Mystery Birdie and a Dyeing Fail

I pulled a couple of finishes out of that box and started preparing them for final finishing. I got the first of those finished last night watching floss tube.

I then thought, when did I stitch this? I searched my blog the last seven years and I guess I never posted about stitching it! It's a mystery birdie!

Design - Button Up Birdie #1

Designer - Victoria Sampler

Fabric - 32 count tea dyed Lugana

Fiber - DMC

Such a handsome fellow! He turned out very sweet! I really wanted some red chenille to trim him with. 

How to clean up after the murder.

Oh wait, that's not blood! Last night I poured a little scarlet dye in the sink and tossed in salt and a yard or so of chenille. 

But when I washed out the dye and dried it the chenille was coral not red. I settled on making cording out of the 321 and trimmed Mr. Birdie with that instead. Now if I hadn't washed the dye out so thoroughly it would have been the correct red but I don't like the chance of it staining my projects.

Well, that is one down from my giant box of UFFOs. What can I come up with next?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Wee Sheep

Ever since I stitched the group of five "stacked" sheep on Les Moutons I kept admiring that bottom sheep. Wouldn't that make a cute ornament? He wouldn't leave me alone!

He begged to be made...

I found some Daffycat Dyed 28 count Monaco and stitched him quick. The blue star fabric is the backing but it sucked the color out of the Monaco in the photos.

The actual color is very rich, like this. I trimmed it out in Daffycat Dyed chenille and a festive red bow. Maybe not typical Christmas colors but I liked it! Vonna has an excellent video tutorial how to make this type ornament here: Pillow Christmas Ornament

Yes, yes..I know I have a box FULL of stuff waiting to be finished! I have a couple of those pieces in process already, I promise!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

In the Loop

I've written about Caroline before, and her great blog and YouTube channel. The other day she began a video series to teach another blog friend how to knit, inviting us all along. I was game! I love learning new things...a trait fostered by my Grandma Val. She visited a couple times a year when I was growing up and she always brought some new craft to teach me. I have fond memories of basket making, crochet, different Christmas ornaments...all kinds of crafty endeavors!

So learning to knit is right up my alley! In her first video, Caroline gave us a supply list and I had no problem finding the needed yarn and needles. Thanks, to Pixie at David's Yarn in Edmond, OK!

Now, I know one way to "cast on."

I also learned how to do the knit stitch! My tension is terrible but better than the first twenty times I knitted this swatch! Practise, practise. 

Ha! Just what I need, another hobby, right? I may never progress to more than dishcloths but I'm having fun learning. Want to join in?

Thank you for visiting my blog today! 

xox

Totally Useless February

Shine up those ORT jars people, it's the New Moon and our Totally Useless Stitch A Long is in full swing! I have added lots of little threads (so much white!) to my stitching jar and mojo is still running strong on Les Moutons:

My sewing ORTs are interesting from sewing those bowls cozies:

I love the bright colors in this Fresh Market layer cake. There are also some trimmings from ornament finishing. Remember that big box of finishing to do?  I'll try to share that business soon.

Here's a detail of the group of four sheepies. The bottom sheep is so fluffy only his toe-tips peek out. The top sheep reminds me of a setting hen, all fluffed out to nestle chicks!  Gosh, they're too cute! Hey, this means there are only a lucky 13 sheep left to stitch! I've a tiny start on group six as you can see in the TUSAL photo.

=^..^=

Now it is YOUR turn...we want to see your ORTs! Leave a comment on this post with a link to your February TUSAL post so we can come visit! If I hold a Totally Useless giveaway your comment will earn you an extra entry.

Wondering what a TUSAL is and why all these people are posting pictures of rubbish? Click here to learn more and join the fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Easy Shopping List

I've posted before how I precut my DMC into 8 equal lengths, slip them back into their numbered band and into a bag. When I get to the end of a skein I toss that numbered band into my frog jar and save it. The little short band gets tossed into a giant jar and saved, aren't they pretty? I've always had an idea to one day put these into a clear glass lamp for my studio.

Once I get a lot of the numbered bands saved I will get them out and write down the numbers and go shopping! This way I can replace the floss I've used and I don't miss out on sales because I haven't looked to see which colors I need.

This photo is a bit dark to reduce glare. You can see I have one unopened skein of DMC 160 and one precut skein. I tuck an index card in the bag so it will stand up in my cabinet and it's easier to see the floss. The bags are "Bag-It" by Westex, not Floss-A-Way's. I don't like those because they are covered in red lettering and I like being able to see my floss.

Everyone will be curious! How you do your floss and how you keep track of replacement colors? 

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox 

And They Were Swinging!

I have been sitting on this photo all week, don't know why I haven't posted it. Three more sheep swinging in the garden. I somehow added a row in the third sheep so he's extra fat!

I finally got around to getting red pompom trim for my Grinchy ornament. This freebie is still available here.

I'm working on the set of four sheep now, and they are nearly finished. I had to go get more B5200 floss as I've gone through nearly 2 skeins since I picked this back up. These sheep are deceptively fluffy! A couple of the sheep are stitched in oatmeal GAST, I guess for a bit of variety? Once four are done, I'll just have six and seven. Closer to a finish!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

I Shouldn't Be Stitching!

I shouldn't be stitching! I should be finishing! I've been bringing up some cross stitch things from storage in the basement. Things like fabric and finishing stuff and patterns. Things I used to have to trek downstairs for so rarely ever bothered. Then I came across my pile of things needing finishing. Oooo, what a guilty secret I had hidden away!

Whoa! I brought it all upstairs and gave it it's own box. Finish after finish ~ just waiting to be finished! A rough count gave me more than 60 objects, probably closer to 70!

There's Halloween, Christmas, Spring, Autumn, Fourth of July, big stuff, tiny things and even some daffy cats. I've been an awesome stitcher but a lousy finisher! Maybe having the box waiting here, staring at me will help? Let's find out!

Are you quick to get things finish-finished? Or do you have a pile of UNfinished-finishes? Tell me about them! Better yet, post about it on your own blog and give us the link in the comments!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Lambing Season

Now, I don't know anything about real sheep but at my house it must be already lambing season because a lot of them have sure popped up! I turned that top corner so you can see how big it will turn out. It's just under 13 inches square. 

Les Moutons is coming along at a good clip! See the silly one kicking out his back hoof on top of the stack of five? HaHaHaHa! I'm enjoying this stitch immensely. 

I've also started making bowl cozies out of that Fresh Market layer cake. I told you I had plans! Jake powers right through all those layers of cotton like it was piecing.

The bad thing about making these is all the batting fluff does a number on my eyes! Itchy and dry, my eyes are red before I finish even one cozy. I'm not allergic to batting, it's just a debris irritant. Eye drops are my 2nd best friend! I will have to give Jake (my #1 best friend) a good cleaning/oiling during and after making these linty cuties. 

Oh dear, I've been watching floss tube. As if I didn't already follow like, 500 some-odd blogs already, now I'm adding video blogs to my enablers. If you aren't aware of floss tube (or flosstube) go on YouTube and type that keyword into the search box. Be careful. Just saying. I enjoy the concept but it is a lot more time consuming than reading blogs! It does give me something to watch/listen to while stitching. I especially enjoy the tutorial ones - I love learning new stuff. Do you watch floss tube?  Are you a floss tuber? 

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox