Sampler: Red is the Rose finish!!!

I wanted to show off this sampler I finished on Saturday....It was fun and fairly quick to do... Sherri at berripatch.blogspot.com is showcasing several of her designs via her etsy and I think she created a winner with this one!! I know I had fun making it!!

Well, off to the craft room to continue on with my MASSIVE organizing binge I have been on for the last 3 days....labeling fabrics, floss inventory revamp and many other projects that I have neglected...something about the first of the year that puts me in that "nesting" frame of mind. And oh, that little 4 ft Christmas tree in my craft room just might not be coming down! More info to follow soon!~~ Until then, have a good one!!! Faye

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Julius is celebrating Christmas eve in festive style early this morning~~~ My older son has arrived home for the holidays with his doggie Julius.... He is so mild mannered and gets along with our Beagle Truffles so well..Everyone is coming together to enjoy Christmas as a family....Such a wonderful feeling!~~ Merry Christmas everyone!~ Faye

Red is the Rose

Good morning everyone!~~ I was the lucky recipient of the new sampler chart Red is the Rose,by Sherri Hager of The Berri Patch last week!~ (Go check out her etsy!) I wanted to show you this pretty band sampler and the progress I have made on it... I am using 32ct linen (the closest shade I had to the specified mushroom lugana) and the dmc flosses it called for...I must admit I was surprised when I gathered my dmc to see the pink and turquoise shades...but now that I am into the piece I see how Sherri's selection of colors is perfect!~ I willpost a little more in the next few days.....If you are looking for a fun and quick stitch, this sampler is for you!~ Happy stitching everyone!~ Faye

Its all about the friendship~~~

I was the lucky recipient of an ornament made by Amy at Saturday's Christmas gathering in SC. This darling ornament was done OVER ONE using Sulkey Blending thread...I fell in love with the Milday's Needle chart, I had to buy one!!! AND, the green Sulkey...It is heaven to use btw! Amy also made each of us a needle/scissor traveller out of a gift tin...pretty crafty of her!~ AND, its red....I also got some 36ct edinborough, dmc red and a cute snowman mug in the exchange...And Karen made each of us a fob and mine has a reindeer charm on the end....did I rack up or what?? Everyone had a great time admiring all of Amy's trees and Christmas decorations! A most gracious hostess she truly is!!

Also in the tin was a heart filigree pattern by gazette 94 that I just had to come home and try...I used some of my new threads that I bought on line by Victorian Motto Sampler..you really should check Nancy out because her hand dyed threads are beautiful, affordable and she gets them to you pronto!~ Now I am thinking a Valentine's tree might be in order for the craft room!~ We will have to see...

Lastly, I had to show you the pillow I have made for the lady I teach with... Paulette Stewart with Plum Street Samplers is always so gracious to share freebies on her blog and I knew when she posted this one last week, it was one I had to do...Fun, quick and the verse is absolutely perfect! I added my own prim buttons and stitched it all up on R & R Sea Fog 35 ct using Valdani red... Hope she likes it!~~

Again "With Exceeding Joy we DO praise him!".... Faye

Goodies to show you !~

Isn't this the cutest Quaker stocking ornament??? My friend Tommye made this for me and surprised me by tucking in the Christmas card she sent me!! Thank you so much Tommye and you know I LOVE the reds in it~~ It is hanging front and center!!
I had a chance to pickup my framing order and here is what they had done up for me! Back in February I finished this Quakers and Quilts design by Rosewood Manor... I love the molding that we ended up with!
And here is another Quaker piece I finished this summer by La-D-Da...the black interior edging seemed to bring out the pattern...I have found an excellent framing source: Eastover Artworks near Fayetteville NC...They are efficient, timely and reasonable!! Got to love that...
Next I was surprised yesterday to recieve my Fair and Square exchange goodies from Lenna...Thanks Lenna!~ And, I loved the cute red fabric she included....Nice bonus!~~~
Lastly, I have mailed off my LHN exchange ornament..It isnt due until Feb, but I wanted them to have for Christmas..Cant say who it is that is receiving it right now as I just today put it in the mail...Hope you enjoy this LHN Pear ornament that was in JCS a few years back....Weeks 30 ct using specified overdyes..

So that is it for now...Hope everyone is getting in the spirit of the season...I know we sure are at my house!!! Be safe everyone, Faye

The finishing frenzy is nearly over!

Well, first let me show you an ornament I have made for a private exchange...recipient not named as they may have not actually received it in the mail yet....It is Carriage House Quaker Christmas and I modified things by leaving off the alphabet....Kinda of prim, but really the brown Gumnuts silk paired with the Ruby Red Slippers overdyed floss ended up being a nice compliment..

Secondly I must show you this beautiful ornament that my friend LeeAnne of "My Nifty Needle" made for me!! This was another private exchange and I just love the cute cherub she put in the top of the tree! I love this design LeeAnne and your finishing is outstanding! Thank you so much!

Then, last weekend I was invited to go to the Tarheel Stitchers Christmas gathering at Linda's (no blog)...Oh what a great time we all had...! Linda's house was fully decorated and we stitched and had a feast!! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I had made this little ornie for Linda as a Thank you gift.....

We had a mystery exchange and I had made this ornie to tuck in my bag of stitching goodies...Its an older pattern by Heart in Hand called Angel Sings Hark!~I edged it with wide rick rack with complimenting holiday fabric on the backing...

As we all unite with friends, families, neighbors and co-workers to celebrate this most blessed time of the year, lets all remember to be thankful for what we have and lend a hand to someone who may not be as fortunate as you are. Rejoice and be safe during this wonderful CHRISTmas season!~ Love to all from North Carolina, Faye

LHN Exchange recieved today.... Oh my!~

Today I received one of the most beautiful exchange pieces I have ever received!!!! And that my friends is saying alot!~ My picture will not do it justice...try clicking on the picture for a better look....Jackie of Scattered Threads sent me a beautiful snowy LHN piece she made into a flatfold....Not one flaw to be found in her work!~ AND, the backing fabric she used in the flatfold...well, she also made me a little matching tote....yes, she MADE it!~ AND, she included this adorable wooden sleigh embellished with greenery and bells.... Top it all off with this cutest handmade "snowy" card!~! Jackie, stitching, sewing and scrapbooking are all talents of yours!~ Thank you so very much for making my day!~~ The overdyed fabric is beautiful and your stitching is wonderful!~~ Thanks for making this southern gal yern for some snow!~ Merry Christmas to you also!~ ((Hugs)) from NCarolina!~ Faye

A finish and a gracious thank you!~

I actually did finish Halloween Hornbook Sampler by Plum Street Samplers before Halloween!! Oct 30 it was completed and I proudly displayed it with my other seasonal goodies...This was really a fun piece to make...each square felt like a "mini" project and the colors were so nice! I converted the npi's to GAST and went with 40 ct Sand linen.... I will definitely have this one in a frame come next October!!And I would like to send out a very special "Thank you" to Leeanne of The Nifty Needle!~ I was the recipient of one of her giveaways and I have ALWAYS wanted to do Fredrick by Carriage House Samplings....Thanks again so very much for being so generous Leeanne. This one will definitely be kitted up very soon...I cannot wait to start it!~~

As many of you start to survey your completed stitcheries you are probably like me...YIKKEES, time to buckle down and get some finishes done!!! So......I will pausing for a short while on my larger projects to get my pillows, pinkeeps and ornies completed....
Nothing like it to get you in the holiday mood!!

Happy stitching everyone!~ Love, Faye

Motif from Hanah

I just had to take the opportunity to make this pinkeep today in honor of my friend Sherri in Texas. Sherri has posted this freebie motif which will be a part of her sampler "Hanah's Sampler". You can find the details at berripatch.blogspot.com..... This really isnt the best photo but I was so excited to finish it up tonight I wanted to share. So Sherri, I cannot wait to see the rest of the sampler! I am sure it will be on my to-do list for sure!! Happy stitching everyone!!
Faye

Finishes and exchanges!~

First I would like to thank Becky K for the beautiful pinkeep she sent me in the Christmas Ornament Exchange!! I just love it (you know I LOVE LOVE LOVE reds!~) This cute JBW design was done using DMC floss on some linen from her stash.. Her finished pinkeep is beautiful! Thank you Becky! It is perfect~~~
I was the lucky recepient of this cute Halloween pillow made by Amy V of Florida at this past weekends PALS Fall Retreat in Myrtle Beach SC. Everyone had a great time making new friendships and renewing old ones! The pillow fit right in with my Fall goodies on my kitchen table!~ Thanks Amy, I just love it~~~

