It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Okay, I know that is usually reserved for the Christmas holiday, but fall is my favorite time of the year. I revel in the cooler weather, turning  leaves and numerous craft festivals that start to pop up! I feel invigorated and refreshed...at least until the time changes! :) I have all kinds of project ideas floating around in my head from redoing my kitchen to finally painting my bathroom to picking out furniture for our family room that Rich ( I am so proud of him) finally finished after 6 years. This was his ongoing winter project and he did it all from putting up the studs and dry walling to installing  the ceiling, lighting, trim woodwork and painting. We did have the carpet professionally installed and now it awaits the decorating--that's me!!! It's a huge room and quite intimidating but I figure one step at a time. We will be moving our office down there; it's been in our "dining room" for 8 1/2 years. Uh-oh...another project!!! So it's off to IKEA in Baltimore next week for ideas and hopefully some purchases. Here's a couple pics:

Family Room

Office

 Now on to stitching....... I managed to complete the finishing of another project. It's a little out of season but I did stitch it in the spring, Just Nan's Hoppington Hill. It was a fun little stitch even with all the color changes after just a few stitches. That's a cute little round bunny button on the edge. I did add some bright flower pins but remembered them after I had already taken the photo so use your imagination! :)

 I've been searching for a new car project and am limited to the larger counts which I don't usually stitch on. Do any of you remember the perforated paper kits from Whiskey Creek that you made into boxes? Well, I came across a few of them in my stash recently and they are working great in the car! I can see the holes real well and it doesn't make me car sick like reading does. Not sure why that is but I'm not complaining..anything to keep from just sitting there staring out the window. Anyhow, I worked on my first one on our recent vacation drive and got the bottom of the box done. Here it is--don't you just love the colors--very Amish quilty!!!

Hometown Box by Whiskey Creek

The four sides will fold up and the large house will be the bottom. The top has 9 of the small houses on it. I just hope it will be easy to put together---all the mat board is included but you have to cut out the templates. Will keep you posted.

While on vacation to the Outer Banks, we had to drive right through Virginia Beach, so a stop at Dyeing to Stitch was necessitated. We had a very nice visit with Pat and Ann, the owners, and of course a little stash enhancement. They had all the new goodies from St. Charles Market and I did indulge but not overly so. Here is what I got:

 I've been searching for one of these for my car projects. It has the clamp for holding the chart and a drawer that pulls out to store your floss, scissors, etc. in. Thought it would be handy keeping it all in one small place. Also, it's hard to resist anything with an alphabet on it...isn't it?

The three charts are Snow Angel by Lone Elm Lane, an new designer at Market who came out with some wonderful designs, A Lady's Trimkeep  from Plum Street Samplers and A Needlebook Collage from Erica Michaels. 

I got my pre-stitching kit for one of two classes I'm taking at The Attic in November, The Unplayed Piano by Jackie du Plessis.I think that will be my next start. I am so looking forward to this trip but don't want to wish my time away between now and then. 

To end here are pics of my grand kids on the first day of school:

Loving his Ninja Turtle book bag on first day of kindergarten

All set for first day of pre-school

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

Stasi

I'm in a Finishing Mood.........

I usually have to be "in the mood" for finishing and have a long period of free time at my disposal. I've always liked to start early in the day and be able to work uninterrupted into the afternoon. That rarely happens, so I'm having to adjust and work in smaller segments of time between business calls and in the evening. Just a mind set change..but I have to do it if I want to get my finishing done! I managed to get two  projects finished recently. One, I had stitched back in 2008 so I am very happy to get it put together, and the other from 2012. Here we go:

Up first is Williamsburg Sewing Case from Merry Cox. I took this class back in 2008 in Cincinnati at Squirrels Nest Getaway along with The French Bon Bon Box and A Beautiful Day in Williamsburg. I now have 2 out of 3 finished!!!

Front of case and fob

back of case and fob

inside of case  with scissor holder

I'm not sure how, but I somehow have lost the ribbon to do the ruching around the pincushion. So, I substituted some cording instead. I actually had some (already made) left over from another project that was the right length and color--lucky me!!!

