New Stitching Tool

I was reading the Nordic Needle Newsletter and in the new items they had something of interest. It's called a "Stitch Picker". They were selling them with matching Scissor Fobs for about $20 a set. Well I have more scissor fobs than scissors now and have charts to make several more so why would I want to buy one. I thought about this for a while and looked in my stash to see what I may have to make one myself. This is what I came up with....

So for less than $1. I have a "Stitch Picker". I used a size 22 needle that I would never use to stitch with, a Sunflower and Dragonfly Charm and some beads from my stash. I think it came out nice for my first one. I'm going to look for more charms and make more, maybe even RAK a few to those who have RAK'd me. Maybe if I did them with frog charms they would keep the pesky frogs away from stitching and if they didn't it would make it easier to do the Frogging.

Until next time....Happy stitching (or Picking)

Who Reads my Blog

I got this from Kelly and thought it would be interesting to try it too.

1. As a comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! And if we've never met in real life, leave me a comment of your favorite post I wrote and why it was your favorite.

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually really funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

RAK Received

I woke up from a nap this afternoon feeling Yukkie. Head stuffed up, nose running, throat sore. Could I be coming down with a Summer cold? I can count the number of colds I've has since moving to Las Vegas 8 years ago on one hand with fingers left over. Well maybe a walk to the mail box would make me feel better and boy did it. I am running a exchange in my ILCS group call "Blind Ornament Exchange". Here's how it works, members stitch a ornament and send it to me with a self addressed return envelope. At the end of the exchange I will send a ornament back to everyone participating but no one knows whose ornament they will get. It's a win win exchange, everyone who sends a ornament gets one back and the best part I get to see all the ornaments <:o). In today's mail I received the ornament from Debbie B and she included this chart along with a lovely piece of 28 count Antique White Jubliee fabric.

"Fruit Salad Sampler Cherry" by Sister and Best Friends

It is stitched with GAST threads and will give me a good excuse to add to my overdyed stash. The size would be perfect for another flat fold for my kitchen and I can't wait to get the threads and start it.

Thank you again Debbie for the RAK and for stitching such a lovely ornament for the exchange.

Until next time....Happy Stitching

Olympic Finish

I'm giving myself a "Gold Medal" for this one. I had finished the stitching several weeks ago but was a little intimidated by the finishing. So last night watching the USA get the gold in Swimming and Gymnastics I said I can do it too and here is my results.....

"A Patchwork Garden Pincushion Ball"

by Twisted Oaks Designs

stitched on 6 different colors of 28 count Cashel Linen

with Dinky Dye Silk

Today I've pulled out my "12 Days of Christmas" by Hinzeit project and hope to make some good progress on it since it only has 4 colors.

Until next time.....Happy Stitching

Needles, Needles, Needles

A while back there was some discussion in my ILCS Yahoo group about needles. What size to use, nickle plated vs. gold plated, different brands ect. There were as many different preferences in needles as there are in fabrics. One or two people suggested different sites on the web to purchase needles in bulk. This was of great interest to me since I hate changing needles for different colors in a project and like to have a needle for each color in each project (that means LOTS of needles since I have many projects going at one time). I decided to try Busy Lizzie Crafts in the UK as a source for needles. I could not be happier with Anne and the service she provides as well as the quality of the needles. I have been using the needles for about a month now and NO problems with any of them. Being a 28 petite needle user for a long time I wasn't sure about going back to regular 28 needles but I found these needles to be just a little longer than what I was use to and I think I will now stick to them for most stitching. I ordered in the bulk packages of 50 and this is how they come.



If you are in the market for some really good needles try www.crossstitchneedleshop.co.uk or her other site www.busylizziecrafts.co.uk

As a side note in honor of our US Olympic team I opened the package of gold needles for my current new project (more on that later). I am hoping this will bring them luck and more Gold medals.

Until Next Time with a stitching update.....Happy Stitching

Confessions of a Olympic Junkie

OK....My name is Rene and I can't stop watching the Olympics. Is there a 12 step program for Olympic junkies. I find that I'm taking a nap in the afternoon so I can stay up almost all night watching all the coverage I can find. It's gotten so bad I even found myself watching Men's basketball this morning at 4 am. I never watch basketball....what's wrong with me. I do get a lot of stitching done while watching (listening) to all the coverage. This is my latest finish......

Milady's Needle Quaker Christmas Small

Stitched on 28 count Linen

with Carie's Creations "Bullfrog"

Since I find it more difficult to stitch on projects with lots of color changes during the Olympics I'm going to really diminish my supply of overdyed threads....guess that means more shopping for different colors. I am now working on Coq Au Pins "Hen" and hope I don't run out of thread again before I have the rest of the set done.

Until Next Time......Happy Stitching and Watching the Olympics

Olympic Stitching

I got a little more done on "Pansies Please". I'm still behind in the SAL and probably won't catch up while the Olympics are on. I found it very difficult to stitch with all the color changes while watching and cheering on the USA teams. The progress I did make was done while watching the NASCAR race.

Since it was so difficult to stitch with the color changes I decided to start another of the "Quaker Christmas Smalls". This one I'm doing on a piece of 28 count linen from my stash (no idea what the color is called) with Caries Creations "Bull Frog". On this one the background is stitched and the design is left blank. The chart has 3 different designs and each is done both ways. I will do the other two designs like this one. I think one will be done in Red and the other in Blue. Then I'll do them as I did the ornament for the exchange.

Until Next Time....Happy Stitching GO USA