You have got to check this out!!!!! NOW FOR SALE

Jenn has started a new design company called "Frosted Stitches" and the above design is her first pattern.  You can check it out here and hopefully she'll have it ready to be bought very soon.  I'm working on it right now but mine is done in totally different colors.  I will be sure to post a picture when I'm finished with it.  Until then, check out her new design company.

Blessings as always,

Barbara
ABLE TO BE PURCHASED NOW!!!!

I wish all of you a.....

This past year has been wonderful in some ways and down right crummy in others.  The best part was making so many new friends on here and getting to share my love of needlework with all of you.  It just amazes me to know how small the needlework world actually is.  We can be from opposite corners of the earth, but both have a love for the same designer, fiber or fabric.  I love it!!!  

I want to thank each and every one of you who has followed my blog and maybe sometimes left a comment or two.  You have both enhanced and enriched my life by doing so.  I am one of those stitchers who doesn't join stitching groups at my local LNS, so it's nice to be able to talk with fellow stitchers here online.  You are a constant source of inspiration.

I only wish the best for all of you in the upcoming year.  May it be full of blessings for you and your family and let's all hope that frog stays away from all of our doors.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Christmas and two finishes

Well here it is December 26th and all the hard work that everyone puts in to celebrating Christmas is over.  This year I was lazy and only made cookies for my hubby to take into work.  DH is not big on cookies and I don't need them so it was a very easy decision to make.  Christmas was very low key at our house this year.  Jenn of course is in Colorado with her family which breaks my heart but we did have Peyton visit with us for a short while.  Vallie received two shirts for Christmas from Jenn and here she is modeling one with Peyton.  This one is a little red jacket with a hood that says "Property of North Pole".  She's not quite sure what to make of it though as you can tell by her expression.

Incase you hadn't noticed, I placed a slew of patterns in my Stash Room for sale.  The prices are very reasonable and you'll find that most of the patterns were never used.  This is just the beginning....I have tons more to add.

I have two finishes to share with you.  The first one is Crowning the Tree by BBD.  This is their newest stocking ornament pattern and it was a blast to stitch.  I was a little intimidated by the finishing but then when I came up with the idea of making a template out of heavy cardboard and pressing the stocking front and back around this to get the shape of the stocking.  This helps quite a bit and gives you a perfectly matching front and back.  I have several more of these stockings by BBD and they will definitely be on my "todo" list for 2012.

I had this Ewe and Eye pattern for quite some time and just never got around to it.  Please forgive me because I don't have the pattern in front of me and I forget the name of it.  Old age is a B----!!!!!

I stitched it on this really pretty fall colored linen using Gloriana silks.  The finishing is a little quirky with the prairie points sticking straight up.....kind of looks like it has a flat top hair cut.  LOL

Well this is what I've been busy doing this past week.  I also changed my header.....from left to right....it's going from winter into spring.  Funny how I love snowy pictures living here in Florida and lilacs are my favorite flower and we don't have them here either.  When we lived in Pa., I had bushes of every color in our back yard and I loved it.  This is another thing I miss about Pa.  Well enough of reminiscing ....it's time to start a new project so it's off to my sewing room to play.

I hope every one of you had a most joyous Christmas and you were able to spend lots of time with your family and friends.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

The winner of Good Yule is....

I used the number generator and it came up with the number 10.  I have already emailed Shirlee and left her know she had won.  I want to thank all who entered and again, Merry Christmas!!

Blessings as always,

Barbara

My last post before Christmas

I just want to wish everyone a....

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Two finishes and a giveaway

First off, I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend with lots of stitching time.  I have had lots of time to stitch and I have two finishes to share with you.

The first one is the Christmas Heart SAL that Leftsox is having on her blog.  Remember I had posted that I was going to use 28ct. olive green and a 28ct. burgundy.  Well that came to a screeching halt when I recounted the burgundy and found out it really was a 32ct.   Words to self...."make sure you recount fabric before you put it in the box marked for 28ct.".  So instead of my ornie looking like what Jenn had called for, I ended up with using the olive green for both the top and the bottom.  I'm disappointed but I'm happy that Jenn was able to design this and that I got to stitch one of my daughter's designs.  

