Stitching And A Movie: Devils' Knot

I have watched this and 2 documentaries. I'll let you know about the documentaries another time.
I finished my mini quilt and put some time into All dogs go to heaven.

Devils' Knot:

Stitchability *****

That isn't necessarily a good thing.
I won't rehash the details of the crime, there is plenty of information available out there. I was really looking forward to seeing this but:
This was a boring movie, so a high stitchability rate. It would seem impossible to make a boring movie about the crime of murdering 3 small boys, a satanic cult scare and 3 teenage boys being accused of the crime, but somehow it was done
This happened just across the river in West Memphis, so there has always been a lot of interest in this crime locally. The scenery was really good in the movie, in fact the whole movie was beautiful.
Reese Witherspoon did a great job as the mother of one of the murdered children. She even managed to nail the accent. Colin Firth was believable as well, as an investigator working pro-bono for the West Memphis Three, as the accused boys became known.
 Overall, no new ground is covered here. The movie totally failed to capture the drama, the intensity or the atmosphere of the time and events. James Hamrick was never able to quite capture the quiet intensity of the real life Damien Echols.
I can't recommend it unless you are interested in the case and/or have some time to stitch and just want something to listen to as you stitch.
All Dogs Go To Heaven Before:

And after:

I've done a few more stitches on it since then.

My picture of the Irish Chain cross stitch won't load for some reason. I'll try again later or take another picture.

Until then, Happy Stitching!

Stitching and a Movie: Abondoned Mine

Yep, I actually managed to squeeze it in.
I chose a movie on Netflix and sat down with Mini Cheshire Cat.
I'd actually kitted it up over a year ago and started it with only a few stitches on April 3. Of 2013! I never got back to it and decided it needed some love.
I'm glad I picked a black and white project. It sort of went with the movie.
I'm rating the movie by the stitchability factor.

 Abandoned Mine.

 A bunch of teens/young adults get together for Halloween and decide to spend Halloween night at an abandoned mine that is supposed to be haunted.
What could possibly go wrong?
Don't teenagers watch horror movies? You'd think they would know better!
This movie wasn't good, but it wasn't bad either.
On the down side it was a little too dark in places to see the action. Otherwise it had all of the usual  horror movie ingredients, but without nudity or gratuitous sex scenes. So thumbs up for being able to watch it with your family. There was a little suspense and one gross scene. The Indian character provides some mild comic relief, though sometimes you just feel like he is being harassed. The ending wasn't exactly surprising but it wasn't one of those that leave you asking "Did I miss something?" either, which seems to be a trend lately.

Stitchability factor is ***1/2. If not for the dark scenes and having to look up occasionally it would be higher.
Here is the progress on Mini Cheshire Cat.

Until next time Happy Stitching!
Karen

And Then There Was Stitching!

Lately I've felt as though I will never have time to stitch. When I do it feels like I'm sneaking it in around all the other busy stuff going on.
I decided to work on some small stuff in only one or two colors, thinking I could at least feel as if I've accomplished something.
I began with a cross pattern I'd down loaded from Amazon.com last year. It was only 99 cents. One color and sort of pretty. I picked up my fabric and started stitching. Then I realized that the darn thing wasn't symmetrical. I put it down. I picked it up again two weeks later but it was still getting on my nerves, so I put it down again.
Here is a picture of what I did manage.

This would be the bottom part of the cross. I will pick it back up at some point but the asymmetry jangles my nerves.

So, I picked out a bit of fabric and pulled out some spare floss and started one of the cross stitch quilts from a little book I've had for years. They would look really cute in my sewing corner. After a bit of time, 5 minutes here and there, it is coming along great. I chose the Irish Chain. I hadn't intended to use Christmas colors, it just worked out that way and I love it. I may have to break down and make an actual quilt like this.

 My lack of stitching and crafting time has really been getting on my nerves so I decided that each week I would treat myself to sitting down with a movie and stitching. I'm going to try to make that a feature on the blog as well. I'll share whatever I'm stitching and let you know what movie I watched. Be warned that I love horror movies. My DH Jason will also have a pick at movies so don't be surprised if there are zombies in my future.

I made most of the rest of my 9 patch blocks but forgot to take a picture. I also forgot that I'd told someone I would send them the magazine with the chart for the Blue and White Sampler . I'll have to pick up an envelope and try to squeeze up enough time to actually get to the post office. I hate that guilty feeling when I say I'll do something and forget, and I hate disappointing someone to.

The other thing I've done that made me super happy was buying a little stand for some of my sewing supplies. I stuck it in the closet by my sewing area. It looks fab and I love it.

We went back today, my only day off, to buy another but Home Depot was sold out. Boo. They were really reasonable so I'll check back if I don't forget.
Oh, and see that tea cup pin cushion? That was the other project I did this month. It was so fast and easy. I love it. I needed a bigger one for when I'm piecing.
Closer up.

Isn't it sweet?
It is amazing what you can fit into 5, 10 or 15 minutes when you set your mind to it.
One last thing. A quick trip by Goodwill to look for a sewing machine table for Moma Linda (still no luck) and I picked up this glass vase. I've been aching to start a terrarium. I need to collect other plants for it but here it is so far.

Yeah, I'm afraid that floppy one is not going to make it, and one of the plants doesn't show up in this picture, but you get the idea. The picture doesn't show it but the vase is tapered at the top. Sigh, I'll take a better picture when I remember.

Happy stitching until next time everyone.

Crazy Life with Stitching and Crafting.

After one of the most trying weeks ever I have the pleasure of sitting down and sharing fun stuff with you.

In stitching I've pulled out Mini Soul Mates. I managed to finish another row and make a start on the next.

I've also made a few 9 patch blocks to satisfy the quilting urge for a moment.

And I've been cutting strips from left over fabric and from old clothes. The plan is to make a strippy quilt on the treadle. Or maybe two. I want to get really comfortable with her. She may look like a tank but I've named her Fairy Bell. I was sewing with her on a warm spring evening and she sewed like a dream, light and smooth.

Here are some strips.

I went to Goodwill to look for a cheapy box for them but they were basically higher than a new one at a big box store. I did find a picture frame there and tried my hand at framing a piece of stitching. Not the greatest, I've no talent for that, but it is okay.

What do you think?

The colors go really well at least. I'm determined to find frames for, or otherwise finish more of my finished projects.

And lastly, in the right of this picture, the baskets I found at the dollar store to hold the strips by color. I love me some dollar store. Well, one of them. I got 4 to start with so I could separate them by color group.

Life has become extremely hectic and unpredictable. There is a lot going on, so I'm not sure how often I'll be posting for the next little while. More, less, the same. I'm sure I'll be crafting at something though since that is what relaxes me and helps ground and center me.

Until next time Happy Stitching Neighbors and Friends.

Finish!

I have to do a really quick blog post.
I finally finished the Blue and White Sampler!
I put the last few stitches in yesterday evening. Not feeling my best today so I'll just post a pic.

I'm not sure what I will pick up next but it will probably be this weekend before I do any stitching.
So pleased to have a second finish.

Happy Stitching everyone!
Karen

Stitching Finish, A 7 minute Clothespin Bag, and Dogs! And Yay! Happy Easter!

I can't believe it has been more than two weeks since my last post!
Over the top busy lately but I've managed a bit of stitching and crafting.
First up is Blue and White Sampler. I ran out of one color of blue. I had forgotten I'd lost a skein when my husband was in the hospital. I want to finish this up so I can send the magazine on to someone else interested in it so began working on it again today now that I have that color again.

Sorry, but I took the pic in a hurry. It is so ready to be finished and have a nice bath.

And Yay me! A finish. The F word we can use but don't get to use too often.
Here is Nativity in black, 2 strands on 14ct.
Last time:

And all finished.

I worked on it while I was waiting for the floss on the Blue and White Sampler and was able to complete it.
It is all wrinkly and in desperate need of a bath after it had an accident with an office chair wheel and got dragged across the floor. But it is finished!
Now, if I were to do it again I'd use 3 strands, but hindsight is 20/20 as they say.

My 7 minute clothespin bag. Warning, not pretty, and your dog may think it is a new toy.

I took an old T-shirt and put it on a plastic hanger. Folded it up from hem to almost but not quite shoulders and sewed 3 seams in it. one on each side and one down the middle so it would make two pockets. Just used what thread was already in the machine. It was literally thought up, sewn and placed on the line in under 7 minutes. Nothing fancy, but as you can see I was using a plastic bag since the old holder fell apart so it was much needed.
Another pic with clothes pins in it:

Makes me feel all thrifty!

It rained quite a few times last week. Please see the (used to be) white door to our living room.
 And one of the demons sweet pets responsible.

"This is not the droid you are looking for...."
I think she has gone to the darkside.

Life has been busy, and a bit nervewracking at times recently.
I can't leave without showing you the beautiful gift someone sent to cheer me up.

Iron Dragon from Heaven and Earth Designs.
It is available here, and they are having a holiday sale right now if you are interested. They have some fabulous charts and many can be seen stitched up if you got the site and click on Gallery on the left side of the screen and then click the link. They have some marvelous pictures there.
I've wanted this one since I saw it being stitched. Trust me, it is even more beautiful stitched up.

I was going to include a little bit about quilting but I think I will wait until I have something more to show.

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you all get some stitching in.

Excruciatingly Frustrating To Have a New Crafty Toy and Not Have Time To Play!

My inner crafting geek has been set loose to roam freely.
Or it would be if I could find the time to do things!
Why must work and chores and all the rest of it be so time consuming? lol
My husband took full part in this one.

I've always wanted to try sewing on a treadle and getting Momma Linda up and running got me to thinking about it. I love the whole idea of a people powered machine. I love the idea of making a quilt on one. I love the whole machine quilting thing and I'm determined to learn to do it.
But I never dreamed I could have a treadle, or at least not without ages of saving and having to drive goodness knows where to get one. And even then, I was pretty sure if I found one it would be in bad shape and need tons of work. Not so! Or should I say not sew?
Behold my new baby.

(Ignore the duct taped wall. Don't ask. lol)
Fully serviced and running smoothly. The White sewing machine is obviously not original to the Singer treadle, it was made in the the 70's to be either a treadle or a motor driven machine and this is the treadle version. I suppose one of those cool looking antique sewing machine heads would have been nice but this one was not only reasonable it has a zigzag, essential for machine applique.

But boo, I've had very little time to play with it. Learning to treadle takes time, and leg muscles, neither of which I apparently have! But it is soooo much fun!

She came home with me on Tuesday and got played with a little bit. I went to work and next day woke up so dizzy I couldn't even walk around for hours. This is not unheard of for me. It is a sinus thing and happens a couple of times a year. But this was a bad one. By evening I was able to sit in a chair and yay, go to work. lol. Figures.
Thursday was similar, but I played a little anyway. Same with Friday, when I got off of work at 2 in the morning the first thing I did was play with it again.

On the stitching front I have only stitched on the blue and white 1 time for no more than 30 to 45 minutes. Shame :(  Yes, there were other times I chose to do other things, but between short time and in truth, missing a confetti filled project I've put it off and found other things to do.
I've laundry all day today but will hopefully fit time for a bit of treadle practice and a bit of stitching both in between hanging out clothes.

Until next time
Happy stitching my friends.