A couple of finishes and another WIP

The first game played at Fenway Park was on April 20, 1912. (The first official game played in Fenway actually occurred on April 9 when the Sox beat Harvard University, 2-0.) The Red Sox defeated the New York Highlanders -- later known as the Yankees -- before 27,000 fans,7-6 in 11 innings. The event would have made front page news had it not been for the sinking of the Titanic only a few days before.  

The pattern is Called "Take me out to the Ballgame" and it is from Little House Needle Works.  It is stitched on sand colored Carolina Linen that I bought at JoAnn's.  This was my first time using hand dyed floss. I like the vintage feel it gives the stitching.  I changed the wording and some colors to personalize it for the hometown nine.  The pattern called for the color of the wording to be used for the blue of the hat and in the banner.  Definitely, not the right color in my opinion so I got a beautiful blue called mermaid's fin to use instead.  I had the worst time with the french knots for the eyes.  I have done them before and had them come out just fine, but for this project I could not get them right.  So, I did small satin stitch for the eyes and mouths.  They don't look too bad.  Looking at the picture now, I can see that a couple of my fans are eyeless! Glad I saw that before the piece was framed.  

This little beauty was a free design from a lady in one of Facebook's Cross Stitch groups. She can be found at
http://makestuff-behappy.blogspot.com/ 

Since my daughter and I are big fans of the TV series Once Upon a Time, I just had to stitch this! Snow White and Evil Queen Regina is on the same fabric as Take me out to the Ballgame, but looks a lot different. The colors in the design and the frame bring out a bit of pink in the fabric.  Just so you know, I didn't forget the eyes on these ladies.  They were designed that way!  

I wish this picture were clearer because her colors are stunning.  This is a Mirabilia/Nora Corbett design called Mermaids of the Deep Blue Sea.  As the name suggests she has a sister swimming along side of her.  The fabric is 32 ct hand dyed laguna.  It is called Never land Sea and is available at http://www.stephsfabbys.com/ 
I ran out of green metallic floss so I had to put the girls on hold until the floss came in. There are lots of beads and jewels for these maids so I am looking forward to seeing how pretty they look when done.  









This is Nora Corbett's Lavender Pixie.  She is so delicate and pretty.  I love her fashion sense!  It has kind of a 1920's vibe going on.  She is stitched on Polly wog Princess 28 ct laguna purchased at
http://www.stephsfabbys.com/ 


Lavender has one extra lavender bud falling from her right hand.  This is because my little furry stitching buddy got a claw caught in the fabric and tore one thread.  I think it makes her unique!

I'll try to get a picture of her in her sliver edged frame.  I recently bought Jade Blue to stitch as a companion piece to hang next to her. I am thinking about doing a color conversion on her to better coordinate with Lavender.  I chose Jade because she has a very similar fashion choice.  I can picture them as besties! I'm thinking her dress in shades of purple and red like her beads.  I know they are hard to see, but trust me they are a beautiful shade!  Next time, I will post a picture of Jade and you can help me decide on the colors,K?

A Little Bit Sad; Missing My Kitty Cat

This is my handsome kitty, Coby.   I might have forgotten to mention that I am a crazy cat lady.  (While I am confessing, I must add that I am a devoted, unashamed Boston Red Sox fan.)

Coby wandered up to my back door three years ago hungry and looking for a little love.  You would not believe how much he ate! A bowl of cat food, a preformed hamburger, three chicken fingers and a 12 ounce package of cooked chicken for salads.

He came to the door every day around 3:00 for a handout.  One afternoon it was getting close to four and no kitty!  I was relieved when a few minutes later I saw him walking up the driveway.  He had this confused look on his face like you would if you were not certain you were in the right place.  I opened the door and called to him.  This was before he had a name and I was calling him 'baby'.  At the sound of my voice, his head popped up and I swear a big smile spread across his face!  He ran as fast as he could and jumped into my arms.  I knew he was my cat!

Coby has been my little love.  Always ready for a kiss or a snuggle.  He recently had a urinary blockage that cost two trips to the emergency room and two stays with the veterinarian.  We hoped his problems could be cured with medicine and a change to special wet food.  It worked good for a little while, but after a few weeks he was unable to urinate on his own.  This Monday, he had an operation to fix his problem.  Coby is eating and seems alert, but is still swollen and having difficulty peeing.  The Vet thinks once the swelling from the surgery goes down and the area is less painful he will be fine.  I am so hoping that is true!  I miss my little boy and can't wait for him to come home and be healthy again.  Send Coby your prayers and/or best wishes, will ya?

Celtic Christmas

This is my current WIP.   For those not familiar with stitching jargon, that means work in progress.   She is a Lavender and Lace design and is being stitched on dark green 28 ct. laguna fabric.  Her dress is enormous and I am growing weary of all the red.  But it will be truly beautiful when finished with all the gold thread and the beads that will be added after the stitching is done.  She has a border around her so I have a quite a bit to go.  I am hoping to have her finished and framed before the holidays.  Wish me luck!

 




The picture on the right is my first finished stitch.  It is Medieval Miniature by Teresa Wentzler.  It is stitched on ivory laguna.  I think it is 28 ct. but I am not certain.  I had the mat and the foam board cut at Michael's but I stretched the design and framed it myself.  Not too shabby, right?

This is my first ever blog so please be patient with me, while I learn. The following quote was the inspiration for my blog's name.  

All my scattering moments are taken up with my needle.  ~Ellen Birdseye Wheaton, 1851

I have always loved and been fascinated by needlework of any kind. My mother taught me to sew at a very young age.  I remember making my first apron on a Singer treadle machine.  I was quite proud when I presented it to my Grandmother for her birthday.  That was a time when women wore dresses and an apron was always handy.  In my mind's eye, I can see her wearing that apron and whipping up a batch of the best ginger crisp cookies the world has ever known!

My mother was a knitter extraordinaire.  Her steel needles clicked faster than the wheels of an express train.   Clickity, click click! She didn't like to do anything with cables, but she made the most beautiful lace baby sweaters and Fair Isle items. I have never learned to be a speedster with the needles, but I can handle cables and lace. Unfortunately, I am in no way accomplished with color changes.  No matter how hard I try and how careful I am, there is always a small gap where the changes are. Maybe, I need to practice more.

I enjoy knitting and sewing, but my true passion lies in embroidery and CROSS STITCH!  To watch a blank piece of fabric turn into a work of art is truly amazing.  Years ago when my children were little, I tried to cross stitch.  It didn't work out.  Small house and too many demands on my time.  But . . .

Years pass and life changes. Something reminds me of the craft I had loved and abandoned.  I find some floss and a piece of Laguna fabric that had made the move to Florida with us.  Yea! I downloaded Teresa Wentzler's Medieval Miniature and the passion is there.  I stitched it over two rather than over one and it is a beautiful size. Now I am stitching designs by Nora Corbett, Joan Elliott, Margaret Sherry and many others!

I have some interest outside of needle crafts and will post about them as well.  

I enjoy cooking.  Baking especially.  I love collecting recipes from all over the world. My husband thinks I have far too many cookbooks. No way! A girl can't have too much craft supplies or too many cookbooks.  

Skin allergies caused me to examine skin care products which in turn led me to make my own soap!  This process allows me to be creative but also to feel like a mad scientist in my laboratory!

Thanks for reading!  I hope I haven't bored you.  Pictures to come. P.S. Did I mention how much I like to read?