Catch-up Post (picture heavy)

Well, I am finally getting caught up with MY blog! Been catching up on reading all my blogs and commenting, but woefully lacking in updates to mine unfortunately. But hopefully this post will bring me close to being caught up!

I have been stitching, tho not as much as I usually do... So, without further ado, here are some pictures of stuff I have finished or framed...



This is one of two frames I found at a thrift store, that work perfectly for these bird pieces. This is Bits of Blue Sampler by Plum Pudding Needleart, a really cute stitch!



And here is the other framed piece, Nesting, by Kathy Schmitz. I am debating taking off those hanging hooks on top... kind of date the frames...



Quite out of the blue, I received a RAK from Michelle , a fellow blogger. It had a really bright, spring fat quarter, Stork scissors (my only pair!), and some grey GA thread, which is one of my most favorite colors! It was such a nice pick-me-up! Thanks Michelle!



And it just so happened that about a week earlier, I had finished stitching a pillow that would be so cute finished with that RAK fabric, so I make a frame finish, and it is so very cute--don't you agree? My friend, Darlene, had her birthday this month, so I had stitched that for her...



The pillow was in this great project bag I gifted her! Barbara W.(cannot find her blog on my list, dang it) made it--and it is perfect for Darlene, cause she LOVES butterflies! She loved it!



And here is the back...it is so pretty.



Actually, I saw THIS one first, and lusted for it... but... held off... until I saw the Butterfly one, and knew it was going to be Darlene's, so...I got myself a lovely project bag too! With my favorite color of purple throughout, of course!



And see, in the back, it has a little pocket! It is perfect size for a medium sized project, which it is holding right now. I am working on Dandy Dreams by Silver Creek Samplers. It is an easy one, and I don't know WHY I just didn't do it sooner!



Found this painted box at a local thrift store recently. Originally, I was thinking I would give it a try with Briwax and making it look primitive... But it has been growing on me, and maybe I can work a vignette with it and the pear designs by Marly that I have been stitching, and intend to stitch. We shall see... Whoever painted it did a really Great job!



And here are the sides of the lid... fancy schmancy!



This is a sweet little piece done by a french designer named Martine (if you ask me later, I will dig out the blog where I found this freebie). I had it done by Easter, but... not finished. I am thinking of a box top finish.



And this is my attempt to stitch Quaker Egg by Bent Creek on a random piece of 35 count fabric. I HATED it! Thus, the incomplete project. In fact, I was not enjoying the stitch at all, so.... Anyone WANT the pattern? If I get more than one 'yes' then I will draw a name on May 6th. It can go anywhere--no restrictions this time!



THIS little adorable piece is by Erynne Chard of Stitcheree! Erynne has been designing cross stitch for a while, because way back I stitched a pattern of hers, called Snow Poem, for Pat at Dyeing to Stitch, for her birthday. I liked it so much, I wanted to do it again (a very RARE thing!) but I have not been able to get my hands on a perfect piece of grey fabric... sad face... But anyway, this is called 'Sweet Stella' and it may be small but there is a LOT of stitching there! I plan to do a wall hanging with it. Love it!

I am out of steam now, so going to wrap it up! Hope I did not bore anyone... Lots to catch up on! I have to sit and think about what else there is to post about, cause I am sure I forgot plenty! So, till next time!

Blessings and Hugs, Maggee

A little bit to show... and Formula 1 started today!

I am not too motivated somedays, so not much getting stitched. NOt going to show any WIPs but have a few small finishes to show. Pardon the wrinkles...



First is my Valentine pear, which I DID have done before Valentines... just life got in the way of finishing it... Now I have a year--ha! I will do them probably all together... by them I mean...



...the next one I finished, which is the St. Patrick's Day pear! In case anyone DOESN'T know, they were designed by Marly, a fellow blogger with a lot of talent. There are several FREE pear patterns on her blog, on the Pears tab.



Then I finished this cute Shamrocks design, also by a fellow blogger, Lynn B, another talented gal! This is a really teensy piece, because I decided to do it over one on 25 count. I would like to bead the edges like the designer did, but... I hope the beads are tiny enough! The backing fabby is underneath. Of course, I will have a Plan B...

Just finished up with A very full day...Cooking for St. Patrick's Day -- my usual dinner of corned beef, cabbage and boiled red potatoes. Plus I made a small Irish Soda Bread. Mid-day, watched the First Formula 1 race, and Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen won! I like that team, so that made me very happy! It was pretty amazing, especially when a relative newcomer, Sutil, did an amazing job of staying at the top for most of the race. I have only started watching these races last year, with my son. I am not all that knowledgeable, and last year I stitched a lot thru some of them... NOT today! We were quite engaged!

Now it is back to laundry and maybe a bit of Easter stitching...

Hugs,

Maggee

Winter Surprise Winner! And Finds!

I have 14 eligible names for this Giveaway, and so requested a random number generator, via my son, to pick this winner.... and the number was 6...which is Beth! Congrats to Beth! It will go out next weekend.

While I was away this weekend, I did a brief thrift store visit, and found something GREAT! I am still so excited!



Even if they are not 'genuine' they are real wooden boxes, with real nails, painted and distressed/crackled... which all make me happy! They don't have to be 'genuine' but I wouldn't have got them if they were cardboard or papier mache. They were labeled 'small whatnot box', etc...! What a find, eh?? They make me happy!

Well, off to get out of my work clothes and get comfy for the night! I had different plans toight of starting taxes, but I kind of feel yucky so I think I will just rest.

Hugs,

Maggee

End of Winter Surprise!

I have a SPECIAL giftie for one of my followers... to celebrate the end of winter... It's one of my most FAVORITE things, and I am sure plenty of my followers will like it too!

I am gifting a 'Snow Angel' fob, handmade by Melanie, of Moonraker Beads! Here is a picture of it...



It is only about an inch tall,but I added the crystal and clasp to make it into a fob! It is custom-made, and adorable if I say so myself! Due to the 'happenings' last month, I did not get around to gifting this when there probably was more snow, but... seems to be a bunch hanging around or falling right now, so ...let's do this!

Here are the rules for this giveaway! a)You must be a recent follower; b)you must have a blog of your own; and c)you must live in the U.S. (due to the new costs of overseas postage, this could cost me three times more than the cost to have this made... cannot do that this time!)

I really do hate the fact that it costs so much to mail overseas. However I will just save $$ for those occasions.

Gotta get some stitching done before bed...

****amended to say the drawing will be Sunday evening!***

Hugs,

Maggee

A Winner!

I picked a winner from the entries to this Lizzie Kate ABC's of Parenting chart Giveaway--and it is Vicki... Congratulations! Please email me for mailing information...

And thanks to all of you who entered, to save me from doing a Shirlee!

Today is Happy Mom Day for me--it is my daughter's birthday! She always calls me to say that to me! Isn't that sweet? I retell the details of her birth day to her each year, so she will remember how I loved it! I loved being pregnant and I love being a Mom (3 times!)!

Off to stitch a bit, on this dark and stormy night.



Hugs,

Maggee

Before I do a 'Shirlee' ...

Been dealing with a death in my family, so have not been up to blogging. And as you know, when mortality comes near, you start questioning... everything... including what you are stitching! At least for me! And I have been working on a project that I don't really enjoy, that WAS going to be a Christmas present... BUT I have had grave misgivings about gifting it and just am not enjoying it as I should be! Not to mention that I have had to re-do some of it... So, I decided to not stitch it, and instead I will give it to someone who WILL enjoy it! BEFORE I do a 'Shirlee' to it! (For those of you who read Shirlee's blog, you KNOW what that means!!) The design is ABC's of Parenting by Lizzie Kate, and it is only the chart. But... if I get more than one taker, I will do a quick drawing on Wednesday, the 6th, a special day to me!



Gotta run to work! Good luck!

Hugs,

Maggee

Happy Valentines Day!

While I was sick last week and weekend, I managed to get some stitching done. So without further ado, here are my latest finishes...



This was an old Kit I purchased. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out... all hand stitched. I believe it was a kit originated by Lois at Elegant Stitch, but... I have to check now.



So, here is my sad little Valentine's display. I don't especially celebrate this 'holiday' so not always inspired to stitch pieces related to it. But sometimes, there is just one that grabs me... I am currently stitching Marly's Valentine Pear, and should finish tonight... Just in time to at least add it to the display!



And of course, there is my L-O-V-E wall display...



I finished the first Ladies Prim Society piece by Threadwork Primitives, called Wynter Peacocks. I see I need to do a little correction, but this was an easy stitch. I am working myself up to finishing it this weekend.



Am working on putting together a little box with this Lizzie Kate piece for my oldest daughter's birthday in early March. Cute!

So, again, rushing off to work... My evenings have been busy playing catch up on paperwork, so by the time I am finished, after working all day, coming home, cooking, then paperwork, I am too tired to post. Hopefully I will get a better schedule going.

Hugs,

Maggee