Oh, a Free Pattern to Inspire!!

Check out this cute little table runner pattern...free! I found out about it over on the Quilt Inspiration blog. And, think it will be a good pattern to work on this year. My plan is to do a white/beige/blue background...with a green vine with pink buds. And, each vine leave bud should be adorned with embroidery and beads! Want to play along...I'll try to get started in September...after my nieces wedding.So, print out the pattern...find your fabrics...and play along!

I love a productive day!!

And, yesterday...I had one! I got through about half of the apples (thought I could do them all...but I'm getting old!!). I peeled, cored, and sliced the green ones...covered them with white sugar and cinnamon...and they went into the oven to bake. Was thinking about a pie..but really, just needed to get them "processing" so I could move on to the red apples...which were to be my apple butter! 

 To my surprise...when I went back in about 40 minutes (in 350F oven) and started to "turn" the apples...they broke up...not mushy, but into small pieces just the same! Oh..goody...fried pies! So, I have a nice bowl of apple chunky-mush to make pies with tonight! Yum!And...discovered a good way to "start" my apples for the apple butter...really sped up the process! So, after peeling, coring, and slicing about half the red apples...then went into the oven. Then, went into the crock-pot (slow cooker) on high for about 5 hours...stirring occassionally...then more often the last hour. Spooned the apple butter into jars...and then a 10-minute boiling water bath! Voila...3 lovely pints of apple butter! (Also have half of the red to do today...and "found" another bag of green apples too!) So the job is about half done!

Another success...was this sprouting mint! It is ready to plant. These little springs came from my special drink at Olive Garden Restaurant a couple of weeks ago...when I had a shopping trip with my sister. How cool is that! Now, I will have a little pot of lovely mint growing in my kitchen this winter!

Lastly, while the apples were cooking (and the mint was growing)...I've been beading cabochons...since Saturday! Several are done and many more are prepped. 

 Let's not talk about the 3 trays of cabochons in the bead closet that aren't glued to a fabric/leather backing yet! Today, we're only talking about productive things!

Marvelous Monday Motifs...Interrupted

 Come back next Monday...and perhaps I'll have "my act together"! But, no promises! Seriously, I need to download some more page scans and re-size them for Monday Motifs..but no time! Today I need to get these apples peeled, cored, mixed with sugar/spice, and into some canning jars.And, I'm leaving in 15 minutes with my DSIL to go get Mom some ears of corn she "ordered" from a local farmer. So, corn will surely quickly follow the apples...if they don't jump out in front!No time to stitch, no time to post, barely time to brush my teeth!Hang in there BFF's; I'll be back!And, I'm beading cabochons as fast as I can...with every spare minute since the Studio is low! Now, how in the world did I let all of this pack up on me! Life! Gotta love it! What I can't ever figure out however is...how can someone "who doesn't have a life!"...have so much to do!???

My Peacock Has Arrived! And She is Gorgeous!

A little while back I posted about the StitchMAP Mentor's Challenge, and the doll that I had created for my swap partner Amy. Well, yesterday I received my "prize" from my swap partner, Ann....and it is stupendous.

First off...the fact that it is a box is GREAT! As ya'll are my BFF's ...you know I need to be organized! And, that my space is at a PREMIUM!! So, just the simple fact that Ann was thoughtful enough to make me something I could use...speaks volumes to me! Hugs Ann! BUT, the fact that it is stitched so stupendously just left me speechless when I opened the package (Yes, it is possible to render me speechless...it's just not easy!)

The peacock is the focal point of the lid...and it is stitched superbly! Check out these close ups!

But, the gorgeous stitching doesn't stop there! The rose in the corner is so beautiful...it really speaks to my heart.

Even simple fabric manuplation looks just grand when done with luscious silk...a recycled tie or scarf perhaps?! And check out the chain stitch "loops" she stitched to fill in the patch! Ingenious!

The monogram is just too delicate for words. I just adore it! 

Isn't the entire block she created for the top just wonderful!

Ann Flowers...you rock!!

Gorgeous Ribbon Work! I'm Drooling!

... and that's a bad thing...I don't want to get these pages wet! Two books I'd ordered from Amazon came this week...and I'm just like a child at Christmas! These are wonderful. 

 Of course, every single book ever designed and written by Di van Niekerk is superb! And these are the best yet! 

 Seriously, hop on over to Amazon and check these out!!  I'd loan you mine...but, I can't get my hands unclenched from around them!!

Testing One, Two, Three...

Anyone else having issues with Blogger today? This morning...I tried to post...and typed my text, then uploaded a photo of my canned tomatoes. I could not see the photo in my draft. But, when I loaded the page...the photo was there...but no text!

Now, I have a completely new input screen...so perhaps it was just a minute bleep on the screen as Blogger uploads their new design. Hope so!

So, just testing...here is a photo of the new flower beads I just got in yesterday! Loaded them on the Studio this morning!

Tomatoes Anyone?

Dragonflies, dragonflies, dragonflies!

Usually, I don't mention the Studio much...it's more of a hobby of mine than a business really. Which is why I keep the prices as low as possible I suppose...and why it won't make me rich! Ha!Anyway, I spent some time this week going through my beads and found a lot of dagger beads that I had forgotten about (Yes, my stash is a mess!). So, I started combining and came up with several "new" dragonflies...bead kits! They are limited in quantity...determined by my stash levels of the individual beads needed...so jump on over and check them out close up!

