Of Pandas and Stitching

Allusions to Steinbeck aside, I have fun news!

First the mural paper for the Panda Nursery arrived and it looks fabulous!

 I have two sheet and plan on starting at each front corner and wrapping them around to the back.  If for whatever reason the ends do not meet all the way in the back I will hide that fact with a strip of white wood.

The question now is: do I spray the paper like I usually do to protect it from the elements and if so, what should I use?  I don't want to detract from the nice glossy sheen, but I don't want the paper to get easily damaged either.  The stuff I normally use on my regular wallpaper would dull the image too much.  What do you all think?

I also ordered this little book from the same shop.  It had been so long that I'd forgotten about it. 

 On the stitching front, I borrowed "Achoo!" and "Flowerpot Kitty" back from our vets to put them in the Guild's Judged Show last Saturday.  "Achoo!" took the blue ribbon in the commercial counted cross stitch category and one of the three Judge's Choice ribbons!

 

"Flowerpot Kitty" scored fairly well too, but not high enough to tie with the red ribbon winner.  All in all I'm happy about the whole state of affairs.  I just wish I could've gotten "Rose Cuttings" done in time. 

I'm off to do some mini stitching for Kim, the Panda Nursery, and then work on "Rose Cuttings" tonight.  It's going to feel so good having a needle and floss in my hands again.

Chicago International Show 2011-Long and Picture Heavy!

"Wow" does not begin to describe the wonderful people, great friends, gorgeous miniatures, and total sensory overload I experienced on Saturday.  I rode up with a member of the Stitcher's Guild and her husband.  We didn't stay together long since we were going at different paces.

First off I was able to meet several blog/Facebook friends in person.  April from Every Little Thing was there and we browsed quite a bit together... while we looked for my Guild friend.  I had the double pleasure of meeting Julie Campbell of Bellabelle Art Dolls and Jain Squires aka The Giddy Kipper.  I came away with one of Julie's dolls... more on her in a bit.  Ladies it was fantastic to meet you in person and I hope we have the chance to meet again someday!

Now for the fun part!  There we so many beautiful things it was hard to choose.  Happily I was able to come home with several pieces that spoke to me.

 Let's start off with my treasure from Julie.  Her name is Becka and Julie blogged about her last year.  I had forgotten that I'd loved her then until I went searching for any mention of her on Julie's blog. (There is a much better photo on Julie's blog.)  I do not know yet if Becka will move into the little girl's room in the "big dollhouse" once it's done or if I will construct a special setting for her.

 

 Here is a close up of my lipstick fairy by The Ladybug.  The butterfly cut-outs in the main picture also came from her table.

 These baby rabbits are a real treat.  This picture does not do them justice in the least.  The artist's name is Sylvia Mobley. Her blog can be found here and her website here.  Please, please visit them both.  Her work is stunning on a bad day and breath-taking on the best.  (And I blame Julie for my inability to resist these bunnies.)

 Now for some of the littler things.  I wanted to expand my collection of mini liquors and I needed the chocolate syrup for "Not Quite Fay's".  It was the only missing ingredient for mudslides sitting in the back corner of the hutch.  I feel in love with the mouse toy whist waiting to pay for the liquor bottles.

 Of course I was drawn to the mouse when I saw this panda bear in a basket close to the checkout area.  I think the panda will look great in the Panda Nursery.  I also had to have this little pig when I saw him.  (There are 4 tiny pairs of scissors in front of the pig.)

 The little pig looks just like a beloved toy of mine from my junior high school days.  Aren't they cute together?

 Another shot of the baby bunnies alongside a pewter candle mold and candle holder.  Perfect for either my witch's house or a Rendezvous miniature.  Come to think of it I should have grabbed a couple more of each.  Drat.

 A little something for FH's hunting cabin that I really should get back to...

 I thought he'd be fantastic in the Trading Post.

 A piece of silk that I couldn't ignore along with some flocking... black and white of course.  I bet you can't guess how I'm going to use that.

