Quilting mistakes

Major colour error!

I’m making a table runner and have made SO many errors in quilting….the sewing is going like a dream, but the choices and the lack of self-confidence…

And it is not just the colour….but the wine bottle motif…do I keep them all the same direction as in the 2nd or do I mix them up as in the first.

I am going to my hair appointment and in the meantime, if someone would like to offer up advice on how to fix this mess I would appreciate it!  Oh…and I’m not even sure the colours will match the person’s house anymore …she changed her colour-scheme..to blue….so?  Care to give advice?  I’d be happy with some constructive criticism!  Oh…and there is a 2 inche border to put on…what colour?

Off to the hairdresser.

A thrift store puzzle and…the animals of course!

I found these rolls of spools at the thrift store today:

Thrift shop thread

They seem to have a glossy finish to them (the ones I picked out).  The name is “Filtex, Inc.”  I’m not sure what they are … does anyone know?  There was a whole laundry basket of them!  Machine Embroidery thread? I am going to play with them for postcard embellishment…

I photographed with my cross stitch project because I put the aida onto a different frame…a longer frame so that I can stitch it easier.  I got that frame at the thrift shop too….for $2.50.  Every once in awhile there is a stitching frame.

Now here is what my cats’ most recent past time is:

Squirrel hunters...inside!

Stalking the Squirrel!

Note: To Glen Morris!  Thanks for taking the pressure off me for trying to accomplish the crossword puzzle OVER Christmas…impossible…well, unless I really don’t have a life . .. and I realize that I do have a life!

Until next time!

Still Stitching!

Well Christmas day has passed and since it is not particularly busy here I am finished stitching this little cross stitch design.  I’ve already posted the details but here is the finished unmounted design:

Bee Happy!

It’ll be mounted into a card and sent off in the post.  I also did some stitching on this…I really want to get it off the frame and finished!  I think that it will be my first Cross Stitch finish in 2009.  I must say that it is not a pattern that is particularly friendly!

Country woman cross stitch.

On this note, I think that I will go and do a bit more stitch.

Later

Baking and Stitching…

Bubblebread Gift

These are my loaves of bubblebread.  The recipe (this link will take you to the recipe on the net..”Taste of Home” magazine is owned by the company that puts out one of my FAVOURITE magazines…”Country Woman.“) makes two and since I made two last week, one for a department luncheon and the other we snacked on, one of these went to my MIL (who absolutely adores this and it is ONE thing that she can eat.) The other went to a friend who ordered this most excellent loose tea.  I went down to pick it up and  I figured that since she was entertaining guests for Christmas tomorrow, that she would appreciate a loaf.  She has.  And now, I am sipping some that excellent loose tea, the “Christmas Blend.”  It is from a place called Murchies in BC.  It is soooooooooooo good!I can’t wait to open up my bag of #10!  Over the last few months I have been getting acquainted with many of the loose teas that I can find.

Here is what the bubblebread looks like:

Bubblebread revealed

The one on the right is when it is emptied out of the bundt tin, but I prefer the look of the one on the left.  These are scrumptious and perfect for brunches and it is bread that can easily be pulled off and eaten because it is formed by a lot of 1-inch balls, with the cherries inserted on the outside. Just to let you know, for those of my family who might be reading this…if I lived closer, you would all get one of these…I think that they are a mainstay of any Christmas day!  Oh…and I looked at the date of my magazine for when I started making them….1999!   Bread like this combined with a marshmallow fruit salad=Christmas morning.  (Note…I googled until I found the recipe that I use and it is a coincidence that I came up with Taste of Home again…this recipe calls for nuts….I’ve never put nuts in mine…but there is always a first if no one is allergic).

Now for the stitchery.  It is a quilted wall-hanging that I did in a workshop at the beginning of December.  It is almost finished but I really don’t like my slipstitch, therefore it sits, waiting.  I really enjoyed stitching it up, a combination of paperpiecing and quilting.  So, I am still in my creative mode.

In case I don’t get on here tomorrow:

Merry Christmas!

or as the French say:

Joyeux Noel!

Still Stitching…

I have almost finished all the Christmas preparations that are on the NEED TO list so I started this:

Cross Stitch Card

It’s a card from Cross Stitcher magazine.  I used to pick  it up each month so I have all kinds of the free card kits.  I am organizing all my cross stitch card kits and came across this one which will be sent.

