July Ornament SAL

Here is my July Ornament SAL from a complimentary design by Michelle Latzen called Santa Paw provided by Stitchy Kitty.  I added red beads to the sweater - Can hardly wait to make it into an ornament!

Hmmmmmm.......what ornament to stitch for next month?!

Happy Stitching - Cheers!

Spotted Hare Complete, Another WIP and Emma

I finished stitching the coussinet biscournu (I'm doing a HAPPY DANCE).  Can hardly wait for the finishing instructions.

I'm working on a pair of Flip Swaps, designed by Sandy Arthur.  They are fun, interchangeable straps that fit onto sandals marketed as Switchflops.  Hopefully I'll get these completed before the sandal season is over.  But there's always next year or a vacation in a warm climate in December.  :)

On a sillier note, we have a delightful five pound teacup white chocolate schnauzer named Emma.  She is as mischievous  as she is cute.  We should have named her Tigger from Winnie the Pooh.  Whenever I see her bouncing around the house, the following chant comes to mind: "The most wonderful things about Tiggers, are Tiggers are wonderful things.  Their tops are made out of rubber, their bottoms are made out of springs!" She has a crooked smile that makes us laugh every time we look at her.

Little Emma has her own car seat we tether her harness in on the console of our Escape.  She LOVES rides.

Here she is in a sweater I knitted for her.  You can't see it well, but there are ruffles on the back of the sweater and faux pearls around her neck - because every girl needs a black dress and pearls.  HA!

Yes, she's spoiled.

Happy Stitching - Cheers!

Just Nan's "Queen of the Needle" Give Away Winner

I could barely contain myself about this give away.  I absolutely LOVE this sampler pattern.  It's so elegant and tasteful.

And the winner is.......(drum roll, please)......

KAYE from Kitten Stitching

Congratulations, Kaye!  Please email me your mailing address (spiritoftheheart1@gmail.com) and I will get your goodies out to you.

P.S.  I'm already cooking up another give away - this is just too much fun!!

Happy Stitching - Cheers!

Another Give Away - Hurry!!

I just love stitchers - they are so giving and selfless.  Here's another give away -  Daphne is celebrating 100 followers.  You have until July 25th to enter.  Best of luck!

The Snow Flower Diaries Giveaway!

The Snow Flower Diaries is having a gorgeous give away of hand dyed threads - and she also designs some adorable cross stitch patterns. I can hardly wait to stitch up some of her patterns - so sweet.
Good luck to you -

Cheers!

Another Give Away!

I continue to marvel at how generous the stitching world is - look at this beautiful give away - and good luck!
cross stitch blog

SNS Spotted Hare Progress and Heather's Give Away

I'm almost finished with the stitching on the Spotted Hare Needle Purse by Sherri Jones of Patrick's Woods.  TA-DA!  Only have the second half of the coussinet biscournu to go - then the finishing - what fun.

Heather of Heather's Stitches is having a give away. She has a lovely blog - take a trip over and take a look.

Happy Stitching - Cheers!

OH. MY. GOSH! Celebrate 100 and Pay It Forward!!!

I just noticed I now have over 100 followers - I am so THRILLED!!  To celebrate, I am having another give away - Just Nan's sampler pattern "Queen of the Needle" (including 28 CT Graziano Light Rose Milan Linen and embellishments), as well as a scissor sheath with a velveteen pouch.  Always having had a fondness for chatelaines (alas, I don't own one), I saw this particular scissors sheath and wanted to share.

Please pass the word and encourage your friends and followers to follow my blog.  This is FUN!!  I love giving things away.  Here is how you can enter:

1) Put a comment on this post and you are entered into  the giveaway.

2) If you are already a follower then your name is put in twice.

3) Put the photograph of this giveaway on your blog and then get another chance.

4) If you blog about this giveaway in a post on your blog then you get another chance.

Please let me know if you have done any of the above.  Drawing will be July 23rd at 6PM CDT.

Good luck!!

And now, to Pay It Forward.  I saw the opportunity to join in this fun on Bernadett's blog.  

