A Happy Mail Day

I had a package waiting for me in the mailbox today. I big yellow envelope with a few stitchy goodies in it!!

Oh la la! Finally!! I look so forward to this issue each year. There are several "must stitch" designs in this years issue. A few of my favorites are: Blackbird Designs-Peace, Blue Ribbon Designs -Merry Wishes, Little House Needleworks - Winter Sampler, Casey Buonaugurio Designs - Purple Penguin. I just love penguins!! I was so excited to see a penguin in this issue! But....that's not all I got.

The 2009 Prairie Schooler Santa!

Festive Redbird from Homespun Elegance. Being a Virginia girl, I just adore cardinals.

Last but not least, a Ned Kelly Kitty scissor fob chart. This little guy is such a cutie! I should have ordered the recommended thread along with it. I'm really wanting to stitch up this kitty.

Well, that's all for now! I was going to talk about my current project but Kanye just grabbed my keyboard! Happy Stitching!

Finally Some Finishes!

First, please forgive my poor photography. I have so little time to stitch, I have even less time to attempt to take awesome photos of my work. My first finish is this freebie from Blackbird Designs, Petites Lettres Rouges. I used a linen I had on hand and DMC threads. The directions stated to stitch a family name into the sampler. I chose instead to honor my three children by stitching in their initials and birth years.

My next finish is a Christmas ornament for my grand-daughter. It's a Lizzie Kate snippet "1st Christmas". A year late but better than never.

Another ornament finish. Same design as above. I think I have previously posted this finish but when I compared it with my most recent finish, I realized that I had not stitched the red thingies. This one is for my grand-son. Only two years late! Now I have to get these pieces finished up as actual ornaments or they still won't have them for this coming Christmas.
My last finish is a design I started last year then put down and forgot about. It's Faith, Hope, Love from Cedar Hill Designs. I saw it on display at the old LNS a few years ago and bought it on a whim.

I'm so glad to finally have some finishes. Now I am working on another Christmas ornament by Prairies Schooler. I haven't decided yet what my next large project will be. I should probably work on an old WIP but they are old and outdated and new starts are much more fun!

I'm enjoying my much needed three day weekend despite the fact that I have spent today taking care of a sick child. I sure hope she is better by Tuesday. It would just be awful to miss the first day of school. Happy Stitches!

Back to Reality

I returned home from vacation yesterday. My family and I spent a week at our favorite campground, North Bend Park at Kerr Dam. A full week of living in a ponytail and flip flops! It's back to the real world tomorrow, so depressing! I took my stitching and my crochet but never touched either. It's too hot outside and dirty of course. My stitching is reserved for rainy days stuck in the camper, of which we had none. I did however take my tackle box of beads and hemp. This is one craft I can do outside and vacation seems to be the only time of the year that I indulge in that craft. Here are a few pics from my vacation:

This is our campsite, site 86 in B. One of our favorites. We have stayed on this site before. The lake and beach area are just down a path from our site. We like to be close to the water so we can leave our boat tied up all week. Taking it in and out everyday is no fun!
View of our campsite from the path that leads to the beach. That's my DH cooking our breakfast. He does most of the cooking when we camp. Lucky me!

This is the path that goes down to the lake where there is a sandy beach and where we keep our boat tied. This is also my view from the picnic table where I played with my beads and hemp in the mornings and evenings.

My tackle box of beads and hemp. Are you wondering why I am showing you a pic of my tackle box on the picnic table? It's because I really enjoy playing with beads and hemp when I am on vacation. And I wanted you to see where.............................

these were made. They are my first attempt at scissor fobs. I was addicted to making them and managed to make about four per day. I'm not too thrilled with the lanyard clips, they're not as fancy as I would like but this was my first attempt and I tried to work with what I had in my box. I certainly can't use all of these fobs and I really enjoyed making them so I would like to give them away. They are free for the asking until they are gone. I don't know if my blog has any regular readers. I certainly don't manage to post regularly, but if you are reading this and you want one just ask in the comments then email me your postal address. I enjoyed making these so much that I am not going to wait until my next vacation to make more of them.

I do have a stitching finish to report. I completed a project before I left for vacation but I need to initial and date it then take a pic. I'll post it soon.

I read one book while at the lake. I usually read two and last year they were both James Patterson novels. This year I tried a new author and I am very pleased! I read "The Postcard" by Beverly Lewis. I have been wanting to read a novel by this author for a few years now and last fall at the GreenValleyBookFair I bought two of her books for $4 each. Speaking of the book fair.......if you are a book lover and are ever in the area of Harrisonburg, VA, you just can't miss this event! Be sure to check the days and hours as they are only open six times per year. So anyway, back to the book I read...I thoroughly enjoyed it although the ending left me hanging and wanting more! Most of Beverly Lewis' novels are set in Lancaster County, PA and the characters are Amish. I will definitely seek out more of these fun reads!

I'll close this post now. I hope you have a wonderful week!!