Exchange Received & New Work from my dad

Hi all,
over the course of the holiday, I got so busy, I didn't get a picture posted of the exchange I received.
Michele had my name for an ornament exchange in one of my groups.
What a nice surprise I came home to one day last week. Not only did Michele send me an ornament that she stitched, but she also included some floss tags that are fantastic, 3 Christmas-y skeins of floss & a package of sticky notes. All of this was in an adorable snowman tin. She didn't know I love snowmen & tins!!!!!!Thanks so much Michele!
Next, I told my dad about a needle case I saw on someone's blog a while back. I thought it was something he might could do for craft shows. (they go to craft shows nearly every weekend in the fall & early winter)
I am attaching a picture of what he came up with! He said these will hold about 20-25 needles that are up to 2 1/2 inches long. He is going to sell them for between $12.00 & $15.00. If anyone is interested, let me know & I will put you in contact with him.
Have a great week!!! thanks for all the kind comments!!!!!!

Holiday weekend recap

Wow, have I been busy!!! I babysat on Mon, Tues & Wed. as always. But, on Wed. I also did my normal Thurs. errands, since Thurs. was a holiday. I was on the go from before sun up til after sun down on Wed.
Thurs. I did the Thanksgiving meal. Since our family is now 3 generations, we were at my house. Our college son was home & our son & DIL & the triplets were here as well. We had a real nice day.
Friday we got up dark & early!!! DH, DIL & I went shopping. We were at Kohl's at just after 5. We got some real good deals, everywhere we went. We were back here by 10 am. She went back over to her parents house, where they were staying. DH & I went back to town. We had a couple places that weren't open in the early hours!
They all came back over here late afternoon. They asked if we would keep the boys in the evening & over night. Of course we said sure!!!!! It gave us a taste of what we are in for!!! We are keeping the boys for 2 weeks later this month.
Yesterday, we were all here all day.
Today, the house is quiet. Son & DIL left early to head home. College son headed back to college. Now, it is just DH & I. I am catching up a little & then I am going to do something I haven't done since Tues. I AM GOING TO STITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Jennie's Rudolph

A new stitcher is born!!!!! Two weeks ago today, I taught my friend Jennie how to stitch. She took her project home & had it done before I saw her again that following Sunday. We were not able to get together last Tues., but she was able to come over today.
She brought along her finished project. Not only did she finish the stitching, she finished the stitching into an ornament. Her backing fabric is PERFECT!!!!!!!!!! I like how hers looks better than mine!!!! GREAT JOB JENNIE, since I know you read my blog!!!!!
I had printed several freebie patterns for her to look at today. We picked out the one we thought we would like to do. (I do the same thing as she does, along with her!!!!) We then went in to find a piece of fabric. She saw this piece of opal. aida & said it was perfect. She asked if it was big enough for both of us. I measured & it was close enough. Not quite 3 inches extra all around, but close enough!!!
So....we both started working on this project. Mine will take a back seat for a while, since I have so many other things that MUST be done before Christmas, but next time we get together, I will pull it out!!
Happy Thanksgiving one & all!

Stocking SAL, Part 4

good morning! Wow, third post in just a few short days!
We got part 4 of the Stocking SAL yesterday, so I worked on it right away. Well, actually, I worked on Christmas Village first, but then I worked on this one. I knew it wouldn't take long!!!! I actually took it along to a business meeting last night. I knew I could listen & stitch at the same time. The hardest part was the lighting. It was a little hard to see, since the floss is light colored & I am stitching over 1 on 25 ct. But...alas, I got it!!!!
I haven't decided if I am going to add the words to the side or not...that is part 5. SO...this MAY be done, ready to be finished!
Have a great day!!!
SO APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS & VISITS FOR CHRISTMAS VILLAGE!!!!

Christmas Village---Half way point!!!

I do believe I have hit the half way point, or maybe a little beyond!!!!! I just finished the lace part on the bottom!!!!! Now, it is time for the lace of the top part.
I am putting this away for a little while thou, to work on some small stuff between now & Christmas. I want to catch up on & finish the Christmas SAL piece. I am also keeping up on the stocking SAL. I printed part 4 & am getting ready to work on it. It should be done yet today.
I also need to work on my B. Potter for the month of Nov. yet.
I told my husband that I promise Christmas Village WILL be done in plenty of time for next Christmas!!!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!!!
I am so thankful for online friends who read my blog & especially those who leave comments, as then I know who to be thankful for!!!!!

Christmas SAL progress

hi there! I am WAY BEHIND on this one, but I just finished parts 3 & 4. I may just keep working on this over the weekend to get more caught up. (part 10 came out yesterday)
I am loving how it is coming together. I am stitching this on 25 ct. white opal. lugana. My very favorite fabric for so many projects!!!!
Thanks for all the comments on my last post & for your private emails giving me your opinions. I was worried I was too harsh, but I was convinced I wasn't!
I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, incase I don't update again before then!!!

SAL Progress & exchange received

I finished part 3 of the stocking SAL. I am loving this piece more & more each time!!! The colors are so pretty!!!!
Also, I received word that Wendy received the Christmas ornament I sent her. I am involved in 2 ornament exchanges. One was to be mailed by the end of Oct. The other I had more time on. (Wendy's) Well, I got them both done, so I sent both of them on Oct. 31st. I have not heard anything about the other one, but Wendy got hers. I have not heard BOO about the one I am to receive from the first exchange. (Wendy's is the reindeer one!!!)
I am really getting frustrated with exchanges. The group moderators set mail dates for a reason. I don't think in all the time I have done exchanges, I have received something in a timely manner. Mine are always late. What ever happened to being timely??
Ok, off my soapbox & back to my stitching!
Thanks for visiting & have a wonderful day. Looks like a great day to stitch here!!!!!

Stocking SAL progress

I just finished parts one & two of the Stocking SAL. I am now ready for part three, which comes out on Sunday or Monday!
I am loving this piece!!! I am stitching it on 25 ct. opal. lugana over 1 with a dinky dyes floss. It is so delicate----I love it!
Now, the rest of the weekend goes back to Christmas Village!!!!
Have a great weekend & thanks for stopping by & for letting me know you were here!!!

quick and easy finish

I was working hard on my stocking SAL today, but took a break this afternoon to teach a dear friend how to stitch. I have taught many different ages of people how to stitch. I started with a little girl when she was in kindergarten. She basically pulled the needle when I put it thru the holes. Then, I taught a bunch of high school girls. They basically could have cared less about learning. (it was required of them at the time) Today, I taught a dear friend who could be my mom! Well, guess who caught on & did a great job!?!?!? Yup!!! She got the idea right away.
We both sat down with our projects. I chose the Rudolph freebie by The Stitcherhood. I decided 14 ct. aida would be best for her.
She had to leave before she could finish, but I sent everything home with her. I told her I would be finishing mine tonight. At first, I was going to 'finish' it into an ornament, then I changed my mind. I decided it would be a great pin cushion, so that is how it is finished!!!!!
Now, this evening, it is back to the stocking SAL. I need to finish parts one & two.
Have a great evening & thanks for all of the comments on my recent posts. They are so appreciated!!!

Productive Weekend

It is amazing how much can get done if we stay home on the weekend! The only place we went this weekend was to church yesterday am.
Friday night, we hosted my parents over night. They did a craft show in our area on Sat., so they stayed here, to be closer that morning. I got a little stitching done that night.
Sat., we got busy after mom & dad left. First on the list was tilling the garden. DH used the big tiller & got the bulk of it done. I then took my mantis tiller to it & got it ready for spring.
He mowed the yard while I was doing this.
I came in & stripped & remade 3 beds. Did lots of little clean up things.
In the afternoon, I got busy in the kitchen. It is time to start on my Christmas goodies!!! I made 2 1/2 batches of my Choc. Covered Peanuts. I also made a batch of cookies, which went in the freezer.
In between everything else, I was working on my Christmas Village. I was getting quite bored with it, since it is all white stitching right now. I can only do so much of that without a break!!!!
Yesterday was another gorgeous day. We took advantage of the warm temps & got my car washed & waxed.
I started my Stocking SAL yesterday. I am behind on it, but hope to catch up today. I have parts one & two, so I have combined them & am doing both parts.
I also made another batch of cookies last night & put them in the freezer right away as well. My freezer is looking very Christmasy!!!
Have a wonderful day!!! Thanks for stopping by & for your kind comments!!!!!

Sew Autumn Finish

I just put the finishing stitches in my Sew Autumn piece. I had fun stitching this... I love to stitch the alphabet. This floss was so pretty that it was fun to watch the motifs develop. Now, I have the rest of the weekend, so I am going to devote the stitching time to my Christmas Village. I won't say any names, but someone who lives in this house, that got it for me for Christmas a couple years ago, would really like to see me work on it!!!
Have a great weekend & thanks for visiting & for commenting!!!

Crow Pillow Finished!

My little pillow is finished! I am real happy with how it turned out!!! This will look cute setting with my other autumn decorations!
I used the fabric that it is laying on for the back of it!
Thanks for looking & I really appreciate those of you who take the time to leave a comment! It means so much to me!

A finish, a progress picture & update

I finished Crows today! What a FUN stitch!!!!!! I am going to make this into a small pillow with the cracked walnut shells as the filler. I bought this bag a long time ago & it is about time to use it!!
I worked on my B. Potter a little more in the month of Oct. I don't work on it a lot, but I love it every time that I do!
I gathered my supplies for the Christmas stocking SAL today. I need to start it real soon. I think it is going to be so pretty! I will keep you in suspense as to what color scheme I chose!
I hope everyone had a great weekend!!! We did!!! We went to Hobby Lobby & got a mat board cut for my Bethlehem piece.
We took a walk yesterday afternoon, so I am attaching a couple of those pictures too! Mr. Cardinal is in my bird bath.
Have a great week!!!!!