Needlebook Finished!

Yes, I finally finished my needleboek. I have been stitching it in between, but wanted it to be finished this year. Next year I have so much going on, want to start some new projects, so I was afraid this one would end up to be an UFO. It's a design of Periwinkle Promises, I Love Letters. It is stitched with silks, and has various stitches. It's completely hand-sewn, and I am proud of the way it looks!

Front

Back

The outside.

And the inside.

And just in time for Christmas I finished this lovely design of LHN, Berry and Hollies. It was a quick stitch, didn't take too much time, but I like the result.

Just in time for Christmas, I received the exchange Janien made for me. It is such a lovely package, even more dearly to me since I know Janien is ill, yet she did a wonderful job. she stitched me a bookmark, and a lovely tabecloth. She added some great goodies to her package, such as chocolate (yummie!) and a scented bag, smells great, even wrapped in plastic I can smell it. I think it's cinnamon, fits perfect to this time of year. Also a nice piece of backing fabric. A nice card with Chirstmas wishes and a sheet of Flower Fairies (stickers) completed the package. She really spoilt me, thanks so much, Janien!

Last weeks I have been stitching on several things. I almost finished a little something for a friend,can't show it here, because she reads my blog. I also finished the stitching on my Needle book, will show pictures soon. All I have to do is stitch it together, but I assume this will be done this weekend. And I did a small Christmas thing, LHN, Holly & Berries. I forgot to take pictures, but I'll post them this weekend :)

Small finish, sent as a PIF

Yesterday I sent the first PIF I stitched. It is for a non-stitching friend, without blog, so I can show it here already. She has given birth to a baby-girl a few months ago, lives in Vienna, so we keep in touch only by mail and chat nowadays.
I stitched her Baby's first Christmas by JBW Designs, personalized by changing 'baby' into 'Haina'.

And I have been stitching quite some time on Celtic Mystery. Picture is taken yesterday, and this morning I filled in the sun and pyramid. Tonight I hope to fill in the flowers, so part nine will be finished then.

My first PIF

Yesterday I received my first PIF! I signed up for it on Viv's blog, and she has made me something beautiful! I am totally spoilt by nog getting one piece, but two. Viv made me a nice little bellpull, not only stitched, but also a lot of beading in it. Besides that it has some flowers, done with a special stitch, and they look great. See for yourself.

The second piece she made for me is an adorable little cushion, with lots of beads. Around it also a lot of beads, woven in little bows. Its a complete mystery for me, how she did this.
Thank you Viv!

From the Netherlands to Barbados v.v.

At work it is extremely busy, so coming home I have hardly any energy left. I just want to sit down and stitch something easy, but I also feel the need to read my mails and keep in touch with you all through this blog. Thank you all for your lovely and stimulating comments on my blog, it really keeps me going!

Last Monday I got a lovely surprise at work. We have an exchange-student, a lovely girl from Mexico. In order to help her I went to the Public Library and got her some books to study Dutch, just doing my job and trying to pay a little attention to a student, being away from home in a far country, without her family. Nothing special, I thought, so I was totally surprised, and very pleased by receiving a present from her. It is the most exquisite embroidery, a lovely tote for glasses, and a little sachet. The packet was so nicely wrapped, I first took a picture of it before unpacking. Tonantzin added a ribbon with national colours, and her name and emailaddress on it. I asked her permission to add pictures on my blog.

Quite some time ago I joined the Floss Tag Exchange on the HoE. I didn't receive anything until now, and I was a little worried the package might got lost in the mail. But today, totally unexpected, it arrived. Worthwhile waiting so long! My partner Sandra sent me a lovely package, with a beautiful floss tag, some great threads (J.P. Coats), a keyring from Barbados, a lovely little notebook (youngest DD keeps asking for it) and a package of needles.



Funny detail on this exchange is she stitched a part of 'Life is Sweet' by Ria Lanser, using creme evenweave and DMC. I didn't now this blog (maybe because I'm not a quilter), but Ria is Dutch, like me. So from the Netherlands to Barbados (Caribbean)and back to the Netherlands again!

I took part in a winter biscornu swap and this is what I sent to my partner. It's a design of Helga Mandl, January Biscornu, and I used the floss the design asked for. It really is a very tiny biscornu, and my partner Pirjo liked it very much. In fact, I did too, it wasn't easy to part from it LOL

Showtime!!

