Back to Spring Ride SAL

It's been about five weeks since I last picked up Spring Ride, and I wanted my SAL partner, Karen, to know that I am still in it with her :-) I have been taking a little break from it to let her catch up a bit, as well as because it is not as fun to work on this without my Ott-Lite. All of this white and/or near white on opalescent white belfast linen is do-able, but a little bit of a strain on my 45 year old eyes. I did a little tonight before I put it down. I didn't want to end up needing an Excedrin Migraine tablet - LOL. Only kidding about the tablet :-)

Speaking of my Ott-Lite, I think I mentioned that DH bought me a new one... according to the shipper's website, it still won't be here until around September 4th...

PS - spent the morning at the hospital, and my beloved family member is doing quite well and starting OT on Tuesday :-) Thank you for all of your well wishes and prayers... they have helped.

Stitched on today: Stitched on Spring Ride, and on SBEBB Shepherd's Bush Exchange

Christmas Ornament SAL

It's that time of the month again, and I found a little bit of quiet time today to stitch this little ornament for the monthly SAL. It's not a good photo, but nonetheless...

Noel Ornament
Heart in Hand - in Woodland Christmas leaflet
32 ct Natural Belfast Linen, GAST Floss

Off now to start my SBEBB Shepherd's Bush Exchange - the mailing date for that one is fast approaching now!
Stitched on today: Stitched Noel Ornament, and started SBEBB Shepherd's Bush Exchange

Needle Roll Exchange from Cathie

After spending the day at the hospital with my ill family member, it was such a treat to come home to this lovely HoE Needle Roll Exchange from Cathie :-) She stitched me a really elegant needle roll with my initials and specialty stitches, and it is so beautifully done. She even put little silk roses inside each end. She also sent me pretty floss and ribbons, as well as a lovely sachet, which I think is vanilla. I love it all. Thank you so much Cathie! The sunflower in the background of the photo is one of many that we grew from a packet of sunflower seeds that Veronica sent me in the HoE Pinkeep Exchange earlier this year - isn't it pretty?
And I finished Katrina's Neighborhood Round Robin tonight. I decided to take Michelle's lead and I added some pretty sampler motifs to fill in my block. I remembered that Willow House by Blackbird Designs had some nice ones, so I dug it back out and used it. I hope you like it Katrina. I really love it! I will get this off to An sometime next week. Only one more neighborhood left for me to stitch on now in Group Three :-)

Stitched on today: Finished Katrina's Neighborhood Round Robin

More neighborhood

I can't show the PIF I am working on, but here is a bit more of Katrina's neighborhood... I still have a bit to do on the right side and upper part of her block, but it is coming along now...

Good news for me! I found a lovely ebay friend who has plenty of the Kreinik I need to finish Halloween Fairy, so I ordered some tonight and given her usual amazing service, it should be here soon and my fairy will be done. And the Ott-Lite... it was not the ballast. DH put a voltage meter to it and it appears to be the circuit board at the switch, and we cannot find one of those anywhere. He ordered me a new one, slightly different. Hopefully that will be here soon.

I have avoided talking about this, but I know I am way, way, way far behind in answering emails. One of my family members is terribly ill and facing a long recovery and rehab, and I am just a bit wrapped up in it right now and enjoying peace in my stitching. And the situation reminds me again of the fragility of life and I wish to tell you all once again how special my stitching friends are to me. This is the kindest community I have ever had the good fortune to know. Thank you :-) And don't worry about my family member, OK? With a bright attitude and strong faith, I do think this special person will recover well. I will try to get to emails over the weekend... and your blogs too! (Truth be told, I read a few today... yay)

Stitched on today: Stitched on a PIF gift, and stitched on Katrina's Neighborhood Round Robin

Needle Roll Exchange for Gwen

I heard from Gwen tonight that she has received the HoE Needle Roll Exchange that I sent to her. I chose an autumnal theme for her, which worked out well as Gwen let me know that, like so many of us , she likes autumn's colors.
Fall Leaves Needleroll
Sekas & Co.
Kiwi Illusions 32 ct Cappuccino Belfast Linen, DMC and ThreadWorx Floss

And the rest of my goodies for her...

Now off to either work on a PIF or my Halloween Fairy...
**Edited to add:

I chose to work on both, actually. Here is Halloween Fairy, and all she needs now is a few crimson Kreinik stitches (I still don't have that braid yet) and a whole lotta beading ;-)
Stitched on today: Stitched on Halloween Fairy and on a PIF gift

Big Bird

No sign of the Kreinik I am waiting on for Halloween Fairy, so I went back to work on Katrina's neighborhood round robin. Someone asked what design this is. I had chosen not to say it when I started, but alright, I will share now. It is a portion of The Farmer's Wife by Barrick Samplers. Katrina listed CHS as one of the designers she likes, and since Barrick Samplers became CHS, I figured this would count. The chart is done up in drabs, browns, olives, terra cottas. Katrina sent her own skeins of DMC in her chosen color palette for her RR (smart idea!), and I am having fun making this drab chart into a very colorful house and garden... with a big bird ;-) I know my house is a little smaller than the others on the RR. I was going a little nuts finding a bigger one that I liked. But I have plans... this is going to work out... you'll see ;-)

Stitched on today: Katrina's Neighborhood Round Robin

An exchange, a gift... and webby!

