Exchange Received!

Happy Summer Days, everyone!

Apparently they have been lazy summer days for me, because this is all the stitching I've done in the last 10 days!

I do have fun things to share, though!  I participated in a "My Favorite Things" exchange through Stitched with Love Exchanges and I can show you what I sent and received since everyone has gotten their packages. :)

Here is the package I sent to Janet.  I loved stitching this adorable freebie, and it just lent itself to a little project bag...  I hope she liked it!

And here is what I received from June!

Isn't that the cutest little lamb, ever???  It is etched?, maybe, on a thin piece of wood and is SO sweet!

Here is the package itself.  I love how she color coordinated everything!  And do you see the pattern??  Home of a Needleworker, too!  It was on my wish list and I am thrilled!!

Here's a close up of the precious pillow that she sent.  I love the bunnies!!!

I'll be starting an ornament this week for our Friendly Stitchers group's Christmas in July exchange and challenge.  I think maybe I'll pull out the Muppet Christmas Carol to watch while I stitch. : )

TTFN!

Up for A Challenge

I got something done! :)  One of the gals on the Friendly Stitchers board challenged me to finish my penguin today, cuz I've been putting it off.  Have I mentioned (lately) that I *really* don't enjoy backstitching?  Well, I'm usually up to a challenge, so I said I would finish the penguin, AND finish sewing the binding on the little baby quilt that I made in January or February.  It was half sewn on and I put it away.  Why do we do that???

Here are the pictures...

Pattern from Tangled Threads
My own DMC choices

Scrap baby/doll quilt

TA DA!!!  ~~~

Thanks for stopping by!

Tricia

A Little Update

Let's start with a something fun!  There's a giveaway over at Just Stitching !  Be sure to stop by!!

OK... now on to my *little* bit of stitching.  I finished one of the blocks on my Jardin Prive piece and started another, but I really wanted to get this penguin finished for Father's Day and it has been SO hard for me to concentrate on stitching it!  I just have some outlining left and it will be ready for final finishing.  Then I can finish my JP piece.  YAY!!

Actually my main concentration the past few weeks is the stamping challenge that I took... to make 100 cards in 100 days without buying any new supplies.  I'm on card 15 right now, and I'm 11 days into the challenge.  It's been fun!

Happy stitching!

Tricia

I have a finish!

... But I can't show you yet! : )  LOL  I finished my exchange piece for the Stitched With Love exchange, but it is secret for awhile yet, so I can't show you.  I can tell you that I *love* how it turned out and I wouldn't have minded keeping it, though!! : )

The only other stitching that I did this week was on my Jardin Prive piece.  This is such a soothing piece to work on.  I don't really know why... maybe it's the colors?  Or the fabric?  I've found that I like Lugana so much more than Jobelan.  It's so easy to stitch on!  Anyway, I'm thoroughly enjoying this piece and I intend to finish it before I stitch anything else.  I'm feeling the need to actually complete at least one thing before I start the ornament exchange / challenge stitching for one of my groups in July.  Here's where I am right now...

There are 3 rows of three, plus a border of flowers and an outside border, so I'm probably about half done at this point.  I'll work on filling in the empty square tonight while I watch the rest of Jane Austen's "Emma"

Thanks for stopping by!

This Week in Stitches...

Hello again!

First, let me congratulate VERONICA, whose name I drew as the winner of the q-snap covers.  I hope you enjoy them!

Then on to this week's stitching!  Let's see.... I stitched more on my exchange piece, but I can't show you that yet.  And I did some stitching and outlining on O Holy Night...

And finished another block on Douceur de Vivre... 

and even stitched for awhile on Cabin Fever!!

I'm not sure I'll be happy with doing the outlining as I go on O Holy Night.  I'm sure some of it will get covered up... but I really, really dislike having to do it all at the end, and I'd rather it be *all done* when I'm done with the stitching rather than feeling like I'm having to stitch the entire piece again in backstitch.

Here's a little thank you gifty that I finished and sent off a week or so ago.  The pattern was one I stitched during the Crazy 15 last year, and I finally finished it into a little pin pillow stuffed with crushed walnut shells.  Aren't those pins adorable?  They are some that I picked up in Branson at Cecilia's Sampler from the My Big Toe trunk show.  I think they are precious!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  You all leave such nice comments and they make me smile. : )

Happy stitching!

Tricia

aka InkyStitcher : )

A Giveaway and an Update

Hello!

A few weeks ago I ordered some Q-snap Huggies from Christine's Q-Snap Huggies and she sent them *right* out to me.  Her shipping is amazing!  This was my first time using the huggies and I was surprised at how much extra fabric they were designed to hold outside of the q-snaps.  When I mentioned this to Christine, she went an extra mile (or two or three!) and made me two new huggies that were narrower, as I seldom use my smaller Snaps on projects large enough to have lots of extra fabric to tuck in.  I asked Christine if she would mind if I gave these two away so someone else could benefit by them and she said "Go Ahead!".  The Mary Engelbreit print will fit a 6x6 QSnap and the cute Coffee print is sized for an 8x8 or 8x11 Snap.  Remember, these will work best if you have lots of fabric to tuck in, otherwise your work area will be pretty small.  If you're interested go ahead and mention it in your comment on this post and I'll draw a name the next time I post an update. : )

Here are a few update pictures.  I *really* need to start on Cabin Fever again, but I'm not looking forward to it, so I think I'm procrastinating!

First, my progress on Oh Holy Night.  I am still enjoying this one so much!

Then a little more work on Jardin Prive's Douceur de Vivre... 

And a sneak peek at the exchange project I'm working on diligently.  This is SO pretty!!!

And finally a look at DH's progress on his Serenity Lighthouse...

Have a wonderful, wonderful week!!  

Scissors Scamper Winner and an Update!

Hello everyone!

Let's start with something fun...

I wrote out all the entrants into the Scissors Scamper and had my daughter pull a name.  The winner of the Scissors Scamper prize is LYNDA!  Congratulations!  If you'll email me your mailing address I'll get your prize out to you.  Thank you everyone for playing along!  I had fun seeing everyone's scissors. : )

Not a ton to show on the stitching front this week.  I decided that I am not thrilled with my choice to do the Yiota's kit over one.  I will probably restart it sometime and work from the middle of the chart instead of the top corner so I can see the dogs right away.  I don't think I could never do a HAED chart that had 5 pages of black or blue before you got to some color.  I really wouldn't enjoy it!  Anyway, the Yiota's kit is back on my someday/maybe list for now.

Here are my favorites for the week...

I love this Jardin Prive chart!  It is SO fun to stitch!

And "O Holy Night" is coming along, too...

And then, of course, we have the "I am such an idiot" moment for the week.  Apparently I don't like windows, because I stitched over the two back windows of my January Cottage completely.  And I'm leaving it that way, too!  Because I meant to do it that way  I don't want to frog the entire house!  Sigh.  That's what I get for not paying attention when I'm stitching!

The rotation for this week?  Well, I have an exchange piece to start and I want to work lots on the Jardin Prive and O Holy Night pieces.  I might put 15 minutes in on the Cottage, Cabin Fever, His Eye is on the Sparrow and my Turtle Needlebook, too... but those two and the exchange piece are what are calling my name at the moment.  We'll see!

Have a wonderful week!!

Blessings!

Tricia

Oh Hoppy Day!

I thought you might all get a kick out of the card I made today.  Perfect for a stitcher, huh?? LOL!!  I followed the cute sketch over at Card Positioning Systems and used a digital stamp by Sweet n Sassy that I colored with copic markers.

To all my fellow cross stitchers, I hope you are having a frog free day!!

New Rotation & Prize up for Grabs!!

Happy wet Wednesday!  It sounds so Spring-like here today.  The rain is falling gently...  ahhhh!!! : )

Lots and lots to show you today!  First off, how about a look at the prize for the Scissors Scamper.  There are just a few more days for you to link up your post of your scissor collection!  In keeping with the theme, I chose to stitch this adorable little Summer Fab Fob by Lizzie Kate for the winner and I'll include the scissors, too!  Of course, my dd looked at it and said... "what if one of your overseas gals wins??".  Hmmm.  Good point.  I guess you'll just have a keepsake from the US with our flag on it! : )

Here's the fob & scissors...

And here's the prize all together. : )

That was a fun project to put together, especially because I hadn't ever made my own cord before!! Yay!  I learned something new.  Now to try a pinkeep.  Hmmm.  Maybe next time!

After my trip to Branson and fun at the cross stitch store, I decided that I was going to try working through a rotation of projects again.  I need to keep going on my DH's Big Huge Project, but he said it didn't have to be done right away, so I feel better about taking it a little at a time again.

So, right now... at least until I change it in a week or so... here's my list of projects.

Sundays I'm going to work on O Holy Night by Stoney Creek.  I found some gorgeous Lugana fabric to use and I love how it is coming along so far.  Here's my start...

I wasn't sure if I could use Lugana with all my allergies, but I haven't had any problems yet and I love it!

Monday is Jardin Prive's Douceur de Vivre.  This has been in my stash for awhile and I think it is SO pretty.  And it has sheep on it! : )

Tuesday is the BHP - Cabin Fever.  It was easier last night because I was using the floor stand with it, so I got quite a bit done.

Today I'm working on Eye on the Sparrow by Silver Creek Samplers.  You'll see an update of that next week.

Thursday is be CCN's January Cottage...

Friday Old Colonial's Turtle Needlebook that I bought in Branson...  (I just have the other side to complete)

And Saturday is Yiota's Dogs Caroling kit.  I really hope I allowed enough fabric for this.  I have measured 6 or 8 times and I'm going to be really close!

Now... a couple of (very wrinkled) finishes!! : )

Lizzie Kate's ABC Lessons

28 Tea Monaco

Threads from Kit

And DH's first finish...

 He wanted to be sure that I showed you his current progress on his WIP, too.  He's doing such a good job!  It's fun to sit and stitch with him in the evenings!

Thanks so much for dropping by!  I've been horrible at commenting lately, but I am keeping up with everyone's posts.  We'll see if I ever catch up with myself enough to drop by and say hello! : )

Don't forget the Scissors Scamper!

TTFN!

Tricia
aka Inkystitcher

Amazing!!!

Hi everyone!  Long time no see!  I've been on vacation this past week and I had so much fun!

Here's what I stitched in the car...

And here was one of my favorite stops on the trip!!

Honestly I almost started hyperventilating when I walked in the shop.  It was jam-packed with goodies... patterns, accessories, threads, fabric....  I didn't know where to look first!  I had decided before we left that anything I got there would either be an accessory or a pattern that was completely kitted up... or possibly some fabric for one of the patterns I had here, so I started out at the scissors, and picked up this pretty pair by Bohin.  It is lovely!  Then I noticed a table of fobs and patterns that turned out to be a trunk show by My Big Toe.  The little pins and the fob and a few frog needle threaders joined my pile.  The pretty red fabric is a project case by Impie, Hattie and Bea for the Traveling Stitcher.  I have the cross stitch all done for it, but I had never bought the case.  So it came home, too...

  

While I was shopping, it seems my DH was, too.  He found these two patterns that he really liked...

And next thing I know he was asking where the threads were and how to pick them out.  You could have knocked me over with a feather when he announced that he was going to pick up two of the beginner patterns and learn to cross stitch over vacation, so he could make the lighthouse himself.  NO WAY!!!  (My dd's were speechless when I told them over the phone!).  Well, we spent a lovely afternoon stitching at the little cottage we had rented and he made great progress on his cow...

And he actually finished it when we got home last night.  And he liked it!  WooHoo!!  He's already asking for his own scissors and needle minder. : )

Speaking of scissors, look what I found in the mail when I returned??  Sandy sent me a pair of scissors almost exactly like the ones I had lost, and added the sweetest frog fob.  I *love* it!!!!!!!!  Thank you, Sandy!!

So... to continue my shopping saga... I ended up finding this chart that has been on my wish list for a year or so.  I would have kitted it up, too, but they didn't have the right fabric, so I just brought home the book.  I don't know when I can start it, although if I had it kitted up it just might jump into the front of my rotation.  SO pretty!!!!  Have any of you stitched this one??

We had a ton of fun away together... We shopped a lot (smiles!),  took lots of pictures, cross-stitched!!, played mini golf, ate (and ate and ate), went to a wax museum and the Titanic memorial museum, saw a gospel show, and relaxed in our little cabin.  Today I ordered the supplies to make a scrapbook of our trip, so I need to get all caught up by Friday when the order will probably arrive.  I want to work on it while the trip is still fresh in my mind!!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to link to the Scissors Scamper if you haven't already!

Blessings!

Tricia

March Ornament and New Friends

Hi everyone!  

I wasn't sure I was going to get an ornament done for the month of March, but on Saturday, DH asked me to take a 10 hour round-trip ride with him, so I kitted up this little L*K Tiny Tidings ornament to work on while we drove.  It was a hoot!  We were in a flatbed tow truck kind of thing and it was SO bumpy!!  It took me forever just to stab the needle through the right hole or count to three! However I was more than the bumps and finished all but one word or so by the time we got home.  :)

A little more progress on my L*K ABC Lessons.  I'll get back to the Cabin Fever piece in a few weeks, but I'd love to have this finished before I switch over!!

I know this is a crummy picture, but look at the adorable new friends that have shown up at my house in the last week or so.  My dd has started to crochet these precious bears.  Oh my!  They are adorable!!  Soft and fluffy and cuddly and they have such sweet expressions.  I told her she should start to sell them!!

Here's my card for the week...  Another MFT Pure Innocence gal spreading some love.  Perfect to send to my DD at college. : )

Thanks for stopping by!  I pray you'll have a wonderful Easter celebrating our risen Saviour and Lord!!

Blessings!

Tricia

My Busy Needle

Sweet Lynda sent me the traveling "Busy Needle" pattern by LHN the other day.  I had so wanted to stitch it since I saw it on BeckySC's blog, but it was exclusive to "The Busy Needle" cross stitch shop which seems to have since closed its doors, so I was thrilled when she mentioned that she would start it as a traveling pattern!!

Well, it came in the mail on Friday and I was so impatient excited to start that I couldn't stand the thought of waiting until Monday to pick up my floss, when I'll be at the cross stitch store.  Instead, I chose my own colors from those I had on hand and decided to stitch it on 28 ct Tea Monaco over one.  What fun!!  I stitched and stitched all day yesterday, and then, late last night, I realized that I had moved the entire top line over 3 threads.  Oh.My.  There was no way that I was going to frog that black box, so I decided to wing it.  And wing it I did.  I added leaves.  I added flowers.  I shortened vines and lengthened vines.  I omitted the outer border.  And then, just to be ornery different, I made the bees wings swirly on the bottom.  I think they are cute.  But if you are stitching this and think yours will look like mine when you're done... well, good luck with that! ; )

I can't decide how I'll finish it.  It's about 2" square so it would be a cute fob or needlebook... or even just framed...  We'll see!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tricia

New Finds, New Toys, and New Searches!

Inky has had a good week this week!  A bit ago, I saw that Anne had gotten one of these floor stand from Michaels.  I asked her about it and she gave it a good report, and so I grabbed my Michaels coupon and picked it up - for only $31.00!!  It's lightweight, but perfect for me - I can move it room to room.  It was fairly easy to put together, although it was missing a bolt on the bottom.  Never fear, though, the nice lady in customer service said she would send it out the next day.  

You'll notice that I'm taking a break from the Cabin Fever piece.  My back and shoulders have been so sore and working on that piece in hand has really aggravated them.  I was just going to work on this L*K ABC Lessons for a night or two, but then I got the stand and I can't stop!  I've made tons of progress since this post!

Can you spot Inky???  He's by the scissors...

I'll probably leave Cabin Fever on hold for a little bit, because I have the hard to find LHN Busy Needle chart in the mail from Lynda and it needs to be passed on when I am done.  So, of course, it needs to come next.  : )  I'm so excited to stitch that.  It is such a pretty design!

Speaking of pretty designs... I was cleaning out under the sink yesterday and I found my very own scissors frog that had been my Great-Aunt's... it even has her name in her handwriting on a piece of masking tape on the bottom.  Too cool.  I put it in a sherbet glass that I had in the cupboard, and loaded it with all my silver, pink and red scissors.  So pretty!  I've seen a few of these frogs on the Scissors Scamper.  Have you joined yet?  I'm going to be picking up part of the prize today or tomorrow.  Be sure that you are in the running!! : )

Now for a favor.  I have this Shepherd's Bush Fa La La chart and leftover threads that I would like to trade for a used Shepherd's Bush chart.  One of these charts would be really high on my list...

Sweet Stitches Fob

Hold Hope

A Lamb's Egg

O Say

Come Home

By the way, the stitched piece in the picture just shows what the chart looks like.  I won't be sending it along, sorry! ; )

OK, one last picture.  Here's the gorgeous St. Patrick's Day rainbow that was over our house.  It was double on one side and went from horizon to horizon.  There *must* have been a pot o' gold at the end of it, I'm sure!! ; )