What happened after Monday...

Well, let me tell you what happened after the last posting...not that much...but I think it looks like a lot!  Yesterday, I finally completed the last of the mesh bags...well, for the most part. I still need to make 2 backpacks for my nephews...I don't think I have enough to make 2 different backpacks, so I'm combining some fabric which I saw at my local quilt shop!  However, I went through my thousands of patterns...and I guess I don't have the drawstring backpack pattern. So I'll have to check around to see if I can find it on the internet or something.

Check out the fabric: (they are going to love it, I hope! Totally, up the alley!)

Here's a pic of the remaining bags which I wiped up yesterday:

(Still only used supplies which I had on hand!) even the zippers...I purchased ZERO zippers...I had them all in my stash...which might explain why some don't really match, but they will work great for my WIPs needlework stuff.

And here's my progress on the stocking: a little disspointed that I haven't completed it, yet! Perhaps I will need to come up with other ideas for my brothers family....oh, we'll see!

And I, also, started a little project which I thought would be an easy WIPs....Boy I was so wrong! The linen is 32ct....and well, I'll say that I need to get a stronger magnifying reading glasses to stitch easier! I'm thinking the strongest you can get, which I don't even know. Currently, I'm using a +2.00 reading glasses...it's not cutting it...maybe +4.00...I'll have to see what Target has tomorrow!  Here's the picture of the little halloween project.

Well, that's a wrap for the week...have a great weekend!

Laterz!

I still have more mesh to sew....

Hello! And Happy Labor Day! Hopefully, you didn't start out your day by working like me! But I'm home now and chilling!

So I've been busy...overwhelmed by all of the craft things which I collect....quilting stuff, cross stitch stuff, knitting/crochet stuff and stamping stuff....my craft room is bursting at the seams...my darling hubby laughs when he says, "I should have put more support beams under your craft room" but I think he's right!

Anyho, in the mist of being overwhelmed, I started some things to GET THEM DONE! Like to instance, I have a bag of zippers which I've collected over the years...being a huge purse freak, I need them...lots of them! I guess! Because I have a WHOLE BAG of them! A WHOLE BAG! And I had a bag of pet mesh to sew bags....(do see where I'm going with this)...so I combined the two along with some fabric and here's what I got:

Any I haven't used all of the mesh, yet...so there's more coming! But I'm determined to use it up!

And just in case you are interested, yes, I am willing to sell each of them! The two text/phone mesh bags are for my nieces, so they are spoken for...sorry!

Well, I didn't meet my deadline...

So my deadline to have my stocking completed...is not completed...bummer! I've enjoyed the day with minimal house cleaning and with the majority of the day stitching!  I was able to finish the row of houses as well as most of the flowers on the bottom....well, almost finished the flowers...I think I have the stems to complete, which I'll finished tonight.

I'll post more within the next few days...and hoping to have a card created also!

Enjoy your evening!

A little here...a little there...

Good afternoon, I've been stitching a little here...a little there...all day.  I've wanted to head upstairs to make a card, but I'm already a week behind.  I wanted my brothers family to have the stocking before Christmas so that means I need to KEEP stitching! 

My revised goal is to have this stocking completed by the end of the week...hoping I'm able to keep it! If I'm able to keep the goal...I'm rewarding myself by going to the Anchor Paper store...(lots of fun stuff for any paper crafting obsession)...then i would like to go to the cross stitch store in Minnetonka to get things for the next stocking...so with that being said...here's my update to the stocking...I'm going to stitch some more before I head to bed...

Early morning...

Another early morning...and plenty of time to put a card together.  I saw the Retro Sketch challenge and I thought I would tangle my try at it.  I wasn't sure if I could pull it off...it's not as cut out as I'm used to, but I did create...a card.  I made my best hand at it...and here's what it looks like...hope you have a great day!

P.S. I've been watching the season 4 of Downton Abbey and I think my writing is starting to reflect it....oh, dear me!

Recipe:

Card Stock: Whisper White (SU!)

Designer Paper: Sycamore Street (SU!) 

Stamp Set: Unknown

Ink: Island Indigo (SU!)

Embellishment: hearts (Freckled Fawn OhDeerMe! Kit) 

Early morning finish...

This morning I woke up at 2:34am....yes, you read it correctly...2:34am! Honestly, it's no surprise to me...I am usually up for work this early....but I don't have to be at work this weekend! Oh well, I might as well make the best of it...so I got up and finished a card I had started mid-week.  What does one do that early in the morning...

Anyho, mid-week Stephanie and I had some quality crafting time together via FaceTime! I can't tell how amazing it is to do things this like when she lives on the west coast and I'm in the Midwest! I love this technology!

I started a card using the Mojo Monday sketch challenge but wasn't able to finish because I couldn't find "just right" embellishment...but it came together this morning! Yeah! Very thankful!