What a nice mail day today!!

First, I received this really pretty SBEBB Biscornu Exchange from the dear, sweet Carolyn :-) She knows how to spoil me very well. She stitched a Papillon Creations biscornu for me... I really love Papillon Creations. And the extra goodies - so nice! A neat needlework journal that I cannot wait to really sit down and check out, some pretty purple and pink fibers, a sweet Elizabeth's Designs chart (another of my favorite designers), a thread counter, great pieces of fabrics for smalls and pins too! Thank you Carolyn - I hope to get to stitch for you soon too!
And, another treat! A belated birthday suprise from the lovely Sharon (have you seen the adorable back to school picture of her kids - good lookers, and boy have they grown!)... Sharon sent me a chart I wanted so, so badly off of my wishlist and a baggie full of gorgeous Hand-Dyed Fibers silks! Sharon, you are so wonderful - thank you!!
Is webby a word? If not, I am going to use it anyhow. My fairy (I know, a fairy with no wings - but I still love her) has a lot of webs at her feet now :-) OK... really close now to needing that Kreinik that still is not here... neither is the ballast DH ordered for my Ott-Lite...

Stitched on today: Halloween Fairy

It's not much, but it's a start

Not a lot of time for stitching at all today, but I did get a small little start on Katrina's Neighborhood Round Robin tonight....

Nothing else to say today. I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Stitched on today: Started Katrina's Neighborhood Round Robin

Pumpkins

Pumpkins are now growing at my fairy's feet :-) It looks like I will have all of the stitching done, except for the stitches that call for that braid I am still waiting on, before that braid even comes in.... sigh... Anyhow, she is getting a little sparklier now!

Stitched on today: Stitched on a PIF gift and on Halloween Fairy

Birthday Gift for Michelle

Today is Michelle's birthday, and she has let me know that she has received some gifts that I sent to her. Happy Birthday, Michelle! The stitched part of my gift is:
Topiary Bird Floss Ring Tag
Praiseworthy Stitches
Silkweaver 40 ct Solo Newcastle Linen, GAST Floss

Halloween Fairy continues to grow. I get comments every time I post her asking who the designer is, what fabric I am using and how to get the chart... so, I figured it was time to post that info again: This is Halloween Fairy by Nora Corbett, and the chart is found in the September 2008 issue of Cross Stitch & Needlework Magazine. I am stitching her on Silkweaver Phantom Belfast Linen :-)

Yay, it is the weekend!!

Stitched on today: Started a PIF gift, and stitched on Halloween Fairy **Mailed out my HoE Needle Roll Exchange today

My friends spoil me!

I had such a great mail day today because my friends spoil me! I received an ONS order today that included two of three items I still needed for Halloween Fairy... one spool of Kreinik still coming... so that was a good start... but then it got great... Look at these lovely gifts from friends:
Leena sent me this pretty pinkeep. It is amazing. Leena does such beautiful work. She stitched a freebie from The Gift of Stitching using that wonderful DMC 115, and it is finished so perfectly! Thank you so much Leena! And, Joke sent me this super sweet little floss ring tag. She says it is only her second one, but she felt it was a nice gesture to send it to me. I guess that is because I sent her a pack of eyelets and a setting tool when I read in the Crazy Exchange group that she wanted to try this technique out... it is the sweetest little thing from the sweetest woman! Thank you so much Joke! I adore both of my gifts (and their senders) so very much. I will cherish them forever. And, here is my fairy... she is close to stitched up now, save for some small areas of braid that will just have to wait until the postman delivers the goods. I was able to start the pumpkin vines tonight - it is getting very sparkly and shiny now :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on Halloween Fairy

New Crazy Exchanges

I have been busily stitching away on new exchanges for the Crazy Exchange, and my two latest ones arrived at their European destinations within the past twenty four hours, so since tonight will be about trying to finish my HoE Needle Roll Exchange, I will show these now... first I sent one to Belgium...

Garden Alphabet "P" Fob
Prairie Schooler
Unknown 32 ct Belfast Linen, DMC Floss
Stitched for Pascale

Then I sent one to The Netherlands... Annemiek had recently left a comment after seeing my Halloween stitching that she felt the urge to pull hers out too, so I could not resist a little Halloween themed exchange for her...


Spooky Time Floss Ring Tag
Lavender Wings
32 ct Dirty Belfast Linen, Weeks Dye Works Floss
Stitched for Annemiek

New ballast has been ordered for the Ott-Lite... should be here early next week, and I hope that solves the problem!

Oh! And some have asked what floss drops are... Here are some in Carol's blog: Carol's Floss Drops. I have been told you can use punches. I stopped at Michael's today. I found a tag punch that is cute, but cannot find a teardrop shaped one... I could put a circle inside the tag, but want to still look for a teardrop like Carol uses...

