Validation-wonderful very short film...

That barn in Winter

This street leads to my house, and I love this barn scene..here we are, after a light snowfall. Last week was the biggie! Happy New Year to all!

Explorations: great website! Danita Art

When I have extra time and I don't feel like stitching, I wander the web sometimes aimlessly and sometimes not so aimlessly. Today, I came upon Danita Art, by clicking link after link after link after link, etc.This is an outstanding blog! Her work is so unique and beautiful. I love the colors she uses and her dolls, art prints, even ornaments are sweet as ever.

She is even doing a giveaway, (quick, drawing is Jan, 1...) so visit her blog and have a look for yourself. I really, really enjoy her work. You know when something strikes a cord deep within you, well Danita's art has this effect on me. Maybe because alot of her dolls have black hair like me? lol !

It's been a week and...

(picture used from Little House Needleworks site)

I haven't heard from Linda (winner of the Gingerbread Trio chart). I checked her profile to see if there is an email for her and there isn't, so the Gingerbread Trio chart goes to the first runner up:

Louisiana Momma!!!! Congrats again Courtney!! I'll be sending your gift out to you. (too fun, eh?)

I also haven't heard from Lindsay (winner of the Peppermint Lane chart), she also didn't provide an email in her profile, so it will go to the first runner up :

(picture used from Country Cottage Needleworks site)

Sadie!!! Congrats to you, and I'll email you since you provided an email on your profile. :-)

? another try at larger pictures ?

Our pretty Christmas tree :-)

Click here to see bigger pictures of the giveaway winners. I am having an awful time of posting large pictures of them. If any readers have any suggestions as to how I can post larger pictures, or how I can link to a large picture, please email me abeautifullife786@yahoo.com

Thanks so much and Happy Holidays!

Winners random.org piccies

The best I can do...lol.

Winners!!!

Thanks to all who visit my blog and left comments for the giveaways, here are the winners! I have tried desperately to upload the random.org pictures all in one post to no avail, so here are the list of winners and each random.org picture in its own post will follow.

Gingerbread Trio chart-Linda

JCS December 2008 issue & 32 linen-Louisiana Momma

Peppermint Lane chart-Lindsay

"The Ultimate Gift" DVD-Meari

Congratulations to the winners! Please email me with your mailing information and I will get your gift out to you. Again, thanks so much and enjoy! abeautifullife786@yahoo.com

Last of 4 Giveaways!!!

Last up for the great giveaway (this is much more fun than I thought it would be...ha!) is Just Cross Stitch December 2008 issue with a beautiful piece of 32 count Belgium linen in 'Oyster' measuring 20"x27" (51 cm x 69 cm), great for a big project for many small ornaments, or a few medium sized projects. Those of you who dye your own fabrics, if you win this and decide to dye it, I'd love to see what you come up with.

If you'd like to win this giveaway, please leave a comment with your desire to win and an email where I can reach you. All winners will be chosen on Friday 12/19/08. If when I have picked winners and posted them here on my blog, and they don't respond within a week, the runner up will be selected the winner. Best wishes and good luck!

Third of 4 Giveaways!!!

Third up for a giveaway is LHN's 'Gingerbread Trio' (chart only). I bought several of these as gifts for stitchers who are great bakers as well, and here is one for you if you are the lucky one! If you would like to win this chart, please leave a comment with your desire to win and an email where I can reach you. The winner will be announced on 12/19/08, Friday, using Random.org list randomizer. Good luck!

Second of 4 Giveaways!!!

Here is the second of my 4 giveaways: a truely beautiful DVD. If you have not seen this, then you need to, and if you've seen it, you know what I mean. Why not enter to win it and give it as a gift you someone you love?

If you would like to win this giveaway, please respond by leaving a comment with your desire to win it and an email where I can reach you. I will use random.org list randomizer for obtaining a winner who will be announced on Friday 12/19/08. Best Wishes!

First of 4 Giveaways!!!

Greetings stitchers! As promised, I will have several giveaways, this being the first. Better late than never, lol! I'm soooo behind on everything, LOL!

There will be 4 different posts, each containing a gift, so please if you want to enter your name in all 4, please respond to each of the 4 by leaving a comment with your desire to win and email where I may reach you. All names will be picked and announced on 12/19/08 (Friday).

First up is CCN's Peppermint Lane (chart only), an adorable design perfect for this time of year:

Yes, it's real snow, so pretty. So if you are interested in winning this chart in this giveaway, please post a comment alluding to this and leave an email where you can be reached. Names will be taken until 12/19/08 Friday. Then I'll use the wonderful random.org list randomizer to get us a winner!

I won! (again) and...

Way back when...(!-I'm so bad with dates...) I entered yet another giveaway sponsored by Mercy, and guess what? I won!!! And this is what I received:

Something Wicked by one of my favorite designing companies: La-D-Da. Mercy has had several giveaways and I was one of her lucky winners! She even kitted it up for me with the recommended fabric and DMC threads. I just love this design, thanks so much Mercy!

Because I have been the recipient of two of the most lovely giveaways, I too, shall enter the giveaway extravaganza. Not in honor of anything or anyone in particular, but rather for the sake of doing something 'nice' and to show my appreciation for the generosity of the stitchers who have given of themselves so selflessly and abundantly.

So, I will organize several giveaways, look for details in future posts. Love to you all :-)

Another Fair & Square Exchange received!

I received these adorable squares for the Autumn Round from my Fair & Square Friendship Exchange partner, Melita. I love the little pumpkins, thank you, Melita!

I won, I won!!!!

Carolyn, of Taking one stitch at a time, ran a contest not too long ago, and guess what?! I won!!!! Simply by leaving a comment on her contest post. I am so thrilled and honored, and guess what I won?

I won this beautiful 2007 Full of Hope Pinkeep Kit by MaryKathryn of eHandcrafts Stitching Room.

I've admired this design for the longest time and now I have one of my very own to stitch. Thank you Mary Kathryn for designing and making this kit available to us all, and a special thanks to Carolyn for running the contest! I'm so happy :-)

Join an Army of Women!

Check this out, Army of Women. Dr. Susan Love has a new foundation which is recruiting ALL women, both healthy and those who have had breast cancer to take our fight to the next level. Finding out why some get breast cancer and some don't. It's all about research now. We are all aware of breast cancer, and Dr. Love explains on her site, what the next step is all about: The Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation:




I have registered as a volunteer and proudly display the Army of Women logo on my blog!

More squares, more contests on Stitch Pink!

SueW received the squares I stitched for her for Round #9 of the Fair & Square Friendship Exchange. I choose 32 count antique white linen and stitched with Anchor thread # 148 --2/2. It is a motif from an AMAP design with an added phrase dreamed up by yours truly and a little pair off scissors dangling off the 'S' stitched 1/1. A little heart on both the signature square and main square and waalaa!

Sue says "Round #9 -- from Lisa S., a beautiful silhouette of a stitcher done in a gorgeous blue." So glad you liked what I stitched for you, Sue. :-)

Here is a nifty little necklace and wallet offered in one contest on the Stitch Pink Blog <-----please click the link and visit this great site and readwhat Stitch Pink is all about.

And in another contest is this adorable little pinpillow. Click on the Stitch Pink Blog <----link

and leave a comment if you would like to win either of these wonderful gifts in honor of breast cancer awareness month.

New and notable :-)

I recently joined the Stitch Pink Blog and proudly display the logo on my own blog. It's a wonderful feeling being a part of this special online stitching community. Thanks to Meari for her helping me get in touch with Kim and thanks to Kim for making me a member of the Stitch Pink blog. Gentle reminder, don't forget your mammograms and self breast exams.

Not too long ago (back in August, lol), I was awarded the 'I Love Your Blog' Award by my friend, Dawn. Thank you, Dawn. I also love your blog and quite a few (lol) others. Every single blogger from the Fair & Square Friendship Exchange is awarded this as well because I have enjoyed and spent many an hour viewing their stitching and reading.

I treated myself to...

...a few new books. From left to right:

Crafting Cloth Dolls by Gourley, a wonderful author and dollmaker: the patterns in the book do not require enlarging, and the instructions are quite easy, even for the beginner.

Sew Pretty Christmas HomeStyle, a Tilda book: I love pink and red, and she has over 35 crafts to make and the patterns in this book also do not need enlarging. There are pigs, geese, pixie dolls, angels, hearts, birds, etc...all things I love and I especially like that she doesn't rely on the traditional red and green for Christmas.

The Sampler Motif Book by Brenda Keyes: this book is chock full of motifs and samplers and ideas for finishing techniques. The best thing aside from the designs in this book is that I got it from PaperbackSwap.com basically for FREE! Cost me 1 credit, ha!

Lacy Crochet by Shufu-To-Seikatsu Sha: I was raised sewing and crocheting at my grandmother's knee, and although cross-stitching is my favorite type of needlework, crochet is right up there. The very best thing about this book is that instead of written crochet instructions the author uses diagrammatic instructions.

Fair & Square Exchange from Sue W!

Today in the mail I received another set of squares from my partner Sue W as part of our Fair and Square Friendship Exchange. I absolutely love what Sue stitched for me: on her postcard to me she said it's a Brittercup design. I had seen this stitched and wanted to stitch it for myself 'someday', but now I don't have to! She embellished the design square with a tiny pair of scissors, so cute...thanks so much, Sue! (Did I mention that I love these exchanges? :-P)

Short thread trouble?

I think many of you already do this, but I just discovered a way to end the dilemma (a dilemma for me, trivial to some, lol) of the short thread trouble at the end of a color. Ok, here's the scenario: you have, say, a stitch or two left in this particular color and you hate the idea of starting a new thread only to have to cut it after that last stitch or two...so I though if I slid the needle under the neighboring completed stitches, *then* thread the needle with the last bit of short thread hanging off, *then* pull it under those neighboring completed stitches, I'd save myself rethreading the needle with a brand new thread of the same color. Ok, I admit, probably my thriftiness .... :-P

What do you think, trivial, or a neat little trick?

Prowler!

The other day as I was doing dishes, yes, by hand, lol , I spied this little prowler at our back slider door! Marshmallow was napping, and as soon as he (Marsh) spotted this kitty he jumped off his chair and ran the intruder down the back stairs and all the way out the the edge of the property near the stream, and the two of them had a mewling and posturing match for about 1/2 an hour, lol.

This is a smallish neighborhood and we all know each other and each others pets, but even though this little one had a collar, no one seems to know who s/he is.

Pillow finish and some sweet finds!

Meet 'Ellie', rescued from a local thrift shop. She is an adolescent bunny who looks like she was either made in hurry, or perhaps by a child. She isn't stuffed tightly and her clothing is sort of haphazard. But, because she is who she is ( a bunny), she was rescued and added to the ever growing bunny colony in my home, which I *will* take pictures of at some point. Oh, Ellie was .50 cents, lol. Imagine?

Below are a few sweet finds which I added to my crafting/stitching stash of goodies. The stitching (La D Da's-A Rose is a Rose- a freebie design) on the pillow in the picture with Ellie was done by CathyB, my first Fair and Square Exchange partner. Since I am in a finishing technique mode, and being the pillow enthusiast that I am---I made it into a little pillow-- the fabric is a cotton calico with little roses on it and the trim is some that Lillie sent me as a PIF. It works perfectly!

And the back: I sewed a little pocket out of the signature square CathyB stitched, trimmed it, added a pearly button, laminated the note she sent, and added one of my own dried roses. The chicken on the left is something I sewed a few months back from a pattern I found in a 1980's craft mag that was free from the library.

A cute little design rescued from a local thrift shop for .50 cents! Appears that it was stitched on muslin free hand in cross stitch. Unfortunately no date or location, but precious just the same.

Another find for my bunnies and/or dolls (now that I think of it, even some stitching), for a whopping .50 cents!

Hanging pillow finish!

This is a piece I stitched about a year ago, and could never decide on a finishing technique. It's called 'With the Heart' a Whimsey & Wit design. Being in a finishing technique mode, I made it into a pillow, but a hanging pillow using a heart shaped wire the I removed from something else, so I suppose it's partly recycled.

The fabric on the back is a checkered homespun exactly like the fabric trim in the picture below.

I used off white cotton lace, fabric homespun trim, antique buttons, and a silver dangling heart on the right side of it for fun. I'm very happy with the way it came out. (click on picture to make image larger).

Stitched on 28 or 32 count linen, not sure of color using DMC cotton threads. My favorite part of this design aside from the saying is the oddly shaped hearts. :-)

Happy Mail Day!

Yesterday I received my Halloween Round 2008 squares from my Fair & Square Exchange from my partner Paula C: imagine my surprise when I opened the envelope to find that we stitched the exact same design for each other using basically the same fabric and threads! I absolutely love them, Paula, thank you! The leaf is from our front yard.

Here's what I stitched for Paula: with, of course, a signature square.

Seems we both were crazy about the design perhaps another type of exchange like 'stitch the same thing for another stitcher' is in order, lol.

I am really loving these exchanges, they allow us to work on our own projects as well as exchange smalls with a special partner :-)

Alanis!

I just love this, Alanis looks fantastic with a little more weight on her. Great music, live performance, involved audience, wow! ;-)

Fun!

Our breakfast this morning, farina with butter and black pepper. Kind of a family tradition, I can remember my parents & grandparents making it for my brother & me, and now I make it for my family :-)

No one tagged me for this, but in my blog sojourns I came across it on Michele B's blog and thought it would be fun to do the one-word answer questionnaire ( I also altered the rule a bit by adding that you answer with whatever comes into your mind first), then I'm off to stitch and watch movies "Mothman Prophecies" and "Vampires".

Try this it's quite fun.

1. Where is your cell phone? pocketbook
2. Your significant other? M
3. Your hair? black
4. Your mother? M
5. Your father? A
6. Your favorite thing? kids
7. Your dream last night? forgot
8. Your favorite drink? water
9. Your dream/goal? accomplishment
10. The room you’re in? den
11. Your hobby? stitching
12. Your fear? nothing
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? alive (lol)
14. What you’re not? confrontational
15. Muffins? Chocolate
16. One of your wish list items? samplers
17. Where you grew up? Ct
18. The last thing you did? chocolate
19. What are you wearing? combination
20. Favorite gadget? needle
21. Your pets? cat
22. Your computer? HP
23. Your mood? great
24. Missing someone? C
25. Your car? cadi
26. Something you’re not wearing? bra
27. Favorite store? thrift
28. Like someone? yep
29. Your favorite color? pink
30. When is the last time you laughed? morning
31. Last time you cried? morning

Autumn Squares Received...

by my Fair and Square Exchange partner, Melita. I'm so glad to know she loves them. They were a fun and easy stitch. A small design by Brightneedle, stitched on 32 count antique white linen using cotton DMC threads. I especially like the little leaves on the tree, and the little girl, oh so cute! Melita said she will finish the squares into a cube.

I am really loving these exchanges :-)

A Wee Finish and WIP!

From Country Cross Stitch Magazine, October 2008 issue. I stitched a motif from a larger design on 32 count linen using cotton DMC threads 2/2. Below is the picture from the mag next to my stitched piece.

Here is the other sewing machine I've started stitching from the same chart:

Oh, note to Meari, these are the 6 x 6 q-snaps, the design size is 40 or so stitches by 50 or so stitches. I doubled up on the felt because the linen is thin. I love using the 6 x 6 q-snaps for this size project, the only drawback is when you get to the ends of the design when ending or starting a new thread, you may have to slide the clamp off the q-snap to allow the needle to pass straight under the existing stitches so as not to disturb them and loosen them too much. I left about 2 inches around the design size for finishing and to lay over the q-snap so the clamp can hug it properly and securely.

