Framed goodies....

 

I always look forward to my birthday

since I treat myself to framing

some of my stitched goodies!

 

Deciding on what to frame is always

the most difficult part and I am

very happy with this year's selection.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

 

BBD "Bee Skep"

(Sorry for the horrible picture!)

 

 

 

CHS "Her Sampler"

 

 

Goode Huswife "Peacock Sampler"

(Not a good picture of this fabulous design.)

 

 

Sunflower Samplings "You May Delay"

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

I am off to stitch.  I'm working on Plum

Street Samplers' "My Dearest Friend" and

am so close to a finish.  Happy stitching!

Christmas in August.....

 

The mood to stitch Christmas struck me

this week and I thought ornaments would

be the perfect quick fix.  Lizzie Kate is

always a fun and quick stitch and

these little cuties were just that.

 

LK "Flora McSample 2012 Ornaments"

stitched on 32ct LL Toasted Almond

w/Victorian Motto threads

 

I decided on a simple finish for these ornaments

which didn't require my sewing machine.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Once I got in the "finishing" frame of mind

I decided to finish two other Christmas

finishes that have been hanging

out for a few months.

 

I stitched this in December while

vacationing in Arizona.  I usually take

a LK design on vacation since they are

easy to pick up and put down while

traveling. I also love that I can look at

these designs and it brings back

great memories of our trips.

 

LK "Be Naughty"

stitched on 14ct mocha Aida with DMC

 

One of the things I love about LK

is the simplicity of her designs and

I really like stitching them on a

simpler fabric like 14ct using

DMC.  This is definitely one of my

favorites and I can't wait to quietly

display it in a side chair this

holiday season.

 

Since I had the sewing machine out I

finished this into a cute little ornament.

 

CHS "1999 Christmas Sampling"

stitched on Black 28ct evenweave over one

 

I wasn't too fond of the over one stitching

on black but I just love this ornament.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Well...I am off to find some more

ornaments to stitch! All of WIPs are

pretty large right now so the quick

gratification from an ornament

finish is feeling good!

 

Thanks for visiting and happy stitching...



Catching up....

 

Time is flying.... 

Laziness has kept me from updating my blog

but now that the Christmas season is here

I  seem to be rejuvenated!

 

I thought I would share a little bit of the

happenings the past few months......

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

I was lucky to win this great giveaway from Vickie at http://astitchersstory.blogspot.com/.

 

Amazing I didn't have this in my LK stash....

 

 

 

This will be the perfect stitch during

our upcoming travels.

 

Vickie also included these sweet counting pins....

 

 

Aren't they wonderful....I just love them.

Thanks again Vickie!

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

I made my annual trek to Myrtle Beach

in October for Pals Stitching at the Beach

and enjoyed catching up with

some stitching pals.

 

Even better is meeting new stitching pals....

 

Anne   ~  Pam  ~  Teresa

 

.....Band of Misfit Stitchers.....

 

Also love the little goodies shared

by talented stitching pals....

 

 

While there my complete focus was stitching this...

 

By The Bay ~ 13th Colony Part 3

Stitched on 40 ct.

with recommended DMC

 

It was about 1/3 finished when I picked it up and

just knew I would knock it out in no time.  

Wrong... after 2 1/2 days of solid stitching

I still didn't come home with a finish.  It

took a few more days but I finally

finished that Weeping Willow.

 

I love this little part of the design...would love

to stitch it as little pin cushion.

 

I am stitching all three parts together so

this will come back out after the new year!

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

This Christmas design caught my eye a few

weeks ago and I decided to stitch this up.

 

CHS "1999 Christmas Sampling"

Stitched on 28ct black evenweave over one

with Victorian Motto thread

 

I had hoped to make it into an ornament

so I stitched it over one on 28ct.  

Over one on black...what was I thinking???

Though a little large, an ornament it will become.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

I am not sure what to stitch next but plan

to clean out my stitching bag.   I still

have several Crazy Challenge pieces

lingering and it would be great to

finish one before year end.

 

Hope you all have a great stitching weekend

and as always thanks for visiting!



Worthy Brown....

is finished....

 

CHS "Worthy Brown"

stitched on 36ct. linen w/DMC

 

I am so happy to have him done. 

This is lingering from my 2012 Crazy January

Challenge and I have to admit it was a chore

to stitch it.  I do love the design and the

finished piece ....that bird is another story.

I guess he was just so big and kind of boring

to stitch though I do love him once he is

done.  Once that bird was finished, it

was easy going from then on out. 

 

Don't you hate it when you love a design

but don't enjoy the stitch?

 

Fortunately there were some great little motifs

that made it enjoyable in the end. 

