Linking, Stitching, Snipping...

I cannot resist this time.  Mary of Primitive Seasons blog posted this link and I had to follow and join in on the FREE pattern offer.  Dee Duncan of Vintage Country Style is debuting her new blog and FaceBook page.  I am hoping that now I have shared with all of you I too shall receive a pattern.  We all like to receive goodies don't we?!

Here is an update on my Hari-Kuyo Needlebook progress.  I cannot believe how slow I am even with my own deadline looming.  I haven't embroidered in decades so my stitching is not very good and I need better glasses and lots more light...however I am happy with this.

I did get better with my French Knots after I did some and took them out to start over.  Some of these stitches are a mere 1/16th of an inch.

Here I am fussy cutting some Valentines.  Have you tried to hold paper and scissors and take a photo all at the same time?  Quite difficult for me but I managed.  Mr. C just wouldn't understand if I asked him to snap the photo.
 

I have some creative design work to do as NO red is allowed.  I am participating in Kimberly's White Valentine Tag Swap.  I love doing her swaps as I have never been disappointed.  Check out her blog ArtJoyStuff and see all her wonderful creations.

Our weather continues to be downright frigid here.  I realize this is Winter however it could be just a little warmer.  No snow or ice is able to melt at all.  The roads are quite treacherous with ice so I am trying to stay home.  I hope your weather is enjoyable where you live.
We interrupt this blog post to get some much needed laundry washed, dried, folded, ironed and put away.  Maybe I can crawl into the nice warm dryer and unfreeze.  :o)
I saw magic the other night when I looked out my windows.  The sky was dark, cold, clear and had billions and billions and billions (nod to Carl Sagan) of stars that looked like they were lit up and twinkling just for me!  I was so entranced that I got Mr. C out of bed and we both went to every window just to look out and enjoy the stars.  If it wasn't so frigid we would have enjoyed getting the telescope out and really seeing them close up.
Enjoy your creative spaces and projects.  This new year is off to a really great beginning.  Creative Hearts are Happy Hearts...

Paper Tag, Card & Scrapbook...

This is a simple paper tag using scrapbook papers and stickers.  Boy themed which is not my best creative ideas.  I have only ever had girls.

Using a store purchased scrapbook it is now embellished with buttons, ribbons, papers and stickers.  I didn't get a photo but every page inside is decorated with papers and stickers leaving lots of room for personal photos and journaling.

This is the card to go along with the scrapbook.  All was given as a shower gift.
Simple to do.  Easy to personalize.  It is in the details that make it a special and unique gift.
Way too cold to be outdoors.  Our pond is completely frozen over and got a new layer of snow/hail last night.  Thankfully we have a working heater.  It is running constantly just to keep the thermostat at 63 degrees.  I personally prefer 83 degrees but am staying busy which should keep me warmer.
The sun is shining and that makes me happy.  I am seeing the magic in the sparkling frozen white winter frost.  Staying calm is another challenge...
Now I am off to do some purging and list making of items in the pantry.  It always amazes me at how quickly things get beyond their expiration dates.  I was merely saving them to use "some day".  I better take a cue from my word of a few years ago...NOW... and use those items before they expire.  :o)
May you be enjoying your days with everything that makes you happy.  Creative Hearts are Happy Hearts...

Fresh Snow & Sewing...

Two days ago our snow and ice from Christmas day finally melted.  Last night we got a new layer of snow.  This photo is after the sun had come out and melted a lot of it off.  This Crepe Myrtle is very lacy and beautiful.

Here is a view of my backyard.  This snow will last a lot longer here as there is a lot of shade.  My steep driveway was clear but very icy as were all the roads.  I had some errands to run and waited until midday.

Here is a pocket tissue holder I made many years ago.  Through the years they have been excellent gifts to give...any age and any gender depending on the fabrics used.

Recently along came Judy of jfabrications with a new improved method of making these little gems.  Easier!  Faster! Less time and materials is such a good thing I just had to try.  So I viewed the video Judy linked. Two pieces of fabric and no bias tape.  Here are the results in the photos above and below.  Easier!  Faster!
 

I have already made quite a few.  The first dozen have already been given or mailed out to friends.  These are the latest batch.  Thank you Judy Dear for sharing this great little gift idea.  I am thinking of making a lot of these in both male and female fabrics to donate to the local Hospitality House to snuff out the sniffles from all this cold weather.
I have already begun my 2013 Christmas shopping.  To keep it organized and to know right where I put it I keep a cupboard and a dresser just for gifts all year long.  I am bagging and marking each item before I put it  away.  I also shop all year for birthday gifts and do the same with them until needed.  This method really helps me stay in budget and lessen stress during hectic busy times.
I feel so blessed to share blogging with each of you.  There are so many generous tips and tricks and projects that are shared and I am very grateful.  I am also extremely thankful for the comments you each leave.  They show me you care and also help me with my confidence to be able to create.
Creative Hearts are Happy Hearts...

Why Do I Hesitate???

Some time ago a lovely lady named Susan Elliott who Plays With Needles and is a Master Stitchery Artist had an online course for making a Hari-Kuyo Needlebook.  If you do not follow her blog just click the link on her name and do go see what amazing creations she masters.  I missed her first e-course so when she offered the second edition I absolutely knew I wanted to participate.  So I signed up...paid my money and promptly got my supplies from Susan.  The kit is exquisite and of the finest quality.  Thank you Susan.  That is where I got stalled.  I wanted to say I didn't begin because of the holidays.  Or because I was injured with my broken rib.  Or anything else I could think of not to begin making this little needlebook I loved so much.
But nagging at me was the voice, "Don't let Susan down."  "You spent good money on this e-course."  "You want this needlebook."  "You know you can do it."  So it sat.  I do know why I hesitated.  It is a life-long issue with me.  I don't want to do anything "less than perfect!".  We all know there is no perfect.  So...with the new year I decided to begin.
First I read all the instructions.  Matched up the kit pieces with the appropriate directions.  Then I pressed everything just as needed.  So far so good...

Here I am using my light box to trace a copy of the front cover flower.  "I know how to do this!"

Here I am preparing my copy for tracing onto the beautiful Japanese fabric for the cover. "I know how to do this!"  My newest tool in the studio helped me.  A Japanese screw punch with exchangeable tips.
   

Here is my flower pattern shown against a yellow background for definition.  "I know how to do this!"

I thought I had no chalk pencil so I could go no further.  Yet another excuse trying to derail myself.  Then realized I could use a white watercolor pencil and it worked perfectly.  "I know how to do this!"

UhOh!  Ribbon embroidery?  I have always admired this type of stitchery and thought some day I would try it.  Now?  Um...okay.  With our modern internet and videos there isn't even a need to go dig out my library of books on this subject.  A few minutes of viewing and I am actually creating my ribbon embroidery flower.
 "I know how to do this!"

Here I am stitching the stem stitch.  Once again,  "I know how to do this!"   After all I did spend a lot of the 60's and 70's doing the Hippy embroidery on everything from denim jeans and shirts to mens hankies and other assorted items that would hold still long enough to put needle and DMC embroidery floss to.  In fact when I went to look for my flosses I still have many from that era.

Here is my finished flower.  I can honestly say the two days I spent creating this were such a joy.  French knots are still not my best but I shall practice and become better now that I am older and wiser (or supposed to be :o) so I am told).
Susan thank you sew very much for offering this wonderful e-course and for allowing a very long open time for those of us that drag ourselves slowly to the party.  Your kit of supplies is exquisite.  I am looking forward to finishing this Hari-Kuyo Needlebook in time for the annual festival held February 8th.
Why do I hesitate?     "I know how to do this!"
Lots of new beginnings and creative artworks are being shared and I am enjoying reading your blogs.  I am grateful for this sharing of ideas.
Creative Hearts are Happy Hearts...

Fresh Beginnings & Sunshine...

With a new year comes the feeling of a fresh beginning.  An opportunity to start with a clean slate.  After all isn't that why I did all that extra house cleaning and organizing?  Well...actually I didn't do much organizing, but I did think about it and that should count.
Our weather is glorious with sunshine every day since January 1st.  I love the sunshine as it truly gives me energy and that gives me the desire to get things done.

So today I tackled the dreaded putting away of the Christmas decorations I had put up this year.  I didn't do that much decorating and never got a tree but for some reason I have a lot to put away.  I realize those mice I love so much and have so many of are very tiny and take a lot of care in packing them away safely for their hibernation until next December.  I really hate to put them away but my mouse house does not have room for Christmas themed critters and I can guarantee there will be no building permit approvals by Mr. C to build an addition to their current condo.

Ahh...blue sky!  I love seeing the blue sky so much I am taking a break from my chores to walk outside.  Oh yeah...we still have snow and ice on the ground as the first photo shows.  It was a white Christmas here as it did snow all day but didn't accumulate too many inches right here.  However it has been so cold every day and night that what we got has not been able to melt.

One area where I have completed the task of clearing the decks.  Mr. C would be very happy if all horizontal surfaces were this empty.  I will fill them up...just not today.

Back to packing away my treasures.  I did promise Mr. C when he got all the boxes out of storage that this year I would go through everything and reduce the stash.  Honestly I did try.  In fact I was able to eliminate one large box due to selecting items I will donate now that Christmas is over.  So I really did fulfill my promise to him.  I am just so sentimental and love all my old treasures I have had for so long.  I also realize that the products made now are just not the quality of past years.  Vintage and I get along very well.
Yesterday was the birthday of one of our "Ladies Who Lunch" group and therefore we spent the entire day celebrating and eating and shopping and celebrating.  We had lots of fun and it was good to just take a day to get away.  Tomorrow I better spend time in the studio putting away Christmas wrapping items and clearing the deck for real creative projects.  There are a few unfinished things that have been waiting patiently long enough.  I am ready to tackle them while the sun is still shining.
I feel like I am back in school struggling with my annual word selection.  Actually my word has found me and has waited for at least a year.  I will major in MAGIC with a minor in CALM.  Each of those words has been at the top of my lists for several years as I look back at my calendars.  This year I will focus on enjoying the magic that is in every day if we just let it happen.  I must remain calm in all I do and experience in order to enjoy the magic that is part of life now.
I am already seeing Valentine Hearts and reds and pinks and lace and lots of creative fun in your blog posts. May we all have Creative Hearts as they are Happy Hearts...