Advent/countdown Calendar

Countdown calendar
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Growing up our advent calendar was a paper one with little windows you opened up every day to reveal a new picture. from what I understand this was a real pain because the pictures were changed out every year using old Christmas cards. We also had a felt one that had peppermint candies tied to it for each day in Dec.

I have been debating for a while what I wanted to do for my daughter for her Christmas countdown. There are lots of really cute ones out there but I wanted one handmade. My cousin Betz has the best one ever but seemed bigger than i wanted with alot of work to find the right book and my traditional cross stitch field was not yielding any thing I liked.

Then I saw this on Michaels store website, and thought, let me see if i can make that less cutesy and more festive. (and bigger). I am kinda surprised at myself as it is more contemporary than what I usually like.

close up
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

My plan is to have lots of different things in the tins for each day,
Like one might have candy, the next an ornament to put on the tree, and the next a little note to tell of a holiday event to do that day, like decorate/bake cookies. I think i need to tweak it a bit, I used velcro to attach the tins (per instructions), but I am thinking glue would be better.

Sorry about the photo quality the shinyness of the tins combined with the flash kinda cancelled everything out.

This year's ornament marathon

This years ornaments
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Hello all, well I was able to finish all my ornaments for this year (I might have one or two still to stitch). 13 total. Most of these you have already seen stitched up, and one you will not see till give it out for an exchange on HOE.

I was also able to finish my craft gifts (no you can't see those, some of you are the recipients!) and my advent calendar needs a few more details so I will post that in the next few days.
We had a quiet Thanksgiving at home just the 3 of us, and I did not shop for anyone yet!

But lets take a closer look at my ornaments shall we?
First up are some that I stitched YEARS ago..maybe the late 80's?:

Redone ornaments
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

These were actually 4 separate motifs on one piece of aida, finished for me as a potpourri pillow by my mom years ago, but the corner of the pillow was eaten by my dog a couple of years ago. I cut it up and made 3 small ornaments. The 4th, a Santa face, I have not figured out how to salvage since the cut/chew is right next to the stitching.

The next 3 are ones I had finished previously, but updated a bit:

Previously Finished
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Amy Brueken's I Believe (08) I had stitched this last Dec, finished it in Jan, but added beading this last week. Casey Buonaugurio's Purple Penguin (09). Jeanette Douglas' Christmas Ball ornament (08) I added a beaded edge to this one.

The next 3 are all finished as pillow ornaments:

Pillow ornaments
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Angel Stitchin's Santa's Buddies (09), Stitched From the Heartland's Heaven and Nature sing (pattern), Bent Creek's Joy Angel (00) I actually finished stitching her in 8/08 poor thing been in a drawer forever!

And finally the Brittercup ornaments:


Brittercup ornaments
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Christmas centerpiece (08), Christmas Puppy (06), and Christmas Kitty (05).
these are more flat style ornament finishes. I learned alot during and since my last ornament finishing marathon in 08, that the flat ornament finishing instructions in JCS mag SUCKS...which basically reads sew like a pillow orn but insert board before you stitch 4th side...yeah I ended up with a bunch of crappy ornaments that way. These were all done by covering 2 boards, one with the stitching and one with the back fabric, then gluing together and then blind stitching the edges. much cleaner looking. I have also gotten ALOT better sewing on my cording (thanks Anna) but still wonder if it would be better to glue it. I have considered going back and redoing my old finishes but then I thought it might be cool to see my progress in a tangible form. What do you think?


Thanks and see you for the next marathon.

Thanksgiving here I come

Brittercup Britty Kitty 05
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

For your viewing pleasure...Brittercup's Xmas Kitty from JCS orn. Mag. 2005. done in most of the called for threads over 1 on unknown grey linen

I am so excited for this coming week, since i am only teaching labs this semester i do not have any classes next week. Day care is closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, so A. will be there M-W instead of her usual W-F These two event combine to give me 3 whole days at home to get things done! Mainly sewing/crafts i have been putting off. I have at least a dozen ornaments to do, 4-5 christmas gifts, and an advent calendar to make since I finally found a design i like.

I will also hit the gym in a preemptive strike on Thanksgiving and go see New Moon, after all the screaming has died down.

Found a FABULOUS quote today "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life, it goes on. " -Robert Frost

Poker face

I am stitching on some ornaments, but nothing to post yet.

