Sewing Crafts

Really, what happened to it? I have been totally MIA when it comes to my blogs. Scratch that, I managed a couple treasury posts on Tilt Treasures (creepy, spooky and devil), a create update on Tilt’s Creations and some Wordless Wednesdays. Wooppeee.
I would love to say that I have had so many orders coming in that I just could not tear myself away from the sewing machine. But alas, that was not the case. Nor was it anything exciting.
The first weekend of October I was down near Nashville visiting my brother & his family. It was my new nephew’s baptism. Ok, that is kind of a vacation. A vacation from my own family & home…I went with my parents while hubby stayed back with the kids who had school & stuff. It was great going down there – it was the 1st time since they moved last year. I brought my niece a little chef’s hat I made…I didn’t want her to feel left out.

It was nice to be home again though. Except being sick. Yes, I spent those first 2 weeks of the month under the weather. Nothing major, but enough to not want to do anything.
I did manage to make and list some new backpacks and handbags. I also have 3 out of 4 new purses finished. It has been so long since I’ve blogged I am not sure if I have showed off my newest batch of clutches either (in both my Artfire and Etsy shops).

I also went to the Bang to a Different Beat Fashion Show for breast cancer awareness in Flint one weekend. The models were sporting some really cool hairstyles by Summerset Salon. Crystal from Flint Handmade took some pics of my & my mom at my table & one of my fave hairdos…

I am hoping to get back into my normal blogging groove next week – or sooner. I have one more day to get my Etsyblogger of the month post up. I have been doing this at the end of the month anyway, so I don’t feel too far behind there.

I made the front page today while I was presenting in class (middle of the bottom row)! What a great surprise to come home to!

Blending filament again, and what a great find for a former dilemma! These Talavera pieces couldn’t take decorative stitches, but definitely needed something to jazz them up a bit for use as tree ornaments – especially with the bright and lively colors.

This little cross is a smaller version of one I’m showing on Freebies, as an example of how to make the change in size for a simpler project. The description of how I use blending filament for the most effect is on this blog in an earlier post.

Anyway, I have really liked this one, but didn’t want to undertake the big one right now, so had to “small it down” to stitch for myself.
I enjoy working on a bare canvas with only the outlines drawn – both because it’s like painting with needle and thread, and because I’m too lazy to paint one for myself. It keeps me going to watch the pattern emerge in color!

I’ve started the outline on this one in Kreinik navy 018HL, size 12 braid (for 18 mesh canvas). It gives a bit of sparkle and shine along with the DMC cotton floss I’ve chosen.

The floss colors are exactly the colors on the cross, and the blending filament fits right in. I’m calling the navy, white, and orange the “background” on this piece, so won’t use any sparkle with it – but the pattern elements definitely need the zing of some random sparkle and shine – hence the blending filament that won’t overwhelm it as a shinier thread would.


By not making the background sparklle, the design will show up better. I’m off now to stitch a bit, as the weather turned cooler, and I can enjoy some fine, hot tea. (a new package has arrived from Tea Embassy – one I’ve gotten rather addicted to is the Rooibos, and my favorite has just a hint of chocolate and mint. It’s yummy, and has no caffeine.)

Footnote: These Talavera crosses are available for sale at my Web Store, ELEGANT WHIMSIES – the link is on the side bar.

In honor of the honor bestowed upon the decorated cookie today, here are some last minute Halloween marshmallows to add to my ghost and mummy repertoire: skeletons.

What honor you may ask? Why, Amy Atlas posted on my ghost and mummy marshmallows HERE. And if any of you reading this love to bake and/or love sweets of any kind and/or have ever tasted sugar and have somehow not have heard of Amy Atlas, I pray you leave my blog immediately and visit her site and her blog. See? Pretty amazing.

All you need:
marshmallows
black gourmet writer
skewers and/or lollipop sticks

Let marshmallows sit at room temperature for a couple hours to stiffen a bit, skewer and draw faces.