Birthday Thank Yous!

I want to thank my dear friends for the lovely and very thoughtful birthday presents that I opened up today... I am utterly overwhelmed... I owe personal thank yous to many of you. My neighbor gave DH & I a pair of IMAX tickets for my birthday, and Mike and I are getting ready to go soon to see The Dark Knight... I hope to get my personal thank yous out later tonight or tomorrow... as I said, I am so overwhelmed!

To save space, I put the gifts into a slideshow instead of creating a very graphic heavy post... so without further ado, look at the lovely treats I got today! (Pssst - the gifts from Carolyn are actually the SBEBB Redwork Exchange - my head is so cloudy today!!)

Thank you all for making my 45th birthday something very special... love to you all... {{{HUGS}}}

When I got up this morning, as I always get up before my actual birth hour of 9 AM (ish), I finished off this little Christmas ornament:

Let It Snow Ornament
Barbara Ana Designs
Sugar Maple Fabrics 28 ct Ice Crystal Lugana, DMC Floss

I also wanted to take a moment to send special birthday greetings to dear Patti - for those who do not already know, Patti and I share the same birth date - not just the same birthday, but the same birth date. I think I am a couple of hours older than she is, though :-( LOL! Happy Birthday, dear one!! {{{HUGS}}} I hope you had a great day today!

PS - Goodbye Manny Ramirez. I thought I would be sad when the day came that your demands to be traded from the Red Sox were met. Manny, I am not sad. It was time for you to go. Thank you for all the wonderful things you did for the Red Sox, but your negative attitude clearly has hurt the team this year. Best wishes.

Stitched on today: Finished Let It Snow Ornament, and stitched on SBEBB Redwork Exchange

Early Birthday Gifts

**I am having some computer issues and cannot access Google Reader well or consistently at all right now - I am so sorry I have been absent from so many blogs, and I am hoping to get this fixed soon! Also, I cannot quickly access links for the senders of the wonderful gifts I am about to show you - sorry!

I received a Make A Wish Exchange from BeckySC today :-) She signed up to fulfill my wish for a finished tin only a couple of weeks ago. She had two months, per her group's rules, to stitch it, but she sent it right out - and it's a beauty!


She wrote that this is part of a design by Gail Bussi. I think it is absolutely perfect and I really want to thank Becky for making this lovely tin for me - I am thrilled with it!

In the box with the tin were some birthday gifts from Becky! I did not know they were in there, or maybe I would not have opened the box until tomorrow! What a sweet pinkeep! Thank you Becky! She also sent me a whole lotta tea! I think I am all set for tea for quite some time now.... :-)

DH decided that he wanted some space back on our kitchen counter and he gave me a few of my gifts from stitching friends to open today. I hope the senders don't mind that I opened them a wee bit early ;-) As a result, DH was thrilled to regain counter space, and the cats had a little less to climb on.... there is still a stack there, but this dented it nicely! LOL

Valerie sent me this gorgeous kit off of my wish list! I love it so much, and really never thought I would be lucky enough to own it! It is, I think, limited edition or limited release or something like that. She also sent me two skeins of GAST just because she liked the colors :-) I like them too! Thank you Valerie!

Jenn also sent me some gifts! Wow, I am so lucky! I finally own a piece of her stitching! Jenn stitched me a pillow using a fairy design by Passione Ricamo. She also sent me a whole bunch of pretty finishing fabrics... and a little rubber ducky. Thanks so much Jenn!

Thank you, Heather, for these cute items. Heather sent me a pretty floral gardening fork that is already adorning my pot of kalanchoe on my front steps. Looks just perfect there. She also sent me some fruit tea, pretty flower seeds that I shall start in the spring and adorable strawberry fabric :-)

And the final box for today was from Michelle (Cozy Egg) - she sent me a chart off of my wish list, many pieces of finishing fabric, a box of pearl long pins and a packet of those charms I love oh so very much for fobs! Thank you Michelle!

I really value and treasure you, my dear friends. As I approach my 45th birthday in the morning, I reflect on how blessed I truly am. Each of you is forever with me in my thoughts and I wish you all blessings...

