Happy Earth Day

Hello Friends & bloggers and Welcome to my New Friends.  
Well it just so happens to be Earth Day today. And how appropriate for stitching parts of the Earth for Fairy Hill by Bothy Threads Cut Thru Monday SAL. Too perfect. Now granted I'm posting this technically late Monday night or Early Tuesday morning.  It's been very warm here in Northern California since last week. Today was 85 degrees, sunny and no winds till much later this evening.
I have to tell you that last night on QVC I stitched while watching Kirks Folly show. Yes I am a fan of Fairy Godmother Jennifer and her siblings. Love their jewelry. That was really fun stitching on Fairy Hill and listening to the enchanting music and seeing all the pretties of Kirks Folly.

My progress from last Monday. Another Tinkerbell to share with you. My mom collected Tinkerbell.

I will share a different one with you for each update on Fairy Hill.

Question for you? 

The chart calls for #793 DMC for the background wall, which will go next to the white strip. Now in person the thread looks the same color as the fabric I'm stitching on. But here in the photo it looks darker. Now I am in a dilemma!

I was going to try a different color. But first I think I will go ahead and stitch a few stitches of #793. But if it looks the same color as the fabric (I really think it will), what color do you think I should try? Maybe a darker blue? Or go with a pretty teal? I really would like to hear your opinions or thoughts please. 

I have been stitching on other projects too this last week. But that's it for now. (probably after posting I will have recalled what else I wanted to share with you - oh well)
With Love and my Appreciation - Annette 

Bothy Threads Cut Thru Monday SAL

A very warm welcome and hello to everyone (it's chilly here today 53 degrees, but sunny). I started stitching on Fairy Hill by Bothy Threads Cut Thru. It was fun to start this project. I am participating in Debbie's SAL (her blog HERE). We are to stitch every Monday on our Cut thru charts. The colors of threads are sooooo fun on this chart. It's different from my other projects and I'm stitching this project on 16ct Adia. Its been great and no stitching over 2 threads:))))))))  But it is a good size project.

Look who came to visit me and see my progress. It's Tinkerbell!!! She's sitting on a spool of PINK thread.
I stitched this on Sunday and late tonight (Monday). There is lots lots lots of backstitching, I will do that later on. I started on the bottom left hand corner of the design. I decided to leave the color of the hand dyed blue fabric ( by me) alone. Aren't those mushrooms cute?  There are 3 leaves and some of tree roots. I know way too early to tell whats what. I wanted to get the mushrooms done to show you:)   So looking forward to seeing everyones progress on their Cut Thru projects.
With Love and Appreciation - Annette

Mom's Sampler & Winner for my Giveaway

 Hello Everyone and Welcome. I want to Thank You for celebrating with me for my 1st year Blog Anniversary. The winner is announced at the end of my post. Some photos to share with you.

Today would have been my moms birthday. Happy Birthday to you mom. One of her favorite flowers was Iris's. And I have taken some photos of my moms Blue Bearded Iris plant. I am thankful the Iris bloomed again this year.

 The full blooms.

 Doesn't this large bud look like satin fabric rolled up - lol.

 I just love the richness of these blue tones.

 Here is my moms sampler of the border. It's a very long one. It will have all our family names on it.
This is an original design. I thought I would share a bit of how it came to be for some of you who are new and have not seen this before. Since its my moms birthday today - I think its a good time.

 I frogged the crowns and found a much nicer gold than the yellow thread I had before. I also used it on the scrolls. My friend Lee is the remarkable talented & lovely designer:) It was her idea for me to stitch a original sampler for my mom. When I told my mom about it (before she passed), my mom said it was "her sampler". She told Lee and I what she wanted on it: Tiara, Roses, Bumble Bees & a Fairy. And Lots of PINKS!!!  If you would like to read more of the story, you can read it HERE.
There have been lots of emails between me and Lee. I have been taking my time and totally enjoying the journey with Lee whose the creator of this Beauty.

I received my chart in the mail for "Bothy Threads Cut Thru Monday SAL - on Debbie's blog HERE"

I had this fabric in my stash but it was a much lighter color of blue:) Yep I hand dyed it. Thought I would make it a bit brighter - lol. It came out a bit darker than I thought it would. I am going to test a small area with Rit Dye Color Remover. Hmmmm no idea how it will turn out. I'll let you know. If the test area doesn't look how I want it to, I'm leaving it and using this fabric anyways. Its 16ct aida. 

I plan to stitch this Monday, maybe sooner.  Okay the big announcement........

CONGRATULATIONS 

THERESA S (At Willow Tree Pond Blog HERE)

Email me your address please so I can send you your gifts please. 

