Our 2016 Ornament

When I posted the blasts from Christmas past, I realized I did not have an ornament for our tree this year!!

 So I designed, stitched and finished this little guy, (it is 3" by 3.5") which fits perfectly into our new life here in the Valley of the Sun! It is a Sun City Stitcher exclusive.

Happy Stitching!!!

Some Blasts From Christmas Past

Since I am stitching for current Christmas gifts and can't post any photos, I thought I would post some of my favorites from the past.

A Shepherds Bush from the 2000 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue. It won an Honorable Mention in the 2001 North Carolina State Fair (I think it could have done better, but I was a novice at finishing and had a bid of trouble).

2009 ANG or EGA project, designed by one of our members.

A netted ornament from a class I took in 1999.

This angel I made in 1994 and it won a third place ribbon in the L.A. County Fair.

Miss Maddie in 2009 with her new toy.

This from Issue 39 of Jill Oxton's Cross Stitch magazine (1999). The legs and arms move up and down when a string is pulled. It won a third place ribbon in the 2001 North Carolina State Fair.

This is also from the 2000 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue. I made two that year, one for my brother's family and one for us. It was fun to stitch.

I made this in 2009 for my friend, Sandra. Sorry I do not know the design or designer.

These two Santa I made in 2005 or 2006. I have looked high and low for designer information and can't find it. I want to say it is through Rainbow Gallery, but I am not sure.

These are just a few of my favorites that I have made. 

At this point I realize I have not made our 2016 ornament!! Yikes, I best get stitching!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I may post other of my ornaments later and maybe do a post on ornaments I have gotten from friends and exchanges. I have them on their own metal ornament tree.

Beaded Bracelet

I took out some time in my week last week to attend a class offered by my local bead group and finished this very southwest looking bracelet on Nov. 30, 2016.

It was fun to make and includes two holed tiles and super duos. I have never used two holed beads before (and I do not mean a hole on each end as two holes - it has two holes on each end of the bead).

I have worn if a few times and got some nice compliments. I may make another in a different color.

I think that covers it for now, I am doing some Christmas gift stitching and can't post any of those items until after the 25th, so stand (you may also sit) by!

Sad Day

Today we had to put our chocolate lab Miss Maddie to sleep. Wednesday night she was no longer able to fully use her right leg and today her left paw would twist inward when she tried to walk. But she showed no sign of pain. Today was the first appointment we could get to see the veterinarian and she suspected degenerative nerve damage due to Maddie's age (she turned 12 this past Oct. 25) and the posturing of her paws. They offered us pain reduction regime, but also said the nerve damage is not curable and would only get worse.  So we made that hard decision.

I was afraid this might happen so before we left the house I cut up  some cheddar cheese for her (her favorite) and the vet tech checked to see what they had in the lunch room, because why not spoil her now? The refrigerator had been cleaned out, so all she could find was some whipped cream! A first time for Maddie and she thought it was GREAT, cleaning the plate! They also made a paw imprint in some plaster like stuff  that takes 48 hours to cure which is in a nice display box with the Rainbow Bridge Poem and place for her photo.

We stayed with her and I gave her ear rubs, belly rubs and gentle petting as she went to sleep. It was hard, but she had not been able to move around and was not able to do all the fun lab things she did before, even simple things like rolling over for belly rubs, patrolling her yard, greeting visitors, etc.

This is one of my favorite photos of her, she is very perky because I have a piece of cheese in one hand. If you look closely you can see a little bit of anticipatory drool on her right whiskers! I call it "Cheese Please"

Miss Maddie

10/25/2004 - 11/26/2016

Rescued by us 7/5/2008

UPDATE on Autumn Sewing

Now that it has cooled down here a bit, we were able to do some work on boxes in the garage and storeroom. I found some of my fall decor which included two stuffed pumpkins. The smaller one fits great in the center of my folded wreath so I think I will go with this look instead of a candle.

I still want to get some pumpkin buttons for where the tips meet.

That is all for now!

Autumn Sewing

I took a class given by my quilt group and made a pretty fall decoration - it could be any combination of colors, but I wanted fall since my Thanksgiving decor is limited. It was TONS of fun to make.

I started with three fabrics

I sewed them into these 12 squares.

I then sewed the squares together to form a circle. 

I then sewed the top points together and wa -la! 

A Folded Wreath!

I may sew some pumpkin buttons where the tips join, not sure yet.

I plan to find an LED tall candle for the center as soon as I get to town to shop!

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!!