Bella Filipina Designs · cross stitch · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitted Shawl · Knitting · Mermaids · Project Bags

Stitching, Knitting and Shopping


Hello blogging friends. The temps are getting cooler here after a few days of surprisingly wonderful warm and sunny days. The dreaded white stuff is coming though. About an inch or two of snow is predicted for this weekend 😦 Are you a fan of snow and cold weather? I am not looking forward to winter and can only hope that it will fly by as fast as my summer did.

I need to plan out some projects for the winter. But for now, let’s talk about what I am stitching on right now.

Pearl’s Tail

I finished the tail on Pearl of the Orient Seas, minus the beads. I have moved scrolls to the middle of the design to work upwards.

Progress on Pearl

While I am enjoying the stitching on this one, the colors are starting to bring me down and I am getting the itch to start something new. I am trying really hard to resist, but I do see some smaller projects creeping into my plans. For now, I stitch on 🙂 Just to remind you, the design is Pearl of the Orient Seas by Bella Filipina Designs. Fabric is 16ct aida, a one of a kind dye from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.

The Marit Shawl by Amy Christoffers is still on my needles. It is going well, but still looking a little small to me.

Marit shawl

I am actually on the decrease tier now and making half triangles for the top edge.

Almost finished!

Maybe blocking will give me the size I need. This shawl will also have tassels.

Now onto the shopping as mentioned in my title. Last week Shop Hop started at local yarn shops. I decided not to shop hop this year, but just visit my very local shop, The Knitting Nest. I picked up some yarn for the newly published on Ravelery, Urchins and Scallops shawl from Soft Yarn Designs. This one should definitely be put into my winter knitting plans 😉

Shop Hop Haul

After getting home, I realized the yarn colors are very similar to the colors used in the pattern. I think they are perfect. The lovely shop owners also pointed out that they had some new stitch markers that they knew I would be interested it. Mermaids! Yes, please. And I couldn’t help but pick up another Project Bag by CleverGirl Designs. This one is a little bigger than the bags I usually order from her. It just fits into the bin I keep them in, but is taller than the other bags. I don’t think I can ever have too many of Kristine’s bags. Hubby ordered me another year of the Bag of the Month from her in August. I have received August, September and October, but I cannot find the pictures. Today I was surprised with the November and December bags and they are Awesome! Here is my November bag…ready?

Front of the Gnomie bag

Oh my gosh! It’s Gnomies!! so stinking cute! I LOVE it! And here is the back;

Cute Gnomes project bag (back)

My December bag was just as awesome.

Mermaid bag and Floss Catcher

She knows my love for mermaids and I do love this one. In fact, it matched the mask I was wearing when I went to the yarn shop to pick them up. Did you catch that cute Seashell zipper pull/progress marker? So cute! And check out that cute wallet looking matching piece! Have to show the back and the open wallet, too!

Mermaid set

Just look at that cute little Floss Catcher! I just love all of Kristine’s bags. They are so well made and her attention to detail and choice of fabrics is amazing. You can find her on Instagram @clevergirldesignsco

This is how I store my CleverGirl Project Bags.

Bins of Project Bags

There are 20 bags in these bins. It doesn’t include the one I am using for Pearl or the 2 new ones I picked up today. I can still use some more, LOL

Another bin full of projects

This been is full of not so pretty bags filled with wonderful projects. Some day it will be filled with pretty CleverGirl Design bags.

While at the Yarn Shop today, I was looking for even more yarn. This time for a sweater. Yep, a sweater, not a shawl! I haven’t made a sweater in years and I think I need to add one to my winter stitching plan 😉 I didn’t buy any, as I need to figure out what I want to use. So, I am off to make a swatch. What are you up to? What are your crafty plans for the weekend?

Bella Filipina Designs · cross stitch · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Knitting · Mermaids · Project Bags · Uncategorized · yarn

Shelter In Place and Craft


Wow!  It has been over a month since my last post.  So much has happened in the world since then.  Just 2 days after my last post, we decided to shelter in place.  Hubby’s work suggested that people who can work from home,  do so.  The next week our state issued a stay at home order.  Today is day 42.  Home is my happy place, but I can’t say that it has been totally easy.  There are some days that just get away from me without getting much done.  I have so many  things to do that sometimes I don’t know what to do and I do nothing.  But I am trying to get something done everyday.  Today, is my blog post 🙂   So I have pulled my pictures to share with you what I have been up to this last month.  I actually have a couple of finishes!  First, remember the black and white photo I shared of a project I had started last month?

