Exchange Received and a finish

Good morning everyone,
Our internet was acting weird yesterday so I wasn't able to post last night this wonderful exchange I received from Shannon, this is the second private exchange I've done with her and I look forward to more in the future, she made these two beautiful ornaments and added tiny little beads and added some goodies into the package    here are some pics

this is what I sent to her, it is Gingerbread Tree by LHN in the July August 2010 JCS sneak peak christmas ornament magazine, I did however, forget to take pictures of the goodies I sent her...

I just came back upstairs from finishing two ornaments, I can only share one with you as the other is going out in the mail tomorrow for HOE stitchers choice ornament.

I did Love and Joy by JBW from the 2011 JCS Christmas ornie issue.  It was a very fast stitch.  I'm pleased with the overall outcome.  It hit me this week that I've done several ornaments but nothing for myself.  So I went to work, I also started Kringles Crow by Threadwork Primatives last night and will try to work on it more today

 Now off to bake cookies for the stitch in this evening at our LNS...

Thanks for stopping by...I do love all your comments, I learn so much from all these blogs and the friendships I've formed.

Blessings to all,
Dawn

RAK received

Good evening everyone,

Look at this beautiful RAK Christmas ornament from Angela, we did a private exchange in the fall and what she mailed to me never arrived and she was kind enough to send me another one.  The finishing on it is beautiful! It's a LK pattern and she used DMC threads, stitched on lugana.

I managed to find some stitching interest today, finished stitching my exchange piece, I'll work on making it an ornament later this week while it's raining as predicted for 5 strait days.  Then I decided to stitch an ornament for myself, since I haven't done one this year for my ornie tree.  I pulled out the 2011 JCS ornie magazine and started Love and Joy by JBW, it's a quick stitch, I believe I will have it completed by tomorrow.

Friday night is the monthly stitch in, I plan on attending this one!  It's the cookie exchange meeting, my kids are done with soccer games, practices and meetings, the DD isn't scheduled to work, I won't be rushed.  I always take something to stitch when I do attend, but never pull it out, I paruze the store, gab a bit, and end up making a purchase of some sort.  It's a beautiful store, but you add 15+ women in it and there isn't any room, and I can't stitch well without my magnifier, I have the little one that attaches to the Q snaps, but I find it frustrating and just have more admiring everyone else's projects.

WEll, time to get dinner in the oven, working on a Shepherds Pie.  Yumm.

Blessings to everyone
Dawn

Exchange Received and Christmas decoration

Hello dear friends,

First I want to say hello to any newcomers that have signed up to follow me, "Hello" and thank you for stoping by.

I've been spending time with family (hubby had a 4 day weekend) and decorating the house, I have barely done any stitching, I did manage to do some yesterday, well, more ripping then stitching, I found a mistake and well it got the best of me so rip I did.  I am still working on Winter Plaid and an exchange piece that I need to mail by the 15th.

 received a Christmas ornament from Hooked On Exchanges- stitchers choice exchange yesterday, it really made my day since I've been waiting on two other exchanges that were  mailed in early Nov and have yet to get to me,  but receiving one yesterday put a smile on my face.  Becky at Stitchin Post really spoiled me with some goodies...

some Lindor truffles, a glue stick, floss, scissors, thread, and hand sanitizer

a ornament from borduurblog.blogspot.com, dmc fibers and opalescent linen from her stash,
Its so cute that it is a real stitching ornament

What else have I been up to?  Christmas decorating, in and out of the house

Top is our family tree in the great room, the second is outside decorating so far, I have icicles to hang, well, DH needs to hang :) and lastly my stitching tree in our study, it has more ornaments on it than you can see, but I call it my charlie brown tree.  So far so good with Chloe, at 9 months old she has left the tree, tinsel and ornaments alone, but she did grab my bread off the island yesterday when I turned my back to reach into the fridge...she is so tall now she gets into kitchen naughtiness easily now, it's hard to  redirect the dogs since the great room, eating area and kitchen are all one giant room...

It's been incredible warm here in southern Ohio, we had temps of 72 yesterday, and another warm day today except rain will be here this morning, makes it a good day to stitch!  I hope everyone has a blessed week and a smile on their face.

Blessings

crafting

Good afternoon dear friends,

I haven't done much stitching this week, but I have been working on some other things.
Holiday Wreath,

Today I thought I'd try my hand at a glass block, $12.00 after coupons to make it, I think it took me longer to make the blasted bow then it did to make the purchase.  I think I got it down now, will think about making a few more as gifts, not sure yet.  I've been spending to much time looking at Pintrest...I love that site.

Other than that, I've put the lights up outside, watching movies with DH and fireplace on, and reading blogs.  I just can't seem to get moving on my stitching, I get distracted with other Christmas crafty things.  I've been looking through books and magazines trying to find an easy themed Christmas table runner, I think I've found one.  My sewing skills are moderate at best so I need to start easy...
thats it for now, time to take the cookies out of the oven...

blessings to all
Dawn

Happy Thanksgiving

Good morning dear friends,
It's been a week since I last posted, I've been around, mostly reading everyone else's blogs, looking at everyones pretty finishes and fall to Christmas transformations.

