In between the exchanges.....

It wasn't all finishing of projects I must add. Yes, there were a couple of exchanges too as well. The Hooked on Exchanging (HoE) board had a Summer Quaker Design for August 1. My partner for this exchange was Wendy Jo. I chose to stitch a pattern from the Gift of Stitching called "A Quaker Seasonal - Summer" in her favourite colour, red. I finished it as a small pillow. The fabric I used was called crepe back satin. I used the crepe side of the fabric as I did not particularly like the satin side. The pattern was stitched on 28 ct ivory evenweave. I was happy with the way it turned out and from all reports Wendy Jo was pleased as well. Here is how it turned out:


I received my Summer Quaker exchange from CathyB. She stitched me a pinkeep from "Little by Little" called "Quaker Blackbird". She also included in her package some goodies which I am sure will come in handy. I already know what I am going to stitch to go along with the piece of farbic she sent! I must also try those Week Dye Works floss she sent me. It will be my first time using them. Here is what she stitched for me:


I have sent off an exchange and it should be on its way to its new home. This time I participated in the SBEBB Biscornu exchange. I have an HoE exchange pending for September, 20 - a design from Prairie Schooler.

The exchanges are coming fast and furious but I am trying to keep up. Admist all these exhanges, I also have some other projects I want to start. Oh dear, I am going to needs some prayers if I am going to get through all of these project! I recently increased my stash of patterns so I should be very busy until the end of the year.

I must say a big thank you to those of you who left a comment. It was nice reading them. do have a great weekend and enjoy your holiday all of you in the U.S.A!

Weekend of Finishings

It's been a while since I've made an entry on my blog! I always promise myself to blog a little more often but due to exchange deadlines, housework and my job there is very little time to blog. Time is such a precious commodity and is in no way renewable, I have been trying to find ways of gaining time for my hobby. So, I have decided to dedicated a couple of weekends to stitching and finishings and this is what I have achieved so.

First is a flanged pillow. I stitched this freebie "Blessed Be" from Plumpudding Needleart . I stitched it with the recommended DMC threads. It was my first attempt at a flanged pillow. I hope it won't be my last.
I also managed to finish an altoid tin. There was some experimenting going on here with this one. This is also a freebie called "Jour de fete" from a French designer, Au fil de fee. I like French designs and have a few freebies I wish to stitch later. I found this to be a cute pattern with the pastel colours. I think I made an error with the petals because they should have been done in daisy stitches! Then again my French is not very good so you have to excuse me for that. That reminds me I have to buy me a french dictionary!


I made the cording (first time) and was pleased with my achievement. I have to make some more though, as it was fun to make and it does make you finished work look nice and complete.

Another "first" finish is a scissors pocket. I made this from a Prairie Schooler freebie "S is for Spring". I got the instructions from Beckysc. Thanks Becky. The instructions were well written. I love how this turned out! I thought the backing fabric was just perfect. I found it among some remnants I was about to throw out. Oh, this was stitched on aida fabric (28 count). This was before I ever heard of evenweave and linen! I used the recommended DMC thread for this as well.
I did this pinkeep a few weekends ago. This freebie is from Pelin Tezer which was done on ivory 28 count evenweave. She did not have a name for this particular freebie as a single pattern so we decided to call it "Ring of Roses". Very appropriate, I thought. I finished it was ruched ribbon which was very easy to make. I thought it came out well and the backing fabric really complemented it. I stitched it with DMC threads.

Well, that's it for now. I have some more to share but it is getting late here and I want to go visit some of your blogs. I think you ladies have some wonderful blogs and I do enjoy perusing them after a long hard day at the office or in the kitchen, lol.

Freebie Exchange from Marie

I received my freebie exchange from Marie yesterday! She stitched me a pattern from one of her favourite designers, Mary Garry. It's called Sew and Sew and she made it into a beautiful pinkeep! She also enclosed some extras from my wishlist for which I am grateful. I must mention that I love the cording which she made for the pinkeep. Very nice indeed. Sorry, but my camera did not do justice to the lovely items she sent me.

Ok, I tried to take a better picture of the pinkeep, the backing fabric and the cording made by Marie.

Yet another exchange!

This time it is the Free Design exchange on the Hooked on Exchanging (HoE) board! My partner, Paula C, received the exchange in just about a week. I stitched her a Heart-shaped Needlecase designed by Mady_p2x, a French designer. The name of the piece is called 'Printemps' which means Springtime. It was stitched on 32 count linen with DMC threads 469 and 115. I used some backing fabric from Jacqueline, my partner from the Pinkeep Exchange. It turned out pretty good and I was pleased with the finished product! I really enjoyed making it for Paula. Now it's onto my next exchange!

Time to blog....at last!

