I knew there was a reason I hadn't started the Lizzie Kate Mystery Sampler SAL....I just didn't know why.  Yesterday I received an email from Debbie at Needle Orts about Weeks coming out with some new fibers.  Apparently they have decided to do spools of their overdyed cotton floss and 4 different sizes of pearl cotton.  I went there this morning and bought the colors I needed for the SAL and WOW it is much faster to stitch.....no separating of strands.  You use it exactly as it comes off the spool.  Here's what they look like:

They don't have all the colors in each type but between the 2 strand and #12 pearl cotton I was able to make the conversion.  Are they not gorgeous!!!!  We are talking very good yardage on each one also....there's 45 yards on each of the above spools.  

I've started the sampler but because I'm having trouble seeing the linen, I can only stitch for a little bit at a time.  This will probably end up being my only large project this year.  

This SAL came in 3 parts and with each part you get smaller designs to go with the sampler.  My hope is too stitch all the smaller ones to group with the large sampler....I have the perfect wall for it.

If you get a chance, give these a try.....I think you'll like them.

Blessings for a perfect weekend, Barbara

Brrrrr!!!!  I know the northeast is having horrible weather and I hope everyone is staying warm and safe  but I must say it's kind of cold here lately.  We have the heat on and I'm in fleece pants.  Doesn't sound like Florida does it?  

Had a good time with Peyton and John this past weekend.  Went to dinner at Macaroni Grill and enjoyed it immensely.

I was able to finish two cowls.....one for me and one for Peyton.

Mine

Peyton's

This weekend I hope to start a new quilting project.  I want just a throw size for our couch and can't wait to start it.  I have most of the fabric but have to purchase a few more colors.....oh darn!  I have to go to the fabric store.  LOL

Well that's all for now.  I really need to take a newer picture of Vallie.  I've left her fur get longer on her body and she looks like she was put in a dryer on fluff dry.  LOL

Blessings for a perfect week, Barbara

Hello World!  It's a gray dismal day here in central Florida and I'm so glad I don't have anywhere I'm suppose to be.  It's a good day to stay inside and work on something creative.

Last nite my local yarn shop, Sip and Knit in Maitland, had their yearly "yarn tasting".  Sounds gross doesn't it?  LOL  But what it really is is this....the representative from Cascade Yarns brings in samples of all the yarns Cascade makes and you get to try them out.  They snip you off a yard or two and you get to sit down and knit or crochet to see if you like the yarn.  I came away with 3 different yarns but I'm only going to show you one.  This one is not a Cascade yarn but I immediately fell in love with it and it's destined to become a cowl for myself.  This picture doesn't do this yarn justice.  There's purples, golds, steel blues, rose and olive greens in there.  Stunning!

I haven't started the Lizzie Kate SAL yet because I wanted to finish a shawl I was working on for my Etsy store.  It does take awhile to make a large shawl out of sock weight yarn but I love doing it.  Here's the newest one.....I call it "My Faith"....

Beautiful teals, steel blues, greens and a touch of purple just ready for springtime.

Well I hope each and every one of you has a fantastic weekend and is able to get some stitchie time in as well as being able to spend some time with your family.  My family is limited but that just makes me appreciate what I have left more.

Blessings on a perfect day, Barbara

Winner is.....

The winner of the giveaway of the Stash Nash kit is

STITCHING CAT

I have emailed Debra to let her know of her winnings.  Thank you to all who entered.

Blessings, Barbara

My DH and I were invited by our grand daughter and her fiance to go with them to an antique show in Mount Dora here in central Florida.  It was huge and the vendors had so many interesting items to look at.  I love looking at and collecting vintage sewing boxes and stands.  I had 2 and now I have three:

As you can see it stands about 2.5 feet tall and the top opens on both sides.  There's a removable tray that keeps all my necessities handy and in reach.  But what someone out there might be interested in, is what was inside.  There's a hand stitches sewing case with needles and 3 small wooden spools of Star thread and all kinds of vintage packs of needles and snaps.  If you are interested and collect these type of things, email me at [email protected] and we'll see about getting them out to you. 

Blessings for a perfect day, Barbara

Giveaway..........

This giveaway is for the Stacy Nash "Old White Farmhouse Sampler".....pattern, threads and the design started on 32ct hand dyed Belfast linen.  I forgot the name of the color of the linen but it's close to DMC 839....maybe a shade darker in places.  

The threads are Crescent Colors cotton floss that was purchased with the pattern for $32.50.

What you must do is comment on this post only your name and a way for me to get in touch with you.  If your email addy is in your blogger profile, that's fine because I can contact you that way.  

You must live in the U.S. or have a U.S. address where this can be sent.  Sorry but cost of postage is outrageous. 

I will leave this open till next Saturday morning and then Vallie will pick the winner.....if she's in the mood.  LOL

Good Luck and Blessings for a perfect day,

Barbara

I was wondering if anyone else is doing the Lizzie Kate SAL Things Unseen Mystery Sampler.  I decided to start mine today because the Stacy Nash sampler is ssooooooooooooo boring and I'm hoping this one goes better.  If you like Stacy Nash, stay alert because it and all the floss will be given as a giveaway soon.....very soon.

I think the colors in the Lizzie Kate are so beautiful and it's stitched entirely of WDW cotton threads.  I'll post my updates as I finish a section or two.

Have a Blessed Day, Barbara

I hope everyone is having a good Saturday....mine started off pretty annoying.  My DH bought me a new gold chain to hold a charm and a gold ring that I wear around my neck.  He asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I said a heavier one than the one I had been using.  He bought me a beautiful chain and I never take it off.  This morning I woke up with it missing and the charm and ring in the middle of the bed.  At first I thought Vallie had eaten it....my mind is not so clear that early in the morning.  :o)  I ended up finding it on the rug beside the bed...whew!  Needless to say, I'll be getting it fixed and a safety chain put on it also.

Okay unto the good stuff.  I finished the two pads for my grandmother's rocking chair and I'm very pleased with how they turned out.

I didn't have as much trouble with the back padding part as I thought I would.  

I think I'll go now and work some on the Stacy Nash sampler I've had in a frame for months....The White Farmhouse Sampler.  

Blessings for a perfect day, Barbara

First off, today is "dress your dog for work" day so here's Vallie in her go to meeting outfit.....ain't she cute!

I want to share with you what I'm working on.  I inherited my paternal grandmother's rocking chair and it's in need of a new seat cover.  I decided to do it in hexies with a ruffle at the front.  The hexies I have just about finished but I'm waiting on two more fabrics from the Fat Quarter Shop....hopefully they will arrive tomorrow.  This is the chair:

You see the top of the back?  Well I'd like to add a padded piece to fit over the top of the chair and only go as low as to where the spindles start.  My problem?  The top part if longer than the bottom part so how do I attach something like that.  I would of loved for it to just slip over the top but that's impossible because of the way it's shaped.  Does that make sense?  If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them.

Here are the hexies I have finished and they show the color scheme.

The fabric is a Moda fabric called Plum Sweet with gold and an antique plum color in it.  I know my grandmother would of loved it.

That's all for today.  I'm back to sewing hexies together and maybe watching an old black and white movie on TCM....my favorite channel.

Blessings for a perfect day, Barbara

Well I'm back on my favorite place to visit with friends and talk about what's going on in my life....good and bad.  I know I said I was shutting this blog down and going to a more straight display type of blog but I really didn't like it.  I want to talk with my followers and find out what they are up to and have them help me with questions I might have.

So if you'll forgive an old lady a lapse in judgement, please give me a chance to redeem myself and lets talk about what's going on in the world of needlework.

Blessings for a perfect day, Barbara