New Blogger in Town!

Hi Everyone,  no pics to post today because our main computer is on the fritz.  I just wanted everyone to know that a new friend has joined blog land.  I met Teresa at New England Stitcher's Retreat last year and we have kept in touch ever since.  She stitches BEAUTIFULLY!!  All of her scissors have sweetheart tree fobs done to perfection, she has completed many Just Nan projects, her lastest being the Floral Ball.  Wait until you see them.  Hop on over and give her a welcome in true blogger style. You can find her at Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches.

Happy Stitching!

Back from Nashville

Wow, what a trip!  The flight there was fine but coming home there were many delays and I spent something like 13 hours in the airport.  The only benefit was that I got some stitching done on a model.  I will post pics tomorrow, I haven't unpacked yet and I have been spending the morning catching up with my boys.

As far as market goes, wow, there are so many talented designers.  It was fun to see all of the new models for the new releases.  Just Nan had some beautiful new releases with lots in the works.  Of note, her new butterfly needle books and stands, a beautiful jeweled owl hinged box with a stitched mouse to put inside, a new needle slide that has bird cage pin to match done in beautiful pinks,  violet humbug that has violets and bunnies on it (too cute).  There are some autos out there, LHN seasonal threadpaks from Crescent Colors, Samsarah has a fruit designs coming out that has a stitched pictures as well as a dimensional object, Amy Brueken has snowman design that has seasonally decorated snowmen on piece or indiviually that will be released monthly.  Lizzie Kate had a wonderful limited edition chart titled PEEP and I also got to see her summer alphabet model, which I loved. 
Shakespeares peddler had her latest reproduction and the colors are beautiful!  She also did a small interpretation of this larger sampler which was beautiful.  Her new Jenny Bean Creation sampler was wonderful.  Primitive Needle had a limited edition which was stunning in person and also a piece titled Twigs and Berries which was beautiful.  Sometimes the pictures don't do things justice. With My Needle had a beautiful limited box design that took my breath away.  It was gorgeous.  I also saw some great things from Charland, there was a quaker style needleroll and bluebird pincushion that caught my attention. 
Of course,  I got to thumb through Blackbird Designs latest book release titled Stitchers Journey and saw all of the stitched models for their Reward of Merit series. Not to mention that I got to meet these lovely and creative ladies. 
LHN and Impie, Hattie and Bea have another limited collaboration.  It is a needle book and tomato pin cushion with a garden themed sampler. The colors are very rich. If you are a LHN fan you will love this piece.  Shepherds bush has a new pink snowman and garden fob.
I found a couple of teaching pieces which caught my eye.  So I spent some time talking to the designers to see if they might be interested in teaching at the Enfield Shaker Museum.  I will follow up with more info as I get it. 
Primitive Traditions had beautiful prestitched sewing rolls with stitchable linen insert and a wonderful quaker style chart.   If you can get your hands on one of these do it!!  It is stunning!!  Prairie Moon had a new Crypt Club chart. The model caught my eye.  It's 2 witches in bikinis sitting at a flamingo table. It ones of those designs that I don't know why I like it I just do! 
I will show you picks of some things I was able to pick up. It was a whirlwind of hard work with lots of laughs mixed in.  All of the things we picked up at market can be seen  onABC Stitch Therapy  Nashville Pages. We took back as much as we could without sending the luggage over the weight limit.
For now, I have to catch up on everything that wasn't done while I was away.  I hope you enjoyed the report and find some inspiration for your next projects.  Happy Stitching!!

Leaving on a Jet Plane. . . .

Hey Everyone,  It's has been one crazy week.  I have been getting ready all week.  Making sure everyone is taken care of before I take off to NASHVILLE.  That's right ladies.  I am so fortunate that my enabler, Marie from ABC Stitch Therapy , has asked me to help her at this years Needlework Market.  My bags are packed, the laundry is done, now it is time to sleep.  Oh but if only it were that easy.  I never sleep the night before a flight.  I am not nervous about flying, I am nervous about over sleeping and missing my flight.  It has never happened but I still fear it.  Wish me luck, and I will post all about it when I return.  Until then, Happy Stitching!!!

The Best Un-Birthday

I recently won Gracie's Unbirthday Giveaway and got this wonderful package in the mail. Needles Pins and Dragonflies is her blog and I love following what's happening in her neck of the woods (desert).  She is very creative and her stitching is beautiful.  Gracie, many thanks for this lovely treat!!!