ZZZZZZZZZZ........

Shhhhh, snap! then.....

Look how puffy he is, lol.

Fair & Square Halloween round...

...squares that I stitched for my partner, Paula C were received, and she loves them! The design is from the JCS Halloween issue. I just loved stitching that weird cat. Stitched on 32 count raw linen using silk, GAST and DMC threads. I'm not a big satin stitch fan, but these didn't come out so bad afterall, lol.

The Fair and Square Friendship Exchange blog can be found here.

RAK Rampage, lol!

My sweet friend, Dawn, received the lil kitty and beaded fob I made for her. It is such a joy for me to make sentimental little things for my special friends.

I also made her a card which can be seen here. I scanned the finished gift onto cardstock paper using the magazine page as background, ripped the edges added "pawprints", and a few remnants of materials used.

I used a cute pattern from a 1998 Leisure Arts magazine to sew the kitty (gingham and denim) and stitched a little kitty playing with yarn on it's body (32 count linen). The buttons are from my grandmother's collection. Ribbon and a couple of beads as embellishment, and kitty was complete. I love the effect.

She did a great job of photographing what I sent. It earned a seat in Dawn's place of honor. LOL, I was longing to see it there. :-P

More thoughtfulness!

(click photo for larger view)

My sweet friend, Meari, known to most of us in our online stitching community sent me these adorable miniature quilt supplies. What a thoughtful thing to do. Thank you , Meari!

Thoughtfulness...

MelissaB has kindly awarded me the Brilliante Weblog Award. Just the thought of another stitcher thinking of me and visiting my blog is thoughtful enough, and I appreciate it. I have decided to use this award in a new way--to those who are new to me and/or have taken out the time to leave a comment/email, sort of a 'hi, Lisa!' --so I pass it along to:

Andrea- (prounounced Ondrea, not ANDrea) Deep Fried Cupcake- who is new to me and we share so many interests: she stitched Fishes and Bait, BitterFlower Sampler, likes bunnies and is an avid reader with a great wishlist of books. Her pugs are incredibly cute! "Hi, Andrea!"

Donnasews- who is also new to me. She loves samplers and has done some gorgeous stitching. I am not sure how I came across her blog called Simpler Times. I feel so at home there with pictures of her kitty, baking, and quilts. "Hi Donna!"

A Stitch In Time-Tammie-stitcher who is new to me. Her blog has lots of pictures of her children and stitching. Her post regarding PIF's and RAK's made me think about how we as an online stitching community can make newer members feel more a part of things, I'm still thinking (this may take awhile, lol), but I wanted to recognize her on my blog because her post touched me and made me think. "Hi Tammie!"

Anne S-not new to me, but as busy as she is continues to provide us with the Focus on Finishing blog with tons of contributions from stitchers from all over the world chock full of complimentary tutorials. "Hi Anne!"

Ladies, thank you all for your blogs & sharing.

Oh, lastly, should you choose to share, (and yes, I think this should be a choice) this award, there are a few guidelines: and they are only guidelines...

1. Put the logo on your blog

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs (I did 5)

4. Add links to those blogs on yours

5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

WIP update! (& disaster )

I am always admonishing my family and visitors to not drink or eat near my needlework...and who is the one that spilled diet pepsi on my BOF Bitterflower Sampler WIP? Umm, yea...me! So, immediately after it happened, I took the piece(s), (yes more than one was affected, grrr) off their q-snaps and immediately ran cold water over the areas that were already becoming stained....above is the BOF Bitterflower Sampler...and the GAST have bled.

So here are my choices: restitch the entire thing, continue stitching, and when finished, just immerse the whole thing in cold water to get the same 'bled' effect overall. (You know, when you get lemons, make lemonade instead of cursing the whole thing, lol).

You know, I am not really all that upset over this, just that it's an inconvenience that made me stop the whole stitching process.

For those of you wondering, no I don't pre-rinse my overdyed threads before using...I might consider it after this episode.Below is Plum Street Samplers 'Fishes and Bait' which also succumbed to the soda spilling episode...but alas there is a merciful stitching angel watching over me because I was able to get all the staining out, and I'm using DMC cotton threads which are colorfast. :-)

I love this design, the mermaid is my favorite part!

It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood...

Coming from Route 1, a main strip in eastern Ct, up this gorgeous winding road, at the end is this area:

This is an apple orchard, which I think the owners may eventually grow corn in to rotate crops.

After you take a right here, this road leads to my house

My street, with lots of beautiful trees...we live at the end, last house on the right.

What is this?

I'll call him Luther, but I have no idea what kind of creature he is. For all I know he may be a she. Here are some closeups:

Very large, long greenish wings, 6 legs, wide set eyes...

It's arrived!

During one of my online jaunts, clicking furiously from one site to another and from one blog to another I came across a little entrepreneur named Elizabeth who's Mom happens to be Monique of inside number twenty .

(btw, that flower is a zucchini! Pretty, eh?)

and here is whats inside from Elizabeth

Entitled: 'cat in the mirror 2'

Purchased here @ Monique and Elizabeth's etsy shop.

camera fun!

We love to grill all year round...especially in summer

Ok....thems the corn pix...now for more food...

The above is my Dad's plate of food, before....

....and after, LOL!

and yes, my family is beginning to think I am taking this camera/blogging thing a bit too far, I wonder whatever gave them that idea, lol.

Tina pretty ballerina #2

This is another freebie design from 'The Dancefactory" site. There are a series of 8 different ballerinas in different dance positions. I used 28 count Monaco evenweave stitched 1/1 with silk and cotton threads. Embellished with tiny brown/gold beads for her ballet slippers, and a cute bow and some lace. Of course she had to have a fob-type accoutrement:

These accessories are so easy to make, and a great outlet for ones creativity. Imagine all the pretty color combinations, themes, and names you can give them?

Wanna make one? Go here. I used this excellent tutorial from Focus on Finishing.

Another warm, heartfelt thank you...and...

..to all the stitchers with and without blogs who have allowed me to enjoy their stitching, gifts, creativity, friendship, warmth, and kindness over the past few years. I view literally hundreds of blogs, mostly stitching, in a months time. (as most of us do, lol).

In reading Jennifer's post -Giving Out Awards, I felt moved to post a bit about how I feel about awards:

I have received 3 awards from stitchers and it pleased me very much. I know there are so many more awards out there that I haven't received, but I don't feel bad about it. To me stitching is a joyful activity and blogging is fun. It's like a wee pat on the back to say, 'hey you did good!' , and that some sweet stitcher was thinking about me.

I've viewed American blogs, Italian, French, Spanish, Malaysian, Finnish, Japanese, etc etc etc...and on those blogs are links and blogrolls which I have clicked on, loved, and then clicked again and again and again to find myself 3 hours later in a daze of excitement about what I've learned and what I've seen, complete with ohhhh's & ahhhhh's! Many things added to my faves, etc..

At one point I thought I could actually keep a blogroll to recognize other blogs and provide a listing for those viewing my blog and soon discovered that this is an impossible task. Many of you, or rather, most of you who have made it to my blog have gotten here via a link/blogroll, because I left a comment on your blog, a search for 'whatever', or because of my participation in a stitchers group/s. Or, even better---serendipitously stumbled here :-) And I thank you for being here. :-)

I can't always leave comments on all the blogs I visit, I lurk on some, and I always comment on others...oh, and rather than to keep so many on my faves, I keep a few that have encyclopedic-sized blogrolls and use theirs, lol. Clever, eh?

I've even seen my blog listed on blogs I hopped to from a blog I read regularly, and even from blogs I've never read before....there I am, lol. This in and of itself is so cool.

What's even greater is the networking and friendships that develop as a result of blogging, blog hopping and leaving even the smallest comment, the "I've been here and wanted to say hi." comment.

