WOW SBEBB What's the Buzz

package from Becky arrived today. All I can say is WWWWOOOOWWWW!!! I feel so very special. I love it. It is my first stitched tin and I am so impressed, I haven't been brave enough to try it yet!!! And all the goodies in it are so nice, I am floating on a cloud!!!! I love the handmade marker pins and the needle magnet. I love the blue stork scissors, now I will know if Vicki steals my scissors!!! And the measuring cups are the cutest, I've never seen anything like them before. Anyway.


Here are the pictures!!

Quaker alphabet

is done and now is on it's way, it has a long way to travel..

Working on a RR for CSRR which I hope to have finished in the next day or two. I am all caught up with sending out current exchanges and RRs and now need to get ahead on a few others, as we have some major stuff to catch up in the next month!! I think I will start my Fall House one next..

Tanya's RR

I mailed Tanya's RR on today. I finished the house in the middle of the other two as my part of the RR. It is a very pretty piece. Now to start Lin's...

Halloween SAl

this one is stitched inbetween other exchanges so I am slow moving. Here is my first one, I will be stitching the witches hats to put together with this one to make an ornament..

Fair and Square

I finished my fair and square piece and will be sending it tomorrow. It is from Drawn thread, tiny samplers. I changed all the colors to overdyeds and left out the yellows, substituting a purple..
I have a bunch of other things to show, but can't yet, because they are not there yet, LOL. I have my What's the Buzz Exchange and my redwork exchange finished and ready to go tomorrow. I am almost done with the quaker alphabet also..

Biscornu for Monochromatic Exchange at RN

Here is my first biscornu. I made it for Vonna for the Robin's Nest Monochromatic Exchange. I used Crescent Colors Tutti Fruitti fiber on 32 count linen. I used a paved bead for the center. It is supposed to look summery. The design is Cat Whisker Spring Fever. On one side I changed the outer design to have Vonna's initials and the number 07 on it... She received it yesterday and said she liked it.. Here it is.. Vonna's picture is actually much better than mine :)..

FG Pinkeep Exchange from Amy

Dear Amy sent me the most wonderful pinkeep for the Friends Gather Pinkeep exchange (also the last one for the board, I am feeling a trend here)...Anyway I absolutely love it and it will hold a place of honor since I know she has been having trouble stitching lately and she did such a beautiful job on this...She also sent a pansy design knowing pansies are my favorites!!! Here it is and a double thank you to Amy, you are wonderful...

Monochromatic Exchange at Robins Nest

I received this beautiful redwork ornament from Renee for the Monochromatic Exchange at Robins Nest, it is the last exchange there, the board is closing..It is absolutely lovely and is taken from a 1993 Better Homes and Garden Cross stitch and Crafts Magazine.. Thank you again Renee, it is absolutely lovely..

Seem to be on a Roll

stitching away on another exchange. This one is the What's the buzz on SBEBB. I am once again trying some new stitches, although I have now finished like it before!!! It is a lot of fun...I am having such a great time doing all these exchanges, of course, I am not doing my WIPs a lot of good, but I think I needed a break and some fun for a little while. Not that stitching my designs isn't a lot of fun, I just think sometimes you need to break away and do something different for a little while!!! This weekend I want to finish my F&S piece and maybe work on a RR..

Finished my first Biscornu

I'm so excited to have finished this and It turned out very nice. It was much easier than I expected, all those corners looked difficult in pictures, LOL. I can't post a picture of it yet, but hopefully by the end of the weekend I will be able to. I had to mail it off today!!! Guess I'll have to make one for myself someday!!!

Egyptian column finished

I mailed my RR on Saturday, it is headed to Scotland!! Here is the column I finished..

I also finished one exchange, a redwork which I made a scissor pocket for, I am very excited about the way it came out. I can't post it here because it is a secret till it gets there and I am almost ready to finish up my first biscornu!!!

Received SBEBB Freebie Exchange from Carla

in Peru. It is beautiful. I love the pincushion with the blackbird on it (my favorites) and the goodies she packed in it were wonderful. I had to share a piece of the wonderful sweet she sent with my family and everyone loved it!!!! Thanks so much Carla.. I know you were worried about it taking so long to get here, but it was very much worth the wait..

I finished the Mailart

but am not very happy with my finishing job...I got off somewhere and I finished it the best I could, but it is definitely not up to par as I would wish. Oh well, chalk it up to learning. Next time I do a straight back envelope, not fancy cut... Here is how it looks, I am happy with the stitching, but the back leaves a lot to be desired..

My Mailart So Far

it is all stitched except the addresses, which I hope to finish Saturday...I will then see if I can figure out how to put it all together, LOL..

FGBB Needleroll from Judith

This beautiful needleroll arrived Thursday from Judith on the Friends Gather BB, which unfortunately will soon be no more. Isn't it pretty...I absolutely love it..

Thank you so much Judith.. P.S. She also sent along a beautiful skein of Gloriana Silk!!!

