My First Box Finish and a SAL

I have been wanting to mount some of my needlework on a box. So since I was off this week, I got my chance. After some advice from the lovely Vonna, I proceeded to stain my box with a cherry like varnish. I had already decided to use this JABCO pattern that I had stitched in January of 2006. It's called open a new box daily. It is very colorful and best of all the pattern would fit on the top of the box. I think the hardest part for me was fitting the fabric on the inside of the box. As you can see I used an orange cheetah patterned fabric. I turned to one of Vonna's tutorials for help with that. I think it turned out pretty good IMHO.

In other stitchy news, I have finish finished my seasonal exchange and I hope to have that in the mail by Monday. I joined a sal with Lizzy and Ranae for Salem Sisters and here is a brief progress picture. Not to much done on it. I am using a conversion done by Terri because I really liked the one she stitched so much. I hope you don't mind Terri. It is done on Silkweaver's days gone by linen and converted to VC silks.


That's all for me. We survived the first week of school! Yay! Now, I can sleep in this weekend-looking forward to that. Hope you all have a great weekend and lots of stitching.

PS: Jamillah, if you are reading this, I have tried to contact you but I need an email address so hopefully I can answer your questions.

Summer Feast HD

Oh my, I haven't posted in over a week. I have been busy getting the kids ready for school and such. Very hard shopping with boys who aren't interested and a girl who wants everything! LOL I have been busy stitching though and I have a small finish to show for it. It's summer feast by Praiseworthy Stitches. It was a quick stitch, but that watermelon was very tedious. I thought I would never finish it. I think it is really cute and I want to stitch the new peacock treat too. I am not on automatic for these as I like to see what they look like before I commit to buying.

Thanks for the comments on my stash-I do enjoy it. Though just when I think I could and should stitch only from my stash-a new pattern comes out. What's a girl to do? Put blinders on? Has anyone seen the new coffee thread packs by LHN, a definite must buy. Also, I see there is going to be a new pair of Gingher scissors called Bianca coming out-got to have those. So, I give up! Arrest me now-LOL Currently I am stitching ice cream sundae, and the freebie pattern an they shall seek him. I am also stitching on rise and shine by Samsarah designs. Not to forget too, that I have developed a sudden attraction for Cirque des Circles. I even have fabric and a silk thread all picked out for that. I will have to show you in another post what it looks like. The fabric is called fresco and the silk is a waterlilies called Java. Think chocolate and pinks!

Since, I haved yakked your ear off I will go. I have to go to work today(yuck!). But, I am off for a glorious 8 days and 7 nights beginning Monday(hooray!). The kids will be in school and peace will descend for a few hours upon my home. Hope you all have a great week!

Stash-Lots of pictures

Now, you all know I have been promising pictures of my stash and here they are. I did not list everything as I think you can see mostly by the pictures. However, if you have a question about anything just let me know. Now, I did not include my threads, beads, buttons, and a couple of fabrics. I was starting to feel slightly guilty as I am sure that I have missed some things-things that I am thinking of right now. So, without further whining here it is. As you will see I love just about everything.

A little RAK for Annemarie!

Annemarie is such a sweet and generous friend, that I sent her a little something to surprise her with. I had stitched this little freebie heart-but had not quite decided what to do with it. So, I finished it into a pinkeep and sent it along with berries, strawberries and the tea room (not pictured) by LHN. I also sent her a small mesh bag, a wacky little monkey tape measure and a couple of threads. I heard from her today that she had received the package and that she likes it. I am very glad. You worry sometimes when you send things. She says it's her first pinkeep ever. I should have probably put my initials somewhere on it. But, I have gotten out of the habit of marking everything I stitch. I think Annemarie will remember it's from me right?

Thanks for all the comments on my felted bag and my furbabies, they are much appreciated. I promise I haven't forgotten the stash. Will try for later today. Right now I am off to school shop with three children-pray for me-LOL

Pinkeep Exchange for Jenny

I had Jenny's name for the pinkeep exchange on the FGBB and this is the little pinkeep I sent to her. It is a French freebie heart from the Gift of Stitching magazine. I did it in blue lagoon wildflowers by Caron. I added a few threads, summber by Brittercup designs and a little nail file that says cross stitch forever, housework never! I hope that Jenny will enjoy this little pinkeep I made for her.

