Life is Good in Aberdeen......

Here is the reason I have not posted in such a long time. Because of a job change for my husband we had to move to Aberdeen, South Dakota. This all happened very quickly and our life has been a whirlwind since the first of June. As you can see from the banners they have in downtown Aberdeen----Life is Good!!! I will have to say that the change hasn't been to bad although we have left a lot behind in Woodbury, MN. Our family, home, friends, my LNS and my Friday night stitching group. We are looking at this as an adventure and making the best of it. Things could be so much worse, and at least my DH and myself can be together. We thought at first I would have to stay back in Woodbury because of my job, but I got a job here in Aberdeen, in fact at 3M where my DH works. We are grateful for that. So needless to say I have been behind in any blogging or stitching.

Now here is a sign we have come across here in our adventures in Aberdeen. This sign is at one of the local grocery stores. Apparently there is a problem with parking within the lines!!! Not quite sure what the problem is, but we got a chuckle out of this.

Now right before I left for my Aberdeen adventure I did receive a package for my birthday for the SBBC. I received this package from Laura. My birthday was back in March and I didn't receive my birthday package and Edgar did a replacement package for me. Well the original package Laura sent must have gotten lost, when she found out I didn't receive it she sent another one.
Here is what I received. Laura stitched a pillow. Count your blessings by Lizzie Kate I believe. She sent two patterns: one from Indigo Rose and one from Bright Needle. Plus some nice fat quarter packs, ribbon, a fiber, pins and some floss bags. Thank you Laura for this gift. I am sorry it took so long to post this.

I will try to post some more adventures here in Aberdeen and try to do it more often. I also wanted to let anyone know who may have my name for recent exchanges that if you have sent something to me it is probably at our Woodbury home. Our daughter and her hubby are living there. She will send the exchanges on to me. So don't think I am ignoring you, just give me a little time to post what I receive.

Happy Stitching.
Joan

Birthday and Blackbird exchanges

Yesterday I arrived home to find a package from Edgar. It contained my Birthday gift from the SBBC. Edgar stitched a very cute design from Ewe & Eye & Friends called Garden Gate Hare. He put it on the top of a box. Edgar did a great job of stitching and finishing. As I told him, this was a very appropriate design since we have many bunnies running through our yard and my stitching group calls ourselves "The Bunnies".

Edgar also included a pattern from my wish list--Plum Pudding Needlearts--Stitchers Motto, a bar of lavender soap, a notebook, magnet and some flower seeds. Thank you so much for your kindness Edgar.

Now with that being said I was a bit disappointed with the Stitchers Birthday Bloggers Club, because Edgar was not my partner. He had to become my stitching angel because the person who had me claimed to have mailed a package and felt her job was done, even though I did not receive my package. I would feel that if I had sent a package to someone and they didn't receive it I would replace it. Sometimes mail does get lost, but the person receiving shouldn't be left with nothing especially when the person sending received her birthday exchange. It is really too bad that the few spoil it for the many. I guess lesson learned. I don't think I will be participating with this exchange again. Plus I think it is unfair for Edgar to have to fulfill the exchange because he is the moderator. But again I THANK Edgar for taking on the responsibility. On the upside my birthday was March 21 and this gift extended my birthday. All my friends say I celebrate for months anyway:) Sorry about the rant, just needed to vent.

Today I received my Blackbird Design exchange from the Friends Through Threads Blog. I received this exchange from Leena. She stitched a design from the book My Heart is True and made me a wonderful needlebook.

Leena also noticed that I have a scissor collection and sent me a pair of French scissors, some linen and a fiber. Here is a pic of the inside of the needlebook. It was stitched and finished perfectly. Thank you so much Leena I just love this exchange.

Thanks again for visiting.

FROGS AND JARS

On Saturday hubby and I went road tripping and stopped at a couple of antique shops. I found some flower frogs and a couple of jars.

Here are the flower frogs I found. Once I found the frogs, I then began looking for bases that would work with the frogs. The two frogs towards the left back with scissors in them had built in bases, so to speak. The rest of the frogs were like the two flat ones in front. I found some bases that seem to work quite well for the other frogs.

Here are what some of them look like with scissors in them. It's sad to say but this is not even all of my scissors collection. I am afraid I have a terrible collection sickness!!!

This picture has the addition of two jars I found. Sixty dollars later and I have quite a collection I am thinking some of my stitching buds with be wanting some of these frogs. That is why I purchased so many.

Finally just a pic of the jars. Not sure what I will be doing with them, but I did put my extra fobs in the one jar for now.