Here is how it works:

The first three people who leave a comment here will receive hand made gifts from me within the next 365 days.  However, you will need to do something in return (don't worry, it's easy;) - announce the PIF Game on your blog and send gifts to three people within 365 days.

Doesn't that sound like FUN?!?  I'm looking forward to hearing from you ;0)

Happy stitching - Cheers!

Another Give Away!

A big CONGRATULATIONS to Bernadett Rauski.  She is celebrating reaching 200 followers and her 2 year anniversary on her blog, Petite-armoire.blogspot.com.  Her gifts are gorgeous.  Take a look and enter on Bernadett's blog for her give away.

Good luck!

Freebie - July Bella Dog Design

With all the craziness going on here, I am a little behind on posting my July freebie.  I haven't had a chance to stitch this up yet, but plan to as soon as I get my SNS Spotted Hare Needle Purse stitching done.

I would encourage you to experiment with the July design and use Kreinik metallic threads, beads, something to give the fireworks kaa-BOOM :)

July Bella Dog Design

Needle Keep Winners

I'm waiting to hear from three of the needle keep winners.  I would like to hear from them before July 14th - otherwise I will draw three more names.

Best wishes -

Spotted Hare WIP and RAK

I managed to complete the bottom of the Spotted Hare Needle Purse yesterday.  It's fun and the stitching is, surprisingly, going quickly.  Maybe it's going quickly because it's fun?

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law from Hawaii are here for a short visit.  When they come, they always manage to bring my FAVORITE from their islands - chocolate covered macadamia nuts.
I love scarves - Val made me this beautiful scarf - and knowing how much I love to stitch - well, I hit the jackpot!!  Three cross stitch patterns - all of which I can hardly wait to get to.  A huge THANK YOU to two special people.

Happy stitching - Cheers!

Shining Needle Society, A Spotted Hare Needle Purse

I don't know how I found The Shining Needle Society (SNS), but it is a true treasure.  It's a Yahoo group that offers on line workshops.   If you're not familiar with it, it's easy to sign up and it's FREE.  The only emails you receive are announcements about classes. Through SNS, you get access to many, many fabulous teachers - and you only pay a fee if you sign up for a class. If you are interested in SNS and/or would like to sign up, you can contact Kate Gaunt (leader) at kategaunt@aol.com.

Part of my problem (and there are many, depending on who you ask - HA!) I have with SNS is I want to take ALL the classes.....but, of course, reason must rule, so I need to be selective.  The first class I jumped at taking is Sherri Jones' "A Spotted Hare Needle Purse".  Take a peek at Sherri's blog here.  I received my goodies and now have some time to sit and start.  I will post progress.  I only hope I can do the design justice.

Happy stitching - Cheers!

Another Give Away!

Please pop over to Marsha's blog - Everybody Loves Clark.  She is having a wonderful give away.
Best of luck to all!!

Another Give Away!!!

Chris, of Always Smiling is having a fabulous give away to celebrate passing her 200th follower milestone.  Take a look at her wonderful treats:

Isn't her stitching amazing?  Take a stroll over to her blog and enter her give away.

Happy stitching - Cheers!

Needle Keeps Needing Homes

Here is a photo of the presentation bowl I painted that contained the names of all of you who entered.

 I've drawn the six names who will be adopting the needle keeps ;).

• Merrill
• Connie K
• Calamityjr
• Rhona
• Kay Eyles
• Bernadett Rauski

Please email me your mailing addresses (spiritoftheheart1@gmail.com) and I will get them to you.

I had SO MUCH FUN doing this......I'm already cooking up another give way.  

Happy Stitching - Cheers!!

And the Winner is.......

BITSY - aka Elizabeth.

Please email me your mailing address  (spiritoftheheart1@gmail.com) by end of day July 3rd (i.e., 48 hours) and I'll send your winnings.  Also, please indicate which two needle keeps you would like and I'll send them along.   If I don't hear from you within 48 hours, I'll draw another name.

To all - keep in mind, you still may be the proud care taker of a needle keep.  Stay tuned!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO BITSY!!!