Pay it Forward - Artsy Meme

In my blog scan this morning I ran into a 'pay it forward' event at Susan's site. I couldn't resist, so the first five people to respond to the challenge via comments on this blog will get a small piece of art created by me. It will be a small 'something' of CQ, beads, embroidery, not sure what, but it will be hand made, with care. BUT, in order to receive, you have to make the same offer on your blog. No, you don't send something to me in exchange, you will 'pay it forward' to those who sign up on your blog. I will begin creating your 'goodie' when I see the post at your site. I've seen some who have already started, so make your comment and post away!

Beautiful Day

Today the sun is shining brightly in the blue sky and the wind is blowing. What a lovely day after a couple of days of cold rain.

If you'd like to take a look at some of the Chains of Hearts I have ready, you can see them in my Flickr account.

Organized

Well, the organization of the craft room is finished. How could this take three days? Now I'll show my before and afters, even though it is embarrassing how I let it get so messy? It is not the show place that I'm sure lots of others have, but it is what it is... I have a few more photos to share, but can't get them to download just now...

This is the area where all the threads, beads, buttons, laces and such are stored.

Before

After


Ironing area

After



Bookcase (mostly)

After


Sewing area



This is where the cotton fabrics are sorted.

Before


After


This is the chest of drawers where fancy fabrics are stored

Before


AFter


This is the tatting, knitting, extra fancies, motifs, etc. area.

Before


This was the 'loading dock' area - stuff that needed to find a home...

Before


After

Fall Colors

We've had a few nights of frost and freeze here in South Carolina, and the colors are showing off.

These are burning bushes.



Plum trees



Red Dogwood

New Goodies

I have received the most scrumptious ribbons and have to share them with you. Aren't they beautiful? Pat Winter offered a silk ribbon dyeing service, and these came from her. She is so nice and I love what she sent.



I also got some beautiful crystal beads from Planet Crystals on eBay - thanks for the tip Melissa.


Now I have to 'organize' these into my stash -- almost finished!!

Needle Tatting

I've been needle tatting for about six months. It is easier for me than shuttle tatting, and the results are just as good for my purposes.

The best source for beginning instructions I have found are here Handy Hands Tatting. Barbara Foster's book is excellent.

Someone has shared this as a good site for instructions, Needle Tatting Two.

I was asked what kind of needles to use, so I tried to get a picture of them. They aren't the greatest, but the best I could do. Needles come in several sizes. My opinion is to go ahead and get the set - of differing sizes. My first set came from Georgia Seitz shop, but you may find them at Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Start with the larger ones with bigger thread so that you can see the stitches you're making to compare with examples.

The threaded needle is next to smallest I have, and it is threaded with size 12 Finca cotton. You will notice that the smaller ones are bent - I have a tight grip! The item on the far right is a regular crochet hook. The item at the top is a size 14 short hook for pulling joins through picots.




Iris Susan gave me support and lots of links when I first started.

Challenge to Organize

A challenge was posed on the CfN list, and so it begins. I am off work a few days next week, and my plan had been to work in the craft room - as stated earlier, it looks like a loading dock. This is 'my year' to host our family Christmas gathering, so the house must look like someone actually lives here. I will take photos of before and after, but don't know if they'll be posted until later!

I did get a start earlier in the week with organizing my DMC floss. I had sorted it by color, but that wasn't working, so went back and sorted by number. I don't do a lot of cross stitch any more, but when I do, well, you get the drift. One day I'll do this again and split the numbers into smaller sections - or then again I could use those bottom drawers for additional, new DMCs... hummmm.



These are my ribbon boxes. The little one to the left is for some that are ordered. Someone, Renea? said she liked the ones on spools best, so I HAD to have some - won on eBay recently and haven't used yet, but does look like a smoother way for storage. I think I'll put the ordered ones on spools when they come - now where are those empty spools? Those messy ones would be a good test, wouldn't they?



These are my bead containers. I just LOVE these things. You'd think my CQs would be loaded with 'em, and maybe I'll use more now that I can find them. There are some crystals on order, and just a couple of empty slots to fill in...



These are my charms and other miscellaneous trinkets.



These are the buttons. Again, you'd think I'd use more... Those on top are yet to be sorted.



So, the items are in fairly good shape, it's just getting them into the room in some semblance of order that's my major problem. Blogging about it is so much more fun than working on it!!

Encrusted Class

Wow - what a thrill to begin the Encrusted Crazy Quilt class with Sharon. The first lesson was yesterday, Wednesday 10/18/06. The first thing I did was print the materials, then read through them, briefly. This lesson was jam packed with wonderful information. I couldn't wait to begin building blocks. I made two, one a neutral'ish' blend, and the other a burgundy blend.



There is an exercise of choosing colors from magazine photos, and it turned out that most of the ones I selected were some variation of these colors, subconsciously! Fun, fun, fun.

Best of Friends

When I was young I believed in the concept of one best friend, and then I started to become a woman. I found out that if you allow your heart to open up, you could see the best in many friends.

One friend's best is needed when you're going through things with your children. Another friend's best is needed when you're going through things with your mom. Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say let's pray together, another let's cry together, another let's fight together, another let's walk away together. One friend will meet your spiritual need, another your shoe fetish, another your love for movies, another will be with you in your season of confusion, another will be your clarifier, and another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life, on whatever the occasion, on whatever the day, or where ever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself... those are your friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one person, but for many it's wrapped up in several... one from 7th grade, several from high school, several from the college years, a couple from old jobs, on some days your mother, for some your daughter, on others your sisters, and on some days it's the one that you needed just for that day or week that you needed someone with a fresh perspective, or the one who didn't know all your baggage, or the one who would just listen without judging... those are good best friends.

I thank my friends, those who honor intimacy, those who hold trust, and those who hold me up when life is just too heavy! The special bond we share is unique. Thanks for the words we've shared. The laughs, the tears, the phone calls, the emails, the shopping, the movies, the lunches, the dinners, the talking, talking, talking and the listening, listening, and listening....

So whether you've been there 20 minutes or 20 years, I love you!

A fair face may fade, but a beautiful soul lasts forever.

Been up to?

I have been among those now addicted to the Chains of Hearts swaps. You can see the ones that I've sent and received here.

A few RAOKs have been fun, too.

Favorite Spot

Today Melissa tagged me to show and tell about my favorite spot. Unlike mine, her spot is so neat and tidy! My favorite spot is in 'my chair' which is an OLD LayZBoy recliver that I've had reupholstered twice - and it's honestly ready again. It is in my den in front of the TV. Depending on how I'm sitting, Pixie either sits on my side or behind my neck - yes, like a neck warmer. She knows better than to bother anything there, and there is usually a lot .... Next to the chair is a daylight floor lamp that helps me see to work, and on the other is a side table that holds my drink and stitching accessories. And then there are my bead, ribbon, and thread containers. If they're out, they all get picked up and put away when the Grandpuppy (Great Dane) is visiting.



Whose favorite spot shall we visit next? Norma, Pat, and Gerry. Come on girls - show and tell!

A New Pillow

My little eight year old cousin is having a birthday party this weekend. I got her a subscription to a magazine, but wanted to have something to give her at the party. I made her a crazy quilt pillow. Last year I knitted her a bright, fuzzy scarf and she loved it. Hope she likes the pillow!! It is the same pillow - one with flash and one without. The right (or second) is most like the actual colors.

Pixie says Hello

Hello, China and Maddie!

My mom said you guys wanted to take a peek at me, so she took this picture. It isn't the best. I had my hair done by a new person this past weekend, and he wasn't the best. You know it's hard to find anyone who will do what you ask. Y'all have a great blog! Maybe one day Mom will set one up for me, too.

Tag Me Tag You

Susan just tagged me! I have to tell five weird things about myself, then ask five others to do the same in order to share our blogs with others. Am I weird enough for this game? That may depend on whom you ask. Let's see...

1. I'm a sort of hermit. I can stay alone at home for days on end. 'Course I do like to talk with my on-line friends and Pixie, of course! :-)
2. I double line my kitchen trash can - I think it's cleaner - my son thinks it's anal.
3. I've trained my pup to 'let me dry your feet' when we come from outside. But then, I don't EVER wear shoes in my house, and my son is trained the same way. Of course this doesn't apply to guests - which are few - refer to number 1.
4. I can play/work with no background music or TV - actually prefer it unless actively watching.
5. The ink pen I'm using must, if possible, match the clothing I'm wearing. Used to be that way with underwear, but got over that one!

Now? Lillian, Debbie R, Melissa, Jo in NZ, and Renea.