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A little blog about my big loves; family, friends, stitching and yep, chocolate!

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Sunday, October 4, 2009

It's all about the Pumpkins!

I finished this little Halloween pillow up this afternoon. It is from the JCS Halloween issue this year. the La-D-Da contribution. The stitching process was fine - the finishing process reminded me of why I don't do smalls that require any kind of finishing skill. Not a perfect job by any stretch and far more tedious for me than it would be for anyone with even nominal sewing skills, I guess. I think a 4th grader could do about as well. I always forget how unforgiving linen is and just how delicate, too. Yeah, I punched my turning tool (a chopstick) right through it but could not fix it as I had already sewn on the fringe. I'll just drip some fabric glue on it and call it a day. Maybe it will look primitive. Yeah, that's the ticket, it's primitive. The fabric this little, prim pillow is sitting on is of course, the backing fabric. I thought it was perfect - orange but not too orange and not cutesy. I don't like cutesy!



You may recall that DEB and I were going to the Ghoultide Gathering on Saturday. We went, but I have to say, not sure I'd go again. It was a VERY crowded venue in two very small old homes on an historic setting. You could barely walk, much less take pictures. However, Deb, being the "won't take no for an answer" kind of gal she is, did manage to get a few and may post them on her blog. We did get to meet Lori from NOTFORGOTTEN FARMS and that was, for me, the highlight. She's as cute as can be and was dressed so darn cute - I hope Deb will post a picture. We both bought a spooky little Halloween pin from her but that was it for the purchases. I was hoping she'd have some patterns there but this was a strictly pre-made, pay really big bucks, kind of affair. There was an artist there with these amazing witch dolls and I would have loved to have one. Unfortunately, they started at around $250 which was a bit out of my price range. Folks were clamoring for them though and we were told the artist would be sold out by 11:00 AM. Must be nice!

Deb and I didn't hang around too long and then decided to head over to "The Rocking Horse" our NSL~LNS. I have quite a love/hate relationship with this store. They did not have anything new from market and what they do have is so hard to look through, I get frustrated and give up. Rather than sort by designer, they sort by subject and what I might call something is not what they would call it so it's very hard for them to even help you. Plus, they carry very little fabric and even less overdyed. I'm glad they're there - I do go there every now and again and usually buy something but it could be WAY better. Anyway, even with all this bitchin' I did manage to find a couple of things.

The Drawn Threads "Marriage of the Minds" has been on my list for a long time. With our 20th coming up, in a little over a year, I thought maybe I should get started. I saw the PS Ark all done up on EDGAR'S BLOG where someone had stitched it for him and done over one, it was really sweet. Like my Noah stocking from CHS, I think I may do this in a straight, little sampler rather than a stocking. If I actually stitch it, this would be my 4th Noah stitchery. Also in the pics are some Petite needles. If you haven't tried them, you should give them a go. I find that my thread twists into itself far less with these than with regular length needles and I love working with them.

It's drizzly and cool here today and the leaves are starting to fall. A wonderful time to stay inside and stitch.

Have a wonderful week and thank you for stopping by and visiting. I have changed the "rules" in my blogger file to allow those who might wish to comment to do so without signing up for a blogger account. You do so using the "anonymous" feature but feel free to leave your name (or not, up to you). I do really appreciate the time it takes for you to leave a comment and I thank you!

Peace,
Terri

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Terri, It is Karen from Shelby. I have been following your blog since the beginning and am absolutely addicted to it Lol. I love your stitching and all your thoughts that go into your writing. You go girl !!! I am waiting for some new market treasures to get here !!! Take care, Karen

Margaret said...

love your halloweenie finish! It looks gorgeous from here! I hear you on the finishing though. I'd much rather be stitching than finishing. I hope you do that Noah PS piece. I loved what you did with the Noah stocking! Speaking of which -- I need to stitch that one! lol! BTW, was the doll person someone named Nicol Sayre? I love her dolls! Expensive but gorgeous! Too bad it was so crowded and expensive. I love looking at stuff like that, whether I can buy something or not. :D I guess i love to be tortured!

Cari said...

You Halloween pillow is too die for!! Very cute and you did a fine job of finishing. And, where you chop sticking too went through the linen...you could 'repair' stitch is with linen thread and it would be charming. Saw something like this on Blackbird Design blog by Alma. Check it out!! I read Deb's blog and saw the pics. Too bad everything was too much $$$, but it is fun to get out and see all the stuff.

I have a LNS that sounds like yours. She does not do market, and I have absolutely no idea how she files or displays her charts. If I find something it is by accident! I usually just stop in for an emergency floss pickup.

Enjoy your rainy weather and have fun stitching. I'm about to get started for the evening as well. HUGS

basketsnprims said...

