Hodge Podge

I am a collector. And, I'm not a person who likes to collect slowly, over time. Nope, I am one of those people, who wants a big collection, and I want it now! One of anything just isn't good enough. My mom had a lovely collection of bells, so I had to have bells, too. Yeah, I'm still not sure what made me think I needed bells. Maybe, I thought, I could use them when I'm sick and need Robbie to bring me some tea. Or maybe, when we're having an oh so elegant dinner party, I can ring one of them when it's time to eat. So, off on an ebay hunt I went and within a few short weeks, I had quite the collection going. Uh yeah, I've never used a single one of those bells for anything but they sure are pretty! Thada also had a couple of beautiful antique cake plates she was using one day and so I had to have those too. Yep, I went in search of and now have quite the extensive collection of antique cake plates - all sizes, all shapes, all clear glass. I always say I'll use them for dinner parties (remember the bells?) so the food, deserts and other items are all at different heights and the table will be lovely. Yeah, I've done that maybe twice! Oh, lets see. I discovered Longaberger baskets a few years ago (16 to be exact) and had to have a collection. Because they were so pricey, I decided to sell them. Not the best timing in the world because Tyler was only 3 months old at the time and I was going back to work full time. Didn't matter. I had to have 'em so I started selling. Turned out, I was pretty good at it and before I knew it, I was so busy with it I just had to quit in order to have any family time at all. However, I did have quite the collection by that time so I was okay with the decision. Now I've got baskets stored in closets, under the bed, in boxes, literally everywhere! I tease my BFF Julie all the time because she's really the same way (well, with some things, with other things she can be quite restrained). One year, Tyler (she and her DH are Ty's godparents) gave her a very pretty Santa for Christmas. I was thinking that if she liked it, he could give her one from this same designer every year. She liked it alright - went out the next week and bought a whole collection so she could fill her mantle the next year. For some of us, with some things, one just isn't enough - and waiting a while to build a collection (especially on fairly inexpensive things) just doesn't work for us, does it? Which leads me to my first picture.

When I first got back into cross stitch, I discovered that a lot of people collect scissors. Oh! And some of those scissors are "LIMITED EDITIONS! Two of my favorite words in the english language (besides free and chocolate). Anyway, I started to collect scissors. Never-mind that I don't think the Gingher scissors I've collected are that great for cross stitch (I like a much finer point). Nope, that didn't matter - everyone else had 'em; I had to have 'em, too. So, with every 40% off coupon I got from Joann's I bought a pair of scissors. Then, I started seeing scissor fobs. Who wants a pair of naked scissors when everyone else's scissors are dressed so elegantly? I knew I'd never get that many scissor fobs stitched and then finished (not my strong suite especially when I first started this little collection). But..... I had learned how to make a puffy heart pendant using 72 Swarovski crystals with three bigger beads inside to keep the heart from collapsing. I made these to wear on a short silver cord but hmmm.... wouldn't they make great scissor fobs? I added a length of beads to make a holder for the heart and clipped them on the scissors and WHALA! Scissor fobs (I do still wear the hearts too, though)! Two of the fobs in the pic were gifts, the biscournu from Julie and the one with the "T" is from Robin. The rest...... I made. I found the flower frog at the antique mall last weekend - perfect for holding scissors. I've been looking for one ever since I saw them on someone's blog but I've long forgotten whom that was. I had to make a wool pad to place under the frog because it's a tad bit short so I am on the hunt for a taller frog! Uh-oh, do you see a trend here? The multi-colored heart was the first one I did - you do them in multiple colors so you can figure out the pattern.

The little table my fobs are sitting on is one I found at the same antique mall last weekend. The top has been stripped but that's okay, I'll fix it. I thought this was perfect for my craft room because it's small enough but also utilitarian with the little shelf to hold some stitching books.

I haven't gotten much stitching time lately - work has been busy so not too much stitching during lunch this week. I did manage to finish the third virtue from the BOAF collection though and have started the fourth. I love these little samplers and can't wait to get them framed. I'm going to hand them over the archway between our family room and kitchen table area. I think they'll look really cute. I'm using my initials on one (I get Love) and Tyler's, Rob's and Matt's on the others. I didn't decide to do this till after I stitched the first two but it worked out okay. Tyler is honest - brutally so sometimes. Matt is very Loyal to his friends and family and Rob will get "Patience". Truthfully he deserves one that says Saint but Patience is what he's getting. To put up with the three of us and not blow his stack continuously, really does take some major control, patience or drugs. I'm pretty sure he's not taking anything and he's not dead (thank God) so he can't get Sainthood so it has to be patience.




I finished the March block for my PS "A Praire Year" stitch-a-long with Julie and I'm really lovin' how this is turning out. It's very small - but it's going to be a really sweet piece when finished, I think.I did notice a stitch boo-boo on one of the blocks after I took the picture that I have to fix but nothing that can't be adjusted. Nope, not telling!








My favorite and last pic of the day is The Goode Huswife's Noah's Garden sampler framed. I really like the way it turned out and now just have to figure out where to hang it. I also picked up another piece of framing I had done for a friend and it is gorgeous. The gals in the shop were drooling all over it - don't worry, R - I cleaned it up! It is a gift for a friend of hers and while I don't know that she reads this blog, you never know and I'd hate for her not to be surprised. All I can say is, it's a good thing those aren't my initials in the piece or it might not get mailed out tomorrow. It is really pretty and I hope you love it!

That's it for now. If you've made it to the end of this long, hopefully not too boring post, I thank you!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend wherever you may be! Thanks for stopping by! Peace, Terri