Sinister Craftiness

Silk Rosebud scissors keeper by C.A. Wells
Soft white Northern Cross linen (35 count)
Stitched with Soie Cristale

I spent most of September working on a few different Hardanger projects:  the doily I made last year; a small table runner from an issue of Burda Hardanger, and another small Burda Hardanger doily.  The doilies are still in progress, so there’s nothing to show off yet.  Unfortunately I wasn’t too fond of the table runner pattern to begin with (but it looked like it would go quickly, so I chose it anyway) and then I didn’t like the variegated thread I chose; it’s much too bright for me.  I hoped the runner would grow on me as it progressed, but no.  I don’t think it’s nice enough to give away as a gift either, so I’ve put it aside for now.

Another Hardanger gift is in the queue; I love the design and hopefully the variegated thread I’ve chosen for it will work well with the pattern.  The skein is on order from my LNS and I’m eager to get started once it shows up.  Meanwhile, I needed a break from the dozens of eyelets on the pink doily and weaving the lacy edge on the other doily (which may be another disaster, or not … will find out soon), and this dainty little three-sided scissor fob was a perfect fit:  stitched and finished in one day.

Scaredy Sheep scissor fob by Shepherd’s Bush
Vintage Country Mocha Belfast linen (32ct)
Stitched with DMC and Weeks Dye Works

A little late for Halloween but here it is.  Thing Two is a big fan of Shaun the Sheep so he has been very excited about this scissor fob.  I like the scissor fob too, but I really geeked out at the display & costume shop when I saw the little pumpkin from ‘Tis Halloween:  “It’s the BBD pumpkin!”  Nobody else in the family knew what I was talking about, except for Thing Two.  We understand each other.

Halloween treat bag by Shepherd’s Bush
Desert Sand Cashel linen (28ct)
Stitched with DMC

Harvest scissor fob by Shepherd’s Bush
Tumbleweed Belfast linen (32ct)
Stitched with DMC, WDW

Halloween needle roll by Shepherd’s Bush
Tobacco Cashel linen (28ct)
Stitched with DMC

Still waiting for my JN linen to arrive, so I’ve been stitching up a basket of Halloween smalls in the meantime.  These three are from the stash I bought at Shepherd’s Bush in July.  So cute, and they stitch up quickly;  what’s not to like about Shepherd’s Bush?  As if these were not enough, they have some darling new designs just in from the St. Charles market.  Thing Two hopes we will soon add the Scaredy Sheep fob to our basket.  I’ve also been working through the Blackbird Designs booklet, ‘Tis Halloween.  I’m going to limit myself to just a few of those stockings; Thing Two has been choosing his favorite designs out of the booklet for me to stitch.

Here’s my little helper in action.  We bought the mini pumpkins from the grocery store, picked up fallen leaves around our yard, and he had fun putting everything in the basket.

Sweet Surprise thimble pod & scissor fob by Betsy Morgan (Inspirations #61)
Flax Belfast linen (32 ct)
Stitched with Gloriana silk floss

One of my stitching goals this year is to improve my finishing skills (in my case, complete and embarassing lack of skills).  Therefore, from stitching over one thread to assembling the three-sided pod, this project was a challenge.  But the soft, antique color scheme and design were lovely, and the little thimble holder so cute,  I couldn’t resist giving it a try.  I purchased the kit from Country Bumpkin and am pleased (and relieved) to report that the kit includes plenty of Gloriana silk floss to cover any mistakes that need unpicking.  (Ask how I know this.)  The kit also includes enough perle cotton, silk, interfacing, linen, and template plastic to cover finishing mistakes.  Those sorts of errors are usually my specialty, but not this time.

Happily, this project wasn’t as difficult as I had feared it would be!  It also didn’t hurt to have a supply of chocolate mini-eggs (aka Stitcher’s Little Helper:  Seasonal Variety) for fuel and photos.  In fact, this was such a fun little finish I’d enjoy making more of these … but I’ve probably overdosed on chocolate eggs for the year.