be free

Friday, December 24, 2010

THE WINNER IS....





OOOOhhhhhhh!!!!  I partied like an animal....ok...really, like a lazy ol' cat!  I had THE best Birthday a girl could ask for.  Thanks to everyone who sent me birthday wishes, they all came true!!!!  My dear friends, Loraine and Kathryn, shared a pre-birthday afternoon with me for my birthday on the 22nd.  Loraine and I met up in Ogden and we went shopping at our favorite LNS, Shepherd's Bush.  We bought a little stash and  then went out to lunch with Kathryn at Roosters. It was a GREAT afternoon.  And then we shopped until way past dark....in the rain!  Definitely a memorable afternoon.

I know you all have been patiently waiting for me to unveil the lucky winner of the Sonia scissors, soooooooo

JENNIFER of Feathers In the Nest

you are the lucky girl today!!!  I will contact you for your address so I can get your scissors out to you.  Merry Christmas to each of you, I value your friendship and I have made (and met) some fabulous bloggers.  I hope to keep up my blog in 2011.  That is my goal and one I wish to accomplish.

Blessed Winter Wishes,

Jolene

Friday, December 17, 2010

BIRTHMAS GIVEAWAY




Greetings Dear Blogging Friends.  In just under a week away marks a "day" which I haven't decided whether or not this "day" serves as a curse or a blessing.  I guess that depends on who I ask.  To some I am considered a blessing, being born on December 23rd and taken home on Christmas Day, I was swaddled in a snowy white blanket with a big red bow smelling like freshly scented baby powder.  To my family I was more than likely considered a new festive ornament with a "tax deduction" that year.  But.....to me, growing up felt like a curse.  Birthday and Christmas gifts (aka Birthmas Gifts) were received as one, not on my birthday, but on Christ's birthday. I know, I know, I shouldn't be complaining, but, it would have been nice to have received birthday presents wrapped in birthday paper on my real birthday like my friends received on their birthdays.  Seems simple, right?  Wrong!!!!   Too much hustle and bustle with Christmas so near, who had time for a birthday??  As you can tell, I am a little bitter towards my birthday,  in fact, I would almost rather not celebrate it at all.

But......this year I am turning 41, forty-one, 4+1, ah, who am I kidding, anyway I look at it, it all spells and reads "old"!!!  So, I have decided to do something fun on my birthday, and fun for me is to give so why not have a giveaway?  After all, I seem most happy when I "give" to others.  Maybe because I was born at a "giving" time of year is why I feel the need to be so generous all the time. So, if you would like a chance to win these beautiful, limited edition, Sonia Gingher scissors, all you need to do if leave a comment with your birthdate.  Simple.  If you just want to list your month and day that works perfect.  If you want a second try post this giveaway on your blog and let me know when you have done so.


Next up, I finished this primitive Santa and friend (could it be Rudolph?) just last weekend.


It's a pattern by Pineberry Lane called Bringing Home the Tree.  I contemplated buying this patterns for a few weeks, but didn't purchase it until I found this:


Yes, this.  A clock, what am I doing with this you say?  Well, being the creative person I am, I am going to remove the face of the clock and use the "frame" of the clock for mounting the Santa in.  I adjusted the fabric to ensure a perfect fit and it is going to be awesome!







I stitched this on 35ct Confederate Grey linen with DMC floss.  Below you will see the colors I used in place of what was called for in the pattern.




My friend, Mr. Jack Frost would like to wish you all a Joyous Season.  Happy Holidays and if you would like to enter the giveaway, you can post your entries until the clock strikes midnight December 23rd. Good Luck everyone!  I will post the Birthmas winner on December 24th.


Smiles....

Jolene (aka JoJoBean)

Monday, December 13, 2010

A TISKET, A TASKET, THE BEGINNING OF A BEAUTIFUL "BASKET"

Happy Holidays sweet friends and blogging buddies. It has been forever it seems like since I last posted. First up I would like to show you some progress photos on a fun "City Bucket" project by In Your Bonnet.  It reminds me of  "Sue Spargo" style, you know, bright, funky, colorful, and fun.  Zany is the perfect word for it. What do you think?

The embelishments are so fun!  Take a look-see.......













Each of these little blocks will be stitched together and will become the outside pockets to a "bucket" style bag.  When it's finished I will show you the "grand finale".

Have a glorious day and as always,

Smiles....