It has been a long time since I've written to my blog so I have a lot of catching up to do and at the same time showing you all what I have been up to for the past couple of months, stitchwise, that is!

Hooked on this stitching thing.....

During the past months I have been into some exchanges on the Hooked on Exchanging (HoE) board. I am really enjoying the exchanges and look forward to participating more in the future. I have receive some really nice things and I appreciate them all. The board gives me encouragement to stitch and to finish off my projects. I get a lot of satisfaction from being a part of the whole exchanging thing. So you can rightly say I am really hooked on this stitching and exchanging thing!

Biscornu Exchange

My biscornu exchange, held in late March, was for Rowyn from New Zealand. I never sent anything to New Zealand before so I was keeping my fingers crossed for it safe flight. It got there sooner than I could imagine and my partner seemed to like it! I stitched her a well known pattern by Indigo Rose, Four Little Hearts. I choose this one because of the speciality stitches which I had not tried before and the pastel colours which went together well. I though it came out pretty good and I was pleased with it.

I received this lovely biscornu from Veronica in the USA. She stitched me a free pattern from Papillon Creations on Belfast Linen. Lovely colours and beautifully stitched! I also love the goodies she enclosed. She got me a Needleroll kit from Shepherds Bush - Birdhouse needleroll from my wish list and some fabric - 32 count from Silkweaver. Here have a look!

Pinkeep Exchange

Next came the Pinkeep Exchange in April which was for Irmeli from Finland. I stitched a freebie pattern from Debbie Drapper called 'Love'. I had fun stitching this one. I thought it was a cute pattern and did it with DMC 115 to go with the theme of love.

My partner, Jacqueline from the US stitched me something from one of my favourite designers, Prairie Schooler. I called it the flying stitcher because it was a fairly sitting on a bird. This too was very nice. She sent me some goodies as well! One of my daughter ate all of the peeps and the other liked the pinkeep. Well, I love them all.

Feathered Friends Exchange - A SBEBB Exchange

This exchange finished up in May. My partner received her exchange so I can show what I stitched for her. We had to stitch a pattern with a bird in it. I choose part of a pattern from a French designer - A Mon Ami Pierre, Quaker Six Mains. It was easy to stitch and I added her initials from another cross stitch pattern.

My exchange came from Mylene of the Netherlands. She stitched me a lovely piece and a cute scissors fob! She also got me some things from my wish list - Halloween printed fabric and blue ribbons of different sizes and patterns. I will sure need these, they are so pretty! See what she sent.

This is what I have been doing for the exchanges. I have about three more exchanges to stitch and send out. So my hands are full. Still have a few favourites I want to stitch in the meantime. That's it for now. Thanks for visiting!

Hooked on Exchanging

Well, my partner from Hooked on Exchanging, Stephanie, received her scissors fob exchange! Wow, kudos to the postal workers who got it to her in the UK in record time! I am very happy to learn that she love it and all the other goodies I sent her. I, personally felt that I could have done a better job but since it was just my second fob, I will most certainly be doing lots more of these fun projects as time goes by. I did get to stitch up one for myself as a little treat. Please see the pics on both scissors fob. The one with the stitched 'S' is the one I stitched for myself. Hope you like the both. So now off to do my next exchange!

Thanks for stopping by!

Trying to Catch up!

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and an equally good New Year. Mine was was good despite having to deal with house renovations on my return from St. Vincent. So that left me with no time to do any cross stitching. All I had time for was to at least sort my projects out for 2008 along with some exchanging in between. Speaking of exchanges, I received my first exchange yesterday afternoon. My mail box was filled with two cross stitch magazines and some floss from great friend, Joan in the US. Anyhow getting back to exchanges, yes Carol sent me a really nice scissors fob which incidentally is my very first scissors fob and she included a scissors to go with it! I love everything she sent. I posted out my yesterday and I hope my partner will like hers as well.

So what's next - a biscornu exchange. Haven't decided what I will do as there are so many beautiful designs out there! And what am I stitching at present. I am stitching a freebie from one of the french designers. I think their work is lovely. My only regret is that I don't get their patterns or books here in Barbados. I have to rely on freebies. I think I will finish it up as a flat fold. Inbetween, that I am stitching a little initial fob just for me! I think I deserve it, lol.

My St. Vincent trip was a bit eventful. While I was there on November 30 there was an earthquake. My, was I scared! I was in this very tall building on the third floor. I think I got out of there in something like 2 seconds, and that was taking the stairs! I have never experienced an earthquake before. We don't have them in Barbados but this time I was wrong. It was all over the Caribbean! My kids back home were scare especially the younger one who couldn't figure out what was going on. Anyhow, there was no damage and I am really grateful to God for that.

Well that's all for now. Hopefully, I won't be away for so long, keeping my fingers crossed on that!

Thanks for stopping by.

Sandrajay