Needles, Hooks & Paperback Books

Starting Over

2011-07-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks,

I think I might try and start this thing up again. I have been going through a lot of stuff, health-wise, and moving here to Alaska, amongst many other things that I won't blog about. I actually grew up in Anchorage and we moved to Oregon right after I graduated. It had been twenty-five years since I had been here. And while things have certainly changed, it is still one of the most beautiful places on the earth.

Lately I have been knitting and crocheting a lot. I even joined a Knitting Guild. There are four amazing yarn shops I can travel to in a reasonable amount of time and am lucky that one of the is right here in town. I will try to post links for them later if your interested.

Off to get my liver MRI. If anyone out there wouldn't mind saying a little prayer for me I would be truly thankful for that. I won't have the results for a few days.

I hope everyone is enjoying some great crafty stuff, what ever it is. Tell me what you are working on if you have time and have a wonderful day!

Take Time To Knit

2010-05-21T13:53:00.001-07:00

Look what I received in today's mail! My drawing prize from BeckySC!! This was her April giveaway and I was the lucky winner! Jeanette Douglas was here for a workshop in March but I was unable to attend. Now I have this lovely project to stitch and it is even more special to me because it came from Becky. She is a very kind and generous person and I am glad to count her as a friend =) Thanks so much Becky!

KEMP

2010-05-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

"KEMP" stands for Knitting Every Month for other People. I belong to a yahoo group called, "debs_dishcloth_demons". Every month you enter what you made for others into the data base and they have a drawing once a month. I won in March and this is what I received! It's an awesome package of goodies and really made my day =)

Have a wonderful day!

New Books & A Gift

2010-05-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

Just look at these beautiful tatted pieces that Jon sent to me! She won my last give-away and sent these as a thank you for what I sent to her. They are truly beautiful and expertly tatted - front side/back side! She has inspired me to try this myself and I will show you pics of my attempts in a future post.

I couldn't wait any longer and had to order Jon's books and some rings to play with! I love the size of the books, very portable. They are well written and have great diagrams. I am really looking forward to tatting with rings too!

Obviously I have been spoiling my self a bit lately. I also ordered this book from Ginny Weathers. It looks like a lot of fun and I think these would make nice gifts too!

I also managed to find a copy of "A Pattern Book of Tatting" and it arrived this past weekend. Can you even imagine how excited I was to find two tatted pieces inside? Needless to say, I was very surprised and thrilled at this wonderful find!

I still have more to post but will do that later. It's lunch time and hubby is on his way home now!
Have a wonderful day =)

Long Time - No Post

2010-05-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful gift I received from my friend Kim. She gave it to me last night at the guild meeting. I absolutely love it and wish you all could see it in person!

Here are two bookmarks that I tatted recently. The one on the left is Delphinium from Karey Solomon's book "Tatting By The Book". I love this book and will eventually tat all of the patterns! The one on the right is Gina Butler's pattern before the diagram was corrected. I still think it is a very pretty bookmark and this one went into the mail today to a dear friend.

Here are my class projects from Shuttlebird's Tat Days workshop. Across the bottom is the class "Getting to here from there" taught by Jessica Spaulding. We learned four different methods of chaining - spiral or Josephine chain, Lock stitch chain, S-chain, and the Z-chain. Then we chose a finding and started out own project. I made the bookmark you see with the bead on one end.

On the left is the "Pop/Water Bottle Skirt", taught by Cheryl Birch. This was a bit of a challenge for me. I made my first split chain and split ring with mock picot, and adding beads to a long picot in this project. I must say, I am quite pleased with myself =)

On the right is "Gwen's Angel", taught by Sherry Pence. I learned how to use folded rings and folded split rings on this project. It was not as difficult as I thought it would be and I will definitely tat more of these closer to Christmas. The pattern is available on her blog if you would like to give it a try.

I also took classes from Bina Madden (project not finished yet) and Mary McCarthy (Reading Tatting Patterns). It was a wonderful experience and I started looking forward to next years workshop as soon as this one ended!

I have more to post about but will do so later this evening. I must go cook some dinner for my dear husband, who has absolutely no idea how much I actually spent at the workshop, thank goodness ;) His eyes would pop right out of his head, lol!

Have a great day!

Wacky Wednesday

2010-04-07T13:48:00.000-07:00

I just had to title this post "Wacky Wednesday" because it is very rare that I post two times in one day. I decided it would be easier for me than doing one long post.

The photo above shows my most recent tatting. I tatted this name tag and am quite pleased with how it turned out. Of course, Jane E.'s technique page made all the difference in the world. What great instructions for "Adding a bead to the center of a split ring"! I know I will use this again and again. Thanks Jane =)

You can also see that I started my lanyard with the same thread - Lizbeth Island Breeze in size 20. This was what I started on International Tatting Day. At least now I have enough done that you can see how all the colors look. I really like this thread!

Here is the cross I tatted for my dear mil, Sue. It's the same pattern I used for the green and yellow ones I tatted recently. I just love this pattern! For this cross I used Flora HH in this lovely purple color. I think that brings me up to ten on my 25 motif challenge now. Woohoo!

Now I really need to get back to working on the table favors for Shuttlebirds NEXT WEEKEND!!! I am only a little bit excited, can you tell?

Have a great day!

An Exchange & A Gift

2010-04-07T13:23:00.000-07:00

I recently participated in a pin pillow exchange hosted by Becky SC and because I wait until the last possible minute to do any finishing, Carolyn finally received it the other day. I stitched the mini pillow from Bits of Blue by Plum Pudding Needleart for using Lambswool 32 count linen and DMC 115. I really love this combination and plan to stitch the whole set from this chart for myself eventually.

Last week I also had a very lovely surprise in my mail box. This adorable pillow from Sara S. Aren't I so lucky =) I sure think so! She sent this to me because I simply picked up a magazine for her that she was unable to find locally and sent it to her. Someday I am going to have one tree decorated with all these wonderful goodies that I have received as gifts and in exchanges. Thank you so much Sara =)

Have a great day!

Happy International Tatting Day!

2010-04-01T22:26:00.000-07:00

And the winner is.........

***Jon*** of "Jon's Thread Escapades"

Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who entered and to all who read my blog. I will be posting more give-aways this month for my blogiversary. Probably next week. There will be at least on knitting, and one Cross stitch, maybe some beading and crochet too. We'll see what all I can come up with =)

I had intended to take a photo of what I worked on today but it's so dark and to be honest I ate more chocolate than spending time on my tatting. I started the day with chocolate Cheerios for breakfast, and then had two hot chocolates through the day, as well as ate half a dark chocolate bar. I did get a small start on my lanyard but the picture will have to wait until I have more done so it's not so embarrassing, lol!

Have a great day!

Tatting and Cross Stitch

2010-03-30T11:43:00.001-07:00

Today I received the charts I won from Riona. I think that eventually I will stitch all three of them. First I will do the Think Spring chart because that one is my favorite! Thank you so much for sending them to me =)

Here are two more crosses that I have tatted. I find that I am learning something new each time that I tat it so I plan to tat at least one more. I put the first yellow one into my samples book and am keeping it. These two will be flying off into the mail tomorrow along the the one I tat today. These will count as motifs 7 & 8 for my 25 motif challenge. I think that most of my motifs will be bookmarks.

Have a great day!

No Foolin'

2010-03-28T15:06:00.001-07:00

Thursday, April First is International Tatting Day. To honor this day, I would like to offer tatting supplies. The drawing will be held on April 1st and anyone who tats is welcome to enter! The threads are Lizbeth size 20 in Springtime and Spring Green. This will come with some hand cream that is safe to use for needle-workers, a set of clover shuttles in Spring colors, and of course, some delicious dark chocolate. Dark chocolate has anti-oxidants which is good for you. Not to mention that dark chocolate is delicious =) I will have my husband pick a winner when he gets home from class on Thursday evening and I will post the name along with whatever I tat that day. When you leave your comment to enter, please tell me what you plan to tat that day. Do you have a special project planned yet? This is my first time to celebrate this holiday so I am curious to know how you plan to celebrate it. Good luck to all who enter, and feel free to share the info for the give-away with other tatters if you like =)

Have a great day!

This & Tat

2010-03-24T10:26:00.001-07:00

**Edited to add that these will count as my first six motifs of the 25 motif challenge**

Here is a photo of what I have been up to lately. I finally picked up my shuttles again. I really needed to get some practice in and learn a few more techniques before Shuttlebirds Tatting Days Workshop next month. I am as excited as a five-year-old waiting for Christmas since it will be my very first tatting workshop!

The celtic snails were taught at the January guild meeting. The tatting was the easy part. Weaving the celtic pattern took longer than the tatting but is worth the effort! My first one was tatted in Lizbeth size 20 in Springtime. The second one is Lizbeth size 20 Light Lemon.

The Sweetheart bookmark is tatted in Yarnplayers size 30 Purple Pansy. I lve her threads and have ordered lots and lots of them. Finally I decided to break down and use some!

The purple Octamotif is a Shuttle Brothers pattern and is how I learned SCMR's. I used size 10 cebelia in lavender color 210. I even remembered that I could use the slt to switch shuttles so I could finish it without having to add new thread.

The Ecru Double O Cross is one I started last summer and put away because I "didn't get it". I picked it back up and finished it! The pattern came from the book Tatted Bookmarks - Needle and Shuttle, which I had checked out from the guild library. I just ordered a copy of the book for myself and can't wait for it to arrive! I used Flora HH size 20 color 242.

The medallion is a pattern challenge from the Dec guild newsletter. I used Cebelia size 20 in color 842 mocha. I think that is one of my favorite colors so I must find it in other brands of thread. Yes, I need to weave the ends in, I know.

Last but not least, we have Julie Patterson's Hearts and Flowers Cross Bookmark. I LOVED tatting this pattern and plan to do it again and again. I used Flora HH size 20, color 205 Buttercup - Med. At tatting class last night Patti taught me how to do the spiral chain I added to the bookmark. I really like how it looks!

On a side note, the winner of this month's give-away decided not to accept so I chose another winner. The goodies are on their way to Blu and should arrive very soon.

I have been busy gathering some really cool stuff to give away next month for my blogiversary so keep checking back. I hope to post the first one soon ;)

Have a great day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Give-Away Winner!

2010-03-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

Today must be my lucky day because just look at this wonderful gift I received in the mail! It's a tiny Altoid tin filled with pins, and stitched for me by Corinna as a thank you present for the goodies she won in last months blog drawing! I absolutely love it! Thank you so very much =)

Here are two more pairs of slippers I made to send to my sons friends.

