October Wrap-Up

First, let me say, I'm not old.  I refuse to be.  I'm just pre-maturely...mature.  With that said, Can you believe tomorrow is NOVEMBER 1!!!  Geez Louise!  October just evaporated.  With exception to the little road trip hubby and I took over Columbus Day, all the stitching has been for party favors, so I don't have much that I can show you.  But first...

These aren't the best photos in the world, but I love to see how beautiful the birds wings are in flight.  Reminds me of fractal art. 

And why I love their little bird feet is a total mystery to me, but I do.

I didn't intend to capture these guys in flight, but I was using the 'Running Man' setting on the camera (for fast action).  It takes a series of shots, rapid-fire style, when you press the button (a.k.a. the big button, the Go button, the picture takin' button, whatever..).  Are you impressed with all this technical jargon I've learned? 

The sun was illuminating these mums yesterday and they seemed to be glowing.  When we turn the clocks back later this week (boo-hiss!), I will feel sun-deprived almost immediately.  So, I really tried to enjoy as much sunshine as I could this weekend.

And what, pray tell, did I stitch on this month, other than party favors?

Meet VooDoo Bob

design exclusive by:  Haberdashery Designs

Yes - You guessed it - He's a pin cushion!  He tickled my funny bone from the minute I saw him.  He'll be finished as a stand-up doll.  I can't wait to finish him but I'm sure it will be January.  It might look strange for me to work on him during the holidays, with all the family visiting.  They might start getting ideas about me.  We might as well keep my crazy between us chickens.   Right?  

:-D

 

new at the feeder this week

Don't know where these guys have been eating all summer, but they just showed up in force at the feeding bowl this week.  I don't think I've ever seen them before.  At first glimpse, I thought they were grey cardinals.

This chap and his cronies are eating me out of house and home!

Haunted Pumpkin Cottage

Gooseberry Patch Haunted Cottage

Nutty Bar Cottage features candy corn Rose Window

freshly dug graves with fig newton and nutter butter tombstones

Sponsor Dino

Are you a dog lover? 

You know I am.  I am also guilt ridden about not personally helping each and every stray I see trotting down the alleys, highways and biways.  That's why when I see and hear stories like the story of Dino, I gladly go for my wallet.  I might not be able to provide a warm, loving home and full belly to all the homeless animals I encounter, but I can certainly make modest but meaningful donations to causes like Dino.

click HERE for the Rescue Dino website

I warn you - don't read Dino's story if you aren't in a position to help.  It will break your heart. 

Welcome...

...to the Mouse Hotel

I hosted a week long Fall Festival for the folks at work this past week.  On Thursday, we decorated pumpkins.

complete with rubber mice and shredded paper 'rat's nest'

Courtesy of Martha Stewart. 

Gotta love Martha. 

Halloween Freakazoid.

My annual pumpkin carving co-worker is also a Halloween Freakazoid.  The instant I told her what I'd seen on Martha's website, it was settled.  We were making a Mouse Hotel for this year's pumpkin decorating contest.  It looks incredibly creepy in real life.  Perched on a black cake stand and nestled in a shredded paper rat's nest, it is totally Addams Family.  

And, oh yeah, we sooooooo won the contest.

We have a WINNER!

Thank you all for expressing interest in my little vampire stitching case!   

I'm sure Count Stitchalot will enjoy life in...

Australia!  with Anne!  from Feather Stitching!

Congrats Anne!

And thanks again to everyone who takes the time to pop in here and leave me a comment.  I do love them all!!!

Happy Weekend Friends

All thru the house...

If my name was Rockefeller, I'm sure I would have a set of dishes to match every season, pre-season, post-season, holiday, moon phase, and mood.  Yes.  Dishes and salt shakers.  Gots to have the salt shakers.

Seeing how fall is my absolute favorite season, I don't know how I've scraped by for so many years with such a woeful lack of autumnal tableware.  Imagine my glee when I walked into Pier 1 (for a candle, mind you) and found the most perfectly perfect paprika hued luncheon plates and golden yellow leaf-shaped salad bowls:

fresh from their shipping crates.

I could not believe my luck!  On the very night I needed a $5 candle, Pier 1 was putting out all their new, gorgeous fall tableware!!!  Seriously!  That kind of thing never happens to me.  I am pretty sure my "Happy Dance" looked more like the "Not an Earthworm" dance that has only been seen once, years ago, when I found a baby snake in the basement.  O yes.  It was something to behold.

Did I mention that these dishes perfectly matched my (precious few) existing fall-ware pieces?

I would say I'm tickled pink, but maybe tickled paprika would be more appropriate.

But wait!  There's more!

At this year's WV Pumpkin Festival, guess what I found!

Blenko Glass pumpkin

Perfectly perfect little artisan glass pumpkins - which fit perfectly in the golden yellow leaf-shaped salad bowls.

OMG.

I think I can die happy now.

Right after I change my name to Rockefeller...

Online Needlework Show

As if you haven't heard...

As if you need a reminder..

The Online Needlework Show begins TOMORROW

Check it out!!!

Pumpkin Hollow & the Real Pumpkin House

Have you seen this extreme cuteness new from LHN?

Love Love LOVE it!

But, have you ever seen the REAL Pumpkin House?

For more about our favorite Fall local spectacle, google Pumpkin House, WV.

Tis the season to be carvin'...

Columbus Day Weekend

Camera practice down the Blue Ridge Parkway:



Natural Bridge, Virginia



Hope you had an awe inspired weekend too.

GOT NUTS?

Hey there!

Whatcha been doing?

Me?  Nuttin' honey..

I like BIG NUTS and I cannot lie.

You other brothers can't deny..

I love...

love...

LOVE me some acorn caps.

Hubby says if I pick up another single nut cap,

he's going to have me committed...

to the Nut Hut.

A long time ago, I had a friend who asked her mom what a "menage a trois" was.  The mom, without missing a beat, told her that it was a fancy French dessert.  I really think she thought so, but nevertheless... 

Years later, my friend and I were catching up over dinner, at a fancy French restaurant.  When the waiter asked what we'd like to try for dessert, my friend, without missing a beat, looks the waiter straight in the face and says, "I'd like to try a menage a trois". 

I nearly choked to death. 

So did the waiter.

Wonder what my friend would call this?

A sextet?

I'm a little acorn, round

Lying on the cold, cold ground

Everybody steps on me

That is why I'm cracked you see.

I'm a nut (clap clap)

I'm a nut (clap clap)

I'm a nut

I'm a nut

I'm a nut (clap clap)

Yes. I know.  My crazy is showing again..

Halloween/Bite Me Giveaway

My stitching/finishing mojo is still going strong, or you could say kicking butt and taking names!  Awhile back I saw a vampire etui and thought it would be adorable for Halloween or for a Twilight fan.  Recently, I began looking for it on the internet but found nothing.  The more I searched and thought about it, the more I thought, "How hard could it be to just make one?" 

Famous last words.

It would be one thing if I was a huge Halloween or Twilight fan, but I'm more of a Fall fan than a Halloween fan.  So, all you Edward fans out there, here's your chance:

case closes with ribbon closure

click pic for a better look

If you'd like a chance to win this Vampire etui complete with blood red scissors tassel and Vampire Pez, leave me a comment on this post.  If you'd like two chances, comment now and let me know you've re-posted on your blog or website. 

I'll draw a winner on Saturday, Oct 23rd in order to ship in time for Halloween.  There could even be a few more pieces to the set by then!  It feels like it needs a biscornu pincushion/pillow and a "Team Edward"  (thank you Plum Street Samplers!) needlebook.  Yes?

Have a great week friends!