Marvelous Monday Update 6/24/13

WEATHER
I drove through rain and lightning this morning to get to work.  Friday night and into Saturday, it rained. It thundered.  It rained some more. 

I bolted upright in bed at 4:30am on Saturday remembering that I had dirty laundry sorted into piles on the basement floor.  Long time readers might remember that when it rains, and rains, and rains, I get water in my basement.  I jumped out of bed and rushed to the basement to find it... yup, water spreading across the basement floor toward the drains.  I had reached a pile of towels so I quickly threw those in a basket, and picked the other piles up before the water got to 'em. 

As I wandered around the basement to make sure there wasn't anything else that might need to be off the floor, I heard water running.  Washer? No. Sinks? No.  I followed the sound.  It was coming from behind some bins I had stacked by the wall.  Lo and behold, I found a hole the width of the end of my pinky.  Water was pouring in from the saturated ground like a tiny faucet.  As soon as the rain stops, repairs are in order!

STITCHY STUFF
Thanks so much for the comments regarding the nose I made for the snowman last week.  I didn't mean to have a crooked nose.  It just happened, lol.  It gives character, doesn't it?  I finished Mr. Snowman into an ornament.

 

Designer: Stoney Creek
Magazine: Stoney Creek Cross Stitch Collection, Jul/Aug 2000
Fabric: 25ct Ivory Luguna
Fibers: DMC
Embellishments: Carrot Nose and Star Buttons,

Handmade Coordinating Cording

 

It only took me a week to stitch up this cute scissor case at work on my lunch break.  Even though the linen banding was attached to the case, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be stitch.

 

 

Acorn Scissor Case

Designer: Lizzie Kate

Fibers:  DMC

Embellishments: Buttons, Acorn Charm

Since I finished the scissor case, that meant I had to pick another project for work.  The BF said, "Oh, just pick one!"  So I did.

Ballon Rally

It reminds me of this Balloon Rally that I've been to a couple of times.  The hot air balloons are awesome to see in real life.

Back to the project:  A bit ambitious for a work project, wouldn't you say?  It's a Dimensions Gold kit.  A benefit of having a 45 minute commute to work is that I'm slowly working my way through the many kits I have.  I really liked the fact that this kit had all the floss separated and organized.

There were two of those floss organizers.  Each one had threads that were 3ft in length, and the floss was glued to the organizer.  My infinite wisdom told me that it would soon become a nightmare with tangled floss... and what would I do with the leftover bits that were still useable?  The floss now looks like this:

I spent the weekend winding the floss onto bobbins.  No more worries about tangled floss and leftover bits, lol.

I've been promising for weeks to make Black Cat into an ornament.  Last week, I finally found a cute backing fabric.  Had plans to make the ornament over the weekend, but life got in the way.  I'm about 1/2 way done, though.  Does that count?

Until next time,

Three Times Charm

Hope all the Dad's, Grampa's, and Uncles out there had a great Father's Day. 

I went to visit my Dad on Father's Day.  You can read about him HERE.  We sat outside and if it weren't for the swarms of gnats, it would've been a good visit.  What do you get your Dad when he's 71 years old and really doesn't need anything?  Lately, I've been resorting to the green stuff, you know $$.  This year, I got creative with the card.  Behold finish #1...

The inside letters that spell "Dad" are origami.  I thought it turned out cute.

I'd hoped to have a complete ornament finished, but I didn't have matching DMC to make the cording I wanted.  So, for now I'll just show the stitched part.

Snowman with Tree

Designer: Stoney Creek

Magazine: Stoney Creek Cross Stitch Collection, Jul/Aug 2000

Fabric: 25ct Ivory Luguna
Fibers: DMC
Embellishments: Carrot Nose and Star Buttons

 

I made the nose out of Sculpey since the company recommended is no longer in business.  I especially like the fringe on the scarf. What do you think of Finish #2?

 

Finish #3 was actually finished a couple weeks ago.  I received word that it arrived at it's new home so now I can show it.  Here's what I sent Jessica in IN for the July 4th Exchange:

 

 

Sing for the USA

Designer: Brittercup Designs
Fabric: 25ct Ivory Luguna
Fibers: DMC
Embellishments: Liberty Bird Button, Red Ric Rac

 

I really enjoyed stitching this design and will probably stitch it up again when I get more of the bird buttons.  This was the first time I used ric rac on an ornament.  It was a bit fiddly, but I like the effect.

 

Until next time,