This is from the October 1998 issue of Just Cross Stitch. Perfect for me due to my worrywart nature.

Making Resin

For a while last fall I was busy making resin pieces. Here is one I did for Halloween using a JABC button. I need to start up again because it is a very satisfying and fairly easy process. I just put everything away at the holidays because it is rather messy and haven't resumed it yet. Here is a link I found quickly that explains a bit more if anyone is interested: http://www.how-to-make-jewelry.com/resin-jewelry-making-2.html

An assortment today

I know "The Secret Life of Bees" was published at least 10 years ago but I was able to read it this weekend and highly recommend it. Because of this book, I decided to finally finish my "English Cottage Sampler" (from Chessie N Me) that I started a few years ago and make some changes to it.

My name means Queen Bee and since there is a queen prominently pictured on this piece I decided to stitch a huge bee over her head. I also added a few things to her empty hands as I didn't like her standing there with elbows bent holding nothing so I added a bird and a flower. Instead of "E" for "Elizabeth" underneath the crown I put the initials of my husband and children. And if you look closely, you will noticed I made a big mistake and stitched 3 r's in the second Merrily of the verse. It makes me laugh to look at it so it is staying. To be honest, the main reason it is staying is I HATE frogging over one!



This next piece is from The Floss Box
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Her designs remind me somewhat of the old Birds of a Feather designs which I have always loved. She also sells them on Etsy.

Thrift Stores

Anyone else here love thrift stores? I have been finding tracing wheels at my favorite thrift store lately, 50 cents each. They remind me of my mother who was a good seamstress. I never like to write "sewer" as it doesn't look correct! I found the little red sewing basket at a thrift store a few years back and it matches the powder blue one I had as a child.

The pincushions came from Etsy. Have a look at her pincushion dolls!



http://www.etsy.com/people/PiccalilliPatchwork

UFO's

I saw this antique unfinished piece of needlework a while back. It is gorgeous but I find it sad it was never finished as then it could have been spectacular.


Seeing this piece got me thinking about the number of UFO's I have and the guilt made me pull one out last month and finish it up. It only required backstitching, which I find tedious and which is why it was set aside. It has been waiting around for me to finish it since 1997!



So here she is, from Shepherd's Bush!. 15 years is a long time to sit around and it is not the first piece I would pull out of my "want to do" folder today. But she is done and I am much happier because of it. How many UFO's do you have waiting patiently for you to finish them?

!

Gift for a Friend

Recently a friend was going through a tough time and I decided to make her a "Jar of Encouragement". In the jar are inspirational quotes printed on folded paper, the idea being to take one out and read it when needing a boost. This led to making a whole box of different things to go along with the jar, a scented candle, mints, drawer sachets, a small journal, anything I thought would be a pick-me-up. I found the wooden container at a thrift shop and decoupaged the antique bird postcard I had printed onto the front of the container. Here are a few photos and a couple postcards in case you would like to try something similar.

Coffin Buzz

As many of you know, I haven't stitched or designed a thing for almost 2 years. About 2 months ago it was nagging me how many unfinished projects I have, so I pulled one out and finished it. That spurred me on to start something new and when a friend bought a new house I knew just the project to stitch for her housewarming present, Coffin Buzz, a freebie from Paulette Stewart

Choose your own fabric and thread and this stitches up really fast, I enjoyed it so much. Thanks Paulette!

Antique Samplers

I came across quite a few beautiful samplers this weekend that I'd like to share with you. Enjoy! The Solomon's Temple sampler is especially beautiful and you don't see many reproductions of it. I have images of several antique Solomon's Temple samplers and will share soon.

Lady Baa-Baa