tea cup and mug exchange

I was lucky enough to participate in Stephanie's teacup and mug exchange at The Enchanting Rose blog. This round I participated in both exchanges and, as always, I really enjoyed the exchange. I forgot to take photos of the things I sent, but here are some photos of the wonderful items I received.

Rainey sent me a package for the mug exchange. Here is a photo of the whole package

and here is a close-up of the lovely embroidered pieces she included. 

She does beautiful work, don't you think?

I received a lovely tea cup exchange from Anne. Here is a photo of the whole package

and here is a close up of the tea cup. You can't really see the design on the cup, but it is a lovely delicate silver /gray swirly pattern.

Thank you both so much! And thank you to Stephanie for organizing this exchange each year. I always enjoy it and look forward to it each time.

a wonderful giveaway to start the month!

Nancy from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having another wonderful giveaway. The drawing will be on November 22nd. Be sure to go to her blog and have a peek!

  Good luck to all!

remember me???

Hi everyone! I can't believe it has been two months since I posted last! where did the summer go?

Here is a link to what my life as been like for the past year...I hope this works. It is a time lapse of our new library addition being built. We moved into the new addition at the end of July, and now the contractors are working on re-doing the original Carnegie Library. The entire project is supposed to be finished by the end of September, and we have scheduled our grand opening for October 15, so I hope it is done on time! September was spent boxing up all of our stuff (while still keeping the library open)...quite the mess! And then we were closed for three weeks in July while we physically moved everything and continued to sort through the thousands of books we put into storage 6 years ago. Needless to say, many of those had to b discarded...they were in such bad shape. It always breaks my heart to discard a book...but it had to be done. So now, everything we own is crammed into the new addition, but the library looks wonderful! Our patrons love it...staff is thrilled...we have windows all around, so it is a bright space. After 2 years, I have a proper office...with a ceiling, a door and a window...yay! Right now, I am sharing with another person, but only until the Carnegie is completed.

Anyway, you can imagine that most days I went home from work exhausted...especially these last couple of months. Not much stitching happened, since most nights I took care of our dogs, had a bite to eat and crashed in hubby's recliner until he got home! I did discover Flosstube however, after Vonna posted a link to her video, and have been addicted ever since. It is fun to watch everyone's videos and see all the great stitching being done. I've discovered new designers (to me) and floss and
fabric suppliers...not to mention needleminders...my newest growing collection.


 Just lots of fun all around.

I wish I had the courage (?) to post a video of my own, but that is so far out of my comfort zone...I don't think it will ever happen. But I really do want to get back to blogging and I was thinking hat I might start doing blog posts as if I was doing a video...same kinds of things...showing updates,, new stash, tags, etc. We'll see. I'm determined to start taking back the parts of my life that have been thrown to the wayside over the past year!

So...I guess I'll start with my poor froggy, who has been waiting patiently for two months now to show our orts! This first pic is my June orts...

 

this next one is from July...

 

 It looks like more than I remember stitching, but that's ok!

I did manage to meet some of my goals from June. Here is my monthly ornament...and my Cross eyed Cricket mitten. June was also Whine and WIPs month on Stitch Maynia, and I wanted to work on some Blackbird Designs pieces. So I started and finished Autumn Silhouette...(sorry for the hoop marks)

 

and finally finished Morning Star

 

 which I am embarrassed to say was started in September of 2014! I can't believe I ever put it aside...it was such a quick finish! I also stitched a small Bent Creek block for the Stitchers' Timeout block exchange.

July did not go as well. The only finish I had was an ornament from My Big Toe Designs

and I think that was the last day of the month! I did start a mitten, and a new SAL...Welcome to Oz from petalpusher Designs, but I think that was about it! Oh...I also started the Long Dog Sampler Death by Cross Stitch, but so far I have only stitched the first row of stitches!

So August is going to be catch up month! I am hoping to finish my July mitten and stitch one for August, stitch an ornament, finish Part One and Part Two of the Oz SAL and maybe stitch a bit more on the Long Dog Sampler. We'll see!

Sorry I've rambled for so long. If you have made it this far...thank you for taking the time to visit.
Until next time...happy stitching!

late again....

Oh dear...I'm late again with my May TUSAL...no excuses, just forgot!

Here's my sweet froggy with lots of pretty threads in his basket...

Till next month....

May update

Sorry this is so late. I've been having trouble trying to get photos up, and then I just got busy stitching and forgot all about posting! Oh well!

I did manage to accomplish most of my goals this month. I stitched another block for the Stitchers' Timeout block exchange. This month's designer was Homespun Elegance, and I stitched a small bit of the Miniature Samplers IV pattern. I used this for a round robin once and I thought it was a really sweet design. Stitched on an evenweave with DMC.

