Rites of Spring

by Blackbird Designs was started last night. I originally was using a darker fabric but it turned out to be too dark and the colors weren't showing up. I switched to this one. I am not sure whether it is a Silkweaver or Enchanted Fabric. I think the design will go together rather quickly now though.

Weekend stitching

Well I got started on another project this weekend. I got the border done on the CC Sweet Treats design. I told Mom I would do it for our fairly newly remodeled kitchen. Heres what done so far. I got the border done, so now I am going to do a little stitching on the Blackbird Loose Feathers Spring Rites for the rest of the week :).. This is a 28ct Silkweaver solo Lugana.

Well at least I figured

out why I haven't been motivated to stitch. Appears I am over BP medicated, LOL. My blood pressure has apparently dropped some on its own and my medication dosage was way to much and my BP was way low, so I was having fatigue symptoms, so glad to have an explanation as to why I felt so tired and unmotivated. So now taking 1/2 the dosage and ready to stitch hopefully again. It think this weekend and I work on my Quaker samplers or a Blackbird design, HMMM, which should I do. Or maybe even the CC sweet treats, gosh, guess my BP is better already, LOL. I wanna stitch!!!

Very Little Stitching

has been going on lately here. I've been doing some organizing and trying to make some decisions on what to stitch, etc. I did make some progress on Sleepy Hollow.




I think I am going through another stitching evolution again. I think I want to get to stitching some of my fantasy pieces again. It seems like every couple years I go through some kind of change of what I want to do, LOL. I am so weird. I'm digging out the Mira's, Passione Ricamo's, HAED's and Teresa Wentzlers. I am redoing my plans and goals for the rest of the year. We shall see, LOl. Hopefully I can get the stitching bug going again..

To Rotation or not to Rotation

Okay, I'm back to doing almost all selfish stitching again, a couple small things to do by summer, but not much..But I have a lot of big things I'd like to do for me. But with my lack of attention span on any one time I have to change off. I am trying to decide whether or not to go back to a rotation system similiar to my old days (loosely based, not time limits or minimum times) or just wing it..I have several designs I really want to get done this year, but oohhh, I love to do other things...I am such an addict..What to do, what to do.

Weekend Stitching

I managed to get some good stitchine time in this weekend.
I finished my square in Darla's Ackworth RR. It is the Hollyberry colored one.

Then I got this part of LHN's Willow Tree In finished for another Exchange!!

Earth Day F&S from Melissa G

I received these very pretty squares from Melissa last week. I was unable to post to the Fair and Square blog for some reason, but I can post here, not sure why. So here is the picture. I love the squares and all the goodies, unfortunately the chocolates disappeared in the daycare before they got added to the picture..Thank you so very much Melissa..

Did you ever hit a

roadblock in your stitching because you have obligation stitching to do, and you really, really want to stitch something you are dying to start, but if you do that you feel guilty....so, you do nothing. I kinda hit that stitching block this week. So...I guess it is time to get all the obligations done and then I can stitch fun stuff, so the rest of the week and weekend is devoted to catching up the obligations and then on to fun stuff..

Dragon Carousel Floss Toss

Okay, so I finally got everything together for Dragon Carousel and hope to start it maybe this weekend. I chose to use Enchanted Fabrics 28ct Hocus Pocus linen for the fabric. It is one of my favorite fabric colors for night or dark backgrounds. So here it is. I think it is going to be so pretty.

Excuse the Dust

and confusion..

I NEEDED A CHANGE. I must be going through a late midlife crisis, LOL.. So I hope I don't confuse anyone too much... I am really into fantasy art and literature, so I guess I just headed that direction again...See ya later.

Last Weeks Stitching

I did get some stitching done this last week.

I started a new one (of course, I am a serial starter). It is my first HAED. I spent last week gridding and I got about 500 stitches into it. It is by Jasmine Becket-Griffith, one of my favoites, Where's my Valentine.

Then I got a few more stitches into The Kiss by Mirabilia. I hope to finish this one this year.

And finally, I worked on a frog biscornu as a gift for someone. It is a freebie design by Casey Buonaugurio.

Check out this exchange item

I received this from the wonderful Amy from an exchange we are in. I love it. I have been becoming the queen of scissors (well actually Vicki has that title, I'm just a princess, LOL). Anyway, she stitched this beautiful scissor block for me. I adore the colors and it is the perfect exchange surprise for me. I never would have thought of sending this as an exchange gift.. She also sent the wonderful sweet heart scissors with the block. hmmmm. Maybe the block needs a few more holes in the top, now I need to figure out which scissors to display in such a pretty way!!

