Tiny Shop Update

I managed to get a few pincushions up in my shop and one has already been snapped up! Woosh, I wasn't even done rearranging my sections and it was sold. That's a new experience for me, but I certainly enjoyed it!

Fabric Stacks

I spent last evening pulling fabrics for some patchwork projects. I enjoy rummaging around in my fabric, as I'm sure many do! I've got some ideas rattling around in my head, and I'm trying to not get distracted in making some samples.

One is to make some more pincushions for my etsy shop, like this one. I'd forgotten I even had extra blocks from this quilt:

This is County Fair. It was my first quilt pattern. I still love it :)

I'm also trying to get going on a new bed quilt for our bed. That's what on my design wall right now, along with other odds and ends that get stuck up there. I need some big scale prints in there, I think. It's a little blase' looking so far. I'm going for the blue, brown, orange-rusty, and khaki color scheme, if it's a little hard to tell.

Fall Friday

We're really enjoying cool (cold!) weather right now...we've been wearing hats and gloves to walk Shepherd in the evening. This is so great! Usually, in Arkansas, October is back and forth, back and forth, cool day then warm day, cool day then really warm day, cool day then plain ol' hot day! But it's been very cool for about a week straight. It feels so...fallish.

I'm hooking away on the granny squares...up to 18 so far. I'm loosely planning on an afghan of at least 8 squares across by 7 squares down. So I need a minimum of 56 (yes! I can still multiply in my head) and I may go for 9 x 8 squares....we'll see when I get into the 40's!

I'm working on some new scissorkeeps, pincushions and such for my etsy shop. It's been rather neglected for several months now. But I'd like to get a good selection in there for the holiday season. I love this fabric with the teacups..brown, orange, and aqua...serious love. Sorry it's a fuzzy picture, the perfectly overcast fall day does not make for great pictures inside. But it sure is cozy.

Charming Bags

I'm working on a few more of the charm pack bags and trying to get a pattern going. Summer is not helping...since we spend just about every weekend out on the lake! But I persevere!

I've been giving it some thought, and I'm thinking about two versions of the purse, one with no closure (like this one is) and one with a closure. And I'm also giving consideration to a larger tote using 8 charm squares on the sides instead of 6.

I'm basically playing around with it at this point, but it sure is fun!

Needle in hand

(Vintage Bloom)

I've had a couple of encounters with cross stitchers this week that has renewed my interest in my designs. I love the whole design process in cross stitch. I keep several notebooks to jot down ideas and snippets so I don't "lose" them. I've learned that the great idea I had 2 days ago can be long forgotten if I don't get it on paper then and there! It's a fascinating process going from pencil sketch to charting to stitching, with all the revisions and changes in between. Sometimes what you end up with doesn't resemble the initial idea at all, and sometimes it does.

For instance, this design "Into the Garden Softly" looks almost exactly like what I pictured in my mind when I first jotted it down.

While "Wild Sunflower" went through several changes. And then there's the fun of picking the floss and linen. I'm partial to the overdyed flosses such as Gentle Art and Weeks Dye Works. And I'm a huge fan of Lakeside Linens, they are so soft...and washable!

I'm feeling renewed design energy coming on!

Washcloth factory

I've been meaning to post a picture of the second washcloth I finished...it's been done over a week! I just keep forgetting to post a picture of it...so, here it is.

As a matter of fact, I'm enjoying making these so much I'm making a couple to give as a Christmas gift to someone (can't say who...they may be reading!). They are very quick and fun to do.

Also of note...my weekend kicked off on a great note. I made my first sales on Etsy! 2 on the same day...what a terrific way to kick off December. A big, big thank you to the ladies who purchased my scissorkeeps...Thank you!