Happy New Year!

Wow!  It seems like we were just waiting for 2013 to arrive and tonight we are saying good bye.  Wishing you a very healthy and happy 2014.  May it be filled with peace and great joy for all.

Hugs and Stitches,
Pat

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

 

Wishing you  a safe and Happy Halloween.  Cold and wet here today in upstate NY.  I am off to get cider, doughnuts and candied apples at the orchard. Dinner is in the crock pot.  I'm ready....come on you little ghosts and goblins.

Hugs and Stitches,
Pat

A FINISH AND SOME OTHER STUFF

Good afternoon from sunny (for right now) upstate NY.   I have a finish to show  that I have fallen in love with.  It is a Stacy Nash Primitives pattern from Market 2013 Spring Flowers Pinkeep.  The pattern was designed to be a pinkeep but I decided to frame mine.  The frame is from Hobby Lobby.  My friend Karrie had a frame just like this one and was trying to find the right project to use it on.   When I completed  the stitching on this kit we decided that this frame would be a perfect match.   I ordered my frame on line from H-L. Karrie borrowed my pattern and stitched it up for her frame too. If you click on the picture you will see a close up of the frame and notice how well the colors match.

Speaking of Karrie, I would like to show you what she made me and another friend for Christmas this past year.  The pattern name is Mini Quaker Stitches by Jeannette Douglas Designs.  Karrie stitched it all in one color and mounted it on Treenware Boxes.  The first one below is how Debbie displays hers. She has  some goodies inside her box and has the lid on the side.  Isn't she clever?

This is my box that sits on the coffee table in my living room.

 I had some floss and scissors in mine but I cleaned it out for the photo shoot.

Here is a picture of the side of the box. I love how it is distressed to look old.

I mentioned sunny when I started this post.  The pictures below are from yesterday afternoon.  It was cloudy and dark most of the day and then this racket started outside.  I took these pictures just as the hail started.  The hail was pea size.  It hurt when it hit you or me as it was.  I didn't stay out  long.

I hope that it is the last bit of winter I see for quite a while.  Now it is time to get dinner started.  Tonight we are trying out a pintrest recipe.  Thank you for stopping by.  I love reading you comments.   Enjoy the rest of your week.  I am off to stitching with friends tomorrow and a trip to Burlington VT on Friday.  Busy, Busy!! 

Hugs and Stitches,

Pat

HAPPY EASTER

Hugs and Stitches,

Pat

A finish and some WIP's

I have had my  "Wynter Peacocks"  Sewing Pouch finished for a while now.   It is the first project from the Ladies Prim Society.  It is by Threadwork Primitive for Dyeing to Stitch.  It was a fun and fast project.  I loved everything about this kit. The stitching fabric, the floss colors, finishing fabrics and the directions. 

A peek at the inside.

I love those little x's around the seams  but I can never get them to look right.

This is the first time that I have joined a club and have had my project finished before the next  one has  arrived.  What a good feeling.  I want to try and  keep up with the other Prim Ladies.  I am excited to see the next project.  I hope it comes soon.

I have been stitching on WTNAT Strawberry Hill  Sewing Box.  I stitch on it on Tuesdays stitching with the Loose Threads.  The name of our group could not be more appropriate.  We always have a great time.  I like every part of this pattern and want to stitch them all. I love the colors.  I am using the floss and fabric called for in the pattern.   My stitching at home is mostly for Christmas.

In an earlier post I mentioned that I had made little pillows for my friends for Valentine's day.  Well here it is. I am not sure where I got this pattern as I have had it for awhile.  It looks like I ripped it from a magazine.  If anyone knows its origin I will give credit in a later post.

When I saw the releases from the  2013 Nashville Market I had to have this pattern (along with many more).  It is "Spring Flowers" by Stacy Nash.  I ordered it right away from The Strawberry Sampler and it was here in no time.  I may even get this piece finished for Easter.  Isn't that the cutest bunny?

Lastly  is a picture of a pincushion I made for Margaret  that I  forgot to take a picture of before I mailed it.  Margaret was kind enough to send me a picture.  Thank you again, Margaret.  It is a pattern by Priscilla's Pocket. 

Well,  I think that is enough for tonight.  It is time for American Idol.  I don't know who she will be... but I know it will be a lady winner this year.  Have a great weekend everyone.  I'll be back soon.

Hugs and Stitches,

Pat

Gifts For Margaret

My friend Margaret had a birthday quite some time ago.  I was very late in  sending her gifts off to her.  I don't think that I have ever had her birthday gift to her on time.  There was one time that I might have but the package decided to take a side trip and it was unaccounted for for a couple of months.  She has her gifts now.  I never took a picture of the gifts before I mailed them off.  Margaret took pictures and sent them to me today.  Now I can show you what I made.  First is a pincushion from JABC.  It came as a kit.  The directions were great and it was very easy to hand stitch together.  I enjoyed making the acorn and was very pleased with it finished.  Thank you so much Margaret for the pictures.

