Happy Halloween from Scraps......(306)

Happy Halloween one and all!!!
 I have a very special visitor today, Scraps the Mummy!!!  This was a Mosey 'n Me chart I had bought years ago because it "spoke" to me. Their version was done on a hot pink linen, but when I finally got around to stitching mine in 2014, I did it on a bright 30 count chartreuse  linen, over one. I had stumbled across the coffin at Hobby Lobby, discounted after Halloween, and it brought Scraps to mind....what a perfect resting place for an adorable mummy!!! I had to do a little re-figuring to make him fit, added about an inch to his height. I added a bat button to his head and stuck a couple "voodoo" pins in him. I made a black mattress for the bottom and adorned it with tiny orange buttons, a moon button and bat needle minder.  I had the perfect fabric to back Scraps with and even made a beaded spider to keep him company. I love this little guy!!!

Now, if you can indulge me, I have some grand blessings to share. :) First, yesterday we took my parents to visit Asher and Cora at school. My Mom was the Mystery reader in Cora's fist grade class. She read the book Popcorn which was my younger daughter's favorite childhood book.

Then we had lunch with them.



Note the creature on the wall....no, not my hubby....students submitted artwork and an artist painted the chosen pieces on the walls in the cafeteria...that is Ashers!!! Here's an up close shot!

Finally, I'll end with Cora's Halloween hair do--is this cute or what??? Her Mom is very clever!!!

I hope your day is filled with lots of treats and no tricks! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

A Witch Necklace......(305)

Today's Stroll piece is a new finish, a gift for a friend whose birthday is near Halloween. I had to keep it mum until I gifted it to her. It's a witch necklace from Rovaris which was a little kit with all the charms, linen and mounting piece included. I added the pom pom trim on the sides.

 My parents are visiting and my Mom was wearing a pin I had given her years ago. It was something I bought at Twisted Threads and was made by Charland, who makes many of the lovely silver charms used by cross stitchers. Fun, isn't it?

 Here is a photo from our Beatles Tribute concert by a group called Return. They were in the lobby for photos after the show. Check out the girl's tatoo!!! It's tempting!!! :)

 We're off today to take my parents to have lunch with the grand kids at school. My Mom is going to be a Mystery reader in Cora's class!

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

Stasi
 

Snowmen????.....(303,304)

Okay, so this sounds a little out of season but Curtis Boehringer designed a series of snowmen, one for each month, back around 1995. They were .50 a card if you can believe that. I started the series but didn't get too far (3) and I have no desire at this point to go back and complete the set. I'm sharing September (which I forgot to show last month) and October. They really are cute but, alas, my tastes have changed!

As for what I purchased yesterday at the Gatchellville Store, I kept myself in check and didn't buy too much, though ....oh so very tempting!!! You all would love this place...chock full of goodies as you could see from yesterday's photos. I need to go back with friends of a like mind and spend a few hours. It's tough when you have people with you who aren't interested.....and you're starving out in the middle of nowhere. Sadly, it's about a 4 1/2 hour drive from where I live but, my brother's house was only about an hour's ride.

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

Stasi

And another Boo!!!......(302)

I told you "boo" comes up a lot in these Halloween titles! :)  Today's Stroll piece is just called Boo, a Bent Creek kit stitched in 1999. This kit came with the pre-finished bag and you tucked the ends of your stitch piece under the bags "flaps". I can't recall if the buttons came with the kit...or not...but I think they definitely add cuteness!

I managed to visit a store that's been on my bucket list for a few years. It is called the Gatchelville Store in New Park, PA. It was chock full of buttons, trims, fabrics, old post cards, etc. I could have spent hours but was with hubby, brother and sister-in-law. Here are some photos of this treasure trove. I'll show what I bought.....and I was quite restrained....when I get home.

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

Stasi

Another Boo!....(301)

First, thanks for your kind comments yesterday; I appreciate your support and encouragement for my journey and am blessed with your friendships.

It seems a lot of my Halloween pieces have "boo" in the title and today is no different. Strolling today is Boo to You, a kit from Shepherd's Bush that came with the hand painted Jill Rensel mat. I stitched this in 1999. What a cute little trick or treater!!!

 I'm up to "G" on the ABC Sampler; it is definitely growing!

We're off to Baltimore where we're going to see a Beatles "re-enactment" band perform tonight. The Beatles were the first concert I ever went to back in 1964 so this should bring back lots of memories (though I can guarantee I won't be screaming through the whole thing)!!! Then we'll be bringing my parents home with us for a few days to see their great grand children on Halloween. So, there won't be much stitching to report on over the weekend, though I will be "strolling" and working on my Samsarah calendar pieces in the car.

