Crochet Fun & Birthdays

I know it's been a long time since my last post. Things have been very busy at work and my weekends have been full. I've got to keep this short, so here goes.....

I crochet this afghan for our Light the Night Campaign at work. We held a raffle for gift certificates and craft items so I decided to make this afghan. It seemed to be a big hit. It was pretty easy once I got into a routine. I did have to restart this thing about 5 times. I could not get it right in the beginning.

Next up is my Mom & Stepfather. SF turned 60 this year (all my folks turn 60 this year!!) so we decided to hire Critter Invasions to put flamingos in their yard. It was really fun and they really liked it. Can't say the their neighbors liked it too much but oh well!

I started stitching my Halloween ornaments for the year. I have a few to complete the finishing on which I hope to have done this weekend. I'll try to post pics of those soon.

Until next time! Happy stitching!

Exchange Fun & Finishes (picture heavy)

I'm so embarrased it has taken this long to post a new entry! Summer is in full swing and has been really busy. We've been doing lots of painting and revamping in the house which is very tiring. But I see the finishes and it's very rewarding.

I've got loads to share......so I'm going to try and make it simple and sweet :)

First up is my framing finish of PSS - Gloriana. I love how it came out and can't wait to hang it. Just got to find the right place.

Here's a close up of the frame details. I tried to keep it really simple.

Next is a Blackbird finish. Love the design, not completely happy with the finishing but I'm glad it's done. That ruffle was a real pain in the you know what for me. I think I may stitch it again and try a different fabric for the ruffle next time. I've also got the companion pieces stitched but not finished. I share a group shot once I finish them.

Here's a really pretty pincushion stitched by Kristina for the HE - Summer Exchange. I love the finish and the little fob she included. She also made those buttons herself! I just love them.

This is a piece stitched by Blyn for the HOE - ABC exchange. I love the summery feel and have it displayed in my stitching room. Don't you just love the finish - the curly cue trim is wired so you can shape the bow. I just love it.

This is the HOE - ABC Exchange piece I stitched for Lisa in Australia. I finished it as a easel flat fold. I also used HDF Perfect red (one of the darker reds in the series). Just love the fiber. It's so nice to work with.

Here's a the HE 4th of July piece I received from Barbara. She stitched this piece over-one and finished it into a needlebook. It will definitely get used with love!

And finally, here's the piece I stitched for April. I've always loved this design and thought this was the perfect time to stitch it. This was also my first attempt at box finishing. I padded the inside with a pretty patriotic fabric as well.

Sorry to keep it so brief. The pool is calling my name :) I shall share more pics from our beach vacation in the next post. Thanks for stopping by! Until next time,

Malinda

The Year of Exchanges!

This must be my year for Exchanges for I cannot resist the temptation of signing up! Honest, I have been stitching - just a bunch of secret stitching. I can only share a few pieces at the moment. This first piece is from an Arbor Day Exchange. Blyn stitched up this beautiful little pillow from a LHN design. Blyn stitched this over-one with a shoulder injury! Blyn, I hope your shoulder has healed up for you.


This next piece is something I stitched for Heather R (monsoon) for an Early Christmas Ornament exchange. I stitched Emmanuel from Plum Street Sampler - it's a freebie. I really like the finishing. I followed Vonna's wonderful finishing instruction from her blog The Twisted Stitcher.


Next is the ornament I received for the Early Christmas Ornament Exchange. Edgar in San Francisco stitched this wonderful Prairie Schooler design and finished it as a flat ornament. I love how creatively he cut the felt backing.

Part 2 of Mary Wigham's Wardrobe came out at the beginning of May. I've been trying to stitch on that in between my exchanges. Progress for this piece is coming along. I'll try to share a pic soon.

Summer is here in full force! We've planted some veggies this year - tomatoes, green peppers, and squash. We wish we could have planted more, but we waited too long into the spring. It's funny, I don't even like tomatoes, but I can't wait to try our home grown variety! As George Carlin said, "something has gone a foul inside a tomato....." - too much so for me!

Haven't had the chance to watch too many good movies lately. Out of the few I've seen in the last couple of weeks, I'd have to say Avatar was the best. I think we may have been the only people on the planet who hadn't seen the movie yet! We thought is was very good - absolutely loved the colors and CGI effects. Although I can see why did not win the Oscar for Movie of the Year over the Hurt Locker. I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet (if there's anyone out there - LOL).

The beach is calling my name! I can smell the faint perfume of the salt air! Can't wait to get the chance to put my feet in the sand this summer! Until next time - Happy Stitching :)

Beautiful Weekend!

Our Carolina Blue Sky

Blooming Bridal Bush

Pretty Purple Plant

It's been a wonderful weekend. DH and I spent the day planting bushes and cleaning the pool. I just love the Carolina blue sky we get in the spring. It's so pretty, such a deep blue. When you add the fresh new green of all the trees against that blue sky it's a sight to see!

It did get rather warm and I think I may have gotten my first sunburn of the year.

On the stitching front, I've started Black Horse Inn by Carriage House Samplings. Not much stitched worth taking a picture of right now. I choose to stitch it on Silkweaver's Purely Primitive which is looking really nice. Although for some reason this linen seems to have been put through the ringer. It had so many nats (kind of like an old sweater) on it but I think I've gotten most of them off. There so much stitched area that I think it will be OK once its done.

Got 3 more exchanges to get ready for too! I see a lot of stitching in my future :)

Until next time,

Happy Stitching

PSS - Gloriana Finish

Just a quick post to show everyone my PSS - Gloriana finish. I put the final stitches in last night. I love how this piece came out - it's a quick stitch and so much fun! The crowns are stitched with HDF BeCherished and the border is done in HDF BeGrimed; linen is a 36 ct (not sure of the name, but I really like it - I'm going to have to stock pile this linen). Sorry the picture is not that great; the settings must have been changed or something. I hate when that happens!

Now, what to stitch next??? I'm trying to decide between Carriage House Samplings' Black Horse Inn or Wiehenburg's Quacker Rose. I purchased the DMC for both projects yesterday and plan to use HDF's Jackalope 32 ct Linen for both. I just can't decide!! I love both these designs and want to stitch both, at the same time!! Right now Black Horse Inn has a lead - I've loved this design since the first time I saw it! Something about those really calm colors and the horses.

I'm also hoping to do some finishing this weekend so maybe I'll have some more to share before the weekend's over.

I have a few exchanges coming up as well which I'll need to start planning out this weekend too.

It's been quite here which is a good thing! The weather has been beautiful too. We went from a very short spring right into summer (our first 90 this week) but I think we'll get our spring back this weekend, for a few days at least! Should stay in the low 70's!!

Until next time, Happy Stitching!

Some WIPs, a few movies and some answers to questions :)

Hello! Thank you all for the wonderful comments you've left me. I definitely don't think my eyes could stand 1-over for sometime. I use the magic eyes, but found I was getting headaches. It was probably because I tend to wear them along with my glasses!

Some of you had some questions that I'm going to try to answer.

FayeRaye, the pin cube was very easy to assemble. I just took it slow.....but caught onto it quick. I know you'll do just fine. It was really fun to put together.

Karyn, thank you for the compliments! For the ribbon, I followed the Twisted Stitcher's tutorial on rouched ribbon. It took some time, but the effect is well worth it!

Karen, when I got to the end of the length of ribbon I needed, I just tied off the thread. It's probably not the best way but at the moment that was what I ended up doing. I also folded the end of the ribbon in and basted the edge for a clean finish. You'll have fun making the ribbon!

Also wanted to show off some WIPs and recent stash. First I bought these five designs from Needleprint. I'm an avid read of the Needleprint blog and love the designs they reproduce. They are reproductions of old samplers from the Ackworth school in England. These booklets were a special; five for $60 and well worth the purchase. The booklets are very nicely done with information about the stitcher and the school. Needleprint also shares some really great freebies. check out the site when you have a chance.

