Almost a new year already

I can't believe how fast this past year has gone! It feels like the kids had just started back to school not long ago and here we are with the new year ready to start and another new semester for the kids. Time sure flies!
I really don't want to make any resolutions for the new year, as I just never stick to them anyways. LOL
I received my ornament from Chris the other day and some very pretty fabric. The Christmas socks didn't make it to the picture as they are already in the wash, my feet were cold when i opened the package and look at that, a pair of socks. LOL Thanks Chris, I love the ornament!! and goodies!!

Last year in the Fair & Square Christmas Round I rec'd my squares from WendyJo. She stitched Jolly Holiday by Lizzie Kate and I finally finished them this past week.


Finely Finished has also been busy (if you didn't already know, that is my finishing service). Ruth sent me an ornament and another piece to be made into a No Sew Cube. For the ornament I just used some pretty trimming with just one gold pin at the top, simple but that is all this beautiful piece needed. :) and the no sew cube was for Ruth's nephew so no "bows" keep it simple and non-girlie. LOL I used the fabric that Ruth had sent to me (for both pieces actually) and I think they turned out pretty good.




Michele had also sent me a couple pieces to be finished. There is Sew Noel that I made into an ornament for her, another simple ornament, as it didn't need anything busy or funky on it. Now, the no sew cube, funky. I love the colors and both Michele and I like funky. LOL I had this fabric that came in a pack and it just worked perfectly. I think the bows turned out pretty good too. Michele seems to like them, so that is good!! :)





One last item that I finished last week for myself is the LK 2008 Christmas Kit. I made it into a Flat-fold and really liked how it turned out.
Have a safe and happy new year everyone!

HOE ornament has landed in Australia

I have heard that Tessa has rec'd her ornament from me from the HOE ornament exchange. I really liked stitching this one, one color and finished with the whip stitch to make the ornament. It is a Plum Pudding design but do not remember the name right now. i used Belle Soie Sister Scarlet. I did steal Tessa's pic from the exchange blog, since it is on her tree already it looked much better than my pic.

Here are a couple pics from our softball christmas party this past Sunday night. The big guy was there again this year. I believe this is our 11th softball christmas party with almost all the same families. Lots of food, fun, food, martinis (yum), Santa and our annual ornament exchange. We play the "dirty santa" game for our ornament exchange. the kids are now joining in the fun as well. These pics are of Doug & I with Santa, Santa playing jingle bells on his flute and TOny got to sit on Santa's lap as well as all the kids. Santa brought a special gift for Tony. It is a license plate thingy, with a turtle that says "I am Running". Tony and I are the slowest on the team and I guess Santa thought it would be funny (not sure who on the team did it, but it was pretty funny)



I also went to my LNS, The Attic on Saturday afternoon for the Kris Kringle party and ornament exchange. THere were a bunch of us there and 13 of us participated in the ornament exchange. I haven't taken an individual picture of the ornament i rec'd or brought but they are in the pics here. I rec'd from Angelica this really cute snowman button tree ornament beautifully finished (it's on the left of one of the pics) and to the right of it is the ornament i brought. It is the maroon reindeer with maroon cording. I believe it is from last year's JCS issue. Here are a few pics i took of the ladies stitching and talking. This first picture has Paula from Kelmscott Designs (in the black/white shirt, she is a winter visitor to AZ from Canada) and Sharon from Crescent Colours (next to Paula, looks like Sharon was describing something :)) who lives here in AZ and Jean the owner of The Attic (sorry Jean, you got cutoff a little bit, on the far right).

Better picture of ornament

I stole Nicole's picture she took of the ornament i stitched for her. It is by The Sampler Girl from this year's JCS ornie issue. Nicole's pictures are always perfect so here it is.

Dear Santa...........

Dear Santa,

I haven't written in a long time, but here we go. I have been a pretty good girl this year and have a wish. I love fabric and can always use more ;), and my Santa wish list is this, Sent with Love fat quarter bundle by Deb Strain for Moda Fabrics from the Fat Quarter Shop. Here is a picture for you too. I will leave milk and cookies out for you and carrots for the reindeer.

Ornaments, ornaments, ornaments

I have rec'd my ornament from the HOE Christmas Ornament exchange from Melissa W. OMG! Melissa stitched a design from Cherrywood Designs, it is two-sided stitching with added jingle bells. To say I LOVE it is an understatement. It is WAY too cute!!! Thank you again Melissa!



I have also heard from Nicole that she rec'd her ornament from me for the HO HO HO Exchange we are in. I stitched the Sampler Girl's ornament from this years JCS ornie issue. I stitched it over 1 on a misc piece of coffee dyed/baked fabric by me. I am going to stitch this one for me for next year. It is really small but oh so cute. I used beads along with the whip stitch to sew it together and was pretty pleased with how it turned out.

a fabulous giveaway

Hi! you need to check out Karyn's fabulous giveaway she is having.

