1 Finish and 2 WIP’s

This was a candlewicking kit that I picked up from Desert Industries, a second hand store,  awhile ago. I actually stitched this up last year but I am notorious for not getting anything framed or finished. However, I have been trying to rectify that by finishing what I can by myself. Framing is still left to professionals.

This pillow was actually put together by Jennifer G. Soosay. Thank you Jennifer! She does quilts for the local fabric store, Suppose, and she is going to teach me English Piece making. It’s a type of hand quilting. Sorry, sewing machines and I just don’t get along. Mine is still in time out after our last misadventure.

Now, for the two WIP’s.

Thanksgiving Blessing by Heart in Hand is almost finished, There is just a space at the bottom in between the leaf and acorn charm that need something. I am going to take it to the ladies at Embroidery Central to see what they would recommend. Remember, this is the model for the October Project of the Month from Embroidery Central.  Honestly, it was really easy to stitch up even with all the changes. Yes, I will be posting all the changes as soon as it is finished.

The Second WIP:

The Mermaid Letter J by Nora Corbett. Okay, so I haven’t really worked on this one as much as I should have. I went camping in the rain with my hubby and even though we have a camper, rain and mud is not good for hand dyed fabric. Then, I went into a reading frenzy. I read three or four books by Nora Roberts, 4 by Johanna Lindsey, and 2 by Catherine Coulter, and 1 Mercedes Lackey. I do have a small library in my house with easy access to these authors.

I am trying to get back on track but rain always calls for a good book and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Happy Stitching!

Intro to Under the Sea Fabrics

Under the Sea Fabrics

Under the Sea Fabrics provides hand dyed fabrics to stitchers around the world by owner Leslie LaFleur. Pictured above, is Frozen Margherita Opalescent fabric. However, there is a catch to these absolutely stunning fabrics. There are only two places to buy fabrics from Under the Sea.

Lafleur for the last couple of years has only sold her fabrics through her social media group on Facebook – Under the Sea Fabrics. Jennifer, an Embroidery Central stitcher, found her and started buying LaFleur fabrics. The employees at Embroidery Central fell in love with the fabric and now carry select pieces from Under the Sea Fabrics in the store.

I say select pieces because Under the Sea Fabrics is currently a one woman operation that is being ran out of LaFleur’s home. She can’t offer what the bigger distributers do quite yet but I am sure she is on her way. What she does offer is awesome fabric in every shade and count from linen to Aida. Plus, she will also do custom orders if you ask very nicely. She also has Opalescent hand dyed fabric for those of you who want a little bit of extra sparkle.

She is constantly posting images of her latest creations but some of the creations are offered for a short time only. Happy Stitching!

Have I gone to heaven…

The fabric room at Embroidery Central.

No, you have not gone to heaven but it may seem like it when you enter the fabric room at Embroidery Central. Yes, the fabric is out in the open for you to look at. I believe the top row and some of the second row is aida. The rest is all different shades, colors, and counts of linen; including opalescent.

The wall above the cutting table at Embroidery Central.

Now, you can look at the fabric and pull some off the shelf. However, you do have to ask the employees to unwrap and cut the piece you want. In fact, they are more than willing to help you find the perfect piece of fabric for your project. Sometimes they will even pull fabric off the shelf just to give you more choices which is perfect if you just can’t decide.

The fabric of the month at Embroidery Central.

They also have a fabric of the month that is guaranteed to catch your eye and make you ask yourself, “What can I put on that?!?” They also have jars with various scrap pieces for smaller projects that start at a $1 then go up.

The fabric room at Embroidery Central is my favorite room and tends to get me in trouble financially. Happy Stitching!

WIP: Words of Hope designed by “Oh My Bloomin’ Threads”

Words of Hope designed by “Oh My Bloomin’ Threads”

Okay stitchers, it is WIP Wednesday once again and today I am working on Words of Hope designed by “Oh My Bloomin’ Threads.” This one would have been finished yesterday but my power went out due to gale force winds and an idiot who didn’t want to trim his tree. The power company cut the tree down and fixed the transformer that blew up; however, the power was off from about 2:30 pm yesterday until 5:30 am this morning. It’s kinda hard to stitch when there is no light.

I am a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks (aka BPOE or Elks). During the summer and winter conventions here in Idaho, the Elks auction off items to benefit the Betty Heiss Cancer Research Foundation. I have always tried to stitch something for the last year or two for this auction. I saw this pattern and decided to stitch this up and turn it into a pillow for the summer convention in Cauldwell, Idaho.

