Thistles: backyard & Gift Card

One of several thistle plants in our backyard.
Finished the gift card kit.

Over the week-end, I added a piece of lining material into the rabbit needlebook (Prairie Schooler pattern) and cut out a nice piece of felt -- the felt matches the rose color flowers. Need to find a something for the hearts needlebook -- I put felt inside & realized it would look better if I put some lining inside before the felt. Think I have some material that will work out.

Today, for MIOM I'll work on my chipmunk WIP (Prairie School - In the Woods). Will be nice to have new needlebooks -- Should be quite a pair with the rabbit & chipmunk. My goal this week is to get more done on the needlebooks and the Sanctuary (so neglected).

Ironweed, Thistles & MIOM

This is a photograph of some Ironweed (thank you Lee for correcting me) in a natural part of our backyard - usually there are a lot more prairie wildflowers .... not so this past Summer because of lack of rain. It is very dry. Indiana prairies are beautiful when the wildflowers are in bloom. Which leads into my MIOM project this week ....

Is this kit beautiful? I received it as a gift from my girlfriend Lillian. I saw the photograph on the kit -- loved it the first second I saw it. Directions specify using 2 ply floss for CS & BS. Well .... I tried using two strands .... and it looked terrible. It was so bad, I pulled out another fabric (larger count) and stitched this up for Lillian's birthday (March).

Couple days ago, while seeking out a WIP for MIOM -- I came across this kit & contents. I frogged out everything & started over ... it was another failure. I tried a larger needle -- tried putting in tighter cross stitches. Terrible result. Sigh. Frogged it out again this afternoon. Now, am using ONE STRAND of floss and it looks terrific. I'm hip hopping along & cannot wait to get the whole design finished and mount this on the purple card (included with this kit).

Enjoy your weekend. Saturday is the Popcorn Festival in Valparaiso. Should be a nice event ; )

P.S. I don't know the count -- IMO too small a count for 2 strands. Chelle: The rabbit is a bead -- was a gift from gf's who went to a store in Michigan. Jenna: This was purchased in Scotland by my friend. (I've never been to Scotland) I'd love to see your BM. If you used 2 strands, I'll shoot myself. Karen: I've got all the thistle motifs done & added a border. It really came out nice. Today will get the edge done & sew it to the purple card. Update: Finished with a nun edge ; )

My 1st sewing small + EGA (Part II of 15)

This was my FIRST Prairie Schooler project. I visited a needlework shop & was given a complimentary pattern. Went home & didn't stop until it was DONE. (Summer of 1998)

This is a Mystery Sampler by Jana P. Kerr.

Permission is granted for EGA, ANG, & other stitching groups to publish the Mystery Sampler in their newsletters or make copies for their members. Thank you Jana P. Kerr : ) There are 15 parts. So far, TWO parts have been published in NeedleArts Magazine (The Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc.). The various parts will showcase different types of needlework -- part I marking stitches / cross stitches + part II double running stitch. I am using Anchor floss on linen banding. I enjoy working on this & look forward to viewing other EGA, ANG, & other stitching groups take on this project.

I received my quarterly magazine & read the whole thing (cover to cover). The current EGA President, Arminda Taylor is ending her term. In her message to members, she quoted Sandra Day O'Connor, U.S. Supreme Court Justice: "We don't accomplish anything in this world alone ... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something." Another quote from Flavia: "Lives are tapestries woven from our experiences by the weavers of time in a pattern we cannot see."

Stitch well today.

From WIPs to WTFs

Prairie Schooler c.1994. In The Woods (book #46): My needlebook. A very old WIP. Need to finish cross stitching with green floss. I planned to finish the green cross stitching last night -- didn't happen!

Mill Hill: Woodland Santa. My last perforated paper kit. Will add felt backing closer to the holiday.

Ok? Better picture. After viewing what others have done with their kits .... I'm putting this aside for a couple more days. And thanks for the suggestions & links to pictures. I like the idea of inside pockets with felt pages for needles. Just have not quite figured out what I want to stitch on the pockets -- have a couple linen scraps left & should come up with something this week ; )

Last night was the White Elephant sale. What bargains to be had. My favorite find was a Mary Garry pattern .... need I say more?

Beaded Button

My second attempt (first photo)

My first attempt (second photo)

On September 21, 2002, I attended a workshop taught by Judy Hendrix, who taught our EGA chapter How to Make a Beaded Button. I have made TWO. Our chapter is having a repeat workshop on September 17th .... and I was asked to Assist teaching.

I have three more buttons prepared to embellish with seed beads. It is a very interesting project & I get a kick out of seeing everyone make up their own - unique - buttons. Once the buttons are decorated, a pin backing is attached. Additonal link in sidebar ...