Pink and Grey Bag

I received alot of wonderful suggestions for the embroidery design for the pink and grey charm squares but when I came across this butterfly in my library, I was in love.  Also, when I opened the pack of charm squares, I noticed that there was a stunning shade of gold in them so I incorporated that with the pink and grey in the butterfly.

 The bag has been lined with a grey and white print that is just as pretty as the outside.

I also want to thank all of you ladies who have signed up for the giveaway and have posted about it on your blogs.  It's a beautiful pattern and I'm envious of who gets to stitch it.  I fell in love with the design when I saw it on Kathy's page but when I received the pattern, I knew it was too intense for me.

I'm not sure if it's age or what (61 is coming up...yuk) and my attention span has shrunk.  I just cannot concentrate on large or complicated projects.  By that I mean ones with alot of colors or stitches.  Maybe menopause kills those brain cells that takes care of those issues.  Hmmmm....good question for the doctor next time.

Anyways, the giveaway will end on the 19th and if you like the above bag, you'll find it for sale in my store.  Just click on the box under my header "Items for Sale".

Until later, Blessings

Barbara

So let's have a giveaway

I've decided to have a giveaway and maybe raise my hopes some.  This giveaway contains the following:

Kathy Barrick's newest design called Strawberry Bird

A fat quarter of 30ct. WDW Cappuccino Linen

and 1 card of RG Splendor Silk in Black

The pattern calls for 40 ct. but not too many of us can see that so that's why the 30 ct. instead and the pattern also calls for alot of black and I thought it would be nice to do that in silk.

Here's what you need to do.  Please be a follower of my blog and for a second chance to win, talk about this giveaway on your blog.  That's it!  My birthday unfortunately is March 19th and that's when I will draw a name.  Also, if your familiar with my blog, you know I always throw a surprise into the package.

Good Luck and Blessings,

Barbara

Why does this happen?

You go to bed at night all excited about the next day and what stitching you'll be doing but you wake up the next morning deciding you don't like anything you're working on.  Are there fairies that come at night and make your work less attractive?  Do they sprinkle fairy dust on all of your projects so that every time you look at them you're bored with them?  Whatever it is, it's happened to me.....again!  So I guess everything will come to a halt until I figure out what is in store for me.  Speaking of store.....my LNS emailed me and said I have things there waiting for me.  I don't even care about them! 

If you need me I'll be taking a nap!!!!

Blessings, Barbara

Things done and to do

First off I want to thank all of you for your prayers and support.  I have taken all of your comments and printed them off and I'm keeping them close.  To me they are precious and I hold each one very dear.

I've been trying to keep myself busy and when I went into my sewing room this morning, an idea hit me and I just went with it.  In case you didn't know, I'm addicted to charm squares.  The Fat Quarter Shop keeps me up to date on what the newest ones are and I am lost when it comes to saying no.  I just received some more in the mail yesterday and I'll share them on a later post.  What I did this morning was take a collection from Moda called "Dragonfly Summer" and came up with this beautiful project/carry all bag.  The three main colors - brown, purple and green - are just lovely and I did the machine embroidery in those 3 colors.  The below picture is the front of the bag.  

Below is a close up of the machine embroidery on the front of the bag.

Below is a pocket that is on the back of the bag and I embroidered a dragonfly on it in the same 3 colors.

This bag finished off at 12" x 13.5".  I'm not going to keep this one because Heaven knows I have more than enough, so you'll find this one for sale in my store.  Just click on the "Items for Sale" button directly below my header picture.

My next bag will be done with the pink and grey fabric below.  I fell in love with this collection and can't wait to start picking out embroidery to go with it.  Maybe some cats?  Dogs?  Flowers?  

Remember a few months ago when Ma Teakettle was sweet enough to lend me a pattern and she also sent me a set of stunning Gentle Art Sampler Threads.  

Well I finally found the design that is worthy of these beautiful threads.  It's a new Jardin Prive design and I'm starting it tonite.  I will give a progress picture later this week.  Below is what the pattern looks like.  Doesn't this look like a fun stitch!

I also received my little lamb in the mail.  The top one is the complete kit of the "Ewe Look Fabulous" and her summer outfit.  The bottom one is for an Easter outfit to put on the one I've already done.  I was hoping to get my Easter one finished this weekend but I really don't think that's going to happen.

Well that's all I have for today.  Again, thank you all for your best wishes and prayers.  

Blessings, Barbara

Had a really bad day

My DH has been having some heart troubles and had had several tests over the past 2 weeks.  On March 14th he goes in for another one.  It is to determine whether or not he needs heart surgery.  It seems his aortic valve is leaking and it's causing problems.  He also has a small anurism right below his heart that will need removed and a graft inserted.  He has had surgery before for 3 anurisms in his abdomen and that was 3 years ago.  The autoimmmune disease he has is eating it's way through his body.  The cause of all of this is his Croyn's disease which all of this stemms from.  During the CT scan, they also discovered a spot on his right lung.  The doc is pretty sure this is scar tissue but we have to find out for sure.   

Why am I posting all of this?  I'm asking for prayers and if you can spare one, I'd appreciate it greatly.

Blessings,

Barbara

Thank you all for all your best wishes and prayers.  I am feeling stronger after reading all your wonderful comments.  Blessings!

Something to pass along

I don't know if this is a new item by Aleen's or if I'm just discovering it now but I think it's the greatest product since sliced bread.  I've used this on my SAL book and it makes the job so much easier.  I have yet to use it on ornaments or such things, but for my SAL book, it's great.

JMO

Barbara

It's been awhile

I hope all of you are enjoying a nice quiet weekend and if it's not quiet, I hope you are handling it.  Mine has been pretty quiet so far.  Racing season has started again and so far, Jr. hasn't impressed me very much.  We'll see how he does tomorrow.

It's been so long since I have had a finish that I'm ashamed of myself.  Yes, I've been busy crocheting but let's face it.....cross stitch is my first love and I've been ignoring it lately.

I was up at my LNS this past week and she had the cutest little thread winder in the shape of a sheep.  Well of course it had to come home with me.  Then Debbie (the best enabler in the western world) showed me that Just Another Button Co. was coming out with a new sheep pattern and her name would be Eugenia and she would be a world traveler.  I was very confused.  This is how JABCo put it:

"Eugenia works at JABCo as an inventory specialist.  That's right---she is a counting sheep!  In January 2013, Eugenia Tuffet will embark on a world tour, gathering ideas for new sewing and stitching products and kits.  Along the way, she'll collect souvenir pins and send back postcards and photos."

I have a postcard from Eugenia while she was in Brazil and she wrote, "I spent yesterday exploring a rain forest.  The colors were incredible, but I don't recommend wearing wool in that heat and humidity.  I think I shrunk!!!!!

As you can see I've made my Eugenia and she is wearing the two pins I have so far.  A beautiful butterfly and the American flag.  I've even hung a little bell around her neck so she doesn't get lost.

If you are thinking of making one, please do because their directions are fabulous.  I admit I was a little timid about doing this but it is very easy.

I have finished my red shawl.  Peyton wasn't here this weekend so I didn't have my model.  This is the one I made out of Cascade Heritage Silk and it's yummy to the touch.  I ended the bottom of the shawl with about 4 inches of lace which makes it very feminine.

I was also able to finish my April page for the SAL.  I am really enjoying this and from what others have told me, they are too.  If you haven't already, please skip on over to the SAL pages and take a look at all the beautiful work.  There is so much talent on those pages!!!

Have you gotten your newest issue of Just Cross Stitch?  Well there's a pattern in it this month that I just have to stitch.  Alessandra Adelaide has graciously designed a beautiful butterfly that I just have to do.  I'm really going to try and step outside my comfort zone on this one and do something very unusual with it colorwise.

Well that's about all that's going on in my little corner of the world.  I'm going to watch the 500 tomorrow and do some stitching.  Life is grand!

Until we talk again, have a Blessed day,

Barbara

Thought for today

Hope you had a chuckle.

Blessings, Barbara

My newest shawls

Peyton was over this weekend and I finally remembered to have her model my 4 newest shawls.  I have no idea why I am in such a mood, but the cross stitch has taken a back seat till I get this out of my system.  

This first one is a beautiful soft mauve in a Debbit Bliss yarn called Baby Cashmerino.  It's a sock weight with Cashmere, Merino Wool and a Microfiber.  It is wonderfully soft and feels so good against the skin.

This beautiful multi colored brown one is done using Ella Rae Lace Merino yarns.  It's a 100% Superwash Merino which makes it an easy to care for shawl.

The above large shawl was made using Madelintosh Vintage yarns which is another 100% Superwash Merino Wools.  I love the denim colors in this yarn!

And this last one was made using Cascade Heritage Silk which is 85% Superwash Merino wool and 15% Mulberry Silk.  Talk about scrumptous!!!  This one feels as good as it name implies....silk!!

I'm now working on a red one made of this same yarn and the pattern is called "Ruby".  

So now you know what I've been doing with my time.  Two of these shawls will be in my store so if you are interested in purchasing one, that is where you will find them.

I hope that if you are living in the northeast you have plenty of heat and are able to stay warm.  I've talked with a friend of mine who lives in Bridgeport, CT and she told me last evening that they will not be able to leave their house until Wednesday.  That is the soonest their streets will be plowed.   Luckily they didn't lose their power.

This picture is of their street looking out from their porch and the next picture is of her house.  The snow is at least 3 feet deep and is almost impossible to shovel.  This is one of those times I appreciate living in Florida.

Have a Blessed day,

Barbara

What I've been up to

I made mention that I was working on some bags for my LNS and I thought I'd share some with you.  Debbie, the owner, has the store colors as black and red with some Grinch green thrown in.  I'm taking these up to her tomorrow and I'm hoping she likes them.

I really haven't had time to do much stitching.  Right now I'm puttering away on my April page for the SAL.  I know myself and if I don't keep ahead of the months, the other ladies will get ahead of me and make me look like a slug.  LOL  I am the world's best procrastinator!  Why do today what I could very well do next week.....sometime.

I saw that Carolyn has listed quite a few of Shepherd's Bush kits on Never Enough Stash.  She's trying to temp me but so far I'm holding strong.  If you are looking for some really nice SB kits, check out her new listing....very reasonable prices.

Well that's all for today.  The weather here has been quite nice - 70's and 80's but we really need some rain. They are calling for some this weekend so my fingers are crossed.

Until later, have a Blessed day,

Barbara