Tiny Sampler Needlebook and Snowman Card

Some people dance between raindrops. I try to dance between headaches. In that spirit, I finish-finished a couple of pieces between last night and this morning. I've made a number of needle books over the years for exchange pieces, but never one for myself. So I used this "Tiny Sampler" from La-D-Da to make one for myself. The design as an older freebie that you can get here.  It will make a good place to hold counting pins and special needles. Stitched on 35-ct HDF linen.  The pages are just craft felt with pinked edges. I added sew on snaps for closing.  I've been thinking of getting a snap setter tool to make more interesting snaps, but I keep reading about all the problems people have with those.  I don't have those problems with the sew-on kind so maybe I should just leave well enough alone.

I usually like to stockpile a few holiday cards during the year to have them on-call for December.  My stock was depleted, so I used this cutie pie "Mr. Byrd" from Heart in Hand as the basis for my new inventory.  He's a jolly little guy and he could come in handy around here to clear our walks after frequent storms this winter.  This is done another piece of 35-ct HDF linen.

I see sunshine and calm trees outside so even though it's cold, I think I will venture out for a walk.  Got to take advantage of the reasonable weather and no head pain when I can!  

Halloween Greetings

This design by Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers from the Halloween issue of JCS just reminds me of the place where one of the 'Real Witches of Salem' would hang her hat. This is not a color palette that I am generally attracted to, but it was so perfect for this piece that I really enjoyed working with it. I love the look on the 36-ct linen from Vikki Clayton. It was from a grab bag of assorted colors and sadly, no longer available. I stitched it all in DMC and the main change was to replace the date on the lower left with a flower that is more or less in the same style as the other motifs. The little leaf buttons came in handy to dress it up after a quick finish.

The colors are more true to life on the indoor photo, but the flash insisted on making an appearance, so I took and an outdoor shot too.







My crocheted elephant and giraffe motifs found new homes. I appliqued each of them onto a batik fabric and sewed each one up as an envelope style needlecase. If you call your blog "Giraffe X-ing", as Theresa does, you clearly are meant to own the giraffe needle case.








And if your son is fascinated by elephants and is also learning to x-stitch like Dawn you are perfect for the elephant case.

Trick or Treat Tree & Jack O'Lantern Crochet

The JCS Halloween ornament issue has so many cute designs for Halloween that I would love to just stitch them all. I wish I had more little kids in my life to stitch for. I picked the "Trick or Treat Tree" by Pat Thode for my first finish from the magazine. A bit of a wonky finish, but that's par for the course when I do these things. I added a few cute buttons from a Dress It Up pack. The rick-rack worked out ok after hand basting first. And one more use for the crocheted treble chain as a hanger.


I was searching for Halloween motifs to crochet, and it occurred to me that I could use potholder patterns but crochet them in bedspread weight thread instead of using worsted weight yarn. So I tried it with this Jack O'Lantern pattern from Leisure Arts and turned it into a needle case. It has a clear plastic snap for a closure. I'd never tried the plastic ones, but I think I like them. I added it to few things I sent to Cathey (Ms Pumpkin Patch herself). I'm sure I'll use this idea again.

Turtle Needlecase

It seems like it must be the year of the turtle. Lately, everywhere I turn I see something with a turtle motif. Last night the woman in front of me in Jazzercise had a T-shirt on that advertised the Green Turtle sports bar. Another woman had a tote bag with a sea turtle print on the fabric. Somehow, I caught turtle fever and got the idea of making a crocheted turtle needle case. I think it was partly based on seeing this cute cross stitch set and partly based on this cute potholder. I couldn't find a pattern that I really liked, so I kind of invented my own. Note the snap on the tail to close it. Kirsten says it must be a snapping turtle!





The needlecase was a little birthday gift for a stitcher friend and I sent it with this card I made. It's an Archie Bear by Margaret Sherry from the UK Cross Stitcher Issue 210, done on an 18 count hand-dyed Aida from Enchanted Fabrics. After the rinsing, the fabric shrinks a bit so the count is really a little higher than 18. Those fractionals and back-stitching were quite the chore. But he's pretty cute, I think. He stands out better from the fabric in person.

Feeling old-fashioned

Am I channelling my mother, grandmother and all the tantes (i.e. great-aunts)? I don't know what's come over me with this urge to do thread crochet. I grew up in a home covered with crocheted doilies, antimacassars, dresser scarves, etc. and I hoped never to see them again in a home of my own. And now look what I made... a thread crochet needle case and scissors case. Sure goes faster than cross stitch. If it interests you at all, you can find the instructions here and here.







Thanks for all the nice comments about Marilyn. The little impersonator wants to go to Vegas now, but I think she may have to stay a bit closer to home. And Miek, I'm taking the challenge to do an Angelina Jolie to heart!

Spring exchange

My partner in the Spring exchange on 123stitch just received her package from me. It was her very first exchange. I made her a little needlecase with some images that made me think 'Spring'. Plus a little floss ring fob since I wanted to use my new crop-a-dile to make an eyelet. The pictures only show one side of the eyelet. The back didn't come out that great since the eyelet wasn't quite long enough. Next time I won't pad the fob, just use interfacing. I also included some Vikki Clayton silks floss that I had picked up at the trunk show when Vikki visited DC in December.