Hi, stitching friends!
The wind has been blowing all day here, and the leaves from our maple tree are scattered all over the yard, the driveway, the sidewalk and, unfortunately, the neighbors' yards.
Autumn is here. We have a chance of snow tonight. While autumn is my favorite time of year, I realize that I have it easy. I get to enjoy it from inside, while my son and my husband are outside raking, winterizing and mowing, hoping it's the last time for the season. They say their favorite time of year is winter because there's no yard work.
So while I get to stay inside where it's warm, I've been doing lots of Halloween stitching and finishing. Halloween and fall stitching are my favorite.
I stitched "Halloweenies" by Plum Street Samplers for my niece and finished it into a flatfold. She loved it. She has two wiener dogs, Alfonse and Hodgi, so I've been stitching the "weenie" series by Plum Street for her.
I stitched Halloweenies on 40-count "1776" by Colour & Cotton. The cording is a combination of three DMC colors I thought coordinated well with the backing fabric.
I used a fall fabric with gold sparkles for the backing.
Last year I bought a spooky, glittery Halloween tree to display Halloween smalls. I think my next Halloween stitching project needs to be a tree skirt for it - something to hide the battery boxes for the ghost and pumpkin lights.
Robin in Virginia sent me the pattern for Lizzie Kate's "Boo!" I stitched it on 32-count Brash by Picture This Plus, substituting threads I had on hand for some of the called-for colors I was missing. I finished it into a flat-mount ornament with black pom pom trim and some orange and white cording from Stampin' Up.
I used a fun yellow printed fabric from my stash for the back.
'Tis Halloween
I stitched three stockings from Blackbird Designs' 'Tis Halloween booklet: Jack O'Lantern, Trick or Treat, and Haunted House. When I hung them on the Halloween tree, my son said, "Cool! Stockings? It's like Christmas, but it's Halloween!"
"Yes, it's the 'nightmare' before Christmas!" I said.
They were so much fun to stitch, and they were easy to finish. I just sewed the stitched piece, some muslin fabric and the backing fabric together, right sides facing, then turned them right-side out, tucked in the tops and either stitched or used a scrap of ironed-on interfacing to secure the top of the stocking inside. I threaded some black seed beads to make hangers.
For the backing fabric, I ordered a super cute fat quarter pack of Halloween fabrics from Simple Stitches Fabric Shop. Thanks, Arlene, for the recommendation!
A beautiful and thoughtful gift
Sandy in Florida sent me a wonderful gift, this handmade cross, after reading the post "i thank you God for most this amazing. The cross is made from horseshoe nails and jewelry wire. Isn't it beautiful? Sandy also sent the story behind it: "Ron's cross ministry: Shalimar man races health to craft 5,000 necklaces." It's an interesting and heartwarming story. The crosses are never to be sold, only to be given away.
Sandy wrote me a letter to go with it, and I have to tell you, I have made such good friends through this blog. I thank God for you for taking the time to read and for reaching out to say hello. Thank you for thinking of me, Sandy.
My next post will be right around the corner. I have MORE Halloween stitching to show you.
I'm off to make a pot of chili. It is definitely a chili kind of night! I make my mom's recipe. It's so simple: sautéed onions and browned ground beef, a couple 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes, a can of condensed tomato soup, two 14.5 oz cans of beans (I use Madras Lentils from Costco), seasoned with chili powder and ground cumin to taste. So simple and so good.
Until next time, be well and stay warm!
