Happy Meowloween!

For more fun kitty photos click here.

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

All Blogged Out

I visited your blog today! In fact, I spent all day visiting EVERY single blog in my reader...over 600 blogs. I added them one by one into my bloglist in the sidebar. Once again, would you please check to make sure your blog is there? I also weeded out those blogs that haven't been updated in months or that no longer exist or those that have disabled their feeds. That brought me down to a grand total of 510 blogs. You will notice that some of the blogs in my list are still linking to the feed page. They were NOT doing that when I only had 50 to 100 in the list. Once I got quite a few in there they started turning/changing that way. My guess is that Bloggers list can't handle so many blogs at a time so maybe it drops those that haven't been updated recently? I don't know. I am hoping for a fix from Blogger one of these days, but I'm not holding my breath.

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Ouchie. My hand aches from mouse-clicking.

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Which Witch?

MY witch, of course! I won day 22 of Missy Ann & Annette's 31 Days of Halloween giveaway! The prize from Missy Ann arrived today. I got the ugliest witch ever made...she is beautifully stitched and finished but holy crows, is she ever a crone! It's a lovely tin filled with candy corn, a creepy spider thread winder, beautiful handmade pins and a bag of trick-or-treat candy. I love it all. Thank you Missy Ann!

A big thank you to Missy Ann and Annette for such a wonderful month-long adventure. The prizes are over-the-top and I've had loads of fun. There are only a couple of days left of the 31...so hurry on over to enter!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Who likes pie?

I like pie! Pumpkin, pecan, chocolate. I'm not as fond of fruit pies but I'll still eat 'em. Of all though, I think pumpkin is my favorite. I took a Lizzie*Kate design and used two of the squares in it to make up a tiny little fob. Just the right size for these pretty silver scissors.

One side is pumpkin...

...and the other side is pie! Is this cute or what?

Design ~ November Flip It #F32

Designer ~ Lizzie*Kate

Fabric ~ 28 count scrap

Fiber ~ DMC

Finish ~ Scissor fob

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This wee fob is on it's RAK way to someone soon! Could it be you? What is RAK, you ask? An RAK is a Random Act of Kindness...a little gift sent in surprise to brighten someones day. Of course ~ I can only send an RAK to someone if I already have their address. It HAS to be a surprise! If you don't think I have YOUR address maybe you'd better email me. *hint hint*

This RAK went to Valerie at

Fog City Dweller!

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I'm still having trouble with the blogs in my sidebar linking to feeds instead of the actual blog. Google's Blogger Help Forum SUCKS. I cannot figure out what is wrong. No one else seems to have the problem. I may have to just delete the whole freakin' thing and add my blogs into a link list. I have well over 600 blogs in my reader so that is going to take a while! Daunting task. So don't panic if my Blog List disappears and suddenly you aren't listed in whatever I decide to use. I will get to you!

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Reindeer finish

I've been doing a bit of finishing here and there. My Holly Reindeer looks quite spiffy made up as a pillow ornament, doesn't she? I used the red swirl fabric for the back and stuffed lightly with fibrefill. Aren't those swirls perfect for antlers like that? A rustic bow of jute made the hanger.

Design ~ Holly Reindeer

Designer ~ Me! Daffycat Designs

Fabric ~ 28 count tea-dyed scrap

Fiber ~ DMC

My Uncle Jack was down this month visiting from Nova Scotia. We were able to go out for a late lunch with him and my parents. Holly Reindeer went home with my uncle. I received a nice thank you note from my Aunt Ruth in return!

This design is still available as a freebie. See this post here. Or click on the cat in my sidebar to see the rest of my free designs.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Magnetic Needleminder Tutorial

So many of you have asked how I make the needleminders I decided to try and make up a tutorial to show you how. If you have any questions feel free to email me, I am always happy to help out!

First, gather supplies. You will need:
1. A stitched piece, about an inch in size.
2. Backing fabric that compliments.
3. Fusible interfacing for light to medium weight fabric.
4. Craft magnets. I get mine from Hobby Lobby. They look sort of like watch batteries.
5. Metal finishing form ~ two pieces, 1.5 inch size. I get mine from The Silver Needle.
6. Thick white glue that dries clear and is fabric safe. I use Aleene's Tacky Glue.
7. Sewing thread and needle.

First, wash your fabrics and iron dry. Then, iron on the interfacing following the manufacturers instructions. Please, pay attention to ironing on the interfacing. I embarrassed to admit I have ironed it on to the front side of my stitching...or adhered it to the ironing cloth instead of the fabric...or scorched it black.

