Summer Exchange for Myrna

Myrna has let me know that she has received her last seasonal exchange so I can safely post now. This is Hide and Seek by Brittercup Designs made into a flat fold. I left off the words and the backing fabric is red and white gingham. I decided just to keep it very simple and added just a bow to the side. I think watermelons are very much a part of summer and thought this was really cute especially since Myrna has a trio of black cats. The second picture is the rest of the exchange. I went with a little patriotic theme. I hope you will enjoy it Myrna!

How was every one's holiday? Mine was pretty good-spent the day with the kids and and took them to the movies to see Transformers 2. It's back to work for me today-though only for one day and then off for three!

Finally, a couple of Christmas Ornament Finishes

Well, finally I sat down and finished finished a couple of ornaments that I had stitched. These have actually been finished for a little while but I have been trying to decide whether to send them off to be finished or do them myself. Today, I decided to do them myself. I think I did okay here. The one on the left is Poinsettia by Brittercup Designs-I believe it's from the 2007 JCS ornament issue. I gave it a little ethnic flair with this African print fabric I found. The fabric had so much red and green in it-that Christmas just popped into my head when I saw it. I think it goes well with design. The second one is by Lizzie Kate and it is from Tiny Tidings 13 and is called Jolly Holiday and I backed it with some appropriate holly flavored fabric.

I am woefully behind on ornaments but now that I am finished with my last exchange-the selfish stitching will commence. That sounds terrible doesn't it? I tend to have guilt working on my projects when I have an exchange to go out. I have some more ornaments to finish-but finishing is a time consuming little business. I hope to get them done prior to Christmas. I would love to have a tree with nothing but my stitched ornaments on it.

Up next, that last exchange I have been talking about-it's so cute(at least to me) That I will have a hard time parting with it. But, alas it will be going out soon-so no picture until it's received. I have worked on Simple Things and made some progress-those over one words are a headache especially when you have bad eyes like me. A picture of that coming soon too. Thanks for stopping by!

An EBay find....

Found this little finished cross stitch piece on EBay aka The Bay of Evil. I only paid about eight dollars for it and that included shipping from the United Kingdom. These dancing ladies make me laugh every time I see them. I have no idea who the designer is or what the piece is called. They are done on Aida and the stitching was super neat on the back. I had them framed and here they are!(the picture is clickable) I don't think if I were selling any cross stitch that it would leave me for so little. Especially when you put so much of your time in it.

Thanks for all the lovely comments on my last post-especially my son! I appreciate them! I have worked a little more on that piece but I am trying to finish up an exchange and therefore I have not worked on my own stitching. I also have been working on some home improvements and that is cutting into the stitching time too. Anyway, hopefully some stitching pictures the next post! Have a fantastic day and thanks as always for stopping by!

A new wip and a proud mama moment....

First up, I couldn't resist starting The Simple Things by Blackbird Designs. It is just so pretty to me and I love the colors. I am using the recommended fabric and threads. It has been very enjoyable thus far to stitch! The flowers and leaves are outlined by a chain stitch-I hope when I get that point that I will be able to master that stitch. Because I am terrible at specialty stitches! I did pull out Quaker Garden but alas I am distracted again!



Now, the proud mama moment comes in regard to my oldest son Brandon. This is him right getting ready to go to his eighth grade dance. He completes middle school in a couple of days and then it is off to high school. Really, where does the time go? He has really evolved to me over the last year. He is interested in learning the Japanese language and has been studying himself via CD at home. He is actually pretty good at it. He has become very health conscious and has increased his exercise by running, skateboarding(something else new) and playing basketball. He has lost at least 30 pounds over the last year. He is forever researching something on the Internet! He is just an all around great kid! Don't get me wrong. We have our struggles-(math comes to mind) but days like today and seeing him look so happy just make things like that melt away.

I appreciate all your comments on African Beauties! Have a great week! Coming up next I will have to show you a cute little find from the bay of evil....

