An Exchange & A Gift

I recently participated in a pin pillow exchange hosted by Becky SC and because I wait until the last possible minute to do any finishing, Carolyn finally received it the other day. I stitched the mini pillow from Bits of Blue by Plum Pudding Needleart for using Lambswool 32 count linen and DMC 115. I really love this combination and plan to stitch the whole set from this chart for myself eventually.

Last week I also had a very lovely surprise in my mail box. This adorable pillow from Sara S. Aren't I so lucky =) I sure think so! She sent this to me because I simply picked up a magazine for her that she was unable to find locally and sent it to her. Someday I am going to have one tree decorated with all these wonderful goodies that I have received as gifts and in exchanges. Thank you so much Sara =)

Have a great day!

Packages!!!!

Yesterday I received this lovely package from Marie P. !!! We had planned to have a private Easter exchange but I noticed that she had several things going and offered to relieve her of some pressure and she said that would be fine to exchange later. Of course, I hadn't been stitching much because I was waiting for my glasses to come so I was thinking it would help both of us to put off our exchange. Then I received this lovely package from her as a gift! I just can't say thank you enough Marie!!! Your finishing is beautiful! I really love what you stitched for me and the goodies too. I bet you can't even tell that I had already eaten half of that chocolate bar! Dark chocolate is my absolute favorite and I was very much in need of a chocolate binge yesterday =) Thank you so much!!!


Here is my awesome pin keep stitched for me by Staci! I was thrilled to see that she had my name for the pin pillow exchange that BeckySC is hosting. Staci dyed her own fabric and my husband even commented on how nice it looks. I think I may have to give this a try! My pin pillow is filled with crushed walnut shells, which I love! Thank you Staci =)

Have a great day!

Valentine Exchange

On Wednesday I received an awesome exchange from Sharon. I am really not a good photographer so my photo does not do it justice but just look at this pillow! The fabric is so perfect for this design too! She even made me a matching scissor fob and sent me lots of goodies. I do feel positively spoiled and I love it. Thanks so much Sharon!!! I hope I get a chance to stitch for you some time =)

Here is what I sent to Julianne. I stitched a scissor fob for her. The design is "Monthly Markings, February" from Heart in Hand and is stitched on 32 count Summer Khaki linen with the fibers called for in the pattern. I finished it by hand using Staci's ornament finishing method and I used twisted cord instead of the ribbon. I really enjoyed hand finishing like this and think more of my smalls and ornaments will be finished this way. Thanks goes to Staci for the great tutorial! I also used size 12 perle cotton instead of the floss for back stitching and sewing it together.

Keep checking back for some give-aways I am planning. I hope to post the first one tomorrow =)
Have a great day!

Christmas Exchanges Arrived!

Look at what I received from Donna for the Christmas Exchange Between Friends Exchange! I tore into that box like a five-year-old on Christmas morning! I love everything she sent. The box is beautiful. She did the stitching and her husband made the box! Isn't that just so cool? Here is another picture of the box so you can see more of the detail.
I know my photos don't do it justice but in person it is perfectly lovely. Thank you so much for a wonderful exchange, Donna! I plan to knit myself a scarf with the yarn she sent. It is really soft!

Here is a photo of what I sent to my dear friend, Marie! I was so excited that I got her name for this exchange! You can see better pictures of what sent to her on her blog. I am so not a photographer! I even took photography in high school. You know, with one of those now old-fashioned cameras that you put film into. I'm afraid the more digital we become, the less I know!

Have a great day!

PS Halloween Exchange with Elisabeth

Pictured above is the amazing package of goodies that I received from Elisabeth! She sent me TWO stitched pieces, an ornament and a fob. The fob even has a French coin inside for weight. How cool is that?! She also sent a few yummy treats and floss tucked into this really neat fabric bag! I plan to use that bag to tote around a tatting project I am working on. And, I have to say I am extremely excited about the postcard! I love postcards and this one is very very special. It is from her husbands collection and is postmarked 1904. The picture is Moulin Rouge!!! I LOVE it!

Above is a photo of what I sent to Elisabeth. I stitched the owl from a Prairie Schooler Halloween leaflet and made it into a pin keep. I love JABC buttons so I added a spooky pumpkin button to make it more festive.

Thank you for such a wonderful exchange, Elisabeth. I hope we get to do it again some time =)

Halloween Exchange with Becky SC.

