Summer Jubilee.....

Well....I went from stitching winter to
summer and the weather here in South Carolina
followed suit.   It just plain hot....too hot for
March so I will be switching back to a
winter design very soon.  
Come on Mother Nature....give us a break!

Here is summer that I do like....

BBD "Summer Jubilee"

stitched on 32ct R&R 18th Century Blackbird

w/Victorian Motto threads

I decided to convert the colors to my Victorian

Motto threads which gave me more "pink" tones.

Although the colors are different, I really do like

the way it turned out.

My favorite part of the sampler.  

This would make a cute little pin cushion.

Funky vase .... got to have one of those!

A little Americana is the perfect touch.

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

Well...I have one more fat snowman left to stitch

and think I need to start him so I can cool off.  

Happy spring!

(disguised as summer)

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.

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

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.

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

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

My favorite snowman....

LK "Let It Snow"

stitched on 28ct khaki evenweave

w/DMC

Well....I made him my own. 

I goofed when I started the scarf which

resulted in changing the color scheme. 

Too lazy to rip out the wrong color, I carried

on and used a little pink, which I really liked.  

I figured I would carry on and change the

hat color to light blue with a little more pink. 

I just love him. 

I still think he needs a little pompom at

the end of his hat.  Hmmm...will need to

do something about that.

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

I saw this card on Pinterest a few weeks

ago and I just couldn't get it out of my mind.  

I just had to try and make one...

I had to do a little figuring on this one to get

the mechanics correct and I'm pretty happy

with my first attempt.   I really like the

flowers/leaves layout in the original card

better so I  will make it like that next time.

This was my Friday night project.

The idea of weaving a paper basket came to

me Friday night after I had gone to bed. 

I was up Saturday by 5:30 am

(thanks to a tornado warning)

and so I decided to give it a try.

Summertime is calling me....

I was amazed how easily these came to together.

So I made some more....

{Love} the yellow flower basket...

  I am just pleased at punch with these.

Now that the creative juices were flowing,

I thought I would make a clay pot. 

  

Not to shabby if I say so myself....

  I have a tendency to overindulge when I

 find something I like so I wouldn't be

surprised if I have a hundred of these

by the end of the month!

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

I haven't stitched in 4 days.... so I'm off to remedy

that and put a few stitches in something!

As always...thanks for visiting.

happy stitching....

Count 'em....two finishes!

I'm happy I will end February with

two Crazy Challenge finishes.

 BOAF "Bloom"

Stitched on 32ct PTP Doubloon

w/DMC

BOAF "Kindness Sampler"

Stitched on 32ct PTP Doubloon

w/DMC

So glad to finally have these stitched.  

I did make the decision to use DMC.  I wasn't
too happy with the colorations of the
recommended hand-dyed thread I had. 
I guess the dye lots have changed somewhat
since the designs are a little older and
they didn't favor the picture at all. 
 
Don't you just hate it when that happens?  

 I did a little "research" and found a couple

of finishes using the DMC and I liked

them so I off I went. I am very happy with the

finishes and think I am falling in love

with DMC again....weird!!!

The second thing about these two I really like

is the PTP fabric I used.  I have some in my stash
for awhile and am using it a lot for my
Challenge pieces.    I love the way it stitches....
better start making my list & saving my pennies 
for their annual sale this summer!

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

I've noticed that several bloggers have

picked up a bug lately....

"the clean & organize my craft room" bug.

If you have it, please send it over this way!  

I definitely need something to get mine under control.

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

I'm glad so many of you found the Fabric Tac
tip helpful.  I do warn you....if you haven't used it,
you may wish to start on something simple. 
Hate to think you ruined a future family
heirloom because of me!

Well....I now get to start another snowman!

Happy stitching....

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 Phat Men....

I just love these little fat guys and

can't stop stitching them.

LK "Snow People"

28ct khaki evenweave w/DMC

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

LK "Snow Fun"

28ct khaki evenweave w/DMC

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  *  *

Well...it looks like this is the closest I

will get to snow this year!

On a ric rac roll! 

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

Thanks for visiting. 

Now...back to my Crazy Challenge stitching

and finish something so I can stitch

another one of these guys!

happy stitching....

Dusting off the sewing machine....

I finally got my gumption up to

do some finishing today.

La D Da "In the Sweet"

This design stitched in DMC resulted in

some "funky" colors but I had the perfect

olive ric rac from Victorian Motto

to trim this little pillow.

Scarlett House "Jingle All The Way"

I also had the perfect ric rac for this

one but it was too small to sew in

the seam.  Tacked around the edge

worked out perfectly and I have

to say I  *love* this one.

(Pssst Tanya....I need a complementary design to stitch on

red and one to stitch on ivory to keep this one company.)

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

Well...I've been spending time with

another Fat Man this week.  With temps in

the 70's, stitching one of these guys is

about as close to winter as I can get. 

Sure hope this doesn't mean we

are in for a hot summer.

Hopefully my sewing machine will get

another work out tomorrow and I can get

some of these Fat Men properly dressed.

happy 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Well...I guess I better get busy finishing

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

happy stitching!

Crazy Challenge diversion....

Here are the remaining starts for

the Crazy Challenge.

Day 9

Plum Street Samplers "Halloween Hornbook Sampler"

Day10

Primitive Needle "Kindred Spirit"

 Day 11

BOAF "Kindness Sampler"

Day 12 

BOAF "Bloom Where You Are Planted"

Day 13

LHN "Thirteen Colonies"

Day 14 

Goode Huswife "The Flowers of Lebanon"

Day 15 

CHS "Worthy Brown"

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

 

With some very busy work days, I wasn't

capable of focusing too long on

some of these Challenge projects.  

I really needed something a little "easier" 

and just couldn't resist these cute,

fat snowmen anymore! 

I hope to finish them as little pillows

to display in a basket so I can enjoy

them throughout the winter.

LK "Snowed In"

stitched on 28ct khaki evenweave

w/DMC

 

This roly-poly one is just so cute so I

couldn't wait to start the next one.

LK "Snow House"

stitched on 28ct evenweave

w/DMC



They do stitch up very quickly so 

hopefully I will get them all done to enjoy

at least a day or two this winter!  

 

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

 

Well....I have some exchange stitching calling me.

Then it will be the difficult decision of 

what to stitch next???

Thanks for looking...happy stitching. 

Crazy Challenge part 2....

After a busy work week and relaxing

weekend, here's this week's

Crazy Challenge starts.

Day 3....

BBD "Tis the Season"

stitched on 40ct Purely Primitive

w/Victorian Motto, WDW, ST

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

 Day 4...

Plum Street Samplers "Olga"

stitched on 40ct Purely Primitive

w/DMC

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

 Day 5

Elizabeth's Garden "Nantucket Sampler"

stitched on

w/DMC

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

Day 6

Goode Huswife "Three Crows"

stitched on 36ct linen

w/DMC

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

Day 7

Barrick Samplers "1797 Ship Sampler"

stitched on 40ct khaki linen

w/DMC

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

Day 8

BBD "Summer's Jubliee"

stitched on 30ct 18th Century Black

w/Victorian Motto

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

I have a love/hate relationship

with this Challenge.  

I love it because I am finally stitching

some wonderful designs that have been

languishing in my stash for years.

I hate it because I have seen the

wonderful designs y'all have started and

I want to stitch many of them now!

Anyone else having this problem????

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

I am off to get ready for Downton Abbey tonight. 

I don't want to miss a minute so I need to

get situated in my stitchy chair.

As always...thanks for visiting.

Happy stitching!