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

Still Strolling after all these Days.....(300)

WOW!!! I really can't believe I've posted 300 of my beloved projects so far this year! When I started this Stroll journey back in January I had no idea how far I'd get or how these projects would add up. I'm actually kind of speechless!!!  I'm feeling very blessed that I've had the opportunity to take so many wonderful classes, experienced  lessons in needlework from fellow "addicts", especially during my 9 1/2 years working at Twisted Threads, and harvested  special "stitching" friendships here. I want to thank those of you who take time out of your busy days to read my blog and especially those who leave comments; I truly value them! Thanks for allowing me to share my love of the needle with fellow devotees!!! And......yes..... there is more to come......woo-hoo!!!

On to business.....today's Stroll piece was an on line class, offered by Elegant Stitch, with Bright Needle and stitched in 2006-2007. It is called Ghosties and Ghoulies.

 The 'light' side says "Good Lord deliver us" 


The 'dark' side says "from ghoulies and ghosties long leggitie beasties and things that go bump in the night"





No stitching yesterday..had babysitting duty last evening! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi

Trick or Treat Duo....(298,299)

I'm going to share two complimentary projects today for my Stroll, both from Just Nan. Now Nan's pieces are not my favorites to work on because of all the color changes and sporadic stitches, but I have succumbed when it's a "small" I gotta have! These are two of those instances! :)  The first piece was a Just Nan Limited Edition kit from 2005 called Trick or Treat Box.  I think it's meant to be an ort box, and there is a small pumpkin pincushion attached. Be sure to check out the adorable witch hat charm used for closing.

Box Top

Side 1

Side 2

Side 3

Bottom

Inside

 The second piece is Boo Needlebook, stitched in 2011.

Top

Bottom

Inside

Now on to my current project, the ABC's de la Brodeuse;  I am about 4 1/2 inches in. A few people have asked where the young lady's beret is? Now I'm wondering if this is Mary Richards or That Girl??? 

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

Stasi

 

 

A Halloween Chant...(297)

Today's Stroll piece is an old freebie chart from Hog River, who sadly stopped designing and making very cool frames ten years ago. I really loved the frames that Colleen made...very primitive and funky! However, I stitched and finished this into a little pillow, about 5-6 inches square, back in 1998.

Progress on the ABC piece: I'm really enjoying this!

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

Stasi

Boo--a UFO.......296)

Today's Stroll piece is a UFO from 2001, Boo Spider, a freebie chart from Waxing Moon.....something else I need to get motivated to 'finish' finish (I'm seeing this term used on blogs and FB a lot recently). The piece was stitched on 26 count Heatherfield fabric which has little flecks of color in it. The eyes are tiny white buttons sewn on with black thread.

Here is last nights stitching....I like the colors in this, especially the greens! Surprise, surprise!!!

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

Stasi

A Little Halloween......(295)

Another late start here due to double header baseball games with Asher. 

The paint on the mummies from yesterday has dried so here are shots of the finished product. The kit came with battery operated candles so I figured they'd make cute night lights for the season. 

Glow in the dark painted faces

 My Stroll piece today is the first of some Halloween themed projects. To start us off is an Old Black Sheep Night kit from Ewe and Eye and Friends, stitched in 1999 called Trick or Treat. It's another cube finish from JoAnn, our finisher at Twisted Threads.

I did manage to get a little bit more stitched on the ABC piece while watching the final episodes of Boardwalk Empire . And yes, a couple of you guessed Marlo Thomas from That Girl having sported the same hair style as 'Aida girl'. We are dating ourselves ladies!!!!

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

Stasi

Witches Harvest....(294)

I had a not unwelcome distraction this morning as my granddaughter came by to visit rather than go to her brother's umpteenth baseball game. I have had a little craft project waiting for her and we worked on that first thing.......little mason jar mummies that will light up and glow n the dark.

 Then I gave her a pair of pink scissors and we made her a beaded scissor fob (anything to encourage her to take needle in hand) that matched one I made for myself from a class at the Virginia Guild of Needlewomen. I'd love to share Cora's but we can't find it!!!! Thanks Sally for my flower beads!

 On to stitching....the Stroll piece today is my recent finish from a class last weekend with  Milady's Needle. It is called Witches Harvest and is stitched on 40 count linen over two. We got the black scissors and scissor fob as part of the class.

I got Week 27 of the Blue Sampler Band SAL done last evening and a few more stitches on the ABC piece. Only one more week to go, and Carol is also giving us a bonus chart!

Who does the girl on this chart remind you of??? :) I do have to say I had my hair styled exactly like that when I was in my cousin's wedding in 1967 or 1968.

Hope you're having a great weekend--- thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!

Stasi