P.S.  You really need to check out Jenn's....her's is adorable!!! 

Click here to see what it's suppose to look like if you follow her directions.

 Next is Good Yule by Ewe and Eye Designs.  This is the sampler I was telling you about that uses such strange colors together but when it's finished, it's stunning!!!  I stitched it with DMC on 29ct. Natural Glenshee linen (what the design called for).  If you have never stitched on Glenshee, I recommend it completely.  Maureen Appleton is the US Distributer of this linen and I will warn you....it's not cheap.  I have several pieces of this linen and I use them very sparingly.  I even keep the smallest of leftovers.  It's also a great count and texture to stitch over one thread and that's why Maureen Appleton loves this linen....that's the only way she stitches.  The frame in the picture is the one I'll be using.  I will take this to the framers this week and pick out my mats and when I get it back, I'll share a picture.

Now for the giveaway part of this post.  If you would like a chance to stitch this beautiful sampler, just post a comment to this post only, and I'll draw a name on Christmas Eve.  I don't have the pattern in front of me so I can't give you the stitch count, but I can say that on 29ct. the finish size was approx. 5 x 7 so it's not a real big project.

Well that's all for now.  Onto a new start......

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Part One Finished

I finished part one of Jenn's Christmas Heart SAL last nite.  I have the second piece of linen in the stretcher and all ready to start part two.  I still can't figure out how she stitches this together but I guess I'll find out soon.  She won't even tell her own Mother. :o(

I'm also still working on the Ewe and Eye Sampler Good Yule.  Do you ever fall in love with a group of colors and then all you want to do is stitch with them over and over?  Well I have and you'll never believe what they are.  The Good Yule sampler has the following colors in it:  DMC 830, 370, 372, 3012, 3045, 3051 and 3721.  If you know your DMC numbers you will notice that these are not the most beautiful of colors to use together but I tell you this, this sampler is turning out just gorgeous and I want to keep on stitching with these colors.  I want to stitch one of the TIAG samplers and these will be my colors in it for sure.  Strange right?  That's my next project so I'll be posting my supplies for that one very soon.

I hope all of you are having a stitchie saturday and that that dang frog stays away from your door.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

A quickie SAL for Christmas

My daughter, Jenn whose blog is Leftsox, is having her first SAL and it's a beautiful Christmas ornament/scissor fob.  She's doing it in 3 parts and you can get the first part from her blog which is here.

The picture above shows the supplies that I will be using.  Two different colors of 28ct. linen....burgundy and olive green (you will find out why when you read her blog).  I'm then using white and silver as my primary colors with silver beads.  This is my project for the weekend.  She's starting her own cross stitch designing company and this is her invitation to stitcher's.  Please join us and have a new ornament for your Christmas tree this year.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

A finish and my year in review

First off, I have finished something for our grand daughter Peyton for Christmas.  I have been looking for a jewelry box for her but everything out there is so big that I'm sure she doesn't have room for something like that.  Well yesterday I came up with the idea to make her one and here it is.  Of course the P is for Peyton and in my boxes of goodies, I came across a brass heart that matches the brass handle and hinges of the box.....perfect!!! 

 I had purchased this collection of coordinating fabrics from the Fat Quarter Shop and thought they would go with the black of the box really nicely and I think I really hit it on this one.  There were 6 different fabrics but I only chose 3 of them.  The one with the largest flowers I used for the top of the box.

 The one with the tiniest flowers I used for the 2 removable trays......

and the middle sized one I used for the bottom layer.  My hubby had the black stain which is the easiest thing in the world to use.  It's like water only black and you just brush it on.  No sanding.....nothing afterwards unless you want to varnish it which I didn't.  I wanted it to look vintage and I think I achieved that look.  It has a mirror on the inside of the lid and is approx. 10 x 5 inches in size.  I hope she likes it!!!

Now unto some terrible news.  Disaster has hit 2 of my brothers.  My  oldest brother, Terry, just found out his wife has breast cancer and will have to undergo surgery.  They find out tomorrow what treatment the doctor has planned.  Please say a prayer for this wonderful lady who beat cancer once over 20 years ago and I'm praying she does it again.

My middle brother, Denny....well his house burned to the ground this past friday afternoon.  Him and his wife were both able to get out before anything happened to them but they weren't able to save anything except a few picture albums.  Please add a thank you to God for saving them from such a terrible disaster.

I'm beginning to think 2011 has not been a very good year for me and my family and I'll be glad when it's over.  My Mother always said "Don't wish your life away" whenever I said something like that, but I think she'd agree with me this once.

I hope everything is going good for all of you and your family and that the magic of the coming season will touch each and every one of you.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Sew Noel in Gigi's Christmas colors

I fell in love with this silk on the HDF Forum and when it became available....well let's just say I just had to have some.  The sampler is from Carol of IStitch and can be found here.   While you are visiting her chart selection, make sure you see her new one ....Sew Gigi.  It is stitched in this same silk.  Carol and I have decided that great minds think alike.  :o)  I've decided to make this one into a pillow to go along with the SAL pillow I made a few weeks ago.   I really don't have room for Christmas pictures and pillows are easy to store away when the season is over.  I will share a picture when I'm finished with it.

I really don't know what to work on next.  I'm thinking about starting a TIAG sampler but I just can't make up my mind on which one.  Whichever one I choose, it will be stitched on 18ct.  natural linen over 1 thread using silks....of course.

Everyone have a very stitchie weekend!

Blessings as always,

Barbara

And the winner is............

I had the number generator pick a number this morning and it came up with the number 29.  I have already emailed Natasha to inform her of winning and as soon as I hear from her, the winnings will be in the mail.  I want to congratulate Natasha on entering and winning and thank all my followers who took the time to enter.  My next giveaway will be for Valentines day so keep watch.

I have had several comments about Trina's ornament and how I put the music box inside.  Well here's how I did it.  I buy the little round music box buttons at Hobby Lobby.  You can also get them online and you are limited to what tunes you get to choose from.  I then take the mat board that I use for the front and back of the ornie and cut a round hole in the center of each.  These music boxes aren't very thick so if you include the thicknesses of the two mat boards, the two pieces of batting and the two pieces of fabric, the music box is not at all noticable.  They are only about a 1/4 inch thick.  So after I have attached the batting and the fabrics for the front and back and I'm ready to stitch the ornament together, I insert the music box between them and there ya go.  A musical ornament and is one of a kind.  If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Now I can show you this....

This is an ornament I made for my sweet friend Trina.  I can show you a picture now because I know she's received it.  I made this a little bit differently in that I put a music box inside the finishing and when she squeezes it, it will play her a beautiful Christmas song.  I'm glad she likes it because it was a fun stitch.

Tomorrow I will have the random number generator pick a winner of my Christmas giveaway so check back after 9 am. est.  

Blessings as always,

Barbara

The birds are coming....the birds are coming....

Well Vallie and I went for our usual walk this morning and when we got home, these sweet birds were waiting for us on our front lawn.   Poor Vallie didn't know quite what to make of them and was a little skittish at first but then she got into the swing of things when she noticed they were more afraid of her than she was of them.  LOL

I've been getting my things in order to start the SAL on January 1st.  Have any of you seen the newest issue of Just Cross Stitch?  Well let me tell you that it is chocked full of great patterns this month.  There are 3 that I have lined up to do and one of them calls for HDF silks.  If you haven't tried Vikki's silks, I strongly suggest it.  I'm going to put my order in for the ones for this design....and it's done in pinks and greens.  :o)  I guess I'm not the only one who loves that color combination.  There's also a beautiful little red French welcome sign that is just perfect for my kitchen.  I also picked up my copy of Ink circles Metamorphosis yesterday at my LNS and the GA threads to stitch it with.  I bought a piece of 20ct. linen in a pretty shade of green but I'm not sure about it.  I might save that for another design and pick something else for this one.  Decisions....decisions.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Measi's Musings 2012 WIPocalypse

