Elizabeth Emma Bice Wade Sampler progress.....

There is not alot of progress to show on Eliz.Emma Bice Wade's Sampler...But she has sprouted leaves around the border...And there are now 4 flowers... Whew! This border is intense people!!! I love the overall look once done, but those creme flowers will be my biggest challenge...creme on creme...

on 40 ct no less!! Believe it or not, the leaves have 4 shades of green in each of them...

So, 4 flowers down, and 17 to go.... I would love to know this could be a finish in Feb/March...

 Here's a close up of those tonal flowers.... It will all be worth it!!

Here's hoping everyone has a good week...I have a very busy one lined up but hope to manage to finish a couple private exchange pieces and a special baby project that has been in the making for 5 months now.

More on that later............

Happy Stitching,  Faye

...We have a winner!!!...

I have had a very busy work week along with a banquet to attend one evening and an out of town family reunion today...so, whew!  I am ready to s----l----o----w down for the rest of the weekend and stitch~~

And, a BIG Thank you for all the wonderful comments about my cute Lucky sheep...I appreciate those who take the time to post a comment and even if I don't get to reply via email, just know I have read each and every one of them and thank you, thank you, thank you!!~~
As promised, I did want to announce the lucky winner of the Sheperd's Bush  "Lucky" kit....  I loved all the comments and pledges of taking in this cute chart and the winner passing it on to another deserving stitcher...That just warms my heart, and I am sure it warms Myra's heart too since she is the wonderful lady who started this ball rolling.....  So, I have pulled the name out of the hat and the winner is:

Rebecca 

The Stitched Sampler

I liked Rebecca's comment of not only stitching Lucky on up, but saying how fun it would be to see where all he would end up traveling to....Keep the ball rolling!!  So, Rebecca, please email me so I can get this chart on out to you...  Congrats!~~

Well, I am headed to see just what wip I will work on tonight....will it be my red quaker, Anniversaries of the Heart or one of my Threads of Gold samplers...?...  We will have to see~~

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,  Faye

Are you feeling "Lucky"????.......

On Monday, Myra dropped this goodie of a chart in the mail to me....I was a winner in her giveaway!! Yeah, me~~~

When I got home from work yesterday, there it sat in my mailbox, in all its splendor!!!

Yeah, me~~~

I sat myself right down last night, after cooking supper, of course, and started this cute little Sheperd's Bush pattern called "Lucky"....  It captured me and I could not put it down!

Yeah, me~~

So, tonight I finished it...Meet my new friend, "Lucky"....

 I got "lucky" in that Myra left some of the threads that came with the kit so I could match up my silks to the true colors....

So, here is the conversions I went with:

Black: npi black

Grey: Kreinik Silk 0804

Violet: Kreinik Silk 0634

Olive Branch: npi 241 Moss

Olive Grove: Gloriana Olive Grove

Creme: Kreinik Silk creme

Gold: Belle Soie Butterscotch

So...........if YOU would like to stitch this quick beauty, post a comment (on this post only) and I will draw a name out on Saturday......I would like to pay it forward as Myra so graciously did for me!! It includes the chart and the thread palette so you can match up your own threads... Please be sure and leave your email address if you dont have a link to your blog.... I would like to mail it out asap so you too can stitch this up for your spring basket........

Hope you all are having a great week....made it past hump day...bring on the weekend!!

Take care,

Faye

My weeks progress.....Anniversaries of the Heart~~~~and a heart~~~~

I wanted to sew up a prim-ish heart to perch under my Valentine tree...I knew I had stitched this little pattern in 2010 (just a motif I stitched from something larger...) and I wanted to try to make one of those pretty prim looking hearts..... Well, here is what I came up with....sitting on top of one of my rusty springs...I added a pocket flap to the front to hold something special...for me, it was one of my favorite pair of  scissors...

 Its just a quickie, mind you....

The bulk of my week was spent stitching Anniversaries of the Heart....This piece has become endearing to me and I could hardly put it down...

I managed to finish blocks 7,8 and 9.... This piece of  R & R 36 ct Winter Frost is filling up!!

I have the last chart to stitch before I recieve the new release Pumpkin Farm..

 Since we have had such a hard winter in NC this year, I dedicated the block "Winter Garden" to Winter 2011 rather than a person....

