Three LK finishes

When I started these three pieces last Sat. (Christmas Day), my intent was to just do 'part' of each of them, & then use them in my 15 projects for the 15 WIP challenge. But...as my son saw me working on them, he said "Mom, just finish them, you know you can." Well, that was all it took! I just kept working on them this week. So, from Sat. until today, I stitched all three of these pieces. These patterns were a RAK from my friend Sue V. She also included the fabric with the patterns, so that made it easy to kit them up. I finally got around to stitching them!
I am pretty sure I know how I am going to finish them. I think the 2 about grandkids are going to be on a tote bag.... I am not certain about the stitching one yet....
Now, I have to see how many WIP pieces I actually have for the challenge!!
Be sure to read the post about my PIF. Not many people have asked to be included.
Happy New Year to each & every one of you!!!

PIF time!

Early in 2010, I signed up for a PIF on Carol's blog. I had totally forgotten about this, until just before Christmas. She told me she was working on my PIF gift....I had to ask her when I signed up! I had forgotten!! Anyway, now it is my turn to host a PIF. I am copying her description of it, because it is so easy to understand!
Pay It Forward (PIF)~ verb: "1. to repay the good deeds one has received by doing good things for other unrelated people."
And now it is my turn! Would any of you like to participate in a PIF from me? The rules are very simple. I will send a stitched gift to three people who leave a comment (on this post only) requesting to join my PIF challenge. Knowing my love of ornament making, it will most likely be an ornament, but who knows--I'll surprise you! I have 365 days to fulfill my end of the bargain. If you are chosen as one of my PIF recipients, then you must offer the same on your blog to keep the kindness going... Please specifically mention in your comment if you wish to be considered for this...If more than three people sign up, I will have a drawing for three names. I will leave the drawing open until Jan. 9th.....
I have attached a picture of the PIF that Carol sent me, along with the Christmas gift she sent me!!! I love BOTH of these & they are on my craft room Christmas Tree.....sure hate to put it away for another year, but will this weekend.

for those who have been in suspense!

We went to my parents house today. I knew Dad had my finished product, but I sure didn't ASK for it......it drove him nuts!!!!! He said I am too patient...he was going to go get it!!!
Oh my! It turned out so much more beautiful than I thought it would/could!
He has been trying to come up with a way to do Cross Stitch pens for several years. He has finally found a way to do it & I think he has a keeper!!!!!
I am attaching three pictures. One is of my pen alone, one of my mom's alone & one of the two together.
Dad will be selling these at craft shows & also by special order for those who are interested. He said they will sell for $35.00 and then 4.95 for priority shipping. He will allow the person to stitch their own insert or he will have my mom stitch it for him.
We had a great day today, even thou none of us was totally in the Christmas mood! It just doesn't seem like Christmas with a family member missing....

Timely Finish

woohoo! I finished the SAL piece I was working on last night.
This was a freebie from last Christmas. I had probably 3/4 of it done & it got put away.......
well, I KNEW I wanted to finish it. Those of you who know me well, know I finish every piece that I start......it may take time, but I DO finish each & every one.
Well, I got this out a while back to work on finishing it......I couldn 't believe it......I was missing part 12 of 12. I emailed the designer, but it said right on her blog that she does not email parts out......I was lost! So...I posted on the 123 board my dilemma. Some kind person, who shall remain nameless, sent me part 12, so that I could finish it! Thank you so much!!!!!!!
I stitched this piece on 25 ct. opal. lugana, over 1, with 1 strand of floss. I used all different brands of floss on this! I have some GAST, some dmc, some Carries, some Polstitches.....
I love how it turned out!
My dad has informed me that the MYSTERY OBJECT is finished, but he will not show me a picture....he said I will see it in person tomorrow!!!!
I will share on here, as soon as I am able!
Merry Christmas to all of my faithful blog followers & commentors.....I appreciate each & everyone of you!!!!!!

Next Mystery Picture(s)

Well, the last picture didn't get many comments!
Will see if this makes it any easier for you or if it is more confusing!!!
I will also be updating my blog later today or tomorrow with a finish & an announcement about a PIF.........
stay tuned!!!

Ornament Finishes!!

I was involved in a RR ornament exchange with one of my groups. There were 6 of us stitching, so we each were to get 5 ornaments at the end. Mine arrived last week, but I was so busy, I didn't have time to 'finish' them.
Yesterday, I felt like stitching a quick ornament, so I did just that !!!! It was a freebie called Holiday Spirit (samplerbird stitchery) It is the ornament with the 5 Christmas words on it. My husband drew the shape for me, to make the finish. I liked the finish so well, I decided to use it for 2 of the ornaments.
The other 3 were stitched by girls in the group. Sandy stitched the other one that is shaped like Holiday Spirit. Karin stitched the little cabin scene & Vicky stitched the PS reindeer. I still have 2 more to do, but need to decide how to do them. I don't want to over do in one day!
I took these pictures on my basement landing trees. They are now upstairs....on my stitching tree1 I just thought this was a good spot to get a good picture!
I am working on a SAL from last year....hoping to finish it this week!!!!!!
If I don't post again before the weekend, I want to wish each & everyone of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! Thank you for stopping by this year & for your encouraging words to me!!!

