Lavender Blue and exchanges

I have been stitching my fingers off like crazy in the last two weeks.  I got behind on my Lavender Blue parts one and two. I finished the parts last night. I emailed Angie for the next parts and I got an immediate response. However I have to do a  few exchanges before I can go back to Lavender Blue.  The next parts (5 and 6) come out on April 10. I don't know if I will be able to catch up in time, but I am going to try.  I do love the colors and it is coming out gorgeous. The material's color is Angel Blush, a pale pink and the camera is not  picking it up. Maybe I will take the next picture outside, if I remember.

Love Bug freebie from Erynne Chard Designs

28 count evenweave

DMC  floss 310, 603, 349

Heart shape felt and ribbon

I stitched this little Love Bug for my friend for her birthday.  Her birthday is Feb  17 and Valentine's Day is one of her favorite holidays.  I entered the picture in the Valentine Competition contest in my i-love-cross-stitch yahoo group and it won first place! I was tickled pink!

 Love,Hugs, and Kisses by VeeandCO freebie

14 ct opalescent light purple aida

DMC threads

This little flatfold was for  the same friend and it was entered in the competition too.  It came in 6th place. The ribbon is a bit crooked and I didn't catch that until I saw the picture in the competition.  This was the pattern I got from my Valentine's exchange last month. 

I finally got my bookmark from Judith of Germany.  The first one never made it to me so she stitched another one.  It came out very lovely and she put my name on it.  I love it.  Thank you Judith!

This beautiful wooden box is from Berly for the St. Patty's exchange in the ILCS group.  The exchange was to stitch a  St. Patrick's Day theme and finish it off with 2 specialty threads.  Berly included Week Dye Works, Emerald's Isle, Gold, and Hunter, very much St. Patty's color.  Thank you Berly!

 Ye Olde Irish Sampler by Jennifer Dalenburg of Feathers in a Nest

28 count antique white evenweave

DMC 3820, 4045, Gentle Arts Antique Rose and Victorian Pink

I stitched this little pillow for Bridgette for the St. Patty's exchange.  This was a very quick stitch and did it over a weekend.   I selected my own colors. This pattern was a freebie I found on Feathers in a Nest blog.  I like how it came out and I hope Bridgette  likes it.

Lifestyle Change

I am going to Tulsa to visit my nephew, who I haven't seen for 4 years.  After the visit, I am heading to Colorado Springs, Colorado for the annual ILCS Retreat.  With encouragement from a friend, I had started walking almost daily. I started at 15 minutes and now I am at 30  minutes.   I just started the 30 minutes this week and I can really feel it with my body.  I am so sore after the walk,  I am literally dragging my feet for rest of the night.  I know I can pass this and than I will be able to walk longer.  I do use my  walker for my walks but I am hoping not to be using it by June.  This past Tuesday I joined Weight Watchers with  a friend.  We were suppose to go last week but her son was sick.  I weigh at least 50 pounds LESS than I thought, and at  one point I was 50 pounds heavier and apparently lose the weight over the last year or so.  How? I wish I knew,but with WW, I can  make better choices and lose more  weight on a more steadier base.   I am still thinking of getting the gastric bypass, but even if I did go for it, I still have to change my lifestyle.  I am going to try the walking and WW first and now the road, I feel I  need more help. than the bypass or lap-band will still be an option. 

Have a nice day! 

Hugs,

Vicky

Q-Snaps Huggies and Finishes

This weekend I did some sewing.  I made a couple Q-Snaps huggies.  I love them but I think I made them a little too wide.  I had 1/2 inch elastic and the instructions called for 1/4 inch, I think.  So I made them an inch wider to compensate for the 1/2 inch elastic.  The owl came out good but the cat one is a little big.  It might be good for those projects with lots of material to hold.  Tell me what you think.

In my Stitching Sister yahoo group, there was a Valentine exchange I joined.  Faith was my partner and  she send a wonderful package.  I love everything.  I, even, stitched one of the free patterns she send me but I can not show it.  I had entered in a competition in one of my other groups.  Thank you Faith!

Last year I stitched this cute pattern, "Meow  spoken her" and this weekend I finished it off as a flat fold. I thought I had put a picture up when I finished it, but I did not because it is not in my history.  As you notice, it is the same material as the Q-snaps huggie.  This one is for my friend in VA.  I had stitched Lizzie Kate "Dogs Leave Pawprints on Your Heart" when I  was visiting her in Texas a couple years ago.  She wanted one for her cats.  I finally got one done for her and its on her way.   The picture below is the back.  I had to make a mini collage of the cats because I did  not have a picture of them together.  I still need to work on making bows.

When I was unpacking from my trip last month, I unpacked a pattern I brought with me, hoping to start it.  I always overpack when I bring stitching projects, but what stitcher doesn't?  When I was done, I realize I didn't see the material and threads with the pattern.  I called my friend but she didn't have it.  So I went looking into my closet, thinking I absently put it one of my bags.  This is what I found:

This butterfly was stitched while I was in VA last May and I must have packed it by accident when I was packing to leave.  How I never noticed I took it earlier, probably I just when through the bag real quick and put aside.  So I made it into  a pillow like I told my friend I will this is the results.

I never did  find my threads and material.  Also, a book is missing too.  If I find the book, I might find the material and threads,or vice versa.  I guess I should be more organized.  I, also, finished a Valentine ornament, but that too, is going into the competition. 

This is  the bookmark I finished for Judith from Germany.  It was an Valentine Card and Bookmark exchange in the ILCSing yahoo group.  The pattern came from Hold That Thought by Leisure Arts.  It was stitched on pink aida by the camera didn't get the color. 

Don't forget about my giveaway.  If you want to enter, please comment in the post below.  I will not enter anyone from this posting. 

Many hugs,
Vicky

January Owl and Redecorating

I finally started on the OakHaven Owl SAL.  Kelly from i-love-crossstitch blog and I started on Sunday. I just finished the owl today. I was hoping to finish it on Monday but my bedroom was being redecorated, thanks to my lovely aunts.  They did most of the work.  Monday was moving furniture from the walls and painting the walls.  Here a couple before pics  before the painting.

Tuesday was whenwe moved the furniture around and brought things back into the room.  I love it. Here is the results.

The wall is pink called  Fading Roses.  It took me a long time to decide what color and to find the comforter.  I still have a wall with no pictures on it.  I better get back  to stitching so I can fill up the wall. 

Arlette got her bookmark and needles from me.  The pattern came from Leisure Arts Bookmarks of the Seasons.  I used DMC 4215.  I love how the colors of the thread came out and so wintery looking too. 

Health note:   Sunday, Sept 18, I went the hospital for a pain on my right side with nauseous and a fever. I thought it was my gallstones acting up again.  They were but found out I had an urinary tract infection too. They admitted me in and I was there for three days.  The surgeon  decided it was best to have my gallbladder out but as an outpatient.  So I am seeing the surgeon on Oct 6 and the date for the surgery will be set than.  I am hoping it will be in November so I could go to Virginia for Halloween.  I know I will have appointments before the surgery but I could work around it.  I will know on the 6th whether I will be going or not.

Many hugs until next time,
Vicky

Bookmarks, a magnet and a Treasure!

I have another update already. First, I have pictures of the 2 exchanges I send out. One is the bookmark exchange (one on the left) I send to Berly in IL a sunflower bookmark, a few DMC threads and some coffee. Roz was my partner and she send me the cutest cupcake bookmark (on the right) , a few threads, a package of hot cocoa, summer beach theme buttons and a soft pink fabric. I am saving the hot cocoa for colder weather since it has been over 90 degrees the last few days.
In the last post, Elaine send me the cutest pumpkin magnet. She send word she received my magnet for her. I stitched her Owl on the Egg from Bent Creek. It was a freebie I found last year but I dont know if its still available. She loves owls so it was perfect for her.
I found a treasure, well, its a treasure for me. I have been looking for a copy of Mirabilia The Seaside Kingdom. It had went out of print a couple years ago. I have been looking on eBay on and off for about an year. This past July, there was, not one, but two patterns being bid. One was slightly used and the other was brand new. I got the brand new one , which cost less than the used one, plus the pattern Giggles was included for $10.

I cant start this one yet. I might start it on the first of the year. I realize today I have a lot of stitching this month. I have to do the following:
~ First Day of Autumn exchange mail by 10th
~ Christmas ornament RR mail out by 15th,
~ Autumn ornament mail by Oct 13th,
~ Halloween card by Oct 6th
~ Halloween Pin by Oct 15th
~ Christmas ornament by Sept 30th
~ 3rd Christmas Ornament RR by Oct 15 ( I already have the package here)
My needles will be busy. I am hoping the frogs wont come by too often so I can have things go smoothly. This pass week I have been stitching on Lizzie Kate My Country. Here is the picture of what I done so far. Since Hurricane Earl is passing by this weekend, it will be a perfect weekend stitching. Perhaps I will have another finish by Monday.

Hugs,

Vicky