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

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

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

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

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

Finished Michelle's Halloween Neighborhood

I managed to finish my portion of Michelle's spooky Halloween Neighborhood Round Robin tonight :-) I know this photo is a little out of focus - but it is late and I don't feel like unpacking her fabric and taking another one.

And here is how it looks in its entirety now. Pretty great, isn't it? An, the PO is closed tomorrow, but I will pop this in the mail to you on Saturday.

Stitched on today: Stitched on a gift, started scissor pocket for MAW Exchange for Terry, and finished Michelle's Neighborhood Round Robin

For Vonna

Vonna has received my birthday parcel that I sent off to her - and now that she has opened it, I can share what I stitched for her... she might show the rest of her gifts form me in her blog. I have found myself to be on a Brightneedle kick right now... I have kitted up quite a few and am anxious to start them. This came on after taking a class with Ann Pettit at Celebrations in May. I chose this design for Vonna for many reasons, not the least of which is the little school girl in the autumn square reminded me of a first day of school photo she shared a few months back... looked a little like her Katie to me ;-)
Season Petites Pinkeep
Brightneedle
Silkweaver 28 ct Dusk Lugana, DMC Floss, Kreinik #4 Braid
Stitched one-over-one

And here is Michelle's RR.... yep, still showing you this one! Almost there now. I just need to finish the soil around the pumpkins below the house, and I expect that this will go out in the post to An on Saturday (Post Office not open, of course, on Friday in observance of Independence Day in the US... anyone have fun plans??)

A little excitement at work today. We had a severe weather alert. And while in session with a young boy and his aunt, we heard a very loud crack of lightning. I saw the light flash across the face of the little boy, reflecting from my window, and we knew it was close. It sure was! Lightning hit the top floor apartment two buildings over! My landlord talked to the tenant - all appeared to be pretty much OK. Boy did the town send a lot of firetrucks out! When his session had ended, I must admit that the boy, his aunt and I did take off up the street to check out the scene. There has been a lot of lightning and even a death right in Haverhill from a lightning strike only 1-2 weeks ago.

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

The verdict is in...

Michelle said yes - multiple moons are OK with her ;-) So, I stitched mine tonight. I have at least a couple more nights still to go....

Goal Review Time:
June 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. Start Michelle’s Neighborhood Round Robin - yes
5. Continue to stitch on Spring Ride SAL - yes
6. Stitch one or two ornaments -yes, I stitched two
7. Finish and send Spring Exchange to Myrna - yes, and Myrna has received it
8. Stitch some gifts - yes, I stitched one gift this month
9. Finish Acorn Sampler - no, did not finish yet
10. Stitch and send ABC Exchange by 6/15 - yes, and Joan has received it
11. Stitch and send Patriotic Exchange by 6/21 - yes, and Jill has received it
12. Stitch and send HoE LHN Exchange by 6/28 - yes, and Annemiek has received it
13. Stitch and send scissor pocket for MAW exchange to Terry - no, not yet
14. Stitch ornament for Christmas in July exchange, ready to send by 7/1 - yes, and Verona has received it
15. Stitch Stitcher’s Lottery item, ready for 7/4 - yes, it is ready
16. Stitch and send new Crazy Exchange - yes, and Joke has received it – also stitched a second one and it is in the post now

July Goals:
1. Continue to stitch on A Quaker Christmas
2. Continue to stitch on Serenity
3. Continue to stitch on A Spring Ride SAL
4. Continue to stitch on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
5. Finish Acorn Sampler
6. Stitch some gifts
7. Finish Michelle’s NRR and mail to An by 7/15
8. Start my Halloween RR and have it ready to mail to Edgar by 7/15
9. Stitch and send new CE Exchange
10. Stitch one or two Christmas ornaments
11. Stitch a Christmas Ornament for Staci (Christmas Ornament Exchange) and mail it to her by 7/31
12. Stitch a scissor pocket for Terry (MAW Exchange) and mail it to her by 7/31
13. Start mattress pincushion for Simone (MAW Exchange) and have it ready to mail to her by 8/4
14. Stitch SBEBB Summer House Exchange and mail by 7/21
15. Start Redwork Exchange and have ready to mail by 8/4
16. Stitch and send Leslie’s NRR to Nicole by 8/1
17. Stitch and be ready to send HoE Summer Quaker Exchange by 8/1
18. Stitch and send at least one PIF gift

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

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

LHN Exchange for Annemiek

I saw in the HoE blog today that Annemiek has received the LHN Exchange that I sent to her... I had no idea what to make, and then it struck me that one of my favorite LHN charts came out really tiny when stitched one over one, and the result was...

