Scranton's WNEP 16 News Backyard Train

There’s a funny story behind this one. I was watching This Week With John Oliver a few years back. If you have watched the show, you know that they end the show with "And Now..."- they usually feature something that’s sort of quirky or weird or somehow just ridiculous. On this specific episode, he featured a train that was part of a Scranton, PA weather report every evening on their local news. The train ran in the background, and people either loved it or hated it. People would call in and talk about how much they liked the train, or how stupid they thought it was. One guy called in and said the trolley was in the wrong place. Another guy called in, in response to that guy, that the engineer can put the trolley anywhere he wants to and “Shut up and go do your supper dishes!”. I laughed SO hard at that, for some reason, and of course… I had to make that into a cross stitch pattern. The trains are from Makoto’s Mini Cross Stitch book. It’s hanging in our kitchen (which is no longer green).

Here is a link if you want to watch a clip. It’s really funny. People are so weird. https://youtu.be/nqVgNvIiPxI

ScamGoddess Podcast

I listen to podcasts a lot. I have about a half hour or more commute to and from work, and I listen to them at work as well. I recently discovered one called ScamGoddess. I love it. Lacy Mosley is the host, and she is HILARIOUS. I’ve listened to several episodes and have already planned a few pieces from her quotes. She always has a different co-host and, of course, talks about scams. Recently, I listened to one and she said “Rules are for OTHER people! Rules are for other people so I can do what I want.” LOL perfect. So I created a pattern and stitched this up for my husband’s aunt. I posted about it on FB and she was like “OMG can you please make me one?” It was a quick finish, I think it may have taken an hour. I just need to get it wrapped up good so it doesn’t break and get it in the mail to her. I’m very happy with how it came out and will likely be making another for myself.

Tiiiiiny Stitches

Now and then, I like to drive myself crazy by stitching on 18ct Aida. I know a lot of stitchers use it, but it's hard for me personally to look at for long, because my eyes aren't great on up-close details, and it gives me a headache because of my football-shaped eyebawlz. Here's some madness I did in October of last year. They're super cute, yeah?

I made some wee needle minders out of a couple.

Mind The Needle

I am obsessed with needle minders. They are the cleverest daggone thing! When I realized I could make them out of covered buttons, I made a few! This tree is from Wild Olive. Rather than a face, I did french knots to make it look more like leaves.

This bomb is another Wild Olive design, and the F is my addition ;)

Not sure I quite like how this one turned out. Another Wild Olive one with the XO added by me.

Wild Olive coffee cup. I kept the face added dots and circles.

I drew this one. I tried the wagon wheel for the flowers with black Etoile thread. I like the sparkliness but I think using such dark thread doesn't really show the detail. Also, I didn't realize that I didn't cover my pen lines! I'll have to be more careful in the future.

SSDGM

I love the podcast My Favorite Murder. Karen and Georgia say the funniest things, and often, their quotes are made into cross stitch or embroidery designs by Murderinos. I did this small one a few years ago. I found this design on Pinterest with no credit and copied it, so if I find the artist in the meantime, I will come back and give them proper credit.

I have since collected a few designs but haven't gotten around to completing them. I did, however, complete this one by Jager and Yarn (Etsy) last year.

My sister is also a murderino, so I made her this ornament last year.

And I made this one for me.

One day, maybe I'll stitch up my other My Favorite Murder quotes... maybe.

The Time I Learned Needlework Isn't Just for Walls

There are so many cool things you can do with embroidery and cross stitch. One of my favorite things to do is making pins and necklaces. These are my first ones pins, and I am still trying to get the centering down. I recently came across them in a bin where I have a lot of my finished projects. This Domo-kun is one of the very first cross stitches I did about 10 years ago.

I stitched this pizza and word bubble up as well. These are Teeny Tinies from the Wild Olive Etsy store. Her patterns are SO CUTE! She usually puts little faces on everything, but I left them off and added the "XO" to the word bubble and some veggies to the pizza.

I did this one last year. Again, please ignore the crap centering...

I have a bunch of smaller cross stitches and embroideries to add to pins or pendant settings, I just need to get off my arse and do it!

Embroidered Pendants

I started doing these pendants last year.  I got the first ones from Amazon.  I think it came with 4 kits total for like $12.  They are quick little finishes, and I love how they look.  I did a few for myself, and I have stitched up several more to eventually sell.  I have also designed my own.  

These are from the kit patterns:

And these are from my own patterns.  I love making my own, it's really fun.  I'm working on several other designs as we speak!

Some of these are now in my Etsy Shop!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/StabCraft

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