Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations, Barb, from the Wicked Stitcher!  You are my giveaway winner!

I'll be emailing you for your snail mail address.

Third Blogoversary Giveaway!

I have updated my For Sale page with lots of new items--check it out with the link at the top of the page!

 

Only my 2nd finish in 2013, but I'm proud of it...

 

L'Atelier Perdu 2012 Mystery Sampler-Patches of Life

 

 This color palette is much softer and muted than I usually stitch with. But I decided to trust Natalie's instincts.  A couple of changes-as I mentioned before I changed the large center motif to represent my 3 daughters and my 2 grandkids, I changed the lady's dress to dark blue in the bottom left corner (dh says that corner looks like 2 women-see what I have to put up with) , and I didn't fill in several motifs with the ecru background.  I thought this linen was light enough.  Great design, Natalie!

 

Dont know which project will catch my interest next.  I'll keep you posted.

 

 

Now onto fun business, it's my 3rd blogoversary tomorrow (2-20) and I am so very grateful for all my followers and friends made thru this blog.  I want to celebrate with a giveaway!

Here is what the giveaway contains-
1. Brightneedle's Needlework Shop pattern
2. Shepherds Bush Summer pattern
3. Stacy Nash's  Love Pinkeep & Heart KIT-this was an exclusive to the members of the Stacy Club thru Country Sampler-this includes linen, threads, and fabric for finishing
4. Lizzie Kate Flip-It F26-July-charm included
5. Mary Englebreit Happy Day tin

Very, very easy entry rules-
1. Please comment on this post only.
2. You must be or become a follower of my blog
3. Please post on your blog about this giveaway for an extra entry (if you do this be sure to post about it here on a separate comment)
4. This giveaway will close on Feb 24th and I will draw a winner on Feb 25th.
5. Includes all followers (yes, out of the USA also included) 

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

CA shops, Updates & More Big News!

I completely forgot to share with you the stitching stores I went to while in California-

First up is Needle in a Haystack. What a great store!  It is located in a semi-commercial area, thus the tall ceilings. It has a huge inventory of patterns, thread, accessories, and a fabulous wall of fabric.

 

Next is 2 the Point needlepoint store.  Threads galore, great selection of painted canvases and one-on-one stitching help if needed. There was a lesson going on while we were there.

We also went to a quilt store called Thimblecreek close to our hotel in Concord.  And I found a real bargain.  It is a Crabapple Hill kit of the Pieces of the Past quilt pattern.    I struggle with fabric selection and the fabric in the kit is perfect for me (dusty/shabby rose selections).  It was on clearance-marked down from $249 to $130!! That is my kind of deal :)

I also found a book by Red Brolly a designer I admire from Australia. 

After spending all day this past Saturday and Sunday at a sampler guild stitch-in, you'd think I'd have more to share stitching-wise, I got a lot of border stitching done.  Here is the latest-

2013 Grills de Maryse SAL

February section is completed.  It's hard to tell from the photo but the fabric is a chocolate-cherry color.  I'm using Gloriana Fresh Snow silk thread.  My first monochromatic project.

 

More Success!

I was able to find Miss Hannah's House by Carolyn Standing Webb.  This is so cute!  Feel free to click on the pic to enlarge.  It is the kit, not just the pattern.  So I'm tickled.

**I'm still looking for Thistle Threads A Sailor's Blessing Etui and Merry Cox's Swan Lake.**

 

I wanted to share this photo with you.  The little girl on the left is DD#1 wearing a smocked dress that my mother made in 1982.  She was 18 months old. The little girl on the right is Amber wearing the same dress a couple of months ago.  It has been stashed in my cedar chest all this time and is still in beautiful shape.

Which brings me to the Big News as stated on the post title-
Amber's mom and dad announced at her first birthday party that she will be a big sister in September!  Woo Hoo!

They are hoping for a boy this time.  DH and I are hoping for another healthy baby-either sex is fine with us. That will make grandchild #3.

Grandson is turning 8 this week.  Here's the latest with him-

Duct Tape Super Hero!!

Have a great week!

Mary Ann Hutton update

It's been a busy week.