I also recieved 3 Christmas ornaments from the table. They are all so cute and made by Rene, Susan NC and Linda S...That cute little reindeer captured my heart and I love Bent Creek and anything Quaker...so, Cha-ching...I was an instant winner~~~

My entry into the exchange was the pinkeep by Monsterbubbles out the JCS 2009 Ornament issue. I LOVED this piece although it was funkier than most things I make....I found my beads at the local craft store and they really did accent to little squares that border the partridge and pear...When Fiona was the recipient it made me so proud....

Here are the three ornaments I submitted for the ornament exchange...The little beaded tree was fun to make...The sampler one is by Threads of Gold and the quaker piece by Legacy Designs is in the 2009 JCS ornament issue. They were all fun to make and I know they will all be happy in their new homes!~

Here is a snap of the ornament I mailed to Lynda in the Christmas Ornament exchange...I sent it out on Oct 19 so it should have been delivered by now....It is Workbasket Quaker Christmas using Crimson and Hunter by Weeks on Summer Khaki linen.... It looked rustic so I finished this one off with twine and few silver beads...Hope you enjoy it Lynda!!!

Well, sorry if this post seems jumbled up a bit...I am tired and need to get that long awaited cup of coffee to soothe my bones....Hope everyone is having as much fun as I am getting caught up in the spirit of holiday stitching..... I think I heard 59 days till Christmas.....YIKEEEES!~ Happy stitching everyone~~~ Love ya'll!~ Faye

A sneak peak and progress on Halloween Hornbook Sampler...

Well, I have been missing in action from blogging for a couple weeks but have been really busy!!! I have a snap of a few of the ornies have managed to stitch...Today is finishing day!! My family and friends so enjoy a handmade ornament or pinkeep for the holidays, so whe I received my JCS Ornament issue, I got busy! Now that I have the house to myself, its on!~~
Not being the Halloweenie orangie kind of girl like many of you, I was awestruck when I saw this Halloween Hornbook Sampler by Plum Street Samplers! I had to convert the colors to GAST but there is nearly an identical match in GAST for each Belle Soie listed. It is done on 40ct Sand linen and really is prettier in person than this snap is showing...I just wanted to show my progress and let you know this is truly one you will have a hard time putting down. Thank you Paulette Stewart for all the beautiful designs you contine to give us!!

Well I am off to the craft room....Pinkeeps, ornies and needlebooks await me!! Have a beautiful fall weekend everyone! Make a mug of something warm and push your needle through that linen!! Love to all, Faye

September goals met~!

I am happy to post that I am into block 4 on SoHRH...Well, except for filling in that WHITE house on block 3...What a bugger and I afraid I am going to soil my little white stitches...so, I moved onto block 4...I had promised myself to do a block a month and started Aug 20...I am ahead of the game, but I know I will be doing several Christmas items and exchange pieces in Oct.... The 40ct fabric has been nice to work on and I am using DMC floss... This piece really has been alot of fun!!

I had also made the committment to work on some of my old WIP's....Here is the La-D-Da "Red House"I had started WAY back in 2002....was over half done, so I finished it off...It is on 32ct linen using the specified DMC flosses...I enjoyed making this one even if it did take YEARS~~ You guys know what I'm talking about!!lol

Lastly, I received this beautiful exchange from Darla on the Fair and Square Exchange....I love the beautiful verigations in the floss...She did not specify, but I think it is Dinky Dyes...Thanks so much Darla! Your work is very nice and I will be putting this one in a pinkeep for sure~~

Well, got to get in the kitchen to finish cooking dinner for my family...Hope you guys have a great weekend...Enjoy these fall days and nights...Its finally cool here in the Carolinas with low humidity...My favorite time of the year!! And thanks for visiting my blog you guys..I value the comments and all of your postings as well. Like I do for my first graders, I am giving you all a big thumbs up!~ Take care and happy stitching, Faye

How lucky was I today when I got home and saw that I had a package from Jill of "purple peacock"??VERY NICE Jill!~ I love the beautiful pinkeep she made for me as part of the LHN Exchange. She used 28ct Antique White Linen and DMC 115...And finished it into my favorite~~ For those of you who might have been lucky enough to recieve something from Jill, you know what an expert finisher she is...Jill, I love the saying (perfect for me!) and love love love the color red!~ Thanks again for making my day!~~

Now, an update from my craft room....I made the BOLD move to pull out my WIP's and just see what in the world I have on hand...I had read on several blogs that fall is "nesting" time and so I jumped on the bandwagon to inventory my own WIP....I have 19 wip's and let me tell you, I was afraid it was much more......Sadly, my oldest is from 1986 (yikees!)...the ABC's by Jean Farish...Remember Jean you oldie moldies out there??? Anyway, most of the WIP are from the 1999-2002 era.....most are unfinished Threads of Gold samplers....I and WILL be working on several of them this winter....especially those that are over half done....shame on me!~~

I have kept to my word with SoHRH and Quaker Lady....a block a month on Shores....am about to finish block 2...This piece is challenging on 40 ct but I am loving it! So, will keep you posted...

Well, must sign off to get dinner on the table guys...Have a good one!!!

Exchange pieces have been received!!~~

The most beautiful exchange pieces came for me in the mail this week!! First, Chris from the UK sent an entire box of goodies for the By the Sea Exchange with HoE2. There was Polstitches fabric, DMC floss, a Totes bag, pen, sticky pad and the most beautiful pinkeep! I love the Just Nan design and the blue fabric was perfect. The mermaids even have silver needles in their hands!! Love this one Chris! Thanks so much for making this for me. You do excellent work!!



And if that weren't enough, I received a great package from Edgar in our Christmas Ornament Exchange. Edgars work is incredible as many of you may know. He chose a quaker design with red birds (perfect for this NC girl!~)...The design is by Praiseworthy Stitches and uses Belle Soie Scarecrow and Rose of Sharon thread....Beautiful job Edgar! I will cherish it knowing you made it just for me!! Thanks so much!

As we round out our lesson on friendship in school this week, I can honestly say how lucky I am to have all of you in my circle of stitching friends..Whether you are in one of my exchanges or private exchanges,just drop me a one liner comment on the blog or are a stitch friend I email with, I truly cherish every comment and compliment knowing we are friends through our love of stitchery. Thanks friends!!

Psstt...There is a cool give away on Deb's blog, Thread Gatherer....Cool that is if you are hoping for a great "frog" to hold your scissor collection in...! Check it out!~~~http://threadgatherer.blogspot.com
...Faye

A week of friendship!

Can I just say how sweet, innocent and hilarious first graders can be! Our lesson the first week of school always centers around friendship and how to become someones friend. Little 5 and 6 year olds truly have to be shown how friends treat each other and what you need to do to be a good friend to others. Its always something MOST know about, but it always seems like there are some who need to be shown....A very enriching time for us adults in the classroom because we see the little ones getting to know one another and how hopefully this is the building block for a lifetime of good friendships...

This leads me into a very big THANK YOU to Cathy B of "With Needle and Thread"...Cathy read my blog a few days back and saw that I had commented that my LHN kit had shorted me in my brown floss...She emailed me and very graciously mailed me the floss...and even included some "reds" to add to my collection.....I have not actually met Cathy nor have I spoken to her on the phone...she is a friend I have gotton to know through this wonderful forum of blogging and stitching. Now THAT is what friendship is all about! We as a collective group are so fortunate to have one another...So to Cathy and all my stitching friends, Thank you being out there for me!!

Have a great weekend and make contact with a friend that you may or may not have talked to in a while....or spend time with your best friend like Phillip and Truffles are doing....Oh, and happy stitching everyone!! Faye

Shores and a Quaker too!

Well, here is a little post of the progress I have made this week on SoHRH...It is so much fun! I realize I am only on square 1...and ask me when I have gotton to about square 6 how I feel..right?? So, I figured I would mingle quickies as I go along...And, I came up with the doing the ....

Quaker Lady for my diversion....Just like SoHRH I am doing it on 40ct...I decided to go with GAST threads: Holly Berry and Dark Chocolate. The Holly Berry reminds me of the faded red I like to use at Christmas...just is a toned down muted red that is not too bright or not too cranberry either. Anyway, this one will be fun to migrate to when I need a change of pace...So, finally tomorrow is Friday...first week of school under my belt with the darlings....I am so looking forward to this weekend!! Happy stitching everyone!! Faye

My last summer design is done!

