Happy Halloween!

It's going to be a cold, blustery fall day here in MN - hope all the little trick-or-treaters are dressed warm.

Yesterday, I received this beautiful pillow from Juanita as part of the USEBB's Autumn themed exchange. I think it is gorgeous!



I also received word from Tobie that she received the Autumn House exchange project that I stitched for her. This is Harvest Blessing from Country Cottage Needlework (slightly modified - I left the gate off of the bottom because I ran out of room!) As I think you will be able to tell - it's finished into a bell-pull.



Happy Halloween!

Red Desert Scissors Pocket - Finished!

I was home last night, DD had a friend over, and DH and DS were off goose hunting, so I decided to tackle the finishing on the Red Desert Scissors Pocket from The Cat's Whiskers. I've been doing this as a SAL with Lelia, Myrna, Barbara, Melissa, and Terri. I always find that it is easier for me to do finishing on the weekend when I'm more relaxed and less stressed. Turned out pretty good don't you think? Of course, the Gingher Lanell scissors is a perfect match for this needlework small. I plan to also make a scissors fob like Lelia is doing.



Nancy also has received her USEBB Autumn exchange from me. I stitched this HIH design and its finished as a decoration that can be hung on a doorknob or dresser knob.



Vonna asked how I mount the stitched pieces to the top of a box - I basically follow the same steps as if I were finishing a pinkeep or padded board (but just the front side) and then I glue the back of the finished piece to the top of the box finishing it off with cording and sometimes a bow (to hide the ends of my cording). Make sense?

Autumn Quaker Exchange

Today, Laurie in Iowa received my Autumn Quaker Exchange for the USEBB. I stitched a Workbasket design, slightly modified it, and mounted it to the top of a box. I painted the outside of the box and lined the inside with coordinating fabric. Sent a few goodies along for Laurie to enjoy too. Unfortunately, I only took a picture of the outside of the box.



Tonight I'm working on trying to finish my USEBB House Exchange project - it needs to go out in the mail tomorrow!

More Exchange Gifts

This week I've had two great mail days....let's just say I signed up for a "few" exchanges this fall. Yes, it has kept me busy, but for every stitched exchange gift that goes out the door, another one comes in. It's really been a lot of fun connecting with other stitchers from all over the world!

I received my Needlework Smalls exchange for the SBEBB on Wednesday from Karoline. Karoline stitched this lovely needlebook using a Drawn Thread design. I absolutely love it! She also sent some fibers from South Africa and some needles. Unfortunately, the chocolate was enjoyed by my children before I could take these photos!





Yesterday, I received my Autumn House exchange for the USEBB, from none other than Becky! I love receiving stitched items from Becky - she is so talented and creative. She used a Prairie Schooler design to create this autumn themed needlebook. She also sent a stitched tape measure (my daughter thought it was awesome!) and many other goodies!





I'm behind on my blog reading, it's been a busy week. I appreciate your visits and your comments and hope to get caught up with my blog reading this weekend!

Padded Board Finish

My sister-in-law and I took another finishing class yesterday - the padded board finish. The steps are similar to Karen's instructions for finishing a pinkeep, although we glued everything! I thought our finishes turned out quite good - don't you?

My ornament finish (Threads Through Time - JCS 2004?)


My SIL's finish (Lizzie Kate)

Progress on Red Desert SAL

I wasn't able to work on the prescribed evening this week due to some work commitments, however I did stitch a little bit on Monday, and a little bit this evening (Friday). My stitching is now completed. Will tackle the finishing next week.

Others participating in this SAL are: Lelia, Myrna, Barbara, Melissa, and Terri.

Exchange Received

I had the most wonderful package waiting for me when I arrived home today! My pink Quaker exchange arrived and to my surprise it was from CathyMK! (You might recall that I had stitched a pink Quaker exchange for CathyMK!) Look how beautiful this pinkeep is (the picture really doesn't do it justice!) It's really lovely. Along with the pinkeep were some fancy napkins, a bookmark, a pen and some really special San Man threads. The threads are in memory of little girl named Kaitlyn who only lived to be about 10 months old - I remember reading about this little angel on Harsha's blog several months ago. CathyMK - thank you for such a great exchange!




Also in my mailbox today was this sweet scissors fob. Awhile back I had offered to pick up the new Gingher scissors for a stitcher on Legacy that didn't have a Joann store nearby. Shortly after posting on Legacy, I then received a request from another stitcher asking if I would also pick up a pair of scissors for her. As it turns out, she was housebound, recovering from broken ribs. So being the trusting person that I am, I picked both pairs up and mailed them off. The first stitcher promptly sent a check; the second stitcher sent me an email and asked me to be patient, she would reimburse me soon. As it turned out, she wanted to stitch this fob for me and today I received the fob along with her check. Certainly not necessary, totally unexpected, but what a nice surprise. Stitchers are a special bunch!

Pictures Galore

Remember all that stitching I was doing a few weeks ago and no pictures to share??? Well, I just received word that two of my exchange gifts were received. Quite a relief too, they had such a long way to travel!

First, here's the needlebook and fob that I stitched for the SBEBB Needlework Smalls exchange. I selected this design because having made one for myself earlier this year, I knew that I could finish it and would not run into any problems. Design is from Cindy Valentine and it's called Apricot Elegance. Katrina in New Zealand was the recipient of this exchange:





Second, and one of my personal favorites, is the Autumn Quaker exchange for the SBEBB. Our theme was pink to recognize breast cancer awareness. I stitched the pink quaker medallion and mounted it to the top of a box that I purchased at Michaels, painted the coordinating stripes and lined it with pink ribbon fabric. This was my first attempt at this type of finish and I'm really happy with how it turned out. BTW, the quaker design is from the Beatrix Potter Sampler. This one went to CathyMK in Australia!



Finally, thanks for all your nice comments about the bookmarks. I don't have the printed pattern, I'm just basing the design off of a bookmark I had purchased at a craft boutique last year.

Our EGA chapter is stitching these bookmarks for adults who are learning English. In many of the literacy programs, the children receive rewards for the progress they make, but the adults don't always receive things. These bookmarks are going to be given to them to encourage them to continue reading and learning English. Many of them are Somali and Hmong immigrants who are trying to adapt to a whole new way of life. I think the bookmarks will acknowledge their progress and help them to feel welcome! Our deadline for submission was extended until January...is anyone out there interested in stitching a bookmark and contributing? If you send me an email at tadten at msn dot com, I will send you my address and would be happy to collect and submit on your behalf! With the date extension I know that I will be able to stitch more.

Well, I've rambled on long enough today. Have a good one. Thanks for stopping by!

Bookmarks for Literacy

If you've been following my blog since it's inception, you will remember that in October and November each year I stitch bookmarks. Our local EGA Chapter, St. Paul Needleworkers, collects them and donates them to one of the adult literacy programs in our area. Our group meets tomorrow night. I have these three hardanger bookmarks to contribute. I hope to get a few more stitched before next month's meeting!



I usually limit my posts to just stitching updates, but today I want to show you a picture of my famous "green jello". I'm famous for always bringing it to family gatherings. My family likes to give me a hard time about it, but in reality they are glad when I bring the green jello - they know that it is the only thing I can make and not screw it up! (I'm not known for my culinary skills; better stick with stitching. LOL!)



(BTW - that's my grandmother's hand beater in the background - I don't use it; it just happens to be sitting on my cupboard!)

Green Jello

2 small boxes of Lime jello
1 cup boiling hot water

Dissolve jello in boling hot water, let it cool just a little bit.

Add
-one 8oz carton of Creamy Cool Whip
-one small can of crushed pineapple
-one small carton of cottage cheese
-one jar of maraschino cherries sliced in half

Mix together well. It sets up quickly and voila, we have jello!

Progress on Red Desert SAL

Sorry it took me so long to post - Thursday and Friday were busy days. Here's the progress I made on this SAL project on Weds night. It's a quick and easy stitch!



Check out my SAL-mates progress: Lelia, Myrna, Barbara, Melissa, Terri

Pray for Peace Framed

Thought you might like to see this with its frame!



Tonight, a group of us are going to start working on the Red Desert Scissor Pocket from the Cat's Whiskers. If anyone else out there wants to join us, you are more than welcome! Watch for progress updates on the following blogs: Lelia, Myrna, Barbara, Melissa, Terri, and here of course! (I hope I'm not missing anyone!)

Weighted Stand Up

Here are the results from the weighted stand up finishing class I took on Saturday. When I registered for the class I was the only one signed up and they thought it might be cancelled so I didn't stitch anything special, I just figured I'd use something out of my stash of stitched items. This particular design from HIH isn't really suitable for a weighted stand up, but it worked enough to help me understand the steps to constructing one. We decided to arch the top and then I added the bow. I'll make another one sometime soon and try to document the steps for you. It wasn't too difficult!

Essy's Friends

Lois from Elegant Stitch sends one of these kits each month and I'm months behind in stitching and finishing, so when I was home earlier this week trying to nurse my cold I though I could make a dent in my collection of Essy's Friends kits. As you can see, I completed three of them - from left to right, Drawn Thread, Glory Bee, and Indigo Rose.

As I look at this picture, however, I'm realizing that I finished the Indigo Rose scissors sheath upside down! Moral of the story - don't tackle new finishing techniques when you are sick!

Wild Week

Whew! I'm glad this week is over! It didn't start on a good note. I came down with a nasty cold and missed two days of work; somehow pulled myself through the rest of the week. Definitely have more energy today but am not recovered from the bug by a long shot!

I'm happy to report that my Halloween exchange was received by Svenja in Germany this week. I love this Lizzie Kate design; stitched it for myself last year. Sent a few other goodies along with it. I'm so glad that she liked it!



Tomorrow, I'm going to a finishing class at my "not so local" LNS (it's a 45 minute drive one way). I'm going to learn how to make a weighted stand-up. Look for the results on my blog later this weekend!

Also, I have some finishes to share. In between napping on Monday and Tuesday, I finished a couple of the Essy Friends kits I've been ignoring for the past several months. Figured October would be a good month to get caught, particular since it is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Stay tuned.

Thanks for visiting!