 The last block I have dedicated to my dear friend Barbara....Our initials are placed beside the banner "happy birthday dear friend"...And since this is her year of strength, and pink, and all things good: those flowering trees in hues of pinks and greens made this block just perfect to commemorate our friendship....

Here's hoping everyone is having a great weekend.....This was our second Saturday in a row having school as a snow makeup day...so, I'm tired.... Pray that the possible snow and ice we may get early next week will fizzle out before getting here....otherwise, I could be looking at Saturday school days for a while!!!!  Hope not~~

Happy stitching everyone

Faye

I *heart* Valentines Day......

As a few of you might remember, my four foot Christmas tree stays up year round in my craft room.....

I thought it was time to get out the Valentine ornaments and dress it up for a few weeks.....

So, I layed a few of them out on the chair.....hmmmmm, many are old, but I still love their look.....

Up on the tree they went.....

I even moved my "pink" basket next to the tree....they are all beautiful shades of pinks.....very fitting for the season of amour..

And here is a look at things in the dark with just the white tree lights glowing.... This is my view from my stitch chair....

I hope everyone is enjoying their winter stitching projects....and I would like to take this time for a personal thank you for all the wonderful comments and words of inspiration you offer me..

Many stitching challenges have been made, both on personal levels and throughout various blogs....

Just enjoy your time sitting and stitching....

I know I do~~~

((Hugs)),  Faye

15 years in the making....

When I began stitching this sampler 15 years ago, (gulp), I knew there were several specialty stitches I had to learn....

Just as the schoolgirls from the 18th Century used their samplers as their teaching pieces, I too, learned several new stitches on this journey....And, they are by no means perfect or mastered...

There was the rice stitch and the Algerian eye stitch....

The alternating wave stitch....

 T

 a few satin stitches...

 and a couple types of long arm stitches...

Honestly, I have no idea why I kept pushing this sampler to back of my basket...sitting there for so long unfinished was a shame... But since this is the year of completing our WIP's...

I have now completed my second piece that is part of my "up for a challenge" in 2011....



1738 Scottish Sampler

Threads of Gold

32 ct Belfast linen

DMC threads

design size: 16 x 9

So, what will I be pulling out of that WIP basket next???  And, oldie but goodie, I am sure....2 down 13 to go~~

Happy stitching,

Faye

Seeing red...and more~~~

When I got the phone call last night that we would not be having school today, I turned the Krueig machine back on and proceeded to brew a cup of my favorite coffee, Nantucket Country Blend...

And, I decided to heat up my needles and just see how long I could stay up working on one of my "challenge" pieces....

I had left off  in Nov/Dec at this point.....

And until the wee hours of the morning, I stopped at this point...

Pretty good progress...no??

 Then, today, I wanted to do a finish or two..... Here is a pattern I had already cross stitched earlier in Dec....Just needed to ponder on the final finishing....

 Its a pretty sewing design by Marika Belfiori....She is a very talented designer who offers quite a few freebies on her site....If you take a look at the pattern (HERE) you will see I omitted a couple motifs so I could personalize my piece.....


I added a tab on the right side so I could attach a pewter button that I have always liked...

And, I wanted to attach a small thimble charm I have been saving for the perfect design....

And, of course, what would a sewing themed cross stitch design do without a few of my tiny buttons....



All in all, I thought this little pillow would put me in the mood to stitch and sew anytime I happened to find myself gazing at it......

I hope all of you found time to find time for your creative side.... Even for only a short while...

Take care and as always, I appreciate all of your comments~~

~~~Stitch friends are the best~~~

Faye

While I have power.....todays update....

I wish I could tell you that the snow has melted and there is no ice..

I cannot tell you that because we are still like a virtual ice skating rink here...ice is laying heavy on the beautiful pine trees..

That is why I decided last night that I would continue with Anniversaries of the Heart~Blackbird Designs

and begin my 8th block..

Please excuse my lack of backdrop design elements...I am sitting in the stitch chair where the best lighting is.....

I thought I would take a quick snap and post while we still have power....

Winter Garden

Anniversaries of the Heart

Blackbird Designs

Where ever you are, I hope your day is going well and you are spending some time relaxing and enjoying yourself~~~

Peace,

Faye

Weekend progess on WIP's and a little snow......

It really is not supposed to snow like this in the sunny Carolinas....But, yet again, we are in a huge snow storm and unfortunately, this storm will involve alot of ice on the roads....Good to be out of school for a few days, but when I got the call about having a snow day today, I was told our makeup day will be this Saturday...! What ?????????

The poor Putter Boy statue is covered in snow....And, the concrete planter on the back deck is swallowed up with snow......

At least the little bunnies are protected on the back screened porch......

I was able to devote a little time to one of my "up for a challenge" pieces this weekend..... I got burned out with the same colors, so I stopped half-way through that large bottom band.....  Still alot of intense work is left on this sampler....But, I am going to pace myself....

So for a change of pace, I picked up Blackbird Designs Anniversaries of the Heart and finished up the 7th design.....It is the freebie sampler so I did not personalize it.... Remember, I am stitching these 15 designs in a little different order than that listed....  Here is a closeup on this block....

 And here is what the entire piece looks like as of today...... I love all the soft colors....There are 36 different overdyes used so far.... As specified they are gorgeous shades from GAST, Weekes and Crescent Colors........ I am stitching on 36 ct Winter Frost by R & R Linen.....

I am signing off for now....Hubbie and son are attempting to shovel snow and ice near the garage doors.. Not that I am going to get out there with them, I do need to keep an eye on them!!

Take care everyone!!  Hope you are stitching and watching a beautiful snowfall where ever you are~~

Hugs,  

Faye

Scottish Sampler Update....

When I took a look at the 1738 Scottish Sampler by Threads of Gold, I felt like I was over half done so why not go ahead and devote the time to making more of a dent in the piece...

I feel like I have gotton alot accomplished since Jan 1.....

(after shot)

32 ct creme Belfast, DMC threads

Since it has been lingering in the WIP basket from 1995, its about time it be given attention and a hopeful January 2011 finish~~~

(before shot)

In comparison, this is how things stood until I picked it back up this week.....

Hope everyone has had a good week getting back in the swing of working..I know I am pretty tired and looking forward to my weekend~~~

Take care,

Faye

So, in short, this "challenge" thing has lit a fire under me......

Nabby's Garden Sampler

I have managed to finish my first of 15 in the 2011 "Up for a Challenge"....  Happy Dance!!

After a long absence and much lingering in my WIP basket, I present to you

Nabby's Garden Sampler by The City Stitcher.....

Done with DMC floss on a tweedy light grey 28 ct linen

This was the oldest of the 15 challenge pieces and was about half completed when I picked it up Jan 1. I love the softer colors... I did have to stop and retrain my eye for a good satin stitch in the border above the alphabet.....

Well, I need to get in the kitchen and rustle up some dinner for my hubby who is not feeling all that good...He'll be better now that he is on an antibiotic...

As for me, these first 2 days back at school has been a big reality adjustment!~~ I got spoiled with the 2 weeks off at Christmas.... Boy, I could SO be retired and be happy!!!  But, my family likes to eat, so...you know the drill..........

Have a great rest of the week.....Later tonight I plan on getting busy on my next 2011 challenge piece!!

Faye

Up for a challenge

Up for a challenge
Originally uploaded by fayeriggsbee

In case you are wondering....I am "learning" flicker, a new camera, how to make a mosaic and the new layout for blogger posts all at the same time....Thats a bit much for someone my age!~~  But, bear with me as I learn....I just wanted to see if this mosaic would link up correctly....And, it looks like it did...

Now, I need the Tylenol bottle as this is WAAAYY too much techy stuff for me to absorb so quickly....

PS: Thanks Nicole for your Tech Support~~




Here are 12 of my 15 WIP's for the Up for a challenge 2011...Wish me luck~~~

~~Up for a challenge~ todays progress....

I wanted to show you my first project in the 2011 "Up for a challenge".... I started this pretty piece by City Stitcher back in 1990 (I am embarrased to have to admit that..) And, I have no idea why I shelved the project because I really do like it..............

So, here is where things have stood since then.....about half done....

And, here is where I stand as of an afternoons worth of stitching..... At least the alphabet is done now...... But, where is the pretty garden....?.... Will have to see if I get to that part tomorrow..

I see alot of people in blogland making committments to finish WIP's this year....So, here's to everyone's accomplishments!!!

Happy Stitching,

Faye