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!

First stitching in 2012....

Unfortunately, I began my new year under

the weather but was able to do some

stitching for my Crazy Challenge.

Day 1.....

 La D Da "In the Sweet"

stitched on 40ct Lakeside Linen

w/ DMC

This is the sweetest design and I should be

able to finish this one up pretty quickly.

Day 2.....

CHS "Matter's Choice"

stitched on 35ct. straw

w/DMC

I have loved this one from the first time I saw it. 

I really struggled with whether to stitch in

blue or red.  I decided to go with DMC 3750

but still envision this one in red. 

There is a smaller sampler included and

think I will do that one in red.

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

I picked up one of the LK Inspirational Boxer kits

last week at my LNS sale and decided

I just had to stitch it. 

LK "We Can Do"

stitched w/DMC

I didn't have the suggested thread so decided to

use the DMC conversion.  I actually finished

the stitching on New Year's Eve and was

able to do the finishing on New Year's Day. 

I really like how it turned out and will

have this on displayed in my office at work.  

This is a message I need to read

frequently each day!

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

Looks like many stitchers are already off to a

good stitchy start in this new year! 

I do hope you are one of them....

happy stitching. 

My last 2011 finish....

A busy holiday season has once again 

been conquered and I have found

time to stitch and finish this lovely....

Drawn Threads "Real Roses"

stitched on 32ct Belfast Antique White

NPI silks

I took advantage of my time this week to

finish #14 of my Crazy Challenge.  

I have had this kit for some time and was a

little intimidated with the speciality stitches, but

I am glad I decided to stitch this one.
  

The design is so delicate and "pretty" and a

nice change from what I normally stitch.

I did take some liberties with a few stitches.

It became necessary for the Queen's stitch

and myself to part ways....

Hmmm....think there should be a period after tree???

 

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

Well...that leaves one lonely

snowman in my Challenge basket.

I am not too happy with my fabric

choice so I decided to leave it

last and  will restart this one as

part of my 2012 Crazy Challenge.

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

As always, thanks for visiting!

I do hope you had a wonderful

holiday season and wish you a very

happy stitchy new year!

Lucky 13......

My 13th finish in my Crazy Challenge....

Goode Huswife "In the Bee Man's Garden"

Stitched on 35ct WDW Linen

w/DMC

Well my little pile is now down to two!  

This stitch wasn't as enjoyable as I had hoped

....not sure why.  I think it was because I was

nervous about the beehive, which is done in

a satin stitch.   It was the very last thing I did

and I have to say it truly makes this design. 

Once done, I realized again why I loved this one.

I just love the look of the beehive...

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

I did take a  little break for some

Christmas stitching.

The Scarlett House "Jingle All the Way"

Stitched on 40ct PTP Swamp

w/Victorian Motto threads

After seeing Tanya's finish at the Pals Retreat

in October, I couldn't wait to stitch this one.  

My favorite part is the fabric she used so I

decided to treat myself and I am so glad I did. 

Vonna (Twisted Stitcher) had the perfect

finish for this one and I hope to recreate

her magic myself with some coordinating

ricrac and a rusty jingle bell.

I love this fabric too! 

Mine is more of a mossy green, which

I love.   The entire time I was stitching I kept

seeing some type of white Christmas tree

design on this fabric so I am off to

search out the perfect design

to complement this finish. 

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

Now that Christmas is fast approaching it is time

for my favorite part of the holiday season!  

Yes....time to make the

"My LNS After Christmas Sale Wish List"!  

Each year at this time, I go through my stash

to  list my stitchy needs....and wants!  

I check it twice and then wait

anxiously for the big day to arrive....

the day after Christmas!   

Oh I get excited just thinking about it!

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

As always, thanks for visiting my

little bit of the world. 

And in the spirit of Christmas,

do something nice for someone today!

Hodgepodge....

First....Frederick and Frederika are home!

CHS "Frederick"

 

CHS "Frederika"

I absolutely love the frames! 

My framer suggested coloring the beaded

area black and it really made a

wonderful difference against the dark

red/brown of the frame.

I couldn't get a good picture of the two

together but am so happy with the finish.

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

Next.....I have a some "Joy" to share!

"Joy of the Snowflake"

Stitched with Victorian Motto thread

I finally stitched the blue ornament

and the colorway is perfect for

my bedroom holiday decor.

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

Lastly....I have had some fun with my Briwax!

My own "Shaker" boxes!

I decided to do something with these

paper mache boxes I've had for a while

and decided to give them a "Shaker" look. 

A little paint and Briwax was all it took

to transform these boxes into great

hiding places for buttons, fabrics, trims....

My favorite....

I'm still hoarding a lot of little boxes and can't

wait to give them a little Briwax love soon!

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

Well....I'm off to stitch. 

Hope you have a great weekend.

Exchanging with....

My hubby was nice enough to draw and 
this month's ornament goes to ....

Lany

Lanybleu

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Thanks to all of you who commented...

so wish I could send you all an ornament.  

P.S.    Hope to be back soon with pics of my
newest members of the family!

An Ornament Giveaway.....

Want to me my last
"Ornament Exchange" partner?  

I just couldn't wait until the 25th to
do my December ornament "exchange" so I
decided to mix it up and make it a giveaway!  

Just in time to adorn this year's tree!

"Snowflake" freebie
http://madetotreasure.blogspot.com/
Stitched on 32 ct. blue lugana
w/Victorian Motto

I decided to do the other two snowflakes

from this freebie and love how these

turned out too!   I just had to use the scallop
finish again so I added the border.

So.....want to "exchange" with me this month?
Best part is you don't have to stitch anything.
  

Just leave a comment on this post and I will

draw a winner on Monday, December 5th!

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

Guess I better get busy and get that tree!

Goodness...how quickly these months went by!  

I truly enjoyed doing this and I plus 12 of
my stitching buddies now have these
new beauties to add to my tree. 

All of your lovely comments
certainly gave me that push to keep going.

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

Hope your holiday season has gotten off

to a good start and your needles are

enjoying some holiday stitching.