I am changing my mind on what working SAL I am joining.  I have some designs started and I think it would be better if I joined Measi's 2012 WIPocalypse.  You can find all the rules and qualifications under the page listed above and see what WIP's I will be working on throughout the year.  She is also allowing for new starts if you finish with what you are working on.  I'm a pretty fast stitcher and I usually finish quite a few designs in a year....so I fit into this SAL alot better.  If you are interested, go read about it and decide if this is something you would enjoy.  As of right now I am working on the Paris Mandala and a quaker sampler.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Crazy Challenge January 2012

Have you all heard about this?  The concept if very interesting.  Starting on January 1st thru the 15th you start a new project everyday.  What you end up with is 15 WIPs and you have till the end of the year to finish them.  I have joined and I'm just waiting for my confirmation email.  If you're interested, here's the link:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crazyjanuary2012/

I have 4 of the projects picked out so far.  The first of course is my Paris Mandala which I know I started earlier than Jan 1, but it's going to take a year to finish it anyways.  My second one is by Papillion and that's her first SAL called "How Does Your Garden Grow".  I have the fabric and fibers already picked out for that one so it's a no brainer.  My third will be by Papillion also and that's her "Castles in the Air" SAL from last year.  This one I am going to attempt to stitch on 40ct. linen so I know that will take a year for me to do.  No fibers have been picked yet.  My fourth one is the new Ink Circles and that's her new one Metamorphosis.  I have to pick that one up at my LNS on tuesday and we'll see then about the fabric and fibers.  I think the remaining ones will end up being on the small side since 3 of these seem to be quite large.  I've never done something like this and I think it will be fascinating to see what others pick.

So wish me luck because I must be crazy to start something like this.  Although, with all of your encouragement and seeing what others have started with this challenge, there just might be a chance that I could finish the Paris Mandala.  **fingers crossed**

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Update

Okay as I promised, here is the first update on the Paris Mandala.  The dark thread around the outside is a DMC floss - 934 and the other three shades are all overdyed silks.  This is the very center of the chart and on the fabric I'm stitching it on - 36ct - it's turning out about 3.5 inches across.   I was hoping to have more finished, but I was sidetracked on some other things.  

Poor little Vallie had to get clipped pretty short last time she was at the groomers because of matting.  Well it's been getting pretty chilly down here so I decided to crochet her a sweater.  I had this wool/acrylic yarn in the prettiest shade of pink and I thought...perfect.  It only took a few hours to make but unfortunately for Vallie, after I got this on her, I couldn't get it off.  She's such a fragile little thing I was afraid of breaking one of her legs so I did the only thing I could.....I cut it off of her.  :o(  Well I've learned my lesson and the next one will have buttons going down her back or on her stomach to make getting on and off easier.  I don't have enough of the pink yarn left so the next one is going to be red.  I'm going to work on this tomorrow and when it's finished and she has decided to model it, I will post a picture.

Everyone having a stitchie day.....I hope!!!!

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Some finishes and a big thank you

First I was to say a very big thank you to my good friend, Trina.  She stitched and sent me this absolutely beautiful Christmas cardinal ornament and I just love it.  My kitchen has reds in it so this will grace my tree for Christmas but afterwards it's going in my kitchen so I can see it all year and think of what a true friend I have in Trina.  Thank you Hon for such a beautiful gift.  Luv ya!!!!

 Remember me telling you about the frames I found at Kohl's?  Well this is it.  I decided that it called for a Just Nan pattern and her Holly Bows is perfect for it.  

 I love how this turned out!!!  I stitched it on 28ct. mushroom evenweave with DMC floss and added the delica beads and the pewter charm in the center.  When I first saw these frames, I thought they were plastic but I was wrong....thank goodness!!  They are a metal of pewter color and quite heavy.

Also, I want to thank everyone for their wonderful comments of encouragement about the Paris Mandala.  I have started it and it's coming along fine.  I will post a picture of how much I have finished tomorrow evening.  This I will do every saturday night if I can remember.   :o)

So enjoy your weekend and have lots of stitchie time.

Blessings as always,

Barbara