Some stitching

Today I actually found some time to sit with my needle and thread and DO something!  Altho', what I did does leave some element of doubt as to what it might end up actually being when it grows up.  Hmmmm.....

Tis a wonderment isn't it?

Mary Corbet has something far more identifiable on her blog today.  She's done another of her Stitch Play series and today it's the cast-on stitch rose.  You can see it HERE and find out how she does it. 

Sadly lacking

Yep, I'm sadly lacking in the creativity department again today, so will have to rely on others to provide you with entertainment. 

Firstly, the latest issue of CQMagOnline is up HERE.  It appears that this might be the next-to-last issue of what has been a fine (and free) online resource for crazy quilters.  I, for one, am sad about that.  Our thanks to Rissa for handling the reins so capably.

Secondly, you might remember me pointing you towards the Heart Strings that Suzy was making.  Well, she has finished and it's absolutely stunning.  Go have a look HERE!  While you're there please take time to do some exploring.  You won't regret it. 

More sights - some questionable, some incredible!

Today I finally got back to working in my embroiderer's ledger.  Yay!  I was beginning to feel extreme withdrawal symptoms.

Here you go...

Please note that Karen, our wonderful teacher for the class (and embroiderer extrodanaire!)

 has changed her site addy

to THIS. 

Also, I would like to point you 

HERE

to see some absolutely fabulous

eye candy
posted by Susan of Plays With Needles.

(Thanks Linecat!)

AND,
finally...
this is what I live with!

Sites....for sore eyes?

Sorry folks....no pictures today....at least not of my doing.  However, if you'd like to see a few things I've stumbled across, have a look at these...

- There's a free digital magazine you can access HERE from Stampington.  Over 200 pages of inspiration!

- You all know my fascination with recycling denim and HERE's a great way to make a great storage item for your studio (or maybe even your ORTS!!). 

- Last, but not least, HERE's another tutorial from Jane using painter's tape in your creations.  I'm going to try this one!

AND - we had some rain today!! 

Ledger work and birds of the blue variety

Yesterday we were lucky enough to be able to attend a Blue Jays baseball game - had a great time, but unfortunately our team lost.....boo!!  We had excellent seats just above the Blue Jays dugout and a great view of the game.  It was fun to see it up close.

Today I finally found a few spare minutes to finish working on a little insertion for my Embroiderer's Ledger and here it is.  This is embroidered on a piece of handmade paper...

Still hot and celebration

Yep, it's still hot here.  Just a few minutes ago a small thunderstorm rolled through and we got some very much needed rain.  It didn't last long enough to do any good though, so we will just have to hope for more. 

Sorry there are no photos for your viewing pleasure today, but you'll have to just envision two pieces of birthday cake (not that we HAD cake, mind you).  Birthdays are rarely a big deal in our lives, but it seems that other people get a kick out of doing our celebrating for us.  At least DH and I are fortunate in that his birthday is the 21st and mine is the next day, so we can get it all over with at once!

Tomorrow we have tickets to see the Blue Jays (baseball for those of you who don't know) play so I doubt there will be any mumbling from this quarter.

Enjoy your day!

TUSAL and bobbins

Sorry to be a bit late in posting my ORTS for the TUSAL this month!  I've been a little preoccupied with mundane things like colonoscopies this week (yeew).  So, without further delay, here is my ORT pile for the month...

and here they are,

added to my jar...

TUSAL?  Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long

ORTS?  Old Recycled Threads

Go HERE for further info.

AND....

Karen, of Sew Many Ways

has posted some really great 

ideas for storing your

sewing bobbins.

Go HERE. 

Owls and bugs

I've stumbled across a couple of cute things, so thought I would share...

1.  If you like knitting, and you like owls, and you like tutorials  - go HERE.  Such a cute little guy!

2.  There's a wonderful 3-D butterfly tutorial HERE, but it's only available until July 31st, so you should check it out soon!  While you're there, just look at her blog header - guaranteed to impress. 

Sorry, no pictures today.  It's been (and will continue to be) a busy week.  Lots of medical appointments and running around so absolutely nothing fun and creative happening.  I guess it's been too hot to be creative anyway, so I shouldn't be upset. 

Hot, hot, hot

Yes, it`s hot  cool.  Perhaps if I *think* cool it will happen!

This was the activity going on in our kitchen this afternoon....

This is the first stage of a new backsplash and is currently drying for a few days before putting the grout in to finish it off.  Jack (DH) and our friend John spent the afternoon in our hot little kitchen doing this.

I, on the other hand, spent the afternoon in my studio working on my ledger classwork.  This picture shows what I did the end of last week (today`s effort isn`t ready to show yet)....

Who knew you could stitch on tissue paper!!

Eye candy - by the scores!

I've mentioned this before on my blog (and actually took part in it a couple of years ago) and today is launch day, so I'm sending you off to spend time snooping through exploring all sorts of wonderful studios.  I guarantee you are in for a great time and will find all sorts of ideas to use in your own studio, however big or small it may be.

Karen Valentine is hosting a huge blog party called 'Where Bloggers Create' and if you go to her site HERE and look on the right side under 'Where Bloggers Create 2012' you will find an alphabetical listing of the bloggers who are taking part in the tour.

HERE is an example of just one of the wonderful studios you will see on the tour.  CreativeCarmelina is a blog I enjoy reading - just to see her eye candy!

Have fun!!

I'll bet you didn't know THIS....and classwork

This falls under the 'who knew' category!  Vicki Welsh has posted on her site about the fact that an inch isn't always an inch.  I wouldn't have believed it, but because I have faith in Vicki I checked.  She's right!!  Go HERE to see what I'm mumbling about.

And...

here's the latest in my classwork

for the Embroiderers Ledger

class from Karen Ruane. 

(p.s. while you're at Karen's site, have a look at her

latest video showcasing her finished 

cloth and be prepared to be wowed)

Thrifting find

Today we took one of our 'sanity' days and skipped town in quest of a birthday present for a friend of mine.  Unfortunately what I hoped to get didn't pan out.  The day wasn't a complete loss though because we hit a couple of thrift stores and I scored these...

$3.99 each - how's that for a bargoon?!!

Stitch videos, and some more class work

Mary Corbet is one of the most generous souls on the internet and has been busily creating new embroidery stitch videos for us to enjoy and learn from.  Looking around her site will lead you to all sorts of valuable information about many forms of embroidery so be prepared to have fun! There are more than 70 stitch videos alone.  Go HERE.

- - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - -

And,

here's an update on my Embroiderer's Ledger classwork..

more classwork and beauty

Here's the next bit I've done for the Embroiderer's Ledger class with Karen...

AND....

(for the beauty part of this post)

you have to go and see the wonderful

Heart Strings

that Suzy is creating!

Be sure to check out the rest of her blog

when you're there because

you're in for a treat.

Go HERE!

Suzy has a link on her blog post

where you can read more

information about

the creation of

Heart Strings.

Yummy......and.....bugs???

Interesting title today, don't you think?

I just finished eating some wonderful pasta for lunch 

and thought I'd share the recipe with you.

 It comes from Kraft Kitchens.

NO-COOK FRESH TOMATO SAUCE WITH PASTA

l lb. spaghetti noodles
8 plum tomatoes, chopped (we used plain ol' tomatoes)

1/2 c. Zesty Italian dressing

1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 c. chopped fresh basil

2 T. chopped red onions

Cook pasta as directed, omitting salt. 

Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl.

Drain pasta, add to tomato mixture & toss.

Now, doesn't this look good?

Note:  It can be served hot or cold!

- - - - - - - - - - -

Now for the bugs...

I stumbled across a couple of really nice tutorials for making insects and thought some of you might be interested.  The first one is for a steampunk variation, using polymer clay.  Go HERE.    The second is for an adorable stitched dragonfly and can be found HERE. 

More class work

This is my completed first page from the Embroidered Ledger class with Karen.  I'm actually pretty pleased with it, but I know I have a long way to go!

small things and a big party!

I'm working, just not in my studio room because it's too hot in here.  Stitching in the living room where we have a/c is by far the best place to be.  The past few days have been hot but the humidity hasn't been overwhelming.  We had rain last night so today the humidity level climbed.

Anyhoo...  I have been doing a wee bit of embroidery (which I hope to be able to show you tomorrow) and I've made these:

Wee crocheted coasters

for wee gifties.  

- - - - - - -- - - - - -

And,

I see that the 'Where Bloggers Create 2012' 

is happening again.  

It's the 4th annual blog party 

where people share their creative spaces

with those of us curious to visit.

I had mine in a couple of years ago and

also had a great time snooping peeking

into the studios.

There is definitely LOTS of inspiration

for storage on the tour and it's well

worth exploring.

Go HERE.

Mumbling....

Yep, I'm mumbling again....simply because there hasn't been a darn thing accomplished in my studio for days!

Anyhoo... I stumbled across a really sweet free pattern for cute knitted dolls on the Janie H. Knits site and thought you might be interested in seeing it and perhaps creating one (or a few!).  It's a great use for scraps.
Go HERE. 

Another great free resource for some great projects (not knitting tho') is from Sue Bleiweiss via her site HERE.  Sue has also just had a book published called 'Sketchbook Challenge' and it's definitely on my wish list!  Be sure to check out her blog while you're there because she does some pretty cool things.