Sweet Treats Finished!

I finished up Sweet Treats today. Well, it's almost finished. I still have to sew on the buttons, but all the stitching is done.

Country Cottage Needleworks "Sweet Treats"
Fabric: 28 ct. Tea-Dyed Lugana
Threads: Crescent Colours
Started: 2/23/08 - Finished: 7/30/08

I did substitute one thread. I used Weeks Dye Works Bright Leaf instead of Crescent Colours Peanut Brittle. It was a little darker than the Peanut Brittle, which worked better for the fabric I used. Another change I made was I stitched the word "Tart" using the purple in that block instead of the blue. I just thought it showed up better. Well, now I just have to sew on the buttons and I'll really be done! :) Write later!

I'm Home!!

Yeah! I'm so glad to be back. I enjoyed myself for a couple days, but after that I was just ready to come home! I feel like Dorthy - "There's no place like home!"

Anyway, I ironed my "Needlework Shop" (sorry Wendy, I just had to do it!).

And here it is next to my "Tea Room"

Now I think I will finish up "Sweet Treats." I got the final thread pack in the mail while I was gone. And then I'll get back to my neglected LH neighborhood. :)

Write later!

Two Finishes!

I had a very productive day yesterday! I went stitching at Keep Em in Stitches in Summerville. I met Teresa there, a girl I met at Amy's. We had a lot of fun! I definitely would like to go back again. While I was there I finished "Pie" the fifth block in the Sweet Treats series.

I also worked on "Quilting" and got it finished up last night after I got home...

Little House Needleworks "Quilting"
Fabric: 32 ct. Vintage Lentil
Threads: Crescent Colours
Started: 6/26/08 - Finished: 7/5/08

And of course I couldn't go to a cross stitch shop without picking up a couple of things. I got the first two patterns in the new Lizzie Kate Christmas Spirit Double Flips. I also got some fabric for it - 28 ct. Heritage Cashel. A new over-dyed linen. I really liked it in the store, but when I got home I wasn't too sure. So now I'm trying to decide which fabric to use. I put all my choices in a set. Please help me decide!!

I've been Stitching!

It's amazing what you can accomplish when there's no internet to distract you!

I finished my Lizzie Kate design for Habitat for Humanity...

I got Sweet Treats up to date...

And I decided to work on "Moire" the freebie by Pelin Tezer (using my hand-dyed pink fabric)...

I've actually got a lot more stitched on it now because I worked on it all day yesterday. I will try to post a new picture tomorrow.

I also got an order from Shepherd's Bush yesterday! I was so surprised to get it so fast. I ordered it just a few days ago.

I ordered their 2008 Fob kit and a Snap Wrap! I don't use Q-Snaps that often, but I think these are so cute. I thought I would give it a try!

I'm sitting outside the library again. I tried Dunkin Donuts, but I couldn't pick up their signal. Well, I'd better go. I have to pick my boys from my mom's new house. I let them stay the night there last night. Write later!

More Stitching and Fabric Dyeing

I finished up the stitching part of my "Wool Needlebook and Scissor Fob." I'm waiting to get some fabric before I do the finishing part. This will be my first needlebook. Wish me luck!

I have also been working on Sweet Treats. I am almost caught up. I just have to stitch the white dots in a couple blocks.

I used WDW Bright Leaf instead of Peanut Brittle, which I thought was too light. I also used the purple for the word "Tart" instead of the blue. I thought it showed up better.

I have also been doing some more fabric dyeing. I had dh pick me up a few boxes of Rit Dye powder and I dyed some scraps I had lying around.

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It's amazing all the different combinations that can be done. I did all of these in the sink with hot water. I love the lightest pink. I think it turned out really pretty. :) Well, that's all for now! Write later!

More Sweet Treats

I've been working on Sweet Treats a little bit the past couple of days. Things have been a little hectic lately! Have I mentioned that I can't wait until this summer??

Well, this is going to be very short. I just wanted to do a quick update! Write later! :)

Argh!

I decided to get Sweet Treats out and work on it some. I then read the notice on the back of the new thread pack that says the border is off by one. I figure no big deal if it's just the border. I then read that there are supposed be three stitches in between each block. Oops! my blocks are only two stitches apart. So I had to do a ton of ripping. I ripped out the first block and much of the border. Here is what it looks like now. I'm getting back on track. I was ready to throw it in a drawer and forget it, but my friend Debs convinced to keep at it. :)

Debs and I have also decided to do a SAL together. We're thinking of doing "Wool Needlebook and Fob" by LHN. Anyone want to join us? Here's my floss toss...