Yes, I've got a lot to show. A stitch-out I did for Joan, a Crazy Exchange returngift, a Christmas ornie I sent and a great progress on Celtic Mystery.
To start with the stitch-out, Joan, designer of Sapphire Stitching, asked for stitchers for a Walking in a Winter Wonderland-biscornu some time ago. I thought it was fun, doing something like that, so I volunteered. Surprisingly, Joan added my name on the website (wow, so officially, proud feelings!!) and my recommendings too!
The picture is taken in my own garden, lovely detail :) , and here it is on my own table.

Taija sent me a lovely returngift. She made me a blue bag in different fabrics, and she added some lovely goodies. Some chocolates (two are already eaten .... eehhh correction, three actually LOL), a cute pink kitty, which I believe is a glow-in-the-dark you can wear on your cloths.
She also stitched me a cute little santa, finished in a frame, so it is a Christmas ornament.

Margaret let me know she received the Christmas Ornament I stitched for her in the HoE Christmas Ornament Exchange. I am so happy it arrives safely, and she likes it! I stitched a design of JCS 2008 Special, but I changed some details, like the floss I used, and the beading I did. It is a really tiny biscornu, I sure want to stitch it for me too, so one of these days...

I also want to show some progress on my Celtic Mystery. Yesterday evening I joined the SAT again, and it's a good reason to stitch, stitch and stitch. So no computer, no mail, no chatting, just my needle, me and a good detective on television. I think I need more SATs LOL

Exchange received and sent

Today I received this wonderful small biscornu. Najma sent it to me, we both joined a 'Winter Biscornu Swap'. No goodies in this swap, just the biscornu. And it is so dellicate, with some beads on it, and on the end a little heart and a star. The backside is different from the front, I will add a picture when the weather lets me to take some good ones.


Lisa let me know she received the Christmas Ornament I stitched for her, an exchange of the Crazy Exchange Group. We agreed not to send any goodies, so just the ornament.
I chose a design of Prairie Schooler, from the book A Cranberry Christmas. I stitched it with Belle Soie, Rose of Sharon, and DMC 3815. I used a matching backing fabric, but I've no picture. Forgot to take them, and Lisa was so kind to send me a picture of the front.



My winter Biscornu left my home today, I hope it likes its future home LOL

A Mystery and a stupidity

Thanks to Becky's SAT I can show a good progress on my Celtic Mystery. I stitched six hours fridaynight, so I could really see the difference! I hope to catch up this way, so I can start my MMIRR in January.

Saturdaymorning when I got up, the first snow was there! It wasn't that much, but yet, it is the first snow of this winter. Today in other parts of the country, there seems to be heavy snowfall.

The afternoon I spent shopping. It is soon Sinterklaas, so I need to get some presents for the children and DH.
As for today I finished the Christmas Ornie, the one my children kept me from sending on an exchange. It is almost perfect! I used the backing fabric Edgar sent me, and it matched perfectly. So I was so satisfied with myself.... until I saw what I had done. How could I be so stupid, me, a librarian, reading upside down?
There 's only one advantage: if I put it somewhere against the wall, like I did on the first picture, you don't notice my mistake, but then, you don't notice the perfect backing fabric either ....

One of the groups I'm in organized a 'wishmarket', and one of my wishes was to receive pins. And I got them! One of the girls sent me homemade pins, so lovely!

And another girl sent me these. I can sure use them!

Christmas Ornie, HoE

From last Saturday on I have a bad sinus infection, so Mondaymorning I went to the medical centre to get some antibiotics. This morning I was home, feeling not too well, as the postman brought in two packages! First there was a package from Edgar. When I saw the sender's name I was thrilled. I have been following Edgar's blog, and adore the stitching and finishing he does!
The ornie was wrapped up so nice, so I teased myself, taking a picture before unwrapping.

Then, finally, I allowed myself to unwrap, and it turned out to be a gorgeous Chrismas Ornament. Edgar stitched an Old Santa, from the Prairie Schooler and finished it perfectly!

Also there were some lovely goodies, like DMC, backing fabric, a magnet with a reproduction of a Californian Landscape, from the collection of Wendy Willrich at de Young - Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. I remember I envied Edgar to live in a place with such a great museum!
And a box of fine mint chocolate, of which Im going to taste one .... now! Yummie, tastes great, I bet they will all been gone at the end of the week LOL.

The second package was the DMC I ordered from J&J, having their annual sale. Now I have all the supplies needed for making a start on a new HAED, Vibrant Vista. It is pulling my attention ever since I bought it, but now I decided to really make a start, as somebody is working on this too. That way it becomes a BAP SAL, isn't it?

Rose Cottage Finished

Today I was able to finish Rose Cottage completely. I had a prefab pillow, so it was kind of easy, but nevertheless I am quite proud of me! I made the buttons of a piece of fabric that matches perfectly, I succeeded in making holes for the buttons, so here it is, a happy dance.

Show & share

Yes, I've quite some things to show and share. Let's begin with some random things I want to share with you. I got tagged by Mare , so here we go!
(One day later I've also been tagged by Penny and Ellen (thank you both!) so I decided to add two extra things about myself, marked by ## )

1 This is really a confession, so please read well and do not judge! I've become a lazy, spoilt housewife since I became a stitcher. My mother used to tell me I would never, never be a 'goode huswife' (I have to stitch one of those sometime!) and for years I have been trying to convince her I was. I cleaned up, did the windows, washed the curtains, kept the house clean and tidy. You might never know, maybe mum showed up LOL. Nowadays, DH does the most, I have my job, take care of the children, do the washing and that's it! And I am quite happy that way, won't you?

2 I'm a reader. I read everything I see, every letter of the alphabet is spotted by me, it might be in a book, or on the street, it can be hidden in a chart, or even in the security words you have to fill in when you add a comment somewhere, I read it!

3 I spent way too much money, without DH knowing it, on stitching charts, fibers, fabrics. Okay, I also earn the greatest part of the family income, but nevertheless, I also spent it.

4 I secretly dream of another life. No, not without DH or my children, but a life away from citynoise, traffic and without a job. I love my job, but I keep dreaming of a cottage in the countryside, with roses in the garden, and me walking there with a basket on my arm, picking some of those roses to decorate the house. And a cosy bench in the garden, DH and I sitting there, reading and stitching.

5 I am a very good schoollibrarian and I am aware of that. I love my job, and I love the young pupils I am working with. But I make way too much noise! I keep telling pupils to be quiet, shhh.....shhh....it's a library! And every time one of them tells me something funny, I burst out laughing and they do shhhh....shhhh.... you're in the library LOL

6 I love Chinese literature and opera. I've been reading many Chinese authors, and I've been listening to Chinese opera a lot. Sometimes I think I must have been a Chinese woman in a former life, it's quite strange, being a Western woman enjoying chinese opera, isn't it? Anyone of you ever listened to it?

##7 Given the fact I am married, have three children, a rabbit and two parrakeets, I love to be on my own. For that purpose I spend part of the evening in my own room, surrounded by my own things, doing what I like to do: stitching, reading, chatting on the internet, listening to my music (no, not always Chinese opera LOL)

##8 I also am very possessive about things of myself. I mean, I have my own books (don't dare reading it without asking permission), my own cd's and so on. Just name it, when it is mine, no one dares to take it without my permission, not even my DH. If done so, I notice myself nagging about it.



Fulfilled my job, here are the rules.
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.

I've tagged:
Marne
Janaina
Edda
Anna
Jacq
Iris

And about showing, I have a finish, only have to do the finishing. How finished is it, then?I stitched an ornament, planning to send it away for a Christmas Ornament Exchange. But then DD and DS laid their eyes on it, and they begged me: please mum, keep it for yourself, we like it sooooo much! And of course, being a good mum, I listened to their prayers LOL. So I am stichting like crazy to do another ornament, and send it on time.

Besides that I want to show the progress on Rose Cottage. I love it, and I hope to finish the stitching part this weekend.

Annemiek let me know she received the floss tag (HoE board) I stitched for her. Funny, she lives in the same town as I do, and she owns the best LNS I know. So I had quite some difficulties sending her something she didn't have already, as a lot of my supplies come from her shop! I stitched her a Quaker motif that I found in the Gift of Stitching and added some backing fabric and skeins of DMC.

And the whole exchange (I borrowed Annemiek's picture, I'm sure she doesn't mind)

Youngest DD's drawings

My youngest is 14 years old, and she is having a lot of fun drawing horses. Until now mostly their heads, but she is also drawing on the computer with her tablet. She adjusts picures, using a computer program, and this way she is creating lovely pictures. At least, I, being a proud mum, think so LOL. So now, a special item for Tonia, here are some of DD's drawings. The second one is drawn while she was at school I think, using her notebloc. The third one is her WIP, you can still see the grid of the computerprogram she uses.