Dogwood Charted

Okay, here's the last chart...at least for a few days. No, seriously...I mean it! I've got to get back to other projects...really, I do!

The pink dogwood version is easier to follow since it isn't white on white. LOL!

And, here it is...stitched across two threads on 32 count sky blue linen.

So pretty! Now, what to do with it? Perhaps a needle book?

I'm adding this post to Fabulous Friday links over at http://www.littleandalucia.com/2011/04/creative-friday-features-and-link-party.html

Owl Chart

I know, I said one more yesterday...but I just can't quit!

The colors can be browns, but the purple and pink shows well for a photograph. Just copy the image, and enlarge it when you print.

Bumble Bee Chart

Here's one more little chart for you. Enjoy!

Free Rose Sampler

I'm still playing around with creating cross-stitch designs. A sampler seemed like fun idea, and yes it was enjoyable. However, it took many more hours that I had thought it would...so as usual, I feel like I'm running behind in other things. Good thing the dog doesn't care if I dust or not! Hope you enjoy the Rose Sampler.

And here is the chart...

...and the legend. The colors are very basic and you can easily change them up to fit whatever color of roses you enjoy.

I'll load a full size photo of the color chart and the symbol chart into the Yahoo Files in case you need a larger version to stitch by. 

HGTV One-block Swap

Lisa finished my swap block and I received it last week. Finally getting around to blogging photos for ya'll! Hope you enjoy the vintage beads, silk ribbon, and lovely embroidery work as much as I do!

Thanks again Lisa!

ETA: Thank you ladies for all the nice comments on "my work"...but this is work that was created by my friend Lisa. She drew my name and I asked her to stitch a block with the theme "ROSES". And she did a super job! I'm so glad you appreciate her work too!

Free Cross-stitch Chart

Here is a little chart for you. It can be stitched in many color ways...for a robin, blue bird, "purple bird", etc. I drew it out with a simple border of Algerian Eyelet and Long Stitches for the corners. My plan is to do a 2-sided little mini project with a monogram on the opposite side.

The yellow stitches are straight stitches (recommend 3-ply thread), and the blue dot for the eye is a French Knot...you might want to actually use BLACK thread...but it would not have shown well on the photo if that was my ink color. LOL!

ETA: The chart was created in Pattern Maker for Cross-stitch software, distributed by HobbyWare. Thanks for asking Maggie!

Cabochons

The past two days, I've been trying to get a few more cabochons beaded for the Studio's page of CQ Motifs. There are dozens in my stash to work on and it will surely take my lifetime to get them all done! It is a tedious process, but I enjoy it for a few hours...then my eyes need a rest! Here are the ones I have managed to complete and add to the website...for those of you that enjoy adding a cabochon to your CQ Projects (like me!).

Not Your Granny's Yarns!!

And...coming from a "Granny"...I know! Check out the great fibers I found at the "Yarn" shop yesterday! Wonderful for more Under the Sea crazy quilt landscapes!

Jacksonville has had a yarn shop for  few years now, right in the middle of the Town Square. And lucky for me, right next door to the nail shop I go to! It called "The Taming of the Ewe"...which I think is so clever. Well, they have tons of yarn of course...as knitting is their biggest activity. They also do crochet, spinning, needle punch, and other things. For me, I was looking for yarns that "might" be able to be used in crazy quilt projects...and what I found was just gorgeous and luscious!

This skein is silk! Bright jewel colors made from left over Sari threads. Cool!

This skein reminds me of chenille, but it isn't. It will be great to stitch with too I think!

And lastly this skein is similar to ribbon and will couch down wonderfully!  So, the next time you see YARN SHOP, pull over and check it out! You might find some great fibers for crazy quilting projects too! And, if you want a smidgen of these...just send me a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope...and I'll send you some back! My address is in the Contacts Info on the Studio website.

Spring is Here!

What a great morning! Today Buddy had his bi-monthly appointment with the dog groomer...and while he was there, I drove around Jacksonville. Had a great cup of coffee, had my nails done (and they soooo... needed it because I had eaten them to the bone! Horrible habit...wish I could break it...). Here's a photo of Jacksonville's town square, you can just drive around and around the circle if you want.

Anyway, I parked in front of the nail place, but they would not be open for another 30 minutes...so I walked over to Java Jolt (behind the EMV van above) and had a small Breve! Yummy! Then when walking back, I took photos of all the potted spring plants...and the ones in the bed too! They just brightened my day...and I hope they do the same for you!