Weekend Stitching

I was very selfish in my stitching and worked on something just for me! I worked on Mirabilia's The Kiss. I put a mask on the man in the design so he now is the phantom. It is stitched on 28ct Shimmering Romance by Silkweaver (although the color is much more blue than shown in the picture.. I managed to get all of him stitched and started on her arm and dress.

CC Cottage Garden

I finished these for an exchange this last week. The recipient should have them by now..

I am spending the weekend working on my Phantom version of the Kiss. I am thinking now I may want to go ahead and add the beads as I go. I would love to see how she looks with the beads through her hair :)...

I can post a Finish

now. It was for everyone's favorite stitcher Vonna...I had her name in an exchange. I made some minor changes to Blue Ribbons Tokens of Affection and made Tokens of My friendship. I kinda almost didn't send this one, LOL. She received it today so now I can show it off.. It is a stitcher's pocket. The first two pictures are the front: one with flap closed and one with the open. The third picture is the back. I changed affection to friendship and put Vonna's initials and the year on it! I am so glad she liked it.

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth

I am still here and stitching. I've been working on a project that I couldn't post pictures of, but hopefully today or tomorrow I will be able to. I also finished the main square of my fair and square and I will post it tomorrow... Today I am working on my Breast Cancer Awareness Biscornu for the Stitch a Cause SAL at the Needle Nook.

I've been looking at everyones blogs and you have been really busy lately. Keep up the great work everyone!

I've been very bad about

posting this last month, guess the season slowed me down!! Anyway, I really have been stitching and I have finished several things, some I can show, some I cannot. Here are the ones I can show you!!

The first is another frog pincushion I made for a birthday of one of my board members, Lori of Enchanted Fabrics. Her frog is pink..

Here is a Fob I made from a JN, I believe it is Snow Bonnets..

My squares

This is from LHN Morning Berries...

Finish for Valentine's Day

I decided to make something for Valentines Day. This is my first Pine Mountain Pillow. It was quick, easy and fun to stitch. And it turned out cute..

Another Ackworth Friendship Finish

This one is Tanya's. It is very pretty blue!!!

Frogs in a good way

Here is a little pincushion I made this week. It is from a Barbara Ana design. I split the design in 1/2 and put part on front of the pincushion and part on back..It is stitched on 40ct Silkweaver Newcastle Solo..

A Fob for February

Here is a fob I recently made, I think it is very February..

Mill Hill February Calendar Piece

is finished. I framed it and put it in the calendar. Only 2 days late :)

Last Weeks Stitching

I had a little bit of a slump last week, but I did get some stitching in. I worked on the Mill Hill Calendar piece for February, guess I better get to it this week since it is almost February

and I worked on Sleepy Hollow for the Fantasy SAL on the Needle Nook this weekend.

That is all for now, hopefully more updates on them, during the week :)..

Exchanges Received

I received two exchanges this last week.

From the Hooked on Exchanging board I received this Fob from Carol R, along with some wonderful goodies

and from SBEBB I received by Winter Quaker from Mindi. she did a beautiful finish as a sewing pouch with zipper. It is wonderfully finished.

The Kiss - Weekend Stitching

This weekend was the Ladies/Queens/etc. SAL for the Needle Nook. I picked the Kiss by Mirabilia to stitch. I converted it just a little bit to a Phantom of the opera scene (sort of). I am using Shimmering Romance by Silkweaver for the fabric..

Here is before this weekend.

Here is After:

Holiday Sal stitching

I started working on Sleepy Hollow from Cricket Collection for the holiday Sal at the Needle Nook. It is stitched on 32ct Belfast Linen - Hocus Pocus from Enchanted Fabrics. It's not much but this is start of the hill in the center panel..

I also finished my fob for the Hooked on Exchanging Fob exchange. I mailed it out today!

SBEBB Winter Quaker for Cheryl

Here is a picture of my winter quaker for Cheryl. I really thought the blue color made me think of winter!! Once again, not one of my best pictures, it looks all lopsided, LOL. It isn't honest..

SBEBB Winter House for Edgar

This picture is really not very clear, but it is the only one I got of the pinkeep I made. It is LHN Winter Whites with a few changes. He received it yesterday, so I think I can go ahead and post it now.. It is stitched on 40ct linen..

SBEBB Winter House from Cathy

I received this beautiful flatfold from Cathy yesterday. I love the design, it is a LHN. The stitching and finishing is absolutely beautiful. I really need to learn how to make a flatfold. Thanks so much Cathy!!

Frosty Friend for Andrea

arrived today at her home, I was beginning to get worried about him. It is 1/3 of the Snowman Trio from Stitchy Kitty, Chilly. I stitched him on Silkweaver Solo Belfast 32ct. He was my favorite of the three. I made him into a pinkeep:)

SBEBB Frosty Friends from Donna

Here is the lovely exchange package I got from Donna for my frosty friends exchange. It is from Just Nan, one of my favorites and came in a whimzit frame. Isn't it cute. There were also some wonderful extras...

Finished

several projects this weekend. I have Vicki's friendship book page done it is stitched on 32ct white belfast with Carrie's Creation Jelly Fish..Several of my exchanges should be arriving soon and I will be able to post them!

Still trying to get

all my obligation stitching done. I'm afraid I lost heart a little in it, but I will get it back. The Winter house needs to go out by the 10th and the stitching should be done tonight. then I can make the pinkeep tomorrow evening and have it out on the 10th. I has a Friendship book page to make and a fob. I should be all done by the end of the weekend. I guess I picked a good time for selfish stitching since another exchange group will be gone. I am only going to be doing very few exchanges, the F&S, a private one and the friendship one this year. My Frosty and Winter Quaker exchanges should be arriving soon to their new homes and I will finally have some more pictures to show off.. See ya all..

CSRR Countries RR

This is Susie's RR. It is a map of Ireland. I did the top 1/2 of the right side and now it moves on to the UK for more finishing.

My Wish for all Stitchers

who happen by my Blog.. A Fantastic New Years Eve and the Stitchiest of New Years. May all your WIP become finished projects and your UFO's disappear!!!!

Happy New Year (a little early) Everyone!!

Year of Selfish Stitching 2008

At the Needle Nook we are starting our Year of Selfish Stitching on the First of January. There will be SALS and other things to keep us all going. I have spent so much of the last year stitching exchanges and realize that if I put that much time into my own stuff, I could accomplish great things, so here goes. BTW, I believe my year will take a couple of years, LOL..

Started want To finish:
1. Egypt Garden by Chatelaine (1/3 completed)
2. The Kiss (Phantom) Mirabilia (started)
3. The Heir - Pangaea (started)
4. Tanya Meehan Halloween Gameboard

Want to Start, not necessarily finish this year:
1. Circe - Passione Ricamo
2. Galatea - Passione Ricamo
3. Little Snap Dragon - Kustom Krafts
4. More Precious than Gold - Not sure
5. Enchanted Fairy - PR
6. Lady of the Snow - PR
7. Dragon Heart - Black Swan
8. Polyanna Lamplighters Summertime Garden
9. Mirabilia South Seas Mermaid
10. HAED New Day

Want to start and Finish:
1. Sleepy Hollow
2. JN 4 small seasons
3. JN Bluebird Box
4. Twisted Oaks Etui Pyramid
5. TW Needlebook

Started over the years-Would like to get some stitches into
1. Lucien - Black Swan
2. SanMan blackwork
3. Restart Fairy Moon (1/2 done, met with disaster)
4. Merlin Wizard
5. Baby Goyles (Janlynn)
6. AMAP Victoria Sampler
7. Personalized Quaker Samper-Martina Dey
8. Spring Valley from Purple Heart

A Christmas Ornie I received

from my dear friend Amy. Isn't it lovely, I love the design. Thank you so much Amy!

Some Recent Finishes

Here are my Fair and Square pieces. I put the wrong date on one of them, but it will be returned for correction, :).....

to Neila, San Man Originals Happy Winter (she is a fan of Sanman Originals)...

to Jill, Quaker Hedgehog (she likes hedgehogs) by Workbasket, stitched with Needle Necessities (she likes purples and Greens)

This is the pincushion I stitched for my sister Vicki for Christmas. He is Voodoo boy by Haberdashery Designs. I made him a little less scary and she loves him.. I used Silkweaver 32ct Belfast Solo to stitch him on. You can't tell completely from the picture but it is blue and purple.

NN Ornament Exchange

I am so lucky I got this absolutely wonderful ornament pocket from Robin today. It was the brightest spot in my day and so lovely. It is Dragon Dreams and I had wanted to make it for my tree and now I don't have to, and it is made so much better than I would have. Thank you so much Robin. She also sent a Christmas Lights flashing necklace which I wore around the daycare this afternoon, the kids loved it and she also sent the cutest snowman ornie with my name on it, 2 wonderful smelling vanilla tealights and lots of candy (which we all know I really need,LOL)...

Thanks so much again Robin, now take a look at this beauty..

SBEBB Bourse Exchange

This is the lovely package I received from Dawn. Isn't the bourse too cute!!! I love it and all the goodies that came with it. I am wearing the socks in the daycare today for the little ones to see..

the picture below is of the bourse I sent Amy. She received it yesterday....The design is taken from a AMAP Quaker project. It is stitched in Peoria Purple from WDW.