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 ...

Finishing and Exchanges ...

I've spent last week and the weekend doing some finishing and I'm pretty pleased with how everything came out. Three of my finishes I can't show you until the arrived at their new homes. But here are a few finishes I did for me ... first is Peep ... this silly design makes me smile every time I look at it. The fabric he's laying on is the backing fabric. I found it at Joann's and thought it was perfect!

I don't know if you can see very well, but I used this sweet daisy ribbon for the trim around Peep ... I just love the whimsy of this piece ...

Next up for finishing was my March ornament ...

Windows of Faith, Hope and Peace by Primrose Needleworks

Stitched on 32 ct. Amber linen

with GAST Cranberry and Roasted Marshmellow

I was more happy with stitching this design than I was with how the finishing turned out ... I think I'm burning out on finishing like this. Next month I need to try and new finishing technique. I am excited though that I have 6 ornaments all ready for my tree this coming Christmas, and a few presents too :)

In keeping with an idea I stole from Staci , I finished another ornament that was sitting around in my drawer. These sweet squares were stitched for me by Jill through the Fair and Square Exchange Blog. I was excited to get them finished ... can't believe they've been waiting to be finished for almost 2 years!

had to show you a picture of the back square ... I love how Jill personalized it :)

In February I asked if anyone wanted to do a private Spring/Easter exchange with me. Three of my blogging friends spoke up that yes they'd like to do an exchange. My three exchanges went in the mail on Monday. This week I've received two of the three exchanges! Color me surprised they arrived that quickly! My third one is coming from Scotland, so there will be a bit of a delay in showing you that one.

I was so excited when Beth emailed to say she'd like to do the exchange with me. I've know Beth for over 5 years. I met her at a PALS Fall Fling in Myrtle Beach and we've been great friends every since. Beth is a doll and has the biggest kindest heart you will ever meet. This was also Beth's first exchange! I don't know why she's waited so long but I'm pleased as punch to have been her first cause look at the goodies she sent me ...

The stuff bunny is adorable, the blue bunny's are stuffed with chocolate and the pink large egg has sunflower buttons and Beth's new favorite took, a needle threader. Everything is sitting on a wonderful piece of PTP fabric called Monster Mash. The best thing of all was packaged in the purple egg ... here's a close up of the pillow Beth stitched and finished for me ... The design is by Lizzie Kate. I love how she finished the pillow ... look at the sweet bunny buttons along the bottom ... way cute! Thanks for everything Beth ... I just love doing this exchange with you!

The next exchange to arrive was from Nataly. Nataly emailed me and said she'd like to participate in an exchange with me too ... I was thrilled to meet a new to me stitcher/blogger. Go check out her blog if you haven't visited before. I've really enjoyed getting to know Nataly through this exchange and hope we continue to stay in touch. Nataly delighted me with an Easter pail full of JellyBelly's, chocolate eggs, Springy colored socks and a sweet little note pad and a Spring pillow! The design is a freebie by The Stitcherhood. I just love the colors in the pillow and the fabric is perfect! See the trim around the pillow, it's a felt like trim that look like little eggs ... just adorable! Thank you Nataly for doing this exchange with me. I had lots of fun and it was so nice to meet you.

Looks like I'm all ready for some Spring decorating this weekend. Thanks for hanging in reading this post ... kinda long wasn't it :)

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

I'm grateful for Spring Exchanges...

Happy Spring!

Lots of Spring stitching going on in this house, but only one that I can show you, the others are for some Spring Exchanges that I'll share once they arrive at their new homes.

I finished Peep a couple of weekends ago ... what a fun stitch! I can't wait to finish him.

Lizzie Kate's Peep

stitched with supplies in kit

This sweet pin cushion arrived over the weekend from Diane. Isn't it clever and cute! I might have to steal this idea ... hope you don't mind Juan :)

I started Yule Sampler in December but had put it down to stitch on other things. When Lisa of Primitive Needle lost her life on March 1st I decided I would finish it in honor of her. There's a Facebook group that was created so we could share our stitching in memory of Lisa. Most everyone was stitching a Halloween piece since that was one of Lisa's favorite holiday was Halloween. Now to get it framed.

Yule Sampler by The Primitive Needle

Fabric - Heritage by Picture This Plus - Edinburgh 36 ct.

Stitched 1 over 2 with suggest Crescent Colours

Can't believe it's almost April! Are you getting lots of Spring stitching done? What Spring stitching are you doing? Well, it's time for Castle ... we just started watching it. Great fun series!

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

I'm grateful for Spring ...

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Last week Paulette (Plum Street Samplers) offered up this sweet freebie for St. Patrick's Day. I had fun stitching and finishing this pillow. I even added a green heart button on the bottom of the pillow and a shamrock and beads as a little extra bling.

got luck?

stitched on coffee dyed 28 ct. fabric

stitched with Crescent Colours Khaki Mocha Erin Go Emerald and Four-Leaf Clover

Terry helped pick out the backing fabric and and the cording. I think he did a great job *smile*

Are you wearing your green today? My Dad, Chris and Monica are joining us for dinner. We're having corned beef, yukon potatoes oven roasted with thyme, garlic and olive oil, corn, hearty bread and of course some Guinness. Hope you have a great day!

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

I'm grateful for little finishes ...

Finishing and Friends ...

Happy Monday! Hope everyone one had a great weekend :) My week was full of finishing and friends all the way through the weekend. The last weekend in February was my weekend for some ornament finishing. It didn't go very well at all ... seemed everything I wanted to do finishing wise just wasn't going to work out. I wanted to try a couple of new finishing techniques, but nothing was cooperating, not my glue or my fabric or my scissors or my fingers ... I felt like all thumbs! So by Sunday I was so frustrated that I walked away and said I'll be back later. Monday when I got home from work I tackled them again ... and things went a tab bit smoother. I decided to stick with finishing techniques I've done in the past and after all the headaches and frustrations I was very pleased with the final results ... Here's Brittercup Design's kitty from JCS Christmas Ornament Issue 2010 ...

Brittercup Design's Mine

stitched on misc fabric with
combination of dmc, wdw and gast threads

I fell in love with this fabric when I saw Joan use it on one of her finishes ...

I also finished this sweet little reindeer that I stitched way back in 2009. I had forgotten I stitched him! lol ...

Rudolph by The Stitcherhood
so long ago I can't remember
what floss or fabric I used! lol

I had the pleasure of meeting Alison and two of her friends last week. They were visiting the US from Australia. We went to dinner at Bahama Breeze and had a delightful time. I've known Alison online for about 6 years. I first met her on the Shepherd's Bush BB. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to visit in person, she's such a lovely person and very funny too! Here's Alison and me ...
and here's Alison and I and her friends Sharon and Marie ... and yes the dessert was fabulous! Alison and I shared and nope we didn't eat the whole thing! lol

Thanks for all your comments ... I enjoy them!

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

I'm grateful for blood orange martinis ...

Happy Friday ...

Remember this pile of stitching that needed to be finished but I couldn't show you two of the finishes because they were for exchanges? Well both exchanges arrived at their new homes last week ...
First up is my Seasonal Exchange for Michelle. The design is by Homespun Elegance. I used some ThreadworX variegated thread ... I thought it looked real Springy ...

My Lizzie*Kate exchange was for Kathy. I had so much fun stitching this design ... it was a quick stitch and I loved the colors.

I was in mood for Valentine stitching and Carol of iStitch had just the perfect freebie for my mood ... someday it will be a sweet little pinkeep. I'll back it with the fabric it's laying on ...
and Carol had another Valentine design that I just had to stitch ... not a freebie, but well worth the buying ... I just LOVE it! I'll be finishing this as a pillow using the fabric it's laying on ...
I'm so excited that after my last post I have Spring/Easter exchanges set up with three wonderful stitchers ... Fiona, Beth and Nataly. Thanks ladies!

Love all your comments ... keep them coming :)

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

I'm grateful for cold snowy days ...

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 ...

Spring has arrived ...

I received this sweet pillow from Bonnie. She was my partner Round A on the Lizzie*Kate Exchange Blog. Hello Spring is a L*K freebie. I just love this little pillow ... hope it makes Spring hurry up!

There's rick rack all around the pillow with little beads ... I'll have to try that finish sometime, I love the look ... Thanks Bonnie, I just love the pillow!

Another pretty arrived in my mailbox last week ... a PIF from Sonda. She stitch this lovely Joy tree for me. It's so pretty and over one too ... I love how it looks :) She also made me a red Joy scissor fob which will soon adorn one of my red scissors. Thanks Sonda, I love everything!

Friday was Monica's birthday. We took her to Susumu Japanese Steakhouse. It's one of our favorite local restaurants. Smiley group ...
Here's Rudy ... he cooked a wonderful meal for us ... and was pretty funny too! I love watching them cook ...

Everything looks sooo good ... and it was!

After dinner we came back to our house to play some games ... We ended up playing Monopoly Here and Now, it's the one with no money, but as had an electronic calculator thingy that keeps track for your money using a credit card ... it was so much fun! We played until 2am! lol .. but we really finished the game. It was down to Chris and I ... but I was victorious!

the game counts in thousands and millions ... sure wish it was real money!

Well time for the Super Bowl ... we'll be rooting for Green Bay ... don't like either team, but we like GB more than those other guys! lol

Thanks for all your lovely comments ... I really enjoy reading them all!

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

I'm grateful for my kids ...