So, in taking a little advice from Jennifer--- what I have decided to do, short of a full-blown blogroll is to perhaps on a weekly basis mention some blogs I read, some I lurk on, and some that are new to me and label them with the same label (haven't decided what it will be yet).

As Jen puts it, a small, wise investment to pick a few blogs , post them &----As I put it: for the future of stitching.

So as a warm thank you to seasoned stitchers, and a warm welcome to new stitchers, look for my posts regarding 'a little post means alot'. :-)

a heartfelt thank you...

...to each and everyone of you who has taken the time to view my blog entries and comment, and to those of you who haven't commented but view, oh and to those of you who email me with questions about this and that...thanks, really, it means alot and keeps me inspired to stitch and share.

marsh thanks you too!

I love thee pillow finish :-)

I used the lace I received from freecycle, some cute embellishments, and finished the 'I Love Thee' freebie off as a hanging pillow/ornament/pin cushion, etc...lol. The endearment of "I love thee" reminded me of my love for my DH and our wedding many years ago, so I paired it up with one of our wedding invitations.

I stuck a pretty rose in the back so it wouldn't look so plain, but sometimes plain is good.

Another RAK received...by....

....Mercy/pReTtY iN pInK. Mercy left me a comment on the Mama quail pin cushion post that disappeared and it touched my heart that she loved it so much that I decided to make one for her.

Her name is Ella and she has found a new home at Mercy's with some other fine featherd friends. Makes me happy to know she is loved and appreciated. You are very welcome, Mercy.

RAK received...by....

...our lil' needlecrafter, Lillie. I was the recipient of a PIF from this sweet woman and wanted to show my appreciation for what she sent me, so I sent her the butterfly pinkeep and it's coordinating scissor fob and I got word that Lillie received them recently and loves them.

This makes me so happy--I love surprising people with a handmade gift. The response is priceless and it tickles me, hee hee. Lillie, you are very welcome!

LHN Rose Sampler

This was a finish awhile back, but I am unhappy with the color of the alphabet, I feel it's too light. I am stuck between restitching the alphabet, or perhaps stitching over it with 1 strand of a darker color....the word 'Rose' is fine, it's the other letters that I think are too light, ugh!

It was stitched on 28 count linen, color unknown, using DMC cotton threads, 2/2. I am planning on finishing it with lace, and whatever else inspires me at the time.

New stash!

My LNS, ThistleNeedleworks, had it's midsummer madness sale recently and here's a sampling of what I purchased, *and* saved $40.00! :-)

As I post this, it's raining in buckets here and I love it!

I bought 5 sets of q-snaps, 2- little ones- 6x6, 2- 8x8, and 1- 11x11. I can mix and interchange them to suit all of my stitching needs.

Interesting what catches the eye at one time, and what doesn't at other times. Example: 'new' designs may not appeal to me when they are new, but then appeal to me after they've been out awhile like The Drawn Thread's '12 House Sampler'. I am so drawn to the little houses. I may not stitch it as a full project, but stitch the houses as small's, or incorporate them into another design.

Oh, and Homespun Elegance's 'May Our Handwork Fulfill...', again, I fell in love with the separate motifs.

La D Da's 'Five Fine Roosters'-it's screamming to be stitched and find a home in my kitchen.

The tombstone designs are new to me. I was never drawn to them, but after visiting the local historic cemetary, learning about grave/tombstone rubbings, I became very interested in the stitched versions of these things such as Carriage House Samplings 'Prudence Wilcome's Tombstone Angel.'

Brightneedle's designs are so delicate and pretty that I invested in quite a few of their charts.

Milady's Needle keychain samplers-perfect for my dollhouse :-P

and of course threads galore! etc.................... what a rush!

Plum Street Samplers

Plum Street Samplers-Fishes and Bait

This is one of those designs that caught my eye and I not only had to have it, but I had to begin stitching it immediately! I fell head over heels in love with the mermaid and her merman, the little fishies, and turtles. I've always liked mermaid designs, but only certain ones have caught my eye enough to want to stitch them. Oh, and the saying:

~~~~~~

Fishes and bait

Fishes and bait

when a woman marries

then trouble's her fate

~~~~~~~~~~~

LOVE that! lol

Nestled in 11x11 q-snaps, protected with felt then stitched on 30 count Melinda cloth in 'Pink Blush' using all DMC threads 2/2.

In fact, I love finding fabric remnants and adapting them to designs I choose to stitch.

Example: the melinda cloth I am using for this project was only $6.12 for a 17 3/4 x 25 1/2 size piece. I only had to use a 15 x 15 1/2 sized piece for this design, so I have plenty left over for another project or a couple of smaller projects! Always the bargain hunter. :-)

Bitter Flower Sampler

Birds of a Feather: Bitter Flower Sampler

One of my recent stash aquisitions from my LNS, Thistle Needleworks. I absolutely *love* the colors of this sampler as well as the motifs and design:

the extra- large flower, the bee, and of course the alphabet. When I stitch the flower I will show closeups...the color of the flower is so fleshy and realistic.

The fabric is 36 count BOF linen in 'Barn Owl'

Threads: GAST & DMC

stitched 2/2

Small finish!

This is a small finish I stitched for myself as a quick fix. Entitled, 'New Love" --part of the BBD Schoolgirl Sampler Series, it was such a pleasure to stitch, as I love samplers & hearts. Stitched on 30 count R&R Repro fabric 'Sleepy Hollow', using GA 'Raspberry Parfait' & 'Rhubarb' 2/2. I adapted it to my own likes by adding a birdie. Finishing technique to be determined.

This is the bottom half of the complete design.

~Thistle Manor update~

Awhile back I started this freebie from Blackbird designs called 'Thistle Manor'. I decided to pick it up again as I am having a stitcher startitis surge, lol. So, the 2 pictures are to show a bit of progress. Now securely nestled in their new 8x8 q-snaps, TM will be finished hopefully by the end of July. Stitched on 28 count linen, color unknown, using GAST, 2 strands of 'Blueberry' 2/2.

Kreativ Blogger Award!

...from Meari! The idea of blogging is cool enough, but then to do it with a touch of 'kreativity' is fun! I've seen so many outstanding blogs, some simple, others more complex, and enjoy so many of them for what makes them unique. A person's blog style, color choice, and content allows us to know more about each other across the miles and foster friendships. So I humbly accept this award for whatever reason makes me 'kreativ'.

and passing it onto these 5 'kreativ's' :

Dawn- Stitching Now with Eeyore

Ky-Shernette's Creations

Lillie- Lil' Needlecrafter

Mercy-pReTtY iN pInK

Sonda-Who has time to stitch????

Thank you Meari!

Meet Rita!

This is Rita, another cloth bunny. Rescued from Goodwill for a mere .50 cents!!! Some sweet soul made her, clothed her and made her so pretty, and then may have given her as a gift...I can only surmise that either the receiver grew up, or simply didn't want her. She is in very good condition, clean, and only minus a pink rose on her left ear. She now joins the bunny clutch which sits on a shelf above my sewing machine. :-)

Bent Creek Bluebird Sampler

This is an older finish that I've taken pictures of with the new camera and bringing forward from my old blog. Stitched on 32 count natural linen using GAST, embellished with buttons, lace and finished into a flatfold.

Modeled by our new bunny bought at Goodwill for .50 cents...I can't believe some things. Clothes and all. Pictures of her to follow.

French freebie finish!

Another beautiful freebie from Swappons (Be Glad-Sajou), a French blog. I don't speak or understand French, but from what I can decipher from icons and numbers there are numerous downloadable pdf's which contain what appears to be monthly alphabet samplers, some with flowers, some with other motifs...I just love them all.

Here is my favorite finished as a pillow with ivory lace & pearls & pretty organdy bows.

Butterfly freebie pinkeep!

