Redwork Exchange for Goldie

Goldie has let me know that she has received the SBEBB Redwork Exchange that I sent to her. I have been wanting to stitch this little design in an older issue of De fil en aiguille for ages now. When I drew Goldie's name for the exchange, I knew I had just come across the perfect opportunity to stitch it. Sorry the photos are not clickable tonight...

Motif avec ciseaux Pinkeep
De fil en aiguille Magazine, August-September 2005
30 ct Natural Linen, DMC 115

And the rest of her goodies - a chart off of her wishlist and other fun things ;-) So glad you like it Goldie - enjoy!!

Stitched on today: Finished second part of Seasonal (Spring) Exchange for Cathy K **Mailed out a gift today

It's been a while

According to my 2008 stitching file of photos, it has been since July 4th that I have stitched on A Quaker Christmas. Shame on me!! Here is tonight's progess - glad to be back with it again!

Stitched on today: Started part 2 of Seasonal (Spring) Exchange for Cathy K, and stitched on A Quaker Christmas

All kinds of stuff...

I have all kinds of things to show today, so fair warning - this entry is a bit photo heavy!

First of all, I received the most amazing pocketed pinkeep from Vonna today. Isn't it a beauty? I made a wish for one - a pinkeep with a pocket on the back - over on the Make A Wish Exchange very recently, and was excited when Vonna volunteered to make one for me. She also sent me some items from my wishlist for my birthday. What a sweetie! Thank you so much Vonna - I love it all!

Some more birthday gifts have arrived... I know, I am quite spoilt!
Jill is amazing! Jill and I talk sports quite a bit. She totally respects my love of the Red Sox while she is very much a Twins fan. (Truth be told, I love the Twins too - just love the Red Sox more) - we also love Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics. Anyhow... looky what she made for me. How cool is this?? And it is so perfectly stitched and assembled. I love the heart shaped eyelet she used. And she also sent a marking pin that she made herself - and I needed a new one, having recently broken mine... Thank you so much Jill!
WendyJo also stitched a floss ring tag for me - these are the only two I own... she stitched one of my favorite Lizzie Kate freebies - love it, thanks so much Wendy Jo!!

A couple of gifts I put together and sent out also have arrived where they should. First is my little tiny birthday gift for Patti - most of you know already that Patti and I were born on the exact same day, and I think that is very, very cool because Patti is so incredibly cool!

Humble Daisys Floss Ring Tag
Brightneedle
28 ct Misty Green Linen, DMC Floss, Stitched one-over-one

Also, Karen has received the PIF gift that I made for her... as I recently mentioned, I am on a Brightneedle kick lately ;-)
Mama Bird Floss Ring Tag
Brightneedle
32 ct Natural Pearl Linen, GAST Floss, stitched one-over-one

And finally... coming to the end of the line here... I pulled Acorn Sampler back out tonight. All last month I kept thinking, "nope, I am not in the mood." Tonight I let myself realize why. I really don't care for the coverage of the silk on the cashel linen in several areas on the sampler. I will finish it and even frame it. It was a really fun class with Betsy. That said, if I had to do it all over again, I would have stitched this on belfast linen instead. Almost there now - one good lengthy stitching session and it will be finished!

Stitched on today: Stitched a gift, and stitched on Acorn Sampler **Mailed out SBEBB Redwork Exchange today

Back to normal!

OK... back to normal! No birthday stuff in tonight's entry. I remain overwhelmed with that and will spread it out in future entries, but for today I want to show a couple of exchanges that I recently sent out and are now safe and sound in their new homes ;-)

Simone made a wish recently for a mattress pincushion on the Make A Wish Exchange, and I signed up to fulfill her wish for her. Somehow Simone received this all the way in The Netherlands in only two or three days!

Bloom Mattress Pincushion
Country Cottage Needleworks
Wichelt 32 ct Chantilly Country French Linen, Crescent Colours & DMC Floss

I also saw on the Crazy Exchange group that Jenn has received the new exchange that I put together for her... sure hopes she likes it! The chart is a freebie you can get only if you subscribe to Helga Mandl's newsletter, which only came out this past week, so there is still time to get it if you want it ;-)
Flower Freebie Floss Ring Tag
Helga Mandl Designs
32 ct Natural Pearl Linen, DMC Floss

Goal Review Time:

July Goals:

