Hello!  I sincerely hope all of you ladies had a fantastic weekend.  Mine was nice and serene...just the way I like them.  

I've had a few ideas running around in my head and I thought I would share a few with you.

First up is a machine embroidered sheep that is made out of snowflakes.  When I saw this design on Kara's Kreations site, I knew I had to do it.  My machine is chugging along right now doing the mate to this one.  It will be in black and facing the opposite way.  I thought they would make great pillows for a chair I have.  

Also the fabric was a great find at Joann's ETC last year.  They were revamping the store and getting rid of alot of the samples of upholstery fabric.  They were 18 x 18 inch squares and in the most fabulous colors and styles.  I bought quite a few of them....especially the silk ones.  They were selling for $1.00 and $2.00....who could pass that up?

Next is a finished design by Blackbird Designs called "Down in the Valley".  I stitched it with DMC on 32ct. Belfast.....and I forget the name of it. (slaps forhead)

 I also stitched this freebie from The Primitive Hare on the same piece of fabric.  I've always loved this design and figured now would be a good time.....it matches my scissors and needle holder. :o)

 Then I had an idea for a cross stitching bag.  It stands about 8 inches high and has pockets all the way around it....about 6 of them.  These can hold your scissors, glasses and anything else that comes to mind.  The drawstring part can hold your flosses or you can use it for an ort bag.  Let me know what you think of this idea because I'm thinking about selling them.  I'll even take orders and monogram them for you.  Oh and the bottom is hard so it stands up perfectly.

That's all for now.  I'll post a picture of the finished black sheep tomorrow or so.  They are going to look so cute!!!  

Blessings, Barbara

Some good news and the winner is.....

First off I hope everyone has had a fantastic weekend.  Ours was very nice, especially when we spend time with our grand daughter, Peyton.  Looking at her just makes me smile.  While they were here on Saturday, we've set dates for our trip to Pennsylvania.  We'll be leaving on May 5th and not returning until the 14th.  John has never seen our Nation's Capital so we've decided to spend two days in Washington, DC on the way back home.  I'm looking forward to this trip to help get my mind off of my troubles and my DH health problems.  I know we'll have alot of fun visiting family and friends while in Pa.

Now for the winner of the My Pink Rose chart.  There were so few entries that I just wrote the names on pieces of paper and drew one.  It came up with:

Fay and Charlette

I've tried to click on the email link in the profile, but it doesn't do anything so I'm hoping this is read and I am contacted at grammy5822@gmail.com so I can mail it out.

Here's hoping everyone has a Blessed week, 

Barbara

A giveaway and a finish

Well it didn't take as long as I thought it would to finish so here's "My Pink Rose" all done.

However, I did discover just how dumb I can be.  Let me back up some and take another picture of the entire piece of linen......

Go ahead and say it....."dang that Barbara is dumb!"  LOL  I couldn't believe I had done that....goes to show not to start something late in the day.  However, I still love it and you'll notice I didn't put the border on and it's a good thing I didn't.

Next up I have something amazing to show you.  I was at the Salvation Army the other day with John and came across a bamboo tea box.  It's about 8 by 12 and about 3 inches high.  Inside it is divided into 8 equal sections large enough to hold tea bags in envelopes.  Well I bought it and I use it for my accessories for stitching.  Then I had a brainstorm.....what if Amazon sold other bamboo boxes in different sizes....so off I went to check.  What I found was this:

What you see is several different boxes that when placed together measure 15 x 15 inches.  These are extremely well made and I use the lower one that measures 5 x 15 inches to hold my scissors, threads and orts when I'm stitching on something.  The others I have plans for like pincushions.  Also you see a round bamboo salt box that the cover slides open on.  What a great ort box!!!  Add a little design to the top and your in business.  If interested in seeing these on Amazon, you can find them here:

Salt Box:  here

Boxes:  here

Now for the giveaway.

  Since I've finished with this newest of Blackbird Designs "My Pink Rose" I'm offering it up to anyone anywhere.  It's small so it will fit in a little envelope and postage won't be ridiculous.  Just add a comment to this post only and please post your name.  It's Wednesday so how about we have it go until the race starts this coming Sunday at Martinsville.  

I think this was the longest post I've done in a long time and I appreciate your patience.

Have a Blessed day, Barbara

Hey everyone.....here's hoping you're having a great week so far.  I started a new project...."My Pink Rose" by Blackbird Designs.  I haven't made up my mind yet if I want to put on the border or not.  It will tell me when I get to that part I guess.

Sorry about the lousy picture but it's getting on towards my bedtime and I'm pooped.  Poor little Vallie is sleeping here beside me in my stitching spot already sleeping.  She works so hard!!!!

When I'm finished with this pattern I'm going to be giving it away so watch for that post sometime this week.  

Blessings to all, Barbara

Some things to share

Well summer has arrived here in central Florida....no more nice cool days.....days are now in the 80's soon to be 90's.  Yuk!

I was at my LNS today and came away with a little kit by Just Another Button Co that looked like fun to do....and it was.

It's one of their felt kits and it has very little sewing on it.  If your looking for a quick gift, these little pincushions are the thing.

Next from my dear friend Rhonda I received a birthday gift that I just fell in love with it.   I love to collect needle holders.....shameful how many I have.....and I'm not sure if I ever mentioned it to her or not but she really does know me.

And she even found scissors and a fob to match.  I have been using this ever since she sent it to me I just love it so much.  I'm going to stitch myself a pincushion to match and the fabrics they are laying on are ones I've picked out.  Should be a fun project.

Well that's all that's going on here.  I'm working on a project but I can't show you pics of it yet because it's for someone who reads my blog.  As soon as I send it out I'll show you.  

Also at my LNS today I picked out the silks to do the two Nora Corbett witches I want to do.  I'm going to start them over on a different color of fabric.  I was doing them on a black/grey overdyed but have you seen the new Gingerbread?  To die for!  So that's what I'm going to be doing them on.

I will post a pic of the fabric when I start one.

You all have a Blessed Sunday,

Barbara

I must share something with you.  John's friend told us about this amazing thing you can do with a waffle maker.  Take an ordinary box of brownie mix....I used Duncan Hines.....and make the recipe the same as if you were making the brownies.   Then used that batter to make waffle brownies....put ice cream on top with some hot fudge sauce and some whipped cream.  What could possibly be better than that?

Have a Blessed day,

Barbara

I finished something!

I stitched this several months ago and today I decided to do the finishing of it.  It's a La D Da design called "Wee Bundle" and it was a quick stitch.  The finishing was time consuming because of the tiny trim that goes with it.  The color is called "Grunge"....isn't that a great name!!!  LOL

You'll find them in my store.

Blessings, Barbara

Hello!  I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend and was able to get some much needed stitching done.  Mine was eventful to say the least.

First off, on Saturday, DH, Peyton, John and myself went and did some shopping.  John was having a birthday and since he'll be graduating college this June, he asked for a briefcase as his gift.  We were able to find exactly what he wanted at Office Max so that was done.  While at Best Buy, Peyton started acting a little strange and I kept asking her what was wrong.  Congratulate me.....I'm going to be a Great Grandmother come October.  I was shocked but am happy for them both.  She was terrified to tell us for fear of us not approving.  She still has some college to finish but she insists she will do it.  Needless to say, I've already started knitting a baby blanket.  :o)

My sweet friend Rhonda had stitched a pincushion design and sent it to me to do the finishing.  Here is a picture of the finished doll pincushion.  Isn't it an adorable design!  I've never seen this before but I would love to find one.  If anyone is interested it was put out by Sewing Chest Designs, PO Box 2204, Dearborn, Michigan 48123

I hope wherever you are you're finally getting some warmer temps.  We've started to get some nice warm days down here and it feels nice.

Blessings for a perfect day,

Barbara

Good Grief!!!!

Will this winter never end?  I have friends and family that live in the northeast that are just so sick and tired of all this winter jazz.  We have finally gotten some warm days down here and Vallie and I took advantage of it today to wash my car.  It's white and it shows every little piece of dirt and mud and I swear it hasn't been washed in months.  I was embarrassed to be seen in it.  LOL

I did an awesome thing the other day.  I decided to clean out my sewing room and if there was anything I didn't plan on using in the next 5 months, it went bye bye and off to the community thrift shop.  What I really got into was cleaning out my quilting stash.  I decided to use up all the little pieces and I cut them into squares of about 4 x 4 inches.  I'm planning on making a rag quilt and they will come in handy.

I also am still knitting and crocheting and right now I'm using a yarn that has 70% silk in it and it's very slippery.  It came in a hank and after I wound it into a cake it wasn't what you would call "structurally sound" so I came up with an idea on how to keep these nice while using them.

For this one I used pre quilted fabric and it stands up on it's own.  The bottom is round and I have pull strings to close it.  As you can see from the bottom picture, a 450 yard cake of sock yarn fits in there perfectly.  I love mine so I made this one for my store to see if anyone else would like one.  You know where it is if you're interested.

Well that's about all I have been up to besides taking care of Vallie and my DH.  Tomorrow Vallie goes in for a grooming and wow does she need it.  Right now she looks like a little kid who got into a mud puddle and the puddle won.  LOL

Have a blessed day, Barbara