Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Halloween Ornaments Project, August 2024

This month I decided to make up an odd little wooden "kit":


I stained him black, added some purple metallic highlights, and voila: 



That seemed too small for a monthly project, and I had another project on my list that felt too big to be just a month. So I decided to get a head start on my September project: 


I had dyed some Aida a mottled purple/grey that seemed perfect for the project. I've made a good start and I'm sure I can finish it by September 13:




Sunday, August 11, 2024

Christmas Banners Stitch-a-Long, part 9

Hi everybody! Usually I prep these posts on Saturday and set them to go live first thing (as in just after midnight) on our check-in days. But things have been a little chaotic -- in the best possible way -- so I'm playing catchup. 

Last time I did a happy dance for my Christmas is Love banner, and set out to work on this Nordic Gnome kit: 


At the outset I wasn't sure how he was going to go together... and I'm still not 100% sure. But after three weeks, here's where I am: 


My next step is to "stuff tightly" and then I'll stitch the hands and feet, stuff them, and sew them on. 

Oh, as for the chaos at home -- three weeks ago we brought home these two kittens: 


We adopted them from a friend who took in a stray cat a few months back, only to discover the cat was pregnant ... with FIVE kittens. These two are Apollo Moonshadow (or MuMu) on the left, and Oberon Halford (or Obi) on the right. 

They are unspeakably adorable... and best photographed while sleeping because there are a LOT of zoomies. Here they are competing in synchronized snoozing:


Demonstrating that the wrestling they enjoy is all for show, and that really they love each other: 


Kittens also make it difficult to stitch because thread is EXCITING. So we'll see how the next three weeks go!

The other stitchers in this stitch-a-long are always working on amazingly beautiful and diverse projects. Go check out their blogs and get inspired: Avis, Claire, Gun, Christina, KathyMargaret, JackieMegan, Deborah, Sharon, Daisy, Cathie, LindaMary MargaretCindy, and Helen.

See you in three weeks!