Next up is a Betsy Morgan class I took with the Loudoun Sampler Guild. This is such a beautiful and unique piece. It is called This One's for Betty, An Elizabethan Spot Motif Etui. Betsy dedicated it to Betty Fleming, who was instrumental in founding the Loudoun Sampler Guild and a huge proponent of the needle arts. The etui was put together similar to a biscornu and all the little smalls fit into it. Lots of pieces--hope you enjoy!

overall collection

side of etui--I just love the whitework--my favorite part of the whole piece--just love the added texture

other side of etui

bottm of etui

sweet bag front

sweet bag back

button bag front

button bag back

scissor fob front

scissor fob back

one side needlebook

other side needlebook

opened needlebook showing ribbon joining

waxer pocket

other side waxer pocket

bottom waxer pocket

top pin cushion (this was the pre-stitch piece)

bottom pin cushion

That's all folks! Thanks for stopping by and your "twisted threads" of friendship!
Stasi

And now.......presenting The Blue Ribbon Box

It's hard to believe it's been a month since I last posted. I know it's cliche', but exactly where does the time go???? The summer is going by way too fast, which weather wise I don't mind; I can't wait for the cooler days, nights and colors of autumn. Then.....on the other hand, September can wait forever!!! My grandson will be starting kindergarten the day after Labor Day and I don't think I'm really ready for that yet. Can't we keep him small and innocent for a bit longer???? I wish!!!! Enough musings....on to my stitching!

I have finished The Blue Ribbon Box, a class I took back in April from Sherri Jones at Salty Yarns. I absolutely LOVE how it turned out, the colors, the delicate design, the wonderfully crafted triangular box--it just makes a perfect package! I dedicated this piece to my Mom and put her name and the words" Mom..a blue ribbon winner" on the bottom of the pincushion. Otherwise, I stitched/finished it as called for. I have to admit two things: one, I messed up the pink silk ( too much handling and it started to shred) strawberry scissor fob and am on the hunt for something to substitute; two, I had glued the side pieces a little too low and the box wouldn't shut. I was able to GENTLY pull those pieces off and re-glue---I am one lucky girl!!! I did splurge on the scrims for this piece--just don't think it would have been as stunning without them. Okay, any excuse to get the scrims!!! Here you go with some photos:

Outside of box with scrimsahw piece

Box opened with pincushion in place

Box opened showing scissors and scrim ruler
Don't you love the scissors? I found them at Hobby Lobby right before I put this all together and they were perfect!

front side of pincushion, pin keep and needle book

back side of pincushion, pin keep and needle book

I also managed to get two more side panels for my Tall Year Square stitched, Autumn and Winter.  I am so enjoying the stitching on this project. Lots of small sections that make it go fast--I'm on to the box top now.

On the non- stitching front, I did a little fun "craftiness" by making a summer wreath for my front door. I had seen this idea awhile ago and filed it somewhere in the back of my post menopausal brain, where it lay dormant, until I saw flip-flops on sale at Michael's recently and it came flooding back to me. Here is the outcome:

This just makes me smile!!!!

Thanks for visiting and your "twisted threads" of friendship!
Stasi

Quick Post on a Sunday...........

Well I'm coming off a very busy week with visits from both my daughters, son-in-law, grand kids, and parents. The grand kids stayed for almost a week along with their Aunt Jess. We hung out a lot at the house just playing with them, due to the heat, but we did manage to squeeze in a couple visits to a pool, ice cream forays, trampoline jumping at a neighbors house, fireworks and a visit to Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Aquarium. Here's a couple pics to share:

At the Aquarium in front of whale jaw bone

Face painting by Aunt Jess

Now on to some stitching news. I stitched this piece back in 2004 and it has been patiently waiting for me to frame it. I even had found the perfect frame back then, but just never got around to it. I have to admit I hate the mounting part!!! I had a wonderful framer back in Cincinnati, but have yet to "trust" my pieces to some one here in West Virginia. So I finally broke down and got the mounting done, bought some glass and put it all together. Here are the results:

Don't you just love the sunbather?

This was a Birds of the Feather chart, stitched on one of their hand dyed fabrics with Weeks Dye Works fibers. The photos don't do justice to the "boldness" of the fibers. It's a fun piece and I'm so happy to have it ready to hang on the wall!

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

Stasi

Happy Fourth of July...in stitches!!!

Some patriotic/Americana stitching that resides in my house..........

My oldest daughter stitched this for me back in 1992 when she was  14

Happy Fourth of July to all.....hoping you're enjoying wonderful picnics with loved ones and gearing up for some spectacular fireworks displays!!! Here's to the red, white and blue!!!!