sigh ...

i wanted these to look better. I tried. I'm not very satisfied with the outcome. I started with nun edge & the linen 'fringed' -- realize the front design on the needlebook should have been over further as the motif is too close to the needlebook spine (that for starters). The beads were too loose on the pinkeep & I don't know what the secret to tight beads & charms can be -- but, i don't know it!! I tried several tassels & ended up with green, now I think they may be too big or too long. I just have given up.

Sunday SAL

Sampler Game Board by Drawn Thread. Construction completed on another house ... what a delightful pattern!!

SALing with: Bine in Germany & Cathy With Needle + Thread & Myrna Still Living in Wonderland & Nicole Autumn Sway & Pam at Pam's Place

Didn't hear from Kay O this past week. Melody (w/o blog) sent an e-mail: "I've been stitching on the Game Board (Yeah!!) but of course I started on the boring stuff -- the alpha border and inside border. I figured if I could tackle that then the rest would be a breeze. I stitched one whole side of the inside border over the weekend and realized it was stitched with the wrong color floss -- DRAT!! Here comes the Frog---------- rippit-rippit! "

Any more stitchers joining in????

A messy mess

on my desk ... and of course
NOT ENOUGH FLOSS

Finishing:
-Pumpkin Keeper (drawn thread freebie) I'm thinking pincushion & fob. Maybe try some cording for the fob with left-over floss. Not sure about pincushion decorations ... either cording or tassels. It is so pretty, I don't want to spoil the design
-Bent Creek The Black Cat -- into a small pillow -- maybe try to add some orange beads around the edge &/or tassels in black with orange beads (undecided) AND OUT OF BLACK FLOSS. Not enough orange either (sigh)
- Two Pinkeeps Goode Huswife) made a lot of color changes to this charming design -- ran short on linen. The pinkeep looks kinda big - but I wanted to add tassels. The smaller one with the inventory will become a needlebook if I can figure out how to do it with such small edges!!! May have to buttonhole around.

Only thing open today is Wal-Mart & they don't have all the floss colors.

I've got the FINISHING blues ....

Wee Wooly by Heart In Hand

Alex bought the pattern & supplies a couple years ago -- stitched this las year & we worked on the cording together -- then, it got 'lost' in his room. If you saw his room ... you would see how easy things vanish !!!

I found it in a bag & worked on the finishing during the week. Alex came into my room & said he wanted the cording around the pillow; however, wanted a tassel in one corner.

I'm thinking to sew the cord in place & have the cords come together in one corner. Wrap the cording together & then get the tassel sewn in. The lamb button can be sewn over any 'boo boo's' I make along the way ....

And of course, I need more floss for the tassel.

SAL: Sampler Game Board

Progress Pic: Drawn Thread/Sampler Game Board. I added the TWO houses on the top row. And, may add another one tomorrow. I have the 12 Houses Sampler by Drawn Thread & I am not sure if I have linen, know I have the cotton floss : ) What is it with houses these days? I think this is my first project with houses -- I have patterns with houses ... just never stitched any of them.

I am enjoying the kids being home. When they are in class, things are quiet around here. The other day, I talked to Nicholas over an hour. He seems to be enjoying his new job - P.M. Server at a nearby Retirement Community. The extra driving is just wackie. I'm not much for driving around -- with Tori & Nick taking shifts, I'm in the car a lot. Wish I could stitch & drive at the same time!!!NOT!!!

I plan to go back to 'finishing' for fair entries. I made a list of several things needing to be finished. If I can manage to get them looking good, I'll enter them ALL. Gesh. Lofty goal!

The Summer Reading Program (public library) started June 5th for adults. Grand Prize is a $50.00 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. I have SEVEN awesome titles:
Death in the Garden - mystery - by Elizabeth Ironside (thanx Daniellefor this review);
Forever by Judy Blume - from the American Library Assoc Banned/Challenged list;
L'America by martha McPhee - read an review on the NYTimes web site;
Charming Billy by Alice McDermott - wanted to read this for years!;
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood;
TWO by Annie Proulx -- postcards & Close Range short stories (including Brokeback Mountain).

Beaded Buttons

Sunday UPDATE: Jenna: That is a good question/comment. For the buttons I decorated -- there is a pin in the back. I wear them with sweaters & usually receive compliments. Some of my NANI GF's wore them on their coat collars. As for the Beaded Button Tutorial - those buttons look like they are functional. Beautiful addition to crazy quilts, bags, sweaters, etc. If I was a person who enjoyed knitting (or crochet?) -- that would be a button of choice for a garment or bag (closure). I thought the button would be a totally awesome accent on a stitching doo-thingie ... like a necessaire or pocket or something stitchie. Instead of a boring button -- use a covered button with left-over beads. I will have to wait for a sale on the covered button stuff & plan to give this a try. After the laundry/ironing & fetching Nicholas from work ... I'm going to stitch a house on the Game Board.

Found a link from Sharon's blog on Beaded Button Tutorial. I've never thought to decorate buttons like these -- I want to try this!

When I learned how to decorate buttons, I used these directions from Judy Hendrix. Results:



There is a story behind these yellow buttons ... some of my NANI GF's know they like to misplace themselves & go on journeys!! LOL.

Alexander: Happy 14th Birthday

Picked up my canvas from House of Stitches. Selected a frame for the Sanctuary, too.

While I was in the shop, picked out the Drawn Thread 12 Houses Sampler -- yeah, the design needed a new home ... It is too cute.

When I return to pick up the Sanctuary ... I'll have to browse. Well, I'm off to take Nicholas to work ...

The Sanctuary

Finished!

Tomorrow, I'm taking it to House of Stitches for a frame.