This little freebie is from Acerca del bordado…. Entitled 'Metamorphosis', the downloadable pdf contains a series of 4 butterflies emerging at different stages. I envisioned them in either pastel overdyed threads or black silhouette as seen above.

Stitched on 28 count pewter Jobelan using 2 stands black silk thread 1/1. Embellished with lace, organdy ribbon, pearl tipped pins, and the button is an antique from my grandmother's stash. A quiet brilliant little butterfly trying its wings on a moonlit night --button is the moon :-)

And it's companion fob:

Country Garden Roses Finish!

This was a project I started, it became a UFO, and then I decided that it stands lovely on its own. The fob-I call 'rose fob'.

Here is the original design from Cathie's site- Country Garden Stitchery:

I fell in love with this design, and most of her others...but for some reason, put it down for awhile and now have decided to make a little pillow or pinkeep out of it, instead of keeping it in the dreaded UFO pile. Cathie marries delicate pastel watercolors with cotton fabric using a gardening theme for her designs. So beautiful.

Nina pretty ballerina # 1 !

This is a freebie design from 'The Dance factory" site. Not sure how I found it, but there are a series of 8 different ballerinas in different dance positions. I used 28 count Monaco evenweave stitched 1/1 with silk and cotton threads. Embellished with tiny pale pink glass beads for her ballet slippers, and a cute bow and some lace.

I also made a fob to go with this pin pillow:

Very fun, easy, and satisfying to make! More ballerinas to follow, look for all 8!

LHN-Herb Garden finish!

~Little House Needleworks~

~Herb Garden~

I'd had this in mind to do for awhile, and finally finished it. Seems I've adapted a rotation system without even realizing it, hence the number of finishes!

This adorable design was stitched on 32 count Jobelan fabric from Wichelt in 'Blueberry'. All threads used were DMC cotton. I used Flauntr to edit the picture by adding a soft glow, text and the frame.

It actually looks good finished as a memory box of sorts, hmm...remember this 'finish' is all virtual.

Another Freebie Finish!~

Another finish, a very cute design, I love thee, a Midsummer Night design freebie. I started stitching this in February, then on the plane to Mexico, a little stitching in Mexico, then alittle stitching on the plane home...finally finished! I think the fabric is 28 count, could be 30, linen, and I used DMC cotton threads...

I may embellish it a bit with beads, buttons or lace, and perhaps make it a pillow or pinkeep.

Miss Mary Mack

Finally finished Miss Mary Mack by La D Da! I love her hair and shoes. I haven't decided on a finishing technique. Too busy playing with Flauntr. I'm a real pillow/pinkeep lover, though.

Stitched on 36 count BOF fabric using 1 strand of black silk thread.

Oh what fun!

Playing with the new camera and some free online photo editing applications, these were created using Flauntr. I am very pleased with the softened effect the text embellishment. Now I just want to learn a few more things.

Pretty find...

....for .25 cents! I call it an herb heart box, it's lined with handmade paper with nubbies and a soft texture...

....now, what to put in it!

Lovely lace!

...and free from my freecycle group! Was being thrown away! Another rescue :-) Thank you to freecycle.

How does *your* garden grow?

Cosmos, an annual, was a gift for Mother's Day from my children. Blooming like mad and so beautiful.













One of my first pepper plant flowers, with a guest.

My peace lily closeup, isn't she brilliant? There are approximately 5 lilies on this plant which was given to me by my older daughter's music teacher for my volunteer work with the school.

Below is Lilie's white powder/pollen on one of her leaves.

Marsh...lol

Of course Marsh has to see what's going on with the new quail. Sniffing indignantly, and deciding if it's worth his time!

More quail pictures/info

I've received several emails asking about the quails...the pattern is a McCall's Crafts pattern:


Gooseberry Hill Designs-'Fine Feathered Friends' #6349. The pattern contains several versions of the quails: Old Quail, cardinal, Mother Quail, and baby quail. At this point my quails are beakless, because I have to figure out how to give them a decent beak. Yes there are directions, but...I'm not a direction follower...lol. Thanks for your emails and compliments.
Some details of the quail-tails...I would have never thought to decorate the quails with pins n this manner...so my assistant, younger daughter does that.

Pretty, eh? She also arranged the pretty pins on one of my pin cushions.

Addendum to Calling all PIF'ers!

In my previous post I stated that I responded to 3 PIF's and owed 9 PIF gifts...just a quick change, I actually responded to 2 PIF's and owe only 6 PIF gifts...(how did I get roped into this?, lolol!) 3 is a bit more than I can handle anyway.

So, as it stands I only owe 6 PIF gifts and the same rules apply, with only one tweak...I'll take names until the end of July 08. That will give me until July 31st, 2009.

PS....additional tweak: you can sign up and then just choose 2, instead of 3 to handmake something for. It will still count as continuing the PIF tradition.

Calling all PIF'ers!

Pay It Forward--not sure where the term originated....but...

I responded to 3 stitchers offering to PIF. Lillie, Sonda and Yuko. I absolutely *love* receiving handmade items from the heart, so I will now PIF to 9 individuals that's 3 for each PIF I have responded to, who would like to carry on the tradition and receive a handmade item from me within the next 365 days (that's a year, thank goodness, lol).

*** This is how it works ***If you would like to receive something made by me within the next 365 days, please comment on this post to say that you are interested.

*The rule is "the first three" persons will receive something. But in my case, the first 9!

Carrying on the tradition means if you sign up for a PIF to receive a handmade item, you should reciprocate and send a PIF to 3 who respond to your post. :-)

My first cloth doll!

Miriam Gourley is an author and cloth dollmaker. I have long had an interest in making cloth dolls. So when I came upon one of her books at the library, I was so excited and I tried my hand at making a simple one.
This has started a new hobby for me, and I have several more dolls in the making (one is next to her). It''s a very exciting, relaxing, and therapeutic hobby, I'm loving every minute of it.

She is made of unbleached muslin, wool yarn for hair, and calico cotton fabric for her clothing. I haven't named her just yet, but I like the name Suzannah! Her face is painted with acrylic paint for the lips, black sharpie permanent marker was used for the eyes, and my blush was used for her rosy cheeks, lol. She stands approximately 10-12 inches tall.

Kissing Cousins!

Last week I posted this adorable little quail I made from a McCalls pattern, and apparently something went wrong with Blogger and it was either lost or swallowed up. So, without further adieu, I present my old fashioned quails as pincushions:

The quail on the right was my first attempt with this pattern, the quail on the left was my second attempt. Each is unique and decorated by my younger daughter with pretty pearl head pins, some a lovely heart shape. Shhh, one of these is a gift to an unsuspecting stitcher because of her kind and thoughtful comment on the swallowed up post.

Here is quail #1-----

I'm really happy with the way they came out. Even with my sewing skills I had a little trouble with the joining of the neck area and the side body pieces (as seen in picture)...oh and I wanted the heads rounder, so....they are flat headed cute quails, lol.

Here is quail #2------ resting in my grandmothers large handpainted bowl she used to use for serving spaghetti and meatballs. I now use the bowl for my beads.

These were really fun and relatively easy to make. I plan on making more!

Succulent!

As I was eating a peach it dawned on me that I'd love to convey how delicious it tasted, so I played with my new camera and...I managed to capture the color, glistening juice, and if we only had a feature for fragrance...lol!

Sunday Dinner..

Homemade, (is there any other kind?) pasta sauce

Fresh herbs from my herb garden--from left to right

oregano, parsley, and basil (even though the canned tomatos have basil, I add fresh as well.)

and of course garlic...

all sauteed in evoo (extra virgin olive oil)

canned tomatos added (I also like fresh tomatos in season, must be in season for them to taste right in a sauce)

simmering...for about 45 miutes on low heat.

Stash! (You bought more what?!?!)

Added to my stash..these are 'don't
think twice, must have's':

Miniature kits

What I'm stitching...

