Back to the Tea Cups

Now that the emergency model stitching is done, I can get back to my regularly scheduled stitchine. I am quite behind on my rotation, and all my goals have just flown out the window.

I stitched the September Cup 'O Tea chart from Just Another Button Company this past week. It was a bit frustrating as I ran out of the main color and had to hunt down more so that I could continue stitching. Then there was the visit from the frog, causing me to restitch the outside border 4 (yes, count 'em, 4) times! But I finally got it right!

A New to Me Shop

I am still short some floss for an upcoming project, and I didn't want to drive all the way out to Welcome Stitchery for just a little bit. I remembered this needlepoint shop in Northbrook, not to far from my office, so that's where I went on Tuesday's lunch hour.

North Shore Needleworks is great shop, even if you don't do Needlepoint! It has lots and lots of fibres! I was able to pick up the few skeins of Weeks that I needed, and was able to check out the Caron Wildflowers colors so that I can make some color changes to a future project. I wouldn't go there for lots of overdyed cotton, because they are a bit more expensive than Welcome Stitchery, but when you need one or two skeins, it is a handy option.

I found out that they also do framing and finishing, so I will keep them in mind for those services, too.

A Monday Trip

Monday morning found me driving to Rockford, Illinois. The trip was not for pleasure, we were saying our final farewells to Paul Dawson, brother of dear friend Nancy, who left us much too soon. It was a tearful yet joyful celebration of his life.




But, what does a sad cross stitcher do to lift her spirits? She engages in some retail therapy, of course! Some stash enhancement! Luckily, the Needle and I was just up the road! The shop is rather small, but had a good selection of fibres. Cross stitch isn't really their priority, as the owner is also the designer of From Nancy's Needle, a design company specializing in counted canvas work. The designs are lovely, I have completed one and have a number if them patiently waiting in the wings.





Luckily, the shop had the two skeins of floss that I so desperately needed and couldn't get anywhere locally. I browsed around the shop for awhile, but there was nothing that caught my eye, so I left with my meager purchase and started the drive home.




I stopped at the Huntley Outlet Mall because I had never been there and didn't have to be anywhere for the rest of the day. I wasn't really in the mood to shop, but stopped in a few shops anyway. Lucky for me, the Kitchen Collection had the crock pot I have been looking for! It's a three-in-one crock pot, with three different size crocks. Two years ago, I received this crock pot from my children for Mother's Day but it arrived broken. I took it back to the store, and haven't been able to replace until today! Yeah! I can't wait to use it!


After the outlet mall, I stopped in Elgin to hug Logan. It made a sad day so much better!

Model Stitching Finish

I have been stitching away at this Sue Hillis Model for the last few weeks, and finished it tonight. It was stitched on 28 count antique white Lugana with DMC floss.

Sue will be releasing this and the companion piece at the Nashville Market coming up. My sister, Trudi, stitched the model of the companion piece.

Sue's charts are always a pleasant stitch, but this one had a lot of color changes, and fussy backstitching. I was happy to help her out, but I am glad to get back to my regularly scheduled stitching.

Happy Valentine's Day

Here is my Valentine finish which was sent to Sara.

Sara was my partner in the Divas' Valentine exchange, and I originally wanted to stitch a hardanger heart for her, but then I was asked to stitch a model for Nashville, I knew I wouldn't have the time to devote to the hardanger piece.

Plan B was a biscornu with hearts on it. Seemed like a good idea at the time, except that when I was almost finished I remembered

that I had already sent that same biscornu to Sara for a previous exchange. Plan C was the ornament that you see pictured here. It is a free chart that I found on a blog. Seemed like a good idea. It stitched up quite quickly, and then I took a peek at Sara's blog, and saw that she had also stitched this freebie! Now what? It was too late to go to plan D, so I sent it to her along with some other goodies. Now she has two of the same ornament. I hope she can forgive my lack of originality.

Valentine Stitching from the Frozen North

I received this lovely Valentine ornament in the mail from Viv this week. I love the ornament!

Sent along some lovely overdyed floss to remind me that spring is on the way, as well as a card with a picture of where she lives, and shere she drives to work every day. What beautiful scenery in the Yukon!

Thanks Viv, I love it!

Valentine's Exchange

Kim has received the package that I sent to her, so now I can post a picture. This is part of a valentine exchange on the Thread's of Life board. The package that I am to receive has been detained in shipping, but I am sure I will love what Suzie sent, no matter when it gets here.

Another Framing Happy Dance

I finally got around to framing this one! I stitched Wild Things for Adrian as a birth sampler. Adrian is the son of a co worker and had his 1st birthday last September. Adrian is also going to be a big brother this spring or summer, so I thought it best to get the framing done so he could have his birth sampler.

I was holding off because I was looking for a different frame but wasn't finding what I was looking for at a reasonable price.

Wild Things is a Dimemsions kit, but I stitched it on my own evenweave and used my own floss. The kit is still intact if anyone wants to purchase it.

Framing Happy Dance

This is Weather Wise by Prairie Schooler. I stitched it awhile back, but the recipient just received the framed piece a few days ago, so now I can show you the framed finish.

My Kingdom for a Window!

A window that opens! I have been sick, again! We have been passing germs around the office since last October, and have been taking turns getting sick. I firmly believe it is because it is too warm in the office, and I don't have any windows that I can open.

I have determined that the windows in some of the outer offices open, so on Monday, when I am alone in the office, I am going to turn off the heat, and open all the doors and windows for awhile. Some cold fresh air in the offices will not hurt anyone or anything! If I continue to do this every Monday, perhaps we will kill this creeping crud that we keep sharing with each other!

I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!

Found it!

The chart I was looking for has been located.

Turns out it was a Victoria Sampler chart, but not a freebie. Is part of the Beyond Cross Stitch series. After finding out this information, a quick call to Welcome Stitchery, and the kit was on it's way in just a few moments.

I look forward to stitching it.

Looking for a Chart

A number of years ago, I received the hardanger heart ornament that is pictured in this post as part of a hardanger exchange on the Teresa Wentzler Message Board.

I now would like to stitch this as an exchange piece but can not find the chart anywhere. I thought it was a free chart on the Victoria Sampler web site, but it is not there. I would appreciate any help in finding this chart!

Thanks!

I won! I won!

On the Threads of Life message board, everyone who participated in the ornament exchange, and mailed their ornament on time was entered into a drawing for an ort bag, made by Robin.

I was the lucky winner of that drawing, and my ort bag arrived today! Robin is an amazing stitcher, and also an amazing finisher! The ort bag is gorgeous! I love it!

Thank you Robin!!!

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas...

I know, I am a little behind here, but did want to finish up the twelfth day....

I received the chart on the left from my brother and sister-in-law. I believe the purchased the chart on their trip through Barcelona Spain last summer, as the chart is in Spanish. It is a lovely winter scene, and X's are X's in any language, so I look forward to stitching it!

The kit on the right is the Museum Celle kit from Permin that was given to me by Kim. It is lovely, and I look forward to stitching this on also. I do plan on substituting evenweave for the aida in the kit, though.

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas....

Here are two Strawberries that were stitched as exchange gifts. I haven't yet heard from the recipients if the gifts were received, so I didn't show the entire packages.

These strawberries are Prairie Schooler Designs and I stitched also stitched all six of them for myself but still need to do the finishing.

On the Tenth Day of Christmas....

This is the package that I sent to RaNea for our ornament exchange.

Another Just Nan Whimze Rose ornament! Can you tell I really love stitching this one! I have made and given away dozens of them, and don't have a single one on my own tree.

There were spoolie ornaments as part of the package. My daughter Kristin and I have been making these ornaments for years, and have made and given away hundreds of them!

On the Nineth Day of Christmas

This is the ornament and other goodies I received on the Diva's ornament exchange from Denise.

The ornament she stitched is by JBW designs and I just love.

On the Eighth Day of Christmas....

Happy New Year!!!

This is the ornament that I received from RaNea, as part of Elsue's ornament exchange. It's very cute. I need to find out where she got the chart from!

On the Seventh Day of Christmas...

Here is the ornament other goodies that I sent to Darla for the TOL ornament exchange.

The ornament is a freebie on the Just Nan Site, under the Whimze section. It is called Whimze Rose. It is stitched on 32 count antique white fabric, with DMC fibres instead of the suggested silks.

On the Sixth Day of Christmas....

Here is the ornament that I stitched for Pat, my youngest daughter's mother-in-law. Pat and I have been exchanging ornaments for years, and this is the one I stitched for her this year. It goes with the Hot Chocolate mitten ornament I stitched for her last year.

Over the years I have received many beautifully stitched and painted ornaments from Pat, and I treasure each one of them. The last few years, she has been sending me a cake instead. She said she was intimidated by my stitching and finishing. She shouldn't be, I can't paint nearly as well as she does! But the cakes are yummy!