Easter and Stitching Update

Easter 2013 

My aunt had treated me to a hair cut on Easter weekend.  I love how it came out. Of course I can't get it to look like this everyday.  Easter was spent at Aunt Betty and Uncle Fred's house.  I made an orange cake but it came out too dry. I would not recommend this recipe.  My nephew liked it though. It did look pretty with my feeble decorating attempts.

Other pictures from Easter.

Me, Aunt Terri, and John  

 Easter Dinner

 Uncle Fred 

Aunt Terri and Uncle John 

Dawne, Anthony, and Aunt Betty 

Stitching News

My progress on Lady Slipper. I have about 600 stitches left on the bottom of her dress. Then on to her skin and wings. I am still debating to do the skin 1 over 1 or the 2 over 2. Since I am not going  make it to my goal to have her finish by my birthday, I am leaning towards to the 1 over 1 method.

I had started on My Big Toe Building Block Hope. I had finish the borders and started on the "E". I did start the lettering but I don't like how it looks so I am replacing the thread with DMC 209. It will look very good. It's a gift which is going be late. 

I was looking for some bookmarks and I came across Coming to America by LHN. I had only the dress stitched. I added part of the pier and one wave.  I am not sure of the color of the water. The thread is gray but it can come together when I add more color. I hope to get back to this project soon. I do like the fabric's color.

I did started on Gaze by Kustoms Krafts. It is a tiny start. Right now there is only 3 shades of orange. I am going where my stitching wants to be stitch and that seems to be going across. 

This adorable snowman ornament came from Penny for my March ornament exchange. I can't wait to put him on my tree later this year. Thank you Penny! The ornament below was stitched for Pat.  It is Blue House in Winter by LHN, using the DMC threads on 28 count Pewter lugana.  It could be found in Just Cross Stitch Christmas 2012 issue. I will be stitching this one again for myself .

I signed up for a St. Patrick magnet exchange.  The pattern is from Judi Utter and could be found on CyperStitcers.com. I changed the colors to represent a rainbow and the clover is metallic green. It went to Tonya in Idaho.

 This magnet came from Mama Judy. She did a great job and now on my freezer door. Thank you Mama Judy.

 In my ILCSing group, I got this cute Spring exchange from Shelley. There is stickers, fat quarters, ribbon and a Inspirational kit. Thank you Shelley!

 This bookmark mark is on it's way to its new home.  The design is from Bookmarks for the Seasons by Leisure Arts.  I used the recommend DMC colors and backed it up with a piece of pink felt.

This ornament is for my monthly ornament exchange for April. It is from JCS Christmas 2012 issue. The design is Joy to You by Glory Bee Designs on 14 count blue aida and using DMC 304 thread. It was very quick to stitch. 

I will have an another update soon. I am going to Yankee Candle in Massachusetts for a day. I believe its their headquarters. If there is time, we are stopping at a LNS, Thistle Needleworks in Glastonbury. I can't spend much there because my birthday is coming but I can try find something for an giveaway, maybe. I will show off my goodies.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Spring.  It's been warning up very nicely here in the last few days. I even left my window open at night in the last couple nights.

Hugs.

Vicky 

Giveaway

A giveaway on Summer House Stitche Works. Ends on April 7. Click on here.

Another giveaway at Ruth's Little Leprechauns. The birthday giveaway ends on April 7. Click on here.

Exchanges and February IHSW

Exchanges

This exchange is from Penny in The Stitcherhood group. Aren't those socks cute?  Since the snow is still here, they are keeping my feet warm. I hate cold feet.  Thank you Penny!

This is the ornament I received from Tonya in Stitcherhood group. The exchange is stitching an ornament a month and sending to a different partner. This is the first ornament.  I love how she reverse the colors on each side and my favorite Christmas colors. I had to show both sides. Thank you Tonya!

Angel Wings 

design by Shanda Vance-Markham

28 ct opalescent linen

Carrie Threads Sapphire and Passion 

Shanda designed and stitched these wings for her angel girl in pink. When I saw her wings, I knew I had to stitch them for my friend but in blue and added her son's name. She loved it! Thank you Shanda for a beautiful pattern.

