Looking back, looking forward

Happy New Year, everyone!  Thank goodness we made it to 2014 in one piece.  I'm so glad to have 2013 behind me now.  I don't want to get into the details here but suffice it to say the last six weeks of 2013 were doozies and life got in my way!

I'm going to take this post to catch you up on the stitchy things that have happened last month since I didn't do a good job of keeping up.  Besides, I know that's why you come to visit me anyway.  So let's get going.

Design: “Joy Reindeer Floss Tag” freebie

Designer: marijke-steekjeskruisjes.blogspot.com

Fabric: 28 ct. natural brown scrap

Floss: DMC as charted

Started:  11/25/13

Finished:  11/25/13

Completed:  12/8/13

This is the "ornament" I stitched for my Secret Stitcher.  It was a Pinterest find.  I made it into a floss tag.  The floss ring is hanging on the back of the ornament.  I couldn't show it to you until after the guild Christmas Party on December 14th when we did the Secret Stitcher reveal.  If you want to see more ornaments and the show and tell, pop over to Marsha's blog.  She did a really nice recap.  I'll do another post to show the gifts given and received at the party another day.

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Lets look at some other finishes I had last month.

Design:  “Merry Christmas” freebie

Designer:  Threadwork Primitives

Fabric:   36 ct. iridescent white

Floss: DMC 115 & 367

Started:  9/28/13

Finished:  9/28/13

Completed:  12/8/13

I started this one at the Tiara Retreat and finished it with the fabric you see in the background.  I've had that fabric in my stash forever.  I think it goes really well with the stitching.  I had intended to give this one away but decided to keep it for our tree.  It really turned out cute and I just couldn't give it away! 

Design:  No "L" Sampler

Designer:  Eileen Bennett

Fabric:  36 ct. white opalescent

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started:  11/21/13

Finished:  11/24/13

Completed:  To be ornamentified

I picked up this chart on the "free to a good home" table at the Russellville Retreat.  Thank you, Kathy!  I really liked the humor in this one.  I stitched the "L" in a different stitch since it's my first initial.  When I get around to ornamentifying it, I'm going to use the fabric in the background.  It's cut out and ready to go.  I just need to find some time.  Anybody got some they can loan me?  LOL!

Design:  Mary's Sampler II freebie SAL

Designer:  Plum Street Samplers

Fabric:  40 ct. Light Examplar

Floss:  As charted (except the white DMC B5200)

Started:  9/29/13

Finished:  12/29/13

Completed:  To be framed later

This was my last stitchy finish for 2013.  I decided I was going to buckle down on my birthday and actually finish it.  All I had left to stitch was the berries.  I really enjoyed stitching it and watching the local peeps stitch this along with me.  It was also fun to see the different ones popping up in blog-land too.

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I've also made some progress on my Hornbook.  I can't wait to show it to you.  I'll save that for it's own special post.  I also want to show you the Foster brothers and their women all together at the Christmas Party.  I think that deserves its own post too.  Then there are my New Year's day starts.  Yes, that was plural.  I actually had a finish yesterday.  I'd also like to do my usual recap post as well.  So stay tuned there is more to come and hopefully life won't get in my way like it did last month.

For now, I want to wish each and every one of you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!  It is my wish that you all get to cross as many X's as possible this coming year.  You all continue to inspire me and I truly enjoy your visits!  Thanks for stopping by today.

Much more later,

The Inspired Stitcher

Christmas Party - Ornaments & Secret Stitcher Reveal

I hope you enjoyed all the show & tell goodies yesterday.  Today I'm going to wind it up with all the ornaments.  This is going to be another long post!

We had three trees full of ornaments this year.  One was for the Secret Stitcher ornaments and two were full of exchange ornaments!

Let's start with the Secret Stitcher tree.   This year we had seven people participating.  All year long we try very hard to keep it a secret who the person is we are sending RAK gifts to.  For the Christmas party we each make an ornament to give to our Secret Stitcher and reveal our identities.

The coordinator of the program goes up to the tree and pulls an ornament off and asks "who made this ornament?"  If it's yours, you go claim it and take it to your person and wish them a Merry Christmas.  Most folks also save their final RAK gift to give at this time too.  I got doubly spoiled because I have a birthday that falls between the holidays.

