Awesome Monthly Giveaway Opportunity!

Carolyn is beginning a monthly giveaway drawing on her blog. The first giveaway is Carriage House's Alphabet Blocks! Be sure to check out this post for more info!!!

Christmas Design SAL Update

Part 4 is finished! After a few hours with Monsieur Frog yesterday, I managed to fix some stitching errors (color) and finished the 4th section this evening. Let's just say I love frogs, but not in these circumstances! LOL

Here are some pics of my progress:




The first picture shows the obnoxious dark patches in the snow. The second picture shows the correction of color. The third picture is my progress to date! I must say that I was hestitant to remove the bad stitching. But after completing that "small" task, I am so very pleased with it. As I first stitched those areas I thought to myself that the colors didn't seem right. Sunday evening, when I got to an area (the extreme lower left of the stitching) where the Blue Black is supposed to be used, I realised my error. It is no longer an eyesore for me! :D

Now, on to HalloSAL!!!

Updates

Well, I decided to start the Butterfly Shamrock Wreath from "The Cross Stitcher” magazine (April 2010 issue). I really like the way the butterfly is looking so far, just not the many, many color changes. Here is a picture of what I have started:

Stitched on White 28ct Charles Craft Linen

using Recommended DMC floss

I also want to share an update on my design for the Christmas Design SAL over at Yoyo’s. Here is a picture:

After taking the picture last night, I settled in and did a bit more stitching on it. I now have some of the horse filled in and some of the dog as well as more of the half-stitching across the middle of this section. I will post another picture when this section is complete.

I received the 5th part of the HalloSAL that I am participating in and hope to work on that mid-week. We’ll see how it goes. I am hoping to leave the last week of March for some card inserts since I wasn’t able to get to them last month. I also want to put a little more work in on The Great Pumpkin Conspiracy. I feel like I have neglected that poor little design.

Lorilee’s Package Arrived!

International post can sometimes be a pain. What with the customs forms and the extra time for delivery. But that’s alright! As I have said before, I always mail priority and with that said I received word from Lorilee that she received her winnings! Here is a picture of what she received:

I am so glad that she likes the needlebook (it was the first one I have ever made)! And she told me she did find some designs in the magazine that she plans to stitch. I do wonder about that as you, the reader, can’t always tell what is inside by looking at a picture of the cover. I contemplated listing all of the designs in the original post, then thought no.

On the home front, I received my cookies today! Shall I begin with a box of Samoa’s, Thin Mints, or Lemon Chalet Cremes??? Oh the choices! I love Girl Scout Cookies and my best friend is always so sweet to send me an email every year asking if I want to order from her source or if I have someone here. You see, she lives in Michigan and I live in Florida, so I have to have them shipped. LOL…but they are so worth it!

Package from Jennifer Arrived

I was so excited to learn that I won the Gone With the Wind giveaway over at Feathers in the Nest. I received my winnings yesterday and am so looking forward to stitching the design. Here are a couple of pictures of my prize (note: the movie was already mine. I just added it to round out the picture.):

I tried on the earrings and love them! They are not too heavy. The real test will come when I wear them for more than a few minutes (my ears are very sensitive, but I believe all will be fine since they are sterling silver). Here is a picture of me donning the new earrings:

I also took a couple of pictures of my “Celtic” earring collection. I have a pair of shamrocks (that are a bit tarnished), a pair of gold claddagh’s that irritate my ears, and of course the lovely pair from Jennifer. Here is one of those pictures:

I can’t resist sharing a picture of my Sandy “modeling” the GWTW design:

Last week, I received the latest JCS and let me just say that I love most of the designs held within! I am for sure adding the following to my Future’s list: Thistle & Queen Anne’s Lace (p7), Spring Topiary (p13), In Your Easter Bonnet (p21), Bluebird in Blossoms (p28), Old Main Street series (p32), Splendor of Florals (p46), and Field of Flowers (p51).

I also picked up the latest The Cross Stitcher at Wal-Mart yesterday (April 2010). Here are some of the designs I quickly fell for: Easter Morn (p8), Celtic Blessing (p28), Live My God (p36), Butterfly Shamrock Wreath (p38), Easter Love (p56), and of course A Prince or A Frog (p58). I would also like to give the Swedish Weaving (p60) a try.

Finally, a progress picture on ‘68 Charger. I am nearly finished and it can’t come soon enough! LOL…I definitely have to buy an iron now :D. All that is left on this design is one of the colors in the tree (leaves) and the backstitching (over the windows and grill) with the Kreinik that I have to replace. Then it’s off to mom to have it framed for my uncle for his birthday.

Elephant Rides

2010 Renaissance Festival

(Warning: this post is picture heavy!)

Well, I didn't get much stitching done this weekend - at least not as much as I would have liked. That's alright though. I went to the Renaissance Festival in Tampa with my sister and one of her grand daughters, Kaelynn, this afternoon. We had a great time! Especially since we decided it would be NO MEN ALLOWED! Last year, let's just say the menfolk were acting a bit more like children kept asking "When are we gonna leave?" This year, we were able to enjoy the exhibits and some of the shows without feeling rushed. :)

Here are some pictures from our afternoon:

There were belly dancers…

An elven flutist…

A living tree…

Elephant rides…

A petting zoo (that’s Kaelynn hugging one of the bunnies)…

And signs to guide the way.

At one of the exhibit booths, they were finding pearls in oysters. Now, unlike some places, you are guaranteed at least one pearl. Well, my sister chose an oyster that had twins. We each wound up with a lovely little pearl. Here’s a picture of mine:

This set of twins made 3 in a row, and the exhibitors were quite impressed!

My sister decided that next year she will need some money so she can get her Spock Ears! LOL…she is such a Trekkie!!!

On the stitchy front, I have made a bit more progress on The Great Pumpkin Conspiracy, but I am not sure if I posted a picture recently. Here is where I left off about 2 weeks ago (when I last stitched on it):

I also received the fabric and floss for Ink Circles’ Cirque des Carreaux. I will be using the recommended Crescent Colours “Epiphany” as well as the Lakeside Linens Tarnished Silver fabric. Here is a picture of that:

Finally, I have purchased several patterns from Tanya over at The Sampler Girl. Two of them were e-patterns and the other two are pictured here:

I think I will personalize the Black Cat pattern a bit to include my black cat’s name, Emerald.