Final Finishes for 2014

I've managed to have a few quiet days to get some finishing done before the year rolls over. It is always amazing to look back and see how much I've accomplished. Somehow, it doesn't seem like that much during the actual year....and that's because there is always so much more I want to get to. There are so many wonderful designers and teachers and classes and retreats and clubs.....if only!!!

But here are my final finishes to share...first up is A Stitchers Name Tag by La-D-Da. Igot this limited edition kit at The Attic last November and am thrilled to have it finished to wear to classes/seminars. I opted for only my first name so I could fit a beehive. I added some Twisted Threads Bees to buzz around the hive and flower and a bee pin my Mom gave me. I also added a little fairy pin, from my friend Paola, at the bottom right. Otherwise, done as it came in the kit. 

Up close bee pin

Up close fairy pin

Next is the Coverlet Candle Mat by The Scarlett House. This was one of the Colonial Gatherings kits from Dyeing to Stitch. This was stitched and finished as called for. Not sure I want to sit a candle on it, but once the Xmas decorations are down, I'll find a spot and see what works.

This is another Colonial Gatherings kit called Strawberry House, again from The Scarlett House. I only had to stuff this, so it was a quickie!!!

Next up is a make it, take it from Jackie du Plessis called Stitcher's Pouch. Stitched as called for though I haven't been able to figure out how a piece of wool goes on the front. Hoping to see it finished in person one day so I can figure it out! :) (Although I'm happy with how it looks as is!)

Finally, is Pin Skep by Kathy Schmitz. Now I'm not real happy with how this turned out. It was supposed to be a "drum" shape but mine is short and squatty. It didn't say on the pattern if a seam allowance was included ...or not.. and so I assumed (and you know what they say when you do that) that the seam allowance was included in the pattern top/bottom. I think I should have added it....because my top  and bottom pieces did not fit the cylinder section and I have major puckers/pleats that I didn't want. Now I know I could have taken it apart and fixed all this, but was afraid the linen would unravel too much....and I'd have to restitch the top and didn't have enough fabric. The original called for some chenille trim around the top but I don't think that will work on my finished shape.  So...............it will remain as is, as a reminder to me to think things through better before I act! And the JABCO bee buttons kind of spruce it up!!! 

So now I have to ponder what I want to work on in 2015..always a lot of fun to start new projects. Have some ideas and will share soon!

Last but not least, I wanted to share a couple photos of the grand kids at Christmas. So here they are with some of their favorite gifts!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship! Be safe tonight if you're heading out!

Stasi

A few more ornaments............just in time!!!

This will be a quick post...I promise! I've finished up some more ornaments I'd like to share.

First up is this years ornament for my grandson. He is obsessed with baseball and plays catch with himself(and anybody else he can con into playing) pretty much all day long. He bounces small soft balls off his bedroom wall and dives for them on the floor. He is a "ball" of energy (pardon the pun)!!! So, I was very happy when I found this Mill Hill kit called Baseball Mitt. Luckily my favorite shop, Salty Yarns, had one in stock and sent it right to me. It is perfect!!!

Next up is an ornament for my newest great nephew. I'm going to meet him for the first time tomorrow and was clamoring to get this done in time. His family celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah so I did a double sided ornament with Santa on one side and a menorah on the other. Santa is from an old Leisure Arts book called 250 Christmas Quickies and I found the menorah on line as a free chart by Connie G. Barwick. I stitched it on 32 count Blue Spruce linen and thought the motifs looked nice against that background color. I'm loving this mini pom-pom trim as an edging!!!

 Last but not least, are three I've done for some other grand nephews and  a grand niece. These reminded me of our recent trip to Alaska and were very cute. They are from an old Better Homes and Gardens chart called Polar Cap Stars. I added the red bells instead of the tassel shown on the chart.

fronts

backs

Well, I think I'm finished with my Christmas stitching. Now on to cookies and candies!!!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May it be filled with family, friends and lots of stitching!!!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Busy as a Bee...............

