Halloween Package to CA

I sent a Halloween package to Amanda on Saturday and she received it yesterday. I had fun making the crochet goodies in this package.

Do you guys remember the pumpkin drawstring bag I crocheted earlier in September? I included it in Amanda's package.....chock-full of Halloween candy and chocolate.

I found a kawaii Halloween-themed tissue pack with candy illustrations on it while out shopping one day and thought it would be fun for her package. I also included various Halloween ribbon that I'm sure she'll use in her crafting next year. Whenever the magazine Make It Yourself comes out, I send a copy to Amanda so she can get inspiration for holiday crafts and cardmaking.

For her Halloween amigurumi, I found a clever idea via Fun & Fang's blog for a spider in a jar. The amigurumi is quite easy to make, I would definitely recommend it for beginners in the world of amigurumi. I loved being able to decorate the jar to my own tastes.

I used some purple Halloween-themed fabric in my stash for the top of the jar and sealed the edges with glittery black ribbon. Inside the jar I cut up several pieces of ribbon to layer the bottom and on the outside I used hologram star stickers.

Amanda asked me if it was a scary spider and if it would invite its friends over to her house. I told her that if I chose a personality for this little spider, she would be a sweet spider. One who loved to watch people craft goodies and who also loved to collect fall and Halloween ribbon so one day she could create a beautiful web made of all sorts of ribbon.

Pattern: Spider in a Jar by Fun and Fang
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft gray sparkle
Hook: Size G
Notions: tiny metal brads for eyes
Start/Finish: 9/20/2014

I wish I could have gotten a better image of my little spider, but with the doming in the glass, I couldn't get a really good photo. It was the only type of jar I could find at HB that was big enough for my spider and that didn't have markings like a Mason jar.

In other holiday news, I am waiting to ice cupcakes with caramel and pecans. I am making caramel apple cupcakes for my coworkers for Halloween tomorrow.

I hope you guys and girls have a fun and safe Halloween!!!

Until next time ^_____^

OUAT Progress

I was able to finish the border on my Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery OUAT sampler this weekend. I love the dark colors used in the border motifs.

By the time I finish the pattern in December, I'll actually be completely done with a design. Happy dance time!

Until next time >___<

Panda Halloween Package

I received a Halloween package from Amanda earlier in the week. It was full of goodies and cute gifts.

She sent me some yummy Pocky, berry carnival and coconut flavors, along with some hard candies in ramune soda flavor and a Lindt chocolate brownie bar! I'm quite excited to try the ramune flavored candies as I've had a few via the skoshboxes, but I haven't had one so far that actually tastes like ramune.

The cute gifts include a plastic bunny that poops jelly beans (always good for laugh), two sticker sets (a Japanese themed one and a cute witch), and an adorable set of rabbit post-it notes for books!

Amanda sent a cute Halloween card featuring a panda and bunny dressed up for Halloween.

Isn't it cute? I love adding it to my growing collection of handmade cards from my friend.

Thanks for the lovely package! I loved everything!

Until next time ^____^

Bookish Weekend

Good evening! I spent yesterday morning at Springhill College's Book Nook browsing their stacks. I came away with some neat finds.

It was a gorgeous day with cool and sunny weather. I couldn't help but stop and take a photo of their chapel before heading to the bookstore.

I found a three books, one of which I can't show because it will be part of a Christmas gift.

As always when I visit a used bookstore, I check their mythology/fairy tale and antique book sections first before browsing the rest of the store.

I found a lovely edition of Augusta Evans Wilson's St. Elmo that is an illustrated edition for theater patrons that was published by Hurst & Co. in 1910. I think my favorite photogravures in the book are those featuring the backdrops of the stage and the ending image with the kissing scene between St. Elmo and Edna, which is also featured on the front cover of the book.

The second book was an Illustrated Junior Library Grimm's Fairy Tales that was illustrated by Fritz Kredel in 1973 and published by Grosset & Dunlap. Kredel was a German artist (1900-1973) who illustrated several hundred books during his career including other fairy tale titles and Eleanor Roosevelt's Christmas.

I love the illustrations in the book. I immediately looked to see if Snow White was listed in the book and skipped over to the end of the story to see what version they used. I was impressed to see that they actually went with the 'dancing in iron shoes' ending. Definitely no need to keep the darkness of the fairy tale away from children in the 1970s.

Yet again, if you haven't been to The Book Nook, I urge you to. You'll never know what you'll find!

Until next time ^____^

OUAT October Finish

I've spent the morning and early afternoon stitching this month's OUAT block by Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.  It's such a cute tale to stitch. I wonder what tale will be next month's design?  I have a feeling that at least December will be Hansel and Gretel with candy motifs, but who knows.

I hope I can stitch a bit on the border this month so the whole design will be finished in December.

Until next time >___<

Earl Grey and Artwalk

I'm currently waiting for my aunt so we can carpool to work. I noticed this box of tea on her kitchen counter and couldn't help but laugh and decide to share it with you all.

It's an American company, but I love the 'renowned in international circles' part just in case we need an incentive to buy it because it is foreign in origin.

Sigh....the silliness of American advertising.

In other news, Kristina and I will be at Artwalk tonight so please join us.

Until next time >____<

Mini Autumn Package

Good evening, everyone! On Saturday, I sent a mini autumn package to my friend Amanda. 

I found an adorable DMC kit featuring a wooden owl that you can decorate with stitches. I thought Amanda would enjoy it since she is always making creative things to use in her card making and gift presentations.

I had stitched up the mini Totoro plushie a while ago and attached a keychain to him so Amanda could carry him around CA :) It's always nice to have a tree spirit along for the ride.

Hope you liked your little package!

Until next time ^____^

Kawaii Cinderella

This is my progress on the OUAT block for October. I hope to finish it up this week.

I should have realized that the theme for the month would have been Cinderella since it involves a pumpkin,  which is perfect for the month of October.

Until next time >____<

Estate Sale - Vintage Chinese and Japanese Embroidery

Good afternoon everyone! I'm sure my readers along the Gulf Coast are enjoying some lovely fall weather with temperatures in the 60s today. Weather like this always reminds me of two places, Walnut, CA and Egham, Surrey. Hopefully we can keep these temperatures until the winter instead of going back to summer temperatures, but you never know what you'll get living in the south.

Last Saturday my sister and I went downtown to Room 1927 beside the Saenger Theatre for estate sales from the Magee Farm and a residence in New York.

There were quite a lot of items ranging from books, glassware, ceramics, furniture, silver, and paintings at the sale. While wandering the room, my eyes kept going back to several framed embroidery designs. One was a beautiful 1830s-40s embroidery on silk, but the condition of the piece was in such disrepair that I knew I'd pay quite a lot to have it conserved so I didn't pick it up.

Here is what that piece looked like:

The entire piece was falling out of its frame and had damage to the middle part of the design. The faces of the woman and child were torn. I can only hope that someone saw this piece and decided to purchase it for the chance to have it conserved.

It is quite a beautiful piece despite the damage and if it was from the Magee Farm, it is a rare example of embroidery because our southern temperatures and weather are not kind towards textiles if proper techniques are not taken to keep the piece in good condition.

The other embroidered pieces that I had my eye on were frame Asian designs.

First off, I found this lovely Chinese embroidered silk mat.

 

I have tried to do some research on this embroidery design, but all I've found so far are designs with a similar floral border and that it might be a place mat. I've found nothing about a date for the piece. I'm thinking perhaps mid-20th century.......makes me wish I knew someone who was an expert in Asian embroidered textiles.

The other framed piece that I bought was this gorgeous Japanese (or Chinese) landscape embroidered on silk in blacks, browns, and silvers.

I love the muted palette of colors in this design. It helps to invoke the bareness of the landscape. I was surprised when looking closer at this design to see that a lot of the stitches in this piece were quite simple ones. The beauty of this piece is definitely due to its simplicity.

I plan on sending a picture of this design to a professor of mine from college who teaches Asian history and knows several Asian languages. I'm hoping he can translate the characters and chop mark on this design and see if we can come up with an artist.

Until next time ^____^