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!

Halloween Exchange

Lookie, lookie what was in my mailbox today - from Becky! She had my name for the SBEBB Halloween Exchange.

First, this beautiful Halloween Primitive Bag. As I told Becky in my e-mail to her, I have never stitched or received anything quite like this so it is really special to me. Its also going to remain in my stitching/computer room after Halloween is over!



As if this wasn't enough, Becky also sent lots of goodies, Silkweaver fabbie, some beautiful autumn shades of floss, various ribbon, pillows for finishing, and other Halloween decorations. Thank you Becky!



My package was sent off today and has a ways to travel but should be received within the next 4 - 6 days. I hope my exchange partner likes it and I will post a photo as soon as she has it.

Hopefully you are enjoying a beautiful Autumn weekend as we are in Minnesota. The weather is perfect! Happy Stitching!

Happy Dance!

This was a quick stitch! I started it on Sunday evening and finished it on Monday evening. This will be a gift for a friend whose son is serving in Iraq. I'm planning to get it framed before I give it to her.

Birds of a Feather - Pray for Peace

35 count white linen

Stitched with one strand of floss over two threads

Used recommended overdyed threads (Weeks)


I was surprised to find a package from Lelia in my mailbox the other day! She sent me a lovely piece of cream Belfast linen. Hmmmm, what shall I do with it? :)

No Pictures.....Yet....

Hi everyone. Hope you are enjoying a fabulous weekend. It's been raining here the past few days, but this morning the sun is shining! Hopefully it will be a beautiful fall day!

Not too much to share - I've been busy stitching and finishing exchange gifts for October. In fact, I was on a finishing frenzy yesterday - finished four, count 'em, FOUR exchange gifts all due to be mailed in October.

Halloween Exchange on the SBEBB

Needlework Smalls on the SBEBB

Autumn Exchange on the USEBB

Fall Quaker on the SBEBB

I had one little mishap with my Autumn Exchange - it was supposed to be a needleroll but when I went to finish it I realized that I had stitched it the wrong way on the fabric! Stupid me! We need to reinvent the phrase "measure twice, cut once" to something like "study pattern twice, stitch once". All was not lost - I just had to use a different finishing technique. Talk about turning a lemon into lemonade.

My personal favorite is the Fall Quaker on the SBEBB - the theme was "pink" to mark Breast Cancer Awareness in October. I tried a new finishing technique and it turned out fabulous! The finish incorporates some "breast cancer awareness" fabric with the little pink ribbons - it is sooooooo cute. I may have to make another one for myself.

Wish I could share pictures, but you will have to wait. Many of these do not get mailed until October 15th. I have a couple more exchanges to work on during the next few weeks and I'm also working on ornaments for Christmas gifts
- those I can share pictures of as I get them finished.

Thanks for stopping by - especially all my new blog readers. Have a great day!

Redwork Exchange Received

Wow, it's been eight or nine days since I last posted. No worries, we just have been overwhelmed with the start of school, kids activities, projects at work and the like. I really haven't done much stitching except for upcoming exchanges; you can anticipate more photos next month after gifts are received.

I learned that Ana received my Redwork exchange gift. I sent her this pretty little heart pillow. This design is available online on the Piecework website. It is called Cross-Stitch Heart with Quaker Motifs, the design is from Janice Wood. I used linen and thread from my stash.




Have a wonderful weekend!

Wait...Stop...There's More!

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I completely missed the strawberry that Nicki also stitched for me on the redwork exchange. I was so completely amazed by the lovely box that I completely missed the strawberry!

This picture of the box is at a slightly different angle (now you can really tell that it is a box!) See the pretty strawberry? Thanks again Nicki!

More Exchange Updates

I received this lovely box in the mail today from Nicki as part of a redwork exchange on the SBEBB! (It's hard to tell that it is a box in this photo, but trust me, it is!) The design is the Secret Garden from Blackbird Designs. The box is lined with beautiful red fabric - wish you could see it, this picture really doesn't do the piece justice!

Along with the box came red buttons, red fabric and some red floss! Many thanks to Nicki. Hopefully my redwork piece will arrive at its destination this week!



Chris just notified me that the scissors fob I stitched for her arrived safely. You may recall that I was the very lucky recipient of a scissors fob from Chris! I'm glad I had the opportunity to return the favor!

I stitched the scissors fob from the Cindy Valentine Apricot Elegance ensemble. As you can see, I stitched Chris' fob in blue using Needle Necessities overdyed pearle cotton. The initials are C on one side and C on the other side (for Chris and Cathy!) You will need to visit Chris' blog to see a photo. Apparently I forgot to take one before I sent it off!

Happy Stitching!

Just Can't Stop

I am absolutely, positively, completely possessed about pinkeeps! I just can't stop!

Finishes Galore!

Happy Saturday!

I'm sorry - there haven't been too many posts from me lately. Most of my stitching is for exchanges; you will get to see them eventually! It's been a busy week with the kids starting school and my mother needing some help towards the end of the week.

Here are some recent finishes! I'm getting more and more brave with how I finish my stitched pieces!

First, here's the most recent LHN pillow called Season of Growth. I think this is probably my favorite so far. The fourth design in this series is available now, but I haven't purchased it yet.



Second, this was a complimentary chart from Brittercup Designs. My daughter actually did the stitching, I just finished into a little pillow/ornie for her room. She changed the thread color from black to more of a chocolate color (we have a chocolate lab/chesapeake bay retriever mix).



Next, here's an ornament I stitched up a few weeks ago. This is a Homespun Elegance design from one of the JCS Ornament issues. (First time I've ever finished an ornament like this with cording!)



And last but not least, here's a LHN design I finished a few weeks ago called Blossoms and Blackbirds. I mounted it to some foam core board (similar to a pinkeep finish, just thicker). I'm not very good at making bows!



Well, must get back to the laundry and other household chores that are waiting for me!