1. Continue to stitch on A Quaker Christmas -yes
2. Continue to stitch on Serenity - yes
3. Continue to stitch on A Spring Ride SAL -yes
4. Continue to stitch on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow - yes
5. Finish Acorn Sampler - no….
6. Stitch some gifts - yes, I stitched three gifts this month
7. Finish Michelle’s NRR and mail to An by 7/15 -yes, and An has received it
8. Start my Halloween RR and have it ready to mail to Edgar by 7/15 -yes, and Edgar has received it
9. Stitch and send new CE Exchange - yes, I stitched and sent two new exchanges – Tess and Jenn have received them
10. Stitch one or two Christmas ornaments - yes, I stitched two ornaments this month
11. Stitch a Christmas Ornament for Staci (Christmas Ornament Exchange) and mail it to her by 7/31 - yes, and Staci has received it
12. Stitch a scissor pocket for Terry (MAW Exchange) and mail it to her by 7/31 - yes, and Terry has received it
13. Start mattress pincushion for Simone (MAW Exchange) and have it ready to mail to her by 8/4 - yes, and Simone has received it
14. Stitch SBEBB Summer House Exchange and mail by 7/21 - yes, and Cathy has received it
15. Start Redwork Exchange and have ready to mail by 8/4 - yes, it is packed and ready to go in tomorrow’s mail
16. Stitch and send Leslie’s NRR to Nicole by 8/1 - yes, and Nicole has received it
17. Stitch and be ready to send HoE Summer Quaker Exchange by 8/1 - yes, and Margaret has received it
18. Stitch and send at least one PIF gift - yes, I stitched and sent three – Melissa and Sharon have received theirs, still waiting to hear from the third


August Goals:
1. Finish SBEBB Redwork Exchange and mail by 8/4
2. Continue to stitch on Spring Ride SAL
3. Continue to stitch on Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
4. Continue to stitch on Serenity
5. Continue to stitch on A Quaker Christmas
6. Stitch and send at least one PIF
7. Stitch Shelley’s Halloween RR and mail to Edgar
8. Stitch scissor pocket for MAW Exchange for Melissa
9. Stitch and send some gifts
10. Stitch and send SBEBB Biscornu Exchange by 8/23
11. Start HoE Needleroll Exchange and be ready to mail by 9/2
12. Start SBEBB Shepherd’s Bush Exchange and be ready to mail by 9/5
13. Finish Acorn Sampler
14. Stitch on Katrina’s NRR and have ready to mail to An by 9/15
15. Stitch one or two Christmas ornaments
16. Stitch and send some new Crazy Exchanges
17. Finish Seasonal (Spring) Exchange and mail to Cathy K


Stitched on today: Finished SBEBB Redwork Exchange, and started a gift

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

Early Birthday Gifts

**I am having some computer issues and cannot access Google Reader well or consistently at all right now - I am so sorry I have been absent from so many blogs, and I am hoping to get this fixed soon! Also, I cannot quickly access links for the senders of the wonderful gifts I am about to show you - sorry!

I received a Make A Wish Exchange from BeckySC today :-) She signed up to fulfill my wish for a finished tin only a couple of weeks ago. She had two months, per her group's rules, to stitch it, but she sent it right out - and it's a beauty!


She wrote that this is part of a design by Gail Bussi. I think it is absolutely perfect and I really want to thank Becky for making this lovely tin for me - I am thrilled with it!

In the box with the tin were some birthday gifts from Becky! I did not know they were in there, or maybe I would not have opened the box until tomorrow! What a sweet pinkeep! Thank you Becky! She also sent me a whole lotta tea! I think I am all set for tea for quite some time now.... :-)

DH decided that he wanted some space back on our kitchen counter and he gave me a few of my gifts from stitching friends to open today. I hope the senders don't mind that I opened them a wee bit early ;-) As a result, DH was thrilled to regain counter space, and the cats had a little less to climb on.... there is still a stack there, but this dented it nicely! LOL

Valerie sent me this gorgeous kit off of my wish list! I love it so much, and really never thought I would be lucky enough to own it! It is, I think, limited edition or limited release or something like that. She also sent me two skeins of GAST just because she liked the colors :-) I like them too! Thank you Valerie!

Jenn also sent me some gifts! Wow, I am so lucky! I finally own a piece of her stitching! Jenn stitched me a pillow using a fairy design by Passione Ricamo. She also sent me a whole bunch of pretty finishing fabrics... and a little rubber ducky. Thanks so much Jenn!

Thank you, Heather, for these cute items. Heather sent me a pretty floral gardening fork that is already adorning my pot of kalanchoe on my front steps. Looks just perfect there. She also sent me some fruit tea, pretty flower seeds that I shall start in the spring and adorable strawberry fabric :-)

And the final box for today was from Michelle (Cozy Egg) - she sent me a chart off of my wish list, many pieces of finishing fabric, a box of pearl long pins and a packet of those charms I love oh so very much for fobs! Thank you Michelle!

I really value and treasure you, my dear friends. As I approach my 45th birthday in the morning, I reflect on how blessed I truly am. Each of you is forever with me in my thoughts and I wish you all blessings...

