A Leopard Appears and TUSAL

Hello my lovelies!!

Welcome to my new followers! I am now at 301! That is amazing and that means I'm going to be figuring out a great 300 follower giveaway for all of you as a way to say thank you.  I have been very busy now that school is back in session and this weekend is very busy as well.  I hope to work on some giveaway ideas for next weekend.  

Although I have been busy, I have managed to put in some stitches into Hannah.  It's so important for me to forget my stress at the needle after a long day of work.  Even if it's ten stitches, I automatically feel better.  So all of my stitches have been dedicated to Hannah.  I couldn't wait to stitch the outline of the leopard so I abandoned the border and moved along into the middle of the sampler.  

I simply adore this flower with all the buds and leaves and bright colours.  Hannah is definitely moving along nicely!  When I told my husband I'm going to focus on just Hannah, he asked "What about Tea Bath Fairy?"  I told him to not worry, she will get stitched when I'm finished with Hannah.  I think it's funny that he is worried about her! 


I did stitch a wee bit on my LHN's Blackbird and I think I will finish it as a little box.  I want challenge myself to try some new ways of finishing this year.  I have quite a number of finishes to finish up.  I wanted to add more Spring finishes to my basket but that has not happened.  I need to get my behind in gear and start sewing!!

My mailbox has given me a couple of surprises last week.  Pumpkin, from Pumpkin Patch and Co, sent me this adorable little guy to stitch.  I won a secret giveaway on her blog.  He reminds me of a Hummel figurine and will be perfect to stitch for my hubby. Thank you Pumpkin!!

Nia sent me the cutest little lavender bunny for Easter.  It's perfect timing for me since I don't celebrate Easter (Pascha) until the beginning of May.  Thank you Nia sweetie!!

Here's all my "strings" from last month.  Lots of silks in there.  I think I'll try and reuse some of my orts and stuff a pillow with them as I have seen some of you do.  It's a good way to recycle!

I'll leave you with some pretty spring pictures I took.  It has been up and down here with lots of rain lately.  I've been wearing my big Hunter rain boots a lot.  I can't complain though because we really have been blessed with a beautiful spring.

A cool photo of a knotty tree.

That's all for now. 


Take care and hugs for you all!


Anne

Hannah and Pattern Winner!

Hello everyone!

It has been a wonderful Spring Break for me, however, it is at an end.  We had splendid weather which hasn't allowed me to spend much time indoors.  I really need Vitamin D!! Last week my little brother came down to visit and so we took him to the beach and did a lot of walking around enjoying the sunshine. 

The magnolia trees have begun to bloom.  I think they are my favourite spring tree right next to the cherry blossoms.  My Nana has two gorgeous magnolia trees in her front yard: one a star magnolia the other a saucer magnolia.  The saucer magnolia is a massive tree on which over 3 generations of kids have climbed, including myself.  I used to spend time on that tree reading William Wordsworth and Keats.  I didn't get the best photo of that tree but I will once it's in full bloom! The deep pink magnolia is one I saw on her block.  So pretty! I love the yellow forsythia bush that we get here too!

As for stitching, not so much progress as I would've liked.  I picked up Hannah again and realized how much I missed stitching her.  I mean to focus on her for the next little while.  She's always brings me pleasure when I stitch her.  The colours, the motifs, the blooms, the silks, the list goes on.

Kindness.  So much kindness in the blogging community.  All of you are so wonderful it makes so happy and blessed.  I received a lovely little LHN chart from Elena, of BusyHandsCraft.  She has the most wonderful blog and makes beautiful things.  Thank you again Elena for thinking of me!

 
I had to start it right away!

And now for the winner of the Quaker Biscornu pattern..........................................

KATHY ELLEN!!!

From A Stitcher's Heirlooms!

My hubby drew your name from my little hand crafted bowl.  I will email you shortly for your details.

Thank you all for entering and commenting on my biscornu. I think I may just have to start another biscornu in the future as it was a lot of fun to make and really not too hard to whip up together.

Well, I hope all of you had a lovely Easter.  Our Pascha isn't until the beginning of May so I'm still fasting.  It hasn't been too bad and in fact I lost a few pounds and feel lighter.  Tonight I will be making a potato leek soup in preparation for my work week, which will be hectic!!

Hugs to you all and happy stitching!

Quaker Biscornu

A glass of wine 

A kite 

A riverside view 

I finished my Quaker biscornu.

Stacy Nash Primitives design 1802 Biscornu PinkeepStitched on 32 Natural Linen
DMC threads

Carolyn from Just one more Stitch RAk'd me this lovely design.  Now I would like to pass it on to someone who would like to stitch it.  Leave a comment stating you would like to be entered in a draw to receive this lovely pattern on this post.  I will do the drawing in a week.

I have had a splendid week of cycling, kite flying and stitching.  One more week and it's back to the grind.

A Prairie School finish.  Stitched on 32 Limestone Belfast with DMC threads.  I have an idea of a nice finish for this which I hope to get done this week. Stay tuned!

My little basket of smalls is growing.  I hope to replace the St. Patrick's finishes with some Spring finishes. 

That's all from me for now.  I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Hugs

Anne

IHSW, TUSAL and Hail!!

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my last post.  I had a wonderful time eating blini and drinking tea with my Nana.  Great way to spend a Sunday.  Today is the first day of Lent and I am going to prepare a big batch of borscht this evening.  It will be yummy!!

I have to make this post in a hurry...hubby is antsy to get down to the beach to fly his kite in this glorious sunshine and wind.  The other night, we attempted yet another bike ride and we got caught in a torrential hail storm!! Just our luck!

This weekend was not so successful in the stitching department, but that's okay.  I did manage to throw in some stitches onto Hannah and Knotgarden.  I plan to stitch up a storm this week along with more finishing. 

I finished the basket but forgot to take a photo of it.  It's such a pleasure to stitch Hannah and all her little motifs.

Knotgarden so far.  I'm hoping to fill in the knot this week.

I've also worked a lot on the little BBD I was gifted from Carolyn.  I'm enjoying the satin stitching part and looking forward to trying out the buttonhole stitches for the flowers.  

Pretty isn't it?!

My Tusal threads hanging out with my little Irish figurines my Nana brought back from Ireland when I was a girl.  

Some gorgeous daffodils I bought at the Winter Farmer's Market.  They are all abloom!

I've also been blessed with more generous gifts from fellow bloggers.  I received quite the selection of buttons from Mouse, two issues of SANQ magazines from Nicola, and some lovely charts from Maggee.  I can't wait to start some of those charts and I've used one of the buttons already.  The magazines are so wonderful to read! Thank you all for your kindness.  I cherish everyone of my gifts!

Oooh, hubby just said "You better not be blogging! I hope you're ready to go!"


Okay, so I am blogging...I lied and said I wasn't...heheeeee.  I will add the links to the blogs later.


PS....half way done through commenting!!

Much love and hugs to you ALL!!!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

I finished this little "Slan" which means welcome, or peace...really not all that sure about the meaning of it as I've come across different sources.  I used HDF silk ribbon to edge the little pillow.  I think it turned out great.

 

Two finishes for the month of March! Now onto Spring finishes!!

Today is not only St. Patrick's Day, but it is also Blini Day for those who are Orthodox.  Blini is a Russian pancake, or crepe, which we eat with all sorts of different toppings.  We eat the blini before Lent begins, which begins tomorrow.  I will be missing having my coffee with cream and tea with milk the most.  That's always the hardest for me.  Not eating meat and dairy isn't such a big deal, but my COFFEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! As always, I adjust and then before you know it, it's Pascha!!

After church, and after we eat the blini, I want to take my Irish Nana to David's Tea to get a free tea if we wear green, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  It's a duo celebration day for both cultures!

Tomorrow is the IHSW update and I realized I forgot to do a TUSAL post! Oops! Lots to share with you...and lots of blogs to read.  I did see that Google Reader will be closing on July 1st which makes me mad.  I really enjoy Google Reader and found it so helpful for making sure I didn't miss any posts.  I found Blog Lovin' and will use that once Google Reader goes dark.

Cheerio and enjoy your day of stitching!!

P.S. Welcome to my new followers! I just realized I am close to 300 followers! WOW! So that means I need to think of a really good 300 follower giveaway....so stay tuned!