My Guest-Post on The Cookie Puzzle

Well it's been a while hasn't it?!? I've honestly not been working on anything since Christmas--except for the embroidery I did for Autism Awareness Month (April) for a guest-post spot on The Cookie Puzzle.

Disclaimer: I'm going to cheat and c/p most of the post from that guest spot onto here today...so don't be too mad at me *grin*

Here goes:

I am NOT a cookier! Well, I am a cookier in that I EAT cookies…but I do not make cookies unless they come in a Pillsbury wrapper. Ha! I do, however, love to make things with sticks and string (aka knitting, crocheting, embroidery, quilting, etc).

I was introduced to Kim’s work through my friend Heather (she IS a cookier) who guest-posted here on the 12th. Kim was also introduced to my work the same way. And that’s when Kim practically begged me to do a guest post! (ok—not begged, but she did ask very nicely *grin*)

Kim told me she wanted to have all kinds of posts for Autism Awareness month not just cookies. So I thought about it for all of about 5 minutes and said, Sure, why not?

About 5 minutes after that, I thought, OMG. WHAT am I going to do?? So I went through a few ideas and finally settled on an embroidery pattern. So I whipped one up and that was that! YEAH RIGHT!! I honestly had no idea what I would and/or could design. But beyond that, what in the world was I going to write??

Well, by trade (I guess you could say) I am a behavior health therapist. I work mainly with adults, and I see some couples and even fewer children. My experience with Autism Spectrum Disorders is completely limited to what I learned in graduate school, which, quite frankly, is not a whole lot! Thankfully, there are therapists out there that do know more than me, and they choose to work with kids with developmental disorders. Those are some special people—both the kids and the therapists!

Now I could go through some of the statistics about Autism, but seeing as how this is the 18^th of April, and I’ve read the other posts before mine, I know you’ve already seen all of those. So I’ve decided just to share the quote that is on the embroidery I did, because it sums it all up in a nutshell if you ask me.

Don’t underestimate persons with Autism,

try to understand.

--Joell @ Red Van Ramblings

Understanding—that is what kids with Autism need. That is what their families need. They don’t need judgment or ugly looks when their child “misbehaves” or doesn’t “act right.” They don’t need criticism for not being “good parents.” They don’t need insincere pats on the back or empty platitudes. They need understanding, compassion, and caring. Hopefully Kim’s month-long Autism Awareness guest blogs will inspire us all to be more understanding and compassionate.

Now, without further ado, here is my contribution to Autism Awareness Month. 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

WIP Update

Well I FINALLY finished the seed stitch in the red puzzle piece! I really don't have any idea what came over me to want to do seed stitch in that large of an area. Anyway--it's done now! 

For the yellow piece, I decided to go with the detached fly stitch. It went very quickly! I'm pleased with how it came out. (please disregard the blue pen behind the yellow outline--it will wash out once I've finished everything)

 I'm not sure yet what stitch I'll use to fill the green piece. If any of you have any ideas, please feel free to pass them along in the comments section!

Thanks for stopping by!

Update!! I looked at the blank green piece for a bit and it came to me--diagonal running stitch! I'm only about 95% please with how it came out (my stitches are not uniform), but that 5% displeasure wasn't enough to make me pull the whole thing out *grin* Though I did pull a few stitches out here and there that were just absolutely wonky...

Nothing left but the back-stitching!

WIP--Autism Awareness

So I have this friend, Heather--the one I did the owl for (another preposition ending a sentence...I know...I can't believe I'm doing it again). We she has this friend who has a blog about her cookies (and other things). You can see it over at The Cookie Puzzle. Anyway, this friend of a friend is doing guest blog spots on her blog in April for Autism Awareness Month, and she asked if I would be interested in doing something crafty having to do with Autism Awareness. 

Well despite my line of work, I don't deal much or know much about Autism other than what I learned in graduate school 10+ years ago. So I decided I'd do it--do something crafty with an Autism Awareness theme, and hopefully learn a little more in the process.

