Update

All this freedom to stitch is going to my head!

Here is what I have been up to-

Shepherds Bush Bee Scissor Fob

32 ct Antique Ivory linen (from the kit)

DMC threads (from the kit)

I added my name onto the back of the scissor fob instead of the word summer.

This little project was from the stash exchange 2 weeks ago at my ANG guild meeting.  I tossed the old cotton threads that came with it and pulled Vineyard Silks.  Oh, I love working with them!  It will be a pincushion.

Sampler Girl Christmas Eve Flight

36 ct Lakeside Linen Navy Bean (I think)

DMC 611, 931 and 3777

More things to put in my "to be finished" pile :)

2011 Crazy January Challenge Completed!

I didn't know if I would do it. But the 2011 Crazy January Challenge is finished!  This was my final project-Praiseworthy Stitches Tiny Pumpkin Etui.  These are the completed items--

Here are my unfinished but stitched pieces--

The bottom left is the scissor fob.  The fabric to the left of it is for the pincushion stem.

The bottom right is the needlebook.  I changed the background color on the right pumpkin side to DMC 712 (ecru) on every other square. The black was just too dark for me. And I used the dark green background thread on the left side the same way (every other square).

The top fabric and pieces are for a pumpkin pincushion. The green across the top is the fabric for the needlebook lining.  Don't know when I'll get to the "finish-finishing." 

I feel like I am free for the rest of the year to stitch on any project I want to!  Hurray for freedom! 

What about the 2012 Crazy January Challenge?  I learned a lot about what I can reasonably accomplish in the course of one year.  And I know that there are 2 or 3 larger needlepoint pieces that I want to complete in 2012. 

I'm working on a list :)

Stitching Retreat Part 2

I hope everyone had a wonderful day of Giving Thanks!  I did.  Lots of turkey and football, but dinner conversation was about what we are grateful for.

Here is our Trash to Treasure room.  It had been thoroughly picked over when I got this photo.  Everything that was brought was donated to the guild.  Then we could take from the room and give a donation to the guild for what we took.  Anything we brought that wasn't taken by someone had to be taken home.

 I brought home very little.

Here is what I got from the trash to treasure room.

Here is the goodie bag each person got. We were given a little wool applique project "A White Glove Envelope"  I didn't get mine done.

Ann from Gloriana Threads came on Friday afternoon and set up several tables of her beautiful silks.  Here is what I bought.  I have not used her silks before but am looking forward to it. They are lovely and I tried to catch the sheen of the thread in this photo.

A Longaberger basket party was held on Saturday afternoon. 

Our Longaberger rep is one of the members of our guild. She brought some Cash N Carry items and I bought the acorn shaped basket above.

A big surprise to me as a first-time attender was these little "gold bars"  Each time a project was finished at the retreat a gold bar was earned.  Lucky me, I took all small projects to work on and boy, was that the right thing to do!!  I ended up with 4 of these little bits of deliciousness.  My husband was the lucky recipient of these.  Why are there only 2 in the picture?  Well, 2 were gone before I could snap the photo  :)

Here was finish #1.  The Istitch mystery bonus pincushion pattern.

Here is finish #2.  Holiday Spirit ornament by Samplerbird Stitchery Stitched with Crescent Colours Cupid thread.  Love the overdye look to this piece. It still needs some beads.

Here is finish #3. The scissor fob in my Tiny Pumpkin Etui by Praiseworthy Stitches.  This is also a progress picture on this design.  The octagon will be a needlebook and the pyn piece will be a pincushion eventually (with more pieces added to it) .

Finish #4 I can't share because it is a surprise gift.

The rest of my photos are items in show and tell that were shared by guild members.

This is Debbie Stiehler's Timeless Tomato.  Yes, the one I started earlier this year.  It has taken a place of prominence in my 2012 list of items to be finished!

This purse was a prize winner at ANG National Seminar (not sure what year).  Gorgeous work with Splendor silks.  Included the Purdue ornament because my husband was raised in Purdue country.

Barbara Jackson's Cherry Tree Cottage

Rosewood Manor

Margaret Bendig's Plum Blossom Kimono in the center and some of her smaller kimono's are surrounding it.  Yes, this is also in my WIP basket.

