Becky, this one's for you!!!

Becky, look at what Cricket Collection just came out with! You tempted me on your last blog with new Wabbits, and now I'm getting you back with these darling little Easterish (forgive my New England background creeping in there...) designs. But, really, who could resist them!!?? Lois has them at Elegant Stitch. And, there's a darling little lambie wreath that's new, too. You all have to check these out! I'm not usually one for cutesie...but just wait 'til you become a grammie...:))

The Sting in the Vine!

OOpsie! Have any of you purchased the very beautiful "Vintage Stitches" and other companion pieces from Jeannette Douglas designs, as I just did??? Well, here's the little detail I discovered after having joyfully opened the envelope and read the chart...the threads required are unbelieveable! When I read that the entire thread package with chart would be over $50.00, I thought I could just fill in with my own stash (which I will,of course>>), but you can't believe the threads required on this one! I've never even heard of "Lorikeet" before this, and I (used to) consider myself a pretty up-to-date stitcher!! LOL

The other design I received for my stash is "Seaside Stitches." Isn't it beautiful, too?

I'm not sorry I have these two in my stash...I just have to figure out a way to convert some of the required threads to things I have in my house!! Do you think I can get "Lorikeet" at my local "Pet Smart?"

Peacock Chair Flies Home!

It's here, finally..."The Peacock Chair" by Cat's Whiskers...all of you know it by now, of course. I couldn't stand to stitch it with the fab. & threads called for in the chart. Naturally, it had to be my own chair, so here's my choice of one that will fit with my personal things. I think it's final place of honor will be my bedroom dresser where I'll put a hat pin or something decorative in it. And, I may hide a ring in the back pocket. My bedroom is decorated in the light teal blues of the multi-colored Gloriana silk, and has some of the yellow tones, lavenders and greens, too. I'm a silk pillows person...never too many pillows!!! Anyway, here is my "thread toss" along with the silk ribbon. I may use the chenille to edge the chair instead of the twist of verigated silk.

'Fess Up Time!

I'm checking in with you to keep myself honest. Here are my two weeks of stitching for the month of March. I'm going on to Taj Mahal and St. Petersburg of Chatelaine Designs, so I want to check these in for you. It's so hard to put things down in your rotation, isn't it!? But, then you can't keep other things afloat and started if you don't... Martina let me in to the St. Petey's this morning so I just have to go there and start my inner cross center. I've been waiting for such a long time, it seems. Anyway, here's my months progress on:

"And They Sinned" Here you can see I was only able to stitch from the peacock's to this section of the alphabet before I stopped. This is in keeping with my ATS Sisterhood of the Sinful Stitchers to take the first week of each month and only stitch on this piece!

"Houses on Hawks Hill Run" I got my threads kitted, chose my final fabric, and got this first section started. Stitched a week here on and off. I used some of my stitching time haplessly trying to organize my stash. I make piles of things and then stop....and make more piles...sigh...

Thank you for your comments and support as I forge ahead on Taj and St. Petey!

Hugs to all my stitching friends!

Found Beatrix!!

Yessss!! I found her!! I found my very own copy of Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler (Ackworth School)-an original chart!! I'm so psyched because everywhere I've been looking they are OOP!

I've been so desperate to find one because I want to do a collection of B. Potter things for my granddaughter's room, and I thought this sampler would be just the thing for her to keep forever. When I make lap quilts for her, I'll have to put some faded ecru and brown ticking or toiles in with the shabby chic roses and other fabbies, now.

So happy I could dance on the ceiling about this one! Where did I find it?? Em-Li's ...she has 2 left as of this afternoon, if anyone wants one.

Freebies and RAK Registry

Have you seen this darling tiny pincushion and fob yet? It's on Caron Collection's classroom section on Lois Caron's site. The design is actually a Carol Tinson design and has finishing directions, which I am most in need of...though most of you are way past needing those! I just love the little pillowy look of both of these. They are from 2006, so you may already have them...new to me.

Here is another one from the same section of Caron's site. I think I'm going to try using some flower thread I have on this one. I've been waiting for just the right thing to use it for. The color is Caron's Wildflower's "Pistachio Nut," although it has more lavender and mulberry running through it than "nut!"

I mailed my RAK Registry gifts off yesterday to my special stitching person! I was so delighted to do that. It was my very first time of taking part in a RAK group and I hope my person who receives it is happy with it. She's a delightful stitcher, whom I think most of you will recognize...maybe....we'll see when she gets the package and hopefully tells about it somehow...someway....hmmmm. The postmaster and I had alot of fun discussing the package and mailart, which is my next new attempt coming up before June. He seemed very excited about all the stitching happenings. He said people are always mailing odd things...the oddest he's had was a shoe, a single unpackaged shoe that was mailed around the country to several women. Never thought of that one!

Thanks for reading. Hope you like the above freebies as much as I did!

The Lord Remembered Hannah

Admittedly not the best of pictures for my new stitching project: The Lord Remembered Hannah! This one is a reminder to myself and my DD, Jessica, to trust in the Lord, and it's to encourage us along the way as we wait on Him. I love the antique look of it, but most of all, I love the message that God doesn't ignore or forget our prayers. He honors them, and wants the very best for us, and He is able to perform miracles in His timeframe. The chest is way too much for me to purchase. I thought I would just make a large, segmented piece to frame. I'm thinking I will see if I can work this in Vicki Clayton silks...or whichever silks I can find that will give a faded, antiqued look. The chart came immediately via email, if any of you are interested in Mary Beale's pieces. Katrina is stitching Mary's Advent Calender, which is another awesome piece! I'd love to do that one, too, another time. We should compare progress, Katrina!