Welcoming spring...

 

Spring is starting to make an appearance
here in South Carolina evidenced by the fine
yellow haze outside.  The tell-tale signs, though,
are the sneezing, stuffiness, and puffy eyes

.....oh how I strongly dislike spring!

 

But I do love spring stitching and was happy
to find this in my mailbox from Dawn 
for the Spring Seasonal Exchange.

 

The sweet little design is just perfect and

I love  the "happy" fabric Dawn used. 

It is now taking up residence where my

snow people formerly resided and I am

glad to enjoy for a few months!

 

 

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I have been stitching on two of my large

projects the past few weeks but I did take

some time this week to stitch up

a gift for a retiring coworker.

 

Homespun Elegance "Friendship & Blossoms"

stitched on 40ct. coffee dyed linen w/ overdyed threads

 

I just love this design and it turned out so cute

stitched on the smaller count.  I really

enjoyed working with Sharon these

past few years and hope this will make

a nice reminder of our friendship

while she relaxes the day away !

 

 Great use of my Spellbinder scallop heart die!

I have started keeping my scraps of linen
"just in case" I can think of a use for them
and decided to make a little heart tag
 for the back.   After stitched, I used one
of my dies to cut out the scalloped heart.   I
love how it turned out and will now be
hoarding all of those scraps!
 

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I do hope everyone had a great Easter weekend
with family and friends.   As always,
thanks for visiting and happy stitching!

Exchange stitching.....

I recently participated in two of my favorite

exchangesand thought I would share.

Lisa was my partner in the Seasonal Exchange

 and here is my piece for her....

Hollis Designs "Snowy Littles"

stitched on 32ct linen

w/recommended thread

My procrastination resulted in the package going

out just in time.  In my haste, I forgot to take a

pic and thank Lisa for letting my borrow hers.

I really like how this one turned out and

hope to stitch/finish all four of the

seasonal designs in this series.

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Laura was my partner in the LK Exchange...

LK "Summer Basket"

Stitched on 25ct cream evenweave over 1

with DMC

Since we haven't had much of a winter I thought

I would move right along to summer.  This

design is perfect for  a cute pincushion don't

you think?  I am glad Laura is happy with it.

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Thanks as always for visiting.
Now....back to stitching!

Goodies in the mail....

First...this cutie came from BeckyK 

for Winter Seasonal Exchange.

Homespun Collectibles

Becky said this was an older design from

her stash and he is just so cute.   I love that

she stitched something for me that I

would never have stitched for myself.  

 I will enjoy this one in my office

for the rest of winter.

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Next....Cindy Mae was quick to

mail her LK Exchange.

Another cute design and I love Cindy Mae's

finishing.  I have it hanging on my pie safe and

it will surely bring a smile as I enter each day.

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I have my first Crazy Challenge finish!

La D Da "In the Sweet"

40ct. Lakeside Linen

w/recommended DMC

I just love this design....

sweet definitely comes to mind. 

Everytime I look at it I think of my

Granny Smith.   She loved gospel music

and loved to sing hymns.  I couldn't help

but hum this tune while stitching.   

I know this will become a  sweet little pillow

to keep with some other mementos

from my Granny.

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Well...I guess I better get busy finishing

my exchange pieces. Time is a ticking......

happy stitching!

Exchange from Sarah....

It's been a good mail week.....

I received my exchange from Sarah (no blog)  for the Seasonal Exchange and it is lovely.  It is a nice spring design stitched on a very pretty pink fabric.  Thanks Sarah for such a wonderful exchange.

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A couple of weeks ago Lee shared this wonderful strawberry finish from Manka, who was nice enough to share it with me. 

It is her own design of Hungarian
 motifs and her finishing is perfect.  I hope
to stitch this a few more times and hone
my strawberry finishing skills.  
(Yes....I finished this one upside down!) 
But it still works.  
Manka has some beautiful freebies as well
finishes.  If you haven't already discovered
her blog, you won't be disappointed
if you check it out.

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Hope all of you have a nice Mother's Day and happy stitching weekend....

Goodies To & Fro...

**** Edited:   OOPS.....I just don't know my fairy tales*****

I participated in a couple of spring exchanges and I can now share the goodies....

I received word from Sarah (no blog) that

she received her package for the

Spring Seasonal Exchange.

Homespun Elegance  "Summertime Home"

from Welcomes 'A Plenty V

28ct w/recommended fibers

Homespun Elegance is one of my favorite
designers and I think these designs are timeless. 
Although this is a spring exchange, I thought
the colors in this one would suit Sarah better. 
I coffee-dyed the chenille for the trim

and just love how it turned out. 

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This cutie was waited in my mailbox from Melissa....

LK "Hello Spring" freebie

She was my partner for the Lizzie Kate Exchange and I just love what she stitched.  The pin cushion is very small with the design being stitched over one.   Precious just comes to mind for me each time I look at it.   Thanks Melissa for such a cute exchange.

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Thanks Yvonne for seeing the error of my ways.

It amazes me how some stitching projects feel

like Little Red Riding Hood Goldilocks (thanks Yvonne).  You know...Little Red Riding Hood Goldilocks has to
try several porridges and beds to find just the right one. 

Well, it has been like that with my

Challenge pieces.    I decided to pick up

BBD "Berry Time", which is one of my favorites, but I found myself dreading stitching it so I tried a few more until I found the one that was

"just right".  That would be Primitive Needle's

"Dampy Sod".   This is my first design from

Lisa and I know I am going to enjoy

each stitch in this one. 
Well...that's enough about that. 

Thanks for visiting and happy stitching....

Seasonal Exchange from Mare.....

I had this wonderful tote bag waiting in my mailbox today from Mare for the Summer Seasonal Exchange. I will definitely put this to good use! I normally don't have too many projects going at one time, but have found over the last couple of months I have started more than I have finished. I keep switching my projects between my big bag. This bag is the perfect size to store my ornaments in waiting with all of my supplies and it fits perfectly in my big bag! No more sifting and sorting when I get ready to stitch.

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Design by the Stitcherhood

Thanks Mare for a wonderful exchange!

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There's been some stitching going on but not much.  Work is really crazy right now and I have spent too many nights working instead of stitching.  Hopefully there will be some relief soon!  We did go to my mom's river house this weekend and had a nice, relaxing time.  I will leave you with one my favorite treats from the river.....

Known as Frogmore Stew/ Beaufort Boil/ Lowcountry Boil .......... this is just plain good!

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Thanks for all of your comments on my

recent finishes and visiting my blog.

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.

Seasonal Exchange for Lisa.....

Front
Trilogy Springology spring motif
Stitched on 28ct evenweave w/recommended threads

Back

Lisa let me know she has received her package in the Seasonal Exchange. The basketweave on the flower basket was adapted from LK "Friends make Life Sweeter". I had stitched this before and loved the look so I used it again on this basket. I am so glad Lisa liked it.

Hope you have a great Mother's Day weekend.....happy stitches....

Seasonal Exchange from Michelle....

LK "Spring"

My Monday was certainly brightened this evening when I got this goodie in the mail from Michelle in the Spring Seasonal Exchange. I love LK designs and I don't have this one so it is perfect. Michelle used hand-dyed "Dragon Floss" threads and they are so bright and pretty! I love the bright yellow the best....it just pops on the white! This was our first exchange with this new group and Michelle did a great job for me!

I had a great weekend with my mom and let's just say we definitely helped the economy of S.C. this weekend! The weather here was perfect and it was great spending time with her and my family. Oh well....off to stitch! Guess I need to get in gear with my exchange piece! Happy stitches.....