Our "tree topper" was made by my peep, Amanda for Evie.  Amanda couldn't be at the party and we really missed her.

This was made by my peep, Linda for Christie.

This was made by Marsha G. for Mary.

I made this one for Marsha G.

My peep, Christie made this for Linda.

This was made by Mary for Amanda.

This was made by my peep, Evie for me.
I shared this freebie pattern with her earlier this year.

I always like to make an ornament as a thank you to the person who has been sending to me all year.  This one went to Evie.

When Linda and I went to Morgantown I had just started this one.  I knew she knew who was sending to me and she knew who I was sending to.  So I asked her which one would like it best.

Turns out she was right, Evie would like it best because she is a cat lover and used to show cats.  How cool is that?!  Thank you again, Evie!  You gave me a grand spoiling all year long!  I had so much fun!

***

Let's get to the exchange ornaments now!  Here are the "elves" that passed out the exchange ornaments this year.  I just love these two ladies.  I want to be just like them when I grow up.

Here's how we do the exchange. When you first get there you put your name on a tag that goes on your ornament and then your name is put on a slip of paper in the basket.  Then one of these two pulls a random ornament off the tree.  To start out, the other pulls a name out of the basket.  If your name is pulled then you get the ornament and you pull the next name.

The ornament exchange is totally optional.  This year out of 42 party attendees, half made ornaments!  This is the most we've had in recent years.  It was so cool to have two trees full this time!

As I did for show and tell, if I know who made the ornament I'll chime in.  There was so much excitement I didn't catch who made them all and there were a bunch!  I don't think I got pictures of them all either.  Here they are in no particular order.

This one was made by Linda.  It's from one of the JCS issues.

I believe this one was made by Marsha.  Sorry for the craptastic pic.

This one was made by Diane.  I love her tiny signature letters.

This one was made by Evie using another freebie pattern I'd shared with her.
It's so t-i-n-y on 40 ct!

This was made by Patti.

I think Christie made this one.

This was made by Mary and it was inspired by one I worked on last year and never finished.  Hmm...I ought to do that.

You'll remember this one, it was my final ornament.

My peep, Paula was the recipient.  I'm so glad she got it!

This is the one I got!  Funny thing, it was made by Marsha G who was the person I sent Secret Stitcher packages to all year long.  Now how cool is that?!

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Well folks, we've come to the end of the festivities!  As you can see it was a grand party.  I had such a great time and many wonderful memories were made that day.  I truly belong to a group of very talented generous stitchers.  I value these ladies as some of my closest personal friends.  I can't wait to do it all again next year!

Thanks for staying with me on these lengthy posts.  I hope you've found some inspiration here.  I know my "must stitch" list has increased as a result of seeing all this goodness in person.  Have a wonderful day everyone!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Where did this last week go?

Hi all!  Just a quick check in to let you know I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.  It's been a crazy week here with the holiday, my birthday and now New Year's Eve!

I wanted to post on my actual birthday but I had company!  I'll tell you more about that in a bit.  Then we ran a bunch of errands yesterday and my honey took me out for a belated birthday dinner since he had to work on my actual day!  Yep, I've been a busy bee around here lately!

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The mail man brought me a couple goodies I wasn't expecting ON my actual birthday Thursday.  Check this out!

It's a lovely pin keep from the very talented Lisa S!

  We both love Mary Garry's designs.

Here's a closer look!

Check out the back!  Don't you just love that lavender fabric she chose?! 

Thank you so very much dear friend!  I love it!!  I will always remember this birthday was so special when I look at this very unexpected gift of friendship!

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Here's the other package the mailman brought me ON my special day!  It's from my friend Patti (no blog).  She and I have birthdays really close to each other.  Her's is in a couple days.  We both "get" how crummy a holiday birthday can be so we make it a point to remember each others birthday.

I love the "No Peeking" box all the goodies were sent in.  Check out the wooden box!  I suspect Patti finished that one herself.  She does a great job on boxes. I especially love the Eiffel tower scissors and the crown fob!  Oh dear friend, you do know me well.  You were right, it is just so me!  Thank you so much for brightening my day!

***

My other present was spending the day in the good company of my dear friend Jenny.  She drove up from Kentucky to spend the day with me since my honey had to work all afternoon and evening!  We started to day with presents.  Look what she brought me!

