Mr. Claus and the Scroll Saw

Mrs. Claus gave Mr. Claus a scroll saw for Christmas.  Mr. Claus has been pretty much invisible around the house ever since, preferring to play in his workshop.

Mrs. Claus thought the first fruits of handiwork to be amazing - eight gorgeous Christmas ornaments:

Mr. Claus eagerly looked for another project.  As luck would have it, he came upon a pattern that was more than fit and proper for his 92-year-old father-in-law - a retired Lt. Col. from the Air Force:

The Air Force emblem is made from one piece of oak and measures 7 1/2 inches in diameter.  The base is one piece of oak and measures 8 1/2 inches in diameter.

Mrs. Claus was stunned, proud and impressed with the craftsmanship Mr. Claus displayed.  Father-in-law was also duly impressed, displaying it proudly in his family room for all to see.

End of story.

You may ask, "What does this have to do with needle work?"  My reply:  "Absolutely nothing.  I'm just proud of Hubby and had to share."

Now, back to my latest stitching project. Keep yourself surrounded in stitches ~ Cheers ! ~

Little Emma has had better days…..

Our little 5 pound tea cup Schnauzer had surgery this past Wednesday to repair her right rear knee cap that kept slipping out of place.  She started having issues a few months ago and the vet said if we didn't address it, she would get early arthritis and possibly not be able to walk.

The good news is she came out of surgery in stellar form and is even hobbling around (toe to ground, as the vet calls it).  When I picked her up after surgery, her tail wagged like no tomorrow and she smothered me with kisses.  The first night I slept with her in the recliner.  Now she's back to (an almost) routine.  But no jumping, running or chasing her beloved toys for a few weeks.

Doesn't she look snazzy in her hot pink bandage?  I'll keep all posted on her recovery and progress.

In the mean time, keep yourself surround by stitches.  Cheers!

Victorian Motto Sampler Give Away!!

Another generous give away fro Victorian Motto Sampler - five skeins of floss to 10 lucky winners!
Go here to put your name in the drawing.  If you find out about the give away from my blog, please tell Nancy I sent you.

Good luck to all!

My Blog's First Birthday / Anniversary

WOW!  Hard to believe I started my blog a year ago today.  When I think about all the new friends I've made, it blows my mind.

I put everyone's chance in a spreadsheet and then used a random number generator to pick the winner.
And the winner is……..

Mii Stitch!

Please email me your mailing address and your preference for initials, monogram, or neither for the inside of the butterfly Limoges box.

What's next?  Well, I'm one quarter Irish, so I MUST celebrate St. Patrick's Day in March by having another give away.  Hmmmmm……what to do, what to do?

Until the next blog post - Keep yourself surrounded by stitches.

Cheers! 

The Final Item for First Blogoversary Give Away

Greetings!
My First Blogoversary is fast approaching.  I decided to add a Little House Needleworks design, "Comfort".  So, here's what the lucky winner will win:

1.  Custom painted butterfly Limoges box (with winner's monogram/initials painted in 24kt gold inside)
2.  Lavender scissor fob with made with Swarovski butterfly crystals and butterfly sterling silver charm
3.  4x4x2 inch custom box with cupid stitched on 40 ct gauze and sterling silver heart charm
4.  Little House Needleworks kit, "Comfort"

Everyone still has time to enter.  The drawing will be at 6PM CST Sunday, February 16th.

To Cord or not to Cord……that's the Question…...

I stumbled across the very same fabric in my stash that was used on the doves "Love" pillow from The Silver Needle I showed you in my February 6th post. I had already stitched up the adorable cupid in 32 count linen and couldn't decide how to finish it.  Well, when I discovered the 'love' fabric,  I immediately decided it would look well together and sewed it up:

It measures 3 1/2x9 inches.

I can't decide if I should put cording around it and keep it as a small decorative pillow? Should I put cording around it and tie a bow in the cording on top?  Should I put cording around it and make it into a hanging pillow?  Should I leave it alone?

I can't decide.

HELP!!!

Three More OPAM Finishes!!

Here are three more finishes I did today -

"A Dog's Love…." is a cross stitch design by Dimensions.

The two proverbs are from Little House Needleworks.

I framed "A Dog's Love" myself with a frame I had in my stash in my studio.  The proverbs have cording sewn around the outside and can be hung or placed on a stand.  Each proverb ornament has a small charm sewn on the back into the cording that says "Made with Love".

I guess I really needed some incentive to finish off the stack I have - and OPAM is working (so far) - HA!

Keep yourself surrounded by stitches ~ Cheers! ~

My First OPAM of 2014!!

Just finished this needlepoint cuff bracelet.

It's done in silks and metallic threads.  I attached ultra suede to the back, then attached it to an aluminum  cuff to provide some substance.  It feels good on my wrist ;)  

Off to finish another project!

Keep yourself surrounded in stitches ~ Cheers! ~

Back to Butterflies, Smalls February SAL

We were without internet access yesterday, so am a little tardy showing you this addition to my Blogoversary Give Away.

This scissor fob is a gorgeous purple.  It's difficult to see in the photo, but there are lavender Swarovski crystals on each end in the shape of a butterfly.  The butterfly charm is sterling silver.  Won't this be a perfect companion to the Limoges butterfly box?

For those of you who haven't thrown in your name for my Blogoversary Give Away, you still have time.  The lucky winner will be named at 6PM CST February 16th.  

One more item will be added to the give away next Wednesday.

Here's my February Smalls SAL.  It's in a sterling silver frame, stitched on 32 ct linen.  The frame measures 3x3 inches, the design that shows is 2.25x2.25 inches.  I subscribe to Secret Needle Night by The Silver Needle.  The Valentine pillow (18 ct linen) was the project for January (isn't it darling?).  I thought the design with the doves and "Love" would look nice stitched in 32 ct linen - voila!  My Smalls SAL project for this month.

Stay warm and surrounded with stitches - ~ Cheers ~