Easter Purse Completed!

I finished this up this morning:



Isn't that Springy looking?

I'm not sure what I'll stitch on next. I have 5 purses to put together now and 3 Comfort Dolls but I'm not feeling up to sewing at the moment. I may do a bit of vintage iron-on transfer embroidery.

And here are pages 41 & 42 of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog:





There's only 2 pages of this catalog to go. I'll post them over the weekend.

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!

Cats & Quilts Counted Cross Stitch Series

Well, as you've probably all noticed, I've gone back to my old format. Sometimes we try to make changes and they work and other times, they just don't.

Anyway, I have loads of stuff to share with you today. First, I started a little Bonnet Lady from my collection of vintage embroidery iron-on transfers:



Like the little kitty I did over the weekend, I will be sending this to Pat for the Comfort Doll Project. If you would like to stitch this little design, here is the pattern:



Click on the image to go to my Flickr site where you can download the large version.

In other news, I mentioned last week that my counted cross stitch followers were saddened by my retirement. Again, changes just don't always work so we'll just say, that I'll be designing cross stitch on a part time basis.

I decided to do a series of Cats & Quilts designs. There will be one for each month of the year. I've completed January & February:





If you're interested in stitching this series, you can find the patterns here.

Finally for today, here are pages 29 & 30 of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog:





Check out the prices on the DMC Embroidery floss! 5 cents per skein!

Well, we didn't get as much snow as they had predicted last night. Fine with me. And it's been bright and sunny all day. Nice change from that overcast grey that we've had so much of since the beginning of December. It's supposed to get really cold for a few days and then warm up again.

Well, enough of the weather. Enjoy today's pattern and catalog pages.

Still Snowing

It's still snowing here. I pulled out my little white bunny yesterday and put him on my coffee table. He kind of cheers things up and makes it feel more Springy.

I didn't start a new project but rather instead, I did some sewing. I sewed up an Easter purse block which you'll see in the near future and then I did some cat dolls and some 6 inch blocks:



The Brocade on the top of the cat is one of my newest pieces of fabric. I bought it at JoAnn's on New Year's Eve. I couldn't wait to use it on something! Anyway, I've added the pre-sewn cat dolls to my Etsy shop and I'll add the 6 inch blocks when I have some free time.

Meanwhile, the 1936 Herrschner's Catalog continues. Here are pages 25 & 26:





Enjoy!

More Pages From My Herrschner's Catalog

Well, it's snowing here again. What a surprise! Don't laugh, but I have this sweet little white bunny that I bought at Michael's last year and I'm going to go upstairs and get him out and put him on my coffee table. He's covered in very chunky glitter and he is so pretty and sparkly. That should help it feel a bit more cheerful and Springy to me. He doesn't scream Easter, he's just a bunny.

Anyway, I haven't started another stitching project yet so today's offering will be pages 23 & 24 of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog:





I was recently asked if I still do cross stitching. No, not really. The only cross stitching I do is my charted borders on my Crazy Quilt projects. Some of the designs have cross stitches. I still enjoy vintage outline embroidery and I'm thinking of pulling out my transfers later today and doing a little something from them to send to Pat for the Comfort Doll project.

1936 Herrschners Catalog Continued....

I haven't started another project yet since finishing my Sewing Machine Lady. Today, I'll simply offer you pages 21 & 22 of my Herrschner's Catalog:





Enjoy!

Sewing Machine Lady Purse Completed

I finished up on this purse last night:



I have to find some time to sew up these last 4 purses that I made.

I did a couple of Glitter Cards the other day too:





Yes, these are available in my Etsy shop.

I don't feel very chatty today so I'll leave you with pages 19 & 20 of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog:





Be sure to click on the images to go to my Flickr site where you can view the large version.

Beading On Sewing Machine Lady Purse

I spend a good few hours yesterday on this and started the beading:



I love how that butterfly came out! I really wanted it to look like a piece of vintage jewelry and I think I did it!

And here are pages 17 & 18 of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog:





Be sure to click on the images to go to my Flickr site where you view the large versions.

I hope you're enjoying this catalog. I have a Bucilla catalog to post after this.

It's a bright sunny day here today. Feels good.

Back To Kitty & Me Designs

The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. Allen K. Charlmers

Ladies, I hope you don't mind but I really didn't like my Illuminate page topper. I decided to just go back to my old one which looks and feels better to me. I didn't get the sizing right but maybe my friend Chris can help me out with that. I'll continue to post uplifting quotes every day and I'll chat a bit about how we create our own reality but this page topper just feels right and the other one didn't.

So, that's what I did. I'm going to change it back in my Etsy shop as well. In the meantime, here are pages 15 & 16 of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog:





I didn't get to any stitching yesterday. Been feeling a bit under the weather but I did just pull some beads for my Sewing Machine Lady purse and I will head out now and stitch a bit on that and watch some QVC.

More Pages From 1936 Herrschner's Catalog

You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. Albert Camus

I didn't get to doing any stitching yesterday but I thought you would like to see my Sewing Machine Lady Purse with the painted appliques:



I expect I'll start beading on this later today.

In the meantime, here are pages 13 & 14 of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog:





Be sure to click on the images to go to my Flickr site where you can see the large versions.

In other news, I've received a lot of emails lately from my cross stitch readers telling me how sad they feel that I stopped designing cross stitch. That really breaks my heart. It's like I have this gift and now I'm not sharing it with others.

I decided to do just a few things to offer in my Etsy shop. I still prefer my main focus to be on crazy quilting and sewing but you may just see something in the way of cross stitch, now and then pop up in the shop. My old designs are retired though. I won't be re-listing them but if there is anything that anyone wants, just let me know. I always see to it that my readers have what they want.

Ok, I'm off to do a bit of tax time preparation. Enjoy the catalog everyone!

Sewing Machine Lady Purse Continued.....

But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?

Albert Camus

I have the seams on this design covered now:



This scanned a little dark today. Maybe because the sun is out. No complaints on that one! And now that my monster maple tree is down, I have a lot more light in here and in my kitchen!

Anyway, I plan to paint those lace pieces today and start beading on this. Most of the seam treatments are my own charted borders for waste canvas. To learn more about my technique, click here. Working with waste canvas really is an amazing technique for producing perfectly sized and spaced stitches. And as you can see, all sorts of neat borders can be achieved that aren't possible with a freehand method.

I also wanted to share pages 11 & 12 of my 1936 Herrschners Catalog:





Be sure to click on the images to go to my Flickr site where you see the larger versions. It's fun to look at the prices of these items as they were in 1936!

Happy New Year!

I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.
Albert Schweitzer

I was finally able to go to JoAnn's Fabric Store yesterday! My husband had promised to take me for my birthday last week but it was snowing so we decided to save it for New Year's Eve. I needed purse handles to finish up some projects and of course, I couldn't resist picking up a few 1/4 yards of some pretty fabrics. I have a thing for Brocade!

Anyway, you'll be seeing them in upcoming projects I'm sure! In the meantime, my tree man just finished taking down my monster maple tree! Now it's all over my backyard. We decided to keep some of it for our Summer bonfires and share the rest with our neighbors who also enjoy bonfires and have fire places. I'm quite ready for them to come and get some. This was a huge tree! No maple seeds to clean up this Spring and no leaves to rake next Autumn!

I haven't stitched so I'll just share another 2 pages of my 1936 Herrschner's Catalog with you:





Finally for today, my theme for the month of January is "Happiness". I thought it would be a cheery subject to warm up the cold Winter days! I'll talk about it a bit more in upcoming posts.

For now, have a Happy New Year everyone!