A Special Scarf Present

Happy Holidays Friends!

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas with loved ones and friends alike. I sure did. Now I am enjoying the first of a four day weekend off from work. Yay!

Well it turns out, I was not able to finish the quilt for my stepmom. I honestly don't know what I was thinking when I thought I could do the hand quilting in two months. There is always next Christmas though right?! Right.

So thanks to my procrastination, I had to decide on a last minute project for my stepmom. I had no clue until an e-mail popped into my inbox from Hot Potatoes. Did you ever watch the Carol Duval craft show on HGTV? The Hot Potatoes owner, Mary O'Neil, used to guest host on the show and do stamping projects. She was always so much fun to watch, and just extremely talented with stamps.

In recent years, Mary started selling Velvet Scarf Kits on her website. The fun part with these scarfs is that not only does she give you all the materials and the easy directions to sew it together, but she gives you instructions on how to emboss the velvet using an iron and a rubber stamp. This was my first time doing this technique. It was really cool.

I did not emboss the swirls on the front. That was velvet fabric that came that way already. I embossed the black piece with the starburst images.

I won't lie. The sewing part was a pain. I've never sewed on velvet, and have heard it is not pleasant to work with cause it moves so much. I definitely did my fair share of ripping stitches and re-sewing seams. If you are an expert at sewing velvet, this project is supposed to take 2 hours to do. If you are not, give yourself at least 6. :D

Happy New Years!
Jen

Decisions Decisions...

I've been feeling inspired lately to try a different kind of cross-stitch project for 2012. Something a bit more ambitious. I have been trying to decide between either a Heaven and Earth Design or a Chatelaine. I was looking at the Chatelaine website the other night. The Chatelaine's are gorgeous but expensive! I know you can substitute threads, but I know me. I will want the silks. On the other hand, HAED projects are pretty and extremely detailed too but I hear the words "confetti stitches" a lot on blogs. That term scares me a little bit. I checked out the HAED website anyways and I found they have mini designs that are around 8 x 10. I think I can manage that. Now, the hard part is picking the chart to do. Will you help me decide? I have narrowed down my choices to three.

"Mini Citrine"

 "Mini Friends Forever"

  "Mini Goblins Fae"

Decisions...Decisions...What do you think?

Jen

Exchange Goodies!

I can finally reveal the Exchange I made and received in the Winter Wonderland Exchange over at the Stitched with Love Exchanges blog. My recipient was Lisa (no blog). Here is the package I sent to her:

Can you see a theme here? I just love snowmen. I don't see any down south, but I know she does where she lives up north! I made her package a little extra special. I kitted up that little LHN pattern for her. All of those DMC threads, the Crescent Color, the Beads and Linen fabric go together. The card was handmade by me too.

Here is a closeup of the Snowman ornament I made her. It came out smaller than I wanted but that was because of a mistake I made trying to finish it. It takes mistakes to learn right??? The fabric in the background of the picture is the fabric I used on the back.

"He's a Flake" by Little House Needleworks

Stitched on 30Ct Dove Linen from Weeks Dye Works

Threads: DMC, Crescent Colours

Gold Seed Beads by Mill Hill

Finishing: Pillow Ornament

Next is my wonderful package from Teresa at Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches. She is so generous with her packages. I was absolutely thrilled with everything she sent me. I have never owned a scissor FOB so her gift is my first and it will be loved.

Thanks for looking. The countdown is on...4 more days till Christmas! Are you ready?

Jen

A Most Productive Stitchy Weekend

Hello All!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and got some much needed creative time in. I had a great weekend that consisted of three different Christmas parties. Yes...three of them. My office one was Friday afternoon. I took my son to a children's Christmas party on Saturday afternoon and I attended my parent's yearly Christmas party last night. Today (Sunday), I was a hermit and stitched as part of International Hermit and Stitch Weekend. I spent nine hours stitching today. I know this for sure cause I watched three Star Wars movies on TV today back to back. All of those movies are super long, but phenomenal to watch.

Did I mention I finished my "J" fairy by Nora Corbett yet? No? Well I did! In fact, I finished it today!
Happy dance time! (Click picture for a prettier view)

Letters From Nora by Nora Corbett

"Letter J" - Jordan

Stitched on 32ct Jobelan Evenweave by Wichlet - "Waterlily"

Threads: Crescent Colours and Kreinik as called for in Pattern

Embellishments: Mill Hill Beads and Crystal Treasurers

Started: July 2011 - December 2011

Now, if any of you are thinking that mine looks different than the model on the chart cover then you are right to be assuming so. The stitched model is missing some back stitching on the fairy. Also some areas on the fairy's dress had colors changed also. I can only assume the designer made those changes to the chart at the last minute.

Thanks for looking friends. I hope you all are prepared for Christmas. Only one week left! It will be here before we blink an eye.

Enjoy your week. :)

Jen

Its That Time of the Month Again!

Its already the 3rd weekend of the month so that means its International Hermit and Stitch Weekend. It is the weekend to find time to sit down in our comfy seats and just stitch. I'm ready for an afternoon of that. How about you? If you want to join, just sign up at Joysze blog or you click on the blue hermit crab button on my side bar to take you to her blog.

Come Join Us! Its a great way to find new awesome stitching blogs to stalk errr...follow. :)

Happy Creating!
Jen

Stash for all Crafts!

