Gifts, Updates on SAL's and a BBD Finish!

Hello friends! Today it was HOT - 97 degrees and to be hotter this week.
Been enjoying participating in BBD & By the Bay Needleart SAL's and I have a large finish to share with you. But first I've received some beautiful gifts...

 Lee from New Zealand ( Notes from under the Mountain blog) sent me a small box with some incredible treasures:) Lee made me a Spring ornament for my Spring tree - it's beautiful. Also as you may have seen on Lee's blog she had been stitching some lovely strawberries and I was given one. The needlework that went into to this strawberry is a piece of art. OH MY I LOVE IT! Lee posted how to make one HERE on her other blog.
 Also Lee made 3 more items to go with my Pink Rose stitching necessaries set. As I opened every precious wrapped gift - My soul soared.
If you can see the stitched rose tall piece in the back of the photo - that's a ort holder!! It came wrapped flat and the the bottom lays down then it becomes dimensional. AMAZING! And look at the sweet black box with  a rose on top. And the last piece is a walnut pincushion. Looks like a special piece right from a fairy's house:)  Lee I cherish every stitch and piece you made me - Thank you from my soul! How lucky and spoiled am I? But I'm totally appreciative.

 Here's a closer look at the strawberry and my fairy rose walnut pincushion. By the way 3 of these pieces are hanging on my Spring tree (our son Nicholas said HE wanted to enjoy them and took them and put them right on the tree). My goodness when I showed Nicholas what Lee made me - you should of seen his expressions. You'd thought they were for him. He went crazy - he acted like it was Christmas!!! Love that kid!

 Sweet Ranae (Stitch by Stitch Blog) sent me a Snooty Parrot charm. I had seen her Snooty Parrot scissor fob and asked her where in Hobby Lobby she had found hers. We have a Hobby Lobby here but when I went looking (hunting) they didn't have any. Well Ranae went to her store and sent me one. As soon as I got I pulled out my beads and made it the same day. I cannot tell you how much I have been enjoying my Snooty Parrot fob. It sparkles! Thank you so much again for your kindness Ranae!

 Loose Feathers Summer, Autumn & Winter 2011 BBD  & 32ct Vintage Exampler by Lakeside Linens

MY BIG FINISH!

 Loved stitching these charts! I made up my own number 4 since I finished it in 2014. The chart showed 2011 - I hope I did the right thing. I wanted the year that I stitched this sampler.

 Mystery SAL 2014 - By the Bay Needleart 

28ct Sand Carolina Linen by Charles Craft

Here's part 1 of Donna's SAL. Part 2 comes out today! I had first stitched the lines white, frogged, then stitched the correct color only to learn one late evening (I was way too tired) I thought it was the wrong color, frogged. Took a break. Next day learned that I had stitched the correct color. sigh.... 

restitched it again. 3rd time's the charm. So far using all the recommend colors. I did order Collards WDW but have not received yet.

 BBD Her Sampler - 1796 SAL    

28ct Sand Carolina Linen by Charles Craft

As soon as the chart was posted on BBD blog HERE on May 4th I started stitching. I finished all the 4 sided stitches on both bands and got as far along on the letter "M". Then I thought I had run out of Grecian Gold thread. Ordered it and the next day found another skein. sigh......

The eyelet stitches on the letter "A" I stitched using Jaded Ivory by The Thread Gatherer Silk. But then thought it might be a bit too light. So the darker eyelets I stitched with DMC 3022. I think I may work with both threads here and there. In person it looks pretty. Difficult to see the beauty in the photo.

The threads that I am using. I made lots of progress a few days while watching (really listening) to the movie Mamma Mia! LOL I think I was stitching to the rhythm of the upbeat songs. I love how this sampler is looking. Hope your all enjoying whatever project your stitching. Thank you for visiting me.
With love and my appreciation - Annette