Merry Merry Be

Hello Stitching Friends --
I'm feeling much better this week after last week's cold and general "tired" feeling!  This past week I picked out some of the ornaments I want to stitch in Becky's Ornament Challenge:

 I've really enjoyed stitching the LHN ornaments this year so I'm hoping to add a few more.  I saw the thread and fibers for the Shepherds Bush ornaments and LOVE them and want to add those to this year's collection too.  Let's see how much I actually accomplish (LOL:)))

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I'm getting in the Christmas spirit and stitched this Shepherds Bush pincushion which I filled with crushed walnut shells instead of fiberfill to give it some weight.  I really like the way they finish the edges with the ribbon and beads.

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In addition to stitching the ornaments I have hopes of stitching this SB design -- Glad Tidings.  It's not very large and I just love the little girl holding a flute (it's hard to see in the picture but take my word for it -- it's lovely)

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Thanks for all your wonderful comments last week about my exchange piece.  What you couldn't see in the picture was the fact that I used some fabric glue to put on the ric-rac and let's just say it didn't dry clear on the black fabric.  I did stitch and finish something else this week and once it's received I will post a picture.  I'm VERY HAPPY with how the second project came out.

Again, thanks for visiting my corner of the world and for all your wonderful comments:))

Have a great week.

BrendaS

Sunday the 23rd

Hello Stitching Friends --
I always have a hard time coming up with good post titles.  Do you have that same problem? Today I kept it simple!  Simple seems to be the name of the game this past week.  I have been fighting a cold and just feel  tired so not a lot of stitching.

Earlier this week I received a most lovely package from the very generous BeckySC.   I had sent her some punch needle kits and this is what she sent me:

Is this not GORGEOUS?  I absolutely LOVE it:)))  Thank you again dear Becky.  I will treasure it and your friendship always!

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Well, remember this Drawn Thread piece from last week?  I finished it into my first ever pinkeep.  I am very pleased with how it came out.  What do you think?

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I wasn't so lucky with this Prairie Schooler ornament.  This was to be for my first ever exchange but it didn't turn out as planned so I am moving on to Plan B (I need to get stitching!)

This afternoon I plan on taking a nap and then I need to kit up some ornaments so that I'm ready to go for Becky's Christmas ornament challenge which begins November 1. This should be lots of fun and I hope to make some new ornaments for my tree:)) 

Have a great week and find some time to do the things you love!

BrendaS

Tending the Pumpkins

Hello Stitchy Friends --
I've been doing some punch needle recently and this is the results of my efforts:

Tending the Pumpkins

Designed by With Thy Needle and Thread

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I also finished the stitching on this Drawn Thread piece:

My Treasure Box

 The Drawn Thread

I think I will finish this as a pinkeep.  Not sure yet so stay tuned........

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Yesterday I got together with a few girls from the stitching group and we painted our boxes for Blackbird's Cast a Spell.  Now I need to get stitching the little pincushions for inside the box:)))  They are quite small so I should be able to finish them in no time, right?  LOL!!!

Short and sweet this week.  Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.  You know how much I appreciate you!:))

Have a great week and I hope you find time to do lots of stitching.

BrendaS

Retreat Fun and a little Stitching

Hello Stitching Buddies --
I had such a good time at the Inspired Needle Retreat this past weekend in Shipshewana, Indiana.  We shopped, laughed, started new projects and ate some great food.  It was a GORGEOUS Fall weekend with all the leaves changing which was just the icing on the cake.  I took my camera with me but didn't take one single picture!  Can you believe that?   I'm just not used to being the picture taker! I did take some pictures this morning of some gifts we received and some shopping that I did.

I got some wool, trim, fabric and scissors from Lolly's Fabrics.  I also got a scoopful of assorted buttons but need to find a glass jar to display them in!  Lolly's is a great quilt shop right in the heart of Amish Country and if you are a quilter you could go nuts in there!

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At the retreat we had a small exchange which I participated in.  This was what I received from Ranae!  Isn't it the best?  The little button is from her grandmother's collection.  I immediately came home and displayed it with my Fall display.  THANK YOU so much again Ranae:))

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 Ranae, who is so generous and thoughtful also went to an antique mall in Shipshewana and found a couple of scissor frogs and gifted me with one.  This is my very first scissor frog ever!  Is this not the sweetest and coolest thing?  I just LOVE it!

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Cathy also gifted us with some items too.  When we arrived we were all given these little mesh bags with stitcher's hand cream, a neat specs cleaner and a little scissor fob.  Also not pictured were some glittered acorns and leaves which she and her sister made for everyone.

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 On Saturday night while we were having dinner Cathy placed a little package at each of our stitching spots and this is what was in the bag.  A hand made wooden tote box complete with a engraved thread palette and our initial engraved on the little hornbook.  What a gorgeous and thoughtful gift to give everyone:))  Thank you so much Cathy!

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 I did manage to get a little bit of stitching done.  I worked on an exchange piece (no pic) and this Drawn Thread piece from a few years ago titled Treasure Box.

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I had so much fun with all the women who attended.  We talked, laughed, shared projects, picked out new projects to start and just had a wonderful stitching weekend.  I also got to meet Katrina who came all the way from Colorado!  I can hardly wait until the next retreat in October 2012:))!!!!!

Well that's it for me this week.  Thanks for stopping by and all the wonderful comments.  You always make my day!

Have a great week....

BrendaS

Let the countdown begin!

Hello Stitchy Friends --
This coming Friday is the Inspired Needle stitching retreat in Shipshewana, Indiana.  We leave early Friday morning for 3 days of stitching heaven!  I can hardly wait:)))  Today I finished up my exchange small and am in the process of picking out new projects (because you have to take NEW stuff, don't you know?!:))

This past week I finished this little Drawn Thread scissor fob which matches the box top I finished last week.

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I also finished these two Halloween ornaments.  These are by Lizzie Kate and I punched them a couple of years ago but never finished them.  I plan on hanging them on my Halloween Tree

Well that's it for me this week.  Thanks for stopping by and as always a BIG THANK YOU for the wonderful comments.  They always encourage and inspire me!

Have a great week:))

BrendaS