Edgar's Halloween RR is Home At Last!

Edgar emailed me this afternoon to let me know that his Halloween RR that I just sent to him on Monday is now safely in his hands, so I can finally, at long last, show something that I myself have stitched ;-) I stitched the coffin with the skeleton, snakes and rats that is kind of near the center of the sampler. This is from the bottom portion of BOAF's Remember Me On Halloween. I was a little nervous about this one. The space left for me by the other stitchers to stitch in was rather large... and this one being Edgar's meant that I really want to do something special. After considerable deliberation, I added this large bit of stitching... held my breath, and whew! He likes it! Yay! I did not want to overwhelm, but I have to admit, it does look pretty good there and his sampler is really stunning (I think). I wish my photo showed the true beauty of his linen. It is much brighter, deeper and has a topaz like jewel coloring to it.

GREAT book offers here!!:

Stitched on lately: Stitching on HoE By the Sea Exchange

Thank you Debby!

Birthday goodness continues a little while longer with this adorable LHN ornament from dear Debby. I think it is the cutest thing, and I just love it! Thank you so much, Debby, for your kindness!





Stitching on: Stitching on Edgar's Halloween RR, and started HoE By the Sea Exchange

Birthday Gifts from my Friends :-)

At last! I am home and have a chance to post and share some photos of the birthday gifts I received last week from my stitching friends! I apologize for my tardiness, as well as for the very poor quality of my photos. We had bright sunny weather the past few days, but when I took these photos we had absolutely no sun and plenty of rain! But I want to really share these lovely gifts anyhow:

I received this package of treats from Gwen (I cannot get her blog link to open!) for the Stitching Bloggers Birthday Club - she stitched me a pretty little mattress pincushion and then stuffed the envelope full of other treats, including two little charts from my Wish List. Thank you so much Gwen!
Edgar then sent me this super pretty pinkeep along with two bars of yummy soap - and a bottle of excellent body lotion that somehow did not make it into the photo! Oh, thanks Edgar! The pinkeep is proudly displayed on the mantle in my living room and means very much to me!

I also received a lovely package from Wendy Jo - she stitched up this large and fantastic pin cushion using part of a design from Blue Ribbon Designs. I think she says it is stuffed with crushed shells. It is beyond perfect and I love it - so thoughtful of her! She even sent me pins ;-) Thank you Wendy Jo!
And dear Cathy stitched me this sweet fob... and sent a card that made me giggle for at least three minutes non-stop! Thank you soooo much Cathy!!

GREAT book offers here!!:

Stitching on: Edgar's Halloween RR (I chose something very dense to stitch, but I think he will like it - worth the work!), Winter Exchange for Cathy K... and planning my HoE By The Sea Exchange...

Surprise Birthday Gift

I just received a surprise birthday gift from Margaret today. I was stunned. I did not even begin to imagine I would receive any birthday gifts from stitching friends this year as I have not been able to do much by way of sending any out myself... but Margaret blindsided me with her sweetness and friendship. I stitched this sweet envelope/pouch that looks like a postal letter with a nice verse on it... and stuffed it with cosmetics! Thank you so much Margaret - what a treat!!




Stitching on: Houses of Hawk Run Hollow, Edgar's Halloween RR and Winter Exchange for Cathy K.

Christmas Ornament for Becky

I'm afraid that with my lifestyle changes I ran late with the final Christmas Ornament for the Christmas Ornament Swap - this one was for Becky - she seemed to be pretty OK with my need to mail a little late - compounded by the unexpected early closing of the PO just before Fourth of July... sigh... but the ornament did reach her yesterday - whew!

A Spot of Christmas Ornament
Milady's Needle
Just Cross Stitch 2009 Christmas Ornament Preview Issue
36 ct Light Sand Edinburgh Linen, combo of Weeks Dye Works and DMC Floss
Made some color variations to floss and beads




Stitching on: Edgar's Halloween RR

Christmas in July Exchange for Veronica

I heard from Veronica (cannot find her blog link for some reason now) today that she ahs received the HoE Christmas in July Exchange that I sent to her. Given my ridiculous work schedule for the past couple of months, I chose to send her one of the Christmas ornaments I had made for my basket of ornaments for friends - made sense, she is a friend ;-) I have already shown it in my blog before - it is Candy Wishes: Joy by Plum Pudding Needleart. And here are all the goodies I sent for her...

Happy Fourth to All!

