And The Winners Are.....

      A big thank you to all of you who participated in my triple plus giveaway. I wish you all could have been winners as a thank you for following, reading and commenting on my blog. 
Without further delay:

The winner of Jane Atkinson by The Scarlet Letter is Kelley.

 Hello Laurie! You have made so much progress on Elizabeth Smith. It took me several months to finish her. It would be so much fun to watch you stitch just to see that needle fly through the linen!! I would love to have Jane Atkinson. Thanks for the chance. Blessings from Kentucky - kelley

The winner of Mary Ann Gollins by Cross Stitch Guild of the UK is Mouse.

oooohhh well done on the stitching front and don't do them in your sleep could end up having a frog attack ..lol wonderful goodies you got and would love to be in with the chance of the birds of a feather and the Mary Gollins though number one is nice too ;) love the sleeping positions .lol
take care and have a lovely day :) love mouse xxxxx

The winner of L'arbre de Noe by Julia Line is Michelle.

Michelle said...

Elizabeth is gorgeous and I LOVE the robotic A&E!! So fun when they are different from the norm. Love it. And congrats on the giveaway you received - that little BOAF is so cute. I do think that finishing as a cabinet hanger or for a smalls bowl would be lovely. And what a generous giveaway - it's so hard to choose!!! But, I think I'm going to have to go for the book...it looks like it has some fantastic things in there.

The winner of Birds of a Feather is CJ in OK. 

You accomplished so much, the sampler is amazing and the Adam and Eve are great. Love that little Birds of a Feather design too, and it's just my size. If no one else has claimed it, I would love to have that chart to stitch with the leftover silks. The other giveaways are wonderful but probably a little to much for me. Thanks, CJ in OK ;-) 

Congratulations ladies. Please send me an e-mail with your mailing address. My e-mail address can be found in my profile.

As soon as the sun returns I'll be taking photos of my finish, Frederick, and my other stitching projects. Be back soon.... I hope.

I am grateful for snow/rain/sleet days... because it gives me so much more time to stitch!

Progress Report, Some Giveaways and Sleeping Dogs

      It's time for a progress report. I decided to stick with Elizabeth Smith and here's where she's at as of today. I just have the border left to complete. I should be able to stitch those repetitive flowers in my sleep... although they are not all exactly the same. I'll do a few close-up photos of the flowers when the sampler is completed.
      I love they way Elizabeth stitched her Adam and Eve. I've been referring to them as the robotic A&E's. Either by choice or because of limitations, Elizabeth created her rather large sampler using only twelve colors. I'm very impressed with her skill at creating her sampler with a limited color palette. Her name is stitched in rice stitch.

 Elizabeth Smith 1811

The Scarlet Letter

40 ct. Lakeside Vintage Light Examplar

DMC

      I received a lovely package in the mail from BrendaS.  I was the lucky winner of her giveaway. 

  I got all excited when I saw that the Birds of a Feather chart came as a kit. The linen and strands of Belle Soie and Gloriana silks were included along with the chart.  It's stitched on 36 ct. Lakeside Vintage Luna linen. I haven't decided how I want to finish this piece. I was thinking of a needlebook or perhaps a fob. Any suggestions?
      I think there is enough leftover silks to stitch this design again. I'd love to pass the chart and silks along to someone who would like to stitch the design. Just leave a note in the Comments section if you'd like it. If more than one person wants the chart I'll put the names in a hat and select a winner.
      I have been the recipient of many giveaways and it's time for me to have a few giveaways of my own. I couldn't make up my mind what chart I wanted to giveaway... so I decided if one giveaway was good... then three giveaways would be even better.
      I would like to gift three of my readers with their choice of one of the following:

1) Jane Atkinson - The Scarlet Letter with some additional goodies.
2) Mary Ann Gollins Sampler - Cross Stitch Guild of the UK with some additional goodies.
3) L'arbre de Noe - Julia Line (US readers only)

If you would like to receive one of these giveaway items please leave a Comment and indicate which gift you would like to receive if you should be the winner. I have to restrict the Julia Line book to US readers only due to the weight of the book and the high cost of international postage. Both the charts and the book are brand new items. If you prefer not to leave a Comment you can send me an e-mail. The only Rule... you must tell me which gift you would like.... don't leave it up to me to decide! If no choice is given you won't be included in the drawing.


Emma will be selecting the winner of the Jane Atkinson chart plus extras. Owen will select the winner of the Mary Ann Gollins chart plus extras and I will select the winner of the Julia Line book. All names will be placed in a bowl and the first name drawn by either paw or hand will be the winner.

The giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. February 29, 2012 Central Time. I'll post the winners on March 1st. 


Emma mentioned to me that she is willing to accept bribes! I'll have a long talk with her about her willingness to cheat. Owen can not be bribed... he takes his duties very seriously. 


      Nicola is having a fun competition. She's asked us to post photos of the funniest sleeping positions of our pets or our people. Emma and Owen want to be included in the competition.

Emma on the chair... Owen on ottoman

Emma

Owen... my very serious boy!

Final Sunday January Challenge and Stitching Plans for 2012 and Beyond

      I'm late with my blog post but many events conspired to keep me away from my blogging duties. The most pressing problem is that my computer no longer recognizes my digital camera. Please pardon the less than ideal photos of my latest sampler start. I had to resort to using my scanner, which is not my first choice, but it's better than nothing.
      I chose another 'Smith' sampler as my final Challenge project. It's Elizabeth Smith and here's my start.

 Elizabeth Smith 1811

The Scarlet Letter

40 ct. Lakeside Vintage Light Examplar

DMC

      I struggled with the DMC  and had problems with the thread knotting. It was getting exasperated, but finally, with just a little twist of the needle after every few stitches, I seem to have resolved most of the knotting problems. I love the color palette of this sampler. Little Elizabeth only used twelve colors in stitching her masterpiece.

      I've enjoyed my Sunday January Challenge and have plans to do another Challenge in January 2013. I hope some of you will join me in 2013. I hope that I'll also continue to post blog updates on a weekly basis. I'm going to try... give me a nudge if you too much time passes before my next update.

      For those of you who would like a review of the projects I've started... I'll begin with my Christmas start, Emma Miles, followed by Rebecca Cullin, Frederick, Ann Smith 1767 and the Sampler Stocking.

I plan to continue working on all these projects this year, but I also want to return to some works-in-progress from 2011.

Starting at the  top left: Jane Atikinson, Ann Grant, Elizabeth Sheffield and Brown Egg Farm. Oh, I can't forget Garden Glade.

Of course I have a half dozen more samplers waiting to be started... so much stitching to do and only so many hours in the day. These days it's my eyes that grow weary way too soon.

      I'm looking forward to my stitching journey in 2012 and I'm looking forward to seeing where your stitching journey will be taking you this year.

Emma and Owen don't seem too interested in stitching journeys but they sure know how to nap.

I am grateful for my scanner.

A January Sunday Challenge Detour

      OK... I have a confession to make... I'm not very good at sticking to stitching plans. It probably comes from my desire for my stitching to be fun rather than another chore. I know I was supposed to start my Fourth January Sunday Challenge last Sunday, but I didn't. Instead I stitched this lovely, sweet, small sampler that was included in the Blackbird Designs Winter Loose Feathers chart. I will probably finish this piece as a small cupboard pillow stuffed with either vanilla bean mulch or wool roving with lavender buds.

  Selura Simon

Blackbird Designs

40 ct. Lakeside Examplar

Hand-Dyed Cottons

      I did start a new project for the Challenge... just not on Sunday... it was more of a Tuesday start. This was the second time I started Sampler Stocking. My first start was shortly after the chart was released back in 2004. It was my first attempt at stitching on 40 ct. linen and I chose a piece of linen that was very tightly woven. I hated the linen, the project got put aside and when I realized I was never going to finish that stocking I finished off part of the design as a cupboard pillow.

I thought it was time to give Sampler Stocking another go. I chose my linen more wisely this time around. 

 Sampler Stocking

Carriage House Samplings

40 ct. Lakeside Lentil

Needlepoint Inc Silks

      I have fallen in love with alphabets done in eyelet stitch. I had a wonderful time stitching the alphabet on Sampler Stocking. I can't believe I was once intimidated by stitching eyelet alphabets... I love planning a stitching route to complete each letter without crossing over the center hole of the eyelet.

      The postman brought me a lovely package from Faye this week. I was the lucky winner of one of Faye's beautiful pouches. I decided to store my tapestry needles in the pouch. It's so much nicer than storing them in a plastic zip-lock baggie. Thank you Faye.

      I hope you'll stop by next week to see what I chose to start for my final January Sunday Challenge project. I'll also be chatting about my plans for February stitching and the rest of 2012... and perhaps what's in the works for 2013. 

      Enjoy your week!

I am grateful for handmade gifts.

Annie and a Snow Day

      We got our first major snowfall of 2012 last Friday and the pups and I made the most of it. Of course... I made them trudge through the deep stuff to make a path for me to walk.

