Frosty.

Frosty came to visit with yesterday's snow.

Let's hope his stay is very short.

Again with the snow.

Being that it is spring, I've been meaning to put this pillow away.

But, in light of waking up to this, I may as well leave it out for another day.

I'm pretending it's still winter here. I have a big pot of chili on the stove and all the ingredients to make cornbread - winter food at it's finest. Mark and N are out shoveling. Maybe I'll make them some hot chocolate. Might as well make the best of it.

(Go away, winter! Go away!)

Beaded flower.

This was a fun project, in part because I'll always have the memory of N and I doodling our designs together one lazy afternoon.

I used 28 ct. linen and found that size 11 seed beads worked pretty well. I could have spaced them out more, but I liked the tight, compact look I had going. I'm in the mood for sunny, breezy days, so yellow seemed like a fitting color. The thread was a variegated hand-dyed thread that I had left over from a cross stitch project. All of the supplies were things I had on hand.

Now I need to decide how to frame it. I'm thinking about staining an embroidery hoop a dark brown and using that. My mom had used an embroidery hoop to frame the unicorn stitching long ago and I like the look of a hoop for a frame. Or I could look for a vintage hoop to use; an oval one would be nice.

N is pushing me to design a final version of the N and a border around it to stitch. Maybe I can incorporate beads into the border. Something to think about...

Have a nice weekend.

Repurposed.

Each time I set my stitching down, I kept thinking that I needed something to put it in. I looked at JoAnn's but couldn't find anything I liked. (Is it just me or are today's sewing boxes kind of unattractive?) Given my love for boxes, I knew I had to have something around the house I could use.

I spotted this under one of my bookcases. Just the right size for what I needed. It was storing some old Master Locks and bookmarks (kind of a weird combination, huh?) that could be placed elsewhere.

I received this box many years ago from my mother-in-law. We went to a craft show together and I picked it out. Check out the artist's site if you have time.

Look at how nicely my supplies fit in the box. My flower stitching is almost done!

It was difficult working with the beads rolling around the inside of the lid, so I cut one of my bead mats to fit. Perfect! Sorry the photo is a little dark.

So far it's been working out really well. And the flower stitching has been coming along nicely.

Nice weekend.

We stayed close to home this weekend. I did a lot in the kitchen, including making two loaves of Italian bread and butter. N made butter in school in a Mason jar and was keen on making it at home. I didn't having Mason jars, so I made it with the mixer. After having the great idea, N was nowhere to be found... until it was time to eat the bread and butter!

I started stitching the flower I doodled last weekend. The best part was starting with the beads in the design. I decided on a yellow flower.

I almost forgot... we went to JoAnn's on Saturday to make a big purchase with my coupon - an Ott Lite. I've been wanting one since we moved into this house because the lighting where I sit in the evenings is too dark. I had buyer's remorse walking out of JoAnn's, but once it was set up and I started working on my stitching, it quickly went away!

While we were there, N talked us into buying him a Build-A-Bear kit. He did some sewing on it, but got frustrated. It sounded easier than it actually was. I finished it for him, but I'm worried it's going to come apart because the holes were so large that the knots they tell you to tie pull through the holes!

And Season got in a lot of naps.

And now it's back to the weekly routine. I'm hoping to have time to finish my flower this week.

The wall.

I decided to group some pictures and paintings together over the buffet.

Some of the pieces were gifts.

Some I found on Etsy.

Some were found in a local antique mall.

I like how it turned out and there's room to add to it later.

I've been busy filling the buffet drawers with many beading supplies.

It's working out very nicely.

Doodling.

N. and I have been having fun drawing possible cross stitch designs on graph paper. These could also be used for square stitch beading projects, although I would have used the beading graph paper. It's been very relaxing to curl up on the couch together and compare our designs.

I might cross stich the flower, incorporating some beads.

Flowers.

Today it actually felt like winter might give way to spring.

Vintage french beaded flowers
Vase by Farmer Julie

I'm looking forward to seeing some green outside one day soon. It seems like it's been a long winter in Chicagoland.

Have a pleasant weekend.

New photo.

I took a new photo of the Cattleya Orchid brooch that I made in a Diane Fitzgerald class a few years ago.

I've never worn it; instead, I have out for decoration. I bought the beads to make another one, but that's as far as I've gotten. I often get caught up in something I'm making and buy plenty of supplies to make more and then never do.

I should really work on not doing that.