TDiTM Stitch #108

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

 The larger "O" represent a space where you could add your bead of choice...or buttons would be fine as well! Like SRE? Then add a silk rose...or embroidery is your thing? Add a bullion rose...
Let your imagination change it up!

TDiTM Stitch #107

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

A hint for those that might be having problems stitching uniform "fans" like these. Print out the image, size it to fit your stitching preference, and punch holes where the little DOTS are. Then use this little fan as a template to help you make uniform straight stitches every time!

TDiTM Stitch #106

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

 We continue our combination seams using the herringbone as our base stitch. In this combination stitch, we can use various buttons, ribbon roses, pearls, sequins, or other small objects in the location of the "O".



In this stitched version, you can see I've used some flower beads. The French knot stitches "." have been replaced with 3mm Swarvoski crystal bicone beads.

Nap time...

I just spend the morning adding photos of gorgeous charm bracelets and the Mermaid necklaces to the Studio. I'm tired of photo sizing...and writing. But, they are up!! Yeah!


Go check em out...and if you know any guys who need a nudge towards a super Christmas present for there gal...send em my way! These are all seriously stunning and classy pieces to wear!

No rest...and no nap...spend the afternoon adding a new section called "Kathy's Attic". At present it has a dozen of my quilting and needleart books that I have either outgrown or had duplicates of (don't ask). All of them are prized at 75% off the manufacturers suggested retail price, which is what I bought them at. So, check those out as well.

When I get the time...I'll be adding patterns and other items to the Attic...so check back once in a while.

Forest Glen

Just finished up a project for a dear friend, a round CQ piece with a fairy silkie in the center. The entire thing is about the size of a medium dinner plate. Hope she will enjoy it! And, here are photos for all my cyber friends too enjoy as well!

 It was a quick project, especially since it was in the sewing room for almost 2 weeks before I could begin it! Finally, I sat down and pulled threads and lace that I had in green...found the two little chickadees while doing that!...aren't they so cute!

Some template seams, lots of beads and stuff later...and voila! It's done!

Oh, and I should say that I did not have to piece the block! My friend sent it to me already pieced...with enough extra fabric to ensure I could hoop nicely...yeah! It took me most of Monday and Tuesday to complete it...but, I'm happy with the results. Hope she is too!

Give-a-Way!

My friend Thearica is having a birthday this month too!! And, she celebrates with a great give-a-way...just like I do! So scoot on over to her great blog, Pigtales and Quilts...and enter! Make sure and let her know I sent ya!!

You could win a pair of these great scissors!!

Basic Start Block Continued

I posted this basic block with seams on Wednesday. Here is the rest of the work...ready to mail it out tomorrow. After the basic embroidery combination seams...beads were added to enhance the seams.

 Next, the silk ribbon flowers and butterflies were added; as was the embroidery vines and leaves.

 And, if you want to see details...here are close-ups of the Silk Ribbon Embroidery areas.

And lastly...the charms and beaded butterflies were added to fill in some more space. All done!

Crystal Links

Spent the day learning something new...and napping. Sinus crud has been driving me nuts again, so I'm house-bound right now.

But, I got the crystals out and worked on a design for crystal rings I saw in a magazine. Then I decided if one was good, how about three! So, I figured out how to put the rings together...and created this link. Can you find the rings?

 

And here is the necklace...

And here is the clasp.

Happy Veterans Day!

Hope you have a great day today, and take a few minutes to thank a veteran for their service to our country.
My dad served in the Army...

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In this photo, he is the one with the mop! He was disabled when the bridge he was driving his truck across was blown up. He endured multiple operations and a lifetime of pain. We unfortunately lost him in 1995 to lung cancer.

My middle brother serves in the Alabama National Guard. And I myself retired 1 October 2009 after almost 27 years working with the Army, as a civilian. I am proud of all of our Armed Services, each person has an important responsibility. As a country, we citizens owe a lot to these service members. And, I'm sure each and every one of you in other countries feel the same about your men and women in service to your country...so join us on this Veterans Day...and give thanks to those who protect our freedoms.

Charmed for sure!

Last weekend, my daughter and I had a great time making charm bracelets.

She started with some butterflies (which was very unusual for her...so girly)...and here is what she created. It is very feminine and so pretty...

 Next, she worked on a spider charm bracelet...and this is something I can see her wearing every day!

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I'm really proud of her work, these were her first charm bracelets...and she did are really, really good job! Now, not to be lazy myself...I completed two for the Studio. And, as soon as I find a minute to go back and count all the components so I can figure out a price...they will be included in my jewelry page. 

