Remembering Christmas Kindness

Since I started my blog I like to do a post to remember special holiday/birthday gifts I received.  You may not be all that interested and I do understand.  I promise I'll have a stitchy post next time.  But since I got behind in my posting I still wanted to do this post.  Here goes.

 

This is what I received from my Secret Stitcher at the Guild's Christmas party.  Each year we stitch something for our person and we do a big reveal at the party.  Turns out the person I sent to was also the person sending to me.  It was Christie over at Indigo Rain.

Here are the other goodies she gave me for my Secret Stitcher Christmas present!  I love the Milady's Needle kit.  It even has the frame to put the stitching into when you are done.  Of course I love the mini Shelby dog, the picture, the stitching accessories, the cooking things...it's all wonderful.

Thank you again, Christie for your thoughtfulness this past year.  Having you for a Secret Stitcher was fun.  I hope you enjoyed the things I sent to you as well.

This was from one of my stitching peeps.  We like to get each other little special things for Christmas and some of us actually get stitching done for each other too.  Check out the poinsettia needle minder magnet!  Of course, I love the scissors and the beaded fob.  I wish you could smell that candle too. Yum!  Thank you sweet friend.

This was another stitched gift from one of my peeps.  This is so cute.  I'd love to make a few of these next year.  Want to see what it came stuffed with?

Check out all this wonderful goodness!  I love the bee's wax candle.  It smells divine and the little bee pick is just so cute.  Of course I'll put to good use the hot chocolate spoon and the gum just makes me laugh.  There's a reel in the red net to keep your scissors corralled. I can seriously see myself using that in that car for road trip stitching!  Thank you, dear friend.  You spoiled me and I appreciate it!

 

Check out this exquisitely stitched and finished ornament. Yes, I have a very talented group of peeps!  It is so me and look the greeting is in French!  Love, love, love!

This same peep also gifted me with these.  She said the ornament just had to go on my tree this year.  It reminded her of my Shelby.  I have to agree!  Love the travel tin too!  She knows how much I love to travel and we've traveled together on several occasions.  Thank you, girlie!

 

Last but certainly not least, is this wonderful corn bag.  Marsha made one of these for all of us.  You pop it in the microwave to get it warm.  It's an all natural heating pad!  Believe me, this is going to come in handy this winter.  Especially if we have more frigid days like we've had this week.  Thank you, dear friend!  You know I'm always cold.  LOL!

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I always enjoy looking back to these posts.  They give me ideas for my own gift giving in future years. Most of all, it reminds me that I have some really caring and special friends.  I treasure each of you and our continuing friendships.  Here's to another year of fun and memories yet to be made!  You girls mean the world to me!

 

Thanks for stopping by and indulging me in this post.  I still have plenty more to share.  I hope wherever you are you find time to put needle to linen today.  Have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

More next time,

 

The Inspired Stitcher

Hornbook Bestiary Progress

I'm back with an update on the Hornbook Bestiary. I'm really excited to share it with you all since as I mentioned last time, it's a special block.  Let's take a look!

 Progress as of 11/16/13

 Progress as of  12/23/13

I present to you, "N is for Nightingale!"  I like to think of this block as Nicola's special block.  Since "N" is also for Nicola and she's the reason I'm stitching this piece for the Nicola's Scarlet Letter SAL (you can click the link in the sidebar for more info or click here).

 Here's the block up close.  I like the way the bird is sitting on the branch in this one.  This pic is a pretty good representation of the true colors too.

 Progress as of 12/31/13

I reached an exciting point on this one where I got to roll out some more fabric for the next row of boxes.  I've found that stitching the whole row of boxes instead of block by block seems to work better for me.  Now I'm ready to stitch "O is for Owl."  He's a chubby little fella.  I can't wait to show him to you next.

Well folks, as promised, I wanted to catch you up on this one.  Nicola, I hope you enjoyed seeing your special block stitched up.  Thank you all for the well wishes and for your visits.  Hope you are staying warm and safe!

More next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

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

Wishing you a...

Merry Christmas!

from Shelby the Red Nosed Reindog

and me, The Inspired Stitcher!

Exchange given

Now that I know Shirlee has received her package from me, I can share with you what I stitched and sent to her.  A while back she and I exchanged a list of ornaments we'd each like to receive.  We then picked from the lists and set to stitching.  Here's the ornament I sent.

Design:  "Oh Night Divine" from 2013 JCS Ornaments Issue

Designer:  The Sampler Girl

Fabric:  32ct. Cream

Floss:  as charted

Started:  10/19/13

Finished:  10/25/13

Completed:  11/29/13

 

The fabric you see behind the ornament is what I used to back it with.  I also tried twisting Sugar N' Cream yarn into the cording.  It's something I've wanted to try for a while.  I like the end result.  I bought the yarn to use for Boutis quilting but haven't gotten around to that yet.

