Stitchy Witch, Melon, Trick or Treat Bag Free Cross Stitch Pattern

I was lucky to be a part of the Tutti Frutti Exchange hosted by Mii Stitch.  My package arrive safe and sound and the goodies are now with the lovely Marie Christine  at Berberis Patchwork blog.  Marie-Christine loves melon, so I stitched this from a freebie pattern by DMC and made it into a pillow.

 The back has two pockets:

I found the cutest watermelon biscornu pattern from Virginia Knutson and managed to find the PERFECT watermelon buttons for the center.  It was my lucky day.  I love strawberries and cherries, so I had to send Marie-Christine a cherry needle keep I stitched up and finished - and a mug rug.  Her favorite color is dark green and she loves to adorn her scissors with ornamentation…..so I HAD to make a scissor fob in green crystals with a medallion on the end.  LHN is one of my favorite designers, so I included a project, too.  

The Halloween Ornament Exchange has gotten me in the mood to stitch up something ghostly and witchy-stitchy.  I found the perfect candidate in the latest "Just Cross Stitch" magazine - here's "Stitching Witch".  I stitched her on 36 count linen and discovered I had a frame in my stash that was perfect.  It measures 1 1/4x 1 3/4 inches.

I'm stitching ornaments for exchanges I can't show you yet…stay tuned.

I found this darling free pattern for a Trick or Treat design at Chez Mounette….click over and check it out!!

Halloween Ornament Exchange Information Page

Greetings and Happy Friday!!

For those who are participating in the FIRST ANNUAL HALLOWEEN ORNAMENT EXCHANGE, please note I've created a separate page for you with information about the exchange, deadline dates for receiving your mailing addresses, mailing to your partner, etc.

There are a few Ghouls who don't have blogs so I will be posting their creations and what they receive from their Witchy Stitchers on this page.  I've run across several great free Halloween patterns online and will post ideas on that page as well.

PLEASE NOTE I STILL NEED MAILING ADDRESSES FROM TWO PARTICIPANTS.  I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU NO LATER THAN SATURDAY, AUGUST 30th.

Remember, your exchange names will be sent to you on September 1st.  Watch and wait for it…..wait for it….

Keep yourself surrounded by stitches ~ Cheers ~

August SAL, Tutti Frutti Swap, Christmas Ornament Exchange

Holy Cow!  It's been such a great week.  I've been inspired to stitch several Halloween-themed projects….and - of course - I can't share them with you…YET < GRIN >.

Here's my August Smalls ornament:

It's 4 3/4x2 inches.  I believe it's a free Lizzie Kate pattern, but I can't seem to find it, otherwise I'd gladly provide you a link.

And - oh my - look what the postman delivered from Joelle for the Tutti Frutti, hosted by the lovely MiiStitch.

 The strawberry pattern was designed by Isabelle Haccourt.  (Isn't it beautiful)?  The candies are handmade by monks in Abbaye de Landevennec.  I hope you click over to look at their beautiful abbey and grounds.  It's stunning.  The jelly is handmade, too, in a castle, Chateau de Jallanges.  It's so beautiful!!!  A LNH strawberry pattern and some fabric, as well as a potholder with a cherry motif.  Strawberries and cherries - my absolute FAVROTIES!!  I LOVE IT ALL!!  Thank you, Joelle!!!

And, last but not least, an ornament I received from the lovely Becky as part of the Hooked on Exchanging ornament exchange - isn't it pretty?  The picture doesn't show the sparkling fabric -

And here's the one I stitched for Becky - it's a Lizzie Kate freebie.  Front:

And back:

Well….now back to some halloween stitching….and catching up on several SALs.  I'm  WAAAAAYYYY behind.

Keep yourself surrounded by stitches ~ Cheers ~

Spooky Exchange Closed, Lovely Gifts

WHEW!  I feel like I'm still catching up after the baby shower.  Hard to believe it was only a week ago.  The time has gone so quickly.  My daughter and her husband received so many lovely, thoughtful gifts.  I"m grateful to all who attended to share our joy.

The First Annual Halloween Exchange is now CLOSED.  There are 36 Ghouls - er GIRLS- who signed up from all over the world.  I'm thoroughly excited about the Halloween Party to come.

Now, some news I've been meaning to share -  I received these patterns as part of a give away from Mel at Epic Stitching.  There's even a Halloween themed pattern - hmmmmm…….sounds intriguing, doesn't it?  Thank you, Mel!!

And look at the DARLING charms from Angela's give away who blogs at Pretty Little Things in a Box. Aren't these cute??  I love, LOVE charms….there's a Halloween pumpkin charm….OH BOY!!  Thank you, Angela.

I just completed exchange gifts for the Tutti Frutti Swap hosted by Miistitch.  The package will be mailed tomorrow.  I can hardly wait to show you what I sent!!  Love them all (if I do say so myself ;)).

More later -

Keep yourself surrounded by stitches - Cheers ~

Halloween Ornament Exchange

Is anyone interested in a Halloween Ornament Exchange?  If so,

- You need to be a follower of this blog.

 - Contact me by posting a response to this post or send me an email.

 - You don't need to have a blog, HOWEVER, I need to have a way of contacting you.  Some are
    "no reply" bloggers, so I cannot reach you.  If you leave a message on this post and are a "no reply"
    blogger, I regret I will not be able to add you to the group.

- Halloween ornament may be the ornament of your choice.  It doesn't need to be cross stitched
  - but it should be hand made.

 - It needs to be a completed project, ready for your Exchange Partner to hang up and enjoy.

I will take sign ups until August 22nd and will notify each stitcher by August 30th who they are exchanging with.  Please mail your ornaments no later than October 1st, notifying me when you slip it in the mail so I can make note.

Any and all stitchers are welcome - international exchange participants are welcome.

Keep yourself surrounded by stitches ~ Cheers!!

It Seems Like Such a Long Time Ago…..

We lost our internet connection for four days.  I can't tell you how utterly L-O-N-G those four days were.  I missed my blogging friends, missed reading your updates and your friendships.  I hope I've caught up and commented on each and every blog I follow….but if I missed any of you, I apologize and promise to stay up to date.  We now have a new modem and router and are humming along - YIPPEE!!

A lot has been going on - most I can't share because the stitching has been for the baby shower, exchanges and round robin.  But - BOY OH BOY - the needles and floss have been flying.

One finish I can share is the biscornu I stitched for Lily and the Hooked on Exchanging group I'm a part of.  It arrived safe and sound:

It's a pattern from http://coccinelle54.free.fr and is stitched on 32 count linen.  My favorite color is blue, the stone in the center is a Swarovski crystal.

More to tell you - later -  Keep yourself surrounded by stitches ~ Cheers ~

Check out this Give Away!

WOW!  Pop on over to Chris's blog at Always Smiling.  She's celebrating her 6 year blogaversary and has a fabulous giveaway!!

Good luck!

Exchange Piece and Gift Bags

Oh man.  It seems like the month of July just started - and here we are in AUGUST!!  SIGH.  I guess it's true - "Time flies when you're having fun" - HA!

I know my iStitch Exchange replacement piece was delivered Wednesday afternoon.  Here's a picture of "Strawberry Fields" and my finish.

I liked the first one, but I REALLY like the second one ;)

I finished 25 gift bags that will be filled with goodies for the guests at my daughter's baby shower this month.  It was a marathon, but I'm pleased with how they turned out.  I snapped this picture in my studio, you can't see all 25 bags but - trust me - they are all there (smile).

Now - on to the next project(s):

• August Round Robin
• HoE Christmas Ornament Exchange
• HoE Biscornu
• HoE Halloween Ornament
• Grand Children's Christmas Stockings
• Stitchy Gifts for Unsuspecting Stitching Buddies
• Other stuff I want to do but haven't gotten to yet <GRIN>

Hmmmm - better get those needles threaded!!

Keep yourself surrounded by stitches ~ Cheers ~