Stitched on today: Stitched on a Christmas ornament (not showing it yet, as there is enough good stuff to show from my friends today)

HoE Summer Quaker Exchange for Margaret

I have heard from Margaret that she has received the HoE Summer Quaker Exchange that I sent to her. Margaret is a very good friend of mine. She and I take classes together at Celebration of Needlework every May, and we hang out together for a few days - she is really a lot of fun, and I was thrilled to get her name for the exchange... With the theme of summer, I had colors on my mind, and I ended up stitching her a scissor pocket that is pretty much a crayon box full of color! Knowing that Margaret likes to wear colorful jackets to her job (she once told me that her colleagues sometimes ask her, "And what is your sofa wearing today?"), so I figured colorful was a safe bet. She says she likes it - I hope she does :-)


Victoria's Quaker Scissor Pocket
A Mon Ami Pierre
32 ct Antique Ivory Belfast Linen, Six shades of DMC Color Variations Floss

And, of course, the rest of my exchange for her. I couldn't resist sending her some Gingher scissors to put in her pocket ;-)

And, off to do some secret stitching amidst enjoying time going here and there, and pretty much loving a week off from work!

Stitched on today: Started a Christmas ornament, and stitched on SBEBB Redwork Exchange **Mailed out a new CE Exchange today

Summer House Exchange from Susan

I received such a lovely SBEBB Summer House Exchange from Susan today. I have to apologize for the really poor quality of the photo below - Susan has much better ones on her blog. Mike and I got home from running around, generally enjoying our vacation week - Chinese lunch out, registered our three cars (ouch, so pricey) and took three of my pieces to the framer as part of his birthday gift to me (the other part is a special treat from Down Sunshine Lane, which I am really, really excited about) - but I just distracted myself! Sorry! Look at this beautiful exchange!
Susan stitched one of my favorite Prairie Schooler designs, and it is so perfectly finished. It adorns my bureau now, so I can admire it every day! She also sent me the yummiest cut of Cappucino belfast linen by Country Stitch, several skeins of GAST that are so perfectly color coordinated, and a box of pretty note cards. I was so happy to receive from Susan :-) Thank you so much for everything - what a treat!

I heard this morning that a new Crazy Exchange that I sent off to Brisbane, Australia has arrived... It was my pleasure to stitch for Tess, a brand new member to the exchange.

Garden Alphabet "T" Fob
Prairie Schooler
Unknown 32 ct Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Now, as it is beginning to rain (thus the poor picture of the exchange from Susan...), I am going to work on secret exchange stitching ;-)

Stitched on today: Stitched a new CE Exchange, and started SBEBB Redwork Exchange **Mailed MAW Exchange to Simone, and mailed Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin to Nicole today

Finished Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin

I finished my square on Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin tonight. I hope she likes it. There were no directions in her package, and I just loved the heart and star on the chart, so I added them. I see Deb has a big flower on her house, so my little motifs look like they fit to me. Her neighborhood is very cheerful!

Stitched on today: Finished MAW Exchange for Simone, and finished Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin

More of Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin

I don't have a whole lot to show or say today. After being very distracted with "things" last night, I realized quite late and at bedtime that the MAW Exchange I started for Simone was off by a few stitches and I had to frog half of it this morning. I got that done, and made a lot of progress on the exchange (a mattress pincushion), before then settling in to work on Leslie's house again while watching "Under the Tuscan Sun" tonight... almost there now :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on MAW Exchange for Simone, and stitched on Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin

PIF for Sharon

I heard from Sharon today that she has received my PIF gift for her. I made her a floss ring tag - these little buggers are very addictive once you start making them :-) As you can see, I like to attach my scissors to the ring too while working on a small project...

A Bee C Floss Ring Tag
Elizabeth's Designs - found here
Unknown 32 ct R&R Reproductions Linen, GAST Simply Shaker Threads, JABC Tiny Bee Button

And that's all folks... that Nora Corbett Halloween Fairy in CS&N is getting lots of attention and I got mine mostly all kitted up now... but tonight I am going to hide so I can work on my MAW exchange for Simone... it is due out by August 4th, and I finally have room in my schedule to get it going!

Happy Weekend everyone - this is the start of a week's vacation for me, whew! I never work my birthday week... one small gift I can give to myself! Have a great night ;-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on a new CE exchange, started MAW Exchange for Simone

Summer Quaker Exchange from Edgar

Today was a little stressful. We had very heavy rains, thunder and lightning most of the day. Driving was terrible, and there was lots of flooding near my office. I later heard that just north and east of my house there was a lot of storm damage, and a possible tornado. We just missed it! My day was brightened immeasurably when I received this lovely HoE Summer Quaker Exchange from Edgar today. Edgar wrote that he could not decide which of these two items to stitch, so he simply stitched and sent them both. How lucky am I? First is a beautiful quaker rose box that adorns my bureau as we speak. It is lined with beautiful rose fabric and is just so perfect... and Edgar also stitched one of his super nice round pinkeeps for me too using a motif from the Ackworth book. Wow, I love them both! On top that, Edgar hit my wish list pretty hard and sent me two charts for which I have been yearning. Plus, two pretty and very useable fat quarters of cotton finishing fabric. Edgar, you brightened my day - you are so very generous and I appreciate all of this!

No stitching of mine own to show. I finished up my own HoE Summer Quaker Exchange tonight, but of course, I cannot show it yet. I was hoping one of the PIFs or CE exchange I have mailed out would have arrived so I could show it today, but nothing yet... Edgar's stitching needs no help and deserves its own entry anyhow ;-)

Oh! Before I forget!! I have been meaning to post this for about a week now... isn't this new Halloween Fairy by Nora Corbett in the new issue (Sept '08) of Cross Stitch & Needlework fantastic?? I think I am going to ask DH for some of the Kreinik and beads I will need for this for my birthday next week ;-) I love this!

Stitched on today: Finished HoE Summer Quaker Exchange

Kreativ Bloggers...

I have received several emails this week from bloggers alerting me that they have chosen me for this Kreativ Blogger award. I cannot even begin to sort out who has done this - I do recall the first to tell me was Margaret, so if nobody minds, I will credit her. No offense to anyone I overlooked! Thanks :-)

I have been told these are the rules:
1. The winner may put the logo on her blog.
2. Put a link to the person you got the award from.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to the blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

I cannot imagine thinking of 5 blogs to nominate. Gosh, can I nominate 500? I read so many every day (even if I cannot find time to comment) - so I think I shall nominate the top 5 blogs that inspired me to blog way back in 2004/2005...
Isabelle - probably the first blog I ever read - at that time, Isabelle was more heavily into cross stitching - one of the sweetest souls you will find on the net or anywhere...
KarenV for her amazing style and her sublime finishing skills...
BeckySC for her generosity and huge heart, amazing finishing skills and overall enthusiasm for life and stitching...
Katrina for our fun SALs together and her amazing generosity...
AnneS for her talent, sweetness and heart as big as all of Australia!


Before I go disappear now and work on the HoE Summer Quaker Exchange, which requires frogging right now - tried to stitch when I was a little too tired last night, I will show yesterday's progress on Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin...

Stitched on today: HoE Summer Quaker Exchange

A late birthday gift for Karen...

Karen just sent me a lovely email to let me know that my belated birthday gifts for her arrived today :-) I sent her some gifts back in May for her real birthday, but had not had a chance to stitch her anything in time for her big day. I sent her a few more gifts, as well as this little scissor pocket. Karen loves green, and when I saw this DMC Color Variations in the store, it jumped out at me.... glad she likes it :-)
Red Desert Scissor Pocket
The Cat's Whiskers Design Studio
28 ct Confederate Gray Cashel Linen, DMC Color Variations 4065 - Morning Meadow

I was really sad to read this tonight - I know that Jen Aikman-Smith has long spoken out against piracy and illegal copyright violations of her charts (and the charts of other designers). Now she is leaving us and will only sporadically gift us with sample charts or put designs in magazines. She will still teach too, but I think she pretty much only teaches in Canada. Jen, I will miss you and Dragon Dreams so very much. I have purchased all of your dragons and castles - and love them all... thank you for all you have done and for your whimsical work.

Getting ready now for a late baseball game and going to put down Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin for the night (no photo this time) and pick up my HoE Summer Quaker Exchange - it needs my attention right now...

Stitched on today: Stitched on Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin, and stitched on HoE Summer Quaker Exchange **Mailed out a gift today

Beautiful Blue Fabrics for Sale

I noticed on my desk tonight that I still have a little pile of absolutely beautiful blue hand dyed fabrics that did not sell last time I posted them... so I figured I would try again... they are just gorgeous! Please leave me a comment if any of these appeal to you. I take checks, money orders and Pay Pal. If you are a non-US stitcher, then Pay Pal only. I will try to charge only actual shipping for you too.

