January 4, 2025

Kathryn’s birthday is usually the first time I will write the new year – and then forget for a week or so after New Year’s Day. Her birthday present went in the mail yesterday and I think she will receive it before her big day.

I liked the idea of using the flower of the month for my cards this year. I was also making a card for Taylor and I put the stitching too close together. I didn’t have time to make another one for Kathryn so hers ended up being a bit of an odd shape!

Kathryn’s birthday present was from an idea I found on Facebook. I wrapped up twelve books in brown paper and she gets to pick one book each month. Whether or not she reads it doesn’t matter but I tried to find books that I enjoyed. I’ll admit that I read some of them before I wrapped them up, and some of them were rejected. Each book comes with a little surprise inside.

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Due to the postal strike there were no hand-made cards sent out this year but I did send out some e-greetings.

I couldn’t get enough of these little truck tags and made several to attach to small gifts.

I have no idea where I got this kit from or when I purchased it. I know it was a long time ago because at one point I was collecting cross stitch quilting patterns because I never expected to be doing any actual quilting (and I’ve been quilting for at least 13 years).

I started the project and set it aside for several years but I am gradually trying to empty that particular UFO bin and this seemed like a small one to start with. If memory serves, I think I made a mistake in the pattern and gave up. That must be true as I did some reverse stitching before I really got going on it this time.

The kit came with the hanger so it was easy to finish.

September 15, 2024

I read a post on Facebook that you could use lavender to stuff a pin cushion. I liked that idea and we have lots of lavender growing in the yard. I had a pattern for a small pin cushion made from a couple of squares of quilting cotton. Then, just a few days later, a pattern for a biscornu popped up in one of my Facebook groups so I decided that would be fun to make.

I was using scrap pieces of canvas for the two sides so the pin cushion is a lot larger than the pattern called for. It took a lot of lavender and I had to add a bit of stuffing to pop out the sides. I call it a pin pillow and have it sitting by my chair for evening stitching.

I love the aroma of lavender I get whenever I change needles (mostly because I’ve dropped and lost the one I’m using).