Next is a WIP of With my Needle's Mrs. Waddelow's Huswif. I'm stitching it using GAST Currant. I really like this color. It's a very deep red and the linen is a WDW. The linen name has slipped my mind at the moment. I haven't looked for any coordinating fabric for the finishing yet but hope to soon.

I've also been working on CCN Winter Wonderland as well. I love the CCN series, all of them. I'm quickly accumulating the different series and can't stitch them quick enough.

I also decided to start Plum Street Sampler's Gloriana. This piece is stitching up really quick. I've recently discovered Hand Dyed Fibers Silks so I decided to stitch this piece using BeCherished Premium silk. This silk is really nice because it's a thicker thread that's one stand. Makes it very easy to use. This silk is so soft and hasn't knotted up on me like the DMC or some of the other silks I've used before. Definitely check them out if you have a chance; I'll warn you though, they are very addicting! I'm hoping to build a stash quick!

Now onto a few movies that I recently watched. First, Defiance. I highly recommend this movie. It a true story about Russian Jews seeking refuge from the Nazis. I also watched an old classic Hitchcock film - North by Northwest. It stars Cary Grant who is probably my favorite actor of that time. I've liked all the films I've seen of his. North by Northwest is about spies and has a little romance and humor thrown in as well.

Until next time, happy stitching :)

Exchanges Received

Just a quick note to show pics of some exchanges that arrived to their destination. The first 2 pics are for the HOE - LHN/CCN Exchange. My exchange partner was Susan P. in Baltimore, MD. I stitched 4 designs from the LHN Dear Diary series over one. I must say I probably won't be stitching over one for a little while. My eyes were not happy with me! I finished it into a cube using instructions from a With My Needle design. It was really easy to assembly. I had a hard time parting with this piece!!

This next piece was for the Holiday Exchange group; Easter theme. I was partnered up with Cindy in Singapore. I stitched the Easter sampler from Lizzie Kate. This piece was really fun to stitch. I tried my hand at "rouching" for the first time and I'm sure I'll be doing that again. I really like the effect of the rouched ribbon.

I've been stitching some on my Mrs. Waddelow's Huswif from With my Needle. I really like the design. I hope to post some pics in a couple of days. I've also been busy getting ready to start Judy Odell's Mary Wigham's Wardrobe. It's a private class she's giving on the JAT forum.

Not much else going on so Until next time, Happy Stitching!

Exchange Pictures & Movies

This first pic is what I stitched for Becky for the Arbor Day Exchange. She likes funky, whimsical trees. I think it turned out a little funky & whimsical. I really love the blues/chocolates together.

The next is for the LHN/CCN Exchange through HOE. Kathy made me this beautiful stitcher's pocket and made the pretty scissor fob to go along with it. It's got my initial on the back too. Thank you so much Kathy - I will definitely be putting them to good use!!

Saw another great Alfred Hitchcock movie last week called Marnie. Sean Connery is such a wonderful actor and he's not too bad to look at either! His character really the movie for me.

Saw On the Beach w/Gregory Peck & Ava Gardner on TCM this past weekend. The movie covered a very controversial subject especially for the late fifties - the aftermath of a nuclear war.

Both I would highly recommend. Until Next time - Happy stitching :)

Out with the Old......

In with the new! Just a quick post to show off what we've been doing around the house. My new motto this year (and part of last year) has been to Simplify!! We've been taking every chance we can get to go through closets, redo rooms, and downsize. Last weekend we redid our master bedroom. Before, the room was so cluttered - heavy with furniture and computer stuff! We painted and got rid of a lot.

Here's the before - sorry but it was very messy the day this pic was taken!!!!

After

The little beige dresser with the blue humidifier on it will be going soon. I'm having a hard time parting with it because it was my dresser as a child and my Mom used it when she was a child. I may refinish it and use it in my stitching room. Need to find room for it there!!

Now onto more important stuff. Here's some pics of my 2010 Nashville Market stash. It was so hard to decide what I wanted most. I always get excited each year when Market comes around.


