Baby it's cold outside.......

 or so I've been told by my friends in the north.  You probably recognize this as a Cricket design and you'd be right.  I stitched it on 18ct. flax linen using DMC floss and the finishing I saw on a French website and I instantly fell in love with how they did this. 

I have another one of these planned but I'm still looking for the perfect cross stitch design in browns and reds.  If you like this one, you can find it in my store.

I'm starting a commissioned piece that should take me a few days and I'll be sure to post pics when I'm finished with it.  Until then, stay warm.

As always, Barbara

Petejustpete....you're answer

This pattern is available at Ravelry.com and is free to all members.  The name of the pattern is "Center Row Lace Headband/Neck Warmer by Mary Shaw".  It's very simple to join and I find it's a haven of wonderful patterns, message boards and all around great information about knitting and crocheting.  I have yet to have a question that wasn't answered there.  I hope this helps.

As always, Barbara

Seafoam Biscornu finished....

 I know Seafoam Biscornu isn't the original name of this design, but after I got thru with it, it's the only thing that kept popping into my mind.  The fabric that is the background for the pics, is also the fabric I used for the bottom of the biscornu and I took everyone's advice and used cream pearls for on top.  The fabric has a little bit of gold glitter going thru it, so I attached some gold braid around the biscornu to match and it looks great.  The bow is made up of 3 different ribbons from cream, gold and light seafoam colors.  

I also enjoy taking a pattern and making it into something totally different than what the designer showed and this one was alot of fun.  If you are interested, you'll find it in my store.

My next project is a Valentine's Day heart done in blackwork....

As always, Barbara

P.S.  I HATE BLACKWORK  so needless to say, there won't be a Valentine's Day heart done in blackwork.  Make one little mistake and it just throws everything off....it's like missing just one little period and finding out your pregnant.  Geez  ( and yes Thellie, I threw the dang thing out).  Anyways, it looks like I'm onto my next project which is a Drawn Thread design..."In My Heart"...

...which brings me to another question.  Let me set up the scenario:

You received from a friend a hand stitched item.  It's not exactly your cup of tea but you are gracious and say "Thank You".  Now you have to come up with a gift for someone who you know will never meet this person who gave you the needleworked item so you give the item to them.  Is this kosher?  What I mean to say is do you think this is acceptable?  I have a feeling this has happened to me and I'm just not sure how I feel about it.  I would love to hear your comments on this...ok I'm done now
I think so anyways.....and again, Barbara

Prayers needed for a friend

Last April I asked for prayers for a friends Mother and everyone was so wonderful about it.  This sweet lady has now lost her fight against the cancer and has been called home by our Lord.  Please add your prayers to mine for my friend who I am sure is grieving deeply.

As always, Barbara

Sweetheart Tree La Fleur.....question....

 What you see above is what I have stitched on this design.  Now you can tell from the below picture, that this is suppose to have the flower in the center but that's where I'm stumped.  I want to turn this into a biscornu so I can't stitch the center design.  I would love to hear suggestions on what I should do to accomplish this.  Also, the fabric I am using is an overdyed grey green and I'm stitching it with an HDF silk called Salty Sea.  The design calls for these little blue button but the entire time I've been stitching this, it's reminded me of life under the sea.  So instead of these little blue buttons, I'm going to use pearls but I don't know if I should use cream or white.   What do you think?  Also I'm going to use a mother of pearl button for the center.  

I love her original design but it just wasn't working for me.  Ever have this happen to you or am I just weird?  LOL

As always, Barbara

BBD Flowers of the Field finished.....

 I finally finished this Blackbird Design called Flowers of the Field today.  There's a pincushion that goes with it, but these colors were so pale that now I need something brighter to stitch.  One thing I love about BBD is that they always give you great finishing directions.  The only thing I had trouble with was the cotton rickrack that they called for.  I can't find it anywhere in my area so I'm gonna have to go looking on the net.  Instead of using that, I coffee dyed some cotton lace and I think it turned out really well in matching the R&R linen I used for the design.  