 Now for the part where I had to keep my composure and not turn into a gibbering fan-girl of epic proportions.  I was able to meet and chat with one of my heroes in the doll-making world, James Carrington.  He even signed my copy of his book.  I also received some (more) encouragement to attend the IGMA guild school. 

And I came away with this lovely.  This photo doesn't do her justice.  I really needed sunlight but I couldn't wait to take all the pictures. 

 

She's pretty much an early "everything" gift from FH.  I'll be settling for flowers and his fabulous cooking for many special occasions.  Oh darn. ;-)  This lady will definitely big getting a scene made around her.  It must include a grand staircase and doors to other rooms... I think.  For now I'll be getting domes or something to display both her and Becka in so I can enjoy them without them getting dusty.  Although Becka might come out to play with Maddie from time to time.  One never knows.

Oh and I did find my Guild friend again and we both fell asleep in the car for a bit on the way home.  Happily her husband was driving. ;-)  I'm going to go collapse now.

Some Panda Things Finished!

Monday night saw me finish four of the cross stitching things for the Panda Nursery. 

 Here's the growth chart:

Receiving Blankets:

 

Panda Toy: (front)

(back)

Don't worry about those threads that look loose in the picture above.  I've already dealt with them.

Now I need to make a frame for the birth announcement and move on to other things.

Thanks Katie!

Katie did it again!  She made two more adorable minis for the Nursery.  They arrived in the mail yesterday.  Aren't they cute!?!

Thanks again Katie!

These are going to look great in the Nursery!  Speaking of the Nursery construction details are still stalled.  The wallpaper mural for the outside is still back-ordered.  I've called the store and the very nice ladies are trying to get in touch with the lady who makes the papers.  Hopefully I will know more soon.

Until then I have to keep working on things for the inside.  If the back-order goes on too long I may have to come up with a "Plan C"... the mural was Plan B.  *sigh*  At least Tempie can keep me company in the work room again.  It was too lonely in there with her sick and 'Bert gone.  Back to work I go!
 

Cross-Stitched Panda Toy and Tempie

I'll get Tempie out of the way.  She's eating much more normally again, of course this didn't happen until yesterday morning.  However she's not eating anything that has to be chewed a lot like carrots and pea pods.  This is mildly distressing but for the moment FH and I are grating her carrots every night.  She happily eats them that way.  I have a call into the vet about that, hopefully I'll know more soon.

 I finished stitching the front and back of the panda toy yesterday.  I would have posted then but a lovely storm rolled through just as I was finished.

The piece of fabric I've been using for all these smaller pieces was washed and blocked last night.  I painted around the edges of each piece with diluted white glue earlier today.  Currently I'm waiting on the glue to dry so I can start the finishing on these things.

I'm going to get back to the laundry whilst the glue dries.  It will give me something productive to do.

Minis From San!

The package from San! arrived yesterday!  I was relieved.  I've been fretting at the mailbox everyday that it didn't appear.  But it's here now. :-)

A rocking horse.  It may stay as a horse but get redecorated. 

  A child's table and chair.  The bear face will get turn into a pandas, as will the table legs.

And the toy box.  I'll be making this bear into a panda as well.

I'm not sure if I will leave the rest of the furniture the natural wood color or repaint it as well.  It will depend entirely on how well it contrasts with the floor.  We'll find out soon though! :-)

Thank you so much San for sending these pieces.  I can't wait for you to see what I do with them. :-)

Pink Things from N.W.!

N.W. happened to be making some girly minis for her dollhouse when I mentioned I was trying to add more touches of pink in the Panda Nursery.  Since she made extras there is now more pink!  There are also some sweet photos of a baby panda growing up and two clocks to choose from.  And of course more books! :-)

 Here's a close-up of the pink teddy bear, skirt, tiara, and one of the clocks.  Actually I think it's the clock that will get used in the room.

 Here are the baby panda photos in their handsome frames.

 A pink blanket, the other clock, and the books.  This is the second copy of Ladybug Girl.  The first had a visible slice that N.W. didn't care for so she made another.  :-)

 A sweet doll dressed in pink standing next to another panda picture to frame.  N.W. sculpted the doll.  She's (the doll) is even jointed!