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Stitching on: Stitching on Edgar's Halloween RR

Christmas In July Exchange from Stacy

I received this HoE Christmas in July Exchange from Stacy today. She wrote that this was the first pinkeep she had ever made, but you sure cannot tell - it is absolutely perfect! I love this design by My Big Toe from the latest JCS issue, and now I don't have to stitch it for myself ;-) The rest of the goodies are also wonderful - pretty linen, some cute charms, SMF Candy Floss and some violet transfers. Thank you so much Stacy, it was a treat to receive from you. And... another treat in the mail today! I received the rest of the Fourth of July Exchange from Julianne today - she had an ONS send me Where Stitching Leads by Chessie & Me (complete with hand-dyed linen) - and I adore it! She saw it on my wish list, and boy, am I overwhelmed and humbled by her generosity! Thank you so much Julianne!

Also... Mike wants me to tell you all he is having a Fourth of July Sale at his
Online Store - Gingher 4" Sarahs and Freedoms are only $19.99, and Gingher 4" Robertas are now $18.99. He is also now selling electronic cigarette supplies, if anyone has any interest. He swears by these - he was a 2 pack a day smoker for more years than I even know, but he has been off cigarettes totally for over 9 weeks now using e-cigarettes. Anyhow, I am really proud of him (and thrilled he quit smoking!!) - maybe his store can help someone you love too??

Stitched on lately: Finished Christmas Ornament for Becky for Christmas Ornament Swap, and sent my HoE Christmas in July Exchange today

4th of July Exchange from Julianne

I have received the most wonderful 4th of July Exchange from Julianne! Julianne stitched this gorgeous pincushion, which is filled with something fantastic, perhaps crushed shells, and I have already put this beauty to work! She nicely stitched and finished :-)
She also sent me all of these goodies - and apparently there is even still something on order coming from an ONS too! Oh my, Julianne, you have spoiled me! Those notecards are stunning! Thank you soooo much! The soap is delicious and fresh - I just love Crabtree & Evelyn!

4th of July Exchange for Marie

I heard from Marie yesterday that she has received my 4th of July Exchange for her. I wanted to stitch her something... different... but with my work schedule as it turned out to be again this month, I had to squeeze this in, so I ended up making a pinkeep. Fortunately, she told me she likes it - whew!!! Here it is:
Glory Pinkeep
SanMan Originals
32 ct Natural Belfast Linen, DMC Floss - changed colors from the charted pastels to traditional Independence Day Colors

... and the rest of her treats!

Glad you like it Marie! I received a lovely exchange from Julianne yesterday. It was too rainy to photograph it, so I think I will go try now while we have sun and post it tomorrow ;-)

Stitching on: HoE Christmas In July Exchange, and Christmas Ornament for Becky for Christmas Ornament Swap

Just Nan Exchange from Georgie

I received this sweet HoE Just Nan Exchange from Georgie a few days ago, and as I told Georgie, it has been raining absolute buckets here for about 10 days now. We have about two more days of it still ahead, but I did spot a little bit of daylight in the window when I got home tonight, so I grabbed the opportunity to take a snap! At last, I can share it! She stitched this teeny, tiny biscornu and made it into a fob for me. I cannot recall what chart she said she used :-( But, it is adorable! And she also sent some sweet smelling lilac & lavender soap too :-) Thank you, Georgie, for this lovely exchange!

Life remains hectic here... I am so far behind in blogging, stitching and email, that I am so lonely for my friends! But I understand that my virtual disappearance leads to not getting emails, so I will hang in there until I am free enough to be hanging back around with you again! In the meantime, dear ones, don't forget to pick up some quite excellent summer reading here:



Stitched on lately: Mailed out Fourth of July Exchange, starting Christmas in July Exchange and Christmas Ornament for Becky for the Christmas Ornament Swap

Frosty Friends Exchange from Outi

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This morning I received my Frosty Friends Exchange from Outi! This was the last exchange run on the SBEBB, and Outi needed some extra time to get hers to me - it was well worth the wait! She sent me this lovely M Designs needleroll with what she says are a few of her own modifications...
As well as all these amazing goodies!!!
Thank you so much Outi!

Also, my DH wants to thank everyone who bought Ginghers from him from his online store - he does still have the Robertas, Sarahs and Freedoms available at
Mike and Carol's Internet Store - thanks again, and do stop by often!!

Stitched on lately: Stitching on Fourth of July Exchange

Just Nan Exchange for Jennifer... and Gingher Roberta Scissors Blow Out Sale

I have heard from Jennifer that she has received the HoE Just Nan Exchange that I sent off to her... looking at it in her blog, it looks like my tiny little biscornu got a bit squished by the USPS... sigh... so sad! Here is how it looked before that!

