A start, a gift and my giveaway~~~

Greetings everyone and Happy New Year almost!!!

Where did Christmas go to??? Blew right by and soon we will be writing 2012 on our checks...wow.

Honestly, the older I get, the faster time flys by...Mom always said it would, and she was right~

On the starts front...I FINALLY got in my CCN January Cottages chart....And, I promptly sat down and started it....Not to be different, but the DMC 598 was a little bit bright for me and since I hope to convert these charts to silks anyway, I took this opportunity to select a more toned down shade of a tealish turquoise as my main color... Once I am done, I will list my conversion....right now its a "selection in progress" ....

40 ct Exemplar Lakeside

Stitching these individually....

Next, I would love to show off a darling gift I just received in the mail....
From dear Tricia of Hillcrest Home Prims... She loved my little pin pillow I had sent her and sent me a thank you with this prim plain mitten enclosed....It is adorable Tricia and I will proudly display it with my winter prims collection....

AND, I want everyone to know that in January I will be hosting a giveaway!!!
I should have had a 600 follower giveaway....And, with the holidays, I put it off...
So, soon I will be announcing a giveaway...Will more than likely be a handmade goodie rather than stash...So....stay tuned~~
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Well, it is a super rainy day here in the Carolinas....Lots to do this week as school will be resuming next week....This is the time of the year when you ask yourself, why did I put up so many decorations???!

The house has emptied out....both the boys had to head back out to their places...
House is kinda quiet..
I will end things here with a funny pic of poor Julius (Adam's dog..) in what I think is an
X-Box coma.....I'll let you decide!!!

Happy Tuesday....Hope its a good one!~~~

Faye

~~~~Merry Christmas~~~~

Faye

My last trip to the post office this week....

More than likely, this will be my last trip to the post office this week....A couple more last minute gifts are headed out...

Remember when I stitched this JCS ornie back in October? Well, yesterday I had the chance to finish it into a little pillow that you could tuck onto the branches of your tree....or perhaps place in a basket of goodies..... The Victorian Motto hand dyed barn red rick rack was a perfect match...

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Here is Scarlett House's "Jingle all the Way" stitched on 40 ct Woodsmoke...I did not have the called for PTP Swamp, so I used what I had.... I do want to stitch it again, however, if I can ever get my hands on some of that swampy moss linen... This was also an October stitch that has been patiently waiting to get sewn up!!

Blogger wants this picture to remain upside down....Never-the-less, you can see an upclose on the rusty jingle bells and rusty snowflake.....

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I stitched up one more Primitive Hare freebie for a fellow stitcher who has endured a difficult 2011.... I wanted to reach out and let her know that many of us care, whether we "know" each other or not...More info with her link once this little pin pillow is received....

I put the year and my name, along with a rusty snowflake on the back....simple.

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Soon, it will be Christmas day......

Merry Christmas everyone~~~

Faye

Gifts can touch the heart.....

Ms. Myra knew what would touch my heart.......

This darling prim ornie arrived in my mailbox yesterday as I returned from the long line at my own post office~~~ I was blown away by this most kind gift.....

Here is my new "Joy" ornament, a Pineberry Lane freebie,  sitting front and center in my prim basket...

Myra writes..."When I saw this design, I quickly thought of you..."

I simply LOVE it Myra~~~ Thank you SO much!

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My day was spent sewing up a few more pouches that I will be handing out Monday...

I hope the ladies like them!!

I'm done with my shopping, so I hope to organize my menu list tomorrow...Kids will be home from college...visitors in and out...That calls for more things needed on hand.... AND, I had better get to baking a few goodies for the neighbors~~~~

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend..........

Faye

Tis the Season....

What a wonderful week this turned out to be!  We had all our festivities at school, both in assembly and in the classroom....The children were just giddy with excitement knowing yesterday was their last day!! And, I got an early Christmas present from the principal..... No teacher workday today as orginally assigned!!!  So, I am done, done, done until Jan 3................YES!!!

I took a little class at Linderella's Quilt Shop the other night..... Many of you know how to sew up these cute project pouches, however, I did not....So... This is what I learned to sew and finish in the 3 hour class........

I made a small, medium and large zipper pouch....all lined.... I was really quite thrilled to finally know to sew these......might see more of these in the future!!

And, my friend Linda P has received her gift....so, I can post about it....Me and my stain along with briwax have been at it again.....Remember those card boxes that were used in Blackbird Designs earlier this year???? Well, I made Linda this box....with a slight French flair!!!

 French design from GOS

Threadworx verigated red

40ct white Newcastle linen

Faded red Victorian Motto Chenille

Inside the box....lined with fabrics and her initial....

I had to hone in on my over 1 on 40ct skills....The white cotton lace and red chenille were good accents I thought.....  Linda can now add this to her ever growing "red" collection.....

I recently completed and mailed my exchange out to Arthemise in the Hooked on Exchanging Too

exchange... This was a box exchange....I stitched the Primrose Needleworks design from the Christmas issue of Just Cross Stitch 2011.....

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Lastly, I would like to show you one of the absolutely best Teacher gifts I have ever received! One of the parents whose daughter is in my classroom crocheted this darling apple huggie....I had not seen one before and it is made to protect your fruit from bruising....It is genius and so darling!!! We both about fell out when we learned we both had blogs and shared the love of crafting~~Who knew??

 On the side it has a small loop to wrap around the crocheted flower button....

Machine washable and suitable for apples, pears, whatever~~~

Thanks again Crissy! It is so cool to learn we are both crafters and share the passion for things handmade~~~

Crissy's blog can be found **here**....Please go over and take a peak at some of her goodies....

Okay...that's it t for me!! Got a list a mile long....So, I'm hittin' it~~~

Have a great Friday everyone!!

Faye

Blue bird with a little Blueberry Crumbcake....

I knew I would HAVE to sit down last night and  sew up something with my new blue fabric....

Ms LindaP (stitch hag) had stitched me this wonderful bluebird for my birthday in October in anticipation of the Moda Blackbird line being released.... So, I knew I would have to let this be my first finish using the Blueberry Crumbcake...

With me working in the education field, I just about melted when I read this passage as printed on the fabric...."Apply thine heart unto instruction, thine ears to the words of knowledge."...

How perfect is that????

And, the hemp rick-rack was the finishing touch...Thank-you Victorian Motto...

I hope your day is wonderful.....

Faye

I'm in Blueberry Crumbcake Heaven~~~~

After a busy day yesterday, look what arrived at my house!!!

Merry Christmas to me~~~

The Moda Blackbird "Blueberry Crumbcake" yardage is beginning to ship out.... Its as pretty in person as it looks on the internet.....

Now, whatcha think I'm going to be getting crafty with soon....?....

Have a great day everyone~!~

Faye

A couple more stitches...

It has been an extremely busy time around here~~~  My last finishing order is sealed in the box ready to ship out tomorrow...It has been so much fun getting in my fellow stitchers handiworks and finishing them into ornaments and pillows....I have been honored that so many of you trusted me with your valueables and gave me creative authority to "work my magic"....

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Additionally, I was able to stitch a little over the weekend and this week, finishing up these two Christmas items.....Now to ponder how I will sew them up as a Christmas finish for MY house...

 Black Bird Christmas Tree

Victorian Motto Sampler

40 ct natural

AVAS red silk

Jolly Reindeer

Victorian Motto Sampler

40 ct Meadow Rue LL

DMC threads

I just love stitching Victorian Motto Sampler designs!!! AND, pop on over and check out Nancy's blog because she has the BEST EVER giveaway in process......Check out all the flosses!!! WOW~

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Also, this week, I was tickled to receive this awesome exchange from Lisa S....She had my name in the Hooked on Exchanging Christmas Box exchange and the box she made me is stunning!!!

Pop on over to her blog as she has posted lots of details about this design and box....

Thanks again Lisa for this beautiful addition to my Christmas collection of handmade goodies~~~

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Lastly, I finished up a lingering project that has been on my "Up for a challenge 2011" list.....

This baby is FINALLY done......

My Full Heart

Hands to Work

40 ct Pale Blue mystery linen

HDF silk fibers

I know now why I started this design years ago.... There is a crown!!! The 1 over 1 on 40ct for the letters has about shot my eyes though....Anyway, its done and I do believe this is finish 11 for the year of my old WIP's.... I was able to clean out my WIP basket quite a bit this year!

So, that's it for tonight.....Gotta hit the hay!! I leave you with a shot of my oldest son....He came home recently for a visit and I managed to take a snap during a UNC Tarheel basket ball game....

Men are SO mesmorized when watching sports on TV!!

Have a good one,

Faye