Mailart WIP

I got some more done on my mailart, considering I need to get it mailed out this weekend or Monday by the latest, I had better be getting some done on it, LOL. I have one more section to add to the front, some crows and flowers to put on the back. Not sure yet what fabric I am using for the inside????

Weekend Stitching

My weekend went pretty well on stitching. I have my RR to get prepped and ready to go and a mailart piece I am entering in a competition (it is my first one, I always go the most difficult routes, LOL)..

My RR is based on Ancient Egypt tomb walls or papyrus. It is a country RR, In which each person tries to do a RR based on a country or region. I took a piece from a cross stitch book on Ancient Egypt and put two parts of a larger chart together. Here is what it will look like..

This is what I have gotten done so far. I am going to stitch the center and then have the others work on the figures.....It is stitched on 28ct antique white lugana

Here is my mailart piece started. I am using a Blackbird design for the pieced stitched on it. I am stitching on 40ct Linen with Weeks Dye Works..

SBEBB Little Critters from Nicki

I received my first exchange from SBEBB and it was soooo pretty. I am very excited, not only did I receive an absolutely adorable beautifully stitch pillow (with my favorite dragonfly button on it), but I also received 2 pkgs of beautiful fabric, some dinky dyes and a very pretty chart. Nicki really outdid herself and I love the ribbon on the pillow that says made with love by Nicki..

Thank you so much Nicki I love the entire exchange so much!!!

FG Pinkeep Exchange for Sharon

This is the pinkeep I made for th FGBB exchange for Sharon. It is a free design, but I am getting senile and at this point I can't remember the designer. It is stitched in a Varigated Anchor, reds on a 28ct linen.. She received it yesterday

Front:

Back:

Another First - A needleRoll

I made this one for Carol S at FGBB. I am really excited about needlerolls now. This is the first way I've seen one like this made (not that other's hadn't but I had not seen it). It was much easier for me and made it seem more finished...I know I probably shouldn't try out my firsts on other people, but I figured I had enough time if it didn't come out good I could try another one, LOL.. here it is. It is from Full Circle Designs Mini Moonshadow "A Childs Path" I did add more stuffing to the roll after I took this picture so it is puffier in person, LOL. And the end fabric is not that bright but more subdued and matches the design better, LOL..

My First Bourse

I made this bourse for an Exchange on SBEBB. It was a Freebie from Papillion Creations...It is a peacock and I decided to try out the bourse finishing. It was much easier than I thought, and I was really happy with it. I sent it to Barbara and she says she really likes it...I'm happy..

Stitching at this point

is Tanya's RR. This is what I received.. Very pretty.

I am adding a bunglow at the top middle. I hope to have it finished in the next couple days!! I have another RR to get ready to go!!

I am excited as I got my new partner for the Fair and Square, so I am ready to stitch, now to find the perfect design :)...

Good Weekend

Even though we were reading Harry Potter all weekend, I managed to get two finishes done inbetween my turns to read outloud. I finished a needleroll and a pinkeep for FGBB. It is my first needleroll, I think it turned out rather nicely for my first one!! When my partners receive them I will post pictures here. I am working on a RR for the Needle Nook, it is Tanya's. Her's is a neighborhood and I am doing a cozy cottage on it :)...

Well hopefully I will have a few things I can post pictures of in the next month more frequently. No quite as many exchanges all in a row....

A Pinkeep

I made for Amy, my mentor in exchanges, LOL. I keep telling her it is all her fault I joined so many exchanges, LOL. She finally got it today, even though I sent it early in the week, I was beginning to worry it had gotten lost.
I picked the pansies for the back fabric because she really likes them..

SBEBB Li'L Critters Exchange

Here is the Pinkeep I made for Svenja. She chose butterflies as her little critter. I stitched Lavender Wings "Lilacs" on 32ct ivory linen. I then made it into a pinkeep and placed butterfly fabric on the back.

I added in some butterfly fabric, stitckers, and some handdyed fibers to the package. This is only the third pinkeep I have made but I really like this one the best.

Weekend Finishing

I finished my first Bourse. It wasn't too bad to make except my sewing maching was acting up, but I think it turned out nice. I hope my partner likes it. I also finished a pinkeep. I can't show either here yet, but hopefully some of my things will arrive to partners this week and I will be able to post them. I have another exchange I want to get stitched this week and then I want to work on my June and July blackwork which I am behind on!! I have a RR to stitch too., LOL..Guess I'll be busy!!

Finished a

gift for a friend, at least the stitching part, but once again I can't show it here. As soon as I get it to her I will post a picture, should have quite a few pictures to post at the end of the month. I hate not being able to post pictures, LOL.. I am working on a needle roll design I hope to finish by the weekend. It is coming out very dainty and pretty. I need to go to Hancocks and find a pretty tan or brown fabric to go with it!!! I will make it, a pinkeep and a bourse (I hope) this weekend. I never try to do things halfway anymore. I also have goals that overshoot my time. Wish I could find a way to stitch, change diapers and feed babies all at the same time, LOL..

Blackwork

Well we finally found my blackwork. I swear I looked in that drawer 4 times and couldn't find it, then Vicki opens up the drawer and finds it right away.. I guess it just took a different pair of eyes. Here is where I am with it right now..

