A Wonderful exchange from Linda

I today when I got home from work I opened a wonderful package. I had Linda as a "Fair and Square" partner and we decided to do a private exchange. I received the following:

Linda stitched and finished this cute pillow. She spent a lot of time reading my blog getting to know me and captured what is important to me--my family. Linda did such a good job on the stitching and finishing. I am so happy with this exchange.

Linda also sent along these goodies. A chart from my wish list and of course the fabric and fibers to go with it and another chart which sums up our time here in Aberdeen--Life is good in Aberdeen. I must stitch that very soon. Plus the Hob Nob design which is how I feel about stitching. Plus a cute little scissors---I love my scissors!!! A thread holder and some note pads, pins and fabric. I love it all.
THANK YOU Linda.

I hope everyone is staying warm and stitching.

Antique/Thrift shop finds

The DH and I did a little antique/thrift store shopping this weekend and here are the treasures I found:

First I was looking for some frames for my friend Lori who is also stitching LHN's "My Needle's Work". She liked what I had stitched and how it was framed so I set out to find some frames I thought would work. These are the two I found.

Here are some of the treasures I found at the antique shops we stopped at. I got a real bargain on the zippers. They were only 25 cents each, and I use them when I make my vinyl project bags. Then I picked up some more frames because they were a good deal and I know I will find some projects for them. I already have some project to go into a couple of them. I paid anywhere from 50 cents to $3 for the frames. Then I had to have that little green hoop. I don't use hoops much just on tiny one over one's and I like to use this type of hoop and it was only 25 cents. Also got some mother of pearl buttons for 50 cents.
I bought this olfa mat because I thought it was a deal for $3. And even if I didn't need it, I thought I could give it to my daughter Chastity, as she wants to start sewing.
I picked up this wire holder--(I think it is a small plate holder) at the local Salvation Army Thrift store. Now I thought it would work nicely for holding some of my smalls and for 59 cents I couldn't pass it up.

Here is a pic with some of my smalls in it. I really like this little hanger.

So there you have it. I spent sometime with my hubby and found some treasures.

I hope everyone is having a great and relaxing weekend and as always Happy Stitching.

My Baby's Birthday and fabric dying and baking

Today is my baby's 22nd birthday. Here he is with his newest tattoo at the time. Notice the cross stitches and the scissors. It is in "honor" of his mom and her addiction!!!! Gotta love him.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRISTAN. Dad and I love you.


I decided to do some coffee and tea dying and baking. Here are my results:

The above picture is coffee and tea dyed then baked.

The top picture and the next is just tea dyed and baked.

And these are just coffee dyed and baked. I am quite pleased with the results.

I hope everyone is having a great week and Happy Stitching.

Stitchin' the dream in Aberdeen MLK retreat weekend:

This year was a bit different for our annual MLK retreat weekend. Since I have moved out to Aberdeen it is not as easy to stitch with all my good stitching buds. So this year my good friend and stitching bud Lori decided that she would come out here to Aberdeen, which is a 5 hour drive from St. Paul, MN to stitch with me. We had a great time. Lori even brought a little bit of home out here with her by bringing some of our favorite foods. We had pizza from one of our favorite places--Savoy's, and our favorite soup from Chili's and my favorite spaghetti sauce from Dontelli's. It was so nice to have Lori out here and be able to spend sometime just stitching, laughing, talking and eating. I was really sorry to see Lori leave and have our retreat end today.

Here are some the fruits of our labor:

I finished LHN My Needle's work. I started that project on Tuesday and finished it up on Saturday and then we even got it framed. I bought the frame last weekend at a antique shop for $2.00. I think the design is just right for the frame. I am so happy with how it turned out.
Then I stitched the square on the left from the Ackworth Friendship Book by With My Needle. Our stitching group is doing this project and since I have 12 squares to do, I thought I should try to get one done. Then I stitched up LHN's "Faith". I have been wanting to do this one for quite sometime and now it is done. Just need to find a frame.

Here is a closer look at My Needle's Work.

Lori and I also framed this piece. I finished this one last weekend. I found this frame at an antique shop also and this one was only 50 cents. Now it is really a tight fit going width wise but I like it all the same. This is Blackbird Designs "Summer Basket". It was a very fun stitch.

This La D Da piece has been finished for at least a month or so, but we just framed it over this weekend. Again this is a frame I got at either an antique shop or thrift store and it probably only cost a couple of bucks. I like to "recycle" frames if I can.

Here are all the pieces that we finished as far as framing goes. Some of the pieces just needed the backing paper and hangers put on. Three of them needed to be pinned and then finish with the framing.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Stitching.

Another finish and my new 2010 start

Here is another finished Christmas ornament. This design is from the 2009 JCS ornament magazine. It is by My Mark--called of course Christmas Stitching. I stitched it on 40 ct summer khaki over 2 threads with one thread of DMC. I really like this ornament.

Then I decided I NEEDED to start something new for myself for the New Year. This is Summer Basket by Blackbird designs. I am stitching it on 30 ct Baby's Breath with Sampler Threads and Weeks Dye Works thread. This has been a very fun stitch.

I will leave you with a view from our apartment window. We live in a "Garden View" apartment, just a fancy name for a basement apartment. Anyhow it is hard to see but the snow if halfway up the window. We have had a good amount of snow here in Aberdeen and with the winds that seem to blow all the time we have some very BIG drifts. Then if it is not snowing and blowing it is darn cold---This morning at 9 am it was -23 and that was just the outside temperature, not windchill!!!!

I hope everyone is staying warm. As always Happy Stitching.

First Finishes of 2010

Since I didn't have to work on Friday or the weekend I have been able to stitch my heart out. I have not been able to do this much stitching at one time since we have moved to Aberdeen. Here are two things that I have finished totally.

This first design is from Midnight Stitching. It's called Quaker Faith, Hope, Love. I have been wanting to stitch this for quite awhile. I stitched it on 40 ct Natural Newcastle over two with one thread of DMC.

I saw this design on Staci's blog sometime ago and couldn't wait to stitch this either. It's a Homespun Elegance design: A Quaker year--Merry Winter. This was also stitched on 40 ct, the fabric is Sandstone, stitched over two with one strand of Belle Soie, Cranberry and Cinnamon Stick. Another fun and pretty quick stitch.

Not sure what I am going to stitch next, but I plan on stitching until I have to go back to work tomorrow at 4.

Happy Stitching!!!

First post of 2010

For my first post of the year I am starting with a picture of our Christmas tree here in Aberdeen. I meant to post this sooner but just haven't had the time. A little story about this tree. I went to the local Salvation Army Thrift store and purchased this tree for 59 cents. It is not exactly what I had in mind, but I think it did the trick. Then for $2.99 I purchased some battery operated Christmas lights for the tree. I think it's quite a cute little tree.

Then I did some stitching for some friends. I did this one for Lori. It is Merry Christmas by Carriage House Samplings. I stitched it on 40ct over 2 with 1 thread of DMC. I really like this design and may have to stitch on for my self.

I stitched this M Designs "Cure" Tree ornament for Jill. I stitched it on 36 ct antique white, two over two with Weeks Dye Works Bubblegum. I thought this would be a nice addition to Jill's pink collection.

This ornament was a freebie from Carol R. I stitched it for another good stitching friend, Jackie. I stitched this on 36 ct over two threads with one thread of DMC 4210 and 4045.

I decided to stitched some ornaments for myself and I would like to stitch some theme pieces. So I am starting with the "peace" theme. So I stitched this Blackbird designs Peace ornament for the JCS ornament magazine for 2009. I used some 28 ct coffee dyed fabric, I dyed over the summer and used DMC threads.

Since I decided to join the Little House Needleworks monthly ornament SAL, I stitched up this LHN Pear Tree ornament, the second in the monthly series.

This is also a LHN Pear Tree design that was in the 2006 JCS ornament magazine. I stitched this one up while I was waiting for the pattern of the other LHN Pear Tree. So I now have a "pair" of Pear Trees!!!!

Here is a pic of the two ornaments side by side.


One last item to share. I received this cute little ornament from Cathy B, when I was home for Christmas. I just love how cute and small this ornament is. I love the long skinny look.

Thanks for stopping by and I wish everyone a great 2010.