Time for some pictures!

Look at Scarlett working her little fingers to the bone while Connie and Rosanna mess around.

And she gotta have her drink right there, so that nothing will keep her from completing her 26 sequins. 

Here's she's separating her thread, and keeping it from getting tangled.

(Connie is helping - why didn't I get her face in there too?  Bad photographer!)

I don't have too many of Violet, but this one is so cute it makes up for it.

And here's what is happening with mine. 

I was worried about doing the face - but once I got started it was easy.

Linda

Second picture done on tablecloth

Here is the second picture I have done on the tablecloth. If you look very closely, you can see the purple flowers on the word HOME. Not sure when my third one will get finished as we are now traveling.

Finished the first part of the Tablecloth

Here is the completed first part of the tablecloth.  This is getting finished much faster than I expected.  Good thing I have another tablecloth to work on after this.

Here is what I am working on now

No more sequins for me.  At least, not for awhile.  I would really like to see how the other stockings are coming along though.  Here is my current project.  It is a tablecloth just for the RV.  This is the planning stage.  What do I want on, and where to put it.

 

This is what I actually ironed on to embroider.

 

 

And here is what I have embroidered so far.



I will add more pictures as I get more done. 

 

Happy Sewing!!!



I have completed my stocking!!! Do I win a prize?

I know, that is just plain cruel.  I have way more time than anyone else.   I will say, I did add my name to the top of the stocking. The directions called for me to put my name on the back of one of the pine cones hanging from the top. I didn't like that, so changed it. Also, this is the first stocking kit that I have completed that had omissions in the directions and downright errors. I would not recommend this kit for a first time project. I still had a lot of fun putting it together.  So ... here is my completed stocking.

 

 Now I can go onto my next project. I have a couple of small pictures to do (about 4" x 4") that I want to put magnets on the back. I also have two tablecloths that I want to embroider. I bought two different pattern books for my tablecloths. 

 

I will be checking on the rest of you to see how your stockings are coming along.



LOOK!!! I'm almost finished! PLUS - Scarlett's stocking!

Here is my stocking as of today - Thursday, May 2.  I still need to add some more pine cones and the back to have it completed.

And here is how Miss Scarlett is doing.  Good job Scarlett! 

Good Job

Everyone is doing such a wonderful job on their stockings!!  Except me.  I have been very busy and travelled about 2200 miles this month.  I'm also leaving this weekend.  Next month I will travel over 6000 miles.  I will still try to find time to be Attacked by Sequins.

I remember the butterfly tablecloth and happy to see it again!  We should use it for a family dinner.

Women Working

Working....

And having FUN doing it!

My Snowman Has Arms and Hands Now

Decided to post how my stocking is looking now.  Sure has been fun helping the kids out too!

I have no idea how many sequins I have sewn on now.  Sure has been a lot.  Definately have been "attacked by the sequins".  They have flipped out of the bag and have been hiding in the chair, on the floor, etc.  Caught one last night on the floor.  They can't escape me!!!!!

Stitching, Let's Making Some Memories!

We've been working on the stocking.  (I think this blog will have that sentence quite a few times before we finish!  LOL) 

Rosanna - always the camera person - got us to get a group photo.

(Thanks for being Mr Photographer Mark! We'll pretend we don't notice your finger in the photo.)

US - April 2013

See the TV in the photo - the people on TV are holding up a sign that says "Men Working". Is that funny?

LOOK!  LOOK!  Even Rosanna was working on one!  

Stitch a letter - eat a banana. Way to Go Vi!

The best part of stitching together are the memories (even it they are over the internet.)

Remember this?

Linda

The Snowman Has a Head Now - with, of course, more SEQUINS!!!

My Snowman has his head on now with his hat.  I am not halfway through yet.  Hard to believe, I know; but it's the truth.  According to the directions, I still have a lot left to do.

Here is Miss Scarlett working on her stocking.

 

Scarlett's Stocking

This is my very first stocking.  I have never done embroidery before.  Scarlett

Look How Far I have Gotten

This looks like I have done a lot, but I am not quite a third of the way.  The snowman just looks like I am further along because he is so big.  He was definately "Attack of the sequins".  As you can see, he is not even finished yet.

To create a post and upload a picture

Rosanna was just telling me today at lunch at she didn't know how to post and at the same time I was opening our blog and reading that Cindy was trying to upload a picture.

To Post:
Upper right hand corner - all the way at the top, click on NEW POST.  You may have to sign in first.

That will take you directly to the post screen.  You can title it or not.  And then when you are finished click the orange button that says Publish   (at the top right hand corner).  Or you can save and come back later to finish it.

Easy right?

To Upload a Picture:

First save a picture to your computer - and then hit the button that is a "picture" in the bar above.  (It's between the Link button and the Movie button.)

Once that screen opens - you can type the name of your photo or search by just looking at the pictures that come up.



I'm thinking Cindy, you are trying to upload from your cell phone or istagram or something different since you have done a picture before.  If you want help let me know and I'll try to help you.

If anyone else has something to add, please do.

Linda

Learning

how to post pictures on this blog is another thing taking my time.

Step One - Open the bag!!

Another thing I learned from Connie

Connie you are doing so good. I love that little deer - It's so adorable. You did a good job stuffing those little legs.  And who knew that felt wouldn't be easy to make a bow with?

So here's what Connie taught me on the last stocking.

Take issue - I use present tissue, cause that's what I have in the house, and copy the letters for the name.

That's a purple jelly bean - just in case I needed some quick energy. And if not then I just eat it anyways.

Pin it

Check out all those sequins. That's called a Sequin Attack!

Embroider

Then carefully remove the tissue.

The snowflakes are one of my favorite items to embroider. They are so easy and quick.

I noticed the needle they gave me was rough. I could feel little burs on it. 

I changed it for the one I got in the other kit. 

Linda

Connie's Woodland Snowman Progress

 Linda made me this little booklet to put my needles in.  This is the outside. 



Then you open it up to see this.  The needles on the left are for embroidery.  That is some embroidery stitches on the left.  The right side is for sequins.  Those needles have a very small head to fit through those really tiny beads.  I have to use a needle threader to get the floss through them.

 

And here is my stocking now.  The hardest time I had was getting the red bow on the wreath for the deer.  Felt just does not fold the way one would expect.  Anyway, as you can see, I did get it done.

I spent hours on this little birdhouse today. 

And here it is attached to my stocking. 

 

 

Okay family, where are pictures of your stockings?

What Linda is Working On & Two More Tips

Wow! Connie you are really going to town on that. It's going to be so pretty!

I couldn't even remember what Mark's stocking looked like. It's Blue! Yay!  I liked Connie's blue a lot and now I get to work with it too.

When I first bought the stocking I left it on the end table and Neptune made it quite evident that she's mad I didn't buy her a stocking!

The bottom part was gone - she ate it!  Well, I wasn't too upset; she left all the instructions, the felt and most important, those SEQUINS! LOL

Last night I decided to get out my stocking and sort the color in the natural light.  Oh my! I have white, ecru, cream and tan - they all look alike!


Well, what I didn't realize is that Neptune also ate my cardboard for sorting my thread!

This is just not going to work!  LOL  I really laughed I thought this was so funny. I bet Miss Neptune is laughing too.

Tip #1 -  Connie told me she keeps her needles separate on a little dish.
There are two needles in the kits -  I label mine and stick them in the instructions:

On the other side I drew a heart and labeled it "beading".

Tip #3 - Sew with the Beading Needle
One thing I learned from doing my other stocking is it's easier to use the beading needle to applique on the felt pieces (not the embroidery) as it's sharper.

Linda

Okay, so here is what I have finished for today.  So, Cindy - I plan on having my stocking done by this Christmas, 2013.  Christmas of 2015 is too long to wait.  Course, I only have this one to finish.  I know this doesn't look like much now.  Connie

Photos of Order

These are the two stockings I ordered.  I want to make the bear stocking for Brian and the beach stocking for me.  I hope that Stefanie will volunteer to make one of them.  But I have not asked her yet!  Ha ha ha it's my evil christmas stocking plot!!  Stefanie loves palm trees so much she just might want to make and keep it.

I'm so excited there are helpful hints on this blog!!  And we have until Christmas (2015) to complete them!!    Cindy

Some tips before starting

Before I started on my last stocking, Connie gave me some great tips and helps.

1. Separate and Label the Thread

Use the cardboard that comes with the kit  to keep the thread straight.  I punched holes with a pen, but Connie said she cut slots. 

The instruction in the kit say to label the thread colors.  I didn't because I only had two different color greens. But later when I was working on it late at night, I had to stop and wonder, is this tan or gold?  So this time around I'm labeling.

2. Use Sharp Scissors

She told me to have sharp scissors.  She had dull ones and had trouble cutting the felt. Mine were new and sharp so cutting was a breeze. I used  large sewing scissors for cutting out the large felt pieces and little stork scissors for cutting threads little felt pieces.

 (Did you know these are magnetic and the needles and pins will stick to them?) 

3 Use a Needle Threader

I had never even heard of these before. Connie gave me one - and I love these! Makes threading the needles so much easier. I have now gone through several of them. They are super cheap (a dollar or two) at Walmart.

4. Use paper bowls to hold your sequins & beads in

I really liked this idea. Keeps the sequins and beads separated & contained (you don't want those little puppies rolling all over) and then you can stack the bowls and them don't take up much room.

5. Beeswax

As I was stitching I noticed some of the floss would just get wildly tangled and knot. And every couple stitches were a knot. (So discouraging.)  I bought Thread Conditioner - yea, I know crazy.  But it works.  It's also called quilting beeswax.  You find it in the quilting section at Joann's or Hancocks.  ($3.99) Not near the needle, thread or floss.

The little blue box is called Thread Heaven and has sparkles in it (the sparkles do not get on the thread) and the other has slots in the side to pull the thread.  I think the slots are easier to use. 

Linda

I have my stocking and actually started it!!!   Yay!!!  Here is a pic of how I keep my "floss"straight.  I like to keep all my six-strand in one hole and then the one and two strand in the hole next to it.  Got to keep the floss straight so you know which color to use.  You know, which is the light brown and which is the dark.  Last stocking I had 4 different colors of green.

 

 

So here's my stocking so far.  I have embroidered some of the snowflakes.  Still need to add sequins!



Chick check

I'm here!  And I can't wait to post a photo of the two stockings I ordered!

Knock, Knock - Anyone There?

Allrighty then.  It looks like we are up and running with this new adventure.  Remember the movie Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure?  Well, I think this will be an excellent adventure.

This is the photo I tried to use above, but it just would not work. And in the end I like the other picture better - sort of looks like we are the sequins ready to attack.  We just need Stef photo-shopped in!

Ready? Set? Sequin!

Linda