I Ran My Sewing Machine Today....

and I finished up my "Autumn Is In The Air" pillow. I don't feel like messing with the camera at the moment so I'll post a photo of it on my cedar chest with my little scarecrows sometime in the next few days.

I also finished up the doorhanger that I started for my mom for Mother's Day. Better late than never. Then I sewed up 3 Christmas gifts. Like I said, I'll have photos of those pieces soon.

In the meantime, I've added some more do-dads to my Spider Web Purse:



I may have it finished later today. I'm starting to feel that awful feeling of pressure like my insides are going to explode so I know it's time for me to go sit and relax.

When I finish up on the Spider purse, I'm going to make 2 doorhangers for Christmas gifts:





I have a silver Christmas Tree pin for the focal point on the silver block and a holly pin for the center of the green block. I wanted to scan these so you can see them before I start on them.

Also today, I made some crepes with apple/raisin/pecan filling for dessert tonight. We usually don't do desert. I wanted to bake something but didn't want to push myself so I did these instead. It makes the house smell good but only took a short time and they're pretty low in calorie. Well, except for the sour cream that I'll putting on top! I'll have to start taking pictures of my baking and such. Been doing a lot of that lately.

Spider Web Purse Progress & a Finish!

I finished up my little "Autumn Is In The Air" counted cross stitch piece yesterday:



Being a designer, I like to give credit where credit is due. This is design is by Michelle M. Lash of Brittercup Designs.



Since I've completed the project and don't need my pattern anymore, I would like to offer it to whoever wants it. I'll gladly send it to the first person who leaves me a comment saying they would like to have it. US only please as I will pay for the postage.

It was a cloudy dreary day here yesterday so I had time for stitching on my Spider Web purse:



Today, I'll do the beading on the lace piece and start adding the rest of the spiders. The spider in the middle is a vintage pin that I bought at an antique shop awhile back. The pin-back is missing but I was able to sew it down close to the body on each leg. It's quite secure so I don't think he'll wander off anywhere!

This morning, my dear husband took my parents and I to a huge pumpkin farm! They have a fantastic petting zoo there. We saw giraffes, a baby zebra and all sorts of other animals. There was a potbellied piggy with 2 babies. Oh my goodness, they were so sweet! Well, ya'll know how I am about animals! Anyway, my favorite was the owls. I wish we could have gotten a photo of them. They were huge and had bright orange eyes the size of quarters!

This pumpkin farm is rather pricey so I didn't buy my pumpkins there. We mostly go to see the petting zoo. I'll get my pumpkins at the farm market down the road from me.

It was a very nice October morning but I'm quite tired now so will head off to sit and stitch for a bit.

Finally for today, I'll share a photo of the birthday card that I made for my father in law:



Scott said that it's a little "girly" but his dad won't care. He'll just be happy that we thought of him. I may make him some cookies during the week to send along with the card.

The cupcakes are made with one of Martha Stewart's punches. I buy them at Michael's when they have a 40% off coupon. I used the little puffy things that make them stand up off the card. It gives them a 3-D look. The stars are also one of MS's punches and the candles were some stickers that I had. And as you can see, I like my glitter!

Spider Web Purse Update

I thought I'd drop a quick update post here on my Spider Web purse:



I have all the seams stitched and the spiderwebs are stitched. I thought my readers would like to see it before I start on the beading.

We went to the Elkhorn WI flea market today. Wow, it was jam packed with shoppers! Last Elkhorn of the season. I did pretty well too. I walked 1/2 of it before I had to sit down for awhile. Had to sit down about 4 times during the 2nd 1/2 of it but I figure that's pretty good.

I was looking for a small spider pin with crystals or rhinestones on it but no luck. I have a large one for the center patch and will use buttons and beads to create smaller spiders on the other webs.

I did find some more vintage transfer embroidery patterns. It's hard to believe that with all I have, that I'm still finding some that I don't have! That's really cool though as I just love those old patterns!

I also bought 3 vintage hankies with machine embroidered flowers on them. They were $1.00 each. And then I bought a vintage embroidered towel with Autumn Leaves on it. I need to wash and press it and then I can hang it over the door on my Hoosier cabinet.

Well, that's it for today. I baked another batch of cookies this afternoon and I must confess, I'm exhausted. I'm off to take my shower and lay down.

At Home With Needlework magazine

The September 2009 issue of Zweigart's At Home With Needlework magazine has been released!



Along with the Blackwork Halloween tabletopper on the cover, you can find it's companion (a lovely bellpull) and several of my other designs including this one:



There's also another of my black cats with quilts designs in here along with a sweet gingerbread man tabletopper. Be sure to check out this issue!

In other news, I'm hanging in here. Today seems to be a decent day. I've been to WalMart, the Yankee Candle store, made 2 batches of Oatmeal cookies and 2 batches of Blueberry Muffins. I definitely feel spent now so I'll spend the rest of the day relaxing and stitching.

A Quick Hello

This is the first time I've had my computer on in a couple of weeks. I check my messages on my dad's computer when I feel up to it.

I'm hanging in here. The nightmare continues but the Zoloft is helping. I wish I could describe the awful physical sensations, the weird dreadful creepy feelings and the horror movie that plays in my head sometimes. It is so not me! I just don't think those kind of thoughts. I think butterflies and hummingbirds and soft fuzzy things.

Anyway, I've done a couple loads of laundry today and mixed 2 batches of cookies that I'll bake tomorrow. I try to do what I can do when I can do it. Laying around watching TV is getting old but much of the time, that's all I can do.

Scott is still on vacation so I'm giving my parents a break. Not that they mind that I lay on their sofa and watch TV. I mean, who is better capable of taking care of me than my parents?

My mom tries to encourage me to make a card now and then. I've done quite a few but frankly, when I look at them now, I can't remember making any of them. I have done a bit of stitching the past few days. I finished a pillowcase and started on the companion. With all the laying around I do, it'll be nice to have a pretty new set of pillowcases. I'm just trying to make myself do a few things, even if only for a little while here and there.

On a happy note, I still have a male hummingbird here. The males usually leave the first week of July. Perhaps the one I'm seeing a young one born this year. If that's the case, he'll head back south with the females the end of September. If it isn't a young one, maybe he's still here because of our screwy weather this year!

Well, just wanted to say hello before I turn my computer off. Thank you again everyone for your encouragement. Everyone tells me that this will go away eventually. It's just a slow process. Too darn slow in my opinion but it is what it is.