Look at the lovely needlecase I received today from Amy C.! (Sorry--the bee skep has nothing to do with the beach, but I don't seem to have any shells handy-LOL!) This is from a Quaker exchange on the Legacy bulletin board. We got to choose a Quaker design with the theme--sand and sea. The linen needed to be a "sand" color, with whatever floss that represented "sea" colors--blues, turquoise, etc. I love my gift! The design is really unusual--I will have to ask her where she got it! The variegated floss really looks nice on this color. The back has "Summer 2005" along with my name and Amy's name. The inside has lovely blue patterned fabric with blue felt attached with little beads and three gold needles! This is my first Quaker exchange, however, I think they have been doing these for a while now!! I love needlecases. I really am going to have to try one myself soon. Many thanks Amy!! Now I need to finish mine up as well. Most people in this group are quick stitchers! I think they need to be mailed out by Sept 30, but I hope to get mine out very soon, too!
And here is my work so far on the Victoria Sampler freebie angel (Serena) that I got off the website. She is a "gaden angel". So far she has been fairly quick to stitch up. Thanks to Julie who kindly shared her Kreinik braid with me for the middle section of her dress. The bottom of her skirt is going to be a bargello design, which I think will be very pretty. I had thought of finishing her as a needleroll, but she may be a tad bit small. Of course needlerolls don't need to be a particular size. On the VS website, she is finished as an ornament, which would also be pretty (but the ornament has a rounded top--how am I going to pull that one off?? Any suggestions?). I don't think I will get any stitching done tonight, but I will take her to work tomorrow and add her other wing, and maybe get started on her skirt! It is fun to see a design appear out of the fabric!