Four WIPS - Brenda

Here are the WIPS that Brenda pulled from her stash.  I think what sets Brenda apart in the stitching world is that she finishes what she starts!  Even big huge pieces.........she has done pieces like Rachel Howell by The Scarlett House.  It is stitched, framed and hanging in her home.  Every time I see it I have heart palpitations!!!!  She just finished Pink House Sampler by Plum Street Samplers and it is another heart stopper!

On to the current WIPS....first up is this stunner by Blackbird Designs.  This is Quaker House found in the book With Needle & Thread.  This book is out of print.  I wonder.......could BBD reprint this one????  It is much sought after and I, for one, would love a copy!!!!  Look at the floss colors!!!  Just so beautiful!

Next up is a wonderful sampler that I am adding to my someday list.  This is Not Forgotten Sampler by Chessie & Me.  It is so unique!!!!  Just absolutely lovely.

Okay, let's take a little break here.  One of the most fun things to do with your stitching stash is to have project bags!!!!!!  You can really organize in style if you have a lot them.  Here is one of Brenda's project bags that was made by Faye of Carolina Stitcher.  Here is a link to Faye's site:  Carolina Stitcher.  She does awesome finishing work too!

 I am absolutely and totally obsessed with this next project.  It is beyond gorgeous!!!  This is 1807 Tulips by Dames of the Needle.  I must do this one.  Doesn't Brenda pick the most gorgeous stuff???

Speaking of large and beyond gorgeous samplers!!!  Here is another show stopper by Tanya of The Scarlett House!!!!!!!   This is Sarah Elizabeth Brooke 1842.  Amazing!

It will be so much fun to follow these projects along to finished!!!!  Will try to get pics of as much as I can of finishes throughout the year.   Thanks for sharing your projects with us Brenda!!!

Five WIPs - Linda

2015 Stitching!  It is always so exciting to start a new year and make plans of what you want to stitch and how you will accomplish it.  I am so very lucky to have a group of stitching friends to obsess over this with!!!!  Pat came up with the idea to pick five WIPs from our stash and concentrate on finishing each of them this year.  So, this past weekend when we were all together I asked everyone to bring their five choices with them so we could have show and tell.  What a blast it was!!!  I took pictures of everyone's choices and over the next several days I will show them to you!  So many great projects!!!!!  First up are Linda's choices!  I am obsessed with this first choice.

The Birds & The Bees by Carriage House Samplings.  It is a amazing!!!!!!!!!  Who would ever think that these colors would work, but they sure do!!!!!!  I am putting this one on my wish list for sure. Linda makes the best choices for projects.  I should just follow her around and stitch exactly what she does!!!!

 And then look at the perfection of her actual stitches!  She is a real artist and does such lovely work. 

 Next up is Sarah Spurr by CHS.  Another one that is on my to be stitched list!

Linda is participating in the SAL for Dorothy Walpole.  This is one amazing stitch.  It will be a total masterpiece when it is done. 

I wish this picture was not blurry!  This is Birds of a Feather by BBD.  Another masterpiece!  Linda is so close to a finish on this one.  Once we finish a project the idea is to rotate another one into the five current WIPs.  

As you can imagine, and as you have probably done yourself, we have all amassed quite a stash of stunning charts to be stitched so rotating in the next WIP will be so much fun!

Several of my friends are doing a SAL with The Red Deer Sampler.  Here is Linda's progress.  I think I am going to be sorry that I did not join them.  Really, as I said before, I should just follow Linda's every move!!!!!

Will be back soon with my next stitcher's five WIPS!  So fun!!!!!

Top Ten Books 2014

I only read 37 books this year......that is not very many.  I think stitching and napping cut into my reading time.  But that is okay, as I had fun nonetheless!  

Here are the top ten books I read this year.  I highly recommend each and everyone of them!!!

You can click on the book cover to be taken to a description of the book.

Please let me know what some of your best reads of 2014 were!

Here is to more great reads in 2015!!!!

Christmas time Antique-ing with Mom!

 My Mom and I went to a great new to us antique shop yesterday.  Antiques of Winfield, in Winfield, IL.  Before I get to that story though, please note the fabulous Christmas ornament I received in our Christmas ornament exchange from my friend Karin!  What a sweet ornament!!! It is designed by Little House Needleworks and is such a treasure!  Thank you Karin for stitching such a beauty!

 Our trip to the antique store yesterday was just what you would expect from a great shop around Christmas time.  Full of fun Christmas ideas and surprises around every turn.  My Mom and I were just delighted to be so inspired and given so many ideas for future decorating.  Above are some Shiny Brite boxes.....the idea this gave me was to decorate the inside of the box with a little Christmas scene.  Alas, we did not purchase any of the boxes.....but someday!

 I saw this darling graphic on a cleanser can on a shelf.  It reminded me of my friend Karin who is Dutch.

 This shelf was just darling.....I would love to decorate it with a small village scene.

 Another great idea.....and also, everything is better with Baker's twine!

 I love the idea of just putting a ribbon around red and green books.  Have to be on the lookout for some.

 Sweet old Christmas card.

 This blackboard art with ornaments was just too, too sweet!!!!!!!!! 

 Marshall Field & Company boxes were all about.  What sweet memories of Christmas past.  I miss that store so much!

 This is not Christmas per se...but we love M.A. Hadley pieces and this platter was something else!

 Sweet old Christmas boxes.

 We found this dresser and both coveted it for a craft room!!!! 

 We found this little jello mold for $2.00.  There were two of them so we each got one to fill with jingle bells!

 I just love this Danish china pattern.

 This teapot was so beautiful!  We left it behind....but if it seen after Christmas on sale....all bets are off!  I would love to put a little Christmas tree in it.

 Here is another sweet teapot.  I love the bells at the top.

 This was a little needlepoint round box....I would love to have this design made up for cross-stitch.  Love!!!

 My Mom is on the lookout for little village pieces like this that are not so expensive.  Anyone have a source?

 What a darling vignette!

Another crafting idea.......styrofoam tree shapes covered with great fabric!!!  Next year!!!!

We had a fabulous mother/daughter day!  This is what Christmas is about for me...magic times with Mom! 

Stitching and stamping

I have been stitching turkeys lately!!!  I found these two charts and could not wait to stitch either of them.  They are both just super fabulous!!!!

The top chart is from Jenny at Country Rustic Primitives.  I cannot say enough about how great her designs are!!!!!!  Click HERE to go check out her charts.  They are without a doubt impossible to resist!!!

This turkey sampler is from an older chart....but it is so right up my alley.  Love the whole look and the threads for it.  I am hoping to frame it exactly as the chart shows.  

 I have stuck with my card making mojo too.  I am using up vintage images from books and magazines that I have been hoarding for years (and I mean years!) to make cards.  They look so great with patterned paper.

I also reordered some Gamsol.  This is a liquid that you can use with colored pencils to make any image look like an artist did it.  Love!!!!

It sure makes me happy to spend time with my hobbies and the friends I have that love them too!!!