So I decided I'd do an embroidery piece.  Here is a little look at what I've gotten done so far...

(Just an FYI--the seed stitch filling I'm using in the red puzzle piece is a PAIN IN THE REAR!! It takes FOR. EVER!)

And just a little aside here--I just saw that my little blog has had 1000 views!!  This is exciting as I don't post very much, and I only advertise my blog on FaceBook! My one year blogiversary is in a few days as well *grin*  Yay me!

Thanks for stopping by!

Dolphins galore...

Well, maybe not galore--but more than I normally see in a day's time *grin*

Coming up first today are the dolphins I saw on my last trip to Belize. That was almost a year ago! I really, really would like to go back...especially if I got to see these beauties again (and all the other lovelies I got to swim with--except for that one fish that pooped right in front of me--I don't care to see him again...)

And now for the other dolphin in my life. This one I made for my niece E. 

(The hedgehog from my last post went to niece R)

I just love these designs I've come up with! I know--I'm not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition, and if someone else had done that, my inner grammar nazi would be raging right now! Also, it may be a little iffy to toot my own horn by saying how much I love my own designs. Ha! Oh well! I can't help it. I do love them.

You can purchase the dolphin pattern at my Etsy shop: DesiBlue. I've also added a listing for my sunset-on-water embroidery--the completed item, not the pattern! So pop on over and check everything out.

On other news, I don't make New Year's Resolutions. But I do make some goals sometimes (not every year). This year one of my goals is to learn a new passage of scripture every month. I got this idea from Mandisa's blog (thanks!)

So January (and I know I'm late on posting about this) was 1 Corinthians 13 (NIV). So here goes--from memory!

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, 

I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,

and I have a faith that can move mountains, 

but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease; 

where there are tongues, they will be stilled;

where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 

For we see in part and we prophesy in part,

but when completeness comes, what is in part will disappear.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, 

I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; 

then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain:

faith, hope, and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

February: Ephesians 6: 10-20. Here's what I have committed to memory thus far...

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his might power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground, and when you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, and the breastplate of righteousness in place,

Not sure which verse I've ended with there. Not even completely positive I haven't left something out. I'm still learning it...so I'll have to go back and check in a bit, but I'm gonna go ahead and put it out there!

What were your goals for the new year?? I'd love to hear some of them! Leave me some comments!!

Thanks for stopping by! (also, I didn't proof read this before I posted it because I'm super tired and just ready to go to bed! So forgive any typos, unintentional grammar mistakes, etc)

Calavera-Style Hedgehog

Since I opened my Etsy shop, I've sold four of the owl patterns! I'm excited, even though that may not seem like a lot.

Now I've added another pattern for sale--a calavera-style hedgehog! I shared the WIP here the other day. Here's a sneak peek of the finished product...

You can check out my Etsy shop and find both patterns right here!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hedgehog WIP

So--I've had two sales in my Etsy shop since I listed the owl pattern!

I've been working on another pattern in the same Calavera style. But this time, it's a hedgehog. My little hedgehog is a chubby one. So chubby, in fact, that only his front legs are visible. He's quite the little pudge. *grin*

I'm working it up now so that I can photograph it to post on Etsy. Here's a picture of my progress thus far...

(Sorry for the poor quality of the picture--my camera died and I had to take the pic with my iPhone)

Stop by my Etsy shop if you haven't already, and help pass the word! You can get there from right here!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Etsy Shop...

...is now OPEN!!!

Finally, I have a listing in my Etsy shop. It's only been "open" since, oh, I think April of this year...and completely empty!

But, as promised, I now have a listing for the pattern of the Calavera Owl Embroidery I did for my friend Heather for Christmas.

Please check out my shop here. I hope to have another new embroidery pattern listed soon (hopefully within the next 3-4 days). I also plan on having some other items for purchase sometime in January. I'll keep you all updated here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Calavera Owl!

