The Peacock's Feather

Fa La La

I discovered a new little sheepie!  I was ordering some supplies for upcoming exchanges and I found this Fa La La sheep.  I am still waiting on the newest sheep design by Shepherds Bush, but I think I will have the whole set. I wonder if  SB is going to design any more?  They seem to have covered all the major holidays with the exception of Valentine's Day (unless I missed that one too).   

I was working on Oh Say, but I had to set it aside while I did the finishing on my Sizzlin Summer exchange project.  Since I was lucky to receive mine early, I want to make sure the one I stitched gets into the mail on the due day (which is Monday).  I just put the finishing touches on it a little while ago.  I will have to take a photo of it, but I won't be able to post it until Annemiek receives it!  I am still watching for my Sampler House.  It will give me something to look forward to in next week's mail!

I saw over on Dani's Blog that the next installment of Chatelaine's Midi Mystery has been released.  It is turning out really lovely.  I think I am going to have to give in and at least buy the charts in August.  Seeing as lately I have fallen off the wagon in terms of no new stash!!

Also, Gina if you are reading this, I posted a bit of info about the needleroll exchange where you left your comment!  Sorry about the delay--I just saw your posting.  If anyone is interested in exchanges you really should hop on over to Stitching Blogger's Exchanges.  You will need to "apply", but Becky will get you registered and you can see all the great exchanges that are going to start soon!  It is a very international group, so all stitcher's are welcome.  There are stitchers there from Iceland to Singapore!! 

Flower for a Friend

The first Esmeralda's Friends design is here.  I signed up for the automatic program for these designs at Elegant Stitch.  Apparently these have been so popular that Lois has decided to make this a monthly program.  These are going to be limited editions, and will be released after the first of each month.  The next one is due out September 1st.  It even has lovely packaging and was fun to open.

Here are the contents for Flower for a Friend.  There are finising instructions as well as the chart, the tin pin holder and other little materials that go along with constructing the pin.  This has overdyed floss, and a very cute little bee button.  I hope I will be able to stitch these up each month!

Sizzlin' Summer Exchange

Look what came in the mail for me today.  This is from my friend, Tracey, in my Birthday Buddies group.  We are also having an exchange.  She finished hers early, so I got a very, very nice treat in the mail today.  I *love* it!  Bee skeps are my favorite motif, and she picked the perfect design.  It is the bottom half of a Prairie Schooler design (one of my favorite designers by the way).  It is from book #45 called Garden Samplers.  I love Tracey's pillows.  The fabric she chose is perfect too!  I have another little pillow from her from a Christmas exchange, which I still display!

Here is another picture with the goodies she sent along.  She sent a Bent Creek chart called the Littles: Black Kitty.  I had planned on buying this one.  I love this series.  I have the Bunny chart and it is all stitched (not yet finished).  She also sent Onyx floss for the kitty, and some great post-it notes (which I love and keep right here by my desk for my many lists!).  Even the card has a BOAF chart on it (which I also have and am planning on stitching--I have it all kitted up!).  This was a great mail day.  I love my pillow--it totally made my day.  I need a bigger shelf I think--I am running out of room for all my lovely little stitching gifts!  I really enjoy these exchanges!!  Now to finish up my project for Annemiek!!  It will be in the mail Monday, Annemiek! :)

Sampler House Exchange

My Sampler House has arrived!  It made its way to Shelley, and she just let me know it arrived safely.  Yay.  This was a really fun exchange.  I stitched a Prairie Schooler freebie design.  I had a really hard time deciding what to stitch, and then I came across this old freebie.  I like how it turned out, and I wouldn't mind stitching it again for myself.  I finished it completely by hand, and this was my first time making tassles.  I hope they look okay!  I feel like with each finish I get a little bit better, and I am more willing to try new techniques. 

Here is the back side.  It is fairly simple, but I didn't want to leave it blank.  I just stitched L.E.G. for Legacy Embroiderer's Guild, the year and Shelley and my initials.   Now I will be watching my mail box to see what the mailman brings me!!

Exchanges, exchanges, exchanges!!!

I have been stitching away lately on exchanges as I have been mentioning.  I am finishing up my Summer themed exchange this week, and I started on my Quaker pin disk as well.  If you have not gone over and joined The Stitching Blogger's Forum you really should.  There is a little bit of info on Becky's  (now defunct) Blog.  But all the activity is now going on over on the bulletin board.  There are several different exchanges that you can sign up for.  And you don't have to be a blogger to join--so no worry there.  The group is very international and I believe there are about 40 of us at the moment.

Anyway, all this leads up to--I am going to moderate an exchange.  I am going to moderate a needleroll exchange, though I need to work out all the details still.  I hope to get the info on the board in the next day or so.  I have had a bit of a fixation with needlerolls as of late, so I thought it would be fun to have a little swap.  And hopefully I will have a few people sign up!!  :)

May Blooms (Late!)

Finally I am one month closer to getting caught up on my snappers.  I wanted to get June and July also stitched this month, but I don't think that will happen!  These are not terribly large, so I am not sure why it feels like it takes me so long to stitch them up.  I think that the fabric is a bit too soft, floppy for me these days and it feels like I am stitching so slow.  I also feel like I am not stitching as neat as I do on stiffer fabric.  But I do like working on these.

Here is a photo of all the months I have stitched so far.  As you can see I have not at all kept up on the border or vine!  I am lucky to get the months stitched actually!  I believe I have also used the wrong color for the border, but I am not sure I will pick out those stitches as this point.  Now, on to June!