Butterfly Bouquet Biscornu
Just Nan
28 ct Riviera Country French Linen, DMC Floss

... and the rest of the treats I sent to Jennifer - glad she liked my choices!!

Mike is having a sale on Gingher 4" Roberta scissors at his store site only, not on ebay for my blog readers only - $19.99 a pair, plus low shipping, depending on where you live... visit his store to get yours: Mike & Carol's Internet Store!!

Stitched on this week: nothing... too busy working!

A little birthday gift for Karen

I sent a birthday package a while back to my friend Karen - I figure she has received it by now, although I cannot seem to reach her through any of my email accounts lately. I realized I have stitch a great many items for her, but had not yet stitched her an initial fob. So, I did this year. I sent her other treats, but here is the fob:
Farmer's Alphabet "K" Fob
Prairie Schooler
32 ct Antique Ivory Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

I do hope Karen did receive her package and that all is well for her. I am sure I will hear from her at some point ;-)

Stitched on lately: Stitching on a Christmas Ornament for Amy for Christmas Ornament Swap, and stitching on HoE Just Nan Exchange

SBBC Gift for Rachel

I heard from Rachel today that she has received my birthday parcel. I was her partner for this year in the SBBC (Stitching Bloggers Birthday Club). I chose to stitch a scissor pocket for her and to send her matching scissors to go with it - I changed the colors up as I did not have the called for fibers:

Bianca Scissor Pocket
The Cat's Whiskers Design Studio
32 ct White Belfast Linen, Caron Waterlilies in Hyacinth and Moss

...And the rest of her goodies. Glad you like it Rachel - I had great fun making it for you!!

My DH still has plenty 4" Sarah, Freedom and Roberta Ginghers available - if interested, details are available in the posting below this one - and many, many thanks to the very many of you who have purchased already! We cannot thank you enough! If you can think of anything else he should carry in his online store, let me know!

Stitched on lately: Started Christmas ornament for Amy for Christmas Ornament Swap

Awesome Retired Gingher Scissors - CHEAP!!

My DH has a nice stock right now of awesome retired Gingher 4" scissors available in his store... and they are nicely priced! Did you miss out on either of these when they were out in Joann Stores last year? No need at all to miss out now!

DH sells these for $22.99 a pair, but wants to offer you a special price of $21.99 for reading about them here in my blog ;-)

Available are:

Gingher 4" Freedom Scissors

Gingher 4" Sarah Scissors

He also still has the recently retired Gingher 4" Roberta Scissors available, same price

To obtain yours, simply visit his store at: Mike and Carol's Internet Store and use the shopping cart system - simple!

Thanks - we hope someone will find a treat there that they wanted ;-)

Birthday Gift for Katrina

I heard from Katrina today that my little birthday parcel for her finally has arrived in NZ. I sent her a few goodies, and the stitched part of her gift was:

Garden Alphabet "K" Fob
Prairie Schooler
32 ct Putty Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Happy Belated Birthday, Katrina!

Also... Mike wants you all to know that he is now down to his last two pair of Gingher 5" Roberta Scissors. These were retired some time ago, and unless he stumbles across more somewhere, this is it - so grab them now if you have been thinking about them: Mike and Carol's Internet Store :-)

Stitched on lately: Stitching on a gift

HoE Woodland Exchange for Maria, and a gift for a friend

I read today in the HoE II blog that Maria has received the HoE Woodland Exchange that I sent to her. I had a lot of fun making this - it is a tiny mattress pincushion, using a portion of LHN's Woodland Sampling chart...
Woodland Sampling Mattress Pincushion
Little House Needleworks
36 ct Flax Linen, DMC Floss

... And the rest of the goodies I chose to send to her - I hope she likes it!

I also got an email this morning that my old friend Brenda, who does not blog, has received a little gift that I sent to her too...

Garden Alphabet "B" Fob
Prairie Schooler
32 ct Antique Ivory Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Stitched on this week: Started stitching a gift

Woodland Exchange from Chris

I received this HoE Woodland Exchange from Chris - she stitched a pretty pinkeep for me, and also sent me a UK stitching mag, some Anchor Marlitt floss, some Jayne's Attic hand dyed evenweave, a little dog kit...and some Cadbury Eggs that just never made it into the photo ;-) Thanks Chris!

Stitched on lately: I just managed to finish my HoE Woodland Exchange late last night and will be mailing it today (the deadline day!)