My ornament this month was a companion piece to the one I stitched last month from La-D-Da. The design is called 'Tis Red and it was stitched on a piece of linen with Carrie's silk thread in Olde World Red...such a pretty red, and her silks are wonderful to work with. This was from the Just Cross Stitch ornament issue 2010.

I also stitched another of the mittens from the Criscket Collection. This one is called Have a Heart Mitten. It is stitched on linen with DMC and is from the Lacy Eggs booklet.

I borrowed another pattern from the Blackbird Designs Lending Library, but I didn't like the fabric or floss that I started with, so I decided to start it over! This is called Autumn Silhouette and this is how far I got.

Finally, I finished my Lizzie Kate project - ABCs of Aging Artfully. It is stitched on an evenweave with the called for Gentle Arts and Weeks threads. The fabric color is a buttercream color ...really pretty. It looks so washed out here! I can't remember when I started this one...it's been awhile, but once I started working on it, it went along pretty quickly. It was really a fun piece to do.

So that's all for this update. Thanks so much for taking the time to visit!

Happy stitching!

this month's TUSAL

Froggy couldn't wait to share his basket of orts on this bright, sunny day! Lots of pretty colors in there this month.

Until next month...

update for april

April turned out to be a pretty good month for stitching. We had lots of lazy days...some beautiful weather and time to relax. My hands still hurt from time to time, but I just have to be careful to take more breaks than I am used to taking (since I'm used to taking none, even one or two seem to help!)

I finished the stitching on two ornaments. This one was mostly stitched in March, but since I always seem to wait until the end of the month to do my ornament, it didn't get finished until the beginning of April. It is Merry Christmas, designed by From the Heart for the Just Cross Stitch 2015 Ornament issue, stitched on a beige evenweave with Gentle Arts threads.

My April ornament is from La-D-Da. It was in the Just Cross Stitch ornament preview issue from 2010, and is called 'Tis Green. I stitched it on an off white evenweave with one of Nina's Silks. The color of the floss is Fairy Kingdom, and I love it. These silks are such a joy to stitch with as well!

I stitched on my Lizzie Kate (ABCs of Aging Artfully) three out of four of the Fridays in April. The top photo shows where I was, and the bottom is where I am right now. The top shows the color of the fabric better. Sorry for the wrinkles and hoop marks in the update. I'm getting to the finish line though. Maybe a few more weeks of stitching...we'll see!

My mitten this month is called Alphabet Mitten, stitched on a beige evenweave with DMC threads. I loved all the different colors in this one.

The last piece I finished was stitched in memory of s wonderful stitcher, Sue Drury,  who passed away in February. It is Seaside Retreat from Blackbird Designs, stitched on a piece of Picture This Plus lugana in pewter with a pretty blue threadworx floss that was gifted to me by a fellow stitcher. I personalized it with both our initials and the years of Sue's life. She was in my thoughts throughout the stitching, and I will always remember her whenever I look at this piece.

Anyway, I guess that all for now. Hopefully I'll have some more finishes to show next time. Until then, thanks for taking the time to visit! Hope you are all having a wonderful day.

enchanting exchanges

There is a wonderful exchange that Stephanie hosts twice a year at her blog, The Enchanting Rose.
Participants can choose to exchange mugs or tea cups, or participate in both. Last time, I chose to exchange a mug, but this time, I decided to do both.

Margaret, from Texas, sent me a delicate teacup and saucer, along with some wonderful teas, and a lovely cross-stitched tea towel. When I get home from work in the late afternoon, I take my doggies for a walk and then come home to a lovely cup of tea in this beautiful cup.

Debby, from Ohio, sent me a lovely mug in the prettiest spring color, along with some chai tea (one of my favorites) and honey to go along with it. Sorry the photo is so unclear! This is the perfect mug to enjoy my morning tea in.

Thanks again to Margaret and Debbie, and also to Stephanie for hosting such a wonderful exchange!

lynda

tusal....finally!

I've had this photo for days now, but just haven't been around to post it!
Here's my sweet froggy friend with this month's collection...

See you next time!
lynda

hard to stitch

 
It's hard to stitch when you're dizzy! I started having dizzy spells in February. There were lots of tests and things ruled out, and things went back to normal (well...my normal!) I've been really tired and didn't have much energy to do much, but there's also been lots going on so I didn't think too much about it.  And then last week, I woke up and was too dizzy to even get out of bed. That was scary! I went to the doctor and this time was diagnosed with vertigo. I had this once before many years ago, and I can tell you...it is not fun. And the meds that are prescribed make me really sleepy. It's like a lose-lose situation! And my stitching has suffered...because along with the dizziness and sleepiness, my hands have started to ache around the thumb joints. It's not constant, but after holding a book or hoop for awhile it starts to hurt. So I have to take more breaks than I'd like to...and things are going slower than usual. But I'm still able to stitch, so I really don't want to complain. It's just an annoyance at this point.

