A Beautiful Sampler

My stitching, work and life-in-general is going great. My blogging/blog-reading has gone agley. I need balance. I need more time. Someone send me a few spare hours? It's actually my own fault...I seriously should pare down my reading list. There once was a time I could read through my blog list in less than an hour...it's an all-spare-time event now. But how can I stop reading anyone's posts? I might miss something! What a kerfuffle.

I must share this beautiful stitching I won from Heather of Cross-Stitching Mom. Isn't it gorgeous? The over-one alphabet has me enthralled. Of course, I love alphabets so this has nothing to do with Heather's absolutely perfect stitches, right? Thank you so much, Heather. I love the sampler and it's already on display in my guest room.

In between reading blogs, I had fun creating a little game for you = a Needlework word search. Once you open the page you will need to click Options and change the layout to 20X20 or 25X25 to load all the words. Have fun!

Some places to visit: Angela of Hooked On Stitches has created a new Traveling Pattern and I know you don't want to miss a chance of getting it sent to you. You will want to enter Edgar's blogoversary giveaway for four great years of Blacksheep's bit of the Web. Edgar's prizes are always so very special. And since so many of you like Halloween, you must see what Alex is doing over at just alex...he's already building props for his Halloween display! Freakin' scary awesome ~ I can't wait to see his finish.

For those of you in my Totally Useless Stitch A Long, don't forget the next New Moon is on Tuesday, May 3rd! I should have a good showing and maybe even a finish to share.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

A Hidden Giveaway and TUSAL Stuff

I was sooo pleased to receive so many comments on my bunny fob finish...because that post was another hidden giveaway! Yup, you heard right ~ I'm giving away that little fob to someone who commented on that post! Why didn't I state that it was a giveaway in the first place? Because, that is my way of rewarding those that comment on my stuff ~ and I receive so many wonderful comments, I can't help but be grateful. Sooooo ~ the bunny fob goes to Anne of Doll's Musings! Congratulations, Anne! I will email you for your mailing address when I finish posting this.

I hope you are keeping up with posting pictures of your ORT jars...because Lynn of Kearnel's Korner sent us some lovely things for the Totally Useless Giveaway! Feast your eyes on these goodies! Lynn stitched a beautiful pinkeep and added in some fat quarters (I'm tempted to steal them, they are so delish) and a darling Halloween design. Thanks Lynn ~ great stuff!

Just for kicks, I snapped a quick photo of ALL the TUSAL donations that have been sent so far. It covers my kitchen table!

The box I am keeping it in is a little over half full! Don't you just love giveaways? Dear readers, you are so generous!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Ornament Swaps Are FUN!

My last Ornament Swap arrived. I received this gorgeous one from Conny of Little Woman's Creative Basket. Isn't it wonderful? Do you see the little rusty bell in the bow? I love it! This was my favorite ornament from LHN's monthly series last year...the only one I stitched ~ and that for someone in my Swap group! I'm so pleased to have one of my own. Thank you so much, Conny!

Here is a group photo of all the ornaments I received this year. I am sooo happy! Hey, don't drool on your keyboard!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Eureka!

Today...I took this little bunny, gave him a wash, ironed on some interfacing, sewed on a button, seam-sewed the edges together, stuffed it with Lavender and walnut shells and edged it with silk ribbon and petite seed beads...

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...to create this fob! It turned out exactly as I wanted it to look. And I finally have a finish to share.

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Design ~ The Littles "Bunny"

Designer ~ Bent Creek

Fabric ~ 32 count Daffycat-Dyed Lugana

Fiber ~ DMC, Dinky Dyes Silk Ribbon, Mill Hill Petite Seed Beads

Finish ~ Walnut Shell & Lavender Stuffed Scissor Fob

The edging was inspired by Valerie, of Fog City Dweller. Remember Valerie sending me the sweetest little fob for her blogoversary giveaway? I really loved the edging and wanted to try something similar. Thank you, Valerie!

I searched every store in town looking for ribbon that would work and could find nothing suitable. A plea on my blog sent Glenna, of Eye of the Needle into action and she found the perfect silk ribbon for me. Thank you, Glenna...it worked perfectly!

Isn't that edge treatment fun? The random swirls, spaces and beads really appeal to me. So ~ all in all, this little bunny fob was a joint effort and I'm so pleased with the results! *happy dance*

This post was a Hidden Giveaway!

The winner was announced on this post!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

April ORT Report

I think this must be the most pitiful TUSAL post I have ever made! And I thought last month's ORT report was a bit meager. The only ORTs in my jar are from the bunny fob which is still not finished. This month hasn't been a complete wreck as the one reported in my last update but life has conspired against my stitching time in a big way. I'm holding out high hopes for a better one next month.

My sad little pile is pictured with one of Mama Joan's treasured chickens.

Since we are on the subject of the Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long I must share with you another donation to the giveaway. All of these wonderful items came from Sheila of Sheila's Stitches & Stuff. There are some that are just charts but most are full kits, including the fabric & floss. Thank you so much Sheila!

Did you know you can click the links at the bottom of my posts to read other posts related to that one? For example, this post is labeled TU SAL. If you click that link it will take you to all of my Totally Useless posts! You can compare my monthly ORTs or look at all the giveaway donations that have been made. How handy is that? There are also many other labels listed in my left sidebar, look for Quick Find. The bigger the font in my label cloud, the more posts have been made on that subject. I notice my Crabby All Year had lots & lots of posts. I loved that project!

