Lazy Days of Summer Fob

I was digging around in my stash the other day, and again came across this wee chart that was originally part of a kit - I think I got the chart only on ebay... anyhow, felt like a good time to stitch it up!

Lazy Days of Summer Fob
Earth Threads
32 ct White Belfast Linen, DMC Floss




Currently Stitching: CaHOHR and starting Christmas Ornament Exchange - ready to mail Christmas Ornament Swap ;-)

We have Gingher Charlene Scissors Available Now/SOLD OUT

Looking for a pair of the Joann's Exclusive Gingher Charlene 4" Scissors? We have them now - in limited supply! Grab your pair at: Mike & Carol's Internet Store - no longer accepting PayPal, however credit cards welcome!


***SOLD OUT***

Another Christmas Ornament, and an Easter Exchange Arrived

I stitched up another ornament for my gift basket a few days ago - finally!

Sugar Plum Tree Ornament
Rosewood Manor
The Gift of Stitching Magazine, December 2007
28 ct Vintage Country Mocha Cashel Linen, DMC Floss, Mill Hill Beads

Today I received my Easter exchange from Gaby. I apologize that my photo is blurry. I didn't realize it until I downloaded it. She stitched a super cute design of a bunny running with an Easter Egg - she wrote that it is from a German magazine. I love the design. She made it into a large hanging pillow with a pair of yo yos stitched on. She also sent a tiny beaded ornament of a chick in an egg... and other treats as seen above. Love the handmade German Easter card - thanks Gaby - hope you are feeling better now.




Currently Stitching: CaHRH

Easter Exchange for Meghan

I received an email from Meghan today letting me know that she has received the Easter Exchange that I sent to her. She is so cute - loved her email, she is busy picking out a prom dress... remember those days?? She put some good photos up of what I sent to her here. It was fun putting goodies together for her! Glad you like it!

Spring Has Sprung! Box
Brightneedle
32 ct Putty Belfast Linen, DMC Floss, Mill Hill Petite Beads

And speaking of high school and things from so long ago... I have not seen an old high school friend of mine since June of 1981... which was when we graduated from high school... we recently reconnected on Facebook, and her father passed away. He still lived locally, so Lee and her family came up for the funeral. Of course I went... and here I am with her three really lovely daughters (and one sleeping granddaughter) at the funeral home. I rarely have any pictures of me, and my Facebook friends have seen this already... for the rest of you... well, here you are...I am the one furthest back in the photo in the beige sweater...the one who most obviously graduated from high school in 1981 :-)


Currently stitching: Stitching a Christmas ornament, and working on CaHRH

LHN/CCN Exchange for Lillie

The HoE LHN/CCN exchange I stitched for Lillie has made its long journey to Malaysia, and now I can show it to you... I really loved how this one came out, and parting with it was a little trickier than usual! I had no idea what this would turn out to be... I loved the design, so I chose it. Lillie strikes me as a very sunny person, so I wanted to go summery/sunny for her. Then I suddenly felt a compulsion to stitch it one-over-one... but how to finish it?? A fob? Nah. A needlebook? Oooo, cool idea... but uh-oh - I should have started elsewhere on my linen so I would have a linen backing for the needlebook, so... pass.... then, OK - found good cotton fabric for the back and the sweet satin rose... and voila - a pinkeep! I sent her plenty of goodies - I think those can be seen on her blog or the HoE blog... the photo I took of them is far too blurry to bother to post :-)

Spelling Bee Pinkeep
Little House Needleworks
32 ct Confederate Gray Belfast Linen, Crescent Colours and DMC Floss
Stitched one-over-one

Currently Stitching: CaHRH and preparing to start another Christmas Ornament

I've been spoiled rotten!

The mailman delivered a very heavy priority mail package this morning. I have been utterly spoiled rotten by Janet for the HoE LHN/CCN Exchange. This was Janet's first exchange, and she went over the top, way above and beyond! I apologize straight up for the poor photo quality. I should have gone out to the porch to take photos, but we are having a bit of a windstorm here this weekend, so I used the kitchen table instead....
Janet stitched me an album! I will describe it more below - along with it some 36 ct linen she hand dyed for me, the latest issue of SANQ (I had just let my subscription expire due to the economy) and a really pretty chart I had not yet seen that is dedicated in the memory of Kris Stott - it is chock full of great charts for smalls - by many of my favorite designers! She also enclosed a pen from her ebay shop ;-)
Inside the album... many pages full of goodies! Here is the inside cover and an example of a page - she included John James needles, a pretty pair of Premax scissors and several skeins of overdyed floss.... and some on later pages that appear to be ones she dyed herself for her shop and they are super nice! In the album are two more patterns for me -which I love!! See.... SPOILED! I cannot thank Janet enough. I cannot wait to use this - in fact, I will tonight! This will be an heirloom!




Just finished my Easter Exchange today - in time for the mailing date on Monday ;-)

Currently stitching: CaHRH, and going to start another Christmas Ornament for my gift basket...

Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow Update

I figured it is time to show an update of CaHRH. As you can see, I am still working the first block I started. It is a very dense block. I have been able to put spurts of time into it, but no consistent schedule. I am enjoying it, though! I have been busy with stitching my LHN/CCN and Easter Exchanges of late. Have been ill with stomach issues - in the hospital recently, recovering well now. Sure hope to post my next CaHRH update soon!

My Witching for Stitching RR came home last week - I hope to get a photo this weekend to share. It is so cute!




Currently Stitching: CaHRH, and LHN/CCN and Easter Exchanges

Christmas Ornament from Meghan

I received this really pretty Christmas Ornament yesterday from Meghan for the Christmas Ornament Swap. I had no idea Meghan was only 17 - can you believe it?? What a pretty ornament, and so well done - I am so thrilled with it! I will love being able to display it on my tree. Thanks Meghan!

Christmas Ornament for Rosalie

I just heard from Rosalie tonight (no blog) that she has received the ornament that I stitched for her for this round of the Christmas Ornament Swap. Rosalie wrote on her preferences list for the group that she loves items stitched in red - so I made this for her:

Noel Ornament
Gazette94 - scroll down a bit for the freebie chart
Wichelt 32 ct Chantilly Country French Linen, DMC 115, Jewelry Maker Beads

Glad you like it Rosalie!

I have put a few more hours in on Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow, so I will get a photo this week to post my progress :-)

Currently Stitching: Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow, and starting Easter Exchange

A New Start - and it's a big one!

Well... here I go! I started something - finally - and it is a big something! Karen gifted me with this chart, and then talked me into starting it with her... Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow... it's been so long since I started something big.... gulp! This is Monday's and tonight's progress so far...

I did do a little more on Gingerbread Garden Sampler - will do a little more, and then show it!




Currently Stitching: Stitching an ornament for the Christmas Ornament Swap, started Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow

Finally Finished Something!

I finally finished something - it is not a big thing, but it is a finished thing. It took me longer than it should have, but at last, I have a new ornament finished for the basket!

Snow Merry Ornament
Homespun Elegance
JCS 2009 Christmas Ornament Issue
R&R Reproductions 28 ct Flax Fields Linen, Weeks Dye Works and DMC Floss
Snowflake charm ordered from Down Sunshine Lane




Currently Stitching: Gingerbread Garden Sampler, and about to start an ornament for the Christmas Ornament Swap

A second Christmas!

Christmas came yesterday for the second time around for me. I received the most amazing, HUGE, box of gifts from Karen - they had been jammed up in the post. The box was chock full of treats from The Host by Stephenie Meyer, to Just Nan charts, a Sweetheart Tree Kit, a Cat's Whiskers Designs chart.... to these three amazing stitched items! The sweet SB ornament is in my ornament basket waiting to be hung in December... the needleroll takes pride of place in another basket... and wow, look! I cannot recall its name, but she stitched Just Nan's bee with its own little roll in it... all are sooo perfect! Thank you so much Karen! Karen is such a dear friend. I will cherish all of these forever.
Now I am off to drink this.... a large cup of Van Houtte's Spicy Mayan Chocolate coffee (K cup) - I can't wait!

Oh, I did make a little more progress on Gingerbread Garden Sampler, and have a Christmas ornament close to finished.... so I will share some of my own stitching again soon ;-)

Currently Stitching: Gingerbread Garden Sampler, and a Christmas ornament

A little start for 2010

I did manage to start a new project for the new year. I am hoping that I will be able to move along steadily with it, and keep focused. I have some busy days ahead, but plan to find pockets of time to devote to this.... Gingerbread Garden Sampler by Victoria Sampler ;-)




Currently Stitching: Gingerbread Garden Sampler

Happy New Year

As the year comes to a close, I took a bit today to set up my Rock You slideshow of my finishes and discovered/realized two things - the good and the bad.... "The good": I stitched a good bit more than I thought I had this year, and "The Bad": all I stitched were smalls.... not a single large project in the bunch! Oh my. What a year. I will not bother to do a review of my goals - haven't for a while, as I was way off base. I am hopeful but make no promises for 2010 ;-) So... here is 2009 in pictoral review...

I did have a small finish today to finalize the year - this will be my first Christmas ornament to go into my basket for giving away to some unsuspecting friend in 2010....yep, gonna at least try to return to that goal this year!

December Ornament
Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin - in Seasonal Mementos
36 ct Summer Khaki Edinburgh Linen, DMC Floss




Currently Stitching: Gonna to pick a medium sized project from my kitted up pile for my first start of 2010!

Christmas Stuff

I've got some Christmasy stuff to share today. It was a super quiet holiday here for us. We went to my MIL's house for breakfast, and then to my brother's for dinner. Very low key.