Stitched on today: Stitched on a Christmas ornament (not showing it yet, as there is enough good stuff to show from my friends today)

HoE Summer Quaker Exchange for Margaret

I have heard from Margaret that she has received the HoE Summer Quaker Exchange that I sent to her. Margaret is a very good friend of mine. She and I take classes together at Celebration of Needlework every May, and we hang out together for a few days - she is really a lot of fun, and I was thrilled to get her name for the exchange... With the theme of summer, I had colors on my mind, and I ended up stitching her a scissor pocket that is pretty much a crayon box full of color! Knowing that Margaret likes to wear colorful jackets to her job (she once told me that her colleagues sometimes ask her, "And what is your sofa wearing today?"), so I figured colorful was a safe bet. She says she likes it - I hope she does :-)


Victoria's Quaker Scissor Pocket
A Mon Ami Pierre
32 ct Antique Ivory Belfast Linen, Six shades of DMC Color Variations Floss

And, of course, the rest of my exchange for her. I couldn't resist sending her some Gingher scissors to put in her pocket ;-)

And, off to do some secret stitching amidst enjoying time going here and there, and pretty much loving a week off from work!

Stitched on today: Started a Christmas ornament, and stitched on SBEBB Redwork Exchange **Mailed out a new CE Exchange today

Summer House Exchange from Susan

I received such a lovely SBEBB Summer House Exchange from Susan today. I have to apologize for the really poor quality of the photo below - Susan has much better ones on her blog. Mike and I got home from running around, generally enjoying our vacation week - Chinese lunch out, registered our three cars (ouch, so pricey) and took three of my pieces to the framer as part of his birthday gift to me (the other part is a special treat from Down Sunshine Lane, which I am really, really excited about) - but I just distracted myself! Sorry! Look at this beautiful exchange!
Susan stitched one of my favorite Prairie Schooler designs, and it is so perfectly finished. It adorns my bureau now, so I can admire it every day! She also sent me the yummiest cut of Cappucino belfast linen by Country Stitch, several skeins of GAST that are so perfectly color coordinated, and a box of pretty note cards. I was so happy to receive from Susan :-) Thank you so much for everything - what a treat!

I heard this morning that a new Crazy Exchange that I sent off to Brisbane, Australia has arrived... It was my pleasure to stitch for Tess, a brand new member to the exchange.

Garden Alphabet "T" Fob
Prairie Schooler
Unknown 32 ct Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Now, as it is beginning to rain (thus the poor picture of the exchange from Susan...), I am going to work on secret exchange stitching ;-)

Stitched on today: Stitched a new CE Exchange, and started SBEBB Redwork Exchange **Mailed MAW Exchange to Simone, and mailed Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin to Nicole today

Finished Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin

I finished my square on Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin tonight. I hope she likes it. There were no directions in her package, and I just loved the heart and star on the chart, so I added them. I see Deb has a big flower on her house, so my little motifs look like they fit to me. Her neighborhood is very cheerful!

Stitched on today: Finished MAW Exchange for Simone, and finished Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin

More of Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin

I don't have a whole lot to show or say today. After being very distracted with "things" last night, I realized quite late and at bedtime that the MAW Exchange I started for Simone was off by a few stitches and I had to frog half of it this morning. I got that done, and made a lot of progress on the exchange (a mattress pincushion), before then settling in to work on Leslie's house again while watching "Under the Tuscan Sun" tonight... almost there now :-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on MAW Exchange for Simone, and stitched on Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin

PIF for Sharon

I heard from Sharon today that she has received my PIF gift for her. I made her a floss ring tag - these little buggers are very addictive once you start making them :-) As you can see, I like to attach my scissors to the ring too while working on a small project...

A Bee C Floss Ring Tag
Elizabeth's Designs - found here
Unknown 32 ct R&R Reproductions Linen, GAST Simply Shaker Threads, JABC Tiny Bee Button

And that's all folks... that Nora Corbett Halloween Fairy in CS&N is getting lots of attention and I got mine mostly all kitted up now... but tonight I am going to hide so I can work on my MAW exchange for Simone... it is due out by August 4th, and I finally have room in my schedule to get it going!

Happy Weekend everyone - this is the start of a week's vacation for me, whew! I never work my birthday week... one small gift I can give to myself! Have a great night ;-)

Stitched on today: Stitched on a new CE exchange, started MAW Exchange for Simone

Summer Quaker Exchange from Edgar

Today was a little stressful. We had very heavy rains, thunder and lightning most of the day. Driving was terrible, and there was lots of flooding near my office. I later heard that just north and east of my house there was a lot of storm damage, and a possible tornado. We just missed it! My day was brightened immeasurably when I received this lovely HoE Summer Quaker Exchange from Edgar today. Edgar wrote that he could not decide which of these two items to stitch, so he simply stitched and sent them both. How lucky am I? First is a beautiful quaker rose box that adorns my bureau as we speak. It is lined with beautiful rose fabric and is just so perfect... and Edgar also stitched one of his super nice round pinkeeps for me too using a motif from the Ackworth book. Wow, I love them both! On top that, Edgar hit my wish list pretty hard and sent me two charts for which I have been yearning. Plus, two pretty and very useable fat quarters of cotton finishing fabric. Edgar, you brightened my day - you are so very generous and I appreciate all of this!