Bad Blogger

I have not been a very good blogger as of late. But here are some of the things I have been up to.

First I need to post the rest of the exchange I received from Brigitte. It was part of a private exchange and she had ordered this scissors and thread winder from Needlecraft corner. These two items were shipped separate from the package Brigitte sent. So they arrived about a week later than the original package. Both the scissor and thread winder are from Kelscott. I just love them both. The scissors was added to the fob Brigitte had stitched as part of the exchange. The rest of the exchange is posted in a previous entry. Thank you again Brigitte.

This is what I sent to Brigitte as my exchange to her. I stitched Spring Line Up by Trilogy. I also made a vinyl project bag and chicken pin cushion and sent a Black Bird designs pattern, with fabric and fibers, some note cards, and finishing items. I really enjoyed this exchange.

I had posted earlier about this group stitching project that Jill and I had finished. Well one of the other gals in the group had her basket done and we took a pic of all three. It was quite a relief to get these baskets finished!!!!!

I finally got this sampler framed. It is called Americana by The Workbasket. I stitched this about two years ago. My DH made the frame for me. I also have Landscape, which is kind of a companion piece, stitched I just need to have my DH get the frame made and I will get it finished and hung up with this picture.

My last picture is some fabric that Jill and I dyed this morning. Jill's fabric is the top row and mine are on the bottom. I will have to say we had a very productive morning of dying. Can't wait to stitch something on these fabrics.

I hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday weekend.

Catch up time!!!

I have a little catching up to do as usual. First I received this exchange from Brigitte. It is a private exchange with a small group of us. Brigitte stitched Tulip Pocket Accessories by Beardie Designs. It is a very cute scissor pocket and fob.

Here is a pic of the back.

Also included in the exchange was these two pieces of 32 count of fabric and some chocolate. I am also waiting for a package from Needlecraft corner.
Thank you so much for this wonderful exchange Brigitte.

Then today I received an exchange package from Margit. We have been doing a private exchange for a few months now. I am really enjoying these exchanges with Margit. She stitched Bad Hare Day by Bent Creek and finished it into a pin keep. Then Margit also stitched Willow Tree Inn by LHN.

Margit also included some fibers and a pattern from Bleu De Chine.
Thank you again Margit.

Then I was asked to stitch a Ring bearer pillow for a friend's daughter. Here is how it turned out.

I stitched a Hardanger pattern from a Crafts and Things magazine. Then I finished it off my own way. I am pleased with the end result. I saw it in action this last weekend, as we went to the Wedding. Here is a stitched piece I framed over the weekend. It is Winter Snapperland by Bent Creek. The stitching has been done for awhile. I found the frame at a local thrift shop and painted to match the stitched piece. Now I have one more snapperland to stitch. Which is the Autumn one and then I will have all the seasons done.Lastly here is a picture of the tattoo my son got recently. Now I am not excited at all about tattoo's but my son---who happens to be my youngest, he must think I will approve if it concerns me!!!! He had the heart with Mama Joan for sometime now and when he returned from being in Africa for seven months with the Marines he added the scissors, needle,thread and spool. The dear boy does know what his mother loves to do!!!!!

So with all of that I hope all is well with everyone who happens to visit.

Happy Stitching!!!!

Spring Fair & Square and some finishing--

Saturday I received my Spring Fair and Square from Linda B. She stitched me this square by Plum Pudding Needleart.
I really like the design. Thank you so much Linda. I enjoyed this exchange and our emails very much.
Another new stitching friend.

Now here is the end result of the squares. I just finished them today.

Here is the back. A very cute pin keep.

Next finish was a group project from the Friday night stitching girls. As of right now three of us have it done. Jill and I did the finishing work this weekend. This pattern is from With My Needle called My Favorite Things Basket.

Here are the accessories with the basket.

My last finish is a La D Da design called A-Z and in between. I finished this one into a box type finish.

And here is the reason I have not been blogging much. Picture of Grandma not very good, but this was at the end of the day at the end of a VERY busy week. All of our children were home for a family get together. These are the grandchildren which live in Tennessee. Jacob who is two years old and was not very well this day and his sister Emily who is 3 1/2 months old.

Thanks for stopping by and hopefully I will be blogging a little more regularly.
HAPPY STITCHING!!!!!

Spring Ornie from Jayne

Here is the Spring ornie I received from Jayne from the All Season's Ornament Exchange. She said that Snowdrops remind her of Spring. Jayne did a great job on this ornie. Another wonderful ornament to add to my collection. Thank you Jayne.