Valentine's Day

Happy Long Weekend to Me.....and hopefully you! 

I think this is the first time in years that I've actually had the opportunity to celebrate President's Day at home instead of school.  We've had a very mild winter and so far no snow days.  My plan for the long weekend includes many hours of stitching. 

I have been a busy girl since my last post and have lots to share with you so,

on to Valentine's Day!

My friend Karen and I decided we would do an "unfinished" Valentine's Day exchange. 

Karen knows how to spoil a girl when it comes to exchanges. 

Here is the exchange Karen sent.  Harley had to check out what his Aunt Karen sent.

Fabric, Candy, Scissors, Pincushion, Ribbon, Needle minder and much more!

Here are the Valentine's Day pieces Karen stitched for me.

Cutie, cute, cute!

Here is how I finished them.

Look at this super cute Valentine pincushion.

Love It!

 

Here is the exchange I sent Karen.

Here is the stitched piece I made for her.

 Love Always

Homespun Elegance

And here is how she finished it.

Thanks for a great exchange! 

I loved stitching for you and I love everything you sent. 

I haven't done much seasonal stitching this winter but I

did manage to finish one Valentine's Day piece. 

February Word Play
With Thy Needle and Thread

Stitched on Zweigart 40 ct. Autumn Blush

Recommended Fibers

 

LK Flora McSample 2011 Ornament

Wilchelt 28 ct. Milk Chocolate Linen

Recommended Fibers

And 3 little ornaments.  I fell in love with these ornaments the first time I saw them. 

I made a boo boo when trimming the fabric and thought I'd ruined all of them. 

I managed to salvage them, I think.  Considering my boo boo I think they turned out ok.

Time is flying and February will be over before we know it.  I think it is time to turn my attention to St. Patrick's Day now.  I don't have many stitched things for St. Patrick's Day so I hope to add a few this year.

Thank you for stopping by and your sweet comments. 

I love hearing from my stitching friends.  Have a great weekend!

Keep on stitchin'

Nan

One Hundred Years

I picked up Lizzie Kate's 100 Years from the framer yesterday. 

It is now sitting in my office at school ready for everyone to admire.

Apparently I am a big fan of this frame.  When my husband saw it he says,

"How many pictures are you gonna have framed like that?" 

I was completely unaware that 2 other pieces I've had framed have the exact same frame.

I guess next time I'll have to step outside of my framing comfort zone. 

Keep on stitchin' on,
Nan

At Long Last........

Hello Friends,
It has been a whirlwind Spring.  I'm sorry its been so long since my last post.  The end of school is always crazy but adding the transition to a new position next year threw me into a tailspin.  It is amazing how much "stuff" you accumulate in 12 years of teaching. So now that I've got that under control I hope to resume my faithful blogging.   I appreciate you sticking around to see if I'd come up with anything new to share.  Thanks to Michele for giving me a kick in the bahonky to get back to it. 

Even though I lost my blogging mojo for a while I have been stitching up a storm.

Ah...Tis Spring

Notforgotten Farm

LHN Traveling Stitcher

Lizzie Kate

One Hundred Years From Now

 A while back I was the lucky winner of a great give away from Nancy at the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe.  I received these two lovely charts.  Thanks so much Nancy.  I love them.  I also indulged in some of her yummy chenille trim and ric rac.  If you haven't been by to see Nancy's wares you should check it out.

On a completely non stitching note....

Here is my hubby's race car for this year.  

#22.  I really like the color scheme of the car this year.  Hope he has a great racing season. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.  I salute the members of our military, their family and friends. 

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”

~Arthur Ashe

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

A Couple of Stitchy Gifts

Happy Monday Everyone!

I don't have any stitching of my own to share BUT..........
Look at what landed in my mailbox the last couple of days.
There is nothing better after a long day of wranglin' kiddos than to come home to gifts in the mail.

My Lizzie Kate exchange arrived today.  Elisa stitched and finished this cute Spring Boxer for me.
It is resting comfortably on my Spring shelf.  It feels right at home among its friends.
Thanks for a great exchange Elisa!

On Saturday I came home to a great big box sitting on my front porch.  Karen had been cleaning out her craft room and sent me several texts asking if I want this....or if I would finish stitching that.....

Well when I opened the box I was in awe of the stitching goodies she sent me.  There were charts that I wanted, aida fabric that she said she would never use, some unfinished kits she said she would never get around to finishing. I'm sure I'm forgetting to include something that was in the box.

 WOW is all I can say.  I guess it pays to have good stitching buddies doesn't it?

Along with all the goodies was this cute Spring pillow and some Easter goodies. 

Thanks for the box of goodies my friend. 

Thanks for stopping by and your sweet comments.  I'll be back soon with some finishes.

I have Notforgotten Farm's Ah! Tis Spring stitched but

I'm having trouble deciding how to finish it. 

Hopeful inspiration will strike some time soon. 

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

Spring~A~Ding~Ding

 Repeat after me.....

 I will NOT complain when the temperature is 98 degrees.

That is the way I'm feeling right now.  My body is craving some vitamin D, it needs to sweat, it needs some fresh air.  I am so ready for Spring. 

Our school's Spring Break is in one week.  Kind of early for a Spring Break don't ya think? 

I will make the most of it even though our temps will only be in the 50's. 

So... to pass the time until Spring officially arrives, I've been stitching Springy things.

Luck to You!

Spring Things~Lizzie Kate

Peep

Lizzie Kate

Peep was one of my market purchases.  I couldn't resist stitching it as soon as it arrived. 

I also couldn't resist a few of the new BBD patterns.  I think I might start on Breathe of Spring soon.

Thank you so much for stopping by to share in my love of stitching. 

Your encouragement and kind words mean the world to me.

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

Patiently Waiting for SPRING!

Hello Stitching Friends,

     We have had some unseasonable warm weather this week in Southern Indiana. 

Of course that has me ready to break out the flip flops and suntan oil. :0)

But, I think it will be short lived as the temps will drop back into the 30's this week. 

So....to help Spring along I broke out the punch needle this weekend.  I don't get the "urge" to do punch needle very often but I had lots of time on my hands this weekend to do crafty things.  Last weekend I started LHN's Home of a Needleworker.  This is the biggest project I've attempted in a long time.  I've made good progress on it in only a week but I like having finishes to keep me motivated.  I'm hoping to finish Home of a Needleworker by next weekend so I can get it to the frame shop :0).  I've got Springy things that need stitched so I've got to keep moving.

"Spring Cottage"

Lizzie Kate Punch Needle

Thank you for stopping by to visit my blog.  I love reading your comments and they keep me motivated to do what I love.  Have a happy week and...

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

The Votes are IN....And It Is Finished!

And the winner is.............. The Tree Fabric!

I think it was unanimous! 

Thank you for giving me feedback on the finish of my Lizzie Kate design.

I can now mark another one of my Crazy 2011 Challenge!  Whoop! Whoop!
 

I loved reading your suggestions and appreciate you taking time to help me.

I thought it was fun and hope you don't mind if I pick your brains again.

Happy Valentine's Day Tomorrow!

I hope to be back with another post on my one and only Valentine's Day finish for the year.

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

Your Vote Counts......On My Finish!

Calling ALL Stitching Friends...

I am having a hard time deciding on which fabric to use to finish my Lizzie Kate Snowman '10.
My intention is to sew it into a pillow with the fabric running down both sides and add a hanger.  I think he will look adorable hanging on a door knob or maybe a cabinet.

SO... 
Since I can't decide on which fabric to use you get to decide for me.  Please vote in the sidebar poll.  Majority wins and finishing will take place on Sunday. 

Thank you so much for helping me out.  I finished stitching this snowman over a week ago.  Usually I have a clear vision of how I want to finish a piece.  I'm not sure why this one has been so difficult to decide on.

Snowflake

Trees

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

Just a Little Stitching Update

Hello Stitching Friends,
It seems like I've had so little to post about stitching lately. 
Two of my exchange pieces have reached their new homes so I'm excited to share them with you.

But first......

Let me share with you the lovely pieces I received for the Lizzie Kate & Seasonal Exchange.

Pirjo received my name for both exchanges.  How crazy is that? 

These pieces came all the way from Finland and they are just adorable.

Thanks for sending such great exchanges.

And...

Here are the two pieces I stitched and finished for exchanges.

Brrr..... ~Winter Crazy

Lizzie Kate

XOXO

Heart in Hand

The day of LOVE is quickly approaching.  I hope everyone has a happy Valentine's Day!

Thank you for stopping by.  I love hearing from you!

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

Back To School Giveaway

~Back To School~

Well my friends, Summer is officially winding down for me. So in honor of a new school year I've decided to give away this adorable Lizzie Kate pattern and scissor combo. The scissor fob was handcrafted by yours truly and the scissors are great for stitching.

To all the dedicated teachers out there.....Have a great school year and remember you have the most important job in the world.

If you are interested in entering this giveaway give a shout out to your favorite teacher in the comment section. (No matter how many years it has been :-)

Last Day to Enter is Saturday August 21.

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan

♪ Fa La L a La La ♪

I've been on quite a Christmas stitching binge this Summer. I saw this cute design the last time I visited my LNS and of course, I'm a sucker for Lizzie Kate. This is the first cube finish I've attempted and I'm pleased with the way it turned out. As it turns out I had to do 3 cube finishes, quite a task one day. Vonna at The Twisted Stitcher has a great tutorial for cube finishes if you are interested in trying one.

I had so much fun shopping for the materials to finish this project. Trying to decide on ribbon, bows, and just looking through all the Christmas craft items for ideas was a great was to spend an afternoon. I could not find a material I wanted at the usual places like JoAnn Fabrics and Hobby Lobby, I even looked at Wal-Mart. No Luck.

As I was driving to my favorite place in the world (Sonic) to get my afternoon slurpie pop I took the back way in and drove past the local quilt shop. Now, my caffeine starved brain must have been screaming keep going.........keep going.... because I almost dismissed my thought of stopping in lieu of the all mighty Route 44 Diet Cherry Coke.

Never having been in the quilt shop before I wasn't sure I would find much. Wow, was I surprised. Wall to wall material. $45 later I walked out with a bag full of remnants and assortments perfect for finishing my small projects. What a great find. They even carry some fibers. They will definitely be seeing me again, probably in the all too near future.

I have been gearing myself up for the approaching school year. That means my unlimited stitching time is coming to an end. I'm looking forward to a new year and a new batch of kiddos. I guess that means I had better prioritize my stitching projects....I think that will require more caffeine.

Keep on stitchin' on,

Nan