End of July Update

Hello.... I am still making a Christmas ornament monthly.  For July I chose Prairie Christmas Cat by Prairie Schooler.  I used 32 ct Cobblestone Belfast linen with one strand of CC floss.  I wanted the kitty to resemble my recently departed Anouk, and selected Balsam Fir, Black Coffee, Magnolia Blossom, Ribbon Red and Sassy Brass.  It really does make me think of her and was a fun stitch.

In July I also kept up with RedAgape's Casual Granny CAL.  Part 6 is the Daisy Granny Square.  I chose to pull out Wisteria, Spring Green, Pistachio, Apricot, Bluebell, Fondant, Aspen and Parma Violet from my previous squares to border my daisies.

I made up a little friend in July as well.  This is Carlos the Hummingbird in Zoomigurumi 6.  The designer is Younique Crafts.  I made him up with Stylecraft Special DK in Spring Green, Empire, Aspen, Midnight and Grey.  He has been spotted here by my honeysuckle vine 😊

Loved this new release by Polly Plum called I Heart Granny.  I used Lion Brand Mandala in Gnome...for Amelia.  😇

Caitlin and I finished up Hooked on Sunshine/Projectarian's Orbit CAL in July.  Here is mine, guarding DH's stack of video games.  He is made primarily with King Cole Baby Drifter in Kingfisher, with SSDK in Stone, White, Aspen, Apricot and Empire.  Apparently, he is a she... Caitlin named her Aurora.

And Caitlin's wee Orbit...  she used fingering yarn for hers.  He is so sweet!  I am so proud of her,  am still waiting to hear what she has named him...or her?  We will be making the Penelope Trixiebelle CAL together in the fall.

My mom has had her needle flying this month too.... an adorable little cloche for Amelia 😙😙😙

In preparation of putting our Orbit's together, I made this little Tea Party Pincushion for Caitlin.  It is made with DROPS Safran and the pattern is from Simply Crochet, Issue 72.  I left off the embroidered face...that is not her style 😎

I also worked up this Orchid Lace Baby Blanket after reading about a charity in need of handmade baby blankets.  They mentioned they were short on baby boy blankets.  I had two cakes of Lion Brand Mandala in Centaur that needed a purpose, so this blanket was born.

And here is the letter I received from Coping with LM, in case others may feel motivated to contribute as well.  The blankets are put into care packages for families whose babies struggle with breathing dosorders.

And finally, earlier in July I also made up this wee little Fruity Ami Strawberry from Inside Crochet, Issue 103.  I used Scheepjes Cotton 8 and Scheepjes Catona.

Last finishes of 2017

 My New Year's Eve project was a flower pot cozy for my amaryllis plant...

 I stitched Praiseworthy Stitches Let it Snowman during quiet breaks at the office in the fall, managed to get the finishing done before the year ended...

 I made up Cuddle Me Lion... is it a lion or a teddy dressed as a lion, though?

 For Miss Amelia, Zabbez' Sunflower Sam...

 The Red Noel Ornament by Les grilles de Maryse with DMC 115 on 40 ct lambswool for a friend...

 Prairie Schooler Old World Santa on 36 ct Sand linen, colors tweaked, for a friend...

 LHN Blue House in Winter on 36 ct Vintage Country Mocha, also for a friend...

 Did the finishing on Brookes Books Happy New Year, which was stitched to celebrate 2014... better late than never!

 123Citrouille Bonne Annee on 36 ct Sand for Andrea :-)

And another WTNT Merry Holly Berries, this time on 36 ct Vintage Country Mocha, for an FB Christmas Ornament Exchange 🎅

Yeow!

Found out today that Erin has received the Halloween ornament that I stitched for her for an exchange...

Yeow! Ornament Prairie Schooler 2012 JCS Halloween Special Issue 32 ct Antique Ivory Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Halloween Ornament from Amy

I received this really adorable, scary, charming wee ornament from Amy this morning for the current round of the HoE Halloween Ornament Exchange.  I love this little cutie.  It is from Prairie Schooler's Heads Up! leaflet.  She stitched on rather high count fabric, appears to be 40 ct.  I took it outside to take a photo 1) for good lighting, and 2) because I thought it would look spooky hanging on my currently very leafless honeysuckle bush.  But it is too windy outside to do that.  Anyhoo, I just love this great ornament and will cherish it forever. Thanks again Amy :-)

For Karen and Brenda...

I received lots of good news yesterday, with ornaments shipped off having been received at their new homes.... always such a relief! First, Karen let me know that she received the ornament I sent to her for the HoE Stitcher's Choice Christmas Ornament Exchange. I made her a tiny one, as I have noticed in recent years that her Christmas trees have been quite wee...

Joyful Ornament My Big Toe Designs 2013 JCS Christmas Ornament Preview Issue R&R  Reproductions 40 ct Creme Brulee Linen, WDW Floss   Karen also received my annual Christmas Ornament that I make for her...

