RAK and exchange received

Good afternoon friends,  waving to a few more new friends...my numbers are creeping up, may have to think of a giveaway soon :)

My son offered to go get the mail today, he's waiting for a package, sadly for him, the packages that arrived were for me, woo too!!

The first one is from http Hooked on Exchanging,  Summer exchange, I received this lovely Shepherds Bush Fob from Amy in Florida, it's done on both side with extra beading, it's just lovely.  I love the patriotic theme she sent me.

Then I received a birthday package from June, I had asked her for a sheep pattern link, and she surprised me with the pattern, beads, ribbon and a pillow!  How about that??  She used my favorite color, blue, it's just an adorable pillow with a watering can pin and then a little initial charm as well.

Wow, I am so blessed, I have had the most amazing opportunity to join blog land and share my love of cross stitch with friends near and far.  Saying thank you just doesn't seem like its enough.

Lastly, this is my progress on part 1 of LHN mystery sampler....I really love the colors, I am very excited to see what part 2 brings, but will have to wait until mid July for that.

Hoping everyone has a wonderful week!
Hugs and stitches
dawn

Happy Dance- a finish and a new start!

Waving hello to new and old friends, thank you for visiting!  I finished Bless Our Home by CCN today and started Songs of the Season, mystery sampler today, it arrived in yesterdays mail and I couldn't dive into it quick enough. I have had Bless Our Home for about a year now waiting for me to start it, I am very happy I did it.  As for Songs of the Season, thankfully I had enough of the required WDW to get started, tomorrow I may make a run into LNS or take the time to see if I have substitutes.

Bless Our Home- CCN
Miscellaneous linen, required threads

a new start...

Song of the Seasons, part 1
Little House Needleworks
30ct WDW Straw/ WDW threads

new lilly's I planted this week, the orange is just so cheerful

I hope everyone had a productive week, the kids and I used a chainsaw (without any injuries) this week and cut up 3 trees that we had professionally taken down.  They weren't happy but we got the trees cut and the wood stacked, I didn't know my arms could ache so much.  The yard is nice and open now, hated to have them cut down but they were dead.

Well it's time to go get the daughter from work.  I hope she walks out right at 9, the Spurs are playing tonight, my husband is from San Antonio so of course we are big Spurs fans (i even have the spur tattooed on my back shoulder (mid life crisis :)  So say a little prayer that they win tonight, it's been a great series so far, best of 7 and they are tied 3 each.  Oh, thy are playing the Miami Heat (blah).  My French bull dog is named after Tim Duncan ( i know, sad, but when I muttered under my breath how much the dog cost, I had to try to redeem myself and so I went with a name from his favorite team)

Have a great weekend!

Hugs!

dawn

Birthday thank you's and progress

Good afternoon friends,
Just wanted to take a moment and thank you all for my birthday wishes this week, on Monday I turned 45, ugh.  When did this happen?  If you can let me know maybe you also have the manual they forgot to give me when I had my kids too, lol.  I'm still looking for it.
Anyways, I want to thank you for taking the time to send me personal birthday emails and cards, so very much appreciated, and a few of you snuck in some gifts.

Denise at Riverside Stitching was kind enough to mail a card and thought she was being funny reminding me that I am 9 days older than her, lol, what a pal.  Thank you Denise!  She lives up the road from me a few hours away as well.  We are still working on meeting face to face.

Yesterday a surprise from dearest Shirlee arrived from the Easily Influenced Stitcher, she just lives down the road from me and was one of the first bloggers that I established a friendship with.  What a pleasant surprise to open up a Take Along kit from The Trilogy.  I can't wait for fall to get here so I can start it.

I picked up my Needleworker by LHN on Tuesday, I love it so much.  I hope you do to.  My apologies for the horrible reflection.

Of course since I was at the LNS, i couldn't walk out empty handed, so I was delighted that she had the new Scarlett House, She feeds them well, I want to jump right into that. I am so in love with it.

I've also had a relapse in my promise to myself to stop buying stash....I had to, couldn't help myself...ugh, I'm also on the auto ship for  LHN mystery sampler that comes out this week to.  Catherine at Bramblewood  has kindly offered to smack me (at my request) I have also asked her to hold on to my debit card, but i fear i may have to give her my pay pal info as well, perhaps my checkbook and credit cards need to be included?

I treated myself to a new Vera Wang I mean Bradley, lol, bag, they sent me a 25% off card for my birthday and then I found something on sale so it came to over 75% off by the time I was done.  Yay me!  did i need another tote, no i did not, but that is beside the point, one needs nice bags to hid their ever growing stash in. 

Well here is my progress on Bless this Home and Blackbirds

Some more lilies, they are so beautiful this year...

Lastly a fun frenchie picture...I wish Duncan could do that

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!

Hugs and stitches

Dawn

Speechless

I received another gift from the heart, dearest Cucki, she sent me this doily she made a thank you for sending her a parcel from an large exchange we did, however, her partner failed to play nice and she was left with nothing as the rest of got to enjoy our packages, I felt bad  as generous as she is, she was treated like this, and tried to make her a special package.  She surprised me with a handmade thank you that has left me speechless, her talents are amazing...

I think I will see about framing it, I couldn't possibly use !

Lets see, I've been stitching here and there but not too much progress to report :)

While I was out enjoying my flowers today, giving them some water, I decided the dogs needed a bath, so they are nice and clean and smelling good:0

Here are some garden pictures of my lilies that I took this morning, they are so beautiful, I always enjoy when they are in bloom, my father sent me home with some of his so they are extra special to me.

I love my swing, I really enjoy sitting on it watching the hummingbirds fly by with a quick drink from my feeders then over to the lillies.  Well, today I got up to return inside, my Frenchie Duncan didn't seem ready to go inside, I couldn't resist this picture of him

I am blessed...

Hugs and stitches

Dawn

two new starts and a birthday surprise

Good morning friends,

School is now out so for this household the summer has officially begun, we ended the school year on a sour note, rainy stay in the house kind of weather.  This morning is starting to lighten up, some clouds, some sun but dry and its only going to get better.

Lets see, I have two new starts, well actually 3 but one is for a exchange so I can't share that info yet.  I have had Bless This House by CCN from last year and before I knew it, summer was over and I put it in the back of my stash, it's a summer feeling kind of pattern, so i finally pulled it out and I just love the colors, as usual :)  I was also in my LNS a few weeks back and took a fancy to a pattern called Blackbirds by All Through the Night, and bought all my supplies to get to work on that as well.  The LNS shop model did it with all Expresso Bean and I liked the model so much I followed suit as well.

Also yesterday Duncan decided he wanted momma's attention so jumped in my lap as I tried to stitch, he stayed there for quite awhile, needy thing he can be.

Then of course, my mail came late yesterday and there was a package from Cucki, for my upcoming birthday, her talents never cease to amaze me, she is such a wonderful friend.

She spoiled me with all kinds of goodies, a knitted pin cushion mug, a little journal with a cross stitched butterfly, a beaded mug rug, scissors, floss, ribbons, calendar,  and patterns.  I'm so very lucky, thank you Cucki...

  I've made some amazing friends through blog land and I can say I am truly blessed.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend...
Hugs and stitches
Dawn

Another Happy Dance

Good afternoon everyone,

It's been a busy week for me, I have two teenagers, both working now, both working on their hours for their drives license, both have club soccer tryouts and now it's finals for this week...I'm pooped.

I have managed to finish My Needles Work by LHN, it was a kit of pattern and floss, I used miscellaneous fabric, not sure what it is but it's olive color and it really made the color pop.  I really love it. It was a quick graph since there were not a lot of color changes.  I hope you enjoy it.

Not sure how I will finish her, a pillow sounds nice....

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs and stitches to all
Dawn

My first framing attempt :)

Good morning everyone,

Yesterday I picked up my frame from Hobby Lobby and went to town, of course I had to reposition the piece, pin and re pin, I have ocd about it being centered so here it is, I am happy with it and will probably continue to do some more on my own.  I just have to add the hook on the back so I can hang it up.

 my computer doesn't want to cooperate and rotate this photo- my apologies

I've been working on my LHN piece, I'm so in love with this, I hope I can finish her this weekend to start something else...

Today is my 5th anniversary, wow, what a journey, but a good one, filled with life lessons, love etc.  He's treating me out to the Melting Pot (fondue)  I love that place. We loved the one in Va Beach, so much so that we always had the same waiter, the management knew us, and yes, we invited the waiter to our wedding.  We were always spoiled at the one in Va Beach, but this is nice to.

Ashley and I planted our garden today, actually we made it bigger and added more tomatoes, more peppers, cucumbers, water melon, cantaloup, cilantro, basil , i think that is all.  We are excited for some fresh veggies. I also planted some flowers to.