 

Once done, he enjoyed a nice "spa day"

soaking in a warm coffee/tea bath

and then saunaing in the oven for a

while for the perfect finish.

 

I am off to sneak in some St. Patrick's Day

stitching and hopefully some finishing

before it actually gets here.

 

I do hope you are having a great

stitching weekend!   Thanks for visiting.

Goodies....

 

Hope all of you are having a great stitching weekend.   The

weather here in SC has been very rainy this weekend and made

it so easy to sit back and stitch all day Saturday.   I can't

remember the last time I sat for eight hours straight

and just stitched but I made the most of it.

 

 I pulled out Worthy Brown, one of my lingering Crazy Challenge

pieces from last year, and have made some great progress.

CHS "Worthy Brown"

35ct WDW straw w/DMC

progress as of 2/23/13

Before I picked it up Friday night, I only had most of the body

and one wing partially completed.  I have added his tail

feathers, some smaller motifs and should finish the second

wing before bedtime.I am stitching this on 35 ct. with one thread

and am very disappointed in the coverage with the darker colors.  

 I plan to distress it once finished so I hope the linen might tighten

up a little more after having a warm bake in the oven. 

I would love to finish this one before month end.

~   *     ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Last weekend wasn't very nice weather wise so I decided to play

with some paper.   I have become addicted to embossing and just

had to try out some recent purchases thanks to my

local AC Moore going out of business.  

 

As you can see from this stack, I think I might be ready

for just about any type of card occasion.

 

 

 

 Although I think they are all just wonderful, I won't bore you with

pictures of all of them.  I will show you one of my favorites.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Saving the best for last, I won a Valentine's giveaway from

Krista  (Just Stitching Along) 

and received this pretty package in the mail this

week.   I just love the way she has it wrapped up.

This was a package of firsts because she sent a Stacy Hash design

 and this will be my first for this designer.  How did that

happen?!!?!!   She also sent some of Nina's threads and I have

never tried these.... they just look so "happy"

and I hope to put them to use soon.

 

Krista became my new best friend when I unwrapped that

 chocolate bar!  I have been trying hard to not keep chocolate

in the house so this just made my night.   Needless to say,

I think it was gone by the time I finished before my

thank you email hit Krista's mailbox.  

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

My boys

 

I caught my hubby and Pork Chop napping in my stitching chair

and couldn't resist sharing.   Oh...how I wish I could nap in

someone's lap when it is so nice and cozy inside.

 

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great week!



Finishing tips....

Thanks for all of your comments regarding

my little fat men.   If you are even
thinking about stitching them, go ahead
because they are aquick and fun stitch. 

I hope LK does another series!

I've had several people ask how I attach

my ric rac and thought I would share

my best stitch for finishing trim....

a liquid stitch!

My sewing skills, when it comes to detail,

are limited (which means I'm just lazy!)

Another stitcher recommended this to me one

time and I have to say I'm hooked.   It is very easy

to use, dries quickly but still allows you to adjust

your trim before it is set.  It doesn't take too much

either so my little bottle has lasted me for over

a year now.  I have used it with chenille trim

also without a hitch.   I know there several

brands available and expect you would 

get similar results.  

Someone else asked about the look of the ric rac

so I thought I would show a pic from the side. 

The backing fabric I chose is more for form

than fashion.   The fabric is actually an outdoor

canvas and I used it for its stiffness.  Once
stuffed, the little pillow holds its shape better.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I picked these beauties up today from my framer

and thought I would share.   By this time

tomorrow, all will be gracing my wall.

CHS "Americana"

I {love} this frame molding.

BOAF "Bitter Flower Sampler"

The darker frame really changed the look of this sampler.

BBD "Their Song"

 

I used the same molding for this one because of the

little hint of gold detail.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Well...I hope to have another Challenge finish

this weekend so I am off to stitch! 

Happy stitching....

My Frederick.....

CHS "Frederick"

Stitched on 40ct. LL Pearled Barley

w/ DMC

I can truly say this is one of my favorite finishes. 

I always amazed how the colors come together

to form such a beautiful color palette.  

The cover picture of this design does

not do it justice.

 

Sporting his VT colors....could he be a hokie?

I just love him in this wonderful

color combination.

 

Such a beautiful pair!

These two are already off to be dressed in their

finest and I hope to have them hanging on

my wall this time next week!

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I can't believe the holiday season is upon us

and a great time for reflection.   I am so

appreciative of all of my visitors and the

time you take to leave a comment.

Thank you!

Wishing you a great stitchy week!

"Americana" finish.....

Just in time to celebrate the 4th of July,

I put the last stitch in this morning....

CHS "Americana"

Stitched on 32ct Buttercream

w/ DMC

This is number 8 in my Crazy January Challenge.  Another great design from CHS!  

