Thistle Threads Small Purse

Here is a small coin purse that I stitched for a very good friend of mine. I absolutely love this Thistle Threads pattern, and will almost certainly be stitching it again.

Designer: Thistle Threads

Design: An Empty Purse

When you open it up there is this little saying:

I have another Thistle Threads design that I have had on my "to do" list for quite some time. Here is a picture of it; I saw it stitched up and loved it...

Plenty and Grace Hanging Hearts

If you are interested in a nice freebie, called Mother Is Love, you can download it from her site. The design is pictured below~It would be a great Mother's Day gift.

Mother Is Love

I had a wonderful time during my visit to Houston, TX. It was great spending a month in the warmer climate, but now that I am home I am behind on just about everything! ~ I will post about the trip another time.

Well, I hit the road again tomorrow, this time to Vermont for at least a week~

Until next time...

Exchanges Received and Sent

I have returned from my one month visit to Houston, Texas and am busy playing "catch up" ~ I want to share some exchange pictures...

First I received a wonderful Fair and Square Exchange from Neila. She sent me a beautifully stitched "Spring" design, a wonderful half yard cut of fabric that compliments the design perfectly, Carrie's Creation hand dyed floss and some delicious chocolates. A huge thank you Neila for stitching me such a gorgeous block and for the wonderful extras that you included.

Designer: Lizzie Kate Flip-It Block; June

Fair & Square round #5 from Neila

Like me, Neila is a coffee lover so I decided to stitch her this LHN design:

Fair & Square for Neila

Designer: Little House needleworks

Design taken from: Coffee Menu

I sent out me Stitching Bloggers Birthday Club exchange to Cheryl, whose birthday was March 1st. I decided to stitch a Prairie Schooler design and finished it into a Stitcher's Caddy.

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Design: FRIENDS

FRONT Stitchers Caddy INSIDE

Until next time...

Beautiful PIF From Heather

A wonderful surprise arrived at my house today from Heather; she sent me a truly fantastic PIF! Heather is a quilter, which is one of the reasons that I love to read her blog. She shares pictures and information on cross-stitch and beautiful quilts. Heather stitched me a beautiful “chicken theme” table runner that I love and that goes great in my "Vermont" kitchen! The fabric is perfect, front and back...the backing fabric is yellow with a chicken wire print, great choice Heather. She cleverly packaged everything up in a Lang decorative rooster Box. The table runner, two note pads, a magnetic bookmark, and a small rooster box were tucked into the larger box. All of this is such a nice addition to my kitchen, I cannot thank you enough Heather. You are more than sweet, very generous, and a special blogging friend. :) Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Wonderful PIF from Heather

Today's quiz: What is the difference between a chicken, hen and rooster? Answer

I know some of the people that read my blog have younger children so I thought I would share this kid friendly site. You will find activities like: Ask the Farmer, Coloring Pages, Computer Wallpaper, Discover 4-H, Homework Helpers, Online Games, Recipes for Fun, Safety First, See the Stars, Something Fishy, and lots more.

My flight leaves at 6:45am tomorrow, which means I will be up at about 3am (isn't that the time I go to bed???) to make the 1 hour drive to the airport. I will be in Houston by lunch time and my one month vacation will officially begin, as Vonna would say " WHOO HOOO" :)

Until next time...

Off To Texas ~ Great New Blog

I am not too sure how I came across Liz’s blog, Pumpkin Patches, but I am happy that I did. I can remember when her page opened, so did my mouth ~ her work is beautiful. In addition, she is a Halloween enthusiast, much like me. She is also a quilter and shares some wonderful pictures of her creations. Her Tole Painting is quilt impressive; she has a tab on her blog that links you to a number of pictures. If you have not visiting Pumpkin Patches, I would encourage you to stop by. I know that Liz is relatively new to the world of Blogging and must say she is off to a great start.

Well, I will be heading to Texas on Saturday and will be gone for a month. I will spend time with some great friends, attend a quilt retreat, search out LNS, hunt for a Yorkie (yup, still doing that), enjoy the warmer climate, escape the house selling/hunting for a while and stitch, stitch, stitch. I will take time to read blogs now and again, and may even get a chance to update mine.

Until next time...

Playing "Catch Up" - F&S from Hannah - VoHRH

I just returned from Vermont where I spent 12 days house hunting and stitching, more stitching than house hunting...that is always nice. I had the opportunity to play “catch up” especially on my VoHRH. Having missed the January 1st deadline for block #3 I was finally able to complete it on Jan. 20th. I wanted to try to complete a second block before February 1st so I started on block #5 and will finish that tonight. After stitching and re-stitching this brick house I could not bring myself to start on the house in block 4! Not sure what the problem was but I struggled with all of those bricks!

VoHRH Block #3

VoHRH Block #5

VoHRH as of January 29, 2008

Hannah, my Fair & Square partner for round #4, sent this wonderful exchange a few weeks ago. I was in Vermont thus unable to post pictures. I just love this block, I have all four charts of this Bent Creek Wonderland and have wanted to stitch them. I was treated to two fantastic Workbasket leaflets; I love all of their designs and happen to be stitching one for an exchange right now. Hannah used the instructional link that I posted for the “tissue holder” and did a great job making one for me. She also included some adorable snowman buttons and some piecemakers needles. Thanks Hannah, you made this such a special exchange!

Fair & Square Exchange from Hannah

I was also able to complete my "Hello Neighbor" Round Robin and will be sending it off tomorrow. I am anxious to see this neighborhood grow, and thankful that I was able to join this group!

I will leave you with a few picture of winter/summer in Vermont…

Vermont - Pond in the winter and summer

Vermont -Apple Orchard in the winter and summer

Many thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to stop by and visit. It is always so nice to read your comments!

Until next time...

Wonderful Winter House Exchange, VOHRH, NRR

I would like to first thank everyone for the many birthday wishes and I do hope that Vonna reads the comments to my last post so that she can see, as Harmien so accurately stated, that she truly is the Queen of Stitchy Blogland!

What a great mail day, I received an amazing Winter House Exchange (SBEBB) from Mindi. She stitched a Prairie Schooler design, one of my all time favorite designers! The design is the January block from the Summer and Winter book. The minute I saw it I thought of Vermont, a house surrounded by pine trees and a deer running through the front yard. Yes, that would be Vermont! Mindi did an amazing job on the beautiful pinkeep, her stitching and finishing are just perfect. Take a look at this beautiful treasure…

SBEBB Winter House Exchange

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Design: Summer and Winter

Stitched by: Mindi

Mindi also treated me to some very special extras. First, I must compliment her Dad on the beautiful wooden floss holder, which he made!!! My mouth dropped open upon seeing it and my eyes popped when I read that her Dad made it. Honestly, I have always wanted a wooden floss holder and am ecstatic over receiving this beauty; a huge thank you to Mindi’s Dad.

Wooden Floss Holder

Beautifully Handcrafted by Mindi's Dad!

I received some beautiful silk ribbon, in my favorite color and two skeins of Dinky Dyes Silk! They are perfect for a project that I have in mind and I can't wait to stitch with the silk! Now, if only there was a way that you could smell the beautiful scent of the Saffron and Sage hand poured candle the Mindi included, oh how I love scented candles! She aslo included some tapestry needles, lip balm, and delicious chocolates. As you can see I could not resist and gobbled up two pieces. Many thanks Mindi for making this such a special exchange, one that I treasure!

SBEBB Winter House Exchange

From Mindi

Like many others I thought that this would be my very last SBEBB exchange and am SO very happy that BeckySC has decided not to close the the board, thank you BeckySC! I look forward to participating in more wonderful exchanges in 2008!

Unlike Kathy, I did not complete VOHRH Block #3 by the January 1st date. It is not that I have neglected my stitching it is that I had to finish the donation block for Cole’s Quilt and I jumped on board the Hello Neighbor RR and am playing “catch up” trying to stitch my Halloween House before the February mail date. As for my VOHRH progress:

VoHRH Block #3

And my Hello Neighbor RR progress:

I am off to Vermont for about a week and I anticipate many free hours of stitching….I hope!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.


Until next time…

Thanks to a very special friend!

So many of us know her and appreciate all that she does. So many of us make up her huge online circle of friends, but wish that we could meet her in person. So many of us visit her blog where her work inspires and motivates us, her many tutorials assist us, and her creative writing makes us smile. So many of us have been touched by her thoughtfulness, and today her kindness traveled 847 miles to my door and truly touched my heart. Today I received a wonderful birthday package from Vonna ~ take a look...

Birthday package from Vonna

Those who know Vonna are aware of her very busy life! I am touched that she took the time to stitch this gorgeous pinkeep for me, one that I will forever treasure!

Little House Needleworks

Stitched by: Vonna

Pinkeep back

Vonna, I love the Attic Needlework pattern~did not have this one :) and the generous half-yard of Karen Combs sewing theme fabric! I, like you, enjoy stitching with the ever-popular Piecemakers needles, thanks for including some. I am anxious to stitch this design and will almost certainly use a bit of this fabric and finish it as a pinkeep. It would look wonderful alongside your masterpiece!

I can’t thank you enough for the birthday surprise. The only thing that would have made it better is if you were standing at my front door delivering it! :) You are very generous in so many ways, I thank you for everything especially your friendship!


Until next time...