 I had two very worn out pups by the time we got back to the house.
      Two more stitchers have joined Katrina and me for the January Sunday Challenge. Check out Kim's and Elizabeth's blogs to see what they've chosen for their Sunday starts.
      I know you can hardly wait to see what I started for the third Sunday of January project. Here she is in all her glory.

Ann Smith 1767

The Scarlet Letter

36 ct Lakeside Light Examplar

AVAS

       My friend Margaret stitched Annie last year and I fell in love with her the minute I laid eyes on her. I always blame Margaret for getting me into trouble with my needlework budget... everything she stitches I want to stitch. She's such a bad influence on me. Thanks Margaret! :-) LOL

      One of my giveaway prizes arrived in the mail this past week. It's Minick and Simpson's latest quilt book, Victory Girls.  It's a wonderful book that includes patriotic quilt patterns and rug hook patterns in honor of all the "brave women who kept the home fires burning during WW II."  Check out this book the next time you're in your local quilt shop.

 

       We all love our pets... but are there parts of your pets that you find irresistible?

The spotlight seems to fall on my Emma more often than my sweet boy Owen. But that's probably because Owen gets the most unpleasant look on his face when he sees me with the camera in my hands. 

      I wanted to share one of Owen's parts with you today... his whiskers. Owen has black whiskers on the right side and white on the left. I find his whiskers irresistible.

I am grateful for snow days with my pups.

My Second January Sunday Challenge Project

      Such an original title for my post! LOL My day started off so beautifully when I discovered I was the winner of two blog giveaways... it can't think of a better beginning to my Sunday. More details and pics in my next blog update.
      The sun is shining and the pups and I had a nice long walk this morning. It felt balmy with temps in the lower 20s. Winter arrived in northeast Iowa with a vengeance this past Wednesday night. We had a combination of snow, sleet, very gusty winds and temps dipping down into the negative numbers. Our beautiful prairie is covered in snow and the pups and I will have to be content to walk on shoveled sidewalks and plowed streets from the remainder of the winter. We've been so fortunate this year to delay snow cover until mid January... our winter snows have begun in November the past few years.
      First, I wanted to share a snap of a lovely gift I received from my friend Nicola in Cornwall. I was the first person to leave a comment on her new blog. If you haven't visited Nicola's blog, Stitching by a Cornish Sea Shore,  you must go right now and see her beautiful stitching,absolutely gorgeous photos of Cornwall and the beautiful cove on Lizard Peninsula, and her Boxer pups, Blue and Poppy. I feel like I'm taking a mini vacation every time I visit Nicola's blog.

 Nicola knows how much the prairie means to me and the pups and  she could not have sent me a more perfect chartpak. Look at all those lovely trims, floss and fabric. Thank you my friend... your gift is very much appreciated and your new blog a pure joy.
      Despite the snow, wonderful gifts in the mail and pup walks I was still able to find time to select and start my second January Sunday Challenge project. Without further fanfare or delay.... here is my start on Frederick.

 Frederick

Carriage House Samplings

40 ct Lakeside Pearled Barley

Needlepoint Inc silks

I wanted to pick a smaller project for my second start... I'm always drawn to the large repro samplers. I'm not sure I've really given myself a break though as I can't just stitch Frederick. He'd be too lonely without his mate Frederika. I don't know if I'll even get to start Frederika in 2012, but if not she's sure to make it on the list of 2013 projects.
       I'm looking forward to catching bits and pieces of the Australian Open the next couple of weeks. Most of the live action will be taking place during the hours I'm asleep... but I hope to catch some of my favorite tennis players in action.
       Be sure to check back next week to see what I found in my stitching closet and chose for my third January Sunday Challenge project.

I am grateful for the sunshine and blue skies on our Sunday morning walk.







  

Laurie's January Challenge

       I knew I wanted to celebrate the New Year with a new project to be started on New Year's Day. But... I didn't think that was a 'big' enough way to celebrate the New Year. So... I've decided to begin a new project every Sunday in the month of January. I impressed one other stitcher with my January Challenge. My friend Katrina,  The Needle's Promise, will also be participating in the Challenge.
      Here's a couple of snaps of Rebecca Cullin which I started on January 1st.

Rebecca Cullin 1801

The Scarlet Letter

40 ct. Lakeside Examplar

AVAS

      The added bonus of starting a new project each Sunday in the month of January is that I will also be doing a weekly blog update. I hope you'll check back next week to see what I chose to start on the second Sunday of the month.

      Emma enjoyed her New Year's Eve celebration a bit too much....

      I'm grateful for the love and companionship I receive daily from Emma and Owen.