Weekend Finishes x 2!

A long weekend can really do a person good!  I got a bunch of stitching done.  I also caught the finishing bug and ran with it.  I finished three things but I can only show you two of them.  The third will have to wait a bit longer as it's for an exchange!  So here we go...

Remember this from my one woman retreat? 

Design:  What a Cut Up!  freebie

Designer:  Patrick's Woods aka Sherri Jones

Fabric:  32 ct. antique white

Floss: DMC (my conversion) 1over 1

Started:  10/12/11

Finished:  5/11/12

Completed:  5/28/12

Here it is all finished!  I decided to do a floss tag.  It's just the right size since I stitched this one over one.  The fabric in the background is the fabric I used on the back.  It matches the floss colors just perfectly!  I started this project way before I even knew this fabric existed.  How's that for cool?!   I love when that happens.

As an aside, I can tell you that the exchange finish is also a floss tag.  I was in the mood to make floss tags, what can I say?!

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My second finish I can show is one of those "I must stitch this right this minute" things!  I saw Amy's start over at Thread in Hand and fell in love with it!  I was so inspired I found the chart, pulled the floss, found some leftover scraps of parchment linen and got crackin'!

Design:  Fob from Stitching Chair Necessaire

Designer:  Hillside Samplings

Fabric:  35ct. Parchment scraps

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started:  5/24/12

Finished:  5/25/12

Completed:  5/28/12

I chose to do the finishing as it was recommended in the chart.  I really like how it turned out.  As you can tell from the picture, this is one tiny fob!  It's just a tad over one inch square!

I love the way my new pink polka dot scissors look with this fob too.  I really enjoy doing tiny things like this one!  It whipped up super fast and I couldn't be happier with it!

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Yesterday the mailman brought me a really cool package from my friend Lucy.  I can't wait to show you what was in it!  I'm saving that for it's own post.  Stay tuned!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you are having a good week so far.  We are already half way through it already!


More later,

The Inspired Stitcher

Memorial Day Thoughts

Today is Memorial Day in the United States.  It's a day set aside to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and/or loved ones who have passed on.

Several years ago I visited Normandy Cemetery  in Colleville-sur Mer, France.  The cemetery sits on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel.  I was with my brother who was military at that time stationed in Europe.  Let me just say I've never had such a humbling experience before or since.  I often think of that visit around this time of year.

In my family on Memorial Day, we have a tradition of taking flowers to the cemeteries where our loved ones are buried.  It is also the unofficial beginning of the summer season.

When I lived at home, after we got back from delivering the flowers, my dad would put the Indy 500 on the radio and fire up the grill.  We would all hang out together in the backyard, tell family stories, and remember good times.

Some things stay the same in my world.  This weekend we had the race on television, we grilled out and we spent time together in remembrance.

Thank you to all the veterans who have served and are currently serving.  We wouldn't have the freedoms we do with out you and for that I'm am grateful.


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Blackbird Designs Exchange

Now that I know my exchange partner has received her package for the Blackbird Designs Exchange,  I can show you what I sent to her!  My partner was Laura from Mexico.

I was getting a bit worried because she hadn't received it yet.  I mailed it on April 24th and she just received it yesterday, more than 30 days later.  Thankfully she did receive it and here it is!

Design:  “Birds and Berries Pinbox”

 from the book A Stitcher’s Journey

Designer:  Blackbird Designs

Fabric:  32 ct. lamb's wool

Floss:  called for DMC

Started:  3/17/12 

Finished:  3/24/12

Completed:   3/31/12

I finished it as an Altoids tin topper.  I chose to line the tin with a photo copy of  some Blackbird Designs fabric.  I think it turned out pretty cute!  This is one I wouldn't mind stitching for myself someday.

I also sent along a magnet in the shape of the state of Ohio since she collects refrigerator magnets and I included the cinnamon's that came in the tin too!  I'm glad she likes it.

This exchange was different than some of the exchanges I've done.  This one you stitched for the person who was also stitching for you!  So far I haven't received what Laura stitched for me but when I do I'll be sure to share it with you.

Thank you to Patti for hosting the exchange and thanks in advance to Laura too!  If you've never participated in an exchange, I highly recommend you try it sometime.  It's a lot of fun!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend so far!

