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!!

RIP- Singer Ginger Sewing Machine

12/25-1973 to 10/01/2011 - Thanks mom.

The runner in pictured below in this display is what killed my machine. I was 3 inches from finishing it when it stopped working correctly. I had a little portable machine my sister-in-law gave me for Christmas one year and was able to finish the runner. A recent diagnosis from the repair shop says it would cost $250 to repair and I could get a new machine for that price that did as much and more. So….. the research/hunt is on. Something tells me it will cost MORE than $250, though.

HELP!! My Sewing Machine Died!!!

I have had this machine since the 7th grade. It was a Christmas gift from my mom almost 38 years ago. I was a very good Singer model Ginger that did the basics and a little bit more. I would post a picture, but it is still at the shop where I took it and and found out a gear had broken. A very labor intensive job at $250 - believe it or not the part is still available. It has great sentimental value, but the repairman said for that price I could get a new machine that did the same and more. So, I guess I need to figure out what machine to buy!! YIKES.

I do not know where to begin and thought maybe some of my blog readers could help. I would like a good mid range machine for craft sewing, some quilting and maybe home decor.

TUSAL September

Here is my TUSAL for the September new moon.

I thought I would take a picture of it tilted so you could see the colors better. It has been a mixed bag of summer and Hlloween this time.

Happy Fall Y'all!!

Birthday Surprises - Picture Heavy

Recently one of my sister-in- laws (my husband’s sister) had her 60^th birthday. I sent her 60 items plus one to grow on. A made a few items and I thought I would share them with you.

First here is an overall picture of all 61 items.

I made her a money rose and a spa cloth.

I covered a mini composition book (4.5” by 3.25”) with stiches on white aida and a regular composition book with fabric and stitched her initials on evenweave and sewed it on the fabric.

I made a Swedish weaving bookmark, felt coasters and a pocket tissue holder. By now you may see a trend and purple is her favorite color.

Here is a microwave potato baker.

I thought something that said “It’s a Girl” would be cute (and chocolate never hurts).

I make her a project bag and put the materials and instructions for a crochet project inside (she recently took up crochet).

Here is a sewing kit I made open and closed.

She is a tea drinker so I made her a tea wallet (here it is closed and open).

Here is a close up of the mini notebook again showing the front and the back.

She was very surprised and happy and appreciative of the 61 things and called me right away! She got the one to grow on since I miscounted and ended up collecting 61 things instead of just 60 and I heard no complaints.

Needlework in the News

"Nazis, needlework and my dad" is is a very interesting article that I think you may enjoy. Please check it out.