Heaven and Earth Designs

Another counted cross stitch piece by Heaven and Earth Designs.  This one is Enchanted Manor 5, artwork by Josephine Wall. 

This piece is done on 18 count Aida fabric.  It is comprised of 51,245 stitches with 90 different thread colors.  

I started this one July 2013 and completed February 2014.

Finished size:  10" by 15.5".

Biscornu and Scissor Fob 2......

I'm going through my fabric scrap stash, trying to deplete some of the larger and smaller pieces.  I also have quite a few counted cross stitch pieces that were completed several years ago and I never incorporated these into a finished product.  So I am having fun in the studio just doodling with the sewing machine, playing with beads, crystals and fuzzy yarns.

I'm really liking the biscornu pincushions.  Here is another set I made with scissor fob and case.  The machine embroidery designs are from Monica's Miscellany.  I don't think these designs are available anymore.  The website is no longer in existence. 

This is a counted cross stitch piece I finished several years ago.  Didn't quite know what I wanted to do with it so today it became a hanging sachet.  Could also be used as an aromatic pincushion!!  The butterfly and dragonfly embellishments are designs from Sonia Showalter.

Here is my funky, fuzzy scissor fob.  The material is a cotton blend that didn't have a lot of flexibility and I ended up with puckers in the seams.  The embroidery design is another one from Monica's Miscellany.  

And another counted cross stitch sachet or scented pin keep.

 Have a few more things pieced out....so back to the machines.


Blessings to all who happen to be reading.

Jan

Crochet Pin Cushion

Here is a little crochet pincushion with a machine embroidery dragonfly, ribbon flowers and a sprinkling of beads.  Dragonfly by Sonia Showalter Designs.

For something a little extra special, I added lavender buds for a soothing aroma while sewing. 

Blessings,
Jan

Biscornu and Scissor Fob

A Biscornu Scissor Fob to go along with my Biscornu Pincushion.  Designs are from Artistic Designs available at the Oregon Patchworks Mall.  The dragonfly design is by Sonia Showalter Designs.

A New Year and New Beginnings

Welcome 2014!!  And, Happy New Year to all who venture here.  

Last year we decided to have a craft studio house addition built.  Everything started out smoothly but what should have been completed by the end of three months turned into a six month adventure.  We finally finished the addition at the start of the New Year.  I am more than delighted to have a large craft studio where all my tools and materials are in view.  The addition actually has two rooms.  One for me and one for my husband, where he will be setting up his laser engraving projects.

November and December we were busy with holiday preparations and family gatherings, moving into my new space, cleaning out the old stuff and preparing for the new projects, so I really did not have anything newsworthy to post. 

So, in this first post of the new year, I would like to share pictures of this new craft studio with some before and after photos. 

My old craft space was a 9' x 12' extra bedroom in the main house.

In addition to the crafts, I also had a small office space.

And a closet full of supplies. 

We have a small house on the property (our original house before we built the new one), where I also stored my fabric and a short-arm quilting set-up. 

...........................DRUM ROLL, PLEASE................................

I can enter my studio from the garage side of the house.  At the time this picture was taken I did not have my thread cabinet, which is now against the wall behind my embroidery machine.

Plenty of light with two windows.  I still need to make some nice curtains, or buy window shades, but for now I am enjoying all the sunlight.

In the center of the room I have a fabric cutting table with plenty of storage underneath and pegboard on both sides where I can hang supplies.  In the corner (out of view) is my little office space and against the wall is my short-arm quilting set-up.

On the opposite wall are cabinets for more supplies, beading and paper crafts, material storage.  As you can see, most of my furnishings can be rolled to open up a little more space if needed.   I now have a very spacious 18' x 18' work studio. 

And, here is my thread cabinet in place.

Ta Da!!!   Just look at this color and storage.  Now I don't have to dig through bins and tangled threads.

A little closer view of my fabric cutting table.

A view from the other side.

My work table with drawers on either side, the fabric cutting and storage table, and the thread cabinet were custom made by Top Shelf Woodwork, in Sutter Creek, California.   I like the clean style and quality workmanship.  Here is the link to their Facebook page:  Top Shelf Woodwork.


Now that I have a nice room, I decided to make something pretty for myself. During my purge as I moved into my new space, I threw out pincushions that were over 40 years old and a little more than thread bare. Here is a Biscornu I made to get the creative grey matter working.

Embroidery design is from Artistic Designs available through Oregon Patchworks Mall.  My husband did the plaque in the background as a practice piece with his laser machine.

Now I have lots of wall space where I can showcase some of my projects as they are completed.  

With a new year comes new goals and projects.  

Winter Drapery

We are having a late start to our watery winter weather this year (at least I hope it will be wetter than the last couple years).  Last night we had our first winter storm from this arctic blast coming down from Canada.  The snow is not water laden as in past years, but there is still moisture, and I am thankful for that. We received about a 9 inch snowfall from this first storm.

At our elevation in the Sierra Nevada foothills we usually don't accumulate snow throughout the winter months.  Maybe we will get three to four snowfalls from a few inches or into the teens, then mostly rain.  The snow that falls usually sticks around for a couple weeks then it is gone.

These weather changes offer a wonderful diversion to the dry, brown drabbieness from our Mediterranean climate offerings in the summer and fall months. Each year I try to capture some of the peaceful beauty through snapshots.  The trees are especially pretty draped in winter snow.

I know there are many beautiful, more magnificent places on this earth, but this home is my little piece of heaven.

I wish our grandchildren could be up here.  I know they would be enjoying the snow. 

A Bay Oak draped in snow.  This oak does not lose its leaves in the winter.

A beautiful Sierra Redwood wearing her winter finery.  I think she would look stunning with a drapery of  twinkling lights. 

A winter yard scene.

Another winter yard scene

And, another of our yard scenes.

 Happy day to all who have ventured to this page.

Jan

Wine Glass Charms and new Earrings

WINE GLASS CHARMS

Wine glass charms are new additions to my inventory.  I started with a couple holiday themes with machine embroidered free standing lace designs. 

These little holiday stocking designs are digitized by Criswell Embroidery. 

Another beaded version of the holiday stocking charms.

These free standing lace designs are from Sonia Showalter Designs earring collection.

Another beaded version of the charms.

EARRINGS

The wine glass charm designs are also in my novelty earring products.

These designs are from Sonia Showalter Designs

These earring designs are digitized by Murphy's Designs.  They are part of her tatted design collections.

And here are the little stocking charms by Criswell Embroidery made into earrings.

I wanted to add some beads and chose these cute little stars from Criswell Embroidery as my first endeavor.

No beads on these little novelty tree charm designs from Criswell Embroidery.  But I did add some rhinestones and a little glitter for holiday embellishment.

I am still playing with the key chain charms, trying to come up with something cute.  Hope you are enjoying all your holiday preparations.

Jan