My Garden...Part 1

Part 1 is finished! I have really enjoyed this one so far, and love doing the specialty stitches, but for me they don't go as fast as the cross stitches. I am curious as to what the rest will look like...

We had snow coming down most of the day, but since the temperature stayed above freezing the roads were in good shape. We are below freezing now, so we could have some problems in the morning on the way to work.

I've also been trying to finish an ornament and should have a picture for tomorrow's post.

Finally Framed

I picked this up from the framer, and really like the way it turned out.

For the past week I have been doing some other projects, and have not gotten as much stitching in as I'd hoped. For some reason, I got motivated to clean out a couple of closets! I have been stitching on How Does Your Garden Grow trying to get the first part completed before the 2nd part is sent out. I could finish and post a picture tonight, but I'll plan to finish it tomorrow on my lunch break.

Thanks for the comments...glad to see that I'm finally getting some visitors!

How Does Your Garden Grow

I've made a start! Got a tad done last night and some tonight. This is going to be a fun stitch! Oops...the large gold flower needs a few more stitches on the top!

More "Seasons"

I've gotten a bit more stitched on "Seasons", but will put away for a while...ready to work on something else for a few days! If you look closely, you'll see the first word of the verse. It's stitched 1 over 1, so I need really good lighting while working on this part!

Today is a holiday for me. After I get several household chores taken care of, I'm off to the Silver Needle to get a piece of linen to start How Does Your Garden Grow?. This is not even on my goal list for the year, but I found it Saturday and have to start it! Lists can be altered...right?? Also, Lelia invited me to join her SAL. They are stitching Happy Hearts Sampler--BOAF, so if I see that chart at the store this morning, well, maybe that one also...

More Seasons of Flowers

I have made a bit more progress. A verse will be stitched in the blank areas.

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by Becky, so here goes...

4 jobs I've had:
Dental Assistant, Dental Practice, Charleston, SC, 4 years
Orthodontic Assistant, University of Kentucky Dental School, Lexington, KY, 3 years
Office Manager, Orthodontic Practice, Oklahoma City, OK 2 1/2 years
(during this period here is where I was a SAHM for about 15 years!)
Finance Dept. for a healthcare services and information technology company, Tulsa, OK, 8 years

Four movies I watch over and over:
Gone With the Wind
Jean De Florette & Manon of the Spring
Christmas Vacation (yearly tradition)
Steel Magnolias

Four places I've been:
London
Cairo
Istanbul
39 of the 50 states

Four places I've lived:
Charleston, SC
Lexington, KY
Oklahoma City, OK
Tulsa, OK

Four TV shows I watch:
Grey's Anatomy
Seinfeld
news
Letterman sometimes

Four people that email me regularly:
Sarah
David
Lauri
Mary

Four favorite things to eat:
Chocolate Chip cookies
Pizza
Most vegetables
Any hot, fresh bread with butter

Four places I'd rather be:
I'm happy where ever I am, but...
walking around in London
sitting by the pool in Cozumel
stitching on the deck of a cruise ship

Four things I look forward to this year:
visiting with far away family
getting a lot of stitching done
getting more scrapbooking done than the last 2 years
helping to plan this year's vacation

I'm tagging Carla at CC's Stitching Diary next!

Need 2004 Christmas Issue??

Somehow I ended up with 2 copies! If you are interested in trading something, let me know.

First Finish 2008

Moody Blues

The Sweetheart Tree

32 ct. Twilight Blue Linen, DMC Floss & Perle Coton,

Mill Hill Beads, Pure Allure Crystals

began 10/15/07-finished 1/13/08

I got this one wrapped up over the weekend! The crystals are not pink as the picture suggests. The lighting was not too good and the flash made the pink tint. This was really fun to do! The measurements are only about 3 1/4" x 3 1/4". I think I may use it as an insert for a small pillow to use in my blue bedroom. We'll see...

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

New Stash

Here are a few things that I got at the New Year's Eve sale at The Silver Needle. I somehow managed to cut the title of the book in half in the picture :( The title is The Proper Stitch by Darlene O'Steen of The Needle's Prayse. I just love her designs. I had been eyeing that book for months and decided to get it if there were any left on sale day. That is really all I had planned to get, but as you can see, I ended up with more. Not only does the book have the most wonderful pictures and stitch diagrams, but also includes 3 of her samplers--"The Proper Stitch Sampler", "The Tudor Rose Sampler", and "The Pinkes Sampler". OH MY...so many gorgeous things to stitch and so little time!

I still haven't had anyone to reply that they are interested in my PIF. I imagine it's because my blog is so new and doesn't have much traffic, yet.

Seasons of Flowers has come out after a long while. I really want to finish up several old WIPs before starting anything else, but that's easier said than done.

New PIF

I have just signed up for my very first Pay It Forward (PIF) with Carol. If you are interested in receiving a handmade piece from me, leave a comment on this post. The first 5 that want to participate will receive something from me by December 31, 2008! In turn, you must post the same challenge on your blog and send a PIF to 5 people. Let me know if you're interested!

Goals for 2008

1. And A Forest Grew (x-stitch)- Stitch as much and as often as I can. Very large design & don't worry that it might take longer than 2008 to complete.

2. A Quaker Christmas (x-stitch)- same as above

3. First Step (canvas work)- Complete

4. Seasons of Flowers Sampler (various stitches)- COMPLETED!!! Last finish of 2008

5. Queens Sweet Bag (mostly tent-1 over 1 and queen stitch)- Complete

6. Moody Blues (various stitches)- COMPLETED!!!

7. Quaker Rose- start

8. Lady Brittany's Sampler- start

9. We Will Adore Him- COMPLETED!!!

10. PIF gifts- Took my name off of Carol's list, as there were no sign ups :( Will try again next year...

11. Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow Sampler- start

12. SBBC Gift-COMPLETED AND MAILED!!!

13. One ornament each month- stitch and finish -- COMPLETED Total of 10

14. And, last of all, stitch for my own pleasure and not to see how many pieces I can finish...to me the process of stitching is more important than the finish!

Happy New Year!

A Celebration of Love

JBW Designs

32 ct Antique White Belfast Linen, DMC Floss & Perle Coton,

RG Treasure Braid, Mill Hill Beads

I had a nice, quiet New Year's Eve. Did some stitching and watched some movies. On New Year'sDay I started "And A Forest Grew". I got just a few stitches done--just enough to say that it was started on the 1st!!

Here is the secret framing that I did a while back. It is for DD and DSIL for their 1st anniversary, which is tomorrow. I heard it was received yesterday and she said they love it!