I've got my corned beef in the crock pot and am ready to sit down and stitch the day away. I asked dear hubby to choose a number between 1 and 18 and he said, "How about #1 this time. Why not give it to the very first person who left a comment." So, the winner is: Stephanie! Congratulations! I just sent you an email so please answer soon so I can get your package into the mail!

Thanks to all who entered my give-away! I am adding your blogs to my google reader if they weren't already there. Please keep checking back as next month is my blogiversary and I plan to have several give-aways!

Have a great day =)

Packages!!!!

2010-03-09T11:03:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I received this lovely package from Marie P. !!! We had planned to have a private Easter exchange but I noticed that she had several things going and offered to relieve her of some pressure and she said that would be fine to exchange later. Of course, I hadn't been stitching much because I was waiting for my glasses to come so I was thinking it would help both of us to put off our exchange. Then I received this lovely package from her as a gift! I just can't say thank you enough Marie!!! Your finishing is beautiful! I really love what you stitched for me and the goodies too. I bet you can't even tell that I had already eaten half of that chocolate bar! Dark chocolate is my absolute favorite and I was very much in need of a chocolate binge yesterday =) Thank you so much!!!

Here is my awesome pin keep stitched for me by Staci! I was thrilled to see that she had my name for the pin pillow exchange that BeckySC is hosting. Staci dyed her own fabric and my husband even commented on how nice it looks. I think I may have to give this a try! My pin pillow is filled with crushed walnut shells, which I love! Thank you Staci =)

Have a great day!

Do You Feel Lucky?

2010-03-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

Here is my give-away for March. A pair of the red scissors, a fat quarter of green material, some green beads, WDW Lucky thread, and a silver clover charm. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post only and if your email is not in your profile, then leave that too so I can contact you. I will have hubby pick a number or draw a name on St. Patrick's Day. Just for kicks, could you please also tell me what your favorite fabric/fabrics are to stitch on? Colors, counts, even weave, linen, brand - Silkweaver, Lakeside Linen, PTP..... Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Have a great day!

This & That

2010-03-06T10:12:00.000-08:00

These are the two scarves that I made for the Idaho Special Olympics. The one on the left is knit with Red Heart Gray Heather. The one on the right is crocheted with Red Heart Cherry Red. I really like to make scarves so I pulled out a few more patterns that I had printed out so I can eventually make them.

Above is the Monthly Dishcloth KAL from February 15th. It's called Lacy Vines and I really enjoyed knitting it.

This cloth is the KAL from the Rachels_Knitting_Room yahoo group. It was a cryptic message cloth which is why it looks like it doesn't make any sense. I am usually very good at puzzles but this one I just couldn't get. Turns out it is "Betty Davis Eyes". Well, I think it's just the right size to set our coffee cups on by the coffee pot. I guess Betty will have coffee cup goggles.

I am getting my March give-away together and hope to post it tomorrow so check back. I just need to pick up one or two more things and take a pic so I can post it. It will be a small one because next month is my blogiversary and I plan to have more than one give-away. I almost have everything together for those.

Have a great day!

Goal Update

2010-02-16T10:49:00.000-08:00

Here is a snowman cloth from the Kris Knits January KAL. I used size 5 needles and Sugar 'N Cream Cornflower Blue.

Here is another pattern from Kris Knits. It's called "Be My Dishcloth" and the pattern for this one is a freebie from her web site. I used size 5 needles and Sugar 'N Cream Hot Pink.

This is "Heart Dishcloth" I knitted along with the MonthlyDishcloth yahoo group. They do two KAL's per month so that will really help me achieve my goal! I used size 7 needles and Lion Cotton in Poppy Red.

This one is Frame My Heart With Lace, also from the MonthlyDishcloth group. I used size 7 needles and Sugar 'N Cream Soft Violet.

Here are the five pairs of slippers I have crocheted so far this year. Sorry the picture is so dark. Our weather has been quite gloomy so this will have to suffice. The two pink pairs are in my gift stash and I sent the other three pairs to my son for his friends he is in Tech school with. This is my absolute favorite pattern which can be found here. I have made hundreds of these because they are quick and a great stash buster. I use red heart yarn so they can be washed and dried without being ruined and they wear like iron!

I also have a few small cross stitch finishes but will save those for another day. Maybe when I can get better pictures of them.

Thank you to each person who entered my drawing. I know I don't have a lot of readers but I do appreciate each and every one of you who do take the time to read my blog =) I promise to have another give-away very soon so keep checking back!

Have a great day!

"Honey, pick a number between 1 and 13"

2010-02-15T12:53:00.001-08:00

He said, "10". That means, Corinna you are the lucky winner of my first give-away this year. I am now going to send you an email =)

I will be posting another give-away very soon so keep checking back!

Have a great day!

Give-Away #1 of 2010

2010-02-09T14:02:00.000-08:00

Here is my first give-away for this year. In the above photo you see four heart charms and one heart button. Three of the charms say "made with love" and there is one each of silver, gold and copper. There is a fat quarter of gorgeous red fabric for finishing (this is the same fabric I bought for finishing items I will make from my "Bits of Blue" chart). The rolled up linen fabrics are mystery fabric bits from my LNS. They are great for small projects like ornaments, floss tags, fobs, etc... A spool of Sulky cotton thread size 12 wt. that lots of stitchers are using for cross stitching, and last but not least a pair of scissors. I found these at Tuesday Morning last Fall and bought, well, lots of them. They were such I good price and so I will be including a pair in each of the give-aways until I run out. All you need to do is leave a comment on this post only and check back on Monday to see if you won! If you do not have your email in your profile, please leave it with your comment so I have a way to contact you if you win. Good luck!

The Kindness of Others

2010-02-09T13:36:00.001-08:00

Here are two charts I received from other stitcher's. Last Fall I commented on Corinna's blog about her beautiful finish of "Simply Live". I had wanted that chart for a while. She said that she was done with it and happy to pass it on to me! I was so thrilled! I still need to get the threads for it and will as soon as I finish up a few things I have started.

The "Bits of Blue" chart is one that I traded for. Angela has a hearty wish list of charts and luckily I had one she wanted so I was able to trade with her. I have seen it on a couple of blogs, stitched with the ever popular DMC 115. I am extremely excited to get started on this project! I think I have some Lambswool linen I can use for it and I found the most beautiful red material for the finishing!

Here we have a super awesome package I received from Becky on Saturday! I loved her Valentine box and of course she got it at Hobby Lobby. I am not lucky enough to have one here so she was very kind and picked up a box for me, as well as some DMC 115 and some very pretty Valentine ribbon! What a sweetie she is and I am lucky to have her for a friend =)

I also won these nice tatting shuttles in a drawing on Fox's blog and received them over the weekend. I'm quite excited about these and can't wait to try them out!

Now it's my turn to give back and I am planning to have several drawings over the coming months. There will be a variety of crafty things for cross stitch, tatting, beading, crochet, and knitting. Hopefully a little something for everyone. All the details will be in my next post some come back and post a comment for it to enter my first of several give-aways!
Have a great day!

Valentine Exchange

2010-02-05T16:00:00.001-08:00

On Wednesday I received an awesome exchange from Sharon. I am really not a good photographer so my photo does not do it justice but just look at this pillow! The fabric is so perfect for this design too! She even made me a matching scissor fob and sent me lots of goodies. I do feel positively spoiled and I love it. Thanks so much Sharon!!! I hope I get a chance to stitch for you some time =)

Here is what I sent to Julianne. I stitched a scissor fob for her. The design is "Monthly Markings, February" from Heart in Hand and is stitched on 32 count Summer Khaki linen with the fibers called for in the pattern. I finished it by hand using Staci's ornament finishing method and I used twisted cord instead of the ribbon. I really enjoyed hand finishing like this and think more of my smalls and ornaments will be finished this way. Thanks goes to Staci for the great tutorial! I also used size 12 perle cotton instead of the floss for back stitching and sewing it together.

Keep checking back for some give-aways I am planning. I hope to post the first one tomorrow =)
Have a great day!

A New Year

2010-01-07T10:45:00.000-08:00

Here it is. My first finish of 2010. I am participating in the Monthly Dishcloth KAL and this is the first completed dishcloth of the year. It says "Happy 2010" and was designed by Alli . I have two other dishcloths going at the moment and will share photos when they are finished.

I am skipping the whole New Year's Resolution thing. After all, why set myself up for failure, lol. I had "resolved" not to buy any more yarn. Broke that yesterday. I just can't help myself. Hopefully I will do better at the "goals" I have set for myself for 2010. They are:

To knit an average of one dishcloth per week.
To crochet an average of one pair of slippers each week.
To cross stitch at least one ornament per month.

That will be a good start for now. I plan to use as much stash yarn and supplies as I can. Lord knows I have a ton. I'll record my progress here and make lists in the sidebar as I accomplish things. I have kept my goals light so that I will have time to add in other crafts and projects. Hope you are having a wonderful start to the new year =)

PIF

2010-01-07T10:35:00.000-08:00

I received this wonderful package from Monique between Christmas and New Year's. She read my blog and saw that I was doing more knitting than anything else and sent me a beautiful knitting needle case along with the needles! These will be perfect for scarf knitting! She also sent me one of her beautiful beaded fobs, a bookmark she made and a calendar. I thought the card was also gorgeous so included it in the photo. Thanks for a wonderful gift, Monique =)

Christmas Exchanges Arrived!

2009-12-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

Look at what I received from Donna for the Christmas Exchange Between Friends Exchange! I tore into that box like a five-year-old on Christmas morning! I love everything she sent. The box is beautiful. She did the stitching and her husband made the box! Isn't that just so cool? Here is another picture of the box so you can see more of the detail.
I know my photos don't do it justice but in person it is perfectly lovely. Thank you so much for a wonderful exchange, Donna! I plan to knit myself a scarf with the yarn she sent. It is really soft!

Here is a photo of what I sent to my dear friend, Marie! I was so excited that I got her name for this exchange! You can see better pictures of what sent to her on her blog. I am so not a photographer! I even took photography in high school. You know, with one of those now old-fashioned cameras that you put film into. I'm afraid the more digital we become, the less I know!

Have a great day!

More Knitting!

2009-11-28T10:51:00.000-08:00

Here is another scarf and hat set for the "Knit One, Give One" charity through my LYS. These sets are really fun and fast. I knit the hat one evening and the scarf the next and all from one ball of Encore Colorspun!

