HoE Christmas in July Arrives in Singapore

Jean has received her Christmas in July that I sent her and I am very happy as I was getting a bit worried.

I decided to stitch her a design from JBW Designs Red Mitten Collection I and finished it as an ornament in the shape of a mitten.

I looked at Jean's wishlist and purchased a pattern off her list, Plumb Pudding's Candy Cane Wishes and included some overdyed threads as well.

I am glad Jean likes her package I really enjoyed stitching and shopping for her.

Here are some pics:



I have been busy the last few days working on exchanges so can't show any pics yet.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy stitching.

Wendy Jo

Christmas in July from Lynn B.

I participated in the Christmas in July exchange on the Hooked on Exchanging blog and I received a wonderful package from Lynn B. in England earlier this weekend and I just love the adorable Prairie Schooler snowman she stitched up for me. Lynn added a cute little Christmas tree on the bottom of the ornament and a heart on the top that says "hand made with love" which I thought was really a nice touch too. Lynn also included some wonderful Christmas charms, some Christmas fabric, cording, a leaflet from DMC with patterns in it and some scented DMC floss that I have never seen before and am anxious to try.

Thanks very much for a wonderful exchange Lynn..I really love my package.





The ornament I sent should arrive at its destination shortly. It had quite a journey to make so hopefully I will be able to show pictures soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy stitching,
Wendy Jo

A Patriotic Package and A Patriotic Finish

I received a box from Deb this afternoon and I had a feeling it probably was my patriotic exchange from the Friends through Friends exchange as I was expecting it any day now.

Boy when I opened the box everything was wrapped up so nice with red, white and blue ribbon (forgot to take a pic of that). Inside the box was a beautifully stitched fob and matching floss tag. Deb stitched me the same design I stitched for Jill (Littlehouse Needleworks' Liberty and Justice) and, obviously, I love it! She stitched both over 1 on 32 ct. lambswool and used the recommended DMC floss. Deb sent a pair of scissors and added thread drops to the floss tag and the drops have stars on them which is so cute.

Also in the package was a pincushion Deb made, very cute, some jelly belly candy in cherry, blueberry and buttered popcorn, yum, and last..but not least a charm pack of Moda fabric called Zippity Do Da! LOVE IT!

So thanks very much Deb for a wonderful package. I will enjoy it all alot!

Here are some pics:




I didn't get around to posting what I was going to start stitching when I finished up my Christmas in July for my HoE exchange but here it is finished. It's Lizzie Kate's Sweet Liberty. It was a limited edition kit from last year's market I believe. I will probably get it framed at some point.


I plan to stitch some more patriotic things this month but I also have a couple of gifts that I will need to start working on that need to get out later this month and an exchange for the All Seasons Ornament Exchange blog that needs to be out the middle of the August.

Well, I wish all my USA friends a wonderful 4th of July and all my overseas friends a wonderful rest of the week and weekend.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Wendy Jo

Patriotic Exchange to Jill is Received!

Jill has received the patriotic exchange I sent her. It was the exchange I particpated in on Friends Through Threads. I chose Liberty and Justice by Littlehouse Needleworks as my pattern and finished it into a pinkeep.

I also included some patriotic goodies and things that Jill had on her wishlist.

I am glad Jill loves her package. It was a fun exchange to put together.

Here are a couple of pics:



Today I plan to finish putting together my Christmas in July exchange on the HoE blog and getting that in the mail tomorrow as it has quite a journey to make. After that it will be back to doing some patriotic stitching although I am not sure what to stitch...I have several patterns out and can't decide...decisions..decisions! I will let you know what I decide on.

Until then...thanks for stopping by.

Wendy Jo

Blackbird Designs Exchange Arrives!

My Blackbird Designs exchange on the Friends Through Friends blog arrived from Ronel in South Africa this afternoon. Ronel stitched me a design from the pattern called Small Token and finished it into a stunning needlebook. She stitched the design on 30 ct. off white Irish linen over two. She changed the colors and I love the colors she chose for the design. The fabric on the needlebook is lovely as well...love the flowers. Ronel also stitched a sweet matching scissor fob, that has already found a pair of scissors to call home :)

Ronel included some floss rings that I can attach to the needlebook if I want, which I think I just may do that. Ronel also made some pins for the book that are just gorgeous! She also made a neat necklace that says "Little Black Bird" on one side and on the other side has my name and Ronel's which I think is such a special treasure. I just love that! Ronel included other extras as well that I will definitely be able to use.

Thank you so very much Ronel for this wonderful exchange! I absolutely love everything you sent!

Here are some pics of my exchange.

A Great Roadtrip!

Yesterday my stitch group (5 of us: Jo Barb, Angie, Carol, Jo and I) went on a roadtrip. We try to go somewhere in the spring and in the fall. So we decided we would go to Stitches n Stuff in Clinton, Iowa where we have been many times. Its a great little LNS, if you are ever in the area. (Its really the only shop in the area). We left home around 9:00 a.m. and arrived shortly after it opened at 10:00 a.m. Everyone pretty much had a list and set off about their shopping. I didn't have much on my list. I am on automatic for the BBD stockings so I was glad to see the April Showers in. I just love this one. I also love the HIHN chart I got. I did the What Makes Winter and wanted What Makes Spring to go with it. I am waiting for the new Lizzie Kates and Heart in Hand patterns to come in next month so didn't purchase much yesterday in the way of cross stitch for myself (I did purchase for exchanges, so can't show that).

We left the LNS about 11:30 and headed to a quilt shop that Angie liked called Sewing Machines & More. What a great little shop! Oh my! The minute I walked in and noticed all the Moda fabric I knew I would probably be in just alittle bit of trouble and...well...I did just alittle bit of damage :) What can I say...they had Moda fabric!!!! LOLOL We left there about noon and headed to Davenport for lunch at Chick-fil-A.

After lunch a trip to Michaels (I was good didn't buy anything), then to a cute little craft shop (bought something for an exchange, can't show) and then to Hobby Lobby (I didn't buy anything) and headed on home in a downpour of rain. We had a great time and everyone was really happy with their purchases.

This fall we have decided to take a three day trip. We are going to The Silver Needle, The Heart's Desire and The Sunflower Seed with some stops at some quilt shops in between as well. So we are all making are wishlists and saving our money for that.

Here are the pics of my purchases. I did purchase other things yesterday but they are for exchanges I have coming up, so I can't show those.



Today I am going to finish my patriotic exchange. Hope everyone has a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Wendy Jo

Blackbird Designs Exchange for Cathy B!

Cathy B. has received my exchange I sent her. The theme was Blackbird Designs. I decided to stitch a design from the book Thank You, Sarah Tobias. The pattern is Pins & Tulips. I stitched the pincushion and decided to stitch a scissor fob to match as Cathy put a pair of scissors down on her wishlist.

I stuffed the pincushion with rice which I think turned out pretty good (first time using rice as I have always used fiber fill). I also followed the instructions of dyeing white ric rac with tan rit dye. I think it turned out pretty good (pic below). It was my first attempt at using dye so I was a wee bit nervous.

I also sent Cathy some fabric and needles as that was on her wishlist as well. Here are some pics:




I am glad you like your exchange Cathy, I enjoyed stitching for you!

My Tuesday stitch group is going on a roadtrip today to Clinton, Iowa to a LNS called Stitches n Stuff. I have a small list so we will see what I come home with.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wendy Jo

A Crazy Exchange & Birthday Gift Sent & Received!

I sent a crazy exchange to Laurie last week and she has received it and loves it. I decided on Heart in Hand's Wee Ones "Flowers" and finished it into a pinkeep.

I am so glad you like it Laurie..its such a fun one to stitch for you.


In the crazy exchange group, Simone and I partnered up as birthday buddies. Her birthday is in early May, so I sent it on its way early and it has arrived! I think it took only a week!

For Simone's birthday present, I looked at her wishlist and she wanted scissors and I know she loves Littlehouse Needleworks so I thought I would take the "needle" pattern from Traveling Stitcher, change it to say "scissors" and make a scissor keep and include the scissors! I also changed the colors to a deep red since Simone loves the color red. I also included extras that were on her wishlist.

I am so happy that Simone loves her birthday package. I wish you a very happy birthday my friend!!




I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

Wendy Jo

Patti's PIF and Birthday Gift

I received an e-mail from Patti that the P.I.F. (Pay It Forward) and birthday gift I sent her had arrived. I wanted to stitch Patti a design from Blackbird Designs since that is a designer she likes. The pattern is Buttons & Pins. I did make some changes and finished it into a pinkeep.

Patti has a birthday at the end of the month and I wanted to send something to her so I purchased SB's 2009 scissor fob kit that was on her wishlist and I loved it so much I got one for myself! LOL

Glad you like the PIF Patti I enjoyed stitching it for you and a very Happy Birthday to you too!



Today I will be putting together my crazy exchange and hopefully mailing that in the next day or two. I am also in the process of finishing up another birthday package. No pics on either but hope to be able to share those soon.

Hope everyone has a great day and thanks for stopping by and thank you for the wonderful compliments. I appreciate them very much.

Happy Stitching,
Wendy Jo

A Christmas Package and A Swap!

My dear friend Carol had sent me a Christmas package at Christmas time and after several weeks of it not arriving and figuring it got lost in the mail system she restitched the Christmas cracker for me and it arrived yesterday. I absolutely love it! Carol's stitching is outstanding! I already have a few of her "treasures" and am so happy to add this one to the collection! Now, Carol didn't stop there..she added a lovely pair of scissors with an adorable Swaroski crystal fob she made. Some lovely red gingham ribbon, 32 ct fabric, sewing fabric, pins, trim and all in an adorable box!

Thanks so much Carol for the wonderful Christmas package!

Here are some pics:




Then if that wasn't enough I also received my swap from the Swap with Nina. Talk about a "wow" moment...I had that and then some! Anikó sent me quite a package. Anikó stitched me a gorgeous pinkeep with a scissor pocket with scissors, pincushion and scissor fob all on 32 ct. Murano evenweave fabric over 1 using DMC. I believe Anikó said it was a little piece from Blue Royal by AMAP. Everything coordinates so beautifully. The very middle of the pinkeep matches the button of the pincushion and matches one side of the scissor fob. The other side of the fob has my initial "W" (I have a pic below).

Anikó included a wonderful pair of scissors. I had seen these scissors on numerous blogs and had always said "I gotta get a pair of those.." well..now I have a pair!

Thank you so very much Anikó for a wonderful swap, I absolutely adore these wonderful treasures.




My swap went to Julcsi in Hungary. I checked out her blog to see her likes and dislikes and decided to stitch her a scissor fob in pastels since she likes pastel colors. I went with "Easter" by Trail Creek Farms. Julcsi e-mailed me that she received my fob and likes it very much.
Here is a pic:


A couple of days ago I mailed my P.I.F. to my friend Patti. So I am looking forward to her receiving that in the next week or so. Then I can share pics of that.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend. I plan to spend as much of the weekend as I can stitching on my crazy exchange and Friends through Threads blackbird designs exchange.

On Sunday Rex and I are taking my mom out to a Sunday brunch. So we are looking forward to that. I love a great brunch!

Take care and thanks for stopping by.

Wendy Jo