Birthday Gift for Cathy

Happy Birtday, Cathy! I hope you had a great day today ;-) Here is the stitched part of my gift that I put together for my dear friend (I apologize for the terrible photo - it was so dark and rainy the morning I took the photo - couldn't wait for better light, it had to get to the post office!) :
Christmas Alphabet "C" Fob
Prairie Schooler
Unknown 32 ct Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Stitched on today: Stitched the first part of Summer Exchange for Cathy K.

Gloire du Matin, Week 3

And now... Week 3 of Gloire du Matin. The leaves are all finished up, and now just flowers to add, and some of the pale green filagree stuff at the bottom corners :-)

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, and stitched on Gloire du Matin

Back on track

OK, I am making a concerted effort to get back on track. So, here is an update of HOHRH again for tonight. This block is starting to move along nicely, and then there will only be two blocks left to go ;-)

Stitched on today: Started a gift, and stitched on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow **Mailed Christmas ornament to Carolyn for Christmas Ornament Swap, and mailed SBEBB Reindeer Games Exchange today

Happy Thanksgiving!

Stitched on today: Stitched SBEBB Reindeer Games Exchange

Gift for Ann

Finally, I have a little something to show. I heard this morning that my friend Ann has received the wee little birthday gift that I had put together for her....

Home Is Where the Heart Is Floss Ring Tag
Brightneedle
28 ct Bo Peep Pink Cashel Linen, WDW Floss, stitched one-over-one

Wow.. Thanksgiving is tomorrow already! Hard to believe!

Stitched on today: Finished Christmas Ornament for Carolyn for Christmas Ornament Swap

A little better...

I feel a little better today - and want to thank those who left sweet words of concern. Wow, I was surprised how many have had problems with their gall bladders too! Found out today that my grandmother had a lot of issues with hers as well. I really was careful with what I ate today, and my only troubles came from having my morning coffee... very hard to give that up ;-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on Christmas ornament for Carolyn for Christmas Ornament Swap **Mailed a gift today, mailed AQC chart to BeckySC today

Just too tired

Just too, too tired to bother to blog... gallbladder attacks are just so bad right now... anyhoo, maybe I will be back tomorrow...

If not, take care all - and Happy Thanksgiving to my US friends!

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, and started Christmas ornament for Carolyn for Christmas Ornament Swap

A little more HOHRH

Well... the early Hand-Dyed Fibers conversion I am using for my HOHRH has me feeling a little skeptical again... but as usual, I will roll with it. Could those very bright peach railings on the widow's walk look more... garrish? Deep breath, Carol... roll... LOL

Oh - before I forget (again) - I am looking for three new PIF victims! I signed up through Joke's blog about two months ago and keep forgetting to get victim sign ups! Maybe I need five, actually.... better shoot for that and not have too few to meet the obligation... so here are the rules 1) if you want to sign up, just leave a comment here telling me you want to sign up; 2) I will send you something hand made within the year of 2009; 3) you will need to post a note similar to this in your blog and recruit three to five members to also send gifts to - thus, it is PIF (Pay It Forward) - no ifs, ands or buts... if you sign up, you gotta post in your blog and take sign ups, OK? My last two times through PIF, I made gifts for everyone, but many "forgot" to take sign ups... so, are you game??

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, and stitched on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow

Gloire du Matin, Week 2

Today is the second week of the Gloire du Matin SAL. I began to work my way down to find the bottom of the sampler today. It's a lot of fun and a pretty quick stitch, but I have a desire to cuddle up on this cold night and continue to read Breaking Dawn now...

I heard that Elza has received the Christmas Ornament Exchange I sent to her for Meg's group. I saw in her blog that she likes Barbara Ana Designs, so I sent her Let It Snow, which I had made over the summer. Glad you like the exchange, Elza :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on Gloire du Matin, and started a gift **Mailed PIF to Chris H. today, and mailed SBEBB Christmas Ornament Exchange today

Finally... Twilight

Oh gosh, I have waited months for this! I dragged my DH out nice and early today for the opening day of Twilight. Loved it!!! Out of the loop?? Enjoy the trailer above ;-)

HOHRH came out to play tonight ;-)

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

PIF from Melissa

I finally finished my SBEBB Christmas Ornament Exchange tonight... I have been working on this ornament for days now, and it gave me total fits from the get go... so surprising since it should have been so easy. Just a case of whatever could go wrong, did go wrong! But, finally, it is finished now ;-) Cannot show it yet... but looky, I got this cute PIF from Melissa today - she stitched me this cute floss ring tag using a Brightneedle chart - she knows I love, love, love Brightneedle. Plus a whole big pile of gorgeous blue and green tags that she also made for me. I love it all - thanks so much Melissa!!

