Catching Up

Why does it get so crazy at this time of year? I can't really blame the holidays too much for my absence from this blog; my reasons are mostly work related. Some days are so busy that I just don't feel like being on the computer when I get home. But enough of that ... even though I've been absent from my blog, my needle and thread have still been busy!

I have quite a few people that I like to give gifts to, including my team at work (all 17 of them!) It would be quite expensive to buy gifts for all of these people; but I find that a handmade ornament is always well received!

As you can see, I've stitched quite a few of this design from Lilybet Designs called "Joy." I think I have this finishing method down pat now...lol. These were all stitched on miscellaneous fabric from my stash using DMC and Sampler Thread (Grape Leaf).


This second batch of ornaments is one of my favorite Mary Garry designs; you can find it in the 1998 JCS Ornament Magazine. I stitched these on miscellaneous fabric from my stash (mostly 32 ct lambswool) using DMC fibers (221, 420, 500.)


A great package was delivered yesterday - earlier this year I signed up for PIF from Karol on Rosebud's Stitching blog. She gifted me with more than just her stitching - a beautiful beaded fob, a beaded ornament (which I think Karol made), and two cross-stitch kits. But the pièce de résistance was this beautiful needleroll. The design is from Hands to Work and it can be found in the 2008 JCS Ornament magazine. Karol did a beautiful job stitching and finishing it. Thanks Karol!


Well, I have more to share, but I think I will save the rest for another post tomorrow. I hope my U.S. friends enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Wish you all a great weekend!

A Giveaway

I know, I know, I've been mostly AWOL...but I have to tell you about this great giveaway. Go to Linen Stitcher's blog to read more about it!

Another Memorable Exchange

Last night while watching Dancing With the Stars I finished the stitching for the ornament exchange that needs to be mailed in a few days. Now I just need to do the finishing. You'll have to wait for pictures.

Then I started another Mary Garry ornament (you know, like the finished ones I posted last Friday!) It's such a quick and easy design and I can stitch while watching TV and not worry about making a mistake.

But what's a post without a picture? So here's another memorable exchange, this time from Simone. I love this little Drawn Thread design (it was in a JCS magazine, but I'm not sure which issue.)

Simone has been quilting lately. Check out the lovely Friendship Sampler RR that she is participating in.

That's all I have for you today. I'm off to watch the "results show" for dancing...and of course, will be stitching!

Another Gift

I've been so busy traveling for work lately, that sometimes I don't know if I am coming or going! I forgot to post about a gift that I received about two weeks ago.

Lelia, Stitches of Life, was one of the first bloggers that I reached out to when I discovered this vast new world of blogging. I was kind of hesitant at first, but she encouraged me on and well, here we are today!



Recently, the Needle Artisans of Northwest Indiana (NANI) celebrated Indiana State Day with a special project that was designed especially for the occasion. They created a box top insert and an Amulet bag using a Hardanger design. Lelia was telling me about the project and several stitching bloggers who are members of NANI blogged about the progress (some of them even finished the project!) Anyway, Lelia gifted me with the kit to complete my very own Indiana State Day project! I'm looking forward to stitching this; unfortunately it will have to wait until after the holidays are over. Thank you Lelia!

No new stitching to report; I'm working on an exchange that needs to be mailed in 10 days. While cleaning yesterday I decided to pack away some of the smalls I've received over the past few years. They get dusty sitting out in baskets. I think I'm going to leave just a few things out at a time and rotate them. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to "re-visit" some of these exchanges and see what the sender is up to these days! (Come on, go with me on this - maybe it will enable me to post a little more often...)

Today's Memorable Exchange...is a pinkeep I received from Laurie in Iowa!

The design is from Carriage House Samplings. She dated it and you can see that she sent it to me in 2006! That was the first year that I participated in exchanges! Laurie started blogging recently - please stop by and visit her at Corgi Cottage.

That's it for me today -- enjoy what's left of your weekend!

FTT Fall Seasonal Exchange

At the beginning of the year, a group of eight of us decided to do a seasonal exchange together; four stitchers from the USA and four stitchers from Germany. We rotated partners each season. Our year of seasonal exchanging is winding down.

For the Fall Seasonal Exchange, Brigitte was my partner. Yesterday I received her package and she also received mine. Our tastes in stitching are very similar! Brigitte stitched a Homespun Elegance design called "Delivering Harvest" and did a pillow finish. This was a perfect choice for me - do you know that I have stitched this design two or three times already but always for someone else! Now, I have one for myself. Brigitte sent other goodies too - two patterns (one of them from my wishlist - Friendship Pocket, Midsummer Night Designs), some linen fabric, and some unicef cards. It was a great exchange and I'm grateful to Brigitte for putting so much thought effort into this gift!



As I mentioned, Brigitte also received her exchange from me. It took me a long time to figure out what to stitch for her, but when I realized that she was a big fan of all Blackbird Designs everything came together. I stitched three different little Halloween ornaments from various BBD books. Many of you will probably recognize the stocking from their Halloween Stocking book, the other two are from their Trix or Treat book. I also sent a handtowel for her kitchen, some pins in various colors for pinkeep finishing, and a copy of the JCS ornament magazine (I know it is hard to find overseas!) Brigitte said that the package was just perfect, so I'm glad she is happy with it!



Did some rearranging on the pillow bench, pulled out some Fall/Thanksgiving themed pillows and other stitched items, some from exchanges.


I found this photo as I was pulling others over into blogger - it's my DD and her "big dog" Zeta; they are cuddling. Zeta is such a furry sweetheart!


Someone asked about the ornaments in my last post - the designer is Mary Garry and the pattern is in the 1998 JCS Ornament Magazine. I changed the colors up a little bit and am using DMC fibers.

Have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

First November Post!

Hello dear friends. I am so glad the weekend is here. No big plans; will do what I usually do on the weekend - laundry, vaccuuming, dusting, grocery shopping, etc. Doesn't matter though, I'm glad to be home. I've been traveling a lot for work lately and was gone three days this week.

I was contemplating whether or not I should post tonight; I wasn't sure I had much of anything to say. The more I thought about it though, I realized that I have quite a lot to share with you!

First of all, a package was waiting for me when I arrived home last night. Anne from Feather Stitching gifted me with a random act of kindness (RAK). It was such a nice surprise - some threads, beautiful silk ribbon, chocolates, and a beautiful beaded fob that I'm quite certain Anne made herself. Thanks for brightening my day! I need to send Anne a proper thank you, but in the meantime, should she see this post -- thanks Anne!



When I'm traveling, I have a hard time stitching; it just doesn't work for me in airplanes or airports! So I try to pass the time by catching up on my reading. I finished two books in the last two weeks. The first I would highly recommend; it's a charming story!

The Lace Makers of Glenmara
by Heather Barbieri

The second book I just finished last night on my flight home from Atlanta. I grew up watching the Little House on the Prairie series on TV. When I saw that Melissa Gilbert had written this book, I knew I wanted to read it. I didn't realize how complicated and destructive her life has been. I guess I just always think of her as the little "half pint" I came to know on the Little House series!

A Prairie Tale
by Melissa Gilbert

Well, before I go, I'll leave you with a stitchy picture. Remember those ornaments I was stitching a few weeks ago? Last weekend, I did the finishing on them. Don't they look great?




More tomorrow...thanks for visiting!

Blogging Blues

Sorry for being such an absent blogger lately. There just aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything I would like to do. So, I guess we have a little bit of catching up to do.

Earlier this year Ronel and I connected via blogging. She was interested in joining some of the stitching exchange groups online and contacted me for more information. We ended up doing a personal exchange in March and have kept in touch with each other ever since. Recently, we decided to do another personal exchange. Ronel's package arrived this week and she really spoiled me with an exquisite set of smalls. (I apologize that the pictures are dark; I'm never home when there is daylight!)



Ronel is a very talented needleworker. She sent me some beautiful stumpwork with our last exchange and now with this exchange, ribbon embroidery. A beautiful needlebook, pincushion, scissor fob, and threadkeeper. The stitching is beautifully done; her finishing is perfect.



Along with the set of smalls, were a few other goodies, but I must point out this wonderful embroidery book that was published in South Africa. The fibers she sent me are from Chameleon Threads, also from South Africa. The designs in this book feature these threads. Thank you Ronel, for this wonderful gift!



Ronel also received her package from me this week. I wanted to do something special for her too and decided that I would stitch a needlebook and fob for her this time, but rather than using a cross stitch design, I would do something with Hardanger. The needlebook and fob design is from the Nordic Needle; I did make some minor changes to the pattern. I think it turned out quite nice and I hope that Ronel enjoys using it. Along with the stiching I sent the JCS Halloween and Ornament magazines (I know how hard these are to get overseas) along with some other goodies.




Finally, here's my latest start. I'm working on the Jenny Bean Halloween Sampler from Shakespeare's Peddler. I'm stitching on the suggested fabric using the threadpack that came with the pattern (Sampler Threads). I'm stitching mine on 36ct. fabric.



I have more updates for you, but I think I will save them so I have something to post tomorrow! Thanks for visiting!