Hi everyone! What a long, strange three weeks it's been. Hope you are all safe, healthy, and happy. I'm writing this early as we'll be spending the weekend away for our fifteenth anniversary, which seems unbelievable.
I'm happy to report that at 10:30 pm on Halloween night, I finished all the stitching on my sugar skulls project:
(Yeah, it was a pretty quiet night...)
Then I sewed them back-to-back in pairs, and hung them on my little Halloween tree. Ahhh.
I've decided to set myself a task to make an ornament every year for that tree. And, of course, I already have next year's planned. (Ha!) Yep, it's another Mill Hill Beads kit, but this one is much smaller and simpler. But we'll talk about that NEXT October!
I thought I should start work on a Christmas project ... ideally one of the vintage "felt and sequins" kits in my stash. But instead I decided to start on a funny little kit that I had seen, randomly, in a craft store while my husband and I were killing time as our trailer hitch was installed.
It was so ridiculous that it made my husband laugh. It was in a big chain store that I don't like to shop at due to how they treat their employees, so I didn't buy it. Then a few days later I saw the kit, and well, I couldn't resist it. Amusingly, when it arrived it had accidentally been sent as TWO kits, and when I contacted the store they just told me to keep it.
As a "learn to craft" kit, it stitched up very quickly.
I wasn't sure what to do with the finished piece, but decided to stitch it on to a packing cube I am giving Wil for Christmas. (Super romantic, eh? Let's just say it's the gift of adventures yet to come...)
Now would I start a Christmas kit? Yes and no. I found this silly banner in my stash.
I opened it up, read the instructions, and looked at all the bits. And I STILL didn't feel like starting it.
Weird, eh? In the meantime, I had decided to try needle felting. (Yeah, I'm pretty scattered lately...). I found a really cute and well-priced kit on Etsy and bought one for me and one for a girlfriend. She and I have been holding weekly "Happy Hours" via FaceTime and figured we could do them together.
They're certainly imperfect, but I'm pleased with the results for a first attempt!
Feels like the only thing I didn't work on was either the Christmas banner or my lovely tiger! But now that it's November, it's time to get the banner started. I hope to have something to show at our next check-in, on December 6. (Maybe...)
The other incredibly talented stitchers work on a variety of beautiful projects -- pop over to their blogs for a bit of inspiration!
Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, and Helen.
You may not have worked on your tiger, but you certainly had a crafty three weeks. Love that cute llama.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathie! Sometimes I like big projects, but sometimes it's fun to switch things up a bit.
DeleteThose calaveras look gorgeous ! Beadwork isn't easy but boy do I love the results. And that llama was a good choice it's very cute.
ReplyDeleteI tried needle felting a while back as well, not that I didn't want to carry on but I just couldn't think of projects to make and I was short on cash at the time. I keep meaning to get the supplies out and do some more, but the possibilities are *too* endless :D
Thanks Megan! It's hard to know what to try next with needle felting -- I picked up a "beginner" book at the library and it felt too complicated. :) So we'll see if I continue. The kit was perfect -- it had everything I needed, so if I never come up with another project at least I didn't invest in too many supplies!
DeleteHappy Anniversary!! I love your skulls and how perfect to have a Halloween tree. I totally understand hopping around to different projects - that seems to be what is happening over here as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Connie! I have been feeling a little unsettled -- almost paralyzed by choice, if you see what I mean. Just trying to keep busy, I guess! Given how much progress you made on your stocking I can't imagine that you were project hopping, though!
Deletelove your skulls and the llama ^^
ReplyDeleteThanks, Claire! It's funny how different animals come into "fashion" at different times. I know it will make Wil laugh when he sees that I've stitched a llama onto a packing cube.
DeleteNo Probllama, Sunny!
ReplyDelete:) Kathy, I probably need to remind myself of that now and again.
DeleteLove the llama! So cute!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gun! It's fun to do a small project sometimes.
DeleteCongratulations on your Halloween finishes! I didn't even put up my Halloween decorations this year :( I agree that needle felting is fun! And your pumpkins are pretty perfect to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura! Some years I don't manage to decorate, but this year I felt like I really needed to. Besides, I was making all those ornaments!
DeleteWhat a fun posting with all the updates on what you have done or doing or going to do. The skulls turned out fab...love them! The llama is so cute and the perfect place for it too. Happy Anniversary :) Great first try felting really cute little pumpkins!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon! I'm really pleased with the skulls, too. A friend asked me to make her one, however, and I don't know that my eyes are up to it! :)
DeleteYes! Sometimes you want to try new techniques, good! Creativity is always forward! Your little pumpkins are beautiful, but also the smiling llama ... Hugs,Carmela
ReplyDeleteDeborah Parsons
ReplyDeleteI have never seen two pumpkins that look the same so I would call them individual and lifelike rather than imperfect Sunny xx
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your Halloween tree. I have a white "Christmas" tree on which we've hung just a few Halloween ornaments. I'd make more ornaments for it if I had more energy. ;-) Your pumpkin patch is pretty amazing too, and your felt pumpkins are just delightful. The beauty of pumpkins is that they are not perfect!
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