Fall Is In The Air and At My Door

Janet B. brought Fall right to my front door with an exchange that is bursting with color. She stitched for me in the 2012 HOE Fall exchange.

2012 HOE Fall Exchange

Designer: Island Cottage NeedleArts

Design: Pumpkin Harvest

Fabric: WDW 35ct Tin Roof Linen

Fibers: Gentle Art Sampler Thread

Stitched By: Janet B.

What a gorgeous hanging heart with beautiful hand dyed silk ribbon (Dinky-Dyes) and a wonderful tapestry backing fabric.  I am so impressed with the braided silk ribbon cording, that's a great idea!

I told you this exchange was bursting with color...

From the card, to the fabric, to the heart, to the absolutely amazing hand dyed floss!  Janet's talent extends beyond her beautiful stitching/finishing...she dyes floss and gifted me with a gorgeous array of Fall colors. I am beyond impresses and can hardly wait to stitch with them.

Thank you so much Janet for this amazing exchange.

Who did I stitch for? Edgar, and I could not have been happier to stitch this for him:

2012 HOE Fall Exchange

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Design: Acorns

Stitched for: Edgar M.

From my Summer Stitching Storm here are a few more finishes:

Designer: Merrily Beams

Design: Trifles

Finish: Stitching Caddy

Stitched for: Carol S.

As a quilter I enjoy spending time with my sewing machine.  I often look for ways to use my machine to finish my cross stitch; a sewing caddy gives me that opportunity.  When I set out to do the finishing on "Trifles" I did not have a pattern, it was a "finish as you go" activity.  

When I saw Carol's Ornament for Mike I knew that I would need to make one (or two, three, four...well, you get the idea ~ I am hooked on these).  This is the first that I completed:

2012 DREW Flat Fold

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Design: Christmas Alphabet Book #64

Finish: Flat Fold

I would like to stitch one for each member of my family. I am hoping to have the remaining three completed before Christmas.  They will look nice lined up on the mantel with each persons Christmas stocking hanging below.

Why do I love Vermont? Because you just don't see these in the city.

Thanks for stopping by~

Until next time...

Summer Stitching Storm

Yes, I have a handful of Blackbird Designs Stocking patterns but no, I have never stitched one. I have never received one either...that is until yesterday.  A package arrived from Karen K. who stitched for me in the HOE BBD Ornament exchange and here is what I received:

HOE BBD Ornament Exchange

Designer: Blackbird Designs

Design: Crowning the Tree

Stitched by: Karen K.

Wow, I could hardly believe my eyes.  I love this stocking and am so happy to be able to hang it from my tree.  This is absolutely gorgeous, so beautifully stitched and finished.  Had my DSs not been here for the holiday weekend I would probably have grabbed a BBD stocking pattern from my stash and started feverishly stitching.  Just the sight of this beauty had me truly motivated!!!  I know for certain that on Tuesday I will be putting needle to fabric in my quest to finally stitch/finish one myself.

Many thanks Karen for surprising me with this fabulous exchange!

The past few months have been a stitching storm around here.  I have been able to complete a number of projects... 

This is what I stitch for HOE BBD exchange? 

2012 HOE BBD Ornament Exchange

Design: Naughty or Nice

From BBD: Christmas Garden 

Stitched for: Deanne

I learned that my Fair and Square Halloween Exchange blocks arrived so I can share those as well:

F&S Halloween Exchange

Designer: Birds of a Feather

Design: Halloween Icons

Stitched For: Linda

Birds of a Feather happens to be a favorite of mine.  This witch, in all her craziness, makes me smile.   I liked her so much I stitched it again and created this candle holder...

Like everyone I give much of what I stitch away but this one is a keeper.  I love Halloween, I love Birds of a Feather, and I love candles so I can't part with it.

My very special, long time friend celebrated her birthday in July.  I always try to whip something up for her and this year I managed to complete this:

Designer: Carriage House Samplings

Design From: Shores of Hawk Run Hollow

Stitched For: Mary K. 

The finished design fit perfectly on the top of this purchased box.  If only I knew where I bought the box I would rush back and pick up a few more.

I have a number of other completed projects to share but I will save them for another post.

Vermont days are starting to get cooler, fall is just around the corner and I could not be happier.  Vermont appeals to me for so many reasons and here is just one:

Little Country Post Office

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

Until next time...