The finished piece measures about 7 x 8 inches so it's a nice generous size.  I'm not the best when it comes to buttonholes even though my Viking sewing machine does everything for you....it's just that with the problem I have with my hands, it makes it a little "shakie" but these turned out really well.  All in all, I'm very pleased with the piece.

My next project will be a Sweetheart Tree so stay tuned.

As always, Barbara

Some new goodies......

 I had to stop by my LNS today to pick up the newest addition the BBD monthly houses and while there I did get in to some trouble.....the nice kind of trouble.  :o) 

I purchased three new Just Nan patterns and the sheep one I purchased the fabric for also.  This one will definitely go to Jenn because of her passion for sheep.  I bought the sheep thread winder and this will make a great addition to it.  Next was the winter ball.  I have no idea why I bought this because the chances of me finishing the stitching on this is very low.  LOL  I also purchased an Easter Bunny design that comes with the frame and that one will end up in my store once I stitch it.  I dislike the little frames that Nan uses but I do like the designs that go in them.

The above are 3 magazines that I purchased today.  The Piecework one goes to Jenn because I know she'll love the knitted socks that are on the cover.  That girl does fantastic sock knitting and has now published 2 patterns.  I'm very proud of her.  

The other magazine, Spool, is a new one so I bought the premier issue and the second one.  It not only has cross stitch, but also covers, knitting, embroidery and other types of needlework.  There is an owl pattern in the one that I am going to stitch asap.  I love it!!!!

Well that was my day at the LNS and then when I am going out the door, she reminds me about the Nashville market coming up.  She has a great way of doing it in her store.  The day that she gets back with all her goodies, she closes the shop and displays everything.  She doesn't open until early evening and then we all go at the same time.  I LOVE THE NASHVILLE MARKET....but my hubby and his wallet hate it!!!

As always, Barbara

The Circus came to town....

The circus came to Orlando this week and hubby and I were lucky to get great seats.  We were in the second row, dead center to the center ring.  I had never been to the large Ringling Circus in my life and I guess it's true what they say....the circus is for kids.  I was just a little disappointed and I think it's because I had my expectations way too high.  

I loved the elephants and the tigers but unfortunately, they wouldn't let me go up and touch the cats.  **sniff, sniff**

 The trapeze act scared the dickens out of me.  

I think I received more enjoyment out of watching the kids that were seated around us.   It was great listening to them go ooooh and ahhhhh.  Childhood is definitely wasted on the young.  LOL

Anyways now I can say I've been to the circus and that's another thing I can strike off my list of things to do.

As always, Barbara

My Valentine "Love" Biscornu

I've always loved Valentine's Day....I'm not sure if it's the color red or the giving of chocolate that gets to me.  Probably a little of both.  ***wink***  Afterall.....a person can never go wrong with either one.  Anyways, this is my version of a "love" biscornu.  I apologize to the designer because right off hand I cannot remember their name or where I even got this pattern.  Old age is setting in fast.  I do know that I used a new type of silk for this one.  It's called Baroque Silk by the Pure Palette.  What a treat!!!  This is a new one for my LNS and I just can't resist the reds.  I finished this one off with a purchased tassel which I have always loved and beads go around the outside.  If you can't resist this like I can't resist red, you'll find it in my store.

Now I'm off to start the new Blackbird Design....Flowers of the Field.  I'll be back in a few....

As always, Barbara

Shepherd's Bush Friend Ornament Finished...

This was a lot of fun to stitch and I finished it in pretty good time.  I decided to make it into an ornament and added a few things to it.  On the back, you will find a piece of green flowered fabric which I have stamped with "to.......from......." so that whoever wants to can add their name and the person they are giving it to.  Also on the front added to the bow, is a charm which says "made for you" and the other charms are a butterfly, heart and a flower.  I'm very pleased with how this turned out and if you are interested in it, you will find it in my store.

