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

Christmas..Gifts, Family and Friends

I hope everyone is enjoying the last little bit of the holiday season as we are about to say goodbye to 2010.

I know this year has been very much a roller coaster ride for me. I have reconnected with my dad's family after a 30 year absence, which has been good and difficult, facing some very tough issues and figure out how to deal with them but I am getting there. Rex has been my rock as have been my wonderful friends that mean the world to me and have been there whenever I have needed them. Where would a gal be without their gal pals?

I am also learning about Alzheimer's. One of my dearest friends, Jean, whom I have known for 23 years, who at 66 years old, has it. She started out as my boss when I was 20, I was her admin. asst. at a CPA when she was a recruiting director. A special friendship developed and through the years we stayed in touch and I have gotten to know her family as well. She ended her career as a college professor and now, a bright, energetic, classy, funny, gracious woman has this awful disease. I am fortunate that I live only 1 hour away and I am trying to spend as much time with her as I can. She was the best boss I have ever had.

I do have some pics to show.

Gifts to Staci and from Staci are below:



Since I didn't get to meet up with Julie in Sioux City a few weeks ago, we each mailed our packages to each other and in the package I received, Julie's son sent me.....a hockey puck! A real one! "Wichita Warriors" is what his team is called. He wrote the cutest little note. I have it proudly displayed! Now I know what a hockey puck looks like! (Okay...I know it was round but...didn't realize it was so darn heavy!)

So..Here is my gift to Julie and then Julie's gift to me:



Cathy sent me a darling tatted ornament. Thank you Cathy! (Be watching your mailbox early next week!)


My friend Pam sent me a cute little notebook that will come in handy for keeping track of my blogging friends, etc. Its absolutely adorable. Thanks Pam!


I sent Pam a cute little snowman tag.


On Christmas Day, Rex and I went to his brother, Ernie and his wife Jane's house and stayed overnight. We did a white elephant exchange. We were to find something in our home that we wanted to get rid of so...there were some interesting things that were given away..GLADLY! Here is a pic of what Rex's brother Ernie got from me...a lovely apron...quite appropriate actually because he does alot of baking at Christmas time!


Jane, Ernie's wife, she received a pink flamingo birdhouse from Neal (another brother of Rex's) and again...appropriate because she does like birdhouses, but she tells us it won't stay at her house...she sees her boys and their families in 2 weeks! LOLOL



Neal received from Rex and he received the family portrait taken for their parent's 40th anniversary. There were 50th and 60th anniversary portraits taken before they passed away but no one wanted this 40th anniversary portrait so Rex ended up with it.

Rex got creative with the box...he made it...yep...we had purchased a new shower door a while back so...Rex decided to cut the cardboard it came in and used duct tape to put it together and then wrapped it only the finest of paper...newspaper that is. Neal was...umm...speechless! It was quite funny to say the least! As you can tell...my SIL Jane certainly thought it was!




Rex received from Jane some fine albums...all we need now is a stereo to play them on and we'll be ready to rock and roll!LOLOLOL One of the albums Rex got was by The Carpenters. My other SIL, Barb, LOVES the Carpenters so...when she came in the room Rex had it somewhat wrapped up and gave it to her and as you can see...she thought it was hiliarous. But...she, sadly, didn't take it home with her...she already had it! LOL



No pics of me...I got...from Ernie, a can of asparagus and a book called Stalking the Wild Asparagus by Euell Gibbons. Not sure if that will be on my "must read" list or not. I'll have to give that some thought. But if anyone is interested in reading it...just e-mail me...I'd be happy to send it to you!

I had a fun afternoon today with a couple of gal pals. Margaret and Pam came to town and we went to lunch at The Button Factory and did a bit of shopping and then headed back to my house and had some coffee and carrot cake and chatted. A great afternoon. Rex played photographer and took a pic of us: (Margaret, me, and Pam)


Well, I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the year as it draws to a close and wishing you a happy, healthy new year with LOTS of stitching in the new year!!!!!!!

Take care and thanks for stopping by.

Happy Stitching
Wendy Jo

Birthday Gift to CO and...my overnight stay at a high school

My dear friend Staci had a birthday last week so I stitched her up a Pine Mountain Pillow design called "Girlfriends" and sent some chocolate too! Staci and I chatted on the phone and she loves the package. It was alot of fun to stitch and we had some great times when Rex and I were in Colorado for his job so the words fit us to a "t".


Well, last Saturday I attempted to go to Sioux City to meet Julie since her son was going to be in a hockey tournament there all weekend. I was going just for the day since Rex and I were planning to spend some time in Des Moines with his brother and our SIL. Well...when I was about 20 miles outside of Sioux City, there was a complete white out. I had just gotten gas in Sloan and got on the ramp to get onto I-29 north and there was a semi right there! So I hit the ditch otherwise I would have hit the semi. A trucker, who watched the whole thing, waved me over and I sat in his rig until the fire and rescue came around picking people up and taking us into Sloan to the firehouse. After that we were transported to the high school for the night. The American Red Cross was absolutely FABULOUS to us all. Very caring and patient and made us feel very comfortable and were on top of the weather reports as were the highway patrol. They provided sandwiches, pop, coffee, hot chocolate, etc.

I was finally able to head back to Des Moines (where I left Rex at his brother's house) around noon on Sunday.

There hadn't been any predictions of heavy snow or even a blizzard on Saturday I guess. Oh well...Julie and I at least chatted a few times on the phone. We'll meet some day!

Well, I need to get my stitching finished up this week as I am having a cyst removed from my right palm Friday morning. The surgeon said its a pretty deep cyst but feels that I won't have many stitches and it should not keep me away from my stitching for long.

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments about my pinkeeps I sent to Lori and Cathy. I really do appreciate them alot!

Take care and happy stitching.

Wendy Jo

A Gift to Minnesota and a Gift to Ohio

My dear friend Cathy had a birthday last week so I decided to stitch her a design by Pine Mountain Designs called "Sew Glad We're Friends" and finished into a pinkeep. I purchased the backing fabric at a new quilt shop (Quilts-n-More) that opened in my DH's hometown of Albia, IA. I just love the fabric and it is so perfect for the design I stitched. I am so glad Cathy is enjoying the pinkeep!



I also sent a surprise gift to my dear friend Lori (no blog) in Ohio. Lori and I have been internet buddies for about 10 years now and I haven't stitched her anything in a very long time so I thought I'd put a little surprise in her mailbox! I stitched another Pine Mountain Design called "Friendship is the Sweetest Flower". Her favorite color is purple so I change colors to coordinate with the backing fabric. Lori loves the pinkeep..so, of course, it made my day :)



I think that is about it for now. Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season and is making some time to sit and spend some time with their needle and thread.

Thanks for visiting.

Hugs,
Wendy Jo

A Lovely Mesh Bag

Mama Joan sent me one of her beautiful mesh bags and I just love it! How pretty is this? Thanks so much Joan. I'm taking it to stitch group today and show the girls!



Every Tuesday six of us get together to stitch. We take turns hosting each week. The hostess provides the beverage (all of seem to drink diet pepsi), munchies and dessert. We even tend to try to make doctor, dental, etc, appointments around our stitch group time! So you can tell we have a great time and look forward to Tuesdays.


I plan to put the finishing touches on two gifts today and get them mailed tomorrow so I should have pics early next week.

Well, thanks for visiting and have a great week.

Hugs,
Wendy Jo

A Gift Received and A Gift Sent

I received a lovely surprise package in the mail on Friday from Staci and teared up! I definitely needed “a little hug”. Thank you Staci for your friendship. You are a kind, thoughtful, and a very special friend to me. Thanks for “being there” it means A LOT!

My friend, Pam (no blog), had a birthday last week so I stitched her a freebie design by My Big Toe designs and finished it into a pinkeep. She e-mailed me that she loves it and I am so happy. See you soon Pam!



I am off to sit and stitch. I am working on some gifts. I can’t believe next month is Christmas! Gosh…I can’t believe Thursday is Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone has some time to sit with their needle and thread.

Thanks for visiting. Happy stitching.

Hugs,
Wendy Jo

Home From Denver

We are home and getting back into our old routine after being gone 5 weeks. I had a great time in Denver. I was able to see Staci alot! What a great friendship I treasure. I had made her a scissor fob, attached to a pair of scissors and made 2 magnetic needle minders that could also be used as magnets on the refrigerator (I forgot to take a pic so please check Staci's blog for a pic). Staci also had a gift waiting for me as well! I was absolutely tickled by what she had for me...she knows me so well!!!!

Thank you Staci :) You know I love it very much!

While out in Denver I decided to take a sewing/quilting class and learn how to make a purse! It still needs to be finished but here is a pic also in the picture is a penny rug...I also took a penny rug class...as I wanted to learn how to make those too! I didn't think I did too badly of a job on either of them. I still need to finish putting in the grommets and finish with the strap and then the purse will be done and the penny rug just needs to have some more stitching done on it and it'll be finished. Both classes were taken at High Prairie Quilts in Parker, CO. It is absolutely a wonderful shop and the ladies that work there are so warm and friendly. I really had a great time. If you are ever in the area...stop by..you won't be disappointed! Oh..I also bought a "few" fat quarters as well while I was there:) Couldn't help myself.


Rex and I enjoyed going to the farmer's market on Saturdays, we loved the bakery goods!!! We traveled to a Peach Festival in Palisades, CO (on the other side of the state) one weekend, we traveled down to Colorado Springs and I even went to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival, which turned out to be a dangerous place for me! We also went to a Colorado Rockies baseball game and 2 of the Colorado Rapids soccer games (our friends have season tickets) so we really enjoyed our trip, even though it was work for Rex.

I didn't get alot of stitching completed. But that was okay. Now that I'm back home I'll pull it out and get going on it. Its starting to get a bit more chilly here so I think fall is starting to arrive. The leaves have started to change a wee bit anyway.

Well, I need to get some housework done so, guess I'll close for now. Thanks so much for stopping by and for leaving comments. I really appreciate them alot!!

Happy stitching to you.

Wendy Jo