Birthday Booty...

My birthday was Christmas Eve and I got the Baby Lock Evolve Serger and the Baby Lock Embellisher. The sewing machine store made DH an offer he couldn’t refuse! Woohoo! I sort of suspected I was getting a serger when I "accidentally" discovered the big bag of Maxi-Lock thread. But the embellisher was a complete surprise. I wanted one – even casually mentioned it a few times but didn’t think he was paying attention. This was one of my best birthdays ever!

Here is my first attempt at playing around with the embellisher. I felted some fusible fibers, feathers and a couple little scraps of painted cheesecloth on to some painted lutradur. I tore that (by mistake) and felted the torn pieces onto a piece of Kunin felt. I never had so much fun not knowing what in the world I was doing! The photo doesn't show how sparkly it is.

Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah!

Postmarked 1909

Lesson 6 Detail: Double Drizzle Stitch “Worms”

The double drizzle stitch transported me back to my old macramé days…

A Start on Lesson 6...

Here is the start of my lesson six sampler exploring textures. I still have lots more work to do in the foreground… I found the clear glass star-shaped button and the mother of pearl “washer” in my jar of antique buttons.

Lesson 5 Postcard

This postcard is done on wool felt and consists of Spanish feather stitches, (whipped with rayon ribbon floss and plain), Pekinese, fly, detached chain stitches and French knots.

De-decorating the Tree...

I received this link in my mail, today. Here are illustrated instructions for kitties on how to decorate the Christmas tree… My lovely tree is in the process of being de-decorated by my furry crew. Graycee was gleefully running around yesterday with a calico bird she pulled down. And I’ve noticed many of the bulbs and metal icicles are now hanging upside-down (some sort of satanic symbolism, perhaps?). There is also a big (Huckleberry - sized) “hole” in the middle of the tree where there used to be ornaments. DH thinks their destructiveness is cute but he’s not the one who spent hours decorating the tree just right!

Blanford and Euphemia

I think this is it, now, for Santas this season. I had another one nearly finished named Walter - but he had a major wardrobe malfunction - don't ask...

Here's Blanford!

Okay, you can uncover your eyes. Blanford is finally dressed and wigged. No matter how many Santas I make, it never ceases to amaze me just how much the beards shape their final personalities…