A break in stitching for........knitting

Yes, knitting. Now I don't knit though I wish I could. I could learn-but I am afraid of becoming obsessed with another craft-LOL However, Jo has fed my interest of knitting with those absolutely lovely felted bags she makes. Recently she linked the She-Knits store on Etsy.com. Where you can purchase patterns and also purchase bags. I actually custom ordered the bag you see pictured below in the colors of pink and chocolate. It is called the double loop tote bag. A lovely lady also named Sharon owns this store. She did a beautiful job-don't you think? She was also very quick in getting me my order. Anyway, if you want lovely handcrafted items, the Etsy store is a great place to start.






Meari, has tagged me for the 5 things meme-so here we go!

5 Things I wish to do before I die:
1.See my children settled into life and happy
2.Travel in the United States
3.Work Less
4.Retire comfortably
5.Just enjoy life

5 Things I can do well:
1.Great listener
2.cross stitch
3.good friend
4.crochet
5.Love

5 Things I can't do well
1.sew
2.cook
3.bake
4.lie (not that I want to do that well-LOL)
5.yard work-absolutely hate it

5 Celebrity Crushes
1.Denzel Washington
2.Johnny Depp
3.Vincent D'Onofrio
4.Will Smith
5.Clint Eastwood

Now, I won't tag people individually, however if you want to join the fun-go for it! I haven't forgotten the stash. I will post it soon. Have a great week!

Pinkeep Exchange from Terry!

Today, I received this gorgeous pinkeep exchange from Terry She also sent me a couple of ribbon trims, a cute little notepad and a pack of Mary Engelbreit stickers-they are not pictured-I think my daughter ran off with them-LOL Thanks so much Terry, I love everything.

Now a couple of pictures of my furbabies. The first is of Kiki and Kojack asleep on the bed together. The are about 16 months old. Kojack has no fear and Kiki can be a little high maintenance at times.

This is Midnight, she is such a loving cat, she meows at us all when she wants attention and she is quite plump. She is not quite a year old. I call her jelly belly sometimes-LOL Silver is my outdoor cat and where is he-outdoors of course.

Just a little update.....

Well, I am still lurking around. I have been working on a couple of exchanges. So, I can't show those just yet. Hopefully in the next week. This is one of my current wip's called ice cream sundae by Country Cottage Needleworks. It is similar in nature to coffee menu. I started this last week and this is my progress thus far. I decided to do it on a pink linen instead of the mocha linen it called for-I not sure if you can tell the color by the picture. You know me-I like color. Please forgive me the wrinkles. I also have been working on Summer feast by Praiseworthy stitches-love the colors in this one.

Other than that, nothing going on but the rent! I am still being tortured by the children-LOL It's not that bad, but the two older ones argue and argue. Brandon is improving and I do get some good stitching time while he is in therapy. I have been stash buying-maybe I will try to post some of that. I have been bad-but I am not going to feel guilty. It has been fun. I hope you all have a great week and happy stitching.

May Ornament

Here is my May ornament by La-D-Da called Christmas heart. Not a new ornament to most of you I think. As, I have seen this one around several times. Still, it is one of my favorites. A couple of changes in mine as I didn't have a couple of the colors on hand. I used zach black by Crescent for the outline of the heart. The green in leaves called for dried thyme, but I used spring grass. The green is a little brighter, but I liked the effect. I am hoping to catch up by the end of July, but we will see. Thanks for your comments on my first needle book. I did enjoy that little finish-though I struggled a little with it. I haven't finished the pillow yet-procrastinating yes I know. Have a great week and happy stitching!

My First Needle book

This is my first needle book using the tribe #1 from Periphaeria Designs. You may remember this design from my first biscornu exchange. I really like this design or can you tell that? I used waterlilies again this time in cherry. Some errors of course as I am not a seamstress. I am going to have work on my measuring and seam allowance. But, on the whole-not too shabby I think. This actually meets one of my finishing goals. I know you are saying what goals? LOL However, I do have some things I have set for myself to learn and this was one of them. I also did a small pillow-but I am not quite finished with that. Will post as soon as I am done.

Thanks for all the comments on my beach house and the new blog look. I am enjoying it very much. Brandon got his cast off today-yay! Now he is in a brace for another four weeks. We also have to go to physical therapy three times a week. What an enjoyable way to spend the summer-NOT! Taking the kids to the movies tomorrow to see Transformers-one of the few things we can do. I am not complaining as I am very thankful this did not occur during school time as it was Brandon's dominate side that was injured. I am still working on my exchanges and just trying to stitch where I can fit it in. Have a good weekend and thanks again for stopping by.