I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

It's been kind of a crappy few weeks. What with two major snowstorms and dealing with several problems that have cropped up at work ~ I'm left feeling glad February is such a short month! Then, last weekend I come down with the flu. The real honest-to-goodness flu. Fever, chills, body aches and it put me flat for several days. I'm seldom ill enough to stay home from work. Indeed, when I checked, I found I've only taken three sick days in four years!

It was so nice to find a sweet package in the mailbox for me. Valerie of Fog City Dweller, had a blogoversary giveaway and I won! And boy did I get spoiled...

It was all I could do to stop and take photos...

I just wanted to RIP RIP RIP!

Oh what fun!

A close-up of the gorgeous fob.

Isn't it the yummiest?

Oh my, I keep picking it up and caressing it. I will treasure this fob, Valerie. Thank you so very much! I am so blessed with friends of such creativity & kindness.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox

An RAK & The Next TP Stitcher

Recently, Lynn stitched the cutest kitty ever! When she was through with the design she sent the pattern to me...along with a few other charts she thought I might enjoy. Now, the charts are so perfect for me I think Lynn must know me well! Aren't RAKs the best? Thank you so much, Lynn! I can't wait to get started stitching!

Are you ready?...The next Traveling Pattern Stitcher is Karen of Karen's Handiwork. Congratulations, Karen! The chart will be on it's way tomorrow. Anyone interested in stitching the Traveling Pattern should bookmark Karen's blog so you will know when it comes up for the next stitcher! Thanks to everyone for entering and for your enthusiasm for this project!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Two from Down Under

More Totally Useless Stitch A Long prizes to share! These have come all the way from Australia. I've had them for a while just haven't made time to post them. There are others as well...saving those for another day. I can be such a tease.

This first one is from Leonie of Fireflies and Cats in the Garden. She has sent three little kits. Is that koala bear cute, or what? Side note...when going to create the link in this post I discovered I did not have Noni's blog in my reader, or in my link list and I wasn't following her blog! I had to hunt down her blog from the TUSAL post =[ Sorry, honey! You have been added to everything now! Thanks for the donation, Noni!

The next donation comes from Shelley of All I Want is Everything. Again, three little kits! Three is a magic number. Postcards and a greeting card to create with these kits! Fun! Thank you Shelley, these are really neat!

The prize donation box is getting fuller. It's going to be a big package for the winner! If you would like to make a prize donation you can email me for my mailing address, there is a link in my sidebar. Other than stash items, I would love to see some stitched prizes added to the box. We only have one stitched item in the works for the giveaway. Wouldn't it be lovely to have some pin pillows, needlecases, scissor fobs and such?

*sigh* I swear, for every post I finish reading, two more appear in my reader. I can't keep up...you people stitch like fiends. If I haven't gotten to your blog lately ~ give it time. I will catch up somehow! My own stitching is secret. Although, I may set it aside soon for some "me" stitching so I have something I can share.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A New Traveling Pattern

There once was a Traveling Pattern. It went all around the world traveling from stitcher to stitcher and I was blessed to be a part of it. You can read my experience here. Sadly, the last stitcher to have her (in March of last year?) has apparently flaked and has not sent the pattern on. I'm going to be kind and not mention who she is but I am really rather angry about the situation. Not to mention incredibly saddened by the loss.

There is now another copy of that design circulating in our blogging world. I thought I had bookmarked or written down who currently had it but I can't find it. I am sure someone will spot it and let me know! EDIT: I knew someone would come through for me! Thanks to Cath!!! ~ The New Sisterhood pattern is Currently with: Nan of Nan's Needlework Notions and is being sent to the next stitcher!

I thought it might be fun to start my own Traveling Pattern. I bought a couple of designs and when they arrived I chose this one. Yes, it's my Count Your Blessings that I started last week! It has few colors that are easily changed to suit the current stitcher and is a simple and quick stitch that shouldn't be burdensome. Easy to arrive, stitch and send to the next person. Sound like fun?

