The Old Girl's Back Home!

She's back home!  Just in time for sewing projects tonight too!  Grant and I picked up grandma's Bernina from the shop yesterday morning while Clark was at preschool.  It will run through all the stitches now.  They showed me the tension spring which was pretty much no more (that spring had SPRUNG) and they replaced a belt.  I was told as long as I am gentle with her she's still got some good stitches left in her!  I also have to mention that when it rains it pours - my aunt recently e-mailed me to see if I had found a serger yet.  I actually  had stopped looking for the moment.  She has graciously offered me her serger to use - I am so excited!  What a fabulous surprise and so very much appreciated!

I also picked up a cute little gift courtesy of my sister:

I have seen this cute little book in blogland so thanks to a Borders card I received as a birthday gift from sis I decided it would make a cute addition to my craft books.  I have had a chance to glance through it but am looking forward to some quiet time to give it a good read.  And since this will probably come up - I realize I have a house full of boys; however, sometimes you just need some girly stuff around.

Last night while watching some TV with hubby I finished off this cute little squirrel:

Once this little guy is finished off, this piece will go in as one of my project finishes for the state fair challenge (at least until I finish something in the same size category that I like better).  It was a pretty simple stitch but I think he is adorable.  He was Clark's pick for the next pumpkin piece to stitch up.  This was actually the first time I have tried stitching on linen.  I was a little hesitant at first but love the finished piece.  The suggestion is to make this into a scissorfob - not sure if that's what he'll become or not.

Brittercup Designs - Autumn is in the air (scissorfob pull out from the larger design).  Stitched on 32 count linen - oyster, using suggested DMC threads.

The following are just a couple random shots from yesterday:

This month I am serving on the church's Altar and Chancel Guild.  On Thursday mornings while Clark's at school Grant and I go and do some prep and cleaning.  Grant found the little broom and was cleaning away.

And just because:

 Happy Friday!

Finished Pumpkin

I finally finished a pumpkin cross stitch.  On the weekend I decided I should do something with the finished piece.  I remembered I had a box of miscellaneous frames in the barn - one of those auction things that sometimes ends up coming in handy (box of old frames for $2.00).  

I forgot to take a picture of the beginning frame.  But you can kind of see the old gold color on the frame insert below.

I love the new options in spray paint that are available now.  I used Rustoleum's finished bronze for the frame.  I actually bought the paint for another project (some cabinet door handles) but it worked great for this too!

After spray painting the frame I took some old orange paint I had sitting around and painted the white piece.

 Ta Da!  Very cute - Clark's words!  I should probably stretch the fabric but for the Halloween season it works for me.

Now for a random shot of Grant in his overall's.  He was a enjoying the lovely day outside too!

Close up of the finished piece.  I found it in my (very) old stash of cross stitch magazines.  Which I keep adding to if I find some at a sale.  This came from the Sept/Oct 1990 issue of Cross Stitch and Country Crafts.  Stitched on 14 Count Charles Craft Natural with suggested DMC colors.  Now to upload my pumpkin to the 2010 Great Pumpkin Challenge photo site.

State Fair Goodies

OK - so one of many reasons to enter the Food Department at the Iowa State Fair is the FREEBIES!  Today we decided to utilize one of the freebies.  One of my entries came with a free 1/2 peck of apples just for entering.  That's right - I didn't even have to win for this one.  Iowa Orchard gives away apples for the contest they sponsor.  We took the gift certificate in and picked up our apples.  We actually bought a full peck of Jonathons (Clark's choice).  We also bought a beautiful (and yummy) apple pie.  The ink was barely dry on the sales receipt by the time the boys had an apple in hand and mouth!  They are wonderfully yummy apples and a good morning snack.

While we were there we checked out the pumpkins.  I love the warty pumpkins - so did the boys.  They also liked the big pumpkin.

Clark decided to hang out with the ghosts!  Grant was in and out too fast to get a good shot.

Grant traipsing through the pumpkins.

After the orchard excursion we drove to Blank Park Zoo.  We had a coupon for a free child's entry that we picked up at the Iowa State Fair (not for an entry).  It was such a beautiful day and so much fun!

On our way out we asked Clark what his favorite animal was -- he said GOAT!  Alan actually cringed.  Look how cute they are:

Grant got close and personal with the alpaca.

They both loved the giant caterpillar!

And watching the feeding of the Sea Lions kept both boys fascinated.  Plus, with so few people there they had front row seats.

Last but not least we visited the giraffes.

For a treat on the way home we stopped at Culver's.  As you can plainly see Grant was a big fan of the chocolate frozen custard.

 
And tonight I finished my pumpkin for the Great Pumpkin Challenge!  Well - I still have to figure out how I plan to actually FINISH it.  Currently I am thinking pincushion but that may change.  I like him.  See - with a little motivation I knew finishing at least one pumpkin would happen.  Not sure that he's quality enough for 2011 ISF entry.  Had some major issues with all of the 1/2 stitches in this pattern.  But a project completed none the less!  After all that was the main point to the ISF Challenge - to complete projects that have either been sitting around or on my wish list for years.

Speaking of my ISF Challenge I received a comment this morning that actually upset me a little - thank you so much anonymous.  Honestly for a blog that only has 11 followers you'd think I'd get less criticism.  However, after thinking about it maybe I have been a little random recently.  So, tomorrow get ready for some changes AND for some more challenges you can join in on - if you're in to that kind of thing.  Honestly though I read a lot of the bigger bloggers in the quilting, food and crafting worlds - I am not that creative and never claimed to be - so I thank all of my readers for sticking with me and hope I have some knowledge to pass along but in the end you get what you get (mainly me journaling my daily life)!

Cheers!