Santa's Coming to Town

It's been such a long time since I posted but I just had to share my latest creation......my Santa Claus Treat Boxes! I put these together using my Silhouette and they are just too cute! They will be filled with Hershey Kisses and will be at each person's place setting on Christmas Day.

With Christmas being only a mere 5 days away, I hope each of you have a wonderful day spent with love and laughter with family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Dance!

Have you ever had one of "those weeks" where you wanted to crawl into a cave and disappear? Well, I've had two of them and enough is enough!! I am so ready for the Labor Day holiday on Monday. I don't plan on doing any laboring, what so ever!

Since these weeks have caused me a bit of suffering, the only way to keep from wrapping my hands around necks was to take a needle and stab some fabric - LOL. As a result, I finished my M Design's "S". This really did finish quick and now I just have to be on the look out for a Joann's coupon so I can get it framed.

I also had the chance to finish an ornament I started earlier this year. It is a portion from the Country Cottage Needleworks pattern Snowflake Serenade. I thought it would make a really cute ornament and I liked stitching it on the sparkly linen.

Of course, when you finish a project (or two!!) you have to start something new. Normally, this time of year, I would grab a Halloween or fall project but I went straight to Christmas. That is VERY odd for me! But, I got the Lizzie Kate Santa Claus Is Coming To Town pattern in the mail last week and I've been itching to get it started. I plan to only stitch the Santa part and again, finish him into an ornament. I found a piece of "mystery" linen in my stash that is a lovely gold color and I think it's perfect! Hoping to get him started this afternoon.

Well, that's about it.....Until we chat again - Be Safe and Have Fun!

A Finish and a Start

Hello Everyone! I hope you had a great July 4th holiday. The family and I stayed home, ate some good food and I was busy scrapbooking and stitching away.

I started a Prairie Schooler snowman ornament when I was flying out to Indiana a couple of weeks ago. I finished him up on Saturday and I LOVE HIM! This was such a fun and quick stitch and I can't wait to get him truly finished and on the tree this year. The pattern is one of several from the Snowy Nights leaflet.

Next up is a start. It is the letter "S" from the M Designs Alphabet Series. This alphabet series is "loosely based on an incomplete set of illuminated letters from the early 1500's." I am stitching this on a piece of Dirty Belfast - which looks very brown - with DMC 310. It is stitching up really quick. Just have to make sure you know where you are on the pattern when you pick up that needle!

That's about it. This time of the year gets me thinking about Christmas (sounds a little weird when the temperatures outside say otherwise) and gift giving. Need to start my list and get started on the gifts that need to be made. I ALWAYS underestimate the amount of time that it takes for finishing so I would really like to get started earlier this year!

Thanks for stopping by......

Sneaky Peek - Christmas Ornament

I know you are probably saying to yourself, "it is just now really starting to feel like spring and she's stitching a Christmas ornament???". Well, in June, I am attending a stitching retreat in Indiana with two great friends and I CAN'T WAIT! Jan Alexander, the designer for Tree of Life Samplings is hosting this great event with her special guest, Vonna Pfeiffer (The Twisted Stitcher). It's going to be a fun weekend and I'm already giddy with excitement.

One of the events planned for the weekend is a Christmas ornament exchange. I love stitching ornaments and I love seeing all of the different creations stitchers come up with. This is a little "sneak peek" of the ornament I have started for the exchange. I have an idea for another one so I may bring two - maybe three - who knows - It's fun!! You'll have to wait until after the retreat to see the ornament finished and ready for tree hanging!

Have a great weekend everyone! We are expecting thunder storms again tonight. Please keep us in your prayers that we won't have any damage like we did earlier this week.

Until the next blog post........Be Happy!

Hello! Back home to reality!

I know, I know.....it's been like forever since I have updated my blog and for good reason. You see, I decided I needed to get away. I needed to spend time with my needle and thread. I needed to laugh uncontrollably and be with great friends. I needed to smell the ocean and stay up late. I needed my PALS!! So, in order to make the most of this get away adventure, I needed to get some stitching done. I needed to put together a grab bag, ornaments and kit up projects. In order to do that, I had to neglect all of my blogger friends. But, I'm back - tired - but I'm back. Back to reality. Since there is just so much that goes on during a PALS Convention, I'm going to break up my blog posts and give you a little each day. Let's start with all of the stitching and finishing I had to do before I left for the trip to Myrtle Beach.

This is my grab bag container. I used my paper crafting skills to decorate an empty paint can and filled it with lots of linen, fabric, scissors and other Halloween goodies.

I also stitched up this altoid tin pin cushion and scissor fob to go inside my grab bag paint can.

On Thursday night, we had a Fall and Halloween stitched exchange. I participated in the Halloween exchange and this was my piece - a Blackbird Designs Halloween Stocking. My good friend Amy got this one.

On Friday night, we had not only the grab bag exchange but the anticipated Christmas ornament exchange. I stitched these three ornies and was finishing them up right up to the last minute!

And last, but not least, here is a Blackbird Designs Halloween Cat design that I made into a pillow for the stitched exchange. At the last minute, I didn't participate so this one got to come back home with me.

There are lots of pictures out on the blogs of those that attended this year. You can see some of the pictures by visiting the blogs I have bookmarked on the right hand side of this blog page under "My Blog List". Go check them out and be sure to leave us a comment. We love sharing and we love to hear what you have to say.