The above picture shows how I've attached the charm to the bow and also a close up of some of the stitching.

My next project is a biscornu for Valentines Day and then after that, I'm stitching something for myself.  It's the new Blackbird design called "Flowers of the Field".  Also I want to say "Thank You" for all the wonderful comments I received on the pillow I made.  Maybe one of these days, I'll make one for myself because that one I really loved doing.

As always, Barbara

A finish and a beginning....

The other day I posted a new freebie pattern. I stitched it in 4 different shades of teal in the same DMC family and finished it in my normal way. The bottom is a beautiful coordinating cotton fabric and the button on top is covered with this same fabric. I did the twisted braid in two of the colors used in the stitching. The finished size on 28ct. jobelan was a 4 inch square. This you will find in my store if you are interested.

Next on my agenda is a Shepherd's Bush design that I've had for quite some time. Of course this will be stitched with silks and the finishing will be different than what they had in mind. I hope to have this finished in a day or two if I'm lucky.

As always, Barbara

My version of a spool caddy.....

I love working with HDF silks and quite a few of my colors are on spools. Well I'm getting ready to start some quaker samplers and they will all have the same variegated color but with each one having a different solid color that matches. To make this easier for me, I thought this might help. I came across this on a blog I was reading HERE if you want to check out the pattern and maybe make yourself one. It doesn't take too long. You'll notice that she used bias binding around the outside edge of hers. I'm terrible about sewing that on so I just did mine the simple way....right sides together, turn and top stitch. Have fun!!

As always, Barbara

Whew!!!! I made it.....

Well here it is friday and I made it!!!! I used a solid green for the under pillow and the top sleeve is a beautiful coordinating floral cotton. The ties are organza and satin and it finished out to be 8 x 14 inches. I absolutely love this designer Jardin Prive and have several more of hers to stitch.

Well it's off to stitch the freebie I listed below. I have my colors chosen and fabric and now we'll see if I made sense in my designing of it. Don't forget to email me pics if you stitch it.

As always, Barbara

Let's Start the New Year with a New Freebie....

I thought if would be great fun to start out the new year with a new free pattern. I haven't even stitched it yet so we'll all see how it turns out together. I have charted it in 4 colors of the same family but you do what you want with it. If and when you stitch it, please send me a pic so we can all enjoy them.

Here's the.... pattern. If you have any problems downloading it, just email me for the pattern.

As always, Barbara

Progress on my French Heart

Here it is Tuesday and this is how much I have finished on the French heart design I've been working on. I'm making pretty good progress and I think I'll make my goal for having it finished this week. The picture makes the background look like a natural linen when really it's on the gold side. I love how it's setting off the greens and pinks in the design. I will post again when it's finished.....

As always, Barbara

Day ride.....

It was so pretty here today that hubby and I decided to take a little ride. We put the top down on the little beemer and went off to Big Tree Park. Clever name huh? LOL It's a very nice place in that it's very quiet and you can actually hear yourself think for a change. It's not very large and that's one of the things we like best about it. Not too many people. I think when we were there today, there might of been 10 other people and it seemed like they wanted the quiet as much as we did.

I took the pics of the spanish moss because that's one of my favorite things down here to look at. Strange, right? Oh well.....I admit it.....I am. It just looks so elegant in a down home kind of way.....if you get my meaning.

Well that's what we did on this second day of the New Year. We came home and I went right to working on my french heart again. I'm determined to get this finished this week. Maybe I should post a pic of what it is I'm working on.

It always helps if you can see what a person is working on instead of relying on a description. I'm not going to frame this but I am making it into a pillow. I haven't picked out the coordinating fabric yet but am holding out till it's finished. That is one of my favorite things to do.....mix and match fabric. Don't ya just love how it feels between your fingers???? Ok it's not getting done with me on here so.......

As always, Barbara