And, I've added crushed walnut shells to the general items...alongside the emery that we have always carried. Both are great for adding weight to pin cushions and dolls.

Wednesday Wine Country Monograms - J

Be Afraid...Be Very Afraid...

Aidan saw an infomercial about facials....and they had cucumbers in it. So...she went to garden for a cucumber. I chopped it up for her...and added some creamy petroleum jelly...and voila! We have the ingredients for a facial! It went into the fridge for a few minutes...and was nice and cool! I highly recommend it! My face feels great!!! (Doesn't look much better...but feels great! Ha!!!)

Mermaid by Cris

Cris kindly sent me a photo of her applique mermaid, which she created based on the embroidery design I posted earlier. It is a great blessing to know my work is being used! And, that the results are so gorgeous! I love the interpretation...the sequin fabric for the tail is just right...but I think the mermaid's hair and "bra" are my favorite parts! Thanks so much Cris for sharing with me...and allowing me to share with other followers too!

 If you want to share a creation based on one of the designs or charts posted here on the blog...just send me a photo; I'd love to see your version and so would others! We all need inspiration!!

Marvelous Monday Motifs - 7/18/2011

You can read all about my idea for Marvelous Monday Motifs here. Today we have pages 23-24 of the J. F. Ingalls Company, 1886 Catalog of Perforated Parchment Stamping Patterns. 

Please NOTE: This catalog is not under copyright any longer; but the scanned version released to the public domain on 17 July 2007 (the source of my information) does come with restrictions. None of these designs can be sold. They are for your individual use.

Pickle Relish...Kinda

There has been so much squash and cucumbers in the garden this year, that we can't eat it fast enough. There are usually at least 2-3 of each on the vine that is too large to be good for dinner. So, I decided to do some pickle relish. 

 I cored the large cucumbers, and peeled most of them. I cut out any brown spots on the squash as well as cut off both ends. Then, I cut the prepared cucumbers, squash, and a large sweet onion up into on inch pieces. Lastly, I put all of them into the food chopper and they came out nice and "relish" size. These were added to a boiling pot of 5 cups sugar, 5 cups vinegar, and 1 package of bread-n-butter pickle spice mix. After about 5 minutes of boiling I spooned the mixture into the jars, using a slotted spoon so I didn't get too much liquid. Cleaned the top of the jars off, and put on the lids and rings. 

 They are a gorgeous color with the yellow squash! And taste just like pickles! I'm sure the relish will be great on hotdogs and as a side to dry beans and roast!

French Script Saturday - G

 

Needlelace and Stumpwork

Hi...my name is Kathy...and I'm a book-aholic. Seriously, I have a lot of books...maybe not as many as you; but still...a lot! Most I am lured into buying because of their gorgeous full color front cover. Over the years, I have found many of these types are a real disappointment when I open them up and see they are crammed full of photographs of the artists work...but little content on how to accomplish these techniques yourself. Instead, a small snippet of the idea...for a simple eyeglass case or pin cushion is included...in lieu of instructions on the gorgeous full size coverlet on the books cover. Still...I continue to buy them.

 Now, don't misunderstand me...these books are still enjoyable. They are a great distraction for me; and I love to take them off the shelve and sit and turn the pages admiring the beautiful work. But, as a means of "growth" for me..they just don't do much. Great eye candy...but, frankly, I have enough imagination not to need too much of that these days. I want to learn and to grow in my stitching...not just admire someone elses work. Anyway, I digress...

What I wanted to say was that I have added several new books to the house recently. A couple of them fell into the above stated "eye candy" category. But two really have been a true joy to have. And, I know that they will get much use because they are full of designs or new concepts that I want to know more about.

 The first one was purchased at Keepsake Quilting and is a book of quilting motifs. Nothing new about quilting motifs...and I have a couple of other books of designs for them already. However, this book is just jam packed with designs...501 of them (hence the title: 501 Quilting Motifs, Designs for Hand or Machine Quilting, from the Editors of Quiltmaker Magazine). And the inner book is spiral bound, making it so easy to use! And the subject matter of the quilt designs is varied so really you can find just the right design for any style of quilt. I highly recommend it!

 

The second one has already taken three hours out of my schedule this week...because I just could not put it down without going through it twice! It is not all that "glitzy" as the inside has mostly black and white photos...with some color insert pages in the center. But, lack of color is not a deteriant for me...I like good instruction and patterns over the usual colorful "hey look at me" photo style. And this book really delivers on content! 

 Oh, I forgot to tell you the name of the book! It is Needlelace and Stumpwork, Comtemporary Designs and Techniques for Dimensional Embroidery by Loretta Holzberger; and I got it on Amazon. Most of the books on needlelace that I'd seen before made the art seem so daunting that I thought I'd "never want to do that!". However, as this book cover had beautiful butterflies...my "book addiction" would not allow me to pass it up! What a joyous surprise when it arrived! The instructions seem so simple that I'm really eager to jump in and try one of the projects! And...the instruction doesn't stop at butterfly wings...it has gorgeous fall leaves and several flowers too...oh, and an angel! So, the hard part will be making up my mind as to "what" I want to try creating!

So, if you have seen either of these books...and wondered about buying them...I highly recommend both!

Sometimes She Just Cracks Me Up!!

 Look what Aidan came into the office wearing...my old blond hair clips! She also had oranges stuffed into her shirt...but I had her take those out for the photo! Can you say "My Nana is medicated!" Cause I'm sure I will be before this child is 15!!! She is only 7, and I'm already losing my hair!But, isn't she adorable!