Merry Christmas/and a Few Crafty Sewing Pics

Below is a blouse/tunic that I made one morning this week..I think it will go well with a jean jacket over it or a black t- shirt under it.  It is made from rayon and found materials on clearance at Walmart .

Above is the pattern I used and did the view pictured on the model. 

Below is the view from our sunroom taken this morning on Christmas Eve....see the tops of the trees glisten with ice and snow.

Merry Christmas!!!! Hope yours is full of blessings!!!!

An Exchange From Hungary

I received from Angela K this cute ornament as part of the "Little House" Exchange.  It is ornament #8 of 2012 series.  I love how she finished it into a mitten shape!!  

Exchanges, Exchanges, and More Exchanges

 Here are a whole bunch of exchanges that were made the past few months in need of finishing.

 Isnt this clever......from Notforgotten Farm.....covers 3 seasons.

 Two exchanges from Little House.......finished with the neatest (not shown) material from a quilting store near Madison.  They were a joy to make and quick too.

 This is an exchange I received from Lilly from all the way from Malasia.  It is called "Spells" from The Stitcherhood.

 Arent these two just darling.  I made the Joy one for a Christmas Exchange and the owl if a freebie I made for a Halloween exchange.

This little pretty is from Rosa and features antique tatting and beautiful bead work from a Christmas exchange.

Beginning My First Mirabilia

 At the Black Cat Stitchery in Zion, IL (my favorite cross stitch store) I purchased this neat moss green linen and this new "lap doodle" stretcher bar (comes in 3 sizes). See the pin that marks the middle.

 Here is the Mirabilia pattern.......it is so intricate that I need to use a magnifier to be able to read!

 This is what the finished piece will look like!

Here is my start on the new project.......I will keep you updated on my progress.

My New Cross Stitching Lamp and 48th B-Day Pictures

 Sorry for the mess around my new lamp but let me show you my new Daylight floor lamp.  Some of the features are bulb that is moveable with a special bulb that even helps with lack of sunshine in the winter, a clip that can hold your pattern off to the side of you when you stitch and a magnifier lense that you can put in front of your pattern . It also has a tray which I put all my threads and needles on.  The lamp comes with 6 wheels on the bottom and is nice and heavy and very solid.  I am SO pleased with it that stitching is more of a pleasure than ever.

 Here is a pic of me on my 48th birthday last weekend.

Here are 3 of my children that took me out to eat at the Duck Inn last weekend for my birthday.

A Little Halloween Pillow For Me

This evening I finished this charming Halloween pillow.  I started out a month ago making it for an exchange.  But silly me thought I had signed up for the exchange and at last minute found out I never did!  This was two weeks ago when I was freaking out about not being able to finish in time.  I lucked out and found out I can take my time and finish this pillow for me!!!  I found this pattern in this years JCS Halloween edition.  I used Sullivan threads which was new for me!  Isn't it cute!

Yes, I Am Still Alive!!!

 I have been busy for the last few months with life, but today decided to catch up my blog with exchanges either received or given.  I don't remember the particulars on each but will give you the run down.
This is a box I made with directions from Blackbird Designs.  I made the Blackbird design and mounted it on the box which I covered with a red calico fabric.  I put the initials of my exchange partner on it as well.

 Here is what I included as goodies for her.  A pincushion (also a Blackbird Design) along with a fall beaded kit, linen, and various buttons.

 This was the Blackbird Exchange that I received.  It is filled with lavendar and smells so wonderful.  I love the lace edge.

 I entered the HOE ABC round and sent this out.  It is a Stacy Nash Primitive and done across only one.  It is really an itsy bitsy little pincushion.

 Marie send me this from the HOE Halloween exchange.  It is a little wooden box and the cross stitching is across one.

 Marie also sent me this little ornament that was tucked inside the wooden box.

 This is the Prairie Home Schooler Ornament from the HOE exchange that I received.  It is finished to perfection.

 This is the Prairie Ornament that I made for my partner.  I will think twice again before stitching on black evenweave again.  Even though my partner says she loves how it glows.

 I made this little guy for my partner for the HOE Halloween exchange.  I have already received requests from others to make this for them for Christmas.

This is the exchange I received from Amy from the HOE ABC exchange.  It is hanging on my ornament tree right now!!!

Amy also sent me this ornament by Little House as the HOE Runners up exchange. It is waiting to by hung soon on our Holiday tree.

I received this beautiful breast cancer awareness biscornu and scissors and fob from Jayne.  I love it and the biscornu sits proudly on my desk and I am actively using the scissors while making a project this month.

This is one of my favorite ornaments so far that I have made.  It is from JCS.  I sent it out to California as part of the Autumn Exchange.

This was what I made my partner in Canada as my exchange to her for the HOE Runners up exchange.  I choose a Little House design that I personalized with her last name.

I hope you enjoyed all my exchanges received and sent.  I love exchanging and put my heart and soul into it.

August and All Its Happenings

 Hi everyone!!! Hope you August is going well so far!!  I am really enjoying it!

 Had a fun weekend with my friend Diane.  She is a very cheerful and uplifting person.  She sings great and also plays guitar.  We gifted her with this guitar so she can continue to write and perform her original music.

 Hard to make out , but look closely.  Yesterday a whole family of wild turkeys walked across the road in front of us.  It was darling.....a mom and dad and about 10 teenagers :)

I received this wonderful box in the mail last week from Marjorie as part of the Seasonal Exchange.  I just love this neat box and plan to keep it on my dresser to put my jewelry in.

July 2013 and All Its Happenings

We started out the month of July with a celebration of all the June and July Birthdays.  Happy B-Day to my brother Dan, his wife Michelle, my sister-in-law Jenny and my daughter Katie!!

 I ended the month with a visit to my good friend, Marita to meet her new grandson , Layker who is a month older.  Isn't he sweet!!

 I made this cute pillow for the Friendship exchange on HOE.  It is "Stitching" by Glory Bee on 28 count natural light linen with DMC.

 THis is the exchange I received from Carol.  It is a Praire Schooler design.  I love the saying.  THanks Carol!

The back material Carol picked out is perfect with gold metallic running through it.

Beautiful Exchanges Received Today

 The first exchange I received all the way from the UK from Jayne Nelson.  She noticed I liked peacocks so she made me THe Holiday Peacock from Just Cross-Stitching magazine 2010.  It is even finished with peacock feathers.....I absolutely love it!!  It was from the HOE Stitcher's Choice Christmas Exchange.

The second exchange was the summer exchange from HOE by Edgar.  It is a pinkeep and from One Bird Free by One Goode Huswife.  It is stitched on 36 vintage linen with DMC.  It is just fabulous!!

Summer HOE Exchange Sent

Just finished up and am mailing out today my Summer HOE exchange.  It is called Sheep Freebee by Shepherd's Bush.  It is stitched on 18 ct. Lambswool linen using Weeks Dye Works Overdyed Floss with the Shepherd's Bush "Meadow Daisy" button.
I hope my partner loves it as much as I do!!

Gifts Made for My Dad and Another Exchange

 I made this rustic hanging for my Dad for Father's Day.  He really loved it and is going to hang it up in his cottage upnorth.  It is from The Prairie Home Schooler and is Book No. 46 --In The Woods.  I stitched it using DMC and made it on aida that was overdyed...so it has a antique kind of look to it.  I finished the back with North Woods material and added a stick from a tree in the yard to hang it on with twine.  I am really pleased that he liked it so much.

I made this lovely ornament pillow for the HOE pick your own Christmas design round.  This is "Christmas Crow, Sheep, and Star by Deanna Carter Designs from Country Crow Series.  I stitched in on an overdyed evenweave using DMC.  I added 2 buttons to the top corners, calico material to the back, and twine tied to the buttons so it can be hung.  I hope my partner likes it!

Blackbird Exchange Sent

I can post a picture now of my latest creation, a sewing box, made from a pattern by Blackbird.  I sent it to Conny in the Netherlands and I know she will love it.

Lovely exchange received from the Netherlands

Yesterday, I received this lovely pincushion from Conny all the way from the Netherlands.  It was done on 32 count Zweigart linen using the recommended threads.  The design is from BBD LF 2012 and is called "Peacock's Tail Pincushion".
As you know, I am obsessed with peacocks and cross stitch and this little pincushion fits right into my beautiful collection.  Thanks so much , Conny.

One More May Exchange

I forgot to post last time my Black Cat Exchange for Kathy for spring.  It is Country Cottage Needleworks, and called "Let Love Bloom". It was stitched on linen using DMC.  It was really a joy to make.  The ric rack is hand dyed.