October Mini Mega Madness II

If you recall I joined a challenge for October, Mini's! While I haven't gotten much stitching done, it was on a mini! Go check everyone out on Pull the Other Thread's blog.

Here she is:

Wee One - Pumpkins - Heart in Hand

Wee One - Pumpkins - Heart in Hand

I am using the recommended threads, but it's turning out a lot darker than the model picture. I did wonder that when I was looking at the threads when they arrived in the mail. I'm not upset, just surprised. I like it. I think it will get made into a mini pillow as well when I am finished. I'm hoping to finish it up by next week.

I haven't been able to do much stitching lately because my left hand has been hurting. I think it's a combination of typing at work all day and holding a hoop. I am really considering buying a Lowery stand. Or a Needlework System 4. Or a Needle Needs frame. I think I'm leaning towards the Lowery because of the three it takes up the least amount of space. Do any of you readers use any of these? I did order some crafting compression gloves as well so I am going to try that first. Much cheaper at only $12. Fingers crossed it will solve the problem.

I did manage to stuff my Lizzie Kate finish that I showed last week:

It still needs a good pressing to get out the lumps. Next time I have the iron on I'll do that as well.

I posed it with my very own blown glass pumpkin! My husband and I took a 2 hour glass blowing glass back in 2012 and we each made 2 pumpkins (this one is actually my husbands'). I love taking them out every year and thinking about how much fun we had. My husband actually bought us a glass blown Christmas ornament making class for my birthday (which is later this month)! I can't wait to go, but I'll be waiting until December when it's offered.

While out at TJMax I found this little guy and I had to have him. I haven't found a place to keep him yet, but he is so cute!

That's all for now, hope everyone is doing well! How is everyone else coming along with their Mini stitching?!

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Halloween Madness

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful October 1st. The Halloween season is fast approaching (though I've had my Halloween decor up for a few weeks now) I did reach my goal of finishing Happy Halloween before today!

Happy Halloween - Silver Creek Samplers - JSC Halloween 2013

I finished all the stitching! I also "signed it" after I took this picture (in the bottom right corner, DNA 2014 in the same color as the N). Now I have to decide how to finish it. I was originally thinking a flat fold like the one further down in this post, but I don't know if I could do it justice. Then I was thinking about framing it, but it's 6 x 7 inches. So while I could put it in an 8 x 10 frame, I would want a mat too and I don't think that's enough room. Dilemma! Let me know what you would do in the comments!

My super awesome friend (Kathleen, no blog) came over last night for a crafty night! She is working on a baby blanket that she is crocheting and then doing cross stitch on! It's actually super cool and I had never thought about doing that! We might make this a weekly or bi-weekly thing! Which would be super cool.  We would both be motivating each other.

I was able to get a lot done on my finishing. Keep in mind that both of these are only partially finished. The Jolly Jack needs cording around the edges to make it look neater (I'm thinking of making some in orange colors) and the pillow needs stuffing. 

Jolly Jack

Lizzie Kate - Flip It Halloween

I'm not totally pleased with the A frame flat fold, but for my first time I think it was pretty good. And I had to sew the ric-rak on by hand for the pillow and I think it turned out super well! Once I have both totally finished I'll probably share them again. They are both so cute. I'm so excited to actually finish-finish things! I don't have a big drawer filled with unfinished but totally stitched things. I do have a drawer with unfinished cross stitching though. Everyone does. Right?!

I also bought some more Weeks Dye Works thread for some additional small patterns in the Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2013 magazine. And a pattern just fell into my cart. I have no idea how that happened! The pattern called for some Just Another Button Company buttons so I bought two in case I decided to make it twice, once for myself and once for my MIL. We'll see.

123stitch.com order

Oh for my Ocober Mini Madness I think I'm going to work on those various Halloween pattersns I mentioned earlier. :) I don't know if my finishing of that Lizzie Kate counted, but yeah, I'm ready!!!

How are you coming along with your Halloween stitching (if you do any)? And what are you thoughts on finishing my Happy Halloween? Let me know in the comments!

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Mega Madness!

I joined an October "challenge" hosted over at Pull the Other Thread. The goal is to work on some mini's. Rule 1: You must post on your mini progress once a week in the month of October. It doesn't matter what day so long as you have 5 posts by the end of the month. I think I can handle that. I post on a weekly basis (Wednesdays), and this will hopefully get me caught up with some ornaments. 

The following are some options I think:

- Back to my biscornu (front is below)
- Little House Needleworks ornament(s) (options: Winter Forest, 6 Little Cardinals, Gingerbread Village,    Gingerbread Man) 
- Mill Hill Kits (I've already started two of them)

I didn't work too much on my Halloween project, I did add some more letters and started some colors:

I mostly worked on this little biscornu in the car on our drive to the other side of the state to visit some friends:

I'm using all Victorian Motto Sampler threads and they are a pleasure to work with. I think I'm going to go broke purchasing things from her. I haven't decided on a back pattern yet, but I think I'll get around to that in October and it might end up a gift to someone for Christmas. We'll see.

I also got a lovely "surprise" in the mail. Another blogger (Kate) was destashing and I requested a few Cross Stitcher issues (Oct & Nov 2011) so they came in the mail yesterday:

 

I think I'm going to make a deer in the Nov 2011 issue for a friend's child, and maybe some of the purple ones in the Dec 2011 issue.

Yesterday I was able to go to JoAnn Fabrics and pick up some backing for two of my projects plus some orange thread.

I'm hoping to have a "Finishing Friday" some day soon! I am making the Jolly Jack into a standing folder thing. It'll be my first time and I'm kinda worried about the cardboard stuff I bought. I think it's going to be too thick. I'm going to use this tutorial from the Twisted Stitcher. Does anyone have any experience with making them? If you have any hints, I'm all ears! 

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