Life has been very hectic lately. We have either been away or had company at home the last 4 weekends. On top of that, there is the frenzy of Christmas .....decorating, gift shopping, gift making, cookie baking, etc.... you all know the routine. I've also had a milestone in my life (perhaps one I'd like to forget) and am now eligible for social security!!! I don't feel that old, but I sure wish I could get some of those years back as I have so much more I want to stitch!!!! I'm jealous of younger stitchers and often wonder about all the fabulous things to come in the needlework world!! Oh well, I will just satisfy myself with the tons of things I already have to work on and push through it all!!!

So,here's my past month (buckle up for the ride)! I'm starting out with some shots of my granddaughters birthday. It was a Frozen theme and I think my daughter had some very fun ideas for the party.

 They even had an indoor snowball fight with white balls of yarn!!!











Next up was Thanksgiving at my house. We even had real snow for the kids to play in, so it was perfect. Our oldest daughter and family came up from VA, our younger daughter from NC, and my parents and various siblings from MD. It was hectic but fun-- I am very thankful for my family!!!

The next weekend w we were back to VA to babysit the grandkids, but it was a quick visit...down one day, back the next.

This past weekend, we drove to Baltimore for the annual aunts/cousins lunch with my Dad's side of the family. We had a big turnout (36 peeps) and it was so good to see everyone. Here is a shot of the whole group.....and keep in mind, we were still missing some relatives!

In between all this commotion my hubby managed to get himself a new, bigger motorcycle. Here's the happy guy with his new wheels!!!

Now yes, I have been getting some stitching done. Some are gifts and I'll have to share those later, but here is my granddaughter's ornament for this year. I'm still working on my grandsons.

As I mentioned earlier I celebrated my birthday last week. I had to share the wonderful gifts I received from my dear friend, Paola. She knew I would be taking Sherri Jones's Button Book class in April and sent me the most beautiful glass and pearl buttons from Paris. I can't wait to add them to my "book"!!!

Don't you just love the face button?















Paola also made me a beautiful Victorian styled needle book out of perforated paper. It is so delicate and lovely and I can only imagine the patience needed to cut out all the small details. Thanks Paola--you know I love it!!!

Well, I think that will be it for today; I hopefully haven't bored you to tears! I'll try to post again before Christmas, but if I don't, I wish you and yours a most festive and blessed Christmas/holiday season!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Aren't stitching friends the best?

A lovely, thoughtful gift awaited me on my last visit to Salty Yarns!

 One of the perks of being able to attend stitching events, is meeting others who share your love for needlework. I'm not sure this term best describes what we do, because it isn't work...it is joy, passion, fulfillment! But I diverse........I have met many lovely ladies from all over the country and oceans, friendships are formed and we all look forward to seeing each other at various retreats and seminars. For me, this is so important since I live in a rural area, without a needlework shop close by, and  am given the opportunity to share with other like minded souls. We literally "feed" off each others projects, ideas, suggestions, sources etc.. How did you do that stitch? Where did you get that button?  What is your source for that dupioni silk? And so on and so on. Of course, these very same reasons apply to social media and the friends I've made through my blog and stitch related groups on Facebook. There are ladies I've met on line and had the opportunity to then meet in person at an event; there are others I look forward to meeting one day face to face. Bottom line, stitchers are kind, creative and interesting people!

Now back to my gift! It's no secret I like "bee" related items and am always on the prowl for them. So, what a wonderful surprise to find an adorable bee needle rest waiting for me on my recent trip to Ocean City. It is covered in "bling" and therefore, very "queenly" and has found a home in My Regal Bee box.Turns out it has been waiting for me for quite some time--I hadn't been down to Salty Yarns in months. A BIG thank you to Ginny---I love it and appreciate your thinking of me!!!  Hope to see you soon!

Then, there was another surprise waiting for me!!! My friend, Syd (who also knows I love bee stuff) had messaged me to see if I was interested in a bee themed kit she had gotten from one of the prim stitching clubs. Needless to say I was! In fact, I had seen this design and fallen in love with it, only to find it was limited to club members. So, thanks to another thoughtful stitch buddy, I now have this in my possession. Isn't it great when we all look out for each other? Thank you Syd--can't wait to start this!!! And, thanks to Sara at Salty Yarns for being the 'go between' for my treasures! I am a lucky girl!!!!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!
Stasi

My Mermaid Finishing Weekend

Since hubby was away for a few days, I took the opportunity for a weekend of binge TV (Salem and 6 Feet Under) and project finishing. I only managed to get one project finished however. There was a lot of hand sewing involved and my "push" finger got so sore, I had to take breaks. I don't know how many times the eye of the needle poked its way in!!! Waa-Waa!!! I find thimbles way to clumsy and the needle I like to use is very thin...I think it's a beading needle. It works for me since it "bends" for the whip stitching, and I can't seem to master a curved needle. But I persevered and here are the results of my labor!

The Mermaid's Two Tales

by Sherri Jones of Patrick's Woods

Tempest Mermaid side of purse
The purse has magnets at the top to hold closed

Calming Mermaid side of purse

Bottom

Inside of purse
There is a set of 3 fish thread bobbins under the flap
Note the pearl--came with the kit--such a cute idea!

Scissor fob, pynn pillow and needle compact (front)

Scissor fob, pynn pillow and needle compact (back)

Inside of needle compact
There is a fish from "mermaid tears" and a tiny vial of Ocean city sand

That's it for now!

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Catching Up

A lot has happened since my last post; this is always a busy time of year. Let me start with my sewing machine saga. After visiting three different repair places, it was unanimous they couldn't get the parts to repair the Viking. At least the last person ordered what he thought was the part needed in for me, but alas, it didn't do the job. So, I had to break down and get a new one!! I chose a Baby Lock Melody and so far, so good. I don't do a lot of sewing anymore, so I didn't need all the bells and whistles that are out there today, just a machine to fit my basic needs. The best feature, by far, on the new machine is a self threader--I don't have to fumble, even with my glasses, to thread the needle. Yippee!! Then I can choose not to use the foot pedal and just push a button to start and stop! It is very user friendly with clear guidelines how to thread the needle and bobbin. I'm still mourning my Viking 990--- sadly the feet and bobbins don't fit the Baby Lock but I hate to get rid of them. I do have a glimpse of hope but am trying not to get too excited. My daughter, in Richmond, just had to have her machine repaired and the guy told her "there isn't a machine I can't fix"! Maybe, just maybe, we'll see if he can fix mine!!!
Here is a photo of my first project on the new machine- a Frozen pillow case for a dear friends granddaughter and my new "Baby".

So amidst all the comparison shopping, I managed a long weekend at Salty Yarns. It was Halloween weekend, better known as the CA weekend. The back story is that CA Wells cancelled out on a class weekend about 6-7 years ago, but the ladies still got together to stitch and have a "wake" in CA's absence. They continue to do this every year and since I was signed up for those original classes, I try to go when I can. This was a go to year!!!!

I drove down the Thursday before Halloween and upon my arrival found our apartment had been decorated, to the hilt, by my roomie Deb. Halloween is her favorite time of year so we had lights, haunted house displays with sound and movement..... Halloween towels! Here are some photos of what awaited me:

What fun--thanks Debbie for making this a special treat...and no tricks!!!!

We stitched and gabbed and stitched and ate and stitched and shopped and stitched and even slept!!! The lobby of the Lankford was also decked out in Halloween finery and everyone had little special treats they brought for each other. (I forgot to take a picture of what I brought but it was a "bottle cap" that had a Halloween design in the center. I added cording and a magnet to make it a combo scissor/needle holder). My treats ranged from candy to an adorable tote bag to a "gianormous" candy apple to a hand painted votive candle holder and more. It was a "spooktacular" time!!! (sorry couldn't help myself) Here are a couple shots of the lobby, which don't do it justice.

I have been stitching!!! While in OCean City we celebrated Deb's birthday. Here is gift I made her. It is a design by Marie Suarez called My Dear Bobbin. I was lucky to have found a bunch of these bobbins at a craft show a few years back and snatched them up. They work perfectly for this design!!! The scissors are a pair of Sullivans that I thought fit well with the piece.  

I also made a few "koozie" covers and beaded spiders as gifts. The covers are from a pattern called Charm Pack Koozie Covers  by Buttons and Bees. The spiders are from a you tube video I stumbled across. I also made one for me to stick in Scraps the Mummy's ( see a couple posts back) casket--pretty cute huh???

That's more catching up to do, but that will have to be it for now. Hubby was away a few days this past week and I hope to have some finishing to share soon.

Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi