End of 2012

 Gift from Lee

 Hi Bloggers. Well this is the last post of mine for 2012. We had a lovely Christmas. I got sick that evening and have been since. Now its the cold part that's left & I can't wait to for it to go away:)
But I want to share with you some beautiful gifts that I have been blessed with. Back in November I won a  prize from Lee's Blog. The parcel came very late, even though Lee mailed it the next day back then. The hold up was due to our postal service (came from all the way from New Zealand). But never the less it's here. Wow!!! Lee sent me a book (above photo) that to my HUGE surprise - SHES IN IT:))) Yes Lee was published in a embroidery book. I was given a precious copy and inside she included 2 of the designs that she is the original designer and her original sampler. GORGEOUS!!!  Also included in the book are more of Lee's designs as well as 4 other ladies who contributed to the book. There are 10 projects overall. Yes the book does include how to finish the projects also.

 

 Can you see Lee's name? 

This is a great book. It covers different forms of embroidery and some very lovely designs.

 Lee also included this fantastic Mug Rug. Like as if I would ever allow anyone to place a mug on this beautiful gift. NO WAY! The back is absolutely stitched perfectly. No knots or mistakes...I'm in AWE.  And she included  2 overdyed threads from South Africa - they are beautiful & some pretty postcards of New Zealand. Thank you so very much Lee. I love everything and will treasure them.

Angel Ornament from Bea in Canada

On Christmas Eve day I received a card & this pretty ornament from Bea. I was not expecting this. What a lovely surprise. I met Bea through EMS forum over 1 year ago.  Her beautiful ornament was place immediately on our tree. Thank you so very much Bea for your kindness and you are an Angel!!!

 Beautiful card & beaded pins from Vickie. Thank you Vickie so much.

 Gifts from Jean who is also in New Zealand.

This was another surprise. A parcel from Jean who sent me these lovely gifts. I love the National Park calendar 2013 of New Zealand(I needed one). She also enclosed photos of her beautiful farm and land that are in New Zealand. It's so amazing to get to meet people who love and have a passion for needleworks. Jean is also a member of EMS forum. And look at this........

 Crocheted bookmark from Jean. I am using it as a ornament:) TOO PRETTY.

Jean I could never do this type of work. It's truly breathtaking. Thank you so very very much.

So far Bea and Jean don't have a blog....hmmm....

 Book from library I checked out. By Trish Burr.

 I embroidered this flower as per instructed step by step from the book. This is a wonderful book as to learn coloring with threads.

 Gingerbread Street by Sue Hillis

Finished house #3. Have 1 more house to go. I didn't finish in time for Christmas but thats had it turned out. I truly didn't stress. This pattern is like stitching each house 3 times. Once for using the DMC threads, then twice for going back and stitching over with a blending filament, and the 3rd time for backstitching. But in the end it will all be worth it.

 Large zippered project pouches - made by me:)

Here are some of the Christmas gifts I stitched that I gave to family members. They all loved them. My Uncle even slipped his new tablet in to his zippered pouch - perfect.  2012 took my mom, and she will always be loved and remembered. For 2013 I wish you a very Blessed, Healthy and Safe New Year.  With Love and Appreciation - Annette      I'm off to have some much needed hot tea...

Hot Cocoa

Hot Cocoa - Little House Needleworks

28ct Gingham Linen

suggested threads used 

Hi Bloggers! This elf has been busy busy busy. I just accepted on late last Monday that Christmas is next week. Too crazy. Much yet to do, but I'm not stressing. I made this ornament Hot Cocoa for our tree. The tree is now fully decorated. Still have yet to take a good photo of it. When I snapped this photo of Hot Cocoa Ornie - the tree was up and only had lights on it. In between regular house chores, I've been sewing many projects for Christmas gifts. Can't show them till after Christmas.

 "Winter-ize" - Lizzie Kate

 I was a very lucky winner of one of Shirlee's 12 days of Christmas giveaways from her blog "The Easily Influenced Stitcher". When I opened her envelope I was so surprised. I thought I only won a chart. Not only did I win a darling Christmas chart but it came with the fabric, buttons and needles. It's my very first Lizzie Kate design ever. Thank you so very much Shirlee - I can't wait to stitch this:)

 I participated in EMS Holiday Ornament Exchange ( you may recall the Santa ornament I sititched in a earlier post that was my gift to Alexia) , and this is my Christmas Ornament I received  from  Judith all the way from Germany. Isn't it Beautiful. It's most definitely stitched one over one.  I already have hanging on my tree. I love it - Thank you for all your beautiful work Judith. 

Below is a photo of the pretty fabric that it's backed with. I love that the fabric is from Germany:)

And here is a photo of lovely gifts I received from Kelly - also an exchange from EMS called "Holiday Secret Pal".  More lovleyness that I can't wait to stitch:) I feel so blessed by the kindness of all these generous ladies. I'm almost done stitching Gingerbread House #3. I still have to stitch House #4. I am doing my best but if I don't get it done it time for Christmas -- OH WELL! Just much yet to prepare for Christmas, as I know all you are striving to get done to. Happy Holidays to YOU!
Thank you for your visit and I do love reading all your comments. 
Love and Much Appreciation - Annette

Winners of my Giveaway!

Congratulations to the following winners for my giveaway:

Prize 1 "Snow Happy" - lynda

Prize 2 "Stitching Buddies" - Lee

Prize 3 "Christmas Joy" - Denise 

I have all your email addresses from your comments when you had entered. You will be getting a email shortly from PattiCDesigns including your winning PDF chart. Thank you all for praticipating!

Happy Holidays - Love & Appreciation - Annette

My Holiday Giveaway

 Prize 1 - "Snow Happy" PDF Chart by PattiCDesigns

Hello bloggers. To celebrate this holiday season I am having a giveaway. These beautiful and fun designs are by Patti of PattiCDesigns. Her store is on Etsy. These wonderful designs or patterns are PDF Charts, these are the prizes. I have prepaid Patti and only have to submit to her 3 winning names and email addresses. Again the prizes are only the charts. Not giving away the charts done and or framed.
I have loved Patti's designs from the first time I saw "Stitching Buddies". I have been wanting to do a giveaway with her designs as a prize for awhile. Only I didn't know how to go about it. So I'm diving right in and really its not difficult at all like I thought it would be. Patti is so nice and talented, shes been a huge help to me:) Also you may know Patti from "Hanging By A Thread Blog" our stitching blogging world. Yep she's one of us. Thank You Patti and thank you for giving me permission to post these lovely photos of yours. 
So have a look at these prizes to see which ones you want to be entered for....and the best part is that they will be emailed to you when I draw the winners. So no having to wait for them to arrive in the mail:))))

 Prize 2 - "Stitching Buddies" PDF Chart by PattiCDesigns

Prize 3 - "Christmas Joy" PDF Chart by PattiCDesigns

All you have to do is leave me a comment here on this post and tell me which one's you would like to be in the drawing for or for all three of them. I will enter your name for each one you tell me. I will draw the winners on Dec 7th Friday late afternoon 4:00pm California time. I plan to have one different winner for each pattern. Meaning if you have your name entered for all 3 of them and your name gets drawn for one - you will not be the winner of the next prize if I draw your name again. So there will be 3 different winners.  I plan to have 3 different bowls that I will draw from. One bowl for each prize.  Today we put up our tree and got the lights on it. That's as far as I got today. Hope you have started to decorate some in your homes.

Don't forget to leave a commit on this post. Thank you for your visit. Good luck to you - Love & Appreciation - Annette