I am SO happy that I finally get to post about the calavera owl embroidery I made for my BFF Heather for Christmas!!! 

Heather loves owls. We both also like calavera (Day of the Dead skulls/sugar skulls). They are just so pretty to me--can't explain it.

So I decided to combine the two for Heather's Christmas gift! I hope that one day next week I can get the pattern together to put up on my Etsy site...when I do, I'll be sure to post the info here...

The finished product--framed in the embroidery hoop. There is a great tutorial from Polka and Bloom here. (I won't show you the back of mine--I didn't quite have the knack of it...nor did I use the hoop as a template for the backing...so it's not so pretty as it should be *grin*  But the tutorial is indeed awesome).

I used a split stitch to outline the owl, in red. There are some lazy daisy stitches, french knots, and of course old faithful--the back-stitch.

Close up of  le eye ball *grin* 

And a close up of le belly flower.

 

I really, really, really did want to keep this one for myself...so I guess one day I'll have to make one for my wall. Until then, I supposed I shall just have to admire the pictures I took of it.

 

Stay tuned for info on my Etsy shop. (I've yet to post anything for sale, and I've had it for, oh, about 8 months now?!?)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunset on the Water

So, I haven't posted anything since finishing the koi quilt. And yes, I know that's been two full months. I haven't worked on anything either, except a couple of Christmas gifts. One I can't show you yet because it's for my BFF who reads my blog (thank goodness somebody does!). The other is for my Secret Santa person at work. 

At work each year, we do Secret Santa. We have this questionnaire that we all fill out, and it includes some of the following questions: 

• What I most want for Christmas this year...
• My favorite color is...
• I collect...
• I can never have enough...

I always like to make at least one thing that involves one of the person's answers to the questionnaire. Like last year, I drew Kristen's name. She collects antique buttons, and her favorite color is red. So I knitted her a red cowl scarf that closed with antique mother-of-pearl buttons. You get the idea...(sadly I do not have a picture of it).

This year, I drew John's name. Blue is his favorite color. I thought about a scarf or something like that, but that seemed a little too personal. So I decided I'd embroider something. What, I had no idea.

Then, a tiny idea...

It started out just as some abstract blue thing.But as it turns out, I'm not so great at the abstract thing...it just doesn't translate from the picture in my head, through my hands, and onto whatever medium I'm using at the time. So I decided to make it into a sunset on the water.

I just kind of made it up as I went along...

And when I finished the sunset, I thought it still needed something. So I decided to add a few wispy clouds...

So, whaddya think??

I'm going to frame it. Hopefully John will enjoy it. He hasn't been with us very long, so maybe it can be added to his office somewhere to fill in some of the blank space on the walls *grin*

(If you are one of my coworkers reading this, you must keep this secret!) *wink*

Thanks for stopping by!!

I'm Stuck!! *pout*

Arrrrggggghhhhh!!!!  *pulling hair out*  I'm stuck!!  I've been out of commission for a few days because of inflammation in my back and the associated pain and total stiffness that comes along with said inflammation.

But tonight I finally picked up my quilt top again and started working on the koi's fins. I had what I thought was a wonderful idea. It hasn't turned out so wonderful outside of my brain. So now I have to rip out this embroidery, leaving what seems like GIANT holes in my fabric!! (maybe they won't be GIANT and maybe they'll fall out with some steam).

But for now, I'm completely discouraged :(

So it's back to the drawing board. I have some other ideas (well--one other idea)--maybe that will work better than this one did. I don't have a picture to show you, but let's just say that it looks like my fish has worms. Haha!!  Oh, well...

Ok. I'm finished complaining :)

I hope that your day has gone SO MUCH better than mine!

I'd love for you to check out my parents' website. They are directors of a boys' boarding and vocational school in Belmopan Belize.

The school is Global Outreach Belize Vo-Tech and I hope you'll stop by and look at what all the boys do there. They live at the school for three years, attend "regular" classes (i.e. math, Belizean studies, reading, etc) and learn a trade so that they can be productive members of Belize society. They also learn about God and how to be Christian men.

