My Inspiration Wall

This is a view of the "inspiration wall" behind my work/sewing table. The bird pic is from a 2009 calendar. The painting pics are from an old calendar --the Group of Seven (Canadian artists). The small card is from a Vermont exhibition by Janet Fredericks.

Thoughts

I am going to put pictures of my stitching projects into a small scrapbook. Even though most of them were sent off in exchanges, future generations will see how much stitching I accomplished.

I'm going to start keeping a nature journal. I will write a little description of what the weather is for the day, the clouds, animal activity, just general nature observations.

Due to things beyond my control, I have less than 20 pictures of myself/family/Mother & father from my childhood. I'm starting a remembrance journal today, jotting down everything I can remember from my childhood. It will be something to pass on. I know barely anything about  my own parents & grandparents lives. people were too busy to write things down, or didn't realize the importance to future generations.

A Snowman WIP

This is a biscornu design from The Floss Box that I'm stitching. Emily's designs are so cute. They are priced reasonably, too. I love that I can download the PDF and begin to stitch immediately.

Our Tree-Topper

We purchased a pretty tree-topper.  The tree is so tall that we decided to get one that doesn't light up.

 The Italian-made glass birds were a gift from a friend.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents . . .

The Birds:

A flock of grackles appeared out of nowhere a few days ago. They made such a racket! I don't know what they were pecking at on the ground--nothing is moving these days, and there weren't any sunflowers or other large-seeded plants in the vicinity.

My Lace Scarf

I stayed up past 1 a.m. several nights in a row in order to finish this lace scarf. I ended one end straight across, instead of finishing to the end of the motif and creating a zig-zag, which was how the scarf began. I had just enough yarn--it took 2 skeins of Gloss from KnitPicks.

I blocked it on top of a sheet & towels pinned to the floor of the living room. I cannot believe how much it stretched. I hope my sis likes it!  I enclosed the yarn description card so that she will know how to take care of it.

Gifts Made in the U.S.A.

About half of the Christmas presents I'm giving this year are made in the United States. Some I've made, and others are from small businesses.

I bought Sarris Candies from a candy-making company about thirty-five miles away from me. They have a store/ice cream parlor on site, and I'm hoping to take a trip there in the near future. Their chocolates are yummy, especially the peanut butter meltaway, and the pecan bars.

I purchased a glass gift from Boyd Glass, a small, family-owned and operated glass-making factory in Cambridge, Ohio.  Their glass is unique, very reasonable in price, and collectible. They have a monthly special of a half-price item, and change the colors of the items in production several times a year. They have hand-painted Christmas specialties (trains, scotties) as well as those elusive covered dishes and salts--bunnies, chicks, lambs, hens and turkeys.

I had to delete Montorsville Farms. They haven't put through our order and haven't acknowledged a phone call or emails. I will call them again tomorrow. Businesses who advertise online must keep websites up-to-date!

Embroidered Pillowcases

I finished three sets of embroidered pillowcases for Christmas gifts. The patterns were stamped on the fabric, which was of good quality.

Pictured are two of the Tobin "Gloriosa" pattern, and one from a different manufacturer. I don't like the feel of poly/cotton blend pillowcases, so if I ever make some for myself, I will buy 100% cotton cases and transfer the designs myself.

Christmas Buttons

These are the Xmas buttons that I purchased at Michael's. I got one pack, and by the time I went back (on a separate trip), there were only a few packages left. I'm going to use them on stitched ornaments and other  winter cross stitch projects.

A Scarf & Internet Service Problems

For several days we have been experiencing outages of both our landline and our internet service. The rest of the family is waiting for the computer, so I will post one little Xmas present that I'm working on:

I don't remember if this is a KnitPicks pattern, or one from Ravelry. I will check. I finally learned how to do a SSK--I was knitting it wrong(on a different scarf). The yarn is KnitPicks "Gloss"--merino/silk.

Fair & Square for Chris B.

These are the squares that I stitched for Chris B. for the Fair & Square Round #22.

The lighting is poor-they are stitched  with overdyed Threadworx floss on 32ct. linen. The design is from a Dover book of charted folk designs. 

This was my first Fair & Square exchange.

Stitching Update

Thank you, everyone, for your kind comments about the bourse. I used the directions on a blog (will post link later). I'd like to do several bourses, and make one for myself, too.

I never cooked a pumpkin pie with eggs. I think it would take longer to cook, due to the added liquid. I ruined at least three eggless pumpkin pies before I achieved a good one. I keep the oven at 350 degrees for the whole time, instead of starting very hot (425) and turning down later. That is what all the recipes state to do, but it did not work for me. If I make an eggless pie according to the Libby's canned pumpkin directions, the one that calls for evaporated milk and regular sugar, I plan to use less milk and see if it works better.

I finished both my Fair & Square Exchange (regular Round) piece, and my Christmas ornament for HOE .  I cannot post pictures until they have been received. 

I stopped by Michael's craft store yesterday and got some holiday-themed buttons to use for ornaments I'm stitching for home and for additions to family gift parcels.

I hope to have some freebie cross stitch designs posted soon, as I have been designing with my PC Stitch Pro.

And yes, finally got a pic of me onto the blog! It's hard to do a self-photo.

My First Bourse

This is the bourse that I stitched for Carol S. for the HOE Fall Exchange.

The bag is cotton, and the design is from The Prairie Schooler Book 141, "Thanksgiving Comes Again."  I made several adaptations. My yellow was too light.

The verse, the date, and the wind swirls are stitched over one thread; everything else is over two threads. This design is stitched on 32ct. lambswool Lugana, and is stitched with DMC and a (French) overdyed floss that I received from ? (I'll put this in tomorrow).

Eggless Pumpkin Pie

This is the pumpkin pie that I baked yesterday, along with some beautiful sunflowers that my daughter purchased at the store.
 I'm practicing recipes for Thanksgiving. This recipe is a vegetarian version of the Eagle Brand pumpkin pie recipe.

   Trillium's Eggless Pumpkin Pie

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1 unbaked pie crust (single)

Place into a pie pan. (I used a non-stick metal one, not deep-dish, but regular depth).

Mix together:

1 14oz. can sweetened condensed milk (the full-fat variety)

1 15oz. canned pumpkin

3/4 teaspoon gr. cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon gr. ginger

1/8 teaspoon gr. cloves

1 T. cornstarch

Put into pie shell and bake at least 25 minutes at 350. You can then reduce to 325 degrees and finish baking until done. I don't have a crust protector, and have found that trying to put aluminum foil over the crust doesn't work for me.

Allow to thoroughly cool, so that it firms up.

Enjoy!

Another Pink Giveaway. . .

is taking place on DJ's blog. See her cute cat, giveaway goodies, and enter before 10/29.

Teresa Is Celebrating. . .

her 100th blog post with a great cross stitch giveaway. Go to her blog and enter.

Jennifer's Oct. Giveaway. . .

is going on now, to promote breast cancer awareness. Visit her blog to enter before 10/31. You can win a lovely chart and some Kelmscott pink scissors.

Dixiesamplar. . .

is having a fabulous Halloween goodies giveaway! Everything you Halloween stitchers could desire is there! Go to her blog now and enter.

Ends midnight EST, Oct. 30th

Craftymoo's Giveaway. . .

is ongoing until 10/31. Visit her blog and see the lovely goodies (Jobelan, floss, pattern, etc) that she's giving away.

A GO Cutter Giveaway. . .

is going on until 10/31 at Alderwood Quilts. You can enter four different ways, for four chances to win. This cutter would be great for small shapes to adorn smalls, of for needlebooks-lots of uses!

Halloween Exchange from Verona

This is the great ornament that I received from Verona in the HOE Halloween Exchange 2010. I am so happy to receive this, because it saves me the time of making it! It's from the Just Cross Stitch 2010 Halloween Ornament issue, and it is by Blue Ribbon Designs.

She enclosed some beautiful Victorian Sampler overdyed floss.

Thank you, Verona!

Trick or Treat Tree for Kathy

"Trick or Treat Tree"

by Pat Thode of The HeartStrings/The Artists Collection

from  the Sept/Oct 2010 issue of Just Cross Stitch
Overdyed & DMC on 28ct. eggshell linen

 This is the front of the ornament that I stitched for Kathy as part of the HOE 2010 Halloween Exchange. I put the pumpkin face in the wrong place. I added some tree branches here and there, and used a different yellow for the moon. I worked on it off and on for about a month.

I put these wonderful buttons on it that I bought last year at Michael's.  This year I went to three different Michael's, in two states, and they did not offer them.

The reverse side:

Stitching News

Granddaughter was home sick yesterday, but I did start on my HOE Fall Exchange. It's on 32ct. Jobelan. I like linen, but I find Jobelan even easier to stitch on. The threads are rounded and very even. It makes the needle sort of glide through. I'm making a finished project that is a first for me.

I'm waiting to hear when my HOE Halloween Exchange (2010) has been received, so that I can post pictures.

I have joined Fair & Square and will be participating in Round 22.

Don't forget to sign up for my PIF! Two spots are still open.

PC Stitch Pro

My PC Stitch Pro 9 is on its way! I'm so excited. I got it (brand new, shrinkwrapped) at a reduced rate from eBay. I can't wait to get some freebies put up here.

Please Send A Card

I've just heard that a woman who works as a part-time commentator on one of our local talk radio shows had a double mastectomy and is about to undergo chemotherapy. She is married and is the mother of a 12-yr.-old girl.

Can you afford a small card + a stamp? Please send Kelly a pretty card with a picture of flowers, nature, anything bright and cheerful. Write: "Thinking of You", "Get Well," "Have A Good Day,"--any cheerful message.

If you cannot buy a card, then make one or send a picture post card. 

International (non-USA) readers of this blog post, please send a pretty postcard.

Mail to:

Kelly 

C/O WKKX

1201 Market St.

Wheeling, WV

26003   USA

Let's give her a big surprise and inundate her with messages of comfort and cheer!

Autumn Flowers

These tiny asters are sprinkled about the edge of the woods.

A Cute Crewel Freebie Owl. . .

pattern is available at Stitchy Britches. You will love it.

A Halloween Ornie Begun

This is my start on "By The Full Moon," presented in the JCS Halloween 2010 Ornament issue by Ink Circles. I changed the colors because I'm stitching it on Silkweaver "Solo" fabric (32ct) and I needed to match it. I stopped work on this because my HOE Halloween Exchange piece took me so long.

A Halloween WIP

This is the Primitive Betty "Boo" freebie. It has turned out to be very large (on 28ct.). I will either frame it and display it, or make it into a pillow.

JBW's Star

This is the "Star" ornament from the 2010 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments issue. I will make it into a pinkeep, I think. It is stitched on 28ct. linen with overdyed thread (Carrie's, I think).