I went ahead and bought the fabric/fibers for the following new projects. I'm itching to start one of them so bad. But I'm resisting temptation! I've got 2 more exchanges pieces to finish (almost there too) so maybe I'll be able to start one tomorrow.

Here's With My Needles - Mrs. Waddelow's Huswif.

Went with GAST Currant as the fiber color.

Plum Street Samplers - The Queen's Crowns.

I decided to go with GAST Royal Purple; still have to pick the border color.

Not sure if you know it this but I'm a huge old movie fan. Love the movies from the 40's & 50's. I watched one last night called Rebecca by Alfred Hitchcock. It was really good. If you like older movies you'll have to check this one out! I believe it was the only Hitchcock movie to be nominated for an Oscar.

Until next time, Happy Stitching!!

Pick me up off the floor.....

I can't believe, 2 posts in one day! I have some stitching to show off. This first is Love by Praiseworthy Stitches. I finished this piece on Christmas day. It's for my mom - she loves samplers and anything primitive. All I need to do is remember to take it to the framers now.

The next is my Valentine Exchange for Lisa in Australia. The design is a freebie from the Gift of Stitching Magazine. I got word today that it arrives safe and sound. This was my first side pillow finish. I also decided to stitch up a little scissor fob to go along with it.

Sharlotte, thanks for your comment. The picture in the banner actually came with the blog template. I wish I could take such lovely pictures!!

Well DH is home early tonight - wohoo! Maybe I can get out of making dinner tonight and get some stitching done ;) I haven't been able to stitch all week - I'm having withdrawals - LOL!

Thank you to everyone who's commented! I really enjoy them. Until next time, Happy Stitching.

Out with the Old

In with the new! I've been having a lot of fun coming up with a new look. I happy with the new layout but I'm still playing so you may see more changes soon. Due to some unbelievably annoying spam in my comment section I've changed the permissions on the comment section of my blog. Hope this doesn't deter anyone from leaving comments on my blog. I really enjoy reading them! Hope to be posting more often once I get our new routine down.

Have you been making your list for the Nashville Marketing coming up? I'm so excited - I've started my list which I'll give to my LNS Owner before she leaves. The only place I've been able to find a really good looky at what's new is Stitching Bits & Bobs. I really love the new Rosewood Manor Sampler and those cute little scissor. Until next time take care!

I'm no Gordon Ramsey.....

I can't believe I made Beef Wellington! We had the best Wellington last February at a restaurant - it was the first time I tasted beef wellington and it was the best! I had the craving for some more since then. So after some research I worked the nerve up to make it myself tonight and it came out fantastic! I couldn't find the beef tenderloin and substituted another cut of beef, which probably wasn't the best to use. Beside that, it was so good. We added some little roasted red potatoes and brussel sprouts to go along.

Nothing on the stitching front - it's all been secret stitching so I'll share once they are received. Not much time for anything else, I just wanted to share my victory of Beef Wellington! It's not as hard as you would like to make so I would recommend making it. I know I'll be tweaking the recipe in the near future! Until next time - Happy Stitching & Cooking :)

Valentine Exchange & MIA

Look what the postman brought me all the way home from England! I joined the Holiday Exchange blog and Lindsay was my partner for the Valentine Exchange. Isn't it pretty! She stitching the pretty design into a pynkeep and sent me that pretty red fabric and ruler ribbon.

Life has gotten really crazy around here! I haven't been able to get a lot of stitching and surfing done here at home. DH's employer loaned him out to a client for the next 3 months so we've basically done a complete role reversal. His schedule is not as flexible so I've had to step up and do some cooking, cleaning & cat box changing - god forbid! It's been kind of weird! I've always appreciated everything he does around the house but now I know what I've been missing and I how LUCKY of woman I've been! I'm having fun figuring out what dinner will be and playing with recipes but boy we don't settle down until late in the evening. I've been doing some stitching for exchanges (1 down, 3 to go.....). I try to post some pics soon! Until next time, Happy Stitching!

Where Has the Year Gone?