Baby Fallon blanket black and white

Well, it is a baby blanket.  The yarn is AJHC Wools in color Aether.  It is so gorgeous and I knew it was the perfect color for a friend who was expecting a little boy.

baby blanket progress

 The pattern is Simple Eyelet Baby Blanket by LeeLee Knits and is available on Ravelry.  I really enjoyed working on this blanket.  The pattern was nice and simple, but elegant looking.

Sadly, my friend lost her baby.  My heart aches for her and her husband.  I cannot even imagine what they are going through.  I finished the blanket.  It still needs to be blocked.  Then I will tuck it away for now.

baby blanket finish

I also finished Aquamarina this last week and she turned out so beautiful and sparkly!

aquamarina headshot

Aquamarina close up

aquamarina finish

I am thrilled with how she turned out.  She is my first Bella Filipina finish and I can honestly say she will not be my last.  The fabric is 16ct Aida, a one of a kind from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics and is really is the perfect fabric for her.

So far I have not pulled another cross stitch out to work on, but I am really itching to.  Instead, I have been knitting in the evenings on a cowl  project I had started last September. The Wilma Cowl.

Wilma cowl

It is a project I picked up last September during a Shop Hop.  The pattern is from a book and the yarn is Heritage from Cascade Yarns in colorway #502.  It is supposed to have chevron pattern all around, but they really are not showing up well in this yarn, even though it is the yarn called for.  When I stretch it I can see it somewhat, but for the most part it just looks like random knitting.  The yarn is soft and the color is perfect for fall, so I  will continue on with it in between working on this project:

wingspan progress 4

Yeah, it is the Wingspan.  And if I wasn’t turning gray from the Corona Virus, I would be from this project.  I pulled it out and put in my second lifeline right away.  Knitted 4 or 5 rows and had to rip back to the lifeline.  Picked up the stitches and knit the rows back in.  Now I am up to Section D, another transition section.  So I add another lifeline.  I hold my breath the entire row and UGH!  I have 2 stitches left over.  So I rip out to the lifeline and boy were they a bear to pick back up this time!  Finally got them back on the needle and knitted the row again.  Perfect. Thank heavens for Lifelines.  But for now,  the project is in a time out!  I wanted to knit a couple of rows everyday so I can get this finished, but it is too stressful some days.  So I will wait until later this week to take it out of time out.  I thought I had been working on this project for 2 years, but turns out that I started in June 2019, so it hasn’t even been a year.  Just maybe I can get it done before the year is up 😉 But then again…maybe not.  There is a newproject start in my near future!  More about that in a minute…

I have also pulled out my sewing machine and have been making masks for family and friends. I made 25  until I ran out of elastic. I received a small shipment of elastic on Thursday, so I need to get back to sewing to fill some more orders I have received.  I will sew again until I run out of elastic and wait for my original shipment to arrive, hopefully soon.  It is a little something I can do to help out during this pandemic.

making masks

 

Since I last posted, I have received my March and April project bags from CleverGirl Designs.  They are so cute!

March and April project bags fronts

I love the knitting on the March bag on the left.  And the April bag has such cheery colors!

march and april project bags backs

This is the back side of both bags.  March on the left with little kitties to go with the yarn balls. Fun, vintage typewriters on the back of the April bag.  I love them both and have yet to fill them with a future cross stitch project.  But don’t worry.  I have a gazillion projects to choose from 😉  They won’t be empty for too long.  I have really enjoyed getting these happy mail packages every month, especially now during stay at home.

So, this leads me to the very near future project I mentioned earlier.  If you are a knitter, you probably have heard about Casapinka’s new shawl pattern that is out this weekend.  This weekend was supposed to be National LYS day and she designed a pattern for the shops to give for FREE when purchasing the yarn for the shawl.  This is the Breathe and Hope shawl:

breathe and hope shawl by casapinka

I fell in love with this as soon as I saw it in my email!! I love the colors and the pattern.  She is not telling us the yarn used, so that we can shop at the yarn shops.  I do hope that someday she reveals the yarn used, as it definitely deserves recognition.  The day before this photo arrived in my email, I had purchased a special bag and matching yarn from Tippy Tree Yarns.  The spring bag made by Knit 2 Together, has a matching skein of yarn dyed by Tippy Tree Yarns. I contacted her after receiving the email from Casapinka asking if she had a solid color to match the yarn.  She did and I ordered it and it  should arrive this week. It is a dark coral and I think it will be perfect with the yarn I just received yesterday.

tippytree bag and yarn

I am so excited for a new start this week.  I know I shouldn’t, but the Breathe and Hope shawl is perfect for this situation we are all in.

So, that is what I have been up to.  How are you spending your days while sheltering in place?  Do you have any new projects started?  Finish anything during our quarantine?  I’d love to hear about it!  And as always, be safe and stay healthy.

 

 

 

cross stitch · Mermaids · Nora Corbett · Passione Ricamo · Passione Ricamo SAL · Poison Pixie · Shannon Christine

Stitching and More Snow!


Hello friends!  Happy March!  I have no idea where February went, but I do hope that March slows down a bit.  And it is coming in like a Lion!  This is what it looks like out my window right now:

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Really?  After all of our snow had finally melted and we have had temperatures in the 50’s the last 3 days.  We are expecting 4-6 inches today.  It has been snowing steady for the last 4 hours and starting to pile up out there.  Good thing I have no plans to be out today or tomorrow.  Enough about the white stuff.  Let’s get to the stitchy stuff 🙂

First, I brought this adorable little pixie home from the framer a couple of weekends ago.

White Angel Trumpet framed

She is the White Trumpet Angel by Nora Corbett.  I stitched her on a one of a kind hand dyed fabric from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics in 16ct Aida.  If you haven’t checked out her fabrics, you should.  She usually posts new fabrics on her Etsy on Monday’s and you can purchase what she posts right away.  She has great customer service and super fast shipping.  She is so sweet!  I have yet to hang her in my craft room, (the framed piece, not Johanna, LOL)  but I will.  She will join the other 3 pixies I have hanging in there.

I have been stitching on the Passione Ricamo 20th Anniversary piece and finished the first block a few nights ago.  Sorry for the crooked picture.

PR 20th anniversary progress 1

This piece is going to be amazing when it is finished.  Here is a close up of the block I just finished:

first block on PR SAL

It was so much easier stitching this block than it was that Fairy to the right.  It probably took me about a week of evenings to stitch her.   I hope all of the blocks go as quick, then I can have this piece finished in a few months.  Wouldn’t that be awesome!

And I have a new start!  When you see what it is, you will know why I couldn’t resist…

Treasures of the Deep

A year of mermaids!!!  WOW!  As soon as this was released, my BSF (Best Stitchy Friend) sent the link over to me and I caved almost immediately.  She is such an enabler, LOL.  But I love her and she knows me so well.  So this is a year long SAL designed by Shannon Christine and put out by Fiberlicious.  I have received all of my supplies and started it the other night.  Here is my progress:

Start on Mermaid SAL

The mermaids are birthstone mermaids and the SAL starts with February.  Isn’t she just the sweetest little mermaid?  And boy is this piece full of bling!!  But my beads and crystals will have to wait until the very end.  I am stitching on 16ct Aida Maldivian Dream from Fiberlicious.  It is a beautiful hand painted fabric.   If you are interested in this SAL, you can order through Fiberlicious.

Well, that is what I have been up to.  What are you up to these days?  Do you have any new starts?   What WIP project are you trying to get finished?

AAN Chandelier · cross stitch · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mirabilia · Passione Ricamo · Passione Ricamo SAL

A Framing, A Start, Ready for a Start and Progress!


Hello Bloggers!  I think it is finally Spring here.  In fact, this was happening outside my front door in my Rhododendron bush:

cardinal in her nest

This Mama was so busy making this nest.  It was wonderful watching her.  Then last week I noticed a broken egg on my porch.  So I frantically tried looking in the nest to see if there were any more eggs and yes, there were 3 more.

cardinal nest of eggs.jpg

I do hope that nothing gets to the other eggs and I can see little baby birds soon.  So exciting.

More excitement…look what made it home from the framers yesterday:

framed Journey Into The Deep 1

A Journey Into the Deep by Passione Ricamo.  She is soooo beautiful!  And so big!  And already hanging on the wall.  Right at the end of my hallway, so everytime I go upstairs, I can look at all her gorgeousness!  She was stitched on 28ct Lugana Pixie Dust from Silkweaver.  So happy to have this awesome mermaid finished and hanging up.  Here are a few more pictures of her:

journey into the deep 2

journey into the deep 3

I am making slow progress on Ella.  Other things have been occupying my time lately, so only a few stitches here and there.  Here is how she looked after I put her down last night:

Ella progress 5

Ella progress 6

I couldn’t resist starting a little bit of that sweet frog.  I will save him and his crown for last 😉

I also started a new project.  A Chandelier SAL from AAN.  I’m not sure about the metallic threads.  I have chosen a suggested fabric, 16ct Aida Winter Solstice from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie, but the threads are not showing up very well.  So, when I get back to it, I will finish the whitish stitching and then decide how I want to add the metallic threads.  There will be lots of jewels, too!  So excited for the end of this one.  I LOVE chandeliers.  I have a whole board devoted to them on my Pinterest – Ginny Schleich if you want to check it out.  So here is my start on this one:

Chandelier start

And lastly, I am getting ready for a new Stitch A Long to start on Monday!  It is Passione Ricamo’s Mystery SAL 5. It seems like I have been ready and waiting for months!

Ready for SAL Moon sweet Moon

My fabric is on the scrolls, marked and ready to go!  It is a beautiful hand dyed that Johanna from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics made for me.  It is gray with hints of purple.  I think it will be perfect for Moon, Sweet Moon.  From the sneak peeks from Dawn, the model stitcher, It is going to be a Fairy and a crescent moon.  If you want to do this SAL, you have until April 29 to purchase the SAL.  You can find it by clicking on the link above or here.

So, that is what I have been up to among many other things.  I’d love to hear about what you are working on.  For now, Keep on Stitching and Enjoy Every Stitch 🙂

cross stitch · Mermaids · Passione Ricamo · Uncategorized

My Final Finish For 2016


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She sure is a beauty!  And so many beads!!  I didn’t think I would ever get done the beading.  I am happy to finish her and before the new year.  In case you haven’t been following this one, it is called Journey Into the Deep, by Passione Ricamo.  I stitched her on 28ct Lugana Pixie Dust from Silkweaver.  If I were to do her again, ( I never will ) I would switch the size 8 clear beads to the same size seed beads as the white ones.  There was no way I could fit the number of beads called for in the pattern.  I have 2 packages of clear beads left and 1 package of white beads.  But I am pleased at how she turned out and so happy to have stuck with her to the finish.

I would love to look back and show you a slide show of my 2016 finishes, but sadly, I am not that good with the computer.  And since I am creating this post on my Surface, I really have no clue ;).

So as I look back on 2016, I am pretty happy with what I have accomplished.  I already have a list of things I want to accomplish this year.  Not only stitching and crafting, but other things in my life.  I have been trying to think of my word for 2017 (Thank you Fawn for the reminder) and the one word that keeps coming to mind is DECLUTTER.  There are still several rooms and the garage, and many nooks and crannies that I need to go through and get rid of things I no longer need or have a use for.  But also to use the things that I have, especially when it comes to my crafting. So that is my one big goal for 2017 as well as the usual lose weight, make good choices, be a better person… Time for me to get things ready for my next cross stitch project.  I am planning on starting it at midnight tonight.  I will share it with you soon.

So as we get close to the end of 2016, I want to wish all of you a wonderful, happy, healthy and productive 2017.

cross stitch · Mermaids · Passione Ricamo · Passione Ricamo SAL · Uncategorized

Beading Has Begun


I have finally started beading mermaid!  This is just a tiny fraction of the amount of beads that will end up being on this piece.

beading-has-begun-on-mermaid

I had a heck of a time fitting that star treasure on her bikini top, in between all of those beads.  I should have added it first.  But I am not pulling all of those beads out, so it will just have to be a little crooked.  Here are some close-ups of the beading.

close-up-of-mermaids-beaded-face

She is starting to look more sparkly 🙂

beaded-face-of-mermaid

close-up-of-mermaid

Since we woke up to more snow this morning and are expecting even more today, I have decided to stay in and bead on mermaid 🙂  Here are a few snow pictures of what we have outside 😛

snow-day

Our neighbor and hubby “admiring their shoveling and plowing” 🙂  And my cute buddy, Thor watching them.

bander-and-thor

Thor sure loves to play in the snow.  As long as hubby keeps throwing it, Thor will keep trying to catch it.

