Vintage Lace & Painted Ladies Mystery Kits

First, we just got dumped on with a foot of snow! I know I can't do anything about the weather but that much snow at one time makes me climb the walls! I just can't stand it. I feel so totally trapped and confined. It's so overwhelming. It looks now like the storm has passed and the sun is trying to come out. Sunshine always helps my mood!

I distracted myself this morning by getting my lace packs listed in my Etsy shop. I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to leave me comments about how I should package it up in the future. I'll definately be doing variety packs with the next batch. It never occurred to me until now.

As for shipping internationally, yes, I will do that!! I've changed all my listings but I'm not sure I have it right. If you order from me and the shipping seems too high, drop me an email and I'll send you a PayPal invoice. The "multipal item" shipping thing at Etsy seems confusing to me. Maybe it's just me. Anyway, you can always find my email address on my main Kitty & Me Website.

Ok, now onto my next crazyquilt project:



I sewed this block up the other day and started stitching on it last night:



I have a ton of these little images of Victorian Ladies In Hats. They're so pretty but I thought they would be even prettier with a bit of color in them. So, I scanned them all into my computer and handtinted each one in my graphic software. Then I gave them a sepia tone. Time consuming but fun! I've always liked pretty hats although unlike purses, I wouldn't be caught dead with one on my head! Anyway, I'm sure you're wondering what the "mystery" is that I mentioned in the title of today's post. Well, I must blatently plug my Etsy shop again and tell you that you'll have to go there to find out!

Can't Part With This One!

Isn't this pretty?



It looks like something off a Victorian Wedding Dress! I don't think I can part with it. I can see it on a purse. Of course, I can see everything on a purse! You know they're a weakness of mine!

My lace is all starched and pressed and ready for packaging which I'll be doing shortly.

I'd like to ask my readers a question. What would you prefer if you were to purchase some of this lace, would you prefer packages that have a variety of small pieces such as 6 inch or 8 inch pieces or would you prefer large 1 yard pieces? I'd love some input so I know how to package it up in the future.

We're supposed to get alot of snow this afternoon and evening. They're calling for 12 inches or more. EWWWWWWW..........quite honestly, it hasn't even started yet and I already feel like an animal in a cage. So glad I have lots of fabric, threads, beads and buttons to place with!

Old Lace, Cupid And A Nightmare!

I didn't manage any stitching time last night. When I finished up my regular design work, I hand-painted the lace that I bought last weekend. Here's the before photo:



And here's what it looks like now:



It's all ready now for starch and pressing. I hope to get that done today but I have this need to run my sewing machine for awhile so I'll be doing that first today and then I'll see how much time I have after that.

PatternNuts asked me yesterday if I would be willing to show the back of my Redwork Cupid. She's going to be stitching a redwork design and wanted to see what the back should look like. I don't mind showing the back of my work at all so PatternNuts, here's the photo you asked for:



Stitching a redwork or outline embroidery design is not all that different from counted cross stitch in the sense that you shouldn't carry your threads too far and you can weave the tails in under near by stitches. I never clip my threads close until I've completed the stitching. Now, my grandmother always knotted her threads on the back. Technically, they should be woven in under other threads rather than knotted but I'll admit, I tie knots because that's how my grandma taught me to do it.

On a final note before I head off to my sewing machine, I thought you would enjoy this photo of my Nightmare kitty taken on Thanksgiving. He loves turkey and yes, he begs! And yes, Mommy spoils him rotten!

Redwork Cupid

I don't have anything too terribly exciting to share today. I worked on my current charted design project until about 6:00 last night and by then was kind of tired and didn't feel up to stitching.

I started on this redwork cupid last week:



I really want to be crazyquilting but I have to sew up a few things to stitch on and won't have time until my design work for the week is done. If I complete it today, I can run my sewing machine tomorrow!

I'm Back!

Hi everyone! Sorry I didn't make time to post over the weekend. It takes me awhile to get my brains back in my head after a holiday. Our Thanksgiving was very nice but I'll admit, I'm happy to get back to my work, my stitching and my blog!

It was a busy weekend but I did manage to get a little stitching time in:



I was able to start on this bookmark Sat. evening and I completed it last night. I'm not sure how I will do the finishing on it yet but when I figure it out, I'll post another photo here.

I did get to do a bit of antiquing on Friday. No malls or holiday shopping for me on the day after Thanksgiving! I can't stand crowds, noise or commotion so my in-laws and I went to a couple of antique malls. I found some vintage lace which I've already washed and will hand-paint over the next couple of days.

Since I have the booth at the "brick & mortar" store now, I've removed all of my handmade pieces from my Etsy shop. I've decided to go with patterns, kits and supplies for the crazyquilter, the fiber artist and the embroiderer. I have tons of really neat and fun ideas! So check the shop occasionally to see what I come up with!