A reindeer for Marie

Marie has just written to let me know that she has received the Christmas ornament that I just sent off to her for the HoE Stitcher's Choice Exchange... so glad she likes it. The chart is OOP and after I stitched it and had it ready to ship, I found myself wondering if she already may have this one.... shhhh, I am not going to ask her ;-)

Dash Away All Ornament

The Sampler Girl

32 ct Precious Metals Belfast Linen, CC Floss

An exchange and a RAK from a friend - aka My Very Lucky Day!!!

I had an amazing lucky mail day today!  I received my HoE Runners Up Christmas Ornament Round from my dear, dear friend Marie today.  For this round, stitchers get to choose between Just Nan, LHN or CCN designs - all runners up in polls to choose themes earlier this year.  Marie chose LHN's Sheep Virtues "Hope" for me, I kinda think I know why...  and it is so bee-u-ti-ful! Thank you so much Marie, I shall cherish this and cannot wait to hang it.

Marie also sent along a RAK for me.  She knows I want to start a Halloween Tree, and Marie will soon be running a Halloween Tree exchange on HoE that runs the same as the Christmas Ornament one that I run.... come on over and join us if you are interested!  She stitched this cutie by M Designs from the 2012 JCS Halloween Issue...  and personalized the back, lest I never, ever forget my dear friend.  She sent some WDW and trims as well.  I feel so blessed.

Please enjoy a quick view here of some of the last summer Morning Glories on my porch... fall is settling itself in here in New Hampshire.

OK, time to gather my stuff up and stitch my ornament for the HoE Runners Up Christmas Round too!

Meanwhile, I am slugging along (as in slow like a slug) on SV's Gingerbread Emporium.  My headaches and back pains are tough of late, so sitting and stitching has been difficult, but I plan to get my back adjusted again and forge ahead!!

Happy Weekend, my friends!

Bat Buddy

I have heard from my dear friend Marie that she has received the little Halloween ornament that I stitched up for her new Halloween tree this past weekend. Marie is a very dear friend who is always so kind and thoughtful towards me. She understands my tinnitus as she has it as well. She is always there for me. And, she makes me gifties and I am a bit behind in gifting her! So... I made this guy for her.... now, I have only stitched on perforated paper but once in my life, and that was so many years ago. I found trimming the darn paper to be devilish...

Bat Buddy

Flowers 2 Flowers

JCS 2013 Annual Halloween Issue

28 ct Brown Perforated Paper, DMC Floss, Mill Hill Beads

Happy Holidays Mitten Ornament

Did the finishing on another Christmas ornament today. I received the chart for this one from my friend Marie shortly after Celebration of Needlework in April.... every year, I ogle JBW's miniature Christmas tree that they bring to their booth. It is loaded with little over one ornaments of Judith's designs. Marie heard me say I am going to make one (or more of them) someday, and she threw down the gauntlet by sending me the Red Mittens I leaflet... I stitched it up quickly, but then... hemmed and hawed over finishing it. Today I was looking at a scrapbooking template I often use for finishing and thought... "hmmmm, maybe this tiny oval work for that mitten??" - so I gave it a go.... I kept struggling, wanting to center it, only to finally realize... duh... the thumb on the left side of the mitten throws the design off center. OK, I am cool with it! Here is my effort!!

Happy Holidays Mitten Ornament JBW Designs 32 ct Purely Primitive Belfast Linen, Home Sweet Home hand dyed floss in Ruby Stitched one over one   OK, Marie.... challenge accepted :-)  Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend.  We are expecting a warm up tomorrow and a bigger one on Monday - woo hoo!  Yard work - lol!

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!!