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!

Stitching o' the green....

 

St. Patrick's Day has always been my
hubby's favorite holiday.

In our youth we would venture to
Savannah's big celebration and enjoy the
day's festivities to the fullest.
 

 circa 1990...Enjoying a Pat O'Briens Hurricane

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I was able to embrace my "Irishness" this
week with a few quick stitches to start the
celebration.  Hubby was a little under the
weather so I made the most of it and
spent the day with my sewing machine.

 

Trilogy "Happy Jig Jig Day"

Stitched on 40ct linen w/WDW & ST

HIH "St. Patrick Bird"

Stitched on 32ct. evenweave w/WDW & ST

 

I just love this little leprechaun doing

his jiggity jig!  The bird just makes me

laugh since it looks like he is pooping

shamrocks.   I still love him though.  

 

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I was doing a jiggity jig too Friday

night when I saw that Nan from

~ Threadwork Primitives ~

had posted a freebie. 

 

Lickety split I was in my chair stitching!

 

Threadwork Primitives "Lucky Shamrocks"

stitched on 40ct. linen w/recommended DMC

 

I just love this little gem. 

 

I was also lucky enough to have a piece of ricrac 

that matched DMC 730 perfectly. 

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I had some linen scraps I just couldn't part
with so I decided to stitch some family
namesakes from our Irish roots.
 
 

40ct. coffee dyed linen with Victorian Motto

 

I wasn't sure how to finish them and

decided to use my scallop dies to

make these little bowl fillers. 

 

I love the way they turned out and am happy

to have a great use of those little linen scraps.

 

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Thanks for visiting and I hope you have

a great St. Patrick's Day too!

Slainte

 

Guinness Storehouse ~ Oct. 2010



Worthy Brown....

is finished....

 

CHS "Worthy Brown"

stitched on 36ct. linen w/DMC

 

I am so happy to have him done. 

This is lingering from my 2012 Crazy January

Challenge and I have to admit it was a chore

to stitch it.  I do love the design and the

finished piece ....that bird is another story.

I guess he was just so big and kind of boring

to stitch though I do love him once he is

done.  Once that bird was finished, it

was easy going from then on out. 

 

Don't you hate it when you love a design

but don't enjoy the stitch?

 

Fortunately there were some great little motifs

that made it enjoyable in the end. 

 

Once done, he enjoyed a nice "spa day"

soaking in a warm coffee/tea bath

and then saunaing in the oven for a

while for the perfect finish.

 

I am off to sneak in some St. Patrick's Day

stitching and hopefully some finishing

before it actually gets here.

 

I do hope you are having a great

stitching weekend!   Thanks for visiting.

Goodies....

 

Hope all of you are having a great stitching weekend.   The

weather here in SC has been very rainy this weekend and made

it so easy to sit back and stitch all day Saturday.   I can't

remember the last time I sat for eight hours straight

and just stitched but I made the most of it.

 

 I pulled out Worthy Brown, one of my lingering Crazy Challenge

pieces from last year, and have made some great progress.

CHS "Worthy Brown"

35ct WDW straw w/DMC

progress as of 2/23/13

Before I picked it up Friday night, I only had most of the body

and one wing partially completed.  I have added his tail

feathers, some smaller motifs and should finish the second

wing before bedtime.I am stitching this on 35 ct. with one thread

and am very disappointed in the coverage with the darker colors.  

 I plan to distress it once finished so I hope the linen might tighten

up a little more after having a warm bake in the oven. 

I would love to finish this one before month end.

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Last weekend wasn't very nice weather wise so I decided to play

with some paper.   I have become addicted to embossing and just

had to try out some recent purchases thanks to my

local AC Moore going out of business.  

 

As you can see from this stack, I think I might be ready

for just about any type of card occasion.

 

 

 

 Although I think they are all just wonderful, I won't bore you with

pictures of all of them.  I will show you one of my favorites.

 

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Saving the best for last, I won a Valentine's giveaway from

Krista  (Just Stitching Along) 

and received this pretty package in the mail this

week.   I just love the way she has it wrapped up.

This was a package of firsts because she sent a Stacy Hash design

 and this will be my first for this designer.  How did that

happen?!!?!!   She also sent some of Nina's threads and I have

never tried these.... they just look so "happy"

and I hope to put them to use soon.

 

Krista became my new best friend when I unwrapped that

 chocolate bar!  I have been trying hard to not keep chocolate

in the house so this just made my night.   Needless to say,

I think it was gone by the time I finished before my

thank you email hit Krista's mailbox.  

 

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

My boys

 

I caught my hubby and Pork Chop napping in my stitching chair

and couldn't resist sharing.   Oh...how I wish I could nap in

someone's lap when it is so nice and cozy inside.

 

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great week!



Exchange from Jayne....

 

Waiting in the mailbox for me today was my Winter Exchange from Jayne....

 

 

Would you believe this is Jayne's first attempt at hardanger?   She did a beautiful job on this stitching pocket.  Since Valentines is around the corner she chose pink and I love it.   It is so dainty and too pretty to use so I will admire it by my stitching nook.

 

She also included some goodies including two stitched ort bags.   I am so excited to have a couple of these and will put one to use. 

 

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

 

I also got my stitched pears

(compliments of Santa and Samplers)

finished and I very happy with the

way they turned out.

 

Santa & Samplers Sampler Pear VI, II, & V

Stitched on 32ct. LL Vintage Buttercream

W/DMC

 

I am in love with these designs especially the latest one.  It just perfect with the heart and dainty flowers.   I did change a few colors since I couldn't find the called for ones in my stash.

 

I do see that my internal "level" isn't exactly plumb but I can live with it.   I decided not stuff them and used cardboard and batting for the finish.   I had the perfect color trim from

Victorian Motto for all three and only needed to

add some twig stems and wool felt

leaves to make them complete. 

 

I still have a few more of these to stitch and can't wait to add them to my collection.   I am still amazed these are freebies and am so grateful Marly shared them with us.

 

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Thank you for all of the wonderful comments on my last couple of posts.  It is so exciting to read that others appreciate your stitching and I just love all of you in blogland!

 

Well....as many of you avid college football fans

know, it was National Signing Day and I have

been following the antics of 17 year olds all day

as they decide where they will spend the next four

years of their lives.  I can't believe how tiring this

has been!!!!  My team had a pretty good day but

I am off to check ESPNU again just to make

sure I didn't miss anything before turning in

Guess I will stitch tomorrow.

 

Happy stitching for the rest of you....



Friendship...

Time got away from me yesterday but my hubby

pulled a name this morning for the giveaway

and the winner is...

 

Butterfly

 

I just love all of the 'cyber' stitcher friends

I have made over the last five years.  

Thanks to all who enter the giveaway.



 

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Charlene (Needle in Hand) is another stitching

friend that I met because of our blogs although 

she doesn't live too far away.  She has gifted

me with some wonderful stitching

gifts over the years and I decided it was

time to repay the favor.  

 

 Prairie Schooler "Friendship..." from More Friends

stitched on 25ct ivory evenweave over 1

w/ DMC

 

I wanted to stitch one of the PS "More Friends"

designs and decided this was the one.  I thought

a pincushion would a useful gift so I

stitched it over 1 on 25ct evenweave to make

it just the right size.   I have never had a stitched

piece speak to me like this one but it was

determined to become a mattress pincushion.  

 

Pearl cotton was perfect for it all coming together.

 

Although I have never done this type of finish, I

finally gave in and made my first. 

Needless to say, I learned a lot and found some

wonderful tutorials after I finished mine.....

why didn't I think to Google first????

 

Simple flower finish for the back.

 

I am happy Charlene likes it and happier I

could share something stitchy for her!

 

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

 

I have been busy this week stitching some "pears"

 from Samplers and Santas to add to my paper

pears.  Now I just have to do the finishing...

anxious to see how this goes.

As always....thanks for visiting!  

Happy stitching.....



Winter Exchange....

It has been so long since I have participated in
an exchange.   I have always liked the
Winter Seasonal Exchange so I signed up 
and was lucky to stitch for Dawn.

  I picked up a couple of these little pails at Target last Christmas from the Dollar bin and thought it

would be a neat little project.  I just had to
find the perfect design.   After a little bit of
figurin', SB Winter would fit perfectly and 
make a nice little stitching buddy.

 

SB "Winter" stitched on 32ct linen

w/ DMC

 

I just love these designs stitched on the

smaller count and I found some buttons in my

stash that I finished it off perfectly.    I was

a little nervous about the actual finishing

but think this turned out cute.

 

 Perfect spot for stitching stuff!

 

I didn't permanently attach the stitching so that

Dawn can easily replace for another season. 

I added a little pin cushion to the top and

attached it with a magnet so that 

it can replaced too.  I am so glad

that Dawn liked it.

 

I think I am hooked on this little pails....they

are just too darn cute.  I now want to make me

one.... I could kick myself for not

buying more of these!

 

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

 

You still have time to enter my little

Valentine Giveaway if you like.

 

As always....thanks for visiting!  

Happy stitching.....



Sweet Valentine giveaway....

