A Little Love :)

My lovely friend Annie

(Crazy Annies Stitchin' & Stuff)

sent me such a fun package for my birthday.

This chart "Wonderous Love" by Homespun Elegance

was one of the charts she included.

How blessed am I?????

I stitched it on 32ct white Belfast linen

and made it into a small pillow for my bed.

I must have been "feelin' the love" this week

because I also grabbed the stitchable needlebook

from my shop and decided to keep it for myself.

After all.....I needed one specifically for my 

embroidery and cross stitch needles :)

I used a freebie chart

and added the word "Love".

You gotta love the bluebirds of happiness!

Hope you are all having

a LOVELY week :)

Fun times ahead!

Times have been tough for many families this past year

and our household has not been immune to it.

Clearly this has been a season to lean on the Lord

and know that He is in control.

We are in good health and have a roof over our heads

and food in the pantry.

I can't complain :)

I just kept thinking that this would be

the perfect time to really work

at growing my etsy business.

God is truly blessing my efforts 

and things are really starting to pick up.

I am so thankful that He has given me 

the ability to work from home

and that He just keeps opening up

new opportunities for me that I never saw coming.

I really believe that there are fun times ahead.

Today I've added a few more bags and organizers.

There are fun fabrics for those who craft with cats

(you know who you are :)

as well as Mary Engelbreit and Warren Kimball :)

Also I've added this darling set made with imported fabric

and quilter's linen that reminds me so much

 of Little House Needleworks.

This set can only be purchased through 

Crazy Annies' Stitchin.

I've also started a Facebook page for Sewmuch2luv

(you can click on the link above on the left)

and I should have done it long ago.

I've met some really sweet people in such a short time!

I will be offering coupon codes 

and showing new items there,

so if you are interested in hearing about specials

and coupons please join me on Facebook :)

A Finish and A Winner :)

"Easter Peep" by With Thy Needle & Thread

Just finished my Easter Peep last night.

I love making the last stitch in a project :)

I changed out most of the colors

to suit my home.

I do love that little bunny of a stick.

Adorable right?

This little guy is going to be a little pillow.

So now on to the winner of the giveaway

of the Dare to Dresden Hop:

Congratulations to Msstitcher1948!!!!

Inspiration :)

Where does your inspiration come from?

For this project

I found my inspiration in a needlebook

that my Oma made for me

when I was a little girl.

As you can see,

it's been VERY well used :)

The entire front cover is all cross stitch.

I feel the love that went into this precious gift.

I don't think I'll ever use another one.

But it did start me thinking about

making needlebooks to cross stitch on.

I haven't seen them anywhere else,

so I got to work making a pattern.

You can unbutton the front cover

so that you can stitch your favorite design on it

and then button it back closed.

For my first one I used linen,

but I plan to make some with Aida as well.

I used wool felt for the inside

to stick your pins and needles in. 

Here's my own needlebook in action.........

yes,

its a mess,

but I use it 

A LOT!  

It makes my heart happy to think about

my Oma sitting in the backyard

stitching in the sunshine

making this just for me :)

These new cross-stitchable needlebooks

will be available soon in my shop.

No two will be alike.

For me, that's the fun in creating :)

Quick question:

If you were to purchase a stitchable item,

would you prefer linen or aida?

What is your favorite stitch count?

Thanks!

A New Tradition :)

Every year for Christmas 

for as long as I can remember

someone buys a jigsaw puzzle for my Mom.

We all check with each other 

to make sure that someone has it covered.

It has to be difficult and at least 5000 pcs.

It's a given,

we all know it.

It's a tradition.

She always lets us know 

when she has it completed.

This year at Christmas I was thinking to myself,

that my favorite Christmas gifts

since I was a child 

were the ones that I could "make".

I'd start on Christmas day

and get right to work :)

And I thought that I would start my own tradition.

I was going to start a cross stitch project

on Dec 25th each year.

Imagine my delight when I rec'd THREE

new charts this year!

I hadn't mentioned my plans to anyone!!!

So this is the one I chose to start my new tradition.

It's called "Magic Garden Samler" by Shakespeare's Peddler.

I finished it last night

so it took me 18 evenings of stitching.

Actually a bit less because there were a few nights

that I didn't get to stitch.

I changed out the colors a bit.

I just couldn't stitch a pale purple watermelon,

or a pink snail or purple carrot.

I'm going to make this into a pillow for my living room sofa.

Do you have any crafty Christmas traditions?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

May God bless you all mightily!

Writing this blog has changed my life in ways 

I could not have imagined.

I have made wonderful bloggie friends

that will be forever friends!

 I've learned so much from

all you talented crafters out there.

Thanks to all of you who 

continue to leave me such sweet comments.

It really does make my day!

I can't wait to see where 2013 takes us :)

2013 Here we come!

Boy, New Year's Eve has changed a LOT for me over the years.

I used to be quite the party animal.

Dancing the night away with friends and family.

But these days with small children in the family

the late night Pictionary, Cranium, dancing and laughing

will have to wait until the babies are a bit older.

No one wants to wake them up 

just to put them into their car seats 

on a cold winter night.

