Valentine Giveaway Update

I am overwhelmed with how many of you wonderful stitchers have posted to my giveaway that I thought I'd add to it.  I went to my LNS this morning and came away with some goodies I think you might like.  I have added the following:

10 x 10 inch piece of 28ct. Raspberry Chocolate Linen

Weeks Dye Works Madison Rose Overdyed floss

Sampler Threads Dark Chocolate Overdyed floss

Crescent Colors German Chocolate Overdyed floss

Crescent Colors Bella Rosa Overdyed floss

Crescent Colors Chocolate Cream Pie Overdyed floss

Whitman Sampler box of Chocolates

Valentine Hand Towel

and of course the SB Sachet

If you would like a third chance to win, add your comment to this post and I'll combine it with the original post about the giveaway.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER

A Valentine giveaway

We all remember giving and receiving sweet little Valentines when we were in grade school.....they were such innocent times.  I remember sitting down with my Mother and her very patiently helping me to write each name of my classmates on the envelopes.  When we came to someone who I wasn't too thrilled with, her explaining that Valentines day just isn't for the ones we love, but for those who need our love too.  I didn't understand it then but I do now.  

In honor of Valentines Day and in celebration of our one year anniversary of inviting Vallie into our home, I am giving away this beautiful Shepherd's Bush sachet.  I have stitched the design in Gloriana Silks and it's been filled with rice mixed with lavender crystals that offers the sweetest smell.  Around the outside, I have sewn on the palest of pink beads and the bow is pink and gold silk ribbon.  You will receive the sachet plus all kinds of Valentine's Day goodies....chocolate maybe?  

To enter my giveaway just comment on this post only...oh and you must be a follower.  If you want a second chance to win, post another comment with the name of your blog and where you have posted about this giveaway.  I will use the random number generator next Saturday so that the winner receives their prize package before Valentine's Day.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

(and good luck)

A new beginning

I've been working very hard on Fallen Roses and I have definitely burned myself out on it.  As you can see, I've finished the lady and all of the blue on the left side of her.  I haven't taken her out of her frame, but I have hung her on my sewing room wall where she will always be in sight so that I don't forget about her.  There really isn't much to finish but since I had set the finish date as October 25th, I'm comfortable about letting her relax for awhile.  In the meantime.....

I have started Mrs. Waddlelow's Huswif by Ellen Chester.  After seeing Patty's (click here) work on this, I just had to get it started.  I'm using a HDF silk named Burnished Cranberry and it's a beautiful mauve and green mix.  I'm stitching it on 36ct. cream linen so it's gonna turn out a smiggen smaller than the original did.  I have my 5 coordinating fabrics ready for the finishing and I'm anxious to see this one finished.  I have made several huswife's over the years and I've never kept one for myself.....but this one I will. 

Well I awoke this morning with a good old spring cold.  My throat is sore and I'm sneezing my head off every 5 minutes or so.  It's my body's way of saying "spring is coming" because I always get a cold at this time of year.  You'll notice that I've changed my background color and my header to look more springish.  I thought you ladies in the northern cold climates might appreciate seeing some pretty floral colors.  There are all kinds of flowers starting to bloom down here in Florida.....plumbego, azalea, roses and even my begonias are blooming.  I'll take some pictures later in the week when I'm feeling better.

I hope all of you have had a terrific weekend so far and that you have not seen any froggies around your house.  They sure can make a pest of themselves from time to time.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Decisions made on Fallen Roses and TUSAL

I want to thank all of you who helped me make this decision about the hearts on my Fallen Roses design.  I've decided to go with the cream pearl hearts.  They aren't as large as the pink mop ones were but I think that's good.  They will match the girl which I have finally started stitching and I think they look more elegant than the pink ones.  I will update again once I get the girl finished.  Again, thank you to all that helped me make up my stubborn mind. :o)

Today is also the first day of posting for the 2012 TUSAL and I just noticed, I need to get a clear container because this one is too hard to see the orts in.  

