Exchange from Melissa!

My day started in a hole...a big one...made of laundry. Add to that an almost-4-year-old who is constantly testing his limits with me and a miserable teething 13-month-old whose entire rhythm was thrown out of whack by daylight savings time (whose idea was that anyway??). Oh and we can't forget the muscles in my entire body that are aching and exhausted from 5 straight days of riding an exercise bike perpetually stuck on the highest resistance. Have you ever tried carrying a 20+ lb toddler up the stairs for diaper changes with legs that feel like lead? I don't recommend it.

Anyway...so my day started in a deep dark pit of exhaustion. Then the mail man arrived and everything turned around! Why you ask? Well feast your eyes on this....





I got this from Melissa for our Friends Stitching Through the Seasons spring exchange. Are you drooling on your computer?! I don't blame you...it's even more amazing in real life! The fabric she stitched the fob on is iridescent and absolutely stunning! And would you believe she included that gorgeous pair of gun-metal ginghers?! Would you also believe I only had one pair of embroidery scissors before this pair arrived today? These are a much needed addition to my stitching goods. Also, I highly recommend clicking on the pictures to get a closer look at her stitching on the fob. Her stitches are so perfectly even and straight.

And the goodies! Oh I don't even know where to begin! 2 springy notepads, a darling hand-stamped card, a sweet HiH chart, and no, your eyes are not deceiving you...Melissa included six skeins of Vikki Clayton silks!

Who can have a bad day when mail like that arrives?? Not me! DH was home for lunch when I got the mail and he was particularly amused by my excitement! LadyBug's reaction was my very favorite though. She gave this delivery a round of applause!! Gotta love a giggly, clapping 1 year old.

Thank you Melissa! I may not come down off this stitchers high for quite a while!!

Friends Stitching Through the Seasons Exchange Received

I was invited to participate with the amazing ladies of the Friends Stitching Through the Seasons exchange and of course I couldn't say no! Exchanging is just too much fun! I will be stitching for Karen of Karen's Handiwork this year. Karen emailed me yesterday to let me know she got the spring exchange I stitched for her. I am so happy she likes it! Exchanging can be a little nerve-wracking hoping your partner likes what you put together for them.

Here's what I made for Karen.

Bird in Hand by Blackbird Designs
32 count coffee dyed Belfast linen
Tyler Boy Blue CC
Personalized with Karen's and my initials

I knew when I saw this new release from BBD that this would be the perfect thing to stitch for Karen. She loves BBD and a bird is so beautifully springy! LadyBug (who is miserable with teething) gnawed on this chart the whole time we were at my LNS so it was a good thing I intended to take it home with me. Cuddle Bug picked out the thread. It was a family affair!

I went with a little more primitive finishing for this in keeping with Karen's tastes. I pieced the backing fabric so it looked like whoever finished it was scrounging up scraps. And I added a little patch with a haphazard blanket stitch to cover a (make-believe) hole from wear. Then I stuffed it loose and lumpy for added effect. I was very happy with how this turned out. And Karen is pleased as well, so it's hard to beat that!


I sent along some other goodies too. A LK chart, some beautiful Hyacinth GAST, a little pad of paper, ribbon, and (since Karen does paper crafting too) I included some springy stickers. The Hershey kisses sheep was thrown in by Cuddle Bug. I can't tell who enjoys packing up exchange packages more: me or him? I love his enthusiasm!


I hope everyone had a great week. Happy weekend and happy stitchy wishes!

And the Winner is....

I got around to drawing a name for my blogoversary giveaway today. I was too lazy to put everyone's names in a jar as I was out late studying Anatomy and Physiology. So I went to random.org and it was easy as (cherry) pie!

So the winner is officially comment #3 Melissa who practically lives in my backyard - just East of St Louis! That should make for quick delivery, and finding some St Louis Cardinals goodies to go in the package will be no problem at all!

Email me your address, Melissa, and you will get a super fun surprise package from me sometime in the next year. You won't know when so it will be a fun surprise :)

Thanks to everyone who wished me a happy blogoversary and for 2 years of fun!!

Exchange Stitching and our 6th Anniversary

Wow I cannot believe how long its been since I've done a real update around here! It's a good thing I set the date for my blogoversary drawing as no earlier than March 4th! See...even I knew I would be late for my own drawing! I'm leaving it open for one more day if anyone is interested, so I will now officially draw for my blogoversary tomorrow March 16th! Comment on this post if you want to be included.

I just haven't done much stitching that I could show here. I've been busy stitching a few exchange pieces. The first was due in the mail today and I just got home from the post office. Here's a sneak peak:



I've also been keeping busy with my family. DH and I celebrated 6 amazing years of marriage yesterday! What a blessing to be married to such an incredible man! The years keep flying by! The best part is that I can sincerely say we are happier than we've ever been. And I don't take that lightly. Marriage is work, hard work sometimes, and we were married young on top of it. But I can't wait to see what the next 6 years will bring us. Praise God for the life he's helped us build together. We really couldn't do it without Him!

I hope you're all having a beautiful March! I will be back tomorrow to announce the winner of my giveaway.

Hugs and happy stitching!

I Heart Thimble Blossoms!

Saturday proved to be an especially wonderful day. Not only was the weather considerably more tolerable than it has been all year, but I got an incredible package in the mail!


Sweet, sweet Camille of Thimble Blossoms sent me this amazing package! I feel genuinely unworthy of such a lovely gesture, but I'll have my arm twisted and accept it with all the thanks in the universe! I had sent Camille an email telling her that I had made my first quilt using her Wild Thing pattern (a pattern she had actually gifted my husband to put in my Christmas stocking along with another he had ordered from her etsy shop) and thanking her for making such a wonderful and easy to follow pattern that a beginner like me could use. I wanted her to know that I will always have a very special place in my heart for her company, Thimble Blossoms, as this was not only first quilt, but also LadyBug's first birthday present (In fact, she posted about my email on her beautiful blog here) Little did I know that Camille is made of sugar and she sent this incredibly generous package to me as a thanks for the email I sent her! I have been walking on air ever since receiving this!

DH thought it was especially hilarious since we purchased a new car on Friday night and Camille's gift got more enthusiasm from me than the sparkling new car! What can I say?!

In all sincerity, I would highly recommend Camille's patterns to anyone. I'm as novice a quilter as they come and I was amazed at how well my first quilt came together. It wouldn't have been possible had the instructions not been so easy to follow and understand!

I have been stitching too, but I can't show anything as I'm working on an exchange piece.

And thank you all for your sweet comments about my blogoversary! The giveaway is still open to anyone interested!