Brite- Eyes Update

This is a Halloween canvas piece by Margaret Bendig called Brite Eyes. It was the October 2021 EGA Stitch-along. I told you about it on July 16, 2025. I finish-finished it with beads and ribbon and thought I would share. I am still deciding about feet.

BOO!

Brite Eyes

This is a design by Margaret Bendig called Brite Eyes. I plan a trip to Hobby Lobby for some pins, beads, ribbon and items for feet for the finish finishing.

I used glow in the dark DMC floss, but it was not super vibrant, so I added some glow in the dark Kreinik blending filament to it. It called for glow in the dark Kreinik braid for the yellow eyes and green collars on the cats, so lots of glow in the dark!!

Recently, I started a stitching journal of sorts.  So far, I am enjoying it. I can get a rough guide on how long I stitched on a project. So, this one took me about 13 hours and 35 minutes. Now that I know this, no one will ask me how long it took to make!

 HAPPY STITCHING!!

This & That

 I have been busy stitching items to sell at our community Club Expo. It was Nov. 6 and I did quite well selling more than other Expos. Our last Expo was March of 2020 and I think buyers were happy to have then back. 

Quite popular were my Foxwood Crossings sleds :

The Lumenaris wool applique scissor fobs also found good homes. The cat and rooster did not sell, but there is always next time! 

Everything in this photo sold except the golfing Santa. I was a little surprised since we live in a golf community. Again, maybe next sale. The golf is by Hinziet, the Santa's are from 2000 & 2001 Just Cross Stich Christmas Ornament issues both by The Sweetheart Tree. The southwest design is a section of a bell pull kit that I can't find the chart for right now, but I bought it in the late 1990s.

Not expo related is this fun Halloween card I made with a pop up inside.

That about covers it for now!!

A Halloween Finish, Finish

 I was going through my finishing supplies and found a 6 inch finishing form. Wondering what I could use it for, I went into my box of finished, unfinished items. Those are projects for which the stitching has been completed, but they have not been finished into anything (framed, pillow, bell pull, etc.).

I found this piece called Hey Diddle, Diddle, which I completed in 2010! It is from the Sept/Oct. 2003 issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine and had a companion piece in the Nov/Dec issue of a reindeer hopping over a Christmas tree.

More information in this post from the past.

Here is the back:

It just shows it is never too late to finish, finish something!!

A Halloween Finish!

I last told you about Boo! Club on a post here as part of my Taming the Stash Monster Course.

Well, last night I finished it and now I guess it is a FUPPY! Which is a Finished Unfinished Project. Ways to reduce these are also discussed in the course and I hope to finish finish this into a wall hanging before Halloween 2019.  Stay tuned!!

Boo! Club by LizzieKate (C) 2009

It consists of six double flips stitched as one piece. Instructions on how to make it into a banner  with a specific border was provided on LizzieKate's web site and you can click on it here to get the instructions.

It uses Double Flip #'s F82 -F87 and each flip it came with a pair of tiny white and black buttons for each section of the Double Flips. It uses overdyes and a small bit of a DMC floss. It is on 32 Count Belfast linen. Individual Double Flips were done on 30 ct, but that would probably make the banner very long. On 32 count the design area is 5" x 21"

That is about all for now!!   Happy Stitching.

TAMING THE STASH MONSTER

Is a Group Correspondence Course (GCC) by Laura Smith, that I am doing though my Rocky Mountain Region. I am over half way through this course and it has been a bit of an eye opener at times. But it will help me reduce my inventory and I think I will use if for my other crafts - primarily Paper Crafts. Which I blog about at Plays With Stamps and Ink

Given the nature of this course there are not any photos I can take on my progress. But!! You can go to my eBay site to see what I am getting rid of!!

One activity did have us choose a project from our stash to work on at meetings and in the evenings, so I guess I can show you a photo of that.

I chose Boo! Club by Lizzie n Kate

It consists of  6 of her Double Flips that are all Halloween subjects and can be done individually or she gave instructions on how to make it one long band type sampler - which is how I am doing it.

