Tin Topper is Finished!!!

What a challenge. I definitely have lots to learn about how to put together a tin topper. It is done, I am satisified with how it turned out for my first try. The pattern is a freebie from a French blog http://cenroussillion.files.wordpress.com. The teapot is stitched in 16ct fiddlers with an overdyed thread, Glory, from Carrie's Creation. I covered a Japanese loose leaf tea tin top that a friend brought me from Japan. I still use it to store my organic loose leaf tea. Eventually, I will stitch something to cover main body of the tin, but for now this was enough. Look foreward to next months challenge.

WIP Update

Today, I decided to post pictures of my WIPs with a little info on each one. As I go through my stash I am also organizing my supplies to take up a smaller space. Instead of three large storage boxes to hold all my cross stitch, I should have two small boxes and nine boxes that hold my DMC -- yes, I have practically every color.



My first WIP is Bent Creek's Red Thread sampler. This project holds a special place in my heart. There is an abbreviated version of a Chinese proverb on the piece, "An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet...the thread may stretch or tangle, but never breaks." I had seen this proverb in 2001, while my husband and I waited to adopt our first child from China. At the time we thought that is very profound and for us it felt true. We saw the proverb pop up again on various groups we joined while we waited, again, to adopt a second daughter and then a son. We have been very blessed with our three and once I found this pattern from Bent Creek, there was no way I could not stitch it. So here I am working on the longest piece I have ever stitched.


In 2006, through ILCS yahoo group, I found Prairie Schooler Santas. I decided I just had to have them so I started a quest to buy them all from 1984 to the present. Well, I did it, I have all the patterns cards to date, unfortunately, I have only managed to complete one, the 1987 Santa, which I promptly gave away last Christmas in an ornament exchange. I am working on the 2007 Santa and this is as far as I have gotten.



This is Rooster, officially a UFO. I think I started this in early 2006 and I have not touched it since late 2006. For some reason, I ended up with two Rooster kits. I have the other kit posted on my Stash Give Away page to be moved to a new home. Not sure when I will pick this one up again, I need to find my motivation again, find the reason I started to stitch it in the beginning. Oh well, I guess everyone needs at least one UFO in the cupboard.



I joined a Monthly Stitching Challenge, the objective in June is to stitch a cover for a tin container. I stitched a small teapot with over dyed thread of red, white and blue, called Glory from Carrie's Creation. I will add a charm and mount it on top of a tea container. My plan is to get this finished today--ha, ha!!



The Alphabet Tree, from Blue Ribbon Designs, is coming along slowly. I usually stitch this one while my youngest is at therapy. It is small and I just throw it in my purse and off we go. I am stitching this with an over dyed thread called Indian Paintbrush from Ozark Sampler it reminds me of autumn.

My last WIP is finished, a Prairie Schooler Pinkeep. I will post a picture of the finished project once it is received by my exchange partner. It was my first pinkeep, overall I was very pleased with the outcome.

Have a great stitching day.

CJ

The Stash Diet has been published.

Good Morning -

I have finally gone through all my stash and have started posting items on my Stash Give Away Blog, link is posted under my favorite blogs. These items are available to anyone for postage plus a little extra to cover packaging. Please take a look and contact me if there is anything listed that you cannot live with out.

Have a great day.

CJ

Do you know Mr Rebates?

If you are a frequent on-line shopper you may want to check out http://mrrebates.com. It is a great was to get a little cashback from your on-line purchases. I started shopping through Mr Rebates last November, so far I have accumulated over $50 in rebates from stores like VitaCost, Radio Shack, and Walmart to name a few. There are hundreds of stores listed along with the rebate amount and any other available coupons. You can transfer your rebate $$ into your paypal account.

Have a great day.

CJ

Stash Diet and Stitching Update

I am still going through my stash, I don't have alot it is just finding the time to get it all sorted. So far I have several large and small kits, lots of phamplets, some material and a bunch of Stitch Bow Floss holders. My plan is to post a list here by the weekend.

As for stitching, have not stitched anything for a few days. I have been organizing my DMC floss and transfering skeins from Stitch Bow to bobbins. About 5 years ago, while we were living in UK I learned about DMC's Stitch Bow systems, bought lots of it and after giving it a try I decided I did not like it at all. I managed to sell most of it on Ebay in 2006, but I have some lingering floss holders that I need to pass on.

I have a correction. Earlier I posted about finding a Seagull pattern and that the site I found it on was probably from Spain. Turns out she is in Ohio. Originally, I found her site, www.aurytm.com, through a link on Bordando Freebie blog and since there was both English and another language on her site(which might be Spanish--but not sure)I assumed she was overseas as well. OOPS!! No matter my error, I am so glad I found her site and I look forward to stitching up many of her patterns during our trip to Cincinnati for my son's surgery.

It is starting out to be a lovely day here in North Texas, right now I am drinking a cup of tea and listening to all the birds in my back yard. Life is good, but I need to get dressed and ready for a guy to come fix my dryer. There is always something. Enjoy my petunia's.

Have a great day.

It's Monday!!

Actually, it is not a bad Monday at all. We had a great Father's Day, we just piddled around the yard, visited a few open houses and treated ourselves to Taco Bell, because all our favorite restaurants were packed.

Got no stitching done yesterday, but I did find a new pattern a www.aurytm.com a cute Seagull this morning. I just love that site.

Also, made a few changes to my blog's appearance, decided to try this template. I like the way it blocks off the entries and pictures. Besides, I wanted to add some maroon to my blog to honor my hubby and his favorite college football team West Texas A&M Buffaloes. This picture is of him preparing for a game last season, he is a die-hard fan and I love him dearly.

Time to get back to stitching.

CJ

Happy Dad's Day

Well, it it turning out to be a beautiful day in Wichita Falls, at least until the temp hits the upper 90's later today. My DH is still sleeping, I may fix him a nice breakfast to let him know how much the kids and I appreciate him or I could take him out to breakfast.

Speaking of kids, right now and for the next three days we are a one child family. Maddie and Sam have been with Granny for the last two weeks, it has been a nice break for us, but I am sure Granny is ready to send them packing. Their cousin Lauren is bringing them home on Wednesday as she is passing through on her way home to Ft Worth. I will be glad to have my babies home. As for my baby Allie, she has been in summer school, that is why no visit with Granny. Don't worry she will get her turn, we are taking Sam and Maddie to Ohio in July so she will stay with Granny while we are gone. Sam will be attending a clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital followed by surgery, we will be there almost a month. I should get lots of stitching done while we are away since I will not have to clean house.

As for stitching updates, I am almost finished assembling my PS Pinkeep. I have finished stitching a small teapot for the Monthly Project Challenge and I am working on Blue Ribbon Designs freebie. Tomorrow I will mail out my Summer Freebie kit for CSF group exchange, I found a sweet pattern on a European blog. I really like exchanges and CSF has at least two every month. I have also been making additions to this blog, a person could display lots of information here--ugh!!!!

I wish all of you a great Father's Day, think about your Dad, your Brother, your Husband, your Uncles, your Son's and count your blessings.

Cathy

I am going on a stash diet

I have too much stash, so I have decided to give it away. I will go through all of it by the weekend, compose a list and then let everyone know that it is ready to go. My current thought is to let folks pick what they want and they just pay for postage plus $1 for packaging. I have a postage scale so I can get on-line with USPS and figure out the cost and people can paypal me the payment. What a wonderful idea. Now it is time to get to work.

Have a great stitching day.

CJ

Stitching Update

I have four finishes for the year, at least that is all I can remember. I am getting old, the memory is going. I am proud of each of them. I have not decided how to finally finish some of them, but I have a few ideas. Here are thier pictures.


This is a pattern from JABC "and they shall seek Him". I purchased the buttons on-line and the pattern came with it. I have alsways wanted a Nativity for the Christmas, but never found one I really liked. This will do just fine once I get it matted and framed. It was an easy stitch and the first time I have ever used JABC buttons, they are expensive but the details are great. Very fun project.

This little guy is a Quaker Hedgehog, a free pattern I downloaded from www.theworkbasket.net. I have always loved hedgehogs and I was so excited when I found this pattern. It was a very easy project, a great way to pass the time while watching TV. Not sure what I will do with him yet. I think he will make a nice present for someone or perhaps a nice present for me.

I absolutlely love Prairie Schooler patterns. This is a Hummingbird from the Prairie Birds leaflet. It was fun to stitch and love the colors. It will be finished as a Pin Keep for an exchange in one of my groups. I plan to stitch all 10 of the Prairie Bird patterns, I think they will make nice gifts. I will post more pictures once it is finished.


Isn't this cute!! I found this free pattern on a blog from Spain. I stitched this in a about 4 hours using Carrie's Creation thread "Rainbow"--I love her threads, a matter of fact I need to order more. You can find the pattern for this seahorse and more animals at www.aurytm.com, I just downloaded a pattern for a kangaroo, that will be fun to stitch. I am stitching these for my kids.

That is it. Enjoy!!

I'm Back in the Blog-o-Sphere

Well, I have finally put together a new blog. I plan to stay more focused on my hobbies, with few family inputs in this new blog. So keep looking, I will be posting some photos of completed projects and Works in Progress (WIP).

So what is happening this week? This morning I am going to WFISD to apply for school transfers for Maddie and Sam. Wish me luck, we want to keep them in Cunningham. Granny is visiting so I think we will take the kids shopping today. I really believe it is one of the best schools in town. The laminate flooring for my dinning room will be delivered today for the Wednesday installation. We plan to go see Kung Fu Panda this weekend.

What am I working on? I am stitching a Prairie Schooler (PS) Pinkeep for an exchange on my PS Group. Need to complete the April and May portion of my Bent Creek (BC) Red Thread Snapper. There are two Patriotic Heart Basket kits I need to weave (might do that tonight, since there is a class on base). I have to mail a box of purple stitching stuff to fellow stitcher on Cross Stitch Friends (CSF) group for a monthly exchange. I signed up decorate a tin with a cross stitch, that has to be completed in June. Thought I would give it a try, wish me luck. I foresee lots of late night stitching in my future. No card making going on, all my supplies are out of reach until I get my dinning room back in order.

Well it is early (6am) and I need to walk the dog. We adopted Gracie in April from Lonestar Bulldog Rescue. She is a Bulldog, mixed with Boxer (we think). She has a very sweet disposition and is very easy going. Although, she is not fond of older ladies with gray hair.

Have a great day.

CJ