Here's the pic:

Supplies used:

Card Stock: SU! Very Vanilla & Early Expresso

Designer Paper: Shabby Chic (BoBunny)

Stamp Set: SU! Vintage Vogue & Tiny Teeny Words

Ink: SU! Early Expresso & Baja Breeze

Embellishments: Hero Arts Lace Ribbon pack, Spellbinders Large octagon die and Corduroy brad in Baja Breeze

Sweet Sunday sketch on a Monday...

Good morning! Just wanted to post a card before I head out for a couple days! Over the weekend I got  a couple of packages delivered to my house...1) Freckled Fawn monthly embellishment kit, Oh Deer Me...2) and a mystery box from Mellisa Phillips...if you have a few seconds, check out her blog: LilyBean Paperie...seriously, her blog is so inspirational...just gorgeous! The mystery box was packed FULL of goodies which she had no creative juices for...check out the pics...anywho! 

Freckled Fawn Embellishment Kit, Oh Deer Me (july)

Mystery Box of goodies from Lilybean Paperie

Needless to say I had to play with some of the goodies!  Which brings me back to the Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge; here's the sketch:

And the card I created with a couple of the goodies in the mystery box from Melissa Phillips:

Cardstock: whisper white

Designer paper: Homemade 6 bean soup (Jillibean Soup)

Stamp set: cute as a button (unknown)

Accessories: SU! linen thread

Ink: SU! chocolate chip

Time for a break...

It's time for a break from the cross stitch posting...tomorrow I'll have an update for the Christmas stocking...but today I wanted to create a card...and I remembered that Retro Sketches posts new challenges on Saturday...I liked the challenge, but I had at least 3-4 try's  because I couldn't get the raises just right...

I cut paper which I had to throw away...I hate that! But I did it and I didn't give up...I have a tendency to not work on a card if I have to experiment or test as I go...so I was happy when I did get it right! Or at least to my likings...

Cardstock: SU! whisper white & strawberry slush

Designer paper: unknown...paper I got from BFF a long time ago! Felt good to finally use it!

Stamp set: SU! Four Square

Ink: SU! strawberry slush

Accessories: SU! Scallop square punch

Oops! Wrong color...

Oops! Wrong color...honestly thought I had the right color, but it turns out I didn't! At least it wasn't a HUGE correction! 

Here's the color comparison...the wrong color and the right color...

And here's the completed fix!

I'm going to take a break now...heading up to the craft room to play...

Later!

Almost finish the dress...

I'm almost finished with the dress...well, at least the bottom of the dress...I've been using the perle floss in short lengths because it was starting to ravel and the stitches were looking kinda icky!  I still might try the stitch heaven...perhaps it will help the floss from fraying and such!  

Not much time to write as I'm trying to keep on stitching...

I'll check back later this week with a progress; I'm hoping I'll have time to work on then Christmas Folkal Point quilt and a couple minutes to make a card...perhaps it's a little overambitious but I will try...recently I've gotten some great things at a great price and I'm anxious to work them into a card!

Anyho, here's a pic of my progress...

Laterz! And happy stitch of any type!

Pretty lacey dress...

Just wanted to stop by with a progress report...I've been working on the Christmas stocking very dilegently! Although you may not be able to tell, I've just completed the bottom of the angels dress...I'm having a lot of fun!  I'm hoping to have the dres completely by tonight...perhaps if I can keep my eyes open...maybe I need to get the second DVD of Downton Abbey's forth season!

Did I mention that I got a Fat Eighth bundle and some yardage of Moda's S'Mores Love fabric...it's super cute and I can't wait to do something with it!

Until next time!

Retail therapy...

I visited the local quilt shop; and got some things that I needed....and some things to added to my stash...doesn't it look like a bunch of fun!

The embroidery book I got from Goodwill; and you will notice the linen on the opposite side...I wanted to get it for the embroidery blocks.

Oh, see the CORRECT thangles for the Christmas quilt...I got the right size this time!! Let the progress begin...I'll keep you posted!

And I almost forgot, I friend of my recently received a promotion...I wanted to whip up the cell phone case...you can see it sitting on top of the embroidery book....it has an embroideryed bicycle on it...

Wait! I think I just added another project to my list! What the heck!

And I have the first hurdle...

Oh my goodness, I have my first hurdle...I've never cross stitched with perle floss before...so I've never had to wind up that type of floss.  And here's what happened when I was trying to wind up the floss...

I'm afraid this mess is going to add a little excitement to the project, don't you think?! YIKES!

Here's the first Christmas stocking that I'm working on; like I said its a bit unsual to be working on an 18 ct. Linen using perle floss...but I like how fast it's coming along...hope I can say the same when I'm on my 4 or 5 or 6 stocking!

Something old and something new...

Just like any paper crafter, there is a tendency to collect (or hoard) designer paper...I am no different!  I have a personal challenge...to use the designer paper which has been procuring since the being of time!  So I went digging into my stash of paper and pulled out something a little funky!  And since it was Sunday, I used the funky challenge to go with it: Retro Sketches challenge

Check it out:

Be back later in the week!

Lesson learned...