A box full of Hello Kitty goodness!  There's a key cover, an awesome wallet she got on her trip to Mexico, some sweet little heart buttons and a super cute stitched coin purse.  Can you believe she made the whole thing?  I'm still amazed!  What an awesome box o'birthday joy!

 Here's a closer look at the coin purse.

 It's just so dang cute I can hardly stand it!

***

 Design:  Dalahast: The Goodwill Horse

from JCS Ornaments 2007

Designer:  Moss Creek Designs

Fabric:  32ct. Natural

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started:  12/21/11

Finished and Completed:  12/26/11

Here's what I made for Jenny.  We were supposed to see each other earlier in the month at the guild Christmas party but she was sick and couldn't come.  So I gave this to her after the holiday.  She says she's going to torment her hubby with it as he hates the Dalahast.  I think that's funny!

After catching up a bit and exchanging gifts we had a homemade potato soup and sandwich lunch.  Followed by homemade cheesecake dessert.  Yes, I cooked on my birthday but we did go out to a local Mexican place for dinner later which was awesome.

After we ate and chatted some more we spent some time looking up Hello Kitty patterns on the internet.  Jenny taught me a few tricks for searching that I'd never thought of before.  Let's just say the "to stitch" file just got a bit bigger.  LOL!

After internet time we spent some time stitching together and chatting more before heading out to dinner!  Needless to say it was a great day spent with a dear friend!  Thank you so much for making my day special Jenny!

I have to say I have some very wonderful friends and you've all made my birthday this year one of the best I've ever had!  I love that I've been able to celebrate practically all month long!

***

Since tonight is New Year's Eve, my honey and I are going to keep it low-key this year.  I'm going to fix appetizers for dinner and we are staying in.  We are going to watch the Big Bang Theory marathon on TV and then we'll watch Marley and Me on DVD.  After our kiss at midnight for good luck (if we can stay awake that long) then it will be off to dreamland.

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year's Eve!

Until next year (it's only a few hours away now),

The Inspired Stitcher

Tiara Club Christmas

The Tiara Club Christmas party was a good one Friday night.  We started the evening at a Ruby Tuesday restaurant.  I had never been there before.  It was really good and I'd go again.  Luck would have it that one of my coworkers gave me a gift card just yesterday so now I can!

After we ate we went back to the clubhouse for our ornament exchange and some visiting.  I forgot to get pictures of all the ornament together but here is the ornament I made for the exchange.

Design:  Photo Booth Snowmen

Designer:  Bent Creek

Fabric:  Random scrap of 32 ct blue

Floss:  DMC as called for

Started & Finished:  11/24/11

Completed:  11/27/11

This is just one of the scenes from the Photo Booth Snowmen chart.  I love how the one snowman is giving the other one "bunny ears."  It reminded me of our usual merriment and naughtiness when we get together.  This chart has always made me smile when I see it stitched.  I really need to stitch the whole thing sometime.

Pam S. was the lucky recipient of my ornament this year.  She loved it!  I thought it was pretty fun that she got it since I got her pincushion at the retreat earlier this year!  Don't you love it when things like that happen?!

Design:  Sledding Friends Sled

Here's the super cute ornament I received made by the very talented Anna Mae!  Everyone was drooling over it.  I was so thrilled I was the lucky recipient!  She said she got the chart along with the sled at Dixie Darlin' when she was on vacation earlier this year.  Isn't it just the cutest?!  I just love it!

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I also got a little more birthday spoiling from my peep Marsha.  I really do have some very thoughtful friends!  Marsha and I share a love for Hello Kitty and she spoiled me for sure.  Check it out!

She gave me one of her homemade cards with cupcakes on it which I dearly love, some Hello Kitty chocolate dipped cookies and some pink hot chocolate.  Yes, I love chocolate!  Plus a very cool flower frog for my scissors!  Now I need to round them all up and put them in the frog.  Thank you so much dear friend you really know how to spoil me and you made my day!

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I hope everyone is having a good week so far!  We are getting ever closer to the big day.  I hope you aren't too stressed out.  I finished my shopping last night.  Yay!  I only have a few things left to wrap and I'll be done.  I still can't believe it's that time of year again already!

Thanks for stopping by today!

