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2011-11-23T13:22:00.000-05:00

Another Exchange from Becky

2011-09-11T13:05:00.001-04:00

I received another lovely exchange from Becky K this week. The design is from Prairie Schooler's "Measure of a Year", and was stitched using DMC floss on 28 ct Pumpkin Jazlyn.

I like the way the two colors of pins are grouped on the sides, and the picot-edged ribbon on top co-ordinates nicely with the gimp braid used around the edges.

Here's a photo of the Fall Pyn Keepe exchange I sent to Ina:

The design is from a Milady's Needle kit called "Milady's Acorn Box". I stitched it on 32 ct Hand-Dyed Belfast in "Days Gone By", using Belle Soie silk in "Red Fox" and "Rustique". It's lined with cotton batting, stuffed with crushed walnut shells, and backed with Lancaster Red herringbone wool from Weeks Dye Works.

Lizzie Kate Ornament from Becky

2011-08-05T20:57:00.000-04:00

Boy, time really flies when you're self-employed, and working 70 to 80 hours every week! I really need to post a little more frequently- in my last post, I was desperately looking forward to some warmer weather, and now that it's so hot and humid, I'm (almost) looking forward to winter again...

I received this lovely "Sampling Christmas" ornament from Becky K the other day. The photo really doesn't do it justice- it's stitched on 32 ct Natural Opalescent Belfast linen that makes it twinkle like little snowflakes. It's so refreshing to be reminded of winter when it's 100 degrees outside!

Becky always does such a beautiful job- this ornament will have a place of honor on my tree!

Where is Spring???

2011-04-20T22:38:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I was beginning to wonder if Spring would ever arrive, when I received the most wonderful surprise in the mail...

Marie W sent me this lovely spring biscornu, which really brightened my day!

I love the little bluebirds on the back- they're so cheerful!
Thank you, Marie- with everything you've been through lately, it was incredibly kind of you to take the time to stitch this for me. I'll cherish it forever.

Just when I thought Spring must finally be right around the corner...

Ol' Man Winter showed he wasn't quite done with us yet! This was the view out our front window on Sunday, April 17. The four inches of snow we got made it look more like Christmas...

So it was very appropriate that I received this beautiful Quaker Christmas ornament from Carol this week:

The stitching and finishing are just gorgeous (as usual)! Thank you, Carol- I love it!!!

So thanks to Carol and her lovely ornament, I was feeling all Christmas-y again, and about to make myself a nice hot cup of cocoa...

When I looked out the window to the back yard

and saw that it looked a lot like Spring after all!

They say in Michigan, "If you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes- it'll change".

Last night we had a terrible hail storm- it sounded like rocks were coming right through the roof!

Long Time, No Blog...

2010-04-12T22:10:00.000-04:00

Well, another month has gone by in the blink of an eye, so I guess it's time to catch up...
Here's a photo of the Winter House exchange I sent to Missy:

She loves to read, as well as stitch, so I thought this would be a good way to combine both passions. The "book" has enough room inside to hold a paperback novel or a considerable amount of stitching supplies. The design is "Snowy Pines", the fourth Ornament-of-the-Month by Little House Needleworks. It's stitched with DMC floss on 30 ct Natural linen from Northern Cross, which was stiff enough to glue to the book, without having the edges fray [an easy, no-sew finish].

Great minds must think alike, because when I opened the package I received from Edgar this weekend, I found a wonderful photo album with the cutest snowman on the cover:

The Calico Station design was stitched on a piece of 28 ct BlueGrass linen using DMC floss, and the carrot nose button gives it that special touch... Thank you, Edgar- I love it! Now I have a special place to keep photos of my one-year-old twin grandbabies...

This is Brianna, trying to give that pretty baby girl in the trash can a kiss:

[Don't worry- Mommy picked her up, before she actually connected with the can...]

And here's brother Nathan, helping with the dishes:

[Once again, Mommy stepped in, just in the nick of time...]

No sibling rivalry here- look how nicely they're co-operating!

As the lookout, I think Bri was supposed to signal her brother when she saw Mom coming, but she hasn't figured out how to whistle yet...

LHN Exchange for Carol

2010-03-13T18:48:00.000-05:00

Oops! In my hurry to get my exchange in the mail, I forgot to take a photo of it, so I hope Carol doesn't mind me using hers...

I stitched Little House Needlework's "Season of Hope" design on 28 ct Country French Linen, using DMC floss. I had originally planned to finish it as a pillow, like it showed on the pattern, but I wanted to do something a little different, so I went to a local craft store, hoping to find some creative inspiration, and found myself in the scrapbooking/photo album section. I noticed some 8 x 8 replacement pages, and the wheels in my head started turning...

I didn't want it to be just an ordinary photo album, so I added a piece of Weeks Dye Works wool for a needle-minder, and a band of fabric to hold accessories. I thought the top-loading pages would be a handy way to hold floss, charts, fabric swatches, sketches, photos, whatever...

I'm so glad Carol liked the way it turned out- she's been one of my favorite customers over the years, so I wanted to do something special for her.

HOE LHN/CCN Exchange Received!

2010-03-03T19:34:00.000-05:00

Just when I was feeling bogged down with a severe case of cabin fever, I received a wonderful gift in the mail. Becky K sent me this beautifully stitched piece called "Gardening" by Little House Needleworks.

The back is finished in a lovely print in perfectly co-ordinated colors.

She also sent me some comfy socks, a pair of gardening gloves, and lots of herb and flowers seeds.

I can't wait for all this Michigan snow to melt, so I can go outdoors and start gardening- come on, SPRING!!! Thank you for everything, Becky- you really brightened my day!

My Gift to Hazel

2010-02-21T15:48:00.000-05:00

My "Stitch Red for the Heart" exchange partner received the piece I stitched for her, so now I can show it:

The design is "Austrian I" by Joelle Jeunemaitre of Bleu de Chine [featured in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue of Just Cross Stitch]. I used #815 DMC floss (over one) on 32 ct Antique White Belfast Linen, with cording made of the same floss. When I started stitching, I hadn't yet decided how I was going to finish the piece- I couldn't make up my mind, whether I wanted an ornament, or a pincushion, or a floss-keeper of some sort, so I ended up just combining them all.

For the backing, I used a piece of Weeks Dye Works Wool in Louisiana Hot Sauce-Herringbone. I used YLI silk ribbon to tie on a pair of 2-3/4" Premie scissors by Premax, and heart-shaped mother-of-pearl thread rings to hold some of my hand-dyed flosses.

I'm so glad Hazel liked it!

Red Exchange Arrived!

2010-02-13T21:34:00.000-05:00

I just received a lovely bourse from Sharlotte, along with a box of chocolates (yum!), a lucky little ladybug, floss, and a beautiful hand-made card.

Inside, she stitched LHN's "School Girl Lessons" on 28 ct cream linen, using DMC floss. I just love it! Thank you, Sharlotte!

Stitch Red for Your Heart

2010-02-08T13:59:00.000-05:00

I sent off my "Stitch Red for Your Heart" piece today- I hope my secret partner likes it! 8^ )

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T17:43:00.000-05:00

It's a brand new year, so I figured it's a good time to start a brand new blog. I must confess, I've always been terrible at keeping a journal, so this will be a new experience for me... I'd like to thank Carol S. for inviting me to join "Hooked on Exchanging"- I've loved needlework (especially cross-stitch) ever since I was a little girl, and I'm really looking forward to making many new friends and exchanging goodies with each other. 8^ )