I'll be back tomorrow with another installment of the fun PALS Convention 2010!!

Stay Tuned!!

Still in the Christmas Mood!

I have been busy stitching AND finishing ornaments for the tree this year and I'm having a ball! Here's the ornament I spoke about last time. This one is done in bright blues, pinks and purples and makes me long for a white Christmas - I don't think it's going to happen in my neck of the woods - LOL! It's a freebie by Barbara Ana Designs.

And, another one to share. This ornament is just my favorite! It is from the JCS 2009 Ornament issue and is by Blackbird Designs. So small but so pretty. I finished it up with a scalloped cut piece of felt and ribbon. Please excuse the blurry photo. Just couldn't get a great picture with this dreadful weather we are having.

Well, that's all I have for show and tell for now. I am actually working on ANOTHER ornament and have two kitted up and ready to go. Stay tuned for more fa la la fun!

Another Ornie for the Tree

Here's another ornament cross stitch project and finish. This ornie was way out of my comfort zone. If you know me, you know I do NOT like to stitch over one. Just don't like it and just don't enjoy it.....but.....this ornament from Blackbird Designs was a joy to stitch! I think it was the fabric and it was just a scrap from my stash. I believe it's 28ct. lugana. Very soft and the evenweave took on the appearance of linen.

Finishing was a little out of my comfort zone too. Finishing techniques that involve the sewing machine make me a bit nervous but after seeing some of the great finishes other stitchers have done, I wanted to try something like that with this ornament.

I'm very pleased with the outcome! I am working on yet, another ornament. This one will be stitched in some bright (turquoise, hot pink, purple) colors - very non-traditional Christmas - but fun! Stay tuned........

Ornies and Finishing - Oh My!

Happy Friday Peeps! Just thought I would pop in this morning and wish everyone a happy weekend. Nothing big planned here. Hope to go see Shrek Forever After and just piddle around the house. Sounds like a plan!

I also wanted to share two finishes with you. Do you remember the snowman ornament that I stitched AND finished only to discover, I forgot to stitch part of the snowman? Well, he has been replaced with a new and improved ornament. I had to use a different ribbon this time and I also decided to not attach the bow. It seemed to distract a little.

Next up is an ornament that I stitched from the pattern, Bethlehem by Diane Arthurs (Imaginating). I just stitched the nativity portion of the pattern to use as an ornament. The photo doesn't show the opalescent linen that I used but it's really sparkly in person. Used DMC 823 and finished with fabric and felt.

Currently working on another ornament and hope to show pictures soon. All I will say is this one is way out of my comfort zone and the finishing will be a new challenge! tee hee!

Another Finish and a FINISH! - NOT!

another edit to add....Does anyone know how to do this type of finishing with beads added to the seams? I would love to get instructions if you have them. Thanks!

photo courtesy of the Freebie Gallery

edited to add.....OMG! I just realized that I made a boo boo! I didn't finish stitching the snowman. I looked at him again and realized he's a little lop-sided. I forgot to stitch the section over on the right past his scarf -arrrrggg. Well, at least I have time to stitch this one again and the finishing was not hard at all. Lesson learned - don't stitch while you're watching your favorite TV show!



That's right, gang! I not only stitched another ornament, I finished it! Two in one month and it's not Christmas Eve! It's amazing!

This is a Prairie Schooler freebie from 2009 (I think) that I finished into a flat felt ornament, basically following the instructions from Vonna - the Twisted Stitcher.

Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day! - (long post)

Today has been a great day! I got surprised this morning with flowers and a home-made card, we went to Red Lobster for lunch and I got in a nice nap. The perfect day! I am so blessed to have Corbin as my son. He's growing up to be a responsible and respectful young man. He's my child but he's also my buddy!

Here's the flowers I got. Don't know how he did it since he was home alone yesterday. I can't help but wonder if he walked the 3 miles one way to the nearest store to get these in the heat of the day....


I also have to share a finish.....not only did I stitch this ornie, I finished it into an ornie! That's remarkable for me and it's only May - whoo hoo!


I also want to share some photos from First Friday in our town. Corbin's high school band played for a couple of hours and did another amazing job.

Visions of Sugar Plums....

DH, DS and I visited our town's Natural History Museum if for no other reason than to see the gingerbread exhibit. I have to say, I was a bit disappointed in that I thought there would be lots more. Our town has some very well known chefs and for them not to exhibit was a let down. BUT....there were some great exhibits. My chef hat is off to those who baked and created!!

First off, a wonderful surprise to see DS' high school made up into a confection! His school celebrated it's 225th anniversary last year. This school was originally a military academy after the civil war and was chartered in 1783. It is the 3rd oldest existing public school in the US and the oldest in the south. President George Washington attended the graduation ceremonies in 1791.

Next up are pictures of the tied First Place winners. They were outstanding. The imagination and design was so there!
The first couple of pictures are of our town's Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. This gingerbread church was awesome. So much detail!


And last but not least was a great display of a city street showing First National Bank of Waynesboro, a little town south of here. This "house" gave you peek inside! Too cute!!

Hope you are getting into the holiday spirit. It's approaching so fast!

Comfort and Joy

Zoe LOVES Christmas! His favorite holiday tradition is laying under the tree. Even, if the tree has presents under it! LOL! He'll wiggle himself around boxes and bags to find the perfect spot. Take time to enjoy the season and may YOU have comfort and joy!