I am so lucky

I want to show you what Linda In Minnesota sent me they are thread keepers I just love them they are so french looking, I have asked Linda to make some more so I may purchase them anything she does is wonderful.
Thank-you Linda I am going to use them  to keep my threads  for my new project which I am starting this evening really it is not a new project it is one of my 15 up for a challenge wips.

Blessings to you all.
Catherine

My Exchange to Carol in England

I wanted to show you what I made for Carol in England for the Blackbird Designs Exchange, I used the fabric from the Blackbird Designs Garden Party  by Moda  to wrap the box in.
I picked this pattern because of the urn it is so English looking, I love the pattern it is from Joyeux Noel Book.
The trims are from The Victorian Motto Shoppe.
I use lots of Nancy's trims on my stitched projects.
I do hope Carol likes what I have sent her, it should have arrived by now.
Carol does not have a blog so our wonderful Intrepid leader posts pictures for her.
If you donot belong to the exchange please join it is a lot of fun.
Blessings to you all.
Catherine

Rember All who Serve or have Served

I love this picture this is a picture from an email I recieved from my Wonderful Husband, I am not sure who this Man is, but it sure does have an impact on my heart.
Mike  was in the Navy during Vietnam era, they were a communications ship carring an Admiral, he was on the USS ELDORADO.
I think of the wonderful Men and Women who give to our Country everyday by serving in the Military, how unselfish they are, I also think of all the many Men and Women from past wars that gave up their time to serve but did not survive to come home, how lucky we are to have such dedicated Men and Women.
If you do not do a thing this week-end at least remember them in your prayers if you donot pray what a better time to start.
We must also remember the Families that are stateside, Feedom is not free please remember that small sentance.
 GOD BLESS AMERICA
AND ALL WHO SERVE HER.

Catherine

 WE are grandma and grandpa this week, a Robin and her husband moved in on our front porch about three weeks ago, constructing their home, they blessed us with four eggs and four lovely babies.

I do know that they will have to lay eggs once more before they move on, I do wish they would have built somewhere else like the back yard under the deck they woulkd have had 52 feet to choose from, oh no they wanted a front yard view, they are so much fun to watch, we mounted a mirror on the ceiling  so I can look out the office window and see what is going on.

The only problem is we cannot sit out there until they are gone, I like to drink coffee in the morning on my days at home, oh well I'll wait it is worth the pause in the birthing rite.

I have had a bit of a time the last three weeks I have been busy with work and lots of Family things going on.

I sure do miss reading blogs and commenting, hopefully things are back to normal aside from the long hours I am putting in at work, I do like the fast pace I am in now, I will look back and see how much I will have earned retirement, when I do finally retire.

This is some of the satsh I found at a thrift store I love trims and other things to make my stitching look nice, the candle stitcks are for hearts and other stitchery I will be doing I have found on other blogs that people are using them to use as holders.

I like that idea, the springs are from old spring matresses, I am going to use them for halloween bobble heads this fall, I made a cat bat and pumpkin last year and used dowels for the heads, I think I will like the springs better they will give them a scary look.

My Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine came last week I really need to sit down and look through it. Well I should get to bed I was up at 0 dark hundred this morning and left the house at 05:00, I am soooo tired.    

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe
FLOSS GIVAWAY AT VICTORIAN MOTTO SAMPLER SHOPPE
Another lovely givaway from The Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe, you really should sign up to be a follower of Nancy's She is very talented and creates the most beautiful floss and patterns along with other beautiful creations.
In this givaway Nancy is debuting her new collors of floss.
Please stop over and have a look at her lovely blog and Ebay site.
Catherine.

Tusal Report

Finally my Tusal report this new mess that Google has handed us is awful, I did research today and found out we all will be getting this headache.
I have done lots of stitching I am almost finished with a project that was started by someone in my stitch group they just gave it to the stash reduction auction, I was the lucky winner it is a Shepherds Bush and I am loving it. I will post a picture this week-end.

Blessings to you All
Catherine

Tusal report or not

I have been trying to post my  tusal report with pictures is anyone else having troublr?
On my lap top everything is as normal, on my home computer I get a message that says I need to sign up for google chrome, when I do this all my stuff is messed up and I cannot post pictures, is anyone else having this problem and why is this message starting to slant.
If someone can help please email me at diamondc@lakedalelink.net
Thank-you for any help.

Victoria Sampler Retreat in Minnesota I can post pictures but not words

(I am  having problems with blogger this week) I was very lucky to have taken a class by Thea of Victoria Sampler, what an exceptional Lady she is I loved the fact that she spent so much time with each table sitting down and learning about each and every one of us, she is so sweet.

The class was well worth the money I love the way my stand turned out I did add the ricrack around the pin cushion,  this was not part of the class, (I bought the ricrack from Nancy Turner at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.

We were able to do as much prework as we liked before the retreat, I did all my stitching before hand,  I did finish the final piece at home on monday.

This is such a beautiful piece, I am so excited I was able to go to this retreat Thank-you to my wonderful Husband he paid for this event.

Big kisses to you Mike.

The venue was grand at the Oak Ridge Retreat Hotel center in Chanhassen MN.

Deb and Deb from Stitchville USA were our Hostess of this event they are wonderful  and really know how to put on a party, the givaways were wonderful I will post pictures later this week.

If you are ever able to take a class with Thea do so, we had Ladies from Canada, Texas, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin and of course Minnesota, I am sure I did miss a state or two so Ladies please forgive me. The food was fantasic almost too hard to believe, I thought I was going to come home to learn I had gained a few pounds oh how lucky I was to see I had actually lost two pounds can you believe it. We had such a great group of Ladies, everyone was having so much fun meeting everyone and talking about and showing some of their work from home, it is so much fun to see what others are working on, I think that the stitchers in this world are the greatest group of people to belong to, we are sincere and of course loveable.

Happy Stitching to you all

I do have to go now please have a blessed day.

Catherine

Happy Easter to all my followers

Happy Easter

Catherine

Another Wonderful Givaway From Nancy

Another great giveaway from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe, this is a lovely pattern Nancy has created, drop over and take a look.
Happy Easter
Catherine

Another Givaway from Nancy at the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Again Nancy is having another wonderful givaway, please stop over to her site and have a visit, Nancy is a great designer and a very generous Lady.
Nancy dyes threads buttons lace and has lots of beautiful patterns
Good Luckhttp://victorianmottosamplershoppe.blogspot.com/

I am a very lucky lady I recieved these beautiful quilt tops from Conny over at Remake Remix Reuse (Hopblogger) I was so thrilled I had tears running down my cheeks for about an hour, how wonderful is Conny to share her beautiful work with me, I am going to have them quilted this summer, I have already chosen the backing fabric for all three.

I am not sure of the names of the patterns, I am so thrilled, I am saving my pennies to have them quilted proffessionally by the quilt shop in Kimball, Mn. they are about 13 miles from my home, the shop is in a very small town, they have have a very large quilting machine. Thank-you Conny for the beautiful tops.

I want to tell you Conny is very creative she has been published in a Minature Magazine for her Doll House, she makes lots of the clothes and other items in her doll house, she has also written a book called Mystic Imaginations, my favorite story is the Pink Daisy in love with the Rose, it is such a sweet story, with a beautiful ending.

I know I have written that there are two other stories I like but everytime I read this lovely book I fall in love with another story.

This is a project I started way back in April of 2011, this is a Jeannette Douglas pattern from a stitching retreat that Stitchville USA put on last year, Three Pines Sampler is the name of this lovely piece I had put it aside to work on at a later date and completly forgot about it I did manage to get the framing done, this is a project I just need to get done I love it so much and it will go very well in the man cave for my husband.

This is a project I bought last feb. at retreat stash reduction auction, I have done a lot of stitching on this piece, it will be finished as a wall hanging with large tassels on the bottom.

I stitched this up and turned it into a biscornu for my friend Cindy she loves hotair balloons and has ridden in one, I also did a scissor fob for her, this is from the 101 Cross-Stitch Patterns For Every Season this book has lots and lots of fun patterns to choose from. I will post a picture of the finished project this week.

This pattern is from With My Needle Brenda Gervais this is the Easter Frills  Easter Egg Pin Keep, it is stitched on a 36 count  fabric it is a sparkly  fabric that is from my stash, I did change the threads called for a little,   I used  Weeks Dye Works Guacamole, Sampler Threads Peach Fuzz, Sampler Threads Sasaparilla, Weeks Dye Works Straw and Sampler Threads Summer Meadow, I stitched this on vacation in Mexico, I just need to assemble the pieces together.

This is The Shepherds Bush Stitchers Roll, I also worked on this in Mexico, it is stitched on 32 count I am not sure of the fabric just the count, I have a very large collection of needle rolls.

This is Romeo and The Chicks this is a Leisure Arts pattern, I bought this at retreat stash reduction auction I love the colors, it has a lot of changing of colors so the back is not the best, I am going to make this into a pillow for a chair in the kitchen with a double ruffle, I hope to have this finished within two weeks, it is stitched on 14 count aida it has been years since I stitched on aida, the colors are so bright and vibrant.
 I did do lots of other stitching and will post later this week when my life slows down a little with an ill Mother and my Husband was ill this week it has been trying, if Mike misses Church you know he is sick, now things are slowing down so more stitching on the horizen.

Happy Easter
Catherine 

TUSAL Report

My tusel reprot, not a real good picture, but lots of stitching in the last month.

Givaway at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Nancy Turner a very talented desiger is haveing a greatr givaway, she is so generous and has many givaways on her blog.
http://victorianmottosamplershoppe.blogspot.com/

Happy St. Patricks Day
Catherine

Happy St. Patricks Day
Catherine

This is my totally useless stitchalong post for feb. if you donot belong this is a fun game to join.

I was finally able to post pictures and post comments after working for so long I am not sure why I am having so much trouble, does anyone else have this problem?

Well anyway I did manage to get a few things done for a retreat I am going to this week-end, I really look forward to seeing the girls and all the fun we have, I am able to see what everyone is working on catch up on all the news and just have fun, I think my table is the best, I am sure there are others that think the same about their table.

These are biscournus that we will be auctioning off  I bought the clamps from plus we have a stash reduction auction this is so much fun, I donot know if I will bid I have aver 2000 books and charts in my sewing room, maybe I am a hoarder!!!

I want to post more pictures but blogger is giving me a hard time.

I bought the clamps  from http://silentstitches.com/

They have lots of great goodies to purchase, the biscournus stited up fast, gluing them onto the clamps took a little time, I think I am going to have a givaway for Easter.

I am working on a Sheepish Designs Easter heart with a bunny on it I would post pictures but again I am having trouble.

I hope all is well with all of you.

Blessings

Catherine

Wear Red For Womens Heart Health

Donot forget to wear red today for Womens Heart Health.

Catherine

TUSAL Report

Here is my TUSAL posting I was out of town on a week-long getaway with my husband so sorry I am late. I did do a lot of stitching on our getaway.
Catherine

I have two finishes

I finally finished my Birds Of A Feather by With Thy Needle and Thread I love this pattern the picture does not do it justice, my other finish was Drawn Threads Friends done on 28 count fabric using DMC threads.

I am working on Just Nan Filagree Fancies Pancy Basket using 28 count fabric and DMC threads.

These three are all part of my Up For A Challenge 15, I am doing better this year then I did last year with my finishes.

Blessings to you all.

Catherine

Victorian Sampler Givaway

I am urging you to slip over to  The Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe, Nancy is have a a great givaway this is a fun givaway you can participate in naming her new thread packs, good luck. I have bought from Nancy a few times and the quality of her trims and laces is top shelf.
http://victorianmottosamplershoppe.blogspot.com/

What I am doing

Today is very nice out wheather wise, the temp. now is 39 degrees, warm for Minnesota this time of year, I am all for it no snow on the ground and walking outside is wonderful.

I have lots to share I have bought lots of unfinished projects from past stash auctions at the retreats that Cindy and Marsha put on twice a year feb, and oct.

The sweatshirt is a ski scene done with waste canvas, the pattern is from Leisure Arts, I hope to finish this soon.

Next is a White Goose  from Designs From Gloria and Pat I love this goose I am going to use braided trim and large tassels for a wall hanging, I donot usually work on 14 count this was done on 14 and came out just lovely the picture does not show how really nice this is.

Next is a pattern called Romeo and Chicks I also bidded on this project and won at the oct. 2011 retreat, I love this pattern it is so lovely the colors are striking again this is done on 14 count, I am loving this project, I bounce between the Mystery Sampler I am working on and this one, I take this one to work with me the Mystery Sampler I need my floor magnifier for.

My next picture is of a Bunny I donot know who the artist is I only know I finished it in Dec. I did also bid on this project in oct. 2011 it was partial finish.

I have added a small pompom on the tail it is only right that a bunny has a puffy tail, this will be a small pillow for Easter. I

Next are the small stockings I finished on Newyears Eve these will go on my small white tree in our home office next year.

These are from the  the Cross Stitch and Country Crafts magazine  issue nov/dec 1993.

I do keep all my old magazines, I refer back to them often, I guess that I am a hoarder!

only of stitching stash.

I really should get back to stitching I hope this post finds you all well.

Catherine

I know I am late but better late then never

Happy Newyear to all,  I know its way into the week but better late then never, I already have two finishs I will post tomorrow, they were both started many moons ago by someone else I just finished them.
Blessings to you all.
Catherine

Merry Christmas to all

Merry Christmas to all my followers and to all who just take a look.
I hope this very Blessed Season brings you all closer to God and to each other.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Catherine

Two postings in one week WOW

Today I had off due to the doctors are not working today or tomorrow, soooo today I made cakeballs for a very special couple, Jim and Sharon from Buffalo Mn. I made strawbeery cake with strawberry covering chocolate cake balls with white and chocolate covering, I am not sure I like the strawberry cakeballs they were a little dry, however the chocolate cakeballs were really yummy I had two and now have a tummyache.

I have a couple of more things to bake tomorrow, Mike is making a pasta dish to take to his sisters and I am making chicken drummies and trifle totake to my Mothers, oh I love that trifle.

I love Christmas, it does seem to take a lot out of me each year only because I donot know how to slow down someday I will, I hope.

I need to go now and finish cleaning up the Kitchen, these are the ingredients I used.

I need Help

I am going to go into a treatment center after the first of the year, I have an addication to STASH now before you ask  which treatment center I need you to direct me to the right center for help, I go into a second hand store just to browse I always go to the fabric and craft area, this is a no no I just donot need anymore stash I need to use up what I already have, that is why you see alot of my ornaments with the same kind of trims I am trying to use up what I have but I go into Joann Fabric and Crafts and lo and behold I head right to the trim area, I start to sweat I get the shivers and try I really try not to purchase any trim and soon the itch is there,  I could use this on or I see this being used as a ribbon on a package oh no there it is again my pocket book out paying for the trim I donot need HELP.
Maybe it is a good addication I just don't know.
I worked on this little door hanger the last week I really like this pattern it is Penguin Jive  artwork by Ellen Kransadapted to cross stitch by TrinaLaube this is a pattern from the Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine july 2008.

This is a easy stitch I did change it out a little I really like the silver snowflakes the pattern called for Kreinik blending filament for the flakes but I wanted something to show up a little more.

