I'm a winner and another giveaway!

Annette of California Stitcher blog had a giveaway for her 2nd blogoversary and I was the lucky winner!  She wrapped it up so nicely with a pretty handmade card!

Annette is so very talented!  She sewed this zippered project pouch and matching needle book.  It is also the perfect size for a tablet or Kindle and it's nicely padded and fully lined with contrasting fabric.  She also included the Topiary in Bloom chart with linen, Cosmo floss, backing fabric and trim!  What a wonderful prize!  Thank you so very much, Annette!

I was also a very lucky winner of this new chart, "Popsicles" from Nancy of Pickle Barrel Designs!

Nancy from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having another giveaway!  This time it is for a Custom Family Name Sampler chart.  Instead of giving you an alphabet, your family name and date will be printed onto the chart for you.  Enter HERE for a chance to win and tell Nancy that I sent you!  Drawing on April 30.

Cross stitching for my daughter!

I had to follow up my last post with another about the cross stitch gifts I'm making for my daughter!  She took French in high school and has always wanted to work in Paris, so most of the things for her are in French.  She has been to Europe four times and loves to travel!

I'm stitching the free Positive Thinking SAL from Jardin Privé in French, La Pensée Positive, for her.  This is on 18 ct baby pink Aida.  I finished part 2 using Cosmo Seasons variegated floss for the words.

La Pensée Positive update #3

I'm also using VMSS floss for the rest of the design.  I just found out that Nancy of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is giving 10 lucky winners 5 skeins each of her hand-dyed floss in spring colors.  Her floss comes in 20-yard skeins so this is 100 yards for each winner!  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!  Drawing on March 10.

The Hungarian Peacock Sampler will also be a gift for my daughter.  I'm using Cosmo Seasons variegated floss for this one, too.  I added another pretty peacock.

Hungarian Peacock Sampler update #1

This will be a hanging sign that says Merci on one side and Thank You on the other. It is a freebie from gazette94 that you can find HERE.  I used DMC 48, variegated baby pink floss on pale green mint parfait Aida.

Merci - FINISHED!

"Merci"
Designed by Claire Findlay
gazette94
14 ct mint parfait Aida
Started 2/28/2012, Finished 2/23/2014

Another one I'm stitching for her is Leo, a freebie from Stitch Alley, since that is her zodiac sign.  Her birthday is in August.  They have all the zodiac signs and lots of free charts.  I stitched his back and tail.

Leo update #3

The first cross stitch gift I made for my daughter was A Paris Kiss by Vervaco.  I only stitched it when she was at work, so it was a complete surprise when I gave it to her for her birthday!  This was my first time stitching on linen.

A Paris Kiss

She picked out this Day of the Dead sugar skull from the Twisted Stitches book, so I stitched this one for her, too!

Day of the Dead

I also made her this bookmark.  "J'aime lire" means "I love to read."  This was a freebie from Les petits bonheurs de Miss T blog.

J'aime lire bookmark

I've also stitched these French Christmas ornaments for her future Christmas tree, but haven't finished them into actual ornaments yet.  We really should have a crafty weekend some day and finish them up!

Bon Noel

Boule Bordeaux

Boules Baroques

C'est Noel

These are all freebie designs from gazette94, Le Blog de Vava, and The Sampler Girl.

VMSS Valentine giveaway!

Nancy from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is at it again!  She is having a Valentine's Day giveaway of red floss, trims, lace, buttons, charms, an Alphabet Ornament chart with your initial, and the Treasured Friend red heart pattern! Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!  Drawing on Valentine's Day, February 14. Good luck!

Crazy January start #5 and I'm a winner!

Day #5 of the Ultimate Crazy January Challenge is the Hungarian Peacock Sampler by Manka Mintai.  She sent this free chart by request but her Hungarian blog sadly is closed now.  I'm using Cosmo Seasons 8079 variegated floss in purple/green/blue shades and 18 ct DMC Aida in Light Sea Green.  It will be about 9.5" x 11".  I am also in the Peacock Stitching group on Facebook where everyone is stitching different peacock designs.

Hungarian Peacock Sampler

Hungarian Peacock Sampler

I chose this companion piece from my WIPocalypse list because it is also a free monochrome design from a foreign blog and is stitched all in one color with variegated floss.  This is Merci, a freebie from a French blog, Gazette94.  I haven't touched this one since November 2012.  Today I stitched Merci and finished the border but there will be another flower and heart to stitch.  I will stitch Merci and Thank You and put them back to back and hang on a ribbon to make a pretty sign for my daughter.  It is on 14 ct Aida in Mint Parfait and will be about 4" x 3".

Merci update #2

I won the 10-year blogoversary giveaway from Lindsay at Caring Stitcher blog!  The prize will be a complete mystery, which is perfect since I love surprises!  Thank you, Lindsay!

I also won the Samplers Not Forgotten chart giveaway by Brenda at Time 2 Xstitch blog to celebrate reaching 100 followers.  I had my choice of five different samplers and chose Elizabeth Lamb 1837.  Four of the samplers were featured in the October newsletter from the Attic Needlework shop in Arizona.  Thank you so much, Brenda!

I also won three 20-yard skeins of hand-dyed floss from Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.  Thank you, Nancy!  She is looking for model stitchers in the US. Details HERE.

More framing finishes!

I found these frames at thrift stores and my framing friend stretched and mounted my finished cross stitch pieces for me.  They didn't need mats.  Jolly Jack fit perfectly into this black wood 6x6 frame.

Jolly Jack - framed!

Cut Thru' Igloo also fit perfectly into this metallic green 9-1/2" square frame.  I love how she centered it so precisely.  I even counted the holes in the Aida and it's exactly the same on both sides! :-)

Cut Thru' Igloo - framed!

I also asked her to fix BBQ Queen.  I framed this one myself with a piece of sticky board but it bugged me every time I looked at it since it wasn't centered.  She took it apart and mounted it with pins and now it looks perfect!

BBQ Queen - framed!

Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having an 11th day of Christmas giveaway of fabric, the winner's choice of 32 ct Belgian linen that she dyes herself or 18 ct Aida in different colors.  Drawing on December 23.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

Her 12th day of Christmas giveaway is a $50 gift certificate for her eBay store!  The lucky winner will be drawn on December 24.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

I'm a winner and you can be one, too!

I was one of the lucky winners of the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe giveaway today of three skeins of over-dyed floss!

You still have plenty of time to win some of Nancy's other goodies!  Her 9th day of Christmas giveaway is a surprise present for you and a present for your friend! Drawing on December 21.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

Her 10th day of Christmas giveaway is your choice of floss, trims, buttons, ric rac, or a chart!  Drawing on December 22.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

Raven progress and lots of giveaways!

I'm trying to finish Quoth the Raven this week so I can get it framed and sent to my nephew for Christmas!

Quoth the Raven update #6

This is the book I will send him to go with it, The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe.

Caitlin from Naughts & Cross Stitches blog is having a giveaway of your choice of chart from her Naughts Cross Stitches Etsy shop!  Last day to enter is today, Sunday, December 8.  This has been extended to Friday, December 13.  Enter HERE and tell Caitlin that I sent you!

Kim from Wisdom with Needle and Thread blog is having a wonderful giveaway of Nutcracker charts!  Drawing on December 17.  Enter HERE and tell Kim that I sent you!

Stitcheranon has a free Christmas chart and a giveaway of a box of crafty goodies hand-picked for the winner.  Drawing on December 26.  Enter HERE and tell her that I sent you!

I've found a new blog to follow, Missyllaneous!  Missy will give the winner two pairs of gorgeous scissors, plus a $20 gift certificate for the winner's friend!  Drawing on December 20.  Enter HERE and tell Missy that I sent you!

Nancy of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having so many giveaways this month! Her 4th day of Christmas giveaway is 25 skeins of her 20-yard over-dyed floss. Drawing on December 25.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

Her 5th day of Christmas giveaway is ric rac trim or buttons to three winners. Drawing on December 17.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

Her 6th day of Christmas giveaway is a surprise gift! Drawing on December 18. Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

Her 7th day of Christmas giveaway is Patriotic, Christmas, or Gingerbread trim bags, or 5 skeins of floss. Drawing on December 19.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

Her 8th day of Christmas giveaway is a $25 gift certificate to her eBay store. Drawing on December 20.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

December TUSAL and more stitching!

For the Totally Useless Stitch-A-Long (TUSAL), we show a picture of our ORT jar each month.  My cat Blueberrie is posing with the jar this time!  He is 10 years old and my coworker bottle-fed the whole litter.  I took him as soon as he could eat cat food.  He's the boss of all the other cats and dogs in the house.

TUSAL 2013 #12

I stitched more border on Quoth the Raven, which will be a gift for my nephew.  I also bought him a nice Edgar Allan Poe book to go with it!

Quoth the Raven update #5

For the Monday SAL, I stitched more presents and yellow wall in the gift wrapping room on Cut Thru' North Pole House.

Cut Thru' North Pole House update #6

Nancy of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having her 3rd Day of Christmas giveaway!  She will give 10 skeins of her 20-yard over-dyed floss to a few winners on December 16.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

SAL progress and more giveaways!

Yesterday I stitched Santa's head and hands, all the green on his coat, and the number 5 on Santa's 12 Days of Christmas.  Five golden rings will be next!  This is a Sunday SAL with Linda and Kaye.

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas (Day 5) update #1

Santa's 12 Days of Christmas (Day 5) update #1

I stitched the entire border of Fall Welcome using Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss in Summer Russet.  This is a Saturday SAL with Linda and Kaye.

Fall Welcome update #5

Speaking of VMSS, Nancy from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having more giveaways!  She will give away a Quaker chart with her 20-yard over-dyed floss. Drawing on December 15.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

Nancy will also have another drawing on December 15, and the winners can choose any of her 82 charts.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!  I was lucky enough to win one of her charts a few years ago.  This is "Merry Christmas" and I have "Chris" done so far.

Parsley of Seasons of My Mind blog is also having a giveaway of a book of snowman charts by Stoney Creek.  Drawing on December 10.  Enter HERE and tell Parsley that I sent you!

Good luck, everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  I'm sure this project will be done in time to display for Thanksgiving next year!  Here is my progress on Fall Welcome by Diane Arthurs. This is a SAL with Linda and Kaye.  I finished the squash and did some backstitching.

Fall Welcome update #4

~Happy Thanksgiving~So Grateful for you! MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY, MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP. MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP. MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS. MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE, MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!    Click on Pumpkin Pie below for a special Thanksgiving greeting!  PUMPKIN PIE

Nancy from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having another giveaway!  She will send 10 winners three skeins of her 20-yard over-dyed floss.  Drawing on December 10.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

More great giveaways!

Heather of Heather's Stitching Story is having a wonderful giveaway of charts and floss on her blog.  She didn't say when the drawing will be, so hurry and enter HERE now!  Tell Heather that I sent you and good luck!

Nancy of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is in the holiday spirit with her giveaways! Several winners will get a Sewing Necessaire in their color choice.  Drawing on December 1st.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

Nancy is having another giveaway of this Christmas Ornament chart pack.  Drawing on November 30th.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

Here's another giveaway from Nancy of a Primitive Merry Christmas Hanger with Bells kit.  Drawing on December 1st.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

Good luck to all the stitchers out there in blogland!

More great giveaways!

Nancy from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having another wonderful giveaway! She will send the lucky winner this Sewing Necessaire with all the goodies.  Drawing on November 15.  Enter HERE and tell Nancy that I sent you!

Brenda from Time 2 Xstitch is also having a giveaway on her blog when she reaches 100 followers!  The winner will receive a Samplers Not Forgotten chart of their choice!  Enter HERE and tell Brenda that I sent you!

Good Luck and Happy Stitching!