Some Finishes!

I finished some stuff!
(don't go into shock!)
First, my sister's wedding sampler. It's 'Fantasy Wedding Blessing' from Dragon Dreams, with the changes she wanted. Purple flowers, blue-sky fabric, and little dragons at the bottom.


Finished size: I didn't measure; about 7 x 13, something like that.
Fabric: some aida I dyed myself.
the little dragons at the bottom are the DD freebie 'Christmyth Wyvern', (his head only) with the colors my sister wanted. I'll scan them for a better look when I get my scanner working again.

Also, I've made some aprons for Christmas gifts:



I think the butterfly one is my favorite; it has two tall skinny pockets instead of two square or one rectangle. The aprons look a little odd, I guess, but it's just the way they're laying. None of them are actually deformed (like that top poinsetta apron... >.<)

Looking for Patterns!

I was web-browsing instead of stitching the other day (^___^) and I saw these patterns on someone's personal cross stitch site.
Sadly, it was in a language I don't read (I don't even know what language it was!) so I was hoping someone would know where I might find them?

I thought this one was Dimensions 'Elegance of the Orient' at first, but then I looked to be sure, and it isn't. Very similar, but Elegance isn't holding a parasol.


No clue at all as to this one:

Or this one:

**Edit** - found this one! Dimensions 'Splendor of the Orient'!
This one had a name after it that started with a 'V'. I thought I'd saved it, but apparently I didn't. **EDIT** It was Vervaco (thanks Sharon!) but I still don't know the name of the pattern.

If anybody can help, I'd really appreciate it!!!

Hope to post a finish, or at least a major update, tomorrow!!!

The Emo Bear in a Hat

Ahem. Yes.
So, this is the hat my brother-in-law was gonna pay $45 for. only, it's not blocked yet. I made it in about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. With about $1 worth of yarn.


The purple is actually darker. Flash burn... But it has the squared-off earflaps and the neck flap that he wanted. It came out pretty nice, actually.

One prezzie down, about 7 to go!

The First Day of the Rest of My Month

It's December first - and once again, it's time for panicky fast stitching of Christmas goodies.
Hey, it's tradition!
At least for me... organization is a planet somewhere, right? Other side of Pluto...
Anyway, 'Going to Market' is supposed to be my Mum's gift. I have her officially 1/4 done now. Here's a piccie:

Her colors are absolutely gorgeous - they just glow, I swear! I can just sit and look at her...

Anyway!
I'm going to make my sister a couple pairs of these:

In different colors. A black pair and a pink pair, probably. Maybe a red pair, too. She'll also be getting her wedding sampler, that I showed in the last post. I only need a day or so to finish it.

Then, my new brother-in-law wants a crocheted hat with squared-off earflaps and sort of neck-flap cover thingie (that's the scientific name) in the back. He was gonna buy one, and I looked at it, and it was like $45... and I said 'I can make that.' I can too - I don't even need a pattern, it was so easy! For forty-five dollars!!! I ought to try and sell the darn things, really! I'll be making it in black and purple - his choice.

My brother got married on Thanksgiving Day - so now I have a new sister-in-law and my very first nephew! He's six and I'm going to make him an Indiana Jones plushie - he's nuts about Indiana. As for her - I have no idea what to make her. I'll think of something. My brother will be getting an Optimus Prime plushie. Trust me, he's just another big kid. I'll be making it to look like the cartoon/comic book character, not the new movie character.

My Da... I have no idea what to make him, yet. He loves crocheted skull caps (he sleeps in 'em in the wintertime, 'cause he's got no hair) but I've made him about six of the darn things. Hrmm... a dilemna...
So, that's what I need to get done in December. Oh, and my little 5x7 kit of the three Wise Men. I've worked on it a tiny bit, but I left it out in the car. There's four inches of snow out there and it's cold so I'll show of pic of it later! I've got until midnight on Dec 31st to finish it - if I'm gonna keep with my lil' tradition - but it's no big deal to me if I don't make it.

Wedding Blessing Update

It's cold here.

And rainy.

Rainy and cold.

And a little bit snowy.

and wet.

and, ya know, cold.

It's also raining.

...ah, November! how I love thee!

Anyway, since it's cold and raining - in case you missed that - I've been spending a little more time stitching. I'm soooooooo close to finishing my sister's wedding sampler!

It's Fantasy Wedding Blessing by Dragon Dreams

I finished the castle and most of the border and all the 'verse'. However, since it's cold and raining and dark and dreary and all that, I can't get a decent picture. So here are scans - I had to scan it twice to get the whole thing. Scanning makes it look crooked and wavy, but it's not. I promise.

And here's a close up of the castle - I love this castle!!!

I really love this pattern-chart, too - it's beautifully done and very easy to work with! Now I have to make (more) changes to it, though; my sister doesn't want their last names on it. Long story, but they might end up changing their last name to his mother's name due to some issues with his father. Anyway, she asked if I could put their first and middle names instead. 'Sure,' I said. Well, 'Alison Irene' is pretty easy to fit, but his name is 'Robert Roosevelt.' Not so easy. I may have to leave off the charm and just put an ampersand. If I do that, it'll fit perfectly under the bottom line of herringbone stitch.

Then, my sis wants to know if I can put a little dragon on it, too. This, I'm not so sure about. I'm going to have to go through all my Dragon Dreams patterns and freebies and see if I can find a little one that will fit, because I don't have enough material to put a very big one. Hmmm... maybe I could find a little dragon charm to go on one side of the date, and a different fantasy-style charm to go on the other side? or a little heart? That might work!!!

**Edit** okay, so Blogger, being evil, has cut off the sides of the pics instead of resizing them. I refuse to try to figure out why. So I'm going to try turning them into links to my webshots album.

Afghans!

My mother's Women's Group has been working to make lap blankets for three local assisted-living homes. So I took a break from cross stitching and the never-ending scarf to make these:

They're all made from scrap yarn left over from other projects. I just worked with the bits, changing colors randomly in the middle of rows as each ball of yarn ended. I think I like the pink one best. The one with the red border will suit a male - I think - and the bluest one could be for a guy or a gal, but the pink came out very feminine. It was fun to go back to crocheting for awhile; it was the first craft I ever learned to do and I haven't done much lately. Especially not granny squares - they are so easy, and I can actually get them done while watching TV or listening to music, instead of getting distracted and either missing the show or forgetting to stitch.

They're all about four 1/2 feet square, maybe a little bigger. Just right for a wheelchair-patient. I also made a lap quilt, but I forgot to take a picture and I've already given it to the lady collecting them. I'll ask if she happened to take one, but it was just a simple one, so no big deal.

Now back to work on 'Going to Market' - I want to get at least halfway done with her this month!

Finished Brittercup Kitty!

'Trick or Kitty Treat'
from JCS Halloween issue.
Stitched over one on 28ct.
DMC threads
about 2 by 2 inches. I think.

It's supposed to have a lil' spider button to set it off, but - I don't like spiders.

At all.

So I'm thinking I'll put a couple little leaf buttons that I have. Then it shall be a fall kitty! (and I can leave it up longer)
Turning it into an ornament this evening!