Gifts from Malaysia

Look what came in Friday's mail! I am so excited to share these photographs with you. These were stitched by Margaret W from the Stitching Smalls Group and the Stitching Smalls SAL Group. I sent her an e-mail & asked if it was ok to share these on my blog. Currently, Margaret is not blogging; however, is involved with a Christmas mailart exchange.

This is a pincushion which proudly sits on my desk. The design is by Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin. WOOT.

Along with the beautifully stitched & finished pincushion, was an ornament. Aren't I the lucky stitcher? She said it is a freebie pattern from Prairie Schooler.

This is the back of the ornament. Margaret shares in her note: "the back of the ornament 'Selamat Hari Krismas' means 'Merry Christmas' in our national language--the Malay language."

Prairie Schooler - freebie

c.1985 The Prairie Schooler, Inc. (freebie bookmark pattern).   These Autumn colors are lovely.   Maybe this Spring I'll have to try this pattern again -- using some Spring colors ; )

ID on stitching?

Today’s SBQ was suggested by Kimberly and is:

Do you always sign your projects? If not, why? If so, do you use your first name, initials or what?

What a good question Kimberly. When stitching 'gifts' I think it looks so silly with my initials &/or name - when this is for somebody else who may not understand why it is their gift with MY NAME -- AND, When stitching a reproduction sampler - I'm always tempted to use the ORIGINAL STITCHER's name. Using my name on projects is a difficult task. I'm known by my family as "Little Lee" after my maternal Grandmother - Lelia Evelyn, who passed away weeks after I was born. (LEE was my Grandmother's Monogram) Outside of my family, I'm usually known by Carol or Carol Lee or Lee. so - I don't know what to use & skip it most of the time. Looking forward to reading how other stitchers 'sign' their work.

The Shadow of the Wind

Thanksgiving Holiday was really nice. Had the Chicago & New York parades on t.v. -- and the dog show on tv. Cooked up a feast (14.5lb turkey; stuffing; corn pudding; steamed veggies; hot pineapple/bread; store bought pumpkin pie & ready whip) Around 9pm the children went off to the movies to view Harry Potter (Victoria, her friend David, Nicholas, & Alexander). I got in some major reading after Head Chef duty:
I really like this novel(so far - I'm on pg 120).
I was on the 'request' list at the public library for quite awhile & was delighted to get my hands on this book. New York Times book review. Today, DH & Vickie are working. The boys are sleeping. I'm going to sit around & read ; )

Gift for Aunt Penny

My son Alexander (13yo) made this Mill Hill pin for Aunt Penny.   She received it on Monday & I hear liked it very much. c.2001 Mill Hill. Holiday Pins VIII (H102) Joyful Angel.

Tori arrived home last night & we talked until midnight.   Received another dusting of snow & hear it will melt off later this a.m.    Enjoy the day!

Thanks Margaret

Was a tad stiff from the cleaning (moving furniture around).   Worked on this Prairie Schooler freebie for awhile.   It is interesting ; )

Prairie Moon

Prairie Moon has a web site! Yeeeessss ; ) check it out. I've seen the shop models at House of Stitches in LaPorte, IN. http://www.prairiemoon3.com/

2 busy 2 blog ...

Hi there : ) I've been getting the house ready for Turkey Day -- would like to have everything spiffy by Tuesday. Tuesday Tori is home from college. Haven't seen her since August. She has several shifts at Subway & said she has a paper to write. Not much family time, but will still be nice to have her home.

I was asked about my beading projects ... I've made pins & amulet pouches -- I don't think I have photos. Maybe I'll get them out & post them in a couple weeks.

Some time ago, I told Margaret W (from stitching smalls yahoo group) I'd post WIP photos of my M.Garry project. I didn't get the inside pockets stitched & sewn in(yet). I put it aside for holiday stitching - Here they are (front,back,open):

N. Hinde 1778 WIP

c.1991 The Scarlet Letter: N. Hinde 1778 A miniature sampler
According to the Scarlet Letter Web page, introducing miniature samplers "Girls and women gave each other gifts of their handwork- a meaningful sentiment then as well as now" It also says the samplers were occasionally put into small books.

So I'm thinking, how cool would that be? having a selection of miniature samplers received from stitching pals?

Take the Stitcher's Quiz ...

Look at this ; ) A quiz for stitchers .... check out Wednesday's entry onAnna Van Schurman's blog. Totally creative & fun! I'm gathering up MY answers.

Cross-Eyed Cricket (freebie)

link in sidebar or go to http://www.cecricket.com/gift_design.html for graph and color photograph.

I started Drawn Thread's Linen & Lace ... if I can manage all the specialty stitches, it will be a holiday gift. My Nicholas is home from school today -- just not feeling well. Here we go again ....

Thank you Isabelle & Anna for the links ; ) I appreciate it very much.

Library Lover ...

I usually have 'requests' at the public library, + check them out when it is my turn .... once in awhile, they all become available at the SAME TIME. Yes -- I picked up four books. This book has a lot of pictures -- but they aren't large enough for the stitcher in me:
Maybe I need to find another book with more VISUALS. Anybody have any suggestions?

Inbetween cleaning (gotta do that before the holidays) this-n-that, I'll take some coffee breaks with books. This test was on Jenna's blog (Tale of a Shooting Star) and I just had to give it a try ...

Your #1 Match: INFJ

The Protector You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity. Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is. You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience. You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher.

What's Your Personality Type?

another square for my WIP

flower square DONE

Afghan WIP

Mill Hill - Acorn Sampler Afghan. c.1989 Jill Siegler, Samplers from the heart.Stitched with anchor floss on Zweigart Novara Afghan Fabric.
these are the corner motifs
basket square

On a photo hunt ...

I have been trying to photograph the kittens who were dropped off at our home this Summer.   They are very shy.   Today, I had some luck with two of them.   I fed them early (because Alex had show choir practice at 7am).   When I went out to grab their food tray, two of the 3 were sleeping.   When I came closer, they decided I was harmless & let me photograph them.   Wish the tiger striped one was around -- if it was, it was hidden!
This is the shy siamese mix

This is the bold siamese/mix

Good thing this camera has a close-up button! They were not very close to me. Both of these kittens are easy to spot as they have a lot of white fur.   Blue eyes.   Their faces are grey-blue.   Their tails are tiger stripe.   Their legs have a grey/white stripe.   The tiger-stipe is very beautiful with white paws.  

Barbara: These kittens were so small when they arrived (must have been July). We have been feeding them 2x/day & cannot get near them. DH gets closer to them than I. The Mom-cat is long gone as is one all-black kitten. We see the white ones (because of their fur color) more often than the tiger stripe one.

Read it

Add this one to your 'must read' list!
Danielle: Yes, I read Moon Tide ... I thought it was a fantastic story & she wrote with a poetic descriptive style I enjoyed. I wonder what she will come up with next?
Christine: June 2005 -- her first novel was Moon Tide (also very good). I have some excerpts in my Xanga