This is another baby gift for the granddaughter of a woman that works with Doug. The patterns were from handouts from my LYS and are great quick patterns. I used Bernat Baby Jacquards and I am pretty sure that I can get two more sets from the same skein!

I had some fun knitting gingerbread for my friend Becky. You can see the photos at her blog because my photos did not come out well. I am working busily on Christmas presents and organizing my yarn. I am planning a HUGE stash busting project of knitting and crocheting for next year. I am really excited about it because I have so many patterns printed from the internet, from magazines and even a few that I have purchased that I really want to make. Everything from Afghans to baby things, kitchen items, slippers, and who knows what else. I have what would equal a room full of yarn and I really need to use it. If any of you have some favorite projects, please tell me about them. I would love any inspiration you have to share.

Have a great day!

More Knitting!

2009-11-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

Aren't these yarns gorgeous?! At sock club Wednesday night we got to purchase the featured yarn for 15% off. I bought two skeins. The blues/greens will be for the sock pattern we received that night. The peach and variegated sock yarn next to it are for a scarf, and the pink cascade 220 is for another pair of wrist warmers for me! I love pink and really like the pair of wrist warmers that I made myself a couple of years ago.

This was knit for the "Knit One, Give One" charity that my LYS is currently doing. From one skein of Encore worsted yarn you can make one hat and a small scarf. I enjoyed knitting them so much that I am making another set for them. The patterns were given with the yarn from the shop and all you do is knit them. I think that is very nice of them to provide everything.

I am currently working on another baby gift and loads of Christmas goodies so not everything will be pictured here right away. I plan to keep knitting as long as I am inspired to do so. I do have one Christmas present that I need to get stitched so I will do that this week so I can mail it by the deadline.

Have a great day!

Just Knitting Along

2009-11-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

I am such a dork! I can never figure out what order my photos are going to show up on this so that I can write about them in the order I made stuff! Anyhow, the bottom photo is a baby gift that I knit for a nice little gal that works at the club here on the base. The patterns are Baby Diamonds hat and car seat blanket from the Fall issue of Creative Knitting and the dreambaby booties are a freebie found here. I started with four skeins of Lion Brand Jiffy yarn and it made this set plus the Garter Cuff Beanie in the photo at the top.

Next we have last weeks dishcloth knitting. The light purple cloth is a freebie found here. The scarecrow coaster I knit (middle of next photo) is a pattern from a set by the same designer. I love her patterns and plan to collect them all! The orange, pink, yellow variegated cloth is the standard grandmothers favorite dishcloth and the tree is from the monthly dishcloth group I joined a couple of weeks ago.

I am on a serious knitting binge so there will be lots of knitted and crocheted gifts this year. I have tons of yarn (not counting what I bought today, and last week, oh it's an illness I tell you!) I plan to try using up as much as I can while I feel like playing with it, (and randomly buying more even though I don't need it cause I can't help myself). Have you started to make your list, check it twice, etc? This is the fun part for me. What are you making for Christmas?

Have a great day =)

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T12:26:00.000-07:00

Here are the stitched and not yet finished pieces of my Halloween stitching. I suppose I will get around to doing the finishing some day... Just have to be in the right mood.

Next we have the Halloween exchange I sent to Marianne. I am very afraid that the package she sent to me has been lost. Maybe it will come next week.

Here we have some lovely acorns and a strawberry I crocheted for a few friends. Here is the pattern if you feel like making one. They do go very quickly and are very fun to make!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!

PS Halloween Exchange with Elisabeth

2009-10-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

Pictured above is the amazing package of goodies that I received from Elisabeth! She sent me TWO stitched pieces, an ornament and a fob. The fob even has a French coin inside for weight. How cool is that?! She also sent a few yummy treats and floss tucked into this really neat fabric bag! I plan to use that bag to tote around a tatting project I am working on. And, I have to say I am extremely excited about the postcard! I love postcards and this one is very very special. It is from her husbands collection and is postmarked 1904. The picture is Moulin Rouge!!! I LOVE it!

Above is a photo of what I sent to Elisabeth. I stitched the owl from a Prairie Schooler Halloween leaflet and made it into a pin keep. I love JABC buttons so I added a spooky pumpkin button to make it more festive.

Thank you for such a wonderful exchange, Elisabeth. I hope we get to do it again some time =)

Halloween Exchange with Becky SC.

2009-10-22T17:02:00.000-07:00

Here are the wonderful goodies that I received from Becky SC. for our personal Halloween exchange! I am truly spoiled, aren't I? The treat bag has already come in handy. Right after my hernia surgery I wasn't allowed to carry much so I used this as my project bag =) I already have plans for some of the floss to be used in one of the JBW designs I want to stitch. The little painted can (I sure wish I was that talented!), the wooden pumpkin decoration and the beautiful stitched ornament you stitched for me are on my Halloween tree. I will put a photo of it in a future post. I still have a few things I stitched for myself that I need to do the finishing on, and one more exchange to receive and then there will be pictures.
Here is a photo of the meager offerings I sent to Becky. The ornament is a newer pattern from Trilogy called "Spooky Tree". I added different buttons that what was called for. I really enjoyed our exchange and hope that maybe next year we can do it again =)

Halloween Exchange with Marie P.

2009-10-22T16:39:00.001-07:00

Here are all of the wonderful goodies that Marie P. sent to me for our personal Halloween exchange. She embroidered a wonderful Halloween candle mat with cats on it, a stitched floss ring tag with some beautiful floss. I plan to use that for some Prairie Schooler stitching soon! The pot grabbers are great! I have always wanted some and these are perfect! And all of the other goodies are great too and will come in very handy!

But not the cat, of course. That is Sebastian. He insisted on being in the picture and he promised to "act" as casual as he could. He did pretty good, didn't he?

Now, isn't this doll just amazing?! I so love it!!! He is sitting atop one of the speakers for the t.v. I just think it is completely cool how she matched the stitching to this doll! Definitely one of my very favorite things for my Halloween display!

Here is what I sent to Marie. The ornament is from the JCS Halloween issue. As you can see, I have been flitting around to a few different crafts lately. Knit dishcloth, crochet scrubby, wool pumpkin pin cushion stuffed with ground walnut shells. My LNS had these great little kits all made up. All you needed to do is sew, stuff and assemble! So easy even I could do it, lol!

Thank you for such a wonderful exchange, Marie. I love everything, especially that it will coordinate with my Halloween wreath once I get it stitched and put together (maybe next year).

Halloween Stitching Plans

2009-09-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

I have been busily stitching away on some really cute Halloween ornaments but I can't show any of them because they are a secret. Once they have been received by the special ladies I have stitched them for I will post photos. Until then, here is a photo of my next project, once I have finished the secret stitching. I found this black wreath and pumpkin bell at Michael's last night and just had to get them. I want to make a new Halloween wreath and I think this will be just perfect! The fabric is Autumn Field Lugana from 123Stitch! and the floss is good 'ol DMC except for the black. I am really hoping start this soon =)

Have a great day!

Autumn Song

2009-08-26T15:07:00.000-07:00

This is the first ever Blackbird Design that I stitched. I bought everything to do the finishing myself and after putting it off for months realized that "I" would not be doing it and gave it to my finisher. I picked it up yesterday and I am quite pleased with how it looks.

I decided that it was time for a couple of small exchanges so I am doing three Halloween ornament exchanges. I have already stitched one, so two more to go! I pulled out all of my Halloween stitching and YIKES! I scared myself with how many patterns I have! Yes, I am still going to buy the BBD Halloween book and fabrics. I went though my threads and pulled what I already have and that will save some $. I also plan to get several of the new LK patterns. I have a few "must haves" every year. They are JCS Halloween and Ornament issues, LK Tiny Tidings, LK Santa, PS annual Santa and any Halloween or Christmas books if I like them, and this year I have purchased every Blackbird design and Loose Feathers project. And believe me, I don't think I saved any money with this plan but I have the things I want the most =)

What are your "must haves" each year?

Have a great day =)

It's About Time! - Long post

2009-08-08T11:57:00.001-07:00

Yes, I do think it is about time that I pull out of my funk and let everyone know what has been going on the past couple of months.

In May, we flew to Oklahoma to see my baby boy marry his high school sweetheart. Soooo exciting and sooo happy to see them take this step. To make a long story short, I ended up in the hospital the night before the wedding for a stay of eight days. Back in February, I had been diagnosed with an ulcer. I finished the medication about a week before leaving for the wedding., and I still wasn't feeling "normal" (whatever that is, lol) but figured it was nerves about the impending nuptuals and if I still wasn't up to par after the wedding, then I would go to the doctor when we got home. Yeah right. Turns out it perforated and I had to have surgery. The yucky kind that leaves a six inch scar down the center of your belly =( Not that I would be wearing a bikini any time soon but I had hoped that someday.....LOL. Anyway, the wedding went on and the kids came to see me at the hospital afterwards. I tried like crazy to get myself together to go. The Doc even said that if I could, they would load me up with pain meds and let me out on a pass for two hours. I couldn't even dress myself which is funny now, but not then. I passed out during the attempt and had to be put back into the bed. See, the doc thought it was something else wrong that would "fix itself" so at that point I hadn't had the surgery. It wasn't until the day after the wedding that he decided to go in and have a look. Once I was cleared from the hospital we flew home and a few days later noticed something wasn't quite right. We went out to my favorite Vietnamese restraunt for soup and my husband asked if "that" was me or had I spilled soup on myself? By "that" he was refering to the stain on my shirt, right over my incision. I immediately went into denial and said it was soup of course. But it wasn't. We went to the hospital and had the build up of fluid around the incision, and the twenty one staples removed and I felt much better. I'm sorry, did I say I was trying to make this short? I lied. Even after that incident, I had another one before I was able to get on with the healing. And it was by far the grossest thing I have ever been through so I won't share any details. However, now I am doing much better. In two weeks I will have an EGD and then the docs will be able to see that everything is healing fine on the inside and I will feel better knowing that everything is okay too.