I found this fun little blog and thought i would do the Friday Fill ins:

1. The last band I saw live was Trans Siberian Orchestra this time last year, fun once , but not again.
2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is cranberries. (if you don't celebrate thanksgiving, insert your favorite holiday)
3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is just getting started.
4. Thoughts of prepping for next semester fill my head.
5. I wish I could wear high boots, but my calves are too fat, always have been.
6. Bagpipes rule.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cleaning my room, tomorrow my plans include swim lessons with A and Sunday, I want to go to the Carolina Renissance Faire!

Best/Worst weekend ever

Pigeon Forge Haul
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

It has taken me 3 days to recover from this past weekend and post for you. Now let me tell you why. I decided several weeks ago to get in on the annual pigeon forge retreat hosted by Katrina over at Crossed Threads. I got my mom to come down and watch A. so I could go. I thought I could get out of my friday obligations at work and leave early in order to have a whole 2 days up in the mountains to stitch.

It all began to fall apart about a week before I left, I found out that I had misread my schedule and that we had an anatomy practical on the friday I wanted to leave, and thatI had to stay till it was all cleaned up. So that meant instead of leaving around 8 in the morning I would be leaving at 4 in the afternoon. ugh. but what are you going to do? my job is worth more than my vacation. It is a 4 hour drive so I think I'll get there by 8-9pm at the latest. Fast forward to fri afternoon, So I am heading out making GOOD time when I discover that there is a rock slide on 40 blocking this highway at the border. I freak out cause I only had my mapquest directions with me (the trip involved exactly 2 turns) , there are detours posted but I have no idea if they will put me back on 40 before or after my exit. so I call my husband who tells me the detour will add another hour and a half to my trip, and in the middle of giving corrected directions my phone dies (my new phone that i did not get a car charger for yet!). I am very upset thinking about heading home, but by then i am in TN and about an hour away...I stopped in a rest stop and picked up a cheap map to get me the rest of the way there. arriving around 10:30PM. YAY but I am so agitated i cannot stitch for another hour or so.

Saturday was a good day, hung out with my roomate Shelley, shopped at Dixie Darlin, ate at the Old Mill, stitched till late, had a great time with the games, dirty santa gift exchange, and ornament exchange. Shelley and I decide that we are going to try the Apple Barn for breakfast early the next morning which I had never been to. But once out the door, I discover my car is DEAD, not reving, not not turning over, DEAD. So Shelley jumps my car (we both had jumper cables) and we decide to just get on the road and head our separate ways (she is in GA). I head home, but notice that my radio falters every time I turn on my turn signal. NOT good. So I decide I can't stop or my car will be dead again. I did pause for gas and some snacks (remember no breakfast) but i did not turn off the car while i filled up (it drove me nuts too, I was waiting for the gas cops to show up...) I got home by 1 and when i turned off the car in my drive way it would not start up again (as i had suspected) . I now have a new battery and my mom is headed home to PA. So while my trip was horrible I did get in 1 full good day stitching.

My Haul:
Sampler snowman by Homespun elegance, recipe cards, dinky dyes floss and other patterns not pictured here won in doorprizes and bingo.
Lots of fabric (can you tell i am out of natural shades of linen?), some NN floss, The Branch by Bent Creek, and Curlylocks by Silver Creek Samplers. all bought.

The ornament i got in exchange for my penguin is that cute snowman down in front, and I also got the Snowman photobooth kit from Bent Creek aquired thru the dirty santa exchange. He is so cute I started stitching it already, even though I have ornaments I need to do for 3 more exchanges coming up in Dec.

I am a selfish stitcher

Purple Penguins
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

I have discovered I will not stitch an ornament for another if I haven't done it for myself too. Either in the past or at the same time. Above are 2 Purple Penguins from Casey Buag...Baguar...Buaginario? Damn I can't remember the name...If anyone has the newest JCS orn mag in front of them you can find it there. I stitched it some random cheap purple fabric i had around, and as you can see the fabric isn't quite square (the pattern is!) but they came out very cute anyway, and i used some tricks i learned finishing the mermaids to make the finishing look pretty darn good. One is mine, the other will be heading with me to my stitching retreat this weekend in Pigeon Forge TN.