The Inspired Stitcher

Secret Stitcher Ornaments and Gifts Received

Today I want to show you the ornaments I received at Saturday's Christmas Party!  I love each and every one of them.  I have some amazingly talented friends and I don't mind bragging on them one tiny little bit!

First up, is this awesome ornament stitched by Marsha as a thank you for being her Secret Stitcher.  She actually gave me the choice between this one and another one.  I had a really really had a hard time choosing.  Marsha is talented stitcher and her finishing is awesome!  Thank you so much Marsha for stitching this for me.  I will fondly remember this year each time I look at it.

This is the ornament I received from Linda!  Check out the goodies she put in side it, a great pair of green scissors, some size 28 Bohin needles (I love those), some DMC in great Christmas colors and a little sweet treat too!  How awesome is that?!  But wait, there was more...

In addition to the ornament, she also gave me these wonderful early Christmas presents!  Two charts from Blackberry Lane Designs which included the fabric and all the goodies necessary to finish them too.  I've been drooling over the squirrel with the acorn for quite sometime now.  I hadn't seen the other one before but it is equally as awesome.

The little paint bucket is for orts and you stitch a "band" to insert inside.  The lid gets a stitched spider finished as a pincushion insert.  She even included the cute little pins for the cushion too.  Needless to say these are going to the top of the "must stitch list" for 2012.

Since my birthday falls four days after Christmas, Linda went ahead and gave me my birthday present too!  Now let me just tell you that I did tear up when she gave this to me.  I am always moved to tears when anyone remembers my birthday!  Seriously!!!

I was just so surprised and moved by this thoughtful gift.  It truly made my day.  Linda, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the wonderful gifts I received this year and especially this thoughtful birthday gift.  I've said it before but I'll say it again, you really "got me" this year and they were all humbly appreciated!

Well, this post has gotten longer than I'd anticipated and I still have more to share.  I think I'll wind it up for today and save the rest for tomorrow.

Thanks to all for the well wishes and the lovely comments you left for me.  I do appreciate each and every one of you who take the time to write.  I also appreciate all of you who stop by just for a quick read too.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Secret Stitcher Ornaments!

Hi all!  Sorry to have gone missing last week.  I wasn't feeling very spunky mid-week so I decided to take it easy.  I knew I needed to feel better for the guild's big Christmas party on Saturday.  Here are the ornaments I stitched this year.  I can show them to you now since the secret is out!

Design:  Let It Snow (2008 JCS Ornaments)

Designer:  Country Cottage Needleworks

Fabric:  32 ct Natural

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started:  11/28/11

Finished:  12/2/11

Completed:  12/5/11

So my Secret Stitcher this year was my peep  Marsha!    I had to laugh, I knew she knew it was me all along.  I just didn't know exactly when I screwed up and she figured it out.  Turns out it was when I stitched her birthday presents back in June.  Oh well, at least she was a good sport and didn't let on.

I had originally stitched another ornament for her but it just didn't feel right to me.  It really didn't reflect her tastes.  I decided to go through my old JCS Ornaments issues and see if something else flipped my skirt.  This one did the trick! 

I knew she liked this designer, it had a fair amount of blue which is her favorite color and I immediately knew I wanted to bling out the edge of it.  (Yes, Lisa S, there are your beads you've been wanting to see!  LOL!)  I felt like it was a perfect fit.  I think Marsha liked it too.

Design:  December-Santa Claus from Seasonal Mementos

Designer:  Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin

Fabric:  28 ct. Country French Cafe Mocha

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started & Finished:  11/23/11

Completed:  11/27/11

I found out that my Secret Stitcher was Linda K. (no blog).  I was super excited to know that too!  Let me just tell you that she totally "got me" all year long.  Every time a package arrived in the mail it contained the most awesome stuff.  I can't even tell you which one was my favorite.  They were all awesome!

I wasn't for sure she was my Secret Stitcher pal.  I thought it might be her but I wasn't for sure.  I chose this design because I love Mary Garry and this one has been on my "to stitch" list for a while.  I think she liked it too.  It was fun to stitch this for her.

Linda does awesome work!  I've bragged on her before.  She's the one who made all the stockings in the picture on that post.  I'll have to show you what she gave me for my ornament and my birthday.  I'll save that for another day though!  I've also got pictures of the other ornaments that were exchanged and all the Show and Tell.  It was a really fun day.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher