Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Studio cleaning

It's been another whirlwind week. I did finish my "autumn cross-stitch", but still needs some finishing touches, so I'll post that soon and get it hung up before it's winter. I've also been cleaning my craft studio, I just need to dismantle the day bed and get rid of it. Thinking about Craigslist, but I don't know, I feel like calling up the Goodwill to come pick it up. Once that is gone I can set up another table so that my daughter has a crafting area she can call her own and also a spot for my Cricut (which I haven't bought yet, but as soon as there is a dedicated spot I'm going to get it!). These are a few random books on my bookshelf.


Oh, and I'm so exicted! I have an "art table"! Well, technically, it's a laptop desk, but it was being miss-used as a "catch-all table", so I cleared it off and rolled it over to my side of the bedroom and now I use it for my embroidery/cross-stitch table. I usually get up around 6 am and use to watch the news and drink coffee. Now, I can watch the news, drink coffee and be ready to stitch. I could put my laptop there, but I'll never get anything done if I do that! We've had this table for years, I don't know why it took me this long to put it to good use. This table is really nice, because I can tilt part of it and use it to look at my chart. The other side can be tilted, too, but I keep it level for other items. I can also sit at it as a desk, but I just keep it at the side of the bed for now. I bought this from Frontgate, oh look it's on sale! Actually, I saw a cheaper one at IKEA which looks a little different, but would serve the same purpose.


Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Potholder parade

A few months back I was on a potholder-making spree after having bought the book Pretty Little Potholders last year.


My daughter embroidered the rocket (Sublime Stitching pattern, I think). I found it in my sewing room and became a pretty little potholder.
I love this one, I embroidered the kitty from Sublime Stitching patterns.

An applique heart, which was an afterthought to turn it into a potholder. I have no idea what I was going to make out of this square, I think I was practicing my applique technique.

Another stitching of my daughter's, she enjoys all kinds of crafting (like me), but some never are finished into a completed product. Maybe she's bored with it, I don't know. So I turn it into something pretty.
More later. Thanks for stopping by.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Autumn already!

Time just flies around here, first day of autumn, but you wouldn't know it around here. Today it was in the 80's and I would have much rather spend the day in the pool than having to go to work. I thought I would be finished with my cross-stitch by now, but not quite. I already have in my head how I want to finish it and hang it proudly, but unfortunately there are not enough hours in a day. So here is another pic of my progress

and here's where I do my stitching . . .

Like I said, I much rather be swimming, but life goes on. Hey, but the lighting is great!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Stitching update

Just a quick post before I run off to work. I'm coming along on my cross-stitch that I posted about a few days ago. As promised here is the link that inspired me to take up this craft again, Les Fils d'Helene. She provides the free graph which I'm stitching. Thank you, Helene! Only takes a few colors and looks like I should finish in no time, that's if I stay on task, ha ha! I have some ideas in mind as to how I'm going to showcase it. I don't think I want to frame it, I was thinking of a mini-quilt or tea towel (to show off, not use). First time I'm not using a hoop, don't know why I started out that way, but this aida is very stiff and doesn't seem to be a problem.

Have a great day and stay tuned for more of my crafty adventures. I'm slowly getting back into a routine and blogging again . . . . just need to tackle that sewing room, grrr.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Papercrafting: envelopes

Hello again. I wanted to share something that I don't know why I never thought of before. I feel sort of dumb, but the other day I was paying bills. Well, some I pay online and some I do the old way -- write a check and mail payment. One statement I received didn't include a envelope for me to send my check to. That was annoying because I had no envelopes, I do have some with my stationaries, but I didn't want to part with them just to mail a check. Besides they were pretty. So I dug around and found some "thank you" cards and I took one of the envelopes to send the bill. But then this morning I was reading my blog subscriptions and came across angry chicken's blog about making your own envelopes! Why didn't I think of that! I even have a envelope template to cut your own. Of course, I have a bunch of scrapbooking papers that I no longer care about and lots of plain white paper . . . I should just make some envelopes for those times I don't have an envelope, which is once in a blue moon. I know, I can just buy a box of envelopes and be done with it, but since I have all this paper lying around, why don't I just use it for pretty envelopes? Even if I'm just paying a bill.

Some envelopes I made with the pattern on the inside, some I made with the pattern on the outside. Actually, these were quite fun to make and only took minutes, I feel like I should make fancy stationary now!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Missing in action

Sorry, I have been missing lately with my posts. With the new school year starting and a busy summer it's been hard for me to get back to blogging and crafting when really I haven't been making (or completing!) anything all summer - nothing for me to write about. Anywho, with another busy day ahead of me, here is a quick sneak peek as to what I'm up to . . .

Yes, it's cross-stitch! I know I haven't done that in a long time. (I'll have the link to the blog that inspired me a little later). I thought this would be a simple project for me to sit and do while I watch my movies or Project Runway (love that show!) My sewing room is a little scary right now, everytime I walk in there I get frustrated and walk right out. It needs major cleanup, I don't know how it gets so out of control.

More later . . .

Thanks for stopping by.

I'm back cross-stitching

  Well, not yet, but real soon because my daughter found a Halloween cross-stitch booklet that I thought I lost forever. So my plans are to ...