I also finished stitching  Halloween Fairy designer  is Nora Corbett this is from the september 2008 Cross Stitch & Needlework magazine I love this pattern but did make a big mistake instead of using the recommended fabric count I used a smaller count this was a mistake I ended up with the wrong size beads for the smaller count fabric so it looks a little distorted there is nothing I can do now so if you look at it ignore the silly bead placements she is still pretty in my eyes.

I will have her framed sometime next year I am looking at an oval mat in black, wish me luck.

I hope all is well with you all in blogger land, I am almost ready for Christmas, I am taking off thursday and friday to make cake balls and give to a Lady from Church she does not bake and would like the cake balls for her Christmas Family getogether.

Merry Christmas I*n Jesus Name.

Catherine

Exchange from Linda In Minnesota

I am so sorry for not posting this beautiful exchange earlier I have been having trouble posting.
I want to tell you about the lovely Lady that made this for me in the Blackbird Designs Exchange, I was not expecting the delightful person I met that day Linda was postively adorable we have lots in commen and shared many feelings and thoughts about life the day we met to do our exchange, we had lunch at Applebees my fav restaurent in Minn.
As you can see the box is beautiful she sanded and antiqued the box she did a very good job.
I was almost in tears, the project I did for her does not match up to this lovely box, the inside bottom is finished with a beautiful cranberry floral, Linda put my entials and the year on this lovely piece, she also sent along pins that are in the shape of hearts, she also gave me chocolates that were yummy of course I love chocolate who does not, Linda wrapped the box in a beautiful fabric and lovely gross grain ribbon, I am so tickled with this box that I am leaving it in my tea room that is what my Husband calls the living room only because it is very feminine, it is sitting on my antique tool box in front of the sofa.
After lunch Linda and I went to Joann Fabrics I wanted to see the different pins that are available like the ones she gave me, we found many some in a smaller size some bigger, I still like the hearts she gave me the most.
Thank-you Linda I just Love the box.
After lunch

From this to a finished project I started stitching all of these ornaments last year finished stitching before the first of the year but never made them into a finished sate, the  Little House Needlework ornaments are from the 2010 series I need to finish stitching the last of the series.

 The Bear ornament is from the Just Cross Stitch ornement issue I think he is so cute I stitched him way last year, the other ornaments are something I stitched I cannot tell you how long ago I donot remember the artist so sorry.

 The Little House Needlework In a Pear Tree is going to be a stand-up ornament on my sofa table it is kind of large and will look good with my fake fruit bowl, the Blackbird Designs picture is from a class I took with Alma and Barb in 2009, it was going to be a pin cushion, I really needed a small picture for a skinny wall in the kitchen I think this will do, the Reindeer pillow top is going to be hung on the wall in one of my bathrooms I just donot need another pillow so hanging it will be a nice addition.

O.K. I was able to upload the pictures today I plan on trying to upload the beautiful box Linda made for me tomorrow I left it at a stitching spot and need to go pick it up, it is a stunning box and came with lots of goodies.
My most wonderful Husband and I stayed home yesterday and layed low it was fabulous I made turkey wings for me and thighs for him, along with baked potatoes, squash and homemade gravy with dried cranberries in it, no dessert that is something we will have today.

Blessings to you all.
Catherine

Trouble posting

First of all I want to tell Linda how sorry I am about not posting pictures of the most beautiful exchange she made for me, this was through the (Blackbird Designs Exchange) I have had so much trouble so I decided to just post a BIG Thank-you to her, the box she made me is oh so beautiful, I was so excited and wanted to post a picture but blogger is giving me trouble, Thank-you Linda, I had such a wonderful time with you and hope we can get together again soon, you are a real hoot to be with and such a lovely Lady.
 I have been very busy and have lots to show so wish me luck in posting pictures this week I will try again on thursday.
My most wonderful Husband and I are staying home for Thanksgiving we are going to have our own dinner and just laze around for a while and eat lots of apple crisp after turkey dinner.
I am stitching on a couple of things, one is Nora Corbetts Halloween Fairy ( in the Cross Stitch and Needlework magazine 9/2008) I am just about done with the stitching about one hour on that and then adding the rest of the beads which will take about a half hour, the next project is With Thy Needle & Thread Birds Of a Feather,  ( Brenda Gervais)I have the outside framing almost stitched it should only take me about an hour to finish the frame and then I can do the inside stitching the birds tree and everything else, I am also working on a Jeannette Douglas Three Pines Sampler this was a (retreat project)  from last april, I made a mistake and had to rip and rip so I put it aside, last week-end I did kit up about 20 projects for next year, some are large and some are small I will just have to decide which project to start with after I finish up the three I am working on now.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
Blessings
Catherine

A little update

 I was a little busy making penny rugs for the retreat at Totino Grace Retreat Center, Cindy and Marsha put this event on twice a year once in october and again in febuary for a full week-end.
We have so much fun and such good food.
The above rug is made with real wool pieces and felted wool.
I hand stitch these all, no machine is used to do these rugs.

 The gold and black one is all wool felt, I love this one so much I am going to make one for myself next week,  the rug below is also hand done I am almost finished with this one I just need to add a few more pieces and will post a finished picture soon.

Retreat as always was a hoot, we had Tammy come and give us an update on the kits that are put together for Childrens Hospital, these are cross stitching kits with needle thread fabric and chart, a parent can stitch while visiting their child or while the child is sleeping, (these are donated kits)
We also had an  auction that is where my two kitty rugs went to, there was a little battle going on for them it was fun to see.
I did manage to make scissor fobs with beads I forgot to take pictures they also were on the auction I made five I think they were lovely and so did someone else they were all  won by bids.
We also had our stash auction this is a big hit everytime we get together, I was bidding on a couple of piles with some great patterns, but I was not the big bidder oh rats.
We played the dice game on saturday morning you get to steal from another person if you get doubles, Cindy and Marsha have a box full of goodies if you end up with nothing at the end of the game you can pick from the box, so you still get something at the end of the game.
 We had a baked potato bar for lunch on saturday it was the best the potatoes were gigantic, for dinner  we had a pasta bar it was fabulous,   we had a brunch on sunday morning with lots of yummy things to eat.
I should get going I am so tired I had a long day up at 03:30 home by 19:00.
Good night everyone.
Blessings
Catherine

And The Winner Is

I have been very busy this week-end I was at fall retreat with some super fantastic Ladies, we stitched into the wee hours of the morning and up again at an early hour very little sleep for us all.
I will post pictures of the items for the auction and other information tomorrow.
The winners of my fall givaway are ( I usually have a surprise included with my givaways and this one is for two lucky entries).
Lisa V please email me your address so I may send you your package I am also sending a very similer package to Kimbery R.
Please email me your adress and I will drop the packages in the mail as soon as possible.
Congratulations Ladies.
Catherine

Givaway for october

This is my givaway I will be adding to this pile this week, all you have to do to enter is, be a follower new or old, you need to enter only once, you donot need to post on your blog nor do you need to mention it as you are blogging thats it, good luck.

This is one of my Up For A Challenge 15 Pieces, I finally have her done she is a Judy Dalvit Design, School Play Angel from the March 2001 Stitchers World, I started and put this down so many times I am glad she is done I wanted a stand-up  for my Easter display.

This is another Up For A Challenge 15, this is a Shepherds Bush Liberty I love this pattern, I picked this one up and put it down several times it turned out so well I love the frame and matting, I will hang this is my Patriotic corner.
I recieved this cute pattern from my friend Cindy Johnson she is very generous with her patterns, thank-you Cindy.

The weather today is going to be 74 this is unusual for october, we are usually in the 50s we feel so lucky to have such nice weather last year it was way cold at this time of year.
I hope all is well with you all.
Blessings to you
Catherine