I flew to California for 2 days for training for my new EGA treasurer position.  It was warm and sunny there.  It is neither here in WA  :)

 

I came home and pulled out Mary Ann Hutton to work on for my Super Bowl project. And once I get started on her it is hard to put down.

Here is the latest--

 

By the way, I don't watch the Super Bowl.  No, I don't even listen to the Super Bowl. 

 

This year I watched a new set of DVD's called Land Girls by Acorn Productions.  It is a British TV series about the women in Britain who went to work on farms during WWII when all the farm boys went to war.  It's a bit of a soap opera.  I bought Seasons 1-3 at Costco and enjoyed them all.

 

Since Sunday I have been fighting that awful flu bug that is going around.  Luckily it was the 48 hr variety and I'm feeling back to normal today. As a result, I am sorely behind on reading blog posts and hope to catch up soon.

 

This weekend I get to attend 2 all-day stitch-in's with the Northwest Sampler Guild.  Looking forward to it!

Where Did January Go?

January has flown by and I only had one finish.

Feels like the pressure is off since I'm not doing the Crazy January Challenge this year.

Here's what I've been stitching on--

 

L'Atelier Perdu

Patches of Life sampler

Part 3 is finished!

For some reason this year I am unable to put down certain projects.  No rhyme or reason as to which one catches my attention.

 

I had to show you this-

It is Betsy Morgan's Toy Chest Etui.  One of the ladies in my sampler guild finished it and gave it to another member for her birthday!  Can you believe it?   Wow, I want a friend like that!

Here is another show and tell at sampler guild.  Please excuse the bad pic.  It is Lavender and Lace Mother's Tree (mostly over one).  And the top two last names are stitched with hair! Click on it for a close-up.

 

 

Success again in my Find-That-Project hunt-I have a promise to get Carolyn Standing-Webb's Hannah's House!  It should be here in the next 2 weeks.  I'll keep you posted.

 

And I heard somewhere that Shining Needle Society is going to have another Patrick's Woods Spotted Hare Needlebook class sometime in 2013???  Has anyone heard anything about this?

 

Oh, and there is another project I would like to find --

It is Thistle Threads Sailor's Blessing Etui  (Tricia Nguyen)

It has slipped through my fingers twice and I hope the third time is the charm!

 

Now, the BIG news...

At little Amber's first birthday party last Saturday, her parents sprang a big surprise on all of us...

Amber is going to be a big sister!

It looks like the new bundle of joy will be here in August.

That makes grandchild #3--we couldn't be happier!

Stitching and Stash Update

 

L'Atelier Perdu

Patches of Life Sampler

Part 2 is finally finished!  I changed the large motif in the center.  It had 2 girls, 2 small boys, and 2 flowers in it.  I was able to put my 3 DD's in the center and the 2 grandkids on either side of their mothers.

 Some new stash enhancement :)

More new stash enhancement-

On the left is the first installment of the new Prim Sisters Club hosted by Dyeing to Stitch.

Threadwork Primitives and Blackbird Designs are the two designers for 2013 in this club. I like the fact that it is a complete kit and not just the pattern.

 

Success!!-I was able to purchase Barbara Jackson's Tea Time Basket from someone who was not planning to finish it.  We are both happy campers!  And an extra, unexpected bonus-a needlebook designed by Barbara for this project that was not sold thru Shining Needle Society.

 

Don't forget that I am still looking for Merry Cox's Swan Lake, Sherri Jones of Patricks Woods Spotted Hare Needle Purse and Carolyn Standing Webb's Miss Hannah's House.

 

 

I won a giveaway over at LaDonna's Black Branch Needleworks.  It has been a long time since I won a giveaway. And what a wonderful bunch of stitchy items! Thank you so very much, LaDonna!

 

Now really important news--

Happy 1st Birthday, dear little Amber!

Where did this year go?

She is walking and talking (only "hot" and "hi" are recognizable so far) and making her desires known very clearly.  What a blessing to our family!

