. I need a wider circle of friends.
So I decided to see if I can find a Stitch-a-long (SAL) on Etsy or another place so at least I can join others on a group event.
I found this fun SAL/Book Club from Sapphire Mountain Handicrafts. WHAT!!! a book club and a mystery cross stitch event. I have never read the book but always wanted to, so this was a win-win for me.
I joined a bit late and have had to catch up.
I ended up doing this on linen so it was more old-fashioned. By the way, I do not like linen. It looks great but ugh! So hard to count and keep the linen straight.
Part One was easy. When I took this picture I realized that my phone case was Little Women. I photographed this on some of my Great Grandmothers linens I inherited from my Grandmother.
Part two was hard. The gray house was hard to see. My eyes are old and this was really hard to see. But loved how it turned out.
I keep plugging along when I got bit by another Stitch-a-long.
Every once in a while SSS will come out with a card kit that just blows me away. Between the papers and the stamps, it quickly ends up in my shopping cart.
The January 2021 card kit was definitely one of those kits. At first I fought the urge and the I started to see the beautiful cards designers were posting. I was sold. Send me that kit please, and hurry.
The Whimsy Stamps papers are so beautiful and when I saw the embossing folder was the clincher. Give me…give me.. give me.
I ended up making 12 cards, using all 12 papers. I could have continued, but since I bought I February Kit (hee hee) I needed to stop.
I started making snowflakes on the pretty background papers. They were either die cut or embossed using the stamp set.
The I used the embossing folder to create texture. Such a pretty embossing folder with beautiful snowflakes.
The I made some shaker cards
The I decided to use the Honey Bee Stamps Thin Frames die so I could see both sides of the paper.
And finally I used the Simon Says Stamp Shimmer Snowflake Die. This was one of my favorites.
This was a good kit, looking forward to the February kit,
So last year I started this somewhat simple scarf, and of course, did not finish it. I figured since I am working from home I can crochet during long boring meetings. And boy that was the trick, I finished the scarf and it is so warm and comfy.
I found the pattern on Pinterest and the lovely designer put the pattern on Raverly for free but I think she charges now, but well worth it for this awesome pattern. I would recommend it for a first time crocheter as it was fast and easy. That is if you have long conference calls. LOL
Click on the photo below to get to Raverly for the pattern.
The only real issue I had, was that both ends of the skein was the same color. I had quite a struggle trying to get a different color in one of the strands. But I did ok, except I wish the tassels had more dark colors in them but otherwise I love it.
The Mandala yarn is awesome and has such beautiful colors. I was able to find this at Wal-mart for a great price. I know you can order from Michaels and I think Joanns carries it also.
Since you use three strands to crochet the pattern, it really does go fast.
