Silver Lining iris

My friend, Valerie came over and we organized my stash...
She  had us gather together all the charts...and put them in one spot.
Then she had us gather together all the UFOs... and put them in a different spot.
And then all the kits--not started at all...
And then the finished things that still needed to be made into something.

SO!
I pulled out this iris that my mom had started and worked half of. (My mom was a Gemini and she loved to start things, do half of them and then off to the next exciting thing!)

I finished it up.
I love that she put dates on the chart of when she started it.
This was one of the very first pieces she did, back in 2003.


I sure miss my mom but its really nice to be able to finish some of her things.

Just Nan

I finished!
And, if you can tell, I added lots of sparkle! lol
I think what I'm going to do now is figure out how to make it into a little purse thing.
I purchased the Just Nan Mermaid chart, Under the Sea or something like that...Siren? I forget (its in the other room...) and I want to take parts of it and make it work. Like...the mermaids could be the flap...

We'll see!
Oh I know... I could add a screen shot. lol

There we go

Just Nan Mermaid Heart

Here's a pretty something I'm working on.
I just have the outer border to do now.

I think it needs some Kreinik and or Rainbow Gallery sparkle braids!
(It just wouldn't be "mine" without those added sparkles)
Those will  be next. For sure.

Happy Easter my friends

My Goodness!!!!

HELLO!!!!

I really didn't disappear from the stitching world.
In fact, I just got back from a wonderful weekend retreat with my local guild, BASG (Bay Area Sampler Guild) and my other stitching group, Stitchers by the Bay.
The weather was lovely, the company super wonderful and the food was delicious. And we all did stitching all day long and into the night!
I think its like my 6th or 7th year.
EVERYONE should be so lucky!

So, this cute kitty you see at the top of this post was a Christmas gift from a friend of mine.  Her name is Janet (I sure love her!). Well, Janet isn't a stitcher but she somehow got a stitching catalog in the mail and she saw this kit and thought I would like it. When she told me she found me something to stitch I was a little bit apprehensive--you all know we don't always like or want to stitch what the next person does... but I really do love this cute kitty!

He actually had his whole long, tall, sitting body but I didn't think it was necessary to stitch it all. So I made him shorter and will see about making him into a zippered project bag. With cute Christmas fabric, I think he'll be great.

Anyway, I must run, lots to do--and I must walk my puppy now, whose not so much a puppy as she was!
She looks at me like this when she wants her walk. lol
Next comes the paw in my lap and after that, the BARK!

That's our 13 yr old Kuvasz in the background in protective custody. If Ruby had her way, she'd be all over the poor guy.

And here's our Ruby, caught doing something she shouldn't be doing!

Have a great day and have fun stitching  :)

BASG Exchange Gift

Each year our sampler guild (Bay Area Sampler Guild, BASG) does a gift exchange. And if you want to participate in it, you draw a name and keep it secret. You agree to make a stitched gift for the person whose name you drew and then give it to them (usually at the holiday party in November)

I got Dorita. When I first joined the guild (still now, actually), whenever someone would call out her name, I would think it was ME they were talking to. LOL  Apparently she does the same. haha

I just love gifts and things that have a PURPOSE.
So I came up with this letter D initial...found some really cute and colorful fabric...proceeded to change all the colors in my chart so they would match my fabric... and then added little French knots, scattered to mimic the fabric.

Tell me, WHO couldn't use (another) project bag?!

Do you know I've not picked up my stitching a single time since getting this sweet little, rambunctious puppy?!
I do plan to...
Really, I do.
I'm really starting to miss sewing!!!!
(I do believe she's figured out the housebreaking thing now and let me tell you, I'm sooo happy about that!!!!! )

Next week I am going to speak at the Women's Club luncheon in my town. I'm going to take bunches of my finishes and show them. I think the ladies will like seeing them because I believe that most of them aren't aware at just how lovely cross stitch can actually be. Especially nowadays with all the pretty variegated silks, tiny crystals and beads and colorful fabrics.

(if you're wondering, my puppy's name is Ruby and she is a 10 week old Dobie)
I don't plan to crop her ears. I love her just the way she is!

What I've been up to...

Oh my gosh!
I've not stitched a single bit lately!!!

Its because I knew I was going to get this wonderful little creature and I wanted to study up on everything I could possibly learn about her breed and how to take care of her and train her, etc.

Soon though, I'll be back in the groove (in between chasing my new darling) stitching up a storm!