Incoherent Scribblings

A New LHN Start

Even before I was close to finishing either “Above the Clouds” or “Poet’s Heart” I knew the pieces that were going to fill their rotation spots when I was done. I planned on filling the spot vacated by Confetti with TW’s “Tapestry Cat” and “Poet’s Heart” with “The Bookshelf” by Little House Needleworks.

“Tapestry Cat” is my absolute favorite TW piece and I have been trying to start it for almost two years. In fact, I was so determined to start it that I bought a fat quarter for it shortly after I received the chart and I almost started it two or three times while I was still working on Confetti. However, given the problems I had with Confetti on different occasions, each time I sat down to kit up “Tapestry Cat” I decided that I better wait until I had finished one TW before starting another one.

Well, as we all know, I finally finished “Above the Clouds” a couple of months ago and although I wanted to jump into “Tapestry Cat” right away I thought I should make progress on some other pieces before I did so. I worked on Flo, finished “Poet’s Heart,” and then the other day I decided “Tapestry Cat’s” time had come.

I rummaged through my stash until I found the chart and the fabric. I was so excited that I danced around my dining/cat/craft room singing nonsense to myself as I washed the 28 count antique white Cashel linen and began to iron it in preparation for those long-awaited first stitches.

But then I remembered something.

I remembered using a chunk of the fabric here and there for a couple of smalls because “Tapestry Cat” didn’t need the entire fat quarter and suddenly I wasn’t sure whether or not I had enough fabric to start “Tapestry Cat” after all this time.

So I got out my tape measure and measured.

And then I started “The Bookshelf” by Little House Needleworks.

10 Ornies in 500 Days

Seeing as I only have one more Christmas to achieve #12 “stitch a Christmas ornament for each member my immediate family” of my stitching goals on my 1001 Days List, I decided that I better make a plan to stitch and finish this set of ornaments.

First of all, I define my “immediate” family as such:

Mom
Dad
Sissy
Niece
Nephew
Step-mom
Step-sis
Step-dad
Aunt (Mom’s Sis)
Uncle (Dad’s Bro)
BFF (Best Friend Forever… you know who you are!)

With his “Baby’s First Christmas Ornament,” I have already stitched one for my nephew, so I guess I don’t need to stitch him another… unless I really want to.

As far as the rest of the family goes, I will aim to have the ornaments for my mom, dad, sister and niece done for next Christmas. I will then complete the second half of the set before the end of my challenge and those ornaments can be gifts for Christmas 2009.

Therefore starting next month, I will add the goal “Stitch and finish Christmas Ornament for So&So” to my stitching goals every other month until I finish all 10 ornaments and can count the “thing” as complete.

Stitching Zone

Seeing as I haven’t been home in about 10 days, I had a whole list of things to do when I got home tonight. However, I was pretty wiped out after working all day today and driving all day yesterday, so I decided the cat litter can wait until tomorrow and the laundry can be put off until the weekend.

With the decision to put off today what I can do tomorrow, I sat down to relax the best way I know how: Yep, I pulled out my needle and started on Flo’s wings. There isn’t much there yet, but they will grow soon enough. I would love to continue working on her some more, but I reached my 10 hours on her so tomorrow I will switch to something else.

But what…?

Normally I like to keep my WIPs around 5 (currently 6) but I have some things that I want to start pretty badly so I have been tossing around the idea of having a “Guilt Free January.” After all, with my “Harvest Witch” SAL with Dawn, I am already planning at least one new start this month, so why not a few more to add to the WIP pile?

And speaking of “Harvest Witch…” I have decided that I want to stitch her on hand-dyed fabric and think she would look good an orange/peach color. I am still debating between 4 colors: Silkweaver’s Autumn Sunrise, Tangerine Sparkle, Sundown, and Peachy Keen. I think all but Peachy Keen are also available in opalescent. I usually prefer linen, but I like Autumn Sunrise in Lugana. It is a tough decision. I think I need to study the actual pattern a little more and see if as I do so it calls out to one of the fabrics.

I bought some stash while I was visiting Dawn that I want to share and I finished my last two projects of the Project Challenge into fobs, but (like the SBQ) it will have to wait for another day.

JCS 2007 Ornie Issue Review

As I have no stitching progress to show at the moment, I thought I would take the opportunity to do my personal assessment of the issue that Dawn so kindly sent me (along with a too cute and too tiny scissor fob)!

I haven’t read any of the articles or tried any of the recipes yet, so this isn’t a review of that, rather just the patterns… Which is all we are really interested in anyway, right?

I have three categories and if the pattern isn’t mentioned here that means I am not even considering stitching it. Therefore, my categories are 1.) Must Stitch, 2.) Might Stitch, and 3.) Like, but probably won’t stitch.

Here is the breakdown by category:

1. Must Stitch – 5
2. Might Stitch – 17
3. Like, but probably won’t stitch – 4

Total – 26 out of 75 or 35%

The five that I must stitch are:

“Noel Christmas Bellpull” by The Sweetheart Tree

One of my 101 Things is that I want to stitch something for myself for each of my favorite holidays during its season. I would like this one to be the one I stitch for Christmas.

“The Decorator” by Full Circle Designs

I can’t help it, I am in love with this little guy!

“Jingles the Penguin” by The Stitchworks

I have decided to make it a yearly tradition to make my niece and nephew stitched things for Christmas, so I could stitch this cute little penguin for either one of them.

“A Merry Kitty Klaus” by Val’s Stuff

It’s a cat! Need I say more?

“Snow Bunnies” by LHN

Because I love Little House Needleworks!

OK, now I am off to stitch!

Biscornu Pair

A couple of weeks ago, Mom visited the newly remodeled LQS so she could buy fabric for a quilt she is getting ready to make and I tagged along. While we were there, I discovered these really pretty buttons that I just had to have… because I knew they would be perfect for a biscornu!

Ever since I got them I had been on the look-out for a biscornu pattern that would work for my buttons. I found one on Thursday and spent the following days putting together the charming little biscornu you see above.

The pattern is a freebie from a French site and because I thought it would be bigger than what I wanted, I modified it a bit. However, after finishing my biscornu I decided that the original pattern was, in actuality, not as big as I thought.

Oh well. I have some more of the buttons so I think I will make another biscornu using the unmodified pattern and call it a pair.