Stitching friends.....

Back in March 2009, I met Amy when she emailed me to asked if I would like to come to her house and stitch with some friends. 

That is where I met Nicole. 

Three months later Amy emailed to ask if I would be interested in sharing a room with another stitcher from NC at the Pals Fall Fling. 

That's how I met Faye.

 So what do four stitching friends do?

A Friendship RR of course!

We chose designs from PS "Friends" & "Friends More" and have been busy stitching since last June.  This past Saturday we finally exchanged our finished pieces at a stitchin Amy arranged. 

Boy, I was excited to bring home these beauties.....

 Amy's square

Faye's square

 Nicole's square

 Mine

I think I am going to frame my finished
pieces so I can enjoy them as I stitch.  
I will always treasure them.

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Amy hosted a stitchin at the French Hens in

Manning and I got to spend the day

stitching with some wonderful ladies.  

And yes....we actually did stitch! 

Amy, Charlene and Faye have some wonderful pictures on their blogs from the day so you will have to check them out.  Funny that I had the same pics so I won't bore you with them.  

I do want to give a shout out to

Judy and Donna......

They just got back from the last Victoria Sampler retreat.... how lucky were they!!!!  

Their retreat project is just gorgeous and

I can't believe I didn't take a pic.

Well, it is stitching time.  As always...thanks for

visiting and hope you have a happy stitchy week.

Goodies from Amy.....

The weather was dark and gloomy

when I got home from work but my

mailbox certainly was sunny!

Amy sent me the cutest goodies.....

Amy is a very talented finisher and I just

love the housewife.  Green is one of my favorite

colors so this is just perfect.  The initial design

on the cushion is from BBD's "Garden Club"

book ....don't you just love it?  I love the

finishing fabric on the cushion, which is from her

"special" stash.  I just love the little flowers...

Oh...I so wish I could sew!  With all of the pockets, the housewife will be a great addition to my stitching bag.  Thanks again Amy for a wonderful gift.

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BOAF "Bitter Flower Sampler"

I really like this design but just couldn't

get into stitching it last week so I abandoned it. 

I decided to give it another try last night

and was rolling right along with no problem. 

Isn't it weird how that happens???  I still haven't

looked through my stash to see if I can find some

older 610.... I'm sure my collection looks like

yours and you have more than enough DMC to

last you a lifetime!  So...chances are I

have an older skein and I just need to look for it.   

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Thanks for all of your nice comments on

the ornaments.  If you haven't tried the

humbug finishing, you really should give it

a try.  It was very easy and the best part is

it didn't require a sewing machine!   

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.

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....

Beautiful surprise from Amy.....

Waiting in my mailbox tonight was this beautiful ornament from Amy and my heart is smiling.....


I love the color, fabric and finishing! She is a beautiful stitcher and always does such a great job finishing so it is a treat to have one her pieces.

Amy has become a great friend this year and I definitely consider myself lucky! She (and her nice hubby) are so gracious to open their house often for Saturday stitch-alongs. I will truly treasure this ornament for years to come.

Merry Christmas and merry stitches....