JN 2014 SAL.....

It's that time again for our JN SAL post for this month.  Zeb of Keep Calm and Cross Stitch is the one who had started this SA but she is no longer updating her blog for this SAL.  However, there are some of us who have continued on with this SAL each month.  For me, it's been a great motivation to continue stitching on the many charts and kits that I have collected or been gifted with as presents.  I will continue to do this in 2015 as well.

Last month during my JN post I mentioned that I wanted to stitch the JN Ornamental Advent starting this November to do each month to complete it by next year.  Well I am stitching 2 for each month and managed to get my 2 completed this month.  YEAHHHH!!!  I will continue to stitch 2 each month and will have them all completed by October 2015.  Who knows....I may do more than just the 2 a month to try and get them done sooner so that I can start the "sewing finishing work" way before next October.

I do apologize for the wrinkles.  I did pack this project to take to stitch on during the Thanksgiving holiday while visiting family.  Yes.....my family does know that I am ALWAYS stitching on something. 

That's all I have to share for today. 
Happy Stitching!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. 

Smalls SAL.....

I'm sorry to be a day late.  Busy schedule this week with our holiday schedule.

Heather of Stitching Lotus is the host of our 2014 Smalls SAL.  You can click on the link above or on the one highlighted next to Heather's name.  I am SOOOO GLAD for this SAL as it has helped keep me motivated to getting some of my smalls stitched up as gifts.

This month I stitched 2 pincushions.  One was for Angelica and the other one was for Debra.  Both ladies have received them so YEAH.....now I can post them to share with you.

 

 

I found the links to the alphabets here at the following link.

http://patternmakercharts.blogspot.ca/2010/01/sajou-no-321.html


But I did finish stitching my ornaments so YEAHH for that!!!  Now I just need to do the "finishing" work on those ornaments.  That will be done next week.  That is all I have to share for today!

Happy Stitching!

 

Painted Atoid Tin information.....

Maggee commented about what was the procedure for painting the Altoid tin that I posted in my last post.  Here is what it looked like.

As I said in the previous post, my friend Pat tole painted it for me as a present, but I had no idea what or how it was done.  So to find out the answer for Maggee, I just emailed Pat and here is what she replied to how the painting of an Altoid tin is done.

"Tin is much different than wood because it is not porous.  I will assume the tin has no rust because that is an entirely different process. 

 

I sand the tin well so it has *tooth* for the paint to stick.  Then wash the tin in soapy water, rinse and wipe with vinegar and let dry.  Let dry thoroughly - several days is best. It is important to do the vinegar to remove any oils that may be on the tin. (Paint will peel off if there is oil)   I use an all purpose sealer for the next step but most people don't have it, so  you can use RustOleum and spray the tin lightly.  Let dry thoroughly.  Then paint the tin with your basecoat  color - several coats.  Again let it dry before adding any decorations or designs.  If is a good idea to varnish the tin when your design is complete.   

 

This is not a quick process - that is why I try to prepare more than one tin when I start.  But tin makes a nice surface to paint on so the prep work is worth it."

 

I only paint on wood frames that I know I will be keeping for myself or on paper mache boxes.  Painting is not my area of expertise as it is for Pat.  As I told her, I will stick to the sewn projects and cross stitching projects.  I don't need to take on another hobby.  I have enough as it is!

 

I thought if one person was questioning, others might wonder as well.  So I decided to just post it all here for everyone to read.

 

Happy Stitching.....or Happy Painting if that is your hobby!

 

 

TUSAL time again.....

It's that time again for our TUSAL report!!!  You can click on the link above or on It's Daffycat.  This will take you to read about the rules of doing this SAL.  This has been fun to post each month and I hope she will be doing it again next year!

I've been busy stitching the last of the ornaments this month.  Sad to say.....I CAN'T show any of them to you right now because all of them are for Christmas gifts this year.  I had to get 3 finished this month and I accomplished that goal!  YEAH!  Plus I've managed to squeeze in some stitching time on some new things.  I will get back to stitching on my Stacy Nash Christmas at Hollyberry Farm hopefully over Thanksgiving break this week. 

I've been stitching on a couple of birthday gifts also and finishing up some other smalls this past week.  Once my girlfriends receive their birthday gifts, I will share their present I made them with you as well.  Angelica has already called to say she's received her present and liked it!!!  WHEW!  I was hoping she would like it!

Here is my November ORTs.  The tin is a tole painted ORT box that my dear friend Pat painted as a gift for me one year.  I LOVE IT!!!  It's just an Altoid tin but her tole painting is soooo exquisite!!!  It's just perfect for sitting on display in my living room beside my loveseat where I sit to stitch.

Here are a couple of the small projects I've been working on for you to see where some of these ORTs are coming from. 

Now I'm off to stitch for the rest of the day.  YEAHHH!!! 

Happy Stitching!

iStitch Sew Advent SAL ......

I just wanted to post that Carol of iStitch Designs is taking orders for her new Sew Advent 2014 SAL.  I did this SAL with Carol last year (which was her first year doing it) and I HAD A BLAST!!  It was so much fun to wake up each day to a new little part to stitch up for a special design.  Now granted, it's taken me a year to find the right size little hanger as I had in my mind that I wanted it as a bellpull.  So I've searched and found the perfect size.  I had hoped to have it done up before starting this year's Advent but I don't think I'm going to get around to getting it finished in time.  Especially with Thanksgiving is next week for those of us in the USA.  I have my week already booked for something every day next week. 

However, I have all the supplies from last year's Sew Advent SAL left over to use for this year's Advent SAL  YEAHHHH!!!  I'm using something from my stash without having to buy more.  This is making me very happy!!!

So if you haven't clicked up the link above but still want to join, I suggest you do that right away and join in on the fun.  If this year is like last years SAL, the parts are so quick and easy to stitch up each day that it really makes you feel like you are accomplishing something!!!  So here is the link again, Sew Advent 2014 SAL, and hopefully you will be motivated enough to stitch along with us.  Be sure to check out last year's Advent SAL that Carol still has available for purchase listed under her "Charts" link.

Happy Stitching Everyone!

Snow day.....and school's out!

We got our first official snowfall last night!!!  It started out as a wet snow last night and then in the middle of the night changed to the night fluffy white snow!!  But.....it still made a deep pile on the driveway.  We got up this morning and checked the news and saw that DS school was closed......along with TONS of other schools and businesses!!!  He was very excited and hubby kept checking to see if the AF base had a closure but no such luck.  Poor guy!!  But DS and I shoveled the driveway for him when he comes home.  So I thought I'd take pictures of our snow before we shoveled it all off the driveway.

After a nice warm shower and a yummy hot lunch after all that shoveling, I'm ready to stitch while sitting underneath a warm blanket and watch a movie with DS.  Yes....I'm excited about the snow but wasn't really wanting it THIS early in our season!!!  I am NOT complaining!  I promise!!!

Happy Stitching!!!