Halloween Package from Amanda

I received a Halloween package in the mail yesterday from Amanda. It included a lot of goodies and snacks from Daiso, handmade cards, Halloween socks, masking tape, and a set of Clover Amour crochet hooks.

I have added the Halloween wax paper and cupcake liners to my stash of holiday baking goods. I'll have to look out for nice recipes to use in them next year.

The package of almond cookies (orange bag in middle of picture) taste like the Danish cookies you buy in tins during the holidays, but they are light, crispy, and thin. It has taken all my willpower not to eat all of them. I think tomorrow I will try them with a cup of chai tea.

I was extremely surprised to see the set of Clover Amour crochet hooks in my package. I have been eyeing them in my local Joann's Fabrics store for a while, but never picked them up since I have a lot of hooks, aluminum ones and soft grip ones. I can't wait to try these hooks. I have a few of their tan colored soft grip hooks, but none of the Amour hooks. I think they will help with stopping wrist pain when I have to stitch with smaller hooks.

Amanda also included some exquisite cards for me to use when mailing out packages or when giving gifts to my friends.

Her cardmaking is always beautiful. She has surpassed herself this time by utilizing her origami skills to embellish her cards.

I have been trying to persuade her to sell cards in our Etsy shop. I love buying cards when sending gifts, etc. and I know if I saw these cards somewhere in town, I'd buy them.

So if you like them too, please let me know and perhaps we can persuade Amanda to start selling her beautiful cards online!!

Until next time >___<

Surprise Autumn Cross Stitch - from Lee of Stitchy Fish

I received a package from Lee of Stitchy Fish in the mail earlier this week. It turns out that she had accidentally sent her exchange project to me instead of her partner because she thought I was supposed to receive it since I sent her something. I offered to mail it to her exchange partner, but she insisted that I keep it and that she'd work on another pattern for her partner.

She had stitched up this adorable little bag and included some candy and a beaded scissor fob inside.

Thank you Lee for the 'surprise' accidental gift. It is lovely. I have the bag displayed by my Halloween tree.

I can't wait to see what you up for your partner. I'm sure it will equally as beautiful.

Until next time >___<

HoE Autumn Exchange - from Erin of Fairy Tales and French Knots

I received my HoE Autumn Exchange piece in the mail from Erin of Fairy Tales and French Knots. It is called Autumn is Here by Helga Mendl. I had actually stitched up this design years ago and made it into a pillow, but I have to say that Erin's finishing is way cuter.

Who would have thought to use a little wooden fence to finish a cross stitch pattern?!?!

I have it displayed on my Halloween tree right now.

Thank you Erin for such a beautiful piece of stitching!!

Until next time >___<

Halloween Package to Canada

My Halloween package to Constance in Canada arrived today. As her cross stitch gift, I sent the JBW French Country Witch pinkeep. I had crocheted a maple leaf to decorate the packaging of the pinkeep like I did for my other Halloween packages this year.

I also sent a bunch of Halloween candy including a bag of M&M's fall flavor, pumpkin spice latte.

Canada doesn't have Target stores....apparently they failed in Canada, which is amusing because they do have Walmart stores. I think most American towns would take a Target over a Walmart......but what can I say, it's Canada!

Anywho, I sent the M&M bag because it is Target's exclusive flavor this year. I'm assuming they have the pecan pie flavor since it is Walmart's exclusive flavor :)

I hope you liked all the goodies, Constance :)

Until next time >___<

JBW French Country Witch Pinkeep

This is how I finished my JBW French Country Witch design.

I used spiderweb themed ribbon and white pearlized pins around the edges. On the back, I used two different types of fabric. While at Hobby Lobby, I found some beautiful spiderweb tulle, but wasn't sure how that was going to work because of the see through aspect.....then I remembered I could use a solid color underneath so I bought some black calico fabric. And viola!

Until next time >___<

Halloween 2015 Package to Amanda

Pattern: Ghost Coasters by Red Heart Yarn
Yarn: Crafter's Secret alpine snow
Hook: Size H
Start/Finish: 9/26/2015

Pattern: Maple Leaf by Happy Berry
Yarn: Lion Brand Bonbon Celebrate orange
Hook: size C
Start/Finish: 10/6/2015

Good morning again! I had also sent off my Halloween package to Amanda on Saturday morning. I know it is a bit early, but I was sending out Constance's package as well and thought I'd take the opportunity to send Amanda's just in case I was busy later this month at work.

For her Halloween package, I sent her the Make It magazine with winter/Christmas projects, card making supplies (stickers, washi tape, and flat back buttons), two sets of DIY Japanese candy kits, two chocolate bars (one is Lindt's Sweet Popcorn bar......ugh.....possibly my favorite flavor of chocolate by Lindt's!!), a cupcake liner/pick set, two pairs of socks for Halloween and Thanksgiving, a set of crocheted ghost coasters, and a crocheted leaf that I made to decorate her packaging.

