Last For The year

I have to say I am proud of myself for actually finishing this in time for the New Year!  Yeah!!!

This is "Bid the New Year Welcome" from The Sampler Girl. It can be found in her Christmas Booklet #1. I used 28ct DMC linen with Threadworx Rocky Mountain #1070. I had the perfect seed beads which matched the colors in the thread so I finished it off with them around the edges. I also added some jingle bells to the corners.
I really enjoyed stitching & finishing this one :)

I want to Thank everyone for all of your visits to my blog and the wonderful comments you have left me throughout the year!
May you all have a Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year!!!

In Time For The Tree

I am finally getting a chance to post this. I was working on this a week before Christmas and finally finished it up on Christmas Eve in time to hang on the tree!
 This little cutie is  Nickademus by Raise the Roof  from the 2010 JCS Ornament issue. I was thrilled to find the perfect backing fabric for him at The Fat Quarter Shop . I stitched him on 28ct Babbeling Brook Overdyed Joblean using the DMC threads called for. He was fun to stitch and I love the way he came out :)

I hope everyone is enjoying the Holidays!! I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of the year!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Christmas Eve Ornament

I heard from my partner Lucy in the HOE Christmas Ornament exchange that she received the ornament I sent her. So now I can finally post it! Yeah!!
 I stitched "Christmas Eve" from The Sampler Girl  over 1 on 28ct DMC evenweave. I used DMC 839, 813 & 304 and also added some red seed beads to match the DMC as well as 2 jingle bells .
I have to Thank Mylene for her wonderful tutorial on how to add beads around the edge when finishing! This was the first time I tried doing it and although not perfect by any means I don't think I did that bad :)

I hope you all have a nice weekend!  Thanks so much for stopping by!!

2 More Blackbird Stockings

Here are the 2 BBD stockings I made for my son's teachers. Instead of using a print fabric on the back I used the same 30ct Iced Cappuccino linen as the front. I stitched his name on them and on one the year on the back being the other has the year as part of the design. I also used 6mm glass beads for the hangers.
These were much easier to make than my first one. In fact I finished them up so fast my DH kept saying "Wow! You did them already?? " LOL  He is so happy that I can sew now and I don't have to ask him to do it :)

I hung them on my tree to take the pictures. I figure I will leave them there until I wrap them. It is probably the safest place for them to be. I always have this fear something is going to happen to a finished piece (especially a gift) and then I have to start all over again! lol

 I still have one more ornament I made to show but I am waiting to hear from the recipient that she has received it. According to the Post Office it was delivered over a week ago. I am not sure what to do.

Thank so much for stopping by and for all the wonderful comments you all leave me!

You Must See This On Pinta's Blog!

If you don't follow Pinta's blog you really should go on over and see this beautiful freebie she has posted!

Have a great evening!

I Almost Forgot!!

I stitched and finished this about a month ago but almost forgot to take a picture! I realized it as I was hanging it on my Christmas Tree this weekend.
 This was my first attempt at making one of these BBD stockings. And although I ended up cutting the excess fabric for the seam around it a little short I still got it to look decent ;)  I just love these little stockings!
I have decided to make these for my son's teachers as a little Christmas Gift. I usually make his teacher an ornament at Christmas and personalize them with his name and year he was in their class. This year he has 2 teachers. One male and one female. I chose Merry Christmas for his female teacher and Deer in the Meadow for his male teacher who is actually his main teacher.  Both designs are in the Merry December booklet.
 Hopefully they will like them :)  So far I have one stitched and should have the 2nd finished today. I figured I would finish them off at the same time.

As always Thank You for taking the time to stop by and for all the wonderful comments!

A Few More Exchanges Received

Here is the exchange piece I made for the Christmas Smalls Exchange in the HOE group.
My partner was Erin  and I chose to stitch "Dash Away All" from The Sampler Girl. The one rule for this exchange was to create something that wasn't an ornament . So being as I enjoyed making the box for the Blackbird Designs exchange (see below) and I had another paper mache box I decided to finish this off in the same way. I really liked the way this one came out! I have 2 more of these boxes so I definitely have to make one for myself sometime .
 I am so glad you loved it Erin! It was a pleasure to stitch & finish for you :)

On Friday I received my Christmas smalls Exchange from Sonda. Sonda said she saw that I likes Blackbird Designs so she chose their design "Peace" from the 2009 JCS ornament issue. She finished it off into this wonderful tin topper. I absolutely LOVE it!  I love how she finished it off! I have made these in the past and never thought to put a piece of felt on the bottom. It really makes it nice!
 Sonda also included some wonderful goodies! She sent me a piece of pretty red Fat Quarter fabric, a reindeer nose and a package of DMC varigated floss!!! I have always wanted to buy myself the varigated floss but never did! I was so surprised to see it in the package!
Sonda Thank You so VERY much for this wonderful exchange! A new treasure to add to my collection :)

I also received my Ornament from the HOE Ornament Exchange. Paula had my name and she made this beautiful ornament for me! I LOVE the design she chose and also the way she finished it!  It looks stunning on my tree!
Thank you so very much Paula! I will treasure it always!

I am still waiting to hear from my partner if she received my ornament.  The USPS delivery conformation said it was delivered yesterday but you never know lol As soon as I hear from her I will post it here.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
I really appreciate all of your wonderful comments!

Exchanges Sent & Received

I can't believe it is December already!!  It just seems to creep up every year. Pretty soon it will be 2011!

I've been working on quite a few exchanges in the past  month or so and I am happy to say I have met all my goals & deadlines! Yeah!!! Everything has either arrived to my partners or should be getting to them soon.

This first exchange was from the imfamous Elsue 123 Christmas ornament exchange. Sue runs this exchange every year on the 123MB. This was the 2nd year I participated. Sue made the deadline to send your ornament December 1st. She also holds a drawing for a 123stitch Gift Certificate for everyone who mails their ornament out by the deadline. I think that is VERY generous of her! I am keeping my fingers crossed that I win! Who can't use MORE stash?!! LOL

I made this ornament for my partner Vickie from Alabama. It is from the 2010 JCS ornament issue by JBW designs. I used GA Buckeye Scarlet on 28ct unknown evenweave. This was also the first time I tried doing the raushed ribbon. It actually wasn't hard but did get teidous at times. I couldn't believe it used a whole roll of ribbon! Although it probably wasn't a really big spool to begin with.

This is the ornament I received from Vickie. Isn't he adorable??!! Thanks so much Vickie! I love him!!

The next exchange was for the TGOSM yahoogroup annual Christmas Ornament Exchange. Kate in the UK has run this for the past 2 years. I actually first participated in it 3 years ago but I forget if Kate ran it then? Anyway here is the ornament I made for my partner Bea. It is from the 1999 JCS Ornament issue. The designer is Little By Little Designs and it is called "My Little Christmas Gift". I really like this design and though it was perfect for an exchange being it was personalized. I used 32ct unknown linen (unknown because I can't remember lol) and DMC floss..

I received an adorable ornament from Sonia in the UK. She stitched "Herbert" from Heart In Hand. I've seen him before and always  thought  he was just darling ! Thanks so much Sonia! I love him!

Last but certainly not least I was in the Black Bird Designs exchange. This is my first exchange with them. My partner was Mayte . I stitched Love Letters for her from the BBD Joyeux Noel book. I have always loved that design and finish and couldn't wait to do it. I used 32ct cream linen and the DMC colors called for. I also finished it off as was suggested in the book. This was also the first time I made an acorn emery and it was very easy! 

Now about those acorn tops!

The only trees that are around my block are Palm Trees or the occasional Pine Tree.  So I was thinking if I was still living in New York I had 2 huge Oak trees on my front lawn which doesn't help me now. Being my DH is out and about at his job I asked him if he ever saw any Oak Trees and if so can he pick me up so acorn tops. He said sure he sees them all the time in the parks he has to go into for work. So the next day I go to pick my son up from school and while walking through the parking lot (which is just a field with a few scraggly trees) I step on something. I look down and lo and behold it is a stinkin acorn!! I was like huh??? Turns out those scraggly trees with Spanish Moss all over them are Oak trees!!! Who knew?? LOL I never noticed them because Oak Tree leaves turn from green to brown here. They do not get all of the lovely colors that they do up in New York. Besides that nasty Spanish Moss is covering them so you really can't make out what they are. So everyday for the past 5 years I have been walking under 3 BIG oak trees and never noticed until I needed them :) Now I have a whole bunch :)

 I have a few more exchanges which should be getting to their new owners any day now. I will post once they arrive.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!