Birthday Gift and Love and Joy

I received a lovely birthday gift from dear Marie earlier this week.  I cannot really find words for this and it has taken me a few days to figure out what to say....  my birthday just doesn't really happen.  Mike gives me little gifts and lets me do whatever I want on my birthday and the days around it - already he has gifted me with a Pandora gift card and a Kindle gift card...  a box awaits me on the kitchen counter for tomorrow.  My family does nothing really for my birthday.  So, this stunning little treat made me tearful.  I was remembered by someone other than my husband.  I know, that is kind of pathetic.  I used to stitch for everyone whose blogs I read. Then I fell so ill and fell by the wayside... but Marie remembered me... she is such a doll and a dear friend... and how pretty is this??

I meant to put the front of the needlebook up first, but Blogger's revisions still confuse me since I do not blog often any longer... she says this is a Merrily Beams design called Trifles... thank you again Marie, you are very special to me and I already treasure this...

 I also took some time this afternoon, as I am off for the week, to finish off an ornament that I actually stitched a good 3-5 months ago... wow, it has been forever since I did a pillow finish like this :-) Of course, I had to run outside and hang it one of my Christmas catci that are "summering" on the back porch... just seemed like the thing to do...

Love and Joy Ornament JBW Designs JCS 2011 Christmas Ornament Issue 32 ct Antique White Belfast Linen, WDW Floss Stitched one over one Enjoy your week, everyone!!

HoE Ornament Exchanges

I sent off two HoE ornament exchanges on Monday, and both arrived at their destinations today....

First is one I stitched for Lisa - her partner bailed on the group and left Lisa hanging with nothing.  Same person also failed to thank her sender for stitching for her.... this is no young woman we are talking about here, it is utterly shameful.  However, while I have no idea how to resolve the issue for the lady who stitched for the person who up and disappeared, I loved stitching a replacement for Lisa... the theme was Christmas Birds.  I had this chart and supplies tucked aside to stitch for myself, so I just grabbed it up and made it for her...

NoelBalades et Broderies par Carmela32 ct Smokey Pearl Belfast Linen, CC Floss I also heard from Becky today that she received the ornament I stitched for her for the Blackbird Designs Ornament exchange.  This is the same design I did stitch for myself a couple of weeks back.... but for Becky I made the ornament a little smaller and tied it with a cranberry bow instead... same blackbird fabric in the back... hope she likes it!

Peace OrnamentBlackbird DesignsJCS 2009 Christmas Ornament Issue32 ct Antique Almond Belfast Linen, WDW, GAST and CC Floss It's almost the weekend - enjoy everyone!!

Must "Bee" Christmas Ornament

Just finished doing the finishing on this wee little ornament I stitched a few months back - it is designed by one of our fellow bloggers and she offers up her chart for free :-) I think it is sooo cute!

Must "Bee" Christmas Ornament Diana Owensby - chart is here 32 ct Autumn Fields Belfast Linen, CC Belle Soie Silk, TG SNC Silk Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! This little finish was a fun break from mowing the lawn, balancing the checkbook.... now time to read and watch some baseball soon... And thank you all for the kind words regarding the loss of Gig. I spoke to our vet yesterday because Ava needed a med refill. She asked how we were doing. I told her we felt quite guilty, as we did not pick up on his increased vocalizations and a few other symptoms. She told us that since he never showed a heart murmur this was impossible to detect, and his disease was so far advanced when we found it that we should not let ourselves feel guilty, she feels we take very good care of our cats. I appreciated hearing that, but still.... feeling so guilty...

Peace Ornament

Tonight I was able to do the finishing on a little Christmas ornament that I have had in the works for the past week or so. There has been so little time for stitching lately, but I did get this wee one done...

Peace OrnamentBlackbird DesignsJCS 2009 Christmas Ornament Issue32 ct Antique Almond Belfast Linen, WDW, GAST and CC Floss

I couldn't resist using this fabric for the back.... I have had this fabric in my stash for several years now, and knew I wanted to use it for finishing Blackbird Designs projects....  I personally think it is so cute!!