DMC on 30 ct. Creek Bed Brown by R&R


DMC on 28 ct. Creme Brulee by R&R

I think I'm going to go with the 30 ct. Even though it's stiff, which I hate, I do like the color. Well, the kids are bugging me to use the computer. Write later!

More HOA!

Is it Friday yet?? Or June?? I'm ready for summer! I have been stitching a little bit. Not as much because I went to my class last night. I'm really not sure if I'm learning anything. I think I might be, but it just hasn't sunk in yet. It's a lot to take in. I still think it's 80% lighting, maybe more. Lighting makes all the difference. Anyway, here's my progress pic...

And I got a little package from Handcrafts Online yesterday.

It's Sweet Treats Block #3 - Tart. I can't wait to get started on it. I love the colors! :)

Melody did get in touch with me. She was on vacation! :) We got it all straightened out and I'll be sending her package to her today!

Write Later!

Sweet Treats #2

I received "Cupcake" in the mail while I was away, so I decided to get it stitched last night. It was a very quick stitch. It helped that I had the borders already stitched. :)

Well, not much else going on here. Just trying to get back into our routine. I'm doing a mountain of laundry from our trip. Fun, fun! :) Write later!

Sweet Treats

I worked on Sweet Treats last night. The new installment is out and I should be getting it in the mail pretty soon from Handcrafts Online, so I thought I'd stitch as much as I could until I got the pattern.

I also got a new Vera Bradley bag yesterday (which you all know is my other weakness). It's the Laptop Case in Mod Floral Pink. I have been looking at it for a long time. I thought it would make a perfect little cross stitch bag...

Side View

Large zippered pocket in the middle - perfect for holding stitching projects


Zippered side pocket - perfect for keys, glasses, wallet, etc.

I'll probably get back to Sampler Lady today unless Sweet Treats #2 comes in the mail and then I'll work on that. Write later! :)

I Had a Slight Relapse...

I was feeling fine yesterday and then I got cold. Very Cold. I had the chills. The only thing that stopped me from shivering was to put on a turtleneck, sweater, sweatpants and get under a blanket and two quilts. I fell asleep all snug in my bed and then the kids came home from Walt Disney World (their Grandpa took them) and I felt sick again, but thankfully didn't get sick (I shouldn't have had that soup). I woke up this morning feeing much, much better. I did stitch a little bit on Sweet Treat's border yesterday (before the chills) and today...

I also stopped by my LNS today and picked up a pattern I had on my wishlist and the fabric for it.

La-D-Da "Quaker Alphabet" and 35 ct. Straw Linen by Weeks Dye Works

I love the pattern and the fabric, but when I got it home I realized the Belle Soie Creme de Menthes that I have look nothing like the one the model was stitched with. In fact they look nothing like each other!

So I looked through my stash and came up with a few other choices...

Crescent Colours Desert Mesquite and Black Coffee


WDW Twilight and CC Black Coffee


GAST Brethren Blue and CC Black Coffee

What do you all think?? Hmmm.. decisions, decisions!

Sweet Treats!

Well, I decided to get a start on CCN "Sweet Treats" last night. I was going to use the fabric I had coffee-dyed, but then decided it was too light, so then I decided to tea dye it. And then it was too dark. I then decided to tea dye a piece of white lugana and it turned out just right. Sounds like Goldilocks and the Three Bears! :) The only problem was the thread for the words "Sweet Treats" was too light. So I decided to use Weeks Dye Works Bright Leaf instead of the called for CC Peanut Brittle.

I didn't sew the buttons on yet. I will wait until it is all stitched until I do that. Now I'm going to get back to P&P. I just have to do a couple more letters in the alphabet and the top poinsettia row! Yeah! I can't wait until it's finished! :)

New Stash!

And I don't have to feel guilty about it! This is the stash that I bought with my paypal money. I got the first half of my order from Handcrafts Online today. Thanks MK! :)

CCN "Sweet Treats" and LHN "Heart of America" and "Herbal Tea"


Heart of America


Sweet Treats with my own 28 ct. Coffee-dyed Cashel linen

I'm just waiting on the linen for "Heart of America" and the limited edition kit "My Needle's Work." I'm in a kitting up mood lately because once I move and I'm not working we are going to be on a tight budget! Seriously tight! I'm not upset about it. It won't be forever, but I'm trying to get used to it now, so it's not so hard in a few months! It will be so worth it though! I would do anything for our family to be together again. I can't wait! :) Only about three months now! Thankfully time seems to be going fairly quick. It's almost time to start looking for a place to rent. Well, kids are wanting to play a game. Write later!