Snowmageddon 2015

I feel like a cry baby when it comes to nasty weather since I see folks who have it so much worse on the evening news every night, but... today makes Day 5 that hubby and I have been snowed in.  Thank goodness I bought extra supplies at the grocery before it hit.  I normally think the warnings are excessive and consequently tend not to stock up like it's the end of the world.  Glad I did this time.  Thankfully, we have several more days worth of real food before I have to make shoelace soup.

With record low temps and snow deeper than the top of my boots, I'm staying put for yet another day...

And, even though I thought I had updated everything yesterday, I found a few things I forgot to share:

Fresh finish from last night.. seasonal freebie (so hard to resist, aren't they?) 

My new favorite scissors sheath, on the right:

The tin topper and scissors fob were completed by me eleven years ago (much to my dismay).  It is hard to believe it has been that long.  I always thought they needed a third piece to complete the set.  Two things hardly constitute a set, right?  But, the chart was only for the tin topper and fob.  So, a few weeks ago while browsing at the Stitch Niche in Lexington, I saw the ultrasuede scissors sheath (with plain white 18 ct. monocanvas insert).  The color of the suede immediately reminded me of my little bargello set.  I adapted the pattern to fit the sheath, and I'm totally pleased with the outcome.   Now it looks like a "set", yes? 

Speaking of sets... once upon a time, I bought this Fern Ridge "shear hospitality" felt pineapple kit.  Nearing the end of the blanket stitching around the fronds, I ran out of thread.  So with a good amount of mumbling, it was tucked away, out of sight... for years... Truthfully, I'm making an effort to finish a few UFOs from "way back", and this little guy was so close to being finished, it was one of my first UFO finishes of the year.

File this under "Just for Fun":

Pumpkin pinkeep

tiny felt ball mounted on oversized wooden button

And lastly, I'm just remembering to share the final finished pics of the Blackwork Band 
Sampler class I facilitated for my EGA chapter last fall.  Because I love color so much, it is hard for me to stick to black thread only for blackwork.  The design itself inspired the colors I selected.   Because I'm running out of wall space, I finished mine as a combination teabag/marking pin wallet.  This band sampler is part of the Petite Projects series from the Embroiderers' Guild of America which provides members with free small educational projects in varied techniques.  The cutwork nametag I shared yesterday is also an EGA Petite Project.  If memory serves me, I've completed four of the petite projects and am always glad I did.  You can learn a lot about a new-to-you technique in even a small project.

Blackwork Band Sampler

by Julie Fera

for The Embroiderers' Guild of America

And that's a wrap for this frigid Thursday friends.  Until next time, Stitch Happy!

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'...

Pumpkins Pumpkins EVERYWHERE

Can you hear Bubba (of Forrest Gump fame) now.....

"...they got little pumpkins, big pumpkins, white pumpkins, pumpkins for carvin', ugly pumpkins, pretty pumpkins...

...pumpkin pies, prize pumpkins, funny pumpkins, pumpkin dumplings...

...pumpkin bread, pumpkin fudge, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin butter......"  and yes friends, I enjoyed it all at the WV Pumpkin Festival today.  Sorry no, I didn't see any pumpkin etouffee but maybe next year (kidding!)  Wondering what one eats for lunch at a pumpkin festival?  Greek gyros, of course (hee hee).

Hubby tagged along this year and seemed to have fun too!   At the very least, I know he enjoyed the tractors on display:

Since I did so well in July at the WV Arts and Crafts Fair, I didn't shop the arts and crafts as hard as I would normally.  Not counting the fudge and pints of apple butter and pumpkin butter, it was a pretty light haul:

A couple of lampwork beads, a bundle of lavender sachets, some swan greeting cards, and a red pottery bowl and cup.  I also brought home a Longaberger deviled egg platter that somehow didn't make the photo. 

And in the spirit of Pumpkin Love, I'll leave you with a little pumpkin stitching: 

I'd invite you to click on the photo for a closer look, but I'm afraid you'd laugh your hiney off at my first and last attempt at making a pillow.  Yes, that "thing" in the lower right is supposed to be a mini-pillow.  Oh well.   It might be a little wonky, but I still love it.  The pattern was a Sekas freebie (I think) and it was my first foray with Caron Watercolours which launched a love affair that still burns bright today.

Well friends, that's all the news that is fit to print.  I'm off to clean out the SUV, catch up the laundry, bathe the dog and all the other "must do's" that will keep me from stitching today.

Hope you all are enjoying a gorgeous weekend wherever you are!