Here are the wonderful goodies that I received from Becky SC. for our personal Halloween exchange! I am truly spoiled, aren't I? The treat bag has already come in handy. Right after my hernia surgery I wasn't allowed to carry much so I used this as my project bag =) I already have plans for some of the floss to be used in one of the JBW designs I want to stitch. The little painted can (I sure wish I was that talented!), the wooden pumpkin decoration and the beautiful stitched ornament you stitched for me are on my Halloween tree. I will put a photo of it in a future post. I still have a few things I stitched for myself that I need to do the finishing on, and one more exchange to receive and then there will be pictures.
Here is a photo of the meager offerings I sent to Becky. The ornament is a newer pattern from Trilogy called "Spooky Tree". I added different buttons that what was called for. I really enjoyed our exchange and hope that maybe next year we can do it again =)

Halloween Exchange with Marie P.

Here are all of the wonderful goodies that Marie P. sent to me for our personal Halloween exchange. She embroidered a wonderful Halloween candle mat with cats on it, a stitched floss ring tag with some beautiful floss. I plan to use that for some Prairie Schooler stitching soon! The pot grabbers are great! I have always wanted some and these are perfect! And all of the other goodies are great too and will come in very handy!

But not the cat, of course. That is Sebastian. He insisted on being in the picture and he promised to "act" as casual as he could. He did pretty good, didn't he?

Now, isn't this doll just amazing?! I so love it!!! He is sitting atop one of the speakers for the t.v. I just think it is completely cool how she matched the stitching to this doll! Definitely one of my very favorite things for my Halloween display!

Here is what I sent to Marie. The ornament is from the JCS Halloween issue. As you can see, I have been flitting around to a few different crafts lately. Knit dishcloth, crochet scrubby, wool pumpkin pin cushion stuffed with ground walnut shells. My LNS had these great little kits all made up. All you needed to do is sew, stuff and assemble! So easy even I could do it, lol!

Thank you for such a wonderful exchange, Marie. I love everything, especially that it will coordinate with my Halloween wreath once I get it stitched and put together (maybe next year).

Worth the wait!!!

Just as I finished updating my blog and photo albums, my daughter walks in with a package for me! This is my Quaker Animal exchange from Judy. I love it! The Quaker Rooster is adorable and finished very nicely into a pillow. The extra goodies are wonderful, too! Patriotic fabrics, threads, needles, the JCS Ornament issue and the Lizzie Kate kit!!! I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity. Thank you so much!!!
Have a great day!

Halloween Exchange Landed!

Here are the pieces I made for Becky for our personal Halloween exchange. I had SO MUCH FUN making these things for her. The patterns are both from Barbara Ana Designs and are "Don't Bug Me!" and "Hallowscornu" which I made into a needle case. The photos of the inside and the back are below. I just learned how to make the beaded accessories so I was very excited to include the beaded fob and counter/threader. Seems I am now addicted to buying beads. Uh-oh.
The wool felt square is removable making it easier to use.
Here is how the back looks. I love it so much that I will definitely be stitching it again =) I am so very happy that she liked what I sent to her!
Have a great day!

Exchanges Sent & Received!!!

Here are the Fair & Square Autumn squares I received from Margit. Thank you, Margit! They are very pretty. I love the postcard, too! You didn't even know that I collect them and that my favorites are the ones with lighthouses on them =)

Here are the awesome goodies I received from Cathy B for the HOE Halloween Exchange!!! I am thrilled with the wonderful fob she stitched for me and I put it on the scissors she sent right away! You can see the second side of the fob with the scissors in the next photo. She also sent some yummy treats as well as a pattern from one of my favorite designers (LHN), a Halloween kitchen towel, WDW threads, two beautiful fat quarters that will come in very handy for finishing, all wrapped in festive paper. Oh, and another postcard for my collection!!!

Here is what I sent to Stephanie for the HOE Halloween exchange. If you want to see better photos, click on over to her blog because she took some really good pics. As you can see, I am really hooked on making those pin keeps. They are so much fun!

Now, I really HAVE to go and frame the picture I stitched for my hubby who's birthday is FRIDAY. Yes, it will be very late especially since I still have to send it all the way to KOREA =( Sorry hunny. I will be spending the whole evening working on that and a couple other things that need finishing so I can go to the post office tomorrow. Yay! And then I can stitch more, more, more! Folks, I AM living the dream =)
Have a great day!

More Stitching Photos

Here are the Halloween squares I sent to Lisa for the Halloween Fair & Square round. As you can see we selected the same exact pattern to stitch for each other. Isn't that funny? This is from the JCS Halloween Issue.








Next we have the squares I sent to Jenn for Round 9 of the Fair & Square Exchange. This is from one of the Tiny Tidings patterns.










Here we have the little birthday/thank you treat I sent to Joan. She loves Halloween and has designed some wonderful free charts for a Halloween SAL I am in. She has her own Yahoo group here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sapphirestitching/



I am still waiting for two more exchanges to arrive to their recipients and then I can post those pics as well. Have a great day!

I'm Speechless!!!