Sugar Plum Fairy

by Mill Hill 

28 count Monaco white

I stitched this ornament for my friend in Korea.  I decided to put the fairy on fabric.  I stitched the legs in pink. There was some white on the side of the legs but because the fabric was white, I was thinking the white will get lost and she will look like she was dancing on sticks.

This is another Valentine exchange from Judith in my ILCSing group. The whole ornament is stitched one over one. It is gorgeous and I love the trim around it. Thank you Judith!

IHSW

I stitched on Lady Slipper for the IHSW. I made a lot of progress. Are you ready?

There she is! Her dress is getting bigger. I almost can see the "flow" of the dress. I am enjoying stitching her very much.  

Thank your for looking and for your comments! Have a great week!

Hugs, Vicky   

Definitely Off the Wagon!

I am nuts! Literally I am!  I joined another Yahoo group, Kustom Krafts, to join their SAL.  I have decided to stitch Gaze (the picture above).  I just love the colors and hoping my brother will too, since I will be doing it for him.  I just ordered the pattern so I am not sure how I will worked it in my other works.

This weekend is International Hermit & Stitch Weekend.  We are getting more snow this Saturday. I am stitching on Lady Slipper. I did stitch on her a few nights ago. Here is my progress so far. I am hoping to have majority of the dress done by Sunday night.

I have been stitching a lot of exchanges.  I can now show off a couple of my stitched pieces.

Bonhomme de Neige

design by Anne les petites croix  

28 ct. opalescent linen

DMC threads and blue beads 

This is the first ornament for the year and went to Georgena.  I changed it a little by omitting the mitten that was to be stitched around the snowman and added beads for the snowflakes.

#86 Valentine Quakers 

28 ct Honeysuckle 

DMC 4120

This ornament was made for Shaunterria in Stitching Sisters group.  I, also added some chocolates and DMC threads. As I was updating this post, I got my exchange from Shaunterria. Apparently the package had to take a short vacation to Puerto Rico. I wish I was in Puerto Rico right now, lol.   Shaunterria added some GAST threads and a candy bar. Thank you Shaunterria!

As you know,  New England got hit with a blizzard last weekend.  I added some pictures of my view from my front door and window.

 From the window, the big hump on the right side, my father's car is under that pile.

From the front door, was about 4 feet of snow.

From the back door, the view of the corner of my street.  You couldn't see the street from the front window.  

I will have an update on my Lady Slipper early next week with more pictures of exchanges. Thank you so much for looking and for all comments.

Hugs, Vicky 

First Finish and Round Robins

Live Laugh Love by Lizzie Kate

stitched on 14 count Rose aida

Threads: Carrie's Creations Bubblegum, 

WDW Americana, Sassy's Strings Mystique, and DMC

SaI have my first finish of the year! A quick one, Lizzie Kate Live, Laugh, Love. I have been organizing my threads and I came across this pattern.  I just had the urge to stitch it. It took me about 3 nights, I think.  I finished it into a wall hanging ornament. I just need some Command hooks to put on my wall. I still need practice on measuring and cutting. I have the newer version I will do soon.

My Round Robins came home.  I am not sure how to finish them off. I think they are too big for a Christmas tree ornaments. I hand-dyed the fabrics myself. The ladies did a fantastic job on them. Thank you so much!

Is It Too Late? by Lizzie Kate

stitched by Whitney

Ho Ho Ho by Lizzie Kate 

stitched by Vickie H

A Good Night by Lizzie Kate

stitched by Kim R.

Dear Santa by Lizzie Kate 

stitched by Berly

This is Whitney's round robin. Hers is Lizzie Kate Spring Sampler.  I stitched the last row.  It's on its way home.

In November, I stitched a Halloween freebie for the second time.  I had loved the pattern. Plus a friend had stitched and I loved the fabric choice she made with hers, I just had to get the same fabrics. I just couldn't get it out of my mind. I am going make it into a flat fold.  The picture is not doing its justice. The green is so much brighter.

Happy Halloween by Bixby & Kit

28 count luguana opalescent 

Slice of Lime by Handdyed Fabrics by Stephanie 

I am stitching a few Valentine exchanges. Than I will go back to Lady Slipper.  It is going get colder next week. We getting an Arctic cold front and temperatures are suppose to drop into the teens, maybe single digits. I can't wait for Spring. I am going stay warm and stitch.

~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