There are 12 total bands and a decorative border and bottom edge. I am doing the borders as I go and so far I have completed the following bands:

Spooky

treats

black cat

Spiders

eek!

creepy

pumpkin

fright

brew

and I am working on monster. This will be followed by ghost and then Halloween, the rest of the border including a decorative bottom border.

Each band has little white or black buttons which I will add last. The monster sure could use its eyes about now though!!!

I believe the last time I posted about this was in this photo heavy post and I was working on black cat.

I think that brings you up to date and thanks for hanging in with me while I figure out this new retirement life - keeps me busier and away from the computer more than I thought it would!!

Display Case Plus a Little of this and a Little of That

I have been doing a little bit of this and that lately.

 First is a card I made for a beader who is moving away. :(

I finished the stitching on this in 2014, but just now finish finished it into a flat fold. The hat fabric is what I used for the finishing. I hunted through all my stuff and can't find any information on the designer, I will keep looking and do an update - unless someone knows and can tell us in the comments. I think Lizzie n Kate, but not sure.

I have a fair number of "smalls" that I had in a bookcase with glass doors, but we did not move it with us to Arizona, so I had to figure out something else. Well this is it! The first photo shows two of the display cases on a bookshelf and there is room for one more. They open from the top and you can see the clasp to "unlock" and open the case. It has two dividers and it is meant to be hung on the wall. Basically what I am using as dividers is meant to be a shelf. I removed the saw tooth hanger from the back so not to scratch the shelf.

 Below are photos of each case with my small items in them. All items were made by me except the mailing envelope in the lower right of the bottom box. I lined all the wood with acid free material so that none of my textiles is touching wood.

I got the cases at Michael's a couple of days ago with their buy one get one free sale. It is called Studio Decor display case and they are 8.625 inches by 5.125 inches on the inside (according to the label). I almost did not see them on the bottom shelf in the store with all the other shadow boxes.

I got in the beading bug and finished a couple of items I have had since I lived in North Carolina and we moved in 2007!!

I must apologize for this one's orientation, I keep rotating it and saving it, but it will not sit up straight!! It is called Peyote Pendant for Donut with Netted Rope and is designed by That Bead Lady at  (www.thatbeadlady.com). 

Finally this a kit I bought and is a Red White and Blue version of a project in the August 2000 Bead and Button magazine called Abstract art pendant by Beth Stone. It uses different sized beads and combines peyote and brick stitch in places and was quite fun to make. I may make a beaded necklace to hang it from, but for now this rat tail cord works.

I think that about covers it for now!!

Where to begin??

It has been a busy summer, with ups and downs. My father in law passed away at 93, but we moved here in time to share three nice months with him. We miss him, but know he is in a better place. 

I did get some needlework etc., done, during this time. First is Witchy Poo designed by amy bruecken Designs and adapted for canvas by the late Caela Tyler. The canvas is a lavender that I just can't get to photograph well. This was a fun project.

I played with paper crafts and made this birthday cake card for one of my sister-in-laws, It is a pop up card that designed myself.

I am trying to reduce my stash and working on projects I have had around for a while. This is an EGA Petite Project from 2007 called Square Stitch Beaded Halloween Bracelet designed by Bonnie Marshall. The finished size is 6 1/8 inch with out the clasp, so I had to add a few extra rows at each end to make it 7 1/2" without clasp.

  Our Twisted Cereus went nuts with blooms one night! It turned out 12 total overall, each about 6 inches in diameter!

Finally, I found this little gem (?) at Tuesday Morning this afternoon. It is supposed to make twisted cord. I have not tried it yet, but the instructions seem easy and provide the number of strands and lengths need to make up to an approximate 18" cord (as long as you "turn the gear properly").

When I play with it I will report back, or if you have used it you can comment about it.

That about covers it for now, other than to say I have joined the ANG and EGA guilds in my new area and look forward to sharing some fun projects with you!

