An Unexpected Finish

I've been working on my Autumn Tree lately. I finished all of the leaves and started to work on the 'wind' element. I had chosen a beautiful HDF blue silk that matched the richness and intensity of the leaves, but from the first stitch I knew that I didn't like it. I hoped that the colour would grow on me like the leaves had, so I kept stitching. No such luck. After 3 lengths of thread, I couldn't stand it any more, and I frogged it all out. I LOVE the tree as is and I think the leaves worked out beautifully. I think I'll take artistic license and leave the wind off the piece.

And so ... my Autumn Tree is suddenly finished!! Yay!

More button bow cuteness!

Okay, so my impromptu button bow on that birthday card the other day really inspired me. I sat down yesterday and spent a few hours putting together a few new button bows that I think are deliciously cute!

And I think they look great on cards too!

Looky looky what I got!!

I have been wanting a Cuttlebug for ages, but haven't been able to justify the cost. Well, I just happened to be in a Michael's on my birthday last week, and there it was -- on sale!! So, thanks to my mom's generosity, I am now a proud owner of a Cuttlebug (and a few accessories)!

Now for some cards! This one used both edge embossing and my Nestabilities dies.

Just edge embossing on this one, but doesn't the button and bow look cute? I'm going to have to work on that bow ...

What do you think?

I've added a few leaves in golden yellow to my Autumn Tree. What do you think?

I'm undecided so far. I want to love it, but am not entirely sure that I do.

This project is done on 28 ct cashel linen from Picture This Plus (of course I can't remember the exact colour name). I've used HDF variegated silks in Kodiakery, Terra Firma, Marque des Cercles, and Old Blue Eyes.

August IHSW Update

I participated in IHSW again. (International Hermit and Stitch Weekend hosted by Joysze at Random Ramblings - check out her blog to see details and follow everyone's progress.)

Since it was my birthday weekend, not as much hermitting happened as I would have liked, but I still managed to get a little stitching done.

I worked exclusively on Autumn Tree this weekend. When I started on Friday, it was just a brown trunk with branches, but now the orange leaves on one half of the tree are completed. Once the orange leaves are done I can start adding the golden yellow ones!

Here's where I got to:

I must admit that I really don't like stitching on linen. The roughness and unevenness bugs me! The camera catches all of the imperfections that I hate. Thankfully it's not as bad in real life.

Hello Cards!

I warned you there would be more cards ...

I got a new tool today for my card-making: a 2-in-1 rounded corner punch. It is wonderful!! I had no idea what I'd been missing. It sounds like such a simple tool, but it totally changes the feel of a card.

Anyway, I decided to make a bunch of "Hello" cards for some friends. School starts again in a few weeks (well, the undergrads start, us PhDs do school year round), but it means that everyone is back in town and floating around the faculty. So, I made some cards to let my friends know that I'm glad we get to hang out again.

I think these are some of my best yet!

Just a few stitches away ...

I've been working on the 2nd page of Drama Queen during the last 2 weeks. It started off with a few nice big chunks of blue and I was also excited about adding the vibrant reds of the first poppy. Well, my enthusiasm waned a little as I got into the confetti. I have NEVER worked on a project with this much confetti -- it's insane. It takes me longer to plan my stitching route than it does to stitch the handful of stitches in that colour. The results are wonderful, and I know how amazing this will look because of all of the confetti, but holy doodle it's a nightmare.

I never quite seem to finish a page before I do an update. I'm always leaving a few (and this time it's quite a few) stitches off. I just want to update!! To be honest, I'm updating now because I'm a little frustrated with this piece and have decided to put it aside for a few days. This coming weekend is IHSW (International Hermit and Stitch Weekend - see Joyzse's blog for details), and I'm hoping to get a good chunk of my Autumn Tree done.

But enough rambling, time for a picture:

What a surprise!!

I've been a member of Crossstitchforum.com for over a year now, and I really enjoy reading about and seeing the progress these stitchers make on their projects. It's good to know they often have the same type of issues with fabric, thread, or frogging, and there is always someone (or more) who can give great advice when you have questions. It's a real community.

Last January, one of the members (Ali-Cat) went on a biscornu making spree. She must have made 20 or 30 of the little things. And so, she offered to make and send one to any member of the forum who wanted one. Now I think biscornus are very cute, but I doubt I'd ever stitch one. (I really have no idea what to do with them.) Still, I thought seeing one in person and having just one would be great, so I messaged Ali-Cat and asked nicely if she'd send me one. After that, I promptly forgot about it.

Yesterday I went and got my mail and I had an unexpected package from overseas. I couldn't for the life of me think what it could be. I hadn't ordered anything online lately ...

Lo and behold, it was not one, but two lovely little biscornus made just for me! Because she'd taken so long to send it to me, she decided that I should have a second teeny-tiny biscornu as a way of apology.

They are beyond cute!! I adore the colours on the larger one; it is perfect for me! A huge thank you goes out to Ali-Cat for her generosity and effort.

Cards for Everyone!

Every time I turn around this month, there's another occasion that needs a card. Here's a bunch that I've made over the last week; more will be made next week.

A "little" stitching

I have all of these huge projects on the go ... each with thousands and thousands of stitches. So crazy me took a break, and decided to stitch something much smaller.

My first Mill Hill Beaded Ornament kit:

Double Update

I've made a little bit of progress on two different projects.

First, my little Autumn Tree is now a whole tree sans leaves and wind.

Second, the poppy in Drama Queen is starting to POP and some more background got done too.

Oh so slowly ...

I did a little work on my HAED Bulletin Board QS SAL - Terra Fairy Sprite. I love the picture, but stitching this piece just seems to take FOREVER. I'm still not done page one ... and pages 2, 3 and 4 are already sent out!

But anyways ... here she is:

More Stash .. Oops!

I have been very good and haven't bought any stash in several months for any of my crafty hobbies. I was bad today ... oops.

Wandering around Wal-mart and Michael's means that I am bound to purchase something, or in this instance, several somethings to add to my card-making stash!

Everyone needs more tools right? Scissors and punches, just what I needed!

I'm addicted to buying new stamps. I just can't seem to get enough! Today's was a substantial acquisition.

And who doesn't love a little embellishment? Seriously!

The worst part is that I'm staying with my parent's for a week, and am nowhere near the bulk of my stash. I am dying to get home and spend an afternoon (and evening) making some new and beautiful cards.