Another year has gone by

Where has the time gone? It really does fly by faster the older we get doesn't it? LOL I have been busy stitching Christmas Ornaments for family and exchanges, will post pics once i get them uploaded here. sigh....

I have joined Measi's WIPocalypse 2012 and have listed my first 15 WIP's that i want to get finished. Once I finish one, I will replace it with another WIP. I have way more than I ever imagined I would and will not post that number on here as it is WAYYY out of control. another big sigh............ BUT I am determined to finish alot of them and not let myself by any stash, except for fabric or threads if needed for a project until i have a few finished, etc. I have punished myself with not buying stash. LOL There is just one new start in the list and that one is Percy by Heart in Hand that i have just recently purchased (before Christmas) and want to get finished and up on my mantle with all my snowmen for the winter. Backwater Buck, affectionately known as, That Damn Deer, WILL be finished before March! It is for my hubby and it has been a UFO for close to 15 years. AHHHHHHHHH hence the name, that damn deer. LOL Our anniversary is March 2nd and I really want it done and then i can just rest easily, especially since he asks about it ALL the time.

I will post pics sometime this weekend of all 15 WIPS, so we can see progress etc. I have also purchased a large project for 2012 but won't allow myself to start it until i have at least 3 projects finished. It is Judy O'Dell's Mary Wigham 1790 Wardrobe and is absolutely stunning. Just click on that link Judy O'dells above and you can see detailed pics of it. It is a huge taking on, but i am in love with it, not the color as I am changing that to a red or blue.

Well, I need to get stitching, and hopefully back tomorrow with pics of my wips. Happy New Year to you all and have a safe and healthy one!!!

Pay It Forward

1). Send no less than 5 stitching related items per person within the next 365 days.

2). Items can be DMC, other threads, stitching needles, straight pins, buttons, scissors, ribbons, ect. - a combination of items such as 3 threads, 1 pack of straight pins, and 1 pack of stitching needles or just 5 threads.

3). The items must be new and not used.4). If you win, you must be willing to post this PIF on your blog and do the same for at least 2 people.

This PIF is very simple and easy to do.So that's all there is to it. Just leave a comment on this post (with your email please) and you're entered. I'll be picking 2 winners 2 weeks from today. Feel free to post this on your blogs or tell your friends about it. The more the merrier. Have fun with this and good luck!

Winner of Giveaway is................

The winner has been drawn and it is ......... Charity! Congrats! I have emailed you Charity, but if you could please email me at kmdecker2000@yahoo.com that would be great. My computer sent it from some email but i can't find my sent email. LOL darn computers!

Belated-Blogoversary Giveaway

***updated: winner will be announced Nov 1st****

Well, my blogoversary was yesterday and i missed it. LOL I wanted to have something stitched up to have as a giveaway but just no time right now. SOOOOOO, i am going to still have a blogoversary giveaway for a stack of pincushions made by me. They will be 4 in, 3 in, and 2 in. I made some for the PALS sewing exchange and had a hard time letting go of them so need to make more and of course a stack for me too.

If you would like to be entered into my "be-lated blogoversary giveaway" just make a comment on this post. You do not have to have a blog to be entered but you do need to leave an email for me to be able to get in touch with you if you are the winner.

It's September already?

And it is still hot here in AZ. ugh! I cannot wait for the day to open the doors and windows and no AC. I haven't been getting much stitching done lately, don't know if it's the heat or the combination of the heat and the grandbaby. He does take up alot of time but so worth it. Shane is 6 months old now and starting to crawl, lord help us now and just started sitting himself up by himself in the last couple days. He is such a chunker.


And here is Shane with Madison, Melissa's daughter and our grandbaby. Melissa is a third daughter to us, as best friend to our daughter and has lived with us on and off. look at all that hair on little Madi.

I was asked by Sharon Crescent of Crescent Colours/Miss Crescents Crowne to stitch and finsih and couple ornaments for her this year. What fun is that?! Here is Jolly that she stitched and I finished for the JCS Ornament issue. I corded some fun fur in lime green and couched it on around the edges, fun!

And here is the one I stitched and finished for Sharon for the JCS Preview issue. very fun. Used a red satin ribbon and ruched it around the edges and twisted a bendable wire for the hanger with a couple red jingle bells.

I do have a couple little finished i managed to stitch up and finish last night for myself. I have to take pics of some of my other larger wip's i have been working on, but really need to get moving on my exchange pieces for the PALS retreat in Oct in Myrtle Beach.
Here is Jolly by Miss Crescent's Crowne from the JCS ornie issue that I stitched up for myself.

Here is Happy Halloween by Fresh Threads Studio that i stitched up for myself as well. It is stitched on 30ct WDW Pumpkin and i made the hanger out of bendable wire and just threaded the buttons through it.

And here is Life's A Beach by Lizzie Kate that i finished up during the summer.

I just wanted to stop by real quick and let you all know I am alive just been really busy with this little guy.

Added lots of sale items

I just finished updating my sale blog with lots of stash for sale. come take a look! if you see anything you like you can email me at kmdecker2000@yahoo.com

GO! baby cutter giveaway

on Amy's blog here
Go check it out! hoping and hoping i win this one! really want to play with it and have some more fun with the sewing machine!

wow, halfway through July already

**updated with a couple more pics - evening July 18th**

and here i am finally posting some pics. OY! Its just been crazy and this new computer has me frazzled (its a newer system than what we are used to). LOL
Diane and I decided to do a 4th of July exchange so i brought mine with me to Indiana to give to her. I stitched Thankful for Ewe by Crescent Colours using CC and coffee dyed the fabric. I painted and waxed the box and added some other goodies in the box too. There were other goodies but i forgot to take a pic of everything.

And here is the pillow that Diane made for me, it is a Chessie & Me design and i love it! she did an awesome job!

Well, I went to Indiana in June for a week to hang out with my dear friend Diane and we were going to the Only One Ewe retreat for the weekend to also hang out with another dear friend Yvonne. What fun we had! It was so nice to hang out with a stitching friend and do all those wonderful fun things we enjoy doing, like stitching of course, shopping, tearing up the craft room (LOL) and stitching and more shopping, etc. And of course Harley, Diane's schnauzer, he was my buddy while i was there. What a great little dog he is. :)

I got there late Monday night and on Tuesday we drove to Cincinnati OH to go to a not so LNS but a couple hour drive and so worth it to go to Keepsakes. I cannot remember how long we were there but it was quite awhile. We were sitting on the floor going through everything she had in the shop. LOL I didn't get any pics of our stash we acquired (maybe thats a good thing, because we shopped really well). On Thursday we drove up to Indianapolis to pick up Yvonne from the airport but since her plane was delayed a couple hours we stopped in the LNS there as well while we waited for her and did some damage there as well. I found a couple charts i have been looking for for awhile, VooDoo Girl and VooDoo Bob. I have seen them stitched up all over the internet but can never find the patterns, well i now own them. :) They are just too cute.
After picking up Yvonne it was another bit of a drive to Terre Haute (haute sounds like coat, if you didn't know, i didn't) LOL for the retreat. We got all checked in and met up with Jan of Only One Ewe and the other gals that were retreating with us. Vonna the Twisted Stitcher was also one of us there and what fun she is! She also taught a class on Saturday with the stitching we did before we all got there. (sorry my picture is crooked) LOL

At the retreat we had a couple exchanges, one was a Christmas ornament exchange. I stitched two pieces for it and right now only have pic of one. LOL (the other is on the camera and need to upload software to new computer).

Here are the two ornaments i rec'd in the exchange. Oh joy was stitched by Diane and the bluebird was stitched by Brenda. I love them both!

Happy 4th of July!

I am hoping that blogger will let me post, it has been a pain in the butt to say the least the last couple months. grrrrrrrr I have been stitching but not able to post pics and got a new computer so need to upload camera software. LOL

But, just wanted to stop by real quick and say Happy 4th of July to everyone and updates with pics will be coming shortly as i can get them on here. :)

Hope everyone is staying inside and cool, it was 118 here on saturday! UGH!!! we did have 30% humidity with it, but the 118 alone was enough.

stay cool!

Just a few finishes to share

I need to get better at my blogging here. This going a month between posts is ridiculous. LOL First off, I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. It was quite a nice day here, 82 and breezy.

I have been stitching but a couple I can't share as they were models and for the JCS ornie issues, so you will just have to wait to see those. :0) They are cute!

I have had a few finishes for others with Finely Finished. First there is this very cute LK design that Bette stitched up for an exchange and I finished it into a flatfold for her. Just love the colors on this one.


Next up is another finish for Michelle (no blog) for an exchange, yet another LK design that turned out really cute and now on my must stitch list. Thanks Michelle! ;) Michelle also asked me to make a little pincushion with the backing fabric she sent for her partner and the pins I also made. THere was just enough fabric on the piece i cut to make a little scissor fob pincushion for her.


Carolyn (no blog)had finished stitching up Peep by, you guessed it LK. LOL I made this one into a triangle box for her and love how it turned out. And also an ornament by LHN.



Last summer Michele, Chris and I went to the Silver Needle to take a class with Barb & Alma of Blackbird Designs. Well, i finally finished up my needleroll into an actual needleroll. I don't know what took me so long, this was very simple to sew. I can see making more of these in the future. Here is a picture of all the pieces that i finished up from our class, complete! I guess i now "pass" the class. LOL


Recently i stitched up Happy Bunny Bunny Day by Trilogy for myself on a misc piece of lakeside linens (a greeny color and very pretty in person). the picture doesn't do the fabric justice. I made it into an Easel just in time for Easter. LOL Diane rec'd the little pincushion pillow i made for her along with some other goodies. This was a freebie but not sure where i got it, it has been printed off for awhile. but i stitched it over 1 on a misc piece of light blue fabric. The rick rack is from Victorian Motto, very soft and pretty.



Brianna and Shane came over the other day to hang out and get the dogs use to having the baby around. I took a couple pictures, well alot, but will just share a couple. LOL He is 3 1/2 weeks old now and just growing. Bri goes back to work around May 10th or so and then Shane will be coming here 4 days a week while they work. Lots of spoiling going on. LOL

Baby Shane is here!!!!

Brianna had Shane Rylan early this morning at 1:13am, he weighed in at 7lbs 15oz and 21 inches long. He is absolutely beautiful. mom and dad and baby are doing great! heading back to see them soon when Doug gets home. Didn't get home until 3am from hospital so i am wiped out but that is ok. I got to be in there when he was born and was that amazing and the waterworks started. :) Justin's mom was also in there and we were just the "waterworks" team. LOL

Stash For Sale

I have added some stash for sale here at my sale blog Stashing Away If interested in anything please email me at kmdecker2000@yahoo.com thanks!

Wow its been a month since i last posted

Well, it's late March and i am finally updating the old blog. I have been stitching, finishing, etc, just been busy and camera and computer just don't cooperate. LOL First off, I will start with a couple St. Patrick's Day finishes I had for myself. I stitched up Leggy Leprechaun by HIH and made him into a pinkeep and also stitched up March Cupboard sampler by The Sampler Girl and made a little pillow. I really like how they both turned out. I have one other that i stitched but didn't finish and forgot to take a pic of. next time. Next up are a few pieces i have had stitched up and just hanging around in the closet. These are for my "possibilities" for finishing. Housework by Lizzie Kate, Bunny zipper kit by Bent Creek and A Hug Will do but do not remember who it is by. These were fun to make into pillows and my first wall hanging. I can see more wallhangings in the near future now that i know how easy they are to make. :) Here is my ornament for February. I finished up a fair & square piece that i received from Nadia into an ornament. I went simple with this one but like it. ;) I still have to do my March ornament. Natasha is my partner for the Friends Stitching Through The Seasons exchange and sent me this awesome pillow, bunny and gorgeous fabric. Thanks again Natasha! It is up on my mantle for everyone to enjoy! :) Also, for the Friends stitching through the seasons exchange, I am stitching for Kim and here is the pillow and goodies i sent to her. The other day my mail lady Shirley brought me a very fun little package from Diane. It is the cutest little pincushion in a tulip jar and she stitched the little card and sent along a little egg shaped notepad. THanks again Diane! I love it. I also already added some springy pins that i made to it. :) Well, that's about it for tonight. Hopefully will have more updates soon. I still have a few more pics of stitching and wips to take but in a couple days. We are now playing the waiting game with my daughter who is due on Thursday with her first baby. :)

A few finishes for me

Well, i have been able to finish stitching a couple pieces on my crazy 15 challenge and actually "finish" them for myself as well.
My ornament for January is My Favorite Time by Lizzie Kate. I had actually stitched this one in December but never finished it, but I am still counting it for my January ornie. :)

This next pillow finish i have I have posted on the Possibilities blog. All those pesky little stitched pieces you have just hanging around and never actually "finished" them into something, so this little guy got pulled out and made into a heart shaped pillow for me. This was a free chart but it was so long ago i do not remember who it was by. Not bad for my first heart shaped pillow, a bit wonky but not too bad for me. :)

This is A Little Love by Plum Pudding that i stitched up a couple years ago and also has finally found form in a pillow. That's a couple "possibilities" down and a whole LOT more to go. :)

Here is my Bent Creek's Love Happens Photobooth finished into a triangle cube. I really really like how this one turned out.

I also made a little pillow out of my I Will Stitch You in My Heart. The backing fabric has really cute little black crows and the same rusty colored flowers as the floss i used on it. perfect. :)

I have recently stitched a model for Crescent Colours and it was the Strawberry Cake from CCN's/CC's cake series chart packs. I stitched it and finished it up into a cube that looks like a slice of cake. I really like how this turned out, it was hard to send back to Sharon. LOL I can see stitching these over 1 and finishing them all the same way and displaying a an old cake plate. :)

More of the Crazy Challenge and a finish!

I have some updates for my Crazy Challenge.
Day 9 - Quaker Silence by Tree of Life Samplings. I haven't gotten too far yet, but will be picking it up real soon to get moving on it. I switched out the threads to Crescent Colours cottons and really liking it so far and using the 40ct fabric listed.

Day 10 - Love Photobooth by Bent Creek. I just started this one the other night so it has been added to my list and one of them has dropped off. This is being stitched on the fabric included and i changed up the colors just a little. LOL

Day 11 - Eek Boo Hiss by Lizzie Kate. I am stitching this one on 32ct tobacco over 1. I will be doing all three on this one piece and making a cube out of them.

Day 12 - Five Fine Roosters by La D Da. I just started this one today. I am stitching it on 40ct over 2 with the DMC listed.

Day 13 - Thine is the Trick or Treat by Prairie Moon. I started this one last weekend when i was away at a retreat. I couldn't put this one down for quite awhile and almost have page 1 of 6 done. This is going to be a really fun piece to stitch up.

Day 14 - Hearts on canvas. This is my first piece of needlepoint. I decided to go with a pattern and blank canvas.

I am just starting up on Day 15 Quaker Garden by BBD and will post a pic this week.
I did manage to finish up I Will Stitch YOu in my Heart while at the retreat and America by Glory Bee. I left off the border on America as i am going to make this one into a little pillow.