Lots to share ...

I had a pretty productive week stitching. This was the first week I've really felt like stitching ... starting to get my energy back.

I'm participating in Carol's Mystery SAL along with a lot of other stitchers. Check out her blog for pictures of everyone's Part 1. Here's my Part 1 ... I'm stitching on 40 ct cream fabric with CC's Manor Red. I love how it looks so far ...

While rummaging through my project bags I found this fun design that was almost done ... don't know why it sat for so long unfinished, only took me 30 minutes to complete ... lol

Merry New Year by The Stitcherhood

stitched on a misc piece of fabric with

Belle Soie's Old Crow

The first time I saw this beauty was on Staci's blog and knew I had to stitch it. Well I'm finally getting around to stitching it and I'm so glad I am ... it's so pretty! It's a freebie and can be found here ... I'm using Victorian Motto Red 24 on a very pretty piece of linen, too bad I can't remember the count or the color!

I need your advice/ideas on this next piece. I went a little brain dead and messed up on the border. I'm stitching this over one and wasn't about to rip it all out. Below is the picture ... here's the dilemma ... the border has three lines which should be Cocoa, Lancaster Red (I substituted Garnet), Cocoa. As you can see, the middle line isn't Lancaster Red, it's Dark Chocolate ;( Now I'm not sure if I should continue with Cocoa or use another color? Oatmeal and Schneckley and the other two colors in this design.

I've also been working on Home of a Needleworker ... building a blue house is fun!

I treated myself to a bit of new stash ... you knew I had to get these two charts when Amy at Down Sunshine Lane told me about them ... she knows me all to well :)

Here's the rest of my new stash. DH wants me to stitch him Death by Candy Corn and I'll be stitching Baked Goods for my friend Lisa ... we've baked together for 20 years ... I love new stash!

Sending out lots of safe and positive thoughts for everyone in Irene's path. Mother Nature is one tough lady these days.

And lastly, thank you all for your comments about my surgery and my dad's. Last night we had dinner over at my dad's house. It was my first real outing, that wasn't going to a dr appt ... I even put on some makeup! lol ... my brother cooked dinner for us, dad was his sous chef lol ... it was really nice getting out and seeing my family, but more it was nice to actually feel good enough to want to go out *smile*

I hope you find your Joy in your stitches ...

I'm grateful for feeling better ...

Busy Bunny ...

I've just been having the best time stitching and finishing for Easter this year. Every year we put together Easter baskets for friends and family and deliver them Saturday night so when they get their paper in the morning, there's a sunny surprise on their doorsteps. This year I'm hoping that every basket has something stitched in them too. And of course there's a few new ones for me too :)

I stitched this design a few years ago. Never got around to finishing it ... I never could find the right fabric for it. Well this year I really just wanted to get it done so I could enjoy it in my Spring/Easter basket. I love the rick rack I found ... the fabric isn't horrible and now I can enjoy it!

Egghunt by Lizzie*Kate
stitched on a misc. piece of fabric with the
recommended threads

I stitched this sweet freebie from Carol of iStitch for my dear friend Elaine. I've know Elaine since I was in high school. We lost track of each other over that last 10 years, but that's to Facebook, she found me and I'm sooo glad she did! She lives about 60 miles south of me. I've been going to visit her about every couple of months and it's like we've never been apart. And one of the best things is that she's a stitcher too! She also knits and scrapbooks. We have lots of fun crafting together. I'll have to get her to start a blog someday *smile* I loved stitching this design and have it kitted up to do again for me.

Easter freebie by iStitch

Stitched on a scrap of white linen with

CC Candied Yams

When I saw this design I knew I had to stitch it, at least once! ... thought it would be great in the baskets ... since we are the Easter Bunny's helpers lol I've only got one stitched so far but it a really quick stitch so one or two more should be no problem ... nothing like leaving it to the last minute!

Here bunny bunny by Angel Stitching

Stitched on coffee-dyed 28 ct. linen

with Belle Soie Chocolate, Fern Frond and Carrot Cake

Lastly, I stitched two more Easter freebie by primitivebettys. I stitched this for Beth in our personal Spring/Easter exchange and just loved it when it was done ... so I stitched another one for me and one for one of our Easter baskets ...