Jolene

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING


First Thanksgiving


If I had been a Pilgrim child

Among the fields and forests wild

Where deer and turkey used to roam,

A cabin would have been my home

With fireplace and earthen floor

And bearskins hanging at the door.



I would have gathered berries bright

For candles fragrantly alight,

And dug for clams and picked the corn

And laid the table smooth and worn.

Or hunted nuts hard-shelled and good

And helped in any way I could,

With time to laugh and play and run

When Indian children came for fun.



And on the first Thanksgiving Day

I would have met with friends to pray

And thank the Lord for all his care

In keeping us together there.


By Margaret Hillert


Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving filled with warmth and love from family and friends.

As always, Smiles....
Jolene




Monday, November 8, 2010

FRIENDSHIP


Happy Monday!!  Thought I would share a little snippet of the latest project I am working on.  This is a beautiful little sampler by Birds of a Feather called, "Friendship Sampler".  This will be a fun project since it is a "traveling" pattern that was passed on to me from my sweetest and dearest BFF  Loraine of Sew Be It!  You can see her finished version of it here.  I have chosen to stitch mine on 28ct (mystery) linen over one.  It is so tiny!!!  I am loving this little one and by looking at the stitching next to my little scissors it kind of puts it in perspective.  I have changed all the colors to my liking and when I am all finished I will list the colors I am using on it.

Next up is a little "scissor ornamentation" I stitched up for a Breast Cancer charity event that Pumpkin hosted. This is a freebie pattern from Lizzie Kate.  I stitched it on 30ct black evenweave over one using DMC threads.  The back is made from the same linen and pretty glass beads adorn the edges and french knots were made for the stamens on the center of the flower. 

I really enjoyed participating in this fabulous and worthy cause. There will be a silent auction on November 20th which is a Saturday where you can bid on some fabulous items that will benefit Breast Cancer Research.  It will be held in the evening from 6-8pm.  Please take a look on the event section at the Attic Needlework's web page for more information.

It's raining cats and dogs here....mixed with a little snow!!!  Stay warm and enjoy your stitching.

Smiles....

Jolene

Sunday, October 31, 2010

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!


HALLOWEEN

A gentle breeze rustling the dry cornstalks.

A sound is heard, a goblin walks.

A harvest moon suffers a black cat's cry.

Oh' do the witches fly!

Bonfire catches a pumpkins gleem.

Rejoice, it's Halloween!

-Richard Anderson

 "Waiting for the Harvest"
by Blackbird Designs

Stitched on 32ct 18th Century Brown
by R&R

Using GAST, "Dark Chocolate"

On a recent trip to see my sister's new home away from home, I stitched up this wonderful new pattern from Blackbird Designs.  It was a quick stitch as I did most of it while riding in the car.  Now, how to finish it?????

Smiles,

Jolene


 

Friday, August 20, 2010

BOO WHO?

Did someone say "Boo Who"?   I participated in a scissor fob exchange in June and this is what the fabulous Lisa P sent me.  Isn't this a wonderful way to hold and display my scissors in the fall months?!  I love the little bandit mask over his eyes, and he possesses such an "attitude" in his stature. 


Thank you again, Lisa, he is a "H*O*O*T"!!!!!


I am getting ready for fall weather, how about you?  My mind keeps brewing and stewing as Halloween draws nearer.  Can't wait!  Especially when I keep running across things that remind me of:


 Witches' Night Before Halloween

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


'Twas the night before Halloween and all through the cottages,

The witches were stirring their brews and their potages.



Their cupboards were bursting with hop-toads and newts,

And they'd shined up their pointy-toed, fancy-dress boots.



The witchlings lay snoring, quite snug in their beds,

With visions of moist, creeping things in their heads.



"Nice night," whispered Mad-Maud to Potbelly-Pat

As she snuffed out the torches and took in the cat.



But at the first stroke of midnight, when folks lay asleep,

The whole gang of witches on tiptoes did creep





Out past the cornfields and 'neath the trolls' bridge,

To the crossroads that lay beyond Cemetery Ridge.



"It's time to begin," hissed Elise-With-One-Eye

As the moon reached its peak in the October sky.



On the stump of a tree, with a thump and a creak,

Big-Bree drummed a beat as the witches all shrieked:

"Come goblins! Come ghosties! Come skeleton bones!

Do you really expect us to do this alone?"



They stomped on the ground! They bellowed! (They wheezed.)

They tangoed! And salsa-ed! (On arthritic knees.)

Louder and wilder with each passing verse

They chanted in voices from tuneless to worse.