I need to finish June and catch up July :(. I got behind on this one. The good news is I completely finished the pinkeep for SBEBB Little Critters Exchange and will be ready to mail it out this weekend!!!!! I am pretty happy with the way it turned out..I am working on a little gift for a friend right now and hope to mail it out by the weekend or at least by Monday, along with finishing up the Freebie design exchange piece!!!

Bookmark Exchange

from Robin's Nest. Finally I got a picture taken of the bookmark Ish sent me. It is really unique and very bright and pretty, I think I will actually use it as more of an ornament than as a bookmark (I would hate for it to get squished).Thank you again Ish.

I am working on Pin Keeps today. Hopefully sometime I can show off all the stitching I have been doing. That is the problem with stitching exchanges, LOL, you have to wait to post them..

Lots of Stitching

Going on, just no pictures, since most of it is still for exchanges. i've completely finished stitching the Lil Critters and Freebies exchanges, beads and all now. I am about 1/3 of the way through the needle roll exchange. I hope to do the finishing this weekend!!! I hope to also get the pinkeep one done this weekend too. Then I will be able to do some other stitching. I am wanting to try a mail art and a bourse. I have some finished pieces and thought I might turn one into the bourse. Amy very nicely pointed me in the direction of instructions...I am going to make a trip to Hancock fabbys this weekend to get some finishing supplies :)

More later!!

Just Nan

YAYAY! I'm excited I got my Just Nan Bluebird kit and Bellemeade. Now if she had just packaged a little time along with that so that I could get them stitched, LOL.. I am working away on exchanges. I've gotten all but the beads and treasure on my Little critters Exch and am about 1/2 way done with the freebie. I think both will be pin keeps. I found some wonderful fabrics to use with them, now to go ribbon hunting!!! Since both the exchanges need to be secret I can't post until they receive them, but I am stitching..PROMISE!!

AMAP Victoria's Sampler - June

I got a little more completed on my AMAP, it is really a lot of fun to stitch I just have a lot of exchanges, etc right now going on that I haven't taken much time to get very far on it. but I did get some stitching on it done, on my way to Iowa last week.

CCRS Round Robin - countries

I decided on the design for my countries RR. I wanted something Egyptian so I kinda of pieced together a design, cutting out the center part and make something like a tomb wall or papyrus type design. this is it started on 28ct Antique White lugana. The first mailing date isn't until August but I need to stitch the center column before I send it out.

My Fair and Square

pieces were received by Peg today so I can post them to the journal today. I am glad she liked them. The design is a freebie from http://pages.infinit.net/stitcher/freebies.html.

It was stitched on a very pretty piece of 32ct cream colored linen. Peg said she liked LHN and trees. Well it isn't an LHN but it is a very similar design and it does have a tree, LOL. I am glad she liked it and really am enjoying this exchange!!! Can't wait for the next one!

Received this square

from Peg from the Fair and Square Group. It is a Drawn thread design. Can't wait to see them all put together in a book. She also sent a siqnature piece with her name, location and date on it stitched in a very pretty backstitch alphabet. I have not posted it because it does have some personal info on it.. Thank you Peg, it is beautiful and you did fantastic stitching!

I fell in Love

with this design from Needlemania. It is Jardin d'jour. Looks like I'll have to dent the budget again.

Monday and back

Well my vacation time ended and I am back to work, but I did get some stitching done during my vacation. Both the bookmarks went out, I got one RR done, I stitched most of my fair and square piece and got a nice piece of the AMAP Victoria's sampler done and I got started on the W. Sampler.. Pictures in the next few days.

I plan on finishing the fair and square tonight and mailing it to Peg tomorrow. I also need to send fibers to Louise to start the fiber pass around package on Needle Nook. I plan on starting on my countries RR and try to get it done, asap..LOl.. It is going to be ancient Egyptian.. I have really scheduled myself the next couple of months for exchanges, rrs, etc, but I think it is good for me once and awhile, LOL.

Louise's Round Robin

from the Needle Nook. I finished my three squares on Louise's Round Robin. Here is the current picture of it. I am now working on my fair and square piece. I hope to get it done today..

Bookmarks finished

The above bookmark was stitched for Lin at the Needle Nook. It is stitched on 40ct graziano linen. I love the fabric. The very pretty dainty flowers made me think of Lin immediately. It is from a cross stitch book and was originally part of a design for a serving tray. This bookmark is for Robin's Nest Bookmark Exchange. It is stitched on 28ct opalescent Enchanted Fabrics Lugana. It is currently making it's way to Canada.

Lots of stitching

I received Louise's RR and I got the first 1 1/2 square done. This picture is what she has done on it.

I am working on it today and hope to have it done. I am also working on several exchanges and since they are a secret I can't post them here :)....

I hope to get a lot of stitching done this week since I took a vacation from work and our kids are at camp..!!

I Received

my bookmark from Christina yesterday from the Needle Nook. It is really cute and will work well when I get the new Harry Potter book!!