I wanted to take this time to thank you for your friendship through stitches.  Today and for the next few days will be busy with family showing up, cooking starting, feasting and football tomorrow, chaos over the weekend.  No, I do not go to black friday shopping, I will swing by the LNS for small business Sat hopefully, by dear daughter has to work at the mall on Friday and Saturday.  Her little job at the Dairy Queen in the middle of the mall.
I have pulled 2 turkeys out the freezer on Monday, they will come into a cold bath today as MIL will be coming this afternoon and we will be cooking in the late night.

I have been stitching on Winter Plaid by LHN here and there, my slow progress, but it sure is pretty..

I haven't made much stitching progress, i've been spending time on Pinterest and trying my luck at some lil decorative trees for my mantel.  I did a sequin one, and a ribbon one, tried to decorate the third with cranberry beads and I didn't like all the spaces so I stripped it down, peeled all the hot glue off and will do something else, lol.

When I was home last month, I ran out to the vineyard and cut some grape vines, harvesting is long over with and I have always wanted one of these trees, they are soo expensive, and since I grew up on a grape farm, I was going to take advantage of being home and grab some vines and make one for myself.  It took 2 days to make since I had to soak the vines over several days and my wash tub is small.  I think it came out well for my first attempt.  Perhaps there won't be snow at Christmas and dad won't have mowed the brush and I can grab more.  I would love to have a 4 " one.

I also picked up my Home of a Needleworker (too) by LHN from having it framed, it is so pretty, I really love it.  I was hoping that the new Season of Love ornament was in so I ran up to the store yesterday, but alas, it wasn't.  I have this bad luck that by the time I get there she is always sold out so I tried to beat her to the punch and they haven't arrived yet. My Baby it's cold outside chart remains on backorder too.  Disappointing yes, but as all of us stashers know, it's not like we don't have projects to work on...nuff said.

Weather you are traveling across town, across the country or staying home, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels.

Blessings,
Dawn

not just a happy dance....a disco party!!!

Good afternoon friends, thank you for taking time to visit with me today.  I have been hiding, working hard to finish this Shepherds Bush Toy Gatherer as a contracted piece for my LNS.  I am so happy to report  I'm Done  :)  The stitching that is, I have to put the wool as his beard and since I don't know how to do that, my lns said she would show me how, doesn't look to complicated, but I want to do it right since this isn't my piece.  It's a large piece and done on 32 count linen.  I love the colors but the pattern is a difficult one with a lot of blank areas that you have to use the outline to fill in.  Plenty of beading to, I am pleased with it.  The weight is off my shoulders and I can enjoy working on exchanges and starting on some stuff for me.  I bought Plaid house from LHN a few weeks ago and have been wanting to start it but I didn't, yet, I will this weekend.

This afternoon the kids and I are heading up to Erie to visit my parents, I havent' seen them since end of July, and then I'll see them for Christmas.  It's a 5 hour drive.  If our kids has busing to and from school I'd proabably go more often but between sports and one working, I am the taxi.   Mom gave me her Janome embroidery machine over the summer, I stuffed my trailblazer with stuff, and now I can grab the rest of the "stuff"  I'm looking forward to learning how to use it. 

Well, enjoy the weekend, stay warm,

Blessings,

Dawn 

Happy October

Good morning dear friends,

Hello to all my new followers!  Thank you for stopping by.  I've been busy, busy working on my Shepherds Bush piece, I even met the woman I am stitching it for.  Our LNS had a big sale this weekend so I told my husband that I was going to go pay a bill (which I did) then took a 15 mile detour and headed up to the store :)   I also got some more stitchy stuff that I ordered on line...

LHN- Snow White
I finally picked it up, I stitched it early this year and  it's been waiting for me... 

Some new charts to work on- I love each season, right now fall and everything pumpkins

LHN Winter plaid, the sampler threads and linen
Threadwork primitives Enchanted Crow chart

Toy Gatherer- Shepherds Bush
I'm almost there!  it's been such a long journey, love hate relationship with this piece

It was a busy weekend, High school homecoming parade Friday Night, football game, Homecoming dance Saturday night, Stitching and shopping on Sunday, Made some apple turnovers, so yummy out of the oven, soccer games last night, our school is on a winning streak- Go Trojans.

Today, all is quiet, kids at school, me and my stitching....life is good:)

I got this recipe on line a few weeks ago and finally tried them out, I've made them twice now, they are fantastic, I just can't remember where I got them from and my print out doesn't have the web address.  We have decided this is better than apple pie and I don't have to fight making pie dough that hates me.
I meant to take a picture but we ate them before i remembered.  If you try this let me know what you think.

Mt. Dew Apple Dumplings- cut in half

2 whole Granny Smith apples
2 cans (8 oz cans) Crescent Rolls
2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
cinnamon to taste
1 can Mt. Dew soda

Peel and core apples.  Cut each apple into 8 slices each.  Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll.  Place in a 9x13 buttered pan

Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir.  Add vanilla, stir, and pour entire mixture over apples.  Pour Mt. Dew around the edges of the pan.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.  (I suggest pouring out the extra liquid if you are not eating this right away.) serve with vanilla ice cream.