Angel Puppy in the Window

I'd like you to meet Angel Puppy. Can you see the pearl and red rhinestone collar around her neckI  made just for her?  I added a red angel.  (It can also be worn as a bracelet).

As much as our little Emma would like to keep her as a playmate, Angel Puppy should go to an adoptive home.  She is a mere 5 inches high and is VERY low maintenance.

If you are at all interested in giving Angel Puppy a loving home, please leave a comment to this post.  I'll contact the adoptive parent on June 19th.

In the mean time, keep yourself surrounded by stitches ~ Cheers ~

Fair E. Bear Needs a Home

 Wanted:  Loving family who believes in fairies.  Must love Teddy Bears.  

Care and Feeding:  Lots of love.

If anyone is interested in adopting three inch Fair E. Bear, please leave a comment.  The adopting family will be notified June 12th.  Delivery service included.

(In other words, this is a give away ;)…..drawing will be June 12th).

Keep yourself surrounded by stitches ~ Cheers ~

Better Get Comfortable…..

…..this will be a post full of pictures and updates. ;)

 ~ Christmas in July Swap ~

The elves are all busy in their workshops making their gifts to swap with their swap partners in July.  I have completed one of my pieces…..no pictures to post yet, you'll have to wait until July 25th when we get to open our goodies and share.

 ~ Mr. Postman was very good to me ~

I can't believe I've been so fortunate these past weeks!!  Lovely Kaye from Kitten Stitching had a give away and I was one of the lucky winners!  AUGH!  I LOVE blues and yellows….can hardly wait to stitch up the Stone house by Juniper Designs….check out the adorable scissor charm….and who can't use an emory board that has centimeters and inches??  Thank you, Kaye!!

Sarah from Sarah in Stitches had a give away for a traveling chart from LK ("Life's a Stitch").  The chart arrived - and so did some other lovely gifts.  The traveling pattern, some gorgeous threads called "Blue Star", a needle threader from "My Big Toe Designs", darling charms (love, love to embellish my stitching with charms.  I think it adds some whimsey), and last but not least a key chain in the shape of a flip flop with sand from Dubai's pristine beaches.  How cool is that?!

Nancy from Victorian Motto Sampler had a give away for her Custom Family Name Sampler.  I was one of the lucky winners.  It is absolutely GORGEOUS!!  I can't tell you what name I requested on the sampler because it's a surprise for a very special couple.  Nancy, as always, you are generous and sharing.  Thank you.

~ Personal Delivery ~

My brother-in-law from Hawaii came to the main land on business.  He stopped to visit for a few days while stateside.  Unfortunately my sister-in-law wasn't able to accompany him this time around. She and I share a love for needlework (and collecting stash :)).  She sent these projects…as always PERFECTLY chosen. Now I find I'm addicted to Victorian Sampler designs. HA!

Hmmmm….what have I been stitching, you may ask?  Well, I've been working on

 - Christmas in July Swap

 - iStitch Swap hosted by iStitch Designs

 - Christmas Ornament hosted by Hooked on Exchanging

 - Round Robin Exchange hosted by Butterfly Wings

    ……but I can't show any pictures……yet.

I can show you progress on the Mystery SAL from By the Bay Needleart.  I'm almost done with Part 2.

Can hardly wait to see what the finished design looks like.

WHEW!  Long post.  More later…..

Keep yourself surrounded by stitches ~ Cheers ~

Give Away from Stitching Lotus!!

Stitching Lotus is giving away a gently used chart from Lizzy Kate called "My Needle's Work".  Isn't it darling??  Go here to enter.  Hurry, quick - the drawing is Monday, April 28th!

Custom Family Name Sampler Chart from Victorian Motto Sampler - GIVEAWAY!!

Check out this WONDERFUL give away from Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler.

If you hear about this giveaway from me and pop over to enter, please tell Nancy I sent you.  Good luck!!!

March Smalls SAL Project, Give Away on its Way!

Here is my project for the Smalls SAL hosted by Stitching Lotus. You've probably got the idea I love dogs.  I painted this porcelain box with little dog foot prints and hearts.

The inside bottom of the box has a heart, as well.

I designed and stitched a pup for the lid, mounted it and finished it off with black cording.

It measures 1.5 inches square and 1 inch tall.

Jacquie will be receiving the LHN's "Goodwill" pattern.  Congrats, Jacquie!!

Pickle Barrel Design Spring Give Away

Take a look at the patterns from Nancy at Pickle Barrel Designs!  The lucky winner will get to choose from three darling choices.  If you enter, please be sure to tell Nancy I sent you.

If I win, I'll choose this one:

Good luck - Cheers!

Spring Give Away!

Look at this wonderful give away from Marie Christine.  What a great way to kick off Spring!

March Give Away Winner

I ran the Random Number Generator and the winner of my March Give Away is

Ariadne

Ariadne, please email me and let me know your address, and also the address of your friend who will be sharing in your good luck.  Please indicate the thread keep you would like and which you would like me to send to your friend:

You also get to choose from these scissor fobs - one for you and one for your friend:

Congratulations - and Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Downton Abbey, Irish Stitching, Horn Books, Thread Keepers and March Give Away!!!

OK - I'm a "Downton Abbey" fan.  Love it, love it.  Take the quiz here and find out which Downton Abbey character you are.  I never take quizzes like this, but couldn't resist. I was told I was Anna - which character are you?

My mother was very proud of her Irish heritage and passed along that pride to me.  She loved St. Patrick's Day and would fix corned beef and cabbage, creme brûlée - and, of course - Irish Coffee.  This will be my first St. Patrick's Day without her but, rest assured, I will be making her traditional feast in her honor.

I seem to be on an Irish kick and have been stitching a bunch of Irish-themed patterns.

This is called "A Little Irish Sampler" from The Sampler Girl.  

This a freebie from The Primitive Hare.

This is a free pattern from Plum Street Samplers.

This is another freebie from lesfilsdhelene.over-blog.com.  It measures 1.75x1.5 inches.

OK - I sent Hubby on a mission to make some wooden thread keeps using his new scroll saw.  I designed them, he cut and stained them - aren't they CUTE?!?!?!?!  I have other thread holder designs ready to be cut, so watch this space ;0)

I've become fascinated by horn books.  They date back as far as 1450 and were used as a primer for children.  It had letters of the alphabet and was mounted on a piece of wood, bone, leather or stone.

Well, I got it in my head I just HAD to design one - Hubby made these - they measure 5.25x5.5 inches. Including the handle, the horn book is 8.5 inches from top to bottom.

Here's my first horn book design - simple, sweet and a wee bit Irish.

I haven't charted it yet, but will soon, so be on the look out for another free pattern from me.  I have some ideas for more horn book designs.  Next project will be a smaller one, possibly doubling as a thread holder?   Hmmmmmmm - what fun!!!

Look at the amaryllis!!  They were a Christmas gift in 2012 and have come back into bloom like no tomorrow.  Isn't the color GORGEOUS?!?

ANNOUNCING THE MARCH GIVE AWAY

At the beginning of the year, I vowed to have a give away each month.  This month I'd like to do something a little different - share and share alike, as it were.  So, here we go!!

The give away for March will be your choice of:

 A wooden thread keep and a beaded scissor fob - for you and a friend.

Rules are simple:

Be or become a follower of this blog - one entry
Send someone and they become a follower - an additional entry
Blog about the March give away on your blog - an additional entry

The winner's name will be drawn on St. Patrick's Day (of course).  I will contact the winner and they can tell me their preference for the fob and thread keep - and what friend they would like to have me send their give away stash.

Keep yourself surrounded in 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.

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 ~

January 2014 Smalls SAL - PLUS Another Gift for Blogoversary Give Away

I had so much fun stitching this little cupid for my first project in the Smalls SAL.  I printed the free pattern last year and, when I looked for the link on the web just now so I could share it with you, I couldn't find it.  At any rate, the cupid is stitched on 40 count silk gauze and measures 1.5x1.5".

In keeping with the theme of this little guy, I made a box (thanks to LynnB's tutorial) and put it on the top, complete with a sterling silver heart charm.  The box measures 4x4" wide and 2" tall.

OH!  And did I mention this is the second addition to my Blogoversary Give Away?  There's still time to enter - here's how:

1.  Be - or become a follower: one entry.
2.  Place a comment on this post: one entry.
3.  Blog about this give away and this latest addition to the gifts: one entry.
4.  Send someone to my blog and - if they become a follower - you get another entry.

The winner will be announced on February16th - this blog's FIRST Blogoversary.

Be sure to check next Wednesday - there's another goodie to be added to the give away.
Stay warm and surrounded by stitches -
Cheers!

This Butterfly is FREE and Celebrating my First Blogiversay

My first Blogiversary is approaching next month.  I have had SO MUCH FUN over the past year, I'd like to do a special give away.

I'll be giving away another Limoges box I painted.  This one measures 3x3 inches and, with the butterfly, 3 inches high.  I will paint the inside with 24KT gold and the winner's initials/monogram.
OH!  and did I mention there will be more goodies added each week until the drawing on February 16th?

Here's how to enter:

1.  Be - or become - a follower: one entry.
2.  Place a comment on this post: one entry.
3.  Blog about this give away on your blog: one entry.
4.  Send someone to my blog and - if they become a follower - you get another entry.

OH!  And I've been busy, busy - I'm just finishing stitching my latest cross stitch pattern.  Once it's complete, I'll post the design and the free pattern.  I think it's adorable and stitches up quickly.

It's minus 30 wind chill here, so off to gather my threads and needles, put a warm puppy on my lap and fire up Netflix.

Stay tuned for the next addition to my FIRST BLOGIVERSAY GIVE AWAY - I'll post Wednesday.

Cheers - and Happy Stitching ~

2014 - Give Aways Galore

Welcome 2014!   The past year was one of loss, but also growth.

 - Our two miniature schnauzers, Missy and Sally, passed away less than two weeks of each other.

 - My Aunt passed away the Friday before Palm Sunday.  

 - My dear, sweet mother suffered a severe stroke and struggled for months with the aftermath before passing in November.  

 - Our family grew by one member - our daughter married the love of her life in July.  

 - I started this blog, which has brought growth in creativity and, more importantly, marvelous, supportive cyber-friends.

LET'S START 2014 WITH A GIVE AWAY

I designed and stitched the silhouette of a horse on 18-count canvas, then painted the bottom of a porcelain box using china paints.  After completing the stitching, I mounted the canvas on the top of the box.  It measures two inches in diameter.

I loved the design so much, I painted another canvas and another porcelain box.  It also measures 2x2 inches.

 My first giveaway of 2014 is the square box and canvas, above - complete with instructions and everything you will need to complete the project.  It's a quick project, so the lucky winner won't have to spend tons of time on it - and will have a lovely piece when done.

Here are the guidelines and how to enter:

1.  Be - or become - a follower to this blog - one entry.

2.  Place a comment to this post - one entry.

3.  Blog about the giveaway on your blog - one entry.

4.  Send someone to my blog and, if they become a follower, you will get another chance to win.

Winner to be announced on January 15th.

Cheers!!!

HO! HO! HO! Give Away from Me to You!

I adore Nutcrackers - and who wouldn't love to stitch up some from Sweetheart Tree?  Each one comes with an adorable charm to add some pazazz.

I have seven to give away -

 Buckingham Guard Chubby Nutcracker, Irish Shamrocks Chubby Nutcracker and "Moon Doggie," the Beach Bum Chubby Nutcracker

Easter Bunny Chubby Nutcracker, January Snow Chubby Nutcracker, "Wild West Sheriff" Chubby Nutcracker and Valentine Hearts Chubby Nutcracker

Here's how to enter:

* Be or become a Friend aka Follower of this blog-- 5 Entries-**

* Blog about my contest-4 Entries
*Leave a comment under this post-3 Entries

-Winner will be chosen on December 17th.-

 ~ Best wishes for a lovely Christmas season. ~

Scissor Giveaway from Missy

A gorgeous giveaway from Missy on her blog at Missyllaneous.  Good luck!!

Seasons of My Mind Giveaway!!

Goodness me!  Another generous giveaway from Parsley.  See her snowman giveaway here.

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Fourth Day of Christmas Giveaway!!

WOW!!!  How generous is this?  Pop over and enter here.

Gorgeous Giveaway from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe!

What a gorgeous and generous giveaway!  Check this out:

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe