State Fair

Hello, my darling friends~~ How have you been? It has been a while since I last post, but finally, another finish!!! (Happy Dance!!)I really love the blues and greens and oranges on this one, it was these colors that caught my eye in the first place.

Pattern: Little House Needlework“State Fair”
Thread: DMC Cotton Thread
Fabric: 32ct Belfest Linen in color Flax
Stitched Size: 10” x 5.5”
Completion Date: 05-21-2014

Another reason I love this design is because it reminded me of my State Fair experiences when I was in the US. I am a big fan of State Fairs!!! I love seeing all the animals, crafts and the food!!!! So much fun~

It has been raining non-stop here lately…. I miss the sun!!! Hope you all are having a wonderful week!!

On the Road and Stitching

As titled.

Although I had to spend a lot of time waiting on the car for hubby to finish his visits with farmers, it's all good as long as I have my needles and music!!

Can't wait to get home, though!!

Happy stitching~

New Start~~

After finish stitching my last project, and I know I still have to put them together, but my hands were itching to start something new. So I went through my stash of projects, and the State Fair just caught my eye. Maybe I’m just in a country mood lately….

So I pulled together the fabrics and threads needed for this project, and I just LOVE the color combinations~

I am using 32ct Belfest linen color flax and all the DMC threads it called for.

That’s it for now~ It is sunny and bright outside. I think I’m going to take advantage of the sun and go for a walk, and maybe even stitch a little bit before the sun goes down~

Happy stitching!!

The End

Finally, a finish!!! I put in the last stitch of Summer Splendor last night, what a relief!! This little thing has been giving me troubles, I can't even remember how many times I've stitched and frogged it due to the unsatisfaction of my color choice. But at the end, it was all worth it. I really like how it turned out~ 

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Summer Splendor"
Thread: DMC cotton floss
Fabric: 32ct  Belfast Linen Lt. Mocha 
Stitch Size: 6.375” x 3.625"
Completion Date: 12-20-2012

Please excuse all the wrinkles. I haven't decided what to make of it yet. Maybe a pillow? A flatfold? Or a book cover? Hum.... Decisions decisions.....

So this traveling pattern is finally ready to go to its next destination. if you would like to be the next stitcher to stitch this chart please leave a comment stating that you are interested in the drawing for this chart. I will draw a name on 1/1/2013. The only requirements are:

1. You must have an active blog
2. Please agree to stitch it promptly
3. Please pass it along to a fellow stitcher via a drawing on your blog
4. Please post your finish and the history of where the chart has travelled like this:
1. Kathy at "Kathy's Sit and Stitch"
2. Carol at "Stitching Dreams"
3. Lisa at "Lisa V's Lounge"
4. Ellen at "Stitch Passion"
5. Theresa at “Giraffe Crossing”

Can you believe it's less then a week to Christmas, and only two weeks away till the end of the year?! These past few month just flew by so fast!!! Some people say today is the end of the world, but I like to think it's a beginning of a whole new era!!!

May there be peace among men.

A Taste of Summer~

It has been raining nonstop for two weeks now. It's cold and wet and I miss summer. Maybe someone up there heard my complain, I got a chance tagging along with hubby for work to visit southern Taiwan where it's always summer~ It was sunny and warm, and the view was breathtaking!! Although we were there for only one night, it was so great to feel like summer again!!

I have been working on Summer Splendor this past week. But as you can see, there wasn't a whole lot of progress..... Maybe it's the cold and rain (yes, blaming on the weather again!), I have not find a good color combination that I liked. I have stitched and took it apart several times, but I just don't feel it. So I've brought it along on my trip, hoping the warm weather will shed some light on this piece. I'm still not sure about the green. I might have to change it one more time....

How's your December going?

November...

Oh my!! Can't believe November is half way through!! Sorry for my absence, I have been traveling again, this time with my mom for a short trip to Hong Kong~ We enjoyed lots of delicious food, and also did a bit sight seeing. But what I enjoyed most was having afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel~

Remember the little traveling patter I received from Ellen a while back? Well, I finally found all my stitching supplies from all of our boxes, and pulled together the threads and fabric. I think this little pattern has detoured long enough, and I better finish it up soon so it can move on to it's next destination. These colors are cheerful, don't you think?!

Enjoy your rest of the week~

30 Days!!!!!

Finally, a finish!!!! This piece was my travel stitching project so I have been working on and off on this one for a while, but I felt like I had to wrap it up, so here it is~

Pattern: Little House Needleworks “Plant Kindness”
Thread: Gentle Art and DMC Cotton Floss
Fabric: 28 ct Linen color Flax
Stitched Size: 5.75” x 7.5”
Completion Date: 06-22-2012

I really like the colors on this one, purple and green, my favorite colors~

So I went to visit a Sew and Vac superstore here in San Diego and guess what I got!! A new sewing machine!!! I didn’t actually plan on buying that day but saw this model there and it was on sale, and the next thing I knew I was pulling out my credit card!!! I still have to test it out more but I’m liking it so far!!!

So what do all these have to do with 30 days? Well, that is when I will be moving – AGAIN!!! This time, we are moving overseas back to my home country - Taiwan~ That is why I am so eager to finish up my projects and get a new machine is such a short time. Although I’ve already packing, I still have all my crafting things out. I need to figure out what I want to work on before all the boxes arrive to our new home… So if it seemed like I have not been too active lately, that’s because I’m busy packing!! I’ll try to pop in as often as I can~ Enjoy your weekend!!

This and That

Hello my darling friends~ Sorry I have been absent for over a week. I have been quite busy, and had almost no time for stitching. I managed to put in a few stitches on “Plant Kindness”, which I actually started while on vacation during Christmas. You would think I could get more done while DH was away!!! I’m also working on my tumbling quilt. It is very close to being done and I just want to finish it so I can cross it off my list!!!

Last Friday was my birthday. DH and I went to a steakhouse for dinner, taking advantage of the free steak birthday deal they have going~ They even threw in a free desert, how nice!!

As we were waiting for our meal, DH surprised me with a birthday present he picked up during his business trip~ This kind of thing does not happen much so I was very surprised!! Maybe he should be away more often?! ^^

I saw these giraffe balloons in the mall the other day!!! Aren’t they adorable?! These balloons are quite unusual cause they float low to the ground, so kids can pull them just like they are walking them. I saw a little girl pulling a pig one, sooooo darn cute!!! Don’t you think these giraffes are saying “Pick me!! Pick me!!”?

Last but not Least…..

Finally, the last two of my LHN ornaments from Christmas!! I love the felt finish so much I decided to make another one out of “Joy to the World”~

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Joy to the World"
Thread: DMC cotton floss
Fabric: 32ct  Belfast Linen Lt. Mocha 
Stitch Size: 2.75" x 3.25"
Completion Date: 04-21-2011
Finishing Date: 12-22-2011

Then there is "Red House in Winter". I have to admit, I struggled a little bit on this one. I was running out of time and ideas, but in the end, I liked how it turned out.

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Red House in Winter"
Thread: DMC cotton floss & Crescent Colours
Fabric: 35ct Natural Northern Cross Linen
Stitch Size: 3" x 3.375"
Completion Date: 03-04-2011
Finishing Date: 12-23-2011

And here is all my LHN ornaments~ Although Christmas is long gone, I still have them on display on my shelf. Winter is not over yet anyway~ ^^

Speaking of winter, our weather here in Southern California was sooo nice I almost thought spring has arrived already!! At least that was what my rose bush thought, as it has its first bloom over the weekend!!! Not that I am complaining or anything~

Before I end this post, Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler is hosting a couple of great giveaways, please do stop by her blog and check them out, you won’t want to miss out on this one. Hope you are having a beautiful day as I am~

Unfinished Business…

Although Christmas is already over, I still have a few LHN ornaments I haven’t got a chance to show you. I did actually meet my goals for a change and finished them all before Christmas~~

First up is “Pear Tree”!! I thought a simple Jute twine finish would be perfect for it!! This may be my favorite ornament of the whole bunch~~~

 
Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Pear Tree"
Thread: DMC cotton floss
Fabric: 36ct Lakeside Linen Fawn
Stitch Size: 3" x 3.875"
Completion Date: 03-30-2011
Finishing Date: 12-22-2011

Next up is “Joy and Peace”. I used a cinnamon stick as decoration and I think it’s perfect!! It smells pretty good, too~~

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Joy and Peace"
Thread: DMC, Gentle Arts Sampler and Crescent Colors cotton floss
Fabric: 35ct  WDW Linen Straw
Stitch Size: 2.25” x 3.25” 
Completion Date: 12-12-2011
Finishing Date: 12-22-2011

There are two more ornaments I would like to show you, but I’ll wait till next time. Just want the Christmas fun to last a bit longer~~ By the way, have you seen the new 2012 ornament on Diane’s blog?! I am soooo temped to do it all over again!!!

It’s Almost Here!!

Only a couple more days till Christmas~~~~~~ I sure can’t wait!!!!! In order to finish all my LHN ornaments before Christmas, I have been working hard!!!! I think I should able to get everything done before I leave for the holiday!! Here are two more finishes I did~

 
Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Fa-La-La"
Thread: DMC cotton floss
Fabric: 32ct Belgium linen
Stitch Size: 4" x 4"
Completion Date: 01-13-2011
Finishing Date: 12-17-2011

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Deck the Halls"
Thread: DMC & Crescent Colors cotton floss
Fabric: 32ct  Belgium Linen
Stitch Size: 4” x 3.25” 
Completion Date: 08-11-2011
Finishing Date: 12-15-2011

Don’t you love the white pom pom ribbon on Fa-La-La and the red trim on Deck the Halls? So cute!! I knew I can’t pass them on when I saw them at Michaels!! In fact, I went ribbon/trim crazy on that trip. Don’t even think I’ll be able to use all the ribbons I bought on my ornaments this time around!!

I will be leaving the warm and sunny California for cold and snow in Michigan. It might sound crazy, but hubby and I are actually looking forward to have a white Christmas~~ Not sure if I’ll be able to update while I am away, so I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!!

Merry Christmas!!!

 

More Ornament Finishes~

First of all, I finished my 12th ornament stitch – “Joy and Peace”!! Isn’t this design adorable?! I love the red and green!!! This concludes my monthly ornament stitching, can’t believe I actually stock to the plan!!! Now all I have to do is finished them up!!

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Joy and Peace"
Thread: DMC, Gentle Arts Sampler and Crescent Colors cotton floss
Fabric: 35ct  WDW Linen Straw
Stitch Size: 2.25” x 3.25” 
Completion Date: 12-12-2011

So here are three more of my ornament finishes~~ These are pretty easy to make, and required very little stitching!! Believe it or not, the most difficult part for me was the bow!!! I can never make a perfect bow!!!! Once again, it was Vonna to the rescue. I used her bow tutorial and mine turned out better then before but still not as perfect…. Any tips on making perfect bows?

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Bring Home the Tree"
Thread: DMC & Crescent Colors cotton floss
Fabric: 32ct  Coffee Dyed Linen 
Stitch Size: 3.75” x 3.75” 
Completion Date: 06-28-2011
Finishing Date: 12-10-2011

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Cardinal Winter"
Thread: DMC cotton floss
Fabric: 32ct  Belfast Linen Lt. Mocha 
Stitch Size: 3.5" x 3.5"
Completion Date: 05-09-2011
Finishing Date: 12-11-2011

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Baked Goods"
Thread: DMC, Crescent Colours, GA Sampler & WDW cotton floss
Fabric: 35ct WDW Linen Straw
Stitch Size: 3" x 3"
Completion Date: 10-15-2011
Finishing Date: 12-13-2011

So here are all six of my LHN ornaments so far~~ The ornie tree is getting a bit crowded!!!

Counting Down to Christmas….

Hello my darling friends~ How has everyone’s week been? I have been busy on wrapping some projects up in the hopes of making the Christmas deadline. Although I’m still working on my last monthly stitch of the Little House Needlework’s ornaments, I finally started to finishing them up. I must say it was quite an impressive pile when I laid them all out on the table~~

Here are my first three ornament finishes using Vonna’s tutorial. I’ve always wanted to try it out when I first saw Vonna’s finish on her blog, and I must say I love how they turned out!!! It is really a easy way to put together an ornament. What a great way for some instant gratification!!!!!

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Peppermint Twist"
Thread: DMC cotton floss, Crescent Colours & WDW
Fabric: 35ct Natural Northern Cross Linen
Stitch Size: 3" x 3"
Completion Date: 09-02-2011
Finishing Date: 12-03-2011

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Frosty Flakes"
Thread: DMC & Crescent Colors cotton floss
Fabric: 35ct  WDW Linen Straw
Stitch Size: 3” x 3.25” 
Completion Date: 07-25-2011
Finishing Date: 12-05-2011

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Under the Tree"
Thread: DMC
Fabric: 35ct Natural Northern Cross Linen
Stitch Size: 3.25" x 3.25"
Completion Date: 11-06-2011
Finishing Date: 12-07-2011

Three down, nine more to go. What finishing style should I try next?

Under the Tree

One more done, only one more to go!! These dolls remind me of the ones I got when I was a kid. They’re probably laying in a box somewhere in storage back home right now….

Pattern: Little House Needleworks "Under the Tree"
Thread: DMC
Fabric: 35ct Natural Northern Cross Linen
Stitch Size: 3.25" x 3.25"
Completion Date: 11-06-2011

It’s that time of the year again!! The temperature dropped so much we finally set up a fire. I love sitting by the fireplace watching TV and stitch. It is a perfect spot to be on a cold and rainy day, don’t you say?!

Have a wonderful week!!