Happy Friday

I'm looking forward to this weekend and a visit from my daughter who lives in AZ. Hope to have some quality time just chatting, visiting, and maybe a little shopping (she's the only one willing to brave the mall with me). Hope yours is just as special!

Quote of the Week

Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

-- Marcel Proust

Weekend Update

After indulging in some quick finishes last week I was ready once again to make a dent in the larger pieces I have in rotation. My focus was on two very long neglected pieces. 

Needle Mania as of 10.24.08

Needle Mania as of 01.20.09

Needlemania by Marc Davis

Carnation Quaker Sampler as of 08.03.08

Carnation Quaker Sampler as of 01.21.09

Stickideen von der Wiehenburg - Home

My carry a long piece was this cute little "Be Jolly" Santa by Barbara Ana Designs.

Counted Cross-Stitch Designs by Barbara Ana

Last but not least is the lovely gift I received from my husband for Valentine's Day.

TGIF indeed!

Look that I found waiting for me today. A lovely Special Friends Award from my good friend Sherry, Blog It  Thank you so much!!

The description for this award reads, "These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give attention to these kind writers. When you pass this away along please include these guidelines, I am to choose eight friends to share this with."

So hard to choose just eight but here goes:

Willing Hands

Julianne's Stitching Corner

Be-Stitched

Anita's Stitching

In My Element

Shari's sharings

Renee's Stitching

Kim's Northwoods Discoveries

Blog Tag

I've been honored by Connie B for the "Fabulous Blog" award. Thanks for the honor Connie.

My five favorite things are:

Spending time with my hubby

Stitching

Reading

Taking photographs

Stitching, stashing with my girlfriends

Now to tag 5 other bloggers, hmmm...hard to chose there are so many wonderful blogs out there that I enjoy visiting and reading...but here goes:

eHandcrafts Stitching Room

Willing Hands

The Twisted Stitcher

Dragon My Needle

Nicole's Needlework

New from LHN

** Traveling Stitcher **

** State Fair **

** Liberty and Justice **

Weekend Update

I concentrated most of my stitching this week to a few small projects. I was feeling a little overwhelmed by my larger pieces and just needed a few quick finishes to get my "mojo" going again. First I completed another design from the Prairie Schooler booklet, Christmas Past #51. I've done 5 out of the eight so I'm ready to put this one aside and tackle Santa's 12 Days also by Prairie Schooler. Since I've been in a PS mood I also completed a Santa from St. Nicholas II, Book #36 and finished it into my first ever floss tag. I love how it turned out and my head is churning with other ideas.

Finishes 3 and 4 is Ink Spots #1 by Ink Circles. This design was generously given to us by Tracy to test some colors/floss for stitching Growth Rings, a design featured in the April/May 2009 issue of Just Cross Stitch. I'm leaning towards stitching this design in the red/blue configuration but did the green version as a gift for my mother who celebrates her birthday on St. Patrick's Day.

DMC Variations 4210 & DMC 336

DMC Variations 4050 & DMC 581

Happy Valentine's Day

Add Glitter to Pictures

Happy Birthday Mr. Lincoln

Former President Abraham Lincoln was born on this day 200 years ago. The 16th president of the United States guided this country through the most devastating experience in its national history-- the Civil War. Lincoln's achievements, saving the Union and freeing the slaves, assured his continued fame in being considered to have been the greatest American president.

"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts."

Weekend Update

I spent most of my week working on a new model which I was able to finish on Thursday evening and ship back to the designer on Friday.

My take-along project was another design from Christmas Past, Book #51 from Prairie Schooler. This upcoming week I hope to work on the 5th design from the booklet. These small designs are jut perfect for working on during my lunch hours and satisfy my urge to have a quick finish in the midst of my larger WIPs.

I also added Part II to Alla Turca, a mystery SAL by Pelin Tezer.

The Cross Stitch Guild

I've been curious about this since I first saw the notice in a magazine so I decided to join The Cross Stitch Guild which was formed by designer Jane Greenoff. The CSG deals with cross stitch and other forms of counted embroidery, such as Hardanger and canvaswork.

This is my "welcome" package from CSG. 

For more information check out their website at:

The Cross Stitch Guild

Weekend Update

I was really "in the zone" this week and spent almost all my free time stitching and trying to make a dent in my WIPs. Rather than concentrate on one piece I rotated a few projects and I'm quite happy with my results. First the finishes. This was my carry-a-long project which I worked on during my lunch hours.

Santa, The Prairie Schooler

Christmas Past, Book #51

This adorable finish came from this blog: 

http://cargaudlabrico.canalblog.com

I've fallen behind on Book of Ink Circles (aka BoINK) but I plugging away on it and hope to catch up soon. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! : )

Part Five of the Spanish Sampler by Periphaeria Designs was released so I worked on that one right away and was able to do it in two sittings.

http://www.periphaeria.com/