Then, my local stitch group was asked to stitch a couple of these up to help raise some money for a Relay for Life Team. Of course, we agreed and begin to stitch away. My mom has stitched six of these, one in the regular colors shown in the image above, and one in each cancer ribbon color.

I have finished the one for the Betty Heiss auction. The next two will be for the Relay for Life team. I might do some bread clothes using this design but I only have until July so we will see what happens.

Happy Stitching!

Why do I stitch?

I went browsing through some other cross stitch blogs really quick today. What I realized is that a lot of stitcher’s show their current Work in Progress (WIP), they talk about the time, and they show the finishing or framing of the project. However, they rarely mention why they stitched that particular piece. This got me thinking about what I stitch and why I stitch it?

Lately, I have been doing a lot of projects for charity. I have stitched and finished Christmas ornaments for the Needlework Angel Tree that Embroidery Central will be setting up in July. The proceeds from these ornaments will go to local organization to help them buy Christmas presents for kids.  I hand embroidered some bread clothes that were auctioned off for a local benefit to help someone pay their medical bills. I have stitched projects for various cancer organizations to sell and raffle off.

I have two bigger projects that are being stitched for my children. Of course, they will hang in my house until I am gone then get passed down. I have projects waiting to be framed that are for my husband or for my kids. I have even stitched a project for someone who posted an add on KSL.

The reality is I stitch for everyone else and never for myself. Maybe, its time I start a project just for me.

11 Old Lady Hobbies That Are Perfect To Try In Your Twenties, From Canasta To Embroidery by JR Thorpe

I am finally trendy, or at least my hobby is! What is something you do that would be considered an old person’s hobby?

11 Old Lady Hobbies That Are Perfect To Try In Your Twenties, From Canasta To Embroidery

Unknown Stitchy Terms

I saw this on FB, read it, and smiled. I know I have many SINS that may never ever see the light of day but it is so much fun purchasing said SINS and dreaming of the day you might get around to stitching that kit or pattern you just had to have.

http://littlethreadcrafts.com/2013/11/11/term-of-the-week-sins/

5th Saturday Sale

Embroidery Central will be holding their 5th Saturday sale Dec. 29th. What exactly is this, you ask? The fifth Saturday sale means double punch day for anyone buying stitchy stuff. for instance, I purchase a $10 piece of linen and I get 20 dollars worth of punches on my card. Yeah me! If you fill up a punch card, you get a credit of twenty dollars on your account. Yeah me again!

Plus, sales will be going on all day. Just remember, EC will only be open 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday. Their addres is 1638 North 200 West in Logan, Utah. I hope to see you all there, happy stitching!

Quick and Easy Project: Merry Christmas Embroidery

Looking for a unique gift idea for the holidays or something fun to create for your home. If you are you need to check this project out.

You can get this fun project from http://embroidery.com/. You need to buy the pattern, the muslin fabric, a friction pen, a jingle bell, a fabric board, and thread through the provided website. The fabric was purchased from Suppose in Preston, Id. Crayons to color in the back-stitching purchased from Family Dollar also in Preston, Id. In total I maybe spent ten hours putting it together. It was easy and fun!

Up Coming Events: Embroidery Central

Needlework stores around the world will find new ways to reward loyal customers and bring in new customers.  This is what this feature will be about. If you are a patron of a local needlework store or an owner, send me an e-mail about any events including sales, classes, or get togethers that your store is hosting. I will then post the events for everyone to read and mark on calendars.

Currently, I am only familiar with my local needlework store Embroidery Central 1638 North 200 West Logan, Utah.  Here is a list of events for December.

Embroidery Central has teamed up with The Hearld Journal (local newspaper)  for a Christmas giveaway. There will be one prize given away every week. The catch is you have to go to the store and sign up. The first week give away is cute set of carolers. Other prizes include a craft basket loaded with Donnette’s favorite gadgets, a scroll frame with quilted accessories, and all of the project of the months for 2013.  Started Dec. 1st.

Starting Dec. 6th, they start counting down to Christmas with the twelve days of Christmas needlework style. Every day will have a different item on sale. For example, buy four hand dyed floss get one free. I do not have a full list yet but I will get one asap.

Every Wednesday night at 6 pm to 8 pm is stitch night. All ages and all levels of stitchers are more than welcome to come spend some time completely devoted to needlework. Bring a project you are working on or find a new project in the store. You may show up at anytime between those hours.

On Dec 10th at 11 am, there will be a bobbin lace class. The class is $10 with a $5.00 project fee. There is also a kit to help get you started that is about $30.00. Learn a new hobby and the history behind lace making.

Well that is all the events for this one store. Tell me what is your favorite shop doing to celebrate the holidays?