More later,

The Inspired Stitcher

Acorns and Beauty

A couple days ago I mentioned a round robin I'd been invited to join. I want to show you my portion of the piece. I'm only showing you my part since I didn't ask the others if it was okay to show their bands.  Maybe when it's all done I'll show you the framed piece.

We are doing this to cheer someone up who has been through quite a bit these past couple months. I think this is a really neat idea and am so glad I was invited to participate. I think she'll like it.

I used the colors for the vine section from the acorn tin topper I did a while back.   I just randomly chose to use yellow on the top band since it blended well with the band above it.

The vine is from an old Mill Hill chart called Antique Acorn Sampler.  I really liked the charted colors but they really didn't fit in with the colors that had already been used so I improvised.  I'm pleased with the way my band turned out.

Those who know me know I'm always saying to folks "you can do it" (said in my best cheerleader voice).  The recipient has the best smile too so I felt these words were fitting for her and the situation.

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I also wanted to show you a progress pic of my "I Sigh Not for Beauty" sampler.  Affectionately know as my "Beauty" sampler.  Here's where we left off:

Here we are as of the last stitch-in:

Sorry about the wrinkles up there. She got her glamour shot just as she was that day...hot off the top Q-snap!

I know it doesn't look like much progress but there really are a lot more stitches in there than last time.  Building a house is time comsuming work dontcha know!

Well folks, that's all I've got for ya today!  I hope you are having a good week.  I'm looking forward to a long holiday weekend!  I get to spend four whole days with my honey.  I can't wait!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

My First Button Show

This past Saturday my mom and I road tripped to a button show!  It was the first time either of us had attended an event like this one.  The above picture is one of many first prize trays of buttons on display.

Here's just one side of the display of judged button cards!  There was a second side just as long as this one!  We were amazed by all the different types and styles of buttons we saw both on display and for sale! 

This gives you an idea of the size of the room.  All the tables you see are vendors selling buttons!  We saw thousands of buttons that day!  All of them miniature works of art.

Here are some of the ones that came home with me!  These are glass buttons.

I'm particularly smitten with the carved/pierced mother of pearls I found!  I couldn't resist that star and the large smokey pearl.  They are just divine!

My mom spoiled me with the one on the right.   My first acorn button!

There was a vendor that had several cards of acorn and oak leaf buttons so I decided to start a collection.  It was hard to choose.  They were all pretty!  I also couldn't resist this bee button.  It had to come home with me too.

Mom and I haven't had a girl's day out in a long time!  It was so nice to get out and do something different together.  We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and we even got invited to attend a button society meeting!  We may just have to go and see what that's all about since I know two of the members.

I can't wait to go to another button show!  I'm thinking this could be something mom and I do together more often.  We both had a really good time!

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you enjoyed your visit!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

May TUSAL and a new start

Here's my May ORT report for the TUSAL.  My needle has been on the move this month too!  This month's ORT report is brought to you by the following contributors:

• I Sigh Not for Beauty by C Street Samplers, progress pic to come shortly!
• My BAP SAL by Ellen Maurer-Stroh
• What a Cut Up! by Patrick's Woods
• My mystery project that I still can't tell you about
• A round robin I was invited to join.  I'll tell you a little more about that later.
• Last but not least...this new start!

Biscornu for "A Christmas Sewing Set" by Giulia Punti Antichi

I made the sewing set in 2009 at the Tiara Retreat.  I just love the red and green floss the designer chose for this one.  I'll show you all the pieces when I get this one done.  So far it's been a quick stitch.

I picked up the buttons yesterday on my way home from the button show my mom and I attended.  I'll tell you more about that in another post!  We had the best time!  It was a great girl's day out.

Well, I know this is a quick post.  I'm heading into the city with my sister-in-law and a co-worker to hear  a Barbershop Quartet sing.  We know one of the singers.  He gave us free tickets as a thank you for supporting their fund raiser every year.  It should be interesting.  I've never attended a concert like this before.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you all have had a good weekend.  Also, thank you for all your sweet comments on my last post.  You all are the best!

More later,

The Inspired Stitcher

A One Woman Retreat

You know what they say about the best laid plans...well that's how my Friday went.  My honey and I were supposed to go south for a weekend getaway and our plans fell through.  Since I'd worked through my lunches, came in early and stayed late several days last week I ended up having enough time built up to take the day off.  Since I really wasn't planning on being in town anyway, I made the best of it.

