Last finishes of 2008

I stitched what will probably be my last ornament of 2008.

Blue Bird of Christmas Happiness

by M Designs

I also finished a piece by Diane Williams which was featured in a Leisure Arts book called A Sampling of Tradition (The Best of For the Love of Cross Stitch). This book has other wonderful samplers by designers Deborah Lambein, Linda Culp Calhoun, Susan Stadler, Kandance Thomas, and Dixie Barker Shoemaker. The fabric I used was from the DMC Impressions Printed Needlework line.

Grateful Heart Sampler

My new project which I will start on January 1st with one of my Yahoo groups is Christmas House by Ewe &  Eye & Friends. Stitching this on 28 count Bone lugana using Anchor floss.

One off the WIP list

I completed "How Does Your Garden Grow" a mystery SAL by Papillon Creations.  I stitched this on 25 ct  vintage lugana using Wild Fire (DMC Color Variations Floss #4200), DMC 3051 and Mill Hill Glass Seed Beads #00165.

Close up w/beads

Papillon Créations

Merry Christmas

Got two more ornaments in for the year and I even managed to finish one of them. 

Reindeer

Le blog de valerie

Red Berries by Rosewood Manor

December 2006 issue of The Gift of Stitching Magazine

I got this wonderful set of scissors from my husband as a Christmas gift. Now I have the shears to match the small pair I bought last year...WOOOHOOO!

Final Countdown

Stitchy gifts...

Tis the season for wonderful stitched gifts and exchanges. First I got this wonderful piece of fabric, which is just begging for a patriotic design.

I love my Prairie Schooler Santa ornie from Julie. 

I got this adorable Prairie Schooler Santa from Janine.

My tree

Thanks ladies for all the lovely comments about my ornaments. A few of you asked that I post a picture of my tree so here it is. I bought this 200-ornament wire tree two years ago in the hopes of filling it totally with ornaments I've made. I'm about half way there! My goal is to have it filled for Christmas of 2009. Can you understand my stitching frenzy now? 

This Kokopelli tree was a gift from my daughter. She's prepping for my future Southwest holidays in Arizona...when I retire. LOL!

Stitched & Finished - Round Two

I just seem to be totally into the holiday spirit and working on ornaments.

Etoile de Noel "Glacier"

Le blog de valerie

Stitched & Finished

Thanks to all the ladies who responded to my earlier post about this design I couldn't resist stitching it and finishing it right away. I'm quite happy with my results. 

This and other great freebies can be found at:

gazette94

*New* from CCN

Pretty in Pink

COUNTRY COTTAGE NEEDLEWORKS

Christmas Countdown & MySpace Layouts

SOC Ornament Exchange

My stitching group (Stitch Out Circle aka SOC)  got together on Friday night and we had our first ornament exchange. We had a lot of fun doing this and plan on doing another in 2009. My partner Kate knows me quite well as you can see from the ornament she stitched for me. It was fun opening this one since each tin had another tin in it...LOL!

More quickie finishes

I been busy this week doing my holiday shopping, getting cards and packages in the mail, and running errands after work that my stitching was pretty limited. I decided to stick to quick easy projects and managed to get these done.

Sing Noel

by Primrose Needleworks

December '08 issue of The Gift of Stitching Magazine

Single Heart Freebie

by The Workbasket

The Workbasket - Free

Tree (Freebie)

gazette94

Mini Finish

Probably all the stitching I'm going to manage this week.

Snowman's Quaker Christmas

by Midnight Stitching

Ornament Exchange

The gals on the BC_HIH Trilogy Yahoo group had an ornament exchange and I received this one from Carmen. Thanks honey, I just love it!! It will hang proudly on  my tree.

This is the one I sent to my partner Terri.

I won!

Sherry had a give away for this chart and I discovered today that I won it. Thanks so much Sherry. I look forward to stitching it and will pass it along when I'm done.
http://bloginsherry.blogspot.com/

Recognize this?

If you know the name of the design and/or designer of this piece please leave a comment. 

Christmas Countdown & MySpace Layouts

Stitching Update...

I finished Seasons of Change by Bent Creek and even found time to frame and hang it.

I added the latest installment to my Spanish Sampler, a mystery SAL by Periphaeria Designs. I love how all the colors blend together while each section stands alone.

http://www.periphaeria.com/

Prior to going on vacation I finished and sent my squares to my partner Vonna and since she has received them I can now share them with you. The design is from the chart True Forever by Bent Creek.

Let's Say Thanks.

Send a card today.

http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

Tagged again!

I've been tagged by Maraline and I'm supposed to share six random things about myself, according to the rules on her blog.

The rules are as follows:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry it up.

Things about me:
1. I was born in the Bronx (New York).
2. While working for the CPS in Ohio I met Lyle Alzado who played with the Cleveland Browns from 1979-81.
3. I'm an amateur genealogist and have traced my family back to Spain.
4. I took accordion lessons as a teen.
5. I sang in the church choir and as a soloist.
6. I once broke a hair brush by striking my brother over the head with it (I was 11...he was 10).

I tag:
Terri - http://threadsthroughtime.multiply.com/
Carolyn - http://seeford.multiply.com/
Jodie - http://monstermom.multiply.com/
Mary - http://miahchey.multiply.com/
Nancy - http://ndmurdock.multiply.com/
Twana - http://twana.multiply.com/

Countdown

Christmas countdown at FlashBannerNow.com

Tagged by Kay

1. Find the 6th folder in your photo album and then the 6th photo.
   
2. Pray you remember the details.
   
3. Post it on your blog.
   
4. Tag 5 others and leave a comment to let them know they have been tagged.
   

So in checking my photo albums under Webshots the 6th folder contains my Cow Collection and the 6th picture is this wonderful cow bottle which I bought from my friend Delena, who does the beautiful painting.

I now tag: Linda, Kim, Vonna, and Nicole.

Stitching Update...

Prior to leaving for Arizona I completed crocheting the pillow I was working on. My stitching while in AZ was limited but I did get an ornament done.

Turtle Dove by Courtney Collection

Fabric: 16 ct in Khaki by Sassy's Fabbys

Thread: Manor Red by Crescent Colours

I did a little stash enhancement while visiting the Attic Needlework in Mesa, AZ. Was hard to contain myself with so many goodies everywhere! I got:

Santa's Got The Goods - Santa 08

Christmas Double Flip - Cookies/Santa

Christmas Double Flip - Tree/Candy

Christmas Double Flip - Faith/Cheer

Christmas Double Flip - Gifts/Wonder

Christmas Double Flip - Carols/Peace

Sea to Shining Sea-Border Chart (with silk floss)

West Coast, The (with silk floss)

Southwest, The (with silk floss)

Winter Sampler

Hester's Chart #2

Meeting new friends

I was lucky on this trip to Arizona to make the acquaintance of some fantastic ladies. While we've "known" each other for a while from our daily chats on the various Yahoo groups it was wonderful to put a face with the names.

Hubby and I took a trip to Tucson on Tuesday (sounds like a movie title huh?) and while he took a tour of the Pima Air Museum I spent my time visiting with Diane, Nikki and Sharon. I had such a great time!

On Wednesday I drove over to Attic Needlework and the first cheerful face I encountered was Jean, the shop owner. To say this shop was gorgeous is an understatement! It's a shop and museum all rolled into one. All the walls were covered in the most awesome models! Jean and her staff were just the friendliest. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you and yours a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello from AZ

Wow, we've been on the go since we arrived in Phoenix on Saturday. Patrick is interested in getting a Pendelton blanket and an internet search took us to Cabela's. To say this store is big is an understatement. Not only do the carry goods for almost any sport imaginable but they had the biggest display of taxidermy animals I'd ever seen. Here's a few of the photos we took. Look so real huh?