Treats And More Treats

And what a treat it was to open my Halloween exchange from Paula C and find this beautiful Halloween Ornament that Paula stitched:

I truly love it! “Happy Jack” makes me smile; he is so very cute (and perfectly stitched and finished). The design was taken from the 2009 JSC Halloween edition.


The box was packed to the rim with so many wonderful treasures:

I gasp when I saw the box of See’s chocolates…my very favorite. It did not take long for me to gobble that up! I shall save the other edible treats for later. Paula also treated me to some of her very useful scrubbers. These top my list of favorite kitchen gadgets they really do work! My kitchen is now looking more festive with the Halloween dishtowel, orange scrubber and washing cloth. There is also a cute pumpkin pincushion, two fabulous Halloween fat quarters, ribbon, and post it notes. Thank you so much Paula for this amazing exchange it was such a treat and you are such a treasured friend! :)

My Halloween Annalee Doll is the perfect place to display "Happy Jack" ~

Fair & Square round #15 arrived today as well. Bridget stitched this cute square:

Thank you Bridget, your selection was perfect!


Here is the block that I sent to Bridget:

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Design taken from: When Witched Go Riding

I have not posted any pictures of the dogs lately so I shall leave you with these:

Lily (1 year)

Misha (12 years old)

They are both tuckered out from their visit to the vet for annual shots.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you have a wonderful week!

Until next time...

A Bit Of This And That

I received my F&S Summer Exchange blocks from Jill and they are truly wonderful. Jill selected a very appropriate Lizzie Kate Design called “Summer Basket” and I could not be more pleased. What a wonderful design, I love the alphabet that surrounds the basket. Thank you so much Jill for these great squares!

Fair & Square Summer

Lizzie Kate Summer Basket

Stitched by: Jill F.

I have been busy stitching but I am working on exchange pieces so I cannot show you any pictures right now. Speaking of exchanges, I have decided to be very selective on which future exchanges I will participate in over the next few months. I really want to stitch some special holiday gifts for some friends but I am struggling to find time to start these projects. It is very difficult to pass on the many wonderful exchanges that I see out there but I will do my best.

My Victorian Motto Sampler Threads arrived and I just love all the beautiful colors:

How can one resist this, it is candy for the eyes! I should point out that Nancy is so nice to deal with and gets her orders shipped super fast~ thanks Nancy.

I would also like to thank Jenn for sending me a link to a “must have” design. She read that I liked the Wizard of Oz and emailed a link to this design:

Designer: Midsummer Night Designs

Design: Primitive Wizard of Oz

I just love it! I quickly ordered it and hope to "quickly" stitch it! It would look nice hanging with a collection of my other samplers.

I shall leave you with this "Wishing Custom"...

Corn On The Cob
If you have an ear of corn with either seven or fourteen rows,
make a wish as you take your first bite.

Until next time...

And The Winner Is…

On July 4th I used Random.org to draw a name for my 4th of July Give-A-Way and then immediately started stitching the person’s initials onto the almost completed piece. On Sunday I spent much of the day working on the finishing and am happy to announce that the winner of this Blackbird Design Thread Keeper is…

Michelle H.

Congratulations Michelle, please email me with your mailing address so that I can get this in the mail to you!

I received these very festive blocks from Melita D. who was my Fair & Square partner in the 4th of July round. Thanks so very much Melita, you did a fantastic job on these great squares.

Here are the squares that I sent Melita:

I am happy to say that both of my sons have arrived safely in the northeast. They traveled 1,677 miles in 3 days, stopping in New Orleans, North Carolina and NJ. When I drove down here this past February, it took me 5 days but then again I was making essential stops at quilting and needlework shops along the way. I am certain that they passed right by these! They are now safe and sound in the northeast and they are both greatly missed here in the south.

Thanks to all those that make time to stop by my blog, I am always glad that you come for a visit and look forward to your return.

Until next time...

So Many Beautiful Exchanges

As promised, I will share with you the many beautiful exchanges that have been rolling in...

The first Exchange arrived all the way from New Zealand. It was beautifully stitched and finished into a Bourse by Margaret S. My very first Bourse and it is a beauty!

• Friends Through Threads
• Blackbird Design Exchange

• BBD Exchange
• Design: My Pink House
• Stitched by: Margaret S.
• Finish: Bourse

Margaret also stitched a very cute Scissor Fob using the strawberry design pictured and she even included those great scissors! She made the matching pincushion and included needles, sticky notes, quilter's wheel, and scented bath bag.

Thank you again Margaret for this fantastic exchange.

Here is what I stitched for Ronel in the BBD Exchange:

FTT: BBD Exchange

Threads: VMST (love this thread)

Stitched for: Ronel W.

Finish: Floss Tag

Friends Through Threads

Seasonal Exchange ~ Spring

My second FTT Exchange traveled all the way from Germany and was stitched by Gaby M. She selected a design from one on my favorite designers, Prairie Schooler, and finished it into a two-flanged pillow ~ how cute is this...

FTT: Seasonal Exchange ~ Spring

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Stitched by: Gaby M.

Finish: Pillow

As you can imagine the box that arrived was quite large and packed with so many extras: A magazine, book (it is always exciting to receive these from other countries), fabric x 2, silk thread, honey soap, delicious candy, a cute little ladybug for my key chain, and last but not least a very special bookmark made by Simon!

Thank you so much Gaby for the extra special exchange!

Here is what I stitched for the FTT Seasonal Exchange:

FTT: Seasonal Exchange ~ Spring

Designer: Blackbird Design

Threads: VMST

Stitched for: Gaby M.

Finish: Floss Tag

Look familiar? I just love this design and love stitching it, I really do! I love it so much that I am offering a "give-a-way" just so that I can stitch it again. :D Post a comment and leave your first/last initial and I will include you in the July 4th drawing for the Blackbird Design Floss Tag.

The third exchange arrived from Canada and was stitched by Wendy B. She stitched for me in the Prairie Schooler All Year Long Exchange and I could not be happier, just take a look:

PS All Year Long

Round #2

PS All Year Long #2

Stitched by: Wendy B.

Finish: Needle Book

I love the Needle Book finish, it is perfect for this design. I really like Wendy's technique and recently used it to complete a needle book for a patriotic exchange. The PS All Year Long is one of my favorite exchanges. I love that we always stitch a PS design and am happy that we do not include extras. A special thank you to Becky SC for organizing this exchange group.

Thank you again Wendy for the beautiful, and much needed, needle book!

Here is what I stitched for the PS All Year Long Round #2 exchange:

PS All Year Long #2

Design: Prairie Fairie

Stitched for: Janet H.

Finish: Pinkeep

Fair & Square Exchange

Here is what I sent to Jen R. ~

And what I sent to Jenn F. ~

And the beautiful squares that Jenn F. sent my way...

Fair & Square round #13

Stitched by: Jenn F.

I am anxious to try Jenn's hand dyed threads, they look beautiful! I love that Jenn stitched the Texas heart, thanks again Jenn!

This was a long post but I had so many exchange pictures to share...thanks for hanging in till the end!

I am off to work on a Penny Rug project.

Until next time...

Fair & Square from Jen

My "collection" of Fair & Square blocks continues to grow, with the newest addition arriving from Jen R. What a wonderful block, I adore this sweet birdhouse design and love those tiny buttons. I wish that I could share with you what I plan to do with these beautiful blocks but for now, I have no idea so I shall merely share this picture:

Fair & Square ~ round #12 from Jen R

Now, how cute is that? Thank you so much Jen for the amazing blocks I love them.

My "cute" little dog is driving me NUTS! Unlike any other dog that I have owned, this one chews and does not like being left alone. I was out and about for a mere 2 hours and when I returned and opened the laundry room door this is what I came home to:

She must have scratched at it!!! I use to leave her in the master bath until she chewed on the corner of the vanity! Now when I leave I put both dogs in the laundry room (Misha is a good girl and does not need to be in there but I am fearful of what Lily would do without her) this is the 1st time that she has done any damage and it shall be the last. I am going to end this post so that I can read about "crating" and check for some type of a corral to keep her in. I have plans to attend a quilt show on Friday and had planned on leaving her in the laundry room, now I am afraid....very afraid~

Thanks for stopping by~

Until next time...

Winter Exchanges

I am excited to be able to show you the wonderful exchange that I received in the mail today; it is from Goldie who had my name for the SBEBB Frosty & Friends Exchange. What an adorable snowman pinkeep! The design is a Lizzie Kate titled, Share the Season. Goldie also sent a bunch of extras, just look at how she spoiled me…

SBEBB: Frosty & Friends Exchange

Received from: Goldie

Thank you Goldie, I am so grateful for all that you sent and shall cherish the beautiful pinkeep.

I am able to share a few exchange pictures of items that I sent out. The first is a Winter Exchange that I participated in with the Friends Through Threads group. My partner for this exchange is a very talented stitcher named Brigitte. I selected a Mary Garry design titled, Ice-Skating Party and think it is just perfect for a Winter Exchange. I decided to finish it as a sewing caddy and am pleased with how it turned out.

• Designer: Mary Garry Sewing Cabin
• Design: Ice-Skating Party
• Finish: Sewing Caddy

Inside of sewing caddy

Friends Through Threads

Winter Seasonal Exchange

Sent to: Brigitte

Jane contacted me to let me know that she received the Fair & Square round #11 blocks that I sent.

Fair & Square round #11

Stitched for: Jane

I spent Friday traveling to Vermont for a ski weekend so I am sorry to say I was not able to stitch on my HAED Wintery Heirloom. I do plan to join the HEAD Friday SAL this week and hope that I can make some headway.

Okemo Mountain ~ Vermont

I had a great weekend skiing with my older son and his girlfriend. We had one slight mishap on the chair lift and all I can say is I am thankful that I did not break my leg! I have a huge bruise on my calf to remind me of how lucky I was. Overall, it was a great day, not as cold as I had thought it would be except at the very top of the mountain with the wind whipping violently around!

Snowboarding at Okemo

To make up for all the carbs I ate, in preparation for the long ski day (ya right), I "paid the piper" by spending 3 hours at the gym today working out 1 hour each on the Arc Trainer, Treadmill, and Elliptical. I do believe that I need to end this so I can creep slowly down the stairs and rest my weary body on the couch…time to stitch!

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Exchanges Sent and Received

Life has kept me busy and I am finding it difficult to set aside time to blog but I must take a minute to share pictures of a number of exchange pieces that I received and sent...

This is what I stitched for Carol R for the HOE Ornament Exchange:

HOE Ornament

Stitched for Carol R

I participated in an ornament exchange with the Prairie Schooler group and received a wonderful exchange from Cyndi. Thanks so much Cyndi, I just love my new ornament and look forward to hanging it on our tree. Thanks for the wonderful extras that you included.

PS Ornament Exchange from Cyndi

And here is what I stitched for Cyndi:

PS Exchange

Stitched for Cyndi

Below are three of the latest Fair and Square exchange pieces that I received. Many thanks to Nicky, Melissa, and Sue!

FAIR AND SQUARE EXCHANGE

F&S Round #9 from Nicky

F&S Holiday Round from Melissa

F&S Round 10 from Sue

And here are two of the F&S Exchanges that I sent out:

Fair & Square Round #9 For Nicky

F&S Holiday for Melissa

I must wait until Sue receives her F&S round #10 before posting a picture.

Since returning from Texas I have been busy trying to finish some Quilting UFO's! I guess you could say that attending the Quilt Festival served to spark my passion for quilting. I have completed the top to my Flannel quilt, which is quite a large quilt (98" x 112"), and I picked up the Baby Quilt from the quilter and have put the binding on. I will show pictures of both in a later post.

As for stitching I have spent the last two days trying to organize my pattern stash. A visit to Staples yesterday left me organizing until about 3AM but I did get quite a bit accomplished ~yahoo!

It is hard to believe that I have no more exchanges due in 2008. I am keeping busy stitching a few Christmas gifts for friends and spending Friday nights stitching on VOHRH with the Let's Stitch Group.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Until next time...