I received an amazing box of reindeer themed treats from Tessa just before Christmas. It was unbelievable. I didn't get a chance to take a photo before it all got distributed throughout the house! But I did just manage this snap of the adorable ornament she sent in that box o'gifts. Isn't this just the cutest?? Thank you so much Tessa - so unexpected, and I love it all!
OK, my niece Erin just put this pic up on my Facebook wall, so I snagged it... this is myself, my 21 year old niece Caitlin and my 16 year old niece Erin enjoying a moment before dinner on Christmas day...
I myself only took two quick photos before my camera disappeared into my purse again for the rest of the day... but fortunately one of the photos is of my third niece, newly turned 18 year old Nicole...
The other is of DH, Mike. Not a flattering pic, but I will share it!
And, here is my Lily - all bundled into a little nest she made out of a snowman blanket on a sofa in our house. She pretty much lives in this nest lately :-)

Hope everyone had a good holiday!

Currently Stitching: Stitching a Christmas ornament to put aside to be a gift later this year

A Christmas Eve finish for me...

This afternoon, while watching a holiday movie with Mike, I finished up another little ornament... and since my tree is up, I adopted it for myself. I figure that as long as the tree is standing, if its a finished ornament, I am keeping it ;-) Once the tree is down, the temptation will hopefull wane and I can put the ornaments in a basket for gifts!
Be Merry Ornament
Val's Stuff
2009 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue
20 ct Pastel Turquoise Valerie, WDW Floss, DMC Floss




Currently Stitching: Will start an ornament, and pick out a project for a Jan. 1 start

Last group of ornaments were received....

My goal to stitch a big basketful of Christmas ornaments for my friends this year fell absolutely flat on its face. This year just did not turn out to be what I had hoped it would be - family crises, the need to make major revisions to my mental health practice in order to survive in this economy... so many stressors that led to limited stitching time and, well, the disappearance of many stitching friends in the process.. but I managed to get a couple done and out to friends who very much stood by my side, and they finally arrived in their new homes. I pray that 2010 will bring me time to stitch more ornaments for my dear friends. I hope to do better next year!

So, at long last, Karen has received this little sparkly that I stitched for her tree -

Motif de Noel 1 Ornament
Aurelle - part of her free Christmas SAL
28 ct Cafe Mocha Country French Linen, Atalie fil a broder in Passion, and RG Petite Treasure Braid PB01

And, my old friend Brenda in TX, who stitches but does not blog, received hers too -

Starry Night Ornament
Helga Mandl Designs
The Gift of Stitching Magazine, December 2009
28 ct Potato Annabelle, DMC Floss - I subbed one of the DMC Color Variations for the green DMC - not sure what color though!

OK... stitching gifts all received, now time to just enjoy the holiday! My work vacation has officially begun. I won't be back at work until the first week of January now!


Currently Stitching: Stitching yet another ornament for my own tree

Another ornament for my tree...and a gift received

Yay, I just heard that Margaret has received my Christmas package for her! Yay - I was running late getting it out, but the USPS did a great job with it! Knowing how much Margaret likes Quaker designs, I went with this one for her -


Poinsettia Star Ornament
Periphaeria Designs
32 ct Antique White Belfast Linen, Threadworx Floss, RG Petite Treasure Braid

I couldn't resist - I stitched up another ornament for my own tree :-)

Christmas '09 Stamp Ornament
Jeannette Douglas Designs
2009 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue
32 ct Platinum Belfast Linen, DMC Floss
Subbed ST Holly Charm for Charland Holly Charm
Subbed red and green beads from my own stash

Beautiful Christmas Ornaments For Me!

I received some really fabulous mail yesterday and today! As a result, two very pretty new Christmas ornaments now adorn my Christmas tree - and I really love them and want to make sure their makers know that ;-)

Yesterday I received this teeny, tiny, sparkly, gorgeous JBW ornament from Tessa for the HoE Christmas Ornament Exchange. I did not remember to take a photo of the back - she personalized it in the sweetest way! It is stitched all over one, and boy does it sparkle with beads for snowflakes and then beads all around the edge... ending in a beaded tassle (I really need to practice and learn how to make such a great tassle!). Thank you so much Tessa!
And, today I received this pretty ornament from Lynda for the Christmas Ornament Swap. I have always liked this particular design by The Workbasket, and it is great that now I do not need to stitch it for myself. Turns out, if I have my rounds figured out correctly, that Lynda and I had each other for partners this time around in the swap ;-) Thank you so much Lynda!!




Currently Stitching: Stitching an ornament for my tree

Snow Bird Ornament

I finally stitched an ornament for my own Christmas tree! Well, actually... that is not true. I do have Lizzie Kate's Joy on my tree, which I stitched a couple of years ago... so, OK, I finally stitched my second ornament that I am actually keeping for Mike and I! I have wanted to do this one forever, and I love how it came out. The photo is the best I could get. It is dark out already, and I had all the lights on in the foyer and held as still as I could to get this...

Snow Bird Ornament
La-D-Da
2004 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue
Lakeside Linens 36 ct Meadow Rue Linen, Crescent Colours and GAST Floss




Currently stitching: Starting another Christmas ornament