I won!

I "discovered" an Etsy shop called Pollen Arts.  Here is a link to their shop:  Pollen Arts on Etsy.  They were having a giveaway and I won!!!  Pictured above and below is the generous gift they sent!  They make beeswax candles from old glass jars.  They are so cool!!  and gorgeous!  My pictures cannot do them justice so I am adding some pictures from their shop. 

Source: etsy.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Laura on Pinterest

The candle above is called Maple Syrup.  Isn't it just gorgeous!!!!

Source: etsy.com via Laura on Pinterest

Pollen Arts is a husband and wife team.  They have a very cool and interesting blog:  The Winnebago Diaries.    Go visit and see how they took a 1975 Winnebago and made it their own.  Just gorgeous!

I am so lucky to have won the candles and I can't wait to order more for presents (and myself!)

Source: etsy.com via Laura on Pinterest

Stitchin!

 What??? Two posts in one day!  I finally find myself with some time at the computer the day following a completed project!!!!  Isn't this adorable???  It will be made into a Christmas ornament along with the other two designs on this Lizzie Kate chart.  

I was bemoaning the fact that I was at "sixes and sevens" with every project I had going.  So my friend Pat told me to meet her at the shop.  I kitted up something that I had in my stash (pictures soon), but then I spied this little chart and it just spoke to me!!!  Love the colors and all of the designs.  It calls for a darker color linen, but I like it on the good old lambswool.  

By the way, my friend Jayne calls lambswool "the little black dress" of stitching!  Isn't that clever??  It is so true!  So great to stitch on and it always looks good.

 Are you ready for your close-up little blue birdie??

Can't decide which one to do next!!!!  

Hope you are stitching on something fun tonight!!!

November 2012 Small

Here is what is going on over on the 2012 Year of Smalls Blog:

This month's small is by C Street Samplerworks.  It is called ABC I Love Thee.   I picked this one because I just found it so sweet and gorgeous!  It could be an early Valentine start, but I don't think it just has to be for that holiday.  I see it as a year round sentiment and design.

Cathy very kindly stitched this up over the weekend!  Doesn't it look totally fabulous???

I love this "arty" photo she took.


I hope everyone else is taken with this design too.  


Here is the information for ordering kits.

Pattern, 30 count Weeks Linen & silk thread for $21.00

OR

Pattern, 35 count Weeks Linen & silk thread for $19.00

If you prefer cotton overdyed thread, Cathy can substitute the silk with 2 skeins of Crescent Colours for no additional cost.

Interview with Brenda

Over on the Year of the Smalls blog this month's small was selected by Brenda.  Thought you might enjoy reading an interview with her.  

Beside cross-stitching, Brenda LOVES University of Michigan football.  Hence, the picture of the fabulous stadium where the team plays.  If there is a game on, I know that Brenda will be glued to the TV with a project in hand.  It sounds like a really good time to me!!!!

Here is the interview with Brenda.  If you would like to visit her website, click HERE!

Q:  How did you get interested in cross-stitching?  When did you first start stitching?

A:   I got interested in stitching when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter back in 1984.  My first cross stitch piece was a Dimensions kit for a birth sampler for Ashley.
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Q:  Okay, quick, it is 9 a.m. on a Wednesday morning.  Your boss tells you that you don't have to come to work today.  What are you going to do with yourself?

A:  On an unscheduled day off I would probably go to a LNS for some stash enhancement and then come home and stitch all day long with NO GUILT!
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Q:  You are famous in certain circles for your "kick-ass" stitching room. Can you tell us a little bit about how long you planned for it and thought about it before you were able to implement it?

A:  Well my stitching room is something I had dreamed about for years.  When my oldest daughter moved out I very quickly (like the next day-- LOL) moved all my stash into her old room.  The room has sort of evolved over the last couple of years with the addition of furniture and my wanting to change things around.  I get a lot of my inspiration for what I've done in that room from seeing different stitching/quilting rooms online.   
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Q:  What is your favorite thing about having your own stitching room?  

A:  The best part of having my own stitching nest is being able to retreat there when life gets crappy.  All is good with the world when I'm stitching in my nest:)
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Q:  Can you tell us a few of your favorite designers?

A:    I have so many "favorite" designers.  This is hard but if I had to limit it to what charts I would buy "sight unseen" then that would include Blackbird Designs, The Drawn Thread, Little House Needleworks and The Victoria Sampler

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Q:  What is one of your favorite small pieces you stitched before we started Year of the Smalls?

A:  One of my favorite smalls would have to be a 15-sided Christmas Biscornu by Just Nan.  I enjoyed stitching all the little sides and was so proud that I was able to assemble it on my own.  

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Thanks so much Brenda!!!!!  You are such a wonderful stitcher and friend!