I need Snow!

It has been so hot here in Ta Town its time for snow!!! 

I just love the Holidays.. my two favorites are Halloween and Christmas. I have been working on my blocks for my Annual Halloween Block swap over the last few weeks. Which has really put me in the mood to do my Holiday stitching. 

If your interested in quilting and would like to join in on the fun go HERE to check out the details. There are still 3 or 4 openings. Yes international players are always welcome in my swaps.

I received the cutest quilt block from my daughter last year for Christmas. It was set aside waiting for me to decide what to do with it. After months and months of staring at it... I have decided. I am going to make a Christmas tote. This little tote will be so much fun to use while shopping.

I have decided after getting this far on the tote front that the little girl has been swallowed up by the fabrics. I have ordered some Fabric crayons to color in the design. Sort of an altered art project. I have never attempted this sewing/altered art form before. I hope I don't mess it up. I have seen some awesome projects using this crayon technique. I hope that the crayons add just a bit of pop to my little block. Have any of our readers used the fabric crayons before. I was also debating on using fabric inks. Let me know what you think please! Before I go and mess up my daughters lovely work.

** UP DATE**

I received my Fabric Caryons in the Mail this week.
Here is the mess that I made of things.
I was trying to blend and make flesh color.
As you can see it didn't work out so good.
Maybe next project will be better!!
It is cute though :O)

The Fabric Crayons really make a difference in the looks ;O)
Have fun and try something new!! I did :O)

Annual Holiday Block Swaps...

Sign ups are going on right now for my Annual Holiday Block swaps.. 

Run over to AuntPittyPat's blog to check it out. We have a lot of fun and have received some awesome blocks in the past years. All sewing skill levels join in on the fun. Please make sure if you join up you complete on time. Thank you and drop by if this interests you!

Christmas Stockings

Alright ladies, it's time to get back to posting.  I love reading about everything you are working on and seeing how it's Christmas time I'm guessing many of you have projects that are either made, being made or on the ever growing to do list. 
To keep the blog from dying like it's currently doing or has done, how about we try to post something at least once a week?  Who wants to share?  Come on you know you have some awesome project that is going to inspire us.

Alright at the risk of ruining the surprise for Cheryl I'm going to show a little glimpse of my almost completed stocking for Aunt Pitty Pat's stocking swap.  Earlier this week I got my stocking in the mail from Cheryl and it's AWESOME.  Really, you all should be jealous she was my partner.  It's okay if you want to shed a few tears because you didn't join the swap or didn't have Cheryl.  Now dry your eyes and keep a watch over at APP's for her next swap.  It might be a while before she does another, but I can guarantee it will be fun.

Okay, here's the peak at my stocking for Cheryl...

I was going to give you a looksy at the top but I'm going to save it. =)  This is the heel of the stocking.

Now Cheryl's stocking for me... is it fair to share her work?  Ah, why not.  She can come on and add to it.  It's still stuffed with all the goodies she sent other then the ornament.  I want to be able to hang it on my tree so I took it out of the stocking.  I decided to wait on everything else.  I figure my husband is deployed so I might as well save some surprises for myself. =)  BTW, I took these with my phone so they are on the dark side and the color isn't spot on.

 I love that she used random buttons.  I like adding buttons to my daughter's clothes to make flowers, butterflies, ect.

 Here's a closer look at the snowflake.  My favorite part is the little beads on each point.

 Check this guy out.  No, all snowmen DON'T have to be made up of three balls.  Besides his happy face and the mittens on his stick arms, I love his BIG buttons. =)  Perhaps I'm just a button fan?  Hmmm...  Cheryl you might just be getting come buttons on yours.

And here it is!!!!  Notice the toe and heel of the stocking are both pointed.  Love it!  Thanks Cheryl!

Thought you like to see !!!!

Here is the winter wreath to the series. Just spring and summer to make !!!!

Spinning into the night

Hello there - hope you all had a safe and fun Christmas with those you like the best.

There was a little sewing on Christmas Eve before the festivities began and these have now been delivered to Jindi's mum.

Spinning into the night - mug rug using the Mosaic2 pinwheel block and a matching mug cosy.

A little Christmas wall hanging ready for next years celebrations using a free design from Gail Pan, if you go by her blog she has a new free design for 2010.

Happy creating in the New Year

Mistea

My Christmas Gift To You

Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the Pins & Needles Land
Each stitcher was working on her last project at hand.
There were knitters, crocheters, apron and Annie sewers and quilters too!
All knew the clock was ticking ...
and they still had plenty to do!

Now those gals from Down Under, Mistea, Jindi, Vanessa and Khris were leading the band,
Ever so mindful that for them Christmas Day would soon be at hand!

When up in the Northland there arose such a clatter,
Every stitcher from Washington to New York sprang up to see what was the matter!
OH. they all cried with relief, it's just Nadine, Kay, Denise, and Sherry,
All working to made their Christmas merry!

But way down in Georgia it was quiet as a mouse,
As Doris sat crocheting in a brightly lit house.
Gizzy was sound asleep, so cozy and warm,
As he dreamed of doggie treats on Christmas Morn.

On the cold Kansas prairie the north wind was blowing,
Maybe by Christmas it would be snowing!
But that didn't damper Auntie's machine, it was whirring!
And what about Miss Pitty? Oh, she wasn't stirring.

Over in the Ozarks, Sue was still apron making,
Of course that is only when she wasn't baking!
And then there was Angie , feverishly working on her Prims,
But meeting her deadline was looking rather "grims".

And back up in Indiana, Brenda still has not gone to bed,
She's staying up drawing Annie patterns that are swirling in her head!

In the states of Texas and Florida, Jennifer and Robin were so relieved to see
That all of their gifts were finished, wrapped and under the tree!

And Cynthia in Virginia is done with her rug,
You know, it's the latest craze, the one to hold her mug!

Across the Big Pond is rughooking Heather,
I wonder if her studio is as quiet as a feather?

So to all of my ♥kindred spirit stitchin' Sisters♥ ~
Are you all crazy, out of your head??
Enough of your stitchin'!!! NOW ~ get off to bed!!!!! LOL!!!! :)

A Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you!!!!!!
Love and Hugz,
CJ♥♥

APP's Christmas MugRug Swap

This is my ♥cute♥ lil' Gingerbread Man mugrug that I received from Ms Nadine
in App's Christmas MugRug Swap

It came complete with a lil' spoon for stirring the tea that can be brewed right in that AWESOME tea mug with the matching quilted mug cozy :)
I got the recipe for those yummy Molasses Cookies AND ... a package of them already made up by sweet Ms Nadine♥
Am I spoiled, or what????? Yep!! and ... I'm lovin' it!!
Thanks again, Ms Nadine!! :)

My Holly Jolly Christmas Quilt

I just realized that I never posted pictures here on Pins & Needles of my
Holly Jolly Christmas Quilt
from last year's APP Swap. So ... here's some pictures of it in the process!

I decided to tie it, so I could add lots of buttons, beads, jingle bells, etc. for embellishments.
Fun stuff!!

Now, I just need more time to get back to it to put the binding on so I can hang it up ...
Think I'll finish it in time to hang it up for this Christmas? Humm ... don't know!
I'm pretty far behind with my Christmas gift making. But ... if I do, I post another picture of it finished ~ I promise :) What about you? Did you finish yours?
Have a wonderful, fun, stitchin' filled week!!!

Christmas rugs

You know I just could not stop at one.

Here in Oz it is summer when Santa comes and we always see him at the beach. I caught him practising his kite boarding last weekend - there is more than one way to get around.

Just couldn't leave this fabric in Spotty last week - Rudolph's friends are hanging about waiting for their gig.

The Christmas tree - already decorated.

Rudolph and a helper have loaded the sleigh ready to make some deliveries.

Which one would you choose?

Hope your preparations are going well.

Mistea.