I was a really, really bad girl....but what fun it was!!!!

 First are all the Blackbird Designs.  I made mention in another post that these two ladies really outdid themselves for this market and here's the proof.  If you haven't considered purchasing the Stitcher's Journal, wait until you see it to make up your mind.  This book is just packed full of great designs and then to make matters worse, they came out with some individual designs that I couldn't pass up.  Now you can see why I am dedicating the month of April to nothing but Blackbird Designs.

 Next up are some miscellaneous pieces that I couldn't say no to.  I purchased two 18 x 18 pieces of 30ct. linen for an outstanding price and I'm going to dye these myself.  The other 3 items are an Eiffel Tower Needleminder, a pair of scissors I've had my eye on and some pins with sheep on them for Jenn.

 Next up are 3 designs that should take no time at all to stitch but are just adorable.  "Scissors" from Cherry Wood Designs, Bluebird Alphabet from Just Nan and Fresh from the Garden from Little House Needleworks.

 One of my favorite design company's is La D Da and I couldn't pass up these two new ones.  Also from Shakespeare's Peddler comes Sampler Roundy.  This comes in a round tin and has everything you need except the linen.  

 These three designs I just couldn't say no to no matter how hard I tried.  One is from the Stitching Parlor called Red Peacock and it comes with a wooden hornbook and an antique reproduction chart.  Then there's Quaker Pocket Needful from Primitive Traditions and last but not least is the Six Sided Box by a french company Dessins DHC.

And last up is the Thistle Sewing Set from Acorn House.  This has a matching needleminder and it looks like it's gonna be alot of fun to stitch.

So you can see I was quite naughty but sometimes you just have to be.  LOL  I hope each one of you had as much fun as I did looking at all the new designs from this year's Nashville Market.  

Oh I forgot to tell you....I also have some things on back order and they will be in later.  I almost fainted when Debbie informed me that I have more coming.  I wonder if I qualify for stimulus money from Obama?  LOL  I promise I won't get on that soapbox.  

Blessings as always,

Barbara

From Italy....

and Nicoletta Farrauto of Niky's Creations, comes this sweet little design.  I stitched this because I liked the design and I loved the primitive colors that she used.  I stitched mine using HDF silks on 32ct. cream Belfast linen. 

I have no connections to Italy but it has always been one of my dream countries to visit.  I am a history buff and I think I'd go crazy just gazing at all the ruins and imagining everything that went on there centuries ago.  I doubt that I will ever get to visit it this late in my life, but if we give up on our dreams, we will seize to exist in a lot of ways.  Dreams are what keep us alive and young.

Yesterday my LNS opened with all her goodies from the Nashville show and I of course went completely bonkers.  I will take some pics of what I was lucky enough to purchase later today or tomorrow.  I have decided on my theme for next month....Blackbird Designs.  Those two ladies came out with some of the most beautiful designs for this show that I don't think I could stitch them all in a month of sundays.  I am going to have a very hard time choosing which one to stitch first....but what fun trying.

My next international design shows a Russian tradition....can you guess?

Blessings as always,

A Pennsylvania Dutch (german) tradition....

A distelfink is a stylized goldfinch, probably based on the German variety.  It frequently appears in Pennsylvania Dutch folk art and they represent happiness and good fortune.  The Pennsylvania Dutch often used this feature in their hex signs.  

I thought of this as soon as I saw this design by Michelle Lutzen of Stitchy Kitty.  Growing up in Pennsylvania, I was quite familiar with these signs painted on local barns.  I always thought they made everything look so colorful and bright.  So even though this design is not from a german designer, it reminded me of a Pennsylvania Dutch custom.  For those that don't know, The Pennsylvania Dutch are the descendants of Germanic peoples who emigrated to the U.S. (primarily to Pennsylvania), from Southwestern Germany and Switzerland. The origin of the word 'Dutch' is a "folk-rendering" of the Pennsylvania Dutch's own self-designation Deitsch.  

I can proudly say I have roots in the Pennsylvania Dutch community and that this part of Pennsylvania will always be "home" to me.

 The Distelfink

A familiar site in Pennsylvania Dutch country.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

From England.....

from Tanya Haines of Thimble Cottage Designs, a design company based in the UK, comes this very sweet design that was in this past month's issue of Gift of Stitching.  Tanya had shown it made into a needle case, but my biscornu jar needed another one so that's how I decided to finish mine.  I also went very shabby chic with the fabric bow and twisted braid.  

The next finished design will be a tribute to Germany so stay tuned for that.  I should have it finished some time tomorrow and also....

starting on March 1st thru the 31st, I will have my birthday giveaway posted.  I don't have a picture yet, but so far I've come up with:

Glenshee Linen from Scotland

Dinky Dye silk from Australia

A french cross stitch magazine

Godiva Chocolate from Belgium

DMC floss from France

HDF silk from USA

and more....so stay tuned for updates.  I hope to have all this put together for a picture on March 1st.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

A Blackbird finish.............

called Rose Garden and I used some gorgeous fabrics to finish it into a pillow.  

As to what I have planned for myself in this upcoming month, I've decided to do some of these designs that I've collected from foreign countries and that's why I have a french background for my blog right now.  Most of the designs are french and I've been wanting to do these but have had others to do too so I feel this is a great way of concentrating my energies into them.  Some will be put in my store for sale and some I will be keeping for my personal collection but all of them will have a foreign feel to them.  I will be using some fibers from other countries and also some linens.  The giveaway I have planned for my birthday will definitely have a foreign feel about it....more about that later.  So I better get stitching and with each piece I finish, there will be a story about why this design was chosen.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

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

and I have emailed her to let her know she's won.  Congratulations Shar and I hope you continue to follow my blog.  I love all my followers and I have something very special planned for March .... which happens to be my birthday month.... so keep reading.

Blessings as always, Barbara

Peyton meets Vallie.....

and as you can see, it was love at first site.  Vallie was a little shy to begin with, but then we all knew she had accepted Peyton when she stole Peyton's sandals.  Fun was had by all.  LOL

I finally finished the Blackbird design called Rose Garden and I'm in the process of finishing it into a pillow.  I love how it's turned out so far and I hope to have a picture of the finished project tomorrow some time.  I've started a new design from this months issue of Gift of Stitching  called the Friendship Bird Floss Tag by Michelle Lutzen of Stitchy Kitty.  I thought of a new idea for myself and how I can get into stitching some of these designs I've had for so long.  Tomorrow evening I will be changing my blog and telling you all about it.  I hope I can stick to this idea and really get some fun things finished.  If not, I can at least say I tried.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway.  My hubby will be picking a name tomorrow evening so please enter asap.

I watched the Daytona 500 today and it made my heart happy to see a completely unknown 20 year old win the race.  His birthday was yesterday so what a gift he has received.  I'm pretty sure he'll be wearing a very large smile for at least a week.  My guy Dale Jr got wrecked out with a few laps to go but he gave a good showing all day so that's an improvement.  No one got hurt so I consider it a successful race.

Talk soon, as always, Barbara

President's Day Giveaway.....

I decided the giveaway for February would have a somewhat patriotic theme to it so since President's Day is next monday, that is when this giveaway will end.  I stitched up a project holder bag, which is approx 12 x 14 inches,  which is made of a cotton fabric printed with little red cherries.  The inside is lined with a coordinating fabric and it also has a pocket to hold those small items.  It is lined with Warm and Natural batting to give it body and the closure is two buttons which you wrap a twisted tie around.  At the end of the twisted tie is a butterfly charm to give it some weight.  Added to this are some really neat memo pads.  One is a to do list, a shopping list and the third has small labels and two post it note pads, all of which have cherries on them.  There is even a pen to go with all of them.

So if you would like a chance to receive this, please make sure you are a follower of mine.  If you would like your name entered twice in the drawing, link this giveaway to your blog and make note of it in the comment section of this post.  DH will draw a name next monday evening.

Good luck to all, 

As always, Barbara

A movie starring Vallie.....

This is the first time I used the video portion of my camera so let's see if it turns out okay.   She was in a very playful mood as you can see.

As always, Barbara

In remembrance....

I want to introduce you to someone.  This sweet lady's name is Taz and she went to heaven yesterday.  I know her owners are heart broken as I am.  Let me tell you some things about Taz.  When she was living down the street from us, my hubby and I would take walks every night and she would always come out to greet us.  She loved her treats and she hated squirrels.  At Christmas time, I would always bake her some doggie cookies when I was making everyone elses and she would have them delivered in a paper bag which was easy for her to open.  When Kathy and Denise moved away a few years ago, I think I missed Taz almost as much as I missed them.  She was a gentle soul who never found fault with anyone....well except the mailman.  Please add your prayers to mine for the two ladies who gave this lady a home and that their hearts heal quickly.  Thank you

As always, Barbara