Straight Stitch the Verse

I debated with myself about leaving out the verse. I think it would look unbalanced. So here we go with the verse. It is half done here. Of course, after that verse comes more border.......

The border on the main part is almost done - -

I have never been a fan of doing borders. This one is very tedious. I am now around the main picture. The next part will be to do the verse on the lower part and then oh - - more border!! I am still wondering if I have enough sparkle braid. It is getting less and less and I still have a lot to do.

Progress is being made

It is getting close??? I wish this were true. I did make it further around. I am becoming concerned that the green tea sparkle braid won't make it all the way around. I hope I have enough.

Happy Birthday - - late

I took this photo early this month. I love the stitching container. The photo doesn't do the eggplant color justice. I love it. I also got that wonderful hardanger chart and iTunes gift card. I can't believe how slow I am to post this.

Turkey day was wonderful as usual. I did get a bit of stitching done but of course there is always the hopping up and down to check turkey, etc, etc. I am very thankful for so many things. One would have to be my needlework. It keeps me sane. I am thankful for all my on line friends. I see comments often from friends of this blog and I do enjoy reading them. I really do believe I am very blessed.

The headless horseman will soon be done (I have to keep telling myself that). What to work on next? Whenever I work on one of these large projects, I miss 'getting things done'. I am not sure where I am going next. I do have a few gifts I need to work on. Stay tuned.

Borders! Borders! Borders!

Well, we are now 'into' pumpkins (three colors_, skulls and bats. Over and over and over again. There is also some green sparkle thread that I am worried there won't be enough of. One step at a time. For now it is just trying to get this done. Oh - - each motif gets backstitching!!!!!

Attention Secret Santas

This is my brother, Butch. He is playing Santa Claus here while me makes his fabulous threaders. These make great Christmas presents. Very unique and very useful for any stitcher.

I have some great ideas for Secret Santas this year. This first photo shows three long hook threaders and they all have magnets. (More about that below) There is also one long wire that reminds me of a star detailer tool with a wooden handle. Each of these is $25.00


These threaders are all using the same as the metal threader in the photo. The threaders are trimmed to size for the wooden part, pierced and then glued in place with gorilla glue. I have yet to hear that one has been pulled out. They are very strong. The top row has magnets and sell for $16.00 a piece. The three on the bottom row do not have magnets and sell for $12.00

These are all using the LoRan threader as displayed here. The small hook end is trimmed and then glued in place. The top row has magnets and see for $16.00 The bottom row do not have magnets and see for $12.00. The first threader in the first row - - looks like a wine glass...

Why magnets? They will help find misplaced needles. They stay put when placed in a travel tin with the rest of your tools. They also will not roll off or get lost when you use a magnetic board or any metal surface. Some people love them and others don't

You can email me at taffystreasures@yahoo.com. Shipping is $5.00 extra for USA.

The border work begins

Well, here I have to top and most of the left side done. This is just the main parts without the backstitching, specialty floss stitching and beads. There is a lot of border to this thing.

Meanwhile I think I have fixed the photo upload thing..... I certainly hope so.

Blogger is bad - -

I tried several times to up load a current photo. The system won't let me. I do hope this is temporary. Meanwhile, I will offer an update. I started working on the border. Why do designers think we enjoy back stitching in the borders???? There is a lot of work in these borders. I am doing all the parts except the beads.

Just a thought... do you short cut your threads when you know you only have a small number of stitches to do? I am doing these little pumpkins over and over again. I generally cut my floss to about 18 inches. The outside orange on the pumpkin uses only a half of the floss, so I cut it 9 inches and still use the loop start. The second orange color is inside the other orange and I find that using a third of the floss is just about right. The last orange (lightest) color only takes a fourth of the floss. Does anyone else do this? I don't like to drag the floss from one motif to another and this seems to help.

I am also finding that I will fill several needles at a time before doing these motifs. I like this because of the quick color changes and the limited number of stitches. Thank goodness - - the skulls are using one piece of 18" looped.

I am always looking for a silver lining.

We have a tree!!

This represents the bulk of the back stitching. The middle of this is now done. I will now have to move on to the border. There is a lot of border.

We now have a cemetery!!

I know the back stitching is working and it is really helping this project. On the other hand, doing this much is a real drag. I did like that the cemetery is looking better. Only the tree to go!!

More back stitching

I have been busy doing the evil back stitching. I will agree that it makes a difference but it is also taking quite a bit of time.

Time for a break - -

I abandoned this project due to running out of floss. I decided to day that I really wanted to work on something different. I have already posted the main needle roll stitched part. These will be the scissors sheath, strawberry fob, pin cushion and needle book. I am so happy to have these done. Of course now I need to spend some time doing the 'finishing'.

How Many????

I continued on with his jacket, cape and will move on to the pants. It occurs to me that I am doing one stitch at a time. How about you? When you back stitch, what is the max you will carry a thread when it is going in one direction. I won't go more than three stitches. If there are four stitches, I will do two at a time. The directions said to only back stitch over two threads. I might start that way but I quickly move on to going two or three stitches at a time. How about you?

Scary Pumpkin

Well, here he is!! I did all the back stitching on the pumpkin. I am still not sure where I want to go next. Continue back stitching or more on to the borders????? The back stitching does help to outline the items and it does make it seem to pop out. This guy says "Hey - - look at me!!"

The moon is full - - Yippee

I received some beautiful flowers from my son and his girl friend. I just love the idea that they are purple!!!!!


The moon is done. I am not sure where to go next. Back stitching the whole main project will be quite a challenge. I could also move on to the border.

Now we work on the moon.

I asked my sister for an iPod bag and I asked that it be purple and 'hippie' style. This arrived today. I am thrilled with it. She also included a sample dose of Happy Hands lotion. This one is called Hippie Chick. How great is that?????


There is a lot of yellow. I am working the overdyed with my two row method to help make it look more mottled. I am done on the left side and will move on to the right side of the horseman.

We Have Pumpkin!!!

Our headless horseman is holding his pumpkin head. Is it scary? What scares me is all the yellow moon that will be coming soon.

We now have a skull - -

The grave yard is done and the skull is in place. I am also working my way up the tree. I also ran into a bit of trouble with the border. The horse's tail should not touch the border but it does. I am not going to figure out the trouble but to move on. The tree needs a lot of work.

Thank Goodness - - another color

Ok - now I have finished up the horse. Whew!!! I just read that it all gets BACKSTITCHED??? That will another huge job. Now I am doing the green grass and tombstones to represent the cemetary this guy must be riding through.

On a side bar - - I have, once again, messed up my back. Lessons are learned each time I go through this. I went to the chiropractor today after a weekend of screaming pain. Well, it only hurts when I step on my left foot. It also hurts if I turn to the left so I have to continually turn to the right. (DH likes this - - ) I am spending a lot of time exercising the bad muscle, going to the doctor, icing my back and saying lots of bad words. I hope things are better soon. I do get a lot of stitching done while I have to sit and ice. So there is a good part.

Black, black, black

When you have a lot of one color, the good news is you don't have to spend a lot of time changing colors or threading needles. The bad news is that you can get very sick of a single color. The horse now has his back feet and we have moved on to the tail. The horse part is coming to an end. I am very grateful about that.