St. Nicholas Ornament The Prairie Schooler R&R Reproductions 40 ct Creme Brulee Linen, DMC Floss   And...my old, dear stitching friend, Brenda (no blog, darn, not yet at least...) has received a little something I stitched for her tree too...

Seven Pines Ornament Little House Needleworks Freebie in LHN Blog, forgot to grab the link 36 ct Dirty Edinburgh Linen, CC Floss

Halloween Exchange and Gifts for Friends

I received this really cute Prairie Schooler Halloween Tree ornament earlier this week from
Becky. This was HoE's first Halloween Tree Ornament Exchange that will be running six times a year. I just love how Becky finished this with blanket stitch!!

Earlier today I finally received the good news from Katrina that the Christmas ornament I sent to her back on (I checked my receipt last night) November 1, finally arrived safe and sound in New Zealand! Whew!!!!
St. Nicholas Ornament Prairie Schooler 36 ct Sand Edinburgh Linen, DMC Floss

And, great news from Andrea yesterday... she received an ornament I had stitched for her as well... hers arrived much quicker. Just waiting on one more overseas ornament to muddle its way through the holiday postal system now.
Holiday Spirit Ornament Samplerbird Stitchery Unknown Linen from Stash, CC Jelly Roll Floss and Mill Hill Beads  

I am so very close now to finishing Santa's Village.  I had to take a day off to rip out a misplaced cafe table and some other parts...grrr.... truly want to get on it tonight, but still have three more ornaments to stitch. Therefore, going to take the responsible route, listen to my AudioNotch recordings for 90 mins (they are a therapy program for my tinnitus - must say I see some slight improvement and it is still early days), visit with Mike (DH) and start one of those three ornaments tonight.  Perhaps there will be a good movie to watch too.

Prairie Schooler Christmas Ornament from Conny

I have just received a truly lovely exchange from Conny, one of HoE's newest members. She joined our Prairie Schooler Christmas Ornament round, and what a treat - she stitched up this beautiful Santa, used a sweet holiday fabric for the backing, a sweet pair of ribbons and little red bells for her trim. I shall cherish this on my tree every year!

Santas and Snowmen Ornament

Prairie School, Book No. 51

32 ct Zweigart Linen and DMC Floss

Prairie Schooler Ornament for Nicole

I heard from Nicole today that she received the ornament I stitched for her for the HoE Prairie Schooler Exchange.  It was really fun to stitch this Santa from an "ancient" leaflet (copyright 1988) - I truly like their older designs better than their newer ones, in many cases.  So glad Nicole says she likes this one.  Sadly, I realized after I took the pic of the ornament hanging from a huge honeysuckle bush/tree that is against my back porch that some bits from the honeysuckle are on his face in two areas...  if you see them, they are not boo boos - lol.  I just hope I didn't send the ornament to her with those bits of dried honeysuckle plant on it!

  St. Nicholas Ornament

Prairie Schooler

28 ct Riviera French Country Linen, DMC Floss

I also personalized the back a bit for her. The dove and mistletoe are from a different Santa in the leaflet...

Hope everyone is having a lovely late summer (or spring in the 'other' hemisphere) - happy stitching to all... I best get started on more of SV part 9, as I see part 10 is about to be released.... I am lagging behind...lol

Candy Cane Cottage... Distractions.... Friendship Exchange

At last, Candy Cane Cottage.  This one seemed to take me forever, even though it is a small cottage.  I feel myself dragging a little bit with this project, and need to get myself back on track.  I know that the main factor really is that my medical condition that was discovered 2 years and 4 months ago at this point, just is not truly improving.  My doctor did make what he calls a "radical" treatment change last week, but in all honesty, I feel no radical change (although today is not so terribly bad)...  my 50th bday is in two days and I told him I just wanted to wake up on that day and not have to think or worry about how I feel or what I have to deal with.... he grimaced and offered no hope of that... so, onward and keeping positive thoughts for myself, working towards acceptance.

And here is a general idea of how Santa's Village is looking now....  8 down, 4 to go!  The next is on its way to me now, so maybe I will get a start on it during this week off that I have.

Other than dealing with my pain and medical issue, I have had another serious distraction... my Kindle Fire HD just calls out to me every.single.day.  I have some awesome reads loaded up and deciding between reading and stitching, or just focusing on self care and good sitting position (neither stitching nor reading afford me that) so that I feel better are real daily challenges for  me :-)

Oh, and I learned earlier this week that Linda O. has received the HoE Friendship Exchange I stitched for her...

A Friend Pinkeep Prairie Schooler 32 ct Vintage Country Cream Belfast Linen, DMC Floss    

Christmas Alphabet "Mike" Ornament

I have the day off today, so I took out my finishing supplies while my husband was getting his business orders ready to go to the post office.... and I finished off an ornament I made for him for this year...

Christmas Alphabet "Mike" Ornament
Prairie Schooler
32 ct Sage Lugana, DMC Floss

... Counting the days down now to Celebration of Needlework!!!