My Christmas Giveaway

I was sitting around doing nuttin' today and it came to my teeny mind that I haven't had a giveaway in quite awhile.  Now I said to myself...."that's no way to be" and off I went to my sewing cave to come up with some goodies that ya'll might like.

First off, here's what is up for grabs....

Petite French Stockings pattern by JBW

Fluffy Stuff by RBG

Silk Lame' Braid by RBG

Red, White & Green of Burmilana

1 Spool of HDF silk in a red, green & gold varigated

1 Box of white pearls

1 Christmas stocking frame

1 Card of Santa buttons

1 Pair of Bohin scissors with enameled handles

1 Christmas tin to hold scissors & needles

plus there will be a couple of surprises too.

(After all....what is Christmas without a surprise or two)

So there you have it......now for the nasty stuff....

You must be a follower of my blog...

To get a second chance to enter, post on your blog about this giveaway 

(and please make a second post here about it)

That's all there's to it.  Not so bad, huh?  So good luck to all and I will draw a name Christmas Eve.  I'm going to take a break from blogging until then, so this post will remain at the top of the page.

To all you Ladies who follow my blog..;.stop in for a looksie.....or came across me by chance..... I wish everyone a Merry Christmas (yes I'm old school and still say those two words even when someone says Happy Holidays to me).  Check back here on Christmas Day if you get the time to see if you might be the winner.  This giveaway is open to everyone no matter where you call "home".

Until we talk again, have a Blessed Christmas,

Barbara

A Tatting Press and Bag

For the last 2 days I've been working on something a little different that I just have to share with you.  Jenn has been teaching herself how to tat and came across a pattern for something called a "tatting press".  Now I must admit I had never heard of such a thing and was curious.  I went to the blog where the pattern was....here.....and fell in love with this little gadget.  She gives you a full pdf pattern with extremely good directions on how to make one of your own.  Here are the pics of it finished and then I'll explain how this works.

This is the top and it has two pockets.  The ribbon comes across the top of the pockets and holds the items inside them.  Neat huh!

This is the bottom where the ribbon is attached on top of the big pocket.  This can be used for scissors or needles.  The ribbon also crosses this pocket to hold the item inside.

This is the inside of the press.  What this is for is this:  when you are working on a tatting project, and you want to quit for awhile, you lay the tatting on the inside and your shuttle will fit in one of the outside pockets.  This keeps your tatting pressed flat and neat.

Now what I'm thinking is this.  Why couldn't you use this for cross stitch.  The pockets can hold your needles, scissors and such and the inside can hold your loose needles.  You could even lay the floss you are working with inside to keep it neat and out of harms way.

Then Jenn asked for a bag to hold everything and I came up with this.  It's a variation of my project bags but it stands up.  It's completely lined with an inside zippered pocket and has Warm and Natural cotton batting between the layers of cotton fabric.

I want to tell you about this fabric I've used.  I came across the striped at Joann's and bought a yard or two but one day I was down at Hobby Lobby and they had 2 other coordinating fabrics to match the stripes.  Needless to say, I came home with 2 yards of each.  I know Jenn loves teal and brown and this fabric has both and I also used this fabric to make the holder for her knitting needles.

Well that's about it.  This has kept me busy so now it's unto to finding something else to work on.  I know alot of stitchers get excited about the prospect of starting something new but I really don't.  I hate the process of finding a pattern I like....finding the fabric.....finding the flosses or silks.....ho hum I'm already tired.  I think I'll wait till tomorrow. :o)

Until the next time, have a Blessed Day,

Barbara

Needlework Masters Monthly SAL

Hello to the Ladies who have decided to join in on our little SAL.  January is right around the corner and you have to have your book cover finished by the start of the SAL.  I should say you don't HAVE to but I think it would make it easier on you if you did.  The following ladies have finished their covers and are ready to begin the SAL come Jan 1st.

Stitchernon

Cucki

Opoe Gea

Margaret

Lorraine

Jokie

Connie

Corina

Lanybleu

Sarah

Jenn

Barbara

So if you haven't finished your cover yet, please do because I really think it will make it easier on you.

Well Christmas is right around the corner and as usual I feel like I'm late on everything.  I have to pick up my Christmas cards tomorrow and get them filled out.  Do any of you still do Christmas cards?  Every year my list gets shorter because the cost is just getting ridiculous to mail them.  I'm not sure if I am going to do any cookie baking this year.  My lips are saying "Oh yes, please do!" but my hips are saying "For Pete's sake, not anymore!"  What to do....what to do....

I hope everyone is having a fantastic Monday and until we talk again, have a Blessed Day,

Barbara

Shawls....shawls....and more shawls.....

For the last few weeks I've been in a crocheting frame of mind.  I love working with natural fibers....wools, silks, cotton.....the list is endless.  Here are 5 of my shawls I've finished so far.  Peyton was nice enough to be my model.

The above one was made using fingering weight wool.  

This one was made using silk.

The above is my favorite and will remain with me.  It's made using a yarn with Silk, Alpaca, Cashmere and Camel wool.  It's as soft as a babys bottom.

The above is a silk and wool combo.

This one is a fingering weight wool.  

They are basically all over the same pattern with some differences in the edging.  If you are looking for a great pattern that works up super fast, the pattern is on Ravelry and it's called Recuerdos de infancia.

I've started a new one called Cheche a la sauce bidules chouetttes and that one is being made out of a Cascade yarn called Pacific and it's wool and acrylic in a light grey color.

Well that's all for today.  I'm working on a small Sweetheart Tree freebie and hope to start the french SAL any day now.  Until we talk again, have a Blessed day,

Barbara

from Barbara and her family

I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, 

So I got my doctor's permission to

Join a fitness club and start exercising.

I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors.

I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down

and perspired for an hour. But,

By the time I got my leotards on, the class was over. 

Just a chuckle for today,

Blessings,

Barbara

A Quilt finished and on it's way

When I heard that a friend's daughter was expecting her first baby, the wheels starting turning.  I knew I had to do something personal for her and the family.  Well thanks to DH, I was able to personalize it with the baby girl's first name - Henley and at the bottom I did a very cute poem I found.

In case you can't read it, it says:

A child is special - a gift from above.

One to cherish - And to love.

I don't think I could of found anything cuter or more special.

Our grand daughter and two friends were over this weekend and did me and my DH the biggest of favors.  I've wanted my dining room and living room repainted for some time now and they were kind enough to do it for us.  The main color is a light grey with a hint of green in it (think DMC 3013) and I had them paint two walls a dark brown green (think DMC 830).  I absolutely love how it turned out and I highly recommend these 3 for future painting jobs....of which I have plenty.  

I was going to start Letters to Santa but I've changed my mind.  I'm going to take some time and finish up a few other things I have going before I start something new.

It's beginning to get a little chilly down here in Florida.  I put Vallie's little Christmas t-shirt on her today that Jenn bought her last year and she will not let anyone take it off of her.  I've never seen a dog love to wear a shirt so much.

Well enough for now - till we talk again have a Blessed day,

Barbara

Update:  Catherine asked for a picture of Vallie in her shirt.....well here she is in her little Bah Hum Bug shirt.  She went to the vet today to get her heart worm shot so she's a little under the weather.  Who likes shots???  See the blue pillow - well that's where she sleeps while I'm stitching.  I found that at Joann's and all you did was add stuffing and you get the perfect little dog pillow.  She curls right up into it and is very snug.  Our grand daughter Peyton has a little jack russel and I gave her one and she loves it also.  So there ya go.....Vallie in her special shirt.

Just Nan's Gingerbread Mouse

I love Just Nan designs and this little sweetheart is no exception.  He was suppose to be stitched on a brown fabric so it looked like gingerbread but I didn't have any so I decided to do a little grey mouse.  He's really, really tiny at only 1.5 inches tall but there's alot of stitching in that little area.  He will be my addition to our Christmas tree this year.

Now onto the next project which at this time I have no idea what it will be.  I'm thinking about doing Letters for Santa by With Thy Needle and Thread.   I have everything I need to stitch it so that would be a good one to do.  

I finished 3 shawls in the last few weeks and I pick them up from the lady who does my blocking tomorrow.  I will post some pics later this week with how they look all finished up.  I can't wait to see them.

Until we talk again have a Blessed day,

Barbara

On a brighter note.....

.....I finished the Lizzie Kate!!!!  Yeah!!!!!  I never had a small design take so long to stitch but I guess that's what happens when you do too many things at one time.  I am certainly happy that this is now off of my frame and ready to be framed.  I think I'll wait until after the holidays to look for a frame....I'm hoping for some good sales.

 I stitched the design on 32ct. Cream Belfast using DMC floss.  It called for some overdyeds but I decided against them.  I really and truly dislike stitching with the cotton overdyeds.....Weeks, Sampler, Crescent....it doesn't matter which one.....I dislike them all.  I have quite a few of them and they will be going on the selling blog shortly.  

Now I want to tell you about the pincushion you see in the upper left hand corner of the above picture.  This was very simple to make and it actually has a double purpose.  I took a canning lid and glued the two pieces together and sat them aside.  Then I made a regular old tomato pincushion and stuffed it really tightly.  I then glued the pincushion inside the lid with some strong glue.  I placed rubber bands up and over and all around it to keep the pincushion tightly inside the lid.  I left this dry overnight and the next morning I glued a magnet in the center of the bottom lid.  Why did I do that?  I use magnets to hold my pattern to my fabric in the frame when I am stitching and this gives me a nice strong magnet to hold my pattern...but also gives me a really pretty pincushion that will hold my needle when I'm not using it.

This is a very simple to make so try it and send me a pic of what yours looks like.  I would love to see different interpretations.

That's all for now.....back to Christmas stitching and until we talk again, have a Blessed day,

Barbara

In mourning

for our country