I SAY......LET THEM EAT CAKE !!

I love it when I get all the yarn wound into cakes!!  Gray yarn on the bottom left is more of Cascade's Eco Duo.  I'm making a hat for my son.  The ecru yarn is Cascade 220 and I'll be knitting a pair of mittens for my oldest granddaughter.  The colorful yarn cakes and knitted piece are Berroco's Borealis.  I'll be making 3 more of those cute pointy hats.  And the black fiber is Prime Alpaca...mmmmm yummy and soft.  I'll be making another hat.  Between hats and socks I've always got something in the knit basket.

I finished up some stitching projects too.  My sister's, Joan and Cathy, have birthday's in January on the 20th and 21st.  I stitched both of them these boxes.  The design is called 'All is Calm' by Amy Bruecken Designs.  I liked the 'black' sheep big sister watching over her little sister.  The boxes are from Nordic Needle and yes, they are the same box that Shepherd's Bush used in their last two designs. 

 This was the first time I used DMC's memory thread.  I thought it added to this stitch!!

And inside....the newest Kelmscot Design needle minder.  If you look closely, the needle minder is snuggled in some fabulous dark plum roving.  

It was fun making these for my sisters.  I love them dearly and I know they love me.

Happy knitting and stitching to everyone!  Stay warm.

Blogging Withdrawl.......

My goodness, I think I went through some blog withdrawl yesterday!!  Here's a pic of the 'Crazy Challenge Basket' I put together.  I want this close at hand.  

And of all the wonderful pieces I selected I chose to work on this beauty yesterday!  

And I finished this hat earlier in the week for a dear friend.  It's knitted using Cascade Yarns Eco Duo - 70% Undyed Baby Alpaca and 30% Undyed Merino Wool....yummy soft and warm.

So, now I feel better.   

Ta...Da....

Drum roll please..........

O, Beautiful by Shepherd's Bush.  Half the fun of working on a Shepherd's Bush piece is fingering all the silk threads while separating the colors.    

I have thoroughly enjoyed selecting the pieces for the Crazy Challenge.  Even more, I have loved reading all of your comments.  I look forward to reporting on my progress and checking on yours!!  

Hugs to all and have a simply fabulous week!!

You're Going to Love This One !!!

From the Summer 2008 issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework magazine the Sampler Sewing Slipper.  An antique Quaker sewing shoe served as the inspiration for this sampler-style slipper.  The sole of the sampler slipper is hinged to reveal flannel pages for storing needles.  Adorning the heel of the slipper is a quaint cottage with a Florentine-stitch yard and queen-stitch flowers.  Accompanying the slipper is a fan-shapped scissors sheath that doubles as a pinkeep. 

The kit includes Lakeside Linen 40ct light examplar linen, Needlepoint Silk, Gloriana Silk, Kreinik Braid, Gloriana 4mm and 15mm peach blush vintage silk ribbon and ivory silk dupioni.  Plus various supplies to finish the pieces.  These threads and fabrics are simply to die for!!

I am blessed to have had a mother that taught me how to sew.  Once the stitching is completed the real work will start with the finishing into the shoe and scissor keep.  This one is going to be a lot of fun.

The Sparrow's Song

New's flash:  I LOVE COLOR !!!  I started to pull the charted floss from my stash and said out loud to the cats...I don't think so.  Then I pulled my Belle Soie and did my very own conversion.  Now I'm happy.  This design is being stitched on 29ct. Glenshee Natural linen with 1 strand of floss over 1 thread.  The finished design will be about 3.5 inches X 3.5 inches...darling.

The Sparrow's Song by The Goode Huswife.

His eye is on the sparrow and each tender thing that grows.

The Next Sock....

This stocking so suits my daughter-in-law Barb....she's watching over her husband Brent and two adorable daughters, Corinne and Carly.

These stockings will be so much fun to stitch and give next Christmas.  

Stay warm my friends and enjoy your day !

For My Son

For my son Brent, a wise man indeed.  He is a wonderful man, husband, father, brother, son and friend.  He has a tender heart, a great sense of humor and is an excellent cook.  

This Shepherd's Bush stocking is stitched on 18ct Natural Linen using 1 strand of #5 Perle Cotton from DMC, Weeks Dye Works and Crescent Colors over 2 threads.  

Color...Color...Color

 Could a Monday morning get any better than this??

I'll be working on Sadie for my daughter Chauntel.  

I stitched Shepherd's Bush stockings for my granddaughters Corinne, Taylor and Carly years ago.  Now is the time to stitch for my children.

Sew Much Fun !!

I'm just about finished.  I'm down to stitching the last 6 stockings.  Whoo Hoo  Look at all that floss.

Stitching and finishing these Blackbird Designs stockings has been a very fun and rewarding process. I have a couple of wire trees to hang them on depending on the season.  They make great gift tags too.  I stitched the December stocking to add to the ribbon on my sisters Christmas presents.

Merry Be

What's not to love about these fibers, fabric, beads and silk ribbon?  Tina and Teri at Shepherd's Bush have inspired and enabled me for at least thirty years.  Their stunning designs hang in EVERY room of my home...yes, even in the bathrooms!