Maidens of the Sea DONE!

MoS front
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

See everyone! I did finish it around 2pm on Sunday.
I am pretty happy with the finishing. the instructions were good, just a few things missing that i had to work around. It ended up a bit overstuffed/distorted, if I did it again I would leave out the batting in the front, and just use interfacing. The fob came out perfect though.

Hear is the back:

MoS back
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

and the inside:

MoS inside
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Getting there

I have one more hairstyle to do on one last mermaid, and then I will be done with the stitching part. I am a bit intimidated by the finishing, and i will not be able to get the finishing stuff for another couple of days. But It MIGHT be done by the end of the weekend.
Edited: finished last night around 11pm. now working on the turtles and about to start some more ornaments.


MoS all done before assembly
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

MoS Closeup
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

And now a plug for my favorite actor/writer/geek

As long time readers of my blog know I am a Star Trek fan, ( so much so that I flew to Vegas for 24 hours just to do "The Experience") Some of you may also remember that one of my very first mentionings of this was the fact that I had "rediscovered" one of my favorite actors from ST:TNG , Wil Wheaton blogging on the internets. Since then he has published 2 more books (adding up to 4 on my shelf right now), and he has not given up acting. You may have seen him in the past few years on CSI, Numb3rs, Leverage, Criminal Minds, and Family Guy. Next week in fact he will be on Big Bang Theory. Shoot, I guess the point of all this is that I , along with many of his fans are just darn proud of him. He was beaten down pretty bad during the Next Gen years, suffering as only a teenager can, disappeared from the public for a long while,and now is doing really well. I have never told you guys to buy anything...until now:

IF you ever watched the first few episodes of ST:TNG and IF you catch yourself watching them now on SyFy and cringe a bit during some of the akward parts. You need to buy Wil's latest rendering called Memories of the Future Part 1. Wil takes each episode of the first part of season 1 and does a recap/MST 3000 riff of them with a bit of backround insight for each one. Trust me when i tell you it is hysterical. I have not yet recieved my copy, but i have read most of the book in pieces over the years (The episodes were first reviewed by Wil for TV Squad). If you are not a fan of ST:TNG, but have a brother/sister/uncle/cousin who is...this is your christmas gift to them. You can only find the book on Lulu, when you order it it will be printed and sent to you directly. (no fussy middle men/pricy overhead for Wil!)

Over 1 extravaganza!

Hello everyone, I promised progress on Maidens of the Sea, so here you are:


Maidens of the Sea ip
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

I know i is a crappy photo and couldn't actually get the whole thing in a photo but these are the last 3 panels

The bottom 2 are done. and I am waiting on some silk thread on order to stitch the "maidens" but there is plenty to do till then.

Panel 4
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Back of fob
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

I have already stitched the date so now I HAVE to finish it. Sara, yes I will sell you the pattern when i am done, if i finish it by PF I'll bring it with me or at least to the Christmas party. I'll even throw in the silks I have left.
Speaking of Sara "the over 1 goddess" She recently asked me about Quaker Turtles, which i had put away for a bit cause the over 1 was driving me nuts not to mention it is only 1 color (the over one on MoS are tent stitches, the over one on QT are full cross stitchs). but I think i have found a solution, I am planning on doing 1 motif (like 1 star) each night i stitch...that way i think it will get done , eating the elephant 1 piece at a time. I got 3 done in the last week. Here it is so far:



Quaker Turtles ip
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Santa's Buddies

Santa's Buddies
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

I think this is a record for me, I finished an ornament within 1 month of receiving my JCS ornament magazine. I have to order the Mill HIll Treasures to put the snowflakes on (or maybe I could stitch a few instead...hmmm) but Santa's Buddies from Angel Stitchin is done mostly as called for on 28 count linen, I used the regular GAST baby spinach for the tree instead of the GAST wool that it called for and I substituted red seed beads i had on hand 03043 instead of 03049 it called for.

I went to my first meeting of the local Embroiderers Guild of America this past week and had a pretty good time. I kinda knew they were there but had only heard bad things about the different EGA groups in the past. I guess it seems implied in the name but I was worried they might be more stuffy old needleworkers than cross stitchers. I have been missing out on some of my Tarheel stitch group meetings lately due to the difficulty of finding and affording a babysitter for all day Saturday (usually when we get together folks have to drive far so we make it an event!) But I saw a really nice newsletter at my local LNS about the EGA and decided it wouldn't hurt to go check it out. They meet 2ce a month for 2 hours in the evening... while my husband is home. I get to the meeting on thursday and guess who is the outgoing president? Louise Henderson of Cherished Stitches... see page 56 in your JCS ornament mag! Yeah they crossstitch!

Also in the past week I think I have finagled my way into going to the Crossedthreads Retreat in Pigeon Forge, TN in Nov . This retreat is the one the Tarheel crew usually goes to every year but I have only been twice, the last time was in 2006 before Annabeth was born.

I have been stitching on the Maidens of the Sea...mostly just the borders so nothing to see yet...I'll post a progress pic soon.

We have a winner!

Bent Creek Freebie-swirlygig
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

But it is not me...I did win the runner up spot though the Queen of the Fluffies award for Stitch Bitch contest. Bonus, as a prize I am receiving a frame from Elizabeth Newlin of Bent Creek to finish this little guy. Thanks to everyone who voted! and congrats to Kristen for her fabulous finish...she won first place.

Swirlygig freebie by Bent Creek, done on 28 count green Linen, I used Dye Is Cast's Pansy for the letters, Waterlilies in Lilac and Krenick 032 with white for the swirls

Side note, I swung by the Bent Creek site since i had not been there in a while...MISTAKE! the photobooth series is adorable and I love this and this but my absolute favorite is this...Must buy yesterday!

Christmas Puppy

Christmas Puppy
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Another ornament! Here is 2006's Brittercup's Christmas ornament, over one with the called for threads. While I was doing this one my new 2009 JCS ornament mag arrived. and while I do not have the time or patience to do a full review of the mag like the Stitch Bitch , I do have a few thoughts:

• Over all I like this year better than last, there were very few phoned in designs this time.
• Lots of folks are complaining about the new layout...for me, meh, I could care less either way.
• I am happy to see Cindy and David Morrill from The Stitchworks back in the mag. They were my first real local LNS when I lived in Tulsa. While they often get out shined by The Silver Needle and resident artist Just Nan who are across the street, Cindy is one of the sweetest ladies in the industry and I always think of her fondly.
• I do wish they told the designers about moving the recipes. I feel bad everytime I read "I hope you enjoy this recipe!" and it's not there. I would of thought that could of been a quick editorial fix.
• Is it just me or the longer you look at them the more you want to stitch? I bet if I could see them in person I would want to do even more. (My In-laws LNS up in Hyde Park, NY, Deer Hill Farm, usually has most of the ornaments stitched up by some of her customers and on display in the store. My goose would be cooked- and broke- if I lived there).
• First run thru I see 5 I will definitely want to stitch,

1. Angel Stitchen Santa's Buddies...even though there is only one buddy..but he is cute!)
   
2. It's Fine-ally Finished's Mistletoad, which is confusing since it isn't explained.. but I'll just leave off the charm.
   
3. Thistle Thread's Snowglobe...although I have no idea how I will ever justify buying those over priced Tokens and Trifles perforated paper Trinkets thingies
   
4. Courtney Collection's Twitter Blue...which means I'll have to do the red one from last year.
   
5. Cherished stitches' Christmas Joy Needlebook.

Waiting for my mag too...

Brittercup's 2008 Xmas ornament
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

I think that it is unfair that subsribers to the JCS magazine get their issue AFTER the stores do. Does not make me want to renew my subsription. To keep myself happy I have been working on some ornies from the past. This one is last years, Brittercup's Christmas Centerpiece (over one ugh) but it is pretty all done and nice and small.

Journaling done

Yeah believe it or not I finished my journals last night...I tell ya when I want something done, it gets done! One problem i ran into though, as I was listing christmas ornaments i had done and flipping thru my old JCS mags to find the names and designers, I found more that I want to do. How many more you ask? 9. ugh. and this I decide 1 month before the new one is about to come out. HA!