Fair & Square pics

I have finally uploaded the pics of my fair & squares that I rec'd from Sabine in Germany. Sabine stitched this wonderful stocking for me. Hopefully i will get it "finished" into an ornament by this weekend. I love it and it's red. Thank you so much Sabine!

Also, here is the ornament that i stitched for Kathy in the ornament exchange from the 123 message board. It is a freebie pattern but do not recall the name or designer. I found the cutest trimming for it. I am going to have to stitch him for myself as well (seems to be a pattern here with all the exchanges i have done lately). LOL


And, lastly, here are a couple of the other family pics we had taken yesterday. One of the whole family just pondering life. LOL and the other is of Doug and I.

Brrrrrr, it's chilly outside..........

Surprised to hear that from me? LOL It's a very overcast, drizzly (very slightly drizzly) and chilly day here in AZ. Doug was up in Flagstaff helping some guys elk hunt and it was snowing up there all weekend. I think it might be time for some hot cocoa. yummy.

well, i have pics of the 3 ornaments I donated to the Breast Cancer Silent Auction at The Attic. I didn't get to go, I only got sicker. I ended up with bronchitis, laryngitis and an ear infection but getting much better now.




I was part of the ornament exchange on the 123 stitch message board that Sue coordinates. Kathy from England and I had each other this year. I have rec'd my ornament from Kathy. I really like it, it's very cute. I haven't heard yet if Kathy has rec'd her ornament from me as of yet, so can't post that pic just yet.

I recently finished a blackwork hanging ornament for Theresa here in AZ. Theresa sent me her stitched piece and wanted it for a door hanger. This was the largest ornament (6x6) that i have finished but very simple and pretty.

Friday night after Thanksgiving I went to Zoolights at the Phoenix Zoo with my sis and her family and my cousin and her family and my Aunt Cathy. It was very pretty and cool but very very busy. Never go on opening weekend. Here are a few pics from the zoolights. There was a treefrog i had to take a pic of (LOL), a rattlesnake, cactus, etc. One is of my niece and nephew in front of the 2 zebra.

Rudolph has landed

My ornament for Michele in the HO HO HO ornament Exchange has landed in WA. I had a blast stitching him and finishing him. lots of beads used on the pinkeep ornament. It sounds like she also really likes him, Michele just LOVES reindeer, and i changed the wording to be red since that is her favorite color (and i really did not like the green it called for, it was so off of the design). :)


My blogoversary stitched goodie has also arrived at its new home with Staci. I had stitched JBW's french country pumpkin and made it into a pinkeep. Enjoy Staci.



I have rec'd my ornament from Kathy in England but haven't taken a pic yet. This was from the ornament exchange on the 123 message board. I love it Kathy. Hopefully hers will land soon to her as well.

My LNS, The Attic Needlework here in Arizona has an annual Breast Cancer Silent Auction every November (tomorrow night) and I have stitched 3 ornaments to donate to it. Hopefully if i am feeling better i will be able to go tomorrow night, i have never been yet. All the ornaments, scissor fobs w/scissors, stitched boxes w/accessories, etc, etc etc are donated by stitchers for the cause. I believe last year they raised just over $15,000 that went right to the BC cause. I will post pics later when i take pics of them before i take them over today.

November already..........

Well, it's November already and it's still pretty warm here in AZ. It started to cool down (went from 100-55 almost overnight), then right back up to the 90's. GRRRRR hopefully soon it will cool down.
I know i posted a pic of the wonderful Halloween exchange i rec'd from Lynn, but she had a much better pic up, so i want to share her pic as well. It really shows off the pieces she made for me much better. Thanks again Lynn.

Caroline has rec'd my HOE Halloween exchange so i can share the pic of the exchange. I stitched Oct 31st from this years JCS Halloween issue. It was a really fun stitch.


My finishing service, Finely Finished has been busy lately. I just finished 4 pieces for Toni. There are 3 hanging ornaments and one flatfold. These were fun to finish for Toni. The SB design gave me a bit of fun trying to match the right backing fabric to it, but we finally found the perfect one. Sometimes that rose color linen is just tricky to match but we did it. :)

I have been stitching on exchanges recently so cannot share the pics as of yet, but soon. Not much else really going on around here in AZ, just trying to still stay cool. We are doing the MS Walk this weekend through the Phoenix Zoo, so that should be fun. We try to do it every year. We walk for my mother, myself and my oldest daughter who all have MS. Wish us luck.

Also, here is a pic of the english bone plate i picked up awhile ago at one of the antique shops. It is from England, Utopian is what is on the back. I cannot remember the rest of the info on it.

And, last but not least, here is a pic of my niece and nephew on Halloween. Allison was a "pirate girl" and Matthew was Angus Young from AC/DC (he is an AC/DC fanatic at 6).

Here is Allison's pirate face. LOL