I Hate Winter--but Love Exchanges!

Have I ever mentioned that I hate winter? Yesterday was a true testimony for that.

I came home from work and walked down to get the mail. I slipped and fell on the ice and pulled/tore my hamstring. Talk about painful! I managed to finally get myself up and into the house with all my stuff after about 20 minutes. The worse thing was that I could not sit or bend without a very sharp pain. I had to go to the bathroom and the pain was so intense that I thought I was going to blackout. I laid in bed with ice and ibuprofen the rest of the day. I did not go to work and when I got up about 7 a.m., I was able to go to the bathroom with much less pain. And, I was able to sit on the couch and stitch this morning.

I am hoping it will even be better tomorrow so I can go to work and not miss my Friday Night Stitch fix.

On a cheerier note, Cathy B. was the January recipient for the Christmas Ornament Swap group that I am in. The ornament I stitched for her is from the 2005 Just Cross Stitch ornament magazine. It is "Folk Art Topiary" by Brown House Studio. It is stitched on 40ct. ivory with DMC Floss.


It is not your traditional Christmas ornament, but I think it is cute. I hope Cathy liked it.


Ulla finally received my SBEBB Winter House Exchange. A funny thing is that I had Ulla for the summer house too! I sure hope she likes my stitching.

I stitched "Chalet" from Bent Creek's Winter Snapperland. It is stitched on 32ct Country Grain Linen with DMC Floss. The inside is 32ct. Belfast Twilight Blue Linen. I finished it as a needlecase. This is my first needlecase that I have made and I think it turned out pretty good.




I hope Ulla is as happy with it as I am. Here is the entire exchange--


I sent Ulla the Holiday Pack of DMC Floss, Thread Heaven, a wintery thread counter, a skeing of the gorgeous #115 Red Variegated DMC Thread, some wintery buttons and a tuck away pillow.

This is my last exchange on the SBEBB as it is closing. I am OK with this as I am looking forward to doing more "me" stitching.

Well, I am going to lay down for awhile now--I wouldn't want to overdue it!

Have a great day!

MLK Stitching Retreat 2009

Well I am home now, back from our very fun and productive Stitching Retreat weekend. I have alot to share.

When I got to Joan's house on Friday, this was waiting for me.


It was my SBEBB Winter House Exchange! Was I ever surprised. Joan stitched LHN's "Blessed are the Meek" and finished it as a very cute box.


She also got me a boat load (actually a basket load) of goodies, many from my wishlist. A great variety of pink threads and a box of pink pins for my pink stitches, La-D-Da's "This is the Day" pattern, a very cute fabbie, ribbons, note cards and paper, my favorite needles and some Debbie Mumm buttons with cardinals (another favorite of mine) on them. WHEW!


Thank you Joan, you are the bestest!

We had previously agreed to do a winter fob exchange at our retreat. I stitched Joan part of Lizzie Kate's January block flip-it.



The fob that Joan stitched for me is Waxing Moon's "Winter Cardinal". Joan knows me very well and knows I love cardinals. She stitched this on 40ct linen (over 2) with DMC floss. It is gorgeous.


We had not done this before at previous retreats but it was very fun and I think we will be doing more in the future.

We simplified our retreat this year--stayed in the whole weekend and less fussin' in the kitchen. We both got alot of stitching done. Here is how far I got on my Isa Vautier SAL--

Have I mentioned before how much FUN this project is! I absolutely am loving this!

Then I stitched an ornament for the 2009 Christmas Challenge--

I just have to do the finishing on this and it will be complete.

I did stitch on another item, however it is for an exchange so I can't share it just yet.

Thanks to all of you who stop by and read my blog and those that take the time to leave comments. I very much appreciate all the comments regarding the Royal Mail. It is as I suspected.