Left to right:
Silkweaver 28 ct Blue Dynasty Cashel Linen, 18" x 26", $20 -
Silkweaver 28 ct Rock-A-Bye Opalescent Lugana, 18" x 26", $20
Sugar Maple Fabrics 28 ct Blueberry Cheesecake Lugana, 18" x 27", $20

Leslie's neighborhood is growing a bit. I got a little bored with filling in the grey siding of the house, so I did a bit of the vine on the roof tonight. I know the house looks a little off center - that is by design ;-)

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, started a new CE exchange and stitched on Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin **Mailed off a PIF gift today

Spring Ride SAL

It is Spring Ride SAL night again. I just saw that Karen and her little tyke, Riley, are both not feeling well at all, so she did not stitch tonight. No worries, Karen! I hope you both feel better soon! I did a bit more white Marlitt and some minimal shading tonight...

Stitched on today: Started a gift, and stitched on Spring Ride SAL

HOHRH is back

I am surely not going to finish this sampler this year. Not at this pace. It helps if I actually pick it up and work on it... started it in 2005... will finish it in...??? Anyhow, I worked on shooting stars tonight, but with this Hand-Dyed Fibers conversion it is a bit tough to make out the star in there... one more star to go, but a darker one, at least...

Stitched on today: Stitched a PIF gift, and stitched on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow **Mailed off a PIF gift today

Summer House Exchange for Cathy

I heard from Cathy today that she has already received the SBEBB Summer House Exchange that I put together for her. I have been wanting to stitch this little Drawn Thread design for years now, and was thrilled to have a great opportunity to stitch it for a friend. This is the project that I made using some of the linen that Joke sent to me recently - the piece I needed so badly and serendipity brought it right to my door at just the right time ;-)
Summer Scene Mattress Pincushion
The Drawn Thread - in Just Cross Stitch, August 2000
32 ct Confederate Gray Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

... And the rest of the goodies for Cathy....

Off to do secret exchange stitching for the night - and so glad there is finally baseball on to watch again tonight!

Stitched on today: Finished a PIF gift, and stitched on HoE Summer Quaker Exchange **Mailed out a new CE Exchange today

Back in the neighborhood

I don't have a lot to share or say tonight - just really tired, as I have not quite caught up yet from staying up Tuesday night to 1:45 AM watching the end of the MLB All-Star Game.... Here is a little more of Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin. So glad I have tomorrow off ;-)

Stitched on today: Finished a CE Exchange, and stitched on Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin

PIF for Melissa

Well, I keep working away on my PIF list. It is taking me a while, but I am getting through them all. If you signed up with me, don't worry - I am getting them done :-) I heard today that Melissa has received the PIF that I sent to her...

Tree of Life Scissors Fob
Jeannette Douglas
28 ct Vintage Country Mocha Cashel Linen, Thread Gatherer Silk 'n Colors, DMC Floss

I am planning to go to a town Planning Board meeting in a little bit... someone wants to re-open and expand a junk yard right up against our property line. Disgusting. I am going to go listen to what they have to say and see how our town is reacting to this vile plan... so I am just going to drop in this blog entry - that will leave me time to exercise and work on my HoE Summer Quaker Exchange when I get home...

Have a great night!

Stitched on today: Stitched on a CE Exchange, and stitched on HoE Summer Quaker Exchange **Mailed my SBEBB Summer House Exchange today

Little Things To Share

I have a couple of little things that I recently stitched, mailed out and have been received... and then I will sneak off to watch the MLB All-Star Game and start my HoE Summer Quaker Exchange.

I heard from Staci this morning that she has received my ornament for a private Christmas Ornament Swap that I am participating in (this month we all send to Staci). My ornament is tiny and delicate, but I am glad that Staci likes it.

Bell Ornament
Jeannette Douglas
Chart in JCS Christmas Ornament Preview Issue, August 2008
32 ct Natural Belfast Linen, DMC Floss & DMC #12 Perle Cotton

And I just discovered that Janaina received a new Crazy Exchange that I mailed out to her on June 30th. I am always worried about mailing anything to Brazil. They don't allow insured packages there, so you need to take your chances. I mailed something to Janaina months ago that never arrived... but June 30th to July 15th isn't too bad for International Priority Mail (??!!)... Anyhow, I think she likes it...
Tiny Toad Fob
The Cricket Collection
Silkweaver 36 ct French Vanilla Swirl Edinburgh Linen, Thread Gatherer Silk 'n Colors, and DMC Floss

....OK, the MLB Parade is ending soon and then game time :-) I am off to start something fun for the Summer Quaker exchange... have a great night, see ya tomorrow! Go American League!!

Stitched on today: Stitched on a Crazy Exchange, finished SBEBB Summer House Exchange and started HoE Summer Quaker Exchange