More starts!

I felt like Fred Flintstone last night.  I was house and dog sitting for my sister this weekend.  I had went to check the mail. She has a closed porch so I closed the door behind me.  I was being cautious because I didn't want the dog run out the front door but I didn't pay attention to the lock.  Imagine my surprise when I found out I was locked out.  I knew I locked the back door because it was dark.  I had no choice but go next door to ask for help with no shoes or jacket. I walked next door in slush and puddles in my socks. The neighbors got their son to come and he went through the kitchen window.  The whole thing last about 45 minutes. The poor dog was scared because I disappeared and hid on under the bed. Poor puppy! Next time I will pay attention to the lock.

Here is my new starts for Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge.

 LHN Calendar Girls May

 LHN Calendar Girls July 

  LHN Calendar Girls August

 Mirabilia Lady of the Flag

 Vee and Co Summer in the USA

 LHN Autumn Band Sampler

CCN Dear Santa

This is Angie's SAL I had started.  I will be working on this more.  

We are getting a blizzard this week, matter fact starting on Monday.  I hope I can get to school on Wednesday okay.  I don't think I will have school on Tuesday.  

Thank you for stopping by.  I will be back next week.

Hugs, Vicky

Stitch From Stash April Report

It is time for the April report, since it is due on the 28th and I waited last minute again.  I went over my budget this month.  I spent $31.95, however $6.95 comes from my carry over budget. I did not break the bank but I know I could do better.  I got a pattern from Stoney Creek, a series I am collecting, and a piece fabric from Silkweavers.  I won an auction from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. That one caught me by surprise, because I usually do not win, lol!

I do have a couple more birthday presents to show. 

 Heidi send me Mill Hill Midnight Pumpkin and a piece of white lugana fabric.  Thank you Heidi!

 Glenna send me a birthday card and 2 skeins Weeks Dye Works in Sweet Potato and Ocean.  She send the card and skeins from the goodness of her heart.  Thank you Glenna!

Now on to the Stitchy news. First is Sunflower Sampler in its frame.  I love how it turned out.  

I do have a finish, Little Miss Sunflower.  I love this one too.  I am looking for a sunflower fabric so I can hang it up in my bedroom.  I am having troubles finding some.

Little Miss Sunflower

by Diane Williams

32 count linen Solo by Silkweavers

recommended threads

I did not stitch on my April Calender girl yet.  The package came in with my birthday packages, and I didn't notice it had arrived until a couple days before my birthday.  I even send a note to my shop owner and to my embarrassment, I had it all this time.  I had started on CCN Snowmen Trio.  I want to get it done this weekend, but I think I had twisted my knee. It has been sore all weekend and walking on it has been torture at times.  I don't think the doctor be able do anything except tell me to stay off my leg.  I decided to update my blog and finish the snowmen tomorrow, then to April girl.

Now a throwback picture.  While I was at my aunt's for Easter, she had a new family picture.  She had found a trio frame, and put my sisters and my high school Senior pictures in the frame.  It came out gorgeous!  

That is all for now.  Have a good week!

Hugs,

Vicky

Birthday Gifts, 1st Communion and Exchanges

These lovely gifts are from Angela for the Hop Into Spring exchange on the Stitched with Love Exchange blog.  I love these exchanges. She send me Lizzie Kate Spring String Snippet with the fabric, 2 overdyed threads, beautiful white eyelet fabric, spring color trimming and fat quarters, and gladiolas bulbs. I passed the bulbs to my aunt because she will grow them. I don't even have room for a plant container to grow them myself.  I am not sure what to call the finished item.  I never seen a stitched item finished this way. The only way I could describe it, it's in a shape of a light gift box with sides about an inch wide, and the back is covered with fabric. It is very beautiful and is displaying on my bureau.  Thank you Angela for these beautiful gifts.

Egg Hunt by Barbara Ana

16 count aida, DMC threads

Since my partner didn't have a preference of Spring or Easter, I made two items, representing both Spring and Easter.  The picture above is Egg Hunt from Barbara Ana Designs, done on 16 ct pink aida.  I finish it off in a wall hanging but I think I put too much batting on.

 Lizzie Kate Easter Sampler 

28 count cream lugana

DMC threads

I added threads, fabric, Easter candy, a new pattern from VeeandCo. and a notepad for C.J. She said she liked everything.  I really don't have anything new or updates to show that is worth while.  However, I do have birthday gifts to show. Plus my nephew made his First Communion and he had a speaking part during the mass too.  I am so proud of him.  The following pictures are not in the order I want them in , so I just label them in their order.  

Anthony with his proud parents.




Anthony and his godparents.

Anthony is a chocoholic so his mom got him a chocolate pizza. It was a cool idea.  There was cake too.

Anthony

Anthony reading his cards out loud with a little help with his dad when it was needed.

Here is some birthday floss arriving after my day.

This exchange was the Theme exchange In Stitcherhood group. My partner send me a patriotic theme.  It ws awesome package. Thank you Tonya!

These gifts are from Shelley in the ILCS Birthday Club (ILCSBC). The gift is CCN Red, White and Bloom with the threads, fabric, highlightrs, and Victorian purple scissors. Thank you Shelley!

This gift is from Penny in Stitcherhood group.
Little House Believe kit. Thank you Penny!

These gifts are from Graceann in the ILCSBC.  She send me LHN Sheep Virtues Peace and Love, and huge piece linen in a cream color. It looks it may fit all 12 sheep, but I have to do the measurements still. Thank you Graceann!

 

Tonya from Stitcherhood send me Mirabilia April Blue Diamond Fairy. Thank you Tonya.

Mark from ILCSBC send me Lizzie Kate Our House kit plus the fabric. I can not wait to start this one. Thank you Mark!

Val from ILCSBC send me August Cat pattern plus the floss. Isn't this pattern so adorable!?  After I finish my Spring exchanges, I will be stitching this one too.  Thank you Val!

Cards and floss from the ILCSing group.

More cards and floss from the other ILCS group.

From Debbie Jo in ILCSBC, I got LHN Virtue Sheep Love with the floss and material. It would make a lovely ornament. Thank you Debbie Jo!

 From Shaunterria, she gave me Mirabilia Sweet Pea Prixie with the beads.  I just got the perfect fabric for her. Thank you Shaunterria!

 From Heidi I got 3 Mill Hill kits, Cool Cat, Willow Wings and Black Swallowtail. Plus she included a cord maket to make cords. I will be using it very shortly. Thank you Heidi!

My brother brought me The Bomb for my birthday. It is a 3 layer chocolate cake with chocolate pudding in the bottom layer and chocolate mousse on the top layer. The whole cake is covered with chocolate ganache. It was so good!

I went to my aunt's for a birthday dinner. She made chicken parmigna, mashed potatoes and green beans. My aunt made me a cake. It was a coconut cake with strawberry sauce between the layers and cover with cream cheese frosting.  It sounds good but the flavors didn't really go together very well.

This bookmark was stitched by Mab from ILCS group. She added some tea with the exchange . Thank you Mab!

The final gift is from Ann in Stitcherhood.  She send me LHN Autumn Sampler and Mill Hill Victorian Christmas House. Thank you Ann!

I also received $50 worth of gift certificates at 123 Stitch. I already placed my order and will show you what I bought next time. I should have a stitching update too.  Thank you everyone for the birthday gifts and wishes.   It sure made my day special due to my wonderful stitching friends.

Hugs, Vicky 

Stitching and Stash

I am in Virginia visiting my friends.  I came here straight from Tulsa, OK.  I will tell you about my trip in the next post when I get home.  I did have a good time in Colorado Springs and got to meet a couple new stitchers.  In Tulsa, I saw my nephew and he has grown so much.  He is now 5 feet, 8 inches and wears a size 12 shoe.  When I told my sister, she texted me "Holy crap!", lol.
I finished LHN Chocolate Shoppe the other day.  There is one mistake but I am keeping it in.  The side bars are one stitch short and if you notice, the bottom of the 'p's' are touching the cross stitched line,and there is suppose to be a space.  Since it is for me, I am leaving it in.  It was stitched on Sassy Fabbys Sugared Cream 28 count lugana.  I think I will be framing it and put in my kitchen.

This is my fourth visit to Newport News and I finally got a chance to go toVirginia Beach, the home of Dyeing To Stitch.  It is about an hour away.  I took a picture of my new stash I got at Dyeing To Stitch and I spend $54  in the store.  The blue fabric is for Lizzie Kate 6 Fat Men, which is going towards to a RR I just joined.  I have to put the boarders on before I send it, but I have a few weeks.  The white fabric is for Big Toe Designs Hope building block.  I got the pattern at my retreat and plan to stitch it for my aunt.  I just found out recently "Hope" is her word.  It will make a great Christmas gift. The threads is for the pattern. Crescent colors Sugar&Spice (the main color) and Plum Paisley.

We had went for breakfast before heading to Virginia Beach and were talking about cheesecakes.  I said you have to try mine.  We end up going to Walmart first because we were too early for the LNS.  I picked up a spring form pan and called my aunt to send me the recipe.  I baked the cake and had it sit in the refridge over night.  Here is a picture of the beautiful cake.  It came out very yummy.  It sure does not help my diet. Which reminds me, I had went to get weigh in the other day at Weight Watchers and I lost another 6 pounds.  I was so surprise because I really thought I might have gained.  I am one pound away from my 5% weight loss. I haven't been walking because it has been so hot, in the triple digits and humid.

I am now stitching CCN Star Spangled Garden.  This is my progress so far as of today.  I changed the blue and the red threads to DMC 312 and 498.  The Crescent Colors I got did not go very well with the fabric I am using.  There is already a mistake but I am fudging it. I can't seem to count correctly lately.

The following pictures are the new stash I got at my retreat:

I hope you are trying to stay cool.  I will be home on July 19.  My next post will be shortly after that. 

Hugs, Vicky