The Queen's Crowns

We're a week into the Olympics now with some minor sleep-deprivation and this, my Olympics start which I started during the Opening Ceremony last Friday

It's partly cloudy here and just can't get good light. Still having camera issues too. Anyway, here's The Queen's Crowns by PSS. I was so sure this was going to take me past the Olympics to finish, but I'm thinking I can get it done by the end of the games. Not as big as I thought it was, I'm enjoying stitching this. All the crowns are different but for the row of crowns at the bottom. I like the fabric which is 36ct Vtg Maritime white from Lakeside Linens. It's an off white with a touch of very light beige, I think. I may use this color and linen for my Christmas Garden by BBD.

And finally, here's my box with Shakespeare's Peddler's Antique Locks and Keys mounted on it. In person there are lighter colors in the silk that match the trimming on top and the paint in my mind!

See those keys at the lower left? I was thinking of gluing those on the front and/or the sides. But I decided not to. And here's whats going on inside

I trimmed the bottom with burgundy colored ric rac. I like the touch of the wood planks on the sides! For me, this was a gargantuan task because this is my first box. I've read tutorials from other bloggers on how they do their boxes, and I sat here and said to myself---Ohhh, okay! and Oops! and That makes sense!. I like how it looks because as you might know, things look better in person! Now my daughter wants me to make her one and so now I'm on the lookout for a small design that screams 'her'.

Here's what I was working on before the Games started-Pretty Poppies from my Crazies list

I'm thinking of leaving the 'pretty' off of the top. As soon as I'm done with Queen's Crowns, I'll pick this back up. I believe when I finish Poppies, that'll make it my 7th finish?! That leaves just 8 CJC projects.

I will abandon my CJC projects after Poppies for the LK Mystery Sampler. I just ordered Part Two and a few more WDW threads from 123 Stitch, which I just know I'll receive on Monday! They ship fast and it helps that they're in a neighboring state. I know I won't have the Mystery Sampler done by this Halloween anyway and besides that, there's so many other things to stitch. I went and ordered an e-pattern of Quaker Boo by the Sampler Girl. I'll fit that in there too! I keep saying that 3 more hours need to be added to the day to do everything that I need and want to do!

Went grocery shopping this morning and found this annual Holiday magazine that I always buy

I don't know about you but I'm ready for some Fall. I'm tired of sweating and tired of the humidity that arrives with our Monsoon rains. My prickly pear cactus is coming along and I've got it completely covered with chicken wire to keep critters from taking the fruit. My zucchini is going nuts and I'm starting to give some of it away! It's too funny!

I mentioned sleep-deprivation watching the Olympics; Wednesday morning I was one minute late for work because I over-slept! I've been staying up watching the swimming and gymnastics clear up to 10:30 at night and then waking up at 4 a.m. to get ready. I knew it would all catch up with me sooner or later!

Take care everyone and Thanks for your comments!

Lookie, lookie!

Look what I found while grocery shopping!

And I'm on the waiting list at 123 Stitch for the new JCS Halloween issue. Can't wait for that one! Am I excited? you bet! Look at all those exclamation points!

I am working on a Crazy right now, the Ark. No pics though. I'm halfway finished with it. I'll be back with a post of that finish when I'm done.

I hit Hobby Lobby this a.m. armed with a 40% off coupon and bought the supplies to mount Antique Keys to this box-

I decided to put the design on a box. I know which paint I'll use but just need to nail down which paper I want to line the inside with. I have a trim for the top also. SoCal Debbie had the idea of mounting it into a frame with hooks at the bottom to hang keys. I plan on stitching this again because I STILL have the Belle Soie and I may just use her idea. I also bought mounting board to do some ornament finishing. So be sure to check back; I feel the finishing virus coming back!

Speaking of Hobby Lobby, do you know they already have Fall and Christmas items out?! It's getting so crazy!

Well I'm gonna go lose myself in my new magazine with a large glass of ice water. I'm trying to lose some weight so I'm drinking a lot of water. I don't hardly drink water in the winter but I do in the summer, whether I'm trying to loose weight or not. And it's been pretty darn warm here too.

Take care everyone. Thanks for stopping in and for your comments on the last post. Appreciate it!

P.S.: Jeanne, I found the 2010 Carrot freebie from Cricket Collections. Couple of posts back, you asked if I could send you a copy. Let me know if you still want it and I'll email it.

T.G.I.F.!!

Evening all!

What an exhausting week this was. And we went past Spring and right into Summer! Today the temps here where I live reached 94 degrees! Phoenix reached 111. I'll be staying out of Phoenix until November unless I suddenly receive a lot of money and then I'll have to make a fast trip to Attic Needleworks!

I have some finishes from my Crazy list. Here they are


Candy Corn
With They Needle and Thread
Called for linen and fibers

Sorry for the dark pic. I'll be finishing this into a candy corn shape.



