Try It Tuesday - Cake for Your Valentine.

Hey!

Do y'all read Craft Gossip?

Why not?

It's a daily collection of short blogs that encompasses almost every aspect of crafting.

I loves it! 

So many ideas, so little time.

The other day I stumbled across this entry:

 "I Heart My Pound Cake"

Well, I do love my pound cake. 

I think I make a mighty fine one indeed.

But look what Toni Dash of  Boulder Locavore did to her pound cake!

Isn't that pretty?

I just had to make this for BillHubby in honor of Yucky Mushy Stuff Day  

St Valentine's Day.

Neither of us ever make a fuss about this "Hallmark Cards Holiday."

But BillHubby has a sweet tooth.

I used two box cakes mixes.

One Red Velvet and one Devil's Food.

Toni's directions are clear and easy to follow.

I did stray on one aspect. 

I didn't cut the red cake into slices. 

I used my cookie cutter to cut one 

big ol hunk of heart shaped cake.

 It was awkward.

It worked but I think if I decide to bake this again -

and I probably will - I will invest in one of those heart shaped baking tubes.

BillHubby also thinks a cake isn't done until it is frosted.

I used canned Cream Cheese Frosting.

Happy St Valentine's Day!!

Fabulous Friday: Learn How to Embroider

(I set blogger to post this yesterday at 8am. Wonder why it did not?) 

Embroidery is like painting with thread. Don't know where I heard or read that, but it is true. 

It can delight, frustrate, calm, relax, and allow one to express themselves in an age old medium. Ancient civilizations used embroidery on garments.

There are almost as many styles of embroidery as there are brands of threads and fabrics from which to choose.

There is basic embroidery that can be utilized to create simple 

 or elaborate works.

(Sorry, that's sideways)

 These are some I've stitched.

There is redwork, blackwork, and chicken scratch.

There's the whole 'nother category of Cross-stitch which can be counted or not.

Yeppers, stitched this one too.

And there's crewel embroidery that usually means using wool or wool-like yarn for your stitching.

Whew!

It is always wonderful if you have someone to teach you - as my [Grand]Mama taught me. But, if not, there's a plethora of resources available!

Books are good - like any of the books written by Erica Wilson - THE Queen of Crewel Embroidery

Or by Jenny Hart - THE Queen of Embroidery's current revival!

I also like online tutorials.

My pal Wendi Gratz is on a mission to teach everyone how to sew but takes time to add embroidery to the fun!

http://www.dmc-usa.com/Education/Technique/Embroidery.aspx

http://www.sublimestitching.com/

http://wendigratz.blogspot.com/p/embroidery-lessons.html

Stop in next Fabulous Friday, February (already!?) 1st 

for some more resources, tips and 

some vintage patterns!!!

Have a Fabulous Friday and Weekend! 

What's on your Needles Wednesday?

What's on Your Needles?

It's Wednesday. 

Whatcha workin on?

I know how your crafty mind works. Just like mine, right?

You have more than one project going at any given time, right?

If you're not crafting, you're thinking about crafting. 

Unless you're thinking about stuff I don't really want to know about. 

Okay - eeewww - keep that to yourself. 

Please. 

Currently on my needles -

a super secret embroidery,

an afghan, 

 

and a shoe hanger/storage thingy.

I'm making 4 of these for us. E'er day I'm trippin over shoes!

Recently finished - 

A blankie for my childhood friend's newest family member, Maegan Gabrielle.

 I used vintage animal designs that belonged to my Great Aunt Pearl. 

I also sneaked in my Clempzin Tiger colors on the cat. heehee

 The back is this Democrat fabric. 

I stitched/quilted 3 little donkeys in each corner.

A Redskins knit cap - toboggan, as we call it in The South.

 Yeah, I finished knitting it late one night and had to get a pic right then!

Like my bright blue flan`nel gown?

And a purple sweater for Rosie.

 Oh heck, have you been introduced?

This is my new baby, Rosie.

Brought her home from the Wake County Animal Shelter last Fall.

.

She's a Terrier mix, maybe 5 years old, about 12 pounds and I loves her!

So, what's on YOUR needles?

Happy Friday!

What's up? 

Happy Friday! 

Long time no type! I mean, see! 

Lots goin on 'round here. 

Not exactly exciting in the grand scheme of things but some new stuff happenin and whirling in my head.

Please permit me a moment of whining and 

then I'll move on.

I have decided to give up Craft Shows. 

(Did I tell y'all this already?) Anyways, the last one was last 4th of July. I sold NOTHING. Zero, zip, zilch. 

On top of the disappointment it poured rain several times that day - along with thunder and lightening. 

We only had the shelter of our pop-top canvas roof. 

 I was scared to pieces. North Carolina is #2 in the nation behind Florida in deaths by lightening.

All my merch was soaked - good thing it's all 100% cotton, right?

BillHubby and I broke down early cause all was wet - no way to sell that - and took turns toking stuff 2 1/2 city blocks to our truck. arrgghh.

My inventory was gifted, sold to neighbors and some of it is in a cute shop in Wake Forest, NC -  

Nereidas Nifty Threads  

Nereida is gathering all sorts of cool craft creations for her shop, which is adorable!

Then came the Fall and my brilliant idea to teach folks how to sew.

Ha! 

I put out flyers all over the place. 

No one called. 

So I'm taking a new approach. 

I've been sewing, stitching and knitting for my family and myself. I'm gonna be selfish for a while.

I'm planning some bloggie fun too. 

 Try It Tuesdays with recipes I tried over the weekend.

What's On Your Needles Wednesdays? to share 

(show off) what I'm knitting or stitching.

Thrifty Thursdays for recent Thrifting finds.

Fabulous Friday featuring free vintage embroidery patterns and other fabulous stuff.

Folks - keep me honest on this. If I miss a week of blogging please holler at me!

Stay tuned.   

Stay tuned. 

 

 

 

Welcome Along 2012

Ah, a New Year!

I am so ready! 

Looked outside at the seriously too warm for Winter weather and thought, "looks the same to me."

The calender flips and nothing has changed.

Good. 

I like sameness.

Not that I am an advocate for the status quo mind you. 

I actually like to think of myself as a one woman Crew of Anarchy. 

But, as I am also The Queen of Pro Crasty Nation, not much upheaval is achieved here in our cozy new home.

I want to change that in some ways. 

Not that I ever anticipate giving up my Crown but 

some changes would be good.

Thus I think I shall dub 2012 "The Year of Along."

Look over to the right there -------->

I have joined a couple of Stitch Alongs.

My pal Jodi of Pleasant Home is going to help me, and lots of us, use up all those scraps we can't bear to throw away with 

her 2012 Sew Scraps Along.

New to me blogger, Karen of Sew Much 2 Luv, is hostessing 

the 2012 After Christmas Sew Along.

Karen's giveaway includes weekly prizes! 

Both gal's blogs are chock full of tutorials and beautiful ideas and inspirations.

Jodi's Quick Pinwheel Table Runner 

inspired my Pinwheel quilt for GrandBaby A.

Karen makes the cutest stuff. 

I love combining stitching (Cross or embroidery) and sewing as she did in this little bag!

I want to sew more. 

I want to embroider more.

I want to knit more.

I want to read more.

For Fun.

For myself. 

Even for profit. 

For my sanity.

Join me in welcoming the New Year with a renewed love for whatever is your favorite craft or your passion.

What do you want to bring along to the New Year?

Introducing Rocky

BillHubby and I are happy to announce the addition of Rocky to our happy family! Kitteh and Stanley are less than excited but all are adjusting. Slowly.....

Rocky is the 8 year old nephew/cousin/somethin or another of our Petey.  Same wonderful breeders - Venture Bostons of 

Kings Mountain, NC.

Rocky's first humans were sad to part with him but their 5 year old's asthma dictates removing as many allergens as possible 

from their home.

Rocky attended his first social event - 

Siler City's (NC) 3rd Friday Art Walk. 

He flirted his way up and down the street and posed with us outside our friend, Dru's,  

Hotel Hadley Studios.

Rocky knows Art when he sees it!

 

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hotel Hadley Studios will host a very exciting 

contemporary fiber art show, 

April 15 - May 14, 2011.

 The opening reception will be 

April 15 from 6-9pm.

The featured artists will be:

Bren Ahearn

Mark Bieraugel

Heather Cameron

Jamie (“Mr. X Stitch”) Chalmers

Robyn Enz

Bridget Franckowiak

Shannon Genova (aka Giggly Mama)

Giddy Girlie

Tod Hensley

Bascom Hogue

Kathryn (Vegkat) Lollar

Rebecca Martz-Burley

Penny Nickels

Drucilla Pettibone

Carl Johan Rydell

Ellen “Left Eye” Schinderman

Alaina Varrone

Veronika von Allmen

Alexandra J. Walters

This exhibition was inspired by the work of Alexandra J. Walters.  

Curator Drucilla Pettibone has worked with both established and emerging fiber artists to put together this group exhibition which will showcase new work and explore issues of war and peace, gender and sexuality.

If you'll be in the area I hope you can stop by to see the thoughtful and thought provoking works the artists have created.

The show will be funded through donations via Kickstarter!

New Stuff, Old Stuff - Cyber-Monday Link-up

New Stuff in my etsy shop.

"Old" stuff in my eBay store.

Who ventured out on Black Friday?

Not me. 

No way. No how.

I have seriously stayed at home on that day of madness ever since I left retail sales some 15 years ago.

Hats off to those of you brave enough to wait in line and shuffle through all the stuff and people.

What did you get?

I am trying to get ready for Cyber-Monday.

There are a few new items in my etsy shop, Sew In Stitches, with more to come as I finish sewing and picture taking. 

I sure wish the pictures were as easy as the sewing.

 I made these bibs for our granddaughter and a friend's grandson.

You can order one (or more) for your special baby by choosing your fabric, font and thread color.  Then I create a custom listing!  

These are the fabrics available.

 

For the first time in ages I have some vintage items listed in my eBay store under my eBay name, singers_mom.
I am donating 15% of all proceeds to the 
Family Violence & Rape Crisis Services of Chatham County, NC.

I opened my eBay account long before the notion of Sew In Stitches was born. Has anyone else ever changed their eBay ID and store name?  I am seriously considering it in order to unify everything under the Sew In Stitches name. Opinions?

What are you doing for Cyber-Monday?

Are you setting up shop?

Adding to yours?

The more folks that see our stuff, the more stuff we sell!

Please link your shop, store, items for sale or blog here.

July Celebration in Liberty and We have a Winner!!!

 Welcome to the "Bizarre Bazaar" featuring Becky of Sew In Stitches and Libby of Glassifications.

This is our first joint show and our tent was festive but sorta mishy mashy.  As soon as we broke down I was coming up with ideas for better display for this weekend's show in Garner, NC

We didn't sell much but no one else did either.

What we did is have fun!

  Libby and I have the sweetest Hubbys in the world. 

Both named Bill. 

They stayed to help and keep us company.

And check this out! 

That's me with Debbie Lyall-Church.  From my hometown!  

We hadn't seen each other in 30 years!  

 Talk about catching up.  

She makes and sells the most adorable hair bows, headbands, tutus and diaper pants evah!

 

 Please show some love and check her website

Gigi's Girly Girlz

It's still under construction but you can shoot her an e-mail or give her a call to order from her.

Ladies, I need a bit of help.

I look positively frumpy in these pics. I know my vintage apron had too much stuff in the pocket so it was dipping and letting my shirt untuck.

What do you think? I need ideas on what to wear to convey the vintage aura and stay cool and comfy at these shows.  It was only 96 in the shade last Saturday.  I don't do hot weather very well.

 Help please!

 And now for the winner of a $40 gift certificate to CSN Stores!!

Thank you all for playing!

Thank you to CSN for letting me review a product and give y'all a chance to shop their 200+ stores.

The random Number Generator at random.org chose Lucky #8!

Liz Noonan said... cover that sucker in catnip! & thanks for following me xo!

 I will e-mail you with details!