A Giveaway From Green Kitchen

I just found a yellow Nerd sitting on the pull out drawer thingy that my keyboard is on and I ate it. Is that bad? It's only been there since last night so I should be ok, right? Does it matter that I haven't dusted my desk in about a year? Perhaps if I didn't have so many freaking blogs to read, I would have more time to tidy up my computer area.

So much for my blog break.

Michelle over at Green Kitchen has posted a tutorial for a wrist pincushion that even I could make since it's all hand stitching (woo hoo!). I would link to this how-to even if there wasn't a giveaway involved because it's a nifty little pincushion and I'm hoping I have some wide ribbon so I can make one this weekend. To enter, you'll need to link to the tutorial post on your blog and then let Michelle know you did that.

By the way, the donkey in my header came was an image from a set of vintage French rubber stamps that Michelle shared last year. You should check out all the stamps.

An Apron Giveaway from Sommer Designs

I really am on a break from blogging but I must post this or I will feel super guilty if I win and didn't bother to tell anyone about this apron giveaway at Sommer Designs. You only have until Sunday to enter so go do it now!

Vintage Thingies Thursday Wiggy Wags

This afternoon, I was putting my can of crayons back on the shelf in my bedroom closet and noticed some illustrations that I had picked up at the local antique store a couple of years ago because they were all of cute dogs and I was going through a dog phase. They were leaning up against something else and still in sealed plastic sleeves. I opened this one up.

I know I bought it because I thought the puppy dog and little boy were so adorable. Based on the text, it's from a book about a dog called Wiggy Wags and someone named Tips.



I flipped it over to find another illustration on the other side. In this one, Wiggy Wags is not very happy because he has to spend the rest of the night with Susie the kitty in the baggage car. Notice the signature in the bottom righthand corner: Ruth E. Newton. Of course, I immediately had to google it.

Thanks to Google, I now know more about the book that this page came from. It's called "Let's Play Train" by Ruth E. Newton, Mabel Horn and Betty Carter. According to Biblio.com, it's "A large adorable collectible picture book featuring 2 little children, doll & dog running to catch a train. It includes a little Black boy who is the porter." That must be Tips. The one they have for sale was first printed in 1936 on linen-like paper. I don't know if my page is from a first edition but the paper is pretty cool. You can see the texture in this photo.



Ruth E. Newton (1884-1972) illustrated more then 40 books and designed rubber squeak toys for the Sun Rubber Company. Her images were also used for greeting cards, jigsaw puzzles and paper dolls. I found a Wiggy Wags paper doll in this album on Webshots that I had actually seen before when I was in my dog paperdoll phase. (Obsess much?)



And, there's a Japanese site selling two placemats with embroidered cats from a Ruth Newton pattern.

My plan for this afternoon was to dust and vacuum my bedroom and then clean my bathroom. Instead, I spent a several hours going through Google results for Ruth E. Newton. I have three other prints of dogs still in their plastic sleeves that I could open and check for information on their illustrators but then I'd be here for another nine hours. I'll save that for a night when I'm stuck for something to blog about.

For the past two Thursdays, I have had so much fun checking out other Vintage Thingies. Go to Confessions of an Apron Queen and see who else is joining in this week.

Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom! I'm way behind with answering my email and my blog reading so I'm going to take a break from blogging for a few days. Enjoy the weekend! [Hits publish and runs off to check other dog illustrations]

Another Chicken Scratch Post

It's been awhile since I've linked to anything at Les chroniques de Frimousse but this "handkerchief case" caught my eye -- I think it's supposed to be for tissues -- because I'm obsessed with gingham these days. Google's English translation is here. (If the Google link doesn't work for you and you're using AOL, it's because your AOL adapter is damaged. At least, this is what an AOL techie told me. I followed his instructions to fix it and everything was ok for a day, but, once again, I can no longer get the translated pages to work so I just use Firefox instead.)

Also, on Frimousse, is a great tutorial on chicken scratch (in English) You really need to see the awesome bag she made.

That entry led me to the chicken scratch posts at Un bout de toile (the English version).

And, that one led me to this post on Betty Ninja with her pictures of some amazing chicken scratch. I guess I'm going to have to buy a book to learn how to do those larger stitches.

And, this lovely bag to hold eyeglasses or scissors.

This totally makes me want to go stitch something on some gingham now.

Click Us Part Two

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?

Click Us

Guess who won the 50th post giveaway at Lil Birdie Stitches? That would be me. Can you believe it?! The daylight was fading when I decided to take some pictures of my prizes so all I have so far is one of the cupcake scissors fob. Look how cute it is! I totally love it! And, click the photo so you can see how nicely and neatly Birdie stitches. I'll show you the other goodies as soon as I take more photos.


Felt cupcake scissors fob
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

And, now for stuff you can click:

Jennifer sent me a link to the Owls of Summer cross stitch freebie at Be-Stitched. They're all wearing bathing suits. I love the one in the bikini! (Thanks, Jenn!)

There's a cute embroidery pattern of a "happy boy" sitting on a toy horse (donkey?) on Cata's Craft [link via Stitch By Hand Flickr group]. This would be a good design to use for crayon tinting. By the way, Stitch By Hand is having an Old School Sewing Competition. Entries must be 100% hand sewn and contain fabric and thread. More info is here.

Claudia has posted a unicorn (hearts and a rainbow too!) embroidery pattern and another one with a set of dishware engaged in some athletic activities on her blog, Stitchado.

Jenna at CorgiPants posted the last of her chicken scratch patterns on Sunday. To recap, (and to help you search engine users out there), the patterns are a bird, a snowflake, a windmill with tulips, a butterfly, Autumn leaves, a flower and several borders including one with hearts, plus there were extras on Whip Up and Needlework News. Start here to see all of Jenna's free patterns.

Thanks to Denise at Needlework News for letting us know there's a cute x-stitch freebie of a happy hippo and her happy baby playing at the beach from The Chart Shop. And, that there's a terrific stash giveaway at Needle 'n Thread.

You can find a daily list of links to a bunch of projects from blogs, forums and crafty sites at One Pretty Thing. There are also links to contests and giveaways too.

Something that caught my eye on One Pretty Thing was a link to detailed instructions for making a crazy quilt pincushion that has a CD for a base over at Ivory Blush Roses I'm not usually a huge fan of crazy quilting but this is beautiful. Look at this second pincushion. So pretty!

That should keep you clicking for a while.

I Heart Your Blog Award

Thank you so much to Dawn at The Stitchin' Nook and Twyla & Lindsey at Two Crazy Crafters for giving me the "I Love Your Blog" award!

Here are the rules I received with the award:

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated.

It's soooooo difficult to choose who to pass this on to since there are so many blogs that I love but here are seven of my favorites.

Sweet Pea Stitches

Miscellany of me

My Art, My So-Called Life

Doe-c-doe

Yours 'til Niagara Falls

Martha MacGyver

Riviera Dogs

This Is Not Number 500

This is my 499th post. I'm sorry to say there will not be a giveaway for #500 and I feel really, really bad about that.

I blame my foot for the lack of a giveaway. The same foot that was somehow fractured last year but forgot to tell anyone, and healed on its own, and is now so oddly-shaped, it will no longer fit into a regular shoe. No shoes = no job = no money = no giveaway.

I should be getting a pair of "corrective shoes" this coming week. FINALLY. The guy at the shoe place told me he had never seen anything like it when he saw my deformed foot. I felt quite special. The shoes he ordered for me look a lot like some black leather Keds I have so they weren't as ugly as I thought they might be. I'm just starting off with a good walking shoe that I can wear to work for now, but he told me that he could find me some sandals, Mary Janes and slippers when I was ready for something else. He also said he would have trouble finding me anything dressy with a heel. That's ok since I won't be going to the prom or getting married any time soon.

The other night I was going through the shoes in my closet and feeling a little down about not being able to wear them anymore. I know there are much worse things in the world than giving up your Chuck's, but dang, I am going to miss them.

Or maybe I'm not. Could it kill me to wash the laces once in awhile??

Super Commenter Award

Elizabeth at Thoughts from an Evil Overlord has passed on a Super Commenter award to me. Thank you so much, Elizabeth!!

I love getting comments. It always makes me feel good to know someone has taken a few minutes to not only read my blog, but to say something about it as well. I'm giving this award to the ladies at:

Mary's Blog
Lit and Laundry
SAHM Ramblings
Two Crazy Crafters
Colorado Lady
Smiling Sally
Chellebelle
Stitchy and Crafty
Loopy Lou's Adventures Into Handicrafts
Thoughts from an Evil Overlord (yes, I am giving it back to you!)

Tagged

A little while ago, Emily tagged me ago to share six unspectacular quirks about myself.

Here’s what you do:

1. Link back to the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Here are my six things:

1. I could not live without iced tea.

2. When I put away clean dishes, I put the ones that just came out of the dishwasher on the bottom of the stack in the cupboard. Same with silverware. This way we eventually cycle through using all of them. I would like to blame Martha Stewart for planting the idea to do this in my brain but I don't think she ever suggested it.

3. If I hear an odd noise in the house at night, I will go see what's causing it. If my life were a horror movie, I'd be the first one killed off.

4. I can spend hours in a Hallmark or any other card shop.

5. I could eat a different grilled cheese sandwich every day. The last one I had was Laughing Cow cheese on wheat bread and it was really good.

6. I always check the ceiling for spiders before I turn off the light to go to sleep.

I have been putting off posting this because I've been too lazy to choose who else to tag and then create links to their blogs and go comment on them. But I will do that now.

I'm tagging Jenny, Deepa, Murali, Twyla/Lindsey, Loralynn and Brook.

And, if anyone else wants to do this one, leave me some comments so I can come read about your quirks.

There Really Is A Corgi Pants

You how I recently said I couldn't pass up clicking a link to a blog named CorgiPants? For one thing, I love Corgis with their short legs and pointy ears, plus that name always makes me think of a Corgi wearing pants and just imagining that cracks me up. Well, the other day, my goofy dog, Maggie, had been sunning herself on the patio in the backyard for at least ten minutes. After she came back into the house, she was panting like crazy, and while watching her, I suddenly thought what if the pants in CorgiPants stands for a Corgi who pants and not a Corgi who wears pants? How disappointing would that be?

(I can't be the only one who has blogs on my mind even when I'm away from my computer, can I?)

Earlier today, I discovered something that personifies embodies the blog's name. Look at this! I love it!

(Can a dog personify something? I don't think so, which is why I changed it.)

Vintage Thingies Thursday X-Stitch Apron

For today's Vintage Thingies Thursday, I thought I'd share another one of my mom's aprons from when she was little. Her mother brought the apron back from a trip to California to visit her father during World War II. My grandmother and my grandfather's cousin had taken the train out from Philadelphia to visit my grandfather who was recovering in a San Diego naval hospital after being wounded on Iwo Jima. After my grandfather got out of the hospital, they all took a trip to Tijuana where this apron was apparently bought from a man with a donkey pulling a cart.

I apologize for the not-so-great photo. (You can see it better on Flickr.) I wish I had a little girl to model the apron for me. I tried doing that myself and using the bathroom mirror to take a picture but I looked like a major chubbette wearing a too small apron and it was scary.


My mom's apron
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

I thought this apron would fit in nicely with my latest posts about cross stitching on gingham. It also shows once again how ironing is not something I do often.


Apron bib
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

I like the motif on the skirt. I should reproduce that on some graph paper and post it here.


Apron skirt
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

To see more of this week's Vintage Thingies Thursday, please visit Confessions of an Apron Queen and consider joining in next time. It's a lot of fun!

EDITED Chicken Scratch And Then Some

I forgot something earlier plus I found something else to link to, so I'm going to add both now. I don't want to wait since both links have an expiration date.

Patterns Online is having a cross stitch design contest. Every month, they offer a free chart and this is your chance to design September's freebie. You have until August 29th to submit a design and you can enter as many times as you like. More details are here. (Sorry I didn't post this sooner.) I've ordered from Patterns Online in the past and one thing I really like is you can download the chart after you pay for it. No waiting for it to be shipped to you.

Not only is Jenna sharing free chicken scratch patterns all this week on her CorgiPants blog (#3 is a snowflake and #4 is a windmill with tulips) but there's an extra one for you on Whip Up.

Speaking of Whip Up, they are taking submissions for articles and tutorials for the next few month's monthly themes:

September: knitting (experiments with freestyle knitting, knitting
clubs, knitting in public, knitting ideas, patterns and stories

October: hand stitching: embroidery, cross stitch, quilting …
contemporary and traditional

November: recycled: refashioning, re-using, up-cycling - recycling,
paper/cloth/yarn/plastic - tutorials, ideas, stories

More info is here.

And, in more chicken scratch news, on Lace 'n' Ribbon Roses, you will find patterns from an old Coats & Clark leaflet [link via Needlework News]. Actually, there are more more chicken scratch patterns on Lace 'n' Ribbon Roses, plus a bunch of other stuff I need to go look at when I have some more time. (aprons!)

Edited to add: Mollie at Wild Olive is offering some super cute embroidery patterns of sewing notions, including a tomato pincushion. But they're only available until the end of August. After that, you can buy them from her Etsy store. And, when you get chance, go poke around Mollie's blog. I just had my first visit and love it already.

My Wooden Spoon is giving away an apron from Rick Rack Attack (the Apron Queen's store). The contest ends on August 25th so head on over to this post to enter. (I'm being distracted by the recipes at My Wooden Spoon. I have a feeling I am going to spend the weekend reading several new-to-me blogs.)

Wearing Johnny Ramone's Scalp

So, my new favorite TV show is Million Dollar Listing.

Oh my God, have you seen this? I absolutely hate everyone on it but I admit I am totally addicted to this trainwreck.

Chad's hair freaks me out. Here's a great clip from The Soup:

Even More Chicken Scratch

After my chicken scratch post last week, I signed up for Google News to send me links to articles and blog entries that contain the keywords chicken scratch. (I also do this with Shih Tzu, cross stitch, and Johnny Depp embroidery pattern since some of you said you would enjoy such a thing.) Most of the links have had to do with posts about making chicken dishes from scratch or handwriting that no one can read, but there have been a few about chicken scratch embroidery, which is how I ended up at CorgiPants a little while ago. I've been there before because I can't resist clicking a link to a blog named CorgiPants, but for some dumb reason, I never added it to my favorites list so I could go back regularly. I probably would have missed this week's free chicken scratch patterns from Jenna at CorgiPants, if not for Google News.

Yes! I said free chicken scratch patterns! Boy howdy!

Pattern #1 is a bird and pattern #2 is a traditional border. This is the first free CS pattern I've seen for a border.

Jenna linked to an article on chicken scratch from West Virginia University Extension Service that has an eight pointed star pattern. Remember, the pdf from the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service has a pattern for half a star, and I doubt I would have attempted that. I'd much rather see all eight points at once than try to figure out how to do the left half of the star in reverse to make the right half.

And, be sure to check out Jenna's new Etsy shop, Make-Do Mercantile, and her Pillowcase Pinnie Apron Pattern. (Note to self: become a Make-Do Marigold.)

Pimp Stitch Embroidery Finish

A huge thank you to everybody who left me comments on my Xmas ornament! That just made my day. :)

Well, I finally did some crayon tinted embroidery. This pattern is one of the freebies from Pimp Stitch. (Unfortunately, it's no longer available. But they do have some really cute Halloween patterns for sale -- so go look!)

I'm happy with how this turned out. I didn't play around with blending colors but I can try that next time.


Pimp Stitch embroidery
Originally uploaded by PipStitch


My first attempt at crayon tinting did not go well. I only had a small container of crayons and I didn't like the colors I used to fill in the design so I didn't bother to embroider it afterwards. But then I found my beloved box of 64 Crayolas (with the built-in sharpener!) so I had more colors to choose from. I also held a sharpening fest before I began coloring. Am I the only one who enjoys sharpening her crayons?

Does anyone remember when Crayola needed to get rid of four older colors in order to make room in the box for new ones and burnt sienna was on the hit list? According to my old blog, it was back in 2003. And, according to the Crayola website, the retired colors ended up being blizzard blue, magic mint, mulberry and teal blue. And, according to this CNN article, "the company had picked five colors that it considered redundant or unattractive, but allowed one to be spared through an online vote. Burnt sienna received the most votes of the 60,000 cast and avoided retirement." Ahem, one of those votes would have been mine.

Oh, and her hair is burnt sienna, thank you very much.


Crayon tinted embroidery
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

And, here's a close-up of the hat, which shows that I still can't color within the lines.



Hat detail
Originally uploaded by PipStitch

For more information on crayon tinting your embroidery, read this helpful tutorial from Giggleface Studios. Also, check out Emily's experiences with crayons here, here and here. And, there's a 16 page thread on Craftster too.

Vintage Thingies Thursday Ornament

My vintage thingy for this week's Vintage Thingies Thursday has nothing to do with the kitchen but I am sharing it anyway. Recent blog posts from Twyla and Elizabeth about Christmas ornaments got me thinking about my own ornament collection. My mom still buys my sister and me an ornament every year, and most of them are from Hallmark, but my first Hallmark one came from our next-door neighbor at the time, Mrs. Rose. It's the reindeer from the Tree Treats Collection (I just found out that out). I've always liked him because he looks like a sugar cookie and I like cookies.

And, this is the back.



About ten years ago, I saw this ornament for sale at some kind of collectibles show and it was going for $100. That one was still in the original box. Out of curosity, I just checked online and found one for sale for $30 and another (out of the box) for $105.

Hmm. $105 would buy me an a bunch of embroidery patterns. And, an apron or two. And, some Bazooka.

Just kidding. I couldn't sell mine. Besides, just because someone is selling it for that much doesn't mean someone will pay that much, right?

Pop on over to Confessions of an Apron Queen for more Vintage Thingies Thursday.

Two Free Bird Patterns And More

There's a free embroidery pattern of a Twirly Birdy on Craft Blog. I like the way Fern stitched the bird's outline with two colors of floss [link via Needlework News at Craft Gossip].

The Twirly Birdy made me think of last year's bird pattern on Craft Pudding.

It's not a bird but here's a cute pincushion tutorial also from Craft Blog. Once upon a time I used to save empty toilet paper rolls because you never knew when we would need them for a preschool art project. The weird thing is I still save them now even though I haven't taught preschool for a couple of years.

I was going to ask if anyone knew of an ideas for covering a three ring binder. I have several that I use for holding my stash of embroidery and cross stitch patterns. Two are red and two are dark blue and I would really like to cover them up and make them look pretty. Thanks to Craft, here's a tutorial for sewing a binder cover from Lola...again! Too bad I don't sew. And, Apron People: check out Lola's cute aprons for inspiration.

Lil Birdie Stitches Giveaway

Lil Birdie is celebrating her 50th post by having a giveaway so go check out the goodies she is giving away!

Chicken Scratch For Brook

Thank you so much for all the nice comments about my Scottie dog! I guess I was disappointed that my cross stitches were so uneven. Let's blame the wacky gingham for it. (I think I read somewhere that it isn't always square.) I'm still going to finish it. I just won't take any more close-up shots when I'm done.

Brook asked if I knew of any patterns for chicken scratch. There are some free ones out there so I thought I'd link to all of them in one post.

Pegasus Originals has instructions and a heart pattern. You can also find books on chicken scratch for sale there.

You'll find half a star pattern (and more instructions) in this pdf from the University of Kentucky.

There's a tutorial for making a chicken scratch bookmark at Kerri Made.

About.com has patterns for a square, a heart (different than the heart at Pegasus Originals ) and a tree.

At Vick et pique et colle, you will find a link to a heart pattern, which is the same as the one at Pegasus Originals, but there's also a pattern for a flower made of four small hearts and a picture of another flower that is clear enough to figure out how to make it. Google's English translation of the page is here.

You'll find a small heart pattern and a tree at Crafttown (and more instructions).

Crafty Jan has an angel pattern.

Janet has posted photos of chicken scratch stitches at Primrose Design.

The first time I tried chicken scratch, I stitched several rows on the edge of a pillowcase. Since I only used one strand of floss, my design did not stand out at all. I ended up ripping out the stitches and had planned to start over with three strands of floss. Then I saw the pattern for an owl at Kissy-Cross so I decided to give that a shot.



See the puckering? That's because I pulled my threads too tight. I wish I had used a darker pink on the outline and on his eyes. And, even though I had read all of those instructions I linked to above, I screwed up when I did the woven circle stitch and only went around one time (you're supposed to go around twice oor go around once with double the strands of floss), so I later went back and did another circle on each stitch, which did not improve the look of some of my stitches. I should have just let them be.

Next, I did a heart on either side of the owl. Again, I have the puckering but I am happier with those stitches.

I will definitely do chicken scratch again -- I have another pillowcase and an entire flat sheet to play with -- and will remember not to pull my floss so tightly.