Are you ready for some football???

 

Fall has to be my favorite time of the year

for several reasons....

 

~~  Experiencing the first day of school  ~~

with 4000 new college freshmen

(and their parents)

 

 ~~  Preparing for the Pals Fall Fling  ~~

 

  ~~  Clemson Tiger football  ~~

 

Faye (Carolina Stitcher) knows (and understands)

my love of college football and sent me

this little goodie in the mail....

 

 

Such a nice surprise from such a sweetie pie.

 

Faye is so talented and this little pouch

is perfectly made down to the smallest detail.

 Isn't it just the cutest????  

 

The tiger head pull adds just the right touch.

 

I will be putting it to good use as we make

our first road trip to Atlanta this weekend

to watch my Tigers play the Tigers!

 

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If you are in the states, I hope you have

a great holiday weekend!  And for all of

you college football fans....

happy stitching!

Sweet RAK from Charlene...

I was surprised to see a small package

in the mail today.  My first thought....
OMG I forgot to mail an exchange.

I was relieved to see it was
from a stitching pal. 
Charlene (Needle in Hand) sent me
the sweetest pin cushion with
a strawberry emery...just because.

The color palette is so friendly don't you think?

Her finishing is perfect too with the blue chenille.

Perfect spot for my needles.

The perfect finishing touch...

this little strawberry emery.

I am lucky enough to stitch with Charlene

a few times throughout the year since

she is also a Carolinian. I consider

myself very lucky to be one of

her "sister stitchers"!

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Hope you are having a great stitching week. 

happy stitching....

Tuck pillows anyone????

I did a little spring cleaning in my craft room this week.  I admit I am a "craft hoarder" and will hang onto anything that I think I may be able to use later....sound familiar?  

Well....I have decided I need to downsize and rid myself of the stuff I will never use.  

Thus the container of tuckaway pillows...

how many are exactly too many????

 Inside the container I had 58 (yes...that's correct) finished 6*6 tuck pillows. 

While contemplating selling them, the "hoarder" side of my brain asks "but what if you need one later?  You'll regret it."   

Will I?

I then counted 44 finished but unstuffed pillows.  

Am I sure that's enough?  

I guess not....I then uncovered 54 unfinished pillows ready for the sewing machine.  

Grand total = 156 

Really????? 

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On a brighter note......

Motifs from LK "Spring Alphabet"

I wanted something fun to stitch and love the new LK "Spring Alphabet" so I stitched a few little pin cushions to share with some blogging friends.  

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On a side note, hubby & I were eating  at one of our favorite BBQ places yesterday and in walks Mitt Romney.   He worked the room and we got the chance to meet him. ( I was so surprised how skinny he was.)   Just not too sure I'm ready for the return of political ads yet.....

Hope you are having a great weekend and wish you a good stitching week.

RAK from Carolina Stitcher......

I had the nicest surprise in the mail
yesterday from Faye!   Before you see
the pic you just know it is going to be good
...and it is!

I  Y love Y  M Designs "Bloom" from a recent JCS
issue so Faye could not have picked a better
one to use for the cutest needlebook!

Just love the pink/brown combination on the green linen

Isn't this design perfect for a needlebook????

As always, Faye's eye for detail and finishing is flawless.  What a wonderful gift from such a great friend.....almost too pretty to use!

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Thought I would share another Dollar Tree goodie I found last weekend that I just couldn't pass up.  

What started out as a pencil holder .....

  

My "ends" to a means

has now been transformed with a few scrapbook
embellishments into my travelling ORT holder! 
  

See how nicely it folds up???

They had several colors to choose from and I
think I may need to pick up a few more.

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Thanks for visiting and I hope you have
had a wonderful stitchy weekend! 
Now....I have to get back to some
exchange stitching!!!

happy stitching...

Flowered Bunny.......

"Flowered Bunny"

JBW "The Bunny Collection"

Stitched on 25ct white evenweave

w/recommended DMC

~ ~ ~ Wouldn't this make the cutest baby announcement? ~ ~ ~



How cute is this design! 