Stitched on today: Finished SBEBB Christmas Ornament Exchange

Beautiful Christmas Ornaments

What a great mail day today - I received two really lovely Christmas ornaments from two dear friends! Today was really quite cold here, as it barely was above freezing all day, so opening packages with Christmas ornaments by the fireplace was rather fun this afternoon!

First of all, I received this HoE Christmas Ornament Exchange from Carla - she stitched me this adorable Fa La La ornament by Plum Street Needleart. I just love this design, and she even stitched it on 40 ct - so delicate and sweet, and of course, perfectly finished. I love the beaded edge. She also sent me a Shepherd's Bush kit off of my wishlist (wow!), some lovely Moda holiday fabrics, two skeins of ThreadWorx floss... and a box of yummy truffles from Peru! What an awesome exchange, Carla - thank you so much!

And a huge surprise - dear, sweet Erin sent me this really gorgeous banner style ornament as, she says, a thank you for having included her in the Hello Neighbor RR that is just winding down. Oh, Erin - no need for such a thank you - it was a sheer pleasure to have you in our group (and your woodsy theme was so awesome!)... but I truly love this ornament and it will be a real treat on our Christmas tree. Thank you so, so much.

I will treasure both of these ornaments forever. How lucky am I??

Stitched on today: Stitched on SBEBB Christmas Ornament Exchange **Mailed Donna's Witching for Stitching RR to Edgar today

Finished Donna's RR

I finished up Donna's Witching for Stitching RR tonight. I used Bone Appetit by Lizzie Kate, and was encouraged by Donna's comment in yesterday's entry letting me know she likes Lizzie Kate. So... this is off to Edgar tomorrow ;-)

Stitched on today: Finished Donna's Witching for Stitching RR **Mailed Christmas Ornament Exchange (Meg's Group) today

Started Donna's Witching for Stitching RR

I didn't have a lot of time for stitching at all tonight, but I did find a few moments to start Donna's Halloween Round Robin. She asked each of us to put something that celebrates Halloween in one of the rooms of her house. After searching high and low for something that I liked that fit her blocks, I chose a Lizzie Kate design... I hope that Donna will like it.

Stitched on today: Started Donna's Halloween Round Robin

Finished that sky!

I feel like I just made it over a major hurdle with Houses of Hawk Run Hollow tonight. I finished up the area of black sky... yay!!

Stitched on today: Stitched on SBEBB Christmas Ornament Exchange, and stitched on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow

Brand New Start

Today I started Gloire du Matin by The Drawn Thread. While we were at the Drawn Thread/Indigo Rose event last weekend, Margaret and I decided to start our SAL of this pretty sampler today. I managed to get all of this done just while watching a couple of movies while it poured out this afternoon. I think this will be a quick stitch. The photo is a bit dark due to my habit of taking the photos late at night in my finished basement, and I don't have a light box... but, I think it still shows how pretty this little sampler will be. I really enjoyed what I was able to get done earlier today.

Stitched on today: Started Gloire du Matin, and started an ornament for the SBEBB Christmas Ornament Exchange **Mailed out a new CE exchange today

Return Exchange from Tess

I received a Crazy Exchange return exchange from Tess in Australia today. She stitched me a pillow with pansies on it... so much detail in the stitching! Wow, thank you Tess!!

As for me, quietly stitching away on a new Crazy Exchange tonight ;-)

Stitched on today: Finished a new Crazy Exchange **Mailed a gift today

CE Ornament Exchange from Bianca

I received a lovely ornament from Bianca today for the Crazy Exchange Ornament Exchange. I just love it. I have always loved this ornament, and am thrilled Bianca chose it for me. Her work is really beautiful too. Thank you Bianca! I am nervous about the one I made... it should have arrived at its new home by now (days ago, really), but no word... worried.