Halloween Stitching

My latest Halloween finish. Now to figure out how to finish finish it !! It is called Shades of Halloween (c) 2014 by Sweetheart Tree. I used 28ct Cinnamon stick Jazlyn by Zweigart. Original used a bright orange linen, but I had the cinnamon stick in my stash. It was a fun stitch but warning there are quite a few 1/4 stitches! It is approx. 5.5 inches square.

 

What to do next....?

 

Posted with Blogsy

Foothills EGA

Foothills EGA is working on Halloween stitching! This month we started our Stitchy Witchy Hats! A fun project with coordinating backing fabric. Then next month we will be making a beaded bracelet, a project called, Ruf, Ruf, Ruffles, it looks like a lot of fun too.

I love my Foothills group, they are such a friendly bunch of ladies and have a nice variety of projects throughout the year! If you are ever in the Denver area the first Monday of the month (the Sept day changes) you should stop in for a visit, I think you will enjoy it!!

Miss Maddie wth her "cheese please" face!

Halloween Finish for Valentine's Day!

I actually finished the stitching of this in time for Halloween 2014, but never got the two bat buttons until last week!

It is called Stitcher's Brew #157 by Little River.

Entire Piece

Top 

Bottom

I used the fabric (28 ct "Carnival" Cashel "Colorscapes Hand-Dyed Fabric" from Picture this plus) and Weeks Dye Works & Needle Necessities (now Threadworx) threads called for in the pattern. It is approx. 7 inches wide and 15 3/4 inches tall. It includes a needle and two Another Button Company Bat Buttons.

I am not sure how I will finish finish it. Probably not a frame since it is not something I would hang on the wall all year or have a temporary place big enough to show it off during October. I may do a wall hanging which seems easier to display. Not sure.

I must tell you I have a goof in it. I miss read the thread to use for the top line - Stitcher's Brew and figured it out when I got to the W. It is supposed to be orange like the pumpkin, but I thought this color worked too rather than rip it all out!

Happy Stitching!!

Death By Candy Corn

In my last post I asked for comments to help me pick out fabric to use on a piece, and here is the result:

Off it will go tomorrow with a package of candy corn and it will be a surprise, out of the blue gift for my mother in law.

Happy Day All!!

Autumn Stitching

I have been having computer problems and so not posting much. But have it a tad figured out, so hope to post more often.

For my birthday this month, I took the day off and had lunch with a friend. An annual tradition I started a few years back. This year not as many friends could make it, but I had a wonderful time chatting with Gloria, by stitching friend who could make it. I think I need to send my invite sooner next year.

At any rate, after lunch I ALWAYS visit my LNS since they have a birthday discount. Anytime is a great time to go to Fanci Mats and More, but birthday is a must.

I bought this cute chart - September Rooster by Nikyscreations (c). Part of the Monthly Animal Series. Not sure of the year. It was perfect since I collect roosters and Sept. is my birth month!! I stitched from stash, so the beak, legs, and flower color had to be changed. The color suggested was too light a color for my stash fabric. I chose a darker version of the color family. The rooster color was too close to the fabric, but since it was surrounded by darker floss it did not matter. I added my initials and date and finished it a couple nights ago. Woo hoo same month finish!

I also have been working on this cute Halloween piece for my mother in law. She loves candy corn and does not have a computer, so I am safe showing it here. I did not stitch it exactly as charted. The section on the top also goes along the bottom, but I wanted to get finished in time to send off in the mail so she can show it off during October. YIPES, that is TOMORROW!


I used fabric from my stash, so it is not quite the color or size suggested by the designer, but the floss colors are the same. It is called Death By Candy Corn by The Scarlett House (c)2011.

So.... I decided to sew a strip of fabric below the stitching, but can't decide which one to use, so I am asking you.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT ON WHAT FABRIC YOU LIKE BEST.      THANKS!!

Playing at Making Greeting Cards

Today I played around in my studio and made a few greeting cards. Two each for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Thought I'd share with you all.

I cut a scallop circle out of nice white paper and glued it inside the black card at right so there would be a place to write!  I also used some "glossy accents" around the orange scallop for this card. I am not sure I like how that came out. For the other three I cut out the card base from 8.5"x 11" off white paper (to get two cards out of a sheet).

