November 12, 2009

Remember this?

Last year I was working on this, and hoping it would be done for Christmas time, but I didn't make it. This year, I'm on the home stretch! Right now I'm trying to decide if I want to do a wall hanging of it, and put it in the guest bathroom, or do a pillow. If I do a wall hanging, I want to find a frame that I can enhance with woodland type of twigs perhaps. I have a lot of holiday pillows already, so I'm not sure I want to make yet another. It depends I guess if I can get all the supplies for the frame.
I worked on this last month. They are little felt pockets for an Advent calendar. I got the tutorial from "Allsorts" blog. The rest of the project is to find some sort of ribbon or fabric to string them up on, then in between each one, you tie another ribbon so they stay separate. I need to go out and find some nice ribbon and string it up on December 1st.
Aside from these two embroidery projects, I'm currently sewing a top for myself. We will see how that turns out. After going to a bunch of stores and getting very annoyed with the lack of creativity and the price of things, I have decided to try once again, to sew something for myself. Sometimes this turns out well, and sometimes the item ends up folded and put away in shame, because, unlike the store, you have committed to making this thing, and you simply can't just go put it back on the rack. It is always a bit dicey to sew for yourself I think. I'm really trying to get past this though. My reference for how patterns look when they are done, is "Pattern Review." You can go on there and see how it turned out for others with similar body types and what it looks like in certain fabrics. I love this site, and it has helped me to choose wisely.

As the weather starts to turn here, I'm getting the urge to do more sewing, so hopefully there will be more to share.

Quincy update: We are starting to think that he may never like being outside of his cage. We have been working with him for several days, and he still is not happy with being out. When we had our beloved Frankie, he loved being out from day one, and this little guy has more fun in his own cage. Now I have to decide if I will get him a companion, or just enjoy him in his cage and let him be.
Anyone out there have a stubborn parakeet, that didn't want to come out?

12 comments:

  1. Frankie was the same we just let him hang out and we kind of bugged him a lot because Caitlin and I were kids. We also took him out sooo many times, and got introuble for keeping him out so long. But I really think that you need to let him wander, i think thats what made Frankie who he was, he needs to live a free spirit lifestyle.

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  2. your sewing is wonderful! the embroidery and advent pockets are terrific. i wish you all the best with your top and you know i've been to the dark side with projects that don't work out. quincy may just be a homebody like so many of us ;).

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  3. Your first piece is really pretty-can't wait to see the finished product. The little pockets are so cute. And sewing--well, I haven't
    done any in a long time . I'm glad I know how but I just can't get into making a top, pants,skirt or anything else for me.

    Good Luck.

    Melinda

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  4. When Quincy is out of the cage, get a perch out of his cage and try to get him to step onto it. By holding one end of the perch and putting the other end close to Quincy you are not physically touching him and are just a little distance away. Not so intimidating to a little bird.

    Hold the perch just below his breast and say, "step up". Gently lift the perch upward and touch just under his breast. Hopefully, he will lift one of his feet. Quickly, put the perch in his foot and slowly pull the perch forward. Keep trying this until he gets both feet on the perch. Then, you can walk around with him on the perch, sit with him on the perch, and eventually put the perch up to your shoulder and roll the perch out from under him.

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  5. Nicole, I remember when I got Frankie it took only a couple of weeks for him to get on my finger. Same with Lucy, and she didn't mind being out, she just wasn't as spicy as Frankie. This little guy will not get on our fingers and we have had him now for a month. We have been working with him everyday. Yesterday, we didn't take him out, and today, what little progress we did make with him is GONE!! It's like he is even more terrified.

    To Anonymous: We did try the perch and his favorite manzanita branch, and he high tailed it from us even more. I go real slow and I talk to him sweetly, I also try not to stress him out either if I can tell he has had enough.He just seems so happy in his cage. When I did have another one who spent more time out than in and was something else, so this little guy is starting to try my patience!

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  6. Your embroidery(?) project is brilliant! On Country Living I recently saw something about making your own twig frame. (I know it probably seems like I own their stock -- I promise I don't.) Here is the link: http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/fall-crafts-1007

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  7. P.S. -- Hi, Quincy. Sorry if I made any trouble for you with my last comment. Veterinarians do not know everything, right? I know you can do it, just give it a try, finger stepping is the best way to travel. You'll see.

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  8. what a gorgeous work of embroidery! truly stunning! and thanks for visiting my blog...

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  10. it's so hard to find attactive embroidery projects. do you mind me asking where that one came from?your sewing is beautiful!

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  11. To Anne, the embroidery project in the picture is from Marie Claire Idees ,a French magazine. They have so many cute projects for embroidery. I don't know where you live, but you can find the magazine in Borders or Barnes and Noble.

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  12. Thanks Elizabeth. I live in Chicago. I'll go take a look at my local B&N!

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