Cute Little Sheepies

I don't know how I missed these little kits, but I just discovered them.  They are too cute, and as they are not terribly expensive and come with all the supplies, I ordered them.  I have the first two and I am still waiting on the third one.  I think there will probably be more in the series.  I can certainly imagine some sort of winter design at least.  This is Oh Say.  It came with the fabric, silks, beads, and a little rosebud embellishment.  It is so sweet looking that I am going to start it this week.  So much for not starting anything new, but it is a small project at least--25 x 38 stitches, so the finished size will be 1.5" x 2.5".  This is a Shepherds Bush design as you can see by the chart.  I love a lot of their designs, but some I am just not at all taken with.  But the little sheep are very cute!

Spooky Sheep is the other chart that I have.  It came with the same sort of materials.  This one has a cute little hat button that the sheep wears.  This is just in time as I have pulled out so many other Halloween charts.  This is one I will have to keep, however.  The other kit I am waiting for is called Busy Sheep if I remember correctly.  It has a bee skep (my favorite!) on it!  I am getting that one free as I had a frequent buyers card to use at Shakespeare's Peddler.  I also ordered a couple of other little goodies with my card.  I really like how SB kits up some of their designs.  It makes it easier than trying to locate all the supplies--especially when it is a small chart that calls for beads and buttons and such.  I plan on stitching them all.  I will take Oh Say and one of my exchange projects to work to stitch on. 

I did all my finishing for my Sampler House project yesterday.  I am quite pleased how it turned out and I can't wait to post a photo and share it.  I want to stitch another one for myself and finish it the same way.  I am working on my Summer project and will do the finishing on that one next weekend.  It should go as fast since I have gotten some practice in!  Hopefully in a few days I will be able to finally share some photos of finished projects!  As for the sheep I want to frame them, I think, and hang them all in a row.  I will  have to see what they look like all stitched up.  They might make cute little pillows as well if I could find the right fabric to go with them!  Now I will have to keep my eyes peeled for more sheep!  LOL!

Lovely New Fabric

Here are the goodies I just got from Elegant Stitch.  No new charts this time around.  I needed some fabric and floss for some new projects.  Here are supplies for two freebies (including purple poindexter buttons for one of them), a Halloween needleroll, Ghoul Train, which I mentioned before, my Quaker exchange supplies, and supplies for the Merry Cox pinkeep from SANQ I hope to start soon.  I am just missing one Gloriana silk for that one.  I feel like jumping right in on a new project, but I have to do the finishing on my Sampler House exchange.  I finished the stitching on it last weekend, but I didn't get a chance to get it put together during the week.  I hope to start it tonight.  I am almost finished with my Summer exchange project, too.  I have another week on that one.  Once they are mailed and received I can finally post a photo here.  I really have been stitching....I just haven't been able to share any progress photos!

Too, Too Hot!!!

Sorry I didn't post yesterday.  It has been so hot here, that I am terribly fed up with it.  It is the hottest summer we have seen in about three years, and I am feeling every last degree of it.  The temps have been in the high 90s and this weekend the highs for Saturday and Sunday will be 103 for each day!  Blech.  This is not even considering the heat index, as it is not just hot here, but humid--sticky, stifling, oppressive--all around nasty weather.  I know I should not complain as it is hot (even hotter) other places.  We have gotten a very tiny bit of rain, but I am sure the farmers would like some drenching storms (so would I!!).  I just paid my electric bill and my average daily cost was over $5.00!!  I am on a level payment plan, so I am dreading seeing the settling up bill.  I'll think about that one later though.  So, since I obviously must have air conditioning you say, why am I whining so much?  Aside from the fact I walk partially to and from work, my house is old and the upstairs is generally quite toasty.  The room with my computer and treadmill (which I walk on daily) is in a room without any air ducts (don't ask--we bought it this way).  So after I have walked and I sit down at the computer, I am generally drained and can only hack so much time in there.  Curiously my cats love it--crazy girls!!  So--now that I have complained in greeat detail (feel free to complain back to me! :) ......

I got a nice stash order from Lois at Elegant Stitch yesterday (which helped my grouchy mood immeasurably!).  It wasn't new stuff really--I needed some floss and fabric to kit up some things.  I will try and share tonight what I got.  By the way, did you see Esmeralda's Friends at Elegant Stitch?  New stitching accessories and such with the proceeds going to breast cancer.  I was tempted on this one, and I am signing up for the automatic program.  It is a good cause, so I don't feel quite so bad.  I think the first one by Mosey 'n Me is going to be sent out today or sometime next week.  I also figured this would be a nice small project I might be able to complete right away.  The kits will be coming out every other month. 

Stay Cool!

Decisions, Decisions...

It's time to pull out the Halloween charts.  Aside from the fact that it is and has been swelteringly hot outside, and I like to think ahead to cool October days when I need a sweatshirt, I have a couple of exchanges to be thinking about.  I am signed up for a Halloween exchange, a Halloween sweet bag exchange, and a friends's birthday is in October that I need to plan for!  I have a few other charts I didn't include in my picture, and several fun freebies, so I should have plenty to choose from.  I already think I have my design picked out for the regular Halloween exchange, but I am still pondering my choices for the other two.  It is a bit strange to be thinking about Halloween in July, but since Michaels and other stores are already putting out their Halloween merchandise, I guess I can be thinking about future stitching.

I have had several stitchers ask about joining groups that have exchanges and now is a good opportunity to join Becky's group.  She has just started it up, and already there are about three exchanges being organized.  I know she is out of town until Friday, so if you apply for membership on the bulletin board and don't hear back, don't worry, she will get to it when she gets back.  I hope she doesn't mind my mentioning it here.  It looks like it will be a lot of fun! 

And...any other Halloween design suggestions are more than welcome!!