Strawberry Garden Finished and Thank You!

First, let me say a huge Thank You to all of you that commented on my blog anniversary and birthday! Your greetings were very much appreciated!  The winner of the gift certificate was Rowyn. I hope you find something fun to purchase with your certificate Rowyn.

I also finished Strawberry Garden by Blackbird Designs! Stitched on 32 count R & R Alabaster linen with the recommended Classic Colorworks and Weeks Dye threads. Love this piece! I was so scared of those lazy daisy stitches...but it was all for naught! I even managed to muddle my way through the. buttonhole stitch.

Next I am going to start Sarah Redfearn by The Scarlett House...I have been kitting projects like crazy. I need to slow down, but it's so hard when so many great projects keep on coming out. I also have my Chicago trip coming in July at Tomorrow's Heirlooms. Tanya Brockmeyer of The Scarlett House and Stacy Nash will be presenting a patriotic themed weekend! I can't wait, plus I will get to visit with my friend Loralee!  Anyway I must run, it's raining all sorts of farm animals here in NW Florida today...just yuck.

I hope your weekend is wonderful one! 

Blessings
Sharon 

Blog Anniversary, Giveaway, Birthday, WIP...Oh my!

I am back from vacation!  It was wonderful and relaxing...we will be doing a cruise again. I love that there is no cleaning, cooking or any thoughts of housework related items. It's a beautiful thing!  Now, while I was gone my blog had a little milestone...it's tenth anniversary on 4/17! I can't believe it's been that long, and though I don't blog so much anymore...I haven't been able to go kaput on the blog! I wish that I was more interesting or could stitch faster...but you just get little old me! LOL So for those of you that continue to visit me, I say a tremendous thank you to!

So in honor of my blog anniversary... I am giving away a $50 dollar gift certificate to 123 Stitch! Open to anyone that leaves a comment on this post only! Please make sure that I have a way to contact you by leaving your email in your comments. I will draw a name 5/9/16!

Happy Birthday to me...today is also my 50th birthday! It is such a blessing to be here, to be healthy, have a job that I love (well most of the time) my family, friends and cats! I really have nothing special planned today. Going to hang out with the family....and hopefully put some stitches in!

Here is my WIP Strawberry Garden, I was hoping for a finish but cruising got in the way! I am getting close. Those Lazy Daisy's take a little time, but I am pleased with them. The basket calls for a different stitch (alternating satin like stitch) however, it's just going to be plain cross stitch for this girl, as I started the stitches...but they were working my nerves some! There is also a creative error present that I shall forever remain mum on. ;-)

This is a second project that I started by Kathy Barrick called the The Tea Keeper...I have a little plan for finishing this one. Lets hope it comes to fruition. 

Anyway, I am going to run, going to visit my mom and relax. I hope your day wherever you are is beautiful and blessed! I will leave you with a picture of my cruise. I didn't get any good pictures this time...don't know why! This is one of my favorites of the ship! This was on Grand Turk in the The Turks and Caicos. Carnival Sunshine was the name of the ship. 

Blessings 

Sharon 

A Little Stash...

It's been a busy few weeks for me,  because  I have been working and preparing to go on vacation, so much so that I have not stitched very much. But vacation has finally commenced and hopefully my needle and thread will meet soon. Has that stopped me from stashing?  Of course not...especially with the latest and greatest from the Nashville Needlework Market! Every year,  I think I am finished ordered for now....

So a couple of weeks ago I was approached by Elise who is the designer for Spruce XStitch.  I had never heard of her designs before. She is based in Australia..  She makes the most adorable charts and kits for cross stitch.. The one below is one of my favorites...".I cross stitch so I don't kill people."  I think most of us can relate! LOL The kit comes with aida fabric and presorted threads. You can peruse her site at Spruce XStitch  and I am sure you will find something to catch your eye! This is the kit I received below.. Go by and visit her site,    

                                                                                                      

My other acquisitions are from Plum Street Samplers and Blackbird Designs. Two of my favorite designers....I kitted these up with fabric and threads as well.. 

Blackbird Designs

Plum Street Samplers

I must run,,,have to sleep now. I have a blog anniversary coming up next week. 10 years! Though  I don;t blog as much. My blog is still  a part of me and if my thoughts could post themselves, you would see a whole lot of posts! LOL 

Work in Progress Strawberry Garden

This is Strawberry Garden by Blackbird Designs, a chart I have long loved and avoided because of the lazy daisy stitches in it. However not too long ago I saw a great little video on YouTube about them and the rest is history. I still don't think they are the best, but I have at least conquered my fear over them. They really do add to this piece and I have seen it stitched without them.  I am stitching this on 32 count R&R Reproductions alabaster linen with Classic Colorworks threads. The threads are so vibrant and pretty! 

I am finally getting some framing done and I had this Blackbird piece framed. It's Hannah Lovina Joslin from the Honeysuckle Manor book. I changed the name and dedicated it to my maternal grandmother. It's very special to me! I had one more small piece to show you. But I seem to be having trouble posting it. I am waiting for more framing to coming back...more of Blackbird designs. I can't wait to show you!  I hope your week is off to a great start! 

Willow House Finish

It's been a long time coming...but Willow House by Blackbird Designs is finally finished! The shop sticker on the pattern when I bought it is dated for 2009. I really don't remember when I started working on this but I don't think it's been that long. It's stitched on a 30 count R and R linen called Witches Brew I believe with the recommended Weeks Dye threads. The eyelets in the house worked my nerves a little, I just never felt I could get them right. So I opted not to put in the area up by the roof where the letter G is and just used regular cross stitch. Also, the purple star was supposed to be over one and rather than tear my hair out I changed it to a smaller version of the gray star to the right of it.  Amazingly, I was able to get through my lazy daisy stitches. That was after watching a very helpful video on YouTube. I figure all these little changes makes it unique to me.  I added mine and my daughters initials to complete the piece. 

It's been very hard to get a good picture of this piece...the linen is golden in color not sure it's as golden as this picture shows. However other times the flash just will completely wash it out. I took this picture at night as well.  Now I am on to my next project, I am pleased with these two finishes as I am making progress here in 2016!  The month of January continues to be a challenging however, and my ear infection and hot water heater are now minor. But I won't go into that right now.   Thanks for stopping by and I hope your weekend is fabulous! 

Blessings

Happy New Year & A Finish!

                        

Happy New Year dear friends! I hope that the new year has started out well for everyone. It's been busy here in my little part of the world.  An ear infection ( thought I was too old for that!) and broken water heater to name a couple of things that have gotten my year off to a running start!  Anyway, amazingly I have a finish!  This is Malabar Farm Pinkeep by Stacy Nash. It was stitched on 30 count Confederate Gray linen with GA threads. I changed one color to Weeks Teal Frost...that was the inner  flowers and the peacocks tail. I love it.i also changed the linen as it was supposed to be stitched on Weeks Straw linen. 

Now I hope to get Willow House completed...so close on that one too. I am trying not to start anything till I finish up a couple of projects....though it is killing me! Lol  Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello...so nice to hear from you!  Anyway, just wanted to to share this finish!  I hope your week is off to a fabulous start!

Blessings!