Every Christmas, I make my mom some kind of ice skate ornament for the Xmas tree. I think I'll make this cross stitch one from Kissy Cross this year.
Back in 2007, I made two biscornus from one of Kirsten's patterns for her Kissy Cross blog.
The tops:
For today's Finished for Friday, I'm sharing my latest cross stitch finishes. Remember that biscornu that I sewed together incorrectly and ended up with a pincushion instead? Technically, a biscornu is a pincushion but biscornus have eight sides (or more) and my pincushion only had four. Well, I also stitched up a biscornu using the same charts since my original plan was to make one. Here they are side by side:
I used a varigated floss, DMC 57, for everything but the strawberry stems. I really like how it goes from light to dark. Both of these are stitched on 14 ct Fiddler's or Fiddler's Lite.
You can find the charts for the biscornu by clicking the last two photos in this entry on Les loisirs d'une Sablaise.
Finished for Friday is hosted every week by Lit and Laundry and it's a fun way to show off what you've been working on for the past week.
I'm fresh out of witty titles.
Not that I ever came up with witty titles.
You can find the Wee Folk Art applique pattern that I used for my owl here. Since I don't applique, I decided to stuff mine so I cut out two body shapes and two sets of wings. I used regular craft felt and attached the eyes, nose, feathers and feet (talons?) to the top body piece before I sewed the top to the bottom body piece together. The wings were added last.
I've been working on a biscornu and I was nearly finished with closing it up, when I remembered biscornus have eight sides. Oops.
To see what the biscornu should look like, go here. I still can't believe I did that! I've made a few biscornus in the past so I know how to put them together but I guess I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing until it was too late. I've already started another one and hopefully, I will remember to assemble it the correct way next time.
For the charts for this biscornu, click on the last two photos in the entry.
Before I get to the giveaway, I wanted you to see the felt biscornu that Loralynn sent me as awhile ago (and I cannot believe I keep forgetting to share it). She had posted a photo of the biscornu on her blog and I thought it was the neatest thing. I love biscornus (biscorni?) anyway but this one was special because it wasn't cross stitched. The design was embroidered on to felt which I thought was really cool. She was sneaky and got my address by telling me she wanted to send me a card. I was so surprised when I opened my "card" to find the biscornu instead.
This is the top. Or maybe it's the bottom. I love the button.
This is the flipside. Look at the pretty beads and perfect chain stitch. I wish mine looked that good!
And, here's a blurry picture of the side so you can see how she attached the two pieces.
Isn't it great? Thank you so much for the biscornu, Loralynn! I love it!
On to her giveaway . . .
Loralynn is having a Thanksgiving giveaway for a cute apron she made that would be perfect to wear on Turkey Day and a matching potholder. She'll pick a winner on November 12th so go leave her some comments.
I really like her tradition of making a Thanksgiving tree:
The second thing we do is prepare a Thanksgiving tree. It simply consists of an ice bucket and an interesting twig from outside. I added fall colored flowers to the base for interest. We cut out leaf shapes from fall colored cardstock, enough for there to be at least two for each person. I lay these on the table in front of the "tree." Everyone is required...yes, I said required...to write on two leaves, two different things they are thankful for. This has to be done before dinner is served. After dinner, while still at the table, we read what we have written and then hang the leaf on the tree. It was awesome last year! We got everything from "I am thankful for my video games" to "I am thankful to be alive" (my Dad is a heartattack/bypass survivor). If you don't do something like this in your family, you should try it. It costs very little and is a great way to bring the family together while counting our blessings.
And, Anne at Green Jello does something very similar: a gratitude tree.
Great idea, ladies!
Those Two Crazy Crafters, Twyla and Lindsey, are having a giveaway to celebrate their 100th post so go leave them some comments before next Monday for your chance to win some good stuff.
I would really like to make this cherry biscornu. To get the charts for the top and bottom, click the two pictures above the very last one. [link via LaGattaC]
There's a good tutorial for making embroidered and crayon tinted Xmas ornaments on Quamut. I really like the snowflake.
I have 17 windows open right now and have no idea how I got to The Knitted Toy Box but you will find the cutest knitted little blue bird and a pattern to make one there.
I say cute at least once in each post, don't I?
#1 -- There was nothing good to be had at last weekend's parish (what the sign said) rummage sale, although I would have totally scored if I liked to knit with glow-in-the-dark orange and green yarn. Afterwards, my mom and I had a nice lunch at yet another Mexican restaurant here in town. Here's a review of it by someone else, complete with pictures. (Note to self: the next time you bring your camera with you while out & about, be sure to take it out of your purse and use it.)
#2 -- Did I have more than one update?
#3 -- Oh yeah, I did. Jazz, the Katrina Cocker Spaniel I mentioned the other day, was finally returned to her owner. An anonymous commenter left a link to this story and video. (Thank you!) The owner, Shalanda Augillard, was arrested (and later released) during the hand-off because of an outstanding failure to appear warrant for allegedly assaulting the woman who adopted Jazz. The police have known of Shalanda's whereabouts all along and could have picked her up at any time but they had to do it on that particular day? Like that wasn't orchestrated by the adopters' attorney. [eyeroll]
#4 -- In personal news: I don't know if anyone noticed but I edited my Blogger profile so that it no longer has that I am suffering from a degenerative foot condition. Why? Because it was misdiagnosed. Oops. Actually, I'm pretty happy about the mistake since I spent two months waiting for a referral to a foot surgeon, convinced I was going to end up unable to walk and in a wheel chair. At some point, I did fracture four bones in my foot, (probably when I fell and broke my knee last year, and not due to Charcot Foot as first thought by my doctor), and the bones were dislocated and have since healed that way, which explains my now deformed extremity. Between the gigantic bunion below my big toe and all the swelling (leftover from knee surgery), (and, yes, I curse that doctor on a daily basis), I cannot get a regular shoe to fit my right foot so now I have to have a pair custom made. Hey, maybe that means they won't be as ugly as some of those other orthopedic shoes out there. I wonder if they could whip me up a pair of Mary Janes. In red.
Ok, enough updating for now.
TipNut has another list of links to free apron patterns and tutorials!
You have got to go see the cool pincushions that won Excellence in Needle Arts Awards from Piecework Magazine. There's a link to the pdf with photos of winners for 2008 on that page, and also links to previous year's winners.
Check out all of the entries in the Feeling Stitchy banner contest. I think they should use them all and change them out every week.
Your probably already know but Pimp Stitch is now open and selling patterns. I love them all but my favorite is Made in the 80's because I have a thing about mix tapes.
There are several new free cross stitch charts at Brooke's Books. Go to the freebie page and scroll down to the photos of Butterfly Wings and Land That I love. Brooke has also released the M is for Measure block for her Stitcher's Alphabet. Clicking the pictures will take you to the charts. To keep up with her new releases, check out Brooke's blog, and for access to exclusive freebies, join the Brooke's Books Interactive Yahoo group.
Over at Stitch Pink is an x-stitch chart for a breast cancer awareness biscornu called Be Aware. And, there are charts for two of Mary Engelbreit's Mini Flower Pots on her web site. And, more of her craft freebies here.
This past weekend, I wondered if I should start a blog just for links to free x-stitch charts and embroidery patterns. It sounded like a great idea for like half a second. Then I realized I was insane. I still have links to post here that I stumbled upon back in March. Of 2005. And, if I'm always behind with posting them even though I spend 99% of my time online, how in the world will I ever manage another blog in addition to this one, plus read all the blogs I (try to) keep up with every day? So, forget that crazy idea for now.
I've joined another network, Stitchin Fingers. This one is for anyone interested in textiles. I heard about it thanks to Gina at Patra's Place. It was started by SharonB of In A Minute Ago and there are over 600 members already. I still have to add some photos and join some groups -- I'll probaby join the one for redwork.
The summer theme for Tie One On is gingham. I am bound and determined to make an apron (FINALLY) for this one. I'm thinking of adding some chicken scratch to it too.
On to the freebies . . .
Deepa recently sent me a link to Tiny Garden, which has a bunch of free patterns (click the downloads tab at the top). I'm not sure if some of the patterns (the ones with the girls) are embroidery or crewel or what (I'd love to hear what you guys think). I can't get Google to translate the site so I'm going to link to the photos. You can then click the Downloads button on each photo page to get the pattern and instructions. Edited to add: Thanks to Meggiecat and Angela, we now know that Babel Fish will translate the Downloads page to English.
a freaking adorable chicken coin purse with a zipper
floral alphabet
walnut pincushion
cute little purse
coasters with little bag
flowers in a pitcher
small case for needles and scissors
girl with pink flowers
girl in pink dress with giant flowergirl in blue with yellow flowers
girl with red flowers
girl with yellow hat
girl with blue and purple flowers
girl in pink with purple flowers
girl in green
You'll find lots of cute charts at Mausimom's Freebies (English translation). Deepa sent that one too. Thanks, Deepa
Little Clover Garden is a Japanese site with some simple cross stitch charts that would be cute for pincushions and needlebooks (English translation). If you go to this post on Aurelle's blog, you can see what someone made with the Happy Stitches chart. It's really cute.
I think Aurelle's chicken is cute too.
La Fee Rie is the new site of Faby Reilly who blogs at Le blog de Faby. She has some really nice free biscornu charts.
Have you been to Aury's blog, Acerca del bordado yet? You have to see her Quaker style animals. The latest is a kangaroo. And there's a giraffe and a snail, and several others -- you can click on the "freebies" label to see them all plus Aury's other free charts.
Aury is participating in the Old Sampler SAL. You can find the chart here (Google translation). I really like the part with the bunnies and deer under the tree. In addition to the SAL, there are more free charts at Ricamo Le Tue Idee, including the Italian Sampler that I had previously seen but forgot to save the link. The chart is here. Clicking the British flag at the bottom of the page will you give you the English version.
Looking for a free fox cross stitch chart? Check out all the free projects at AOK Corral Craft & Gift Bazaar.
That should keep you busy for awhile. :)
I don't blog because I enjoy writing. I just want to post links. So, here ya go!
Bordando Freebies is a Spanish blog for posting cross stitch freebie finishes [link via Cross Stitch Happy]. I like that there are links back to where the free charts originally came from -- just look for where it says "grafico aqui" on each post and click. (I actually remembered from my junior high Spanish classes that aqui means here.)
I found another owl. It's part of a larger chart for the month of September on the Aurelle blog. There are a ton of freebies there. You can find an index here. Categories include biscornu, animals, angels, the garden, the sea and some other French words I don't know.
Recycled Slipper Tutorial from Sew Green
An index of free charts (in French) on Echevette. And, here's the translated version.
Speaking of saints, Happy Zombie posted a pattern for a stuffed Saint Joseph last year. I don't think I ever linked to it.
Some day you may want to make a something for your hen-loving friend so here's a biscornu with chickens for you.
Here's a great tutorial for making a mattress pincushion.
Handmade Parade is having a Vintage Pillowcase Challenge [link via Crafty Carnival]. Make something from a standard size vintage pillowcase and enter it to win a $50 gift certificate from some cool places that I am too lazy to link to now because all I want to do is go to bed since it's 3:34 in the morning. (Why did I spend two hours reading about saints???) The challenge goes from January 15 to February 15th.
I don't think I've linked to this list of free biscornu charts before. Entwurf 13 is of white daisies with a blue background. And, Entwurf 2 looks like poppies. I like those two the best. Entwurf 23 (on page 2) is a multi-colored caterpillar. Or maybe it's a worm. It has antenna. There are also six free cross stitch charts on this page. I wish there were images of them on the main list so you don't have to click every link to see the charts. EDITED TO ADD: There are pictures here. Thank you so much, Kissy, for that link!
And, here's another list of craft projects links. This is a huge list with links for knitting projects, recipes, bags, costumes, accessories, etc.
So it's not a hedgehog with a broken leg or a baby badger or even a baby Beluga but this picture so needs to get posted on Cute Overload.
I made this snowman biscornu last week. The side seams did not come out even. I didn't feel like re-doing it but if I make another one for a friend, I will make sure it's even.
Just a few random thoughts...
I'm done with trying to keep this blog craft related only. There some days when I'd much rather link to someone looking like a "pregnant eggplant" than another cross stitch chart.
Then again, here's a free Christmas biscornu chart for you with trees and holly and a cute Santa button. And, more freebies from the same blogger.
Remember: November is Adopt A Senior Dog month. Check Petfinder for older dogs in your area who are available for adoption. You know, giving a dog a home would be a nice "fuck you" to Ellen. And, make sure you email her and tell her all about the dog you just adopted and how you will be returning it to the shelter or rescue if it doesn't work out because that is what you do and everybody knows that. And, if you didn't know that, you need to do a little research on how dog rescues operate. And for Christ's sake, people, stop buying puppies at pet stores. This is 2007. There is no excuse for that anymore. The same goes for breeding your pets.
Help the ASPCA crack down on puppy mills by taking their survey on where you got your dog.
Oh my God, I totally thought he was gay. In fact, if you Google "gay peter pan," his site is the #1 result. But, look, he got engaged. I think it's sweet that Peter Pan found his Tinkerbell and I wish them lots of happy days.
And, just in time for the holiday season: how to draw Olive, The Other Reindeer.
Every time I get online these days, I see something else I want to make. Check out these adorable mitten ornaments. There's a Flickr pool for finished mittens too.
The mittens were linked on Sew, Mama Sew as part of Handmade Holidays, which I keep forgetting to check.
Also, linked were instructions on making embroidered felt ornaments from Sunshine's Creations. And, for more inspiration, there's a Flickr group for them too.
I also recently found (and joined) a Flickr pool for biscornu.
Last night I was at Casa Mia and I saw these pretty floss bobbins (or thread winders) that she had made. Of course, I had no idea how to make something like that. Well, The Small Object has come to the rescue by posting instructions on just how to make your own floss bobbins. Yay! Now I want to make enough to take the place of every boring plastic one I have.
Casey Buonaugorio has a free chart for a frog biscornu on her site (it's right below the picture of her soon-to-be-released design, Irish Cream Sampler). I suggest you print out the chart now because it won't be there forever.
And, over at All Sorts, you can find a tutorial for making an Advent Calendar from felt and embroidery floss. I have got to make this one.
Speaking of felt and floss, I made another cat bag for a friend. My mom asked me to do it and I realized on Sunday that Monday would be my last chance to get it to our friend by Halloween, so I stayed up that night and put it together. I'm happy with my blanket stitch but I wish I had done a more decorative stitch around the nose and mouth. I think it needs whiskers too. It doesn't look very cat-like to me. The pattern and directions were in the October 2000 issue of Country Living.
A few days ago, I somehow ended up at Stitch Pink, a blog for sharing cross stitched projects to promote breast cancer awareness. Anyone can join and post photos of their finishes. There's also a lot of good information there with links to all kinds of things, such as a Yahoo group whose members stitch squares for quilts to raise money for breast cancer research. On the right sidebar, is a list of links to free charts. Be sure to check them out.
I love Blue Ribbon Designs' With All Your Heart. This kit is available at needle shops all over but if you buy it from Elegant Stitch, you can be certain 100% of the proceeds will go to breast cancer education and awareness programs.
Hmm. That "eight-cornered pin pillow" looks like a biscornu to me.
This picture has been waiting for three days to get posted so here it is: my "Happy Halloween" finish. I stitched it on 14 ct Aida, which I have really grown to dislike, but I have a good-sized piece of it and wanted to start using it up. (I really like 18 ct much, much better.) I used all the suggested floss colors except for under the trees and in one other place that I now forget for the roof (I just used similar colors from my floss stash). There's black felt on the back because I don't have any Halloween fabric, and the loop is crooked but oh well. I like how it turned out. Except for that spot in the middle where the row of pumpkins is indented. Maybe I should have put more stuffing in. (Happy Halloween chart is here.)
I finished stitching Emily's cute Halloween witch earlier tonight and will most likely add some felt to the back and stuff it, because you can never have too many little pillows, can you? (I need to try something new!)
Speaking of Emily over at The Floss Box, she has posted a bunch of free mini biscornu charts on her blog.
That's right. Mini biscornu. So little and so cute, your head might explode.
I recently made a biscornu and wasn't happy with the end result. I don't think I attached the corner of the top piece to the middle of the bottom so it was lopsided. Plus the seam attaching them did not look very nice (I need to practice that more.) So I made another one, using the same free cross stitch chart. The second one came out smaller and I liked it much better. I then re-did the first one. I think I overstuffed it though because sewing on the buttons was a nightmare. I lost track of how many times I stabbed my finger with the needle.
Now that I see this picture, I realize the button on the right one is blue. It looked dark gray to me up until now. I'm thinking I should put a different one on but do I really want to go through sewing on another button? No!
These are the bottoms of the biscornu (biscornus?). Same chart but different colors of floss (stuff I had in my stash). I used 18 ct white Aida both times. I counted out three squares and then backstitched around the design. When I made the first one, I counted out six or eight squares and that made a bigger biscornu.
The free chart I used is here at Kissy-Cross. Be sure to check out her other freebies.
This video was on Cute Overload along with Meg's request for someone to add some Jaws music and a Chewbacca yell. And someone did just that. That reminds me of the time the Chewbacca sound was on Cute Overload. I wonder if I can get that on myiPod.
And, for everyone who is keeping track, here's a knee update: my incision did not look very good to me last night and I knew it was infected so back to the orthopedist's office we went. I saw one of my doctor's partners since my guy wasn't there today, and he said it looks to be just on the surface (a good thing). I'm on antibiotics and hoping to see an improvement in a few days. Actually, it's not as gross looking now as it was earlier today.
Instead of posting pictures of their kids on their blogs, people should post more pictures of bunnies in coffee cups.
Check out the Just Nan chart for a lovely Christmas biscornu.
I still think biscornu sounds like something to eat. Probably because it makes me think of biscotti.
Speaking of biscornu, a member of Cyberstitchers has made up a bunch of them. Instead of using a typical pattern where the design repeats so it's the same from each side, she did them a little differently. I really like how they turned out. Nice job, Helen!
Did you know you can use wax paper as a substitute for tear-away stabilizer? I need to try this.