I love all of these wonderful goodies and really felt like it was my birthday but most of all I love the hand made pincushion.  She chose wonderful floral fabric which reminded me that spring and summer will be here soon.  I love the "bling" she added.  It makes it really girly and I definitely need that in my house.  I am surrounded by so much testosterone that anything pink soon turns to blue.   Thanks again Gracie for this wonderful gift!!  It definitely made my day and I am still smiling from it!!

Happy Stitching!

A Giveaway Win and a finish

Happy Friday Everyone!  I hope you will all get some stitching in this weekend.  I won Denise's Giveaway, well really I was runner up but she was too sweet and drew a second name and Voila!  I was the winner.  She sent along this adorable teddy bear "bearing" a visa gift card.  That will definitely come in handy to buy more stash. Thanks Denise.  Be sure to visit her blog Riverside Stitching and check out her lovely work.

On the Stitching front, I finished the stitching for my SAL with Carol.  We were working on Thistle Accessories by Jeannette Douglas and I finished the stitching over the weekend.  We will have a finishing day soon and I will post a pick.  I really love the colors, all purples and greens.  It is a really beautiful design.

Pincushion top

Thimble size pincushion top

fob front

fob back

Bag front

This project concentrated on many specialty stitches and had some over one.  I am sad to see it end but excited to move onto the next project.  My next WIP in rotation is an acorn biscornu by Indigo Rose.  I will post a pic soon.  Happy Stitching!

Look what I got!

I recently participated in a Valentine's Swap on Parsley's blog Seasons of my mind and this is what I got!

Tanya from Friendship Crossing sent me these lovely goodies.  They were wrapped beautifully but not for long!  I dove right in!

 She sent pink hot chocolate, turtles (a personal favorite), vanilla candle tarts, a mini album, note pad, baking cups, a heart coaster, and heart buttons.  Love the Valentines Theme she went with.  She was also thoughtful enough to send treats for my boys.  They enjoyed chocolate covered marshmallow hearts and cherry flavored pops.  It was a happy afternoon for everyone.  But the most treasured thing she sent was a beautiful Valentines pillow which now sits with my valentines day decor.  It's beautiful Tanya and I love it!!  Thank you Thank you.  Happy Stitching Everyone!

And the Winner is . . . . . .

Wow!  142 comments.  That is one successful giveaway.  Thank you everyone for entering my Valentine's Giveaway!  I enjoy having so many new followers and have been checking out all of your beautiful blogs

So, 140+ entries into my Valentine's Day bowl!  That wasn't going to work.  So they all went into a brown paper bag with 2 wonderful assistants helping me choose the winner.

So without further ado. . . .

Emily at Emmie's Ramblings you are the lucky winner!  Please email me your snail mail so I can't get your package off to you before Valentine's Day!  I hope you enjoy all the goodies.  Thanks everyone for participating!  Stay tuned for future giveaways! As always,  Happy Stitching!!

A finish!

Hi Everyone!  Thank you for all of the wonderful comments left on my last post.  It was my 100th post and I thought it was perfect to have a Valentine's Giveaway.   If you haven't entered you have until midnight Feb 7th. Please comment only on the giveaway post. I will draw the winner on the 8th.  Good luck.  Below is a picture of my latest finish.  I am NOT sewing machine savvy so please don't look for the imperfections.  I stitched Blackbird Designs Bird in Hand on 28ct Autumn Blush with GAST in Cranberry.  After stitching it I decided it would make a cute pillow, so I found some backing fabric, ric rac for the edging and well there you  have it.  Not exactly straight but still kinda cute.  I like how the backing has leaves similar to the ones in the design.  It's a gift.  I hope the recipient likes it!  Happy Stitching everyone!!

Valentines Day Giveaway !!!!

As many of you know we were hit with more snow yesterday and lots and lots of rain today to make one soppy wet mess.  My husband texted the above picture that he took on his way to work today.  I love it!    Well, Punxsutawney Phil has decided we will have a quick onset of spring so I hope he holds true to his word.  In the spirit of February I have decided to hold a Valentine's Day Giveaway!

One lucky winner will get everything pictured.  I have included Shepherds Bush Be My Valentine chart, Small Tokes of my Affection chart by Blue Ribbon Designs, 3 cuts of evenweave, 1 cut of linen, valentines shopping list pad (to be used as a stash list of course),  a 4" pair of purple scissors, 14 skeins of pink, red, and purple DMC thread,  a roll of valentines ribbons, a tuck it pillow in red and a prairie schooler complimentary pattern.  To be entered, leave a comment on this post by Feb 7th.  I will announce the winner on Feb 8th.  I would love for you to follow my blog if you are interested and if you spread the word on your blog you will get an extra entry.  Please be sure to leave your email so I can contact you if you win. 

Good Luck Everyone!!