The Perfect Pumpkin.....

I have been trying to decide how I wanted this finished for a long time now. I have stitched this twice-once for a friend and had it framed, but I didn't want mine framed and after finishing the Trousse earlier this week, I knew I wanted to finish this in a similar way. I just love it and how it turned out :)

Inside


Thank you all so much for visiting with me :) I appreciate it so much :) I have enjoyed hearing from all of you (old and new readers) through comments and email :)

[EDITED to add: OOOH, how could I forget to say that I bought the Trick or Treat Box by Just Nan. I have wanted this for so long and thanks to Amy, I was able to locate it through a friend of hers that was willing to sell her kit...WOOHOO!!!) Thank you SO much, Amy :)


I also have Stash for Trade.

Hugs :)
BeckySC

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you :) : )

For the comments on the snowman box :) I appreciate them so very much :) I have received many email to have names entered into the drawing :) You can check my sidebar to make sure you are there....there are quite a few with the same name and if you don't include your last name or if I don't know you then only your first name is there :) PLEASE email me if only your first name is there so I will know WHO wins when I draw :) (If I know you, you don't need to email me as I have your name on my paperwork) Thanks so much :)
Many of you have expressed how happy you are that I am continuing to blog :) Thank you so much :) I appreciate it and I appreciate the time you take to read my blog :)

To answer a few questions...I buy my boxes at Michael's or other local hobby stores :)
I mount my stitching to a piece of cardboard covered with batting and then I glue it to the top of the box (I NEVER EVER use hot glue. I use a safe acid free glue that is safe for fabrics). I do the inside the same way. As for the cording-you can sew it on (to the stitched piece) or glue it to the box. It's all in the care you take with your fabrics, and cutting the cardboard or mat board as precise as you can. This gives you a nice smooth, clean look :) HTH :)

Today was a stash day :) I haven't bought stash in awhile-I have been trying to be good and stitch from my stash-BUT, there is nothing like hands on and I had to go to my LNS today to pick up something I needed to help with finishing on an exchange and I just couldn't resist buying some stash :) I know you all understand ;-)
Here's what I got :)
Bees- Shepherd's Bush
Gentleness-LHN
Daffodil Run-Just Nan
Peony-LHN
Autumn-HIH
French Country Stocking-JBW
Daisy Sampler-CCN
Summer-HIH
November Topaz Fairie-Mirabilia
Pumpkins and Poltergeists-Blue Ribbon Designs
Just Cross Stitch Ornament Preview Issue


Thank you so much for visiting with me :) I appreciate it so much :)

Until next time :)
hugs,
BeckySC

OK...here it is...

This is the Stitcher's Box I am holding the contest for on my blog. OH, this one may by my favorite yet! I just think it is so adorable. I thought Snowmen would be perfect as it's SOOOOOOOOO hot here :) :) :) Kinda like a little slice of cool for me while I was working on it....now I'm hot again, LOL! :) I stitched this piece a couple of years ago with the intentions of finishing it for a friend. I since lost contact with that friend and now it needs a new home :) I'm telling you it is just TOOOOOOOO adorable! My pics do not do it justice :)I think it was perfect for this finish :) I lined the box with a snowman print and the lid has a pocket to hold some stitching goodies :) I will be making one or two accessories to go with the box :) Good luck to those of you that enter :) I have about 15 names signed up already-if you wish to be removed from the drawing as this is a snowman design and I know some people are not snowmen lovers) you can let me know :) All my readers are welcome to enter, whether you blog or not :) :)





As always, thank you so much for visiting with me and for all your kind comments :)
Much love for ya :)
hugs,
BeckySC

Exchanges sent and received :)

I received my What's the Buzz exchange on the SBEBB from Carol today! She stitched me a lovely Biscornu. It's just gorgeous. The beading on it just adds so much to it and the BEEutiful Bee button she chose for the center is gorgeous! She sent along some nice extras too :) Thank you so much, Carol :) I just love it all!




Also, My What's the Buzz exchange was received byTerry. I chose to make her a tin :) I tried to find a design that I didn't think she would have and chose this cute design for the topper :) I lined it with a lovely bee print I received not long ago. It has scissors and a place for needles :) I sent along extras...but as you all know I am terrible at remembering to photograph those-maybe you can visit Terry's blog to see them once she has posted :) I am happy you like my choices, Terry. :)



Thank you all so much for the comments on the Trousse :) I appreciate them so very much and thank you for taking time to visit with me :)

hugs,
BeckySC

Trousse aux Fleurs Bleues Finish :)

I had the best time with this project as a whole. I modified it a bit and I am very happy with the end results :)





Pocket is usable :)


Again, thank you so much for your continued comments and friendships :) I appreciate them and your time so very much :) Thanks for the comments on Vonna's Stitching Set :) You are all so sweet!

hugs,
BeckySC

Vonna's stitching set finished :)

I was able to do the finishing on Vonna's stitching set last night and now have it all ready to mail out to her :) I love this one and I hope Vonna will like it as much as I do :) These boxes are so practical-I MUST get busy on one for myself :) Some of you have spotted the contest to win a stitching box in my sidebar...thanks for emailing me and please know your name is added to the drawing :)

For Vonna's accessories I made a pinkeep and a needlebook. I also included a pair of red scissors with a fob to go along with it :) Vonna, I hope to mail it out to you tomorrow :)

Accessories

Pinkeep

Needlebook

Inside of needlebook (felt is a dark red-but will not show up that way in photo)


THANKS so much for all the email I have received about being back to blogging-I guess we really don't know how many people read our blogs that don't comment :) You are ALL so kind and I REALLY appreciate each and every one of you, whether you comment or not and can't thank you enough for getting me back here and making this such a fun experience :) You're the BEST!!!

hugs :)
BeckySC

Thank you friends.........

This is for everyone that has emailed me and left a comment about missing me :) Thank you, I honestly appreciate it so very much :) Some of you are just so thoughtful, caring and just so sweet! I didn't mean to imply that I had nothing to share in my blog, as it has always been primarily for my stitching and I usually have lots of that to share. I just think I was so overwhelmed with personal things going on for the past two months I needed to distance myself from a few things. Things have settled WAY down now and everyone is doing great and I feel so much less stressed. WHEW!!! Thank you again for all the wonderful email I have received. I really can't express how they helped me make a decision to return to blogging :) I will blog when I have something stitchy to share :)

I have been working on a few things and so enjoying being able to sit down, relax and stitch again :)
I LOVED stitching this Trousse aux Fleurs Bleues
Designer: Cmon monde
Fabric: 32ct. Antique White
Fibers: DMC and a mixture of hand dyed (my own choices)
Date Started:8-20-07
Date Finished: 8-22-07
This is the outside of the Trousse finished...
I need to add the button to the right top motif as well as stitch the inside of the Trousse.
I look forward to doing the finishing on this one, once everything is stitched.
I will share a finished pic whenever I get around to doing the finishing.

Outside with Spiderweb Flower Added

Inside (still need a button on the third square)

This next cutie was such a fun stitch!

Inside of tin

Designer: Homespun Elegance
Fabric: 32ct. Vintage Pearled Barley
Fibers: WDW & GAST
Date stitched: 6-8-07
I stitched this one while trying to decide what to stitch as my
For The Birds Exchange. I didn't use this one for the exchange, but I did finish it off for myself!I finished it as a tin and I think it is so adorable.

And the next piece is for Vonna. I wanted to make Vonna a stitching box.
She knows I am working on it for her. I have the accessories stitched to go with it but have not finished them off yet. I chose a to do a redwork piece for the box top
I hope you will like it, Vonna!
Design from Sept. 2005 issue of De Fil en aiguille magazine



Thanks again for your never ending friendships :) And thanks for visiting with me :)
I appreciate it so very much :) I will try to stop by your blogs soon as I know you all must have been so very busy lately :)

hugs,
BeckySC

Free Day :)

Today has been a good day for me :) I took a day for myself and that included, taking my mom out for lunch-we had a nice time :) I also spent over an hour talking to Amy on the phone :)It felt good to be in contact with a stitching friend :) I also made myself sit down and get exchanges assigned and now that that's done, I hope to spend the rest of this free day (not sure when I will get another one) stitching and doing some finishing :) I wanted to take a minute though and upload some of the wonderful exchanges I have received as well as some of my own work and some AOK's :)

First are 3 AOK's I received :)

From Carol I received the Milady's Needle Bees Rule Accoutrements as well as some freebies I was looking for (not pictured)I love them all, Carol!


I received some lovely fabrics and a get well hanger from Kajsa :) I love them!


And, from Staci, I received these handmade Thread winders and 2 hoops with fabric accents :) Thank you, Staci :) :) I love them and will put them to use!

Thank you to all three of you :) Your kindness was very much appreciated and helped to lift my spirits :)

Next up is my Summer Seasonal exchange from Veronica (Helen and Su's Mom) and I must say I was blown away by her generosity and stitching :) As you already know, Veronica, I absolutely love everything :)



I also received a lovely For The Birds exchange from Melissa :) She stitched a design I have been wanting to stitch for myself for quite some time now and it is beautifully finished :) She also sent me the Bees Rule Accoutrements :) Love it all :) Thank you so much!!


Next up is some of my own work...the first is my Summer Exchange to Carolyn. She loves gardening and ladybugs so I combined some motifs that worked well together and made her a box :) She tells me she loves it :) I sent along other goodies that you can see on her blog :)




Motifs taken from Mill Hill Designs
Fabby: 32ct. lt Mocha
Fibers: DMC
Stitched as Carolyn's Summer Exchange.
Finished as a box topper for a Year long Seasonal exchange.

Next is my For the Birds Exchange for Marie. I made her a needlebook and a pinkeep. I made the needlebook to go with a pinkeep I had sent her in a previous exchange and I made the Summer Bird pinkeep just because it was FUN and I think so much of Marie :) I sent extra goodies, but I never remember to take pics of them :)



Fabby: 32ct. lt Mocha
Fibers: DMC 115
Date Stitched: 6-11-07
Stitched as part of Marie's For the Birds Exchange.
Made into a needlebook.



Summer Bird
Designer: Heart in Hand
Design Size: 2.75 x 5
Fabby: 32 ct. light Mocha
Fibers: GAST
Date Stitched 7-9 - 7-10


I also stitched and finished off SB's Halloween NR :)



Designer: Shepherds Bush
Fabby: 28 ct. Tobacco
Fibers: DMC
Date Started: 7-31-07
Date Finished: 8-1-07

And this HIH Needleroll that I stitched for Carol's B-day :)

Designer: HIH (Spring Fobs leaflet)
Design Size:3 x 4
Fabby: 32 ct. Mocha
Fibers: WDW & GAST


Thanks for letting me share :) I hope I can get back to some normality soon :) I am REALLY missing you all :) I feel so left out and behind :) BUT-my family must come first :)

Thanks so much for stopping by :)

BIG hugs and wishes for a wonderful weekend!
BeckySC