Just look at what the mailman brought me yesterday!!! This is what Becky made for me in her personal Halloween exchange. I feel so blessed to have such an awesome piece of her work. I love it!!! I am thinking now that I will have to have a Halloween display up in my house year-round because I am NOT putting this away! Thank you so very much, Becky. I will treasure it always =)

Thank you for letting me use your photos!

Ornaments, Exchanges, & "Let's Stitch"

I am finally getting around to making myself do some finishing work. I think the exchanges really help because it forces me to try new techniques and to get things done because I HAVE to get them into the mail. Now, above you see one Halloween ornament and one Christmas ornament. There is one more Christmas ornament that I finished but it is in the mail ;)

I heard from Joan that she received the HOE Prairie Schooler exchange from me. I stitched the "stick it here" freebie and made it into a pin keep for her. It was a fun stitch and I am sure that I will stitch it again!

Now, for the goal setting part of this message. I have joined up with Becky at her "Let's Stitch" blog and am looking forward to being motivated to work on my UFO's and stash collection. I am just getting started on the organization of the kitted up projects. Here is my pink plastic tote filled with my needlework smalls projects (the ones I have found so far, that is).

• A Secret Garden Needlework Necessary (from a class I took long ago)
• Just Nan - Common Ground Accessories
• Just Nan - Miss Kitty's Dragons Needle case
• Just Nan - Octagonal Peacock Pocket
• Just Nan - Dragonfly Scissor Purse
• Ewe & Eye & Friends - Big Heart Paperweight (mine will be a pin cushion)
• Ewe & Eye & Friends - St. Nick Scissor Companion
• Ewe & Eye & Friends - Polka Dot Scissor Companion
• Heartland Needleworks - Rosey Tote, scissor sheath, needle case & biscornu set
• From the Heart - Sewing Pocket and Pocket Smalls
• Periwinkle Promises - "United We Stand" Sampler Accent
• Periwinkle Promises - "Hope" Sampler Accent
• Shepherd's Bush - Tiny Flag
• Shepherd's Bush - Shepherd's Scissor Fob
• Shepherd's Bush - Shepherd's Roll
• Shepherd's Bush - Shepherd's Purse
• Shepherd's Bush - Stitcher's Roll
• Shepherd's Bush - Snow Fall Roll
• Shepherd's Bush - Millennium Roll (yep, I'm embarrassed that this is not done)
• Shepherd's Bush - Glory Fob
• Shepherd's Bush - Christmas Treat Bag
• LHN - Wool Needlebook and Scissor Fob
• LHN - Schoolgirl Samplings - make a fob from pattern
• With My Needle - smalls from JCS Ornament Issues 2003-06
  

Next week I will purchase a couple more containers for organizing more of the stash. I plan to have one container for samplers, one (I hope just one) of the miscellaneous kits I have, one for UFO's, and we'll see what other categories I think of. I am really excited about this!!!

I mailed out a few more exchanges today and when they arrive, I will post their photos. I think I am comfortably caught up with this now. Just need to do one more finishing on something so I can mail it out this week.

Have a great day!

More Exchanges and this weeks drawing!

Look at the wonderful package I received from Carol for the HOE Prairie Schooler Exchange!!! I love the mattress pin cushion she stitched for me! It is a freebie design that I have stitched a couple of time because I like it so much, but still hadn't stitched it for myself. I love it, and now I might try making a mattress pin cushion since I have a great example to follow! I think that lovely piece of silkweaver fabric is calling for a Haunted House design. Love it!

My appologies to Susan for not having posted this sooner. This is the adorable LK ornament exchange I received over a week ago. I am going to have such a nice tree this year with all my F&S exchange squares and all the other exchange pieces I have received. I just need to get into gear and do the finishing on some.

Don't forget to post to last weeks (Friday's) Halloween post to be entered into the drawing, which will be held tonight. I will post the winner tomorrow!!!
Have a great day!

Received, received, received!

Here are some exchange updates. I received a couple packages just before I left and now I can share photos! Above is the beautiful ornament I received in a friendship exchange with Dawn. Below is a photo of what I sent to her. I am really pleased with our exchange and hope to try more friendship exchanges with other stitchers as soon as I get caught up with what I am committed to right now. So, maybe after the holidays I will ask and see who is interested =)


These are the squares I received from Jen for Fair & Square round 9. I really need to get on the ball and finish hers. She also sent me a sheet of information about the Mien Sampler she got he pattern from. It was designed by Eva Walters and is from the "Travelers Tales Collection".

Here are my Halloween squares from Lisa. This is really cool because I am so in the mood for Halloween! She even sent me a spooky letter along with the squares, which is really cool! There is something really funny I will have to share about these squares later, after I send hers and she has received them ;)

Have a great day!

