New Year, New Ewe...fini

Design:  New Year, New Ewe

Designer:  The Sampler Girl

Fabric:  32 ct. Raw

Floss: DMC as charted

(substituted 3371 for 640 & 3865 for Ecru)

Started:  3/16/12

Finished:  3/17/12

Completed:  3/23/12

As promised here's the gift I sent to my friend for her birthday.  I got the sweetest email from her this afternoon saying she received it so I thought I'd share it with you today.

This one worked up so cute.  I stitched our initials, the year and "Happy Birthday" on the back for her.  I'm so glad she liked it and I could make her day even if it was a bit late getting to her.

I just love sharing my stitching with other stitchers because you know they appreciate the work and the thought.  I also love spoiling my peeps.  I guess it comes from having a birthday at a crummy time of the year.  LOL!

Well it's a short post today.  I hope everyone has a good weekend!  Thank you for visiting with me today.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

I've been Liebstered...x3!

I've been Liebstered twice three times since the weekend.  I hadn't heard of the Liebster so here's a little background on it:

Liebster is a German word, meaning favorite, dearest or beloved, and the Liebster is awarded by bloggers to other newer bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to spread the word and help the new(er) bloggers gain wider recognition.

The award comes with four conditions that each recipient is supposed to satisfy when accepting:

1.  Choose five up-and-coming blogs with fewer than 200 followers to give the Liebster award.

2.  Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are awarding with links to their blogs and leave them a comment letting them know you've awarded them. 

3.  Share five random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.

4.  Thank the blogger who gave it to you by linking back to their blog.

So there you are.  That's how this thing works.  It's hard to pick just five!  Here are mine:

1.  Marsha over at Everybody Loved Clark

2.  Christie over at Indigo Rain

3.  Lisa over at Lisa's Cross Stitch Paradise

4.  Hannah over at Stitching in the City

5.  Beka over at The Stitching Lion

Now for the five random things about me...hmmm...well, here goes:

1.  I get crabby if I can't stitch.  Yep, it's true.

2.  I'm addicted to yoga.  I crave it if I miss a class.

3.  I dearly love dark chocolate.  Milk chocolate will do in a pinch but the dark stuff is my fave!

4.  I love the sound of the ocean and just being around water in general. It stinks that I'm landlocked!

5.  I'm a travel nut...by car, plane, motorcycle it just doesn't really matter so long as I'm going somewhere!

Okay now to thank the three folks who awarded me:

Carrie over at Carrie's Cross Stitch

Stitching Cat over at Cat Tails & Needles

Beth over at Garden Grumbles and Cross Stitch Fumbles

You all have humbled me today.  Thank you for thinking of me!

If I've awarded you and you really don't want to participate, no worries on my part.  I thought it would be a fun thing to do so I played along.  However, I realize this may not be your thing and that's okay by me too.  Just sharing the love today!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

ABC Samplers...Done!

What a productive weekend I had!  I attended the Tiara Club stitch-in on Saturday and actually finished two things while I was there.  I was actually afraid I hadn't brought enough to stitch!  Imagine that?!  It felt good to get some things done.

Design:  ABC Samplers

Designer:  Unknown

Fabric:  32 ct. Raw Linen

Floss:  DMC 221 & 841

Started:  1/29/12

Finished and Completed:  3/24/12

This is one of the things I finished while there.  I've had it in the works for a while now but a few things got pushed in front of it so I'm just now getting around to getting it done.  The fabric pictured behind it is from French General and is the fabric I used for the backing.  There's not a single cross stitch in it either.  It was a lot of fun to do and it's just too dang cute for words.

My buddy Donna gifted me with the pattern.  She had stitched several of these for her best peeps for Christmas presents and of course I fell in love with it when I saw it.  I just HAD to stitch it.  Know what I mean?!  LOL!

The second thing I finished is for an exchange so I can't show it right now.  However once it's received I'll be sure to share it.  It's for the Blackbird Designs Exchange and I can't wait to send it to my partner.  I need to do the finishing yet.  I'm hoping she likes it.  I may have to stitch this one again for myself.

The third thing I finished this weekend is a birthday present for a dear friend I don't see that often.  I want to wait to show that until after she receives it.  I popped it in the mail to her today so hopefully she'll get it before the end of the week.

Well folks that's it from this end today.  I want to extend a warm welcome to my new followers and thank you all for your visits.  I hope everyone is having a good week so far!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

A Visit to The Crafty Ewe

If you are like me I love to visit stitch shops and quilt shops on my travels.  I always do an internet search before leaving to see if there are any interesting places I should visit along the way.

Here are some snaps I took while visiting The Crafty Ewe on the way to the Blue Ribbon Sewing Box Class a couple weekends ago.

Lots of tempting goodies by the checkout stand!

New stash just in from Market!

 Just look at all those wonderful mouldings for framing!

This was my favorite corner, the fabric corner!

This is a really nice shop and it was very well stocked with all the latest "must haves!"  If you find yourself near Broadview Heights (near Cleveland, Ohio) you must pay this shop a visit.  You will add to the stash for sure!

Speaking of stash enhancement, here's what I just couldn't live without!  I collect hornbooks so of course that one had to come home with me.  I also found two Valentine's Day charts I've been looking for too.

The Polka Dot Heart kit was the best deal of the day.  It was missing the scissors so it was marked way down.  Lucky me!  You know how I love my polka dots.  Even have a polka dot dog dontcha know.  LOL!

Well that's it from here today.  I just thought I'd share a great shop with you all.  I hope you are having a good weekend so far!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Mailbox Surprises!

Don't you just love it when you go to the mailbox and you find surprises there?  I do!  Today was a really great mail day at my house.  First let's start with this one.  I want to save the best for last!

My latest find from the "bay of evil" as Edgar puts it.

So true Edgar, so true!

I'm a fan of Eileen Bennett's designs aka The Sampler House so I'm always on the look out for them.  I also happen to love acorns!  Imagine how happy I was when I spotted this one.  So I bid on it and won!  It came in the mail this afternoon.

Well, I was actually more surprised than ever when I pulled it out of the envelope.  I thought I was bidding on just a chart.  It turns out it is a complete unopened kit!  The best part is I paid under $5.00 and that included the shipping!  I can't believe my luck.  How about that?!  Squeals!

***

The best thing the mailman brought today needs some back story first...it's what really made my day.

When I went to Sherri Jones' class a couple weekends ago I made some project bags to take as thank you gifts and as a souvenir to remember the weekend.  I really enjoy making them and giving them.

 

 My project bag...one of four I made.

I always have the recipient in mind when I go shopping for fabric.  So when I found this fabric I knew it was perfect.  It just screamed Sherri when I saw it.  It has Sherri's favorite colors and it has rabbits on it.  I just HAD to get it.  I also fell in love with the companion polka dot fabric I used for the lining.

Last weekend I got the sweetest email ever from Sherri telling me she already had a traveling project in her bag.  She also said she wanted to share something with me.

This is what she sent!  Isn't that the cutest little bag?!  I love the vintage print on it and the card is just wonderful too with a sweet hand written message.  But that's not all!

Look at the sweetness tucked inside the bag!  Beautiful little cards with ribbons.  Sherri said in her note that she punches holes in them to hold her threads.  Isn't that just the neatest idea?!  I just love this kind of thing.  They are just so me!

Thank you so much Sherri!  You are truly a kindred spirit. Your thoughtfulness really touched me today...so much that I just had to share.  This truly made my day!

***

I hope you all have a great weekend and get some stitching done.  I plan to go to the Tiara Club's all day stitch-in tomorrow.  It's always a good time spent with my peeps.  Happy weekend everyone!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

TUSAL & a stitch-in

Yep, it's TUSAL time again!  This month I'm pleased to say I have a modest nest of ORTs (Old Ratty Threads) to add to the jar.   Yay!

So let's see, I had to go ferret ORTs out of two traveling ORT bags and my main ORT container that sits in my nest.  I'd say that's a good sign that I've been stitching more this month.  Go me!

I've gotten really creative with my stitching time beyond my lunch hours.  I'm really thankful the weather's been warm so I can take Miss Shelby out to the backyard for a romp while I sit on the patio and stitch.  I think that's a win-win for both of us!

***

Last night was the monthly guild stitch-in.  This month we had some really great show and tell.  I just had to take a few snaps and share the goodness with you today!

Just look at all those wonderful finishes!

Love the lavender set and that pumpkin fairy is so cute.

Great prim style bag!

Sue's beautiful pink version of the My First Sewing Box and Scissor Fob by The Stitching Parlor

Paula's St. Nick

This Santa blew me away!  I have to brag a little on my very talented buddy Paula who stitched and finished this guy!  Isn't he just amazing?!  This is one of Sherri Jones' teaching designs called "A Visit from St. Nick" gift container.  I told Paula she should send Sherri a picture of him.  He is just fantastic!  I'm so glad she brought him to share.  Paula is one of the most talented and generous stitchers you will ever meet!  Thanks again, Paula, for bringing him last night.

***

Last night was such a great night for getting out.  The temperature was in the mid 80s and there was a nice breeze.  I rode to and from the stitch-in with all the windows and the sunroof open.  I still just can not believe this is March weather!  I even wore a dress to work today without tights or hose.  Now that is just crazy for this time of year!  I love it!  I'm such a warm weather girl.  I hope it is warm and springlike where you are too. 

Thank you all so much for the lovely comments and emails about my Blue Ribbon Box.  It is so fun to be able to share my finishes with such a supportive community of stitchers.  You all are just the best!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

 

Blue Ribbon Sewing Box DONE!!!!!!

I am so excited to share my latest finish with you all!  I got the Blue Ribbon Sewing Box done a lot sooner than I thought I would.  I'm just so pleased!

Here's the outside of the box!  I've decided not to attach the scrim I bought for the front yet.  I want the cherry wood to age a little first.  I really love the look of aged cherry and I am patient enough to wait for it!

Here is the inside!

Here's another view of the inside so you can see underneath the mattress pin pillow.  I love these pink scissors and just knew they were the perfect ones for my box!  They are from DMC's special Breast Cancer edition set that came out last year.  I also splurged and bought all the special scrims that were available.  What tiny works of art!

Here are the smalls that go inside my box! I just love the pin keep. It's my very favorite piece from this set. I will say that putting together the mattress pin cushion was first for me. I can see myself making more of these!

Design:  Blue Ribbon Sewing Box

Designer:  Patrick's Woods (Sherri Jones)

Fabric:  32 ct. as kitted

Floss:  Silk as kitted

Started: 12/29/11

Finished: 3/16/12

Thank you to Sherri for designing a joy to stitch and for a wonderful class.  Time spent with you is always most enjoyable and now a fond memory!

Thanks also to our Hostess who opened her home for our class.  You couldn't have made me feel any more welcomed.  You really know how to spoil a person.  You are so appreciated!

I'm so pleased with how this turned out. It is sitting in a place of honor in my home and it makes me smile everytime I look at it.  Thanks for visiting and sharing my joy today!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher