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

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

LHN Exchange from Yuko

Lucky me! I received an HoE LHN Exchange from Yuko today. I have long admired her work on her blog, and now I am the happy owner of one of her lovelies. She stitched LHN's Necessities Sampler and made the sweetest tassled pillow for me. It is so pretty on my vanity in my bedroom :-) So very beautifully done! And great little treats - in the plastic bag are two patriotic fabrics, a card of wooden buttons and some hand made lace from Japan. Nice! And the Pocky treats - DH is loving them! (He just loves when exchangers and friends send me sweets from around the world).
Yesterday I stitched up a little ornament for the Christmas Ornament SAL. I couldn't get a photo yesterday due to thunderstorms and dark sky. But I snapped one in the garden today - the fabric is slightly darker in real life. Today was a bit sunny :-)

Winter's Night Ornament
Periphaeria Designs - complimentary chart exclusive to customers of Violarium
Silkweaver 28 ct Intrigue Cashel Linen, DMC Floss - B5200, Kreinik #4 Braid - 001HL

And... tonight's progress on Michelle's Halloween Neighborhood Round Robin... still waiting to hear if I should stitch the moon ;-)

A little something in the garden today (complete with spider web that I did not notice until I downloaded the photo....) - Daylily: Green Eyes Wink

Stitched on today: Finished SL project, stitched on a gift, and stitched on Michelle's Neighborhood Round Robin **Mailed out a new Crazy Exchange today

Another ornament finished

As I mentioned yesterday, I stitched up another ornament, and here it is (dark photo - I forgot to take the picture until it was already after dinner time):

Noel Ornament
Shepherd's Bush - chart found here
32 ct Dirty Belfast Linen, GAST and WDW Floss (modified from the Caron fibers in the chart)

And, with June 1st fast approaching, and even though I only just received this RR... I need to finish up and mail it off quickly, quickly, quickly! More work on Glenna's RR... a bit of landscaping to do :-)

Stitched on today: Started a gift, and stitched on Glenna's Neighborhood Round Robin

HoE Freebie Design Exchange for Olga

Olga has received my HoE Freebie Design Exchange for her today. I was intrigued when I received her name for this exchange. I did not know Olga at all, and I really enjoyed becoming a regular reader of her blog, and was tickled that she and I love pretty much the same designers. That made choosing for her to be easy! Here is what I chose:

Martina's Roses Biscornu
Chatelaine
28 ct Black Jobelan, DMC Floss, Kreinik #4 Braid, Mill Hill Beads

And the rest of the goodies for her... I figured she would enjoy some fun items for finishing, and some girly stuff too :-)

I think I got a better photo of my latest ornament this afternoon - a little less overexposed than last night's attempt... and here are the details:

Homespun Christmas Ornament
Heart in Hand
R&R Reproductions 35 ct Sheeps Straw Linen, GAST and WDW Floss

Stitched on today: Stitched (and finished) Noel Ornament by Shepherd's Bush (photo tomorrow) **Mailed out a gift today

Snowman's Holiday Ornament

I finished up the finishing of this ornament last night, and had to wait for daylight (if you could call this rainy, dreary day "daylight") to take a photo. I love how sparkly it is, but if I were to stitch this again I think I would convert the entire thing to cotton floss - either standard or hand-dyed - and I think it would become a more enjoyable stitch.

Snowman's Holiday Ornament
Lizzie Kate
Silkweaver 32 ct Solo Lugana, DMC Floss, Kreinik #4 Braid, Rainbow Gallery Petite Treasure Braid

Thank you to those of you who left nice comments about the exchange from Goldie yesterday - she really did a lovely job on it, and I am sure she enjoyed seeing your kind words :-)

Stitched on today: Started a gift, and started a PIF gift

An Ornament Finish

Tonight I finished the finishing on a Christmas ornament I had stitched earlier in the month...

A Christmas Wish
The Cricket Collection
32 ct Natural Pearl Linen, DMC Floss

That's it for today... I spent most of the night working away on the Spring House and Garden Exchange while enjoying the Red Sox and the Bruins (at the same time again tonight - the Bruins survived another game and did not get eliminated tonight in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs - nice!)

Yay - this is the start of a four day weekend, and our niece Nicole texted me today that she wants to come up for the weekend. Fun!

**Oh, does anyone know when Philippa Gregory's next novel, The Other Queen, will be due out? Her website says 2008, but I bet someone out there knows more?? I am anxious for this one - just love Mary Queen of Scots!!

Stitched on today: Spring House and Garden Exchange, and finished A Christmas Wish

Biscornu Exchange for Rita

I heard from Rita this afternoon that she has received the exchange I sent to her for the HoE Biscornu Exchange. I was getting pretty worried, as I had sent it by Priority Mail to Hungary back on March 17th, but no need to worry any longer :-) Mike and I both tried hard to get a good photo of this biscornu, to no avail. The camera did not want to focus on the colorful stitches (they are very colorful) against the black background, and we tried several kinds of light too... this was the best of the bunch:

Sampler Flowers #2 Biscornu
Periphaeria Designs
28 ct Black Jobelan, DMC Floss

The rest of the exchange for Rita is shown above. The chart was on her wishlist. Ther rest I just had fun with, and she sent a sweet note to let me know she is pleased. Enjoy Rita!!

Also, as I had mentioned last night, I did finish up another ornament for the Christmas Ornament SAL pretty late last night. I did take a photo of it this morning:

Christmas Surprise 2005 Ornament
Dragon Dreams - retired freebie
Silkweaver 28 ct Moon Dust Opalescent Lugana, DMC Floss

Goal Review Time:
March Goals:
1. Continue to work on Serenity - yes
2. Continue to work on A Quaker Christmas - yes
3. Continue to work on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow - yes
4. Continue to work on Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace - yes
5. Stitch and send Winter Exchange to Myrna - yes, and Myrna has received it
6. Stitch and send Judith’s Neighborhood Round Robin to Annemarie by 3/15 - yes, and Annemarie has received it
7. Stitch at least one PIF - yes, and it is on its way
8. Continue to work on Spring Ride SAL - yes
9. Stitch two ornaments - yes, I stitched two
10. Finish and mail SBEBB Tea Time Exchange by 3/8 - yes, and Su has received it
11. Continue to work on Memories - yes, and I finished it
12. Stitch and send SBEBB Spring Quaker Exchange by 3/21 - yes, and Becky K. has received it
13. Stitch and send HoE Biscornu Exchange by 3/21 -yes, ended up doing two – Rita has received hers, and Sharon C. has received hers
14. Stitch and send out Crazy Exchange - yes, and Wendy Jo has received it
15. Stitch some gifts - yes, I stitched two gifts this month


April Goals:
1. Continue to work on Serenity
2. Continue to work on A Quaker Christmas
3. Continue to work on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
4. Continue to work on Dawn, Fairy Spirit of Grace
5. Stitch and send Wendy’s Neighborhood Round Robin to Nicole ASAP (am waiting to receive it still)
6. Stitch at least one PIF
7. Continue to work on Spring Ride SAL
8. Stitch one or two ornaments
9. Finish and mail SBEBB Here’s To Ewe Exchange by 4/8
10. Finish and mail HoE Pinkeep Exchange by 4/5 - yes, and Valerie received it on 3/31
11. Stitch and send out a Crazy Exchange
12. Stitch some gifts
13. Stitch and send out SBEBB Spring House and Garden Exchange by 4/20
14. Stitch and be ready to send out SBEBB Garden Exchange for 5/1
15. Continue to stitch on House Samplings
16. Meet the Finishing Challenge – Needle Roll


I wonder what is up with The Gift of Stitching... it is April 1, but no new issue yet... I hope it arrives soon!! (**Edited: Ah, there it is!)

Thanks for the sweet words from so many of you regarding the incoming and outgoing mail yesterday - and for the additional fabric purchases too! I appreciate it all (there are still two linens left.. last time I mention it).

I am off to work on my Here's To Ewe Exchange - I have a long way to go still on that one!

Stitched on today: Here's To Ewe Exchange

Joy

Duma Key was fun last night, and I did finish it. Warning to anyone who plans to read the book - don't read the link for "Duma Key" in my blog entry from last night - it is a total spoiler!

I am going to go start my biscornu now for the HoE Biscornu Exchange - I finally found just the perfect one to stitch for my partner. I finished a wee Christmas ornament last night, and got a photo of it today. I didn't care for how it photographed at all - the ribbon looks loose in the photo, but it is not. The ornament also is centered straighter than I think it appears... always so critical of myself (aren't all/most stitchers?) - but anyhow... I will share it:

Joy Ornament
Lizzie Kate
32 ct Olive Green Belfast Linen, GAST Floss

Stitched on today: Finished SBEBB Spring Quaker Exchange, and started biscornu for HoE Biscornu Exchange

Moose Be X-Mas

I finished up my February ornament for the Christmas Ornament SAL this afternoon. I took the photo in the late afternoon, and the clouds were already moving in for the snowstorm we are expecting later tonight. As a result, the photo is a bit dark and gloomy. The ornament is actually very vibrant in real life. This was a fun stitch. I was in the mood for a whimsical ornament this month, as I think I already know who will be receiving this one at Christmas time ;-) (**photos replaced with better ones).


Moose Be X-Mas Ornament
Barbara Ana Designs
28 ct Potato Annabelle, DMC Floss

Now, back to exchange stitching!! I hope everyone has a great weekend!! And I wanted to say thank you to my new blog visitors - what a treat to meet you all! It is a good night, as the first Red Sox spring training game of the season is on TV - very cool.

Stitched on today: Finished Moose Be X-Mas Ornament, stitched on CE exchange

Amish Angel Ornament

I haven't really stitched much today, and what I have stitched I cannot show yet (a new Crazy Exchange project). I have been wrapped up in other things, including reading Atonement by Ian McEwan, and really struggling to decide if I can even find this main character, Briony, to be remotely appealing. I like other characters, though, and I plug ahead.. But, I did get some photos of the Amish Angel ornament today... so that will be my entry for the day...


Amish Angel Ornament
Told in a Garden
Free chart available here - listed as 1986 Christmas Angel
32 ct Dirty Belfast Linen, DMC Floss, RG Petite Treasure Braid

Nice to see there are so many other Garth Brooks fans out there :-)

Stitched on today: Started a new Crazy Exchange project

PIF for Robin

I heard from Robin today that she received the PIF that I finally stitched for her :-) She has been on my list for some time now, so I am happy she now has her gift. I really had no idea what to stitch for Robin. Her blog didn't shed a lot of clues. But, finally, on a super cold winter day, while watching both the AFC and NFC Playoff games (aka last Sunday), I settled on stitching this little fob, and I am glad that Robin is pleased!

Winter Fob
Trail Creek Farm
Chart available here
32 ct Cream Belfast Linen, GAST Floss

Tonight I really wanted to settle in and watch Garth Brooks' mini concert on TV... so I stuck with something small and easy. I want to stitch at least one Christmas ornament a month this year, so here is my start - Amish Angel by Told in a Garden. This freebie just kept on surfacing up to the top of my pile of freebie charts, and I decided it was time to stitch it. I hope to finish it into an ornament tomorrow.

Stitched on today: Started Amish Angel ornament **Mailed out CE Valentine's Day Exchange, and sent Secret Snowdrift chart to Melissa

Hit the ground running...

As I was starting to get concerned about getting started on the next Neighborhood Round Robin (Group 3), and having it finished in time for the first mailing on July 15, I decided to get started tonight. I was able to grid my fabric and stitch quite a lot of my design. After getting this much done tonight, I am no longer worried about meeting the deadline. And, I hope that when stitchers receive my RR, they may feel a sense of relief, as I chose to make my blocks only 60 x 60 stitches. I am using 36 ct Summer Khaki Edinburgh linen, and am stitching part of Geranium House by Country Cottage Needleworks to start it off. I am asking each stitcher to stitch a house of any style they choose, as long as it is the house she would like to live in in my neighborhood :-)
It is also Christmas Ornament SAL weekend, and I stitched this one up today. It is Merry Christmastide by Shepherd's Bush. I plan to finish this off into a small needleroll with a little ribbon on the top to hang on the tree. I will do that as soon as I can find the time.

For those who asked, Mike loves his new iPhone. He found it does have a couple of glitches (all related to photos and transferring them, or some such thing), but apparently nothing major. He has it with him all the time, that is for sure - LOL

I am not sure how I got all of this done today. I did a lot of other things today, yet also got this stitching done... very strange. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

Stitched on today: Stitched ornament for Christmas Ornament SAL, and started my Hello Neighbor Round Robin, Group 3

Feast or Famine.... A Lot to Share Today

Suddenly, all at once, almost everything I sent out and was waiting on arrived! I have a lot to share today!

First off, my A Trip Around the World Exchange on the SBEBB arrived safely with Cathy today! This was the second needleroll I have ever made, so I really hope she likes it! The tough part, I have found, is getting that inner seam to look OK inside the two open ends - I don't care much for that part - LOL!! It was particulary tough with lugana, that pretty much shreds on its edges... to see the rest of what I sent to Cathy, check out her blog - she put in a nice photo :-)

New Hampshire Needle KeeperEventide Designs28 ct Moss Green Lugana, DMC FlossStitched 5/20/07 - 5/24/07

And, today, Barbara opened up her birthday gifts that I sent to her recently... this was actually my first ever needleroll, and I am so happy that Barbara likes it!!! I wanted to make something special for such a dear friend! She has a photo in her blog of the rest of her little gift package from me...

