I am still here and finishes

I just haven't been posting much lately, obviously. I was trying to figure out the editing on my new camera and just realized it didn't come with editing software. grrrrr so my pics aren't the best right now, but they will have to do.
I was gone for a week in the beginning of this month visiting my parents up in Reno NV. The weather was nice a little rainy but not much. No snow, unfortunately. There was old snow but i just wanted to see some flurries since we don't get snow in our part of Arizona. oh well. It was a very nice visit and did get a bit of stitching done as well. Mom and I did visit the LNS there, very small but I still managed to find a few things i just had to have. They were having a sale on there "cuts" of fabric from last year. There were lots of odd cuts in all different colors sizes, etc. $10 for a pound of fabric and let me tell you, you get alot of fabric in a pound.
I do have a few finishes from my WIP pile. First off I finished up It's a wonderful life by the sampler girl. I don't know why i never finished it earlier, very simple stitch. oh well, finished now. :)
I also finished up Evergreen by BBD. I changed the colors on this one when I saw Karen in SC's version of it. The colors it called for were browns and red, but the cover model showed green and red. weird. I used the greens since it is Evergreen.

Here is red winged blackbird by BC, i left off the star, as I am making this into a floss tag. I stitched this one on 40ct so he is small. Life's A Stitch by LK i stitched a couple years ago and it was just sitting there in my closet. I made this one into a little wooden box for myself. I really like how it turned out and very simple to make.


I also stitched up a freebie from The Sampler Girl last week and finished it into a pinkeep for myself. It is stitched on white opalescent fabric with GAST berry cobbler and tea rose. the fabric the pinkeep is laying on is the backing fabric. Also, last year i stitched up the Hugs & Kisses freebie from Erica Michaels and i just finished this one into a pinkeep ornie for myself as well. I used some fluffy yarn, braided it to get the thickness and pinned it on. didn't even want to try glue with it. I stitched up this cute little one Love by The Stitcherhood, yet another free chart. I made this one into a little pinkeep pillow. They are all displayed on my mantle with other stitching for Valentine's Day.

Stitch Red for your Heart

Jill has set up a new SAL blog for Stitch Red for your Heart. Come on over and join! I will be stitching in memory of my Uncle who passed away years ago to due heart issues.

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.