Saying Good Bye to 2011

I don’t know about you, but this year has just gone by so fast. It has probably been one of my least productive stitching years to date. Life has certainly gotten in the way and I am hoping that 2012 is much more productive. I plan to make a big dent in my stash that I have, especially after looking for a piece of fabric the other day, I came across some stash I had bought earlier this year, that I totally forgotten I had bought! It was like bliss all over again! I am sure others can relate??? I think I may sit down with my stash and make a list of patterns/kits I would like to REALLY do and just tackle them one right after another, most likely by season, like right now anything to do with snowmen/winter until about mid-January and then I'll move onto Valentines, etc.. I am one of those stitchers that can only stitch one project at a time. I tried doing a rotation a couple of times and it didn't work for me. If someone has an idea for me, please let me know. I am looking forward to getting back into exchanges a bit. I am participating in Friends Through Friends again and I want to participate in some personal exchanges as well. I did some Christmas gift exchanging so..here is what I sent. I really enjoy stitching and shopping for my stitching friends. I can easily say I don’t have to think “gee…what shall I buy this person or what shall I buy that person” or what to stitch them, I know they will love whatever I send because it comes from my heart. It makes the whole gift giving so much fun! I am so tickled with the gifts I received too. Its everything I love…quoting a popular saying “its right up my alley!” I sent to Staci this: (the jars are lavender and pomergranate hand scrubs I made)

And received this:

Staci also had a birthday and I sent her this:

I sent this to Julie:

And received this:

I also sent to my friend Lynne (no blog) in California. Lynne and I have been friends for years and every year I stitch her something from Lizzie Kate as that is her favorite designer. I think this may be the 12th year? I have lost track! In addition to stitching her something, I sent her some lavender hand scrub and other goodies.

And she sent this (I have a “small” mmm {{maybe}} large obsession?? for kitchen towels!)

My friend Carol, no blog, in my stitch group gave me 4 of her lovely dish cloths. She is quite a knitter and has been doing an amazing amount of knitting lately and knows how much I admire her knitting so I was tickled that she gave this to me:

Her gift is in progress so will show a pic soon. We still don’t have any snow here in Eastern Iowa! I can’t believe I am saying that on the 30th of December! I don’t believe we have any in the forecast either. Christmas seemed alittle off because there was no snow:( I am afraid we may be in for a doosey of a snowstorm come January?? I wish everyone a Happy New Year! Thanks so much for stopping by. Happy Stitching, Wendy Jo

Its Been Awhile

Where has the time gone? I really don't have much on the stitching front. Life has just gotten in the way and I had seem to have lost my stitching, e-mailing and blogging mojo there for a while. Its coming back, thank heavens because it sure feels good to stitch again and e-mailing and of course, get back to blogging. I have been doing some reading, though. I love Jodi Picoult so I have read a few of her books; Salem Falls, The Tenth Circle, Mercy, Change of Heart and then a book by Jacquelyn Mitchard called A Theory of Relativity. I have also gotten a new sewing machine that has more gadgets on it than my older one so I have been doing some more sewing. Rex and I took a trip out to Colorado in September and I got to see Staci a couple of time which was so much fun. I took her a lovely gift and here is a pic. Her anniversary was recently and I sent her a bracelet I made. They are so much fun to do and its "so Staci" and she really love it. (I failed to get a pic but she has one up on her blog). Cathy had a birthday recently and I was late in getting her package in the mail but she has received it and loves it so here's a pic of what I sent. I was also thinking about my friend Joan and thought I'd pop alittle something in the mail to her "just 'cuz" and I also made one for my dear friend Paula (no blog). Both loved them too! I am busy working on some Christmas gifts this week so I can get them shipped by weeks end. I hope everyone is finding some time for stitching as we close in on Christmas. I haven't gotten as much stitching done this year so I have decided I am going to rummage through my charts and make a challenge to myself that I want to get a certain number done by the end of next yea...not sure what the number will be yet, I am still deciding. But I really want to make an effort to stick with it. I have so many wonderful patterns that I really want to stitch. Well, I think I'll close for now. Thanks for stopping by. I so appreciate it very much. Happy Stitching. Wendy Jo

Just A "Few" Finishes

I hope all my American friends had a nice 4th of July. I spent the majority of it sorting through my fat quarters and having fun matching it up with my stitched pieces looking for just that right backing fabric and then going to my trim basket and searching for just that perfect piece of trim for the final touch. Here is what I accomplished over the weekend. For trim, I used ric rack, chenille that I rit dyed and on the last one "America" I used jute and I stuff all my pillows with walnut litter. I am really happy with the way everything turned out. But I must say...I am rather burned out from finishing for now anyway!










I am now back to stitching Americana things as I have so many I am still wanting to work on and it is still July so I am still in that "mode".

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my package to Staci. I really appreciate your visits and comments.

Happy stitching.
Wendy Jo

I'm Seeing Red, White & Blue!

Is it really July 1st? and is July 4th really Monday? WOW! This summer is just going by way too fast!

Well, I chatted with a dear gal pal in the Rocky Mountain region this a.m. and she received a package I was actually working on when she sent me this beautiful scarf! OMW...I am sure I need not mention what beautiful work Staci does but...boy oh boy...she REALLY DOES do beautiful work...a very talented lady! Plus its red!!!!!!!!!!!!!


When I was on my Kansas trip I came upon a Stacy Nash pattern "Liberty Sewing Pouch" and I knew I would love to stitch that for Staci. It is just too cute. So I did and I took some chenille trim and rit dyed it, which I learned you really don't need much dye when you are dying chenille. I am really happy with the way the trim turned out. I did stuff the pillow with poly fil as I thought the walnut litter might be a bit too heavy.

I have been having a very loving relationship with my sewing machine the last few days so I decided to give making pincushions a try so...I pulled out some of my Moda charm packs and put this one together for Staci as well. I used walnut litter to fill. I think it turned out pretty good so I am now going to make one for myself.




I have been playing in my fat quarters and am going to be doing some sewing over the next few days and get some things finished. I have some wonderful trim, buttons and of course chenille that I want to get out and play and experiment with so that is my game plan for the holiday weekend.

I hope everyone has a good holiday weekend and also find time to put needle to thread.

Thanks so much for visiting.

Happy stitching,
Wendy Jo

Long time...no posting! It is catch up time now! So grab a cup of coffee, soda or tea and I'll share what I've been doing.

Julie had a birthday back in March and I sent a present her way and this is what I sent. The design is one of my favorite from Pine Mountain Designs called "Friendship is the Sweetest Flower".


Last month I went on a roadtrip to visit some quilt shops and cross stitch shops and some of the places I stopped at were Crossroads Quiting in Cameron, Mo.; Old Mill Stitchery in Liberty, MO; CC & Co. in Blue Springs, MO; ; Praire Point Quilting in Shawnee, KS; Stitch On Needlework Shop in Lawrence, KS; Stitching Traditions in Topeka, KS; The Sunflower Seed in Topeka, KS; Hen Feathers in Wichita, K; Material Girls in Wichita, and Heart's Desire in Wichita, KS where I {finally} had the opportunity to meet Julie in person! If you read my post from late last year, we had tried to meet up in Sioux City, IA in December but I got caught up in white out conditions and spent the night at the high school in Sloane, Iowa. We then talked about meeting up in Kansas City in February but the hockey tournament was cancelled so I was happy when we were finally able to make this time work. We met up at Heart’s Desire and then headed off to 4 quilt shops (2 listed above), lunch, and then to a newly opened Joann’s. What a wonderful day.

Julie and I did exchange gifts. I stitched her a pattern from Heart in Hand and I changed the colors to match the fabric. I stuffed it with walnut litter.



Julie stitched and made me a wonderful tin, including a marker and some wonderful needles that I used today and just love! (Julie said this was the first one she ever made….she did a fantastic job!) Thanks so much Julie.


Here is a pic of some of the things I purchased. While I was mostly looking for fabric, I went “alittle” crazy with the fat quarters…surprise…surprise! LOLOL



A nice day but very windy, we managed to get a pic in.


Then last week, Rex and I spent a few days up in Minneapolis and I was able to spend a day with Cathy! I was able to also meet her SIL, Janice, as she spent the day with us as well and she is just as sweet as Cathy. What an absolutely fun day we had! We, of course, met up at Stitchville, where Rex dropped me off and then after that, we had lunch and then off we went to some quilt shops.
Cathy and I also exchanged gifts. I stitched her up the same gift I did for Julie and I also stitched one for Joan who was unable to spend the day with us.



Joan sent with Cathy my birthday gift which is absolutely darling!


Cathy’s gift is such a treasure. Its made by Cathy’s 79 year old mom. Boy oh boy does she ever do some wonderful tatting! I feel very blessed to now have 3 pieces from her now. Cathy also gaveme a lovely needlebook that used Blackbird Designs fabric and some Bohn needles too :)




Here is what I picked up. Some great treasurers. Again, I was after some hand dyed fabrics but also came across some wonderful trim, some antique spools, a few fat quarters and some small milk jugs that I am not sure what I’ll do with yet but I am thinking I’ll fill them with flowers or buttons or a bit of both.



Thanks Cathy for a wonderful day! I enjoyed every minute of it! When Cathy dropped me back off at the hotel, Rex played photographer and snapped a pic of Cathy and I.



I have done some stitching for myself and its in my pile of “finishing” now. So here they are: LK Peep; Easter freebie from Istitchaholic; The Trilogy’s Happy Easter; Primitive Betty’s Simplify (I changed the colors to match the fabric I will use as backing), and Blackbird Designs “Bluebird”. Please excuse the wrinkles, I didn’t iron prior to taking pics.











I hope you have had an opportunity to put needle and thread to your fabric and thanks so much for visiting.

Happy stitching.
Wendy Jo

A Birthday Gift from Kansas and Minnesota

Julie sent me a lovely birthday gift and most has a Kansas theme. She stitched a Lizzie Kate (lives in Kansas) piece called "Friendship Grows" which is exactly what ours is...growing. If you remember Julie and I were going to meet in Sioux City but...snow got in the way. Why does it think it needs to snow in Iowa in December anyway? LOLOL She also sent some chocolate (made in Kansas, which isn't pictured because..I was eating it as I read her card), she also sent a pretty note pad and then she sent me chicken poop! Its a lip balm. Its made there in Kansas. I actually started to laugh when I opened it because when my stitch group went on our roadtrip back in July of 2009 I had actually purchased a few tubes of this for gifts as I thought it was just too funny to pass up. It actually is really good too.

Thanks so much for a lovely package Julie...I love it.


Yesterday I received a package from Cathy B. She sent me such a darling pendant (it was made by Deborah Thorpe of Midsummer Night Designs) that can either be used as an ornament or worn as a necklace and I will be wearing it!! I just love stuff like this. Cathy thank you so very much, the pendant is lovely and I will definitely think of you each and every time I wear it :)


On the stitching front I have been stitching snowmen. Nothing to show as I haven't done the finishing part. I hope to work this weekend on the finishing. That seems to be the part I don't like the best unless its in the way of a pinkeep. But I really want to make an effort to use that sewing machine I bought a couple of years ago and make pillows and even try some cube-its. I know I am in a "rut" with pinkeep finishing so...I need to try new ways! Wish me luck!

Hope everyone has been busy with their needlework..I have been visiting blogs and looks like alot of gals have been doing alot of the 15 project challenge and I am so proud of them and will be cheering them on! I tend to be a one at a time stitcher. Anyone else like that?

There is a cross stitch market coming up...I am anxious to see what new things will be debuting at market. Like I need more..although is it really about need? :)

Happy stitching to you and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,
Wendy Jo

Gifts From Friends, An Aunt and Gift for my Aunt

Today is my 44th birthday. Wow how did that happen! LOLOL

I have some lovely gifts from some very dear friends share with you:

First up from Staci: She sent me some pima cotton and silk spa cloths and some wonderful smelling lemongrass soap, plus some teas, chocolate and hot cocoa. Thanks so much Staci. I used one of the spa cloths and the lemongrass soap this morning...love it!


Next a gift from my sweet friend Pam. She and I recently reconnected and she sent me a lovely pattern book by Little and Little called The Counting Book. A really neat quaker pattern and a zipper pouch that will be put to some great use. Thanks so much Pam. I love my package.


I also received a lovely package from Margaret. I met Margaret through Pam and she is so sweet as well. She loves Mary Engelbreit like I do..so I received some Mary Engelbreit things, some hot cocoa by Tastefully Simple that is delicious! Plus a candle and other goodies. Thanks very much Margaret for a lovely gift.


Over the past year my Aunt Kathy and I got reacquainted after 30 years..she is part of my dad's family and it was really great to get back in touch with her. She had given me a Willow Tree figurine called "Care and Prayer" at Christmas time. I had always loved these when I have seen them in various stores but never had one until my Aunt Kathy got me one. I was so touched that she got me one. So, yesterday I went up to see her, she only lives 15 minutes away and she is a golfer so...I had just the perfect pattern to stitch picked out for her...Lizzie Kate Summer Crazy pattern that had a small pattern in it called "Gone Golfing" as she LOVES her golf! I told her in a card I wrote to her that it fit her to a "t". She got a kick out of that. I am so glad you like it Aunt Kathy..it was a joy to stitch something for you :) I also made her a magnet for her refrigerator because I know she also loves her coffee. So...she was one happy gal..so of course, I was happy as well :)




I want to say thanks so much to all my friends that have e-mailed me and sent lovely gifts for my birthday. I truly feel very blessed to have some of the best gal pals a girl could ask for.

For my birthday, Rex and I will go this weekend out to dinner and a movie. I have been wanting to see "How Do You Know". We both love Reese Witherspoon and it looks like it might be a good one.

Thanks for stopping by and happy stitching to you.

Hugs,
Wendy Jo