I'm lucky that I get to go visit my parents once a year (except for 2011). I can't wait to go back this year!! 

Thanks for stopping by!

I'm a Wreath Girl! (aka Spring Wreath Tutorial)

Today I'm sharing my first tutorial! 

I decided the other day that I needed a new wreath for my front door--I still had the red berry wreath up from Christmas, and although it is holiday neutral, I decided it was time for a change.

So this is what I came up with...a cheery, happy Spring Wreath!

Here is the list of materials you'll need to make this wreath:

• One wreath form--I chose a straw form at Hobby Lobby because it was cheaper, but you can use a foam form if you prefer
• Felt sheets in the colors of your choice--quantity will vary based on the size wreath form you use--my wreath is 14" diameter and I used 12 felt sheets total
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Complementary shade of grosgrain ribbon for the hanger--I used 1/2 yard
• Three complementary shades of worsted weight yarn for the roses
• Size G crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• 6 extra long straight pins (optional)
• Pinking shears or other decorative edge scissors

Take your felt sheets and cut them in strips about 3 inches wide and long enough to wrap around the wreath form. Using the hot glue gun, shoot a strip of hot glue across one end of the strip and, pulling the other end tight, overlap and secure it in place.

You can choose any pattern you'd like--I used purple, pink, green, pink, green then started over.

Once you get it all covered, it'll look like this:

You can see at the bottom of this picture, the last purple strip is completely on top of the other strips. This is where I chose to place my crocheted flowers.

The tutorial I followed for the crochet roses was from the pompom Emporium and is very easy. However, you can use any flower pattern you like.

Note: If you use the pompom Emporium's pattern, leave a long tail on the beginning and end of your crochet--longer than the 10" she instructs. That way, you have plenty of yarn with which to tie your rose to your wreath.

I made three roses, but you can use however many flowers you want--it's all up to you how flowery your wreath will be! (I like things in threes and other odd numbers)

Once you've completed each rose, use the long tails you left on each end to tie them to the wreath form. Once you've knotted the ends, cut off any excess yarn. (sorry I didn't take a picture of this step!)

To make the hanger, lap the ends of your ribbon over each other (once again, I neglected to take a picture of this step) and sew across the width of the ribbon--either by hand or machine. Then, using your hot glue again, attach the hanger to the back of your wreath. I used six extra long straight pins to reinforce the hanger--you just pin them right through your big blob of hot glue.

Once the hot glue on the hanger has sufficiently cooled (about 5 minutes does the trick) you're ready to hang up your Spring Wreath!

Voila!!

Easy peasy, right?? 

I hope you enjoyed my first tutorial. Hopefully there will be other ones in the future, and hopefully I'll remember to take a photo of each and every step!

(Update as of 3-16-12--> now seen on That's the Ticket Blog Hop!! Check it out! 3-18-12 check out Rusty and Redone KISS party too!)

WIP update

So I finally finished the embroidery on the fish! Well--on the body of the fish anyway. 

It took an entire skein of embroidery floss. So I'm off to the store today to buy another so I can complete the fins and tail. After that, all that will be left to embroider are the other two lily pads!

I'd love to hear from you, especially if you decide to make your own Spring Wreath--let me know how it turns out!

It's Hump Day!

Well--I did take a little break...I didn't work on anything Monday night :)  But then I just couldn't help myself and had to go back to it on Tuesday. (Monday night was devoted to watching The Walking Dead and Alcatraz) hehe :)

I worked on my polka dot squares a little and worked a little more on the embroidery on my quilt. I continued work on the "scales" of the koi...that's what it is, by the way, a koi pond. I don't think I've been that specific about it before! So here's a peek at the scales...

he has eyes too! :) 

I'm pleased with how the scales are coming along, but it's slow work. I'm using regular embroidery floss (DMC cotton, size 25) for the scales (two strands) and it's much easier on the fingers--smaller needle and not as much brute force required to get through the fabric. The eyes are also regular floss. The white stripe (I'm not sure of what that is actually called on a real koi) is DMC Pearl cotton, size 5 (as are the veins on the lily pad).