I've always admired blogs where the pictures have a soft focus or feathered edge so I'm playing with a new free download to edit pictures, "Picasa2" . I think I like this, lol. It even allows you to decide the amount soft focus. The little things in life intrigue and thrill me.

LHN's 'Herb Garden', perfect for this time of year.

For those of you with good eyes and a penchant for detecting mistakes...can you see it? And, I'm *not* going to frog it!

A little blurry, but clearer as I practice. I love that bee. See above :-)

Amateur photographer gone mad...

My first tries at closeups using my new digital camera, ooooo, I could get to love this, I feel like a professional photographer :-P, crisp, clear closeups... above---first tomahhhto flowers! Below are first green bell pepper buds...

First eggplant bud!

Lemon Verbana

Parsley

Large dew drops on pepper plant leaves

Bleeding Heart

Daffodil and dry grass, lol...should have cropped that out.

Thank you Lillie!

In the mail the other day...

This wonderful package made it's way...

To my home in the USA...

Stitched in a loving and heart-felt way...

By a Lil' Needlecrafter from a land far away...

Just look at what Lillie sent me: A beautiful postcard with a special message to me, 3 cards of trim in various colors and designs, a carved bookmark, a skein of thread in a gorgeous saffron color, a lil zippered pouch, and... lastly and best of all, an adorable stitched butterfly:

...finished into a tape measure! Look how pretty the back is with the batik fabric, encased with a pretty pearly edging : (which with my elderly camera couldn't get decent pictures of)

But, if you click here you can see the pearly edging she used.

This was a delightful gift from a lovely and generous lady. Thank you Lillie!

Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack...update!

Dark, blurry and poor quality...I really need to either get a new camera, or do something about my photography skills, or lack thereof...so here is La D Da's Miss Mary Mack . I 've decided to *not* stitch the border, possibly do the words, and haven't decided on a finishing technique yet.

More to follow...

A gift from KathyR!

As part of my Fair Squares Exchange, I received these lovely stitched squares from KathyR in Australia. She stitched a beautiful peacock for me (which I love!), and sent me art silk threads, a lovely card and a picturesque magnet which I will hang on our frig along with so many other things we have there! Thank you, KathyR!~

My gift to Meari!

Meari, is a sweet friend and I decided that a sweet friend needs a sweet gift from me. I had internally decided that 2008 was my year of 'selfish stitching'. But, I have made more gifts than I have in previous years, lol!

So continuing with the technique of mixed media art & stitching, I created this little pinkeep/ornament & scissor fob/whatever you want it to be thingy.

The card is the stitched gift & other items scanned then printed on cardstock. Fabric and/or embellishments are used such as ruffly lace, buttons, pins, ribbons, beads etc:

inside of the card:

a cute collage using fabric scraps, miniatures, pins, buttons, fabric, paper, beads buttons, etccccccc....

Mostly the same objects plus a few here and there, lol.

back of the card:

Design scanned onto cardstock with fabric and a stitching hoop:

And the stitched gift: "Amitie"/friendship freebie design by Windy Willows, stitched on 28 count white evenweave 'Monaco' using DMC threads.

This is Windy Willows homepage, she asks that if we use her site to link to her homepage:

Windy Willows

Finished into a pinkeep, embellished with pale pink ruffly lace, pink ribbon, round pearl head pins and heart shaped pearl head pins, a white, elongated pearl bead on top and bottom.

The scissor fob was made with an assortment of beads in various shaped/colors and jewelry findings topped off with a heart charm, and graced with a little pink bow.

Meari, loves it and I am glad that we are friends!

Pooped from posting...

...and I am off!

Needlework Stand!

This was my major purchase at my first ever miniaturist show in Danbury, Ct back in March 2008. Care to guess what I paid for it?

I shan't clog up this post with words....these pictures say it all!

Spinster Mack's bunny hutch!

Two adorable bunnies inhabit this hutch presently. Spinster Mack is in the background unpacking and getting organized, lol.

Meet Spinster Mack!

I know, she doesn't look very happy, but she's a spinster afterall, and this is exactly the look of I was going for. She is the proprietor of the needlework shop in progress. I dressed her myself, no small feat, (lol, pun intended!) My first attempt at dressing a doll in 1/12 th scale.

Here she is tending her bunny hutch:

Admiring her cross stitch sampler:

More admiring...

And another miniature needlework start!

As much as I love the look of a finished piece on silk gauze, especially the filling in of the background makes it look exquisite...I have decided that for awhile I will use evenweave and linen to stitch my miniature needlework pieces.

Needlepoint is very attractive, but I can't let go of my cross stitches for very long. With every horizontal stitch/continental stitch that goes into the intricate work of a miniature needlepoint piece, I sorely miss the going back over that first leg to complete a cross stitch. It's an emotional thing for me, lol, makes me feel complete!

That said, the above picture is the beginning of a miniature sampler stitched with 1 strand of DMC cotton thread over 1 thread of 40 count linen.

In future posts, you will see what sampler I am using as my guide.

Miniature Needlework Blocking!

One of the things keeping me busy these days is my miniature needlework. This is a picture of 'blocking' a completed piece so it lays properly and evenly after its been stitched. The damp piece is arranged so the corners are even as is the entire piece. I used pins to align the sides and edges...more to follow...

the pearl head pins give a good idea of scale...look at the wee people, lol.

Time for a 'Marsh' break--haha!

My gift to Dawn

Back in March, 08, my sweet friend, Dawn had a birthday and I made her a little something as a token of our friendship. Since I have this new fascination with mixed media art, I decided to make her a needlebook out of felt and bits, and a special mixed media card to go with it:

inside of needlebook:

inside of the card: 'a little stitching room of her own', lol.

close up of buttons and threads:

Fair and Square Exchange Sent to...

...Kathy R in Australia and she loves it!

Special card I made for KathyR: front

back of card:

Inside of card:

and a cute clothespin dolly, fun and easy to make!

Square up close, a La D Da freebie stitched on 32 count linen using DMC cotton threads.

Isn't he lovely?

One of my favorite actors is Ewan Mcgregor. I've never seen him with a full beard. Talk about lovely...here's another lovely....lol, haha...

Miniature needlework finish!!!

Finally, the Adam & Eve Sampler from Annelle Ferguson's book is finished and ready for blocking and framing. Stitched with 1 strand of DMC cotton threads on 40 count silk gauze, this sampler measures 1.5 inches across by 2 inches vertically. Congratulations to me!

BTW this isn't cross stitched, its needlepoint...I prefer cross stitching and future samplers *will* be cross stitched, but I *had* to try my hand at this.

As usual, I forgot to use an object for scale...but the picture was taken on handrail of the deck, so that should give an idea of size/scale.

Birthday gift received!

I received this wonderful package full of gifts from my sweet friend, Dawn, for my birthday!

She sent me a stitched heart which she incorporated into a homemade birthday card, a matching set of notebook, notepads, and pens, and one of her homemade thread dividers with a bunny in the center. Dawn, a big, sincere, heartfelt thank you to you for all your caring, thoughtfulness and most of all your friendship.

Here are some closeups:

Fair and Square Exchange Sent & Received!

I got word that my Fair and Square partner, Cathy B, received the squares I stitched for her, so now I can post the pix of them!

I'm so glad she liked what I sent, I must admit, I'm impressed with myself, lol!

I used a freebie design by With My Needle stitched on 32 count cream colored linen using Crescent Colours 'Cupid'.

The card I made for her was a copy onto tan colored cardstock paper of the stitching itself. I made a little sampler of the materials I used to stitch it, the fabric I sent her, and a few doo-dads. Creative juices flowing...lol!

Cover of card, copy of stitching on squares...

Inside of the card...a little sampler of sorts...

And the squares themselves. Cathy said she may make a friendship quilt from the squares she's received. I'll be doing pillows most likely to fuel my pillow fanticism....lol. But, a friendship quilt sounds so lovely!

Squares received from CathyB!