Terri ~
Too bad about the Gathering ~ too crowded to have fun. I hate that! I like to browse, maybe take a pic or two, I don't like the pushing, shoving, etc.
Love your halloween pillow & it is prim. It rained her all weekend ~ I was inside sewing & stitching.
Pam

Annie said...

Your Halloween pillow is adorable. The little imperfections don't detract from the piece at all. You will notice those things more than anyone else.

Too bad the crowds ruined what sounds like a great place to putter around. But I'm glad to see you found some stash at LNS! The day was not a total disappointment!

CJ in OK ;-) said...

Great little pillow finish, congrats. CJ ok;-)

~Judy~ said...

Terri, your Halloween pillow looks perfect to me. How cool that you got to meet Lori in person. I have been in two other shops where they put their charts in catergories not by designers. You can't find anything! I don't know what they were thinking!

hugs, Judy

Anonymous said...

Love your Halloween pillow and that backing fabric is just too cool! Love the colors!

Can't wait to see your progress on Marriage of the Minds! Go Terri! And also the Noah PS piece!

Robin

JOLENE said...

Despite your trials, your Halloween pillow turned out perfectly "primitive" just as you set out to do. Great job, Terri!! I have a little helpful hint for you the next time you wanna try those chop sticks for turning out your pieces, instead use the eraser end of a pencil, the rubbery part grabs the fabric and makes it turn rather smoothly. I have made many dolls and this technique proves valid.

I was so wanting to go with you and Deb to the Ghoultide Gathering, sorry it didn't pan out like you planned....but I am sure it was nice to get away.

Not to rub it in, but I got a chance to visit Shepherds Bush this weekend and I made a haul of goodies from market and then some. I couldn't help myself as there were tooooooo many things to leave behind!! LOL....

I have stitched a few Noah's ark pieces in the past. When my son was born I decorated his nursery in primitive Noah's ark. At Christmas time I set up three little trees atop his dresser with reb/blue/green lights. I decorated them with beautiful ornaments with Noah's ark theme. It started his collection of ornaments that I will send off with him when he gets married. I let him pick out a new ornament or two every year to add to his collection. It's so fun!!!

Marnie said...

Great Halloween finish and I love your plaid backing fabric - just perfect. I feel your pain about finishing though. I'm trying to talk myself out of sewing my current LHN piece into a pillow. There are so many ways it can go wrong, it makes me cringe. I think I'll take a cue from you, get the fabric glue, and just plow on. Wish me luck!

Julie M said...

Sounds like you had a great time Terri! Sorry it was so pricey!

Your Halloween pillow is adorable and I think you did a bang up job on the finishing of it!

I love that Marriage of the Minds chart. Very pretty.

You have a good week too!

Nancy said...

I love your Halloween pillow, and your finishing looks wonderful to me! The pom pom fringe is perfect!

Anonymous said...

I love this little finish, and I think you did a great job... can't see a problem anywhere.

We used to have an LNS that is like yours. They are now out of business, and I drive to a not-so-local LNS. I've decided it's better to frequent them infrequently, than to go into what was a local store that totally lacked customer service! Have a great day!

Loraine said...

I think your pillow turned out great! It has a primitive look to it, and I love the fabric you chose for the back. (We are always harder on our own finishing projects, but I think it is wonderful.)
Oh, Marriage of the minds!!!I have that in my stash as well. I bought the pattern, and then when I saw it stitched in person I was shocked at how big it was. I was thinking I would stitch it over one, but....I have a lot of over one stitching projects!
Too bad about it being really crowded at the antique house. I'm glad you had somewhere to go instead. It's just fun to get out.
Take Care!

WoolenSails said...

Loved the pumpkin pillow, really nice piece.

Debbie

Jane said...

Terri, your 'prim' Halloween pillow looks just fine. I'm sure you're being harder on yourself than what's needed, but I guess we're all guilty of that at times. I love all things primitive, anyway! Great job!!!

jayne@~an eye for threads~ said...

Oh how I love your paragraph stating,,,"It's drizzly and cool here today and the leaves are starting to fall. A wonderful time to stay inside and stitch." Heck that's my theroy and that's how you get the time to do the finished like your Halloween pillow, great job... be always in stitches.

Michele B. said...

Hi - I just happened on your blog from a link in someone's sidebar. What a great blog you have! I've had a great time looking through some of your back entries. You are so creative (I see you get it from your mom). I loved your Bingo story. Your stitching is awesome. I hear you on the finishing, but the pillow looks just fine to me. I'll be back to visit again!

Giovanna said...

Great finishing on the Halloween ornie, and great haul at the LNS!

Vinniey said...

Beautiful Halloween pillow! The Marriage of the Minds Pattern is so gorgeous, I love it too.

Cathy Lloyd said...