So, without further ado, I present a few things I have been doing. I will will share more photos later this week but decided to start with just a few for this post. I am learning to tat and this is my first doily:

Here are four more Blackbird stockings back from the finisher. I have a couple more stitched but really need to get my act together. I am supposed to lead a SAL for these with my local needlework guild and it won't be very inspiring if I can't keep up with it myself. I had already planned to stitch them all so this should really encourage me to keep up. Except that I have only wanted to tat lately.
A few weeks ago my inlaws came to visit and Sue brought me this bounty of goodies. This collection of tatting supplies came from her Aunt who passed away last year. No one else in the family tats so she asked if I could have the box of items that were now in storage. I feel so lucky to have them and will make lots of things. She saved some really neat patterns and I have already made one of them with some of the thread but it is a secret for now ;-)

The photo above shows the tatted flowers and doodles she had made and saved for note cards. The photo below shows the vast amount of tatting thread from the box and the patterns she had clipped from old Workbasket magazines. The thread was all in stationary boxes but I put it all into these plastic school boxes in hopes to keep it in really good condition so I can use it.
This photo shows all of the tatting shuttles and various tools she used. What an awesome collection!!!

Now, here is a link to the video my son made from the wedding pics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jrhgq1PNYQ
I think you will agree that they are just the cutest couple ever =)

Have a great day!

Another Dishtowel!

2009-04-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

Here is my finished towel from the tea towel club meeting Thursday night. I love how it turned out and think I might make one or two for gifts eventually. We got a sneak peek at next months and it is an embroidered towel so I am very excited to make it, too!
I bought a kit with seven towels, floss, fabric strips and a pattern with tea cups and tea pots. I think I need to sew the fabric strips on before I do the embroidery so I might get those started this week while DH is at work. They will be a fun project take carry along with me and they aren't too involved to I think I might actually get them done. I think I want to try a set of pillow cases too and may look around for one of those pre-stamped sets.
Have a great day!

HAPPY EASTER!

2009-04-12T14:30:00.000-07:00

Here is my first dishtowel. Just in time for Easter, sort of, lol! I can hardly wait to make another one! Hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter today =)

And the Winner is...

2009-04-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

Hubby drew your name, Marie! Please email your address to me and I will mail you a goody box along with your pin cushion set that you won. Congratulations =)

A few of you asked questions so here are the answers:

Hubby is home for good now. At least it will be a while before they would send him somewhere else, but he is done with the remote in Korea.
Natasha - You can find directions for the dish scrubbers here.

Patti - I purchased the Mary Arden Needles from Shakespeare's Peddler, and thank you for the compliments on my needle case. I hope you will share photos of yours when you get it made up =)

A very big THANK YOU to everyone who reads my blog!!!

I have been admiring Staci's beautiful embroidery project and even had the good fortune to win a drawing on her blog for this lovely piece. I have decided to expand my horizons and try more embroidery. I want to make some of those adorable old-fashioned Days-of-the-week dish towels and maybe a few other things. I have even signed up for two embroidery classes and I can hardly wait but they aren't until next month. I also joined the Tea Towel Club at the same shop and will share photos of those projects. I bought the project from last month and will show the photo later today, I hope. Once I get the ham into the oven I will sew the ric rac onto it and attach the bows and pompons and then I can take a photo. I want to have cutesy dish towels hanging in my kitchen! Maybe I will find some way to display my collection of vintage crochet pot holders too.

Have a great day!

Blogiversary Drawing

2009-04-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of the pin cushions sets that I stitched two of. One for me and one for you. Some lucky person will get this mailed to them along with some other goodies, which I am keeping a surprise until the package is received. Please enter the drawing by leaving a comment on this post only and I will have my dear hubby draw a name one week from today! Yep, he will be home from Korea the day after tomorrow!!!

I am off to my finishing class and should have photos of my projects tomorrow, maybe. I am likely to get a bit scatter brained (more than usual), as I have lots to do before Monday. I am even a little late to post my drawing since my blogiversary was yesterday, lol!

Have a great day!

More Finishes!

2009-04-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a floss tag I stitched using patterns from Blackbirds newest book. I decided to use it as a bag tag for the floss I am using to stitch up their little stockings.

Now, I don't know what came over me, but I actually did the finishing on this needle book all by myself! I usually avoid any machine sewing unless it is for an exchange and that is because I put it off until the last minute and end up having to do it myself, lol! This time I was blog surfing and saw this free pattern and thought, I might be able to do this one. And sew I did. I am sew pleased with how it turned out. Mind you, it isn't perfect, but then again, neither am I =)

Now, keep checking back. I will be having a give-away for my Blogaversary, which will be April 3rd, of something I stitched. No, not the needle book. It's mine too, lol. I will give a hint though. It's a little something from Blackbirds new book. I had to stitch two so I could keep one for myself. My goodness I am a greedy girl this year! And I love it...

Have a great day!

The Ultimate Needlebook

2009-03-30T11:40:00.001-07:00

At long last, here it is. Completely finished! This is the Ultimate Needlebook by Judy O'Dell. It was a SAL at my LNS last year. I really loved stitching it and even took the finishing class with hopes of doing it all myself. Talk about overwhelming! I gave it to the shop finisher and she returned it to me last week. I just love how this turned out and it is one of my most favorite things I have ever stitched.

I added the verse from the Just Nan Sampler Winter Blues. I have a piece of the same linen left over that I just might use to stitch the sampler.

Needle page covers closed. I don't know if you can tell but there are a few tiny beads sewn on and in person they look like little tiny snowflakes or ice crystals. Just the effect I wanted!

I added the nun stitch needle pages to the inside and filled it with the John James Ultimate Needle Collection, of course.

I am currently working on a quick piece for the finishing class I am taking on Saturday, and then I will be working on the BBD stockings and another pin cushion challenge pattern from my LNS. Part 4 of Alla Turca will be out this week too and I am really looking forward to stitching on it again.

Have a great day!

Blackbird Stockings

2009-03-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

MINE! All mine =) I am stitching these little pretties all for myself. I didn't think I could love these more than I already do, until I got these first three back from the finisher. They are lined just like a regular stocking so I can add stuff to them for decoration. I don't know what kind of stuff, but who cares. I just have three more to stitch, two from the March leaflet and the one from the JCS Ornament issue, and then I will be caught up. I find I am already very anxious to see what will come next! I am really into Blackbird right now. I have given my collection their own special box, kitted up several designs, and still wish for more, lol! I still need to do the finishing on the Autumn Song Loose Feathers I stitched last year, as well as the retreat projects from last summer. I have a couple other small finishes that I can't show just yet. One of them just might be a give-away for my blogiversary ;)
Have a great day!

PIF's & SAL's

2009-03-12T16:52:00.001-07:00

I have stitched part three of Alla Turca and am really loving it. It will seem like forever for the next part now, lol!

I started the alphabet book some time ago and only stitched the first page before setting it aside. Now our guild has picked it up as a group project and we have a goal to get one page (two letters) done between each meeting. Here is my page for this month. I am using Splendor silks and they are stitched on cream Belfast linen. I purchased all of the kits at my LNS so I have no excuses not to finish it!

Finally, my PIF's are done and sent, except for one person I am still waiting for an address. I am going ahead and posting a photo because the two that were sent have been received and maybe if my third person see's this she will send me her address, lol! If I don't hear something pretty soon then I will have a drawing for it.

I have been working on several things and will post more photos when I get stuff back from my finisher. She has a Blackbird Stocking and a couple of pin cushions and I can hardly wait to see them done. I plan to stitch all of the stockings and stitched another one yesterday. They work up really quickly and are soooo cute!

Have a great day!

Craft-i-leigh

2009-02-26T13:17:00.000-08:00

You left a comment asking me about progressing from Aida and no way to email you, lol!
So, here is the email I had composed before realizing that it was going to "noreply-comment@blogger.com"

>>>

I would suggest trying an evenweave such as lugana or Jobelan. An evenweave is like linen in that you would be stitching over two threads, but each thread is the same size and it is much easier to see. Linen threads can vary in size and width making it more difficult to start with. Also, evenweaves are very nice for stitching over one thread, too!

As for count, I would try something the same count as your aida that you had been working with. If you used 14 count aida, then try a 28 count evenweave. If you worked with 16 count, then try a 32 count evenweave.

Let me know how it goes and if I can be of any more assistance =)

Have a great day!

Please, don't faint!

2009-02-26T12:41:00.000-08:00

Woohoo! I am finally stitching again! The photo above is the January pin cushion challenge piece from my LNS. Each month we will receive a pattern that is charted with only one symbol. The challenge is to stitch it how we "see" it using whatever threads and fabric we wish. By December we should have them all finished into some sort of pin holding small and there will be a drawing for a prize =) It is a really fun challenge and I am actually keeping up with it so far. I saw a delft pattern in an older issue of JCS magazine and thought it would be neat to stitch my challenge piece like a delft tile.

Here is the February challenge piece. I used a piece of 28 count Daily Grind linen and some threads I had left from the tulip and star pin keep (Blackbird Designs) I made for my friend Kim. I think we get the March pattern this weekend and I can hardly wait to start it!

Here is my very first Mystery SAL. It is "Alla Turca" by Pelin Tezer and you can find the info on it here . I am using Lakeside Linen Chantilly Creme and GAST Simply Shaker Weathered Barn. I am so loving this piece! Any other time I have tried to start a mystery sampler, I have ended up waiting until all the parts are out and then decided it is too big and don't do it. I even started one with my LNS and then stopped working on it before I even finished part one.

I am also working on several other projects which I will try to photograph and post about over the next few days. I signed up for another finishing class which is next month at my LNS. We will make a fob/ornament and learn to do ruched ribbon on the edge, and a tri-fold. I am doing the pre-stitching on those now.

I have updated my beaded creations album, see the link in the side bar.

Those PIF's I owe are in the works too! I will post again once they are mailed. I do still need to hear from Sharon so I can get your address. Please email me if you read this. I tried posting to your blog but haven't heard back from you. I hope everything is okay.

Have a great day!

Resolutions

2008-12-31T16:10:00.000-08:00

Okay, I wasn't going to do this but here it is:

I resolve to:

Buy more craft stuff than I know what to do with, whether I have the money or not.

To always have at least a dozen projects started and still think to myself, "Hmm, what do I want to work on next?"

Not finish cleaning out the garage, unless for some reason we have to move and then it will get done anyway. Not clean, but moved to another location. But that would make THIS garage clean, right?

Keep my guest room a total mess until the night before someone comes to visit. Then I will relocate as much crap as I can to another location until the guests leave. Then put everything back on the floor, the bed and where ever else I can - right back where it really belongs.

Keep good food in the fridge and still eat out whenever possible.

Spend too much money on coffee from Starbucks.

Not give a crap what anybody else thinks about what I say or do.

Stay up way too late as often as possible and sleep in late like the bum that I am.

To post on this blog whenever I feel like it and not because I feel like I HAVE to.

I figured that this year I may as well make some resolutions I could stick with.

