-january-

Amanda (MsMcPorkchop) and her friend, Ashleigh, have a super cute sampler happening for 2013.  Each month they send you a little woodland theme to stitch!  When I saw what the theme was I knew I wanted to jump in on this!  I had so much fun stitching the Winterwoods sampler and having a little something to stitch here and there.  This month's theme was little deer!  Aren't they adorable?  

For this sampler...

 I am using Cosmo floss, and I got the kit here.

The linen is 28 count Cashel linen: dirty, and I got it here.

You can sign up for the sampler here!  You can get it for $10 for a couple more days before the price goes up!

Finish It Up- Week 7

We are on vacation this week, and it was much needed! 

Here is a little iPhone photo of the embroidery I have been working on this past week.  This is a pattern by Cathy Gaubert.  She has such a sweet style.  I love it!  There are three little girls in this pattern, and I stitched one little girl last year for s swap.  This time I stitched these two to resemble my two little girls.  I added some length and slight curls to make the little one look more like my Felicity.

So, I haven't been working on any of my projects this week...surprise!  We still have a week and half left in the challenge though, and I am hoping for at least two more projects to get finished.  Our computer access is slow here. So, I am just going to ask everyone to link up in the comments!  I can't wait to see what you are working on.  I check everyone's projects!  There are a number of you who have made some serious progress.  So impressive!  I am sorry that I don't get the chance to comment every time on your progress, but really I appreciate everyone who has joined me in this endeavor to clean up just a bit!

The winner of the Fishsticks patterns giveaway is Jen B!  Jen, I will be giving your e-mail to Bonnie!

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

So it starts...

First, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know we did!  When we came back from our Thanksgiving adventure this awesome little mug rug was waiting for me in the mailbox!  My partner from the Scrappy Mug Swap did an awesome job, and all the little details are just perfect.  I admit to having a hard time putting my mug on it. ;0)

So far, I have made one (just one) present for Christmas.  I embroidered this little cutie onto a pillow case.  These little jump rope friends come from this Japanese book from PinkNelie on Etsy.  I highly recommend this seller for Japanese books.  She has a great selection, reasonable prices, and fast shipping.  

I have lots of plans from Christmas presents, but honestly I am feeling a little craft burn out.  So I am not going to stress about them and instead kick back with my girlies and partake in a little pony tea party...

Embroidery

It looks like fall is finally upon us!  I love having the opportunity to curl up under a blanket at night and wearing a sweater.  This rainy weather also makes me a bit sleepy, and the kiddos have still not really adjusted to the time change. This leaves me with little desire to sew in the evenings.  So I have been doing a lot more embroidery and crocheting of late.  That way I can watch TV!  Sewing is a lot more active than one might think.  I am always on the floor cutting or hopping up and down between the sewing machine and the ironing board.  I would definitely call it an "active" craft...right, right?

The above girl is from the newest issue of Fat Quarterly by Cathy Gaubert.  She also designed this girl I embroidered a couple of weeks ago.  Isn't she sweet?

I also finished up this swinging girl that I have had mostly done since March!  She is from an embroidery pattern by Aneela Hoey, who has a fabulous new fabric line coming out in the spring for Moda!  I originally thought I would use these two for pillows for the girls, but since one is fall-ish and this one is summer-ish, I am thinking of making a spring one and winter one for a little series.  I am thinking of this girl for spring.  Anyone have an idea for a winter girl?

I also received my hoop from the Scrappy Hoops Swap!  Isn't it so darling?  I received this from Darci of Stitches and Scissors.  She was *my* partner for The Savvy Seasons Swap (the one I made this pillow for). Funny how things like that work out sometimes.  I do love the things she makes!

The Little Girl Hoop

Here is my little girl embroidery for the Scrappy Hoops swap.  I think she turned out simple and sweet, and I hope my partner likes her too.  This girl belongs to this little trio. My partner has a very distinctive style.  I am always impressed with people who have such distinct styles.  I feel that I am attracted to such a mish mash of things.  I had something else stitched up, and I really liked it but it just felt too cutesy.  I have other plans for it though that I will be showing you soon.

Last week was busy with Halloween activities and sickness (and more sickness this week...poor kiddos,)  Juliana went as a beautiful bride.  She loves weddings ever since she was a flower girl in two weddings last summer.  She already has her whole future figured out.  She is definitely a "planner".  Felicity was Nemo, and she declared herself "adorable!".  Nemo was definitely the hit.  The fin on top of her head squeaked.  She called it her "squisky".  The baby, of course, went as our little monkey.  The little monkey wants to eat the bride's flowers, I think. ;0p