TuSaL and a giftie

  It is storming in Alabama right now.  At least it seems to be moving pretty fast but that's just me. I know this line of storms has already caused some damage but praying we won't get the heavy winds. Right now just heavy rain, thunder and lightening, but afraid the worst is going over my dd Tami in Hartselle.

Anyway reporting in on my orts for this time. I did a lot of frogging...think I'm seeing a trend here.
 Also next to the orts wanted to share what I got in the mail today. My exchange gift from stitching buddy Sandi. She didn't send just one, but two ornies. Don't you love that bunny's tail? So cute.

Just have to share my RAK from Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. Look at all these beautiful laces and trims and ric rac and buttons, colors chosen by her. And btw, her giveaway is still going on (my sidebar) until April 15th drawing. Go over and put your name in. If you haven't used her beautiful 'stuff' yet or taken advantage of her cross stitch charts, you're missing out for real.

Val's Stuff

28ct Gingham

Crescent Colors & Sampler threads

mystery exchange from

 me to buddy DebS 



I leave you with Sophie and me. Some have asked to see how she's grown.

hugs and happy stitching!
Babs

tusal, an ornament and a gift

I almost forgot...again!! It's ORT day and I have a few this time.  Hubby found this little container for me and it's just perfect.  need or want info on the tusal and what it's all abut just click the link in my sidebar and it will take you over to Daffy Cat. She knows everything :)

Behind the orts on the left is the beautiful valentine exchange ornament stitched by stitching buddy Diane Hammond in England. The chocolate disappeared out of the picture for some reason...prolly because hubby loves UK candy.
 Ornament on the right is my ornament for January. It's Snow Cold by Little house neeedleworks using dmc's and one GAST. I posted my finish on a now defunct year long ornament sal. The pretty ornament sal link in my sidebar is the correct one. Why don't you click on it and join the fun?
 The blue rick rack is from Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler shoppe and does match the blue of the ornament even though it doesn't look like it.  Nancy hand dyes her threads and the trim like this rick rack.
Go check her out. Almost always a giveaway going on over there too.
Happy Stitching every buddy,

Babs

An unfinished finish and a plea...

Plea first: please got to Daffy Cat's and scroll down to her May 29 blog post. I've been having so much trouble commenting on friends' blogs and missed giveaway sign ups because blogger won't let me comment most of the time unless it's a pop-up window. She's got the directions so clear, even this blogging dummy can understand it. just asking :)

Now the unfinished finish and #2 on my challenge list. not pressed or straightened yet



Polly Wolly Doodle
La D Da
30 Ct. R&R Winter Frost
Gentle Arts Sampler threads


that's it for this Saturday morning!
hugs,
Babs

A finish for Babs but not a challenge!

I did it! I finished Beds of Roses! I can't believe how long it took and how much frogging I did...that little fellow just wouldn't go away. Now to find the perfect frame or whatever finishing I decide to do.

Beds of Roses
designed by Terry Loewen
stitched on 32 ct. autumn blush over two
using GAST Faded Rose

Some of you asked where the pattern is from...It was a neat little surprise in the first copy I ever bought of Create & Decorate, April 2011. They did send me to a web sight for a better chart www.createanddecorate.com/downloads . It might still be available and you can print it off.

And, oh yeah, you can click on my pics now and enlarge them, but not any before today I don't think. I just did it spastically but I think that's been taken care of now :)

HTH and hugs,
Babs

Did you think I forgot to draw a name for PIF?

I didn't forget. I just got this idea since there were only six names. I don't know anything about random counters, etc., but I do know about the honor system :) I had a little fun with it since this is Easter month so just bear with me. Only one person won the draw, but I would love to have the addresses of the other five if you don't mind. If you do mind, that's ok, but why not send me your address just in case?I wanted to hide the names in eggs...all colors, then I realized I better have the eggs all the same color so no cheating going on :) Here are the eggs in the basket:

Look real close and you'll see all six eggs in the grass:

And the winner is Maria!!!!!

And then, the other five names folded in their eggs...not going to call you losers :)

Maria, I will get to know you a little better and see what your tastes are, but now you have to pay it forward on your blog.

I had the nicest surprise recently. I picked up this magazine that I'd never bought before called Create & Decorate...

and I found this..... a design by Terry Loewen.

and had to do this. I cut a piece of autumn blush 32ct fabric and picked one of the newest Gast threads called faded rose and got this far

but really want to finish this before anything else. I love the faded, look of the thread and blotchy look of the fabric. Together with the chenille trim planned for it, I'm hoping to have my very own brand new "antique".

and by the way, picked up the latest copy of Create & Decorate a little while ago. I do love this magazine!

bye for now!

hugs,

Babs

Fun, Fabulous Fifteen!!!

Well, I did it....sort of. I changed my mind on a few. it seemed I had picked so much work. One thing is I wanted to devote more to patriotic ; I didn't have a whimsical piece so chose a Bent Creek.

The biggest change was to Scarlet Ribands by Long Dog Samplers. It came Thursday and I immediately picked thread and fabric.

So here goes, then I'm putting the needle up until about Monday or so...I want to read a book. I know it's not much stitching but I just wanted to get a stitch or two in all 15 pieces...ON TIME for a change.

#1 is Scarlet Ribands by Long Dog, stitching it with silk n color In the Burgundy on 36 ct. dove grey linen.

#2 is The Patriotic Branch by Bent Creek; on 32 ct. linen with Weeks and Gast.

#3 is Patriotic Patchwork by Blue Ribbon on 40 ct. sand with crescent color threads.

And last is Reading by Little House Needleworks using 32 ct. lambs wool and the crescents that came with it.


Bye for now. I'm just going to read a bit while the snow is still on the ground all around.

Hugs,

Babs

Playing catch-up/#11 on day 13

I am going to do this. I am! I am! I am!

Not going to talk cause I haven't even checked out the blogs and progress yet. Just going to jump in and show you these four pieces with very little done except for a favorite Polly Wolly Doodle all Day by La D Da. Yep, I did a little tweaking on the list; with only a few stitches done I decided I wanted to really stitch this little cutie. Done with GAST on some hand dyed fabric.


Next up is Anna's Prayer by Heartstring Samplery. I love this prayer and really love these funky flowers. It's with dmc on another hand dyed 30 ct. I got all 13 of those lines across the top but scanner didn't want to accommodate.

Next is Spring Quakers by Rosewood Manor (Karen Kluba). Froggie was my constant companion while I tried to start this, and this is not good since it's Valdani threads and don't need to waste any. The fabric is Valor from picture this plus.

Lastly is from The World of Cross Stitching issue 102. It's called The Sweetest Thing by Flora White. 32 ct Belfast & dmc. A sweet friend in my stitching buddies group knew I needed this old copy and found it on Ebay and surprised me with it. Thank you so much Isobel. It's one of two I'm stitching in that series.
That's it! I'm outta' here for now to eat some lunch then check groups and blogs.

Hugs

Babs (who now has 56!!!)