Blueberry Needleroll finishing HD

Here's the fifth Sweetheart Tree needleroll I've done. Only eight more to go! I'll have to take a picture of my little needleroll collection.

I'm having trouble working on larger pieces right now. I can't keep my stand in the living room because Logan loves the thing. I have to drag it out every night I want to stitch, and often I'm not spending a lot of time in the living room anyway. So that makes smaller projects easier to work on since I can take them with me. I have the urge to do some Halloween smalls, but I'm missing some beads. Hm.

Many thanks to Lee for the links to the ort bags. Apparently they're also called scrap caddies. I'd like to make one for myself eventually, and I've though about making some to sell on Etsy. But they're selling for $10-15. That's a lot of work for not much profit. I'm still thinking of some ways to make a little extra money to pay for supplies.

Blueberry Needleroll HD

Here is my latest needleroll by the Sweetheart Tree. I finished it up between games today. I'll turn it into a needleroll soon.

Double XP weekend

This weekend is the double experience points (XP) event on City of Heroes/Villains, our computer game of choice. I took today off, and we plan to spend most of the weekend playing (minus times when Mom needs a break from the kiddo). Oh, and we recently got our fifth character to level 50, the maximum level in this game. Time to start a new one!

Matt also got me to play a game of Civilization with him. It was pretty cool, but I just don't know what I'm doing yet. That makes it a little less fun.

Stitching: I'm almost finished Blueberry Needleroll from the Sweetheart Tree. Pics soon!

I need some help here. I'd like to find a website that has instructions on how to make those arm-chair ort bags. Or maybe a website that sells them.

Mini Topiary 6 Finishing HD

Lots to talk about! On the stitching front, I finished up Mini Topiary 6 into a needleroll yesterday. I also received my goodies from Threadneedle Street yesterday, so this morning I fixed up the closure for my Boo Scissor Purse. I can also start working on my Sweetheart Tree needlerolls again! I'm missing a few of the heart charms, but I have enough to keep me busy for a while.

Cake: I took my first class Thursday night, Wilton Class 1. I didn't learn much that I didn't already know, but I was glad that I was prepared. We decorated our own cakes. Everyone finished before me, but I did a better job than most of them. Some cakes really looked bad. Mine doesn't look perfect, but it's pretty good. So, we iced our own cakes (but didn't have time to let them crust and smooth them), outlined, filled in stars, and did the border. The week after next is part two.

I had another class this morning, this time on baking. I learned some good recipes and techniques. Again, I was glad that I had some knowledge to work with. We got to sample a few cakes--yum! I'll need to try them out. I also got to browse the cake store. It was just as thrilling as going to an LNS for the first time!

Mini Topiary 6

This is a design by Jeannette Douglas. I'm going to turn it into a needleroll. I substituted for the Needle Necessities and beads I didn't have, but I think it turned out well. I also recentered a few lines.

I put a few stitches into Maggie. Perhaps if I can stop working on smalls, I can get to working on it!

Sheepies!

I had lunch with Cheryl the other day, and she gave me my Christmas present from a while back. We'd been having some trouble getting together, what with me having a baby and all. She commissioned some polymer-clay sheep since I've done a few pieces with sheep on them. Aren't they adorable? They're technically knitting markers, but I just like to take them out and look at them!

Also stashed in there is Chippy Cthulhu. Cheryl said he was for Matt, but I think I'm keeping him! He's so cute! (Can an Elder God be cute?)

Thanks again, Cheryl! I love them!

Oh, and I finished the Boo Scissor Keeper today. At least I was kind of productive over the holiday.

Boo Scissor Keeper and Purse HD

I've almost completed the finishing of Boo Scissor Purse (more pics). I'm missing some pearl cotton for the closure, so I had to order some. (And while I was ordering, I got the materials for the Sweetheart Tree needlerolls--I couldn't take it anymore! Shop--buy--spend!).

I finished the stitching of the companion piece, Boo Scissor Keeper, last night. I'll turn it into a fob in the next few days.

I received this chart off my wishlist from Carol during an exchange. Thanks again, Carol! I just love Halloween pieces.

I'm going to start working on a freebie from Jeannette Douglas as soon as I get the supplies squared away. And Maggie the Messmaker's on the to-do list at some point too.

Holiday: We had a quiet Fourth of July (other than the illegal fireworks our neighbors shot in the very dry subdivision--not that I'm bitter). Matt grilled for us, which is always great. I took a break from making cakes, which was surprisingly hard. I have my first class next week. I'm both excited and nervous.