IHSW Update - A New Start

Happy Monday Friends:

I hope your day has started better than mine. I walked into work at 8:30am this morning to find out our computer network was not up and working. Needless to say, I spent 3 1/2 hours this morning doing NOTHING. So can you guess what I wish I COULD be doing now? :)

I had a wonderful weekend. It was spent with family mostly. I received a most wonderful surprise from my parents. It was my birthday on the 9th and my parents decided to surprise me on Saturday with a belated birthday present...a 47" LCD TV! They said it was a dual present, for both my birthday and a house warming present for my boyfriend and I. He was thrilled! His face lit up like a Christmas tree and his eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw the box come into the house from the garage. That was such a nice surprise. We love it! Got to watch our first basketball game on it yesterday. GO HEAT!

I was able to do some stitching for International Hermit and Stitch Weekend. I started a new one...(like I need another WIP)...BUT I couldn't help it. And to surprise you even more...it is a HAED (Heaven and Earth Design). I never thought I would stitch one of these charts, but many of the charts are just so pretty I couldn't help myself but give one a try.

Check it out..I'm stitching this little beauty: "Bookworm Fairy" by Hannah Lynn

Besides her being blonde, blue eyes and a bookworm (like me), I just fell in love with the colors. Aren't they gorgeous?!  All of my favorites in one. I did choose the Mini chart, however it is a decent size...around 9 x 12" I believe when done. A good first choice I think.

Here is my start...all 300 stitches:

 

I'm stitching her on 18ct white aida. The thought of stitching over 1 on 25 ct Lugana did not appeal to me in the least. I am actually really enjoying this. I like how the chart is gridded in 10 x 10 squares so you can focus on a square at a time. It makes the project feel much less daunting. The only thing I find that makes me a little nuts is how a block could be full of one color and then you have one stitch that's another color. Mind you, not even a color that is really different from the first either. Get what I'm saying? Anyways, that's my only gripe.

That is all for today. Thank you for stopping by! Oh BTW...for all of you Lizzie Kate lovers, you have to check this out. She is coming out with a new mystery Halloween Sampler piece. I can't wait! 

http://www.wasatchneedlecraft.com/Lizzie-Kate-Summer-Mystery-Sampler_p_5297.html

Enjoy your weeks. :)

Jen

Stitching Project Pics

Happy Saturday Friends:

I hope you all are enjoying your weekends so far. Just popping in today to show my progress on some stitching projects.

I finished Part 1 of the Dawn of Spring band sampler designed by Mouse for the The Friendly Stitchers Yahoo Group.

 

I'm stitching this project on 28ct "Ray of Light" Jobelan by Wichlet. The fabric is a soft light yellow, but you can't tell that in the picture. I'm using a skein of Caron Waterlilies hand dyed silk thread in "Terra Cotta". I love all of the pinks, blues and purples in this design. The gold beads give it that little bit of glitz. This part gave me really good practice with the Smyrna and Cushion Stitch. I hope I can finish Part 2 and Part 3 before Mouse releases Part 4 next month.  

I also worked on Halloween House by Ursula Michael this week. 

Before:

After:

 

Thank you for stopping by today. Happy Mothers Day to all you lovely mothers out there.

Take Care,

Jen :)

A "Garden Patch" Pillow

Hello Friends:

Check out this little pillow I made for Lisa S. over at the Seasonal Exchanges blog. This was my second exchange to her. She also happened to be my recipient for the "Spring into Easter" exchange at the Stitched with Love Exchanges blog.

 
"Garden Patch" Freebie by Lizzie Kate 
Fabric: 28Ct Ivory Jobelan
Threads: DMC

I say Garden Patch in " " cause to me it looks more like "Spring Patch". I had to change the left bottom square to look like a cross in front of a cloud. The design actually called for a Bird House charm to go there so it looked like a birdhouse atop a stand(?), but there was no way I was going to scout the corners of the internet looking for that one particular charm!...so I improvised. This was also the first time I turned my stitching into a pillow. It was another learning experience. I now know what to do different for next time. ;D

And yes I did make those flowers showing in the background. They are made from folded paper.

In other stitching news, I have been busy working on some neglected projects and I started a new one. It is a band sampler designed by Mouse for the Friendly Stitchers Yahoo Group. I got a late start on this pattern since I was caught up in moving chaos when she released Part 1 for the SAL. She just released Part 3 so I need to get a step on! I'm loving this project so far. Its giving me good practice with specialty stitches. Once I finish this last tiny section of Part 1, I will post a pic for you all to see.

Happy Crafting!

Jen 

 

Announcing the Winner! and another Surprise

First, I want to give a big thank you to everyone who stopped by during the blog hop last week and commented on my little paper pieced quilt. I want to extend an even bigger thank you and virtual hug to those of you who decided to become a follower of my blog. I am flattered you decided to stick around.

Some of you said my mini looked like a present on its side...well I agree! It sure does. To be honest, this quilt block was a last minute effort. I had another project idea in mind, but I stopped what I was making because I thought I was doing the paper piecing all wrong. Remember...paper piecing newbie with nothing but the internet to learn from?? It is definitely a technique that is much better learned through visual demonstration than via tutorials I think. Although, after I finished the heart pattern, I realized I was doing the other project right and doubted myself for nothing. Imagine that! Now I can finish the other one with no issue.

Now for the winner of the $15 Gift Certificate to either The Fat Quarter Shop or 123 Stitch.Com.
There were 84 interested hoppers in all. I assigned each person a number and let Mr. Random.org do his thinking. Drum roll pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...the winner is

#68 - B.Green !!! You are the Winner! An e-mail has been sent to the e-mail address on your blogger profile. (She claimed her prize)

BUT WAIT! I'm not done friends. Don't close this window yet! Because I just absolutely love making people smile, I thought why not make someone else' day too. I've decided to giveaway a SECOND $15 gift certificate to The Fat Quarter Shop or 123 Stitch.com. Oh Yes! Back to Mr. Random.Org and he said:

#80 - Janet from Caribou Crossing Chronicles. 

Congrats! You are Winner #2. I sent an e-mail to the e-mail address in your blogger profile. (She claimed her prize)

Thank you again friends for playing along. I hope to have more surprise drawings and giveaways in the future. Time to go...I have a project calling my name at the moment.

Enjoy the rest of your weeks.

Jen :)