That is about all, since I am still off work, I will be going to the day meeting of my Foothills EGA. Hubby, who retired on Oct. 1, (not the best timing considering, but it was of the mandatory type retirement) has zero plans for tomorrow will "hold down the fort" while I am gone. Miss Maddie is going to love, love that! Then I may run some errands, not sure.

This furlough stuff is giving me an idea what retirement might be like and I LIKE it!!!! Not counting the lack of money part. Well, my retirement day will come, I will just have to hang in there.

Happy Stitching All!!!

Halloween Dog

I remembered I had this little black witch's hat and wondered if Miss Maddie would wear it. Well she did! She was such a little trooper and did not complain or try and get it off all night. Our first lab would have pawed if off right away. I gave here a couple of baby carrots as her treat for the evening.

You may notice she has her best friend duck with her!

Always safest to trick or treat in pairs you know ;)

Halloween Display

Here is my Halloween display on our front table (with a little Fall still thrown in).

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Halloween Fun Thanks to WonderStrange Arts

I saw this cute felt candy corn devil doll and decided I had to have one!!. I did not have the felt on hand as suggested, but I did have the correct colors of fabric. So....

I sewed some strips of fabric together to get the candy corn pattern. Using the pattern from the link above I cut the horns and tail out of stiff red felt and the eyes and mouth out of regular black felt. I sewed the eyes and mouth on and then using the pattern from the above link as a size guide I sewed my two candy corn fabrics together, putting the horns and tail in so they would stick out correctly. Although, I must admit I meant to have the tail go up, but it is kind of cute the way it is, so it is staying! Also included on the pattern are parts to make a candy corn angel.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Frank-N-Stein For Us this time!

I re-stitched the Frank-N-Stein that I did for my brother and his family for us and here it is. I had to guess on the fabric count (it was not listed in the instructions) and convert some colors since the kit was for one, but I did buy the stein button when I bought the kit so I was set there. I think it may be a tad larger than the one I sent my brother, so the fabric count is probably off, but we like it! I used the same fabric for backing and ribbon in the finishing of this one as the one for my brother.

In this picture you can see the spider web ribbon I used to keep the flat fold parts from separating. I really like this type of finish and I meant to do you a tutorial - but I got too excited about finish finishing!! Not to worry though because Vonna - The Twisted Stitcher has a great tutorial on her site. I will say I used another source for making these Frank-N-Stein Flat Folds, but I think Vonna's instructions are GREAT too and used a bit less fabric, so I may try her instructions next time.

Not sure why blogger will not post this correctly. The original is upright not sideways any ideas?

So, I am sorry you all must turn your head, but it really is not that much different than the one I sent my brother, so if you go to the link above you can see it upright! This picture just lets you see the spider web ribbon (and I remembered to initial and date this one, but not the one to my brother - oops).

Frank is leaning on one of the few things I have knit in my life - it is one of two fall colored placemats I made in 1982!

Flat Fold Frank-N-Stein

I finish finished this ornament that I made for my brother. Our maternal grandmother was of German ancestry and I thought this was perfect for him (and I plan to make on for me too). I mailed it to him this week and once he told me he had received it I could now safely post about it.

It is pictured on the fabric I used for the backing and flat fold stuff and I had some cute spider web ribbon that I used for the bottom part that holds the two pieces together when opened which does not show in the photo.

Frank -n-Stein by
Raise the Roof
a limited edition kit - 2008
Stitched using fabric and floss in kit.



More Halloween Stitching

This month have been busy stitching this cute The Sweetheart Tree project. I is about 6.5”x 7.5” finished and kind of big for a hanging ornament, but I plan to put it in the side window of our front door (unless I find out too much sun is hitting the window). It is shown on the fabric I used as backing.

The Sweetheart Tree's
"Trick or Treat"
Designed by Sandra Cox Vanosdall (c) 2005

Stitched using provided fabric and DMC floss

Next I am posting two photos that I think show how outlining really brings out the details. At top is partially outlined and then at the bottom is fully outlined.

Below fully outlined - everything pops!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!