Pocket Scissor Keep

I'm back on the wagon for the Monthly Finishing Challenge, and made a pocket pinkeep scissor keep for this month's challenge. I used Staci's instructions, which made things very easy. Next time I will try something a bit harder, but this is an acceptable first effort.

Small House Sampler
Little House Needleworks
Unknown 28 count linen
DMC Floss

Kathy of Purple Wildcat had tagged me last week to do the one-word answer questionnaire. It took me awhile to get it together, but here are my answers:

1. Where is your cell phone? Pocketbook

2. Your significant other? Roger

3. Your hair? Highlighted

4. Your mother? Marianne

5. Your father? Michael

6. Your favorite thing? Reading

7. Your dream last night? Biking

8. Your favorite drink? Coke

9. Your dream/goal? Contentment

10. The room you’re in? Kitchen

11. Your hobby? Stitching

12. Your fear? Childloss

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? England

14. What you’re not? Petty

15. Muffins? Corn

16. One of your wish list items? Sewingmachine

17. Where you grew up? New Jersey

18. The last thing you did? Coffee

19. What are you wearing? Tshirt

20. Favorite gadget? iPod

21. Your pets? Dog

22. Your computer? Laptop

23. Your mood? Calm

24. Missing someone? Father

25. Your car? Subaru

26. Something you’re not wearing? Shoes

27. Favorite store? Borders

28. Like someone? Yes!

29. Your favorite color? Green

30. When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday

31. Last time you cried? Reading

If any of the people I chose for the Kreativ Blogger award want to do this, please do!

And I'd like to thank my director...

Carol R. honored me with the Kreativ Blogger award - thank you, Carol! It's a nice pick-me-up to get this. Now it's my turn to pass the award on to others. Here are the rules:

1 The winner may put the logo on her blog.
2 Put a link to the person you got the award from.
3 Nominate 5 blogs.
4 Put links to the blogs.
5 Leave a message for your nominees.

There are so many blogs that I love; this list is by no means exhaustive:

Just Another Stitching Blog (Michele)
Purple Wildcat (Kathy)
StitchyAngel's Treasures (Sally)
Sweet Pea Stitches (Jennifer)
Willing Hands (Rachel)

I hope you all have fun with this, like I did!

Blogger Ate My Post!

It's so annoying when that happens. I'd written out several paragraphs and I thought I'd saved them properly, and then poof! Let's see, how to recreate what I wrote?

I found the (almost) perfect frame for LHN's Where There is Life at Joann Fabrics. The mat is made of fabric, with pink embroidery. It complements the colors in the design beautifully. The opening didn't quite have enough space to fit the entire border; even so it was worth all the fiddling to get it (almost) lined up right. I gave it to my family member with cancer on Monday; the sentiment seemed to resonate with her and I hope it brings her some comfort.

I've been wanting the LHN chart from the 2004 JCS Christmas Ornament issue (the one with the tree, a bird and two squirrels) and I found a copy on eBay, which arrived the other day. The past few Ornament issues haven't yielded many items I wanted to stitch, but this one was filled with them. To borrow a phrase: so many ornaments, so little time! I'm looking forward to the 2008 edition, and hope it's as chock full of must-stitch ornaments as is 2004's.

I've started the finishing for my scissor keep for the MFC. It's really a pocket pinkeep. I had wanted to make a scissor case like this one but I didn't know how to make the lining for it, so I'm going with the pinkeep version. I almost bought a pair of Emma scissors for it at Joann's today, but I got fussy about the way the colors were laid out on every pair, so I'm waiting till I find one I really like. I have yet to own a pair of Gingher's and am eagerly awaiting finding out why so many people seem to love them. I just saw that a new version called Roberta is coming out in October. Collecting these could get addicting!

A finish, and other things

The gift for DS's teacher is done, except for the framing. I'm happy with the piece and hope Mrs. Pray is too. Thanks to Tanya for her wonderful design.

The Sampler Girl's Teacher Gift
Platinum Cashel
Carrie's Thread and DMC

Awhile back I was on the DMC website and saw a link about the DMC Mentor Program, which offered a packet to be used to teach others to stitch, for free. I sent for it and promptly forgot all about it. Well, it recently arrived - it's got four small kits with a cyclamen design, complete with all the materials (Aida, of course), and a nice little booklet with 9 different charts. I have a 13 year old goddaughter I'm trying to interest in cross stitch, so the first kit will go off to her. These kits would make lovely scissor fobs so I'm hoping I can find others to indoctrinate teach. The shiny little thing on the cover of the packet is a DMC Mentors pin, which has little colored x's on it. I just checked the website and I no longer see a link offering this program, so I wonder if they have discontinued it. I hope not - it's a great idea.

The other day I was looking through some old linens and found something I had stitched probably 20 years ago and had totally forgotten about. I have no idea where the chart is or what it's called, but it looks vaguely Pennsylvania Dutch. I've become such a snob; as soon as I saw it I thought "oh, but it's on Aida!" Still, it was a thrill to find some of my ancient handiwork - I only tried stitching for a short time and never got past the block colors phase. Perhaps it will become a pillow one day.

I am being summoned to play a game on Club Penguin. I'm off to the Polar Ice Caps!

Stitching by Fireworks Light

Tonight while DH and DS were off at a baseball game, I worked on my Teacher Gift and watched the Boston Pops and the fireworks. Taking stitches while trying not to miss the action was a bit tough, but I finished enough to show this:

Only one more line to go, and it's on to the framing! Jennifer gave me a link to a great online frame shop, and I'm sure I'll find something there. I did swap out the Belle Soie silk I was using for some variegated DMC, because I wanted a less solid look to the heart's color. And I was still nervous about the bleeding, though I got some very helpful suggestions about that from Kathy. The silk did discolor the linen somewhat but it's all covered over with the new floss.

I think I'm going to try this month's challenge and make a scissor keep, though I have no idea how to do it. I want to make a simple pocket for my first try. If anyone knows of any tutorials, I would love some links. I had too much trepidation about the tin topper for last month, but now Carol has given me all kinds of wonderful advice, demystifying how to make them, so I'll be working on one of those soon

The guys have returned from the game and fireworks, and DS is begging to stay up until midnight. Oh wait - it is midnight. Time for me to help him turn back into a pumpkin. Good night, and happy 4th of July!