***This list is subject to change at any time due to my mood, personal feelings, lack of sleep, or just cause I darn well feel like it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Quick Post!

2008-12-05T12:34:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have not been around much lately. I am so far behind on reading blogs, too! My husband is here until mid December and my son and his girlfriend were here for a week and I have been busy cooking, cleaning and visiting! We made a short trip to visit hubby's mom and time is just flying by too quickly. I have started to update my photo albums a little. One album is just my Fair & Square exchanges, one is all other exchanges and now I have one just for my beaded things. I am still loving the beaded stuff and I think that is what everyone will get for Christmas this year. Yep, even the guys! I found these really cool secret compartment key chains to make for them, and am working on bracelet and earring sets for the ladies. I will post pictures of some of those after hubby leaves. Until then, I have posted the other bracelets I have made in the album so you can look there if you like. Hope everyone is enjoying getting ready for Christmas!
Have a great day!

If you can't make it, buy it!

2008-11-05T11:51:00.001-08:00

I really meant to post this much sooner but here it is. I ordered these from Corkycat's Etsy store and received them last week. Aren't they cool? Very nice quality and the price is unbeatable for something hand made. I love my new earrings and the ornament hangers will go nicely with the ornaments I will be giving for Christmas. As much as I love to make things myself, I can't do it all. There are some wonderful crafters out there that make really nice things for a reasonable price. I encourage you to take a look at her store, and others out there to enhance your gift giving this year. Handmade is so much better!

Bead Classes and My Lucky Win!

2008-11-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my latest beading pieces. Yes, I know there is only one earring. I am going to make the other one in a few minutes =) Isn't it cool? I also finally finished the candy corn bracelet. Just in time for next year! I have a patriotic one in the works and will show it as soon as it is finished. I took another class yesterday and that is where I made the earring and started another bracelet. It is really neat and I can't wait to get more done on it so I can show a progress photo. I never thought I would end up making jewelry. Really. Heck, I might even start wearing it too! I have so many ideas for things I want to make that I think this phase will probably last a while. We'll see. I am taking an ornament class tonight!!!

Here is my lucky win! Staci had a blog drawing last week and I received my gift on Monday. I could not post sooner because I ended up having to go to the dentist for an emergency visit. I just love surface embroidery and am so pleased to have a piece from Staci. That reminds me, I know I have some patterns for that around here somewhere. Thank you so much Staci!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

2008-10-31T10:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received a very special package from my friend Marie. At first, I thought that maybe she had my name for the floss tag exchange on HOE, but then I opened it and saw that she sent me a most awesome belated birthday present. Thank you so very much, Marie. Your thoughtfulness means more to me than you could know. You are such a special friend and I really hope that someday we will get to meet in person.

Okay, Here is what I have been up to lately. It still involves a needle and thread, but I haven't been stitching. I am learning to make jewelry. It all started with wanting to learn how to make beaded fobs. One trip to the bead store and my curiosity was peaked. I kept telling myself, "You don't even wear jewelry so there is no reason to even get started on that! Hmmmm, I could make it for gifts...... Pretty, shiny jewelry....... I could get my ears re-pierced and make earrings...... you have classes? I love to take classes!"..... I have taken three classes this week. The first one is the red and white bracelet. I immediately made the orange and black one as soon as I got home from the class to wear for Halloween. The second class project isn't pictured because it isn't finished yet. It is way more involved and will take another sitting or two to get done. Then yesterday I learned how to make the gold and white one. So pretty! More on this subject coming soon =)
Have a great day!

Worth the wait!!!

2008-10-16T13:43:00.001-07:00

Just as I finished updating my blog and photo albums, my daughter walks in with a package for me! This is my Quaker Animal exchange from Judy. I love it! The Quaker Rooster is adorable and finished very nicely into a pillow. The extra goodies are wonderful, too! Patriotic fabrics, threads, needles, the JCS Ornament issue and the Lizzie Kate kit!!! I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity. Thank you so much!!!
Have a great day!

Finishing Class Projects & Gift for Hubby

2008-10-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

My husband received his birthday package and now I can show you what I stitched for him to hang in his office. This is Pirate's Creed by Sue Hillis Designs. I framed it myself. See, you have to learn how to do these things yourself if you are one of those right up to the last minutes kind of stitchers like me ;)

Here are the projects from the finishing class I took at my LNS on Saturday. The charts are Shepherd's Bush freebies and we made a flat fold (or easel), and a Christmas ornament with a beaded edge. Absolutely NO GLUE was used in the process and I am very excited to have learned how to hand sew the cording on. Now I am busy stitching on the pieces for the next class which is November 1st. We will learn to finish a hockey puck shaped pin cushion and a biscornu with tassels.

Now I am off to do more laundry and stitch on my Quaker frog that I started some time ago. Have a great day!

Halloween Exchange Landed!

2008-10-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

Here are the pieces I made for Becky for our personal Halloween exchange. I had SO MUCH FUN making these things for her. The patterns are both from Barbara Ana Designs and are "Don't Bug Me!" and "Hallowscornu" which I made into a needle case. The photos of the inside and the back are below. I just learned how to make the beaded accessories so I was very excited to include the beaded fob and counter/threader. Seems I am now addicted to buying beads. Uh-oh.
The wool felt square is removable making it easier to use.
Here is how the back looks. I love it so much that I will definitely be stitching it again =) I am so very happy that she liked what I sent to her!
Have a great day!

Exchanges Sent & Received!!!

2008-10-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

Here are the Fair & Square Autumn squares I received from Margit. Thank you, Margit! They are very pretty. I love the postcard, too! You didn't even know that I collect them and that my favorites are the ones with lighthouses on them =)

Here are the awesome goodies I received from Cathy B for the HOE Halloween Exchange!!! I am thrilled with the wonderful fob she stitched for me and I put it on the scissors she sent right away! You can see the second side of the fob with the scissors in the next photo. She also sent some yummy treats as well as a pattern from one of my favorite designers (LHN), a Halloween kitchen towel, WDW threads, two beautiful fat quarters that will come in very handy for finishing, all wrapped in festive paper. Oh, and another postcard for my collection!!!

Here is what I sent to Stephanie for the HOE Halloween exchange. If you want to see better photos, click on over to her blog because she took some really good pics. As you can see, I am really hooked on making those pin keeps. They are so much fun!

Now, I really HAVE to go and frame the picture I stitched for my hubby who's birthday is FRIDAY. Yes, it will be very late especially since I still have to send it all the way to KOREA =( Sorry hunny. I will be spending the whole evening working on that and a couple other things that need finishing so I can go to the post office tomorrow. Yay! And then I can stitch more, more, more! Folks, I AM living the dream =)
Have a great day!

More Stitching Photos

2008-09-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

Here are the Halloween squares I sent to Lisa for the Halloween Fair & Square round. As you can see we selected the same exact pattern to stitch for each other. Isn't that funny? This is from the JCS Halloween Issue.

Next we have the squares I sent to Jenn for Round 9 of the Fair & Square Exchange. This is from one of the Tiny Tidings patterns.

Here we have the little birthday/thank you treat I sent to Joan. She loves Halloween and has designed some wonderful free charts for a Halloween SAL I am in. She has her own Yahoo group here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sapphirestitching/

I am still waiting for two more exchanges to arrive to their recipients and then I can post those pics as well. Have a great day!

I'm Speechless!!!

2008-09-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

Just look at what the mailman brought me yesterday!!! This is what Becky made for me in her personal Halloween exchange. I feel so blessed to have such an awesome piece of her work. I love it!!! I am thinking now that I will have to have a Halloween display up in my house year-round because I am NOT putting this away! Thank you so very much, Becky. I will treasure it always =)

Thank you for letting me use your photos!

Ornaments, Exchanges, & "Let's Stitch"

2008-09-23T16:46:00.000-07:00

I am finally getting around to making myself do some finishing work. I think the exchanges really help because it forces me to try new techniques and to get things done because I HAVE to get them into the mail. Now, above you see one Halloween ornament and one Christmas ornament. There is one more Christmas ornament that I finished but it is in the mail ;)

I heard from Joan that she received the HOE Prairie Schooler exchange from me. I stitched the "stick it here" freebie and made it into a pin keep for her. It was a fun stitch and I am sure that I will stitch it again!

Now, for the goal setting part of this message. I have joined up with Becky at her "Let's Stitch" blog and am looking forward to being motivated to work on my UFO's and stash collection. I am just getting started on the organization of the kitted up projects. Here is my pink plastic tote filled with my needlework smalls projects (the ones I have found so far, that is).

A Secret Garden Needlework Necessary (from a class I took long ago)
Just Nan - Common Ground Accessories
Just Nan - Miss Kitty's Dragons Needle case
Just Nan - Octagonal Peacock Pocket
Just Nan - Dragonfly Scissor Purse
Ewe & Eye & Friends - Big Heart Paperweight (mine will be a pin cushion)
Ewe & Eye & Friends - St. Nick Scissor Companion
Ewe & Eye & Friends - Polka Dot Scissor Companion
Heartland Needleworks - Rosey Tote, scissor sheath, needle case & biscornu set
From the Heart - Sewing Pocket and Pocket Smalls
Periwinkle Promises - "United We Stand" Sampler Accent
Periwinkle Promises - "Hope" Sampler Accent
Shepherd's Bush - Tiny Flag
Shepherd's Bush - Shepherd's Scissor Fob
Shepherd's Bush - Shepherd's Roll
Shepherd's Bush - Shepherd's Purse
Shepherd's Bush - Stitcher's Roll
Shepherd's Bush - Snow Fall Roll
Shepherd's Bush - Millennium Roll (yep, I'm embarrassed that this is not done)
Shepherd's Bush - Glory Fob
Shepherd's Bush - Christmas Treat Bag
LHN - Wool Needlebook and Scissor Fob
LHN - Schoolgirl Samplings - make a fob from pattern
With My Needle - smalls from JCS Ornament Issues 2003-06

Next week I will purchase a couple more containers for organizing more of the stash. I plan to have one container for samplers, one (I hope just one) of the miscellaneous kits I have, one for UFO's, and we'll see what other categories I think of. I am really excited about this!!!

I mailed out a few more exchanges today and when they arrive, I will post their photos. I think I am comfortably caught up with this now. Just need to do one more finishing on something so I can mail it out this week.

Have a great day!

We have a winner!

2008-09-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Dawn B. for winning the two little Halloween Mill Hill kits. I will get those sent out as soon as I hear from you =) I will do more giveaways later. I need to take some time to work on exchanges and am still going through my stash to see what else might be a fun drawing prize. Thank you to all who have participated so far!
Have a great weekend!