Thank you again N.W.! 

Treasures from Kathi

The box of minis from Kathi at Beautiful Mini Blessings arrived yesterday!  Everything is just so cute!

 

 Here is a close up of the bench that started it all.  I love the face on this panda!

 Extra supplies to use.  The rick rack will probably decorate the lampshade once I'm happy with it.

Here's a look at the things on the left side of the picture.  I love love love the hooded panda towel and the shelf!  And isn't that bamboo awesome?

 

Check out those teensy tiny diaper pins!

 And now the right side.  I promise I'll get back to the middle in a minute.  Look at the panda food!  And the fun beads, panda face, and diaper holder!

 And this bamboo is totally awesome!

 These tiny shoes are just darling!

 Back to the middle, as promised!  I saved the best bit for last.  The tiniest panda from Katie DOES fit on the diaper cake!  This is something Kathi, Kati, and I were pondering.  Well ladies, it worked!  He's a perfect fit!

  Kathi, thank you, thank you, thank you again for your help with this project.  Honestly I cannot thank you enough.

From Polar to Panda

Casey gave me the idea of finding bear buttons and painting them a couple of weeks ago.  I finally had a free moment to try it out.  It was as easy as 1,2,3:

I left the bottom one original for this picture so you can see what they used to look like.  Then I painted it too and let them dry.

Once they had dried I went back and painted the details on the eyes and bows and touched up the black in places.

This worked out really well.  I'm going to rummage through the buttons I have stashed in the sewing room to see if I have any other bear shapes that I can convert.  That's for another day though.

Thanks for the idea, Casey!

Birth Announcement Finished!

I finished the birth announcement on Saturday night whilst FH was out with "the guys."  For obvious reasons I cannot publish the personal information on the stitching, so I've censored it.  At least this way you can see most of it.

The panda on the left looks a little annoyed.  Probably because I took so long in getting him done.  I may go back and fix his "angry" eye later.  For now I need to press forward.

The other thing I managed to do Saturday night was start playing with ideas for the rug design.  There's a mini motif in a book one Guild member owns that might make a good center design for the rug.  There's also a couple of small commercial cross stitch kits that I could use.  I'm not sure which of the possibilities I like more.  Of course I'm not the one stitching it... someone else has volunteered to do that.  I just have to provide a design.

Time to get back at it.  See you tomorrow!

Treasures from Katie!

When I got the mail on Monday there was a package from Katie at "Katie's Clay Corner" waiting for me.  Look at all the fun things from inside:

Four sweet pandas and a green bear.  A girl can't have only pandas after all. 

I think the littlest panda (far right) might be small enough to sit on Kathi's diaper cake.  I'll be checking on that as soon as it arrives. 

Some of you know Katie has been making really cool aged signs, birdhouses, and furniture lately.  She was generous enough to send not one, not two, but five(!) signs for the Nursery.  [I have censored the baby's names in this picture.  I assure you the signs are perfect and gorgeous!]

I know at least three will fit... I'm hoping for more.  I especially like the "cherish" and "treasure the moment" signs.  I think they are very fitting.

Next up are the printies.  My printer is dead so these are much, much appreciated.  Katie left them unglued so they wouldn't get smooshed in the mail.

More books!  I swear the baby will never lack for stories and diapers.  Two very important things. :-)

And a few fun extras including a shelf that I've been given orders (by Katie) to repaint.  Probably white or green so it shows up against the blue of the wall.

I don't know if you can see, but on the packaging of the panda eraser there is a tiny, pink cartoon panda.  I'm giving some real thought into putting it in the little picture frame. 

There were two more things in the package from Katie, but they're for me!

More cross stitch patterns!  I LOVE the Halloween chart!  I'm thinking it will be given a high place in my project queue.  Whenever I get the time to stitch again that is.  There are a few motifs in the other book that have captured my attention as well.

Thanks for everything Katie!  As always, you rock! :-)