STNA: It is So Much a Favorite

What are your must-have stitching tools and aides? Other than your trusty scissors, of course. Is there a problem you have had when stitching that you created your own solution for, or have you purchased a tool that helped?

I was waiting for this question.  I have two favorite tools.  The first is the light by my chair.  It is like an Ott Light but, something else.  It is just as strong and it was fraction of the cost.  I have to have it to be able to stitch on linen.

The other is my Dololly. It's like a needle threader on one end and a hook on the other end.  My hook is a little crooked from getting closed in the case.  

 That really comes in handy when you have stitched that thread to the point of no return and need to work it under the threads and there is no way the needle will work.  The other time is when you have to rip out a bunch but can't get the right end and so you just snip and pull.  It works great to get the little ends worked under.  

This is the second one I have gotten.  The first one ended up in my ORT jar.  Unknown to me,  my son had dusted the table and put it in the ORT jar.  I had a bunch of DMC labels in there and threw the whole kittenkaboodle away.  So I threw it out.  When I looked for it, it was some time later and long gone.  I tore the house apart looking for it.  I asked Ed if he had seen it.  He told me he had put it in the jar.  Ugh!  It was so important to me, I had to find another one.  

As usual, I won't get the link to work the right way but, rest assured, I did try.
Check out the other blogs Here at Stitching the Night Away

Big Surprise

Our son Ed called this morning to chat.  He was driving around.  About an hour later he came walking in the door.  He decided to take a road trip to see his old parents.  Just as he was walking in, I was getting ready to go to the Rainbow Yarn.  I told him he was coming with me, we would pick up subs, see Grandma and then go grocery shopping.  He said, "Really, Mom, Really?"  In that tone that only a 19 year old can do.  I told him he was going to love it.  "Really, Mom, Really?"  Well he did.  

 You see, Rainbow Yarns is also an Alpaca farm.  They have several Alpacas.  These are the girls.  They are much shyer than the boys.  You can sort of get an idea of how the trees are changing.

 Sorry the pictures are a little fuzzy.  I don't know how this happened.

 This little girl was by the fence when we started walking toward it.  She got up and walked away.  She is a beautiful color.

 This is Colby.  He's a boy and one of the friendliest ones.  He will go to some of the shows around the area.  The only thing is you can't pet the heads.  They are very sweet and really cool animals.

 A little closer up.

 We were able to go into the pen and Ed got to feed some kibble to Colby.  I have a picture from Ed's I-  phone but, it is sideways so I won't post it.

 This one came closer when there was food involved.  He had really interesting head hair.  It was like really large pom poms.

 I think the brown one is M80.  He has been father to a lot of babies.  He gets studded out.  Another lady in the yarn store had brought pictures of some of the his shired   babies her Alpaca had.

 Some of sock yarn I bought today.  Its Paca Ped...alpaca, wool and nylon.  It makes the most gorgeous socks

 The blue is called Deep Seas, the Green is called Green Gator and the pink is Kaleidosock.  The colors are beautiful.  I may have to get them on the needles so I can work on them to break up the cross stitch.  Same pic but, no flash.

What a great surprise.  When it was all said and down, Ed said, "Who knew you could have so much fun at a yarn shop."

Welcome new members.  I'm so glad you have joined.  I hope you all have a good surprise this weekend.
Keep on Stitching
Monica

Thanksgiving Exchange

I finished the cross stitching on my ornament for the Thanksgiving exchange.  It is Prairie Schooler Acorns.  There is another one I plan on doing for my self.  I may have to do this one again for my smalls collection.  I think the little pilgrims are quiet quaint.  I have to work on finishing it off.  I have machine work to do.  I have other projects I have machine work to do on.  I'll probably do it this weekend since I got my house cleaned !  Hooray for me.  I have also been painting boxes for some  Christmas gifts.  I wanted to get those done so I can Briwax them this weekend while the weather is still nice and I can do it outside.  The stuff is a little stinky.  

 I have started Plum Street Samplers Grim Gourds.  I like Grumpy Pumpkins better.  I changed the threads to Weeks Works.  It was charted for either NPI silks or DMC.  I would love to but, have pretty much decided not to spend the money on silks.  I guess I'm drawing the line.  Although the NPI aren't as expensive as the Belle Soie silks, I still think is quite a bit of money and if the project calls for a lot of colors it adds up.  You can start to see the face of the first grim gourd.  I am chewing through the Onyx thread.

 I do check the projects offered by the Inspired Needle for 2012 Year of Smalls.  I have only bought the ones I like rather than getting them all.  I have tried automatic ships, and I want to see what the project is before committing myself.    I really wasn't too crazy about the September pattern.  Sunflowers and Acorns  was August.  I love the orange thread.  It's GAST Tomato.  Absolutely great color.  The picture doesn't do  it justice.

 The October project is from With Thy Needle and Thread called Autumn Splendor.  I thought about getting this one last year when it first came out but, I didn't.  I decided not to wait longer and decided to get it now.  I still really like this one so, that must mean it is meant to be.  