You can label your posts as you make them. While you are composing your post, look for a box that says "Labels for this post" and type your subject in. Once you have made a label it will always appear underneath so you can use it again. If you haven't been labeling and would like to start you can go to the edit posts option and apply labels to your older posts. When I first began blogging I didn't understand any need to label but once I had blogged for some time I realized how easy it was to find a specific old post with it. I find it invaluable nowadays!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

and a Three and a Four

Two more ornies arrived from my Ornament Swap group. This first one from Lori of Stitchin Times Five. Lori stitched me one of Bent Creek's hilarious Photobooth Snowmen. And look ~ jinglebells! I really like the non-traditional colors and the sparkly fabric. Thank you so much, Lori!

Then came this sweetie from Lisa of Hockey Mom Stitchin' Hobby. Oh dear, a darling sheepie from Country Cottage Needleworks! Isn't this lovely? Lisa sewed this into a soft pillow ornament and it is only edged with that dark blue ~ the backing fabric is a light blue...very pretty! I love this ornament, Lisa!

I am getting excited for Christmas and there is still nine months to wait! Only one more Swap left for me to receive. Though, I still have the pleasure of stitching for the rest of members this year. Such plans!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Wondering...

...what my mail carrier must think when I get packages every couple of days. Maybe, "That lady has gone crazy on eBay again...?"

My second Ornament Swap came this week. This one is from Lisa V in Australia. I just love the red and gold colors Lisa has used. And that tassel rocks! The backing fabric has a red & gold theme and the overall ornament is expertly constructed as well.

Thank you, Lisa! I love this ornament ~ soooo much!

Remember I needed some mauve silk ribbon? Glenna was able to get her hands on some to send me. Somehow, she couldn't resist including a very sweet RAK in the package. I love surprises!

I really like these Victoria Sampler bird ornaments. They are just the sweetest images...except for maybe the #2 leaflet ~ those were kind of an odd pair. Thank you so much, Glenna! I really appreciate you getting the ribbon for me and the chart was such a nice gesture.

I haven't finished the bunny fob yet...not had any stitching time this week. It's "Spring Cleaning" at work (my idea) and "the boss" must do her share or she can't expect her employees to do the same. Lead by example, I say! This means I have trashed my hands with all the scrubbing and scouring. No one feels like stitching with cracked, dried out fingers. Blech!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Fastest Mail in the West

Poor Angela has had a terrible time with mailing packages. Some of the packages she sends take weeks to arrive. It was with great trepidation she sent off my Ornament Swap last Monday. I must admit I was a little nervous myself ~ but it arrived yesterday ~ one week, on the dot! Congratulations, Angela...perhaps the "curse" is broken?

Isn't her ornament gorgeous? You will have to visit Angela's blog for the details, I'm sure she will post them soon. The finishing is just lovely. I wish you could see it in person! Thank you so much, Angela!!!

Oh.
My.
Freakin'.
Stars.

Have you seen the new Bent Creek charts out? Here are a couple of lovelies...photos courtesy of The Silver Needle.

Gnomes in a Garden Row. I 'bout fell over when I saw this one. It went straight into my cart and I couldn't type in those credit card numbers fast enough! My daughter, Jessie, loves gnomes (and so do I) so this one I couldn't live without.

Quaker Noel Row. This one is rather a change from Bent Creek's usual stuff. Very pretty! I resisted buying this one. For now. There are also a few "little" designs out new too. These are called Flair, top of page here. There is a snowman, a sail boat and some cute chicks under an umbrella. These were not resisted *grinz* not even for a second!

I wanted to thank you for the sweet comments on my last few posts. Sheba has a swelled head and has been carrying on with the latest of her hedgehog stuffies. I have emailed the recipe for the toffee cream scones to those that had emails in their profile and asked about it. Thanks too, for the offers of the silk ribbon I need want. I believe there is some on the way to me! Little Mr. Bunny is nearly finished and I'm looking forward to putting him together!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox

A Bit O' the Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I was out of green food color so I couldn't dye my after-work beer green for the holiday. Poo. I was so disappointed! However, I was pleased the green fabric showed up better in this snap of my bunny. Fabric color is always so iffy when you take a photo, isn't it? I haven't had much stitching time this week. There was a project I've been doing at work and I've come home exhausted every evening. The good thing is, I had to come home early today and will have to again tomorrow or I will be in overtime.

Once I get this flower in, there is only the background to stitch. I'm looking forward to seeing him come alive when he gets his whiskers & eyes. I do believe he will become a scissor fob. There is a problem though...I want silk ribbon for the edging. I have no silk ribbon. I am also terribly allergic to silk so I don't want to buy any. So I have a request...Is there anyone that has a couple of feet of 4mm Mauve silk ribbon (the kind used for ribbon embroidery) they could send to me? You would be such a blessing! I'd like to try it out before I go buying stuff I can't use. I am hoping, hoping, hoping I can use my Gloves In A Bottle lotion and not have a reaction.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox

Sheba and the Hedgehog

Sheba can be the funniest Border Collie. This video was taken with my camera a few years ago. The ending is so silly! Dogs make your heart smile =]

Rick's computer is playing up and I wanted to save this video in case the computer decided to crash and we lost it. I uploaded it to You Tube as a precaution. I think I've shared this on my blog once before but as a link instead of embedding like this. Now you don't have to leave my blog to see it.

Never mind how I sound like an Oklahoma hick. I was baby-talking my dog!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

xox