Cooler temps ahead!

Yes, it's supposed to dip down into the 80's! Hence, the new blog design and the need to look at more pumpkins. It's been a brutal summer here. My daughter and I went window shopping today, looking at all the Fall/Halloween decorations. I should have put an epiletic seizure warning on my blog; I've got several things going on with it with all the different backgrounds, the birds and the small header that I can't figure out how to center. Hang in there, I'll figure it out.

How're you all doing?

My Halloween SAL (stitch alone!) is going great. Remember this?

Haunted Holler

The Stitcherhood

14ct Light Fiddlers Aida

DMC

It looks so much better in person than the chart picture. I actually lost my mojo for about 5 days while stitching this. I'd look at it and say naa! I finally picked it back up last week and finished it Thursday the 1st of this month. It's cute and I think I'll finish it as a flat ornament. Here's a close-up:

This is my new start-a freebie from Plum Pudding Needleart

Not a great picture and I don't like to press my stitching until I'm done. It'll be small and will magically turn into a hanging pillow. Stitched on mystery linen, with DMC. It's not really spooky, but I love ravens. After this is done, I'll probably start on the other design from The Stitcherhood (see earlier post). I have lots of Fiddler aida in my stash for it. I'm trying my hardest to keep stitching for my SAL. There are so much other stuff that are catching my eye and I promised myself that I wouldn't start any Christmas projects until I was done with all my Halloween things!

A couple years ago this woolfelt tablerunner caught my eye in an issue of Create & Decorate and I started it. It's definitely a WIP!

The bottoms of the pumpkins, the crows, and the stars need stitching. Then all the way around a feather stitch but I think I'll do a blanketstitch instead. AND I have yet another woolfelt tablerunner to start! It's a Halloweenie one with cats heads on a more shorter tablerunner. I have all the heads and designs cut out and the needed woolfelt for the background. All I need is Time! Now that I've publicly mentioned it, I feel like I should get the two tablerunners finished. As for my quilted Halloween tablerunner top (see previous post!sorry!), I have found the perfect fabric for the backing at Joanne's. That'll have to wait 'til I can afford it.

I picked this magazine up recently

And I see more in stores that I need also! It's all about need!

I've been watering my prickly pear cactus regularly, and have quite a few fruits on it. I'll give them another month to turn a dark red, then it's time to pick them. I've been threatening to make jelly out of them for many years so this time I'm doing it! I'll add a jar to my 1 year blogoversary coming up; stay tuned!

Take care everyone! And thanks for dropping in!

Ode to the Mechanically Inclined!

Woo Hoo! My wheels are running again, thanks to my bro who has a thing for mechanics. Thanks Joe!! Right now, it moves and doesn't screech. That screech was the serpentine belt (attached to the alternator, I think) being stretched out and last week, it finally broke. When the alternator went down, the engine continued to draw power from the battery, which took a hit. My brother said the battery was too small for the engine/car and had to buy a bigger battery. So the total price tag for all: two belts (while he replaced the bad belt, he replaced another just because), and the battery--$140.00! The battery alone was $100. I was told taking the car to a shop would've set me back $400-500. So I'm so grateful to have a brother who knows cars. My car needs a few more things, like a new gasket, and CV shafts. Those are things that he can put on himself. But for now, it runs and runs good!

While the car sat outside dead and I missed two days of work, I stitched on my new start. Yes, it isn't the ones I talked about on the last post, but it's a new start nonetheless:

Witchy Brew
Witchy Stitches
Mystery count and fabric
GAST

I'm half-way done with this one. I've been neglecting stitching for the Spooky Stitcher's SAL. So Witchy Brew satisfies that. I've ordered GAST Cherry Wine from one of my favorite ONS's-J.J.'s Collectibles and should be getting that sometime next week. I'm needing Cherry Wine for WaBH. I'm taking a break from the witch on her broom right now. I'm just so giddy I have wheels again!

