cross stitch · Cross Stitch Patterns · Durene Jones · Fabric · Hand Dyed Fabrics · organization · Pillows · Tiny Modernist

Busy Crafting and Purging


Hello blogging friends! How are you doing? The sun is shining here today. Still a little nippy outside, but warmer temperatures are coming next week.

This week was a busy week for me. I spent a lot of time going through my crafting stash and doing a bit of reorganizing and getting rid of what I no longer want. I went through all of my Mirabilia and Nora Corbett patterns and made sure what was kitted was put into my Xstitch app as kitted. Even if it was just a bead pack or fabric. I was pretty much caught up on that. But there were a lot of patterns that I needed to add. Serendipitous Jo reminded me of the Inventory part of the app. There were some items already in the inventory section, so I have used it in the past. I think the reason I didn’t continue using it was because you can’t put a photo of the pattern in that section. But I guess when I go to stitch that pattern, I can move it to kitted and then add a photo. Almost none of my Nora Corbett patterns were in the app unless they were kitted. I added all of the Nora’s and a few Miras; there are a lot. I have been collecting them since the mid 90’s. They have their own storage trunk!

I still have a whole filing cabinet of patterns to go through maybe this week. I also went through a closet that had 2 bins of yarn in it. I will probably never use that yarn, so I donated all of it to a local senior center. The Activities Director was quite pleased as she said that a lot of the women don’t get to get out and shop for yarn. I am happy that it will bring joy to the women there. I am really trying hard to let go of the things that I know I will not use or no longer want. I guess this is my Spring-cleaning phase. Anyway, enough of that. Now on to the crafting.

I pulled out the April pillow to get it started. Good thing, too, because it is more of an Easter themed pillow.

I had forgotten how large the holes in the canvas are. Three strands don’t really give enough coverage, but that’s ok. It is what the kit came with so that is what I am going with.

It only took me about 2 1/2 days to get the stitching done on this one. When I finished, I noticed this:

I tucked the threads in and did a little stitching on the back by hand. Hopefully it holds up. I didn’t see this when I started the pillow, so maybe I pulled the piece too tight in the hoop. I do love a tight as a drum fabric. So, note to self; do not pull the next pillow to tightly in the hoop.

I think it turned out pretty cute and it is finished in time for Easter too. This is an old kit from Pine Mountain Designs. Another pillow finished, and 6 more to go.

I also stitched a bit on the Ocean Pearl SAL from Tiny Modernist.

I really like working on this piece. Very relaxing. I am stitching on 16ct Aida Cascade from Fabrics By Stephanie. And I thought this one was going to be my last new start for a while. You know, I had planned on getting back to my WIP’s. But just look at what I saw while browsing social media the other day!!!

Oh my gosh you guys! I saw this posted in the Durene Jones Cross Stitch group by Heather Hopkins. I hope that she does not mind me posting this picture here. But I think this is the cutest pattern and the best finish ever! I absolutely fell in love with this pattern and this finish! It is not usually my style of pattern, but I just gushed at the sight of this. So much so that I immediately went to Durene Jones’ Etsy shop and purchased the pattern.

It is the Haberdashery Shop, and it is so adorable. I just want to start it right now! I want to stitch this on a soft aida. I don’t know why. It just came into my mind that it should be stitched on soft aida. So, I will look through my stash and see what I can find. It is a full coverage piece, so the color really shouldn’t matter. Probably something light though. I will let you know what I find and if I caved and started it 😉

Well, that is what I have been up to. For now, it’s time to do a little cleaning up in my craft room. What have you been up to lately?

Happy Stitching,

ginny

Floss · organization

New Floss Organization


I know, I know. I just reorganized my floss a couple of months ago. Well, I went a step further. Remember I re wound all of my floss from cardboard bobbins to acrylic bobbins?

Acrylic Bobbins

Well, I kept seeing posts on Facebook about a cute little cabinet that people were putting their bobbins into. For some reason I thought the cabinet was something that was available in the UK. So I decided to google the Bisley Cabinet. And wow! It is available at the Container Store! A place I LOVE to shop at but had not been in a long while. So, last week hubby and I jumped in the car and drove the 30 minutes to the nearest Container Store. And this is what I picked up.

Pink Bisley Cabinet

Of course it had to be pink. But it does come in several other colors. I had also seen that GWStitchinDepot makes acrylic dividers for the Bisley drawers. Well, I just knew this was better than the boxes that I had them in and so I ordered them. They arrived yesterday.

Acrylic Dividers

The acrylic dividers came in long and short strips with grooves cut into them and were super easy to put together.

Each drawer now has 30 sections where I can add my acrylic bobbins. This system can be used for anything, though.

Acrylic Bobbins added to the divided sections

I put 5 bobbins in each section, even though a lot of my bobbins are empty due to so much floss being in projects that are already in progress. While the drawers look so awesome with all the beautiful bobbins, I can’t wait until all bobbins are filled.

I just love my new system. If you are interested in any of the acrylic bobbins or dividers or other acrylic options, they are available from GWStitchinDepot on Etsy. She does a fantastic job and they are well made. If you have questions, you can message her through Etsy and she is quick to respond and super sweet.

Now another reason to continue to work on getting those WIP’s finished; getting all of my acrylic bobbins filled and into their new home in the Bisley.