No stitching of mine own to show. I finished up my own HoE Summer Quaker Exchange tonight, but of course, I cannot show it yet. I was hoping one of the PIFs or CE exchange I have mailed out would have arrived so I could show it today, but nothing yet... Edgar's stitching needs no help and deserves its own entry anyhow ;-)

Oh! Before I forget!! I have been meaning to post this for about a week now... isn't this new Halloween Fairy by Nora Corbett in the new issue (Sept '08) of Cross Stitch & Needlework fantastic?? I think I am going to ask DH for some of the Kreinik and beads I will need for this for my birthday next week ;-) I love this!

Stitched on today: Finished HoE Summer Quaker Exchange

Kreativ Bloggers...

I have received several emails this week from bloggers alerting me that they have chosen me for this Kreativ Blogger award. I cannot even begin to sort out who has done this - I do recall the first to tell me was Margaret, so if nobody minds, I will credit her. No offense to anyone I overlooked! Thanks :-)

I have been told these are the rules:
1. The winner may put the logo on her blog.
2. Put a link to the person you got the award from.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to the blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

I cannot imagine thinking of 5 blogs to nominate. Gosh, can I nominate 500? I read so many every day (even if I cannot find time to comment) - so I think I shall nominate the top 5 blogs that inspired me to blog way back in 2004/2005...
Isabelle - probably the first blog I ever read - at that time, Isabelle was more heavily into cross stitching - one of the sweetest souls you will find on the net or anywhere...
KarenV for her amazing style and her sublime finishing skills...
BeckySC for her generosity and huge heart, amazing finishing skills and overall enthusiasm for life and stitching...
Katrina for our fun SALs together and her amazing generosity...
AnneS for her talent, sweetness and heart as big as all of Australia!


Before I go disappear now and work on the HoE Summer Quaker Exchange, which requires frogging right now - tried to stitch when I was a little too tired last night, I will show yesterday's progress on Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin...

Stitched on today: HoE Summer Quaker Exchange

A late birthday gift for Karen...

Karen just sent me a lovely email to let me know that my belated birthday gifts for her arrived today :-) I sent her some gifts back in May for her real birthday, but had not had a chance to stitch her anything in time for her big day. I sent her a few more gifts, as well as this little scissor pocket. Karen loves green, and when I saw this DMC Color Variations in the store, it jumped out at me.... glad she likes it :-)
Red Desert Scissor Pocket
The Cat's Whiskers Design Studio
28 ct Confederate Gray Cashel Linen, DMC Color Variations 4065 - Morning Meadow

I was really sad to read this tonight - I know that Jen Aikman-Smith has long spoken out against piracy and illegal copyright violations of her charts (and the charts of other designers). Now she is leaving us and will only sporadically gift us with sample charts or put designs in magazines. She will still teach too, but I think she pretty much only teaches in Canada. Jen, I will miss you and Dragon Dreams so very much. I have purchased all of your dragons and castles - and love them all... thank you for all you have done and for your whimsical work.

Getting ready now for a late baseball game and going to put down Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin for the night (no photo this time) and pick up my HoE Summer Quaker Exchange - it needs my attention right now...

Stitched on today: Stitched on Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin, and stitched on HoE Summer Quaker Exchange **Mailed out a gift today

Beautiful Blue Fabrics for Sale

I noticed on my desk tonight that I still have a little pile of absolutely beautiful blue hand dyed fabrics that did not sell last time I posted them... so I figured I would try again... they are just gorgeous! Please leave me a comment if any of these appeal to you. I take checks, money orders and Pay Pal. If you are a non-US stitcher, then Pay Pal only. I will try to charge only actual shipping for you too.

Left to right:
Silkweaver 28 ct Blue Dynasty Cashel Linen, 18" x 26", $20 -
Silkweaver 28 ct Rock-A-Bye Opalescent Lugana, 18" x 26", $20
Sugar Maple Fabrics 28 ct Blueberry Cheesecake Lugana, 18" x 27", $20

Leslie's neighborhood is growing a bit. I got a little bored with filling in the grey siding of the house, so I did a bit of the vine on the roof tonight. I know the house looks a little off center - that is by design ;-)

Stitched on today: Finished a gift, started a new CE exchange and stitched on Leslie's Neighborhood Round Robin **Mailed off a PIF gift today