Next I stitched  Aunt Lucy's Button Box by Crab-apple Hill.  I used the called for Cosmo  over dyed floss.  I like the Cosmo floss very much but I find that  the sections of colors are quite long between color changes.  The floss is wonderful to work with though.

Here  is a close up of the fabric, floss and buttons.

This small cross stitch is by Olde Colonial Designs.  It was a fee pattern if you bought a small wooden oval frame.  I like the lace flower and the lady bug button.  I also liked this small black frame from Michael's.

I made gifts for another March birthday.  Again I did not take pictures.  Tomorrow is my stitching day with friends so I will take photos tomorrow and post them soon.  Margaret has one more photo to send.  Daylight got away from her today.  When she is able she will send it along and I will post it at another time.

Day one of  DST and I am exhausted already.  It is hard to believe that one hour can make so much difference to our body's schedule.  I enjoy the extra sunshine but we didn't have it today.  It is very overcast here and rain is on the way.

I have some stitching progress to show and some I can't because I am working on Christmas.  I hope that you enjoy your day tomorrow as much as I will.  I will be stitching away with friends.  Tuesday...my favorite day of the week!

Margaret, I hope that you had a wonderful birthday.  Enjoy your gifts.  Again, I am sorry that it was so late.  As soon as my order arrives I will get your HAG off to you!!!

Hugs and Stitches,

Pat

Finally Some Finishes

I can not believe that we are half way through February already.  Time is speeding by me like I am standing still.   I have been busy stitching on some birthday gifts and I have even started some  Christmas stitching.  The projects below are all gifts that I gave this past Christmas.   The first one is by Plum Street Sampler. His name is Sergei.  He was a fun stitch. I used the fabric and threads called for in the pattern and stitched him with one strand of floss over two threads. I sent him off to Utah to be framed at Jill Rensel Studio.  I had ordered frames and mats from Jill before but this was the first time I had her frame a project for me.  What a pleasure it was to work with her.  She sent me three different options to frame via e-mail.  We e-mailed back and forth and I decide on this frame.  I loved how the inside red frame matched so perfectly and the glass covered the red frame.  I would never hesitate to send a project to Jill.  I am not lucky enough to have a local framing shop in my town.  In the past I have used Michael's.  I see more of my projects flying West.

Here is a close up of the frame.

The next finish is The Journey by Shepherd's Bush.  It came as a kit.  .  I wanted the same frame and mat that was used on the picture in the kit.  I just love the decorative painting on the mats. Not only is Jill a pleasure to work with, she is a very talented lady.

Here is a close up of the frame and mat.  I apologize for the flash light in this picture.  We have not had much sun around lately.

 This last stitch is a pattern by Lizzy Kate.  Wine a bit.   I saw this pattern and  pre-made wine bag at the Celebration of Needle work in NH last year.  I knew right away that I had to stitch it and who I would stitch it for.  I loved how it turned out.

Speaking of the Celebration of Needle Work, we are already making our plans to go.  It is at the very end of April in Nashua NH.  Our room is reserved.  Soon we will be planning our snacks and "spirits".  We always have so much fun.  It is great for the girls to have a getaway. 

I hope that everyone had a great Valentine's day yesterday.  I stitched a little pillow for each of my friends.  I will be back to show you how cute they are.  Wishing you all a great weekend with plenty of time to stitch.

Hugs and Stitches,

Pat

Some Finishes

It has been quite a while since I have posted any finishes.  This small pillow is a BBD  project.  I made it for a friend for her birthday.  I think that it turned out nice.  I know that my friend liked it.

I backed it with a piece of BBD fabric that I thought matched it perfectly.

I also stitched some Christmas ornaments  for friends this year.  In years past I have purchased ornaments.  This year I didn't see many new ornaments that I liked.  We have one nice gift shop here in town.  Every fall they have a Christmas Open House.  Usually I attend with the friends I buy for.  I don't think that any of us were to impressed with the ornament selection this year.  I had not stitched an ornament for several years.  It was really fun stitching them.  The first one was a free pattern from Homespun Elegance.  It was a quick stitch.  I used fabric and floss from my stash.  I added a button that reminded me of a snow flake and a tiny rusty bell.

The backing also came from my stash.  The next ornament was also a free pattern.  This one was from  Niky.  Noel was a quick stitch too.  I added a rusty bell in the top left hand corner.  The backing for this ornament also came from my stash.

Lastly, I stitched two of these cute stockings from the 1998  Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament issue.  It is a Blackbird Design pattern.  I almost forgot to take  pictures so I caught this one on it's way out the door.  It was a fun stitch also.  It  did take a little time to put together.  It was all done by hand.

I am going to leave you with these pictures tonight while blogger and I are still speaking!!!

Our cold spell has finally broken.  It snowed here all day yesterday leaving us with several inches of the white stuff.  Tomorrow it is going to be 50 degrees and rain.  Then it is going to turn cold again.  You all know what happens when  it rains and then turns cold!  We will be covered in ICE!  I can hardly wait.  My thoughts are with the people in the South and Midwest with the weather they have forecast for them for tonight.  I hope everyone stays safe.  Have a good week.

Hugs and Stitches,

Pat

IT'S OFFICIAL....

It's official!!  I am a Prim Lady.  I joined the Ladies Prim Society when it was announced on The Dying to Stitch web site several weeks ago.   My kit arrived on Saturday.  It is a Nan Lewis original. " Wynter Peacock" sewing pouch.   Kits will arrive five times a year and feature Nan and the girls from Blackbird Designs.  I enjoy both designers and have stitched several of their patterns.

 Here are the fabrics and the floss.  They are just stunning.

I can't wait to get it started.  I need to finish some birthday gifts that I am working on that I can't show just yet.
Baby it's cold outside! I feel like a frozen Popsicle today as I now a lot of you do too.  I don't like the cold when it is this cold  for so long.  The weatherman says maybe by the end of weekend it will be warmer.  It is great weather to sit and stitch and that is what I am going to do today.  I hope that you find some time to stitch too.  Have a great weekend and stay warm.  Not sure what happened with these pictures. They flipped around and I can't flip them back!!

Hugs and Stitches,

Pat

A Fun Day!

Yesterday was a fun, fun day spent with friends.   Four of us always travel to NH at the end of April to the Celebration of Needlework Show, as a girls get away.  For the past few years there has been a big scrapbook show in the area at the same time. (not this year...sad face) Two of my friends are big into scrap booking along with cross stitching..  Of course they wanted to attend that show too.   My other friend and myself went along  to see what that show was about.   I was overwhelmed.  I loved everything I saw and spent way to much money on stuff I haven't used.  We all bought a printer's box and until yesterday it was left untouched and forgotten in our piles of things we wanted to do.  Four out of five of our hubbies are away.  So we planned to get our boxes finished on Saturday.  Each of us made a munchie and off to Karrie's house we went.

We started the day of with a toast to good friends, good times and great memories. 

Karrie's mom is an avid crocheter, she doesn't stitch or scrap, but she joined us for a while.  That hook never stopped!

Here we are all hard at work but mostly having FUN!!



Two of the girls completed their boxes and glued everything down.  Two of us were not sure of a couple of  spaces so we are waitting to glue ours down.  Here are the finished and almost finished pieces.



We had some great munchies. I forgot to take pictures.  Believe me they were delish.    I think that our printer boxes turned out great.   We were all  quite happy when we headed home.  Thanks Karrie for having us in your beautiful scrapbooking room for the day,  We all had a great time.  Wish you all could have joined us.   Tonight it is back to cross stitching for me.  Sunday night is my favorite night for TV.  I am off to settle in with a new cross stitch project .  I will show you soon. 

Hugs and Stitches,

Pat

Another Christmas..

Another Christmas has come and gone.  Where does the time go.  Here we are almost in the middle of January with Valentines Day just around the corner.  I have been away from blogging for awhile but I have been busy stitching.  Most of my stitching has been for friends for gifts but I have managed to stitch  a bit for me too.   Here is a tray that I made as a gift.  The pattern is from a BBD book.  I made one of these trays for myself and I love it.  My friend did too and asked for one for Christmas.  As you can see this is not the tray but a close up picture of the handle.  I have no idea what happened to the picture.  It was right here when I started this post. 

IS IT ME OR IS BLOGGER STILL HAVING PROBLEMS???  PLEASE HELP!!

This is a pattern by Little by Little.  Quaker Blackbird is the name.  I stitched two of these and changed the colors up a bit. The horn book was ordered from Country Stitches

I have several more pictures of gifts I have stitched to show but I  am about to pull my hair out tonight with blogger.  Pictures are moving where they want to, sometimes right off the page.  Print is doing the same.  Oh my!  I am not sure that I like the new and improved blogger at all!!  I sure hope that someone can help!!

Hugs and Stitches,

Pat

FITTING!!!

Some days Blogger  behaves like a spoiled child.  It has been  throwing fits for a couple of days now.  I will be back as soon as it calms down!  Enjoy your day.

Hugs and Stitches,

Pat