The Spell is Cast....

 

Just in time for Halloween....

Boy...do I now love Briwax!

I was able to finish up the stitching this

week and decided to go ahead and

get it ready for Halloween.

BBD "Casting A Spell"

stitched on 32ct LL Navy Bean

w/recommended threads

I have to be honest....some of these

designs were great to stitch and

some....not so much! 

Very happy this one didn't end up in limbo.

I didn't exactly finish it as instructed but

I do like the way it turned out.   I think

this one will stay on display all year.

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I had to get the sewing machine out this

morning so I decided I would go

ahead get this earlier finish "finished". 

Threadwork Primitives "Harvest Moon"

 

I love this design and am glad to

enjoy it for a few more weeks.

 

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Thanks for visiting and happy stitching!

Oops....

Thought I was through with 2010?  Well...I forgot to post 2 finishes that were gifts for some great stitching friends....

 "Needles & Scissors" freebie

Designer: Sandy in MT

Log Cabin Needleworks

I forgot to take a picture of this one so I had to steal it from Amy's blog.  I just love this design...best part is it's a freebie! (Make sure you get it...it is great to have in your stash!) I know Amy loves Christmas ornaments but thought this would make a cute pincushion for her.  I'm so glad she liked it.

LK "Stitching Friends"

Stitched on 25 ct evenweave over 1

w/ Sampler Threads

I wanted to say thank you to Kim for her year long stitching in the Stitching Friends exchange.  I love LK and hope she will like this little finish.

My last finishes for 2010....

La D Da "Live Laugh Love"

stitched on 28ct linen

I stitched late into the night Tuesday night to finish this one.  I really like the finished piece and will display it in my bedroom... matches my the thread choices perfectly.  I saw that Hobby Lobby had their frames 50% off so I ran in there today to find the perfect frame...  matches our furniture perfectly.  I still need to put the hanger on it and it will be ready to hang.

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Amy was nice enough to play hooky from work on Wednesday and I spent the day stitching with her.   I picked up this cute freebie from The Stitcherhood and got a lot done surprisingly.  Amy made some yummy treats and let me do some shopping at DSL!    

The Stitcherhood freebie "Winter"

Stitched on 25 ct. evenweave

Amy suggested stitching it in blue and I think that might be a good project for tonight.  I probably would have finished this at Amy's but we got distracted looking at all of her UFO/WIP (what beauties she has)...she was trying to find her q-snaps!  Amy's doing the

"Up for a Challenge" and hopes to finish 5 this next year.  After hyperventilating at the number of WIPS she has, I regained my composure and vowed I will offer my encouragement each

month so she can meet her goal! 

( Don't worry Faye....I'm watching you too!)

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Thanks for visiting and all of your nice comments on my last finish!  I love reading them!   Well...I'm off to stitch.  Happy stitches ...

Exchange for Michele....

Well...first I hope everyone had a great

Christmas

full of fun, fellowship and neat stitchy stuff!

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CHS "Merry Christmas"
stitched on WDW 30 ct Straw w/ Victorian Motto thread

 Michele received her last Stitching Friends Exchange on Christmas Eve and I was relieved to here it made it just in time for Christmas.  I have had so much fun stitching for her this year and thought this little pillow would be a great reminder of this exchange. 



"M" is for Michele

I love scrapbook paper and decided I would make an altered initial for Michele.  I love brown and red together....hope Michele does too!  (As for the other goodies, I am a "lazy" shopper so I decided a gift certificate to Down Sunshine Lane would be the perfect thing!)

Michele and I have been stitching partners numerous times through various exchanges and I do hope I get to stitch for her again.   It was certainly a joy to share this year with her!

 

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Thanks for visiting and hope you have had a very merry Christmas!  Wishing many happy moments of stitching bliss!



December ornaments....

My last installment of my Me, Myself & I ornament exchange.....

Sampler Girl "Early American Motif Ornament"-JCS 2009

Log Cabin Needlework's "Noel"--freebie

Primrose Needleworks "Faith, Hope & Peace"--JCS 2010

It was hard to narrow down my December choices, but I had some help from some friends. I had started the Sampler Girl ornament because I love primitive designs.   Faye was stitching the "Faith, Hope, Love" ornament last weekend at the stitch-in and I just had to come home and stitch it too.  I never really noticed it because of the colors in the model, but after seeing Faye's numerous variations, I decided to change the colors too.  What a novel idea!!!!  Lastly, I just needed one more and Sandy's freebie was just perfect.  I did change the colors for what I had closeat hand.  I also used some cute little buttons I had forthe flowers.  I love the way it turned out. 

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My prized stitch ornaments!

Did I really finish all these????

Well...here are most of them.  I couldn't remember all 33 I had at the time when I took the picture but this is the majority.  It was nice seeing them all together and ready to go on the trees.

Little tree in my kitchen....definitely my favorite.

Our big tree....pretty simple!

We collect Christopher Radko ornaments so hubby decided I would have to hang "my ornaments" after he hung those to make sure he enough room.  I love them too since we have collected them from our first Christmas together so I was happy to oblige.  Maybe one day I will become very industrious and put up my "own" big tree with just stitched ornaments.....we'll see!

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Playing with paper

Lastly I will leave you with some altered letters I made a couple of years ago.   I covered some wooden letters with scrapbook paper, ribbons and stickers.   I put magnets on the back so I could put them on my 'fridge... I still love them.

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Thanks for all of your wonderful comments over the last year as you obliged my monthly posting!  I do appreciate you taking the time to visit and leave a comment.  I do hope you are having a great holiday season with family and friends!

"Counting Crows"....

Threadwork Primitives "Counting Crows"

32 ct. coffee dyed linen w/ DMC

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I just loved this design from Nan (Threadwork Primitives)when I saw it and decided to stitch it up.  I love it even more finished!  The "red thread" she used is 3777, which oddly enough is one of my favorite colors.  It has more of a "rust" tone to it and I love it with my favorite "rusty red" checked fabric.  The result....this cute little pillow. 

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Happy stitches....

Me,Myself & I ornaments....

Little by Little "Sleigh Bird"--'03 JCS Ornaments

SB "Bethehem Slept"--'05 JCS Ornaments

Primitve Needle "Penny Angel"--'09 JCS Ornaments

It's that time again!  I really like this month's installment, but I have to say the "Penny Angel" has to be my favorite so far.  I love

face jugs and this reminds me of one.

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Christmas in July.....

So here is a pic of all 21 I have stitched so far......looks like I will need a bigger tree or I need to stitch some smaller ornaments!

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Lastly.....

I found this stitched goodie while reorganizing my craft room.  I stitched it a few years ago and it all centered around the button and scrap red aida I had.  The "button" is actually a miniture clay ornament I had bought at Walmart (acutally got 6 in the pack) and I thought it was too cute.  I just copied the saying from a LK design and voila a cute mini pillow.

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Thanks for all of your wonderful comments on the photo album finish.  I did get a few emails about the finishing and believe me it was easy.  I found some great tutorials on the web with pictures (I am a visual learner) so give it a try. 

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If you have made it this far....thanks for visiting and happy stitching!

LK Exchange for Conny....

LK "These are the Day"
stitched on 28ct evenweave w/DMC

Conny received my Lizzie Kate Exchange (in record time if I say so myself....traveling all the way to the Netherlands!) The first time I saw this design it made me think of family photos! I had the perfect fabric that I found on an excursion with Amy so I changed the thread colors to match and decided to make finish as a photo album. It was a fun finish if you overlook a few boo-boos! I do hope Conny enjoys it and fills it with memorable photos.