My goals for March proved to be a little too ambitious! I did finish another mitten from Cross-Eyed Cricket. It's called There's A Nip in the Air and it's one of my favorites. We have squirrels that come to visit and eat our bird food on a regular basis and I love acorns...

The designer for our March block exchange with Stitchers Timeout was Hands on Design. I found a cute design on Cathy's blog and stitched part of it for my block.

The Friendly Stitchers groups is working on finishing up some of our WIPs, and this month I finally finished Ornamental Pumpkin from Turquoise Graphics and Designs. I started this in January of 2015 as part of Debbie's Challenge. I love this design. The swirly bits are such fun!

This next design is from StitchersAnon and is one of her collection of Holmsey Hare designs. It was started as a sort of SAL on her Holmsy Hare's Hop facebook group. The pattern traveled around to different stitchers. Unfortunately, I had it for way too long...and when I finally got to stitching it, it went so quickly...I felt really bad. Anyway, I think that the pattern is now available for purchase. It really was fun to stitch.

Finally, I want to share my wonderful, exchange gift from Mouse. The Friendly Stitchers group had a Stitchers Day exchange and this is the lovely stitching bag that I received. I love the design and the fall colors that are my favorites. And it is perfect for taking a small project in the car or to work. Thanks again, Mouse!

I guess that is enough for now! Thanks everyone for taking the time to visit!

hugs and happy stitching to you all!

it's TUSAL time again!

The New Moon means its time to post our totally useless SAL photos. It looks like I've done quite a bit of stitching this month!

Froggy loves to show off the orts basket!

'till next month, happy stitching!

end-of-month check-in for february

This turned out to be a pretty productive month...I managed to stitch almost every day, at least a little bit!

One goal was to stitch another mitten from Cross-Eyed Cricket Collection. This month I chose to stitch a mitten called Patches. I love the colors in this one.

I also stitched another ornament  this month. Robin was kind enough to let me know that the companion to the mitten I stitched last month could be found in the 2015 Just Cross Stitch ornament preview edition. This is called Truly Endless Knot I and is by Ink Circles. I used the same fabric and threads as its companion piece. I love these designs!

My goal was to stitch on this Lizzie Kate design every Friday. but I only managed 2 out of the 4 Fridays in February. This is where I am now...

The WIP I was working on in February was from Silver Creek Samplers...Stitching Feeds My Heart .

I finished it, and you can see it here.

And lastly, I had hoped to start (and finish) Strawberry Garden by Blackbird Designs. I did get it started, but the frog came to visit and I ended up stitching one section three times before I got it right! So it is not finished yet, but this is where I am now...

Maybe it will be finished this month!

Thanks for taking the time to visit. Until next time, happy stitching!

february's WIPocalypse

Another full moon...and it is gorgeous!

I've been working on a few WIPs this month. The one I actually finished is from Silver Creek Samplers, Stitching Feeds My Heart. I started it in April last year...

 I've also been working on Lizzie Kate's ABCs of Aging Artfully. I can't remember when I started this one, but it was quite some time ago...

My current "focus" WIP is Ornamental Pumpkin from Turquoise Graphics and Designs. This was started last January and was one of my challenge pieces. This is where I was when I picked it back up this month...

And this is where I am now...

I love all the swirly bits!

To answer this month's question, the only piece I have always on display is Quaker Christmas from By Gone Stitches. It is currently hanging in our bedroom, so no-one really sees it except me and my hubby! I do put out seasonal pieces though. I think I should really get some framing done!

Happy Stitching!
lynda

Gifted Gorgeousness...a little bit late

But not as late as last month!

Since last time, I've finished the pattern that was gifted to me by Gillie when she was my Secret Santa...Autumn Quaker Seasons by ByGone Stitches.  You can see the finished piece here.

I've also started a new piece from Blackbird Designs called Seaside Retreat. It can be found in the book, A Stitcher's Journey. I am using a beautiful blue thread from Threadworx that was gifted to me from Frances for stitching on her latest round robin.

Happy Stitching!
lynda

it's TUSAL time

it's the new moon and time to show our collected orts for the month...froggy is liking all the pretty colors this time!

happy stitching until next time! 

another wonderful giveaway

Nancy from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is doing it again...she is generously offering another wonderful giveaway on her blog.

Look at these wonderful rainbow colors....aren't they gorgeous?  

Hop on over to Nancy's blog and enter to win. The drawing will be on February 25th.

Good Luck!