Happy Halloween!

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

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.

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.

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

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!

Halloween Exchange Landed!

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!

I'm Speechless!!!

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!

More Exchanges and this weeks drawing!

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!

Spooky Drawing & Another Giveaway!

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!

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!