Let's Hear It for The Ladies!

Finally, they are finished! Did that about 5:30 am this morning when I could not sleep! Not the best picture-no matter how I try I can't capture the color of the linen very well. In fact this picture looks a little 3-D. The details are as follows: Beautes d'Afrique by Corinne Leroy done on 30 count(I think)straw WDW linen in DMC variations thread #4130. I tell you the frogs were relentless on this one. My highlighter and I were buddies because if I didn't mark where I was a fubar was in the making-LOL. Now I need to work on an exchange and I hear a UFO yelling at me-Quaker Garden of which I am halfway finished. So, we will see where I get with that!

Thanks to all of you for the birthday wishes! You all know how to make a girl blush and feel very special! Have a great day!

43 Today!

Today is my 43rd birthday! Here I am in all my chunky chocolate glory-LOL Makes me sound good enough to eat doesn't it?(That is me on the left just in case you didn't know and my cousin Carolyn on the right) Anyway, nothing too much planned for the day-just a little stitching perhaps and definitely some NCIS. My mom took me to lunch yesterday and to add more to my overall chunkiness I baked myself a red velvet cake for my birthday! It is truly a blessing to be here and have my health, family and friends! My wish for you all on my birthday is to have a wonderful day whatever you may be doing!

A Winner and a WIP!

First, let me say a tremendous THANK YOU to those who have stopped by and wished me Happy Blogaversary! Your kind comments and friendship are appreciated so much! The winner of the giveaway is Barbara of Mainely Stitching ! Congratulations to Barbara!

Now below is my African Beauties, only one more lady to stitch! Yay! I feel that when I do stitch on it that I am doing more reverse stitching than actual productive stitching! I was hoping to have this done this week-but alas I have been reading!

A Small Giveaway!

to commemorate my third year of blogging! The actual date was the seventeenth but last week was extremely busy! I have two fat eights of fabric-the darker one is called Sparrow by Birds of a Feather and the lighter one is PTP relic. Both are 32 count. A pack of thread drops and two Blackbird patterns-Love is in the Air and Small Token. I have thoroughly enjoyed blogging these last three years and all of your blogs are a great source of friendship,inspiring projects and lots of enabling. Anyone may enter up until Thursday April 23rd. I will draw the winner on Friday April 24Th. Please make sure you leave an email address for me to contact you by. Thanks and good luck!

Spring Exchange from Myrna!

Myrna , sent me a fabulous spring exchange package! A Signs of Spring pinkeep by Bent Creek, a spring fob and the neatest lapel pin stitched with hello spring by LK over one thread! She also sent me all the wonderful extras you see in the bottom photo-charts galore, fabric, and candy. She never forgets the kids or the kitties! Thank you so much Myrna! Now onto summer and our last exchange for this group. I will definitely miss being so spoiled. On a funny note, I was joking with my youngest Caleb tonight about how he didn't love me. So he says, "yes I do mommy, I won't put you in a rest home!" Too funny! Nice to know I can count on my baby to take care of his mama!LOL

Thanks for the compliments on my LK finish! They are much appreciated. I hope you all have a great week! I have a three year blogoversary coming up on the 17th and that means a stitchy drawing of some sort!

PS:Pictures are courtesy of Myrna!

Happy Easter!

First off I want to wish all you and your loved ones a very blessed Easter! I managed to get in a small finish. Chicky Easter by Lizzie Kate. Done in recommended threads of GAST/WDW and DMC, It was quite quick I must admit even for me-LOL. I am thinking about finishing it into a tiny flat fold. There is nothing much going on here but sleep for me very soon. I have been working this Easter weekend. But, I had a great night last evening as my manager organized a Easter egg hunt for the nursing staff. It was a lot of fun! Amazing how competitive grown women can become over hunting Easter eggs! My manager set it up so that each egg was numbered for a prize. So everyone won! Anyway, I am toddling off to my bed. Have a fantastic day!