Happy Easter

Blessings from Barbara

And the winner is.....

LYNDA

 After using the random number generator over on my sidebar, it came up with the lucky number 13.  Lynda had posted:

 lynda said...

What a great giveaway...I'd love a chance. I am a follower and I will add this to my blog later on hope you get good news for your birthday.

I have emailed Lynda to let her know she's won so I can mail her winnings to her.  I want to thank all you ladies who entered my birthday giveaway and also for all your best wishes for this day.

Blessings, Barbara

The Ooh la la bag

As I promised this bag has been french-e-fied and it was so much fund doing.  There's the little coquette who reminds me of Audrey Hepburn one of my favorite actresses.  Then there's the sweet little french poodle that I think belongs on a grey round skirt just like back in the 50's.  Then there's the Eiffel Tower that represents everything french.  

Oh how I wish I could go and see all the beautiful needlework they do.  If you haven't treated yourself to looking at french blogs, do so with envy.  What I think is so wonderful is that they don't use all the overdyed threads like we do.  You will find them stitching on white, cream or natural linen and using white, cream or red floss and everything turns out stunning!

Well back to my Maureen Appleton sampler and I have one more bag I'm thinking of doing and then I will take a break for awhile.  I'm sure by now everyone is sick of seeing them.

Everyone have a blessed weekend, Barbara

Blueberry Crumb Cake Anyone?

As I promised, I finished the Blackbird Designs Blueberry Crumb Cake bag this evening.  I couldn't decide what to use as the embroidery and then it dawned on me......a spot of tea would go great!  "Come share a cup of friendship" is what the teapot says and isn't that a wonderful idea!

I added some cream colored lace with ribbon going thru it and the bag is lined in the antique white Kona cotton that I used for the front embroidery.  This one will be in my store for sale if you're interested in it.  Just click on the "Items for Sale" button directly under my header.

I actually started a project today that doesn't involve my sewing machine.  I love Maureen Appleton's Splendor series and I have several of those kits and I figured it was about time I started one.  The one I picked to do first is Splendor IX - Escapade en France.

It's hard to make out from this picture but it has all kinds of French items on it....the Eiffel Tower being one of them.  The one thing I don't like about her kits is the color of floss she uses.  To me it's too red/purple and  it actually hurts my eyes.  I'm doing mine on natural linen using DMC 347 which is a redder red.  These designs have so much going on, that I don't think a hand dyed thread would look right....it would make the images muddy.

So in celebration of me starting an actual project my next bag will be French-e-fied.

DH goes in for his test tomorrow and I'm just a little nervous.  I have this terrible feeling that they are going to rush him directly from the test to the operating room.  I don't know why I feel this.....it's just been gnawing at the back of my mind for days.

Have a fabulous evening!

Blessings, Barbara

This is unbelievable!

I was scrolling thru Pinterest today and came across something that just blew my mind.  There is an amazing lady in England by the name of Kay Dennis who does the most amazing stumpwork.  If you're not  familiar with stumpwork, it's embroidery that is done on a separate piece of fabric and then cut out and attached to the main embroidery piece giving it a 3D look.  Well if you click on the link below, it will take you to Kay Dennis website and her 3D garden.  When you're looking at this, remember it was all accomplished with a needle and some thread.

http://www.kaydennis.co.uk/garden.html

Enjoy!

The owl bag is finished

I hope everyone has survived the Monday after the time change.  I couldn't figure out why I was so sleepy this morning......they took a dang hour from me that's why!

Okay, I finished the owl bag and I must say it is colorful!!!  Think of all the beautiful spring and summer colors in your flower garden, and they are in this bag.  Pinks, purples, oranges, yellows, greens and blues....they are all here.

DH came up with the 'Owl's ya doin? and I thought it was kind of cute so I went ahead and added it.  I think I would offend him if I hadn't.  :o)  I couldn't find cotton eyelet lace in orange/red so I dyed that to match and it came out really nice.  I was pleased!  This bag is also bigger than the other ones since the embroidery was on the large side....13.5" x 17".....so it's big enough to hold all kinds of goodies.  If you like this, you can find it in my store.  Just click on "Items for Sale" tab directly under my header.

I love Blackbird Designs and did you know that they design quilting fabric?  Well they do and I happen to have the charm pack from them entitled "Blueberry Crumb Cake".  Now isn't that just mouth watering?  That will be my next bag and it should be alot of fun.

Off to the sewing room......Blessings,

Barbara

Sock Monkey Bag

I know alot of you were thinking...."sock monkey?".....but when I saw this fabric I couldn't help myself.  It was just too, too cute.

As you can see, the front of the bag has a large sock monkey embroidered in the same colors that are in the fabric I used.

 The above is a closeup of the front of the bag.

This is the pocket that is on the back.  It is also embroidered in the same colors.  The dark brown fabric you see peaking out is also the lining of the bag.  It has sock monkeys and different toys that the monkey plays with I guess.  

This was alot of fun to do .....finding just the right embroidery pattern that would do justice to this fabric.  If you would like to purchase this bag, you will find it in my store.  Just click on the button "Items for Sale" right below my header picture.

Owls are so popular this year, how could I not make a bag with owls on it.  It's next.

I hope your Saturday went well and no frogs came to visit.  

Blessings, Barbara

Red and White "I Love Stitching" Bag

I made another one of my tote bags but this time it's only in red and white.  I found some machine embroidery designs that are of different tools that we might use in our stitching:  needles and pins, scissors, buttons, thread and thimble.

The above picture shows the front of the bag where I also have a heart with the words "I Love Stitching" inside.  

And the above picture is of the back of the bag.  I used 6 different red and white cotton fabrics for the outside and the lining is pure white.

This bag has been claimed by Vickie.  She was the first to see that I was giving it away free and emailed me.  

If you're into Sock Monkeys, that is my next bag.

Blessings, Barbara

Pink and Grey Bag

I received alot of wonderful suggestions for the embroidery design for the pink and grey charm squares but when I came across this butterfly in my library, I was in love.  Also, when I opened the pack of charm squares, I noticed that there was a stunning shade of gold in them so I incorporated that with the pink and grey in the butterfly.

 The bag has been lined with a grey and white print that is just as pretty as the outside.

I also want to thank all of you ladies who have signed up for the giveaway and have posted about it on your blogs.  It's a beautiful pattern and I'm envious of who gets to stitch it.  I fell in love with the design when I saw it on Kathy's page but when I received the pattern, I knew it was too intense for me.

I'm not sure if it's age or what (61 is coming up...yuk) and my attention span has shrunk.  I just cannot concentrate on large or complicated projects.  By that I mean ones with alot of colors or stitches.  Maybe menopause kills those brain cells that takes care of those issues.  Hmmmm....good question for the doctor next time.

Anyways, the giveaway will end on the 19th and if you like the above bag, you'll find it for sale in my store.  Just click on the box under my header "Items for Sale".

Until later, Blessings

Barbara

So let's have a giveaway

I've decided to have a giveaway and maybe raise my hopes some.  This giveaway contains the following:

Kathy Barrick's newest design called Strawberry Bird

A fat quarter of 30ct. WDW Cappuccino Linen

and 1 card of RG Splendor Silk in Black

The pattern calls for 40 ct. but not too many of us can see that so that's why the 30 ct. instead and the pattern also calls for alot of black and I thought it would be nice to do that in silk.

Here's what you need to do.  Please be a follower of my blog and for a second chance to win, talk about this giveaway on your blog.  That's it!  My birthday unfortunately is March 19th and that's when I will draw a name.  Also, if your familiar with my blog, you know I always throw a surprise into the package.

Good Luck and Blessings,

Barbara

Why does this happen?

You go to bed at night all excited about the next day and what stitching you'll be doing but you wake up the next morning deciding you don't like anything you're working on.  Are there fairies that come at night and make your work less attractive?  Do they sprinkle fairy dust on all of your projects so that every time you look at them you're bored with them?  Whatever it is, it's happened to me.....again!  So I guess everything will come to a halt until I figure out what is in store for me.  Speaking of store.....my LNS emailed me and said I have things there waiting for me.  I don't even care about them! 

If you need me I'll be taking a nap!!!!

Blessings, Barbara

Things done and to do

First off I want to thank all of you for your prayers and support.  I have taken all of your comments and printed them off and I'm keeping them close.  To me they are precious and I hold each one very dear.

I've been trying to keep myself busy and when I went into my sewing room this morning, an idea hit me and I just went with it.  In case you didn't know, I'm addicted to charm squares.  The Fat Quarter Shop keeps me up to date on what the newest ones are and I am lost when it comes to saying no.  I just received some more in the mail yesterday and I'll share them on a later post.  What I did this morning was take a collection from Moda called "Dragonfly Summer" and came up with this beautiful project/carry all bag.  The three main colors - brown, purple and green - are just lovely and I did the machine embroidery in those 3 colors.  The below picture is the front of the bag.  

Below is a close up of the machine embroidery on the front of the bag.

Below is a pocket that is on the back of the bag and I embroidered a dragonfly on it in the same 3 colors.

This bag finished off at 12" x 13.5".  I'm not going to keep this one because Heaven knows I have more than enough, so you'll find this one for sale in my store.  Just click on the "Items for Sale" button directly below my header picture.

My next bag will be done with the pink and grey fabric below.  I fell in love with this collection and can't wait to start picking out embroidery to go with it.  Maybe some cats?  Dogs?  Flowers?  

Remember a few months ago when Ma Teakettle was sweet enough to lend me a pattern and she also sent me a set of stunning Gentle Art Sampler Threads.  

Well I finally found the design that is worthy of these beautiful threads.  It's a new Jardin Prive design and I'm starting it tonite.  I will give a progress picture later this week.  Below is what the pattern looks like.  Doesn't this look like a fun stitch!

I also received my little lamb in the mail.  The top one is the complete kit of the "Ewe Look Fabulous" and her summer outfit.  The bottom one is for an Easter outfit to put on the one I've already done.  I was hoping to get my Easter one finished this weekend but I really don't think that's going to happen.

Well that's all I have for today.  Again, thank you all for your best wishes and prayers.  

Blessings, Barbara