WOW - this last 6 months have flown by! I can't believe September was the last time I posted......life has been busy, as usual. I sat for the CPS exam in early November. It was an all day affair - 3 parts. I'm praying I past all 3, but I will settle for at least 2. I should know the results within the next 2 weeks. I blame the studying for keeping me from posting here - and the crazy holidays! I have been busy getting the decorations up around the house, shopping and squeezing time in to see the family (which I'm sorry to say hasn't been as often as I would like).

Let's see I've been stitching ornaments of all kinds.......I stitched on perforated paper for the first time and love it. I love the effect you can get! It started with Elf in a Box by Brooke's Books (pattern found in the JCS Ornament Preview Issue July/August 2009). I fell in love with the pretty little elf and had to stitch her. Brooke Nolan has a beautiful eye for design on perforated paper - I can't wait to stitch some of her angels.

So then I found Rejoice by Imaginating, Inc. in the 2005 JCS Ornament issue - had to stitched this cutie up too.


Then there was Stitchy Claus, another Brooke's Books design - I just finished him up this morning. The finishing on Brooke's ornaments are so dimensional, I just love them (her instructions are very easy to follow too!)

In between all the ornament stitching I did this piece - Hannah Picket 1725 by The Sampler Girl. As soon as Marie released this design I knew I had to stitch it. Her finishing instructions were easy to follow as well. I love how it came out and now it sits under my Christmas tree in the kitchen which dear hubbie thinks its pretty weird. But he said it was pretty - which is all though matters to me.

And here is my Christmas Tree - I'm so happy with how it turned out. I love the look of homemade items on my tree! Each year I add more stitched ornaments. I'm hoping to eventually have nothing but stitched ornaments on the tree. I especially love my tree topper - it's one of those old fashioned tinsel stars. I found it at an antique store my Mom took us to over Thanksgiving in Salisbury, NC (It's one over her favorite place to visit on the weekends). My tree is kind of wimpy at the top so I needed something that was light weight and this barely fit the bill. With a little ingenuity dear hubbie was able to make it stand straight. I made the garland for the tree too - you can really see the garland in the closeups of the ornaments above (the instructions for the garland from the Lazy Girl's blog - she offered the free pattern last year around this time). Dear hubbies mother made the tree skirt years ago when he was a kid.

I wish all of my blog friends a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! I pray that all of you stay safe & happy during the Holidays! Thanks for visiting my blog thoughtout the year! Happy Stitching! M~

Stitching Stash.....& Finished Bathroom

It's been busy here, as usual. Can't show any stitching pics today as I've been stitching on exchanges. You'll get a peek at them eventually. I can share some stash I picked up recently. Unfortunately the shop I got the stash at was downsizing/remodeling and getting rid of all the cross stitch. I figured it was a matter of time once the new owner took over. The shop was a combined needlework, cross stitch, and framing shop and the new owner only did needlework only. It's too bad because I've visited the shop for gosh has to be at least 15 years.

Here's what I picked up - no new charts (the new owner hadn't picked up any newly released charts since she took over and the selection was huge, but a lot of very old charts) but I did find a lot of nice hand-dyed fabrics and basic whites/neutral tans. I picked up what I could get my hands on. I also picked up all the WDW & GAST that I knew of for projects I wanted to complete. Everything was 50%.


The shop was also selling all the models on display. It was kind of annoying trying to get the Owner to price them. She admitted to me if she didn't like it she sold it cheap.....if she did like it, she would select this crazy price......anyway, I had admired this nativity set for as long as I can remember and luckily it was one of the pieces she didn't like because I got it for $25! It'll be fun displaying this during the holidays (I might just leave it out year round ;) )


Now onto the tiring task of finishing our bathroom. We've finished what were going to do for now (want to do the floor someday soon). As you can see in this panoramic trip around the room - it's tiny bathroom!






I'm really proud of the pull out drawers Bruce built for me. I've got so much more space and can actually put my morning stuff away now. I'm very lucky to have someone so handy.

I want to thank everyone for reading my blog and commenting. I really enjoy getting your comments. Until next time, happy stitching :)