More Stitching

Susan Kerndt

Holiday Patches

 

I don't think you have seen this one in a while.  The goal was to have it finished by Christmas.  Oh, well, maybe Christmas 2013 :)

Crabapple Hill

Gardener's Alphabet Quilt

Blocks A &B finished

Blocks C-H ready for stitching

 

I signed up for Jackie de Plessis' new class in Shining Needle Society- Rhapsody in Blue.  Has anybody else?

Looking For........

I'm looking for some Shining Needle Society classes that I missed.  If you have these items and don't think you will finish them OR if you just have the pattern, please contact me.  Click on my profile on the right column.

1. Barbara Jackson's Tea Time Basket-FOUND!!

2. Sherri Jones of Patrick Woods-Spotted Hare Needle Purse

3. Swan Lake by Merry Cox

ALSO, I'm looking for Carolyn Standing-Webb's Hannah's House -FOUND!.  She taught this piece in 2006.

First 2013 Finish + More!

 

Here I was... stitching along.... minding my own business... starting everything in sight.... when I just couldn't put this one down!

Yes, it is finished already--

Even the box is painted (Barn Door Red) and Briwaxed---

(picture is clickable)

 

Blackbird Designs

Casting A Spell/Joyeux Noel/Merry December

30ct Belfast linen

Various GAST & CC threads

 

I "borrowed" 2 designs from the Merry December stocking booklet, 2 designs from Joyeux Noel, and changed the colors on the designs from Casting A Spell.  The stitching went really quick, well, when I wasn't frogging or recounting :)

The Goode Huswif

Sarah Seifer

28ct mystery linen

DMC threads

Another new start and it is a small design, so I used the 28 ct linen.

Carriage House Samplings

Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow

40 ct LL Vintage Light Exemplar

HDF silk threads

Another executive decision--the Heart's Ease Maryland Sampler is just too large for me right now.  I might start it later this year, but for now I am substituting this one for it. Please excuse the hoop marks.

 

More border stitching, sigh.

 

I am definitely detecting a Christmas theme to my stitching starts this year.

1. Christmas box

2. Christmas at HRH

3. MSD Christmas Sampler

4. Stacy Nash Christmas at Hollyberry Farm

5. SL Mary Ann Hutton

6. SK Holiday Patches

7. RD 7 Snowmen Grinning

8. 2013 SAL de Maryse

And 3 ornaments I have already picked out.

Hmmmmm........

New Year Starts

Here's whats happening in my neck of the woods!

I feel like I've been stitching borders, borders and more borders!

 

 

2013 SAL Grilles de Maryse-January

36 ct mystery chocolate-cherry linen (from an exchange)

Gloriana Fresh Snow silk thread

 

 

LHN Melicent Turner

30 ct R & R Olde Towne Blend

Called-for Crescent Colours cotton threads

 

With Thy Needle and Thread

Mary's Best Handework

32 ct LL Light Exemplar

Called for DMC threads

Blackbird Designs

Flowers for Sarah Needlecase

30 ct Cream Belfast linen

Called for GAST threads

 

Brooke Nolan-Brooke's Books Publishing

The Happy Couple  (George & Martha Washington)

28 ct Ivory Lugana

DMC conversion

 

Scarlet Letter

Mary Ann Hutton

36 ct Cream linen

Combination of DMC and Soie D'Alger silks

Midsummer Night Designs

A Christmas Sampler

32 ct Cream linen

DMC threads

Stacy Nash

Christmas at Hollyberry Farm

35 ct natural linen

GAST threads

Blackbird Designs

Casting A Spell/Joyeux Noel

30 ct Cream Belfast linen

GAST/CC threads

 

For those of you who have been following my blog for a while, you probably already know that I am no fan of Halloween stitching (basically because my birthday is on Halloween and I can do without the reminders :)

BUT......

I really LIKE this box and the design idea.  So what to do??

Ta Da...

A Blackbird Christmas box!  I pulled out my Joyeux Noel book and started getting some ideas of small designs.  For example, how do you like a border with a border?! I have finished 3 of the 10 small designs with ideas for the rest.

(OK- I see a mistake on the border that will have to be fixed.  That's what I get for designing myself)

 

More updates later this week...

Love seeing all your new year updates!