Woolly Tyme | | Cozyegg Designs ~ Cozyegg

Flosstube Episode 49: Neighborhood Improvements

Thank you so much for tuning in to the Cozyegg flosstube/podcast! In this episode I share some FFOs, some old finishes, and an early start on #dark13stitching.

Past finishes:

Woolly Tyme sheep and monthly blankets by Homespun Elegance – specifically the February blanket
Wild Lilies by Blackbird Designs (gift)
Cherub Garden WhimZi by Just Nan
In the Pink by Midsummer Night Designs (Essie’s Friends piece)
Heartfelt Flower by Shepherd’s Bush (Essie’s Friends piece)
Halle’s Heart by Sampler Cove (Essie’s Friends piece)
For You (from Itty Bitty Romance) by Twisted Threads

WIPS:

Victorine Delacroix by The Essamplaire
Anniversaries of the Heart by Blackbird Designs
Tree from Trick or Treat by Praiseworthy Stitches on my Halloween Neighborhood

Finishes:

Clara Ellen (Anniversaries of the Heart #8) by Blackbird Designs

FFOs:

Cast Your Spells by Stacy Nash
Glory House by Chessie & Me
First Day by Plum Street Samplers
Halloween houses from my first neighborhood RR

Snow Day

Thanks for all the compliments on my ornament in the last post. I agree with you – the guild members are a talented group of stitchers! As you know, I have been attending the Tudor Rose guild’s annual holiday party since I became a member. I decided this time that I would also attend the Greater Dallas EGA holiday party as well. Having never been before, I thought it would be fun to attend. Unfortunately, the holiday party had to be postponed a week due to the crazy ice storm we had in Dallas. We did get snow as well, but underneath that snow was a solid sheet of ice. Needless to say – we all opted to hibernate in our houses!!

But the city thawed and we were finally able to get together for our party. You’ve seen the ornament I stitched for the Tudor Rose exchange, so here is the ornament I stitched for EGA.

If I’d been thinking clearly, I would have photographed my little Santa ornament in the snow! Alas, I wasn’t. I’ve been mulling over stitching this ornament for a few years now. It was actually one of the monthly sheep blankets for the Woolly Tyme club done by Homespun Elegance back in 2006. I just always thought this was a sweet design and would be something that probably few have seen. I just love his little Wisper beard that’s all fuzzy. I found this great pompom trim at JoAnn’s that was a perfect choice for finishing him.

One of the things I love about EGA is that you have needleworkers of all kinds – cross-stitchers, needlepointers, beaders, etc. One of the ladies brought her beaded Christmas trees to share. You can see two of them in this photo – but she’s actually finished like six of these things! Aren’t they awesome???

The board members presented the outgoing President with this amazing gift. They took a kit out of her stash (without her knowing) and they each stitched on it and then finished it. Not only was she completely blown away by the beautiful piece – but the fact that it had come from her own stash – what a gift that is! (Side note: if anyone would like to stitch something for me from my stash, shoot me an email. LOL) She had even bought these gorgeous Sajou Mother of Pearl scissors to go in the piece and quickly wen to retrieve them so that they could take their proper place! I wish I’d gotten a photo of the outside of the piece, but it was just stunning!

Now, on to the ornament exchange! Here are closeups of a few I thought were eye-catching. Loved the beaded edge and hanger on this sweet one.

A beaded ball with fringe. My photo of this does it no justice.

This one had a lot of people’s interest – it’s a completely beaded three-dimensional star with a beautiful crystal in the center. Loved this one so much!

And here are some closeups of some of the fantastic ornaments together.

Look at the beaded cardinal – wowza! So pretty! I love the blackwork piece next to it as well.

And here they are all together. I meant to get a closeup of the two wool ornaments – they were darling. Again – I love how different they all are.

And this is the beautiful ornament I went home with. Made by my sweet friend, Adrienne, I was thrilled I managed to hang on to it through the swapping! It’s two-sided and entirely beaded. She is such an amazing beader.

So there you have it – another fun holiday party and exchange. I will definitely be attending the EGA party again.

I am grateful for stepping outside my comfort zone.

All Hearts Come Home

I thought I’d share a few little photos of our holiday home. I absolutely love having seasonal stitched pieces out, and I hope in the next year to have more of them.

I had hoped to have all of my ornaments finished and hanging on the tree at this point, but it hasn’t happened yet. I should just bite the bullet and get over it, like Siobhan did. But, at least I have two new ornaments to hang on the tree (actually, now that I think of it, there’s three…I just forgot to photograph this one).

Maybe before the tree comes down on January 1, I’ll be able to add a few more to it?

And I will let you in on another little secret. Since sometime in mid-June, I’ve been looking everywhere for the fabric I used on my 2000 Years Ago piece. I needed the extra fabric for the back of an ornament as well as to make a hanger so that 2000 Years Ago could be displayed at Christmas. Well. Let me tell you, I tore this place apart. Looked in every bag, box and basket of fabric I have. Looked in places I didn’t really think it would be…and never found it. I was getting very sad that I was going to have to use thumbtacks to put up my pretty wallhanging, or just drape it over the tree like some kind of Christmas poncho. But, when I pulled out my boxes of Christmas decorations, guess what I found. My bag of fabric, that had fallen behind the Christmas decorations in the closet. Hallelujah! So, I zip zip zip sewed a little sleeve on the back of the wallhanging and hung that sucker on the wall.

Of course, now that I look at it on the wall, I think it needs something. Some extra little ooomph of some sort. I’ll just have to figure out what. But, it’s hanging!!

If you’d like to see more photos of our home decorated for the holidays, take a look here, on the other blog. There are photos from NYC at Christmas a few years ago too, if you go back a couple of posts over there.

Anyway, I’m sure you’re all wondering when I’m actually going to talk about stitching and if, in fact, there is any going on. Well, wonder no more. This was my Thanksgiving Day start.

Margaret Cottam, by La-D-Da. I have finished part 1 and am well into part 2. I don’t have part 3 yet, but I’m sure it’s coming in the near future. I’m stitching MC on the called for Weeks Cocoa linen, but on 40ct. Isn’t she lovely. I have really been enjoying her.

And MC is not alone. I’ve got some other stuff I’m up to, but I can’t share quite yet. I’ll just have to leave you with a little teaser.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, filled with lots of friends, fun & family. Oh and eggnog too, don’t forget the eggnog!

I am grateful for pumpkin seeds in my salad.