Stitching With Friends

I went up to Manning, SC on Saturday to meet up with my stitching pals. We had such a blast and you can see lots of pictures on Amy, Faye, and Charlene's blog.

We did an ornament exchange and a small gift exchange. I forgot to take a picture of my ornament. I stitched the bonus pattern from the LHN All is Calm ornament - using Natalie's changes.

The ornament I received was Amy's!

I love it! I love how she finished it - it's just beautiful! I also got Amy's gift (no, it wasn't rigged)! :)

Lots of great items were in it - threads, a threader, magnet, gold needles, frogging needle, ornament form and ornament pattern. Thank you Amy! I love it all! :)

And speaking of Amy - I got a little bit of stash from DSL the other day. I couldn't resist the new sheepie Kelmscot magnet. I also got some 30 ct. R&R, and a very sweet Repro pattern by Beehive Needleworks.

I ended up restarting my "Holly and Ivy Sampler" while up in Manning and I'm so glad I did. I'm really enjoying it!

Well, my two older boys are getting ready to start wrestling for the first time tonight. I'm excited and little nervous for them. Maybe I shouldn't go??? :) Write soon!

I'm Home!

Well, I actually got home yesterday around 12:30 pm. I was going to stay later and do some stuff around Myrtle Beach, but decided to get home to babies instead! :) They were all happy to see me and I was so happy to see them. Distance (even for a couple days) definitely makes the heart grow fonder. :)

My dh is such a sweetie - he had the house all clean and the dishes done, so all I had to do was get lunches ready for the coming week.

Anyway, I promised to share pics of my exchange pieces. Here is what I gave...





I had stitched it awhile ago, but never got around to finishing it, so I decided to finish it for the gift exchange. I only took it apart three times - I just could not get it right - it's still not perfect, but oh well. Michele ended up getting it in the end (she traded with someone to get it). :)

I actually got Michele's pin cushion in the end, but someone asked me to trade (she really wanted it, so I reluctantly said yes), but it wasn't a bad deal because I ended up getting Karen's sweet little Shepherd's Bush pin cushion.



And speaking of Michele and Karen they gave me a surprise package when I arrived! In it was a very nice card and this adorable pin cushion made by Michele and scissor fob made by Karen (attached to my Premax scissors). Thank you both so much!! It really made my day!



Well, I still can't believe how fast the weekend went and now it's. Back to reality and back to cleaning and doing laundry (Matthew decided to destroy the house today - it's amazing how fast he can do that). Write soon!!



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Myrtle Beach Day 1

I got to Myrtle Beach around 6 pm. This is the view I saw when I got to my room.



After I grabbed a bite to eat I went to the conference center. I got my registration pack. I actually already knew what was in it because I helped Amy put them together. :)



We had our gift exchange first. I ended up with a huge box full of goodies!! The box is very cool - it looks like a huge book.



After the gift exchange was the ornament exchange. I got three very sweet ornaments!



It was such a fun night.

I woke up to this beautiful view...



For today I plan on stitching the day away and then later on tonight is the stitched exchange and games. Write soon with more pics!! :)



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Ornaments Finished!!

I got another ornament finished for Myrtle Beach and I got all the finishing done on them! I'm so happy to have them done and I hope whoever gets them will enjoy them!


Little House Needleworks "Frosty Flakes"
Fabric: 32 ct. unknown Lakeside Linen
Threads: DMC, CC, and GAST - Conversion given to me by Amy (thank you!)

And here are all of them together



I can't believe I leave tomorrow! I can't wait! I haven't gone anywhere by myself, overnight, in about two years. I desperately need this mini vacation!! Write later with pictures from Myrtle Beach! :)



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Home from Florida!

Hi Everyone!  I hope you all had a Very Merry Christmas.  We sure did!  We went down to Florida last Saturday (12/19) and just got back on Sunday.  Before we left my dh brought in a box and told me it was a microwave for his parents.  I thought it was a little strange because I know they have a microwave, but didn't really think too much of it.  We let the boys open their presents early (Nintendo DSIs) for the trip.  After that my dh asks if I'd like to open my present.  I was very confused - I told him not to get me anything!  He then says the big box is really for me.  I was so shocked!  I was even more shocked when I opened it and found just what I'd been hoping for, but never in a million years thought I would actually get.

Vera Bradley Mini Laptop Case

Acer Netbook

I'm loving it!  It was perfect for our trip.  I also got spoiled by my parents and in-laws.  My dad got me a Jo-Ann's gift card, which is already gone.  I got some pewter Gingher scissors, a battery operated travel Ott-Lite, two of these French General Journal Sets (one for me and one for my mom) and couple other things like needles and threaders.  

I got just a tiny bit of stitching done.  I haven't stitched since last Sunday (12/19), so I'm really going through withdrawals.  I got block #7 finished on CaHRH, so I'm halfway done with it now!

I also had a package waiting for me when I got home.  The last ornament from the exchange I was in.  This one is from Chris.  It's so pretty!  Thank you again Chris! :)

Well, now I have to decide what I want to stitch.  I'm thinking of working on block #6 on CaHRH or maybe getting back to Paradise Lost.  It doesn't really matter - I just need to get stitching!! :)  Write soon!

Gifts from Friends!

I received another wonderful ornament in the mail recently. This one was from Karen (AZ). She stitched it over one on hand-dyed linen! It's just beautiful! And finished beautifully too!

She also included a couple of goodies! There was a chocolate bar, but the kids ate it before I could take a picture. Thank you Karen! I love everything!

I went to Amy's yesterday for a little Christmas get together. We exchanged gifts and also an ornament.

Amy gave us all one of these cute gift card holders that she made into a needle and scissor holder. I just love it! I added the scissors and threader.

There were also candy canes with this, but once again my kids ate them before I could take a picture! :)

For our gift exchange I got Amy. You can see what I gave her on her blog. Myra (no blog) got my name and she got me a Brenda Keyes chart "The Contented Mind" and this very nice lantern. I just love it!

Karen (SC) got my ornament and I got hers.  She stitched a design from the new Blackbird Designs book.

Here it is on the tree...

I just love it Karen!  Amy was originally going to get this ornament, but at t he last minute Amy told Karen to let me chose between the two she had.  Well, I just couldn't resist this one.  I felt so bad after the fact though, so I have promised Amy that I will make her one!! :) Karen also made these sweet little fobs for everyone.  She is so talented!

I have been stitching a little bit.  I have been working on block seven of CaHRH and I also started something new - Prairie Schoolers Christmas Alphabet (pictures are in my flickr album).  I'm loving it, but I had to put it aside for a little bit because I started working on a model for Lisa, designer of The Primitive Needle.  I'm determined to get it finished before we go to Florida again next Saturday.  Wish me luck!

Gifts from Shelleen and Ruth!

I received two great packages from Shelleen and Ruth recently.   The first is Shelleen's.  She stitched an adorable penguin ornament for me....

And here are the goodies she added to the package....

Ruth stitched two ornaments for me!  They are both so sweet!

The pink flamingos were a joke within our exchange group.  Chris said that she would like anything, but pink flamingos for her ornament.  Of course she got pink flamingos! :)

Here are the extras Ruth included....

Thank you to both Ruth and Shelleen for your great packages!  I will cherish the ornaments always! :)

Gift from Michele!

I received a package from Michele while I was away.  Nov/Dec is my month for the year long ornament exchange we are doing.  I love the ornament she stitched for me.  It's Blue Ribbon Designs "Peace."  She also included some great goodies like this tin...

Thank you again Michele! I love it all! :)

More Block 9 Progress

I got a little bit more stitched on block 9.

I actually had to frog the little wreath because I didn't even notice that there was yellow in it until after the fact.  I don't know how I completely overlooked the little "m" symbol.

Michele let me know that she received her ornament today.  I stitched Little House Needleworks "Baking" for her.

I used 40 ct. Vintage Light Examplar by Lakeside Linens using the Crescent Colours threads that came in the thread pack.

Tomorrow I'm going to Amy's for a much needed break.  We plan to stitch the day away!  I'm so looking forward to it!  Write soon! :)

Ornament

I forgot to share an ornament I stitched for Shelleen for our exchange. It's the Prairie Schooler ornament from the '99 JCS ornament magazine.

Prairie Schooler "Let it Snow-Man"
Fabric: 40 ct. Vintage River Willow
Threads: DMC and WDW