I picked this ornament for Shirlee because this is my very favorite Christmas song.  It just makes me tingle all over when I sing it.  It's such a special song.

 

Since I forgot to take a picture of the extras I sent Shirlee, I grabbed this one from her blog.  I know she won't mind.  I thought you might enjoy seeing the other things I sent along with the ornament.

 

I couldn't resist sending Shirlee one of my project bags.  I use one all the time and really enjoy making them.  I dearly love William Morris' prints and this one is done in repro of his Strawberry Theif.

 

I also love haunting the local antique store.  That's where I found the primer and the china tea strainer.  I knew Shirlee collects primers and is a tea lover like I am so I couldn't resist that little strainer.  Of course, there had to be tea included to go with it.

 

I'm glad Shirlee liked my humble gifts.  I still have one more to send.  It is on backorder.  So the fun will continue later on.  I always enjoy giving gifts to my stitcher friends and enjoy sharing with you all too.  We stitchers really are a great group of people.  I'm so thankful for each and every one of you.

 

I have more finishes to share in another post now that I know they've been received.  I've enjoyed my Christmas stitching this year.  Be well and be safe everyone!

 

More later,

 

The Inspired Stitcher

An Exchange Received

A while back my buddy Shirlee from The Easily Influenced Stitcher emailed about doing an exchange together.  We shared some of our likes and an ornament wish list with each other and away we went.

 

Recently, I got word that my package was on its way and this is what I came home to the other night! Squeals!  Just look at that packed box!  Wonder what's inside?

 

 

 

Oh just look at all that Christmas cheer!  What happy festive wrapping.

 

 

Oh my goodness, Miss Shirlee, you spoiled me rotten!!!  I love everything!  I've already gotten into the chocolate balls.  There's nothing better than Lindor dark chocolate truffles.  Oh yum!

 

Here's a close-up of the teas so you can see the different varieties.  I'm sure I will be sipping these real soon.  I do love my tea and am always excited to try new ones.  This cold weather is just perfect for tea but then again, anytime is as far as I'm concerned.

 

This is the chart she sent.  I do love acorns and this one is so dang cute!  I can't wait to stitch this one.  It's right up my alley.  I love the fob and threader she sent as well as the Q-snap covers.  All super cute!

 

The very best part of the whole box, of course, is the ornament Shirlee stitched for me.  This one is called "Duo de Noel" by Tra La La.  I love the pom-pom trim.  It just so expertly stitched and finished to perfection.  I absolutely love it!

Thank you so much, dear friend!  You have spoiled me rotten for sure.  I can't wait to get your box to you.  I hope you like all the goodies coming your way.  What a nice way to kick off the holiday season.

We are expecting a major snowstorm here today. So I am planning to snuggle in and stitch later.  Thank you so much for letting me share with you today.  I hope everyone has a great weekend!


Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

TUSAL - December

Click on the picture to learn more!

 

Well folks here we are at the last TUSAL for 2013.  I know I'm not the only one saying "just where did the year go?"  Holy smokes this year just flew by!  I'm optimistic that 2014 will be a really good year.  That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

  

 

Here's a look at the ORT pile for this month.  There sure is a lot of red in there.  Looks pretty festive to me!  The S'mores ornament in the picture was a gift from a sweet little friend years ago.  It makes me smile every year when I get it out.  The holiday will be upon us before we know it!

 

Here's the list of this month's contributors:

 

Secret Stitcher's Ornament (Done, to be revealed soon!)

Stitch, Create, Exchange piece (Done, to be revealed later this month!)
"L is for Lion" on the Hornbook Bestiary (Done!)

"M is for Mermaid" on the Hornbook Bestiary (Done!)

"Sweet Thoughts of You" by Blackbird Designs (Done!)

"No L Christmas Sampler" by Eileen Bennett (Done!)

"Frosty Snowflake" by Needle Bling Designs (In Progress!)

"Mary's Sampler Mystery SAL" freebie by Plum Street Samplers (In progress)

 

As you can tell from the list there's been a lot of gift stitching going on and Christmas related things too.  I can't wait to be able to reveal the exchange ornaments.  I've really enjoyed picking out just the right one for the recipients.

 

Speaking of recipients, I was the lucky winner of Bekca's giveaway over the weekend!  I can't wait to see what she sends from across the pond. If you've not visited her blog, please pop over and have a visit.  She's just the sweetest thing with a lot on her plate and she still manages to stitch.  I've always said that stitching is my sanity saver.  I don't know what people do that don't stitch!

 

I hope to be back soon with some stitchy updates.  I hope everyone is having a good week so far!

 

More next time,

 

The Inspired Stitcher