Halloween Treat

Last year I made Halloween trees for my grandchildren (Yes sons, I did not do this for you…such is life.) I really wanted more lifelike trees but settled for Black Christmas tree like trees.  I would have posted these to my blog last year but we all know I am not the best at writing to the blog…And then too I was busy stitching and finishing. The response of my grandkids was too cute and worth all the work and all the reward I needed. How can one put a price on, “Oh Grandma, I love you!”

I charted one and gave to the local needlepoint shop to give away as a cross stitch or needlepoint freebie…a treat from me and them. Until this year I forgot to finish charting the designs and so they will not be released until next year…too late for this year. But I will share one with all of you…my treat. If you cannot read print the design from the blog, email me (sudu@kc.rr.com) and I will return the email with a PDF file attached. Please put Candy Corn pattern in subject line or you might go to the junk mail and that would be no treat.

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The scissors are Flying Witch Scissors from Uncommon Scissors http://uncommonscissors.com/ although I think I may need (not want but need) to order black cat too, and maybe owl…and… Can one have too may scissors?

 And I almost forgot to bring my Halloween sewing box out…I blogged about this when it came back from the finisher…couldn’t wait to show it off Blog: http://sudukc.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=575)  then and then I forgot to bring it out with my witches.

It is too cute and took me forever to stitch…I am not a cross stitch person but in a weak moment had to have this… I think Just NAN (http://www.justnan.com/) does such cute things and I believe Silver Needle in Tulsa (http://www.thesilverneedle.net/index ) was my enabler.. I’m grateful she does lots of limited additions because I am so far behind the curve that usually they are all sold out by the time I see them. Probably a good thing for me otherwise I would have a box full of Just Nan UFOs and I don’t do much cross stitch.  

Happy Halloween and no tricks please.

ttfn…sue

How are you creative?

I was reading blogs I bookmark this week-end and Jackie at Dog Daisy Chain http://dogdaisychains.blogspot.com/  posted an intriguing statement. “As I work on struggling to regain my creativity and meet deadlines, I envy those who are able to sit and hand sew.”

Do those that are paid for designing needlepoint struggle more with creativity than those of us that just stitch because it is cheaper than a shrink? Do deadline stifle creativity or enhance creativity? Does stitching other designers work or painted canvases stifle our own creativity?

Jackie went on to say that even if she doesn’t like a technique or piece she learns a lesson or technique that she “…promised myself I would return to. Other lessons were learned. Stored up for future use. You learn something with every piece you make.”

I agree, you learn from every piece you stitch. Whether it is a new thread or stitch you are going to love or hate; an idea or technique that helps with that “ah ha” moment for another project that has been waiting for that moment of enlightenment; or just something that does not work no matter how hard or long you try to make it work. I think we can learn from each other in a class, just stitching together, at a guild meeting or online. We are a social group and we learn by association. We offer our ideas and observations but the bottom line is whatever we chose to stitch and how we stitch it is our choice alone. There are no “stitch police” that are going to tell us we can’t do something.

What would needlepoint be like if we were all still stitching the continental stitch using silk or wool? We’ve come a long way and the future is unlimited by our own creativity. So next time you don’t feel very inspired or creative, just remember that someone out there may be inspired by your work.

And most of all remember… learning is being creative.

ttfn…sue

Great giveaway and it made me think…

First, I need to apologize for not posting to my blog…life just gets in the way of my fingers. And sometimes it is a choice of reading all the really interesting blogs I have bookmarked or writing. Since I am more a verbal person the choice is easy for me I would rather here what you all have to say than write my blog.

That said, I found this very interesting give-a-way and it made me think about why I needlepoint…

http://artneedlepoint.com/

Why I Love Needlepoint…Share with us why you Love Needlepoint!
Please let us know three reasons why you like to needlepoint.
How often do you stitch?
Do you usually stitch alone or with other people?

My answer:

I have been needlepointing since I was about 8 yrs old with some time off to be a teenager and a young mother. Being a young mother I needed something to keep my sanity and needlepoint was cheaper than a shrink (reason 1). I tried cross stitch, it was less expensive but not as rewarding. I love to take a blank canvas, combine threads and stitches to make a design (reason 2). Today with all the threads, stitches, canvases and teachers available needlepoint is endless and such fun to do. Guilds, shop stitch-ins or just friends getting together is so rewarding and inspirational (reason 3). I think it is so rewarding to see all the different color and thread combinations that will be produced from a class project or just two people stitching the same painted canvas. Our personalities can shine and it also can be a history of our lives; when we look at our stitching we can usually remember what we were doing in out lives and how we were feeling. I try to stitch every day…A day without stitching is a day without sunshine. I love to stitch with friends but I also love to stitch alone…it really does not matter as long as I stitch!

Why do you needlepoint?

ttfn…sue