Wordless Wednesday - January 30, 2013

Photo courtesy of Par ici et par là...

National Chocolate Cake Day

Did you know that today was National Chocolate Cake Day?  I did and I was thrilled!  I mean, really, it's two of my favorite things combined...chocolate and cake.  And since I had to go do my grocery shopping this morning, I figured I just had to buy this super scrumptious mini-cake for me and Zach to split after dinner tonight.

Looks great, doesn't it?!?  And what do you need with your chocolate cake?  A little bit of humor.  While I'm sitting here typing this post, all I can think of is Bill Cosby and his chocolate cake monologue.  If you haven't seen it, you really need to click here to watch the video.  It's hysterical!!!  ♪♫♪♫♪♫ "Dad is great!  Give us the chocolate cake!"  ♪♫♪♫♪♫ 

Happy eating!  :)

Pattern of the Week - January 26, 2013

We've been struck with more crappy, snowy weather here in N.E. Ohio.  I guess unfortunately it's what I have to expect each year.  With all the snow I wasn't able to take my normal Saturday morning walk with my sister outdoors, we had to go to the indoor mall this morning where we can walk for free.  And as I was outside shoveling out the bottom of my driveway from where it was plowed in overnight, I was thinking about living somewhere warm, preferably near a beach.  Thought this was a perfect pattern to go with my thoughts today.  Hope you enjoy!!  Oh, and if you're interested in buying the kit, just click the photo to go to the listing.  :)

Freebie Friday - January 25, 2013

So stinking cute, and would definitely be a quick stitch!  Not much else to say about this fun one, besides if you want it, click the photo to get it FREE!

EtsyNEAT January Challenge Submission

As the winner of the October/November EtsyNEAT Creative Challenge, I got to pick the theme for the December/January challenge.  I decided on "winter sports" as the theme.  I even had a great new silhouette that I was going to do the pattern for and use the model of my stitched piece.  In fact the black fabric and aquamarine colored metallic floss I used for my cat silhouette model was s259upposed to be used for this challenge.

Alas, how things change.  I picked up issue #259 of CrossStitcher Magazine and was enjoying thumbing through it when I got to the cute series they did of this Eskimo girl, some penguins and a polar bear.  I instantly knew I had to stitch the Eskimo girl.  I mean ice fishing is a "winter sport" (at least in my view) and I even had a package of Charles Craft Grasshopper fabric already in my stash...the perfect fabric to use!!

The only thing I would have done differently, and am kicking myself for not thinking of it until AFTER I had the piece completely stitched and "framed" in the hoop, is I should have used some opalescent blending filament, similar to the ribbon I used, in with all the white stitching for the snow to make it pop off the fabric a little more.  Maybe the next time.

And of course this piece is for sale in my Etsy shop, so if you're interested in getting it for yourself or as a gift for someone, just click the photo to go to the listing.  :)