Hope the photos inspire you to think about creating a charm bracelet with some of your "dangelies".

Basic Start Block

Today is my hectic day...as I have classes to teach. But, I thought that ya'll might want to see the basic beginning of a block that I'm stitching in a Round Robin.

These are combination seams, just like I post in the TDiTM challenge...a combination of simple stitches.

Next, I'll add beads. When I do, I'll post another photo...after that, some silk ribbon embroidery. So, stay tuned...

Arlene's Basically Beaded Block

At present, I am in only two round robins. A really strange thing for me, because I usually have about six going at one time. I do have a couple of other projects working too...so don't fear, I have plenty to keep me busy.

This weekend I finished this month's block for Arlene in the Basically Beaded Round Robin on Crazy Quilter's International Yahoo Group.

I did mostly seams, and then a spiderweb and beaded spider. I usually stitch my spider legs, but since the them of this swap is "beads" I went with beaded legs. Here are some photos...

Tick, Tick, Tick...

There is still one unclaimed gift...sure hope she checks her Email inbox...and replies before Midnight Tonight (my time, CST)...or I will have to select another winner.

Tick....tick....tick....

Well, the deadline has come and gone...and no response. As an editorial comment for all of you folks that like to enter contests ... update your Blogger profile to include an email address. This lady did not have an email on her profile, nor did she leave an email address in her posted comment. Her profile did indicate that she had a blog...and I went there to check that out...and it had a "contact email" at the top. That is the email I sent the award notification too. But, either it is no longer valid...or she doesn't check it often. So, sorry to say...she missed out on a beautiful crystal bracelet and earrings!!

So, a second lady has been notified...we'll see how that goes....

P.S.   Yeah! All of the prizes are claimed!!! Most have been mailed, and the last couple will go out tomorrow... I'll be deleting the prize posts in a few days...just don't like clutter on the blog! So, if you want a photo for some reason, better grab it now.

Kathy

Seven Days of Give-A-Ways Day #7

The last day of the drawings! It's hard to believe that last week Aidan turned seven years old!

I hope all of ya'll entering the contest had fun. Of course, six of you have had more fun than others since you have already won!...but, even that gives us all hope to keep on entering and perhaps we too will win one day! And, why not today?

So, here's the last contest! And what's best is that you have already entered...so there is nothing left for you to do except sit back and see who wins! AND, today...as the Grand Prize Day...I'm having SEVEN WINNERS! Yeah! 1st place through 7th place....

I will go back to all days and add the number of valid comments together...then pick a random number in that group. I will start counting on #1 comment on #1 day...until I reach that selected number. Then, I'll post the winner (after I email them to confirm they are "real") here on this post. LOL! Here's the number of comments we have had each day (Day 1=99, Day 2=61, Day 3=85, Day 4=46, Day 5 =58, Day 6 =66 for a total participants in the Day #7 drawing of 415 comments). These represent the original qualifying contest posts...not any "after" posts congratulating the winner or after midnight of the contest day.

So, want to see the Day #7 prizes? FIRST PLACE....How about silk and crystals!!!

Two packages of Mary Jo Hiney Designs silk fabric collections (Graceful & Thankful). And...

Seven packages (20 meters each!) of 100% Silk Thread cording (similiar to size 12 perle cotton). Great colors and sheen! And...

 This beautiful charm bracelet...made by me of course! Lot's of glass and crystal beads, and it looks great hanging from the wrist! So, I hope you enjoy wearing it...and feeling "girly"! This prize is retailed at almost $100 worth of goodies! What a lucky winner!!!! THE WINNER HAS BEEN RANDOMLY SELECTED AND NOTIFIED, Congratulations to Lindsay M. of Highlandville, MO!

SECOND PRIZE...a gorgeous Swarvoski and slide clasp bracelet ...

and Judith Montano Baker silk threads! Stunning! Retail value $65.

THE WINNER HAS BEEN RANDOMLY SELECTED AND NOTIFIED, Congratulations to Shari J. of Fountain, CO!

THIRD PRIZE... a pair of Swarvoski drop earrings and a Swarvoski clear crystal bracelet! Retail value $45.

THE WINNER HAS BEEN RANDOMLY SELECTED AND NOTIFIED. The first selectee did not respond to her email within 24 hours as the rules stated, so her prize has been forfeited. I have randomly selected a second lady...and notified her. I'll post her name when she answers her email! And the winner is Sherry R. from Hughes Springs, TX!

