Farewell 2011!

It's the last day of 2011 and I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who visits and/or comments on my blog! You have all been more than kind and encouraging to this first time blogger and I just wanted you all to know how much I appreciate it!!! Now on to the stitchy side of life. Here is my last finish of the year. As you may or may not know, I love boxes; so when I saw this gem in the new BBD Christmas Garden book, I knew I had to do it! It's Alma Allen's Gift Box design and it was a joy to stitch!



I have the Christmas Garden design from this book kitted and plan to put my first stitch in tomorrow morning. I'm using Lakeside 35 count Sand Dune and the called for fibers (The box is also stitched on the 35 count Sand Dune.). 
I hope you all have a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year!!!
Linda

The Last of the Autum Stitching!

Today I just wanted to share with you the last Autumn pieces that I'll be stitching this year. This morning I put the final stitches into Plum Street Samplers Turkey Love. I liked this design from the moment I saw it, but, as I began stitching, I quickly fell in love!!! Although it's not showing up on my picture, the silks that Paulette suggested just popped on the Amber linen it's stitched on ! It's popular with my stitching group as well. Several of us are either in the process of stitching it or have it on their short list ! 

Next is Blackbird Designs Pumpkin Blossom Sewing Box from Loose Feathers Autumn Part 2. I stitched it on Lakeside 32 count Sand Dune Linen and used the recommended threads. I never finished a box before, but Barb and Alma's finishing instructions are easy to follow.  

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I'm off to start stitching a Christmas design. You'll just have to stay tuned to see what it is!!!

As always I so appreciate all your wonderful comments.

Linda

New Autumn Finishes

As promised, I'm updating my blog sooner rather than later! Here are my latest finishes that I just picked up from the Inspired Needle.

First up is "Pumpkin Row" by Chessie & Me.  It was stitched on Lakeside's 36 count Vintage Meadow Rue linen with the called for overdyed fibers. I'm a big fan of their designs. The specialty stitches are so much fun to do.

Another Chessie & Me; "All Hallow's Eve".   Belfast Light Mocha with the called for Belle Soie Silks! 

My new project bag from Natalia Canaday. Inside is another finished Blackbird Design from the "Loose Feathers Autumn" booklet.

 Pumpkin Blossom Sewing Box. Lakeside Sand Dune Linen, 32 count; called for fibers. I'm planning on finishing it as shown in the booklet.

The inside fabric is as beautiful as the outside.

Don't you just love these little Shepherd's Bush box designs?  The Christmas design from last year is my next project.

Speaking of Christmas, this is the ornament that I submitted to Becky's Christmas Ornament Challenge.
"Little by Little's" Sleigh Bird. Designs by Cynthia Bradford.

That's all for now. I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and share with you a very old design that I finished  ages ago!

Catching Up!!

Hi everyone! I know its been awhile, but I've been busy. "Busy with what?", you say. Well.....
I got to go the the Inspired Needle stitching retreat with my friends.

Pictured above from left to right are Katrina, Karin, yours truly, Brenda, Jayne, and Laura.

                                            Here we are again. Barb's on the left.

You can see more photos from the retreat on Laura's Maude and Mozart blog.

Some of us are stitching Blackbird Designs Casting A Spell.  Here we are at my house painting the boxes that the stitched pieces will go in. Karin and Teresa were kind enough to provide all the supplies!
By the way, you can see some of Karin's stitched pieces for this project on Laura's latest blog post.

 

   My box

And of course I was able to finish some projects.

Heartstring Samplery

Let Us Be Truly Thankful, the Americana Edition

Lizzie Kate Snippet

Wine A Bit

La-D- Da

Rooster

Beehive Needleworks

Sunflowers & Acorns

HomeSpun Elegance Country Spirits Collection

Crows A Plenty

Drawn Thread Mini-Months

Pocket Calendar Cover

BBD Trix Or Treat

All Dressed Up

I have several more designs at my local needlework shop, Inspired Needle, waiting to be framed. You'll just have to come back again to see them! I promise not to wait so long before my next post. Until then,

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Another Perfect Sunday

Today was our monthly Sunday "stitch-in" at the Inspired Needle. Many friends were there, including three of my fellow bloggers. Pictured seated below are Karin from A Stitching ExPat Life, Brenda from Brenda's Stitching Corner and Laura from Maude and Mozart! We all had a great time stitching, laughing, and of course buying more stash!!!

