Receiving and Sending Exchanges (Picture Heavy!)

Lots of exchanges going on - and here are pics of gorgeousness received.

From Bonnie at PPTB , this lovely biscornu.  It's quite heavy for it's size and I suspect it's filled with crushed walnut shells. Aren't the colors so calm and quietly beautiful?

This exquisite hardanger Biscornu is from Shay.  I am in awe of her work - 'specially cause my own hardanger attempts are still so unsatisfactory, so I know what skill it takes to achieve this level of expertise.

Shay was also generous in sending extra prezzies.  Thank-you so much, Shay!

This delicate beauty was sent to me by Sheila - and look - my most favoritest motifs - butterflies!

Sheila also included extra prezzies - the Piecemaker needles (also a fav of mine) and the adorable scissors are much appreciated.

Lisa over at the PIF Stitchers sent me this package, and I have to say, I love her presentation:  oooh, the mystery and anticipation!  Opening it, I found this ornament - absolutely adorable.

I'm pretty sure the last batch (yes, I am shamefully behind - but steadily working to catch back up) of biscorni I mailed out have all been received.  PPTB is giving me a great excuse to stitch some of the neat charts I've collected.

To Despina, I sent this Tulip Bouquet biscornu.  What a joy to stitch.  I did use DMC threads that I had in my stash rather than the recommended specialty fibers.  The soft pink buttons were a lucky find.

When I started stitching this for Gillie, I was feeling whimsical.  I combined  a froggy motif from one of my stitching books with flies from Holy Mud! by Barbara Ana. 

For Mayté, I chose a Seaside freebie by Fée Rie.  I stitched it with the recommended DMC fibers - and it was hard with pride that I sent it off.

Last, but not least, was this Blue Rose (a freebie I'd had in my stash forever) that I stitched for Sheila.

I stitched it with HDF silks by Vikki Clayton.  These gorgeous colors were in a Detritus bag I received with an order - but it doesn't look like Vikki offers that option anymore :-(

That's all for now, dear friends and gentle readers.  My thanks to all my fellow exchangers - you each brighten my days!

Humbug!

I'm happy to say that Jenna (no blog) has received the humbug I angel stitched for her for the TTE, Too Humbug Exchange.  Better still - she likes it, she really likes it!
I had a wonderful time taking one motif, and creating companion motifs for this humbug - altho, I had to do a fair amount of frogging (no, that needs to be 2 stitches over and 1 stitch up....) - the placement was tricky, but I was very pleased with the result.

The stitched piece before assembly:   It's stitched 2 over 2 on 32 count linen - which wasn't a square weave, and that was it's own set of problems.  I used DMC 351 Coral, 807 Peacock Blue and 3765 Very Dark Peacock Blue.

 The Center Peacock Motif

 One Side Motif - maybe it should have been another stitch closer to the center?

And the matching gift/floss tag (you can see the other side in the 2nd photo up).

I've been busy stitching, and hope to have a WIP finished to share soon - a project for me - hurray!

I've been very busy living as well - lots going on, not the least of which is the US Income Tax deadline looming :-(

Til next time, thanks for visiting today!

TUSALs, Biscornu, Needlebook and SABLE

Lots and lots of pictures!
Not only am I late with March's TUSAL, I'm shamefully late with the TUSAL for February!

 This is February's picture
and this is March's:

I guess I need to explain that I'm using a large empty medicine bottle next to my stitching spot, and transferring the contents to my TUSAL jar when it gets full - which seems to happen roughly monthly.

Michelle received the February biscornu from me for the Please Pass The Biscornu exchange.  I used a freebie chart from Louison, a very talented lady!  I added clear beads for sparkle where they seemed to want to go.

Michelle's picture is so much more attractive than mine - click on the link above to visit her blog and see it, if you wish.

Remember the other needle book I mentioned angel stitching for Tiny Treasures Exchange, Too?
It has been received, so I can share pictures now.

I evidently forgot to take a picture of the inside :-(.  I took the color scheme from the fabric that lines the needle book.  Rats!  I'll have to check my stash and see if I have a bit of the fabric left to take a photo.

SABLE - Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy.  Even though I've drastically reduced my SEX (take your mind out of the gutter - that stands for Stash Enhancement Experience!), the kindness of another crafter has increased my stash!  A sweet lady I work with was showing me an altered album (beautiful!) she was working on.  I remarked that although it was tempting, I refuse to start another hobby, because my various stashes are already overflowing my craft room.   A few days later, she brought me box of goodies!

Here, in no particular order, are some of the goodies:

Lots of books!

Some really cool grommets!

Charts

  Including this by Mosey and Me

This reminds me of Sloss Furnace, in nearby Birmingham, Alabama

I see a Butterfly Fairy being stitched in the near future. - That's Lavender and Lace # 42 - Fairy Grandmother.
If you've stuck with me to the end  congratulations on your endurance!
Thank-you for visiting today!

Southern Snow and a Biscornu or Two

Well, the Southern states are now getting their share of the snow that so many other parts of the country have experienced.  Here are some photos I took just a little while ago from my front porch:
The dogwood tree that dominates my tiny front yard :

Some sweet daffodils under the dogwood trying desperately to poke their heads out.

The azalea bushes

 

And a close-up of the azaleas - doesn't the snow look like cotton balls balanced on the tips of the branches?

Kinda feel like I need to get out the sack to pick dat cotton!  And it is still snowing - I do hope it stops before power lines start coming down.

The postman was so nice today - lookit the biscornu I received from Michelle for January for the Please Pass The Biscornu Blog Exchange.

Exquisite - no?  and the reverse:

 

 The design is Rhodes Butterfly Biscornu by the Sweetheart Tree.

Last , here are photos of the biscornu I sent to Gillie in the same exchange.

  

Lately, it seems all the biscornus I stitch are large - lol!

 The Design is a freebie - Moonlight Serenade by Papillon Creations that I stitched with 3 colors of DMC Variations.

Thanks for visiting today.

Needle Book received

Renee let me know that she had received the Needle Book I "angel" stitched for her for the Tiny Treasures Exchange group.

 

It's stitched over 1 on 28 count natural colored linen and trimmed with some lace I had in my stash.  Renee loves red, and I love the traditional red and white on natural linen, so the color choice was easy.  It also pays tribute to my love for abcedaires.

 

The needle pages are also linen, and I satin stitched and fringed the edges.  The lining is a cotton white on white that I had in my stash.  It ties closed with 1/4 inch white ribbon.

Needle Books are addictive - I've one more that I angel stitched for another TTE member to show you once she receives it.

Thanks for visiting today.

TTE Scissor Pockets Sent and Received

Over at Tiny Treasures Exchange, our current exchange is for a Scissor Pocket or Case.  We do not send to the same person we receive from - and who we send to is kept a secret until the item is received.  Both sides of my exchange are complete, so I can share pictures. 

First, the case I received from Lori: 

  Isn't it adorable?  and I love the stork scissors - I have a pair in "silver", so can now add these gold ones to my ever-so-slowly growing collection.  Thank-you so much, Lori!

And the case I sent to Andrea:

 

  

  

I had a hard time letting go of the peacock scissors - they are so cute - but Michael's only had one pair - so off they went to Andrea, where I know they will have a good home!

Thanks for visiting today.