Making memories....

My wonderful family just arrived home from their trip to Nashville, TN....

The UNC Tarheels were victorious in the Music City Bowl football game...yeah!!

~~GO TARHEELS~~

It was a total "guy" trip.....And, from the smiles on their faces, they had the best time ever....

Making memories is what it is all about! It did my heart good to see them spend time together...something that seems rare this day and time....

As we usher in a new year, I wish you many special times with your families and loved ones..

Take time to pause and enjoy one another....

~~~~~~HAPPY NEW YEAR~~~~~

Happy Stitching, Faye

Last finishes for 2010~~~~

Greetings friends~~~ Just a quick post to show you my latest, and last finishes, for 2010.....

I have always loved this older chart by Blackbird Designs....It was a perfect fit for the 5x5 frames I have fallen in love with (from Michaels...) I actually used 32 ct Lakeside Linen Buttercream linen rather than filling in the background.....That is the only change I made...

And, I wanted to make one last gift for a blogging friend..... Knowing she is a coffee lover, I decided to stitch up this DMC freebie.......The chart calls for DMC threads, but I converted to Belle Soie.....

I went ahead and personalized the back with 2011 since she will be receiving it after 2010.....

...carefully covering up her name.....


On a personal note, I would like to ask all my friends to say a special prayer today for my friend Barbara....She is taking her second chemo today.....The first round was 2 weeks ago and she did well.....Fatigued though and she has now lost her hair......But, as you have heard me say before, she is quite the fighter and has a wonderfully positive attitude..... I know she will be a breast cancer survivor with her upbeat outlook and loving prayers.......

Here's hoping everyone has time to reflect on the year of 2010 and will focus on making 2011 a great year!!!



~~~~Happy Stitching to you all~~~~

Faye

winding down...and gearing up....

Are you feeling blue???.......



Or, perhaps, seeing red??.....



Or, just full of life and color.....


Whatever you mood is, I hope you are having a GREAT day!! It is still snowy here in North Carolina with about 6-7 inches on the ground.....such a beautiful sight.....

It has been somewhat of an organizing morning for me.... Earlier in December, I made the decision to participate in the "up for a challenge" blog.......It seemed to fit my needs...finish 15 current WIP's in 2011.... I have a few photos to show you of what I plan on finishing in 2011..

La D Da
Live Love Laugh


Threads of Gold
E. Davies sampler

Handwork Primitives

The America Pillow

Ewe and Eye and Friends

The Heart that Gives

Rosewood Manor
Quaker Diamonds

There are 5 of my 15......I will share all the others in time to come.... I have mostly large projects in my wip basket....I guess I have just been enjoying stitching all the smalls in 2010 and neglected my larger projects..... A couple are huge actually, like Shores of Hawk Run Hollow and Anniversaries of the Heart series ..... But, I will get to all of them (hopefully) throughout the year...


I leave you with my current project......I hope to finish it today....

Have a great Monday everyone and if it is cold where you are....stay warm~~~~

Take care, Faye

Christmas 2010.....

Rarely does it snow in the Pinehurst area of North Carolina.....Much less in December...

Here is what I will be looking at today once I get into my craft room.........Pretty isn't it?

And, here are a few snaps from yesterday...............my family....

Once I get the crock pot loaded, find me in my stitching chair.....

