A couple of finishes....

This first ornament is a design from Michelle. She offered this as a freebie on her blog. I stitched it on 36 count with one thread of DMC. I added beads on the tree instead of the charted colors. I really like how it turned out.

Then I stitched this Prairie Schooler ornament from the book Songs of the Seasons. I received an ornament from Vonna from this book and had to have the book to do all of the ornaments. This is the book my hubby managed to find on Ebay and buy for me. (See post from November 21) I stitched this on 25 count, one over one. Another ornament for myself. Again I am very happy with the result.

I stitched this wedding sampler called "I do" by Bent Creek as an ornament for my daughter and her husband. They were just married this summer. I stitched this one over one on 25 count. I used jump rings from my beading stash for the wedding rings. I got this idea from one of my stitching buds--Chris who also did this for her own daughter, although I believe she stitched it on even a smaller count. I thought this would make a nice Christmas heirloom.

Well this is all for now. Thanks for stopping by. Stay warm and Happy Stitching.

Some finishes and exchanges

I have been busy this week stitching and this weekend I have done some finishing. Here are the fruits of my labor:

I stitched these ornaments for my grandchildren. The first one is for Emily--it is a first Christmas ornament which I stitched for her brother two years ago and for my youngest son 21 years ago. I want to stitch this ornament for all of my grandchildren for their first Christmas as they come along. So far I just have two grandchildren and one on the way. The second ornament is for my grandson Jacob. So far I have managed an ornament every year for him, but this is only year number 3. I would like to stitch an ornament every year for each grandchild, at least that would be my goal, but with six children I may have more grandchildren then I could stitch for!!!!
This is a view from the back of Emily's ornament. I try to always personalize it.

I finished Emily's stocking today also. I think it turned out quite nice. Now I will have to get this stocking and ornaments mailed off to Tennessee.

I took this picture because I used a clip on cafe ring as a hanger. I always seem to have such a time with hangers and I thought this would solve that problem quite easily.

This last Monday November 30 was Cathy B's birthday and I had forgotten about it. So On Monday I started this Cranberry Deer Pinkeep by Beehive Needleworks. I stitched it on 36 count with Belle Soie silk called cranberry. It was stitched and finished by Tuesday night. Cathy didn't receive it until Friday but I did manage to get it to her in a very timely fashion.

I stitched this strawberry emery by Anita's Little Stitches for Gaby for the FTT Fall exchange. Gaby has received it but has had computer troubles so I am going ahead and posting the picture.
Here are the goodies I also sent along.

I do have a couple of more stitched pieces done but I don't have them finished yet, so that will have to wait until the next post.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Stitching:)

I Have the BEST hubby.....

And I am spoiled....

Today I received this Prairie Schooler book in the mail. Vonna stitched me an ornament from this book and I thought I need to have this book and stitch some myself. Well my wonderful hubby found it on Ebay and bought it for me. Now I just need to find the time to get it stitched.

My hubby understands my stitching addiction, and apparently encourages it!!!!!

Exchanges sent and received

I have sent the following exchanges and they have now been received.

This biscornu is from Gaby for the Fall exchange on the Friends through Threads blog. It is a pretty large biscornu and I just love it's size. I really like biscornu's and want to have a collection of them. I haven't had much time to stitch any, so this is a nice addition to what I already have.

Here is the rest of the exchange. Gaby knitted me a pair of socks, and yes Gaby they fit wonderfully:). Plus Gaby beaded a very nice necklace and sent me a pattern book and some gummies. Thank you Gaby.

I forgot to get this pumpkin in my exchange picture from Gaby. Her son Simon made me this cute pumpkin. Thank you Simon.

Then today when I got home from work this little beauty was waiting for me. It is from the FTT blog Christmas ornament exchange. Vonna stitched me this wonderful ornament by Prairie Schooler from "Songs of the Seasons" book. It was stitched over one on 25 count. It is stitched and finished wonderfully. Thank you so much Vonna.

This is the ornament that I stitched for the FTT Christmas ornament exchange. My ornament went to Wendy Jo. It was a freebie design that I stitched with DMC 4210.

I stitched this floss tag and needle minder for a personal exchange with Linda. Linda does not have a blog right now, but I meet her through the Fair and Square blog. I stitched a part of LHN Colonial Women. Then I made the needle minder from the instructions on the Blackbird designs blog.

Here are the rest of the goodies I sent Linda.

I am waiting for Gaby to receive my Fall exchange which was sent last Monday. I will post those pictures once it arrives.

Another great set of exchanges sent and received. And as of right now I don't have anymore commitments for exchanges and I plan on getting some stitching done for my family and myself. I look forward to more exchanges next year.

Hello!!!

It has been almost a month since my last post. I have been so busy working since I arrived in Aberdeen, I just haven't had time to post or much to post.

I have been working as a temporary employee at 3M and my hours ran out on October 30, also on that same day 3M offered me a regular full time position with them. So I have had the last 10 days off and will be starting work again today at 4 p.m.
Of course while I was off we went back home to Minnesota to spend sometime with family and friends. I got to stitch with my buds on Halloween. We had a great time. I was busy all week with catching up with our family and friends. I didn't stitch as much as I thought I would, but when we returned home last Friday I had to whole weekend to stitch and do some finishing.
Here are my results:

I finished the stitching on this stocking for my granddaughter. Now I plan on doing the finishing work this weekend. I am very relived to have this done.

These were two pieces I received from Margit in private exchanges we have done this year. I really like how they both turned out. The pin keep is from Prairie Schooler and the framed piece is a Little House Needlework design. Thank you Margit.
I received this from Nicky for the Summer Fair and Square exchange. It is a Little House Needlework design.
I just received this from Peg for the Fall Fair and Square. I decided to make it into a fob. I think it turned out great.
Here is a picture of all of my finishes I did over the weekend. It feels good to have gotten these done. I also finished off an ornament, but that was for an exchange so I will post it when it arrives at it's new home.

Thanks for taking the time to stop and Happy Stitching!!!

New Scissors!!!!

Today when I arrived home from work these were waiting for me. Thanks to Jackie I now have my newest Gingher Scissors---Mia. Plus Jackie sent me the purple and pink scissors to go with the blue scissors I all ready had. Now I have the whole set. Apparently they called Cotton Candy Embroidery Scissors.

You just can't have enough scissors!!!!!

Home again and back:

David and I were back home in Minnesota the last weekend in September for his 3M 30th work anniversary service awards dinner at the Convention Center in Minneapolis. We had a great time and were glad David is still employed with 3M even if we have to live in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

So while I was home I got to pick up my new Gingher Elena scissors:) I was very excited. Now I have found out about another new scissors-- Mia, and my good friend Jackie has found some and I now have another scissors waiting for me back home. I can't wait to get that one too.

Here are my new Elena's:

I also had these hand painted scissors waiting for me. A surprise gift from another good stitching friend Chris. She found the wooden scissors at Joann's and a friend of her daughters did the painting and personalizing on them. I just love them. A great reminder of my days in Aberdeen.

Here is a closer look at the saying, which is Life is good in Aberdeen. And that really is Aberdeen's motto.

I have not had much stitching time here in Aberdeen since I am working 7 days a week and sometimes 12 hour days. I really miss my stitching time. But I did manage to get these squares done. I am doing the Ackworth Friendship Book with my stitching group. These are Cathy B's squares. I am really enjoying stitching these. I have also finished a couple of exchanges but can't show them, as I have just mailed them.

Lastly I found this crop-a-dile in this case at Walmart for $25 and had to have it. I have used it once and it was great. It was the case that sold me. Another "toy" for my collection.

So until next time Thanks for stopping by and Happy Stitching.

Prairie Schooler Exchange from Margit

Yesterday I received a package from my stitching friend Margit. We have been doing personal exchanges for about a year now and I truly enjoy them. Here is what she stitched up for me:

Margit stitched my initials from the Garden Alphabet book. She even sent me the scissors. Which I really needed!!!!!
The little worm was from the book Garden Creatures. He is quite cute. Margit also sent the fabric, which is in the background.
Thank you Margit. Another wonderful exchange.

Long time since last post.....

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post. Life has been very busy, as it seems to be with everyone. I have been working 12 hour shifts and just have had a lot of other things going on. Since my last post a lot has happened. We did have our annual retreat. As always a very good time was had. It was very nice to be back home in Minnesota for five days.

Our theme for retreat was snowmen. Here is Jill with a cute snowman hat her mom had made:

Here are all the goodies Jill gave us. Her mom made the snowman slippers.

Lori gave us all these goodies:

Cathy gave us these goodies:

Jackie gave us this mesh bag full of goodies. I apparently didn't take a pic of the contents. Not sure what happened. Sorry Jackie.

I also forgot to get a pic of the goodies I gave. But I did take one of some of the things I stitched. I stitched five of each. I made a pin keep, scissors fob and a pincushion/ort jar made from a canning jar.

Here is one of the reasons we have been busy. Our daughter Chastity got married on August 29. So we got to spend another week back home in Minnesota. This pic was taken on the night of the rehearsal. Here is Chastity and her dad.

This is a picture of David and I with all of our children. Since we don't get together as often as we use to we try to get a family picture whenever possible. Now all of our children except our youngest are married. He is the one in the back.

Here are just the children: Front row from left to right: Kyle--#3, Karissa--#2, Kelsey--#4,
Melissa--#1, Back row: Chastity--#5 and Tristan--#6

Yesterday I received my PIF from Cathy B. She stitched this cute ornament from 2003 JCS magazine. The design is by Nordic Needle. View of front and back of ornament.

Then the last three pics are treasures my DH found for me. He likes to go to antique shops and garage sales. Here are some frogs he found. I really like the colored ones. I have since found bases to put the two flat frogs in. Now I need some scissors to put in them!!!!

These are some silks he found at an antique shop. The tag says Belding Bros. & Co. I think they are old. My DH bought a box with miscellaneous threads in it. If you have any idea about these silks please let me know. I am just curious.

These DMC threads were also in the box. I thought it would be neat just to have these for display purposes.

If you have made it through this post congratulations and thanks for taking the time to read about my goings on. I do check all the blogs on my list, but I must say I am not very good at leaving comments. I do enjoy reading them.

And as always, Life is good in Aberdeen.
As my DH would say we are living the Dream in Aberdeen!!