PS Small Santa Exchange

Here is the Santa I stitched for my partner in the PS yahoo group small Santa exchange. I finished it into a pin keep although it is a bit difficult to see the pins in the photo. It is one of the free charts that I had wanted to stitch for a while.

Stay tuned for another post....

Stitching by the light of the moon...

Can often lead to ripping by the light of day. I have the pattern and the stitching in the above photo. Can you see where I went wrong? I guess I was thinking I would just get that border stitched and just fill in with the design - what a quickie... It sure would have helped to take a good look at the pattern and maybe I would have noticed that the border wasn't a solid stitch? My first thought was to just pitch it and start again, but because of the price of gas (that is what we blame everything on right now, isn't it? LOL!) I ripped it out and have stitched it correctly. Hopefully I will have a photo of the stitched piece to post tomorrow.

Here is the adorable Santa floss tag I received from April from the Prairie Schooler Small Santa exchange. I love it! Thanks April. I need to do the finishing on yours so I can get it into the mail.
Have a great day!

Some like it hot........I DO NOT!!!

Here is a long overdue photo of the latest Fair & Square Exchange. The squares above are from Dani and below is what I stitched for her.


We've had too many hot days in a row here. Yesterday it was 103* which is the hottest day in ten years. It was made even more special for me by the fact that my fridge was dead when I woke up. Had to throw everything out, but at least they brought me a new one. By the way, new in the military doesn't mean "brand new", it means "another one", which is fine because it is newer than the one I had and pretty nice too. Especially since this little incident didn't cost us anything. The very nice man who brought it also noticed that there is a huge wasp nest over the doorway so the exterminator is coming tomorrow to take care of that. I guess I didn't notice it because if I was looking up that far as I walked up the stairs, I would probably trip and fall. He is much taller than I and he looked up to make sure he didn't hit it with the fridge. I am so glad we live on base and they take care of stuff like that for us!!!

I am having a tough time uploading all of my photos so I am going to start another post and see what happens.
Have a great day!

Summer Quaker & Update

Above is a photo of what I sent to Becky. It was my first tin finish and now that I know they aren't as difficult as I thought, I will definitely be making more of these! Her photos look better than mine so I will refer you to her blog to see the inside of the tin and the matching fob. This really was a fun stitch. The pattern is Quaker Flowers by Samplers & Such. Instead of using the Altoids tin, I used the Hershey tin with the purple lid. It matched the stitching perfectly. Now that I see you can also put magnet in the lid, I will try to do that next time. Just have to figure out how, so if anyone who is reading knows and can tell me, that would be great!

Here is the exchange I received from Margaret C. She stitched a beautiful biscornu for me in the prettiest Dinky Dyes silk, coral seas. She also sent along a very generous package of goodies. I am truly overwhelmed at her generosity. Two charts from my wish list, a huge piece of Lakeside Linen in a gorgeous pink color called Chantilly Cream, and some really pretty buttons, floss holders, and a handmade card! I used to make all my cards but it has been a while since that craft has seen the light of day, lol!

I received an exciting phone call the other day. A spot opened up for me to attend a stitching retreat next month. I am so excited I can hardly wait to go! It is one where you just bring what you want to work on and spend the weekend in a beautiful place with other stitchers and just have a great time. Sounds like heaven =) I have been collecting lots of ornament patterns, fabrics and threads so that may be what I take with me. There are so many I want to stitch and I am really in the mood to stitch Fall and Christmas projects right now. As soon as I finish this post I plan to stitch the Prairie Schooler Halloween ornament from the latest issue of Just Cross Stitch. I picked out the fabric and threads last night! My order with all their new charts arrived on Tuesday so I am wishing again that I could stitch 24/7!!! Don't we all?

I have some other things to show you but I decided that instead of posting it all at one time, I would try to post more frequently. I received my Fair & Square round 8 but will wait until Danica has received her squares from me to post about those. I have a couple of other finishes I will be sharing in the near future too so keep checking in to see what's new!
Have a great day!

Ultimate Needlebook Update and Summer Squares

Here it is! My Ultimate Needle book in the process of being finished. The class was yesterday and I had everything but the inside spine piece and a bit of the pin cushion stitched, which I made myself finish last night. I was able to get started but still have quite a ways to go with the remainder of the finishing work. I will go to the shop tomorrow and Wednesday to work on it and I REALLY hope to have it ready for show and tell on Friday night. I absolutely LOVED working on this project and I think it is one of my most favorite things I have ever made.
Kendra received the squares I stitched for her in the Fair & Square Summer Round. This was a fun pattern to stitch! I have a couple of other exchanges that I need to get busy on but today I am going to START another project. The LHN Neighborhood SAL starts today and I am very ready to begin this project.
Have a great day!