 

As soon as I saw this valentine freebie 

I couldn't wait to stitch it.   Although

it is a sweet Valentine, I was excited

to see the crowns.   I'm sure many of

you have seen Tanya's crown pins and

really wanted some for myself.    I had

 picked up some brass crown

embellishments at Michael's and

couldn't get my bead glue out fast enough!

 

http://crocettandofralepesti.blogspot.com/

Stitched on 32ct Lakeside Linen Buttercream

w/ Victorian Motto thread

 

I did change the thread colors since I also

wanted to use some Victorian Motto cluny

lace in my finishing.  It only took one episode of

Law & Order to get this one done so I

decided to stitch it again.

 

I really don't need two of them so I am giving one

a way to one of my followers.   Just leave a

comment by Friday (include your email if

it isn't in your profile) and I will pick a

winner Saturday morning.

 

Of course I had to buy extras of the crown

embellishments so I will send the winner some

of these so you can make your own crown pins!

 

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If you are close to a Michael's, check out these

brass embellishments.   There are 5 in the

pack and for $2.00 you just can't beat it.   Not

only did they have crowns, but they had

birds, keys, and fleur de lis.

Well...I hope you had a great stitching weekend.  

I am now off to pick up needle and thread too!

Happy stitching....

 

Edit:  I had to cut on word verification due to the spam.  

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Seven brides....

for seven brothers.   Well....six really.   That is

all I could think about while finishing my

Snow Belles since I knew they would soon be

introduced to my Fat Men.

 

Here they are all dressed up and ready to go.

I did have some issues with the finishing.   I

decided to use another Aleene's Fabric Fusion

fabric glue to attach the ric rac and that did not

go well.   I stopped in the middle of the first

pillow and promptly made a trip to Joann's

to buy some trusty Fabric-Tac.  

Lesson learned... I will not stray again.

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

Welcome to the Fat Farm....

The above basket was tight quarters for the

whole "fat" bunch so we moved up to

slightly larger accommodations.  I know Lizzie

Kate did not want to refer to the ladies as "fat"

but I just love my fat little friends and I

don't think they mind a bit.

 

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

 

I had a good finishing weekend.   I finished up

a Winter exchange and it turned out so cute.  

Wish I could show you but I will just have t

o wait until it makes it to its new home.    I

am off now to attempt my first mattress

pincushion finish.   I have everything stitched 

and hope to get it put together tonight.   Please

keep your fingers crossed for me that I

don't mess this one up.

 

Thanks for visiting and happy stitching....

Stitching in 2013......

 

I can't believe it is the 16th day of the new year and I have yet to put a single stitch in the projects I have decided to stitch in the new year.   I have everything ready to go...I just can't seem to bring myself to start one of them.   Crazy right?

 

I decided not to do the Crazy January Challenge again since I still have 5 projects lingering from last year.   ( Yeah for getting 10 finished!)  And yes....I will get these finished this year!  

 

I decided that since the world didn't end on 12/21/12, I better take advantage of my time left so these moved to the front of the line.

 

By The Bay "13th Colony Bay"

I am stitching these as one design on 40ct Lakeside Linen w/ DMC.

I have loved this since the first time I saw it years ago

and I am really excited about this one.

 

Dames of the Needlwork "Ode to Mary Needleroll" 

This beauty will be stitched on 40ct. Jamaica Sunset

w/Victorian Motto.

I feel in love with this design that I found at Counted Stitches' Going Out of Business Sale this last Spring.    The design is such a wonderful nautical piece with a mermaid and I want to hang it so I will be stitching it for framing.   There is a lot of over 1 in this design and I "plan" to stitch it all over 2 so it will mean a lot "thinking" on my part but I think I can do it.  

 

Prairie Schooler "ABC's" 

This will be stitched on 40ct. WDW Linen w/ DMC.

I am not a big PS fan, but couldn't resist after seeing many of you stitching these the last few years.   I decided to jump on the bandwagon and stitch these as one large piece.

 

Rosewood Manor "Old Glory" 

I'm using 40ct PTP Sand w/ Victorian Motto

This is another one I instantly wanted to stitch last year

when it was released and so I added this on to the list.   

Hopefully I can get this one done this year.

 

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I have been stitching on exchange items so no pics to share.   I have also been crafting and I wanted to share a recent project.

 

 

I found these paper mache pears in the clearance bin at Michaels and decided they were worth the 25 cent they were asking.   With a little bit of paint, and Briwax, I turned them into these:

 

 

We found this bowl in Texas in December and I just knew it

would be the perfect home for them.

 

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 If you made it this far, thanks for visiting.  

I hope you have a great stitchy week!