Thanks Cheryll...

... for the great Moda prize I won on your giveaway:

These pack of 4" squares are just so gorgeous - I have lots of ideas of what to do with them already.

Thanks so much, Cheryll, you are so generous.

hugs, 

A lovely RAK surprise...

I was so thrilled and excited to come home from work to find this great RAK from Melissa waiting for me.

Melissa had checked out my Wishlist on 123 Stitch and chose these Lizzie Kate patterns to send to me - thank you so much Melissa, I am so very happy with your gifts.  I am part of the Christmas Ornament SAL 2013 so these Christmas designs will really help me with my ornament stitching.

The lovely Melissa also sent me these cute red and white buttons to help embellish the designs.

Melissa must have also picked up on my love of travel and history because she sent me this great post card of the Gateway Arch which commemorates Thomas Jefferson and symbolises the door to the American West in St. Louis, her hometown.

Melissa, I am so overwhelmed by your generosity,  Thank you again,

hugs, 

April Finish for the Christmas Ornament SAL 2013

Hi everyone,

Here is the post for my latest Christmas Ornament SAL 2013 finish:

Well, I didn't end up stitching the Joan Elliott Christmas tree which I thought that I had initially planned to stitch.  I got caught up in all sorts of other stitching and then I saw this sweet tree which Katie finished - see her blog post here - I downloaded the free pattern from here. Quickly chose some lovely linen from my stash and used Cottage Garden Threads "Snapdragon", some gold beads and a pretty green wooden frame  - all from my stash - and in ONE DAY( a record for me) I had my April ornie finished!

Thanks for the inspiration, Katie!

Now, to think about next month's choice - OWN choice - wow!  Where to start?

hugs, Kaye

Belated April TUSAL..

Here is this month's TUSAL - quite late, I am sorry to say. In the first pic are the entire month's ORTs - on the left the train ORTs and on the right the ones made at home.

Thanks to everyone for your advice re the dyeing.  Here is the original colour fabric (sorry, it looks a bit grey here but it is actually dusty pink)  Below is the coffee dyed fabric - the colour is now a bit richer but I still didn't quite achieve the effect which I wanted so I will have to keep practising, I suppose.  Thanks to all of those who passed on tips and tricks.

Still trying to decide upon my 300 followers giveaway items so... watch this space.

hugs, 

Dyeing fabric - help please

Hi everyone,

I would like to either coffee or tea dye some dusty pink linen for an upcoming project. I would like to achieve an old fashioned mottled effect.

Any tips on the best way to do that?

Hugs,

More Stash Empire building....

Well, I have to say, internet shopping for cross stitch patterns is just too easy!  Yesterday I received two lovely packages in the mail - one with wooden tags handmade by Marly of Samplers and Santas and some Prairie Schooler designs from Cross Stitch Stash, an online shop which specialises in those out of print and hard to find designs.

Here is what I bought:

Six of Marly's wooden tags (don't worry, not all for me, some will be sent out again as gifts).  Aren't they gorgeous?

 Five Prairie Schooler Charts (plus a free design that Cross Stitch Stash kindly sent me).  The Bear and the Bees design is what started this little spending spree.

Aren't I going to have fun with this?

Now, don't forget to come back in a day or two when I finally get myself organised to post about my 300 follower giveaway (just getting some of the goodies together now).

Have a great day everyone, I am off to a very busy day at work (almost back to back meetings all day). Oh well, at least I will get 25 mins of stitching on the train on the way to work this morning!

hugs,

Stash Empire Building

Well, there has been a bit of Stash Empire Building going on lately.  I have ordered lots of bits and pieces over the internet (boy, is that easy or what?) plus of course, I love to visit Wendy at my local, LNS, Lazy Daisy.  So, as I was in search of some Thread Heaven, which I had read about on Noni's blog, for when my threads get a bit frayed, I naturally had to buy some new LHN designs. I bought the Sheep Virtues 1 and 2, plus the button for Hope and Around the world in 80 days, plus some Cottage Garden Threads, I did also buy an Impie, Hattie and Bea Marking Pin Notebook to embellish with some stitching.

I am so bad (but loving it) as I have more than enough stash to last several lifetimes.

hugs,

P.S. I have just reached 300 followers - woo hoo!  Watch for a post soon about a 300 follower giveaway!