Stitched on today: Started a new CE Exchange

Very Pretty Quilt from Marne

I just received this very pretty Crazy Exchange from Marne today, a real surprise and I truly love it! My camera did not quite catch its edges, but it is a stunning table runner that now sits proudly on my dining room table. Thank you, Marne - what a treat! Your work is so lovely :-) Marne also included some little treats for me :-)
And more blackness... easy to do, since tonight was my night to watch the Country Music Awards - very good again this year :-)

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, and stitched on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow **Mailed An's Neighborhood Round Robin home to her today

Harvest Time Exchange for Lucy

What a relief to learn that Lucy has received the SBEBB Harvest Time Exchange that I sent off to her. It seemed to take too long to get from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania, especially for such a wee package. I do hope you like it, Lucy. I had fun putting it together. This was a "no goodies" exchange, so I have nothing else to show for this exchange...
Pumpkins Fob
Little House Needleworks
Stitched one over one
28 ct Vintage Country Mocha, Crescent Colours Floss

Stitched on today: Started a gift

Finished An's Neighborhood Round Robin

Tonight I finished An's Neighborhood Round Robin, which brings to a close for me this round robin. I hope the others will all get their stitching finished up and all of the RR's will be home soon. It was a fun group!

The Fox and the Grapes
Prairie Schooler
Changed every color except for the black
Border from Two Houses by The Goode Huswife - changed all colors here too

Here is how An's RR looks as it is ready to go home. There is still space on it for her to mess around with and add something else she likes, or have another friend finish it for her. It will be fun to see what she chooses to do with that area. I hope you like it, An! I will mail it home on Wednesday, as there is no postal service in the US tomorrow due to Veteran's Day.

Stitched on today: Finished An's Neighborhood Round Robin

Christmas Ornament Exchange for Shay

Shay received the HoE Christmas Ornament Exchange from me a couple of days ago, but I did not have a chance to share it until now.

Jingle Sparkle Joy
Midsummer Night Designs
36 ct Summer Khaki Edinburgh Linen, DMC Floss

... and the rest of my Christmas treats for Shay. Glad you are happy Shay - I had fun stitching for you!

And a new peek at how An's Neighborhood Round Robin is progressing...

Sorry, no info on the classes from yesterday yet. I was not near my computer much at all today, but I will try to get the photos of those projects up tomorrow. Keep an eye on the Drawn Thread's website - Cynthia did reveal yesterday that a new freebie, called Give Peace A Chance, shall appear there sometime this month ;-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on An's Neighborhood Round Robin

Thanksgiving Exchange for Heather

Heather has received the Thanksgiving Exchange that I put together for her...

Joyful Thanksgiving Pinkeep
Shepherd's Bush
32 ct Raw Belfast Linen, DMC and ThreadWorx Floss

I know that Heather likes quilting, so I also sent her a chart for a city bag with all of the necessary fabric, along with a little chart and some floss. I have never stitched for Heather for an exchange before, so this was a treat! Happy Thanksgiving, Heather :-)

Today was fun - I took classes at the Celebration of Needlework Fall Event in Nashua, NH. The first class was with Cynthia Zittel of The Drawn Thread, followed by a class with Catherine Strickler of Indigo Rose. I will post project pictures tomorrow... both classes were excellent.

Stitched on today: Started Persian Pocket in Cynthia Zittel's class, and started Appalachian Rose in Catherine Strickler's class

My Neighborhood is Home!

Awesome! My Hello Neighbor! Round Robin (Group 3) came home today - all finished up! We did lose a stitcher early in the rotations, but dear Cathy asked our friend Joan if she would do a block too... and Joan did! What a treat! My neighborhood is complete - thank you all so much, because I truly love it! It is on 36 ct Summer Khaki Edinburgh Linen, and is so tiny and delicate. I will get this framed soon. I wish I had pulled out the rest of the basting stitches before I took this photo.

Top Row: Erin, Cathy, and An.

Middle Row: Judith, Carol, and Joan.

Bottom Row: Michelle, Katrina, and Kathy.

I had an extra fun day today... tomorrow is a wonderful event at Celebration of Needlework in Nashua, NH... and I went nice and early to Manchester Airport and picked up my dear friend Margaret - it was warm but drizzly here today... didn't even notice the weather with her pleasant company! She went down to visit my Mom with me - saw my mom take some of her first steps on her new prosthetics, and I could tell my Mom took to Margaret immediately. Then we drove up to Yankee Cross Stitch in N. Hampton, NH where we shopped and visited with Erica and her big doggie, Oscar, for a bit... then lunch at Applebee's before bringing her to the hotel to check in. Thanks for the fun day, Margaret - can't wait now for our classes tomorrow!

Stitched on today: Stitched on An's Neighborhood Round Robin

A beautiful day in An's neighborhood

I guess I must be channeling "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" today, a childhood throwback, as I write this entry. Anyhow... I worked more on An's neighborhood tonight. My choice does not go all the way up to her top border, as does the stitching in the upper right. So I will add a border or something fun there for An - no worries An, I will make sure you have good boundaries all the way around your RR ;-) Not sure why the fabric is so dark tonight. I took it under the same conditions as last night's photo.

Stitched on today: Stitched on An's Neighborhood Round Robin

Thanksgiving Exchange from Goldie

Lucky me! I just received my second exchange in as many weeks from the lovely Goldie today. This is a Thanksgiving Exchange that was coordinated amongst a few of us.
She stitched me this really sweet little box using a Just Nan design, the name of which is simply escaping me at the moment. Goldie says she loves this time of the year and was happy to combine Thanksgiving with Christmas in her design - excellent idea! And her finishing is sublime :-) I apologize for the terrible photo. With Daylight Savings Time in effect, it is utterly dark now when I get home (and it is not even that late when I get home), and I have no light box... so tough to get good photos this time of the year.

Here is the rest of the exchange - as always, she spoiled me! A gorgeous basket filled with a nice towel and pot holder, some hand soap, checked linen (love it!), Altoids, a memo pad, holiday sticker, a skein of pretty silk floss... see, told you I was lucky! Thank you again Goldie :-)

Tonight I started An's Neighborhood Round Robin - the very last one I need to stitch to finish Group Three :-) OK An, can you guess what I am stitching here? LOL

Stitched on today: Started An's Neighborhood Round Robin **Mailed my Thanksgiving Exchange today

Floss Ring Tag Exchange for Gabi

Congratulations America!!

I just heard from Gabi that she has received the HoE Floss Ring Tag Exchange that I sent off to her...

Garden Verses Floss Ring Tag
Prairie Schooler - motif taken from larger chart
Silkweaver 32 ct Solo Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Here is the entire exchange I sent to her. I decided to send her a whole bunch of fun finishing items. Judging by her sweet, sweet email that I just received, she is pleased. It was fun to stitch for Gabi! Enjoy!

And, here is my election night stitching... doesn't look like much, but those black x's are so tiny. Nice to have mindless blackness while watching more and more blue states appear on the map - congratulations to Obama :-)

Stitched on today: Finished Thanksgiving Exchange, and stitched on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow **Mailed HoE Christmas Ornament Exchange today

Floss Ring Tag Exchange... and a Gift!

What a wonderful mail day I had today! First of all, I received my HoE Floss Ring Tag Exchange from Robyn in Oz :-) Robyn has no blog - sorry, no link! But she stithced me this lovely tag using a Blackbird Designs design - I just adore BBD. And she sent me a generous, large ring and two skeins of Dinky Dyes silks. Oh, and a card with adorable kookaburras on it. Thank you so much Robyn - very nice exchange!

I also received this lovely gift from Chris - this biscornu is so delicate and sweet, I just love it. Chris says to call it a RAK, belated birthday gift or a PIF. Wasn't this sweet of her? And I have been feeling so guilty too - she is the last lady I still need to stitch a PIF for... I don't want her to feel I forgot her... I even have her PIF on my goal list for November, so I hope she realizes I am just late, did not forget. Thank you so much Chris!

The mail day was truly wonderful - I also received my Lakeside Linens FOTM from Shakespeare's Peddler and two charts from BeckySC! What a great Monday!! (Thanks again, Becky!)