Mini Topiary Sampler 4 NeedlerollJeannette Douglas DesignsSilkweaver 32 ct Blueberry Delight Lugana, DMC floss, Needle Necessities Floss, Mill Hill Petite Beads
Stitched in 2004, finished on 5/21/07

Rachael also opened up her birthday parcel from me today :-)

Protection Biscornu
Periphaeria Designs
Silkweaver Belfast Solo, Vikki Clayton silk in Turkey Red
Stitched 5/9/07 - 5/19/07

Finally, Tannia let me know today that she received a little parcel from me today too... I wanted to send something special to Tannia, as she is my little stitching angel right now. As you might know, Tannia recently sent me a parcel of treats because she felt I am always giving to others. As I told Tannia, some people are givers, some are receivers and a lucky few are both... well, I have always been a giver, so I cannot help myself!! I sent her this...

Stitching Cherub Fob
Casa Mia
36 ct Cream Edinburgh Linen, DMC Color Variations in Radiant Ruby
Stitched 5/19/07 - 5/20/07

This past weekend was Christmas Ornament SAL Weekend... I got a late start, and had to finish the last few stitches on my ornament this afternoon. I came across this chart when I was digging out the chart I wanted to use for the A Trip Around the World Exchange... I had bought that chart on ebay 2-3 years ago, and when I dug it out I remembered that the ebay seller had tucked this little chart inside of it as a bonus... so, I decided to stitch it...

Greetings from New Hampshire
Lindy Jane Designs
Natural Belfast Linen, DMC Floss
Stitched 5/28/07 - 5/29/07

And... of course, my weekly update of Paradigm Lost... :-)

My Garden Theme Exchange package was sent off today - I hope the recipient enjoys it!!!

Thanks for the sweet words about HOHRH! What you may not realize or remember is that I started it back in January of 2005! This is why not being able to finish in 2007 is at least a little bit disappointing for me... oh well!!

Stitched on today: Finished my Christmas ornament for the SAL, and Paradigm Lost

Christmas Ornament SAL Weekend...

Uh-oh! The Christmas Ornament SAL weekend snuck up on me... again! I dug around for a bit this morning, and virtually every ornament I wanted to stitch could not be done today... couldn't find the right fabric or floss.... but, I did come across this one, an old favorite from 1998 - sorry the scan is so poor, though...

RejoiceLizzie Kate36 ct Summer Khaki Edinburgh Linen, Gentle Art Sampler ThreadsStitched 4/29/07

Originally tonight, I did not plan to work on 18th Century Band Sampler (Long Dog Samplers Mystery Sampler). Rather, I was going to start on Barbara's Neighborhood Round Robin. But, this also did not pan out. I thought I found the house I wanted to stitch. I gathered up the floss, got out Barbara's fabric... and changed my mind! Tomorrow afternoon I have slated time to go visit my stash again and look at charts :-) I want to stitch the right house for Barbara! So, tonight I did a row of black hearts on the sampler instead...

Stitched on today: Rejoice, and 18th Century Band Sampler

Christmas Ornament SAL Weekend

I realized this morning that this is Christmas Ornament SAL weekend already! So... I did this...

ABC Santa
Prairie Schooler
32 ct Sage Jobelan
DMC floss
Stitched 3/25/07

And... I finished up the stitching on Barnabee's Quest tonight. As I recently mentioned, I really want to finish so I can start a new SAL (although, that feels like it is up in the air right now, we'll see...).... I just have the beading and charms to add, and I will probably do that tomorrow.

I am so far behind in reading blogs right now - I am so sorry if I have not commented in your blog lately - I will catch up :-)

Stitched on today: ABC Santa, and Barnabee's Quest

It's Christmas Ornament SAL Weekend

Merry Christmas
Glory Bee
28 ct Natural Quaker Linen
Gentle Art Sampler Thread
Stitched 2/25/07

After I finished my ornament, I figured I should work on Rachael's Neighborhood Round Robin... but, I didn't feel like working on a big draping cloth, so I chose to get a bit more done on 18th Century Band Sampler (aka Long Dog Mystery Sampler) instead :-) It's been a while since I have had a chance to work on it, so I am glad that I did.

******************************************************************

Stitched on today: Merry Christmas ornament, 18th Century Band Sampler, started a gift