Stitching and Exchanges

 This is the Easter/Spring SAL Carole from Novalee 02 les croix et moi I joined when it came out.  I first started  it on a dark rose linen, but when I got to Part 3, I didn't like how the pinks were looking, so I started over on Fairy Dreams (a light cream color) 28 count lugana.  I finished it about a week or two after Easter.   I was in Virginia and my friend like it.  I am thinking finishing as a hanging picture on the wall.  I have some pretty fabric to use in the back.

 My friend has birdhouses as her kitchen decor.  She has been collecting birdhouses.  When I realize I was going back, there was 2 weeks before I left and didn't  have time to stitch something.  I had to run into  JoAnns and spotted a bunch of plain wooden birdhouses.  Light inside of me clicked on and decided to paint a birdhouse for my friend's kitchen.  I like how it came out since it is my first time painting on wood.  I liked it a lot and might do a bigger one later.  My friend loved it and it sits on her glass table.
The picture below is the back of the birdhouse and there are flowers on the sides too. 

I joined the Lizzie Kate exchange in i-love-cross-stitch yahoo group.  It went to Azzie in England.  I picked a freebie from LK website.  It was stitched on a 14 count pink aida with DMC threads.  I added pink beads instead stitching green Xs above and below the words, and I added a pink flower. I made it into an ornament and added 3 Carrie Creations Threads to complete the exchange.

 This lovely package came  from Azzie.  She stitched "Think Spring" into a bookmark.  It is very wide, so I am going add a ribbon on the back and hang it up on my   wall.  She added 2 Dragon Floss and 3 Sweet Six  Strand threads.  I haven't received SSS in a long time.  Are they still in business?   I love it!  Thank you Azzie!









 
The next 2 exchanges were in the KraftersKorner group.  The first exchange was a monogrammed magnet with two items starting with the initial.  I had Jennifer as my partner.  I was stump at first for a second item.  She hinted jewelry in her information.  I have a few journals in my room, and when I was writing in one, I realize Duh! A journal!, lol.

 

Mary send me this wonderful package.  She stitched a V with a flower.  it almost looks like she got it from  the same magazine I got the J for my magnet, lol.  She included a V charm, a "visual" journal, and violet glitter.  Everything is so pretty.  Thank you Mary!

The next exchange  was a hand-dye material, which the member had to hand-dye, with 3 skeins of floss.  I hand-dyed a piece of aida in purple for Georgena.  The first time I dyed the material, it was so light, it looked it was white.  I redid it, making the mixture a darker purple, and this is what came out.  It is a couple shades darker than the picture shows, but not much.

 

 This lovely piece of fabric came from Tara.  She used arylaric paint to dye it.  I forgot how she did it, but it is very beautiful.  The picture does not do its justice.  Thank you Tara!

I finished stitching LHN 2010 Under the Tree when I was in VA.  I just added the beads a few days ago.  I wanted to finish it at the retreat, but just did not get to it.  I did change the color of the dress on the girl. I don't remember the color of the  fabric,  but it is on 28 ct lugana.  I kept the 2010 because it came from the 2010 collection, plus after a year or two, no one is going to know when I  stitched.

Same thing with LHN  2010 Joy. It was stitched in VA.  Matter of fact, I started this March, my first time in VA.  I did not pick it back up until May.  It is stitches on the recommended WDW 30 count material.  I added the beads for the snowflakes.


I am stitching LHN Liberty Belles.  It is going fast and hoping to have it done by Monday, depending if life gets in the way.  Today I spent the day looking for a color in my pile of unorganized threads. I end up organizing them and I found 2 skeins of the color I needed.  YAH!!



I did take pictures of my new treasures from the retreat, but this blog got very long.  Next time I won't wait s long.  I did finish another exchange and received my package, but I can't show anything until everyone gets their package.  It will probably be a couple more weeks, since a few of us had waited for the Canada mail strike to be over, including me.

If  I don't post my lastest finish by Monday, I hope everyone has a wonderful and happy 4th of July!

Bookmarks, a magnet and a Treasure!

I have another update already. First, I have pictures of the 2 exchanges I send out. One is the bookmark exchange (one on the left) I send to Berly in IL a sunflower bookmark, a few DMC threads and some coffee. Roz was my partner and she send me the cutest cupcake bookmark (on the right) , a few threads, a package of hot cocoa, summer beach theme buttons and a soft pink fabric. I am saving the hot cocoa for colder weather since it has been over 90 degrees the last few days.
In the last post, Elaine send me the cutest pumpkin magnet. She send word she received my magnet for her. I stitched her Owl on the Egg from Bent Creek. It was a freebie I found last year but I dont know if its still available. She loves owls so it was perfect for her.
I found a treasure, well, its a treasure for me. I have been looking for a copy of Mirabilia The Seaside Kingdom. It had went out of print a couple years ago. I have been looking on eBay on and off for about an year. This past July, there was, not one, but two patterns being bid. One was slightly used and the other was brand new. I got the brand new one , which cost less than the used one, plus the pattern Giggles was included for $10.

I cant start this one yet. I might start it on the first of the year. I realize today I have a lot of stitching this month. I have to do the following:
~ First Day of Autumn exchange mail by 10th
~ Christmas ornament RR mail out by 15th,
~ Autumn ornament mail by Oct 13th,
~ Halloween card by Oct 6th
~ Halloween Pin by Oct 15th
~ Christmas ornament by Sept 30th
~ 3rd Christmas Ornament RR by Oct 15 ( I already have the package here)
My needles will be busy. I am hoping the frogs wont come by too often so I can have things go smoothly. This pass week I have been stitching on Lizzie Kate My Country. Here is the picture of what I done so far. Since Hurricane Earl is passing by this weekend, it will be a perfect weekend stitching. Perhaps I will have another finish by Monday.

Hugs,

Vicky