'Till BANG! the old charnel house doors cracked and broke,

And out flew their pals with a big blast of smoke!



A few drooling ghouls from down underneath,

With cleanly picked bones and half-rotted teeth;



A pale, dark-eyed viscount quite long in the tooth;

Two squadrons of zombies, unkempt and uncouth;



Dark, furry, four-footed, hard-to-see things

That vanish unseen midst a flutter of wings;



Redheaded banshees with ear-splitting wails;

And a rheumy-eyed ghost dressed in neatly pressed tails.



With one boney finger, Maud tested the breeze,

Grabbed hold of her broom and ascended with ease.

"To town!" she commanded. "There's much to be done.

Pack your newts and your spiders. Let's go have some fun!"



They dangled black bats from the City Hall eaves

And festooned each doorway with poisonous leaves.



Cobwebs were stretched from church spire to town square,

And green slime was dribbled down every porch stair.



On each hollow pumpkin they scratched a mad grin,

Set the kitty-cats yowling, and stoked up the wind.



"So much haunting to get done in so little time,"

Mourned a vain, headless countess, a bit past her prime.

"Not to mention the rusty old gates we back-ordered

Are stuck in a truck at the Canadian border."



"Not like the old days," whined Rotten-Tooth-Ruth,

"Is this the example we set for our youth?"



More shadows! More cobwebs!

More monsters! More slime!

More dank, moldy cellars!

More grave dust! More grime!



And when they had finished, thick fog hugged the ground,

So they snapped a few photos, and flew out of town.



"To the hovels! Let's go! Time to wake up the spawn!"

Cried the witches while hobbling back home 'cross the lawn.



They banged pots together, poked the witchlings with sticks,

Till the kiddies woke up and threw terrible fits.



"It's Halloween, you gremlins!" crooned Bubonic-Sue,

"Time to show all the humans what witches can do!"



At that, the wee witchlings leapt straight from their beds,

Tied pointy black caps to their misshapen heads,

Laced up their brat boots, grabbed onto their brooms,

And rode single-file toward the just-risen moon.



"Stay warm! Make good choices!" yelled the parental group,

As the young witches circled above with a whoop,



Shouting loud as they could on this night of all nights:

"Happy Halloween to all and to all a good fright!"

By Lesley Bannatyne






































































































































Monday, August 2, 2010

Deadline Met, RAK Received, Halloween

Here she is in all her final glory. I met my dead line with a breeze and now I can look forward to some Halloween stitching. I really did enjoy stitching this one. It went fast because of the repetition with the birds.  I am contemplating on attaching some black snaps in the center of the flowers and a larger one smack dab in the middle of the pinwheel.  What do you think?


Do you see this antique pincushion in the upper corner of the photo?  I bought this off the bay of evil a few months back.  I LOVE it!!!!  It is made with wood and is hand carved and painted.  The center of the "sandwich" is where the pins go.  I should have added some so you could see how it looks.  It was a fabulous find to add to my collection of pincushions.



This little flower in the corner is my favorite.  I love the unusual leaves, they remind me of thistles.



Close-up of the spinning wheel!

Pennsylvania Pinwheel
by Carriage House Samplings
using DMC 3371, 3857, 829
completed 8/2/10


Speaking of pincushions, look what I received in the mail today.  A beautiful red pincushion stitched by Patty of Hanging By A Thread. Her stitching is meticulously "perfect".  Amazing work Patty, you deserve a shout out on this!!! This Random Act of Kindness is truly appreciated and deserves to be paid forward. A sweet reminder that it is my turn to give back. 

This is what the flip side of the cushion looks like.  I have been spoiled lately, thank you sooo much dear Patty, I will cherish it always. 



And finally here is a quick looksie at what I will be starting next.   I have changed everything on this one.  I am sooooo excited to put my needle to work on this one.  Thanks for visiting and happy stitching!!!


Smiles....

Sunday, August 1, 2010

THANK YOU FAYE RAYE!!!!!!


Hello friends!  I just had to share with you a BEAUTIFUL gift, aka RAK, I received from my friend Faye Raye.  Isn't this sweet little pincushion just gorgeous!  It is so tiny and sweet, just look at the beautiful shades of red and the pretty little pins in the upper corner.  OH MY!!!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart Faye, I will treasure it always.  I love pincushions and you must have known I collect them.  It's absolutely perfect....the stitching, the colors, the button, the pins.  You are such a talented gal to say the least.


Here is a picture of the back of the pincushion.  Love it!

And here is a little closer snapshot of those sweet little pins.   Aren't they just the neatest!

Thanks again my friend, that was soooo sweet of you.



Here is the latest photo of my WIP, Pennsylvania Pinwheel by CHS.  I am closing in on finishing this one and I am not going to sleep until I finish this tonight.  I am just dying to start on a Halloween project. 




My hubby and I recently went on a day trip to Wyoming and I took this photo of an old train station that I think is in the process of being restored.  I wonder if someone ever thought about turning it into a great restaurant!  That would be awesome!


I took this photo of my sweetie on the side of the train station.  I loved the patina of the rusty equipment and the beautiful thistles.  Look how tall they are....one of them is as tall as my hubby!!!  Yikes, be careful of those prickly leaves......they might bite!


Speaking of prickly leaves, check out this Cactus.  We went to this little hole in the wall restaurant for dinner.  You can see by the photo it was a Mexican restaurant (our favorite) and I thought the "chandelier" was hilarious, who would have thought a cactus would be the perfect choice of lighting????  Just had to share......he he he....


Well, that's all for now, I have a deadline on my Pinwheel and if I don't get stitching soon, I just might be up all night and into the wee hours of the morn.  Thanks for visiting, I hope you had a fantastic weekend!!

Smiles...

Jolene

Thursday, July 22, 2010

HEAD OVER HEELS FOR PINWHEELS!

Howdy! Does anyone remember the cute little old lady, "Minnie Pearl" from Hee-Haw? It was a show my family always watched when I was a much younger than I am now girl. Anywho, for some reason "Howdy" has Minnie Pearl written all over it. She always wore this large brimmed hat with the price tag hanging down on the back of her hat. It was her funny sense of humor and trademark. She has nothing to do with this post, but the greeting brought her to mind.

It has been soooo long since I last posted, and actually I have stitched (completed) four or five projects.  I guess I must be saving them to post on a rainy day.  Keep your eyes out.....you just never know when I will get them posted.  I still need to finish my draft on Shop Hop, Part II.  I kind of left you hanging on that one.  Sorry!!! 

This is a photo as of lunch time today on my latest WIP, Pennsylvania Pinwheel, by Carriage House Samplings.  I changed the colors to DMC 829, 3371, 3857.  As I was stitching this it dawned on me that these three colors are mine and my hubbys high school colors.  Mine were brown/gold and his were the gold/red.  I thought what a coincidence, who would have ever thunk it!!! 

This will have to be a short post, got to get back to the grind, work is calling!!

Have a wonderful day and thanks for visiting.

Smiles.....








Monday, June 21, 2010

SHOP HOPPIN' 2010 - Part 1



Good evening friends, I have been working on this "Tour de Utah" for a couple of nights now, I am warning you, this is one HEAVY post with lots and lots of fabulous eye candy.  On the last post I told you I was going on my first Shop Hop with Loraine. Turns out, the day we had planned, Wednesday, June 16th, opening day, didn't go as we had originally planned.  There were severe wind warnings at the point of the mountain and predictions that there would be 70 mph winds.  Loraine's hubby was concerned and thought it best to hold out for a day because the forecast was better on Thursday and Friday.  Unfortunately, I had made arrangements to get Wednesday off and I had to work Thursday and Friday so I couldn't make the swap so the two of us could go shopping together.  So, what's a girl to do???  Go anyway, fight the winds and have fun!  I hit 10 stores the first day, 3 the second day, and 1 on each of the last two days.  On Saturday, I met up with Loraine at Village Dry Goods and we shopped, shared stash, and went out to lunch together.   She made me a cute little pincushion of the American flag with a tag that read "Shop Hop 2010" to commemorate the event.  (I will post a photo of it in Part 2, Shop Hop).  It was a really fun day, I wish we could have had the whole day on Wednesday to shop til we dropped.  That first day was fun, but tiring.  I wore comfy clothes, socks and shoes, but nevertheless I shopped so much I wore blisters on my feet.  Ouch!  Tomorrow I will post Part 2 of Shop Hop and show you some of the fun things I bought.  So, sit back and enjoy all the beautiful eye candy, there are some talented gals here in Utah and this is some of their beautiful artwork, the photo's do the talkin'.......


Loraine (center) with two of her favorite gals at Village Dry Goods






























































































































































































































Thanks for visiting, I hope you enjoyed a little insight to Shop Hop 2010.

Smiles....

Jolene