Under the Sea in the mail...

My stitching is complete, and the block is on it's way to Candji to finish up. Here is how it looks after my round was done.

And here is close up view of just my portion.

More Under The Sea

The past couple of days, I've been working on another UTS block in the round robin series. And the work done before me is wonderful...let me show you. Here is a beautiful fish that Deloris created on her embroidery machine. She makes me want to go buy a new sewing/embroidery machine myself! Isn't her work just gorgeous!

Plus, on the other side of this rectangle block...Jacque has placed this stunning mermaid and stitching! And the little dimensional felted fish is so cute!

Well, it is certainly a little daunting to follow this pair of creative stitcher's! I went on the hunt through my stash for some pretty and textural fibers. I found a piece of dyed cheese cloth and these cute little flowers. They were white and I dry brushed them with some alcohol inks.

You know I had to add some feather stitch plants since there weren't much there yet! This time I decided to use some of the rayon I have from EdMar for my Brazilian Embroidery because the colors are so vibrant.

Beads and a family of fish...and I'm almost done! These brass fish are painted with fingernail polish. When completely dry, I used some color markers on them...and then rubbed most of that off with an alcohol wipe so only the color is in the "creases".

I'll show you the finished block in a couple of days as I'm stitching away!

Poor, poor Buddy!

Ya'll are having so much fun with the caption contest I thought you might enjoy more photos of Sam and Buddy.

Have you ever had a partner that refuses to share the blankets? Cause if you have...you can certainly sympathize with poor, poor Buddy.

You take it just as long as you can.

Then you give up and go sleep on the twin bed or the sofa! Buddy is about 3 years old, but has the soul of a very old man...and 3 month old Sam is driving him nuts! I just know Buddy will be so glad to see Monday come and Sam go home!

UPDATE: This has become status quo!! Guess we know who the Alpha Male is...

Poor, poor, Buddy...

And, he doesn't even try to get into his bed any more. These are in the office/storage room...and when we enter, Buddy just goes to the little bed. I really feel kind of sorry for the poor thing. But he gets the upper hand at night. Sam sleeps in his training cage and Buddy gets the foot of my bed! And if I listen real close..I swear I can almost here Buddy say "ha, gotcha!".

Beautiful Blog...and a Contest!

I just discovered this beautiful blog! And check out this great contest too! But it ends on Sunday night...so better hurry and "hop" on over!

Seriously??!!

Can you say C-O-M-F-O-R-T-A-B-L-E!! This is Sam...Aidan's temporary puppy...he goes home on Monday. He is sound asleep!

This is one of those photos that might have a funny caption underneath it. So, let's have some fun...the winning caption posted in a comment on this post will win a new set of embroidery and beading needles! Deadline for entries will be midnight (my time, CST) on Sunday night. I'll post the winner here on Monday morning.

CONGRATS TO SHIRLEY C.! She won the needles. Here's her caption: "If I snore on my back, just flip me over!" Shirley, I send you an email...as soon as I get your address I'll get these into the mail to you.

Blah, blah, blah...

I've just got the blahs! Can't seem to shake them. Very little stitching is getting accomplished over the past couple of days. So, drastic measures are in order...I'm going to attempt to clear out all the junk from my sewing room! If you don't hear from me in a couple of days...send in a search party!But, before I dive in...let me make sure to thank two OWOH sister bloggers for mailing their prizes to me so quickly. I entered about 500 blog contests...and won 4 of them. Considering my luck with bingo and lotto...this percentage is phenominal for me! I expected to be selected to win none!

Knutz Els of the Netherlands sent me some beautiful cards! Aren't these gorgeous!

And Rebecca of California maled me a very nice hard cover book on making wreaths! Thank you ladies for being so prompt with your mailings!

Basically Beaded Returns

Yesterday, I was trying to clean off a spot on my cutting table and re-found my recently received Basically Beaded Block and realized that I had not blogged a photo! How could that have happened! The block is the end result of a round robin I had joined over on CQI. Isn't this a pretty block?!

The ladies really outdid themselves! And I just love it! Thanks to Arlene, Diane, Meg, and Peggy! Super stitching ladies! If you have not yet tried beaded seams...give them a go! Especially if you like bling!