January challenge - a few more finishes

Hello dear friends, once again, it has been a long time since I wrote anything.  I have been busy finishing a few things, I had some company and I took a quilting course.  Hmmm, as you know from the previous post I came home from Massachusetts with an itch to start quilting/sewing again.  I found some beautiful teacup fabric for my kitchen curtains and some gorgeous dolphin fabric. 
I took a quilting course to make a bread and butter table runner - I have some beautiful Christmas fabrics that I wanted to use.  Well to make a long story short, my square did not turn out the way that I wanted because I used the wrong fabric for a certain part, the block/square still looks nice but it doesn't have the "oomph" that I was looking for.  Good thing I have lots of fabic. lol  I will take some pictures and update this posting for you.
So I finished some ornaments for my upcoming craft fair and I think they look pretty nice.

So my friends, that's it for now.  Must get back to stitching, I am more than ready for a day of sipping tea and stitching away.  I am currently working on the Mill Hill beaded kit "Believe".  Hugs to all and remember that you are loved.  Louise

Visit to Massachusetts

Hello everyone, I apologize for not posting in a while but I was off visiting 2 wonderful ladies in Massachusetts. I first met Roberta and Peggy at a retreat in February and they invited me down for the garage sale at Sudberry House.  They have a sale the first 3 Saturdays in August, so of  course I just had to go down and visit and shop!!  I stayed with Roberta and her husband and their 3 cats and Peggy was there as well.  We had a wonderful time, they took me to 3 different cross stitch stores (one that was 2 hours away!!) and 3 or was it 4 different quilt stores.  Oh dear me, that was dangerous and they really had to twist my arm to go shopping at these stores!! Let me just say that I spent a few pennies and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I used to sew quite a lot years ago and I even did a bit of quilting but nothing like Roberta, she has gorgeous quilts and quilted pieces everywhere in her home - simply stunning.  So of course, all these goodies brought back the itch to sew!  I bought some lovely fabrics and a few kits to get me started.  Don't worry, I will take pictures of the finished goodies.

I hitched a ride with Janice and Dave and since I wasn't driving I was able to do some stitching.  I started the little red piece and did the middle of the design and then added a few fans at the edges and turned it into a humbug.  It is really cute. 
And of course I talked about Jaxon and FOP and Roberta was very generous and opened up her Christmas ornaments box and donated quite a few.  Check them out, these ladies are finishers extraordinaire!

Hockey Santa is finally done

Hi there, yes another finish for me... another happy dance... what can I say... actually I thought I would never get this little guy finished. It is about 5 inches high and 3 wide, but I have to admit, towards the end, the needle was flying.  The designer is Charlotte's Collectibles and this pattern booklet also contains the designs for a Santa holding a basketball, a soccer ball, a baseball and glove, and a football.  The fabric is an overdyed aida from my stash as well as the DMC threads, I did use a Rainbow Gallery Petite Treasure Braid for the cuffs and the hat's brim.  I think it looks smashing.  Hugs and kisses to all and once again, thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Louise

Jim Shore Santa Claus finished

Hi everyone, did you think I would never post again. OOPS, sorry about that but I really didn't have a lot to say (or write).  Like my t-shirt says "Eat, Sleep, Stitch".... yup that's what I do.  But I have a really good reason for not posting, I was working on my Santa Claus by Jim Shore and its finished.  (Can you see me doing my happy dance?)  It is so pretty, I love it and now I want to order another one of his - Saint Nicholas.  I showed it to my Dad and Angele today at brunch and Angele liked it so much, she wants me to do one for her!  So... here's the picture.  Hugs to all of you. Louise

Mill Hill World Peace is finished

Happy Canada Day to all Canadians where ever you are.

One of my many January challenges was a Mill Hill beaded kit entitled World Peace, after finishing the Love Tree, I decided to work on World Peace.  It was beautiful to stitch because there was large areas of one colour so it did stitch up rather quickly (at least I thought so).  I was hoping to finish it for the end of June and thus be able to show it off today and as you see by the title - it is finished.  I think that I will put it into a box like I did with the Poinsettia, I like the finished look of them when they are in the boxes.  Guess I will just have to go back to Sudberry House and buy some more of them. lol

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my blog, hugs to you all. Louise

PS, I have created another "gadget" in the right hand column so that you can see the progress of my January starts.

Newfoundland pictures

Hi everyone, today I thought I would share with you 2 pictures that I bought in Newfoundland when I was there in 1995. I "found" them when I was purging.  I bought these 2 watercolours, they were complete with mats and I kept saying to myself  I would get them framed when I had money!  Well, we all know how that ended up... they were still in the plastic sleeve and they are so pretty.  Even funnier, I was at Michaels recently and bought 2 very nice frames on sale and thought that I could use them for my stitching... well, don't you know the watercolours look absolutely gorgeous in them.  Check them out.  Hugs Louise.

Love Tree finished

Hi everyone, it's been a week since I posted - I obviously don't lead a very exciting life (lol). As the title says, my Love Tree is finished - yahoo.  The pattern is by "M Designs", I used aida from my stash and the silk is Cardinal, it has just a hint of overdyed and it is very pretty.  For those of you who have never seen the tree designs, if you tilt your head to the left and look at the design sideways, you will be able to see the word "Love". 

To all my dear friends who read this blog faithfully, thank you kindly. Hugs to you all. Louise