Yep, I having way too much fun stitching for Easter! Thanks for looking and thanks for your comments ... love love love them!

I hope you find your Joy in your stitches ...

I'm grateful for bunnies and chicks ...

Bunnies and Chicks

Easter stitching/finishing is in full swing here and I'm having a really fun time with it all ... I've stitched up 2 Chicks Rule. One for me and one for Lisa for her Easter basket. I've stitched this fun design 3 times now. Once last year when the chart was released (Lizzie*Kate design). That one I gave to my DIL Monica. I knew I wanted to stitch one for me and well, I was having so much fun I stitched it again! lol I used the same fabric on the back that I used on Peep. I wish I'd bought yards of this fabric ...

I had a big chuckle setting up to take this picture ... I forgot I had these three silly chicks ... now they go with my silly pillow ...

Chicks Rule by Lizzie*Kate

one stitched on a misc piece of 32 ct light yellow linen

and one on a light purple 32 ct linen

stitched with recommended WDW threads

Last month Carol (iStitch Designs) released Sew a Brown Bunny. What an adorable design! So cute that I had to pass it around for Easter stitching. I RAK'd Karen, Michelle and Staci with this sweet design and then I stitched it up for myself. The fabric it's laying on is what I used to back it ...

Sew a Brown Bunny by iStitch

Stitched on a misc piece of 28 ct fabric

with GAST Shutter Green and Belle Soie's Chocolat

One of my personal exchanges arrived over the weekend. I really enjoyed putting this exchange together for Beth. I stitched and finished this Easter freebie by primitivebettys. I really loved how this pillow turned out ... I was tickled when I found a little purple Easter egg in my stash ... I thought it was a fun addition to the pillow. I sent along some fabric, a little Easter towel, some threads, a scissor fob made by me :) and of course some chocolate. I'm so glad you loved everything Beth ...

Easter Freebie by primitivebettys

Stitched on coffee dyed 28ct fabric

with WDW Purple Majesty, Lilac and Belle Soie's Chocolat

I'll leave you with a picture of my kitchen table and my basket of Spring pillows all stitched by stitching friends ... I just love my stitching friends!

I hope you find your Joy in your stitches ...

I'm grateful for bunnies and chicks ...

Goodies ...

Faye and I did a personal exchange and both have been received. I stitched for Faye a Blackbird Design that was a teaching piece from the retreat I took last July at the Silver Needle. I finished it into a pincushion.

Here's a side view ... I really had fun stitching and finishing this for Faye ... so glad she likes it :)Faye has a Red basket so I wanted to stitch a little something for her basket ... this little pillow is over one and it is tiny ...
I think it turned out really sweet ...

Faye stitched this sweet bird for me. The design is a freebie from Gazette 94. I'm going to start my own Red basket ... this will be my first piece ... I just love him.

Christina was my partner for the Seasonal Exchange. She stitched for me Holly House by Elizabeth's Designs taken from the 2008 JCS Christmas Ornament issue. I just love this ornament ... stitched and finished so nice. Can't wait to have this hanging on my tree ...

I love the backing fabric she used ...

I just love exchanges! I think it's time to put together a couple of personal Spring exchanges. Would you like to exchange with me? Leave me a comment and if you would be interested in a Spring exchange or even Summer or Fall.

I've been stitching a bit of Valentine's Day. I can't remember where I found this freebie heart, but when I found it I knew I had to stitch it and love how it turned out. Don't know if I'll frame it or finish it into a pillow ...

Letter Heart

stitched on pink molted 32 ct fabric

using Belle Soie's Fresh Raspberries

I started this design early last week. The design is by iStitch ... called Sew Be My Valentine. It's stitch up really fast and I have the perfect black and red heart fabric for it.

It's a very blustery day here in Seattle. Dinner's in the crock pot and my chores are done for the day. I think it's time for some stitching and watching the first Nascar race of the season. Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

I hope you find your Joy in your stitches ...

I'm grateful for Valentine's Day stitching ...