So I am off to bead on mermaid on this cold, snowy Saturday.  What are your plans for today?

cross stitch · Mermaids · Passione Ricamo · Passione Ricamo SAL · Uncategorized

My Quilted Tree Skirt


Hi!  Wow, 2 posts in a week!  And me getting things done, too!  Amazing!  So, on Sunday I set out to cutting all the pieces for my tree skirt.  Then began sewing everything together.

sewing-my-tree-skirt

As you can see out my window, we received lots of the white stuff overnight and it was still snowing all day Sunday.  Perfect time to be inside sewing away.  Oh and we ended up with about 10″ of snow.  Yuk!  But I did get the quilt top all together.

tree-skirt-quilt-top

I just love how all the fabrics look together.  I was getting excited for the finished product.  I had worked on it all day and by the end of the day, I had all the quilt layers pinned together and ready for cutting and sewing.

tree-skirt-layers-pinned-together

I cut, sewed, poked my fingers a few times, turned it outside right, sewed the opening closed and tied off all of the squares.  And here is the finished product.  I am so happy with how it turned out.

tree-skirt-finished

my-tree-with-tree-skirt

tree-skirt-under-tree

And I am finally backstitching mermaid.  My least favorite part of cross stitching is the backstitching.  It is taking forever.  But she does have a beautiful face 🙂

pr-mermaid-progress

So now I have to get back to more decorating and getting my Christmas cards addressed!  What are you up to these busy December days?

 

Craft projects · cross stitch · Fabric · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mermaids · New stash! · Passione Ricamo

Did I Stitch in November?


Wow, I barely remember November!  Where did it go so quickly?  Well, I do remember stitching some.  Still working on Mermaid and here she is after last night.

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I swear when I go to bed at night, her hair grows a few more strands! Just a tad bit more hair and I will be done the stitching.  Hopefully that will happen tonight and I can move onto the backstitching and beading. I am glad I have stuck with her so far to almost finishing. She is going to be so worth every stitch.   I already have my next project lined up. Just waiting on fabric. I will share it when I get a start on it.

So let me share what I have acquired lately.  First, some beauties from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics:

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I don’t have anything in mind for them, I just really liked them and had to add them to my stash.

Next, my newest bag set from Deanna’s Frame Covers and Storage.  I found this fabric while at Joann Fabrics and new it had to be a bag set.

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I love birds and pink so this fabric jumped right out at me. This set includes a bag for 11 x 11 Q-snap frame, a little zippered pouch, perfect for threads and things and a grime guard for my 11 x 11 Q-snap frame.  I will use this set with my next project.

And this beauty arrived in my mailbox the other day:

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It is Ceridwen, November Fabric of the Month from Hand Dyes Fabrics by Stephanie.  It is 16ct Aida and I LOVE the beautiful pinks and grays in this one.  Not sure what I will stitch on it, but it will be something special.

This year, hubby let me do a themed Christmas tree, not the hodge podge of ornaments we usually do.  I wanted pink, and while hubby really didn’t want pink, he was willing to drive me over an hour to Bronners Christmas store, but I declined.  I decided we would go shop together, locally.  I fell in love with the black, white, gold and silver gift wrapping and bows and boxes.  So while I was drooling over all that stuff, hubby disappeared only to return with the ornaments for our themed tree-Silver, gold, gray, dark gray and glitter!

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We found some additional ornaments, but couldn’t find a tree skirt we liked.  And the traditional red and green one we have is not going to work.  So, next stop, Joann fabrics where I found all of these sweet fabrics so I can make a new tree skirt:

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I think all of these fabrics will be beautiful together (minus the blue with snowflakes, LOL).  I am hoping to get a start on it this weekend.  I will be sure to post pictures.

So that is what I have been up to.  I still have decorating to finish.  Yesterday I made 50 Christmas cards, so I still have to sign and address those and get them in the mail.  I also have shopping to finish up and sewing to do.  Hopefully I will get it all done soon so I can relax and enjoy December while it is still here.  What are you up to these December days?

cross stitch · Cross Stitch Patterns · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Hand Stamped Cards · knitted scarves · Knitting · Mermaids · Mirabilia · Nora Corbett · Passione Ricamo · Pixie · Queen · Uncategorized

Show and Tell Time


Wow!  Where did October go?  I can’t believe it’s been a month since I last posted.  Time is flying!  So I have things to share.  First, hubby went to the framer over the weekend and picked up this:

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Mirabilia’s Raven Queen.  Isn’t she a beauty?  I had the frame picked out for months and it is even more perfect for her than I imagined!  I LOVE this piece immensely!  She is stitched on 16ct Aida Twixt N Tween from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

A closer picture of her and the awesome frame:

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And remember the piece I was stitching for a friend, so I couldn’t show it?  Well hubby also picked it up from the framer and here it is:

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Yeah, my friend is a Trekkie and I finally got this stitched up for her.  It is actually stitched on a blue 14ct opal fabric.  Here is a better picture of the fabric:

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My friend was actually at my house on Saturday for a card class when hubby came home with it, so I was able to give it to her right away.  She loves it and was planning on taking it to work today to show all of her Trekkie friends and then I am sure she will find the perfect place to hang it at her house.

I also finished this, but haven’t put it in for framing yet.

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Nora Corbett’s Iris Pixie on 16ct Aida OOAK from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics.  I just love her on this fabric!  So cool how it turned out.

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She is a cutie.  I can’t wait to get her framed.  So now I am working on the Passione Ricamo’s A Journey Into the Deep.  I would love to finish this one before starting a new Pixie.  Here is how I left the mermaid last night:

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I know you can’t tell from this picture, but this is a pretty big piece.  I am almost finished the tail, and then I have another fish to do to the right of the tail and another further up then I can move up to her sweet face and all that hair.  And she does have a million beads, too, so she will be nice and sparkly!  I am stitching her on 28ct Lugana Pixie Dust from Silkweaver.

I also did something new.  I knitted an infinity scarf on size 50 needles.  Size 50!!  Boy was that a little awkward.

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The yarn is Red Heart Boutique Twilight in color Metallic.  It is soft and will be nice and warm on the very cold days that they are predicting we will have this winter.

I have also been making Christmas cards.  One for every day in October.  Here is today’s card:

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If you want to see the prior 23 cards, you can view them on my business facebook page at Ginny’s Place, Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator.  Leave a comment so I know you visited and let me know what you think of the cards.

Well, now I am all up to date with what has been happening with me the last month.  What have you been working on?

Fairies · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mermaids · Mirabilia · Nora Corbett · Passione Ricamo · Pixie · Uncategorized

What I Was Up To When August Flew By


Hello friends!  Are you feeling like me and wondering where in the heck August went?  I blinked and it was over, sigh. I did get to stitch, but first let me show you Aphrodite, back from the framer:

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She turned out so beautiful. She is Mirabilia’s Aphrodite and I stitched her on 16ct Aida Kaleidoscope from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.   Sorry about the light spot on the first photo, but it does show the frame better.  But don’t like the frame too much.  When picking this piece up, I was informed that the frame has been discontinued.  Too bad, as I really like it.  I tend to pick the same frames over and over,  without realizing it.  I guess I won’t be picking this frame again.  I haven’t hung her on the wall yet, but I think I have a spot for her.

After I finished Aphrodite, I pulled out Passione Ricamo’s A Journey Into the Deep.  I worked on it until August 21, 2016, which is when I couldn’t resist a new start any longer.  (No pictures of A Journey, sorry) I started Nora Corbett’s Iris Pixie.  Here she is after about a week of stitching:

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Lots of browns and golds on this one.  I am hoping to finish her before I get so bored with these colors.  Can you see a bit of a leg on the right of the design?  I am happily moving over to the right side of her dress. She will be a beauty when I finish her.  And hopefully I can finish before I get the urge for a new start.  Passione Ricamo just came out with her new design “Guiding Fairy”, which I have already purchased and have fabric on the way.

Speaking of fabric…I know, I know, I am addicted.  Here are my recent purchases from Fantasy Dyed Fabrics:

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All are 16ct Aida and all of them except the top right one are small cuts for pixies or witches.  The top right is my chosen fabric for Mirabilia’s Rapunzel.  Another one I can’t wait to start 😉  Did you see those cute tags, attached with a button, hand-stitched to the fabric?  How sweet is that? Johanna is doing an amazing job at dying beautiful fabrics.  If you haven’t visited her facebook page, do so by clicking here. She only sells one of a kinds, so what you see is what you get.

Another fabric I received this week is Tropical from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.

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This is 16ct Aida and is the August Fabric of the Month.  Don’t worry; if you love it, she will probably add it to her website soon so that you can order it. I just love the colors.  Maybe because they remind me of summer and I am trying to hang onto the last little bit.  Some day, a very special design will find it’s way to this fabric.

And last week, this little fellow came to visit:

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The first hummingbird I have seen at my house this summer.  It was during the rain and he fed from every remaining flower on all 3 of my hanging plants.  So he was here for quite a while and actually visited 4 times that day.  He even flew over to my sliding glass doors where me and a friend were standing, watching him.  He hovered in front of us, as if to say hello and went back to eating the sweet nectar.  I haven’t seen him since.  But I was able to get some pretty good photos for my scrapbook 🙂

So what have you been up to during that speedy month of August?