Inauguration Day!

I must confess, I absolutely love the pomp & circumstance of Inauguration Day! I have ABC on in the living room and I'm listening to it as I type. Normally, I don't watch the news or regular TV. I don't care to be bombarded with the negative messages that come through, even in commercials. Instead, I listen to QVC most of the time. Lots of pretty things to look at and the show hosts are so cheerful and uplifting to listen to. And every now and then, I do indulge in a little something special for myself.

But Inauguration Day is something special and I'll admit that I have put a lot of hope and faith in our new President. I see a light in him and I know he'll do well for our country.

I'll be working on my laptop in the living room today. I'm designing a project in cross stitch to commemorate today's events. Normally, something like that wouldn't be my thing but it's been calling to me for days and when my father in law suggested a special commemorative sampler, I knew I had to do one. I'll make it available as soon as I have it ready.

In the meantime, here is an update on my Easter purse:



The appliqué is beaded and embellished now. I love the SRE at the bottom! I was going to bead this with seed beads and then I thought to myself, geez louise girl! you're going to be here for days beading this. That's when I thought to use the bugle beads instead. It took about 2 hours to do the bugle beads.

I was asked about my little chick image in the middle. That image is from some Victorian clipart that I have. It's a copyright free image. I don't use a traditional image transfer method. I print my images on fabric using my computer. Also, I use cotton fabric rather than the silk that's usually used for crazyquilting. I've found that images transferred to silk look washed out. At least to me. With the cotton fabric, the images are crisp and bright and I'm all about that!

If anyone is interested in having some of these images, I will be happy to make some available. Please leave me a message here or in email and I'll gladly put some together. I can print 4 images on one sheet of fabric. I can also put some together with a few embellishments. In fact, I've been thinking of doing some embellishment packs since my stash has it's own stash! Ha, ha, ha! Give me some ideas of what you're looking for such as vintage ladies, holiday images and so on and I can get some things together.

Finally for today, here are pages 39 & 40 of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog:





Check out the white with black polka dot dress at the bottom of page 39! That is just screaming at me! I love it!!!

Well, there's only about 4 pages left to this catalog. I hope you've been enjoying it!

Happy Inauguration Day everyone!

The Easter Purse Continued....

I stitched for about 2 hours this morning:



The seams are embroidered, the appliqué is sewn down and I started on some SRE. Now for the glitter! The beads & sequins really bring out the beauty in the borders and overall design.

Over the weekend, I added a few 6 Inch Pre-sewn crazy quilt blocks to my Etsy shop. These are the same size as my Button Blocks. I've hand-basted the sewing line and added some lace:



Speaking of my Button Blocks, I'm really wanting to put some together so I've decided to take 25 of the pastel colored ones and put them into a quilt. I will continue to make Button Blocks for a bigger quilt down the road and I may use some for door-hangers. I really enjoy making them and looking at them so I thought it would be fun to put together a small quilt for now while I continue to make them. I'll keep you posted on that when I get to it. I think I need a few more pastel colored ones first. I plan to stitch on more of them once I complete the stitching on the Easter purse.

I also want to share with you a new blog that I recently found. Needlework News keeps tabs on other needlework & craft blogs and posts links to interesting articles, new designs and ideas, helpful products and complimentary patterns. It's worth checking out!

Finally for today, here are pages 37 & 38 of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog:





These dresses are so beautiful, aren't they? I would so love to have a closet full of these!

Easter Purse Continued

A quick update on my Easter purse:



I'll be sewing the pink appliqué down today. I plan to add some SRE embroidery to it and of course beads and sequins!

I love the pastel colors and I know this will be perfect to take when Scott & I go to breakfast on Easter morning.

The seam treatments are my own charted borders for Waste Canvas. I've done so many of these borders, that I have a hard time choosing which to use sometimes. I do have my favorites and many times, it's a matter of theme or fitting the space. I am planning on putting Volume 2 together. I want to pick up some PDF software to put it together myself. Volume 2 will only be borders. The instructions for working with Waste Canvas are available in Volume 1. Click here to learn more.

In the meantime, here are pages 35 & 36 of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog:





Aren't these dresses something? Oh, I would so wear these! Wait until you see the next couple of pages!

Ok, I'm off for now to list a few 6 inch blocks in my Etsy shop.

Easter Purse

Well, it's minus 17 degrees outside but it is bright and sunny! Isn't January over with yet?!

I finished up my little cat doll for The Comfort Doll Project:



I need to get me in a sewing day. I have 4 purses to put together now and 3 Comfort Dolls! I was planning on doing finishing this weekend but I think my in-laws are coming so it might have to wait until during the week.

This morning, I started on an Easter purse:



Doesn't it feel good just to look at this? So Springy! This is how I deal with the Winter season. I focus on Spring.

Honestly ladies, I don't know where to store anymore purses! I have so many now and they're everywhere. In my closet, in my nightstand and in my dresser. I can't help myself, I love them and it's so much fun to have seasonal purses as well as purses to match some of my outfits. Ok, so this time of year, they don't have to match my outfits, they just have to match my coat which they all do because it's black.

Ok, I'm rambling now. Sorry, cabin fever. I haven't been out since Monday!

Anyway, here are pages 33 & 34 of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog:





There's only a few more pages to go on this catalog and then we'll move on to another catalog or a booklet. I didn't realize I had so many fun things to share!

Enjoy!

Comfort Dolls

Yes, it was snowing here again this morning. I sat and finished up on this little Bonnet Lady:



The colors a bit off. It's really a little softer than it looks here. I used seed beads instead of French Knots. It's not that I mind doing French Knots. I just like the sparkle and dimension of the seed beads.

My next little project will be another one of my cat dolls:



How's this for some bright, warm colors! This will be to send to the Comfort Doll Project as well.

Speaking of Pat Winter, she had decided to close her Etsy shop and then changed her mind as well. I guess it's something in the midwest air! or the water! I'm really glad to hear that she's keeping her shop up and running! Pat has some pretty things in there if you'd like to check them out.

Finally for today, here are pages 31 & 32 of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog:





Check out the price of the Hosiery! 75 Cents! Wow! I think I paid $8.00 for the pair of pantyhose that I bought to wear to grandma's funeral back in September. I wore them once and had to throw them away because I snagged them. Me & pantyhose do not work well together!