Time on My Hands

It seems that I've had lots of productive stitching related time on my hands lately. 

Last Saturday two of my stitching buds and I headed to a not so local needlework shop.  It is about 45 minutes away (on a good traffic day).  We love the short trip for a different take on our hobby.  While I was disappointed in the lack of new patterns in the shop, I did manage to pick up some fabric and threads for a couple of projects that are waiting in the wings.

The Gentle Arts Threads and the 32ct Bo Peep Pink Belfast was purchased for the Birds & Berries Needlebook by Blackbird Designs. (Crescent Colours are from my stash.)

The 34ct Legacy Linen in Oaten Scone was purchased for the Summer Harvest Needlebook by Blackbird Designs.

I also managed to stitch and finish a cute little Shepherd's Bush piece for my Friends Through the Seasons exchange.  This was the first time I tried this finish.  I'm pleased with this first time effort and I will definitely use this finish on future projects.

The pillow is sitting on the fabric that I used for the backing.

I've been spending the rest of my free time working on BoaF.  Boy, has my needle been smoking.  Here is where my piece stood shortly after last weekend.....

Part I ~ DONE!

Speaking of smoking, I don't know how the weather is where you are, but temperatures have been smoking here.  We've been in the high 90's to low 100's for the past week and tomorrow with be another 100+ degree day.  With the humidity in the area it means we are under an "Excessive Heat Warning" and the temperatures feel like they are 110 or higher.    They aren't forecasting the cold front to come through until sometime tomorrow and they are talking about it possibly stalling off the coast.  That means we go from extreme heat to lots of rain with violent thunderstorms and damaging winds.  Either way, heat or rain, I guess that means more stitching time on BoaF!

Wishing you cooler stitches!

PALS Weekend

I'm back from my first ever PALS Retreat in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  It was hosted by Amy of Down Sunshine Lane.  (I know I've been back since Sunday.....Sorry it took so long to post this....I've had too much on my mind lately!)

The view from my balcony....

I went with a few friends and I met a few more while I was there.  I got to see Karen, whom I haven't seen since May 2010 when I went out to Arizona for a visit.  I also got to meet my Friends Stitching Through the Seasons partners, Faye (I send to her) and Diane (she sends to me).  There were many other friendly blogging faces including Michele of Just Another Stitching Blog as well as many others who I just can't remember at the moment.  I also made some new friends while I was there (Hi Chris!) and I even got to meet Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers.

But, enough of that!  I know you don't really want to hear about all of that.  Instead you want to see all of my goodies.  I understand completely!

First off, this is what I brought with me to exchange.  Starting at the top and moving clockwise.....Scatter Sunshine by Shepherds Bush (stitched exchange), Noel by ??? (Christmas exchange), Pumpkin Stack by Chessie & Me (fall exchange), Autumn by The Stitcherhood (fall exchange) and in the center a stocking from one of the Blackbird Designs Stocking Booklets (for my Friends Stitching Through the Seasons exchange for Faye).

Thursday night was the Halloween/Fall exchange.  I'm not a Halloween kind of gal, so I just went for Fall.  All I can say is that whom ever got my pieces were pretty lucky since I was this close to keeping the Autumn pillow for myself.  Here's what I got.....

Turns out this was done by one of my Saturday Stitching Sisters!  I love it Darlene!

This lovely needleroll was stitched by Shery from Indiana.  I've made a few needlerolls for others, so I know how hard it is.  Now I finally have one for my own!  I love it!  Thanks Shery!

Friday we did the Christmas exchange and the grab bag exchange (and boy, you should have seen some of those grab bags!  Fabulous goodies of scissors, fabric and stitching tools to name a few.).  It was tons of fun!  I only managed to get one ornament stitched and finished up for the Christmas exchange, but I really like how it turned out.  In return, I ended up with Amy's ornament!

Thanks Amy!  I love it!  I can't wait to get up on my ornament tree!

This little Ott light was the only thing in the grab bag I "won".  It's a nice little portable light run by batteries.  I can't remember who said that they entered this bag because it didn't have a name with it.  Oops!  So, many thanks to whomever you are!

Saturday we had a stitching and a sewing exchange.  Here is what I got in the stitching exchange.

This lovely needlebook was made by Diane of GA.  The stitched area is actually a pocket to hold scissors or threads.  It's amazing!  Thank you Diane!  I love it!

I'm not great with the sewing machine (yet), but I saw a great tutorial and I made this for the sewing exchange.  After I was done I wanted to keep it for myself.  Good thing I have some leftover supplies because I'm going to have to do this little beauty for myself!

In return I got this...... (again, I can't thank the person because there was no card with it.)

There were two coffee cozies, but they were being coveted by Michele, so I shared my joy and gave her the other one.  But, isn't this one cute?

Thanks for sticking with me through this long post.  Next time I'll catch you up on what I was working on while I was at PALS.  Let's just say that I now have my eye on a Crazy January finish thanks to all my stitchy time last weekend!

Happy Stitches!

Out with the old....

.....and in with the new! Ok, maybe I'm a little early for the New Year's resolutions. It's just that I've been doing a ton of cleaning lately.

It all started when we took the vacuum to the Oreck store for a minor belt replacement two weeks ago. It was really something that we could have done at home. But, hubby is not always mechanically inclined (after all, he was the one that broke the dang thing!) and I wasn't about to let him break it into a million pieces. So, off to the store we went.

The instant we arrived he went to play with all the new vacuums and other gadgets in the store while I took care of business. Wouldn't you know, he picked up a pink (yes, I said pink) vacuum and declared "I like this one. It's cooooool!" I have to agree, it was pretty cool...... and, to boot, the model was pink because proceeds were donated to breast cancer research. Next thing I know I'm asking the salesperson if they would take a trade in on my vacuum. Long story endless, we didn't end up with the pink one, but we did get a new vacuum. I guess it was time. After all, mine was 10 years old and it was starting to fall apart.

So, with new vacuum in hand, I've been on a cleaning rampage of all kinds. Hubby even had to take two separate loads of goodies to Goodwill. I have to say, I love the fact that things are less cluttered. Our goal? Well, it is to keep everything uncluttered. Guess we will have to see how that goes.

While I'm nowhere near done with all the house cleaning, by any means, it sure has been nice to get rid of all the old. I've had a much clearer head and things have really been coming together. I'm less stressed about all the mess and I have notice a HUGE weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I have found the transformation so amazing!

I've been busy on the stitching front too, after all, you can't clean all the time! I was able to put the finishing touches on LHN's "Traveling Stitcher" and on SB's "Feed My Sheep". I do have to say that this picture really doesn't do the fabric on "Traveling Stitcher" any justice. It is so much warmer in person......

Traveling Stitcher

by Little House Needleworks

Stitched on 32ct Vintage Light Examplar by Lakeside Linen

Used colors as charted except for my initials

Feed My Sheep

Kit by Shepherd's Bush

Used materials supplied in kit

I have even started some holiday stitching. This one is for my mom. It is one of Erica Michaels' new petite collection. I'm stitching it on the 40ct silk gauze that is included in the pattern. This is the first time I've worked with the gauze and I think I'm holding up well. Believe it or not, when I'm done, this piece will only be about 1" x 2".

I've got a little more cleaning to do again tonight, but hopefully I'll be done soon. After all, I really need to get working on my holiday stitching, don't you?

Happy Stitching!

Quick, but Cute!

I've been so busy lately and I just don't know where the time has gone. Just yesterday it was the beginning of summer. Now look at it.....today is the last day of August! Where does the time go?

I decided I needed a quick stitching boost so I started "My Pins" by Shepherd's Bush on Thursday while at stitch night with the gals at the LNS. I stitched along happily, but between going out to get dinner and gabbing with the ladies, I only managed to get the heart done. So close! Of course, I had to finish this little dandy up. I used all the supplies in the kit, but I changed the word "MY" to "JEN'S" to personalize it a bit.



I also have to apologize to Faye. I received my LHN exchange from her while I was on vacation and this is the first time I've remembered to mention it. Stop by the LHN Exchange Blog to see her fabulous pillow!

Happy Stitching!

Just A Quickie

Saturday night was our quarterly "Stitch Into The Night" at the LNS. I was going to be a good girl and work on the piece that I started last year for the MIL. It was a piece that hubby (and I) picked out while on our honeymoon last year in Arizona. Now, don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful piece, but I just can't get into it anymore. There is just too much confetti stitching I think. Of course, being at the LNS didn't help my concentration. Maybe I just need to sit down on Friday evenings when hubby is at work and strive towards a finish before Christmas.

Instead, I pulled out "A Garden Gentle" by Shepherd's Bush. This is a shop exclusive kit that I picked up while I was at the retreat in 2008. It came with the mat and I picked up the frame at Jill Rensel's studio. After a couple of hours I had all of the flowers finished. So, after arriving back home I dug it out of my bag and finished it before heading off to bed.



I just love those quick finishes. Now all I have to do is iron it and sew on the cute little ladybug button. Of course, then there is the lacing/framing issue. Do I try to do this one myself? I really want to puff the piece a little and I don't really know how to do that.....guess I'll have to talk to the framer on Thursday when I head back to the LNS for stitch night!

Happy Stitching!