15 New Projects Challenge, another clue & giveaway winner!

If you follow this link, you can learn about one of the challenges that I am doing for the New Year.
It is called Crazy January Challenge 2011.

http://minnanharrastukset.blogspot.com/
I took the following from the blog:


We have so many charts in our stashes, so let's start stitching them!
The rules are simple:

1. Start stitching a new design every day, from January 1st to January 15th. So by January 15th you have 15 new WIPs to stitch!

2. Try and finish everything you started stitching during the year 2011 :)

3. Show photos in your blog if you have one, in January and during the whole year while you stitch, as we all love to see photos!

4. If you wish to join, leave a comment with your blog address into this post and I will add your name to the list.

5. Have fun stitching!

I finished picking my 15 projects tonight. I have them all kitted up & ready to go on January 1st.
They are:
1. Raise the Roof Designs--- Nichodemus, found in the 2010 JCS ornament issue
2. LK Friendship Begins
3. JBW French Country Star---found in the 2010 JCS ornament issue
4-15. LHN Sampler Months (Jan. thru Dec)

I am attaching another picture of the piece I sent to my dad......this is your next clue...
I have another picture as well, but I will give everyone a few days with this picture!!!

Lastly, I used a random number generator to pick the winner of my Winter Welcome piece.
It drew #1.....this is Wayne. I will get your chart to you as soon as I can Wayne! Congrats on the win!!!!!

Part Two of Two

well, I have not had much stitching time over the past couple weeks. I have been very busy with my candy making & also a few batches of cookies, along with everything else a person does this time of year.
I can't tell you yet, at this time, what this SHOULD be when done, but I wanted to share a picture to spark interest!!!!!!
I have stitched two pieces, exactly the same like this. I am sending them off to my dad. If he is able to do what he plans with them, you will see the end results at a later date......
I am working on gathering projects for the two challenges for the new year, that are so popular on blogs right now!!!!! I haven't made my final choices yet, but I am getting close.
I am hoping to finish the 5 ornaments that I got back from my RR this weekend. I babysit tomorrow & we are going to make sugar cookies together.
Have a great rest of the week & take time to remember the Reason for the Season!!!

Winter Welcome Finish

When I updated this am, I KNEW I would probably finish this one today, but I was too anxious to show the boys ornaments to wait.....plus, I knew I had people wanting to see them!!!
I started this piece last night, after finishing the 3rd ornament. I have had it kitted up since the pattern came out...I believe my receipt said 2007. I used a Needle Necessities floss for the blue & WDW snowflake for the white. The buttons came with the chart. I joked with my husband that my framer probably can't make me a frame like the pattern shows. He looked at it & said he thinks my framer can!!!! So, we shall see!!!!
I have decided to do a give away. If you would like this chart, leave a comment & an email address for me to contact you. You will not receive the buttons, but chart only.
Thanks for stopping by, for commenting & keep on stitching!

THREE MORE FINISHES!!!!!!!

It seems that everything I do, is done in threes. I wonder why that is?!?!?!
Anyway, I put the finishing touches on THREE ornaments this am.....I am sure most of you can figure out WHY I did three all at once.
Yes, they are for my grandsons. Once I saw these patterns, I knew they were the ones I wanted to stitch. It was just a matter of figuring out how to finish them. I showed my husband some that I had finished for my stitching tree that looked like this finish. He thought it was appropriate...he said start simple & get more detailed as the boys get older. (I did an ornament last year too, but I am sure he has no clue how they were finished!!!)
This is a very simple finish, but looks great for ornaments.
I hope to have another finish or two this week.
I am pretty much over the 'crude' the boys shared with me over Thanksgiving, so I am making up for lost time.
Thank you all for visiting & have a wonderful Christmas season!!!!

Little Heart SAL finish

It feels great to have a WIP finished!!!!!! I started the Little Heart SAL as soon as it came out in January. I got Dec.'s block the other night & started it right away. I would have had it finished last night, but the frog paid me a visit & I had to rip. I will blame it on my mucas filled head.
We had our boys last week. They were are 3 very kind & shared well with grandma. Yes, they gave me their wonderful colds. Mine turned very sinusy this week.
I also am working on another WIP Christmas project from last year, but do not have a picture right now. I hope to work hard on it this coming week.
I am also working on ornaments for the 3 little angels. I have one done, but I will not show pictures until all 3 are done. I have started the second one. I need to decide how I will finish them.
I am going to keep this short. My time is very limited this time of year & I know everyone else's is as well.
I thank each & every one of you, from the bottom of my heart for reading & commenting on my blog. You don't know how much it means to me!
Have a super duper weekend!