In today's mail, I received these gorgeous squares from my partner, CathyB!, through the Fair and Square Friendship Exchange run by Vonna. I'll be able to show you what I stitched for Cathy once she receives it.

Here are the close-ups. (I wish I were a better photographer)

I just love this design, how did she know I love roses, and have 25 rose bushes in my yard? Plus she send me a lovely card, a box of Hershey's Caocao Reserve truffles....which are gone already....lol, and a BlackBird Design chart called 'Where My Heart Blooms'.

and the second square, her name, location, and year.

Thank you, Cathy!

Miniature Needlework Update!

Here is the update on my Adam & Eve Sampler from Annelle Ferguson's book 'Traditional Needlepoint in Miniature', as of today.

The only thing I forgot to do was use a coin or something to show scale, rats! The lighting isn't too bad. And look at the progress I made. I'll tell you, I'm not crazy about stitching backgrounds, but once you see it done and how it makes your needlework come to life, it is a powerful activity, indeed.

A little history:

ok....I think you get the idea, lol. This photo is from 1/10/08. The sense of achievement is so superb doing miniature needlework. I have learned so much in the past few months about the world of miniatures, needlepoint, dolls, polymer clay (lots of pix to follow, please be patient, I know thousands of you are waiting for my photos, ha!)

He is Mama's baby!

Does your feline enjoy being babied? Does he or she like being swaddled and fussed over? Well, yours truely certainly does, and he even gave me a wink for the photo, lol!

Mailart from Lilian Received!

On 2/21/08, I received this beautiful mailart from Lilian!
It is a thread tote/needlebook/floss organizer. She stitched it using the hardanger technique. Looks so difficult, but turned out so beautiful. She also sent me threads, a little book with needles in it, a postcard with a picture of antique needlework, and a personal note about her stitching on the envelope she sent me. I love it and I am proud to add it to my mailart collection. Thank you, Lilian.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Lilian's sites, she also has 'My Aunts Attic'---loaded with wonderful freebies!

Ooooo, look what I bought!

Familiar scene at our home several times a week...lol...a bag from A.C. Moore, or Michaels with some craft supplies...oh the fun of it all... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ lol

Free Fabric!

Pretty fabric I received from a local freecycler. They are actually cotton calico dresses used in the 'Nutcracker' by the character, 'Clara'. What more could a craftstress (new word, keep up, please...lol) want? Great for miniature doll dresses or curtains...bed linens...like sheets, pillowcases, pillows, etc...vintage sachets, fabric embellishments on cards, and, and, and...

Hola!

From mexico! I'm really back home in the States, but I wanted to post this 'somewhat self portrait'. This was taken in Tulum, Mexico. I was waiting in the jeep while DH went inside this convenience store for soda and...

You Make My Day Award!

In my blog surfing, I've noticed a few adorable 'awards' going around. This is one of them. I' m not really one for initiating things, but I certainly don't mind participating, so...

...here is a sweet, kind and lovely little award that I received from Meari! Meari was my first online stitchy contact. Warm and welcoming into the group, she continues to be a kind, generous and thoughtful friend. Thank you, Meari.

Now I'll pass it onto is it 10 others? Let's see: (I did 12, lol)

Dawn

Cherie

Barb

Lelia

Jennifer

Simone

Rita

Lilian

Fay

Kathie

Anne S

Lillie

Each of these people know me in a different capacity and they know why they have made my day! Thank you ladies!

Sister to Incredible Mexican cross stitched find!

If they had more I would have bought them all! Marsh, say hello to all the nice people. After I took this picture, he jumped down off the sofa, "Ive had enough of this...." lol.

Pretty, eh?

My incredible Mexican cross stitched find!

Imagine finding a handmade sampler-type cross stitched authentic thingy in the middle of a semi-commercialized coastal town in Mexico. Well....here it is!

When in Mexico, we searched relentlessly for handmade cross stitched 'punta cross' and 'miniaturas'. Didn't find my kind of miniatures, but when we came across this item, I almost died from excitement! It measures approximately 7 feet long by 3 feet wide. Can be a shawl, throw, table runner, wall hanging, etc. It can be whatever you want it to be. And I wanted it! And I got it. "Lisa gets what Lisa wants", lol.

rose motif...

peacocks...

flower motifs...

dog motifs...

hens and leaves...

more peacocks....

the fringe benefits.... :-) (is that I own it!)

Miniature Needlework Shop WIP!

This is how far I have gotten with my dollhouse needlework shop. Not only is it a mini, its a one room shop, lol. I added on so it *will* have a backroom/storage area/kitchenette.

This project has and continues to bring me an incredible amount of joy and satisfaction.

Discovered I should use a ruler to show scale. The mini sampler, as you may recognize, is framed and ready for hanging. Here are some interesting details:

~The thread skeins were quite easy to make, I still think they should be a little smaller for 1/12th scale.

~The scissors are also a bit big for scale, but I made fobs for them out of beads, pictures will show up at some point.

~My Dad and I made the shelving on the left for the fabric bolts. Lace edging on shelves easily adhered with glue.

~Still need window treatments, and miniature finished items for display case and shelving right hand corner.

~ Still need to get close-ups of the threads, charts, and magazines available.

~Need to name shop.

~Spinster Mack's upstairs residence still needs to be done.

~Exterior will be the last to do.

Thimblinas...

...didn't get the Spanish name, so I call them thimblinas, lol. These handmade/ 'hecho a mano' mother of pearl inlaid thimbles are one of my finds in Tulum, Mexico. From left to right-a pear, cherry, apple and an iris.

I am very much/extremely/obssessed/compulsed to have authentic handmade ethnic needlework items in my possession, can you tell?

Miniature Pansy Purse!

Another miniature 'almost' finish for me...a purse with a cross stitched pansy as its motif. Cute, eh? Still needs a handle and possibly a tiny bead or two? I used 1 strand of DMC thread and the fabric is 28 count evenweave.

and the back

LoveBird Freebie WIP!

This lovely little design is a freebie. So many of us have fallen in love with it. The chart can be found here. I am stitching it on 28 count raw linen using DMC cotton threads. I am thinking about embellishments and a finishing technique.

My handsome gentleman

Don't mind the look on his face, he loves me and loves when I take pictures of him, lol.

Mexico!!!

After hedonistically enjoying life in Mexico, we have returned. But alas, memories...this photo about sums it up.... :-)

yours truely...I've seen arial views like this on many a blog, so I thought I'd give it a try! BTW, I live in these sandals.

Speaking of Tutorials....

...I have been asked to host a FAL (finish-a-long) weekend by Anne S of Focus on Finishing!

The flat fold tutorial will be held the weekend of April 12th & 13th. It will be my first, thank you Anne for asking.

Here is a listing of all the classes thus far if you are interested in learning some wonderful finishing techiques for your stitching projects.

I prefer posts with pictures, so here, lol:

Flat Fold Tutorial-up front and center!

I received a lovely email from Becky this past week:

"Hi there,

My mother and I recently attempted our first flat-folds using your online instructions. They worked! Pictures are attached. If you like, you may use them on your page to further illustrate the finished product.All stitching is by me, flat-fold assembly was mother-daughter teamwork, though!

Thanks! Becky"

So, here are the flat folds which Becky and her Mom made using my Flat Fold Tutorial!

Beautiful work, ladies...I love the lace you used as the frame and the fabric is very pretty, too.

Thank you both for the email and allowing me to use it and your photos on my blog to show off a bit, lol.

Mailart to Paulie Received!

Paulie, a stitchy friend from my Stitched Mailart Group, received the mailart I stitched for her and I am now able to post a picture of it. The theme was 'Friendship'. I am quite fond of the French designs, so I knew this was perfect for this mailart exchange. 'Amitie' means friendship in French. It is a freebie and can be found here .

the back...and...

...goodies inside. I made the card on a whim...scrap fabric, lace and threads glued on scrapbook cardstock paper. I just love homemade things.

