Secret Stitcher

Check out what was waiting for me when I returned from the weekend's retreat! My Secret Stitcher spoiled me with a really fun package filled with red, white and blue! Those that know me know I simply adore Americana themed designs!

She included a super cute flag notepad, a wonderful floss toss, a nice hunk of fabric appropriately called "Heroic" and a really sweet freebie chart called "Red, White & Blue" by Poppy Creations.

I think this fabric looks like a melted snow cone!  Nothing like a good snow cone in the summer.  I've never stitched on fabric dyed like this before.  It's so pretty!

Funny thing about the chart, I actually picked it up at the LNS at the last stitch-in.  Now I have all the goodies to be able to stitch it!  I can't wait to get started.  It's going to be a tough choice between those juicy silks or the scrumptious cottons.  I love choices like that.

Thank you so much Secret Stitcher. I really love this month's goodies! 

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Speaking of the retreat, I have tons to share about my weekend getaway in Russellville, KY.  As soon as I can get things sorted out and I get back in the groove, I'll have tales to tell.  I had a great time and lots of memories were made.  As always, it went by way too quickly!


More later,

The Inspired Stitcher

Seasonal Exchange - Summer

Design: A Very Merry Summer

Designer: JBW Designs

Fabric: 28ct. White Opalescent Linen

Floss: DMC (my own conversion)

Started:  6/5/12

Finished & Completed:  6/14/12

I'm so pleased to finally be able to share another finish with you today.  I saw on the Seasonal Exchange blog that my partner had posted it was received so here it is!

As you may remember, I was invited to participate in this exchange way back in May!  My exchange partner was Alison over at Stitches of Time.  This little pillow winged it's way across the pond in record time!

I chose this design because I knew it was one of Alison's favorite designers and I had read on her blog that she has a summer house in Spain on the water! I chose the opalescent fabric because it reminded me of the way light sparkles on water. This picture shows it better than the first two.

It was difficult to give it away as it turned out really really cute.  I'm so glad Alison likes it. It was a pleasure to stitch!

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Thank you Alison for being my partner and thank you to Lisa S. for inviting me to participate.  I can't wait to see what I receive from the person who is stitching for me!  I just love exchanges!

Thanks a bunch for taking the time to visit with me and for allowing me to share another great finish with you.  I hope you all have a great weekend!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Hello Kitty finish

Design:  Hello Kitty Bee freebie

Designer:  Carolines Truien blog

Fabric: 25 ct. Lugana

Floss: DMC 1 over 1

Started: 6/14/12

Finished & Completed: 6/21/12

Now that I've finally been able to give my peep, Marsha, her birthday present (a week late) I can show it to you.  I've been dying to share but had to wait until the gift was received.  Isn't she cute?!

You see, Marsha and I share a love of Hello Kitty.  There's just something so cute about her that we both are just crazy about.  My idea to stitch this actually started when I saw this tin.

Isn't it a super cute little tin?!  I couldn't give it to her empty so I went cruising around blogland looking for a Hello Kitty freebie.  Since Marsha loves bees as well as Hello Kitty, this was the perfect one for her.

Here's the stitched piece with the chart.  You'll notice that mine looks a tad bit different than the chart!  I think maybe the jpeg was stretched a bit before it was posted on the Internet since her head is a bit elongated.  Oh well, it's still cute.   LOL!

This was the first time I tried stitching over one on 25ct. Lugana.  I'm pleased with how it turned out and Marsha loves it too.  I'm just glad I was able to finally give it to her.  Thanks for stopping by today!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

And the winner is...

Giovanna of Giovanna's Stitches!!!!

Giovanna said...

Happy blog anniversary! It's always a great pleasure to visit your corner of the blogosphere.

7/03/2012 4:50 AM

So what did she win you might ask?  Well, I'm glad you asked.  It took me a while to decide what to put in the package.  After giving it some thought, I came up with a few of my favorite things.  Yeah, I know, now you are singing that song in your head aren't you?!  LOL!

 Here's the whole pile!  Let's break it down...

Everybody needs a mesh bag to keep your project safe.  I love these bags!  I also threw in a couple fat quarters.  You know I love me some polka dots, so you knew there had to be some of those in there.  I also threw in a super cute frog print.  You know, to ward off the frogs!  I love all things Americana so that's where the stars come in and of course, I love me some Hello Kitty too so that's what's on the pencil even though it's hard to see.

Then there had to be a small floss toss!  I chose to have a little "Celebration" with "Buckeye Scarlet" because I love reds and this is one of my favorites.  Also, what's a celebration without a little "Pink Champagne?!"  Besides  you all know how I love pink!  I would have loved to include some real champagne but somehow I didn't think that would make it through the postal system very well.  LOL!

Of course what's a giveaway without charts?!  I dearly love Prairie Schooler so I had to include one of them.  This one's called "Fall Fields."  I also included a bee chart by Twisted Threads called "Itty Bitty Honey" because second to acorns in my book are bees!  I also put one in by Cherished Stitches called "All My Friends."  Last but not least is a kit by Theresa Layman Designs called "Outstanding in their Field" with cute little sheep on it.

So there you have it folks!  Congratulations, Giovanna!  Please email me your snail mail address and I'll pop your package in the mail to you!

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Thank you to each and every one who left me a comment on my blogoversary post and welcome to my new followers.  I appreciate your visits more than words can express.  It is because of you all that I am continually inspired!  I look forward to the coming year and many more.  Thank you so much for visiting with me today!  I hope you all have a great week!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

BAP Update July Edition

Started:  7/1/12

Finished:  7/4/12

I think this is a first for me!  Two posts in the same day!  Since I've pretty much done nothing but stitch all day today I was able to get my July "assignment" done on the EMS SAL.  This month it was a quick stitch!

 The July section

I'm really glad to have this one done so early in the month since I leave for the Russellville retreat next week.  I know I'll have things I want to stitch once I get home!  We'll also have projects to stitch on while we are there too. 

I finally got to finish the part of this sampler that inspired me to stitch it in the first place!  Isn't she wonderful?!  I just love that expressive face.  She really does remind me so much of my sweetie pie, Shelby!  So cute!

I love these flowers too!  They remind me of the wild roses that used to grow along the edge of the woods behind the house where I grew up.  I just love the shading in them.  This whole sampler is just filled with lots of wonderful shading!  It truly makes the designs seem so realistic!

I know I keep saying it but I really do love this sampler!  I wouldn't change a thing about it either.  I love each and every part.  Stitching on it has been such a pleasure.  I am seriously going to miss spending time with it when I'm done.

 Before we go, Shelby says "Hello, everyone!"

Well that's it from here!  I hope everyone has a good rest of the week and a good upcoming weekend.  I'm looking forward to seeing the peeps at the stitch-in and catching up with everyone's holiday happenings.


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Happy 4th of July & a finish!

Design: Celebrate the 4th freebie

Designer:  Glory Bee

Fabric:  28 ct. evenweave scrap

Floss: DMC (my conversion)

Started:  6/26/12

Finished:  6/28/12

Completed:  6/30/12

Happy 4th of July to my American readers and happy Wednesday to everyone else!  I wanted to share a recent finish with you.  I purposely saved it for today.  I think it's pretty appropriate, don't you?!

I've wanted to try a pillow style finish like this for a while now and I think this one turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself!  I was inspired by Carol's finishes.  She does the prettiest things!  Someday I'll have a seasonal basket of smalls too.

Oddly enough, I found all the finishing materials at our local Wal-Mart.  It's nice when I don't have to go into the city for finishing supplies!

I hope everyone has had a great 4th of July today!  I've spent the whole day in the stitching nest happily stitching away in the air conditioning.  It's another hot one here today!

Thank you to everyone who posted on my blogoversary post!  You all really know how to make a person's day.  I am humbled and thrilled to hear from so many of you out there.  Thank you all so very much!

More later,

The Inspired Stitcher

It's my blogoversary!

credit: Susan Branch

Today marks one year I've been at this blogging thing. I can hardly believe a whole year has whooshed past already!

When I started this blog I never in a million years would have imagined there would be anyone but the peeps reading it! I know everybody says that, but it's true!!!  Really!

Today I have 108 followers and a countless number of folks who visit but are silent! I know you are out there because some of you have identified yourselves! LOL!

In the past year there have been many ups, a few downs, and lots of stitching!

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I don't know about you but I love to reflect back at the beginning of a new year and since I'm a statistics loving gal here are a few just for giggles...

I've had 46 new starts, 43 finishes, 33 completed pieces, and 10 WIPs (give or take a few).  Not too shabby!

I've attended three stitching retreats (four if you count my one woman retreat), joined two SALs (completed one), and attended two classes (both with Sheri Jones).

On a personal level, I lost both my father-in-laws (within a month of each other) and adopted our furbaby, Shelby (in that same month).  Yep, see downs followed by ups!

The ranch underwent a couple changes too.  We put in a new front door ourselves and took down a tree ourselves.  Yep, I don't mind weilding a hammer or using the four wheel drive!  LOL!

I took a trip where I got to see both great quilts and great stitching.  I'd say that was just about as much fun as one person ought to be allowed to have!

Plus, I got to visit two new-to-me stitch shops this past year too!  Waves to The Strawberry Sampler and The Crafty Ewe!

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It really was, for the most part, a very good year!  All this to say, I've been incredibly blessed and I am incredibly thankful too.  I have "met" some wonderful stitchers through blogging and made some great friendships too.  You all never cease to inspire me both with your personal fortitude and your stitching.  This blog world is amazing to me!

So in the tradition of the blogosphere, I'm going to do my first ever giveaway!  So here's the deal, I'd like you to leave a comment on this post only.  Please tell me you want to be entered in the drawing.  Of course you can tell me other stuff too!  LOL!

I'll give you all a week to throw your names in the hat.  I'll draw a week from today.   You don't have to be a follower, but if you want to that would okay by me.  You don't need to have a blog either.  Just make sure I can contact you by email.  Okay?  That's it!

Oh yeah, what do you win?  Well, at this point it's a mystery.  I'm going to see what I can come up with.  I can assure you it will be things I love since this is my big day after all!  LOL!

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Thanks you all for being here!  I'd especially like to thank those of you that have been with me from the early days and continute to visit.  Each and every comment I read makes my day and I appreciate the time you spend reading and leaving me a little note!  They make this blogging thing a whole lot of fun!

More later,

The Inspired Stitcher