An Ornament(al) Goal

Posted on October 3, 2010 by Heather

One of my goals last month was to put together a monthly ornament club for myself. I unashamedly stole borrowed the idea from Erica of Erica’s Places. However, I didn’t get around to doing it last month because my printer lost its mind. My printer hasn’t gotten any better, but since I’m still stuck with this cold and not capable of doing much beyond knitting simple garter stitch slippers and playing video games, I decided to get out all my old Just Cross Stitch ornament issues to see what there was to see.

Since I have all 14 past issues of the “official” ornament issue, and there are also 14 months (not including this month) until Christmas next year (if you include December 2011), I thought it would be a nice idea to pick one ornament from each issue.  So, my list is this:

  • 1997 – Santa Bellpull – Carol Emmer Designs
  • 1998 – Hollyberry Heart – Sweetheart Tree
  • 1999 – Hardanger Ornament – Nordic Needle
  • 2000 – Holly Leaves – Jemini Designs
  • 2001 – Home for Christmas – Julia Lucas Designs
  • 2002 – Five Gold Rings – Flower Thread Company/Meg Shinall
  • 2003 – Victorian Christmas Tree – Sue Hillis
  • 2004 – Peace Tree – M Designs
  • 2005 – Britty Christmas Kitty – Brittercup Designs
  • 2006 – 2006 Santa – Vermillion Stitchery
  • 2007 – Sugar and Lace – Victoria Sampler
  • 2008 – Deck the Windows – Julia Lucas Designs
  • 2009 – Gingerbread Scissors Keep – Victoria Sampler
  • 2010 – You are My Gift – Dragon Dreams

Originally,  my goal was not to duplicate designers, but I couldn’t help myself. For some years it was really hard to pick an ornament that I knew I would still be excited about months from now. For one year I even had to have my husband pick an ornament since there wasn’t really one I was in love with.

We shall see how this goes, but hopefully I will have 14 lovely Christmas ornaments for my three next year. I still need to figure out fabrics and pick up a few minor supplies, but I know I will have this ready to go for November.

And to switch gears to Halloween, today is day 3 of Missy Ann and Annette’s 31 Days of Halloween. Head over to Annette’s blog to enter today’s draw.

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Copyright Info for Needleworkers

Posted on October 2, 2010 by Heather

A link to a new blog was included in the announcement of  the release of October’s The Gift of Stitching: Needlework Copyright Information. This is a blog put together to provide information to stitchers about what is okay when it comes to charts and sharing.

It is important to remember that copyright rules differ from country to country, and what is true for the writers of the blog may not always be true in your country. However, whatever the laws of your country state, I think we need to remember that designers only get money when we purchase a chart through legal means.

If you want your favourite designer to keep designing, you need to buy their charts. Designers are not rich. They need to make a living just like the rest of us. (I know a couple so I know this to be true!) If you say you can’t afford to buy a chart, then how do you expect to be able to afford to by the materials to stitch it? If the chart you want is too expensive, save up for it, or look for something similar that costs less. (Also be aware when you purchase a chart used, the designer does not benefit. It is true that this is the only way to get many out of print charts, and I’ve bought several used charts myself recently for just that reason.)

I will note one thing not mentioned on the blog: in Canada and the U.S. it is legal to make a working copy of a chart that you own. However, it is not okay to lend out your chart to someone else while you stitch from your working copy. Really, it is just common sense. Be smart and be fair to the designers that provide us with fabulous designs and fuel our hobby.

And to come totally clean, yes, I have had photocopied charts in my stash. But they were long ago replaced with legitimately purchased copies or thrown away. I can honestly say that I have never stitched anything from a chart that I did not own (or borrowed, trusting the owner not to stitch it at the same time), nor will I ever do so.

On a lighter note, today is day 2 of the 31 Days of Halloween and it is Missy Ann’s turn to host the draw. Head over there to enter!

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September Review and October Goals

Posted on October 1, 2010 by Heather

Happy October!  This is my second favourite month of the year, and usually the busiest, bar December and Christmas. This month is all about family birthdays, Thanksgiving, and the Creativ Festival. I’m really looking forward to every single day.

September didn’t go quite as planned. While we did go on our getaway and attend a nice family dinner (yum, real Chinese banquet!), a nasty cold all but knocked me flat for about the last week. All of that meant that I wasn’t able to find time to post or to answer questions about the ornament finishing. With regards to the latter, I will do a post on it some time this month when I’ve got an ornament ready to finish.

So, my September goals were:

  • Update my cross stitch supply database – Done!
  • Set up a personal monthly sock club – Almost done (printer isn’t working so this is a little delayed)
  • Set up a personal ornament of the month club (thank you to Erica for this idea) – see above
  • Finish my punch needle kit (the replacement thread arrived about 2 weeks ago) – Done!
  • Knit or crochet two pairs of slippers for charity- one pair done and second started
  • Finish my long languishing Rosebud Socks – Done!
  • Start and finish Terrapin Lace Socks for a Ravelry KAL – knitted Clapotis instead
  • Finish the inner border on Kitchen Blessings – Done!
  • Start and make good progress on TW’s Playful Kittens – see below

I’m very happy with how well I did, except for the slippers. But, I found out that I actually have until the end of this month to get them finished, so I feel a little better.

Like I said, October is going to be busy, so I need to be more realistic with my goals. They are:

  • finish second pair of slippers for charity
  • knit at least one bewb for charity/Ravelry KAL
  • finish Halloween ornament (the Ink Circles one from this year’s JCS Halloween issue)
  • start Kai-Mei socks, and finish at least one (they are the green pair in the small pictures at that link)
  • make significant progress on the outer border of Kitchen Blessings
  • finish TW’s Playful Kittens

Here’s where Playful Kittens stands today. There isn’t too much left to stitch, although there is a whole pile of backstitching. I suppose it wouldn’t be a TW otherwise.

Playful Kittens by Teresa Wentzler (WIP)

One last thing: this year Missy Ann‘s 13 Days of Halloween is 31 days thanks to the help of Annette. Annette will be hosting the draws on odd numbered days and Missy Ann on even numbered days. Be sure to stop by their blogs to enter. Today, being the 1st, is Annette’s turn.

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A Knight with a Ghost

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Heather

Yesterday I trekked over to my so-of-LNS to take an ornament finishing class with Nancy Cline. It is a pretty long slog to get there and back, but the tips and tricks I learned, not to mention my fabulous finished ornament, made the long day totally worthwhile.

Nancy walked us through all the steps required to finish an ornament fabulously, from creating a template, to cutting and gluing the foam interior, to adding the hanger and trim.  I chose to finish my Medieval Miniature piece from a class I took with TW in 2008. Here’s the finished product (as always, it looks much, much better in person, very nice and puffy).

Camelot Miniature by Teresa Wentzler

I love the little trick Nancy showed us for covering up where the braid for the trim meets.

Ribbon covering braid ends

I’ve already started to assemble my ornament finishing kit. I need to get some super tacky glue, foam, matte board, tooth picks and a few other odds and ends (and there is nothing like an excuse to by some fabric!), before I get started.

On Friday, totally forgetting that I was taking an ornament finishing class on Saturday, I finished up Starlight Ghost from Mill Hill. It is done in the standard way, but now I really wish I had waited. Still, I am happy with it. I wish I had bought all the rest of the ornaments in this series, since they are so cute.

Starlight Ghost by Mill Hill

And a little update on my September goals: one pair of slippers is done; the ornament and sock clubs are on hold since the printer has lost its mind completely (I do have the yarn picked out for the socks; for the ornaments, I’ve decided to wait until I get this year’s ornament issue before I make my final picks); the Terrapin Lace Socks have been replaced by Clapotis and I am past the halfway point with it; and lastly, I have started TW’s Playful Kittens and hope to have more done before the end of the month. I have to admit, I’m pretty proud of myself. 🙂

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Meet Inga

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Heather

I know, I know. I’ve been promising pictures of my Inga bag for ages. I’m lazy, forgetful, and always so darn tired. Really, there is no excuse.  So, finally, here she is:

Inga Bag by Inga Joana Mertens (crochet)

My Inga bag was crocheted from five skeins of Anchor Magicline cotton in colour 1474, a lovely mixture of red, pink, orange and white.  The pattern for this bag, officially named Inga’s Haekelbeutel, can be found here. (Note that there is an error in the pattern: Round 2 should read: Ch 3, 2 dc, 2 dc through chain, Ch 3, 2 dc through chain, 3 dc, (no Ch 3 here) 2 dc through chain, Ch3, 2 dc through chain, 3 dc, 2 dc through chain, etc…)

I think my bag turned out a little more dense then I would like, probably because I crochet very tightly. However, I had hardly any yarn left at the end, so if I had used a large hook, I would have run out of yarn. Overall, I’m pleased with it. I’m sure it will stretch and loosen up with use. The biggest problem: these aren’t my colours at all. Oh well.

On to better news! I received my exchange piece today! Susan, from Confessions of a Floss Licker, made me a fabulous bookmark. I love it, and have already placed it inside my new copy of The Annotated Pride and Prejudice.

Exchange from Susan

No stitching or knitting this evening, unfortunately. I have finally started the first of those two pairs of slippers I want to knit this month, but my hands are starting to hurt again. I’m hoping that it is nothing more than stress and lack of sleep, but to be on the safe side, I’m going to read tonight instead.

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Halloween is Coming!

Posted on September 10, 2010 by Heather

A little while ago, I won this draw on Daffycat’s blog. And today it arrived in my mailbox, looking even more wonderful in person than it did in the picture. Take a look:

Pin Cushion from Daffycat

Now I am totally in the mood for Halloween. Thankfully, I have a pile of things to stitch: the ornaments/pins in the September issue of Cross Stitch and Needlework, four of the Brooke’s Books witches, ornaments from the JCS Halloween issues, and a Mill Hill kit. So, today, I grabbed the easiest one, the Mill Hill kit, and got started:

Starlight Ghost by Mill Hill - WIP

I didn’t feel too guilty starting this since it is a quick stitch, and because I have finished the inner border of Kitchen Blessings.

Kitchen Blessings by Enchanting Lair - WIP

Not bad, eh? That’s another September goal conquered. And it seems like Someone up there is rewarding me for doing so well with my goals this month: I’ve won a couple more draws! I won the pattern for the Lillian cardigan in the Crafty Diversions draw I shared with you, one of these lovely needle gauges (which I was lusting after) through a group I frequent on Ravelry, and this draw by Stitch Bitch. I’m pretty sure I’ve used up my luck for the rest of the year. 🙂

Next post: pictures of the Inga bag.  Promise!

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Lively Simply and Another Giveaway

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Heather

I’m ploughing through my September To Do list! Over the weekend I managed to get all my fibres and beads into my cross stitch supplies database. (Fibres kitted up with projects aren’t recorded, but that is how I prefer it, since they aren’t free to use in another project.)  I’ve also started setting up my personal sock club: I’ve picked twelve patterns I really like and paired them with yarn. I’m letting the list sit for a little while to make sure I do really like the patterns. I’m also thinking of expanding it to fifteen patterns, which would take me from October 2010 to December 2011.

I’ve also finished my Live Simply punchneedle project. It still needs to be ironed, but here it is:

Live Simply punchneedle by Dimensions

So, that means I still have the two pairs of slippers, the ornament kitting up, the pair of socks (which are not going well), and two cross stitch projects. Wow, that is still a lot.

On to the giveaway! This time it is knitting: Anne Kuo Lukito of Crafty Diversions is giving away ten copies of her new designs, Cocoon, and two copies of one of her best sellers, Lillian. I’m a huge fan of both, and would be super excited to win either. If you’d like a chance to win, you need to hurry! Check out her blog post here for details.

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