First let me say that I hope that everyone on the eastern shores are spared the wrath of Hurricaine Bill. I know the upper eastern states should be of most concern however storms and the sea are unpredictable. And for those daring surfers who are now catching the magnificent waves as a result of the storm, may they be safe and spared from the rip tides.

With that said, I present to you my latest finish by Country Cottage, Bayside Bungalows which I have "made it my own" by altering to Beachside Bungalows...I have a place by the beach not the bay, so I thought I needed to tweek things...And, I did leave off the last tan row of stitches at the bottom below the waves because I did not have enough thread in my thread pack. I noticed when I bought the graph (which came with the threads) that the brown had one less strand of floss than the others...oh, well, not a biggie...so I just left that row off...I have a great white frame to put this in and it will be ready to hand at the beach house!!

So today I get to sink my needle in the linen and start Shore of Hawk Run Hollow. I am so excited! I have reviewed the chart and have decided to go ahead and start in the first block, top left corner...I am looking at this project as 12 mini projects just so it doesn't become overwhelming. I am SURE I will have to do a few quickies along the way just to get that great feeling of accomplishment that we all strive for...

So, here's hoping everyone has a safe and happy weekend as our summer days wind down.

Faye...ps- My classroom is lookin' good and ready for my 17 first graders to arrive on Tues!!Whew!~

Exchanges done and a new project...Another one!!

Well...been a while since posting but I have been extremely busy with making 2 pieces for exchange groups I am in. And I actually have gotton them finished and sent~! Whew! Feels good...now I can focus on some ornies for the Pals retreat and yes, I have gotton fabric and the graph "Shore of Hawk Run Hollow" in as of today...so..another start I see coming my way!! Love the soothing colors in the piece. I decided to use NewCastle 40ct Summer Khaki with the DMC flosses....My LNS got things right on out to me...so if you are ever in Raleigh NC , please stop in at Lazy Daisy and see Sarah and her staff. They are all great!

Teachers and staff went back to school yesterday to get things ready for school to start next Tuesday...can't believe it is time to welcome in another batch of little ones, but August is over half finished..Soon the leaves will be withering and turning...and it will be time for Tarheel football...(I know, but my DH grew up in Chapel Hill...) I can feel that fall crisp air right now!! Bring it on! Happy Stitching everyone~~~ Faye

Two exchanges received .. Thank you!~

I was so thrilled to open two packages this weekend!! The Lizzie Kate piece was beautifully done by Michele in the Fair and Square Exchange. I absolutely love it and soon it will be finished off for my patriotic basket...Thanks so much Michele! Your work is just lovely!! (And the sand dollar from the west coast is awesome.)

AND, I got the cutest pillow from Lisa V in the HoEtoo Exchange! ALL the way from Australia! Everyone knows I cherish every piece of LHN and the Summer House is adorable. I especially like the way you finished it with the red rosettes in each corner. Thanks so very much!!



Heres to hoping everyone has a really super week! Stay cool!! Faye

Letters and Leaves with Splendor~

Good morning everyone!! Just a quick post to show off the little sampler I made yesterday...I had bought some Splendor silks from Tommye at Angelwings Needleworks when in Southport the other day....not being familiar with Splendor, I wanted to make up a quickie to see how the cover. It did appear to be slightly thinner..but using 1 thread on 32 ct was no problem. I thought the coverage was nice...so just info I wanted to pass along....The chart is actually an old freebie I got from my LNS some time back as a compliment graph... Well, its tax free weekend here in the Carolinas so I am off to tackle the crowds, pick up a few things for Phillip and people watch!!!(Thats the best part!!!) Faye

New stitching friends and a finished Quaker Alphabet

I really must share my wonderful experience from yesterday. A few days ago I received a post from a lady by the name of Tommye who lives in NC..long story short..turns out she works at a LNS about an hour from Cherry Grove SC in Southport NC...(if you are ever near there, check out Angelwings Needleworks..) anyway, her stitch group was meeting last night..so what was a curious stitcher to do but get in the car and go check things out!! Turns out Tommye and I attended NCSU at the same time, lived in the same dorm with only 1 floor separating us and that we share the love of many of the same cross stitch designers...I will say that Tommye is a lovely person and I am so envious that a); she is a former shop owner and b); she is retired and gets to work p/time in a stitch shop now!~ How lucky would I be to be in her shoes!~LOL..anyway, we hit it off immediately. So, listen up ladies, there are many of us out there who share the same passion and eventually your paths may cross with one another when you least expect it!!! Oh, go check out Tommyes blog: stitchingandbeading.blogspot.com and her etsy....All her work is absolutely beautiful!

So, yesterday a.m. I was able to tie up the loose ends on the Quaker Alphabet by La-D-Da. I really liked the way it turned out. It will be a good companion piece to the La-D-Da I finished Monday..Live, Love, Laugh....I chose to make this one on 30 count dyed Weeks fabric....used 2 strands of Belle Soie (using 1 was not enough coverage for me!) colors: Cranberry and Moss...Using 2 made the design bold, but I liked the intensity....so, Amy, if you are reading, that Weeks fabric I bought from you was a hit with me!~ Let me know what you think!

Sorry this post got so long, but I couldnt resist the story....going to be a hot one again today at the SC beaches...I only have 9 days until I need to head on back home to Southern Pines and ready myself for my new crop of first graders....I am so lucky to be showered with hugs from all those little darlings!~~ So with Aug 18 being my first workday back at school...yikeees, that is just around the corner!!

Happy Stitching everyone! Faye

Live,Love,Laugh is done!~

Well......Last night I finished the La-D-Da I started on Friday.....Let's just say, I fell in love with it and couldnt put it down!! The Gloriana's that Jolene sent with it were a deviation from the specified threads, but I loved those she picked out. I stitched it on 32 ct Flax Belfast using Gloriana Charcoal, Olive Grove and Cinnamon. I had sooo much fun stitching it up! Thanks again Jolene for the wonderful giveaway from you that I won...I will think about it each and every time I see this piece and how fortunate I was to have received it from you!! Happy stitching everyone!!!! Faye

Jolene's gift has arrived!!

I am so happy to say that the give away from Jolene arrived to my house and my DH brought it with him to the beach last night....OH MY...am I a lucky lucky lady!~ First of all...the cute stitch bag is to die for! Then inside, there is the Live,Love,Laugh La-D-Da graph!~ AND 3 Gloriana silks that are just beautiful...ALSO, there is a very large cut of linen and a pack of needles!~ I just love what you sent me Jolene...I am going to start this one immediately as I have never ever ever used Gloriana and they feel absolutely wonderful to touch....Thanks again so very much for the give away. I am on top of the world as being the recipient of this lovely gift!!!

updates from the beach!~

Well.....difficulty from the beach posting but I will see if this post goes through...

I have been a stitching machine of late!~ Just got the fire in me to do some finishes I guess. I have a great friend lend me her sewing machine so I was able to sew up my stitching pouch. This is the first time I have put one of my LHN in something like this as a finish. I thought the needlecase and pouch turned out pretty a-ok and I plan on using them alot!!

I am posting my La-D-Da Quaker Alphabet also as my WIP...I just began it over the weekend and although it is EATING UP my Belle Soie, I am enjoying it!! Since the fabric is Weeks 30 ct, I decided to use 2 threads in my needle for adequate coverage. I think it will be great once done. The colors are Cranberry and Moss..The moss is actually so dark a green it looks dark grey.....ya know/?

Last but not least....I finally finished the sampler for JCS....I had started it back in Feb and the photo is not really a good one, but the sampler actually turned out nice. It is not "my" colors at all, but since it is different I really like it...anyways, will put this one in my "to be framed" pile!

Signing off from Cherry Grove for now...only 2 weeks until I am back home and getting ready to busy up my classroom for school to start back! This summer has flown by!!!! Have a great weekend everyone!!

Faye

Another view of my craft room..

I wanted to share another wall of needlework from my home craftroom. You will notice many older patterns...Many having dates from the 1990's when I was really getting into samplers and such. I actually face this wall when I am sitting in my stitching chair, so I get to look at them often. You will see La-D-Da, LHN, Indigo Rose, Bentcreek and several more....Well, just a quick post today. I am spending some much needed family time at home this week. Then back off to the beach for a while until school starts back....The end of August will be here before I know it!!