Christmas is Coming...

Hi...

It seems that the holiday season is approaching... I'm looking forward to decorating and making a few things. Amazing how a year can pass so quickly... I was looking back at all my cross stitch Santas that I display year around. Some where made almost 10 years ago now at a Stitch Away in Oklahoma. I learned about different fibers and stitching beyond the "cross" stitch. It was when my love for sewing started to grow...

Have a lovely Thanksgiving holiday. I am thankful for the influences of so many friends along the way.

Paula

I've been Creating

Hi,

Well, my major accomplishment was really finishing my first sock. I am half way done with the second - yes I am at the heel turn!!! I broke 2, yes 2 knitting needles finishing the toe. I guess I was knitting a little tight!!!

Then in the spirit of being green...I decided to make some grocery bags. I just love Valori Wells' fabric! While reading her blog I found her tutorial/pattern for these bags. They are absolutely wonderful, made out of her home decor fabric to give a little more strength, long handles, and a nice rectangular flat bottom - while being completely lined. She calls it her grocery tote! What I love is that when I take them to Whole Foods I get a credit of 10 cents per bag each time I shop! :) Plus, I am not polluting. These bags are so nice and roomy and can really carry the goods! I know because I have packed cartons of milk in them! Plus, they work great in a pinch to put things together to go to the post office. Love that! Thanks Valori! Go check out her stuff, very cool! :)

I'm knitting while watching the olymics. Just wish I didn't have to get up so early in the morning...just want to stay up and watch...and I'm not a big TV watcher...but this is very amazing!

I will leave you with one last picture, my son's cat, Mr. Gray. :He is the son of the Queen, Miss Knickers. The Royalty runs in the family. I will try to get a photo of his back. I swear his white marking on his back resembles a mouse! :)

Happy Stitching!

Paula :)

Butterflies...

I added a few butterflies to this simple store bought t-shirt for a special little girl! I drew the design on paper and cut out the fabric butterflies. Once I positioned on the shirt I outlined in a tight zig zag and made the little antenaes. This was a quick fun project that is sure to add a little joy to any little girl!

To catch up on my previous posts, I did make my century mark! Yeah! Hard to believe I have ran 100 miles since January...however I had to stop running over the last few weeks. I am back at it this week and looking forward to more centuries to pass...especially when my asthma specialist told me that if he hadn't known I was on medication he would have thought I had normal lungs! Wow, what a difference a little exercise can make! That made my week. Now if live oak trees didn't bother me so much...I know, that is what treadmills are for.

Happy sewing!
Paula :)

New Releases

New Playful Series...Trios...Elegance...Mardi Gras Cat...so much fun and colour!!!!!

I am having a wonderful time.

Enjoy!

Paula :)

Belated Baby Gift

I just love new babies! I love gifting new babies! So...this is for a co-worker's grandbaby who spends time at her home. It is a pink fleece blanket that I added a bias trim in a lovely baltik fabric. I took some terry cloth and cut out a bib and trimed it to match. Then to make it special I drew out the initial "M" and appliqued it out of the fabric. The closure is velcro. Make sure the scratchy side is on the main bib so it will not rub the neck as they grow! I machine sew down the trim on one side, but I prefer the painstaking handsewing of the binding on the reverse. It just looks so much better on the blanket. On the bib, which will get lots of washings I use a small zig-zag. So it is ready to go!

I have so much that I want to show...but, there is the element of surprise for Market. So, keeping with the spirit, I will show you after I have revealed it in Nashville. :) I had the priviledge of painting the cover for the 15th Anniversary Show Guide. Very cool. I also have some more of my Trios, some new wraps, a Santa, and well...you get the picture. I have been a BIZZI Bee. :)

We had some cold weather and that just motivates me to sew and create. I am even painting my own canvas for a little extra surprise! Well, back to it...that and the laundry, cleaning, and weekly chores...oh yeah I need to go get some groceries! Have a super weekend!

Smiles,

Paula

Happy New Year!

Okay, I haven't been sleeping...and I will prove it! I have lots of fun colourful goodies that I have been creating. I love the new book "Last Minute Gifts" and I have added some variations to them! So fun!!! Get ready for lots of pictures!

I will start with a lovely wreath my friend Sandi made for me!

I just love the detail...see second picture! She is just so talented! Her tree this year was awesome...wish I had a picture to share. It was so unusual with birds, golds, browns, and a touch of turquoise.

Anyhow, I just love turquoise and she knew...and it was just a beautiful compliment to my home.

Oh and one must have decorations for the tree...and I made 3! These are gifts...and from the delightful book "Last Minute Gifts". I added the bit of lace on the underside. Fun...fun...

Now to bring in the new year one must dress everything appropriately! That gets us to my next picture. I have had this pattern for a long time and instead of buying buttons I have really enjoying making my own covered buttons. They just finish it off just right.

Now to get organized one must have a place for their pins...and what a lovely, colourful place indeed! This is another "Last Minute Gift" pattern. I added a button on the top and bottom and the lovely pins.

I picked up the pins at JoAnn's.

Have a lovely week!

Be Creative!

Paula

Adding A Little Colour

Hello there...I have done a little decorating...by adding a little colour to my bedroom. I bought about 3 yards of this lovely blue home decor fabric. I made 6" strips and folded them in half and sewed them onto the bottom of this ready made cream bedskirt at the hem sem so it looks tiered down. Then with the remaining fabric I made two pillow shams. I added a little velveteen pillow and hung up on the wall my grandmothers wedding ring quilt. It is only a twin size and in rather poor condition, but I still enjoy looking at it from a distance. If you look closely on the left you will see me in all my youth (yep, my baby picture). Have a wonderful weekend! ~Paula

Miss Crystal's special outfit and My Real Chair with my real cat

Here is the fun outfit. There are a lot of details, which I will show in some close up pictures. The top features lime green piping above the wavey striped ruffle. The neck and arm openings are encased with bright yellow biased tape, resembling more piping.

The pants feature multicolored rick rack! It is suttle on this outfit, but by itself it is amazingly bright!

Miss Crystal loves pink...I hope she has much fun her new summer outfit! In the mail tomorrow and on their way to giving a few smiles to the new owner!

My Knickers perched up top on "my chair". The inspiration for the cross stitch piece shown.

Hope you enjoyed some pictures...some new cross stitch release coming soon...Paula

Sewing some Colour in my space

I will get back to posting the new designs, but I had to digress and show you a bit of fun I have been having!
The rocking chair has been in my family since I was about 3 or 4, so that is definitely antique! Well, it is getting there. I made a chair cushion and a little pillow to modernize it. On the couch, I recovered the two end pillows in this fun paisley and added this throw - called Cotton Candy from Joanne's Fabrics. It is light weight but comfy. (The throw that is.) Enjoy! ~Paula