A Hermit & Stitch Weekend

Hello!  :)

So sorry I've been gone so long. I've been creating here and there between sicknesses. Seems each of the 3 of us has been sick a different week. I guess that's kind of a good thing.

This past weekend, already almost a week ago, was the International Hermit & Stitch Weekend.

I did get to participate. I actually finished up one project and started another. I'm unable to show you either one of them though since they are both for swaps. I can show you what I received in the last swap I participated in. It was the "Tea in the Garden Exchange" over at Stitched With Love Exchanges. You can go here to check out the gallery of what everyone received. Here's what my partner Mindi sent me . . . 

I had to borrow Mindi's photo since I forgot to take a group picture before I split all the items up. (I hope you won't mind Mindi.) I was surprised by a fabulous package with 3 stitched pieces! How awesome is that?!!! She also gave me a notepad, stickers, hand-dyed threads and some caramels (yum!).

Mindi did a wonderful job on all the stitched pieces. The first one is a Little House Needleworks design that she finished in a tray. It's so awesome!  :)

Here's a closer view of the stitching. She changed the colors to suit me and she did a great job! It's perfect!  :)

The next piece is a little pin cushion she made with elements from original design. I absolutely love it! I started using it immediately and haven't stopped.  :)

The last piece was a little fob she stitched up, again with elements from the original design. What a great way keep a theme going! She did a great job! Don't you just love that tiny pink rick rack?!!! I know I do!  :)

Thank you so much Mindi for your kindness and generosity! I love everything you sent and smile every time I look at it!  :)

My partner this time around was Lisa M. from New York. I sent the following garden themed package to her . . .

A stitched and quilted piece to hang, a pattern, paper, needles, threads, buttons and ribbons. Here's a picture of just the stitched piece I sent her . . . 

It's a Homespun Elegance pattern called "Delivering Posies". I pulled colors from the stitching for the fabrics. I really love the way it came out! It looks much better in person too!  :)  I liked it so much that I stitched another one for myself. I haven't gotten mine quilted and finished yet but I have the fabrics waiting until I get around to it. Here's a closer view of the stitching . . . 

I hope you enjoyed sharing in my exchange goodies with me. One of the items I finished up for the hermit and stitch weekend was my project for the Animal Antics exchange. I sent it off Saturday and my partner should have it already. I hope she likes it!  :)

Until next time . . .

Long time no post :(

Hello!  :)

I can't believe that it's been over 3 weeks since my last post! (Non Traveling Stash that is.) I knew it'd been a while but just didn't think it'd been that long. I'm so sorry for my absence! It's been a busy time for me plus it's been HOT!!! It's usually not humid in Southern California and right now it's over 100 every day plus high humidity! Yuck! Heat and I don't get along and humidity and I definitely do not get along. I start sweating instantly and get overwhelmed with heat. It really sucks! For the past few weeks I've basically been sitting around working on various cross stitch projects for Christmas and other holidays. I wanted to post about them as I completed each project but it was too hot to get up and take the pictures. Plus I was lazy too. (I'm always full of excuses!)  ;)

The first project I finished was the last one I told you I was working on.

It's "Christmas Is..." by Lizzie Kate. It's stitched on 28 ct Ultra Very Light Antique Blue evenweave. I basically kept the colors the same. I'm not too sure about the pink string on the mittens. It was supposed to be a light blue but it blended into the fabric too much. What do you think?

The next project I completed will eventually be an ornament.

It's "Snow in Love" by Little House Needleworks. It's the hunky dude and I enjoying the snow!  ;)  This one is stitched on 28 ct Beige evenweave. I really like how this turned out. I kept all the original colors.  :)

After this I wanted a quick project. I was waiting on some over-dyed threads to arrive and needed them for the other projects I wanted to work on. In the meantime I stitched this up . . .

It's "Happy Haunting" by Lizzie Kate. I stitched it on 28 ct Light Tan evenweave. This one will probably become a pillow. I'm not too sure about it but I think I'll like it more once I add the perfect fabrics to it.  :)

After the Halloween project I received some of the threads I was waiting on. I stitched this ornament up.

It's another Little House Needleworks ornament. This one is called "All Dolled Up". It's stitched on a 28 ct Beige evenweave. I changed some of the colors. I will be adding black beads for the Snowman's eyes and buttons. I'm happy with how it came out!  :)

Then I worked on my Garden exchange piece for the "Stitched With Love" exchange. I loved the way it turned out! I wish I could show you but I have to wait until everyone receives their packages . . . sorry.  :(

The next project I did was the one I was waiting on the threads for. The moment I saw this design I just had to get it and stitch it up.

I'm so happy with the way it turned out! I love it!  :)  It's a design by Homespun Elegance called "Delivering Plenty". It turns out there's a whole series of these "delivering..." designs. I'll definitely be doing more of these! I stitched it on a 25ct Gray Green evenweave. I'm not sure of the correct color of the fabric as it was part of a variety of fabric ends that I got from a shop owner. I will be adding some buttons for the cart wheels and a charm or two. There was supposed to be a squirrel on the turkey's back but I didn't like it so I left it off. You'll have to wait and see how I finish this one off.  ;)

Remember the swap project I told you about? Well I liked it so much that I decided to stitch one up for myself. I actually finished stitching the piece today. I still can't show it to you though . . . so sorry!  :(  I can show you what I'm starting on tonight though.

It's the Halloween Mystery Sampler by Lizzie Kate. It took me a little while to decide whether I wanted to do this one or not but of course I decided "Yes!". I have part one & two of the design already. The third (& last) part will be out at the end of the month. I'm hoping to have the first two parts finished by then. I'm stitching it on a 28ct Mushroom evenweave instead of the Tin Roof fabric it called for. I am using all the original threads though. I'm hoping it will turn out nice!  :)

The last few weeks I actually have managed to get some sewing done too. Not a lot because of the heat though. I've discovered that my dining room, which is where I sew, is very hot. It just doesn't cool off in there. By the time I finish sewing I'm soaked with sweat (yuck!) I was wondering why I haven't been sewing much this summer and I now know this is why. I'm dying to work on some projects that have been waiting for me so I hope it cools off soon so I can get back to some sewing. I'll be showing you one of the items I did finish later this week. The other sewing project will have to wait longer as it was for the swap I mailed off.

Well that's it for now. Be sure to come back later in the week to check out my sewing plus some fun stuff I have planned.

Until next time . . .