Mystery Retreat project

Laura Perin's One Long Panel with custom-designed side panels

Susan Kerndt's Holiday Patches (I admit to ordering this design with my ANG guild and will have it in January :)

Next year is the 20th anniversary of this stitching retreat.  I'll be there!!

Stitching Retreat Part 1

It was about an hour and a half drive to Gold Bar, WA.  When I got there here were some of the tables that were set up.

First was a donated sampler stitched and designed by a guild member,  Roberta Montgomery. It was the winner of the Sampler division at ANG National Seminar in 2002. (I hope I have those details right).  It was eventually auctioned off for $1000!! 

Next were opportunity baskets. You could buy a ticket for $1 and drop it in the paper bag next to the item you want to win.  Then the winner is drawn from the tickets in the bag.

They were full of canvases, threads, fabric, goodies etc.

Next was a silent auction of many great items-

I see that I cut off the Lowery stand on the far right side of the table.  I won that item :)

There was also a pincushion exchange.  Here is the one I brought-

The lady who got my pincushion was Molly, the regional director of EGA. Talk about making me nervous!  But she was sweet and I hope she liked it-

I got this beautiful pincushion made by Nancy B.  She is the incoming new president of our guild-

Do you see the little rabbit and squirrel charms that are on top of the pincushion?

That is it for today.  More about retreat tomorrow.

Back from Stitching Retreat

I had a wonderful weekend in Goldbar, WA at a stitching retreat.  Today's post is to catch you up on what happened before I left.

I finished Blackbird Designs Love Letters with a painted paper mache box and chenille trim.

I also finished a Prairie Schooler Snowman ornament. This was my first time to finish as a little hornbook.  (My husband made the hornbook for me.)  It was a struggle.  I kept cutting down the cardboard to make it smaller, but I think I should have gone a little smaller yet.

Last Tuesday was my local ANG guild meeting. We had a stash exchange.  This is what I brought home.  What a blast this was!  I have already started the little fleur de lys pincushion. Click on any of the pictures to see better.

The following finishes were delivered to me at the stitching retreat.  What a thrill to get anything back from my local finisher, Kathy.  Here is Blackbird Designs Sweet Heart (from Joyeux Noel book) Dusty rose is my favorite color and I am so pleased!

Susan Roberts Santa Nutcracker 

This was finished in 2010 (or 2009?) It has been sitting in my finished box. I don't know why. Kathy finished this as a stand up. It has a little slit in the bottom back to slip a little plastic stand in. Mrs Santa Nutcracker is still in my to do basket.

Renaissance Designs 5th Day of Christmas (part of a series of 13)  I love this series! Finished as an ornament.

And check this out--LHN The North Wind finished as a pillow with plaid fabric and tassels!  I told Kathy to surprise me and this is just WOW!  Love, love, love this!  Thanks so much, Kathy!  You're the best!

More tomorrow on the stitching retreat and all the fun happenings there!

Check Out This Giveaway at Mary Englebreit!

I need to tell you that I am a closet Mary Engelbreit fan-well I guess I'm out of the closet now!

There is a fantastic raffle (giveaway) at Mary Englebreit's website. She is giving away several autographed books including her new release, The Nutcracker.

Check it out and enter here-

Win Mary's Books!

Before and After

Let's start the week with a finish!

IStitch Mystery

Carol Ridyard

40 ct. HDF jackalope linen

Mystery HDF overdye silk

Here is BBD Hedgerow Birds Before-

 Here is Hedgerow Birds Now--

These after photos show a more accurate color of the linen and threads.  I ran into a problem when finishing. There was only 2" of fabric left on one end of the design and it called for 3" on both ends in order to use the buttons/buttonholes.  So I took the fabric I cut off the sides and made handles!  It is too small to be a tote bag, but it is a beautiful purse.

Here is Carriage House Samplings Merry Christmas Before-

 Here it is After-

 Here is Log Cabin Needlework's Merry Christmas Before-

 Here it is After-

Here is SamSarah Designs Liberty Before-

Here it is After-

Here is La-D-Da Free-Bee One Two Before-

Here it is After-

DD#3 baby shower went wonderfully on Sunday-Here is a look at the refreshment table-

I am off on Thursday to a long weekend stitching retreat.  Greatly looking forward to it!  There will be a pincushion exchange, trash to treasures room, silent auction, opportunity baskets, and a Longaberger basket show.  I'll take some pics and update you next week.