Thanks for visiting.....I just love your comments. Well....if you aren't melting, consider yourself lucky! Where's that snow from February????? I am so ready for winter. I think I will just forgo my fall stitching and dive straight into something wintery! Happy stitching.....

Seasonal Exchange for Mare....

Threadwork Primitives "Schoolgirl Blossoms"
28ct. evenweave stitched DMC 836

I saw that Mare has received her Summer Seasonal Exchange. I stitched this design a few months ago and loved it. I thought it would be perfect as a monochromatic and loved the way it turned out. Nan (Threadwork Primitives) has some great designs (and if you love primitive, her finishing is to die for) and I can see myself stitching this again in red!

I am glad Mare liked it and hope she enjoys it as much as I had stitching it.

Me, Myself and I ornaments....

JBW Designs "Starry,Starry Night,Little By Little "Christmas Joy", HIH "Woodland Noel"
1998 JCS Ornament issue

Here is this month's installment for my "exchange". With summer setting in "some" of us were a little "lazy" in our stitching but I won't call any names. Let's just say I expect more from myself next month! I am missing the charm for the Woodland Noel and will have to look for something suitable. The design called for a Heart in Hand charm but I think I will look for a rustic heart.

Thanks so much for visitng my blog and all of your great comments on my last posts. I do enjoy reading them and feel like I am "visiting" with friends!

We are on our way tonight to the Hampton Co. Watermelon Festival, SC oldest continuing. Hope to have some cold, juicy melon! Stay cool and happy stitching....

Me, Myself & I ornaments for May

Knotted Tree "Peace"-JCS Ornament 2008
Workbasket "Rejoice"--JCS Ornament 2005
SB "In the Stable"--JCS Ornament 2004

Here is this month's installment....not sure where the month went but "we" just did make it under the gun!

I absolutely love the Knotted Tree "Peace" ornament...love the colors in this one and I used the DMC conversion a light silvery grey fabric I had. I am not sure why I never really noticed it until this month but I'm glad I did.

Well that's it from my corner of the universe .... thanks for visiting! Happy stitches.....

Goode Huswife "Carolina"....

Goode Huswife "Carolina"
stitched on 28ct. coffee dyed evenweave w/recommended DMC

I just loved this sampler. I finished her this weekend and then gave her a warm, relaxing coffee bath last night. I decided not to stitch her eyes...not sure why but I just like her this way. I think the thing that hooked me on this sampler was the dress color....a tealish blue....(no not Tarheel blue!) After thinking about it, hubby suggested I stitch the dress in Indigo blue since I am from South Carolina and indigo was such a big part of our history. Just couldn't do it...I decided to stick with the recommended color and I can't wait to get her framed.

I had an entertaining time while stitching this one. For you beach music fans, I kept humming the tune from the Chairmen of the Board "Carolina Girls.....best in the world!" I also had a nickname for this design ..."That 70's Sampler"....the golds, greens, browns bring back such memories of my childhood home's appliances. Good thing I like these colors since I have so many Goode Huswife and CHS to left to stitch!

Oh well...off to stitch some ornaments and exchange stitching. I just acquired an older Bent Creek design that I am itching to start so have to get my obligations done soon! Hope you have a great weekend with many happy stitches....

Me, Myself & I ornaments.....

Here are April's ornaments....

Little by Little "Merry Christmas to You" 1999 JCS Ornament
Little by Little "View from Above" 2001 JCS Ornament
SB "Wisemen Came" 2003 JCS Ornament

And some more finishing....

Stitched on 32ct coffee dyed linen w/ WDW's Palomino, Caper and GA's Old Blue Paint

Nan at Threadwork Primitives adapted a motif from BBD's "Quaker Garden" and finished it as a great box...if you love primitives, you have to check it out! She was so nice to share the charted "spring" so I could stitch it too. I didn't have a round box to fit my finish so I made a pin pillow. I think it is so sweet! Nan has some beautiful finishes as well as her own primitive designs too if you haven't checked them out.

Lastly......

I came home from a wonderful visit with Amy yesterday to new patio furniture. My mom gifted me this for my birthday and hubby spent the afternoon putting it together! (I really think she got it for my cat, Pork Chop, so he will have some place comfy to relax on the patio....the concrete just isn't very comfortable for him!)

Speaking of Amy's, boy did we have fun yesterday! She took me to a place that sells fabric remmants and trims. OMG....you wouldn't believe what we got for $6.00!!! She has a pic posted on her blog and you won't believe it. We did end up with some interesting designs! Now I just need to get busy stitching so that I can use some of them!

I finally got BBD "Honeysuckle Manor" and some wonderful fabric from DSL....boy do I love this book!! After seeing all of the wonderful projects on fellow stitchers' blogs, I can't wait to startsomething!

Thanks for visiting and happy stitches....

Me, Myself & I Ornament exchange...

BBD "Christmas Ornament"-2004 JCS Ornament issue
PS "Two by Two:Deer"-1998 JCS Ornament issue
SB "Shepherds Watched"-2002 JCS Ornament issue

Yes....it's that time again! Here are this month's exchanged ornaments and I think these are my favorite so far! I just love the BBD ornament!

Here are all of the ornaments "exchanged" so far this year. I only stitched 9 ornaments total for 2009 so I am doing the big happy dance...my Christmas tree is going to look awesome if I say so myself.

LK "By Golly Be Jolly-Santa 2000"
stitched on 18 ct. aida w/ DMC

I just love these LK santas and stitched another a few weeks ago. I plan to make it into a cube too so I can display at work. I love these designs because they are so easy to stitch...can't wait to start the next one!

As always....thanks for visiting! Happy stitching....

Sheepish Designs "Down the River"....

Sheepish Designs "Down the River"
Stitched on 28 ct. "wake & bake" fabric with recommended fibers

Finished this one last night and love it. I have had this one in my stash for some time and just decided to stitch it. So glad I did as the colors are so much better in person! I have several Sheepish Designs designs in my stash and have never really stitched any. This was a great stitch so I think I will have to take another look at the others...it's amazing what I have forgotten I have!

Time for LOST....last season and hubby and I have been anxiously waiting the start. Anyone else watching? It has been a little over my head the past couple of seasons so I hope I can understand what happens in the end! :)

Thanks for visiting and happy stitches.....

Goode Huswife "Sheldon Hawks House"....

My first finish this year....

Goode Huswife "Sheldon Hawks House"
32 ct coffee-dyed linen w/ recommended DMC

Started on New Year's Day, this is my first finish for 2010! ( Thank goodness for all of the college bowl games on this past weekend....made it easy to stitch all day and night!) I picked this up this oldie but goodie last week at a LNS and loved it at first sight! The colors were kind of odd once I pulled them but I love them now that it is finished. I have another older Goode Huswife sampler, 1797 Ship Sampler, and will have to add it to my To Do pile.

Year in Review......

The best part about blogging is it truly is a "journal" of your stitching endeavors and I spent Sunday afternoon going through my finishes this past year. I was amazed at how many I had forgotten about and quickly realized by framing budget needs to be quadrupled! After a quick tabulation, my 2009 finishes included 68 total finishes which included...

26 SOS challenge (stitch own stash challenge=50)
9 ornaments (big bummer...should have been more)
19 exchanges (what wonderful goodies I received)

I put myself on a "stash diet" last year and challenged myself to stitch 50 designs from my stash before making any new purchases. I fell off the wagon a few times, but did cut back on my purchasing considerably. I still have so much older stuff I want to stitch so I plan to continue on my "diet" again this year. It was fun going through everything and "rediscovering" some older stash so it would be a shame not to stitch some of them. My goal this year is to stitch at least 25 with the understanding, of course, that gift money and gift certificates used for new stash don't count !

Thanks for looking and all of your wonderful comments! Wishing all of you happy stitches.....