Loving my snowy day,

Faye

~~~Gifts and and an Exchange arrive~~~

I think Christmas has already arrived at my house!!! Look what came in the mail from Myra yesterday~~~~ She gifted me with one of her original handmade zippered bags and I am here to tell you, it is TOO cute~~~ I dont know how she does it, but these bags are so useful for about anything.... And I want you to take a look at the "sampler" fabric and the tiny key zipper pull........."Thank you" Myra!! I just love it~~~
AND, as if the zipper bag was not enough, she gifted me with a quilted pin pillow for my Pink Basket.... Myra is an awesome quilter and this little dittie showcases her perfection~~ She even made the pin!

(Front side)

(Back side....made with love charm...)

Then, in today's mail, came my exchange package from Jill........I have been so lucky throughout the year to be Jill's exchange partner in the "Friends Stitching through the Seasons" exchange..... She has continually spoiled me with goodies and the winter exchange was no exception!!!

Inside this cute snowman wine box, I found verigated DMC flosses, holiday tissues and napkins, a hand knitted blue cup "sweater" and the new Lizzie Kate Snowman 2010 made into a beautiful pinkeep~~~ Did she spoil me or what???? Jill's handwork is impeccible and those tiny buttons just set it off.... I cannot thank you enough for all 4 seasonal exchanges you have gifted me throughout 2010 Jill....I love them all and am so appreciative for every single thing you have sent me!!!

Winter Exchange

"Friends Stitching through the Seasons Exchange"

from Jill

Lizzie Kate

Snowman 2010

As for me, my goodies are all in the mail and today I hope to finalize my grocery shopping list for tomorrow....And, my dining room table is covered in freebie charts and the like that I hope to organize into binders....... Part of my getting ready for an organized 2011~~!

Make it a great day everyone, Faye

Blonde moment.....but laughing about it!~~

Last night was an event of taking two steps forward, and three steps back............... I THOUGHT I was on a roll.........Had 2 more finishes finished.....Took the photos..... When I stepped back and said to myself "Somethings not quite right......."
I the above photo looks pretty a-ok..........but when you look at the framed LHN you will see the poor poinsetta had shed all its leaves on the right side and a few on the left....... OMG....I had just framed a piece that was not finished~~~grrrrr........

SO....I had to unframe and finish it so it could get in the mail today.....

Whew! That was a close one~~~ Do you ever feel like you are moving a little too fast?? I ususally dont, but I will stop and pause a little more now~~ My stitchy friend would have gotton a kick out of that unfinished gift...! No??

So, I am headed out the door to get these 2 in the mail........Hoping they arrive to their new home in time for Christmas...And, if not, they will have a goodie for next years decorating~~

Take care and stay warm~~~ Faye

How did I get so lucky??~~~~

Well, I have goodies to report about!~ Yeah me!!!~~

I was shocked the other day when I dragged myself down to the mailbox in the blowing wind and rain to find a mysterious package there for me.....It was from my dear friend Tommye and take a look at what she had made for me....I had been admiring many finished ornies on her blog of late, but had no idea at all that one was headed to my house!!! Thank you so VERY much Tommye for your generosity~~ You know I LOVE La-D-Da and this pattern from the JCS ornament issue is a total eye catcher...Your stitching is flawless and I love your finish!! I will enjoy this ornament for many many years to come~~~

~~La-D-Da ornament from Tommye~~

Then on Thursday of this week I received a wonderful giveaway I was so fortunate to win from Staci...........Just look at that darling felted heart ornament she made and all the wonderful ribbon trims (you know what I like Staci!!) ...And check out the tarnished jingle bells and safety pins...... Thank you so very much Staci for this fantastic giveaway........... I certainly love anything RED!!!!

~~ Giveaway winnings from Staci~~

Staci has a tutorial on her blog for those of you interested in antiquing any of your embellishments....go check it out~~~

(close up view of my new tarnished goodies)

Here is what my two new ornaments look like on the tree in my craft room.................

Thank you ladies for making my day~~~~

I am headed back to finish up some sewing for last minute ornaments myself.... I am running very late this year in getting things finished so a couple gifts will be coming right down to the wire...................

Just five days until Christmas....Make it a great week~~~

Faye

Windows of Faith, Hope and Peace times four...

pssstttt....... I have a confession to make...... I totally fell in love with this pattern by the talented designer Liz Gorski of Primrose Needleworks.... Can you tell???? When it was released in the ornament issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine, I loved the ice blue version.....But, I wanted to put a Christmasy spin on things, so I used faded reds and cranberry, hunter and holly greens.... This was the interpretation I came up with....

These will be gifts for the four ladies who put in countless hours to help run our school literally from the wee hours of the morning until long after the dismisal bell has rang in the afternoons...They make up our principal staff and administrative staff and I thought their desktops could use a little " Faith, Hope and Peace..."

Here's hoping all of you enjoy the rest of your week and are putting the finishing touches on all the gifts you are giving as well~~

((**Hugs**)) from North Caroina,

Faye

***Edited to show my basket of Strength and Hope as requested....***

Today was rainy, cold and dreary...but, I tried to make the best of it....I had found this little freebie that Sandy had put on her blog.........I changed up the colors because I am in a "red" mood...so, I used Victorian Motto red and green along with a few seed beads.....Here is my interpretation of the chart....It is headed out the door tomorrow to a dear friend....
And recently I was gifted this darling pillow for my "Hope and Strength" basket... Many of you know Linda P and know she is an absolute hoot...But, behind all that wit is a heart of gold...Thanks so much Linda for being so generous.... Here is the front...

On the back, not only did she include the year 2010...but, she put 4 initials to honor 4 good friends...Edna, Barbara, Linda and Faye....along with that darling breast cancer awareness button this little pillow is just perfect!~

Here's hoping everyone has a great week! I have morning duty all week which means standing on a cold sidewalk in the elements helping little darlings out of their cars as they arrive to school... Cross your fingers the weather improves for me~~~

Take good care, Faye

~~~Gift giving time of the year~~~

Just a quickie post to show a few gifts that have headed out my door, or will be soon....Can't really say for who...but, I've been making a list....and checking it twice.....

I did know that when my good friend Linda P. gifted a few rusty jingle bells and safety pins to me, they screemed BBD finishes..........So, I popped a couple on this finish tonight....I think they are perfect for this prim design...

Blackbird Designs

JCS Ornament Issue

32 ct flax linen, specified overdyes

And for me, you can't have too many little tuck pillows made with faded red check homespun fabric......... I took this pattern out of the BBD Joyeux Noel book and stitched it up prim as well......

Blackbird Designs

Joyeaux Noel book

32 ct linen, specified overdyes

And, here is array of framed gifts for a few friends............. When I saw these little frames, I knew I would have to stitch something miniture to fit the one inch opening...... Trail Creek Farms had this little tree pattern in an older JCS ornament issue that was the perfect fit.............Unlike my prim BBD finishes, these are bright and seem to pop against the painted metal frames.......

That's it for me tonight......Got to get a good nights rest...The kids are getting wilder than you know what in the classroom these days....Could it be that we have a little excitement in the air???

As Paula would say..."Night ch'all~~....

***Celebrations***

Yesterday about a dozen or so stitchers from NC/SC/GA joined up at the French Hen in Manning SC to celebrate the Christmas season and just have fun...... We laughed, shopped, ate and even stitched some...........Amy knew we all needed a get-away....Thanks again Amy for hosting another wonderful stitch-in...... Here are a few faces you might recognize.....

Linda P (stitchhag), me, KarenSC, Nicole...aren't we a classy group??tee-hee






Another shot of my buds.....KarenSC and Nicole.....

And of course, there was sweet Yvonne from GA......

And here is Kathy and Debbie from Charleston SC....They bought each other Stitch Caddies while at the French Hen...and even had them monogrammed.....

Even Amy got in the buying mood....Here she is with her monogrammed caddie...

Today I got myself in gear and finished decorating my little tree in the craft room...I promised myself to keep it decorated all year long in a seasonal theme....and I did~~~

I started last Dec and went from Christmas theme, to winter theme, to Valentine theme, to spring theme, to patriotic theme, and then fall theme back to this years Christmas theme... I truly have enjoyed that little project and plan on continuing with it in 2011~~~~

Many of these ornaments have been gifts to me over the years....You might see yours up there~

Here is a closer shot at the bottom of the tree....I lay out my little PS stockings across the tree skirt...They are old and remind me of some of my earlier stitching years.....

And, here is a basket of little pillows sitting next to the tree.....

(sorry for the shadows)

Thanks for visiting my blog today and I hope you are getting your final stitches in ornaments and stitchy gifts.....I am planning on framing a few gifts this week along with getting a couple exchanges in the mail.... And, I have my pile of ornies to sew.... I just love this time of year~~~

Have a great week everyone~~~ Peace, Faye

My Basket of Hope and Strength

I wanted to share a couple finishes that will be residing in my "pink" basket.... Now, I know we are all consumed with our Christmas stitching and such, but the mood came over me to sew up these two pillows tonight....


Some months back, I was the fortunate recipient of two beautiful LHN squares made by Joan in the Fair and Square Exchange.... Of course, I was thrilled to recieve them, and knew it would come to me just how to finish them off.... Never did we know those tiny pink hearts she stitched would give me inspiration to create a little pillow to honor my friend Barbara.... Who starts her chemo treatments this coming week......... (Good luck Babs! We are all pulling for you!!) So, with cotton trim and pink ribbon in hand, I came up with this little goodie tonight..... Kinda sweet, isn't it???

Little House Needleworks

To Thine own self be True

stitched by Joan~~2010~~

(back side)

Then, that talented Sharon of ItsDaffyCat designed a most appropriate Breast Cancer pattern "Fight like a Girl"......When I saw it on her blog, I knew I HAD to stitch it up............ As fate would have it, the day I finished stitching this chart, my sweet friend, Cathy, mailed me a darling pink tatted heart....Just out of the blue....It was made by her mom and I must say, nothing I create holds a candle to this awesome tatted creation!~~ Oh my goodness...it is so petite and perfect...... I combined all these talents into one pillow for the pink basket and here it is............

Fight like a Girl

by Sharon Bennett

DMC 3804, DMC 704

White 32 linen

Carefully attached pink tatting by Cathy's mom
(on the back...)

I do have words of appreciation to pass on to everyone from Barbara....No, she doesn't have a blog, but she reads nearly all of yours....And, she asks me to say a big "Thank You" to everyone who has put her on their prayer list, said a personal prayer for her or just paused to send good thoughts to anyone who has been touched by breast cancer.....She is optimistic that her 4 scheduled chemo treatments will be just what she needs to overcome ...She is so very positive, she is strong and she is a fighter....

Hope everyone has a great weekend~~ Take care, Faye