Stitched on today: Started Thanksgiving Exchange **Mailed out CE Christmas Ornament Exchange, Ulla's Halloween Round Robin to Edgar, SBEBB Harvest Time Exchange and Blog Giveaway to Nicola today

Mindless Blackness

With A Quaker Christmas now finished, I figured it was time to pull out another of my longstanding WIPs and get back to it. This one is ultra longstanding, having been started in 2005, and has since been untouched by me since mid July of this year. I am up to the mindless blackness of the sky in this block.

And since it has been tucked away for so long, here is a reminder of what is left to do. I really expect 2009 to be the year to finish it. I know I had projected a finish in 2008, but no need to rehash all the whys and wherefores that led to this non-finish...

Stitched on today: Finished SBEBB Harvest Time Exchange, and stitched on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow

Ulla's Pumpkins RR

With the mailing date fast approaching, last night I was able to sit down with DH in front of DVDs and stitch up Ulla's Witching for Stitching round robin. Ulla has asked for pumpkins, whether autumnal or Halloween style... so I dug around and figured I would stitch this sweet freebie that I have actually wanted to stitch for a while now...

Pumpkin Feast
Praiseworthy Stitches
32 ct Amber Linen, GAST Floss

Here is how Ulla's whole RR is looking right now. Ulla has sent two pieces of linen with four blocks on each, indicating in her note that she wants to make pillows out of them. I think hers looks very sweet so far. I put it out for DH to mail to Edgar today... but he was in a rush and totally overlooked it and the rest of my outgoing mail today, so I have to wait now until Monday to mail this out... will still get out before the deadline, though ;-)

Goal Review Time:
October Goals:
1. Finish SBEBB Autumn House Exchange and send by 10/6 - yes, and Jill has received it
2. Stitch and send Halloween Exchange to Becky by 10/10 - yes, and Becky has received it
3. Stitch and send SBEBB Halloween Exchange by 10/10 - yes, and Ulla has received it
4. Stitch and send Mattress Pincushion to Andrea for MAW Exchange by 10/14 - yes, and Andrea has received it
5. Stitch and send HoE Mattress Pincushion Exchange by 10/15 - yes, and Laura has received it
6. Stitch and send SBEBB Pumpkin Patch Exchange by 10/27 - yes, and Michelle has received it
7. Stitch and send new CE Exchange - yes, and Katrien has received it
8. Stitch some gifts - yes, I stitched one and Jill has received it
9. Stitch and send CE return exchange to Laurie - yes, and Laurie has received it
10. Start HoE Floss Ring Tag Exchange and have ready to send for 11/3 - yes, and I mailed it out on 10/28/08
11. Continue to stitch on A Quaker Christmas - yes, and I finished it
12. Start An's Neighborhood Round Robin to send by 11/15 - no, have not started quite yet
13. Start Ulla's Halloween Round Robin and be ready to send by 11/4 - yes, I finished it and DH will mail it to Edgar on Monday, 11/3
14. Stitch a Christmas ornament for SAL - yes, I stitched one

November Goals:
1. Finish Ulla’s Halloween Round Robin and mail to Edgar by 11/4
2. Stitch and send SBEBB Harvest Time Exchange by 11/10
3. Stitch and send An’s Neighborhood Round Robin home to her by 11/15
4. Mail out CE Christmas Ornament Exchange by 11/15
5. Stitch and send private Thanksgiving Exchange by 11/15
6. Send out HoE Christmas Ornament Exchange by 11/17
7. Stitch and send some gifts
8. Send Christmas Ornament Exchange (Meg’s Group) by 11/20
9. Stitch Nicole’s Neighborhood RR and send it home to her by 12/1 – if I receive it in time, as of today I do not have it yet
10. Stitch and be able to send SBEBB Reindeer Games Exchange by 12/1
11. Have Dragon Lottery item ready to go by 12/1
12. Start Glorie Du Matin SAL with Margaret
13. Stitch on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
14. Attend Celebration of Needlework Fall Event on 11/8 with Cynthia Zittel and Catherine Strickler
15. Start Summer Exchange for Cathy K.
16. Stitch some Christmas Ornaments
17. Stitch and send final PIF for Chris H.
18. Stitch and send new CE exchange
19. Stitch and send Christmas Ornament to Carolyn for Christmas Ornament Swap


Stitched on today: Started SBEBB Harvest Time Exchange