Organizing the clutter - YES I will

I read the other day that storing your hand dyed threads in plastic bags could result in the dyes having a reaction to the plastic. I don't know the complete details on this but maybe someone out there can enlighten us by leaving a comment.

Anyway it was a good excuse to buy some pretty boxes at Michaels. They are having a sale and I am always a sucker for a sale. Besides I am on an "organizing my workspace" trip so any box will be put to good use. The clutter in the two rooms I have devoted to my crafts is driving me crazy. When I was working a 9-5 job I never had the time. I just wore blinkers because I couldn't see my way clear of getting rid of the clutter. Now that I am home - I am attacking the rooms with a vengeance. - well the plans are in place and just need to be executed LOL. First step to decluttering - what do you need to keep. Ohhh that will be hard. That's why I have my sister coming this weekend to rein me in and justify what I need to keep. I figure a well organized studio will lend itself to my devoting more time to creating. Right now I spend more time looking for things ughhhhh.

So my trip to Ottawa today was to locate the "Solutions" store. I fell in love with it when I walked in. Even though I had to drive 1-1/2 hours to get there - it was worth every minute. I can see that this store will be visited often in my pursuit of the organized workspace! Lots of goodies.

You can also find great stuff at Ikea. Found some wonderful cloth bins - my colour of choice was pink. They make great storage bins and I love the idea that they fold flat. You make them into a box by zipping the bottom. I also found some black vinyl ones that are the height of a letter tray and I use them to store projects in progress. Just use your imagination and you can find all kinds of items that lend themselves to organizing your craft essentials. Now I am looking to find something to organize my stacks of ribbon rolls. Any suggestions out there??

On a side note - what the heck happened on American Idol tonight.. one of the best singers, Pia is gone. what gives with that!

Packing Day

Today was spent packing up my mother-in-law for the move to her new place. It will be an early and hopefully bright Monday morning when we get her into her new abode. I often wonder how elderly people manage if they don't have kids (family) who come around and visit them and help them cope with some of the stressful issues that can come up. Having been right in the thick of senior care for the past 3 years you get to know what is happening out there with our elderly folk - what resources there are. 

Where she is now there are not many of the elderly who get visited. It's like time has forgotten them and everyone is too busy with their lives. I miss the way it was when the family was a real extended family who could often be in each others face - a little aggravating at times -  but you knew there were people that had common ties with you and cared for your well being. It is a sad state of affairs. 

This is a new project I have just put toegther. It gets started tonight - today was the selection of colour and I think this says spring!

 Have you seen these new project envelopes from Lady Dot Creations. They use Blackbird fabric (which I love!). I think they are so pretty and so nice to carry from here to there- better than some old plastic bag - which I have a tendency to use. I have some available on my website in three different colours. I have my next project using up one of them and they do hold a lot of items.

Off to do some cross stitch. Good nite!

Beginning Embroidery with Bead Embellishment with Christen Brown

Beginning Embroidery with Bead Embellishment with Christen Brown

an online class I plan on taking with http://www.joggles.com/. I love beads, embroidery and little scraps of silk - perfect for honing my embroidery embellishment skills. I am always on the lookout for something new to learn :)

New Rugs to Hook

Well the show is over and for my first show it was a lot of fun. I had my two elves, my sisters, helping me and would not have been able to do it without them. I am still recovering from the hectic weeks of busyness so basically just vegging out and doing nothing much. Have to post to my website some of the goodies I set aside and some new kits I released this week.

Two are rug hooking and the other two are punch needle. You get everything you need except for the hoops. Here are the two rug hooking ones. A beautiful red cardinal using quite a bit of British wool with lots of texture and a quick and easy snowman - perfect for gift giving. I only have limited amounts available and that will be it for this year.

You can find them here on my website.



I also added some great little scissor snips and mother of pearl sewing accessories on my website. Wonderful to add a vintage look to your sewing box. These are a beautiful quality and each mother of pearl piece is different from each other. You can find them under the category Needlework Necessities.

I will be posting more new things in the upcoming days..Here is one of my punch needle ornaments that has been spoken for. When I have a minute I will post some pics of the show - I took them quickly so who knows what they will look like. Off to Vermont for the annual pre-Christmas shopping marathon that the ladies in our family love to partake in - It's girls weekend shopping!
G'nite.

Reality of Cross-Stitch and Age

I guess I have this thing about pincushions - one of my newest creations. I love making pincushions. They are small, can be made quickly and are very satisfying when finished. This one reflects my love of old quilt patterns. This beautiful pattern is based on the Rose of Sharon. I punched it using my hand dyed wool threads and stuffed it will sheep's wool from the western plains of the USA. I like to keep to my wool theme as much as possible. Besides wool is such a nice medium for your needles. This one is for sale on TDIPT Mercantile.

I'll be posting more in the upcoming months.. the ideas are there but it is the time to do it which is the crux of the matter. Oh to be able to stay home and just create would be my idea of heaven!

The days are cooler and the nights even cold, but I love it. This is the time of the year when all the yummy harvests come in. It is the time of year when I start thinking about my favourite vegetable - buttercup squash.

I bring in the squash - cook it - puree it - season it with butter, pepper and nutmeg - stuff myself with lots of it and then freeze the rest for the winter. Makes such a nice addition to the Christmas dinner. Came across this site What's Cooking America? which gets down to the nitty gritty of squash and lots of great recipes for all kinds of foods.

You know you are getting older when you need to use a magnifying glass to do your needlework. Eons ago I scoffed at these tools and said I would never use one. How the mighty fall! I started doing itty bitty cross-stitch a couple of months ago. Something I had done many years ago but since discovering Stacy Nash designs have found a new love for it.

I am now working with 28 to 32 count. Ok that is small. After trying to cross-stitch (now I know it is cross for cross-eyed) I ran to the local needlework shop and desperately asked if they had one of those magnifying things you need to use to see! I got myself one that hooks onto my Ott lamp and I am back in business and happy as anything to be able to see those teeny tiny stitches at a more reasonable size. Happy days. Motto of the day " Never say never".

To the left is a beautiful pattern by Stacy called "1782 Wall pocket and another one below called "Biscornu Pinkeep" Both are available on my website. Her style is so primitive and looks like something that has been around for years.

This evening is devoted to using that magnifying glass and getting the current project done - now that it is much more enjoyable! G'night.

All patterns copyright Stacy Nash except for the top one which is Joni Black.

This & That

What happened to September? I am ready for fall - that's my season. We are having weather that is hot and muggy. There is rain tomorrow so that should cool things down and gives me a good excuse to stay in and finish up a couple of items for Pfatt Marketplace.

I have a couple of my original punch needles that I have turned into very practical items - one a pinkeep and the other a little pouch that can hold your favourite tiny scissors and needles. Make sure you come and take a look on September 15th at all the wonderful pieces being offered by very talented artists.


Speaking about scissors aren't these the cutest ones you ever saw. These pink ribbon scissors (4" long) are made by Kelmscott Designs and I will be carrying them on my website after September 24th. Part of the price that I buy them for is donated to charity. They will be $13.00. If you would like to preorder a pair just drop me a line and I will put one aside for you. I think they are wonderful and I will also be carrying a little wool kit you can make to hold these scissors.

I will be offering other little scissors perfect for needlework, that look very prim. There is also a line of mother of pearl needlework necessities, thread holders and winders - each one is wonderfully unique since they are made from mother of pearl.


I am sitting in AC, I am a person who does not function in heat. I don't think I have ever had AC running in September. Roby is barking up a storm, he does that when we are going to get bad weather. He is kinda of high strung, I say with a chuckle.

Too hot to cook so what is fast and easy. My little tomato plant had a crop of cherry tomatoes, that I put to good use. Some cherry tomatoes, little cucumbers, fresh parsley, basil, sundried tomatoes and salad dressing poured on egg noodles. Voila! fast and easy.

Now to settle in front of the TV watching all the political pundits on what's happening in the race to the presidency. Whichever way it goes history is being made. For a Canadian I sure spend a lot of time discussing, watching and casting my fictitious vote for the next president of the United States. . I think it is because our political process in Canada is so ho hum.

Off to punch needle and see what is new in the political arena...g'nite...