Stitching Lotus

More Ornament Goodness!

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Heather

So, how’s your ornament stitching coming along? Remember, you’ve got a few more days to add your link to the January check in post here.

Here is an emailed entry from Angela M. She doesn’t have a blog, is currently recovering from surgery. She asked if she could “borrow” my blog to post her ornament, and I said “Sure thing!”

Frosty Flakes by Little House Needleworks

The design is Frosty Flakes by Little House Needlework. She says that “LHN is one of my favorite Holiday designers.” This guy sure is cute!

5 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Ornament SAL 2013

Sewing Again!

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Heather

I mentioned the other day that my sewing machine seems to be working again. And that means I’m trying to finish up some kits I’ve had lying around for a while.

Cosmetic Bag, designed by Quilt a Bag

This is Cosmetic Bag from Quilt A Bag, a little shop here in Toronto that has had a booth at the Creativ Festival for the past few years. I’ve made a few of their kits in the past. And I still have a couple more to make. The next one I want to tackle is their Doctor Bag, which is just a purse sized version of this bag. The fabric in the kit is really cute, too.

Interior of Cosmetic Bag

I did make a few minor mistakes, partly because I didn’t understand the directions. But, overall I’m very pleased with it. And now I know what not to do when I make the larger bag.

8 Comments | Posted in Sewing | Tagged Finishes, Sewing

Ornament SAL – January Check In

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Heather

It’s the last Wednesday of the month and time for the Ornament SAL check in!

Holiday Keepsake Bellpull, designed by Dragon Dreams

This month I stitched Holiday Keepsake Bellpull by Dragon Dreams from the 1999 Just Cross Stitch Ornament issue. It is stitched as per the pattern, using Enchanting Lair’s Meadow for the fabric. I, of course, had to rechart the date. 🙂 (I apologize for the quality of the picture. We have had several rainy days here, and I keep missing the sunshine.)

How is your ornament coming along? Fill in the form and link to your finished picture, or just leave a comment if you haven’t been able to get an ornament stitched this month. I will leave the comments and form open for a week (midnight EST on February 5th, or there about). If you don’t have a blog but still want to share a picture, please send me an email.

Update – Check in for January is now closed.

18 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged Christmas Ornaments, Cross Stitch, Finishes, Ornament of the Month, Ornament SAL 2013

Salto Socks

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Heather

Finally, another pair of socks for me!

Salto Socks from Bowerbird Knits

These are the Salto Socks I started back in my vacation in November. I finally finished them up last Thursday. Wow, that took a long time! They are a little longer than I normally knit, going halfway up my leg (I’m short, so they really aren’t super long). The yarn is Blue Mountain Fiber Arts Sock Candy in colourway Dusty Blue. Complete details are available on my Ravelry project page.

To be honest with you, I made a few mistakes with these socks. The increases on the back of the first sock were done wrong and left tiny holes. (I was in the middle of the Caribbean Sea! I didn’t want to waste my precious Internet minutes looking up how to do an increase I thought I knew how to do.) And the second sock is actually a bit taller than the first since I did one extra cable twist on the leg. Oops! Thankfully the foot (which is what you see when wearing socks with pants, as I am wont to do) is perfect for both socks. I even followed the advice of the pattern and reversed the cables for the second sock.

Salto Cables

And can you believe that I haven’t cast on another pair of socks yet? I’ve started another project, which I will share tomorrow.

5 Comments | Posted in Knitting | Tagged Finishes, Knitting, Socks

Wipocalypse – January 2013

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Heather

Ack! A day late! But at least I have a finish!

Friends Stitching Together, design from Gitta’s Getaway 2011

This is the collaboration piece from the getaway my LNS hosted a few years back. (As I mentioned before, I wasn’t able to go. But I’m so happy I was able to get this kit.) The designers are (from top to bottom) Jeanette Douglas, Laura Dickson (Enchanting Lair) and Kathrin Ellison (Gitta’s Charted Petite Point and the owner of the shop). The tassel for the bottom was designed by Brenda Franklin.

Close-up of Together, designed by Kathrin Ellison

I think it is a lovely piece, and the tassel and hanger add to it very nicely. Now I just need to find some wall space!

I will admit that this only barely counts as a WIP (work-in-progress) since I started in December just so I could count it as a WIP for this year. 😉 But it is done, and out of my workbasket and up on a wall… okay, actually in a drawer since I have no where to hang it. :/

Curious about what Wipocalypse is all about? Check out this post on Measi’ Musings.

6 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged Cross Stitch, Dragon Dreams, Finishes, Jeanette Douglas, Wipocalypse

Santa-ish

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Heather

Not every project can be a success.

Santa from Aunt Martha’s Jolly Ole Santa 3859

This is why I’ve decided not to do any more towel painting. Even with the help of an iron on transfer, my artistic skills aren’t sufficient to pull off something like this. I also hate having to fight with the damn tubes of paint every time.

Oh, and the blue star is to cover up a big spot of flesh-coloured paint. I added more blue dots to make it look “better”.

Overall, it is cute but kitschy. Meh.

4 Comments | Posted in Crafts | Tagged Finishes

Cake Success

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Heather

I am not a baker, by any definition. I cook so much better than I bake. But, with the little man’s allergies, I find myself baking more often. And this past weekend I had a cake success!

Creeper cake

This is the Creeper cake I made for the little man’s birthday celebrations. The eyes, nose and mouth are mini Coffee Crisps (several varieties of chocolate bars here are peanut/nut free in mini form but not full size). The recipe I used can be found here, and it turned out fabulous! The icing was from a can (bad mommy!) with food colouring added.

It might not look too much like a “real” Creeper, but the little man loved it.

2 Comments | Posted in Crafts |