I picked up this little booklet with 5 bunny

designs last year and had forgotten about it. 

Once I spotted it in my stash this week, I

just had to stitch this one right up.  

Great way to welcome in April.

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"Sew A Brown Bunny"

iStitch Designs

Michele was so sweet to RAK me this cute design from Carol and it is next up to be stitched. The weather the last two days has been just beautiful here in South Carolina so I am off to enjoy a little stitching in the sun!

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As always, thanks for visiting and hope you are having a great stitching weekend!

Valentine's stitching and finishing....

Last year, I made a cute pin cushion using a motif from BBD's "Truly Thine" and I decided to whip up a few more for this year.  I have so much fabric so I picked out my backing material first and then got to stitching. 

 Stitched on 32 ct linen in variety of colors

Unfortunately, my math skills have deteriorated over the last year and they turned out much larger this year that the one I made myself.  Oh well....they will still serve the purpose!  I plan on sharing these with a few stitching friends in blogland!

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While I had the sewing machine out I decided I would do the finishing on my latest LK....

LK "Where's the Party"

I just love this little design and think he will stay out all year.  The finishing fabric is perfect colorwise for this one.  Wish I had bought more since I now can't remember where I got it! 

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Thanks for all your wonderful comments on my "Her Sampler" finish.  Some commented about the design and I believe you can still purchase it from Carriage House Samplings website since Kathy's sister, took over the design business.  

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As always, I do appreciate you taking the time to visit.  I hope you are having a great weekend with many happy stitches....

RAK from Daffycat....

Ohhh...it's great to be ME!!!!!

Sharon sent me this wonderful RAK! Why was I so lucky???? No...it wasn't my charming personality or superior stitching skills. She is just looking for people to RAK (how sweet is that!) and I was quick to sign up. I just love this design and can't wait to add to my Americana collection. Unfortunately, you can't smell it but it smells as good as it looks! It's not too late for you to add your name and maybe you will be a lucky one too. I just love this idea and hope to pay it forward with a RAK of my own soon!

Thanks....
to all of you for the wonderful birthday wishes! I think my hubby is a keeper too...at least until next year's birthday. ;) I got a wonderful surprise from Amy for my birthday too! She made a donation to the Make-A-Wish foundation on my behalf...how cool is that. A friend's daughter was the recipient of her "wish" a few years ago and it is amazing what they do for these kids so I was happy she thought of me in that way. Thanks Amy!!!!

Oh well...it's dinner time. Happy stitches....

RAK & LK Exchange #3......

Week from hell....that is how I will describe my week. So I can't tell you how badly I needed this little pick me up. I received the cutest package in the mail today from Faye ....

front

back

Though Faye is a NC state graduate and huge North Carolina fan (hmmm..how can that be), she stitched this cutie for me...hopefully her fingers weren't burning since we are their conference rivals! I love the way she finished it with the cute charm and love the back! Isn't this the cutest fabric and I love the pin and buttons. Faye does papercrafting too and made this cute card with the sweetest note. Even though I work for Clemson's in-state rival (gotta eat..right!?!) I plan on displaying it discreetly on my desk so I can enjoy everyday! I need this little reminder to keep me sane and remind myself that I am one day closer to retirement!

On another positive note.....

LK "Gather Friends" stitched on 28 ct evenweave w/recommended threads

Angela received her Lizzie Kate Exchange yesterday! I loved this design and am so glad Angela liked it too! I had issues with the finishing but I pleased with the end result.

RAK with some irony.....

Primitive Betty's Valentine freebie

After seeing this freebie, I stitched up a couple as pincushions to share with some special friends, Amy & Faye. This was a very fun design to stitch and I did take a few liberties with it. I love this design and will definitely stitch again for myself. Ironically, Faye received hers on Monday, which is the same day she had mailed my surprise.....great minds think alike I guess!

Thanks for all your comments on the Me,Myself & I exchange. If you have multiple personalities like me, you have just enough to form your own exchange! You can then have a pretty tree at the end of the year like me...and Amy! Oh well...off to stitch. Thanks for visiting and happy stitches....