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