Everyone have a great week with plenty of stitchie time.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Vallie pics and a Fallen Roses Update

I did get lots of this finished this week and I am now officially at the half way mark.  Blue is my favorite color but after stitching this I might have to change my mind. :o)  At the top you will see mother of pearl rose colored heart buttons.  I am planning on using these instead of stitching the hearts in.  I don't like the stitched ones and I'm not real thrilled with these rose colored ones either.  I've checked all my local stores....Joann, Michaels and Hobby Lobby and haven't seen anything I like better.  If anyone has a suggestion on what I might do there instead of the buttons, please post a comment and let me know what it is.  I'm hoping to have all the swag finished this weekend and then I can start the lady which will give me something new to stitch instead of just blue.  I haven't stitched on anything else this past week and I don't plan on it for the upcoming week.  If I am diligent I think I'll be able to finish it next week.....fingers crossed.

 It has been awhile since I posted any pictures of our little lady, Vallie, so here she is in all her glory.  She needs a trim and that will happen next week sometime hopefully.  She is actually pretty good for the girls at Petsmart where I take her to get trimmed.  The only thing she really hates is getting the hairs pulled out of her ears.  Apparently Maltese are known for hairs growing on the inside of their ears and these must be pulled out.  Can't say I blame her for not liking that being done to her.  I wouldn't either.

Vallie hopes everyone has a wonderful weekend and that you get some good stitching time and napping time also.  :o)

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Fallen Roses Update

As you can see I now have the bottom finished completely across and now will start working up in rows.  I'm hoping that goes faster....please let it be faster!!!!!  Do you see the thread holder in the bottom right?  Well that is something I came up with.  When I'm working with just one color mostly, I always take it off the skein.  I didn't like how it would get creases in it when I used one of my wooden or mother of pearl ones so I decided to make something.  I took two pieces of thin mat board and covered them with warm and natural batting and then covered them in cotton fabric.  I had two coordinating fabrics with sewing items on them....one with green background and one with pink....so I used them.  I just used a whip stitch to hold them together but I'd really like to come up with something else to finish the edges.  Beads or cording won't work so I'm stuck.  If you have any suggestions I'd appreciate it.

Well it was a disappointing game finish last nite between Denver and NE Patriots but I think Tebow should be very proud of himself for the season he had.  I look forward to cheering him on next season and hopefully this time to a Superbowl win.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Good Luck tonite to Tebow and the Denver Broncos

Anyone who knows me would never call me a football fan but I am sure to be watching this game tonite.  Our daughter lives in Colorado near Denver and according to her, Denver has taken Tebow to their hearts and I can't do anything else.  This young man is what we all wish our sons to grow up like.  He is a man of his convictions and is not afraid to show them to the world.  I admire him for this.  

So tonite I will be adding my cheers to the thousands of Denver Bronco fans who are praying with Tebow for a victory.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Fallen Roses Update

I've been working on this non stop and I thought I'd show you how far I am.  I've finished the entire lower right corner and I'm working across to the left.  I've got my parents initials done and their wedding date and  I love how they turned out.  I found the alphabet online for free and it was just what I was looking for.  I have found out that I am a one project person.  I have two others started, but I can only concentrate on one at a time and the other two just sit there.  I guess this goes back to my Ebay days and having to finish one thing at a time to get it online for sale.  Whatever the reason, for me this is the only way I can stitch so I better get use to it.  :o)  

How do you do it?  I'd love to hear how others stitch more than one project at a time and how you prioritize what you work on and when.

I will post another update when I get the lower left corner finished.  After that I think it should go pretty fast because I'll be working in horizontal rows and they are not very detailed.  (Famous last words LOL)

Blessings as always,

Barbara

A New Finish

My daughter Jenn has come up with a very cute idea.  She's designed an alphabet that when stitched makes a very pretty scissor fob.  She sent me the "B" and I was to pick my own fabric and fibers and this is what I came up with.  The fabric is a 22ct. blue linen and for the stitching I used a DMC variation floss and an Anchor Marlitt.  Jenn had queen stitches for the flower but I will admit, I am absolutely terrible at queen stitches.  You will notice that I stitch nothing that has them in and I have a beautiful sampler that is loaded with them but I think the chance of me stitching it is just about nil.  Instead I did a spider web flower and then used light blue beads around the outside.  Jenn has this alphabet available to those who might be interested....just go to her blog here and send her an email.

I also wanted to let whoever might be interested that I have added these DMC Linen Flosses to my Stash Store. 

I hope everyone's week has started out great and that you get some quality stitching time.  I'm plucking away on Fallen Roses and seem to be making some good headway.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

2012 WIPocalypse finishes and starts

 Well it's time for the first posting of the WIPocalypse finishes and starts.  The above BBD design I finished this past week.  I stitched this for my DH and I changed the words "stitch with me" to "sail with me".  It's stitched in one color of GA floss on 32ct. flax linen.  I love how this one turned out.

Next up is my WIP of Fallen Roses by L&L.  This one is being stitched on 32ct. natural linen using DMC floss.  This one I am enjoying very much and seem to be making a great deal of progress on.

This one is Birds of a Feather by With My Needle and Thread and I don't have too much finished on this one.  It's being stitched on 32ct. cream Belfast linen using WDW floss.  It's turning out to be a fun stitch but I really don't have that much finished on it.

That's what I have so far.  I posted that I was going to start the Mini Mandala by Chatelaine....well I've determined that her designs are just not for me.  I started it and became  disillusioned very quickly with it.  That is why I have started the BOAF by With My Needle and Thread design.  This one is more my cup of tea.

I have been battling something this weekend.  Friday I work up about 1am with the most severe pain in my right side.  I have always been bothered with kidney stones but only on my left side so this one really threw me.  I took some ibuprofen and tried to get comfortable but just couldn't.  If you are familiar with kidney stones, you know they hurt like a bugger.  An hour later I took some more ibuprofen and got out the heating pad.  That seemed to quiet it down some and now I'm convinced it wasn't stones but a pulled muscle or something.  Strange!!!  Today I'm back to my old self again and as I have said many, many times.....getting old is a B----!!!!!

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Two New Starts

I spent most of last nite looking thru my "todo" list for 2012 and I've decided to start two new designs.  I usually don't do that, but in this case I think it's for the best....and my sanity.

First up I have a confession to make.  The Paris Mandala is not going to be finished by me this year.  I'm not sure if it's the size of the project or the colors but something is not there for me.  I think I might end up taking some elements out of the design and stitching something that pleases me but it as a whole....no way.  Because of that, I decided to stitch one of Martina's small mandalas.  This is the one I have chosen:

The finished size will be about 6" x 6" .....much more do-able for me.  I'm stitching it on 28ct. Dirty Cashel Linen and since there are 3 different patterns in this chart pack, I'm thinking about doing all 3 but all on different fabrics.  Decisions.....

Next is my large project for the moment.  I've decided on L&L Fallen Roses on 32ct. natural linen and I am going to do something a little special with it.  I started this sampler about 3 years ago and then I got into something else and I put it away.  Well I went to dig it out the other day and couldn't find it.  I tore my sewing room apart and couldn't even find the pattern.  I have a bad feeling that it was tossed during a "cleanup" session so I went ahead and bought a new chart.  This is what this pattern looks like:

There at the bottom where it has that open circle space with the year stitched in, I'm going to remove the date and stitch my parents initials with the year of their marriage.  It will be my tribute to them.  Now I just have to finish it!!!!

Well that's what I've got started and I will post updates from time to time.  I hope all your worries have left your home with the beginning of a new year and that you get lots and lots of stitchie time.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Winter into Spring???

My rendition of Jenn's first design...Winter into Spring....sure don't look like any winter or spring that I have ever seen but then she said to be creative so...............

Mine I stitched on 28ct. Raspberry Chocolate linen using HDF silks, Treasure Braid and beads....lots and lots of beads.  Now I know why she named her design company "Frosted Stitches"....she likes beads and glitter.  You'll notice that mine hasn't been finished into the mattress style pincushion...mainly because I am terrible at finishing those.  If you are interested in the pattern, you can find it here.

Now it's off to my sewing room to pick out the new project.  Yippee!!!!!

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Lizzie Kate Not All of Us

This design by Lizzie Kate is one of her "boxer" series and it was alot of fun to stitch.  In the kit you had the 32ct. Flax Linen, the little red flower buttons and a brass heart for the bonus chart of a pincushion.  I haven't stitched that yet but I will at a future date.  I guess you can call this my first finish for 2012.  I just hope all the remaining projects are this much fun to stitch and to finish.  

I hope your first day of the new year is going well.  I'm planning on having sauerkraut for dinner tonite.  My mother insisted on having this every new year's day to insure good luck for the rest of the year.  Does your family have any traditions that you are continuing?  We would all love to hear about them.  Until later.....

Blessings as always, 

Barbara