Thanks and something new

Time for my weekly update :) First of all I want to thank you all for your friendly comments concerning our Nijn. My DD Karin loves her little bunny as you can see and it look like the little creature has overcome his health problems.

Another thank you for Vicky. She nominated me for an award, being a new blogger :) I have to pass it on, but to be honest, I can't choose between the dedicated friends that follow my blog, so I hope it doesn't mean I am being unsocial, but the only person I pass this reward to a new blogger, Mare . She is from the ILCS group I joined some time ago.

The rules for this award are:

1. Only five people allowed.
2. 4 of them have to be dedicated followers of your blog and 1 has to be new and live in another part of the world.
3. You have to link back to who gave you the award.

No stitching to show this time. I have been busy stitching on a PS meant for an exchange, I sent a PS Exchange last thursday (forgot to take a picture!) and I have been busy thinking about my new project to be: a rrneighborhood, initiative of Me,Myself and I Neighborhood.

I have to put some things in it that cannot lack, think of a familyhouse to llive and laugh in, a library, bookshop, needleworkshop, swimmingpool and a park. Something that revers to my hometown perhaps?

I so love the Blackbird Design houses, so I maybe put one of those in it. And I already decided about the border, in fact I bought the chart this afternoon at my LNS: Neighborhood Row, Bent Creek Design. It will be this border on top and borrom, on the left and right side I will add some smalls referring to my family. Think about a little rabbit, horses (my DD) books, computergames, a small Alpha & Omega (DS studies also Greek and Latin), music and more books (DH). I can think of many, many more...

I can and sure will change this layout, start is in januari 2009, so plenty of time ;)

A Butterfly, a Bird and a Rabbit...again

Remember the animals from a few blogs ago? Here's an update.

The butterfly has found a place on the wall in our livingroom. I hope to enjoy it for years.


The Bird, well, that's finished and I turned it, like I wanted to do, into a flatfold. My first one, thanks to tutorials I found at Vonna's and Meari's blog. Thank you, ladies!

The Rabbit, our little Nijn, survived once again. I nourished him for over a week, gave him his medicine, and he's alive and kicking (figularly spoken) again. He started to eat finally and the last two days he is back to normal. Still refuses to eat hay, so I assume we can wait for the next tooth problems.

I also have some progress to show. I've been stitching on Periwinkle Designs' I love Letters and on a Chatelaine Designs Mystery XI, of which you get a part each month, until you have the whole chart. I am a month behind, hoping I could catch up during holidays, but no... I'm still behind.

And, of course, I am busy stitching some surprises for an Autumn Exchange, a Small Santa Exchange from the Prairie Schooler and I signed up for a finishing class. I have to do the stitching part before the end of september. I also have to do another Prairie Schooler Exchange, so if you don't see me blogging, you now know why LOL.

Exchange from Stephanie

Weekend! I woke up this morning kind of late, stumbling down to the living room, but all of a sudden I was clearly awakened. There was a package from Stephanie. I knew she sent it over to my place as a return exchange, but I didn't expect it to arrive so quickly.

The package was so lovely!! In it was a perfectly made doorknob (my first!) from Bent Creek, one of my favorite designers. The stitching design is lovely and the finishing stunning. The ribbon fits the colors of the pineapple perfectly, and so does the cute wooden buttons she attached the hanging ribbon with. And the backing material!! So lovely, with a chicken, flowers and a home in beautiful colors. I forgot to take a picture, but I add one later. I am so happy with it :-)

Stephanie sent me also a lot of goodies, she really spoilt me rotten (oh, I've read this so often, and now I can use it, great feeling). She sent me (hang on and read to the end, lol):

• A piece of Belfast 32 ct. hand-dyed fabric from Kiwi Illusions (countrystitch) in a beautiful color, Rustic Glow.
• A perfectly matching piece of fabric for backing my stitched piece.
• Some DMC floss, in matching colors (purples, blues). Not only the DMC cotton, but also a rayon silk.
• Soie Perlee in a matching color.
• A package of DMC Gold Needles (how did she now I use gold needles??).
• And last but not least a kit from Dames of the Needle, Biscornu with Wool Applique. It is so lovely, I think I have to put aside all other plans for future stitching, and start this right away :)
  
  Dear Stephanie, I am overwhelmed by so many gifts, and I love everything of your beautiful exchange. You made my day, excuse me, my weekend!

Some time ago Carol sent me an eyelets tool, some eyelets and rings. I was surprised by her kindness, and thought it would be a nice gesture to send her a floss tag, made with it. I sent it off August 11th, and I became quite a bit worried, because it took so long to arrive at Carol's place. But today she let me know she received it, and she is quite happy with it.

I used a small part of 'Inspiration' by Rosewood Manor. Would be suitable, because she gives met lots of inspiration by her blog and friendly comments on mine.

Finished Humble Daisys

Outside it was brighter than yesterday, so I finally could take some pictures of the Humble Daisys. I turned it into a pinkeep, and I am quite satisfied with the result (you may know I am not that easy satisfied with my own results). But I think I've learned a lot last months, thanks to all stitchers who are writing such nice comments (good for my self-confidence LOL), and all these great tutorials they put in their blogs.

Anyway, here it is.

Two Exchanges on my doorstep!

This afternoon I came home from work, tired, as I have to adjust working long days after eight weeks of lazy days, and I was surprised by two packages!

One was from Iris. She had my name in a 'matchbox swap', and she sent me a lovely decorated matchbox with lots of butterflies upon and in it. Besides the butterflies there were also a lot of other goodies, and a lovely floss tag, from a pattern of Helga Mandl. Look at the pictures and join me in enjoying this exchange. all of this accompanied by a card, I'm sure she made herself. Wow, how much time she spent on me!

The other package was a return exchange from Jen. She made me a cute little bag, on which she stitched one of my favorites: autumn leaves. And besides that, she stitched me two (!) bookmarks, how could she know I am always reading more than one book at the time??

One of them has my name on it, so I don't have to worry whether it is mine or not, the other has some lovely acorns and, again, an autumn leaf. I love them, thank you Jen :-)

My goals are achieved! I finished Humble Daisys today, and turned it into a lovely pinkeep. I couldn't find our camera before it was too dark to take pictures, so you girls have to wait until tomorrow. Also stitched 'Friends Gather', and I have plans to turn it into a flatfold. All I have to do is figure out how to, but I have some good tutorials from Vonna, so I have great confidence in it!

Tomorrow school begins again, and that means work also. So from now on I'll try to blog a few times a week, depending on how much time I have left to stitch LOL.