Exchanges and Life!

First I am going to show you my stitching and exchanges I can show you. 

This is part 4 of Lavender Blue. I have one page for this part than I can get part 5 and 6. I am trying to finish it before I leave but my hopes are low. I think I might have had something under the frame when I took the picture cause it is a little lumpy, lol.  Believe me, the material is tight when I stitch on it.

This is the top of the box. I glued the stitched piece on it today. I now have a couple books on top of it to get the glue dried and stay put. I just realized I didn't sign the piece and I always do that. Little too late now.

This is a stitched piece from a Spring exchange from Stitcherhood yahoo group.  Isn't she adorable? And there is a cat stitched on there. She is sitting on my tv right now.  I, also, got beads in variety of colors and ribbons and lace. Thank Ann for a lovely gift!

This is Bloom by Cherrywood Designs with some color changes. The pattern can be found in Cross Stitch and Needlework issue in May 2011. I used  Sassy Fabby's Mystique thread, Carrie's Threads Passion, Gentle Art Hyacinth, Weeks Dyes Carrot, Banana Popsicle, and Emerald on antique white evenweave.  I added fat quarter fabrics, beads and floss to give to Ann in the exchange.

This is  Born Shopper.  I have been stitching her on weekends.  I did stitch more on her since I took the picture.  She is starting to form more and I had done some of the gray under the mittens and top of the scarf.  Next time you will get the update.

The pictures above is the mail art I send out to Shari. I had the hardest time stitching this piece and took most of May to stitch.  It was not my first choice. I was going to stitch apple blossoms but the frogs was having a huge party.  They are just a  huge pest.  I went with bunnies and flowers. They are from Donna Kooler's 55 Favorite Designs.  It has its character flaws but it came out cute.  It is only my second mail art I had made and my first one was very wonky. This one is neater.

This one is Little House 2012 All Dolled Up Quaker Birds ornament.  I am stitching this one over one on some rose colored opalescent 28 count fabric.  I put my pair of scissors to show how tiny the ornament is going be when finish. I am using Carrie's Threads Periwinkle.

123Stitch has monthly contest and I have been entering in it almost every month since I discovered 123 Stitch in 2003.  At the beginning of the month, I got an email from Joann stating I was one of the winners of Little House Needleworks Summer Band Sampler.  After I picked myself off from the floor, I send her my information and I got it a few days later.  Now I have to get the other three, because they are very pretty.  And Little House being one of my favorite designers, I was stoked pink for a couple days.  Thank you all of you who sent their congratulations to me on my yahoo groups.

Next week at this time I will be in Colorado Springs.  I am leaving Tuesday on the Greyhound and be in there Thursday morning. I am looking forward to the trip. There is a lot to do and I am still working on the schedule because some places need reservations for the tours.  I will have fun and going see some wolves, an old ghost town, a castle or two, and a couple LNSs. Throw in a class, dinners and swaps, I don't know if I will get some sleep, well at least not much.  Sunday I am on my way to Tulsa to see my godson/nephew, who I haven't seen in 4 years.  I get to hang out with him for a couple days. I am hoping to get to the Aquarium and to The Silver Needle store before I leave.  I will be home on Friday.   On top of that, I got a new camera. I dropped my camera and the battery lid would not close. Since that was where the memory card is too, I didn't trust the camera will save the pictures. I was going borrow my aunt's camera and she did give it to me.  Last week I was in Walmart and they had some camera on clearance for $50. I had no intention buy a new camera until I got back, but with that price, I couldn't walk away. I can do a whole bunch of things with it. 

My next post will be about my trip with lots of pictures.  Have a great couple weeks.

Many hugs,

Vicky

Birthday cards and gifts, Exchange and IHSW

My birthday was this past Saturday and I turned 42 years old. I didn't do anything special with my family. No one had any money but I am fine with that. My aunt is taking me to see The Music Man being  played next Sunday at the Thomasaton Opera House.  I worked there for a couple weeks a few years ago, and it is a beautiful historical building.  I am looking forward to seeing the musical.  It is one of my favorites.

I am in a few birthday clubs in my groups. I didn't count the cards but I did get several cards and skeins of beautiful color threads.

From my Stitching Sisters group

from my ILCSing yahoo group

 The next three pictures are from ILCS yahoo group, ( a different group from above).  Some of the cards got into the pictures twice but I only got 2 same cards but from two different groups.

In my Stitcherhood group I got these lovely gifts:

From Chele LHN Coffee Menu with Crescent Colors Joshua Tree, Little Brown House,and Toasted Marshmallow and Piecemakers  Needles 26. The threads go with the pattern.

From Janet Hinzeit  Chocolate with charms-adorable!

From Tonya Country Cottage  Designs Ice Cream Sundae and Pie Menu

From  Georgena Sue Hillis Happy Stitching and  Piecemakers needles

From Ethel Brittercup Designs Haunt the Night Away and Britty Kitties IV Dmc 809, 823 and Carrie's Threads Black Cherry

???? Mirabilia Midsummer Eve's Fairy I have no idea who the gifter is but whoever you are, thank you!

From Mary Nora Corbett Lady Slipper Garden Pixie with the beads, Kreinik thread and material that goes with the pattern and LHN 2012 Quaker Birds ornament pattern.

 I also received $35 gift certificates from Carrie, Cindy and Sierra.  I will be getting some material and 11x11 q-snaps with the gcs.  Thank you so much everyone for the gifts, cards and birthday wishes.

Mixed  with the packages was my gift from the Valentine competition I won last month.  I didn't want to open any packages early and didn't know the moderator was going to send the prize from 123Stitch.  I was surprised when I read the invoice because I forgot about it. Thank you Shelley for organizing and sending me the prize and everyone who voted for me!

Lizzie Kate Think Spring, John James needles and 28 count Moss Green Lugana

Mary Louise send me a lovely card and Lizzie Kate Summer Sampler.  We have been chatting 2 or 3 times a week due to both of us on Weight Watchers.  We have been encouraging each other and chatting of our stitching. I have been enjoying our chats.

The picture above are the cards and floss I received on Monday (today).  My celebrations just continues, lol.

 I joined the Spring into Easter exchange with the Stitching with Love Exchange blog.  I sent the above to Expel of Hungary.  I stitched Lizzie Kate Spring Sampler and finished into a mini pillow. I included a Shephard's Bush Pattern, needleminder, 40 count linen, needles, threads, and fabric. I haven't heard from her yet but I do know she received it. I hope she likes everything.

Fiona send me a Easter package.  She send some beautiful ribbons, a Glendon Place free chart, the recent Cross Stitcher issue, a piece of green evenweave, Valadini threads, and a pair of green with white polka dot scissors.  Thank you Fiona!

Now on to the International Hermit and  Stitch Weekend.  It fell on my birthday weekend and I did so some stitching and here is my progress:

 I finished part  3 of Lavender Blue.  I need to finish part 4 before I get the other two parts.

 Saturday night I stitched some more on Born Shopper.  I decided to add blending filiament to the white when I get to it.  It may take a little longer but will be worth it.

I stitched a little on my Halloween House like I wanted to do before the week was up.  The picture is not great because it was a cloudy day. I am glad I stitched on this piece.   I took out my Mirabilia Enchanted Mermaid on Sunday night.  I was hoping to make progress on the face.  Well, I missed a row at the top of the face and didn't noticed it until I was at her lips area.  So I had to rip all the stitches I made on her which means no picture on her progress.  I will see if I get back to her this coming weekend, how well I do my stitching exchanges this week.

Thank you for lasting this long and reaching the end of the post.  I hoped you enjoyed reading it.  I will be posting a giveaway in a week or two.  I am still getting it together. 

Many hugs,
Vicky

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