I am busy coming up with a plan for my blog…it is centered on my creative past times but I want to get into a routine with it, designating certain days for certain posts.  Right now it is all pele-mele (sp?).  So, since I am on Christmas vacation, I will be planning it all out and then hopefully implementing the plans in January.

Well, I’m off to make some bubblebread.  Maybe I’ll post a picture of it later…making two loaves for my MIL and for my tea smuggler …a friend who ordered loose tea by mail and our emails are starting to look like we are smuggling somethin else! .

Later

Peggy

Trying out Flickr

this year’s tree, originally uploaded by ATLITW.

Did you know that there are scads of inspiration on flickr…just do a search on the passion you have and the eye candy that pops up is mind-boggling. Here is a modern twist to a Christmas tree. It is made out of all kinds of odds and ends and adhered to the wall somehow! So cool! I’m sure that we all have drawers full of stuff that could be rendered into a work of art .

Cats and Trees & Crossword Puzzles

Here is our tree!  Decorated finally!

Christmas Tree 2008

And here is what I am taking some time for:

Christmas annual crossword puzzle

I am an avid Saturday Globe & Mail reader.  I love the crossword puzzles and tend to do them when I am stressed out…go figure!  This is the annual one and it is fun to do.  I’ve taped it down to my desk and under the watchful eye of Pyewacket I try to fill in the boxes!  In this annual puzzle there are 604 clues in this.

And just because I have cats in the byline:

Jolie-Coeur & Pyewacket

So, I haven’t posted anything “crafty-related” but since it is my blog I am chief editor! …I’ll be back with more from the sewing room! I hope!

Later

Teaching cross stitch…

A friend asked me if I could show her how to cross stitch and of course I was delighted to share one of my passions! Cross stitch is such a nice way to spend a few hours and create something.  So my friend came over today and I outfitted her with basic supplies and a kit or two and showed her the way.  And she reads my blog so I’ve decided to comb the net for a few sites that teach how to cross stitch…

• 1: http://www.craftdesigns4you.com/learntostitch.htm (Note:  MC, this site shows you to bring your needle from right to left, and then left to right on top….I checked out my fave mag: Cross Stitcher and they do the first stictch from left to right…the British way?  I’m not sure.  But the important thing is to ALWAYS do the stitches the same way.)  I’m wonder if one of my stitchy blogging friends might care to shed light to this difference?)
• 2:  http://www.cross-stitch-centre.co.uk/acatalog/tutorial.html (Note:  this site does the stitch like I showed MC)
• 3: http://www.moonlightinspirations.com/learn-to-cross-stitch.htm (Note: this is a blog and she explains it quite well as well as saying what I said in site #1…making sure that you keep the stitches consistent / or \ )
• 4:  http://www.crossstitchermagazine.co.uk/ (Note: My favourite cross stitch magazine…this is the blog and there are free patterns)
• 5: http://www.telusplanet.net/public/pchenier/crossstitch.html (Note: Now this is a neat site…I think that the woman is from Canada…an aside: check out her page for The Daffodil Principle.)

Well, I hope that I have some starters for those wishing to cross stitch.  Winter has just started to become cold in this Canadian climate, so pull up a chair and put your needle to your fabric.

Oh, I must let my sister know that as I was showing MC how to cross stitch the memory of  her teaching me was vivid…now on your next trip here J, or when I go there, you HAVE to help me with crocheting!

Later

Peggy

Christmas cards and socks…

Framed Christmas cards

Christmas is fast approaching and I’m not as prepared as I thought I would be! I just framed my stitched cards and will be sending them out by Monday at the latest….so they will get to their destinations DURING the holidays. Oh well…I sort of forgot the cards.

Christmas Stockings

And while I’m at it, here are our Christmas stockings….hung…ready, waiting…

My sister made these for us and since they are made of wool, there is a lot of stretch! I just started my stocking stuffer shopping this evening. (Christmas alliteration with all those s’)

Well, it is late. I spent the evening wrapping gifts to MAIL. I have a handmade item, but will post a picture after it is received.

Later

A New Challenge!

I just signed up for a new challenge. Actually, it is a way of life…all in the realm of keeping creativity a part of my life:

This is a project that Leah at Creative Everday has done in 2008 and she is also holding a Christmas Creative Everyday Challenge.  I didn’t sign up for that one…way too many things on the go now.  I have some Christmas cards to get out and a few gifts/parcles to mail.

Anyhow,  I just wanted to post this and get it on my blog.  Christmas vacation is coming! Yeh!  I have some more marking to do but I am virtually studentless now…;)…I think that I need a break!

Later