Brenda and I are already thinking Halloween. We both bought R&R's 30 count Butternut Fabric with the idea of using it for future Halloween ornaments. I'm also using it for two projects from the Blackbird Designs Trix or Treat booklet. The design names are Trix or Treat and All Dressed Up.

Such a fun day!  BTW, today we celebrated Cathy's birthday. She's the owner of Inspired Needle. Happy Birthday Cathy!!!! 

Linda



Christmas in July

First, I’d like to thank everyone for your kind words and encouragement for my first blog post. I was truly overwhelmed and pleasantly surprised.  

As in most parts of our country, it is extremely warm here. So, you can imagine my surprise when the UPS driver dropped off a brand new Christmas tree the other day. Seems my husband ordered one from QVC. Lest you think he’s Mr. Christmas, there was a method to his madness! He hates putting up the tree each year so when he happened to see this new tree that sets up in less than a minute, he was sold! That got me thinking about ornaments!  I got out all the ornaments that I made last year so I could share the finishes with you.  It was so much fun unwrapping them all. Almost like little presents themselves.  You may recognize these as the Little House Needleworks 2010 ornament collection. There are also two ornaments featured on the cover of last year’s Just Cross Stitch Special Christmas Issue.

I met my friend Brenda from Brenda’s Stitch Corner at Inspired Needle today!  We had so much fun choosing fabric for this year’s crop of ornaments. 

Look what Cathy got in:

I’m stitching Christmas Welcome on 35 count Light Cappuccino from R&R Reproductions with the called for DMC threads. Love this pattern!!! Ran out of time today, but will pick up fabric for Sweet Liberty and Partridge in a Pear Tree next time (oops! No picture of Partridge in a Pear Tree).

Finally, Brenda is the sweetest person. Look what she gifted me with today!

Until next time, I’ll be keeping cool indoors stitching this year’s ornaments to fill up my new tree!

Linda C.

First Blog

For starters, I consider myself a very fortunate person because I have a wonderful group of stitching “buddies” who inspire and encourage me with my stitching projects. We get together often for stitch nights where we all have a great time. I’m also lucky enough to have a terrific shop nearby called the Inspired Needle in Lemont, Illinois. Cathy, the owner, stocks everything you could ever want and then some. Besides being a friend, she’s very knowledgeable and always makes me look good with her fabric and framing suggestions.  And so, with the encouragement of family and friends, I’ve decided to join all you other great bloggers out there and share some of my own recent finishes. 


First up is a group SAL that I did with my stitching friends. Periodically we choose a group project where we all stitch the same pattern, but choose different fabrics and fibers.  Since this is our “summer project”, some of us decided to think “out of the box” with our fibers. You can see Karin’s fun finish on Laura’s Maude and Mozart blog.

Basket of Flowers

Stacy Nash Primitives

30 count Iced Cappuccino fabric by R&R

2 over 2

Belle Soie fibers: Mudpie, Attic Tea, and Amanda’s Apple

Brenda from Brenda’s Stitching Corner joins us at the Sunday stitch-ins at Inspired Needle. She and I did this SAL. She made her finish into a beautiful pillow. Check it out on her blog.

Let us be truly thankful picture
Let Us Be Truly Thankful, the Americana Edition
Heartstring Samplery
36 count Heroic fabric by PTP
1 over 2

Land of the Free

July 2011 issue of Cross-Stitch & Needlework

30 count Sheep’s Straw fabric by R&R

2 over 2

Belle Soie fibers as called for.

I’m partial to stitching bird designs, so this ornament was a “must”. I love the idea that it was inspired by different bird motifs stitched on antique samplers in the Historic Stitches collection.

Christmas Songbirds Ornament Picture

Christmas Songbirds Ornament

Historic Stitches

40 count Ivory Ricamo

1 over 2

Gloriana fiber: Mulled Wine

This  is my sweet little “Come Home” piece from Shepherd’s Bush. It was such a quick and fun stitch.

Come Home Picture

 Shepherd’s Bush – Come Home

Finally, here is the Blackbird design I’m currently working on.

Loose Feathers Summer

Blackbird Designs

36 count Lentil fabric by Lakeside Linens

1 over 2

CC and GA fibers as called for.

As soon as I saw this beautiful Blackbird design in the July issue of Cross-Stitch & Needlework, I knew I had to do it. I enjoyed every last stitch!

Thank you for taking time out from stitching to read my first attempt at blogging.  I’m looking forward to being a part of this wonderful stitching community and sharing my “works in progress” and finishes. A big thank you also goes to my wonderful niece, Megan, who got me up and going! Until next time, keep stitching.

Linda C.