Rumpelstiltskin I know your PAIN

Someone needs to give that man some props. I mean, seriously, can you imagine spinning straw into gold and not having any thread controller? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Wasn't even invented yet. Sure he was somewhat crazy with wanting to take someone else's child in payment for his labor. But today, I worked with the golden floss in my packet for the first time and started to understand why his labor costs were so high.

First of all, I don't even know if I'm separating my threads right. The single bits just blend together and I can't tell the difference between individual and separate threads. Second of all, this thread is way, WAY stiffer than my other threads. Threading it was a pain, and I actually got some hand cramps from holding the needle harder. So can you imagine the struggle Rumpel ( le?) had?? In candle light???

Pssh. Stitch please. Rumple (el?)  was a thread provider and nobody even used the thread for all his hard work.

It was hard to pull and work through too:l

On another note....Haven't seen much backing now that I've showed the one above. How about more of that lovely coloring?

Aaaaaand, close up!!

Sniff. So beautiful!

Toodles!
-VanaQB

WARNING: RANDOMNESS AHEAD

I finally, finally, have the energy and time to sit at a computer (thanks bro) and update my blog. After moving stuff, driving for two days straight, and then driving another seven hours to my bothers house (thanks again, bro) I've managed to sit down to give you this.

RANDOM PHOTOS.

Don't know why its sideways, but it adds spice!

45 minutes of work...sigh, good job

Oh. My. Stitch.

Toodles!
-VanaQB

Well Lookie At What I Found

You wouldn't believe what I discovered after clearing my house and rummaging through my older cross stitch stuff. Like, seriously, I had a throw back to when my sister and I first started stitching. It still had the wooden hoop on it and the cloth had turned from white to a little beige color in some areas. This was before I even started hoarding cross stitch!!

That's how far it threw me.

And what did I discover among the endless possibilities of finding random stuff in my house? I discovered...a piece that my sister started.

So Girly indeed

If I recall, this was bought in Florida at one of the many craft stores in the area. Couldn't remember exactly when it was started, but I knew it had to be college time, so around 2010-2012. I remembered my sister working on this piece, the feelings of noobness flooding back to me. I just had to pick up the packet and take a look inside. I found this down below:

18ct, Aidia cloth 

It's part of a series and this one had a more sister theme to it, so my sister bought it and altered the colors to match our skin tones. She did a pretty neat job on it, even the back was impressive. Why didn't she finish it? That's because life happened, we moved, changed work places, continued our education....It's just been sitting there for over three years! I couldn't resist: I sat down on the couch, picked it up, and watched three episodes of Alaska: The Last Frontier (awesome show by the way. Good job Discovery). 

This is what I completed:

I don't know how my sister did it. The needle that came along with the set is so blunt at the end, I have to use a pin needle to break the thread before I sent that sucker on through to do a half stitch. That's why it took me longer than I thought it should have taken to get the hair done that far. Ridiculous.  

Surprise progress report on my other project down below! WHAT WHAT?!?!!

Toodles.

-VanaQB

I Prefer a Blank Check Please, no Pearls

Don't re-read that title. There is no mistake, no miss-print.

What you are reading is the real. Deal.

Like this Cross-Stitch Masterwork done by a group of people. It's called "The Battle of Grunwald".

It's the real deal.

I am an honest to goodness craft person to my very soul. I often tell my friends, I don't want my man to buy me diamonds, ruby necklaces, or other expensive items. What I want him to do is, instead of spending all that money on jewelry that I already have, I want him to give me a gift card to Micheal's Craft Store. Better yet!! I want us to walk into my favorite craft store, have him turn to me and say, "Here babe, this is for you," then he hands me a BLANK CHECK, salutes me, and disappears in the store to his favorite section.

Say whaaaaat--?

Do you realize how happy I will be? Do you understand that the crafter that I am, will probably duce out for a solid 2 hours (at least), roaming the store and pilling up a store cart or two, carts that I normally don't use because I only buy what my wallet and hand can handle???

Two store carts. TWO!!

And then at check out, I'll be so happy, so content, that when I enter the amount I won't even flinch. I won't even bat an eyelash. I'll whip out my sparkling purple pen like Indiana Jones, and sign my name like the President of the United States of America!

Then my man will casually roll on up in his car, hop out, pop the trunk and pack everything in the back. And finally, finally, we ride off into the sunset both happy. I'm pretty sure there will be some epic LOTR music playing too, just for added affect.

I can dig that. I realize my passions can be expensive, and a few bloggers have commented on how their other half either helps them in some way, shape and form, or they kind of flinch at the exccesive hoarding. My man will understand my passion and love for art, and will realize that it will all come back to him. Be it in a piece I make just for him, or I serve the man some breakfast in bed as a special thank you. Heck, I'll even frame a piece and give it to his special family member. It will come in full circle, because he made me happy by helping me with my art, and I made him happy creating something for him.

It's the real deal.

Toodles!
-VanaQB

Just cruzin'! Na na na na na na na nana-- Oh, wait, wrong song

I have a guilty pleasure. That guilty pleasure is looking up cross stitch patterns while I'm at work. When the crazy stuff ends and there is a lull in the work day, I pick up my mouse and click, click, click, I'm on a cross stitch website looking at various designs.

Usually, those designs are 22ct or higher and we all know how I feel about those!

I just can't help myself though. The colors and designs are so vibrant I can hardly stand it. I'm pretty sure my job doesn't pay me to sit and look at these beautiful colors, but I'm okay with it.

From HAED, down below are examples of a few that I've oozed over (wait, what?):

Super-sized Moon Goddess

Super-sized Earth Angel

You see? Do you see why both my heart and wallet cry at the same time? Especially for this one, the Disney Princess' Apocalypse Princesses. It's a little showy, so I won't post the photo here. Responsible Adults click away.

Just another wallet cracker. AAARRGH BATMAN!

And then there is this Zelda piece that is calling to my Inner GG (Gaming Goddess). One stitcher already completed it on her website, along with other amazing complex looking stuff. I, for one, would love to complete this piece in the sanctuary of The Bahamas.

Need I say more? I wonder if they have Twilight Princess and Pikmin out there....hmmm.

Last but not least, this lovely Elven Maid, though I'm pretty sure they meant to say Elven Maiden, since she looks like a lady more than a maid. But that's just me. Choose to ignore. Every time I look at this piece, I imagine me being her meeting Legolas from LTOR and then I just start salivating. Because not only is he good looking, but he's a hard worker, has integrity and is loyal to his friends. And did you see how epically (?) he took down that elephant in LOTR: The Return of the King?? And how he awesomely (??) flew over and fought for his I'm-not-into-you-anymore girl with that orc on the bridge in The Hobbit: The Five Armies (but it really wasn't five, it was just like one army split into two)??!! Sure he's a bit dense when it comes to picking up certain signals that could lead him to realizing that his elf chick is falling out of love with him and in love with a dwarf, but come on! He works so hard for his loved ones. It's almost ri-donck-u-lous (seriously you have a Masters, spell like you got sense). You kinda feel sorry for the guy! And he's Legolas! Look at his hair!!!

*gasp* Oh, right, stitching...love it.

Toodles!
VanaQB