My buttons from the button swap arrived!



They are absolutely precious.



I realized guiltily as I opened the package that I sent mine off with no way to know they were from me. Oops. No cute tag or backing, like these. How clever.



Not sure what to do with them now to be able to maximize admiration of them. Maybe pushpins or magnets, so they don't get tied to a single finished project.



Love them all!

52 Nights Update - (Night 15) I am still anxiously awaiting the return of my mojo. I think I see it lurking on the horizon, but still no crafting lately. Last night was an easy no tech night, though. It was girls' night with my mom and visiting cousin. We did watch a movie, which might seem to break the no-tech rules, but since it was social, girl time, I say it doesn't count!

Labels: 52 nights, needlework, swaps

It seems like so long ago that I signed up for Michelle's animal-themed embroidered button swap. At the time, May 10th seemed so far away!



I kept putting off work on my buttons, because I couldn't come up with an idea I was pleased with. I threw away many sketches.



Finally, just last week, I came up with a plan that I liked and set to work getting it in thread!



See all six on flickr.

So though I had moments of doubt, times when I thought I might be a dreaded bad swapper, I got my buttons to Michelle on time. I can't wait to see what I get back!

Also... I redesigned the blog! If you check in a feed reader, be sure to click through to look.

Labels: needlework, swaps

I'm sure you all have foolproof methods for organizing your photos, right? Well, my system is just to stick all my photos in a "Crafts" folder on my computer, and then edit them when I want to do a post. So pictures sometimes get lost... I totally forgot to post these cards I made for my aunt at Christmas!



These were my annual handmade cards, though I only made one set for my aunt, my most appreciative recipient! I was inspired by all the cut paper around lately, especially at Amy's. Isn't this shadow gorgeous?



I haven't done any other papercraft in a while, other than my heart poster. Instead I'm getting the urge to work with yarn again... I finally couldn't resist Alicia's adorable Baby Bella Dress pattern, especially after seeing Nikki's post on it. Since it's an electronic pattern, I'm calling that a loophole in my "no new supplies" month! We'll see if this burst of crochet energy goes anywhere...

Labels: needlework, paper craft

I really love to be organized. A place for everything, everything in its place, and all that. I know I've talked about that before! Luckily I don't get too compulsive about it, but when things are in disarray it always nags at me. Alternately, little organized bits can make me very happy.



Previously I had all my DMC floss shoved in drawers of a little plastic organizer, still with the little paper sleeves they come with. It was hard to tell which colors I already had and definitely hard to find a specific color.



Each evening for a week or so (this took a while!) I wrapped floss onto bobbins... It is so pretty now! I had it ordered by DMC number but since I don't do many projects lately that call things out by number I rearranged it to spectrum order since I think it makes it look so yummy.



And to put it on record somewhere... I am declaring February "No New Supplies Month". I have so many projects on my list, ideas in my head I want to tackle. When I buy fabric, notions, beads, etc, it's always with some *new* project in mind, so my list is always growing! Here's to making my list shorter instead of longer...

Labels: craft room, needlework

Life has been quite busy these days. All the normal goings-on, plus I'm training which seems to take up so much time. So often, when I get a free evening, I am not motivated enough to move into my craft room and work on my ever-growing to do list. It is much nicer to crash on the couch and pick up a little hand-stitching.



This is a little kit I picked up in Cambridge for a little crafting while in the UK. I got the westie bookmark a few days later and ended up working on that instead, so this has become my TV project. It's small, only 4x6", so after a little starch I don't even need a hoop. I have an obsession with also keeping the back neat, maybe because my grandmother always commented on it when she taught me cross stitch when I was little.



I've been wanting to branch out into other types of needlepoint, so I picked up another small kick to try new stitches. This was just too cute to pass up.



(I also used my birthday last week as an excuse to buy more fabric I've wanted for ages. Pictures when it arrives in the mail...)

Labels: needlework

Why, it's a finished westie bookmark!



You do not understand how hard it is for me to just finish something. The stitching was done a few weeks ago, true, but things usually sit unfinished even longer than this. It feels so good to have it all the way done!

(And to clarify - the bookmark is marking where my husband is in HP#7 - I finished it about 10 hours after I got my hands on it!)

Labels: needlework

I know, it's supposed to be WIP Friday, but hey, close enough!

I definitely couldn't go five weeks without crafting, but the knitting project I brought along (the same plane project, yep, still not done!) got old quickly. I didn't want to buy a lot of supplies I already have at home, so when I saw a cross stitch kit in the gift shop at Edinburgh Castle I knew that was the perfect solution.



It's a small project, in fact I've almost finished since I took this picture, and it's westies and scotties! Perfect!!

Labels: needlework, wip

Check out the cool progress bars I added! The trick will be to actually update them - right now I actually have to modify my Blogger template and republish my journal to change them, which is kind of a pain. There must be a better way to do that... But they're so cool! So I thought I'd add them for now.

Also, I've finally unveiled one of my super secret projects because I decided to take the pressure off myself by not making it a gift... I've been working on the Angel of Freedom off and on for two years now:



It's counted cross stitch on super tiny linen, and it's taking a long time. But so far it's coming out great! Hopefully I'll have it finished by next Christmas!!

Edited to Add: The picture above is from the web, and is what the project will look like complete, not a picture of what I have done so far!!

Labels: needlework, wip