Now, cut your fabric pieces into circles. I have a juice glass that fits these perfectly and I can see through it to see if I'm centered. The circles should be about 2.5 inches.

Here are my circles, finishing forms and magnets.

On each of your fabric circles make a loose running stitch (use regular sewing thread) starting from the front and ending at the front. You don't have to be perfect either! I usually use a thread close to the color of my fabric but I've used black here so you could easily see it. I'm almost done here...see the big knot? You need to be able to pull the ends tight to draw up the circle so use a big knot that's easy to grab. End close to your knot and leave a long tail...

Here, I have started drawing in on the thread. Get it cupped and then insert your form. and draw it in tight. Careful! Not too tight or you might break your thread or tear through your fabric! This is why you use interfacing...it gives the fabric a little more strength.

I've finished the backing side. Here is the front side with the magnet. I use a little drop of glue on the magnet (to keep it from moving around) but it does stick to the form by itself.

Finish drawing in your threads, pull gently until it's good & tight. Check the front to make sure it's centered. You can gently slide the fabric around on the form until you have it centered nicely. Then tie the ends of the threads together to hold tight.

Now, using a tooth pick, spread white glue over both pieces, being careful to get close to the edges but not getting the glue onto the areas that will be visible. Once your glue is on, place the backs together and squeeze them gently, make sure to get the edges even. The magnet will tend to hold them too. I don't bother...but you can place the needleminder under a book until the glue dries.

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The finished needleminder! Was that easy or what?

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Hidden Giveaway

No one knew it but my Spooky Cats post was a hidden giveaway! That's right...everyone that commented on that post was secretly entered to win the Spooky Cat scissor fob and needleminder set. This was only a little "thank you" for commenting on my blog. I'm always astonished how many comments I get on posts and by how many followers I've attracted, so I wanted to give a little something back. Oh yeah, you wanna know who won, right? The winner is Bekca of The Stitching Lion. Congratulations, Bekca! If you could email me with your mailing address I will get the package sent soon! My email is in my profile. Thank you all for your comments and your encouragement. I am truly a fortunate blogger.

I'm working on another little pumpkin for the Great Pumpkin Challenge. This is from Lizzie*Kate's November blocks. Just a little quickie stitch to keep myself busy.

Some of you eagle-eyes out there will have noticed the Blogroll in my sidebar is different. Blogrolling announced it was shutting down as of November first. Sad, I've used the Blogrolling for my blog list since I started my blog. I went ahead and changed my list to Blogger's version and put in those blogs I'm following and imported from Google Reader. However...my old Blogroll had around 650 blogs and the new list only has around 450. Some are missing! *Gasp* This is terrible! If your blog is missing from my list let me know ASAP! And does anyone know why some of my blogs are listed as an Internet Explorer feed? WTF? Grrr, I hate change.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

October Curls

Can you believe I finished my October Snapper Year already? I'm thinking this design was the whole reason for stitching this project! I love this silly pumpkin. Ooo ~ this counts as a pumpkin challenge finish too, doesn't it? This one had nearly every color changed from the recommended ones. I enjoyed stitching it a lot...it was so easy and quick. Now, I have three whole weeks of stitching whatever I feel like before I can start the November block. It's hard to believe I finished so early. Remember when I stitched May's block early then had to frog the whole thing? Yay, this block is in the correct place!

Today is the New Moon! That means it's time for a Totally Useless update. My ORT jar is plum full. See all that orange thread from stitching pumpkins? Autumn colors are the best! Join us for the Totally Useless Stitch a Long...grab an empty jar, save your ORTs and post a picture on your blog on the New Moon.

It was back to work for me today. Blech! But not too bad ~ it's almost the weekend already, right? Oh, what I wouldn't give to be a lady of leisure with nothing to do but stitch and stash...

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Spooky Cats

Two more finishes for the Great Pumpkin Challenge! I stitched one spooky cat and pumpkin over-one and finished into a magnetic needleminder, then another over-two and finished into a fob to match. I love how they turned out.

Design ~ Spooky Cat

Designer ~ Heart in Hand

Fabric ~ 28 count Jobelan, tea dyed

Fiber ~ DMC

Just couldn't decide which photo to use...

This post was a hidden giveaway!

The winner was announced on this post.

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I'm making the most of my time off work. The house is squeaky clean. Two finishes have been completed. October's Snapper Year is started. Netflix movies are being watched. Stash is being sorted and organized, somewhat...lol. Stuff keeps appearing in my cart at 123Stitch. I'm having the time of my life!

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Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox