Happy New Year!

Well friends it's time to close the door on 2013! I can't say that I will be sad as it was a hard and frustrating year for some people I love the most. That's the beauty of starting a new year, because its a fresh new start. I am finishing my 2013 stitching with this sweet little freebie by Stitches by Cheri.  It's called Happy New Year of course!  I got up this morning excited by new prospects to come and finished it into this little cube. I used wired ribbon for the bow and my ribbon always looks as if it's going to fly away! It is stitched on 30 count parched bones linen with Gentle Art threads and the backing is this pretty funky batik. So easy and sweet,

I stopped doing resolutions many years ago. I do have some goals in mind but that is where they will stay. I would like to wish everyone best wishes with their resolutions, goals or whatever you may have in mind. I hope that you, your family and friends will all have a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!!!

Blessings!!
xoxo

Mary's Sampler II Finish

Well better late than never! I finally finished my Mary's Sampler II design by Plum Street Samplers. It was a lovely stitch to do and I would have finished earlier if my stitching muse had not decided to disappear. My sampler is stitched on 30 count Apple Brown Bindy by R & R, and uses Gentle Art threads.You can still find this free pattern on Paulette's blog.  A big thank you to her for sharing her time and talents with all of us!

The holidays have come and gone, I hope yours were as wonderful as mine were. Time spent with family and friends is truly a blessing.  The kids are happy with what Santa brought and this mama is happy that the kids are happy. Now it's onward to looking at a new year, I am hoping and praying 2014 will be a  little kinder than 2013. I am still working on my stitching list for next year. I am not sure I will rejoin the wipocalypse, I liked having a list of stitching that I could refer back to. The list did help keep me organized, so I know I will continue that.  However, I got really lazy about posting on the dates required even though its a no pressure thing. So, I am still considering that, I  do know that my focus next year will remain on samplers. I hope to be back with a post before new years! Blessings my friends.

xoxo

Gift for a Friend

Every year for the last 5 years or so I have made a stitched gift for a friend. We have never met, we only talk via Facebook, email or texting. She is very dear to me. This years gift continues with the Halloween themed gift I gave her last year, which you can see here.  Since I was running behind, I had a little help from a friend. Sherri did the primary stitching for me and I did the finishing. Thanks Sherri! I finished it into a hanger for the door or doorknob perhaps.

It is stitched on 30 count Grasshopper linen with DMC threads, the little loop and the pumpkin nose beads came with the pattern. It had some other weird looking stars but I changed mine to black. The backing fabric is this fabulous Halloween orange fabric with the words boo on it. I added the fuzzy black yarn around it to finish it off. Oh, forgot to say the pattern is called The Witch is In by Amy Bruecken! I hope she likes it! Hopefully, I will be back soon with my Mary's Sampler finish.

Cecilia's Sampler Retreat and Meeting a Blogging Friend

Last week a Sherri and I attended our first Cecilia's Samplers Retreat in Branson, MO. It was great! The theme was a Fall Fiesta. We drove up a day early because Branson is like 12 hours away from us and detoured big time through Nashville, TN and visited The Stitchin' Post Nashville. I didn't get any pictures, but it was a very good store. Then onward to Cecilia's Samplers. Below is the outside of the store, very unassuming for what's inside, which is just a stitcher's heaven! 

Outside of Cecilia's

This is one shows a side wall of the Weeks and Crescent Color threads and looks towards the front of the store where you have fabric and lots of lovely accessories.

Ignore me! Look at the glorious wall of threads, this is the other wall of threads, this one Gentle Art and Carrie's Creation and Kreinik. I was picking out thread for one of the million projects I have! LOL 

A little peek at their Halloween section, they have lots of wonderful models all around the store.

Here is Sherri perusing the fabric. They have a wonderful fabric selection and will cut fabric to your specifications, not just in the standard cuts, Even better, they will serge the fabric for you. The fabric section is a little tight when lot's of ladies are trying to get in there and choose fabric ;-) 

Here is Sherri again making yet another purchase, we are so bad! You see a little more of the store.

This picture is looking down again from the fabric section. All in all, a great store. It was definitely a family affair for the owners and they were all so nice. The retreat check in started on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 pm and the conference/stitching room was open until 11 pm every night and open again at 8 am. The first night we had pizza, drinks and dessert provided by Cecilia's, the pizza was fabulous! When I go again, I will be saving myself for that-LOL  All retreat activities were done between 6-8 pm every night, which left you free to stitch, shop at the store, see a show (lots of those there)  or eat. We received gift cards for our meals and the breakfast was at the hotel if you were interested or you could eat where you wanted!  The great thing the store did was do a raffle to raise money for The  Wounded Warriors, the raffle was for a 250 dollar gift card to the store. I am sad to say, I didn't win.  The store matched the donations from their two retreats and all in all raised over 2,000 dollars for The Wounded Warriors.  On top of that, we received gifts and everyone won a door prize of which some had some gift certificates added for the store. 

Now for one of the best parts of retreat, and that was meeting Chelle from Totally Toadlily. Chelle and I first connected when I started blogging in 2006 or 2007. I never expected to meet her, we had always spoken via email and the we found each other on Facebook. Here we are below. Chelle, it was great to meet you and I hope we will get to see each other again! I also made some new stitching friends well. It was a great trip!

Mary's Sampler II

Paulette of Plum Street Samplers has been been sharing a wonderful Sunday Mystery Sampler the last several weeks called Mary's Sampler and Mary's Sampler II.  The theme is the birth of Christ. The mystery lasts a total of 9 weeks and a new part is released every Sunday. This past Sunday was the start of the 5th week.  When you finish you will have a beautiful holiday sampler. I couldn't resist of course, so I gathered my supplies and I  started about 3 weeks in. The parts released have been so easy to manage, and even though I started later I was able to get caught up quite easily. Let's hope I can stay caught up! The only difference between the two samplers is that sampler 2 is a little more dense in it's stitching. I am stitching sampler 2.  I am stitching mine on 30 count Apple Brown Bindy with Gentle Art's threads.  If you haven't decided yet, go take a look! 

As usual, the month has gotten away from me, but that's not new.  I feel like I have been at work a lot with classes and working extra, so not a whole lot of stitching going on here. I am looking forward to November, my baby girl turns 18! We haven't quite decided what to do yet, though she continues to find ways to spend my money. I also am going to a retreat at Cecilia's Samplers in Branson, MO. with a friend. I have never been, so I am really looking forward to that. We are going to make a detour through Nashville as well. Can't wait!

Thanks to those of you left comments in regards to Cathey...she touched a lot of people and she will be missed. (Edited to add-there is a beautiful tribute pattern to Cathey and you can find it here)

Anyway, I am off to watch The Voice, love that show and hopefully get some stitches in.

Blessings

xoxo

Remembering Cathey

I am sad to have learned that Cathey of Pumpkin Patch & Co. has lost her very brave battle against cancer. Though she will be greatly missed,  she is no longer in pain or suffering.  Please pray for her family and friends, but most especially for a sweet little 18 month old boy who will never truly get to know his mom. Hug your loved ones today and always! 

Pumpkins for Cathey!

Dear Cathey, as a fervent pumpkin stalker, I want to wish you a fabulous and a very Happy Blogoversary!  It's always been a great pleasure to visit your blog and see whatever beautiful pieces you are stitching on and to catch a glimpse of your adorable little man. I wish you many, many heartfelt blessings today and always. 

xoxo

Works in Progress

The days continue to fly by and before you know it, you haven't updated your blog in a month! Since I was last here, the kids have started school. My baby began high school and my oldest began college. My daughter got her driver's license, so now I am free from ferrying her around. It's so nice. If the youngest needs to go anywhere, I just make the other's take him! LOL  As for me, I have been stitching. I am no where close to finishing anything but I am enjoying the journey to get there. I also have been stashing too, but that is a story for another day ;-)  Please forgive the wrinkles!

Promised Lamb by Plum Street Samplers in progress on a 32 count Lakeside Linen, not sure of the color. I am using the recommended threads, but the recommended fabric was not available. I love this one. The colors are just divine and I have had a hard time putting this one down. I just can't stitch fast enough!

This is an updated picture of the ES Spot Motif sampler, I am getting to the halfway point and I love this one too. One of my favorite motifs is the orange looking flowers on the left side. I also started Away We Ride by Blackbird Designs, I hopefully will have more progress on that and will show you the next time.  

I must  run, I hope you have a blessed and terrific Sunday! Thanks for all your comments my last post. I love hearing from you guys!

xoxoxo

Good Intentions, a Finish and De-Stashing

Well the title says it all, good intentions. Which is what I thought I had to come and make a  new blog post. Somehow, I never got here. But finally, here I be with a small finish called Harvest Moon by Island Cottage Needlearts. I started it ages ago and finally picked it up and completed it. Stitch count is 77 x 56.  It's stitched on 30 count Celadon with Gentle Art Threads. Finishing plans are for framing.

  I also have made some progress on my ES Spot Motif Sampler. I have been enjoying all the bright colors in this one and I managed to get the border to meet after only three tries-LOL  Whew!  I currently am impatiently  waiting on some stash in the mail. Stacy Nash's Summer at Hollyberry Farm, and Promised Lamb by Plum Street Samplers. I have been itching to start these, especially the Stacy Nash piece.

Now in regards to the de-stashing part, I have been slowly getting rid of things that I knew I wasn't going to stitch over the last few months. My focus has primarily gone to samplers.  Theresa at Shakespeare's Peddler had a recommendation on her Facebook page about a lovely lady named Kathy who does EBay consignment. I contacted her and the rest as they say is history. I have sold stuff through her three times. She has been extremely reliable, with great communication and I haven't had not one issue. So, if you are interested in trying to pare down some of your things then please contact Kathy. She is always on the look out for more things to sell. You can contact her at [email protected] and she will be glad to explain how it works.  Tell her I sent you!

Thanks for all your lovely comments in regards to my Sarah's House finish. I appreciate it very much. I am off to stitch. Be blessed friends!

xoxo

A Finish and June WIPocalypse

Finally finished my Sarah's House by Blackbird Designs in the wee hours of the morning. I really could have been finished with this a long time ago, but I had to take a break from it after some reverse stitching just drove me crazy. Also that border was a little tricky as well.  It is stitched on the called for 30 count Abcedarian fabric with recommended Gentle Arts threads. I love, love the colors in this one and I wish occasionally that I had not been frugal and had went with the silks! It is to be framed and will be a wonderful addition to my sampler wall.

This is also a wipocalypse finish for me as well as this was on the list. I seem to add and stitch more than stitch what was originally on the list. Not sure what I will pick up next. I have worked some my ES Spot Motif Sampler. I have also been kitting some projects. I had started Jane Pattison by Shakespeare's Peddler, however was not happy with the fabric choice. So I got more and I haven't restated it as I am thinking I will do that one in silks using The Attic's conversion.  I also have been loving Isabella Fox, which I have seen finished on several blogs. Also, Stacy Nash has a new one called Summer at Hollyberry Farm which I love too.  It's always wonderful to have choices.

A Belated WIPocalypse...

First and foremost, I must thank you all for your very kind words in regard to my son. They were wonderful and very much appreciated. He has finished and officially graduates June 4th. We are looking forward to it and also excited to see what his Senior honors night holds for him. I still can't believe we are here at this point. There were many a day that I thought I would snatch myself bald! 

Now on to my belated WIPocalypse, I didn't post last month but I am pleased to say I had two finishes. Of course, they were not on the original list but additions instead.  Now for this month, I don't have any finishes but a couple of new starts. Again new additions to the list. 

The first is ES Spot Motif Sampler by Of Female Worth. It is an oop sampler that another stitcher kindly loaned me. Below is my start. I love it, it has a lot of red in it and is quite colorful. It is being stitched with Weeks Dye threads on 32 count Irish Cream. 

Next up, is Kitty Cat Row by Bent Creek. I have become the cat lady-LOL  I happened to see 

a finish on the Stitches and Spice website in Australia with a Dinky Dye silk conversion. I loved it! What I didn't love was the price of the silks from there to me!  So, I enlarged the picture and went through the Dinky Dyes pictures on 123Stitch and came up with a conversion that appeared to be close. You can't tell it very much by the picture below, but you will as I stitch the other cats. Theirs was also done on a pink or rose color linen, however I chose  32 count PTP Earthern. The Dinky Dyes silks have been a pure pleasure to stitch with! (Please forgive my wrinkles)

Now, the reason why I have become the cat lady is that I have a new cat! She makes number 5 and for now my cat family is complete. Her name is Kensi and she is a rescue cat that I got from a local shelter called Hotel for Dogs and Cats. She is a tortie or tortoiseshell cat and is about 6 months old.  She is very hard to take a good picture of, as she is still a little skittish. However, she is finally coming around! If you are an NCIS fan, you will notice that she is named after SA Kensi Blye on NCIS: LA. Yes, I am that obessed! LOL

Anyway, if you have made it to the end here,  thank you!  Thanks for your continued visit and kind words! Be blessed my friends!

xoxoxo

Two Finishes!

First up is Wrought by My Hand by Pineberry Lane. This was a Prim Sister's Club kit. It was such fun to stitch. I changed my colors up just a little. The chart had one more color option for the insides of the berries, which was the cream color you see above. The shirt on my little lady was supposed to be a gray color but since it didn't go very with her darker skin tone, I changed it to cream as well.  I also decided to leave her face blank. This was stitched on 30 count Confederate Gray linen with Gentle Arts Threads. I did make one mistake in that it was supposed to be stitched with one thread over two. I didn't read my directions (bad Sharon!) and I stitched mine two over two.  Note to self, read the darn directions first!

This is The Sowing Sampler by Norforgotten Farm. It was also a Prim Sister's Club kit which a lovely stitcher was so very kind to let me borrow her pattern. I just loved this saying on this sampler so much! I did read the directions this time and it is stitched one thread over two on 30 count Tin Roof linen, with Gentle Art Threads. Both these pieces are to be framed and I am thinking of doing a primitive type of stitching wall in my bedroom. So, I think I am off to a good start with these two!

Last but certainly not least, I leave you with a picture of my oldest Brandon, this was him on his way to his Senior prom. I am so proud of him this year. He has been on the A/B honor roll all year and he will graduate high school next month on June 4th. So hard to believe we are at this point. I can still remember bringing him home from the hospital! Time really does fly! He plans to go to college and he would like to do engineering (or so he says at the moment!)LOL 

An Amazing Gift!

Dear friends, I am behind this month or should I say from last month. I have a finish and my WIPocalypse to update, a prom and my birthday. But today, I received this fabulous birthday gift in the mail from a friend.  It is a quilted wall hanging and it's perfect. So perfect, I felt it deserved a post all by itself.  I won't tell you who she is because I don't think she wants that attention. However, I must say to her that words can't express how much this amazing gift means to me and I will treasure it always. I can't thank you enough! 

Almost another finish...

Getting close to a finish! Wrought by My Hand by Pineberry Lane,  Wendy's last project for The Prim Sister's Club. I am thoroughly enjoying this one and I hope to have it finished this weekend. I want to start her Home pattern which I love. You can see it here at Pineberry Lane.  Looking forward to the weekend and hopefully lots more stitching! Thanks for popping in!

Happy Easter, a Finish and WIPocalypse Update

Happy Easter everyone! It has been a gloriously gorgeous Easter Sunday here in NW Florida! I have spent the day with my mom. We had lunch together, talked and walked outside with the dogs. The kids have been on spring break and Brandon just came back earlier in the week from his Senior Trip.  So my two oldest have been out and about with friends most of the time! They are growing up and away from me.   I have worked, poor, poor mama! Okay, it wasn't that bad-LOL It has been a thoroughly blessed day.

I am happy to report a small finish. May Basket by Blackbird Designs-it's adorable I think and I love the colors in it. It's stitched on 30 count Putty by Weeks, using Gentle Art's overdyed threads. The border gave me some trouble but I managed to work past it. I didn't do the satin stitches on the butterfly only because I failed to read my stitching directions first.  Then I didn't want to frog any stitches.  Stitch count on this is only 49 x 50.  I will have it framed eventually for my sampler wall.

May Basket by Blackbird Designs-sorry the photo is a little wonky
I almost let the March WIPocalypse get by me! So thus far I have completed 2 projects from the list and   May Basket was a new addition and a finish all at the sane tune. I am not sure how well I will do with this list, but it does keep me focused more on what I want to work on and I do like that.

I am off to start project number 1001, ha! I hope your week is a great one!

xoxo

Queen of Quite a Lot Finish

Here is Queen of Quite a Lot by The Scarlett House finished! I decided to change the colors to pink because this queen prefers pinks/fuchsia's/purples ;-) This was fun to stitch. I decided to be frugal and stitched this in DMC rather than NPI. I used a random piece of R and R fabric-of which I don't recall the name. I really liked the way the black thread popped off the fabric. Stitch count is 111w x 66h. It will be framed eventually and I think a bold black frame will be most appropriate for it. The chart is up for grabs, leave me a comment and I will pull a name on Friday March 22.  Edited to add that Terri of Dixie Sampler won the chart!

Nothing else exciting going on around here. I have just been busy with work, kids, appointments. The usual stuff. I have stashed a little since market, I am hoping to get my charts tomorrow. I bought a couple of La D Da charts-Krissy Nelson and The Red House. Also, a couple by Blackbird May Basket and Dear Daughter which I want to stitch for Alexis. Have you seen that darling kit by Samsarah called Commence Having Fun!? Since I love coffee related cross stitch-I had to have it.

Since I have actually finished something-I am going to start something new and that will be Ohio Treasure by Threadwork Primitives. The colors are just divine. In fact I am off to start now. Have a blessed week friends.

xoxo 

From Google Reader to Bloglovin

Sigh,

Why can't Google leave well enough  alone. As I am sure you have heard Google Reader is going away by July 1, 2013. I am distraught at best...okay not really. But, I am not happy to say the least. So I am going to try Bloglovin instead. I tried Feedly, not too impressed with that as of yet. So if you wish to follow me  please do so at

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

In the meantime, I will hope that Google has a change of heart!

A Finish and WIPocalypse #2

This busy year is continuing to fly by. I had every intention of posting in February, but it got away from me obviously. This is my Tulip Manor finish which is a Loose Feather's #7 by Blackbird Designs. I had been stitching on this one off and on for awhile just enjoying it. I made a few changes, I left off the smyrna stitches because they seemed to bulky and I added my mom's initials to the right side. I think I reported earlier that this was a 30 count fabric, but I believe it's 32 instead. I used the recommended threads. It will be framed and go on my sampler wall. This also will complete one from my WIPocalypse list.

Tulip Manor by Blackbird Designs
I recently went on a stitching retreat with my local stitching friends organized by the lovely Jinger. That was my little adventure. We went to Orlando for a few days to check out the stitching and knitting shops. The first stop was Brick City Cross Stitch in Ocala Florida. Then it was on to Orlando. We stayed at a lovely resort, ate great food, went shopping (can we say Vera Bradley Outlet) and of course stitched! I didn't get any good pictures. We were a little disappointed with selection of fabric and some patterns. I decided I was spoiled because the thread prices were really marked up 25 t0 55 cents per skein depending on where you bought it. I have never paid that much per skein, so needless to say I didn't buy but a couple skeins that I needed to finish one of my patterns.

This last picture is a new start called Queen of Quite a Lot by The Scarlett House. I feel like that most days, don't you? I just picked up another random piece of 30 R and R linen and I am stitching it with DMC instead of NPI silks. I hope to get it finished soon. I do have some other projects I have started, but not enough to show. I did start Frances Pool by With My Needle and Thread, love it! I also am working on a Prim Sister's club pattern by Pineberry Lane. Thanks for all your well wishes for my daughter, we still have occasional pain but nothing like before. I appreciate your kind words and concern.

I am off to stitch, I am thinking I may have me a Criminal Minds marathon day with my stitching. I hope your Sunday is a good one!

Blessings
xoxo

WIPocalypse #1

The month of January has almost gotten away from me. It has been a very busy month filled with appointments, work and the topper of the month was Alexis being hospitalized for a sickle cell crisis. Fortunately, it was a brief stay and she is better. Though still with the occasional pain. This

fickle weather doesn't help either. Hot in the morning and cool at night!  Anyway, I digress  as I here for the very first WIPocaplyse posting. I have been stitching amazingly enough even with all that's being going on.

First up is Tulip Manor by Blackbird Designs. It's being stitched on a random piece of 30 count R and R linen with the recommended threads!  I have been working on this piece for awhile, just picking it up when I felt like it and then it just started calling my name. I hope to have this one finished by the next posting. 

Next up is another Blackbird piece Sarah's House. I had been promising to show this one for at least a couple of posts and finally here it be. Not much more on it either. It's being stitched on 

30 count Abecedarian blend with recommended cotton threads by Gentle Arts. The frog has visited me a few times on this piece and I became a little frustrated hence it's unfinished state. However, I will finish this soon as I love the pattern and the colors.  I am sorry for the less than stellar pictures but I wanted to get these in. I am off for a little stitching adventure tomorrow, more to come on that! Have a blessed week friends! 

Joining the WIPocalypse

Towards the end of the 2012, my mind started going thinking of stitching projects I would like to work on. As you can see from the long and varied list below, it's a lot.  I have started several,  but only have a few stitches in as my project ADD kicked in and I moved on to another pattern.. Some are BAP's and I know I will not finish in 2013 but I would like to make significant progress on them. You also see a few by The Primitive Needle, I love Lisa's patterns and now I need to finish some!  The ones with asterisks are the ones I have started.  So I will begin and we will see how far I get with this. Hopefully, by participating in the WIPocalypse I will be motivated to get more stitching done!

If you would like to join the WIPocalypse you can find the info here.   Another great thing about the WIPocalypse is finding new blogs, getting to know new people and having someone  to cheer you on! Of course to add to my project distraction ,I have signed up for a couple of clubs. Bad Sharon! I signed up for the Ladies Prim Society with Dyeing 2 Stitch and The Prim Sister' Girls Club from Country Sampler.

This crazy list is in no particular order and I just added to it as things hit my brain:
Feast of Friendship by Blackbird Designs*
Tulip Manor by Blackbird Designs* completed Feb 2013
Sarah's House by Blackbird Designs*  completed 6/24/13
Jane Pattison 1806 by Shakespeare's Peddler*
Ragamuffin #2 by Shakespeare's Peddler
Let Your Life Speak by The Primitive Needle*
Tombstone Spots by The Primitive Needle*
The Flock by Samsarah Designs*
Shining Star by Samsarah Designs
Zombies by Prairie Moon*
Life is a Beach by Queenstown Sampler Designs
Maude Eloise 1891 by Blackbird Designs
Violets Blue by Blackbird Designs deleted from list 3/18/13
My Dear Sampler by Blackbird Designs
Folk Art Floral by From The Heart*
Thine is The Trick and The Treat by Prairie Moon*(This a SAL along with Jinger)
The Olde Settlement by The Primitive Needle*
Garden of Eerie by Plum Street Samplers
The Big Red House by La D Da
Wild Garden by Blackbird Designs*
Christmas House Sampler by Abby Rose Designs
Queen of Quite a Lot by The Scarlett House  Completed 3/17/13
Merry Christmas by Blackbird Designs*
Love Letters: Fraktur by Ink Circles*
Frances Pool by With Thy Needle and Thread*
Feather's and Fins by Tempting Tangles
Ohio Treasure by Threadwork Primitives added 3/18/13
May Basket by Blackbird Designs added and completed 3/31/13
Wrought by My Hand by Pineberry Lane added and completed 4/17/13
The Sowing Sampler by Notforgotten Farm added and completed 5/13/13
ES Spot Motif Sampler by Of Female Worth
Harvest Moon by Island Cottage Needlearts added and completed 8/5/13
Mary's Sampler II by Plum Street Samplers added and completed 12/27/13
Happy New Year Freebie by Stitches by Cheri added and completed 12/29/13

There are some more I haven't purchased yet that I hope to eventually add to this list and they are
Christmas Garden by Blackbird Designs
Christmastide at Holly House  by  Scarlett House
Christmas at Hollyberry Farm by Stacy Nash
Summer at Hollyberry Farm by Stacy Nash

Ambitious aren't I? Well where would we be without a little or a lot of that? LOL I could go and add Frances Pool and that new one Red Cottage by Plum Street Samplers but I will try to control myself!  So much to stitch and sew little time to do it! Wish me luck my friends!

Last but not least is a finish that I did some time ago and forgot about!  This  is Purple Heart by Ewe and Eye and Friends/ I stitched it on 32 count purple iris linen with Anchor threads. This will probably be finished as an ornament. I bought an extra pattern and if anyone would like to have it, leave your name on this post and I will draw  a name on Monday, if more than one is interested. Thanks and thanks too if you have made it to the end of this post and have not laughed yourself silly at any of the aforementioned words. I am off to bed...xoxo

Edited to add: Southpaw Stitcher wins the pattern

Last 2012 Finish and Happy New Year!

This is my last finish for 2012 Follow Your Art by Raise the Roof Designs. I stitched it for my daughter Alexis who over the last year has really been into drawing and painting. She is pretty good. I am amazed that both of my older children can draw as I can barely draw a straight line or a stick figure! LOL As you can see I was feeling crafty and picked up this little wooden crate from JoAnn's. I spray painted it cherry red. The piece itself is stitched on white linen with GAST and uses JABCO buttons. The hardest part was sewing the frou frou around it. On the back as you see below I spray painted the wooden sign create purple and attached it to the back of the crate. 

This is the back of the crate and below is the inside of the crate. Instead of leaving it plain I placed a fabric bottom. I really like the way it turned out. My daughter really liked it and it was a surprise Christmas gift under the tree for her. 

Lastly here are the kids right before Christmas coerced kindly taking a picture for me! Brandon on the left, followed by Alexis and Caleb. I never imagined having kids this age! It's very interesting and never a dull moment! Love these kids!

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! May you be blessed by love, peace, prosperity and good health! I am off this week to spend some time with the kids and of course planning all sorts of stitching projects. More about those later!  Thanks for all your sweet comments on my Santa cube! Have a wonderfully blessed day friends!

xoxoxo