With my comliments

As far as I can tell, no one but my super-typo-sniffer-outer husband noticed my typo in the patterns. And yet here I am, airing my dirty typo laundry for all to read. (Does Photoshop even have a spellchecker? I wouldn't know since I learned to use Photoshop by mashing my fists into the keyboard and seeing what came up on the screen.) Not to worry, it is not anything that will affect your embroidery, just a silly missing 'p'! And those of you who saved the originally posted versions have special "limited edition" chicken scratch patterns. You may want to print it out, dip it in resin and preserve it for your grand kids. My comliments to the pattern-maker!

Am I embarrassed? No, way, I'm too cool for that! Ok, maybe a little. People like to read embarrassing stories though, right? So! For your entertainment, I will now post one of the most embarrassing moments in my life:

Once there was a young girl who had a VERY active imagination and a habit of getting into places she wasn't supposed to. She liked to climb into the cat condo known affectionately as "the cat house" and pretend she was a squirrel. Or sometimes she'd stuff some toys in there and pretend she was a mother fox in her den with little babies. Sometimes the cat house was a wigwam. Sometimes a bear's cave. All the while she would narrate her adventures in third person,

"It was nearly winter so the squirrel gathered nuts (acorns) and seeds (toothpicks) and made her nest (blankets) for the cold months. She settled in and slept for it was very cold out."

And like all young mammals, the girl grew. She grew a little each day so she didn't really notice. Until one day something happened that made her realize her size. She got stuck in the cat house. She poked her head out but her shoulders, she didn't remember them being this broad. She started to struggle and there was pain coming from her feet. It was those damn acorns and toothpicks. Why, WHY had she gathered toothpicks!?

The girl's parents came, laughed, snapped a picture and talked her out of the cat house.

"No, duck down and shoot one leg out of the hole....oh, wow, that's not going to work."

"Can you get one arm out and then shinny your shoulders?"

There may have been some loosening of panels with a crowbar and some olive oil involved but the girl was free of the cat house in time. Now she knew why her mom had told her to stop putting toothpicks in the cat house. No, it wasn't to keep the cats from eating them and getting intestinal torsion. It was so that one day, when she got stuck in the cat house, she wouldn't get toothpicks stuck in her feet trying to free herself. Mothers are wise.

Now, about that picture. I know there exists a picture. I suspect my sister has stolen it to blackmail me in the future! But the joke's on her, I have grown to love this story! Yes, I was an odd child. Yes, I probably was a little old to be playing squirrel in the cat house. But that's just who I am. So, sadly, I couldn't find the picture but I do have some to help illustrate.

Imagine this girl:

Inside of this luxuriously upholstered cat condo:

Note in the first picture you can see the cat to gauge relative size. But no, that's not the position I was in in the cat box. And I was most likely wearing at least ears if not a tail to complete the whole squirrel effect. Like this:

That is a goat named Sebastian I am feeding.

Windmill Wednesday! -Chicken Scratch Pattern #4

Oooh, this is a cute one! Windmills, an exceedingly vintage design! It's flanked by a pair of tulips and includes an optional border to go under it.
This pattern is for your own personal use. For more on Chicken Scratch, see this first post which has some tips and links.

Exclusive Chicken Scratch Pattern!

To get another of my free chicken scratch patterns, visit Whipup! This one is a fun one, exclusive to Whipup, not to be found anywhere else!

Chicken Scratch Pattern #3

This one has GOT to be one of my favorites! I love snowflakes, I decorate extensively with them at holiday time (I don't like Santa or religious themes so snowflakes and snowmen it is!) Scatter it about on a pillow? Make some potholders as a gift with a snowflake centered on each one? Of course, it would look lovely on an apron! What wouldn't?
This pattern is for your own personal use only.

For something else that would make a lovely gift for those who enjoy their time in the kitchen, check out the Make-Do Mercantile! Like how I can work that in just about anywhere?

Chicken Scratch Pattern #2

Ok, I just couldn't wait a whole day! So there will be two patterns today! This one is a more traditional border that would look lovely at the bottom of an apron, around a skirt or maybe around a tablecloth! If it's too wide, you could just do a section of it since it's made up of three different sections. It's like three patterns in one!

This pattern is for your own personal use only. And, of course, if you want a pattern for a complete chicken scratch apron, check out the summer issue of the Make-Do Mail!

I just couldn't wait! Chicken Scratch Pattern #1

So, yes, it's a few hours before Monday officially but I just couldn't wait to post my very first in my week-long series of chicken scratch patterns!

Of course, the reason I'm so excited is that I have opened up my new etsy shop,
The Make-Do Mercantile!

You can get my very first drafted-by-me pattern for a pinnie you can make from a vintage pillowcase!

And the very first educational pamphlet and badge set for the Make-Do Marigolds mail club! Which brings us to why I have drawn up these free patterns. In this summer issue of the Make-Do Mail, the craft project is a chicken scratch apron and while I love the pattern I put into the booklet, there are so many cute ones an there don't seem to be a lot available online.

So here is the very first in a week-long series of free patterns. Check back each day for a new pattern! I can see a couple of these birds flying across an apron. Or curtains, wouldn't that look great?

This pattern is for your own personal use.

A bit about chicken scratch
Chicken Scratch is cross stitch (and other simple stitches) done on gingham using the squares as a grid. It is also sometimes called cross stitch on gingham, Amish lace or snowflaking. Although not as well known as cross stitch or needlepoint, you can find more info on the web about chicken scratch then about some of the more obscure needlecrafts like huck weaving and hardanger embroidery. It seems to be enjoying a small revival!

All the patterns I will post this week can either be worked in cross stitches or double cross stitches. I think this one would look great in double cross stitches since it's kind of a loose pattern but it would show up well worked in single cross stitches on a light fabric done in dark floss. The number of strands of floss you use will depend on the width of gingham you use (meaning the width of each square) and your personal preference. I like to use eighth inch gingham and 2 strands of floss for most of my aprons.

Some further reading on chicken scratch:
PDF from West Virginia University Extension Service
Crafttown's pattern for a little tree
Crossstitch.about.com has three little printable patterns
PDF from University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
Instructions and heart pattern from Pegasus Originals
Primrose Design's chicken scratch tutorial

Packbaskets!

After seeing Martha's packbasket on the Martha Blog, I officially need one! What would I do with it? I envision myself taking the dog on walks with the packbasket in tow to pick up litter. Or perfect for toting garage sale treasures! Flea markets! Strap on the basket! I've never really been into Adirondack style anything so I'm not sure what's drawing my to these baskets.

They're kind of pricey so I am tempted to buy this kit and make my own so I could use non-leather and a prettier color scheme. But like I don't have enough going on!

Wow, looking through that website really inspires me! Must resist urge to take up new hobby! Maybe I can settle on making this library tote!

So much for Monday

So, anyone waiting with baited breath for the surprise yesterday was of course disappointed. But not to despair! The surprise has been postponed until next Monday. Here's a hint:

Make-Do is Done!

It's done, it's done!! The complimentary copies are on their way to the fine ladies who replied to my emails! And it's up on Etsy!

I'm so excited! I have a special surprise for you next week to celebrate the debut of the Make-Do Mail! Stay tuned!

New project

Have a mentioned here that I am drafting a pattern which I hope will eventually be available for purchase on Etsy? It's my very first pattern that I have perfected to a point where I would allow others to use it. :) I am at the testing and tweaking stage and I am almost getting tired of the resulting garment. I say almost because if it weren't so cute and darn fun to wear, I would be tired of it but I love each one I make more than the last! I can't wait till I can show you all! I know, kind of a tease but I just had to blog about it because I'm that excited! Now, back to sewing!