We've Got Some Finishes! (nothing big though...)

A quick post before bed - it is barely past 10 PM and I can almost not keep my eyes open...  I think that the sharp twists in the weather leaves my body behind somehow (and may brain apparently even further away), so I am walking around in a daze most of the time right now.

Anyway, I did manage to finish up the small cross-stitch designs this weekend.  This is one of Homespun Elegance's annual Christmas ornaments kit from 1997 - picked up at E-bay for cheap!  It is always so much fun to translate the vision of how the finished ornament will look into reality (with varying results....).

Over that past couple of years, I have found myself drawn to kits more and more.  I am just too lazy to kit things up by myself nowadays!  ;-)

Here is the little scissors fob (by Prairie Moon).  Look in the progress picture how the blue bled like crazy during the ironing (with full steam) step.  Luckily, this is one of those "scrappy chic" designs, so I was actually pleased wit the result.  I was even a bit suspicious at my own reaction, since normally I tend to be bit of a perfectionist.  I guess that you just have to pick your battles, right? 
I did have a lot of fun figuring out how to finish the fob up.  I just made it up as I went along and I am pretty happy with the outcome of this experiment!  I even carried out the final assembly using my sewing machine.   The backing fabrics were taken from a charm pack of La Petite Ecole by French General - I just love their fabric collections!  The "bling" came with the chart pack.

 

Note the window film in the door.  I am absolutely addicted to bright and light environments.  No candle light dinners for me - I can't see what I eat which tends to make me in more of a crabby mood than a romantic such.  These films are great - no visibility from the outside, but all the light gets in.  Plus the films are static cling, so no adhesive goop to clean off the windows after removing the film, not to mention that you do get almost an unlimited number of "extra chances" to get it just right when setting it up (I did use a fair number of extra chances to get it straight and even).  Can't get any better in my book! 
I got two patterns, geraniums and orchids, when I was in Sweden a couple of years ago.  I wish that I had more wondows, because this baby would be installed next!  
Anyway, here is a somewhat better view:

If you are interested in picking up a roll to try it out for yourself, here is the link to the Geranium film at Scandinavian Design Center.  The design company is Strössel (which is Swedish and means sprinkles, the type that is used as toppings on ice cream and cakes) - here is their web-site.  Let me know what you think if you decide to try it out!

Speaking about geraniums, they are an absolute favorite flower of mine.  I just potted a tray on Sunday.  Love to pot plants; it takes no time compared to digging holes in the KY clay... 
Before:

 After:

 

The sweet ceramic bird-bath is a 2-piece deal.  The top part was broken no less than twice and is now beyond repair, so I picked up a big plant saucer from Homedepot and voila!  We are open for bathing season this year again!

Also, since we are talking geraniums, I just have to show this adorable embroidery design stitched up by my Godmother.  This is a table cloth in stamped embroidery from the Swedish company Fingerfärda, 

It is based on a Swedish story by Elsa Beskow; Sagan om den Lilla Lilla Gumman (The Tale of the Little, Little Old Woman).  Elsa Beskow was an Art Nouveau artist, which is a style I am very attracted to.  Here are a few examples of the illustrations to the story.  (Elsa was only 23 when she wrote and illustrated this childrens' book - can you believe it!?)

Well, what about The Birdcage?  It is coming along, slowly...   I was thrown off schedule once I realized that there were some details in the finishing that I just could not fall head over heels for.  Changes had to be done!   Anyway, I think that those birds in their cage will be wrapped up in one more evening or maybe two.  Until then, here is a teaser!

Oh, and finally; DH expressed some concern about not having any space in the kitchen to cut up his dinner pizza.  I don't understand what he is getting at....

 

Guess that it is time to pile things back up into neat stacks, huh!?  That should fool him for a few more days...  ;-)

Thanks so much for stopping by, take care and Happy Stitching!