Does this place look familiar?  It should!  It's where the LNS holds it's annual retreat.  The difference is there's no snow on the ground in this picture!  I decided to escape to the local state park's lodge and stitch the afternoon away!

Here's the view of the lake this time of year.  Isn't it just so pretty!

I can't show you the front of what I'm working on here because one of my readers will see it and it's a surprise.  However, I don't mind showing you a bit of the back and the "nest" I made sitting there by the fireplace.

What a Cut Up! freebie from The Dandy Hare blog

I did get another project moving along again while I was there too.  Remember this one from the WIP list at the beginning of the year?  What got me to thinking about this one was Carol's post over at Stitching Dreams. She stitched hers over 2 and made it into a super cute pincushion. This made me remember mine in my WIP bag. So out it came and off to the woods it went with me.

I decided since the light was nice and bright I'd frog the border where I was off count.  Now I can't decide if I want to put it back in or do something else.  I'm also percolating on how I'm going to finish this little sweetie.  What do you all think?

I have to say it really felt good to just escape for a while and stitch uninterrupted.  I could have stayed home and worked on house chores but I'm really glad I didn't.

When I did go home I took Miss Shelby for a good long walk in town.  Here's a recent picture of her.  She's getting to be a big girl now.  I read that Dalmatians grow up the first year and out the second and third year.  I can tell you for sure she's all legs at this point!  She's also loosing her milk teeth.  She lost three of her fangs just this past weekend.  My furbaby is growing up!

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today and if you get the chance, I highly encourage you to take yourself a one woman (or man) retreat somewhere.  You don't have to go far to reap the benefits!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Secret Stitcher

I have to say that my Secret Stitcher really surprised me this month! Just look at what she sent me!  A wonderful chart by The Drawn Thread, a May note pad, a very nice piece of  32ct. star sapphire linen and best of all a super sweet stitched fob!  I wonder how she knew I love lily of the valley?  I think I know!

I'm a fan of The Drawn Thread's charts and this is one I had not seen.  I love that it's called Lily of the Valley!  In addition to sweet lily of the valley flowers it also has daffodils on it too.  The verse is just so sweet, it reads:

Lily of the Valley

fragile flower

of May work'd

in silken stitches

will not fade away

Here's a closer look at the back of the fob.  I put a quarter beside it so you can get an idea of the tiny size.  It's about 1 inch wide by 1 1/2 inches tall! 

Here's the front!  It's just so super cute!  I love that she stitched this part from the chart she gave me.  Go back up and look!  It's right there in the center at the top of the chart.  Love it!

I've not seen this type of finish.  I really like it and she did such an awesome job!  You can't really tell from the pictures but she used tiny white beads to secure the bow on the fob's tail and the ribbon is sparkly too.  I just love it!

Thank you so much Secret Stitcher!  You really spoiled me this month.  Words can not express my humble thankfulness for this thoughtful gift.  Your time spent to make this special fob is so appreciated too.  It truly is a treasure!  I sincerely hope it brings me good luck in the coming months.  It's already brought me happiness!

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On another note, I've had several people ask me where you can find a Star De-Tailor.  I've brought a couple of mine from 123Stitch.com.  I also found them shown on The Silver Needle and Stitching Bits n' Bob's sites too.  If you happen to live close to House of Stitches, Welcome Stitchery or Stitchville USA, I suspect they would have them as well.

I have no affiliation with any of the afore mentioned, just places I've shopped.  Hope this helps those who asked and maybe those who didn't but were wondering.

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Thank you so much for stopping by today and thanks again Secret Stitcher, you made my day!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

I won!

A while back on a whim I entered Melissa's April 2012 Giveaway #3 over at Words and Blooms.  I really didn't expect to win but I entered my name in the drawing anyway.  Imagine my surprise when I got an email last Tuesday saying I was the lucky winner!  So what did I win you ask?  Check this out!

It's a kitted up Little by Little design called Quaker Faith!  I am just so over the moon.  I love the colors in this one and I've always been a Little by Little fan!  I like Quaker designs because they remind me of quilts with their geometric shapes.

Here's a closer look at the chart.

Floss toss with my fabric surprise!

Melissa surprised me with a very nice piece of 35 ct. "Jackalope" linen from Hand Dyed Fibers.  I've not worked with this linen before so this will be a real treat!  It feels really nice in hand.  Other than a needle and scissors, I'm set to go on this one!

My favorite stitching tool.

To be considered for the giveaway, Melissa asked us to tell her what was our favorite stitching tool that makes our lives easier?  For me, hands down, it's my Star De-Tailor!  I don't know how I lived without one.

I have a bad habit of stitching right down to the nub.  This tool helps me bury those fiddly little ends easy peasy!  I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this.  Can I get an amen from the blog community?!  Oh yes, I heard you all!  I'm telling you, you NEED one of these if you don't already have one!  Oh yes, you do!

Melissa , thank you so much for picking me and for the generous extra you added!  I am still doing the Snoopy Dance and smiling from ear to ear.  Squeals!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

BAP Update May Edition

It's time for another BAP update!  I can't believe it's that time again already.  In keeping with my post from last month I'll begin by showing you where we left off in April.

April's Progress

I began this month's assignment on Tuesday and finished it up today!   I know I've said it before but I simply love this piece.  I can't wait for the 1st to get here each month so I can download the new assignment and get stitching.  Have you ever had a design just grab you like that?

 Mushrooms with the called for colors

Before I show you the overall picture I have to tell you about the challenge I ran into on Tuesday.  Since I'm working on cream colored fabric, I had to do some futzing to make the mushroom's stem show up.  The called for ecru colored floss just disappeared when I started stitching it.  I'm pretty pleased with the floss swap I came up with for these mushrooms!

 Ah, much better with my colors!

Here's the May assignment up close.  Don't those mushrooms look much better with my color changes?!  I think so!  Actually, those mushrooms are my favorite part of this design right now.  I'm sure I'll have another favorite part next month.  LOL!

 May's Progress

Here's the overall picture.  As you can tell I've done quite a bit of stitching on this since you last saw it.  I decided to go ahead and stitch the bluebells as far as I could go with them to save time later.  Aren't they pretty?!

I wish you all could see this sampler in person.  The shading in it is just fantastic!  The pictures just really don't do it justice.  It's really subtle and quite effective!

Someone asked me last month how big this sampler would be when finished.  Right now the dimensions of what I have stitched are 10 1/2" high by 14 1/4" wide using 40ct.  I know it will most likely be closer to 11 inches once I get the bottom border stitched later this year.

I can't wait for June's assignment!  I'm really having fun with this one. I am truly enjoying each and every stitch of it.  I'm going to miss this one when I'm done!

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Thank you all for visiting with me and watching the progress of this sampler as it grows.  I hope you all are having a good stitchy weekend.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Joyeaux 1er Mai or Happy May 1st

Happy May 1st everyone or as they say in France, Joyeaux 1er Mai!  Since I have French relatives I thought I'd share a May 1st tradition with you.  I find this tradition to be so sweet, not only in sentiment but also in fragrance!

On the 1st of May folks give muguet or lily-of-the-valley to those who hold a special place in their hearts with wishes of "bon heur" or "good luck" in the coming year.

Another related tradition was started back around 1900.  If a man was not near his loved ones on May 1st he would send a lily-of-the-valley postcard instead of the actual sprig of flowers.  How sweet is that?!

In France, there are vendors that set up little stands and sell sprigs of muguet all over the place on May 1st.  It's the only day they can do so without a permit since it is also Labor Day.  I can only imagine the perfume of muguet in the air today all over France!  Ah...what a sweet smell.

Lily-of-the-valley are one of my very favorite flowers.  I just love those dainty little bell shaped blossoms and their heavenly sweet scent!  I've even been known to wear muguet perfume.  A word of caution though to folks with pets and small children, these sweet plants are said to be poisonous if ingested so just smell them, okay? 

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To keep this post stitch related, I went wandering around the internet and found a some lily-of-the-valley freebies for your stitching pleasure!

• Echevette offers us this petite freebie!


• AlarTTex offers her Fleurs de Mai Freebie 43.  (Go to the middle of the page under the picture and click on the icon next to the word Grille.  It will open a zip file you must download to get the chart.)


• Gazette94 still has her charts up on her blog and this one is one of my very favorites for May!

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I'll leave you today with a wish for happiness and good luck in the coming year!  Thanks for visiting with me today. 

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher