Items I Have Received (picture heavy)

Over the last couple months I have received some packages in the mail. Prizes from 2 give-aways, items in exchange for one of the kits in my stash, and a RAK. I did thank the senders via email but I didn't post pictures to my blog. Well I finally got my act together and took pictures for the blog, so here we go!

First up from Dusty (at Dusty's Daily Doings ) I received some Anchor floss already on bobbins. Towards the end of 2010 I had mentioned that I was working on acquiring a set of Anchor floss and Dusty said she had some that she wasn't going to use. She offered to send them to me and she did. Thank you very much Dusty I really appreciate it!

Bobbin wound anchor floss from Dusty

I sent one of the kits in my stash to Jane (no blog) in the UK. I'd already had it for a while and did not stitch it. She had been looking for it for a long time. So I offered to send it in exchange for a piece of 28ct evenweave type fabric. Jane was VERY generous! In addition to the fabric she also sent a beautiful brass and enamel bookmark, a dragon needleminder, and a kit for 3 little cards! WOW, Thank you so much Jane I love it all!

closeup to see daetail, isn't this fantastic?

Back in Sept. 2010 Karoline (From Karoline's Corner) held a giveaway to celebrate her 500th post. I was the lucky winner of that giveaway! I was floored when it arrived and I opened it to find a gorgeous stitcher's pocket, package of needles, and stork embroidery scissors! Thank you so much Karoline, it is all wonderful! I will treasure the stitcher's pocket always, you did a fantastic job on it!

closeup of front

full design on back

front open showing needle felt and rings for floss

with the scissors and needles

closed front

Isn't this positively gorgeous? I am floored! Thank you so much Karoline!

Jeanne (Willow Tree Stitcher) held a giveaway for her blogoversary and I was one of the lucky winners! I was so surprised when the package arrived. She made a gorgeous rose project bag and included in it a fantastic needlebook and added a package of needles (Bohin a brand I was wanting to try) and a pair of sheathed Ghinger stork scissors! And the scissors have a fob that match the stitched piece inside the needlebook! Everything is just wonderful! WOW!

Yes, Jeanne it did cheer me up a bit, thank you so very much!

everything together on top of the project pocket

Needlebook open with beautiful stitching and finishing!

needlebook closed with extras showing the fob

project pocket, sewn by Jeanne. Gorgeous roses!

I am so very touched by the generosity of stitchers and I will treasure these items always! Thank you all so very much!

Contest- Winners

Since there has been no correct answer yet, and not a lot of interest, here is a picture that shows the error.

The motif is set to look like steps. The three stitches that the arrow are pointing to, should not be there.

So..there were two people who attempted to answer this, so I will send $25.00 gift certificates to them both for playing along! Thank you Christine and Jo. I hope you get something nice with your prize money!

Thank you both for playing along!

Pics and Fun

As promised here is a picture of the progress I made on Quaker Welcome by The Stitcherhood while I was in Indiana.

Quaker Welcome © The Stitcherhood
Stitched by: Missy H.
DMC floss on Silkweaver Opalescent 28ct jobelen 2 over 2

This is not a large piece and I should have completed it by now. My mojo disappeared for many months while I was fundraising for Matt. This was followed by new symptoms in my back and pelvis and a sharp increase in my pain. This coupled with the doctor's decisions to lower my meds, do only half the RF procedures, and to tell me "We will do nothing more for you. You'll just have to live with it.", all brought back my depression and severely curtailed my mobility. I know many people find stitching helps them through rough times and I used to be one of them. I don't know when or why this changed, I just know that it has. Now when I am feeling real low the idea of stitching feels like trying to climb Mt. Everest covered in lard and alone. There is some good news about my medications etc. but that goes on the other blog. If you wish to read it you can find it here: Living With Chronic Pain and Depression.

When I got back from Indiana I pulled it out to work on it some more and noticed I made a mistake. I haven't frogged it yet, but I will soon. It doesn't set anything off by any stitches and I could probably just leave it an no one would know, but I can't do that with this error. I've done it in other designs (ex: wrong green for one stitch on a leaf in a Teresa Wentzler design, not noticeable) when it wouldn't be noticeable, but I think this one would be.

I thought it might be fun to play a little game. Look carefully at this picture and see if you can spot my error. If you think you have spotted it post in the comments. On Wednesday (17th) I will randomly chose a winner from all the correct answers and that person shall receive a $25.00 gift certificate to Down Sunshine Lane. Here is a hint: If no one has the correct answer by that time I will provide a hint and extend the contest until Saturday the 20th. You can click to make the picture larger.

Have fun!

Edited: Had to add the information of where I stopped stitching when I ran out of floss as it appears to be an error but its not the one I was talking about since its just not completed. I will however count Christine's comment as correct since it is my fault. thanks for playing along Christine!

I Stitched!

I was visiting my in laws in Indiana last week. My FIL had to have a heart catheterization done as he has been having episodes of a very low heart beat (in the 30's and 40's) along with chest pain. We were so worried, so we ran up there to be with him. He came through the procedure just fine and they put in 3 stents to open up some of his arteries and veins. He will be undergoing another procedure on the 15th (I think it is) for at least 1 more stent. It was wonderful seeing everyone again, I just wish it had been under less stressful circumstances. The ride up and back was hard on me, specially since the doctor still hasn't corrected my breakthrough medication dose. I survived the car rides though.

I also stitched! Can you believe it? I took Quaker Welcome by The Stitcherhood with me just in case I wanted to stitch. I wasn't expecting to want to as I haven't wanted to stitch in a long time. But I did stitch! I finished the lower left hand side and put in most of the large motif on the left. While at the doctor's office today I did some more stitching, finishing the outer part of the large motif on the left and discovered a mistake. If I am seeing my floss tails properly I should only have to remove 3 or 4 rows to correct the error. I would just leave it but that would cause one of the smaller motifs to overlap.

I am hoping to be able to get some pictures uploaded of the many items I have received in the last couple of months, as well as a new WIP pic of the Quaker tomorrow. Here is where I was last time I stitched on it back in March: