It's almost Trick or Treat Time!

Hello Everyone!
The last week during the day here in Northern California, I can tell that the air is getting a bit more chilly:) And we are not to have rain till November.
No update for Bothy Thread Cut Thru SAL for the last 2 weeks. But stitching has definitely been going on here. Since my last post I had been working on 2 secret projects and got both of them all done & have dispatched to their new homes:) and I had a birthday, I turned 50:) 
My friend and an amazingly talented needleworker Lee - Notes from Under the Mountain blog, sent me a birthday package full of goodies,

Lee made for me a beautiful Beetle with special silver gilt threads. Also I received a kitted package of linen, threads and a chart to make a bookmark. A very pretty stitched bell flower fob and something extremely special......

 "The Coromandel" designed by Lee's friend Ann Brocas

A needleroll - 36ct Lambswool Linen

In her note to me Lee said she wanted to stitch me something special. This piece reminds Lee where her and her husband Paul use to live. Her friend Ann designed this piece for the Coromandel guild Retreat (New Zealand) in 2011. All the motifs in the design relate to Coromandel, New Zealand.

Lee wrote: The Fantail birds will always join you on a walk in the forest, where one could walk between the tall Kauri trees. Archey's frog is so rare it is only found in two places one being high on the Coromandel hills.

 The Kiwi (very top row in photo) whose call we would hear at night. And the bright Pohutukawa flowers that bloom all along the coast in the summer.

The inside

Look at the beautiful stitching on the ends of the pillow top of the needleroll. 

I don't know if you can see in the photo but every individual spoke of the web - the thread has been twisted around. And it looks perfect! I'm in awe of the stitching and the finishing.

 You can imagine what I thought when I unrolled this stunning piece of needlework? Not to mention how touched I was that she made this for me and the tears of gratitude in my eyes? To see this piece in person it is truly an amazing work of LOVE and ART!

Oh Lee - I will enjoy using this and THANK YOU from my heart. It's Exquisite!!! And I love that it has such a special meaning representing you and Paul. I will treasure it.

 Sweet Linda from Stitching with my Furbabies blog sent me these wonderful charts & 2 lovely skeins of  floss form Victorian Motto Shoppe. She knew that I fell in love with Good Morning the first time she posted her progress on it. When she finished stitching it she asked me if I would like to stitch next!
I couldn't respond fast enough to her to say "YES".

 This is one of those charts for me that I HAVE TO STITCH and display it yesterday:)
Thank you sooooo very much Linda for your thoughtfulness & kindness.

 Autumn Delights - SAL with Vickie (who finished stitching hers already and it is beautiful).

 Here's my progress so far! If you haven't seen Vickie's finish please visit her blog.

I just saw that she has fully completed it. WOW!

 Mary's Sampler by Plum Street Samplers Sunday SAL

I haven't yet removed my red center placement stitch. Will do so at the end.

We are ready for Halloween trick or treaters here. Halloween is will be here next week and we usually get over 100 kids.  I so look forward to seeing all the little's (young children) in their darling costumes. Happy Halloween!  With Love and Appreciation - Annette