I'm missing the beach...............

.........so a little ocean themed project was in order!!! My hubby and I usually sneak away in late summer for a few days at the beach. We literally sit  under an umbrella all day relaxing, reading and being mesmerized by the ocean. We will jump into the ocean to cool off periodically and take a stroll on the boardwalk for lunch, but then it's back to the beach chairs to chill. The beach is the one place I can totally relax and it so pleases all my senses--feeling the warmth of the sun, smelling the salt air, watching the waves and an occasional dolphin, being lulled by the small planes flying up and down the coast and burying my toes in the sand. I get to the beach a number of the times during the year for stitching events, but that is usually off season and there isn't time for sitting on the actual beach. So I treasure these quiet times with my hubby but alas, this year we won't be going. Now I'm not going to be too upset about this because we are heading to Alaska for 2 weeks in honor of our 40th anniversary. We are going with another couple (she and I have been friends since grade school) and we're doing a land tour, on our own, and then taking a cruise. So my senses, this year, will be stimulated with new and different types of sights and sounds that will definitely make up for, but not replace, the beach!

Enough back story..... let's get to the project!!! This was a little needlepoint kit I got from Salty Yarns, called Annie's Shells, that you inserted in a seashell as a pincushion. I do have to say it turned out pretty cute but was a bit of a bear to finish. It's very tough to get it glued in place and hold it there while it dried. My shell opening just wasn't cooperating so I wound up hot gluing the stitching in place---- e-gads!!! . I did it a little section at a time and stuffed the fiberfill behind it as I went along. I cut one finger on the shell, burned another with the hot glue but DID manage to finally get the little bugger in place. I made some cording to go around the edge, added a crab charm and voila...a shell pincushion!!! The two seashell pins came with the kit and I added the tiny orange fish (thanks Paola). 

I also have been working on a travel project in the car-- the top of a Whiskey Creek perforated box. I finished the top and here it is:

I wanted to share a new designer I stumbled across last week--I think on Facebook. The company is called The Little Stitcher. She has some incredibly wonderful designs and you can pay with paypal and download immediately. There are mermaid designs, a really cute Wizard of Oz piece and her newest, The Queen of the Bees (you know I got that one)! Here's a link to her etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/LittleStitcherShop

That's it for now--hope all have a great weekend!!!

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

Stasi