Terri, love your Halloween pillow...darling! I used to like finishing more than I do now. I have a pile of things to finish and just can't make myself get to them. There are a couple of ladies here in Utah that make those witches and they are pricey too...out of my range and they aren't my "thing". Guess I'd rather buy stash. I LOVE JJ petites as well. Enjoy your week!

~Tonya said...

Hi Terri,

Love the Halloween tuck you made. I don't care if there is a hole and the fringe sure sets it off. Stain it up a bit and there you have it.

The Goultide, have been seeing that all over...sorry it was not your bag. Nice to hear the truth thou. Wow, very expensive pieces.

I chuckled, even with all that bitching, you found some goodies. LOL You say it like it is and I like that.

You have a great day. I enjoyed stopping by.

Blessings,
~Tonya

Sharlotte said...

OOh Terri!
I have seen this Halloween design stitched many times on other blogs and I like your finish best of all.The way you have finished yours really makes it look different and not so repetitive. Great job!

Susimac said...

Love your halloween finish, it looks really great to me.

Deb said...

Cute, cute pillow Terri! It came out perfect. I know exactly what you mean about the finishing stuff - I'd rather stitch - I hate finishing. Hopefully, the fabric glue worked out.

And I think we need to knock some sense into those women at the LNS and make them rearrange their stock and attend markets. Everyone in the area will be thanking us for sure!

Marjorie said...

Your pillow looks fine to me Terri. As my DH the home improvement "expert" says, "well you can't see it from the street..." I was bummed that I couldn't go to the Ghoultide show (long trip from CA) but I feel better about that having read your account. I am jealous that you met Lori though, she is one of my favorite designers.

doris said...

I think your pumpkins look great. Finishing is definitely a big fat pain, so I do it only if I think I won't cry ... lol.

What is it about shops and organization? For some reason, certain shops, whether because of space constraints or lack of skills, are impossible to shop in. Hey, Terri, your new calling! You could offer your services (at a price, of course) to organize their stuff. Go, Terri, go!

woolwoman said...

Terri - love your little prim pillow - darling - good tip from Cari about the BBD linen repair/coverup - it would be so quaint and perfect on this. I am envious you got to meet Lori - I am starting another of her rugs halloween weekend at a workshop - Peace and Plenty - can't wait! Too bad the prices were high but artisans do charge more than crafters - I've found - I read Deb's post about the "not great" selection at the LNS - boo hiss - that is not fun - I don't even go to our LNS any more - always a disappointment - I just order what i want or drive 50 miles to my friend Jill's sampler shop. Mel

Unknown said...

Your finish is adorable - the fabric is just wonderful. I agree, I am not a closer - I can stitch but trying to make it into something displayable - forget it. I sent somethings to Debbie to do - hopefully I'll see them soon.

What a bummer that things were so pricey - especially in today's economy.

Oh, I have the same kind of LNS and it just frustrates me to no end - I gave up and will not shop there any more. But, it sounds like you and Deb had fun girltime!

I love your new stash - can't wait to see what you stitch on next.

You'll have to come visit VA it's in the 70's this week - beautiful weather.

mainely stitching said...

Great stitching! I just LOVE pumpkins. :D

Dona said...

Very cute Halloween pillow, Terri! Ghoultide Gathering sounded like fun except for the crowds and price tag.

Marriage of the Minds would be very cool and very special for your 20th anniversary.

Kathy A. said...

I think you did a wonderful job on finishing Halloween. It looks great. Love that new stash. I am so grateful for a wonderful LNS.

SiobhĂ¡n said...

I love the pumpkin finish, Terri! I think your finishing is wonderful. I really wish I had the patience and skill to do it, too, but truthfully I'd rather be stitching. Thank God for 'professional' finishers!

I loved the pics of the gathering that Deb posted on her blog, but I recognized the one artist with the carved figures. I LOVE his work but so far I'm just an admirer rather than a collector because it is so pricey. Still, sounds like a cool place--and you got to meet NFF Lori! Too cool.

Michelle said...

Love that Halloween finish - I'm not really into cutesie either. Sorry to hear about the disappointing trip, but at least you picked up a few good charts!

Sherry said...

Lucky you, getting to meet Lori! I love her designs so I figure she must be a great person too! Your Halloween finish is great!

Brigitte said...

Your little Halloween pillow looks terrific and I love the edging on it.
I think I'd prefer the patterns in an LNS organized by designers and not by themes. But I'm not very experienced when it comes to LNSs because I don't have any bigger ones nearby. And the ones I can visit don't have so many charts that I can't go through them in half an hour, so there's no need to organize them in any way, lol.

Angela said...

I think your Halloween pillow looks fabulous! Love the edging around it :) I too have a love/hate relationship with my local LNS.