Merry Autumn

Hi, everyone!! I stitched up a small JBW design today and finished it as a doorknob hanger.


Design: A Very Merry Autumn by JBW Designs
Threads: DMC 720 and 741
Fabric: 28ct cream Zweigart
Start/Finished: 10/9-10/2009



What do you think? I wish I had made the seam allowance a bit wider so that you could see the bottom edge of the design, but I think it turned out well since it's my first attempt at this finish with ribbon ;) My blind stitching is still 'below average,' but I hope to get better at it with more finishes that call for it!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend so far. Sadly, we are still having weather in the 80s.....no fall temps yet. I hope it will get cooler by the time Halloween comes around.

Until next time ^_____^

Too cute!

Hi, everyone! I'm sure you're wondering why I haven't posted any cross-stitch pics lately. Well, I've been quite busy with work and lacked the energy to do anything when I got home at night.

Fortunately, my work load is normal again until December so I was able to finish this little cute design today!


Design: Pumpkin by Prairie Schooler 'Trick or Treat' Designer Series
Threads: DMC 436, 520, and 921
Fabric: 28ct antique white Zweigart
Start/Finished: 9/29/2009 and 10/03/2009

I decided to use the great tutorial on Yuko's blog to make a needleminder from this small design.


Backing fabric for the design!


Orange gingham ribbon around the edges!

This is my first attempt at a needleminder and Yuko's tutorial was easy. I didn't have any double-sided tape so I used some fabric glue around the edges.

Hopefully, I'll be able to make more needleminders in the future. I think they would make great gifts to my fellow family members and friends who stitch.

In other news, we are enjoying some fall weather on the Gulf Coast. We had cooler temps earlier in the week, but now it's warming back up to the 80s during the day. At least, the nights are still cool.

Until next time!

Modern uses of Renaissance art

I had some time to pass this morning while waiting for Office Max to open so I decided to wander around Target. Who would have thought that I would be giggling in the Halloween decor section?

One of my favorite portraits by Bronzino has been made into a 3D animated lenticular where the portrait changes into a demon, etc. when moved back and forth.


Eleonora di Toledo and Her Son Giovanni de' Medici by Anglo Bronzino, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

I was hoping that Target had an image of it on their website, but they don't! They do have two others for sale, a portrait of Queen Elizabeth and (I can't remember who it is) John Randolph or Sir Francis Drake.

Sometimes I find it highly amusing when I see the way art is used today. I wonder what Bronzino would have thought of his portrait being used as a Halloween decoration? Or the Medici family? I'm sure their political rivals would have found them appropriate depictions as demons.

Until next time!

Mail goodies!

Look what I received in the mail today!



I had won a copy of Marissa Doyle's book Bewitching Season from her and Regina Scott's blog Nineteen Teen! Ms. Doyle threw in some extras such as a lovely fan that says "History has never been so cool," and a magnet that features the cover art from Betraying Season, the newest book by Marissa.

I can't wait to read Bewitching Season ;)

Thanks Marissa for having such a great blog! ^___^

Apple Pie

My aunt made a homemade apple pie today with apples that she had brought back from Michigan! Yummy ;)

Until next time!

Pesky blind stitch!

Hi, everyone! I've spent part of the day helping my sister do some school research and then sewing together some pillows out of my small cross stitch designs.

I stitched up two Christmas designs, which turned out to be disasters, but at least they were small designs so I can always stitch them again ;)

I had more success with my Autumn Has Come design.





What do you think? I did better on the blind stitch on this pillow than on the other two designs. I think the next time I sew a pillow I'm going to start going around so that my blind stitched area will be on the bottom ;)

Not bad for my third try at this stitch today! I'm not even going to show you the other two as they are the craziest things you will ever see O_o"

Until next time!

Five Little Pumpkins

Design: Five Little Pumpkins by JBW Designs
Threads: DMC
Fabric: 28ct evenweave antique white M.C.G. Textiles
Start/Finish: 9/11-13/2009

I need to buy some small black beads to finish the pumpkins' eyes ;)

I don't know how I'm going to finish this design, but I'll think of something!

Until next time ^____^

Autumn Harvest finish!

Look what I made on Saturday!!





I actually SEWED this pillow! I was so nervous, but with the encouragement of my family, I was able to finish it without running away from the sewing machine in terror!

Until next time!

Pumpkin pinkeep

Hi, everyone! I had stitched up the JBW Alphabet Pumpkin earlier this month. I finally got a chance to finish it as a pinkeep last week.













I used two different types of ribbon around the edge of the pinkeep and green pins.

My aunt fashioned me a bow on the top, which I secured with a pumpkin pin. I made a bunch of pumpkin pins a while back from fimo clay :) It was fun!!

Until next time!

Pumpkin bread

Hi! Despite the dreary weather today, I went by the store and got some groceries to make chocolate chip pumpkin bread! I found the recipe in Southern Breeze, a local magazine.





It is definitely a crowd pleaser and a great taste of fall :)

Until next time!