FINISHED!!

Veronica's stocking is finally done!!! I finished the cross-stitch on Saturday, and I got the stocking made on Monday, along with the apron for my sister. Then, Tuesday, I got a TON of housework done that I'd been putting off in favor of working on Christmas presents. I am feeling so proud of myself that I could burst! *does a little happy dance* Woo hoo!

Anyway, I lined the stocking with plain white flannel and backed it with a pretty blue plaid flannel, that complements the blues in the snow. I was so glad to get it finished...after working so hard for so long on the cross stitch, I was terrified that I would do something to screw it up when I was sewing it together. It isn't perfect, and I've learned a thing or two that I can apply the next time I try my hand at making a stocking, but I think it looks great all the same. I can't wait to show it to my family! My sister is so gonna flip. ^_^

Also, as a side note, I got this potted orchid as a house warming gift from our land-lady a little over a year ago. It had very nearly died over the summer, but while we were visiting Florida and our land-lady and her granddaughter were taking care of Han, they also took care of my plants and managed to revive the orchid. Since then, I've been keeping up with watering it and it has come back and then some. Brandon counted 13 blooms on it the other day, and since then a few new buds have blossomed as well. It's crazy! Both of the old stalks had died, so I cut them out...this one is completely new. I've been watching it grow from a tiny little stem into what it is now.
Of course, as soon as I put the plant on the floor, Han had to inspect it...

What I've been doing instead of blogging:

This is the throw blanket that I've been working on for approximately the past million years. Or, that's the way it feels at the moment. It's really coming along nicely, though. I used blue variegated Lion Suede yarn (moonshadow, I think) for the whole thing. It's gorgeous, and it feels wonderful but man-oh-man is it ever a pain to crochet!! I don't believe I'll be taking on anymore large project with it. Anyway, I could have finished it last night, but I decided to do one more round of the pattern before I end it. So I only have 8 more rows and the same number of tassels and it will be DONE! I'm super excited, and might I say, rather pleased with myself. ^_^



And, of course, we have the never-ending cross-stitch for my niece. I still have some more bunnies to do at the toe of the stocking (to the left of the basket) but I am so close to being done, it's almost enough to make me giddy. I've gotten a lot done, even compared to the last time I posted a pic. Really, it's encouraging to see how far it's come. Then again, it's taken me more than a month to do it. I guess that so long as I get it done (and the stocking made) by the time I fly home just after Christmas, it's aaalllllll gooooood.

There's also all the other *stuff* that I don't have photos for...like, the mountain of presents that I've wrapped or the stack of Christmas cards I've written. I've been working on the nursery too, but I won;t be posting any photos of that until it starts looking decent. Right now, it's just a crib full of random baby stuff and a bunch of boxes on the floor. But at least you know you have something to look forward to, right? Anyway, all of this is my excuse for not blogging...and since I still have about a million things to do (finishing the above projects are just the beginning) I don't foresee a great deal of blogging in my future either. maybe as I finish things....

Work in Progress

This is the cross stitch that I have been working on for my niece for the past year. Well, I started it about a year ago, but until recently, I hadn't worked on it in a good 10 months. Anyway, I'm hoping to have it made into a stocking in time for Christmas this year, so I've pulled it back out. I just got the raccoon's face done, he's adorable! There's also another bunny or two and some birds to be added at the bottom. I'll post it again, once it's finished...

I've also gotten a few more scarves done this weekend. They should be making an appearance at the store in the next few days. :)

Inspired by Corinnea

When I brought in my new stock the other day, I brought in a couple of earrings that I made from new chandelier findings that we just got into the store. I only did one tier, though, and Corinnea suggested that I should make some that were more dangly, because dangly is super awesome. So I did. I made them purple, of course, in honor of Corinnea. And if she decides she likes them, and has to have them, so much the better. ^_^


I guess I should do more posting of my crafts, but the jewelry is just so darn difficult to photograph. I don't have any neat ways to display it for the photos, and I don't want to post any bad pictures. Suggestions??

Wedding jewelry

A friend of mine got married this past weekend, and she finally got some of the pictures posted. (I had been checking daily!!) I was lucky enough to get to make her bridal jewelry for her, and it felt like some piece of me was there even though I could not physically be there for her. She made such a beautiful bride! I sure do love weddings.

Merryn's Mini-Quilt

I finally finished the mini-quilt that I made for my cousin! It's been a long time in the making... I started it at the end of December! But it's my first quilt ever, so I get a little leeway, right? It's just about done now, though: I just have to hand stitch one more little thing and it'll be done. Then I'll just need to get it in the mail to her. Her birthday is this weekend, so I doubt it'll makes it there in time for that, but it won't be too late.

Yay!

Lizzy's Flag

Sometimes us girls like to get together to sew on Mondays, when the shop is closed. This week, I didn't sew, but I sat and crocheted with Jennifer and Lizzy while they did. Jennifer was working on her little diapey bags, and helping Lizzy with her project: and American flag mini quilt. It was actually really entertaining for me. watching them go back and forth. They are both pretty sassy, and I had fun watching the sparks fly as they bantered back and forth. (Don't worry, they were laughing too!) I'm not sure how much Jennifer got done, but Lizzy was able to finish the whole top portion of the quilt--it looks great!!

As s side note, it says a lot about the way that we feel about the store, and each other, that we come in on our days off to hang out together. I feel so lucky to be a part of such a wonderful place, and such a wonderful group of people. I really and truly love my job, not least because of the people I work with. :)

Peguy's Apron

A good friend of mine has just started learning to cook in the past year or so. She's really excited about it, especially now that she's just gotten engaged. (Congrats, Peguy!) Her birthday is today, and at first I was having a hard time trying to figure out what to get for her. I finally decided that an apron would be a good gift. A few months ago, we got in this Montessori By Hand pattern for this adorable reversible apron, and I had been wanting to try it anyway, so... I did.

It was the first time that I've ever made anything from a pattern like that, so I was kind of intimidated. The worst was cutting the bias for the halter, mainly because I didn't read the instructions all the way through and didn't find out until well after I thought I was done cutting. But, thats what I get for not paying attention. I'm still learning about sewing to a large degree, and I definitely made more mistakes than I liked. Some of them I could have fixed, like straightening out seams, but I decided to leave it. Kind of gives it character. But perfect or no, it still looks really cute.

She and her fiancee came over dinner yesterday, and I surprised her with cake and the apron after dinner. Her face when she pulled the tissue paper away was priceless, and well worth the time I spent on that apron. I've already got fabric to make another apron, this one for Rebekah. Haven't started it yet, but I will. And then, I'll make one for me. :)

Quilt

Right on the heels of the blanket I made for my mother-in-law (she loves it, btw) I just finished a simple quilt top for the chili cook-off this weekend. I'm really rather proud of myself, it turned out well and I got it done in time too. Corinnea taught me a few helpful hints that sped the process along, and it was a good learning experience for me.

Of course, I now know that the silly cook-off was canceled, but that's ok. I had fun making the quilt, and I wasn't too excited about the cook-off anyway. All in all, I think things worked out rather well. :)

By the by, did I mention that Friday is my birthday? I'm going out to dinner with some friends tonight, in downtown Stuttgart. I'm excited! And, Sarah will be introducing us to a Persian restaurant. Not sure that I'll like the food, but it's be an experience, anyway.

Finished!

I've been working on this blanket all winter, and I am finally DONE! I've never made anything quite this big before, so I'm excited about it. It's a gift for my mother-in-law... She was complaining just before I left to come over here that she doesn't have any throws to match the decor in her living room. Well, she soon will! I've got it in the mail to her now. I can't wait until she gets it!