I don't know about you all, but I enjoy seeing the stash posts on blogs. It gives me ideas on items I may like for myself. Plus it is fun to share the goodies we have gotten. There are so many fun items to try out. So here are mine:

I went to a Quilt Show on Veteran's Day about  1 1/2 hours away from where I live. Sadly, there are no more craft shows in Miami. There is just no interest here it seems. Also a reason why our small business craft stores have closed up shop in recent years. Here are the items I bought at the Quilt Show. I really tried to be good cause this was the weekend I went on my second Disney trip.

I picked up some fat quarters, a pattern to make a cover for my e-reader, a pack of Plasencia threads and some finger tipped thimbles. ( I didn't like these things when I used them).

A trip to Joann Fabrics for one item and yet I came back with these:

Hey! It never hurts to have a stash of finishing fabrics when the projects call for them or when a quilting project calls my name.

I won these lovely patterns from Linda @ Stitchin with my Furbabies. I will be joining her Friday night SAL in January to stitch the Halloween pattern on the right. It is an Ursula Michael design.

Okay! I went a little nuts on my last shopping trip. I went to Arizona for Thanksgiving and while I was there I visited a Hobby Lobby. I have only heard about these stores. We don't have any in Miami. I don't understand why. They should have a store here. I was in heaven in that store. It put my local craft stores to shame. I picked up two Stoney Creek pattern booklets,( I just love Pumpkins and Snowmen Designs), an Alma Lynn Cross-stitch kit, two small Thomas Kinkade Disney cross-stitch designs, a fat quarter bundle, a Christmas scrapbook kit and Christmas scrapbook stickers. What can I say? I couldn't resist! I was having fun shopping that day.

Okay! Enough blogging for one day. Enjoy your weeks everyone. :)
Jen

Disney Trips Photos and a Special Souvenir!

Yes! I have more than one post today. I actually have one more after this. I just love to keep you guys up to date on my crafting craziness.

Okay...honest answers, who is a Disney fan? **Raising Hand** I am! I absolutely love Disney. I am so lucky to live in Florida close to the Walt Disney World parks. It is a place so special to me, I will never grow tired of visiting. I still watch the classic cartoon movies too. They are so different from the modern movies and I think that is what makes them special.

I visited Disney twice about two weeks apart from each other just recently. We had to split these trips up for special reasons, but it worked out! First we went to the Magic Kingdom on October 28 for their special Halloween party. Wow O Wow....that is such a great event. They give loads of candy and since the tickets are limited for this event, the park was way emptier than a normal day. What does that mean?? No LINES! Hallelujah! If anyone has gone on a normal day, you could be standing in a line for two hours to get on most of the rides. It is crazy. Their fireworks show was spectacular also.

Two weekends later, we went back to Epcot to attend their annual Food and Wine Festival. This was our first time and it was fantastic as well. We want to make this an annual trip if we can. They have 25 country stands with different foods and beers/wines to sample. It was all so delicious. Well, worth the second trip to Orlando.

Here are a few pics from both trips. I only got a few from the Halloween trip since my camera takes horrid night pictures. I got great pics of us in front of Cinderella's castle, but Disney photographers took that one. I can't upload it here.

My son and I for the Halloween trip.

Pics from the Epcot Food and Wine Trip:

Me, my son Christian and (Man Child) Brian :)

At least Stitch understands how I feel standing next to my boyfriend. Brian is 6'6". I'm 5'4".

Brian, Christian and our good friend, Romney on the left. He proudly admits to being a Disney fan.

Moving along to my special souvenir. :) On the first trip, we went to the Downtown Disney MarketPlace. There is a store called the Art of Disney. Beautiful framed lithographs and paintings of everything Disney. It is there I found this!

Oh yea! It is an authentic Art of Disney Cross-Stitch Design. You can only find these in Disney World. No store carries these. I saw this design all stitched up and framed in the store and I just had to have it. My boyfriend even wanted me to get it and make it for our home. So cool right?! It is Mickey Mouse painting a picture of Walt Disney. That is just priceless although the kit was pricey. This kit cost me $44.00. You read that right! Truthfully, it was cheaper than the others they had. Those were in the $70.00 range. I am so going to enjoy every stitch of this design. Walt Disney's face is actually an iron-on transfer. :O I'm a little scared of that part.

I hope you enjoyed my little rambling of Disney World. Here is an FYI from a Floridian...whatever you do...don't visit Disney in the Summer. The heat will kill you and the crowds will make you wild. The best time to go is in the Fall and Winter time. The weather is perfect.

Now off to write my 3rd post for the day. :)

Jen

A Halloween ATC Holder with ATC's

Hello Friends:

I have a paper project I wanted to share. I participated in an exchange in October on the Paper Wishes Message Board. It was an "ABC" challenge, (Anything but a Card). We were to make two items. My exchange partner was Fabrizio ( Fab) . He is such a talented card artist, you have to visit his blog. He also has a mobile friendly website for card making called PaperMood.com

I wanted to make two Artist Trading Cards, but I wanted to put them inside something else. I had these wonderful items called Sara Surface 4-Fold Folders from Paper Wishes in my stash. You can decorate them in so many ways. I decided to cover each side and pocket with different Halloween papers and added some Gothic Halloween Dazzles.

Front Outside

Inside under Flap

Folder all Opened Up (Sorry its so small. I cropped this pic too much)

Artist Trading Cards

In case you were wondering, I did not free hand the stickled Spider Webs. I used a Halloween Paper with Spider Webs on it. I just outlined the design on the paper. :)

All of the materials for these projects came from Paper Wishes.

Thanks for looking!

Jen