This morning I headed out to a not-for-profit 2nd hand shop to look for stuff to sell on eBay. I found some paperbacks (for me), a Jim Shore cross stitch pattern (this'll go on eBay), and what I consider to be a great find, these plates:

No cracks, no chips, nothing! Wonderful folk-artsy plates by Jim Shore, all for .49 cents each. I walked out of there with $4.00 less and smiling. I'll be putting these on eBay also.

Man oh man, has summer hit! Last week the temp's been around 94, 95. It seems we went from winter to summer in two weeks. First part of June, I was still pulling on a blanket in the morning! The dew point has been hovering around 10%, humidity at 20%. I get zapped from everything I touch. As that famous saying here in Arizona goes: Yes, it's hot but it's a dry heat. Go outside and it feels like a blowdryer on medium heat.

Well, that's it. I just wanted to yell to the heavens that my car is good to go. Hope you all have a super weekend with no car problems!!

Antique Locks and Keys and more...

Morning all!

As they say..better late than never! I'm continually amazed at how fast time is going and not posting here:) I have a different job now Monday through Friday 8:30 to about 4:00 and I'm just exhausted in the evenings. I haven't touched my stitching for 4 or 5 days until I decided to stitch a new start last night:

Here's my progress for 2 hours (I finally hit the sack at 11 p.m.):

The thread is Belle Soie Plush Plum and the fabric looks to be 36ct something or other. I bought this as a kit from Shakespeare's Peddler and I'm thinking Theresa sent me the called-for fabric-36ct Fresco by PTP. Whatever it is, it's beautiful. By the picture you can see it has some plummy or burgundy-colored undertones. Perfect with the Plush Plum silk. The model is finished as a shelf pillow with crushed walnut on the bottom and stuffed on top; I may do the same. I'm finding out though, that 36ct is probably going to be the highest count I can possibly stitch on. 40ct might be a little too tight for my lousy eyesight! I'm enjoying this and stitching with silk, for me, is always fun. I need to do more of it! Right now, my stash enhancement plans only include a couple of threads to start and finish a couple of projects. The near-finish needs a skein of GAST and I'll be turning that into a long upright pillow. I have the fabric and embellishments for it already. The new start I need a skein of GAST for is this: Guess what? Blogger is not letting me post the picture! There sure has been a lot of  problems with Blogger lately. The planned project is Witchy Brew by Witchy Stitches. A small stitch-up and cute as heck! It says 'If I don't get my witchy brew I just might put a hex on you..

Anyway, last post I planned on stitching Winifred Witch (let's see if Blogger will post the pic): Nope, it's not letting me! Sheesh! I posted a picture of the witch over on the Spooky Stitcher's SAL:
http://spookystitcherssal.blogspot.com/

I made progress on the witch until I got to the 1 over areas and proceeded to have problems, which is why I started the SP design. I watched the DVD 'No Reservations' with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart while starting it. A chick-flick and very nice! About a chef (Jones) who runs the kitchen of a high-scale restaurant who suffers a loss. During time off, the restaurant hires a new chef (Eckhart). The new chef worms his way into Jones heart and her niece who survived the car crash. Just a nice little movie. I would post a pic but I may not be able to!

Well that's it in a nutshell! Hope the weather is fine where you're at. Those people in those tornado-plagued areas sure could use our thoughts and prayers right now:) I've only experienced an earthquake and a somewhat minor one at that. Here in Arizona, our weather is kind of predictable!

Have a great 4-day week!

Spending time on sand and snow

Good Afternoon all!

Thought I'd update my progress on WaBH:

I might have straightened this out before taking the picture! At the bottom left, you can see the alphabet starting. As the title of this post states, I've been stitching mostly the sand and snow-with more to come! Right now my budget won't allow me to buy more GAST Cherry Wine thread which is what the alphabet and most of the house is stitched in. I have some but that is reserved for the border. Those little areas near the tree at the corner are one-over birds which I think I will tackle just to fill up that whole side. I'm enjoying this design very much but I think I'll set it aside and get back to this witch:

Hope your weather is fine where you're at and spend it stitching!