TUSAL

TUSAL

TOTALLY USELESS SAL

I just wanted to post my ORT jar for the May 20th New Moon.  I will probably need to get a larger jar since this SAL runs the entire year. Do you want know more about this no pressure SAL? Click here

The FTT Friendship Exchange Arrived from Melissa and what a beautiful exchange piece it is...

FTT Friendship Exchange

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Design: PS Spring Design~

Birds and Baskets Sampler 

Stitched by: Melissa E.

Melissa does such wonderful needlework and this pinkeep is no exception!  Melissa, your beautifully stitched and finished handwork is nicely displayed on my Needlework tree...I can't thank you enough!

Suzanne S. let me know that the FTT Friendship exchange that I stitched for her arrived.  Here are a few pics...

FTT Friendship Exchange

Designer: The Sunflower Seed

Design: Storklette Scissor Holder

This is such a great design and such an easy finish.  The minute that I completed it I knew that I wanted to stitch it again for myself.

My DH and I spend quite a bit of our free time rummaging through antique and consignment shops.  It is so much fun to find treasures that other people decided they could live without.  Here a few pics of some of those treasures...

Madame Alexander Wizard of Oz Collection

I know, it is hard to believe that someone could actually live without these Wizard of Oz dolls.  Of course this was a real find for me, 4 of the 12 dolls: The Wizard, The Cowardly Lion, The Tin Man, and The Scarecrow.   These 5" dolls were distributed in 2007/2008 in McDonald's, Happy Meals.  The collection consist of: Dorothy, Glenda the Good Witch, Winged Monkey, Cowardly Lion, Wicked Witch of the West, Winkie Guard, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Flower Munchkin, Lullaby Munchkin, Lollipop Munchkin, The Wizard of Oz. 

Here is a collection of glassware that I found interesting...

I especially like the pieces that have the laced edge since these are perfect for holding small scissors. 

As a collector of P. Buckley Moss prints these 3 plates were a great find, one that I could not pass up: 

P. Buckley Moss Plates

The Celebration Series

The Wedding

The Christening

The Anniversary

I am keeping my eyes open for the 4th plate in this series titled, Family Reunion.  

Must end now to try to finish up on a cross stitch wedding gift.

Thanks for stopping by ~

Until next time...

A Few Of My Favorite Things

I hope all the blog reading Moms had a wonderful Mother's Day.  I received this gorgeous flower arrangement from my two favorite sons:

This was such a wonderful surprise and the flowers smell beautiful.   Thank you G and D for making my day extra special! 

Here is my favorite YouTube, so perfect for mother's Day. Get your tissue ready...

I thought that I would share with you my every growing collection of glass flower frogs.  I actually come across these often and have had to curtail my spending when it comes to these frogs..

I do have a few favorites, the green one and the frogs that are thicker...

I am finally finding time to post a picture of an amazing silhouette poster of The Wizard of Oz. 

This was given to me by my DSs on Christmas 2010 and I absolutely love it...

This Wizard Of Oz poster is composed entirely from the body text of Frank Baum’s classic novel. Carefully arranged, the words form an image in negative space of Dorothy and the gang skipping down the yellow brick road with the Wicked Witch of the West hovering over them.  Here is  bit of the detail...

How awesome is that???? Because we were planning on moving I decided to wait to get the poster framed. We are now settled in our new home and I am happy to say that my favorite poster is now on display in my sewing room.

A week from tomorrow is a very special day ~ my DS #2 will be graduating from Lehigh University.  We have had so much rain lately that I am hoping that the day is sunny and bright. When DS #1 graduated in 2009 it was not only raining, it was freezing.  I shall keep my fingers crossed that the weather cooperates this time!

Thanks for stopping by ~

Until next time...

Some Starts And Finishes

Thank you for your very kind words regarding the death of our sweet yorkie, Misha.  She really was a wonderful companion to each member of our family and we miss her daily.  I am so thankful that we have Lily who will never replace Misha but will forever warm our hearts and brighten our home.  It is hard to believe that she will turn 4 in a few weeks.

LILY

I learned that Karen K. received the HOE PS Ornament that I sent to her so I am free to post a picture:

2012 HOE PS Ornament

Design: 2004 PS Santa

Stitched for: Karen K.

The 50th Wedding Anniversary sampler is now framed and was presented to my Aunt and Uncle at their party last Saturday.

50th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Designer: Historical Sampler Company

Design: Family Tree Sampler

Like most stitchers I have so many projects started and really have no business tackling another one but I fell in love with this needlepoint canvas.  MY DH gifted it to me this past Christmas and I am just now finding time to start working on it.  

Ewe And Eye Needlepoint

Title: Village Scene

Artist: Karen Cruden

Many years ago I dabbled in needlepoint and last summer I ventured into "In Stitches" ~ a wonderful ship in Dorset, VT.  I was quickly drawn to some wonderful pieces and the very friendly owner, Maria.  With the help of Maria I hope to incorporate a number of specialty stitches to make this design spectacular.

On May 3rd we celebrated our 27th Wedding Anniversary ~ Only 23 more before the big 50th!

And here is the best part of 27 years of marriage:

DS and GF

Thanks for stopping by~

Until next time...

Man's Best Friend ~ A Sad Goodbye

MISHA

March 22, 1996 - April 12, 2012

On April 12, 2012 we lost a very special member of our family.  Misha, our 15 year old Yorkshire Terrier left this world, filling our hearts with tremendous sadness.  She was beyond sweet, truly loved, and will be forever missed.  IL&IMY!

Treasured Friend

I lost a treasured friend today 

The little dog who used to lay 

Her gentle head upon my knee 

And shared her silent thoughts with me. 


She’ll come no longer to my call 

Retrieve no more her favourite ball 

A voice far greater than my own 

Has called her to his golden throne. 


Although my eyes are filled with tears 

I thank him for the happy years 

He let her spend down here with me 

And for her love and loyalty. 


When it is time for me to go 

And join her there, this much I know

I shall not fear the transient dark 

For she will greet me with a bark. 


Author Unknown 

Just A Few Exchanges

I received a beautiful exchange from Nancy K.  who stitched for me in the HOE Prairie Schooler Ornament exchange.  Like so many others I am a huge fan of all of the PS designs, this one tops my list of favorites. 

2012 HOE PS Ornament

Stitched by: Nancy K.

Nancy's work is always so perfect. I am very thankful for the time she spent stitching and finishing this for me. Thank you Nancy, I have your ornament hanging on the tree in my family room so I will enjoy it all year!

I participated in the FTT Birthday Exchange and was partnered with Melissa E., who has an April birthday.  Here is what I stitched for her:

2012 FTT Birthday Exchange
Designer: Eventide Designs
Design: Grandma's Pin Poke

Stitched for: Melissa E.

I wanted to do something different with the finishing so I purchased a small hand mirror and mounted the stitched piece on it.  Happy Birthday Melissa E.!

My family spent Easter with my relatives, it is always so fun to get together with them.  I stitched an Easter design to gave it to my cousin, who hosted the event at her house. Once again I managed to find a cute Annalee doll to display the design.

2012 Easter Gift for Tricia

I have been busy stitching an 50th Wedding Anniversary gift that needed to be complete by early May.  Thankfully I finished it and it is being framed....Phew!  Here is a picture of the mounted, but not yet framed piece:

Designer: Historical Sampler Company

Design: Family Tree Sampler

Stitched for: 50th Wedding Anniversary

My DS will be graduating from college next month and I can hardly believe it.  Those college years go by so quickly.  I will be starting a small sampler type cross stitch design to mark the event.  Once done I will hang it on the sampler wall in my new house:

That's about it for today.  Thanks for stopping by ~

Until next time...

Stitchy Pictures To Share

It is hard to believe that there was a time when I would participate in 30+ exchanges per year.  Today, that number has dropped significantly but I wish that I could say that my personal stitching has increased, it has not! What is wrong with me?


I do miss the excitement of meeting all the exchange deadlines and the joy of opening packages with great anticipation. I had the opportunity to do this when Joan's package was pulled from my mailbox.  Here is what I gently unwrapped:

2012 FTT Red Exchange

Designer: Blackbird Design

Stitched by: Joan S.

How gorgeous is that??? Really beautiful.  From the design… to the stitching… to the finishing… to the hand dyed chenille trim… Even the note card is perfect. Yes, I am impressed and extremely grateful for the time and effort that Joan put into stitching the beautiful exchange piece. Thank you so very much Joan, I will display it proudly and view it often.


I stitched for Jill in this same exchange and here is what I sent:

2012 FTT Red Exchange

Designer: Casa Mia

Stitched for: Jill F.

I was initially going to finish this as an ornament but I did a lot of ornament finishing just before Christmas so I decided to do something different.  I decided to make a Scissor Pocket and am happy with how it turned out.  It was also nice to change things up a bit, I hope to do more of that in the future.


Today I received my HOE Santa Ornament from Ellen.  She selected a design from one of my all time favorite designers, Mary Garry. What a beautiful ornament:

2012 HOE Santa Exchange

Designer: Mary Garry Sewing Studio

Stitched by: Ellen

Thank you Ellen!!! I love this design, it put a huge smile on my face the very minute I laid eyes on it.  Thanks for the great trim as well.


My HOE Santa Ornament arrived in Edgar's mailbox so i am free to share a picture of it with you:

2012 HOE Santa Exchange

Designer: Heart In Hand

Design: Wee Santa 2004

Stitched for: Edgar

The Santa face fabric was perfect for the finishing on this ornament. I must say this is a favorite design of mine; I love the small Merry Christmas tin stencil.  I keep saying I will stitch this for my tree so I have added it to my 2012 "To Stitch" list.  I must place an order for more of those adorable tin stencils because I used the last one in my stash.


Let me share some pictures of some of the Ornaments that I rushed to complete before Christmas:

Yesterday these beautiful flowers were delivered to my house from my DS's:

What a wonderful Valentine's Day surprise and so very sweet of both of them.  Thanks you so much G/D, you made Valentine's Day VERY special.


I also received these beautiful flowers from my DH:

As well as this delicious chocolate/raspberry cake:

Great big thank you to all three of you!


I can hardly believe it, I moved back to the northeast from Texas with great anticipation of a snow filled winter where I would spend much time skiing on the beautiful mountains in Vermont only to find that THERE IS NO SNOW… yet (there is still a little time left and I have hope). 

Until next time...