So this year the hubs and I 

will quietly spend the evening 

enjoying each other's company 

with him playing his new "old school" Zelda

and me stitching my new chart I received for Christmas.

We'll welcome the New Year with a hug and kiss

and then off to bed for a good night's sleep.

(That is IF we even make it to midnight...ha!)

I wish you all a blessed and healthy, 

Happy New Year!

I just wanted to share a couple of projects 

that I couldn't show you until now.

Here are two ornaments that I stitched for friends.

I used chenille around the heart 

and it's the first time I've done that.

I really love the look!

I also made these two little clutch bags

from a pattern found in

"Bags - the Modern Classics" by Sue Kim.

I highly recommend this book

if you like purses and bags.

Full sized patterns are included

and the instructions are easy to follow.

I used Minnie Mouse fabric for the lining

because the recipients are Minnie fans :)

I used some vintage buttons from my Mom's

vast stash of awesome old buttons.

And last but not least,

I wanted to share my tree top Angel with you.

I stitched her over 30 years ago 

and she is still watching over our tree each year.

One of the things I love most about hand crafted

items is that they will be here long after I am gone.

Kinda nice to think that she will still be smiling

and watching over my loved ones for years to come :)

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

"The Christmas Story" Nativity from For the Love of Cross Stitch Magazine  July 2002 and  Sept 2002

Yipppie!!!!

I finished the Nativity that I was working on for my daughter!

She's coming by this morning 

and I'm going to give it to her so she can display it right away.

I made a few changes to the pattern colors.

I used metallic gold thread

 for the halo and stars on baby Jesus.

I also used a smaller stitch count evenweave

to make the pieces turn out smaller.

I bought the little wooden stable

on a trip to Hobby Lobby when I went

there with my friend Cherise.

I didn't think about it at the time, 

but the stable has a peaked roof,

so I had to make the bottom of the angel

come to a peak as well 

so that she can stay up there without falling off.

All the characters are stuffed with batting

and then walnut shells at the bottom

to keep them from tipping over.

And yesterday I found this lovely box

at Joann's on sale. (60% off baby!)

And it's the perfect size to hold 

all the pieces of the Nativity!

Look at that!

Perfect :)

I love it when a plan comes together!

Ok....time to get back to work.

4 more projects to finish before Christmas Eve......

Ho Ho HO!

I should be working on dolls for my granddaughters.

But I find myself taking it easy today.

Not sure why.

I did manage to finish up the Lizzie Kate

cross stitch into a pillow for myself.

Shocker I know.....

AND I finished up a little zipper bag

for a lovely client that is stopping by today to pick it up.

Yesterday I added one more apron to my shop.

This one just feels like sunshine to me.

Even with the gray fabric.

It's just a happy apron :)

I've got lots of new ideas for my Etsy shop for the coming year.

I also have a BIG giveaway planned for January

so make sure you check back to see what's going on!

It could be YOU who wins :)

A few more goodies.......

My handsome hubby had Friday and Saturday off from work

so I spent the weekend hanging out with him.

It was so nice to be able to sleep in!

We even took a motorcycle ride on Saturday :)

I did manage to get a few more goodies done

for the craft show this coming Wednesday.

I made some cup cozies.

A few for the guys and a few for the gals.

I'm working on a few more today.

I also finished the 3rd Christmas mug rug.

My evening stitching produced this darling

little piece by Little House Needleworks called "Woodland Sampling".

Then today I made the mistake of going to M & L yardage.

I only needed 1/2 yd of Kona for the dolls I'm working on.

Look what came home with me.....

I have no excuse.........

A Bit of Joy and some Ho Ho Ho!

"Joy" stitched on 36ct Country Mocha linen over 2 threads.

My blog has been quiet for a while,

hasn't it?

It sure seems that way to me.....

I've had a gnarly sinus headache for the last few days.

It's so hard to get anything done when you don't feel well.

I did get some stitching done though.

The photo above is a free chart 

and you can find it HERE.

I'm not sure if I want to make it into an ornament

or a little pillow.......

I changed the colors (of course)

mainly because I don't like the idea of green snowflakes.

If I ever see green snowflakes falling from the sky

I'll be sure to get out of the way immediately!

I also thought the heart should hang from a golden thread.

I finished Ho Ho Ho in a Row from Lizzie Kate.

I'm making this into a little pillow for sure.

 

Ho Ho Ho in a Row by Lizzie Kate stitched on 28ct Pewter Lugana over 2 threads.

 Today I finished another "Infinity Bag".

I know what you're thinking.....

haven't we seen that bag before?

Well my friend Annie from Crazy Annie's Stitchin' and Stuff

saw the bag I made for a friend and wanted one just like it.

She also wanted a tissue cover to match :)

So tomorrow this pair will be on it's way to Waukegan!

How fun is that?

Next on my agenda is

 a couple of dolls for my darling granddaughters.

I can't wait to get started!!!

8 more Saturdays.......

Can you believe it's November 1st?

I know you may not want to hear this 

but that means only 8 Saturdays left before Christmas!

I know....right?

I still have lots to do.

My crazy dream is to be done with all my Christmas projects

by the end of November (for the first time ever)

and just spend the month of December

enjoying all the wonders of the season

with my fantastic grandchildren.

We'll see how that all works out...ha!

When my friend died last month

it made me realize (again) that each day is a gift from God

and only He knows the number of our days.

It also made me think about the fact

that there are a couple of things that I would 

really like to change in my life.

Which reminds me of a movie quote from

 Grumpy Old Men

when Burgess Meredith says

"You can wish in one hand, 

and crap in the other......

which one do you think will fill up first?"

I can wish all day long 

that things will change,

but in the end I have to make those changes.

Some people have a lengthy "bucket list".

I'm a simple girl. 

I don't want to sky dive,

or zip line through the canopy of the Rain Forrest.

I feel so incredibly blessed in this life.

Right now there are only 2 things on my list.

First, I'd like to be physically fit.

I have spent the past year changing my eating habits

and that has been so incredibly hard,

but so incredibly rewarding at the same time.

But now I need to get the whole exercise thing down.

So I joined the 24hr Fitness

and I've proceeded to destroy myself on a regular basis :)

Also I really want to get our financial house in order.

I've been reading Debt Proof Living by Mary Hunt

and I'm working towards living our lives by

10 - 10- 80.

Which means from each paycheck

you first give 10% to God, then 10% to savings

and learn to live on 80% of your income.

We've been on the 10 - 90 team for a long time.

Savings hasn't been an option.

It's amazing where you can cut expenses

when you really look at where your money goes.

I'm learning the difference between

needs vs wants.

That's a hard one for me......

(especially when fabric is on sale)

I really want to be able to look back

at the end of each day

and say to myself that I took one step forward

towards reaching my goals.

(And who knows,

if I get fit and have money in savings......

I just might decide to try that zip line after all :)

Finally Friday!

"Waiting for Santa" a freebie by Helga Mandl Designs.

I have to say that I'm really enjoying seeing all your fun

projects on this week's flickr group!

I've been stitching quite a bit myself.

I love getting lost in my stitch count.

It is so calming :)

I finished the "Waiting for Santa" freebie

and I'm 1/2 way through the Nativity set

that I'm working on.

"The Christmas Story" Nativity from For the Love of Cross Stitch Magazine  July 2002 and  Sept 2002

I also made another one of my favorite tote bags

for a friend's baby shower.

She's having a girl and is doing the nursery

in purple and green.

I love love love this bag pattern.

It's Simplicity 9658 view C

and you can fit just about anything into it.

My best friend calls it the "Infinity bag" 

because no matter how much you stuff 

into it, there's always room for more :)

I found this darling fabric by Heidi Grace at Joann's.

It has all those cute flowers and hearts 

with a wood grain background.

Isn't it adorable?

I used pale green pin dots for the lining

and purple cotton canvas for the outside.

Don't forget to post your projects!

You have until midnight tonight.

Good luck everyone!!!

Are we having fun yet?

Joyeax Noel & Christmas Chickadee

Happy Monday everyone!

Is anyone having fun yet?

I spent the weekend with family

but still managed to finish up these 2 Christmas ornaments.

They are both free charts that I found on pinterest :)

OK....so the winner of the mug rug is:

Connie

who shared the link :

"My number one tutorial that I go to over and over is a pillowcase tutorial at "Notes from the Patch." It could not be any easier.

http://patches.typepad.com/notes_from_the_patch/2010/07/tutorial-tuesday-24-pillowcases.html"

Congrats Connie!

Please email me with your full name and address

so that I can send your prize out to you :)

Look what I got in the mail on Saturday!

I ordered these beauties from the Little Red Cottage.

Michele is the owner and she has offered us

a generous coupon code.

Make sure you check out her etsy shop!

Her prices are really great and the customer service rocks!

And with the coupon code  (SEW20)

it just gets even better!!!

The flickr group for Week #2 is now open

and there are already some great projects over there!

Go check it out and add your own!!!

Just checkin' in :)

I'm working on a Christmas ornament :)

What are you guys up to?

I wanted to remind everyone that you don't have 

to have a completed project to post pics

for the Handcrafted Holiday Sew & Stitch Along.

You are welcome to post pics of your work in progress!

You have until tomorrow at midnight

 to upload your pictures. 

Also, I need to point out that there is only one

flickr group for Week #1.

I had a computer glitch when I set up the link

so please make sure you post your pics 

only to the group titled

 Handcrafted Holiday Sew & Stitch Along.

 Week #1

If you have already posted pics to the group titled

Handcrafted Holiday Week #1,

please re-post them to the correct group.

As of this moment,

there is only 1 entry for cross stitch

and zero entries for crochet.

It would be sad to have no one to claim the prizes

for Week #1.

Come on ladies....

let's see what you are working on!

Also, check out the flickr group

 and see what has already been posted.

Share some love and encouragement!

Have you been checking out the shops

that have generously offered discounts?

I know I'm working on an order today :)

Also, don't forget to hop over to

Sisters and Quilters for their charm pack giveaway!

Become a new follower and leave a comment

for a chance to win an awesome charm pack !!!