Stitched on 28 count natural colored linen using DMC cotton threads. Embellished with white silky lace, ribbon, buttons, felt, charms and beads.

Final Erica Michaels monthy freebie!

Finally, the last in the freebie monthly series from Rainbow Gallery/Erica Michaels. For the December pillow, I used solid green fabric, charms, batting, and a red check wired bow to finish it off. Stitched on 14 count fiddlers cloth using DMC threads. The snowman's scarf is just red yarn, and the snow is batting. I love the way the series came out, *and* I'm glad it's over, lol.

Love this...

This is gorgeous...

Visit to Jane's Dollhouse & Miniatures!

On a cold and rainy Friday, we set out at 8 am, traveled about an hour and to our astonishment, came upon Jane's Dollhouse & Miniatures.

Set in the quaint 'cove' of Hamburg (inside Lyme), Ct, Jane's Dollhouse & Miniatures is a

nostalgic jump back to past simpler times. (just my style).

The proprietor, Jane, is a mature woman of, I would say 80ish, and runs this old-time general store with a somewhat unique & eclectic assortment of miniatures. Jane's grandfather ran this store before Jane started as proprietor in 1953.

I would venture to say that this is Jane's personal tribute to her family and her love of miniatures. Sort of a museum.

View from left front window from outside:

A bit closer:

(great chevron patterned mini afghan there)

Once you walk in, look to the right and you will see this:

Jane not only sells a few already built dollhouses, dollhouse furniture, and other dollhouse goodies, she sells books and booklets about the history of Lyme, Ct.

We were fascinated by Jane's readiness to share her miniatures and talk about her life in this small cove. She even has a miniature of her store when it was run by her grandfather when she was just a young girl., "H. L. Reynolds Co." situated behind her on a shelf. (thats her hand, lol).

Jane spoke with such pride about her family business and her miniatures. We spent several hours enjoying her company and admiring her small, but quaint selection of goods.

Below are pictures of the store, set back in earlier times, in miniature.

this must be her grandfather in miniature, lol.

We were completely surprised by this rare and unusual general store and I would recommend it if you are a history buff into miniatures and enjoy and appreciate the simpler things in life.

By the way, Jane's Dollhouses & Miniatures is advertised in the February 2008 issue of Miniature Collector.

Pillows, I love pillowssss!

I have decided within the next week or so to bring some of my livejournal posts forward to blogger. I'll photograph the next 6 in a group as well. This was a great easy and fun series to stitch, allowing the stitcher to take liberties and add/take away from the designs to make them his or her own. Here is the link: click here . Mind you, there are alot of freebies on that page, so you must scroll way down to see this series intermixed with other cute designs as well.

Below are as far as I have gotten --I am really proud of these pillows!

A word to the wise about December, which is a WIP---when starting a series, review *all* of the designs and colors called for because if it calls for black, white, or whatever, think--is that color going to show up on the fabric to your standards? I didn't think in these terms because it was my first series,, and it ends up that December calls for white. Ok, well on fiddlers cloth white just doesn't show up, so I had to make a decision...and you will see what that was another time...

Added 2/13/08, and I love it! not at all like the pattern, but this is where creativity comes into play. :-)

Silk Ribbon Embroidery

These two books I received from paperbackswap.com , a wonderful way to trade books of all kinds via the US mail service. I have started a silk ribbon embroidery project which I will post another time.

Dollhouse Beginnings!

Merry Christmas to meeeee....I received this dollhouse as a gift, and I've already made bed linens (crocheted, beaded, stitched), pillows, working on curtains, etc....it will house Spinster Mack, a disillusioned seamtress extraordinaire, who invariably looks alot like Miss Mary Mack (from post below, lol). She bought an old factory, refurbished it and will live upstairs and her needlework shop will be downstairs. Having just moved in she has to decorate, arrange her furniture, and set up her shop, as you can see.

It is actually 4 roomboxes arranged into square/rectangular structure. Oh, and she resides in Italy, hence the flat roof/veranda where she goes to pray, meditate and receive inspiration. There will be gardens, perhaps both flower and vegetable, birdbaths, and other accoutrements to an ascetic life.

This is incredible fun!!!!!

Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack, all......

MMM-WIP as of 1.10.08

..... and this is what she will look like very soon!

...dressed in black, black, black...with silver buttons, buttons, buttons, all down her back...

back.....



back.....

I fell head over heels in love with this La D Da design. I love her hair and her dress and shoes and everything about her!!!

She is being stitched with 1 thread of onyx needlepoint silk over 2 threads on 36 count 'Birds of a Feather' linen fabric. Color: Sparrow. This fabric is quite dark in person and photographs much lighter. There is a great border, but I'm not sure if I will stitch it or do my own thing, but there *will* be silver buttons, buttons, buttons, somewhere in this design!

Another Freebie Finish!~ November~

Here is Erica Michael's 2004 series of freebies from her Rainbow Gallery site. I used 14 count fiddlers cloth, and a combination of cotton DMC and silk threads. Add a couple of whimsical buttons, an oversized wired fabric ribbon and waa-laa! I'll be posting the entire year of pillows soon here and on the Freebie Gallery.

Miniature Fabric Stall!

This adorable WIP is my very first miniature 'structure' project. I cannot tell you how much fun this is! Still needs some finishing touches, and I have to think of a name for it, lol. See the sign primed and waiting to be adorned with a name?

I used the tweezers and my finger to show scale. This is a 1/12 project meaning 1 inch = 1 foot. So, if the woman running this stall is 5 feet tall, which she will be, she will be 5 inches tall.

Plus, I have a whole story in progress *about* the woman running this fabric stall...a needlewoman down on her luck, has seen better days...lol.

Miniature spools of thread, cute, eh?

My first silk gauze mini project!

This is my first silk gauze miniature needlework project. I wish the pictures were clearer. It's called 'Adam & Eve Sampler' from Annelle Ferguson's book 'Traditional Needlework In Miniature'.

The count of this fabric is 40 ct. it is sheer, with an extremely open weave--- delineated holes/threads and very different from anything I've ever stitched on before. As you can see I've mounted/sewn the silk gauze on muslin and used an embroidery hoop, which I haven't used in what seems like ages. (Hooked on either in hand for small projects or Q-snaps for full-size projects).

I am using 1 stand of DMC cotton thread, and a size 28 needle. Do I like silk gauze? More on that another time. :-)

;-D

Casey Buonaugurio Designs Freebie!

Here is Casey Buonaugurio's freebie design 'Frog Biscornu Freebie' available on her site .
Stitched on 28 count Irish linen in Cream, using all cotton DMC threads, and embellished with beads, bows, and a fabric 'frame'. One is a pincushion/pillow (left), the other is an ornament, but can double as a pincushion as well (right).
I also added pearl topped pins. This is a gift and I hope the lucky recipient, Kathie, loves them just as much as I enjoyed stitching them for her.

Mailart Received!!!

This past Saturday I was extremely happy that my Heart Exchange envelop finally arrived from Marie-Antoinette! It must have taken the slow boat to China before it made it here, LOL!

Delicate pastel stitches on white fabric, a cute bookmark and a postcard with a personal note was enclosed. Thank you, Marie-Antoinette! It's beautiful and much appreciated.

Stitched Ornaments...

These are the stitched ornaments on our Christmass tree this year: L*K freebie on the left, my first 1 over 1 project, a stitched angel on perf paper from a friend, teddy bear and spool tree from Dawn.

Playing Catch Up!

I've been stitching this monthly series by Erica Michaels, from her 2004 freebie's here.

Stitched on 14 count fiddlers cloth using a potpourri of orphaned threads, including DMC, silks, and linen. To be made into a pillow and added to the rest of the months. I'm a little concerned about stitching December because it calls for white thread and it may not show up very well on the fiddlers cloth...but alas, I didn't think of this when I started the series, lol.