 Again, this picture doesn't do it justice.  This is GAST brick path and a varigated Redish-greyish-greenish if you know what I mean.

 Just the other colors for the project.  The colors are really great together.  I have been painting a wooden pencil type box to finish this once it is stitched.  There is a lovely pincushion pattern as part of the chart pack that I may be doing.

 This should be a really speedy project.  Calls for antique buttons.  I should be able to dig some out of the button tins I have.

This whole blogging thing makes me work a little faster on projects so I have something to blog about.  I do have to work on some top secret things...the reason why I am painting a bunch of boxes today.  You know I had a paint brush sitting on the counter while I was mixing some paint colors in a jar.  Do you think I can find that stupid thing.  I don't know where I put it down.  I took off a label.  Stuck the label to the newspaper but, have no idea where I put the brush.  It was either pixies or me losing my mind.

As always, a big WELCOME to the new comers and I am so glad you have joined me.  I love the comments you all send.  I had some really wonderful ones after the last posting with the smalls.
Keep on stitching and have a really great day.
Monica

The Blogging Gods Were Against Me

Yesterday, the blogging gods were just against me.  I was all set ready to get down to business.  I took about two pictures, shut off the camera when I decided wanted to take another one.  Turned the camera back on and poof the battery went from 2/3 charged to no charge and would not take another picture.  Had to pop the battery in the charger.  When it was recharged, I wanted to get on line and NO internet.  I thought, "Oh no, not this again!"  We had been having connection problems a month or two ago.  When Bob got home from the office and a few errands, I broke the news to him.  He informed me he thought it was the area internet not us.  The pay-at-pump wasn't working, inside the gas station was bucky and the pharmacy computers weren't happy either.  I just turned the whole thing off last night, shut off all the computers and rebooted this morning.  Things are much improved.  

The final pic of the Mystery Sampler framed and hanging.  I do most of my own framing and you know, I just can't seem to get things exactly straight.  I guess that just adds to the charm.  LOL

I finished the accompanying smalls on Saturday.  So it was time to finish those off.  The backing material is varigated oranges with spider webs and little black spiders on them.  I have seen on other blogs the great ways people have been finishing off smalls with the complimentary fabric on the front below the design or next to it with the ric rac...you've seen 'em.  Thought about it but, further thought it would make the small too big.  Maybe another times.  

 I decided to give it a little omph with some tassels.  I had enough black perle cotton and some 729 perle cotton to wrap around the tassel to jazz it up even more.  The first one, I put the tassels on each top corner.  Its okay but, the rest I put them both on one side and much prefer it.

 I think the tassels on the same side looks a bit jaunty.

 The 729 perle cotton nearly matches the Tobacco linen.

 The trio with one cattywumpus tassel on Spooky.  It must have jumped when I took the picture.

I am now working on my piece for the Thanksgiving exchange.  I have to finish boxing up the Halloween exchange so I can send it off tomorrow.  The mailing deadline is September 30.

Thanks for stopping and welcome new members.  I do love all the great comments you send me.  It makes the blogging all that much more fun.
Keep on Stitching
Monica

The Envelope is Ready and the Winner is...

I have the envelope ready, all I need is an address.  My mother-in-law drew the name after she got back from walking Buster.  It was very scientific

And the winner is...Devon

 You know from past posts, I just loved the little punkin-headed cat.  I made a thread keep.  so that is helping to hold the thread together.

I made one for myself.  I thought the polka-dots was whimsical enough for it.  

 I am nearly done with the third small from the pattern.  I just need to do the bottom motif.  It is taking no time.  I will finish these off this weekend.  I'll post it then.

Thanks everyone for participating.  Welcome new members.  I do appreciate the wonderful comments.
Keep on Stitching
 Monica

Blog Hop: My Favorites

My initial response was, "My favorite is the one I'm working on."

But....if I had to narrow it down, I have to say I love Prairie Schooler and this particular series.  I don't know what this one is called but there is also Havest Time and Home for the Holiday.  

 They all fit in the same frame.  I just rotate them around according to the season.  They fit very snuggly on a wall next to my china cabinet.

Truly, my favorite is the project I'm currently working on.  There have been very few things I haven't enjoyed doing.  Now that Moose is another story....it will never be finished.
Check out the other blogs here.  If this link doesn't work then...this is my third attempt.

Thanks for stopping.  Keep on Stitching!
Monica

TUSAL and Progress

I don't want to miss the TUSAL.  The jar is looking good.  If I packed it down it would look as full.  But, that's okay.  It's just fun seeing it fill up.  

 Can't let a perfectly good post go without another picture.  Progress from last night on the second small from the L*K project.  This one you get a much better idea of the color of the fabric.

Thanks for stopping and all the lovely comments.  It is cold and rainy, as the weatherman said it would be.  I broke down and turned on the heat just to take the damp out of the house.
Keep on stitching Stitching, stay warm and dry.
Monica