Embroidered Heating Bag Cover

This is a project that has been awaiting its completion for just about a month now I estimate. It was one of those projects that makes you go crosseyed. At first I thought the blue was an awesome addition to pink and black, but working with it was something else entirely. Satin stitch, whipped chain stitch, running stitch and french knots on a piece of stash scrap.
I like the idea of removable covers for heating bags, because the idea that the bag cannot be washed and gets all full of body dirt just makes me kind of grossed out. Please excuse the hairs on it in the picture. Pussums, my kitty, is friends with the heating bag and he likes to snuggle its warmness.

In kitty news, Puss is adjusting to his meds, slowly. He's regaining some balance, but he still looks pretty drunk sometimes. Also he is getting his saucy personality back which is a major plus in my opinion. He's still not 100% but working on it :)

Happy New Year!

Happy new year! I hope that everyone had a pleasant holiday season. I had a fairly good go of it, we did a tour of both families and as you can imagine ate a lot of food. My little niece experienced her first Christmas; it wasn't so nice at first, she had a terrible lung infection for a few days but fortunately the antibiotics started kicking in Christmas day so she wasn't too miserable and could get excited about all her new shiney toys and books.

I just finished this stamp and I am thoroughly pleased with myself. I tried stamping it with kids craft paint, it worked out well enough but I couldn't get an even application. Also I don't think I let the glue dry long enough (it has a long curing time) because when I washed the paint out, the glue turned all white again. Oh well, I am still happy with it.

Etsy Finds
I love (window)shopping on etsy. There are so many fantastic things that you can find there. I would love to start featuring things I find every week that I am particularly fond of. Since it is new year's day and time for resolutions, I will start out with one of my resolutions: to read more intelligently, to read a book and not forget halfway through what I had already read. Here are a few fun book and reading related items that I am charmed by:



{1} Genuine Fish Leather Bookmark by Stacy Studios
These absolutely fascinating bookmarks are made of fish leather, in the shape of fish if you can imagine! They are colourful, they are charming, they are unique, they hold your page; what more could you ask for?

{2} Book Re^marks - Magestic Mr. Owl 3-pack by The Sherwood Press
These little bookmark notebooks are the most clever idea. They hold your page and also allow you someplace to take notes, (that isn't the margin of your books! Not that I would do that, oh no, never.) What a great way to keep track of information and thoughts, definately something I could make use of.

{3} Custom Ex Libris Bookplate Rubber Stamp by The Mayberry Sparrow
My own attempt to carve a bookplate stamp pales in comparison to the absolutely sweet work in this shop. Bookplates are a wonderful way to introduce a little personalized artwork to your beloved book collection; also it serves as a gentle reminder to those who borrow and don't return books. I have been craving these for a while, they are just so pretty.

{4} A Reader's Diary by Green Chair Press
Someone bought this just today! Still I love it. It lets you keep track of what you read, when, and what you thought of it. I admit I have a neurotic attraction to listing things, and stationary for listing things, and the silly rating system would make me smile with every use. I am sure the seller will post more, or would be glad to fill your request if you, like me, NEED one.

Monogram Stamp -Works in Progress

Truthfully I have been a little obsessed with the whole monogram thing lately. I have another project in the works that is H related. I confess that I am a fairly newly wed and the "eeeee!!!" sensation hasn't worn off yet.

This is a stamp that I am cutting out of fun foam, it's roughly 5x12.5cm. If it is not clear, it is supposed to be an H with leaves sprouting from the middle. It's pretty basic but we all have to start somewhere, and the foam doesn't seem to hold details well. It's also a little rough in spots but perhaps that will be a part of its charm. I'm going to glue it onto another piece of fun foam that's the same size, I don't think that I will stiffen it any further than that mainly because I don't have anything to use. My intent is kind of a book plate stamp sort of deal. I have been eying them for a long time but can't afford to have a nice custom stamp carved for me. We all have to work with what he have on hand these days; this was made from some scraps I had left over from making my small crochet blocking board at the beginning of this year using the ever handy craft knife we all have. We'll see how it ends up.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays! I just made it through Christmas by the skin of my teeth. I finished everything on time, for everyone though just barely. Being the big goof I am, I managed to give away the ornaments I made for my father and inlaws before I got pictures, or even finished writing the patterns. While I think I can complete the last snowflake pattern from memory, I will have to wait untill I am next visiting my family to get the needed pictures. It shouldn't be too long from now. In the interim I have this little pin to show for myself. Measuring with a fingernail, it is approximately 3.5cms. It's a little simple monogram H, for Hall, for no reason. I needed to have a little selfish project after all this Christmas crafting. It was worked up fairly quickly from felt scraps, some leftover embroidery floss, and a safety pin. The stitches are slightly abused: satin stitch, blanket stitch and whatever it took to attach the pin. The pin now resides on my wool coat, bringing a little colour and a touch of the alphabet to the party.