Merry Christmas

These are the Christmas Ornaments I stitched for my great nieces and great-nephew for this year.  It is 'Tis the Season, from the JCS 2014 Ornament preview issue, I believe.  Designed by Theresa Curry and Brian Stugelmayer of Needle Bling Designs.  I used the called for fabric and threads for the most part.  Just used what I had in my stash.  Each one is a little different, some intended and some not!  I hope they like them.

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: Join me in my birthday celebration give-away! Enter now! 10 Winners!

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe: Join me in my birthday celebration give-away! Enter now! 10 Winners!

It looked in focus when I took the snap!

Carol let me know she received my exchange piece for HoE.  It's Daffycat's reindeer and tree design stitched on natural opalescent with gold threads.  I used DMC to stitch the design.  I wish I could remember the name of the trim I used.  

HoE exchange received

Received this Shepherd's Bush design from Amy V-M as part if the June Christmas ornament exchange.  Beautifully stitched and finished as usual by Amy.  Love it.  Thanks Amy.

Daniel O'Connell

O'Connell is known in Ireland as "The Liberator" or "The Great Emancipator" for his success in achieving Catholic Emancipation.  I'm afraid I don't remember all our guide told us about O'Connell.  He is an important statesman in Catholic Ireland.

Celtic crosses in Ireland

A few of the many crosses in Ireland. Some were taken from the bus, so there's a blare on them.

The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher are located at the southwestern edge of the Burin region in County Clare, Ireland. They rise 390 ft above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag's Head, and reach their maximum height of 702 feet.  The tower is a round stone tower near the midpoint of the cliffs built in 1835 by Sir Cornelius O'Brien. From the cliffs and from atop the tower, you can see the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, the Maumturks and Twelve Pins mountain ranges to the north in County Galway, and Loop Head to the south. Wikipedia.

A visit Waterford Crystal

I'm not a crystal kind of person, but a visit to Waterford was breathtaking.  Of course I gad to take a photo of the crystal football.

More Ireland photos

Dunluce Castle is not far from the Giant's Causeway.  You can see gorse in the one photo.  

The castle was built on a high cliff, most likely for defense purposes. I cannot remember the significance of the landmass in the other photo. I'm sure it must have been important, or I wouldn't have taken it!  LOL.  you see lots of cemeteries and churches together in Ireland.

Thatched roofs and Guinness are two important attractions in Ireland.  I must admit, I experienced a few Guinesses.i will post more on Guinness later. 

More Belfast

Titanic museum.  The building is supposed to depict the hulls of four ships. A large oil rig being repaired. Two very large cranes.  Replica of one of the lifeboats on the Titanic and artistic display of some of the chains on the ship. The Titanic was built in Belfast.

More Ireland photos

Lunch in Belfast.  I had the ham and cabbage. This was the first of several ham and cabbages.  I found I really liked it.  Each plate I had was a little different.  The commonality was the ham and potatoes.  My sister had a sandwich.  I think it was a club.  We drove past the beautiful Queen's Universty.  I liked the sculpture that was on the campus.

Exchange from Julianne and a couple of Ireland photos

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I received this beauty while on my trip to Ireland. It is from Julianne as part of our private Spring exchange.  It is a Prairie Schooler design.  She and her daughter Julie worked together to get it finished.  I love chicks and roosters as subjects, so she did great as usual.  Thanks, J., I really love it.  

Here' two of my favorite sights from my trip to Ireland.

This is a weed, more or less.  It's called gorse or scotch broom.  The roadsides and fields are covered in it. The farmers even use it as fences for their fields.  It is everywhere.  

This photo doesn't do the colors justice, they are really much more vivid.  It is a field of canola.  The bright yellow against the bright green fields is just magnificent.  I tried many times to get a photo of the canola.  This is the only one that is half way good. 

It has taken me over a week to recoup from the trip.  I had major jet lag on top of a sore throat and hacking cough.  I'd go again though!  LOL.  Enjoy your Thursday!

Julianne's Spring Exchange

Here's the exchange piece I sent Julianne. It's a Prairie Schooler design from the leaflet "Farm Fresh".

It is stitched on 28ct lambswool with DMC threads.  It was hard to part with this one.  LOL. Julianne and I have done several private exchanges over the years.  We met through an exchange group that the name has escaped me.  It's always a treat to receive a piece from her.  

Forgot to post

 

I just love this LHN girl and her shamrock bouquet.  St. Patrick's is a favorite of mine to stitch!  I stitched this for my cousin's birthday since she is a March baby.  I'm stitching one for me but won't get it done in March unless I hustle.  Hustling is really against my nature, so she'll be ready for next year!  MarieP, my corners are getting better thanks to your tutorial.  

Halloween Round 3 Received

I received this beauty from Michelle yesterday.  It is part of the Hooked on Exhanging Halloween group.  It is "Pumpkin on Gingham" by the Sweetheart Tree.   She chose a perfect design for me. I love fall/Halloween.  Thank you Michelle.  I love, love it.

HOE Halloween Round 3 Received by Roberta

I saw where Roberta received my exchange piece .  I chose wicked by primitibebettys.  I love this design and wanted go stitch it.  Check out my corners.  They are definitely getting better.  MarieP' method is working for me. Now, I need to practice in those straight seams!  I have. Another finish, but can't show it until my recipient receives it.  I ordered LHN's March girl.  Since I like St. Patrick's Day, she's my next project.  Have a great day.

Latest finish

I found this stitched piece the other day when I was looking for who knows what.  I had completely  forgotten about it.  Got busy and made a hanging pillow to display.  It is, after all, March.  Can you believe it?  I'm still working on MarieP's corner technique. I believe I about have it figured out.  I'm using too much fiberfill to stitch at the corners.  I have an exchange piece to put together. Hopefully the corners will look better.  I do no remember the designer.  I will look for chart tomorrow. (It is Sew Irish by Istitch designs) If I find it I will edit it into the post.  Getting ready for another found of weather.  We will see if it happens.

HoE Exchange received

I receive this piece from Ellen in Singapore.  It is part of the HoE Christmas ornament exchange. This found was Stitcher's Choice.  She shoes LHN's Snoy Pines.  Ellen said she used a linen of unknown origins and DMV threads.  She does flawless stitching and finishing.  I love it, Ellen.  Thank you so much.

A Little Valentine on a Dreary Saturday

I made this little pillow this morning.  Perhaps one of these days I will be able to stitch a straight seam! I used the corner technique given to my by my friend MarieP.  It worked well, for me.  Now, I need to work on those seams.  The design is a freebie from The Sampler Girl, dated 2010.  Don't look to closely, there is one tiny mistake.  I was just too lazy to correct it!  Go Broncos.

Angel Stitcher

I had an angel stitcher and look what I received in the mail today.  It's a primitivebetty's design.  I love him.  And a great big thank you to my "angel"!

More Sttitching from me \!

 

 Every year I stitch ornaments for my great-nieces and nephew.  This year I chose Prairie Schooler.  I love how they turned out.  Their mothers said they liked them, but with kids, who knows.  These may be my last sets depending on how the ole eyes hold up this year.

 For the HoE Halloween #2 I stitched the PS bat.  Did a simple finish and used twine as the holder.  I think he's cute.  I received the little owl above him from "crazypurplemom" It's a design from the JCS 2012 Halloween issue.

I had Amy V-M's name for both the #2 exchange and the HoE Stitcher's Choice round.  I finished off Bird of a Feather "The Night before Christmas" and did a simple finish on it too.  The backing carried out the blue and white theme.  Amy said she liked both exchanges, so I'm a happy stitcher.

 Another Prairie Schooler.  I stitched this, I believe (memory problems again!) for Julianne.  I love funky little Christmas Trees, so pretty sure the tree here is why I chose the design to stitch.

Here's my Christmas gift from stitcher friend Mary Ann.  It is from the 2013 JSC issue.  She is a perfect stitcher and finisher.  I will probably display this one all year because I love the design.

That's it, all caught up.  Hope you enjoyed taking a peek!

Stitching update Photos in no particular order

This was my exchange piece for HoE Halloween #1.  Carol S. was my partner. To me Halloween says Prairie Schooler. I changed the colors a little, at least I think I did!  It's been so so long, I can't remember.  Carol said she loved it, so I am pleased.

I have a friend at church I like to stitch for.  She is always so kind with her praise when I gift her.  I chose a PS santa this year.  Joan has traveled extensively, so I thought this fellow might be fitting to stitch for her.  I like him, and so did Joan!

Julianne P. and I do private exchanges through out the year.  Here is what she stitched for me for our Christmas exchange this year.  She did quite well!  I love PS and reindeer.  JP has such a knack for finishing.  She always surprises me.  Needless to say, I absolutely love this Santa.

My Mom likes nutcrackers, so I stitched this PS for her Christmas giftie this year.  Now, I have no idea what I was thinking when I cut the fabric.  When I got to the bottom, I had no room left!  Up against a deadline, I roughly sewed the bottom on the sewing machine.  From a distance, ie, on the tree, you really can't tell I boo-booed to badly! 

More to come later!