 FOURTH PRIZE...six packages of Judith Baker Montano 7mm silk ribbon! Retail value $40.

THE WINNER HAS BEEN RANDOMLY SELECTED! Congratulations to Mouse in South Yorkshire, United Kingdom!


FIFTH PRIZE...(Aidan's favorite color) a pink Swarvoski crystal and perle bracelet! Retail value $40.

THE WINNER HAS BEEN RANDOMLY SELECTED AND NOTIFIED, Congratulations to Linda B. of Tupelo, MS!

SIXTH PRIZE...ten packages of silk thread!! Retail value $35.

THE WINNER HAS BEEN RANDOMLY SELECTED AND NOTIFIED, Congratulations to Jean D. of Waukeska, WI!!

SEVENTH PRIZE...a beautiful pair of CZ butterfly earrings and ten Swarvoski butterfly slide charms! Very delicate beauties! Retail value $30

THE WINNER HAS BEEN RANDOMLY SELECTED AND NOTIFIED, Congratulations to Susan C. of Ontario, Canada!
 
I hope that all of you enjoyed the week of drawings, even if you did not win this time. I've had a great time reading all the comments!

Today, if you would like to post; I'd like to hear your thoughts on the give-a-way. Are you likely to come back and visit my blog now that you have checked it out...or do you prefer to enter the contests but not follow a lot of blogs? Just curious.

As a heads up...my birthday is the end of this same month. So, I might be doing another give-a-way on that day too...hint, hint!

Hope you all had fun! Thanks for stopping by!

Seven Days of Give-A-Ways Day #6

Prize for Day #6: Six-strand Embroidery Floss

This isn't your great-grandma's floss! But loads of specialty DMC Floss...and perle cotton (size 3) Floss.

 Two packages of the new DMC Color Variations floss and one package of their "light effects" floss. All are just beautiful. But, that's not all!!!

More perle cotton! This time it's all DMC brand...and the colors are just gorgeous! So, if you didn't win the balls of perle cotton on Day #3...here's your second chance!

Same rules as we did for all the previous days. Basically...you comment on this post...and if your comment is randomly selected...you win!

Comments are on set on moderator...so, if you comment and don't see it right away...don't panic! I'll get around to reading it and publishing it when I get back to the laptop...I don't get spam and garbage posted on my blog that way! So, be patient....Big Hugs!

Good Luck!

A WINNER HAS BEEN SELECTED AND NOTIFIED! Congratulations to Laura W. of Groves, TX!

Seven Days of Give-A-Ways Day #5

Prize for Day #5: Charms, charms, charms...and a few drops!

These are great for creating charm bracelets or embellishing crazy quilt blocks or adding to other craft projects! I picked out lots of pewter, crystal, brass, and copper.

 There are over 45 pieces, so I'm guessing a retail value of at least $80. These are really cute! The Swarovski crystal butterflies are my favorite!

Same rules as we did for all the previous days. Basically...you comment on this post...and if your comment is randomly selected...you win! No strings...no promoting...no selling...just having fun! Are you tired yet? We still have two more days to go!!

Comments are still set on moderator...so, if you comment and don't see it right away...don't panic! I'll get around to reading it and publishing it when I get back to the laptop...I don't get spam and garbage posted on my blog that way!

Thanks for all the super comments ya'll have left. I'm not answering because I don't want to throw off the count of comments posted...but I am reading all of them. Big Hugs...hope the sun is shining and the birds are singing for you today!

A WINNER HAS BEEN SELECTED!Congrats to MelindaMG in Farmington, MN!!

Punkin's Sewing!

We got the sewing machine set up, and Aidan took to it like a duck in water! She has sewn on my big Janome before, set on slow speed...but this little machine doesn't have a "slow down" setting. She was not intimidated a bit!

Her seam allowance is around 1/2 of an inch...but that's okay with just squares. She wants to make a blanket for her girlfriend in school, a good goal!...

 I think it is cool that her first thought was to make something for someone else...and I think she will be a great quilter when she grows up! Keeping my fingers crossed!

Edited: 11/6/2010

Holee asked to see Aidan's "shiney shoes"...so here ya go Bea! You know if it shines she loves it! The necklace is a horse (another love of a 7 year old girl for sure!)...and the charm bracelet was made by her mom (my gorgeous daughter!)...it is blue and gold because those are the Elementary School colors. Aidan loved everything!

I know that the red shoes are your favorite Bea...since you love RED so much!!! Big Hugs....Kathy