Searching For

Who better to ask than quilters/stitchers. I'm looking for a nice weight cotton/linen mix that I can use as a base fabric for embroidery and a background fabric for applique. If you know where I can find this I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks
Linda

Birthday Giveaway Winner

At long last the items for the giveaway are finished. But before I let you know who the winner is I thought I'd share a quick pic. The formation of icicles fascinates me. Probably because I grew up in a country that didn't experience such weather.
These are on the neighbors side of the garage.
Now on to what you were waiting for. I've been enjoying some embroidery in the evenings. A little needle case in soft pastels.
This has been a work in progress for quite some time.
So I decided it was time it was finished and enjoyed by someone else.
Add in a pincushion and you have a sewing pail, needle book and pincushion.
All ready to be sent to :
Random number chose:

Paulette

Paulette can you send me your mailing details so I can get this off to you.
Thank you everyone for joining in on my birthday celebrations.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

Iced In

We've been iced in with temps as low as 22F (-6) . Freezing rain, and now the snow's started and looks beautiful.

We ducked out quickly for a little shopping. The roads are a mess and there's plenty of death wish drivers, then it was back home to the warmth.
When snow or ice hits Oklahoma, the whole State shuts down. It seems they haven't heard of snowploughs.
So we hunker down and stay warm and keep our hands busy.
This is what kept my hands busy yesterday.

Prep work for the last two Raks.
A little embroidery that needs to be finished and sent to ...........
Sorry I can't spoil the surprise for the recipient.
I'll be back tomorrow with the name of the winner from my birthday giveaway and hopefully a photo of the finished items for the winner.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

Hug #2

I really have been having fun with these RAK items.
Hug number 2 is all ready to go to it's new home in New Zealand, to Potpourri 's friend.
I'll mail this one out next week. I think this weekend we'll be busy moving Hollie if we don't get the ice storm that's been predicted.
Oops I just realized that the lady bugs need to have their antennas stitched on.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

1st Hug Ready To Go - Bye Bye Sewing Room

Do you remember this little peak from last week?
It's changed from just bits of fabric sitting on a background.
To clothes blowing in the breeze on a warm summer's day.
I love the way it's turned out and I had so much fun with the quilting.
This one will be ready to mail out to Bren's hug recipient on the weekend. I'm sure as she's the mother of six she'll relate to all the washing.
I have the second one completed and will come back and show you that one tomorrow.
Yes I'm loosing my sewing room again. We got a late night phone call, last night from Hollie, "Mum can I come home"? We're hoping we can move her back this weekend. She could use your prayers at the moment.
I hope to put the last stitches in the birthday giveaway item today.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

Delayed

I promised a winner today for my birthday giveaway. A winner has been chosen, but there's a delay, I'm still stitching the giveaway gift. so I'll be back soon with a photo of the completed item/s and the winners name.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

Need A Hug Recipients

What a great way to celebrate my birthday, giving a gift to someone else. So after reading all the suggestions of those you thought would like a hug, names have been chosen.
In no particular order:
~Bren~ said...
Potpourri said...
Valerie said...
potsandpins.com said...

I've contacted these ladies for details on their person and I'm waiting to hear back from Potpourri, if I haven't heard by next week I'll choose another lady.

I'm also trying to find Karen who signed up for my PIF. If I haven't heard from her by next week I'll do a quick post asking for one more person.

As it's my birthday and I'm in the giving spirit, I'll have a little handmade something for one of the comments left. I'll draw the winner on Monday.
Please don't blog about this, as I'd prefer it for my regular readers and followers.


Happy Stitching.
Linda

Sunshine

There's nothing like a bit of sunshine in the middle of winter. Especially when that sunshine is something you can work on over several days. Unfortunately I can only show you little snippets as these are gifts for unsuspecting ladies.

Time spent with my embroidery needle.
Prep work for raw edge applique.
Pastel sunshine.
Brights.
Lastly a finish, which I can show you. I fiddled around with some charm squares and osnaburg a couple of weeks ago and ended up with a new design for a bag. Still deciding if I'll turn it into a pattern.
Today's decision is whether to sit and finish the embroidery or sit behind the sewing machine.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

In Need Of A Hug ???

Did the subject line get your attention? I hope so. It's not me that's in need of a hug. Following on with my post from Sunday, I mentioned that I had PIF parcels to make up and that I'd like to do some RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) parcels. Which got me thinking (I seem to be doing a lot of that lately). So I've decided to let you choose who the parcels should go to.

As I only have two PIF gifts to make, that leaves a remaining one to fill the original three. Add to that three RAK parcels and we have a total of four.

So here's how it will work.

What's required from you?
Suggest someone who you think needs or deserves a RAK, (no names at the moment) bear in mind that it will take me some time to make these up.
In the comments explain why you think your choice deserves a RAK.
Make sure you have your email set so that I can contact you.
Only one suggestion per person.
Please don't blog about this, I'd like this to be for my regular commenter's and followers.
I'll close the nominations on Wednesday next week. Once all the comments have been read, I'll choose four and let you know who they are on Thursday.
If the person you've suggested is chosen, you need to be able to provide her mailing address for the parcel to be sent.

EDIT : I'm happy to mail international.

Thank you for helping me brighten someone else's day.

Happy Stitching.
Linda

Especially For Stephanie

After yesterday's post, I think Stephanie was more than surprised to see my place mats and runner made up in red, black and white. So much so, that she commented on it in an email.
So this is especially for you Stephanie, just to show you that I can still work with pinks.
Forty two string blocks, completed yesterday. With the other 18 waiting to be done today.
I decided to use up some scrap batting while I was at it, so I did the quilt as you go method. I hope to make a start on putting them together today so I can have some handwork to do in the evenings.

Happy Stitching
Linda

The Year Ahead

I've spent the last couple of days thinking about the year that's gone and the year that's ahead of me. Looking back I've thought about the things I would have changed. That can't be done, what's in the past stays there, but the future holds all sorts of possibilities. I'm not one to make New Year's resolution's. I think we have a hard time holding true to them come the middle of the year. I do however like to think about what I'd like to achieve in the coming year. I think Darlene said it beautifully, generosity and gratitude.

This year I've decided that I want to make a difference, not just in my own life or that of my family, but in the lives of the people around me and my blogging family.

Stephanie issued a challenge to join her in a string block/quilt, scrap busting hassle free fun time. I decided to join in, and after thinking about it more, I've decided that the majority of items that I make through her challenge will be donated to local charities, which will hopefully make a difference in someones life. I don't need to see the difference, just knowing that it will, makes my heart full.

I've also decided that once I have my PIF items finished, I'd like to work on RAK parcels. When I see a need I'd like to be able to fill that need with a gift.

These are just a couple of thoughts I've had. Thank you for allowing me to share them with you all.

Now I'll leave you with a finish for the start of the year. A couple of place mats and a runner that I whipped up this afternoon.



Happy Stitching

Linda

Happy New Year

Happy New Year. Here's to a year filled with inspiration, creativity, friendship, new beginnings and great health.
Things are changing in our house. I passed the written part of my drivers license a couple of days ago and now I'm familiarizing myself with our truck and will sit the driving test at the end of the month.
Life is good for Hollie and Tayla, we've hired an attorney to gain full custody of Tayla for Hollie and she's moving into a house with a group of friends next week. Which means I can move out of the closet and move back into my sewing room again.

Happy Stitching.
Linda