Lavender Blue and exchanges

I have been stitching my fingers off like crazy in the last two weeks.  I got behind on my Lavender Blue parts one and two. I finished the parts last night. I emailed Angie for the next parts and I got an immediate response. However I have to do a  few exchanges before I can go back to Lavender Blue.  The next parts (5 and 6) come out on April 10. I don't know if I will be able to catch up in time, but I am going to try.  I do love the colors and it is coming out gorgeous. The material's color is Angel Blush, a pale pink and the camera is not  picking it up. Maybe I will take the next picture outside, if I remember.

Love Bug freebie from Erynne Chard Designs

28 count evenweave

DMC  floss 310, 603, 349

Heart shape felt and ribbon

I stitched this little Love Bug for my friend for her birthday.  Her birthday is Feb  17 and Valentine's Day is one of her favorite holidays.  I entered the picture in the Valentine Competition contest in my i-love-cross-stitch yahoo group and it won first place! I was tickled pink!

 Love,Hugs, and Kisses by VeeandCO freebie

14 ct opalescent light purple aida

DMC threads

This little flatfold was for  the same friend and it was entered in the competition too.  It came in 6th place. The ribbon is a bit crooked and I didn't catch that until I saw the picture in the competition.  This was the pattern I got from my Valentine's exchange last month. 

I finally got my bookmark from Judith of Germany.  The first one never made it to me so she stitched another one.  It came out very lovely and she put my name on it.  I love it.  Thank you Judith!

This beautiful wooden box is from Berly for the St. Patty's exchange in the ILCS group.  The exchange was to stitch a  St. Patrick's Day theme and finish it off with 2 specialty threads.  Berly included Week Dye Works, Emerald's Isle, Gold, and Hunter, very much St. Patty's color.  Thank you Berly!

 Ye Olde Irish Sampler by Jennifer Dalenburg of Feathers in a Nest

28 count antique white evenweave

DMC 3820, 4045, Gentle Arts Antique Rose and Victorian Pink

I stitched this little pillow for Bridgette for the St. Patty's exchange.  This was a very quick stitch and did it over a weekend.   I selected my own colors. This pattern was a freebie I found on Feathers in a Nest blog.  I like how it came out and I hope Bridgette  likes it.

Lifestyle Change

I am going to Tulsa to visit my nephew, who I haven't seen for 4 years.  After the visit, I am heading to Colorado Springs, Colorado for the annual ILCS Retreat.  With encouragement from a friend, I had started walking almost daily. I started at 15 minutes and now I am at 30  minutes.   I just started the 30 minutes this week and I can really feel it with my body.  I am so sore after the walk,  I am literally dragging my feet for rest of the night.  I know I can pass this and than I will be able to walk longer.  I do use my  walker for my walks but I am hoping not to be using it by June.  This past Tuesday I joined Weight Watchers with  a friend.  We were suppose to go last week but her son was sick.  I weigh at least 50 pounds LESS than I thought, and at  one point I was 50 pounds heavier and apparently lose the weight over the last year or so.  How? I wish I knew,but with WW, I can  make better choices and lose more  weight on a more steadier base.   I am still thinking of getting the gastric bypass, but even if I did go for it, I still have to change my lifestyle.  I am going to try the walking and WW first and now the road, I feel I  need more help. than the bypass or lap-band will still be an option. 

Have a nice day! 

Hugs,

Vicky

Winner!

I want to thank you for all your entries.  I love reading your answers. They were all wonderful entries. Linda Ebright of Lizzie Kate was the most popular designer, following by Michelle of Heaven and Earth Designs.  Today I wrote the names on a piece of paper, (well, 4 pages I wrote big), cut and fold the names, and put almost 300 entries in a shopping bag. I shook it a few minutes and picked a name.

The winner is.....

Rhonda of All this & a Bag of Chips

Her post was: "who would I like to sit & stitch with.It's a tie between Joan Elliott , Brooke Nolan & Tonia Pappan Oakhaven designs.These designers are wonderful & very easy to talk to. There designs are wonderful to stitch one"

Congratulations Rhonda!

I will be having another giveaway next  month for my birthday!  Be on the lookout for that in a few weeks!