Autumn Exchange for Cathy

I heard from Cathy today that she has received my well-overdue Autumn Exchange - whew! I was quite late with getting this out due to my nutty work schedule of late. Autumn?? Well, it is autumn in Australia - weird stitching autumn in spring :-) I noticed everything I photograph on this windowsill is coming out looking quite crooked lately - must be me (has to be!) and my body angle?? Yikes!

Autumn Tree Pinkeep
The Trilogy
32 ct Natural Pearl Linen, WDW and GAST Floss, Buttons by The Trilogy

... And the rest of the goodies for Cathy - now to really start thinking about my upcoming Winter Exchange for her - I surely don't want to be late with that!!

Stitched on this week: Started HoE Woodland Walk Exchange

Finished Terry's Halloween RR

I finished up Terry's Halloween RR tonight, just in time for the next mailing date, which is Tuesday. I apologize that my photos do not show her fabric off well - in real life, her Silkweaver belfast solo is very vibrant. I took this photo under lights in my finished basement without using my flash, and the end result is that her fabric looks gray/lavender rather than lilac/peach/gray... Anyhow, her RR was starting to look a lot like a Halloween neighborhood to me, with a resident witch, so I chose to continue that theme and stick with the same colors the other stitchers have been using (the design I originally planned to use was far too bright). So, I chose this:
Happy Halloween
Shepherd's Bush - in All Through The Year, 1996
Silkeaver 32 ct Solo Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Here is how Terry's RR is looking as of tonight - it goes off to Edgar in the morning. I sure hope Terry likes my addition - I had great fun stitching this little design.

Stitched on today: Finished Terry's Halloween RR

Christmas Ornament from Amy

I received my final ornament for this round of the Christmas Ornament Swap today. This one is from Amy - the first one she sent to me was lost in the mail, never to surface at all. And Amy is so sweet, she chose to stitch me a second one, and it was so worth the wait! This is a Mary Garry design, and I believe it is from her Skating Party chart. So nice! Thank you sooo much Amy. This was great fun, and I am so happy I signed up for a second year in this swap. Now it is Amy's turn to receive next month and I am already dreaming up what I may stitch for her...

Stitched on this week: Still stitching on Terry's Halloween Round Robin

Christmas Ornament for Julianne

Julianne is the lucky recipient in the Christmas Ornament Swap this month, and she sent me a lovely email this morning to let me know that she has received my ornament for her. I really love how this one came out, and I am so glad that she likes it!

Cranberry Christmas Ornament
Prairie Schooler
JCS 2007 Christmas Ornament Issue
32 ct Putty Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Stitched on this week: Started Terry's Halloween Round Robin - mailed Autumn Exchange to Cathy K. on 4/13/09

Spring Exchange from Cathy K.

I received this lovely Spring Exchange from Cathy earlier this week, and just managed to take a photo so that I can share. I am not at all sure that Cathy is even receiving my emails right now (I have many email issues lately!!), and I really want to thank her for this pretty exchange. She stitched me this great pinkeep and the absolutely adorable little biscornu (Cathy, I really love tiny biscornus - thank you!!) - plus, as always, all these fabulous extras!! Thank you Cathy!!!! (My exchange for Cathy - Autumn as she is in Australia) is three weeks late, but finally leaving here tomorrow - whew!!).

Stitched on this week: Finished Christmas Ornament for Julianne for Christmas Ornament Swap (DH has to buy a mailer for it tomorrow, though), and finished Autumn Exchange for Cathy K.

Belated Birthday Gift for Joan

Joan has let me know a few days ago that she received my little birthday gift for her - late, late, late - I am so late with everything these days. I noticed last night that now that the baseball season has started up again, I actually find myself stitching! I cannot read or do office paperwork during games... but stitching works! Maybe I will catch up soon??
Farmer's Alphabet J Fob
Prairie Schooler
32 ct Antique Ivory Belfast Linen, DMC Floss

Stitched on this week: Stitched on Christmas Ornament for Julianne for Christmas Ornament Swap, and stitched on Autumn Exchange for Cathy K.

Biscornu Exchange for Cari

I heard late last night that Cari has received the HoE Biscornu Exchange that I sent to her. I was not in this exchange, but was the coordinator. Cari's sender disappeared from the blogosphere and Cari never received an exchange, so I put one together for her.

Love Biscornu
Debbie Draper Designs
28 ct Light Mocha Cashel Linen, Valdani Floss in Waterlilies

...And here is the rest of the stuff I was able to gather up for her... glad you like it Cari, and yes, the Valdani floss is excellent to stitch with!

Stitched on this week: Finished a gift for a friend