Wednesday 23 February 2011

Stitching and Quilting and Sewing and................

Oh, have I been busy. My DH is laughing at me as I'm going back and forth between  stitching and the sewing machine. He says I can't seem to make up my mind which I want to do.
Well, I want to do both!

So, my computer time has been very limited. I was reading a bunch of blogs in my google reader yesterday and pushed the wrong button! You all disappeared. Oh no!!!!! If I have not commented on your blog lately - it means you were there when I pushed the wrong button. I will read your next post and catch up from there.

Here's my progress for the last 10 days or so.

Beatrice Mirabilia RR.


She left it with me when she visited. I am the last stitcher. I stitched "Emerald Mermaid" for her. I will take it home with me and give it to her. Isn't it pretty all done up. The stitchers are my fellow stitchers at home in Ontario, Canada. The little white box at the bottom left is the famous Adriana - still stitching at 94!

Marie-Paule is working on making a quilt. She asked that we each stitch a Santa for her. I stitched "Star Santa" on 14 count aida. I can't tell you where the design comes from.


A good friend of mine is expecting her first great grandchild - a boy - and she and her family are very excited. I made the little guy some baby bibs, some burp pads and a couple of bigger bibs. These were fun to sew!


This panel was in a grab bag of throwaway stuff. I loved the alphabet, found this wonderful fabric and here is my end result. It will hang in my new stitching/sewing room at home in Canada.


I have another couple of irons in the fire. I am working on Susan's Mirabilia RR. This is a new RR and the first mailing has happened. I will be posting photos as I go along. Right now, Susan's RR is just a blob of color.

I am also working on a quilt for my parent's 60th anniversary in September. It is a quilt that I designed myself so it's a little more complicated than I had intended. Once it has started to shape up, I will post a photo.

Oh, and someone sent me a picture of this - I just had to have it!
http://www.jardinprive.com/index.php?mod=DM07&PHPSESSID=8f416db4b1cd763280f85a4dd03a9c02
To finish off this week - I found this pattern in my stash - it was with a bunch of stuff given to me. If you are interested in this chart, I will be happy to give it a new home. If there is more than one person interested I will draw for it. I don't know why he/she is upside down - but you get the idea!

Until next time - keep those needles smokin'

Edited to add: Courtney - You will be the proud new owner of the above chart.

Sunday 13 February 2011

Happy Santa Dance, gifts and bling

Here it is - all done!

X's and Oh's Hockey Santa Stocking. I put the last stitches in late yesterday afternoon. This is the first project in my "Finish Them Up" Pile. I am not sure about the finishing - if I will do it myself or have it done. I am very happy to have this one out of my stitching bag!




I received the most wonderful gifts the last few days.

First from dear sweet Erin.
She saw this lighthouse and thought of me instantly. She was looking at DMC's Ocean Alphabet and the K had a lighthouse! She said she just had to stitch it. And look at the wonderful lighthouse fabric on the back. It is a very kind, thoughtful RAK and I appreciate it very much.



From my dear friend Clare - a Christmas gift that she mailed on December 12th - yep that's right - and it arrived in my mailbox on February 12 - perhaps by flying donkey???? It was kind of fun to receive a Christmas card with a sweet note in February.


I won the Valentine's giveaway on Myra's blog and here are the wonderful goodies that arrived. Let me tell you, that chocolate bar was lucky to make it into the photo. What fun it was to receive a Valentine's card like we did when we were kids. And the card says "Girls Rule."
Myra's finishing is gorgeous. The penny pocket and needlebook are beautifully finished. Thank you so much Myra.



My BFF Beatrice was here for a few days and we had a wonderful time. We laughed, we giggled, we went shopping, we did lunch, we did dinner, we went to the casino and had such fun. We did sit and stitch a bit. She has now gone off to San Diego and on up the coast on her grand adventure and I miss her already.

While she was here we went into Mexico to do a little shopping and lunch. Well, what did I find!!!!
Can you believe it - those are genuine topaz and rubies and of course, it is solid gold - NOT!!! But, girls - what a ring!
But isn't he the cutest little frog you ever saw. I could not leave him behind.
I had a terrible time trying to get a photo of him. This is the best that I could do.



My next projects will be a Santa for a friend's RR - done on Aida - not my favorite and Beatrice Mirabilia RR that she delivered to me. I am busily pulling threads and picking designs for these two pieces. What fun!!

Until next time - let's hope that frog stays on my finger and away from your stitching LOL!

Thursday 3 February 2011

TUSAL and other news

I joined the TUSAL for this year. Today is posting day. Here is my latest accumulation. I have graduated from a shot glass to a crystal martini glass. Does that give you any idea that my fingers have been busy? There are threads from my Santa stocking, threads from my Winter Exchange and threads from sewing the binding on my Fair Square wall hanging. I hope next posting I will have graduated to a larger container.

Without further ado, here are my latest goodies.

I won this giveaway from darling Sharlotte before Christmas. She was kind enough to hold it and send it on to me after I returned from Canada. There are some beautiful designs here and I hope to stitch them one day soon.

I can now show you my Seasonal Exchange - Winter! I stitched JBW's Snow Globe on 32 count mushroom lugana and finished it into this little pillow. Marjorie assures me that she likes it.


I received this wonderful LK -Winter Wishes from Conny. It is so cute and the little pompoms on the corner add that special finishing touch.


I have met two new stitcher/bloggers through this exchange and look forward to getting to know them.

 Since I was at the sewing maching making the Snow Globe into a pillow, I also finished my blackwork SanMan Snowmen into a pillow.


I have finished quilting and sewing the binding on my Fair Square wallhanging.. Here it is all done and hanging on the wall. I will be taking it home and it will hang in my sewing/stitching room! I am reminded of each of my exchange partners as I view this wall hanging. I love it. 


And look at this - I have been addicted to this one. For some reason, I cannot put it down and have accomplished lots. I will stick with the backstitching so I can see this wonderful Santa finished. Then I will stitch the heel and toe and the funny little penguin who is shooting at the net. I LOVE THIS ONE!!!!!  I hope to finish it in the next couple of weeks.


That's it for now everyone. Have a great week. My BFF Beatrice is on her way here for a visit and I can hardly wait. I miss her so much and look forward to seeing her. Until next time keep those needles smoking!