I Love This Video!

I Wish I Were A Unicorn

I totally need to buy this chart from Subversive Cross Stitch.  In case you don't feel like clicking that link, it says "I wish I were a unicorn so I could stab all the useless people in the head."

My new motto for life!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

This video never fails to crack me up. I'm so glad Kellie shared it on Facebook a few years ago.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!!!

A Mushroom Needlebook Made By Me

I just read this in the latest newsletter from the Toymaker:

"Then I had a thought that if I spent more time actually making and doing the things that I wanted instead of just looking at pictures then I would be a lot happier in the here and now. How about we take a deep breath and make the things we want to have and do the things that actually make us happy, even if it is in a small way?"

I love that.  So from now on, there will be more making things and less drooling over pictures going on in my life.  (I swear!)  To get on the right track, I just ordered two embroidery patterns from Penguin & Fish.  Remember the giant hedgehog pillow?*  I  am so going to make one.  (You can get the normal sized version of the hedgehog pattern on Etsy and then just blow it up on a copy machine.  I once asked Alyssa from Penguin & Fish if it was ok to do that and she said yes.)


large pillow versions of alligator and hedgehog embroidery patterns
Originally uploaded by Penguin & Fish

The other pattern I got is the Maltese puppy one.  I love Alyssa's adorable patterns.  I ordered the paper patterns but they're also available as pdf's.

While going through some pictures today, I found some of the mushroom needlebook I made back in February.  I know I did something a little different than the tutorial but I have no idea what that was now.  When you put the original together, you machine sew the spine of the needlebook.  I did mine by hand so maybe I put it together in a way where you wouldn't see the back of a back stitched seam.  Or something.

You can find the pattern for the mushroom needlebook here over on Generation Q. 

*You probably don't remember the giant hedgehog pillow since I can't find a link for it here so I bet I only posted it to Facebook.  Yay for Flickr!

This Just In

I just saw the link to this cute felt piece of pie from Aimee Ray on Craft Gossip's Facebook page.  It's from the book "Heart Felt Holidays."  (Must get it.)

And, yes, I did post twice in one night.  You might want to buy a parka because I do believe hell will be freezing over.

Catching Up With Links

A few stray links that I forgot to post earlier this year. 

Tipnut shared another set of vintage embroidery patterns back in May.  (Am I on top of things or what?)  This one is kitchen themed so there's a pitcher, glasses, bowls, a frying pan, measuring cups, a cute cookie jar, a jam jar and more. 

Kel over at Kincavel Krosses has a cross stitch design of two super cute foxes called Fergie and Fergus.  I REALLY have to stitch this one.  Thank you, Lady Kel, for all your great freebies!!

There's a cute owl cross stitch chart from LucyKate Crafts [link via My Owl Barn] and a fox one too.  I saw a book called Countryside Softies in Michael's the other day and thought the cover seemed familiar, like I should know who made the fox on it.  Turned out it was by Amy Adams who is the crafty blogger behind LucyKate Crafts.  Congrats on your book, Amy!  And, no, I did not buy it since I'm broke again.

Talking about being broke reminds me that I finally paid a visit to Needlepoints Ltd (an actual Local Needlework Shop, woo hoo) in back in July.  I had been meaning to go there since 1957.  Or maybe it was 1997.  Whatever.  It's been a long time.  I think they have every make and model of floss you ever heard of.  I drooled a lot while I was there.  And, they didn't even ask me to leave!  I liked it so much, I went back another time.  Really I went twice because I forgot the list of floss that I wanted to get the first time.  Since I wasn't broke either time, I got two Little House Needleworks charts and the floss for Wipe Your Paws from Glory Bee, a chart I have had forever. 

Speaking of My Owl Barn, look to your left and you will see a widget for the Owl Lover 2013 calendar.  Go make yourself one.  It's free!

Vote Early! Vote Often!

I've used that post title five times now.  I am so creative.  Anyway, I just wanted to remind you to vote in case you forgot there was an election happening today.  Because you just came out of the coma you've been in for the past four years.  Personally, I don't care who you vote for.  I really don't.  Just do it.




The pattern was a freebie from Urban Threads four years ago but looks like they no longer have it.  Sorry.

Even If It Kills Me

I just saw this cute Christmas project on One Pretty Thing and got this urge to link to it so here I am and here it is: Merry and Bright Garland from Kojo Designs.

It has been awhile since I made anything.  I had plans to make a couple pumpkins or ghosts and finish a few things for Halloween that I had started last year but I got sidetracked by other things.  Important stuff like googling random crap.  My sister got me an e-reader for my birthday so I use it for Facebook, checking email and Google while lying in bed.  Have I downloaded any books yet?  No.  But I do use it to place holds on real books at my local library.  Oh and I have been taking pictures with it too.

I did embroider this towel but I had transferred the pattern on to it months ago.  It was starting to fade away.  Sorry for all the wrinkles but I'm actually using it in the kitchen so I didn't bother to iron it.  This is towel number two of three.  I'm hoping to finish the last one before the pattern transfer is completely gone.  It's Aunt Martha's Adorable Puppy #4015 pattern.  The towel is also from Aunt Martha and I got them both at Hobby Lobby.  It has red stripes down the side that you can't see thanks to my nifty camera work.

I so want to go iron that towel and take a new picture now.

Here's something else I need to iron.  A set of towels that I got at our local antique store back in July.  

This will not be my only post in November, I promise!

The Guide To Trading Candy

Happy Halloween!!!

Hello, October!

I love how I am always saying how I am getting back into blogging and then I never do.  The thing is I REALLY do miss it.  And, it's not like I don't have anything to write about.  I can always find something. Even if it's just to post another dog picture.  (I'll wait until the end to do that.). 

Back in April, I made this bunny.  Yeah, I know, it looks like a bear.  And, the dress is not reversible like the one for the Fluffy*Stuffy Bunny Jenny made.  (Get the bunny pattern here.)  After I sewed the dress pieces together, turned them right side out, and then tried to sew the opening closed, you could totally see all the stitches.  I can't do a blind stitch or a hidden stitch to save my life.  So I just left it open.  Then I didn't add a yoke because I couldn't hide those stitches either.  So my bunny not only looks like a bear but she also can't show off her two sided dress and isn't fluffy like the original.  She probably hates me.  And, I just realized something after looking at Jenny's Fluffy*Stuffy Bunny on her blog: mine has no tail.  Oh yeah, I am quite the crafter.

By the way, the dress fabric came from Mary and the buttons are from Barbara.  Thank you, ladies!

I found this cute pot holder at the local antique store back in July.  I've always loved that bee pattern.   It's Vogart 293 and you can find it by checking Google.  (Some day I will use a different comforter when I take pictures, I promise.)

Cute dog picture time!  "Nice bear" says Pumpkin.

Next time I post, in May 2017, I'll show you want else I got from the antique store that day.  Happy Monday Night!

Make This Cute Needle Threader

I just saw this project for a cute felt needle threader from Wild Olive linked on Craft Gossip's needlework blog (thanks, Denise!) and I swear a light bulb went off over my head when I realized I could post it here as well.  Sometimes I really am a little slow.

This has nothing to do with crafting but missing dogs always get to me, and it's even worse if they're older and have special needs.  This is Cleo, a deaf 12 yr old Cocker Spaniel, who was recently saved from a kill shelter and is now lost.  He was last seen in the 92105 zip code, which is in San Diego.  (Cleo is a boy.)  Please feel free to post this on Facebook, your blog, or anywhere you think it might help.  Thank you!

Is This My First Post Of 2012?

There's a new computer in my life and my old camera works just fine with it so I'm hoping to start blogging again, or at least post some pictures.

Since I haven't finished making anything lately, I don't have any photos to post today but thanks to Feeling Stitchy, I have a couple of links to share.  First, check out Floresita's finished alphabet. which I just love.  It's so pretty.  She's included a link to the free pattern too.  Look how her letters look perfectly centered on the fabric.  My patterns never are.  In fact, I just transferred a design on to a dishtowel and it was noticeably off to one side so I sprayed it with Resolve and washed it, and all the transfer pencil came out.  I don't know if Resolve will work with other transfer methods, (like iron-on patterns), but I've had luck with lead and transfer pencils, especially if you get the Resolve on it soon after you realize your pattern is not where you want it to be on your dish towel.

There was a link on Feeling Stitchy to Kitschy Digitals and if you haven't been there before, you need to go now.  Everything is cute and fun.  They sell printables, fonts and things for digital crafting, but I especially love their sewing and needlework patterns.  Thanks for the link, Floresita!

As I was reading through older posts on Feeling Stitchy, I realized two things:  I finally got the Sublime Stitching book (yay!)  and I bought two cute embroideries and a stitched potholder at the local antique store.  Pictures to come soon. 

Did you see the cute fox cross stitch pattern on Mollie Makes?  So many cute patterns, so little time.

Brother, Can You Spare A Dime

Lone Star Shih Tzu & Lhasa Apso Rescue in Texas recently took in seven puppymill dogs that need to get to the vet before going on to their foster homes.  (One of my Facebook friends is going to foster two of them.  Yay, Linda!)  So I'm asking for donations.  Any amount will help.  If you can, please donate by clicking the link to the ChipIn account for the doggies.  Thank you!!

Missouri Puppymill Survivors 7-8-2012

Testing Testing 1 2 3

I just registered for Strut Your Mutt and wanted to see which badge I like the most.  I think I will go with this one.


I'll be walking for Lhasa Happy Homes, a rescue group in Southern California that gets Lhasa Apsos, Shih Tzus, Maltese and other small breed dogs from animal shelters and finds them homes.

I'd love to link to the LHH site but Google just told me that "this site may harm your computer" so let's hold off on that for now.  (I never saw that before.)

More to come later...

June TUSAL Report

Since I can once again upload & download pictures, I can get back to doing the TUSAL aka the Totally Useless Stitch-a-Long.   And, since today is the New Moon, here's my orts jar hanging out with a stuffed pig I got years ago.

If you want more info on the TUSAL, please read this post at It's Daffycat.  Thank you, Sharon, for hosting the TUSAL!

Iron Day

Writing that last post reminded me that I had picked up some Aunt Martha's patterns and a pack of kitchen towels at Jo-Ann's back in March.  So far, I have only stitched one of the towels.  And, here it is.  It's funny to me that this has "Iron Day" on it and it's wrinkled and has a couple of creases in it.  I'm actually using it (alert the media!) in my kitchen so I didn't bother to iron it.

My original plan was to do the letters in brown and red with couching.  I was about halfway through when I realized I was doing them in black and red.  (I really should write this stuff down.)  .  And, I was not consistent with my colors.  Sometimes I used red as the surface thread and sometimes I used black.  If I was making this for someone, I would have been more careful, but I wasn't so I just considered it good couching practice. 

I'm thrilled that I not only finished the towel but that I'm using it too.  It's Aunt Martha's 4015 Adorable Puppy pattern and the towels were from Aunt Martha too.

Speaking of embroidery, you can find a Days of the Week set of patterns with bees doing chores (I love the bee with a broom) over on Tipnut.  I've seen a couple of these patterns before but not the whole set.  Thanks, Tipnut, for sharing them!

Little House On The Planet

I am really in the mood to go make something but I wanted to share this cute embroidery pattern first.  It was posted on a new-to-me blog called Mason Bee and it's called Little Home Planet and I think it's adorable.  [Link via Craft Gossip's Needlework blog.  Thanks, Denise!]  And, thank you, Laura, for your cute freebie!  (For some reason, I keep thinking it's called Little House on the Planet.  I must have Laura Ingalls on the brain.)

P.S.  They've opened a Hobby Lobby  near me and I think I'll be going by tomorrow with my 40% off coupon in hand to check out their needle arts section.  I hope they sell cute embroidery patterns.

"Like" Dog Bless You On Facebook

For every 1000 new Likes that Dog Bless You gets on their Facebook page up until the Fourth of July, they will donate a service dog to a veteran.  So far, they have donated 23 dogs.  Please go Like them now.  Thank you!

A Couple Of Cute Freebies

Kel over at Kincavel Krosses is sharing a cross stitch design of two super cute foxes called Fergie and Fergus.  I REALLY have to stitch this one. 

And, check out Bunny and Clyde too (x-stitch bunnies)!

Thank you, Lady Kel, for all your great freebies!!

Easter Embroidery

I know it's June but I haven't been able to post pictures for awhile so I have some catching up to do.

There was a tutorial for an adorable fabric Easter basket posted on Red Brolly back in March.  I wanted to make it and only got as far as doing the embroidery, but hey, at least I did that.  Now that I can upload my pictures again. I'll take a better one as soon as I iron this.  And, thank you to Sarah and Mary for the floss.  Other than the brown for the bunny and the white for his tail, everything else is the variegated stuff you both sent me -- Cosmo Seasons from Sarah and Janlynn from Mary.  (Hard to see in the picture, I know.)

I have a bad relationship with French knots.  I hate them and always will.  My first one will turn out fine and sometimes the second one will be ok too, but then everything goes downhill and they end up deformed and I have to start over, which is frustrating.  I think some of these are alright but I can see which ones are too loose.  (Sorry for the lousy picture but I just cropped the one above.)