Blossoms & Blackbirds Fob
Little House Needleworks
32 ct Antique White Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

And to complete the exchange, I made sure to send her a pair of gold Gingher scissors so that she can use the fob... and some other goodies too ;-) Enjoy Annemiek - I was really happy to get your name for this exchange.

Tonight I started working on Michelle's spooky Halloween neighborhood RR. It is going to be like "Halloween in July" for the first half of July for me. I need to finish Michelle's as well as start my own for the new Halloween RR group... both to be mailed by July 15th. I have heard of Christmas in July, and now I have Halloween in July too. I am adding the bottom portion of Pumpkin Patch by Prairie Schooler to Michelle's RR. I don't know if Michelle wants me to stitch the moon above the blackbird that I stitched... after all, there already is a moon above the house next to mine... how funky do you want this to be Michelle? A multi-moon or single-moon neighborhood? If I don't hear from you, I will email you ;-) I have to remember to stop after work tomorrow afternoon for a skein of DMC 898 for that pumpkin patch beneath the house...

I also stitched up a pretty little Christmas ornament for the Christmas Ornament SAL today... but as I was finishing our (almost) daily thunderstorm came through, which ended the NASCAR race early up in Loudon, NH... and left the light around here too dark and gloomy to take a good photo of this delicate ornament... so will try tomorrow...

Stitched on today: Stitched a Christmas ornament, and started Michelle's Neighborhood Round Robin

A surprise, a gift for Harmien, and Kathy's RR

I received quite a surprise in the mail today! Dear Cathy saw that I had not received a scissor fob exchange over on HoE, so she took it upon herself to stitch one for me. Aw, she did not have to do that - I was not feeling badly. But I just love the delicate little heart fob (she called it "humble") that she stitched for me. Isn't it pretty?? She also sent me a cute cat bookmark chart and a pretty bookmark she picked up on a recent trip to Japan. Thanks so much Cathy. This was so lovely of you, and you made my day!

I heard earlier today from Harmien that she has received the birthday package that I sent to her. This Lizzie Kate design in the current issue of The Gift of Stitching really appealed to me when I first saw it, and I had an urge to stitch it 1-over-1.... I did not know what it would grow up to be... and it turned itself into a scissor fob easily when I saw how tiny it turned out to be :-)

Plant Love Fob
Lizzie Kate
The Gift of Stitching Magazine, May 2008
32 ct Natural Belfast Linen, WDW, GAST and DMC Floss

I finished up Kathy's Neighborhood Round Robin tonight. Despite my huge stash, I had no beach houses! So, I ordered up one of Bent Creek's Summer Snapperland charts from Amy at DSL... and now I live on a sailboat in Kathy's neighborhood :-) The sails do show up quite a lot better in real life... now I hope to get this off to Annemarie tomorrow!

Stitched on today: Finished Kathy's Neighborhood Round Robin, started HoE Freebie Design Exchange

Hanging at the beach!

Well, not for real, actually. I had to work today ;-) I think it was nice enough today for the beach - at least for strolling on the beach, but probably not yet for swimming or tanning for any length of time... Rather, I worked away on Kathy's Neighborhood Round Robin again. The photo is lousy - sorry! I am getting there quickly with it - just need to finish the little sailboat I shall be "living on" in her neighborhood.. some clouds and a star... then sign my block. I need to assess the colors and make some changes so that the clouds and sail will show up on the white linen. I think I can get this done tomorrow (my day off from work) and mail this off to An on Saturday morning!

Stitched on today: Kathy's Neighborhood Round Robin **Mailed out a PIF today

Another Neighborhood Under Construction

It's a beach neighborhood, and it belongs to Kathy. I have really been having the hardest time with choosing something to stitch for her neighborhood. Despite a rather, um... large... stash, I really lack anything that looks like a beach house. I chose part of Bent Creek's Summer Snapperland, and will consider the boat in my square to be my "house boat." ;-)

Happy Mother's Day to all of my friends who are moms!

Stitched on today: Finished Feathered Friends exchange, and started Kathy's Neighborhood Round Robin

Finished Judith's Round Robin

I was able to finish up my block on Judith's Neighborhood Round Robin today. And now I will be mailing it off to An on Monday.
Here is how Judith's really sweet neighborhood now looks with three houses in it. I really love this RR - great choice Judith!!

And, that is it for today, because I am now going to do some exchange stitching ;-)

Stitched on today: Finished Judith's Neighborhood Round Robin, and started SBEBB Spring Quaker Exchange project