Stitched on today: Finished HoE Needle Roll Exchange, and stitched on Halloween Fairy

Addiction

It's just pure addiction... probably because I think I just needed to put my WIPS aside for a bit and just stitch something fun for myself while keeping up with my commitment stitching. I finally found one that is doing the trick for me ;-)

Ah, thank you to those of you who have let me know that I don't actually need a pricey Cricut machine to make floss drops... fantastic news. I did look for a punch today on my way home from work, but although I found tons of cute shapes, I did not find one that was not so very complicated that it would work for a floss drop... the search shall continue... yay, another thing to look forward to. But in not so great or fun news, my Ott-Lite bulbs arrived today and it appears that the ballast is the likely culprit here. Mike did research online, and this is a common issue. He is now busy being a DH and researching whether or not to try to get a new ballast or to treat me to a new lamp, and maybe it will be another brand. Either way, he will get me set back up again soon :-)

My little Anouk tonight... getting a good photo of her is like finding the Holy Grail... drippy face, squinty eyes, way too tiny nose, runt of her litter ... but she's such a little love :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on HoE Needle Roll Exchange and Halloween Fairy

Sweet Barbara

I just received a wonderful birthday package from Barbara today. She stitched me a sweet little heart pillow, and you cannot see the pretty colorful fabric on the back of it (sorry) - so pretty! And she also sent me a lovely chart by one of my favorite designers, Indigo Rose... one that I did not have :-) Thank you so much Barbara!

I kept working away on my Halloween Fairy again tonight. She has me so distracted. I find myself really feeling the need to apologize that I am not visiting blogs much lately. I am very busy with a HUGE project at work (every August and September) that leaves me with no right to slack off at work and surf the net... and then when I am at home I either work on gifts or exchanges... or Halloween Fairy! I appreciate those who still come to visit my blog. You are aces. I will be back at your blogs, I am sure... but that work project.... so important...

I did a little bit of research a few minutes ago. I like the floss drops that some of you have been making, and I heard of the Cricut Machine. Ouch, ladies. That machine is almost $200 even at WalMart?? Sadly, I cannot afford to jump on this bandwagon - those of you who have a Cricut Machine - lucky!!!

Stitched on today: Stitched on HoE Needle Roll Exchange and Halloween Fairy **Mailed out a gift today

Fairy Update

Here it is, the project that has me completely sidetracked from my goal list this month (aside from exchanges, round robins and gifs, of course!). I am still waiting on braids and beads, and wow, the stitching feels like it is such slow going without my Ott-Lite too.... really, really need that new bulb soon :-(

And, isn't this something? I started my HoE Needle Roll Exchange earlier today, and I chose a pretty hand dyed fabric to compliment the design. I took the fabric out of the package and was amazed at how poor the back of the linen looked. This is dyed by one of the relatively popular dyers... Country Stitch. Wow, terrible! The front is quite good. That big one spot shows lightly a little on the other side, but my stitching will be dealing with that (already is covered, as I stitched quite a lot after taking the photo). Anyhow... just sharing how shocked I was to see that they sold this fabric like this.... oh my. I hope the insides of the ends of my neederoll don't end up giving a visual access to the spots!

Stitched on today: Started HoE Needle Roll Exchange, and stitched on Halloween Fairy

Birthday Gift for Leslie

Leslie has opened the little package that I recently sent to her for her birthday which is this coming week. It is not much, but is a wee token of my affection for her birthday. Leslie and I both own black cats, so this little design seemed fitting...
Portrait of a Cat Floss Ring Tag
Brittercup Designs
32 ct Antique White Jobelan, Weeks Dye Works Onyx Foss and DMC 115 Floss

I am not doing a whole lot of much today and have nothing else to show. If lucky, I will finish another gift before the night is over but am finding it difficult to work ont his particular gift without my Ott-Lite :-(

I hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Stitched on today: Finished a gift

Biscornu Exchange for Chris C.

Chris has let me know that she has received the SBEBB Biscornu Exchange that I sent off to her earlier this week. Chris has sent me several exchanges over the past couple of years, and I was really happy to get her name and finally be able to send one to her.

Quaker Season Biscornu
Brightneedle - Private Reserve Design
32 ct Antique Ivory Belfast Linen, GAST Floss

For the rest of the goodies, I focused mostly on Chris' wishlist in her blog. I am glad she likes what I put together for her. I had a lot of fun! Enjoy Chris!

Stitched on today: **Mailed out a new CE Exchange today

Poking Along

Just poking along with Halloween Fairy tonight. I am so used to my Ott-Lite now, that when I don't have it I can really feel the difference. My eyes feel a little strained, working with browns and greys on dark brown linen... she is worth it, though ;-) And some good news for me today. I got the notice that my bulbs have been shipped. I hope they arrive soon.

Beau... not as impressed as I was to see two Americans take gold and silver in gymnastics tonight.

Stitched on today: Stitched on Halloween Fairy **Mailed Shelley's Halloween Round Robin to Edgar today