happy happy joy joy

after several weeks of procrastination (i admit - i am TERRIBLE at this -- can't seem to get anything done until a deadline is looking me in the face; but i always get it done!), i got these lovely little letters stitched up and sent out on their way to jessica, who will string them above a fireplace mantle at her december wedding. best wishes to you on your special day, jessica!

(um, yep... i really did just make a ren and stimpy reference in that title. and then i left it there even after thinking about it.. yeeeeaah. it's okay.)

thanks johnny

here's a preview of one of the pieces going on over to the THIS gallery for the dec. 10th-11th show/sale:


it's one of my favourites, but then, i have a lot of favourites right now! my job tomorrow is to photograph them all....
with this unique, custom-made frame by my friend brian, of whiskey and chocolate, this piece is definitely one of a kind. it's kinda hard to think about giving these pieces up, but at the same time, i'm excited about it....
stay tuned; more to come.
(phew -- i originally published this post with the title of "thanks ponyboy" - but it was johnny who said it! really, i guess i should have titled it as, "thanks S.E. Hinton.")

holiday sale kick off

okay, lovelies.
i kicked off a little holiday sale in my etsy shop:


hand-embroidered monogram tea towels are going for two for $32 from now until i run out of towels.




and select kits are now $2 off. (these kits, plus more)

go on and do some shopping!

let's do THIS

i know i've been a little quiet here on the blog front; i apologize, but when you see all the stitching that i've been doing, i hope you'll understand. it's kinda hard to stitch and blog at the same time, you know. (hmmm, using the word "blog" as a verb makes me feel a little funny....) anyways - most of the stitching that i have been doing has been in preparation for the above event. you see that flyer -- it doesn't say "chez-sucre-chez" -- but it does say "kimberly scola" -- that's kind of exciting.. i think this is the first time i'm presenting my art under my own name, rather than my business name. i went back and forth about which i wanted to use, and ultimately, opted with my name. most of the pieces that i'll have on view/for sale there are one of a kind pieces -- they're rather different than what i usually offer up in my shop, so, i think the distinction is significant. i'm really really proud of the work i've been doing and really proud to be part of an event with such amazing artists! i'm going to continue stitching like a mad-woman for the next two days, and then i'll offer up a little preview of the work i've been doing. in the meantime, if you are in the los angeles area, you should put this event on your calendar. i'll remind you of it as the date gets closer, too.

heaven knows...

... i'm happy now.
my "please please please..." piece was featured in a smiths-themed etsy treasury:


check it out; it's a cute one. here.
also on there is a pair of cufflinks made out of a recycled/repurposed skateboard deck by etsy shop sevenply. i've bought from her before - it's a great shop to know about when looking for gifts for your favourite skateboarder boys (and girls).

it may seem early but...

... it's almost time to start thinking about decking the halls and trimming the tree.
i at least had to start my thinking about the holiday marketing season and so far, i am pleased with what i've come up with; i've got (almost) four new kits in the shop and they're all for making your own sweet little holiday ornaments/decorations.
lookie look:


no, you cannot have my frames, but you CAN make this:


i give you all the supplies:


or, if you prefer it in black - a little less holiday season specific, too:



and then there are the reindeer:


you can make it with or without the year.


i'm waiting on a shipment of white fabric, but in a day or two, the kits for this color option will be in the shop, too:


don't wait until the last minute! check them out here.

a whole lotta hanky panky

another project that's been in the works for quite a while and now it's finally off in the mail:


i couldnt work it out to get all - or even half or even close to it - of them in the photo - but there were 43 hand-embroidered hankies in all.


they were done for a wedding shower; each guest (and the bride) will receive a hankie with her name on it, embroidered in the same blue as the bridemaids' dresses.


sandy, my client, found me through etsy (via my boyfriend hankie kits) and she was SUCH a gem to work with. our correspondence and collaboration - from sourcing the hankies and getting them to me, to sending me info for the names and the color, to selecting font and placement, and then getting these back in the mail to her - it's all been so pleasant. i do love etsy for that -- the way most of the people who choose to do business there are doing so because they're looking for more of a personal connection than most current shopping set-ups. hooray, etsy!

cross my heart

these have been in the works for a while, but finally -- they're ready; they're in the shop; they're waiting for you!


it's the latest d.i.y. cross-stitch kit from chez-sucre-chez -- contains a c-s-c original pattern and all of the materials (except scissors) you need to complete the project. take a look here.

treasury love

my monogram tea towels have been getting some love lately on the etsy treasury lists - they've been in two in as many days!

they were here:


and here:




hooray! i feel good about these towels getting into holiday treasuries -- and i feel good about people who are shopping and ordering already; it makes the season so much easier for me, too!
i've also been contacted by etsy about a potential feature of these towels on HGTV, or the HGTV website... not sure if i'll hear more or not, but if i do, you'll be sure to know!

guided by voices

i finished up and shipped this piece the other day:


phew! that one was epic. at 8 x 10, i think it's one of the most involved pieces i've done to date; i'm quite happy with it. it was stitched up as a custom order for an anniversary gift. the lyrics are from a guided by voices song (i think!) and donna, the thoughtful wife, and i worked together to come up with the layout/design. hooray!

waiting to be framed

the piece on the left was inspired by my recent cross country trip, where i even drove through or past the hometown of mister woody guthrie (in okemah oklahoma). i was so excited when i thought of the idea that i was nearly crying. (but then, this happens to me a lot.) i played with a lot of different fonts and styles an ultimately, settled on this one... i like how it looks very print-inspired. (i dont like how it took days longer than making a print would have...) the font has a westernish, old-timey print look to it, i think; like work that came out of hatch show print, in nashville, which i didnt get to visit on this trip, as they were closed at 8am on sunday, when we were there. i've been before though and certainly recommend a visit if you find yourself in the area -- very inspiring.
then the red one is a little play with new borders, and the dylan quote is one i've been meaning to stitch up for ages (thanks to karen for the encouragement on that one).

halloween as the bat queen

skull muffins/misfits cakes were made:


i used this recipe; (it was PERFECT) and then after they were baked injected them with pumpkin cream cheese filling! SUper good.

mini pumpkin was carved:


and bat queen costume was successfully put together:


it was inspired by this image, which was thoughtfully sent to me by someone who knows my love of bats:


i cut a bunch of bat shapes out of felt, sewed floral wire into the tops of the wings, and basted them all over my $30 rodarte for target dress.


then i made myself a set of wings, put some bats in my hair and happily flew to the LACMA muse costume ball with great friends charles and hana. such a good halloween!