So as you many know I'm working on a Christmas quilt; as seen here:

If you look at the picture from the magazine, it shows SEVERAL half triangle squares...SEVERAL!  So I thought it would be smart to use Thangles. Well, I've never used them better but I knew they were pretty straight forward, or so I thought.

I purchased a pack...it says to cut 3 inch strips and finishes at 2.5 inch...yep those are the ones I need! I think to myself...yippee! I can work on my quilt again! Being the cautious person when using a new technique...I make one set. I complete all the steps are stated in the directions...the finished product is 3 inches...1/2 inch off!  So I've done something wrong because I need the half triangle squares to be 2 1/2 square! Well, perhaps it was because I strength the fabric when I took the paper off. I watch a tutorial on YouTube...I re-assess that it looks likes I'm doing everything right! 

So I got ahead and sew all the Thangles I need and I cut apart the first one; being very, very cautious...I think to myself this time I got it! I measure it and nope, I ain't got it! I still have a half triangle square measuring 3 inches!

After much thought and research, I mean MUCH THOUGHT AND RESEARCH I figured out the following: the 2 1/2 inches finished refers to the block size when you sew it into a block...does that make sense?! 

So after several thoughts, I decided to cut then like so:

Which gave me this:

I figured at least I wouldn't have to cut all 4 half triangle squares...if I cut them like the above picture.  

Here's my final result...exactly what I needed...2 1/2 half triangle squares! 

Yippee! Time for my next step!

A day of leisure...

Yep, today has been a day of leisure! And I'm enjoying every minute of it! I've straighten up my craft room and it provides the creative juices to kick it in high gear.  I've created a card for a friend of mine using the latest MojoMonday challenge.

And as many of you have been told...we are a little over half way until Christmas...and this year the following will happen: 1. I will have a Christmas tree skirt 2. I will have a Christmas quilt to hang 3. I will have cross stitched 8 Christmas stocking for my brothers and their family.

Uffda, I'm already exhausted....oh, did I forget that I need to work in 2014 projects listed on my blog?!  My goal is to have at least 1/2 of the projects completed!! 

I definitely need to have a pretty structured routine...it will be interesting to see what I can accomplish!

I've ordered the everything for the first stocking...and I noticed the shop has everything ready for the mailing...I'll be able to start early next week!

Oh, let the fun begin! And as always I'll keep you posted...

Playing with paper....

This is me! Never have I ever felt more alive when Ive been able to create with fabric, yarn or paper...

I've been able to create every night this week...it has been so fun!  I have so many stamps which I hadn't even touched...and I don't want to be THAT person who has a great stash but doesn't take the time to dig into it!  This week, I've used some stamps which are regulars but others which I'd forgotten about...

I participated in The Paper Players sketch challenge...and here's what I created:

Can't wait until tomorrow to create more...stay tuned!

it's been busy week in the craft room...

It's been a busy week in the craft room; my work place has kicked off the annual United Way campaign.  Every week, work has events to help raise funds $$$ for them...usually, Sarah (co-worker) plans the following events: For a $1 you can pop a balloon which has free stuff in them, $1 Rootbeer Floats, Craft sale and bake sale....the later of the two which always interest me.  The idea is to get co-workers to sell craft and bake items for the sale...and every year I've wanted to participate but it always creeps up on me...and then I didn't have any time to plan and participate!

Well, this year, I'm ahead of the game...this week I've been making cards to sell at the craft sale. Honestly, I am having a lot of fun...using paper and stamping...and I've realized that I have a lot of stamps which I'd forgotten about!  So I'm trying to make every intention to use them in the cards.

Here's what I've completed so far...stay tuned...there's more coming....

What's wrong with this picture...

Good Afternoon, so this morning, I had it in my head that I would sew up a really quick and easy quilt.  You ask which one, right?  Well, I decided I wasn't going to start ANOTHER quilt project, I reached in to my 2014 project list bucket...and thought I would be able to finish Sidelights using the Basic Grey's Fruitcake fabric by Moda.

So I cut per the directions...my first issue: the focal was a little short on the width...which should have been an alert for me, right? NOPE, not yet.  So I got to where I sew the little boxes to the focal fabric...all is well!  Then I get to assembling the little boxes on the bottom...my second issue: I've run out of the red fabric! CRAP!  This is how much I have left...I'm missing enough for one...ONE!!...2 inch x 8 1/2 inch strip! ONE!

So I thought to myself...fine I won't be able to finish the quilt...oh, well, there are worse, right!  Well...I thought I would at least sew the bottom (little boxes) to the rest of the quilt...and here's where I am alerted of the my problem from my first issue! check out the far left hand corner of the pic...there's my problem issue #1...

Here's what I'm left with...and realized I would have to surrender...I will not be able to finish the one thing I thought I could finish!!  I feel defeated!  All I could do was fold it up and bring it along with the others of the my unfinished quilts which need fabric in order to finish!  It's probably just as well...I need to find a border fabric, also...the hunt goes on!

Thank you for stopping by...have a great day!