But to tell you the truth I discovered a few things doing my photo journal...one of those things is that i really love doing ornaments and littles much more than the bigger projects. My favorite stitching group ever was when I joined and participated in the Ornament Round Robin back in 2005, where you bought enough fabric and floss for one ornament for your entire group and passed that around with each person stitching their own ornament. I loved that, I got to stitch ones i would of never done on my own due to cost or appearance..but you know what? I love each one of those 6 ornaments. and the 2004 issue is one of my favorites because of it. The group is now defunct (at least no one has posted there to start a group in years!, i was the last to ask about one in '07) , and I regret only being able to do it that one time. I remember Dani was in my group that year. If anyone knows of another group that does this style of round robin let me know.

I think I will be kitting and stitching a few ornaments in the next week or so, maybe even try my hand at a halloween one or two.

Stitching journal

stitching journal
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

This is the fire under my butt right now. I have been rifling thru my flickr account and my blog and getting people to take pictures of stuff I gave them YEARS ago. I found some clearance albums at Borders headed to Ritz photos and BAM stitching journal. Right now I am going on memory and written info from my blog. So I just have the pattern name and when it was done/finished written under the photos. and in gift or exchanges who it was given to. In the future I may include more detail...fabric choices, changes etc. I am up to 2006/7 and am on my 2nd journal.

As it was in the beginning......

DSCN2427[1]
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

This summer as I was going thru all the stuff during the attic move, I found what I think is my first (printed)cross stitch (I had believed it long gone). It was done around the time of the cat, and my mom and i disagree as to which was my first, but at the least this was the first to be mounted (on foam sticky board oh the HORROR) and framed. I was somewhere in the 10-12 age range, and It was shortly after this that I switched to counted cross stitch which I deemed much more sophisticated...you had to count!

with this, the near destruction of one of my first counted cross stitch, and an article in the latest Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly about women journaling their needlework, I have decided to put together a stitching journal. I am going to print up all the photos I have of stitched and crafty stuff i have done over the years and what its history has been. Does anyone out there in bloggity land have one like this... if so, is it fancy? or just a binder?

In stitching news I am working on Anna's stitching challenge...its is stitched but not finished...

Is it Live? or Memorex?

Ned Kelly Kitty front
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

I am so proud of this scissor fob, I got it to look just like the model (which I loved). I used the called for silks and sacrificed the rest of the skein for the tassle (honestly it would just sit around for months later). My skillz are finally showin themselves.
And the back

Ned Kelly kitty back
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

Margaret Sherry's N

Margaret Sherry's N
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

A bit of stitching? yep. this is a small piece I did for a friends birthday before I left on my trip. Th true colors called for the N to be the hot orange color you see on the lizards scales, but I adjusted it to blues instead. this was inserted in a coaster I had sitting around.

I tried to photograph it, but then tried my NEW scanner that i got for my birthday, and it came out great! Yay! (so good in fact it helped me catch the missing backstitching, which i then promptly fixed).

As for the work my husband did while I was gone, he actually did less than planned cause his furlough got called off...so less time at home but...yes he painted and ripped up carpet and polyed the hardwood floor, we are now moving stuff back in and I need to purchase rugs. I will post a pic when it looks done.

I'mmmmm Backkkkkk

Purchase at Cvered Bridge Needlearts
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist

From Pittsburgh! I went up with just my daughter to stay at my mom's house for 2 weeks and I had a really good time. I was able to see old friends, hang with my sister and bro inlaw, and visit old haunts. It was unseasonably cold and rainy so not as much swimming as planned, but A got to hang outside alot with out getting bit by insects like she does down here.

I am heading into work next week, my contract has been renewed but they haven't told me my classes yet (it is always last minute), so I figure I better show up and clean up. and with the beginning of the school year that usually means more stitching and blogging too...so good news for you dear reader!

I never stitch much on vacation but I did get to go to Covered Bridge Needlearts in Bridgeton, PA. They have moved next store in to roomier space since i was there 2 years ago. I did not buy much but it was the most i have ever spent in one LNS. (I got alot of fabric)).
I did buy 2 patterns, Ned Kelly Kitty by the Cat's Whiskers (wouldn't you know they have a whole series!) and Maidens of the Sea by With My Needle. I know I have not progressed alot on the Quaker Turtles but this one was on my list. Add in some $7 silks (ugh) and you have a pricy purchase.

Oh I also got a clear ruler for a stitched insert. I was thinking of doing the "ABC Stitch with me" pattern found in the JCS mag last year, but am thinking their may be something better to do for it ...any one have any ruler patterns they really like?