A Cottage For My Sniffles 🏠

 

             When I decided to make this tissue box cover, designed by needlepoint contest favorite, Angela K. Arickx, it was purely out of an admiration for the unique pattern. I have come across many "cottage house" needlepoint on plastic canvas patterns, but somehow this one has a spectacular realism to it. I am also very much a sucker for tissue that looks like smoke coming from a chimney!

             I did not have a recipient in mind for this needlepoint project, and I still don't. I love to come home and see this little house; it reminds that beautiful things like this can be created in any quiet corner of the world.

          I think that the hardest part of this project was putting the smaller roofs (gables) on the top. I know from my experience of making tiny houses that you don't want those lopsided! 

To Fan the Flames of Beauty 🌬️

      This stunningly gorgeous handbag was designed by Debbie Tabor. She has once again out-done herself with needlepoint designs! I first saw this design many moons before I actually began completing it myself. This purse really fueled my decision to purchase the plastic canvas "Totes" book in which it is featured. In case you are unclear, this image is of a woman covering her face with a Victorian-era fan. You can decide for yourself why she is doing this.

       I very much enjoyed making this purse. The inverted sides and bottom are really just little pieces that are stitched together. I went online and bought the ribbon and flowers to complete the look of the purse. I think the most challenging part of this creating process was picking out the colors for the woman's face. There are so many colors there!

        I made the eyebrows a bit bolder than suggested, just to give a more striking look. I, of course, reinforced the handles with an extra piece of mesh. This purse is nothing if not sturdy!

      Like all of my current purses, I made sure to line this one quite pristine. Here we have a white, costume silk that I think blends quite well with the look of the purse.

          I don't know about you, but I think that this handbag can go well with anything. What do you think?

The Cat Locator 🐈

         I was recently commissioned to create a needlepoint door hanger. One of the most adorable designs I have the pattern to is this "kitty locator" that was originally designed by Debbie Tabor. You can check out this pattern book from the link! This confection comes from a needlepoint pattern book of kitty-appreciation-themed boxes and picture frames and even a scratching post. I don't trust the scratching post just because I dislike the idea of creating something beautiful for my cat, just for her to gradually destroy it!

     I was very excited to kick start this project. But just like many crafting experiences, I discovered an extreme inaccuracy in the project pattern, only after cutting out the mesh pieces and picking out the yarn! It turns out that the pattern for one side of this two-sided door hanger was completely reversed, so i had the makeshift that side, as I went along. I am very grateful to have had years of experience doing needlepoint on plastic canvas, because I figured out the problem and solution quite deftly. In the end, I have this beautiful piece that I shipped off to my commissioner, just yesterday!

      Of course, my absolute FAVORITE part of this design is the "backside". It has just enough realism to get the point across, but is not so realistic as to nauseate the onlooker. The tail feature of this piece shows us how beauty and function can be the same. I must say, it can be a plus to know when the kitty is "in" and the kitty is "out"....of the room.