This year I wanted to crochet something different for Amanda's Halloween package and found a great pattern for ghost coasters on Ravelry via Red Heart Yarn. The best part of this pattern is the fact that it has a video tutorial that accompanies it on YouTube by The Crochet Crowd. The video is easy to follow and perfect for those of us who need visual instructions for crochet. As I'm not the best crocheter when it comes to normal crochet projects (i.e. not amigurumi), I was glad to see that these ghost coasters have a video tutorial.

In addition to the ghost coasters, I stitched up a small maple leaf using Happy Berry's pattern again, but this time instead of using regular worsted weight yarn, I broke open a pack of Lion Brand Bonbon yarn that Amanda had given me quite a while ago and used the sparkly orange color to make the maple leaf.

I hope you enjoyed your early Halloween package! I think a nice hot mug of hot chocolate would be perfect for those coasters :) (Assuming it's cool enough in CA already for hot chocolate!)

Until next time ^____^

HoE Autumn Exchange - to Lee of Stitchy Fish

Pattern: Autumn Biscornu freebie
Fabric: 32ct cream Belfast linen by Wichelt
Threads: DMC 310, 420, 801, 922, and 3051
Notions: Le Bouton 5/8" brown buttons
Start/Finish: 9/20-24/2015

Good morning everyone! I sent out my exchange piece for the HoE Autumn Exchange on Saturday. I was given Lee of Stitchy Fish as my stitching partner.

Looking online for cute autumn themed biscornus, I ran across a squirrel and acorn biscornu and knew I had to stitch it up. I had found some brown buttons to finish it with.

I wanted to 'dress' up the packaging of my biscornu and found a lovely crochet pattern for a maple leaf by Happy Berry. I used the leaf I crocheted and some orange/white baker's twine for the outside of my package.

I hope you liked your exchange piece, Lee!!

Until next time ^_____^

The Book Nook - Mobile, AL

Good afternoon. This morning I ran by the post office to send off my Halloween packages to Constance in Canada, Amanda in California, and then my HoE piece for our autumn exchange. Afterwards I spent some time at the library until I could drive over to the Book Nook on Spring Hill College's campus.

I rarely visit The Book Nook and come away with nothing. This morning I found some lovely additions to my collection.

I found a paperback version of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Cherish Classic which was published in 1994. While I have read these stories before, I bought it to add to my collection of Doyle books because I love the cover art.

Keeping my eyes open for any sort of Japan related books, I came away with a book of haiku poems from 1962. The type of illustration on the front cover is repeated throughout the book.

In their older books section, I found a beautiful book from 1927 of travel stories throughout Japan, Korea, and Formosa by Burton Holmes. The book is illustrated with black and white photographs. For its age, the book is in great condition, especially the frontispiece.

They had several of Augusta Evans Wilson novels on the shelves so I picked up Beulah and Macaria. There were no publication dates on these novels, but from the handwritten notes on the inside covers, they date circa 1900-15.

If you've never visited the Book Nook, you really should. Their prices are fantastic and they have a great selections of books. You never know what treasures you'll find. The staff are always friendly and happy to help if you have any questions.

They are located on the bottom floor of the Burke Memorial Library on Spring Hill College campus.

Until next time ^____^

HoE Halloween Exchange - to Rosa of Working with my Hands

Pattern: Halloween 2008 freebie by Les Grilles de Maryse
Fabric: 28 ct Jobelan Lambswool linen by Wichelt
Threads: recommended DMC
Notions: pumpkin fabric, orange fabric, 1 1/2 inch wire ribbon, and white pearlized pins
Start/Finish: 8/23-24/2015
Finished: as a no-sew cube on 9/12/2015

Hi, everyone! My HOE Halloween exchange project finally made it to its destination in Nova Scotia, Canada today.

I was quite worried for a while after I mailed it because after it got to Canada and cleared customs, the tracking number kept on insisting that it was on its way from Miami all over again (the original departure city in the US)!!! For a while I thought maybe the package failed at customs and was being sent back to me! I was so glad when this morning it said it had been delivered.

While searching for a cute Halloween design to stitch for my partner, Rosa of Working with my Hands, I found a lovely design by Les Grilles de Maryse.

I decided to finish it as a no-sew cube. I had help choosing the backing fabric. I had two types of fabrics in my stash and after asking for Amanda's advice, I went with the darker pumpkin fabric.

I used an orange fabric and mulitcolored ribbon for the side and top of the cube.

I had a lot of fun making this project and I hope my partner liked her exchange :)

Until next time >___<