Getting Organized (November 11, 2010)

Do I usually do titles in "title case"?  I can't remember.  Also, I KNOW you're supposed to include the ending punctuation within the quotes if it ends the sentence, but that annoys me.  I wasn't trying to say "title case?"...I just wanted to say "title case".  See what I did there?  I defied it again.

Anyways, I finally organized all my embroidery shit.  I am exceedingly proud of myself.  Here is how I was working before:



Notice the "floss organizer" underneath the pile of floss.  I bought that as a possibly organizing technique...but when I realized that would require me to hand-wind every floss color around a stupid "bobbin" in order to fit in the case, I eschewed that plan.  I hate the word bobbin, too.

Enter this awesome (even if grossly colored) new carrying case!!!!  Plus, it was an extra bonus for being on clearance for $10.  I am all about it.  Again...so proud of myself.  (But this rarely happens, so let me milk it a little bit.)







Of course, I ran out of the floss-stretcher-thingies, but I'll go get more today after my mom comes over.  I don't mind shopping with Big G, but it's sooooo easier to make a ton of little stops without having to strap her in and out and in and out and in and out of the car seat, cart, stroller.  I'll bet you got tired just reading that.

Cabbage Patch Kid Rescue Part 2 (November 10, 2010)

The fan-drying method worked just fine!  The cat was pissed, though.  My only complaint is that the fabric and yarn does not feel as soft as I think it should...almost too dry.  On their faces, I used a combination of Magic Eraser (but I avoided the paint) and Bon Ami with a toothbrush on the painted areas.  I have such an irrational fear of Magic Erasers, because WHAT MAKES THEM SO MAGICAL?  Seriously, those things can remove any stain from ANYTHING.  HOW????  I always wash my hands after I touch them.

Anyway, here are the CPKs all clean and dry.  The preemie is already hanging out upstairs in her preemie outfit.

Cabbage Patch Kid Rescue Part 1 (November 8, 2010)

So I was at my parents' house yesterday, and came across a bag filled with my sister's and my own old cabbage patch kids.  Unfortunately, it seems several generation of mice also made their home in the bag....ruining some of the clothes.  For some reason, they left the dolls alone!  But of course, the dolls are probably ridden with mouse excrement and disease.  GROSS!  I found a couple online articles about cleaning up old CPKs, but I have no idea how successful I will be.

It's a Stump Pin Cushion! (November 8, 2010)

Don't feel bad.  I had to explain it to my husband, Justin, as well.  This project came out of Aimee Ray's first Doodle Stitching book.  I needed a pin cushion (not really) and since I'm poor and I like all things woodland, I tried my hand at this.  I'm sorry that I didn't take pictures while it was in progress, but I promise to do so in the future.  (I have a baby, so don't hold me to that.)

If I were craftier, I would have made some little mushroom and leaf pins using polymer clay.  Alas, I am lazy above all else.  I'm also hesitant to introduce those fumes into the same oven I use to cook our food.

Deer Dish Towel (November 8, 2010)

This took a surprisingly short amount of time!  The basic deer with leaves and stems is a Sublime Stitching pattern.  I didn't feel like cutting up the transfer, so I traced the design onto the fabric using a wash-out ink and a light box.  Of course, I could barely see the design through the towel...but this is what I got.  I added the mushrooms at the top and the dots at the bottom.  I didn't wash it yet... so I'm HOPING the blue marker washes out.  =)  I will update the post after I wash and iron it.  My husband wants to frame this instead of use it as a dish towel.  Go figure.

Embroidery Practice (November 8, 2010)

So I'm a week into learning how to embroider.  I'm surprised how much I am enjoying it!  It's like painting but without the mess.  Ths is an old pillowcase I chopped up.  I wonder who it belonged to.  Oh well!

The basic circle design came from Aimee Ray's Doodle Embroidery book.... but of course I embellished.

Multiple Blog Disorder

I was *JUST* going to start pulling in my Wordpress posts.

Then I saw how many private posts I had.  And realized I could not post private posts HERE.  WHY NOT, BLOGGER?  WHY NOT?

Sometimes, I just gotta say stuff and know no one can see it.   I really DO like blogspot best,  Though I suspect my main love stems from the bug background with the lime green topping.  I am shallow like that.

 Yeah, I am sticking with blogger. I'll pull my Wordpress entries over tonight!! I'll just use Wordpress for private ones. I feel better. That was a huge decision.