Daffycat's finish:

Design ~ Count Your Blessings

Designer ~ Shakespeare's Peddler

Fabric ~ 28 count mystery tea-dyed

Fiber ~ DMC

If you would like to be part of this new Traveling Pattern there are a few rules:

1. Comment on this post, saying you would like to be part of the Stitcherhood.

2. By leaving this comment, you agree (if you are chosen) to stitch the design and send it along to the next person in a timely manner. If this means dropping everything in your rotation to concentrate on this project...so be it. If you can't bring yourself to do this ~ don't sign up.

3. You must have an active blog to participate. If you have a blog but never post to it ~ you won't be chosen to be the next stitcher.

4. This is a giveaway-type Traveling Pattern. That means you must follow it from blogger to blogger to enter each time it is ready to send along. Commenting on this post doesn't make you a guaranteed part of the Stitcherhood.

The Traveling Pattern has been stitched by:

1. Sharon of It's Daffycat, Oklahoma, USA

2. Karen of Karen's Handiwork, South Carolina, USA

3. Patty of Hanging On By A Thread, Florida, USA

4. Terri of Chocolates for Breakfast, Stitching for Lunch, unknown location
5. Lynda of A Cozy Little Place for Stitching, Oregon, USA
6. Nataly of Nataly's Needle Creations, Massachusetts, USA
7. Erin of Fairy Tales & French Knots, New York, USA
8. Jo of Serendipititous Stitching, Suffolk, UK
9. Mouse of Tales Of A Stitching Mouse, South Yorkshire, UK
10. ??? Maybe you!

If you would like a chance to be the next stitcher please leave a comment! The next stitcher will be chosen on Sunday, February 13, 2011. I will try to keep up with the travels and fill in the next stitcher in the list as it goes along.

Thank you for visiting my blog today

xox

Totally Useless February

It's the New Moon. Calling all you Totally Useless Stitchers! Get out that camera, snap that ORT jar photo and post it now!

Here is mine. Lots of ORTs in my jar this month. I'm really surprised how much stitching I actually accomplished in the last Lunar cycle. Now, I am emptying the little jar into the big jar and starting all over again...

I've been getting quite a few irate comments/emails from people about the comments being closed on the TUSAL post. Some of these have been downright rude! The comments are closed on that post because there was a deadline to enter. I'm very sorry if any of you wanted to officially join but were too late. Any stitcher wanting to "join in" is welcome to post their ORT jar photos on the New Moon but the official SAL list is finished for this year.

I do believe I will have a little surprise to share with you sometime soon. Yes, that was deliberately vague and mysterious...I've always wanted to be a lady of mystery and intrigue. Sadly, the chance rarely presents itself.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Somebody Shoot that Groundhog

I survived the Snowpocalypse. Stillwater got about 10 inches of snow in blizzard conditions. Rick was a sweetie and took me to work yesterday and today. People were getting stuck in the snow left & right! Jessie & Matt got her car stuck trying to get her to work and she ended up calling in. Today it's just bitter cold and sunny. Tomorrow morning it's supposed to be -5 degrees! I can't remember having temperatures that low before. Just for comparison...last Friday it was nearly 75. It's so not fair. Now, the dratted Groundhog has seen his shadow and that means another six weeks of winter.

I'm glad now I recently stitched a bit of spring! Way back in November, I had a blogoversary giveaway and Ma Teakettle of The Teakettle Corner was one of my winners. I promised a bit of stitching but couldn't promise it would be soon. January came and I finally got all my deadline obligations out of the way so I could concentrate on stitching my prizes. Tired of winter and ready for some spring colors I decided to stitch Karyn a design I'd had in my stash for ages. Once it was finished I sewed it into a pretty pink paisley pillow, suitable to decorate a chair or the guest room bed.

Design ~ ABC à la Ferme
Designer ~ L' R de rien
Fabric ~ 28 count mystery tea-dyed by Daffycat
Fiber ~ DMC as charted
Finish ~ Large pillow

The photo above probably has the most correct colors. I'm really pleased with my sewing here. It's becoming easier every time I do it. Still nerve wracking though...

Yes, I am aware the "W" is missing. It's a French design so there isn't one! I did stitch the "K" and the "S" in a pretty purple, just to make it special. Karyn has let me know how much she likes my little present and I hope she knows how much I enjoyed making it for her!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox