Tin finishes ;)

Hi, everyone! I was able to finish the last of my tin 'finishes' this morning. I ran by Hobby Lobby and bought some ribbon and pink heart buttons for the tins.


Exterior of tins


Interior of tins

I used fabrics that I have had in my stash for quite a while. I think they go well with the designs. Though the photos don't show it, the fabric is also at the top of the insides of each tin.

My only complaint about my tins are trying to find a 'neat' way to finish the edges. I have taped off the braids on each tin and hid them under the ribbons and buttons. Does anyone know another way to do this? How do you finish your pieces with braid?

I hope everyone is having a lovely day!

Until next time ^____^

May recap

May Recap:

Read:
1. At home in Japan : a foreign woman's journey of discovery by Rebecca Otowa
2. The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason
3. Biker Girl by Misako Rocks
4. Lover Mine by J.R. Ward
5. A Promise of Romance light novel
6. Emerald Winter by Jamie Jennings
7. Lavender Legend by Jamie Jennings
8. Heaven's Will by Satoru Takamiya
9. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
10. Rock and Roll Love by Misako Rocks
11. The Professor's Daughter by Sfar & Guibert
12. The Law and Miss Mary by Dorothy Clark
13. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 1910 by Alan Moore
14. Matilda by Roald Dahl
15. In the Moonlight Mist: A Korean Tale by Souci & Neilan
16. The Lady & The Lion: A Brothers Grimm Tale by Long & Ogburn
17. The Sun Girl and the Moon Boy: A Korean Folktale by Yangsook Choi
18. Library Wars: Love & War, Volume 1 by Kiiro Yumi
19. Heart's Blood by Gail Dayton
20. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
21. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Stitched:
1. Flower by Needlecraft magazine - Oct. 1928
2. Joyeux 1er Mai by Echevette
3. Lovebirds by Reader's Digest, BB of CSD book
4. Violet Biscornu by New Stitches
5. Miniature Pink sampler by Margaret Major

Finished:
1. Printemps pinkeep
2. Very Merry Spring pinkeep
3. 12-16 cell charms
4. Violet biscornu
5. Joyeux 1er Mai tin
6. Lovebirds tin
7. Flower tin

Holiday weekend plans!

On my way to the library this morning, I stopped for a tiny turtle who was trying to make its way across the road. Of course, I had to move it to the other side of the road! You can always tell when hot weather is here with the movement of the turtles. I hope the little turtle I saved this morning is enjoying the afternoon rainstorm we are having now!

I went by Hobby Lobby and bought some notions to make a few of my cross stitch patterns into tins. Ms. BeckyBee gave me the idea to use the giftcard holders there as cross stitch tins!! Hopefully, I will have pictures of my projects by Monday.

In addition to crafting, I hope to do some house cleaning and then relax with a pile of books from the library.

I hope you have a great holiday weekend! Be safe ;)

Pink sampler and other news!

Hi, everyone! I went to the library this morning and found a book that looked interesting, Miniature Embroidery: A Foundation Course by Margaret Major. The book, while instructing the novice on several different embroidery techniques, also includes a multitude of projects to stitch together as miniatures for dollhouses.

I immediately fell in love with the tiny sampler design in the book and rummaged through my stash for fabric and threads.


Design: Pink framed sampler by Margaret Major
Threads: DMC 316, 501, 503, 3708, 3721, and 3852
Fabric: 28ct evenweave antique white by M.C.G. Textiles
Start/Finish: 5/22/2010

As it is a miniature, the design is stitched one over one, which was fun, but quite a trial to my eyesight! You can see the scale of the design by the size 24 tapestry needle in the picture.

I'm not sure how I'll 'finish' this design. Hmmm....I'll have to think about it ;)

In other news, I won a blog giveaway by the lovely Pikko a couple of weeks ago. I received a package of goodies yesterday! Look at all the fun bento stuff she sent me! THANK YOU Pikko! I love everything ;) I can't wait to use them!



With all my stitching and reading lately, I haven't had a chance to thank everyone for their lovely comments on my biscornu and other projects. So THANK YOU! I always appreciate the comments I get on my projects.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Until next time ^_____^

Valiant effort

For an online book club, I've been trying to read Cotillion by Georgette Heyer. After eighty pages of excessive use of slang, I can't go any further. Mrs. Heyer's use of Regency slang bogs down the plot of the book. The novel's heroine Kitty marries Freddy by the end of the novel, but after reading eighty pages of his flippant comments, I can't think how the author made them to be a decent couple by the end of the book.

I really wish I could get into Heyer's writing style as I see her books discussed on a number of blogs, but her style is cringe-worthy to say the least. Well, at least, I've read one of her books.

I'm off to my bookshelves to pick something else to read.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Until next time ^____^

Violet biscornu

Design: Violet Biscornu by New Stitches (British magazine)
Fabric: 32ct cream Belfast Zweigart
Threads: DMC 208, 209, 210, 729, 905, 907, & 3855
Finish: 5/15-18/2010, finished as biscornu 5/20/2010

I was able to find some buttons in my grandmother's boxes of sewing notions that were perfect for my biscornu.

What do you think? I love the simplicity of the design of this biscornu. It is beautiful.

Hope everyone is having a good week so far!

Until next time ^____^

Biscornu finish....almost O_o"

Hi, everyone! I have finished stitching together my biscornu, but now I'm on the hunt for some buttons for it. I've been through my grandmother's box of buttons and despite all the lovely vintage buttons in there, I didn't see anything that matched the colors of my biscornu.

Well, I might have to wait until this weekend when I can go by my local Hancock's and see what they have in terms of colorful buttons. Sorry, you'll have to wait for photos until then.

Hope you're having a great week!

Until next time ^___^

Violet finish!

Hi, everyone! I just finished stitching the violet biscornu design. I hope to finish the design as a biscornu soon.


The back of the second part of the biscornu design!

I had to take the photo above. I love how the design looks gorgeous even from the back and I usually don't say that, but this is an exception.


Two halves of the biscornu, stitched and ready to be finished.

Design: Violet Biscornu by New Stitches (British magazine)
Fabric: 32ct cream Belfast Zweigart
Threads: DMC 208, 209, 210, 729, 905, 907, & 3855
Start/Finish: 5/15-18/2010

The design actually called for gold Kreinik blending filament #002, but you know how I feel about metallics....not sure if this was a metallic thread or not, but as my local craft didn't carry it I wasn't too concerned about it. I opted for two strands of DMC 729 for the backstitching filigree work in the flowers :)

I hope everyone is having a great week so far!

Until next time ^____^

Violet biscornu start!

Design: Violet Biscornu by New Stitches (British magazine)
Fabric: 32ct cream Belfast Zweigart
Threads: DMC
Start/Finish: 5/15-16/2010 for first side

I started this lovely design last night after I got home from the convention. I finished it this evening. Tomorrow I hope to start on the other side of the biscornu.

Do you like the bunny buttons? I found those at Joann's Fabrics yesterday morning. Aren't they cute? I can't wait to find something to 'finish' using them ^___^

I hope everyone had a great weekend ;)

Until next time ^____^

Con geekiness!

Hi, everyone! I've spent the weekend at a local convention, Mobi-con, for sci-fi and anime. A friend of mine had a booth in the dealers' room this year and I helped out and sold a few of the cell phone charms I made. I didn't make much money from my charms. I only sold about 7 or so out of the twenty I made. Despite that I had a lot of fun and even if people didn't buy the charms, I got some compliments on the wishing star charms ;)

Today, the last day of con, I got my boxset of Fruits Basket signed by the lovely Laura Bailey who does the English voice for Tohru. She is a sweetie!


Pic of Laura on Saturday's signing ;)


My signed boxset!! She has a pretty signature and I love what she wrote above Kyo!

This is my first year attending Mobi-con. I hope it only gets better next year!

Until next time ^____^

Charms

More charms...Polymer charms, Japanese-themed charms, and a Twilight-inspired charm.

Hope you're having a fun day crafting/stitching!

Until next time ^____^

Lovebirds

Design: Lovebirds by Reader's Digest, BB of CSD book
Fabric: 28ct antique white linen M.C.G Textiles
Threads: DMC 3354
Start/Finish: 5/9/2010

I started this design this morning after running to the store for groceries. I love this little cute design. I decided on a soft pink for these lovebirds ;)

Hope everyone is enjoying their Mother's Day.

Until next time ^____^

Seeing stars!

Pinkeep - Merry Spring

Design: A Merry Spring by JBW Designs
Fabric: 28ct antique white linen M.C.G Textiles
Threads: DMC 3063
Finished as a Pinkeep: 5/7/2010

Hi, I went by Hobby Lobby yesterday and purchased some more cream-colored braid so I could finish this design into a pinkeep this afternoon. I actually had the whole thing assembled earlier except for the braid and pins.

I was going to use the toile in my stash for the backing fabric, but it was darker than I remembered O_o" I'll have to save it for something else ;)

Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!

Until next time ^____^

Joyeux 1er Mai

Design: Joyeux 1er Mai by Echevette
Fabric: 28ct Misty Blue linen
Threads: DMC 367 and B5200
Start/Finish: 5/5-6/2010

I started this design last night and was able to finish the flowers before turning into a 'pumpkin' for the night. I finished the border this morning before work ;)

I love the color of the linen with the threads! I had two blue colors to choose from and my sister picked the darker of the two for this design.

My nickname for this design is 'Emma' as it reminds me of VRE.

Until next time ^____^

Flower

Design: Flower by Needlecraft magazine - Oct. 1928
Fabric: 28ct antique white linen M.C.G Textiles
Threads: DMC 3354
Start/Finish: 5/02/2010

I went by one of the antique stores in town yesterday and found an issue of Needlecraft from 1928. This cross-stitch design was originally used to decorate the corner of tablecloths. I stitched it up in about an hour this evening.

Until next time ^___^

Spring pinkeep

Design: Printemps by Gazette94
Fabric: 28ct antique white linen M.C.G Textiles
Notions: DMC thread, heart/flower fabric, cream braid, pearlized pink & heart pins
Finished as: Pinkeep on 5/2/2010

I finished Printemps as a pinkeep today. I went out yesterday to find some backing fabric for it, but couldn't really find anything that was the right color. This morning I looked through my stash of fabrics and found the heart/flower fabric in the pic above. It is 'peachy' enough to go with the DMC threads in the design.

I am also in the process of making Very Merry Spring into a pinkeep, but I ran out of cream-colored braid for the border so I will have to wait until I can pick some up next weekend.

In other news, I cut my thumb using fabric scissors....OUCH! That will teach me not to respect the scissors!!

Until next time ^____^

April Recap

April Recap

Read:

1. It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn
2. On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn
3. The Child of Mystery or the Cottager's Daughter by Hannah Maria Jones
4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
6. Emmaline and the Bunny by Katherine Hannigan
7. Manga Shakespeare As You Like It by Appignanesi & Kutsuwada
8. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
9. Gunnerkrigg Court Volume 1 by Thomas Siddell
10. Mouse Guard Fall 1152 by David Petersen
11. Mouse Guard Winter 1152 by David Petersen

Finishes:
1. Good Luck Block pillow
2. March - the Lion and the Lamb pillow
3. 4-6 bead cell phone charms

Stitched:
1. A Very Merry Spring by JBW Designs
2. Printemps freebie by Gazette94

Printemps finish

Design: Printemps by Gazette94
Fabric: 28ct antique white linen M.C.G Textiles
Threads: DMC
Start/Finish: 4/25 & 29-30/2010

Hi, everyone! This is my last finish for the month of April. I was hoping to finish this design as a pinkeep, but I'm having trouble finding the right backing fabric. I went by Joann's Fabrics and Hobby Lobby, but without any luck. Maybe I'll find something later this weekend.

Until next time ^____^