Antique Locks and Keys
Shakespeare's Peddler
Called for linen and fiber

 This is the second time I've stitched this one up. I'm out of the fabric now but I still have more silk to do another later on. As for the finish...don't know. I just know it won't be a pillow! Time to branch out, put on my big girl panties, and try some different finishes! I may try putting this on a box. So stay tuned for that!



Stars and Angels
JCS Ornament '11

This design is very nice in person. FYI: I ran out of the WDW Navy using an entire skein. I'd buy 2 skeins for this one. This will be a flat ornament in the same shape. HOORAY! I now have 4 Crazy finishes with 11 to go. Buuuutttt, I started a new stitch couple weeks ago and it's this one

Fancey Blackett-The Harvest Dance by Pineberry Lane. I'm stitching this on 28ct Antique White linen instead of the 28ct Ivory called for. I recently put in part of the border there on the right. Tonite when I get off of here, I'll stitch on her while watching my 2nd favorite paranormal investigator Zach Fagan with Ghost Adventures. I'm happy to throw in a somewhat big stitch into the mix..kind of challenge myself. It's already the half-way point of the year so I'll stitch more on my Crazy WIP's after I've had some progress on Fancey.

Recently, Theresa of Shakespeare's Peddler put out a call for help on her blog for donations to buy a kitty jungle gym for her local animal shelter. A lot of great needlework designers/companies donated a bunch of stitchy stuff and Theresa offered a $50 and $20 bag of asstd. items...I bought the $20 bag. Here's what arrived (above)-a biscornu pattern from Ink Circles, a freebie from Chessie & Me, a large count linen, the Belle Soie Peacock, that very cute pin with the pumpkin, and a Red Velvet Cake lip balm. Oh, oh, oh..I just love Red Velvet anything so I thought this was weird that I should receive a Red Velvet Cake lip balm. I felt like buying a lottery ticket! Anyway, I've been wanting to try to stitch and build a biscornu so here's my opportunity.

I also put in an order at 1-2-3 Stitch for two pieces of fabric for these two designs

In the Meadow by Country Cottage Needleworks. I haven't stitched anything by this designer so I'm lookin' forward to it. But I'm most excited about this next design that came with the silks

Vintage Stars by Jeannette Douglas. I've separated the silks but I'm confused about two colors that are almost alike. It would've been nice if the silks had been in little separate baggies and labeled. But oh well, I'll figure it out somehow. I'm waiting on two Cross Eyed Cricket leaflets, both Halloween-y and one had to be backordered. I've re-acquainted myself with Cross Eyed Cricket after looking for more carrot patterns, which I'll eventually purchase. I really like 1-2-3 Stitch because they ship so quickly. Come to find out they're up north in Utah, right above me! And their 13 x 17 fabric prices are agreeable to me.

We've finally arrived at the end of this here post and to my ongoing Prickly Pear Jam/Jelly installment. For those of you who are new, for the past few years I've been faithfully watering my Prickly Pear cactus so in the Fall I'd have all these wonderful Prickly Pears to make jam/jelly with. Well, just when the fruit turns a nice dark red, something like skunks or javelina, below, eat my fruits! Well, it doesn't

help when I forget to cover my cactus with something to keep those critters from eating them. My cactus looked like this last week, covered with these really pretty yellow flowers. I should have a

bumper crop by the time Fall arrives. Tomorrow morning I'm gonna cover these up with chicken wire. I don't know, those javelina are pretty crafty. Amazing that they'll eat the fruit covered in sharp spines!

Alrighty, time to stitch on Fancey. Thank You for all your comments on the last post. Jeanne, I'm sorry I didn't get back with you about the freebie of the carrot I stitched. I'll search for it but I may have thrown it out..I'll check. And Dulcinella, I have kept the Halloween fabric. I may use the pumpkin faces fabric for the back of Candy Corn.

Here's to a wonderful stitchy weekend to everyone!

Starts 8 and 9

Well, I've encountered yet another bump in the CJC road. My 9th start was supposed to be Buffalo Spirit. I began stitching it this morning on 22ct Hardanger fabric with 2 strands. After a few stitches, I thought it was not looking good. The stitches with 2 strands was looking like using 2 strands on 40ct fabric! Holes next to each stitch were shrinking because of 2 strands of thread. I should have thought out my choice of fabric for it. Therefore, here is the substitute #9 start

Stitched on 36ct PTP fabric with Belle Soie Plush Plum (I love this color!). I've made this before and had the leftover fabric and the silk.

Here's #8 start

Klagetoh Navajo Rug kit by NP Designs. Stitched on 14ct aida. For some reason, the flash on my camera is not working.

I'm hoping this'll be the end of the frantic scramblings through the stash for substitutions! I'm taking the rest of this afternoon off from stitching! Have a great week everyone!