I'm not sure how I'll work the fins and tail yet. I'm thinking I'm going to have to look at many more pictures of real koi to see what might look the best. 

I can't wait to see what it looks like when I get all the embroidery finished! I have an idea of what I'll do for the backing, but I still have no idea about the binding. So if any quilters out there are reading this and have any ideas about a good binding--PLEASE leave a comment with your suggestion! I'd really appreciate it. I know I haven't posted a picture of the whole thing yet, but the blue is the entire background, and the only other colors are the orange of the koi and the green of the lily pad.

Even if you're not a quilter, I'd still love some comments and feedback! Let me hear from you!

She selects wool and flax 

and works with eager hands.

Proverbs 31:13 

Thunder, lightning, and lots of rain!

The Weekend

Well, my luck did in fact NOT hold out--there was much rain on Friday and through the night, so no soccer on Saturday. But, that was alright because I took my beautiful nieces, E and R, to see The Lorax. They were quite excited :)

R (5 yrs old) on the left, and E (7 yrs old--and a snaggle-tooth) on the right

I also used the weekend to continue working on my quilt. I completed all appliques and began the process of embroidering the details. So my fingers are now quite sore--both from the hand applique and the embroidery. I'm far from finished with the embroidery, so I think I'll take a few days' break and allow my fingers to recuperate!

Here's a peek at the embroidery...one lily pad, all done!

 A little bit of life

Were my Mamaw (my great-grandmother) still alive--she went home to be with Jesus in 2008 at the ripe old age of 93 and a half years--you could visit her little house and hear lots of interesting stories about all kinds of people from back in the day. You could also see the rocking chair in which she did most, if not all, of her crocheting and hand sewing. And if you turned that chair to look at the right-hand side, you'd see a veritable cornucopia of pins and needles. She would work on something, usually crocheting around the edges of wash cloths or hemming a pair of pants she'd bought, and then stick the pins and needles in the side of the chair. I can't remember a time when this wasn't the case.

I tell you all of that to show you this...

my "pin cushion"

Yes--there is no doubt about it--I am my Mamaw! :)  At least when it comes to sticking my pins in the furniture. Granted, my pins and needles do eventually make it back to their proper resting place, but I still had to laugh at myself when I realized what gets passed down from generation to generation. 

I think Mamaw would be pleased to know that I'm still quilting (from time to time) and crocheting, since she is the one who taught me both.

Some new goodies!

I got two new goodies to help me with my craftiness! And BOTH were 40% off!!! I LOVE getting things on sale, don't you?!?

While trying to iron the 3/16" seam allowance on my first lily pad the other night, I just about burned my hand off. All I had at that time was my regular Rowenta iron--a big hunk of a thing that is not very conducive to ironing 3/16" seam allowances! Then I ran across this wonderful little thing on someone's quilting blog--a mini iron. Now, I don't know what this says about me, but I had no idea that such a thing existed! I had to have one!

So after work Friday, I braved the rain (well, the sprinkling at that time) and went to Hobby Lobby and found this lovely little Clover Mini Iron! And since I had a 40% off coupon, I left Hobby Lobby very happy! :)

clover mini iron

I then went over to Michael's, for which I also had a 40% off coupon, to look for a craft light. Imagine my delight when I found that ALL of the OttLites were already marked down by 40%!! (I have a lot of !! in this post...) So now I can iron teeny tiny seam allowances and actually SEE what I'm doing while stabbing myself in the fingers with sharp little needles. *grin*

new OttLite!! (just ignore the messy side table)

Last, but not least...

I would like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!! to my Daddy. Today is his birthday, but I won't tell how old he is--just in case he's sensitive about that kind of stuff :)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, 

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11