Tis that time of year…

It is that time of year…I have this theory about the shopping malls and parking lots this time of year…I think that somewhere in every city there are buildings (more than two or three) full of cars and robots that are only activated between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve (around Easter they release about 1/3 of these robots and cars) …these robots look like you and me except they never smile and they rush here and there. Most are carrying packages, and pushing and shoving around the malls. Their cars are parked in every parking spot in the mall lot and only one robot (okay sometimes two, but never more than three) to a car. They will cut right in front of you to get a parking space and then wave at you with one finger. (I think most of these robots only have one finger on each hand and I’m hoping it is the “HI” sign, especially this time of year). I think the best way to handle these robots is to smile pleasantly and wish them a “Merry Christmas.”

I only did shopping for 4 presents in stores this year and two of those were done by my son and husband and the other two I got at the grocery store. For the rest I let my fingers do the walking and did all my shopping online. It was easy and effortless; saved gas, tax, and most of all TIME. AND when I ordered from Amazon to get free shipping just had to add an item for me to get free shipping. Two Amazon orders, two gifts for me…um-m-m, no I did not plan this; I thought I was going to buy another gift at the store and at the last minute decided item online was nicer than the one I was going out to buy. Next year I am doing all my shopping online and sneaking mine in there too…well I am saving the shipping and gas.

Have been baking cookies for the last two weeks and so far have made 25 dozen cookies. About 8 dozen have already found a home for the holidays, the majority of the rest are leaving this week-end and then I’ll do the ones for my family.

Tree, bells, Santa’s and Nativities are up; still have the Angels (but I put them up very last because I leave them up until February and Valentine’s day (never have too many cupids floating around.) This year I even had time to put out my sewing room decorations. I love these decorations…

they are some of the last my Mother made for me. She made this sewing box with cards of threads and tied spools of thread on the branches with ribbon and beads. She bought all the sewing related ornaments and decorations.

The small tree in the bathroom is a guild favor, I love the buttons it is too cute.

 

My other thing this time of year is to collect these perfume sample cards. I open one and place it in the trash basket in my bathroom every time I change the bag. The small basket is in my closet and every time I open the closet door I get a pleasant puff of scent…When these run out I just use a quick spray of my favorite spray or DHs aftershave on a tissue.

Am getting to stitch occasionally, but nothing to show yet….. BUT I think I might go drive by the shopping center mall and laugh!

Hope I and everyone has time to stitch today and any day until Christmas!  ttfn…sue

Daphne’s Needlepoint

You have to see this! I wrote Daphne to get her permission to share her websites and she graciously agreed.  Thank you Daphne, you efforts should be shared with anyone who needlepoints. You are an inspiration to all of us.

Saturday Jane over at Chilly Hollow (http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/2011/11/daphne-goodyear-and-friends.html ) suggested a visit to Daphne Goodyear’s website: http://needleartartistry.org/home.html

Saturday evening, instead of watching TV or stitching, I spent the evening looking at Daphne’s website. What a treat this is! I was just amazed at all the
needlepoint, not only Daphne’s needlepoint, but her friends too. It was just
eye candy for the imagination. I can’t tell you what I liked best, it was all
beautiful. I was so impressed that I sent Daphne an email to let her know that
her efforts at sharing her needlepoint with the world had not gone unnoticed.

I wrote; “… your needlework and web site are incredible. I think you must have been born with a needle and thread in your hands and a head full of great imagination. Thank you for sharing with us…”

 Daphne wrote me back and graciously sent me a link to a book about her needlepoint: “You may be interested in a book I published with pictures and
descriptions of my needlepoint over the years. It is called Dancing With  Stitches. The following is a link. http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2210157. “

Talk about a history of her stitching, this is something to see! Grab yourself a POT of chosen beverage  and settle in for a great morning of eye candy! I spent a wonderful Sunday  morning reading Daphne’s book(s); they are wonderful.

Then if you have ever wanted to go  on Pat Daltons’s Textile trip to China, fix another pot of your chosen beverage  and look at this book. The link is here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2000280 or you can just click on the tab “Author’s Bookstore” And  if after looking at this book, you decide this trip is for you Daphne wrote me  that she is planning to go again in the Fall of 2012. Contact Daphne, or Pat  Dalton  (http://www.daltontours.com/index.html ) if interested.

There are teachers who inspire us and  teach us new techniques in needlework; there are authors who write and also  teach us about needlework; but the true artists of needlepoint are those people  who take those classes, read those books and then with their own threads,  colors and ideas produce works of art that reflect their personality and love  of the art. Daphne is one of those artists, truly one of the great  needlepointer’s of our day…what a treasure.

I don’t think Daphne and I have  ever met but I am sure we have mutual friends (I do know Pat, we took our first  class together at ANG…no year mentioned, it was a while ago and have run into  each other at several other ANG seminars.) And the other thing I know is I  would want to be Daphne’s friend; I am in awe of her talent and creativity. Just  visiting her website and book has made me want to stitch more and more.

Let your fingers walk over to  Daphne’s web pages and books…you will not believe this.

And  after looking at these links you will  make time to stitch today!
ttfn…sue

 

Recipe for Finishing Carrots

Take 30 carrots (10 designs stitched 3 times each). Originally intended for cross stitch from Vicki Hastings , The Cricket Collection( http://www.cecricket.com/catalog21.html ) and I adapted them to needlepoint using 18 count orange canvas.

60 pieces of illustration board (front and back): Cut out, identified (number and or arrows pointing to top) , and trimmed. I try to get both illustration boards to be identical as possible; these are probably the most important yet boring steps in preparing the boards for finishing. The more time you take preparing the basics the easier the rest of the finishing becomes.

  

Cut 60 pieces of quilt batting slightly smaller than the illustration board and attach with glue to bright side of each board. Yes I said glue, I use it. These pieces are going to my grandchildren, not the Smithsonian. They will probably last my lifetime and maybe even one of my grandchildren will have one or two to share with their children but adding glue will not destroy them next week or in a lifetime.

Next I added white material to 30 front side pieces; clip the curves and pull snugly around illustration board, taking care not to distort the boards.  The batting and lining are optional finishing steps but I like the padding and thought the lining was necessary since I did not have a background stitch on the canvases.

I finished 30 pieces with the backing fabric; clip and snugly fitting these also.

Then I carefully centered the needlepoint to front side of pieces with lining…clipping and wrapping boards snugly being careful not to buckle boards.

I allowed all these pieces to set and dry… but when you’re working on 30 ornaments at a time, by the time you get to #30, #1 will be set and dry enough.  I matched the fronts to the backs…remember the numbering I did in the beginning…this is when it pays off especially when you have 30 ornaments all alike! Also at this time take time to make the cording and cut the ribbons.

Next steps are best completed one at a time. Apply glue to both sides of the ornament pair, place ribbons on one side of the ornament and place both sides together. At this time I also applied the cording around each ornament and set aside to dry. I place these ornaments between wax paper with a phone book placed on top to help set them.

After all the ornaments were completed and I recovered from sitting days and hours I tied a bow with one set of ribbons and with the second smaller satin ribbon tied each ornament on the trees with another bow.

Placed Easter eggs and bunny candy around the bases (it was cold and rainy, so no egg hunt at our house this year) and waited for the Grandkids to arrive.

Finishing may not be a four letter word but it could be. BUT…Every time I take on these monumental tasks, it reminds me of how much I really appreciate Finishers.  Yes, Finishers with a capital “F”, because they really do deserve a title and our accolades. So next time you think the cost of finishing is high, remember it took me a 4-5 days working 6-8 hours a day to complete 30 ornaments. AND these ornaments were all the same so I could do each step while your finisher probably is doing one ornament at a time, and even if she is doing 30 round ornaments each will be a bit different. So Finishers of Needlework in the world, you deserve a thank you note every time we pick up a finished piece of needlework. You have made our needlework into a finished piece of art. So from me to all you beautiful, wonderful, talented Finishers of Needlework in the world…

THANK YOU!

Hope everyone has time to stitch today! Me? I’m still recovering from Easter and just reading and resting. ttfn…sue

St Patrick’s Day

  Happy St Pat’s…finally got this charted.

Hope everyone has time to stitch today!  ttfn…sue

Last of Christmas: Ornaments & Gifts

Between decorating the house, shopping for presents, baking cookies and having a house guest I did manage to sew some Christmas ornaments and now they are all taken down and put away for another year.

My ornaments this year were another one of those let me see if I can do this…I wanted to make ornaments that were quick and easy and that I could carry around with me to stitch. I knew I wanted to use wired ribbon for the backing so I purchased this first. I folded a piece of the ribbon into a ribbon candy shape to get an approximate length (about 5 ½ to 6 inches.) Then I figured out how many threads wide the canvas would be added the number of threads to turn back and decided to stitch the edges with a Scotch stitch. I used the Scotch stitch because from the first I was not sure the wired ribbon would give me enough strength to fold the canvas into ribbons of candy. With the scotch stitch on the edges I could run a jewelry wire up each side if I needed and I did need to do this (use 28 gauge wire). Then I started looking though needlepoint magazines and used stitches and stitch patterns I thought would be fun to try. I added a small buttonhole loop to one end and a sequin snowflake to the other end. Then I glued (Yes, I said glued…these are ornaments to be hung on a sap filled Christmas tree not go to the Smithsonian) the ribbon on the back. I bent them into shape and voila Christmas ornaments.

My niece reminded me that I had offered to stitch something for her PEO group and so I whipped up this ornament for her to give. She wanted something that would have gold stars a symbol used by her PEO group. This was the best I could do. I finished it myself since it was way past our shop finishing deadline. Since I had the other ornaments completed I kept this in my carry along project and have stitched extras for next Christmas… (YES, I am ahead of the game. 1st time in my life, now all I have to do is remember where I put them and to get them finished finished before next Christmas.)

I am Christmas-ed out for now…

Hope everyone has time to stitch today! ttfn…sue