              Thank you again to everyone for visiting me and helping me celebrate my first year blog anniversary. Our weather has been wonderful - mid 70's and one day was 83 degrees. Lots of Sunshine here. I have joined Feedly for my choice of reader since google is going away. Still becoming familiar with it. So even though some of you are now on Bloglovin - I am not there but I DO follow all of you still:) Does this make since?  Hope you are getting to enjoy Spring.

With love and Appreciation - Annette

Still time to enter for Giveaway!

Hello everyone. A warm welcome to you and to the new followers. There is still plenty of time to enter my 1st year Blog Anniversary Giveaway if you haven't already.  I will announce the winner on April 12th. Just be a follower on my blog and leave a comment HERE.
I have finished stitching my project for Easter -  a few days after Easter:) But I haven't made it into a flatfold yet:) Had to show you. I just love this saying....

Freebie chart is by Virginia Knutson - her blog HERE

I participated in a EMS exchange. The month of March was to stitch a Bookmark or Thread Keep. I made a thread Keep for Sandrine who lives in France.  She has received it, so I can share with you.

Summer Basket by Blackbird Designs

32ct Flax Linen

 The threads I used were what I had on hand. So I substituted some. Threads used: WDW -Concord & Red Pear, Gentle Art - Grecian Gold, Crescent Colours - Country Lane, & the rest DMC. 

On the chart there are 6 eyelet stitches. Do you see any? Nope. I looked and checked this chart twice making sure I did all the stitches. I didn't catch it. I only realized it when I was looking at the photos I took and that was after I had mailed the parcel to France. I used Chenille trim from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe. But it was natural colored and I hand dyed this trim myself. I used Rit Dye - Tan.

The backing is the background fabric you see in the photo. I did get a beautiful email from Sandine in French and Bea was kind enough to translate it for me. Sandine really liked it. 

Thank you Bea for your kindness & help.

 I received this beautiful bookmark from EMS - Chouette.  She had my name for the exchange & she to lives in France. I love the beautiful variegated floss. All that edging had to take time. I do love to read, but I think I want this as a ornament. Too special. Thank you Chouette:)

 Can you translate the French wording in the stitching?

What a really cool design. And from France:) Love it!

I have joined Debbies "Cut Thru" Bothy Threads SAL. You can join or read about it HERE. I had not seen this designer before. I fell in love with Cut Thru "Fairy Hill" chart. I ordered it & am waiting for my chart to arrive. We are to stitch on this SAL on Mondays. So looking forward to it. 

With Love and Appreciation - Annette

Happy 1st Year Blog Anniversary to ME:) & Giveaway

Hello and early Happy Easter to Everyone! Today - March 27th (it is for me till I go to bed), I started my blog. With the help of many of you, you were very kind to me & helped me learn the how to's of blogging. I am still learning - lol. I so enjoy blogging and meeting new friends. Thank you.

 I want to celebrate with a giveaway. All you have to do is be a follower on my blog and leave a comment on this post. That's it:) I will draw a winner on April 12th. I decided on this date, due to Easter, and many of us are the cooks:) Lots to do and prepare for. I am not even close to being ready.

 Gifts for of my 1st Year Blog Anniversary Giveaway

The gifts are: a project pouch sewn by me, its 12 1/2" inches wide and 9" inches height (remember the fabrics I added to my stash in a previous post?), Little House Needleworks chart "Around the World in 80 Days", 32ct Flax linen 11" by 11" - yes plenty to stitch this chart, and all the required DMC floss to stitch it. By the way I like to add the felt flowers for decor and its a quick convenient temporary pincushion. I would not recommend that you leave needles or pins in it. Only till you put away your project. Very handy I think:) 

 Last year I came across this darling freebie chart and this year I'm stitching it. When I saw it I cracked up laughing. It just makes me laugh. Too cute.

 This is what it will look like when done. I don't know if I will be done it time but its my goal to finish and I plan to make it into a flatfold (to learn how to make a flatfold -  instructions can be found on fellow stitcher Vonna's blog  HERE).  The freebie chart is by Virginia Knutson. Last year it was on her blog and now I could not find it. But she does have lots of darling freebie charts listed on the right side of her blog. HERE. I had found her thru EMS forum.

 A total surprise parcel, I received in the mail. It was from new Zealand. My friend Lee sent me this darling box she decorated. I had to get my camera and take photos as I opened it.

 Look at how she beautifully wrapped up the little gifts. 

Can you see the sweet bunny she stitched for me on the notecard?

My jaw dropped open when I unwrapped this amazing retrackable tape measure. And it has a crystal pull and its PINK!!!

These are my Easter trinkets/treasures from Lee.

Thank you so very much Lee. You totally surprised me:)

Love you lots.

Well I wish you a very beautiful weekend with your loved ones. Spring has arrived. I did pick up some plants to add some color for Easter. One yellow Rose plant, 4 stick plants in white and purple/fushia, and 4 impatiens of white and pink:)  Not much has blossomed in our backyard yet. Just lots of green leaves. Please don't forget to leave a commit for my giveaway. 

With Love and My Appreciation - Annette

Winner of 100+ Follower Giveaway

Hello friends. A big warm welcome to every one and to my new followers. Oh my Goodness! I jumped far above 100 followers. A big Thank You to for those of you who listed my giveaway on your blogs - wow. That was so kind & sweet of you and very unexpected.

I have some photos of what I've been stitching since my last post and from this weekend mostly.

I only had one mishap. A tip for you needleworkers - make sure you always put the cover or cap back on your seam ripper everytime you go to set it down. Can you see where this is going? Oh yea! I had to frog some stitches. I took my pretty seam ripper and used it, then I set it on my lap (didn't put the cover back on). Of course when I reached for it, it slid down my lap. I went to pick it up and moved my hand around to find it - found it. When I pulled my hand up, I saw the sharp end was stuck in my hand....bleeding stopped after 30 minutes. I'm fine. So please recap your sharp seam rippers.

Some photos to share with you then at the end of post the winner is listed:)

 Finished this block on Autumn Hawk Run Hallow.

Stitching 1 over 1.

 Progress on my next block.

 This darling freebie black cat design is by Lynn B, "Happiness is Cross Stitching blog" and the chart can be found HERE.

 This darling Bunny I found thru Lee's - "Notes from Under the Mountain" blog HERE.

 I stitched this on 32ct White Belfast Linen with silk threads and DMC B5200.

I participated in an exchange on EMS (Ellen Maurer -Stroh designer) Forum. Now that we have both received our exchanges I'm sharing with you. This is what I received form Terri. The exchange was to stitch a Sachet with beads. I love what Terri made for me. She does beautiful stitching. Thank you very much Terri.

A close up of the design Terri stitched for me.

 Some new stash I picked up at Thimblecreek Quilt store in Concord California. It's a beautiful store that has many gorgeous quilts on display and is packed with lovely fabrics.

 This is what I made for Terri. Being that I had never stitched a sachet before, I first stitched the design and added the beads. Then I wasn't really happy with it. I thought I ruined the design by adding the beads. So I decided not to remove what work I had done but to stitch another design on the other side.

 32ct Lilac Linen with DMC threads

 I stitched this Lady who is embroidering on her lap (there is a scene shes stitching) and shes surrounded by flowers which I added beads to the petals. The chart I used to stitch the lady and the castle is called "The Illuminated Manuscript" featured in Cross Stitch & Country Crafts magazine dated Jan/Feb 1990. I kept my magazines from way back. I can't tell you how many times I have pulled them out over the years for charts.

 Now I ended up making the sachet into a stitchers purse fully lined.

 And of course the Elegant Lady needed her Castle. So I stitched a needlecase and added a lute charm.

I added a pocket in the back of the needlecase.

CONGRATULATIONS TO 

"CHOCOLATES FOR BREAKFAST" - TERRI

WINNER OF MY 100+ FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY

Thank You very much to everyone who left me comments, entered for my giveaway, and for joining my blog. I so love getting to meet fellow friends who we all get to share our love of needlework thru blogging.

With my Love and Appreciation - Annette

100+ Followers Giveaway

Hello friends! I would like to Thank You for following my blog and for all your kind comments.
I now have over 100 followers. WOW! I am soo humbled & thankful for getting to meet all of you. Welcome to my new followers and to all of you:) 

 Gifts for my 100+ Follower Giveaway

To show my appreciation to you, I'm having a giveaway.  I have made a large zippered pouch (approx. 13"Wide by 8 3/4" High). I call it a project pouch. Our local quilting store downtown had recently received some new Anna Griffin fabrics. I love Anna Griffin, her prints are very old world Elegant French designs. The front, back and inside the pouch are her fabrics. The top of the pouch is a plum fabric -  I believe it is a reproduction of a Civil War print.  Also included is: Birds of a Feather chart called "Bloom Where You Are Planted", all the DMC floss required to stitch this chart and a piece of 32ct Flax linen (10x10). Oh yes there is plenty of fabric for stitching the chart I'm giving away.
To enter for the giveaway -  Be a follower on my blog & leave a comment here on this post. That's it!
I will draw a Winner on Thursday March 21, 2013.

I have been stitching everyday except yesterday. I finished something for a EMS exchange I'm participating in.  I can't share what I stitched until my exchange partner receives it.
Today our high was 77. Its warming up. They say will have 80 degree weather later this week.
With Love and Appreciation - Annette