More Exchanges and this weeks drawing!

2008-09-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

Look at the wonderful package I received from Carol for the HOE Prairie Schooler Exchange!!! I love the mattress pin cushion she stitched for me! It is a freebie design that I have stitched a couple of time because I like it so much, but still hadn't stitched it for myself. I love it, and now I might try making a mattress pin cushion since I have a great example to follow! I think that lovely piece of silkweaver fabric is calling for a Haunted House design. Love it!

My appologies to Susan for not having posted this sooner. This is the adorable LK ornament exchange I received over a week ago. I am going to have such a nice tree this year with all my F&S exchange squares and all the other exchange pieces I have received. I just need to get into gear and do the finishing on some.

Don't forget to post to last weeks (Friday's) Halloween post to be entered into the drawing, which will be held tonight. I will post the winner tomorrow!!!
Have a great day!

Received, received, received!

2008-09-15T16:45:00.000-07:00

Here are some exchange updates. I received a couple packages just before I left and now I can share photos! Above is the beautiful ornament I received in a friendship exchange with Dawn. Below is a photo of what I sent to her. I am really pleased with our exchange and hope to try more friendship exchanges with other stitchers as soon as I get caught up with what I am committed to right now. So, maybe after the holidays I will ask and see who is interested =)

These are the squares I received from Jen for Fair & Square round 9. I really need to get on the ball and finish hers. She also sent me a sheet of information about the Mien Sampler she got he pattern from. It was designed by Eva Walters and is from the "Travelers Tales Collection".

Here are my Halloween squares from Lisa. This is really cool because I am so in the mood for Halloween! She even sent me a spooky letter along with the squares, which is really cool! There is something really funny I will have to share about these squares later, after I send hers and she has received them ;)

Have a great day!

"Back to School, Back to Basics"

2008-09-15T16:26:00.000-07:00

That was the theme of the retreat! All of our goodies and the optional project fit right along with this theme too, as you can see from these photos. The first thing we received was a brown bag lunch with apple bread (made by our very talented president) and chips, caramel sauce, and the pumpkin pin cushion. Then throughout the retreat there were little present left at our seats and I think everything is shown in the photo above.

The optional project was an apple needle book and scissor case. That was such fun to make! On Saturday morning we received a kit with all of the supplies needed to make it and were promised a surprise when we finished. As each person finished, they were taken aside and given the surprise which was the scissors for the case. Neat! We had a choice of red or green and I chose green.

Here is a photo of the inside. On the top piece is the flower with the needle threader attached and the threader is slipped into the square pocket below. I attached the fob from our goodies to my scissors. And you can see that inside the little apple shaped needle book is the gold needle that was also included in the kit. Everyone who made the project finished and received their scissors!

The retreat was held at Ross Point which is a beautiful area. I completely forgot to take photos so I am buying a disc from one of the ladies who was there and then I will be able to post more photos. It was loads of fun and I can hardly wait for next years retreat!!!
Have a great day!

Spooky Drawing & Another Giveaway!

2008-09-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

I put all the names into my cauldron and Lyn W is the lucky winner. Lyn, please go to my profile and send me an email with your address so I can get your prize into the mail when I get back from the retreat!!!

Do you like things with beady eyes? Well, then this next drawing is for you! I have the two Mill Hill kits shown above to give away. The drawing will be Thursday night during the witching hour, and will be posted on Friday. Be sure to leave me a post and this time I would like to know why you love or hate to stitch on Aida cloth. I just started stitching a spooky project on Aida and am really enjoying it! I feel like I am getting back to my stitching roots. I think we must have all started our stitching adventure with Aida cloth, right?

Okay, I really have to go. My stitching is packed, snacks are packed, clothes - NO! And, I think I do need clothes. Must go throw pants into the dryer and get my car loaded. I am so excited. A fabric order just arrive moments ago from Enchanted Fabrics and they are awesome! I will post photos when I get back Sunday.

Have a great weekend! Don't forget to post a comment to be entered into the drawing =)

It's time to get your SPOOKY on!

2008-09-05T19:41:00.001-07:00

As you can see, I have been doing a little shopping. I have loads of ideas for goodies to make, and have gathered all of my Halloween patterns, ordered fabrics, pulled threads from my stash and purchased a couple of really neat ones to add to my collection. This is the first year that I have really been bitten by the Halloween bug. I have my feather tree out and want to fill it with ornaments so I need to get busy stitching. I think the colors are so much fun and there are lots of great patterns available for spooky stitching!

What's this? Peter piper picked a peck of pickled pumpkins????? As you can see, I have two. One for me, and one for whoooooooo? You? Maybe. Leave a comment on THIS post and tell me what you are stitching for Halloween. I will draw a name and announce a winner next Friday before I leave for the weekend retreat I am going on. The lucky winner will receive the pattern, a piece of the 10 count Sweet Potato Heatherfield fabric, and the two skeins of DMC size 5 perle cotton required to stitch this Halloween quicky! And maybe I will even post another giveaway...... That is, if I don't scare everyone away with this one!

Have a great day!

PS Small Santa Exchange

2008-09-05T19:37:00.001-07:00

Here is the Santa I stitched for my partner in the PS yahoo group small Santa exchange. I finished it into a pin keep although it is a bit difficult to see the pins in the photo. It is one of the free charts that I had wanted to stitch for a while.

Stay tuned for another post....

An Award!

2008-08-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

A very big "Thank You" to Lynda and Dawn who gave me this award! I feel REALLY special having received it from two fellow stitchers and it really made my day!
Now, I hate to be a party pooper and not pass it on, but I wouldn't know where to start because I love all of the blogs I read. I have even stopped adding to the sidebar because I discovered google reader and have been adding them there. It is so much easier to keep up with the new posts and I highly recommend it if you don't already use it.
Perhaps I could encourage you to leave a comment on all of the blogs you read, letting the person know that you love to read their blog. I know I am always thrilled when I have some comments to read =)
Have a great day!

Stitching by the light of the moon...

2008-08-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

Can often lead to ripping by the light of day. I have the pattern and the stitching in the above photo. Can you see where I went wrong? I guess I was thinking I would just get that border stitched and just fill in with the design - what a quickie... It sure would have helped to take a good look at the pattern and maybe I would have noticed that the border wasn't a solid stitch? My first thought was to just pitch it and start again, but because of the price of gas (that is what we blame everything on right now, isn't it? LOL!) I ripped it out and have stitched it correctly. Hopefully I will have a photo of the stitched piece to post tomorrow.

Here is the adorable Santa floss tag I received from April from the Prairie Schooler Small Santa exchange. I love it! Thanks April. I need to do the finishing on yours so I can get it into the mail.
Have a great day!

My latest projects

2008-08-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

This is Night Owl from the latest issue of Just Cross Stitch. I stitched it on a hand-dyed lugana from my stash and used GAST Butternut Squash, WDW Sweet Potato, and GAST Ltd Edition Witches Brew. I love how the black has the blue in it. It makes be think of a cold foggy evening. I have not decided how I will finish it yet. I'm thinking maybe a pin keep. I bought the RIT dye in black and orange and some pins to dye. I hope to try that later this week when it is cooler.

Here is my Christmas hat and scarf I knit about two weeks ago when it was much cooler. Can you tell I am ready for Fall and Winter? I am just not a fan of the hot weather.
Here is the needlepoint project we started Saturday at the SFNG (Spokane Falls Needlework Guild) meeting. It will be a frame weight. The background is the brown but will be stitched over with the watercolors. I haven't decided if I like needlepoint yet but I am very glad that I get to try it. I love trying new things because you can always learn something!!! We have until the next quarterly meeting, which is in November, to finish the stitching so we can learn how to put it together.
I'm afraid I can't show you the rest of what I have been stitching because they are for exchanges. I can say that there are three Christmas projects I need to do the finishing on. When it gets cooler later in the week.
Have a great day!

Some like it hot........I DO NOT!!!

2008-08-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

Here is a long overdue photo of the latest Fair & Square Exchange. The squares above are from Dani and below is what I stitched for her.

We've had too many hot days in a row here. Yesterday it was 103* which is the hottest day in ten years. It was made even more special for me by the fact that my fridge was dead when I woke up. Had to throw everything out, but at least they brought me a new one. By the way, new in the military doesn't mean "brand new", it means "another one", which is fine because it is newer than the one I had and pretty nice too. Especially since this little incident didn't cost us anything. The very nice man who brought it also noticed that there is a huge wasp nest over the doorway so the exterminator is coming tomorrow to take care of that. I guess I didn't notice it because if I was looking up that far as I walked up the stairs, I would probably trip and fall. He is much taller than I and he looked up to make sure he didn't hit it with the fridge. I am so glad we live on base and they take care of stuff like that for us!!!

I am having a tough time uploading all of my photos so I am going to start another post and see what happens.
Have a great day!

Summer Quaker & Update

2008-08-08T12:02:00.000-07:00

Above is a photo of what I sent to Becky. It was my first tin finish and now that I know they aren't as difficult as I thought, I will definitely be making more of these! Her photos look better than mine so I will refer you to her blog to see the inside of the tin and the matching fob. This really was a fun stitch. The pattern is Quaker Flowers by Samplers & Such. Instead of using the Altoids tin, I used the Hershey tin with the purple lid. It matched the stitching perfectly. Now that I see you can also put magnet in the lid, I will try to do that next time. Just have to figure out how, so if anyone who is reading knows and can tell me, that would be great!

Here is the exchange I received from Margaret C. She stitched a beautiful biscornu for me in the prettiest Dinky Dyes silk, coral seas. She also sent along a very generous package of goodies. I am truly overwhelmed at her generosity. Two charts from my wish list, a huge piece of Lakeside Linen in a gorgeous pink color called Chantilly Cream, and some really pretty buttons, floss holders, and a handmade card! I used to make all my cards but it has been a while since that craft has seen the light of day, lol!

I received an exciting phone call the other day. A spot opened up for me to attend a stitching retreat next month. I am so excited I can hardly wait to go! It is one where you just bring what you want to work on and spend the weekend in a beautiful place with other stitchers and just have a great time. Sounds like heaven =) I have been collecting lots of ornament patterns, fabrics and threads so that may be what I take with me. There are so many I want to stitch and I am really in the mood to stitch Fall and Christmas projects right now. As soon as I finish this post I plan to stitch the Prairie Schooler Halloween ornament from the latest issue of Just Cross Stitch. I picked out the fabric and threads last night! My order with all their new charts arrived on Tuesday so I am wishing again that I could stitch 24/7!!! Don't we all?

I have some other things to show you but I decided that instead of posting it all at one time, I would try to post more frequently. I received my Fair & Square round 8 but will wait until Danica has received her squares from me to post about those. I have a couple of other finishes I will be sharing in the near future too so keep checking in to see what's new!
Have a great day!

Birthday Stitching

2008-07-28T10:20:00.001-07:00

Here is a photo of the Tulip & Star Pinkeep I stitched for my dear friend Kim. I should have taken a better photo so you could see what a lovely job the finisher did. She used the most beautiful burgundy fabric for the outside.
Here are two biscornus I stitched last week. The one on the left was a birthday gift for my friend Barbara and I stitched the one on the right for myself. The pattern is the Debbie Drapper designs called, Love. It was a very quick stitch and I really love to put these little guys together! See, I can do the simpler things but it's the really detailed finishing I have trouble with. I gave my needlebook to the finisher on Wednesday. I don't know when she will have it ready for me, but I do know that it will look spectacular when it is done and the fact that I can just stitch like crazy now will be worth every penny when I get the bill. This Fall she is teaching classes for eight different finishes and I am really looking forward to that! I already know how to do a couple of the techniques but I think you can always learn something so I will most likely take all of the classes. Now I had better get back to stitching since I have three exchanges that need to go out fairly soon. Have a great day!

Kreativ Blogger Award

2008-07-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Milly, who I am in a few yahoo groups with has nominated me for this award. Thank you, Milly! You really made my day =) Here is a link to her blog, Stitching Obsession II.

Here are the rules for this award:

• The winner may put the logo on her blog.

• Put a link to the person you got the award from.

• Nominate 5 blogs.

• Put links to the blogs.

• Leave a message for your nominees.

My nominees are:
Marie P. - Creative Thread
Monique - Inside Number Twenty
Mary Kathryn - eHandcrafts Stitching Room
Joan - Stitching Squad
Staci - Snippets and Stash

I really enjoy reading all of my favorite blogs listed in the sidebar. Now I am off to leave some messages. Have a great day!

Ultimate Needlebook Update and Summer Squares

2008-07-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here it is! My Ultimate Needle book in the process of being finished. The class was yesterday and I had everything but the inside spine piece and a bit of the pin cushion stitched, which I made myself finish last night. I was able to get started but still have quite a ways to go with the remainder of the finishing work. I will go to the shop tomorrow and Wednesday to work on it and I REALLY hope to have it ready for show and tell on Friday night. I absolutely LOVED working on this project and I think it is one of my most favorite things I have ever made.
Kendra received the squares I stitched for her in the Fair & Square Summer Round. This was a fun pattern to stitch! I have a couple of other exchanges that I need to get busy on but today I am going to START another project. The LHN Neighborhood SAL starts today and I am very ready to begin this project.
Have a great day!

Just for Fun

2008-07-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

You're Watership Down!

by Richard Adams

Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're
actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their
assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they
build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd
be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

More Photos & PIF Update

2008-07-08T12:31:00.001-07:00

I saw on the Quaker Inspired blog that my exchange was received all the way in Scotland so here is the picture of what I stitched. It is the Quaker turtle from The Workbasket and I finished it as a cube. I really enjoyed stitching it and hope to stitch the cat, mouse, and a frog some time in the future.

Here is a photo of my first floss ring tag. I used Little House Needleworks new Neighborhood chart which comes with an alphabet that I used to stitch the back piece shown below. Talk about EASY! I know I will be making plenty of these. I have already stitched another one and started gathering charts to stitch more. I used the tutorial on Staci's blog and it was very easy to follow! Maybe it's just me, but I think every stitcher should have a dish of these by their stitching chair just waiting to be kitted up with new projects!
Dani has asked to be my third PIF recipient so now I need to get to work and stitch something lovely for my three. If you are still interested in signing up for one, please check out their blogs. The other two are linked in previous posts.
Have a great day!

Exchanges & PIF Update

2008-07-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

Here is the Prairie Schooler pin keep exchange I sent to Stacy (no blog). This exchange was from the Yahoo group I belong to.

Here is what I sent to Amy for the HOE Little House Needleworks exchange. I stitched the design over one and made it into a pin keep. I really have to stitch that one again. I love it! I am still waiting on one more exchange to be received before I can post a photo.

Okay, I have two lovely people signed up for my PIF. I just need one more!!! Anyone interested? All you need to do is wait for a wonderful handmade item from me, and of course, offer the same to three people via your blog. So far, I have Natasha and Sharon to make something special for. Have I mentioned that I just need one more person?

Have a great day!

Goodies Galore!

2008-07-02T13:06:00.001-07:00

Kendra sent me these lovely squares she stitched for me in the Fair & Square Summer Round. She used a compilation of designs from a Donna Kooler book. What a cool idea! Thank you for the wonderful squares!
Friday was my birthday and two of my dearest stitching buddies took me out to lunch at a fancy shmancy restaurant and then to a quilt shop for some shopping. We had lots of fun! On the right are the gifts I received from Kim and Bonnie. I could not believe my eyes when I opened it. Only last week I saw those awesome scissors on Milly's blog and went looking for them on ebay. They were way out of my range so I gave up the idea of having them. My friends didn't even know about this which is why it is so neat!
On the left is a wonderful gift of a sewing set from my friends at the shop! I love wool felt and embroidery and am so happy to add this set to my collection!
Not shown are the two gift certificates I also received. One from my dear mother-in-law and the other from another dear stitching buddy. Of course, what does a girl buy for her 41st birthday? A magnifier, of course. I still have some spending power left but am waiting for the fabric floss and a couple of charts I have on order.
Next we headed out to the LNS for the monthly stitch-in. It also happened to be the shops birthday so it was extra special! The photo above shows some of the goodies we received. I ate all the candy when I got home. Hey, it was my birthday ;-) The bundle with the ribbon is one of those really cool sewing rolls that you can keep stitched pieces in for show & tell, or to take to you framer. The little kits are for making a pincushion, and a pattern and fabric for stitching a special birthday cake pattern. We can make it into a fob, needle book, or pin keep, our choice! As you can see, there is also a matching birthday beeswax. The little blue bag contained the candy, a pen and a notepad, too! Brenda, the shop owner is also an amazing cook. She made a wonderful ham dinner and the neatest cookie and cupcake dessert for us. Dinner is always included in the monthly "firefly" stitch-in, but this meal was extra special.

I have photos of a few swaps that I will post as soon as they are received. It has been stinkin' hot here the past few days (too many for me with no A/C) and I haven't accomplished much in the way of stitching. I really need to get busy on my Ultimate Needlebook so it will be ready for the class on the 20th. Maybe later I will have my first floss tag ready to show. I just need to put it together. I am so NOT disciplined!
Have a great day!

HOE LHN Received!

2008-06-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

Here is the beautiful pin keep that I received from Leigh. I love this pattern and as you can see, it matches my chair so it will go into the living room. My first LHN piece for the living room too, since I am still working on the flower samplers for my bedroom. I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful piece stitched for me. Thank you so much, Leigh, for the extras you sent, too! It will all come in handy and I already have an idea for the pink floss =)
Have a great day!

Blackbird Retreat!

2008-06-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

Alma from Blackbird Designs came to my LNS this weekend! Here is the table display of items she brought with her to show and talk about. We learned so many amazing ways to use your cross stitch for gift making. It was incredible! You can see that there are notebooks, journals, magnets, tiny pictures, ornaments, etc, shown here. Many items were made from color copies of finished needlework projects. Including our project from day one.
We covered the box in front on the left with a color copy of an old sampler. The stitched piece behind it will line the inside bottom of the box. I have put the photo of the finished project there so you can also see the pin keep which will go inside the box with a beautiful pair of scissors that was also in our kit.

On day two, we learned how to paint and antique a box that will be made into a larger pincushion. There is a photo of the finished project shown with my box. Still need to do the stitching but I hope to have it all done in the next few days so I can post photos of my finished items.

On both days we were treated to wonderful gifts made by our shop ladies and from Alma, too. I did take lots of photos but need to check with folks before putting them on-line. This was my first retreat and I have to say I was so overwhelmed with all the fun that I fell asleep almost as soon as I got home on the first day! I really wanted to try and finish the first project but realized that I fell asleep while stitching and had to rip what I did out. Then I wrote in the little notebook we were given all my notes and memories of the day. I learned so much about putting your heart into your stitching and the many things you can make from one stitched piece. I know there are many technical classes out there where you learn how to make perfect stitches and specialty stitches but this class was very different from that. I learned that you don't always have to finish a project before you can turn it into something wonderful. I hope to share more of those ideas in future posts with my own experiments on my projects.

Have a great day!

Fair & Square Round 7

2008-06-16T12:36:00.001-07:00

On Saturday I received these lovely squares and goodies from Annette W. Thank you so much!

My First PIF

2008-06-11T15:49:00.000-07:00

I signed up for my first PIF on Monique's blog and now I get to make the same offer available to my readers. The first three people that indicate in a comment on THIS post that they are interested in participating will get something made by me some time in the next 365 days. In return, you will make the same offer on your blog, thus, paying it forward. This should be fun!
Have a great day!

Two Exchanges and Computer Issues

2008-06-08T14:16:00.001-07:00

The above photo is what I sent to Annette W for the Fair & Square 7 exchange. I stitched part of Country Garden from Blackbird Designs for her.
This is the Prairie Schooler pin keep exchange that I received from Maggie. This time we are sending to a different person that we receive from. I have the stitching complete for the one I am sending but still need to put it together.

I currently have three exchanges that I need to do the finishing work on so I can get them sent out. Once they arrive at their destinations, I will have more photos to share with you. I am hoping that my daughter will let me borrow her camera to take to the Blackbird Retreat this coming weekend. I am so excited I can hardly stand it!!!

I had some serious computer issues this past week. My poor husband, who is a "Just go stitch and I will take care of this and let you know when I am finished" kind of guy, had to help me over the phone to try and figure out the mess. And me, being a, "What does this button do?" kind of gal, really tried his patience. Especially when I told him that after my phone battery died, I just started pressing the F10 key which did a system recovery......he told me to try F8 and it didn't work so I just tried something else (F10). He wasn't happy because he wasn't sure what that would do and couldn't see it himself. Well, you get the picture. He was frustrated, I was frustrated, but the computer is working now and we have a new security system and I am still trying to figure out how to reload the things that disappeared in the process. I will see what I can figure out on my own before I go asking any more questions. Poor guy needs a mental break, lol!
Have a great day!

Freebie Exchange!

2008-06-03T13:34:00.001-07:00

The above photos are what I sent to Sharon. I made a needle case for her and inside I put a few pins and a counting needle set. This was my first time to make a counting needle set and I think it is something I would really like to make more of. They really are a useful tool. The design is from Lizzie Kate.
This is the beautiful exchange I received from Sandra in Barbados. The postcard photo makes you wish you could just jump in and visit! She stitched and made a needle case for me from a French design. In her note she told me that "Printemp" means Springtime.

I am off to the Casino for a little mother-daughter time with my daughter so wish me luck!
Have a great day!

Fair & Square 4th of July

2008-05-31T16:51:00.000-07:00

Here are the squares and goodies that I sent to Darla. She received them yesterday so now I can post photos!!! This was a really fun stitch! The pattern is called "Liberty Ewe" from Crescent Colors. Inside the fabric "firecracker" I put some glittery threads as the "fireworks", and the variegated thread sticking out the top was to simulate a fuse for the firecracker. I think it looked better in my head, but you get the idea.
These are the squares that Darla stitched for me. She does very nice work and I think I need to get busy putting together all the squares I have received so far!

I have a couple of other finishes that I can't show just yet. They are for exchanges ;-)

I have added a new list to my sidebar. "Things I've Learned Since My Husband Left". My husband started a one year remote in Korea in March and I am learning as I go how to fix things, and who knows what else I will learn over the next nine and a half months!

I need to get busy stitching because I have a few more exchanges I need to finish up! Have a great day!

I'd LOVE to stitch that!

2008-05-22T17:56:00.000-07:00

Here are the projects I have recently started. The top right is my Ultimate Needlebook SAL through my LNS. It started last Fall. I started too, but decided I didn't like my fabric, (too light), so I changed it and started over a couple of weeks ago. The finishing class is in July. Think I'll make it?
Top left - I went to a guild meeting in Idaho because they do a lot of fun stuff and I don't want to miss anything. So I bought the newest SAL they are starting right now. "Love & Wisdom" by Drawn Thread. They will stitch parts of it between meetings, and demonstrate some of the stitches at the meetings so it will be lots of fun to do. Of course, I started it right away. Don't want to get behind on anything else, lol.
Center project in the pink binder - The latest SAL though my LNS. It is a French Sampler and it will officially start next week. I went ahead and picked my fabric and threads. Can you tell I was in the mood for PINK?
Right in front - "P is for Paradise". My LNS owner designed this alphabet and I offered to stitch a couple of letters for her. I really need to get my needle in gear because what you don't see are all of the smaller works in progress that are for all of the awesome exchanges I have signed up for. So far, I am keeping up with those. So far...
About the previously mentioned yardwork. I did it myself. Saved some money AND have a sense of pride in the fact that I have not received any yard tickets. I live on a military base and we have standards, ya know (LOL). My goal is to not get any yard tickets while my husband is gone. Now if I could just figure out why I have a pansy plant blooming in my front lawn and not in the flower bed.
Have a great day!

Fair & Square Round 6

2008-05-04T11:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received my squares from Monique. They will make a nice ornament for my Christmas tree, don't you think? I am very excited because she also sent me a counting needle set, made by her. She sells those and many other neat things in her etsy shop. The fabric will be perfect for some over one stitching that I want to do and believe it or not, this is my first skein of dinky dyes thread. I will definately have to find a special project to try it. Thank you so much!!!

I'm Just Trying To Do My Part, President Bush!

2008-05-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Will you just look at this? Do I have any will power at all? Evidently not. I just had to have these. I hadn't purchased the fabric for "Where My Heart Blooms" so, it's here. I bought fabric and threads for a couple of small projects from "With Needle & Thread". One will be a birthday gift for a dear friend so I had to have that, right? The cool purple scissors are for another gift. The additional Blackbird charts - I looked through the album at the yahoo group site. Need I say more? Oh, and the blue fabric. It is for a major do-over on my Ultimate Needlebook. I will show pictures of that next time. The only mistake I made was in trying to "use what I have" the first time. The fabric was just too loosely woven and I hated how my stitching looked on it. So today I found the perfect fabric and am happily stitching away....

Have a great day!

Resistance is futile!

2008-04-28T17:47:00.000-07:00

I was at my LNS for the stitch-in Friday night and there was talk of a "mystery" sampler. Blackbird is doing a mystery? Yes, you have to have all the charts from this years Loose Feathers program and at the end there will be a diagram for a seventh sampler using parts from the six charts in this years program. Key words, "mystery", "must have all the charts".....I was thinking, I don't have those yet, and I sure as heck don't want to miss anything. So, here are the first two charts, AND I decided I had to have this book. I have seen way to many cool things made from the charts in this book so I had to have it too! Can I please buy more time to stitch? PLEASE? I am supposed to be doing the yard work since dear hubby is gone for a year. I keep thinking, I wonder if it would be worth the money to pay someone to do it for me so I can stitch. How much stash money would I be giving up? It's just not fair to have to make that kind of decision, I tell you! I mean, check out the additional stash that came in the mail this week! I love clearance sales.

I did manage to get some stitching done this week, too. Three small projects. The "Grow Old With Me" design will go on the cover of a small scrapbook and become a gift to my hubby for our anniversary next month. The other two are LK freebies that I just felt like stitching. I have tons of small pieces of linen and I thought it would be fun to match them up with some small freebies and see how many I can get used up and stitched this year. I am also challenging myself to do the finishing work. I have been reading BeckyBee's blog and WOW!!! What an inspiration she is!

There is also a contest for you to check out on the Stitch Pink blog. All you have to do is leave a comment, but please take a minute to read about all of the great pink things you can stitch and support Breast Cancer Awareness.

Have a great day!

Needles & Hooks

2008-04-21T01:31:00.000-07:00

Still no paperback books, but then I wouldn't have these lovely finishes to show you! The Rose Sampler is by LHN and part of a SAL for the group I am in. The knit dishcloths and a couple of the crocheted scrubbers are for my hubby. The rest of the scrubbers will be set aside to be given away some time. I love to have a stash of handmade goodies for thank you gifts and such. The little "Peep" fob is from a Prairie Schooler freebie and I put that together last week, too! Have a great day!

More Stash!

2008-04-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

My order from Everything Cross Stitch came on Saturday. Everything I ordered was on sale so that was very nice. I also signed up for their newsletter and they sent me a welcome coupon. Which should help to explain the order I placed Monday...

Anyway, these are two of my most favorite designers. I have loads of their patterns and use them for stitching exchanges and gifts. I am currently working on Rose Sampler (LHN) and am more than half way finished. Over the weekend I had to crochet some bookmarks for another exchange I was in and like a space cadet, I forgot to take a photo before they went into the mail. When I make more, and I will, I'll be sure to take a pic to show you. I love to crochet, expecially quick small projects. Right now I am knitting some dishcloths for my husband. He is doing a remote assignment in Korea and asked me to knit him some cloths and crochet some scrubbers. I will take a pic and post it here before I send them to him.

Did anyone see "The Memory Keepers Daughter"? I just had to watch it. I bought the book quite a while ago but never got around to it. I am afraid that my "to read" stack is more like a three-dimensional list of movies I want to see when they come out. Of course, there are books that will never be made into movies so eventually I WILL have to read them to find out what happens. Well, the movie was very good and maybe someday I will be able to compare it to the book. Maybe.

Have a great day!

Fair & Square Earth Day Exchange

2008-04-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

Wahoo! Look at what I got in the mail today! These are my squares from Daniela B. She also sent some very nice extra goodies - flower seeds, throat drops, a most delicious looking chocolate bar, a beautiful pattern with the thread to make it, and some pretty ribbon! I am so excited! Thank you Daniela!!!

Yesterday was fun! I spent a couple of hours stitching at my LNS, then went to dinner with some of the guild members at a place called Ambrosia Bistro. I had the Butternut Squash Ravioli and it was to die for! I want to have it again soon. There was some great show and tell, and cookies - I LOVE cookies. If you have a local needlework guild, you should check it out. They offer some great classes, group projects, and the chance to make more stitching friends and who doesn't need more stitching friends?!

Have a great day!

Stashy Goodness & A Finish

2008-04-08T23:41:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I received my order from Handcrafts Online and not a moment too soon because the pattern for my next project was in there! That next project will be the Rose Sampler which I have already kitted it up.

I finished stitching the Cottage Garden thread pack yesterday! I love those thread packs and order one or two whenever I get the chance (have the money). They are a great way to collect the Crescent Colours threads and one of the thread packs in this latest order has the silks in it which I have not yet had the chance to try. I am looking forward to that! If only there were more hours in the day...

The wool fabric behind the Cottage Garden is what I think I will use for the Wool Needlecase and fob pattern. I still need to pull the threads and have a better look. Tomorrow I plan to spend the day at my LNS and get lots of stitching done before going to the guild meeting in the evening. It is going to be a fun day and if I want to be out of bed before noon, I had better get to sleep! Have a great day!

Fair and Square Round 6

2008-04-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

I heard from Monique that she received the squares I sent to her so here is a photo of them. I love these exchanges and I really need to start a photo album of the ones I have received. Mine will be made into Christmas ornaments and displayed on a feather tree that my dear mil bought for me.

I am still trying to get the hang of this whole blogging thing and deciding how I want mine to look and what info I want on it. I hope to add more links and maybe get that album started this week. Have a great day!

Don't anyone faint, lol

2008-04-03T11:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, here it is. I have started a blog. I never thought I would, but I enjoy reading everyone elses so much and after some intense encouragement from dear friend, I decided to go ahead and take the plunge.

Therefore, I would like to dedicate my first post to Marie P., that dear friend ;-) and show the exchange I received from her for the Prairie Schooler Fans fob exchange. She does absolutely beautiful work and I am so happy that we were able to exchange with each other again. We "met" through an exchange on the Fair & Square blog.

Now, to explain the name of my blog. I enjoy cross stitch, knitting, making items from felted wool (needles), I crochet quite a bit (hooks), and sometimes I even read (paperback books). Who knows what other shenanigans I will get into but you can bet that if it isn't anything too embarrassing, I will post about it on my blog.

I am expecting some serious stash enhancement to come in the mail any day now, so you can bet there will be more photos of great stuff soon. Heck, I might even finish a project or two and show you those. Until then, have a great day!