TWO HAND DELIVERED ORNAMENTS!!!!

and an after Christmas get together.

Last night four of my stitching buds and myself got together for our usual Friday night stitching. We decided to have a little after Christmas celebration too.

We were going to order chicken dinner from a local restaurant but they were closed for the Christmas holiday. So we had to go to plan B, which was our favorite pizza place. My DH went and picked up the pizza and we had a great time eating and talking. We also had a small cookie potluck. It was really great to spend sometime with great friends after all the Christmas hubbub.

Then I received two of my ornaments from the Christmas Ornament Swap I am in. They were hand delivered by Jill and Cathy.

First Jill stitched this ornament from the Gift of Stitching Magazine. It's the "Stitch" Christmas tree. Jill did a wonderful job.

Then Cathy came with this lovely ornament. She stitched a Mary Garry ornament. She also did a wonderful job. But she did have to take it home and perform a bit of surgery, as she had to redo the hanger and put my ornament right side up!!! We all had a good chuckle.

Thank you Jill and Cathy. I love both these ornaments.

All in all we had a great time and even got some stitching done between all the fun!!

Now time for some stitching for the evening.

Another great Ornament

This great little ornament arrived yesterday from Vonna. She stitched a Debbie Draper design from the 2007 Gift of Stitching Magazine. It was stitched on 35 ct. linen with WDW's pachment. It is a wonderful addition to my collection. I love the shape and the bells. Vonna did a great job on this lovely ornament. Thank you Vonna.

I have enjoyed being a part of the Christmas Ornament Swap. I have enjoyed the giving as well as the receiving.

Not good at Blogging lately.....

I have not been very good at my blogging duties lately. Maybe it's the cold and snowy weather. Last weekend hubby and myself went up to a friends cabin in Bigfork, MN. When we left the cities on Friday afternoon all was well, but as we got closer to our destination it started snowing. As the weekend wore on the weather got worse and by the time we left on Sunday morning this is what we were driving in:

The driving was like this for most of the trip home. Last 60 miles were better. Had a nice time stitching and relaxing on Saturday but paid for it on the trip home. Thankful though that we made it home safely. Now this weekend home has not been much better. Snowed all day on Saturday and today it has been very COLD. Did not leave our house yesterday but today went to our daughter's to bake cookies.

I have received some more Christmas ornaments from the exchange I am in.

This ornament is from Becky. The designer is Fancy Work and the design is: Adeste Fideles which means Come All Ye Faithful. She stitched it on 32 count fabric with DMC, Gast and Gloriana Silks. Its a great ornament.
Thank you Becky.

Then I received this wonderful ornament from Amy. She stitced it in my favorite color blue. It has some blue bells on the top of it. This is a lovely Christmas emery.
Thank you Amy.

This ornament is from Carol. She stitched "Red Birds for Peace" from Blue Ribbon Designs. It was stitched on 32 ct Ant. ivory with Gast threads. The beaded edge really adds to this ornament.

Thank you Carol.

Staci stitched this ornament from the 2008 JCS Christmas magazine. It's Peace in 2008 by Knotted Tree Needleart. Stitched on 32 ct linen with CC, WDW and DMC threads. Another great ornament.
Thank you Staci.

Edgar sent this wonderful ornament, stitched from Heartstring Primitives Christmas booklet called Tidings of Comfort and Joy, design called "Believe". Stitched on 32 ct PTP Heritage with DMC, WDW and Belle Soie.

Thank you Edgar.


I have received six of the ten ornaments so far and I love them all. I will always think of each one of you when I see them.

I can not wait to receive the rest of my ornaments, I know they will be just as wonderful as these. I have enjoyed this Christmas Ornament Exchange and can not wait to stitch for those of you who are up next.

One last exchange to mention.

I received my ABC exchange from Edgar. He mailed a bit early because he was mailing my Christmas ornament. This was a pleasant surprise. I have wanted to receive something from Edgar and I just love this Needle Roll. It's a wonderful design, so soft and I like that it's a longer version of a needle roll.
Thank you Edgar.

Hopefully I will get back on track with my blogging and stitching.
I hope everyone is staying warm and that you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

It's Been a Looong time since a post....

It has been a busy last couple of weeks. The week before Thanksgiving started with our daughter Kelsey and her husband Donncuan arriving home. They arrived on the 17th of November. Then on the 20th our daughter Melissa and her husband Shad and our grandson Jacob arrived.

Here is Jacob and our cat. Now our house is not baby proofed anymore even after six children of our own!! Can you tell by this picture that maybe he's a busy boy:) He spent a week and a half with us, which was great, but this grandma isn't used to so much action. Then the week of Thanksgiving we spend up north at Blue Fin Bay. All except one of our children were there. Our youngest son is in the Marines and was deployed to Africa. So there was 13 of us together for the week of Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to have everyone together and we had a great time. I did some much needed stitching whenever possible.

Here I am stitching with the cat on my lap. We have a theme going with the cat!!! Behind me is the view of Lake Superior. That is the view we woke up to every morning. We have been going up to Blue Fin Thanksgiving week for about 16 years with the exception of one or two years. It is just wonderful up there.

So we have been home a week and I am still trying to get things back to normal. I haven't even been stitching much.

I did receive an exchange yesterday. I am in a private Christmas ornament exchange with 11 other stitchers and this is my month to receive.

Here is the ornament I received from Julianne. She stitched this cute angel from the January 2000 issue of "For the love of Cross Stitch".
Thank you Julianne. Can't wait to see the other ornaments I will receive.

Today I had a "Therapy Day" with my friend Jackie and we finished these ornaments:

Jackie has a disabled son and every year she makes something to give to all of the people who help with Paul, such as teachers and other caregivers. So this year she decided on this Santa ornament from this years Just Cross Stitch Ornament Magazine. Jackie stitched 17 santa's and another friend-- Chris stitched 3 santa's and I stitched one. I did however help with the finishing and with painting the snowflakes. We finished 21 Santa's today.

A couple of weeks ago during another "Therapy Day" we painted all of these snowflakes, which I believe was 31:
It took us much longer to paint these then it did to finish them.
We had a good time today between finishing ornaments, having lunch delivered to us (Thanks Jackie and Davanni's ) and talking and laughing. Can't wait until the next "Therapy Day". We try to have one of those day's a month. Gives us something to live for.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving week and all is well with you.

Thanks for stopping by, until next time Happy Stitching.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

All Seasons Ornament Exchange--Harvest Ornamnet

I received my Harvest Ornament from Karen. It's from the All Season's Ornament Exchange
group that I have participated in. She stitched up this great beaded ornament. I just love it.
Thanks Karen. This has been a great little exchange group.

HoE Christmas Exchange and Personal Exchange

I received my HoE Christmas exchange today from Gabi. I was so excited. She stitched a wonderful ornament and also sent some great goodies. First off she sent that great red, white and blue stork scissors, a bag with some star and Christmas tree charms, ribbon, some fabric and a tin that holds a votive candle. Can't wait to light it up. Thank you so much Gabi, you put together a wonderful exchange.

Here is the bottom of the ornament. Nicely personalized.

This ornament was from this years Just Cross Stitch Ornament magazine. I want to stitch this one myself, but now I won't have to.

Here is another side of the ornament,

and another,

and the last side. Gabi, thanks for all of the work you put into this ornament. I really love it.

Then I also received this wonderful exchange from Margit. We became stitching friends through the Fair and Square Halloween exchange and have decided to do personal exchanges. This is our second exchange, which was a winter theme along with a Christmas ornament. Plus Margit sent along some things she bought in France, and of course chocolate. Thank you Margit for this exchange and your stitching friendship.

This is a close up of the square Margit stitched for me. I am excited to finish this square.

I had a very fine exchange day. Thank you Gabi and Margit.

UnExpected Retreat!!!

I was offered a chance to go on a retreat this weekend. I had no plans on doing this, but after someone had to cancel a few of my good stitching buds talked me into going. This picture was taken of the whole group after dinner on Saturday night. We had a great time, lots of marvelous home cooked food, fun and stitching!!

Here is all of us girls and the chef. We stayed at the Belisle Ranch. It's an awesome place to have a retreat.

Here I am with the culprits who talked me into this retreat. Jackie, me and Chris with Julie behind us.

This is Chris and her Aunt Shirley. Chris Stitched the mystery sampler from The Gift of Stitching Magazine and since Shirley just loved the sampler Chris personalized it with Shirley's family information and gave it to her. It turned out so great and Shirley is going to get it framed and hang it above this fireplace.

An Overdue Post of exchanges and finishes

I have been busy and wanted to get some exchanges posted. So hang on this is going to be a long post!!!

Pumpkin Patch Exchange

I received My Pumpkin Patch exchange today from Jean. She stitched part of an LHN design--The Harvesters and made me a tin topper with a magnetic bottom for the needles she sent with the exchange. She also included a chart from my wish list--Elizabeth's Designs--
Christmas Alphabet, plus a chart from Heart in Hand--Autumn Bird and the buttons for it. It was a wonderful surprise to come home to today.
Thank you Jean.

I also received my Christmas Fair and Square today from Lynda. She stitched JBW's--Christmas Motif Sampler II. I can't wait to finish it into an ornament.

Thank you Lynda.


Private Thanksgiving Exchange

On Friday I received this Thanksgiving Exchange from Heather. I am in a small group private exchange. Heather put together this great exchange. She stitched a cute hanging pillow and also sent some fabric, two tins, some rick rack a skein of overdyed floss and Harvest wood plaque. I have already used the candle!!
Thank you Heather for the great exchange.


Autumn Fair and Square

I received my Autumn Fair and Square from Karen October 27. She stitched some really cute acorn squares.

And as you can see I have already finished them into a box type finish. I think they turned out pretty cute.
Thank you Karen. I meant to post these sooner, I apologize for that.


Thanksgiving Fair and Squres

These squares arrived on November 5 from Mary Kathryn.

And here is the finished product. I also like the way these squares finished up.
Thank you Mary Kathryn. I also meant to post these squares sooner.



Round 10 Fair and Square

Again on November 7th I received my Round 10 squares from Heidi. Isn't he a cute little guy?



And here again is the end results of the finish. Pretty cute.
Thank you Heidi.


Ok, I believe I have posted all of the wonderful exchanges that I have received in the last two weeks. I want to Thank each one of you for your stitching talents. I appreciate all of these exchanges.