I really should have finished this one last week but just couldn't find my stitching mojo. 

With a little help from the Law & Order

marathon yesterday, I found it and

spent the day happily stitching.   

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

  

Stitching at the Beach- Oct 2011 

  It will be here before we know it and I need to get busy stitching all of my goodies.  I also need to get my registration in so I don't miss all of the fun.  If you haven't heard of this wonderful stitching retreat, please check it out...it's not too late but seems like it is filling up quickly. 

Hope to see you there.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

For my Amercian friends, I hope you

are enjoying the 4th holiday!

Happy stitching.

CHS "Her Sampler".....

CHS "Her Sampler"

32 ct. Lakeside Linen Buttercream

w/recommended DMC

started: January 7, 2011

finished: January 30, 2011

I have my first finish in the Crazy Challenge and this is already a favorite of mine.

I just love the colors in the sampler! 

I'm off to do so quick Valentine's stitching but hope to get back to one of my Challenge pieces soon.  Just have to decide which one....

that seems to be the challenge!!!!

Thanks for visiting and all of your comments....happy stitching!

Crazy flu challenge.....

This past week was the "crazy flu challenge" where you don't stitch at all for five straight days. 

I rejoined the living on Friday and made up

for my lost stitching time this weekend. 

First... I needed some LK therapy and

stitched this cutie .....

LK "Where's the Party"

30ct WDW Guacamole

I plan to make this into a little pillow and

will use the fabric shown.  I love the WDW

fabric and have some extra that probably

won't last too long! 

I did make some substitutions

(GA Midnight Sky, WDW Hunter) 

for the greens since the called for colors

(WDW Holly, Envy) were a little

harsh for my taste.  I also swapped the

red (GA Buckeye Scarlet) to

better match the backing fabric. 

I still need to add the little gold beads around

the boots but hope to get this one sewn

up this next weekend.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I then reached into my

"Big O' Bag of Challenge" 

and brought out this beauty to stitch....

 CHS "Her Sampler"

I will say this one looks so much better
stitched...the pic on the design just doesn't
do it justice.  It may also be the Buttercream linen, which is just luscious with this color
palette.   If you have this one languishing in your stash, you need to pull it out and stitch it! 
You won't be disappointed. 

I think I will stick with this one this week since
I can most likely finish it and put a check by
one of my challenge pieces.

   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Pork Chop was definitely feeling lonely this week

and decided last night he had been ignored

long enough and would take matters into his own

"paws".  I share with the "look" I got when I asked him to kindly remove himself from in front of the computer screen....

He's still cute even when he's mad...

I'm looking like this too about now as I psych myself up for work tomorrow....ugh! 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Oh well...thanks for visiting and hope you have had a good stitching weekend! 

Crazy Challenge Day 12....

CHS "Frederick"

40ct Lakeside Linen Pearled Barley

w/DMC

Frederika is so lonely....so I know this is one I will definitely finish first!  Can't believe we only have 3 more days....

happy stitching!

Crazy Challenge update....

Well...work was crazy too this week and I was just too lazy to post pics of my starts each night...... but I did have 4 more starts!

Crazy Day 5...

Goode Huswife "The Bird Tree"

32ct. Belfast linen

w/DMC

Crazy Day 6...

CHS "Americana"

32ct. Lakeside Linen Buttercream

w/DMC

Crazy Day 7...

CHS "Her Sampler"

32ct. Lakeside Linen Buttercream

w/DMC

Crazy Day 8...

BBD "Moon Garden"

30ct R&R 18th Century Rook

w/ ST & WDW

I certainly picked a lot of charts with birds, trees, vines, etc... can't believe I didn't notice it when I chose my designs.  Oh well...I'm off to enjoy some of Mom's Vegetable Soup and then to stitch some more on Moon Garden.  We are supposed to get some wintery weather tomorrow night and it has certainly been cold and windy today.  I think tomorrow will be another good stitchy day too!

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Happy stitching!

Exchange for Michele....

Well...first I hope everyone had a great

Christmas

full of fun, fellowship and neat stitchy stuff!

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

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!

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

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



CHS Frederika....

CHS "Frederika" stitched on 40ct Pearled Barley w/ recommended DMC

I (mostly) finished "Frederika" last night and I love it! I can't decide whether to fill in the border since "Frederick" isn't filled and I plan to stitch it too. Once I have them both done, I will make a decision whether to stitch it or not.

Now....I am off to start BBD "A Stitcher's Companion". I picked up some Weeks 30 ct. linen in Straw at

DSL a couple of weeks ago and I have been itching to stitch on it!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day weekend with many happy stitches.....