Halloween exchanges and Autumn

Double Double by Lizzie Kate

JCS Halloween issue 2013

14 count Grasshopper (left) and Potter Purple (right)

DMC threads

Past week, I send some exchanges and a few had reached their new home.  The Double Double  ornaments above is designed by Linda Elbright of Lizzie Katie in the JCS Halloween issue. The grasshopper aida was send to RavenSong in the Stitching Sisters group. The purple aida, called Potter Purple, was send to Jennifer in AZ from The Stutcherhood group. I used the DMC threads.

Halloween by Glory Bee

JCS Halloween issue 2013

28 count Delicate Teal by Silkweavers

DMC threads

Halloween is stitched by Glory Bee for Mary Louise in IN.  The design was stitched on 28 count Delicate Teal using the recommended DMC threads. I do need to center my pieces a little bit better and stay away from the binders clips.  They are leaving indents on the ornaments and I don't know why.

 I received a couple ornaments too.  This pumpkin was stitched by Jennifer from IN. She used a velvet ribbon for the inside trimming.  On the back she machine embroidered my name and hers.  Awesome idea!  Thank you Jennifer!

This beautiful ornament was stitched by RavenSong in CA. I loved how she put it together. I love it.   The thread she used for the lettering is gorgeous.  I won't be surprise if it came from her own hand dyed threads. Thank  you RavenSong!

Last week I showed my progress on Autumn Encounter by Kustom Krafts. Well it was the only piece I stitched this week, but I made good progress.  I am pass the  half way point. Page 2 is coming out on Tuesday, so I am hoping to catch up by the time page 3 comes out. I am loving the colors!

I did take a few pictures of my area. Part of a a highway route goes through some mountains.  I took some pictures as we were driving by and no, I wasn't driving.  As you will see a lot of yellows and oranges and lots of greens still. The reds are not ready to come out yet, very late this year.

I hope you have a great week!

Hugs
Vicky

Exchanges and Stitching

 First a couple exchanges, mainly because Blogger set it up this way, lol. Mare from NJ send me this stitched towel of fishes with some summer looking threads, 3 from Ozark threads and a Weeks Dyes skein. It's very adorable and I love it. Thank you Mare,.

 This beautiful ornament is from Georgena from The Stitcherhood group. She did a wonderful job!Now a new ornament for my tree. Thank you Georgena!

 Here is a close-up of the ornament.

I did start on my Summer Love. I will starting on the leaves this week.  I was suppose to start on the maps but I didn't get to them. I got a Limited edition of Liberty by Hand-dyed Fabrics by Stephanie. It is gorgeous! I was going put Mirabilia Lady of Freedom on it but it is not big enough. It will fit but I won't have enough for framing.Two of the sides would be 1/2 inch from the stitching.  So I am going to put Queen of Peace on Stephanie's fabric and I can order a Liberty piece from Silkweavers, or wait until next year to get a bigger piece.

I forgot to take picture of my FNF on my camera. There is an updated picture on my tablet but Blogger doesn't want to download my pictures from my tablet. This morning I went take my SD card out of the computer and it won't come out. For some reason I check to see if the computer will recognize the card, which it did the night before, but this morning the computer didn't. I finally got the card out and the camera is saying there is no SD card in the camera. Somehow the card is not working. I will be getting a new card in couple weeks. I can download  on my Facebook from the tablet, but not everyone uses Facebook. Some people will miss some updates but I will catch up when I get the new card.

Have a wonderful good couple weeks!!

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 

End of 2012 and Start New Year 2013!

These lovely gifts came from Shirlee for the Christmas exchange on the Stitched with Love Exchanges blog.  The ornament was stitched with my favorite Christmas colors, blue and silver, and so beautifully put together.  I am going hate to put it away for next year. Plus I got q-snaps huggies, aida fabric, scissors, cat needle minder, and a bar of shea soap, which smells so good. Thank you Shirlee!

These are the gifts I gave to Jayne.  Some silk threads, scissors, Sue Hillis Spool Tree pattern, fabric, erasable highlighter, and a stitched pillow. The stitching took me awhile because the greens in the dress was very random. Near the end, I added green where I think the green should go, but the gold specks are uniformed.  I stitched the skin one over one, which was more easier to do than the dress. Here is a close up.

Caroler 

a freebie from Whispered by the Wind

25 count Stormy Clouds

DMC and Kreinik gold

Earlier this year, I joined an online class to make a top stitch box. I gave the box to my sister.  I decided to make another box for my second sister.  I stitched the top, stained and lined the box as I was taught.  Everything looked great.  (My sister came Sunday before Christmas.  She had to work a double shift on Christmas).  The only thing I had to do was attached the screws. No big deal, so I thought. I had the last laugh on that one. I am screwing the hardware on and they aren't getting tighter.  I am putting pressure and turning and turning, but it seemed the holes were too big  for the screws.  Because I got behind stitching, I put in a lot hours to get this box done in a weeks time and  the screws were too small.  I was so disappointed and frustrated.  I was going to get another box and send it to my sister in January. I took the stitch part off the box and made it into a wall hanger. I gave it to her next day, which she said she liked better than the box because she can hang up somewhere now. I guess it worked out but I am still disappointed with the box.

Dream by Joan Elliot

32 count Rocky Mountains even weave

DMC threads and beads

Hope by Joan Elliot

32 count Rocky Mountains even weave
DMC threads and beads

Merry Christmas by iStitch designs
25 count Stormy Clouds
stitched one over one, DMC threads

A picture to show how small the ornament is.

My sister , Amy, posing for me.

I had signed up in an Advent exchange with the Stitcherhood group.  These are just a few items I received. I, also, got needles, fat quarters fabrics, floss bobbins, another ornament, 4 out 6 Lizzie Kate Snow Belles and Lizzie Kate Santa '12 pattern.

Snowman towel on Day 10

 Stoney Crerk Snow Happens on Day 23

My first day gift, crystal snowman ornament.

Snowman candy jar with M&Ms peanuts and Almond joys, my favorites.

 Day 25 Glendon Place Murky Manor.  I hope I can start it in the coming year.  It was on my wish list.

Part of my Christmas tree.  The snowman ornament was stitched by Pat, I received this year. This is a new tree this year and all the ornaments barely got on there.

This past weekend, I stitch a little more on Lady Slipper.  The dress is starting to form and I think I am going to make it my weekend stitch. I do want to finish her by my birthday in April.  I am not making too many goals this coming new year.  I seem to make my goals too high, and than I feel bad not making them.

My goals for 2013:

1. Lose 25 pounds before my Las Vegas retreat 

2. Exercise 3 times a week for a period 20 minutes.

3. Finish Lady Slipper by April 21.

4. Finish 6 more projects I had started

5. Stitch 4 pages of HAED The Accolde.

6. Stitch 4 pages on Witches 'n Bits Time To Go

I think the goals are doable.  

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and this coming New Year will be filled with lots of finishes, good health, and happiness.  Happy New Year 2013!

Hugs, Vicky