2009 Prairie Schooler Santa

It's done! It's done! I love how crisp the colors look against the natural fabric on this one.

Prairie Schooler

Every year when the new Prairie Schooler Santa kit comes out, I want to start it right away. So far, I have never started one...that is until this year. Don't ask me why...I do like all the others just as much as this one. Here is my little bit of progress on the 2009 Santa.

The kit includes all the Crescent Colour threads, fabric and chart to stitch this one.

I am also trying something totally new for me:
scroll rods. I have never been able to use them before this. I could never get the fabric attached to the rods the way I liked...the fabric wasn't taut enough, the rods were too cumbersome....I just could never get the hang of it. On Down Sunshine Lane's website, Amy showed a picture of these scroll rods from Rolaframe. Easy to attach (new sewing, no stapling, etc.), easy to tighten, easy to scroll. Plus I can either leave it really, really tight or loosen it enough to still be able to "sew" my stitches as I have always done.
The Santa is my test piece to try and see how much I like/dislike the rods. So far, so good. It does take some getting accustomed to stitching on the frame. However, I did buy the smallest ones that were available, which I think makes a big difference for me. I don't think I will ever stitch a large project on a scroll rod, but something about the size of this Santa kit is good.

More birthday goodies...and some new stash

We went out for a great lunch for my birthday (Carol and Kathleen, that is--thanks, guys!). Look what they gave me for my birthday, Olde Colonial's Miss Penny!! I have looked at her several times since she first came out and never bought her. She is just too sweet; her entire body is made of wood and she has a little slip and pantaloons on as well. Just too cute. (check out Klawd's foot in the background...he was checking out Miss Penny, too!)

We stopped at The Stitching Post before we went to lunch. I did add a few things to my basket while I was there. The Crescent Colours finish up my collection. I love the flip-flop thread drops. :) Kathleen also brought me the new Prairie Schoolers and Just Cross Stitch magazine from Needlecraft Corner, as well as the new PS freebie.

A wonderful day - thanks Carol and Kathleen!! :))

....a third PS ornament....

Here's the "S" for my son, Sam.

Only one more to make...

Another Ornament

I tried a different finish on this little letter. I used a four-sided stitch around it (ala C.A. Wells) with small squares of cardboard with quilt batting inside.


Two more to go!

Ornamentified!

Here's my little "M" from Prairie Schooler Designs finished as an ornament.

Jingle Bells....Jingle Bells....

Is it Christmas yet? ;) How about Christmas in July? Here's my Prairie Schooler freebie that just came out last week. I tried out my new "wave" blade for my Olfa cutter for the felt. I like it!

PS Freebie

It's a scissor pocke! I saw a picture of a finishing like this one on Becky B's Stitching Hive. I think it turned out cute.:) The design is a Prairie Schooler freebie ~ Birdhouse. I used some Vikki Clayton silks I had to stitch it on 36 count Pearled Barley Lakeside Linen.