Goodbye 2008

I made a little photo video of pictures I have taken of the boys over the past year. I have watched it myself about 10 times. I'm amazed that those three beautiful children are mine. It brings tears to my eyes. I'm getting way too mushy now. Here's the video...


Bradley, Jake and Matthew through 2008 from Nicole on Vimeo.

Happy New Year everyone!

I met up with Deb today at Golden Needle. First we did a little shopping and then we had a nice long lunch. It was so good to see her and catch up! Deb was also so very kind - she got me a Shepherd's Bush kit that I have been wanting - "Pumpkin Hill." It was so sweet of her!

I also couldn't resist the Lakeside Linens. My absolute weakness...

I got a big cut of 40 ct. Vintage Light Examplar. It's so pretty! I also got a few cards of my favorite needles - size 26 John James.

Thank you to everyone for your very kind comments on my Queen Sheep. It was a fun little stitch. I think now I may get back to Sea to Shining Sea. I got the "Mountains" thread pack before I left to come down here. I'm going to go through my little stash bag tonight and decide. I'm actually looking forward to going home now. I miss my condo, my new couch, and my stash closet (LOL)! And I miss my babies and my hubby of course. He left on Sunday to go back to work. I'm probably going to leave here on Saturday - Only a few more days. I'd better enjoy the freedom while I can! Write soon! :)

Queen Sheep Finished!

I was able to finish "Queen Sheep" last night. Please forgive the wrinkles - there is no iron here! :)

Shepherd's Bush "Queen Sheep" Kit

Started and Finished: 12/28/08

I'm going to meet Deb tomorrow at Golden Needle. I'm looking forward to it so much! I have missed her! Well, I'd better get some sleep! Write soon!

Ahh... Peace and Quiet

I'm still in Florida, but I'm back at my brother's house. He has an extra house that he is either going to rent out or sell after the new year, but for a few days it's my vacation house! My mom has the two older boys and my MIL has Matthew. It's so strange to have no responsibilities! To not have to jump up every two seconds and do something! :)

When my dad and step-mom visited in November, I had mentioned that I would like a new stitching light. I never thought that they would get me one, but they did! I felt bad since I had gotten a magnifying light after they visited for myself as an early Christmas present. I love the one they got me though and I don't think I'll return it because it not the same as the one I have. It's an overhead light and has wheels, which would make it very easy to take from room to room.

I also ended up starting a little project. Shepherd's Bush "Queen Sheep." I should definitely be able to get it finished up today with the no responsibility thing I got going on here! :)

Well, I'm going to get back to stitching! Write soon!

Christmas Stitching

Hello Everyone! Long time no post! I have been in Florida and I have been stitching and crocheting and framing Christmas presents while down here, so I couldn't show what I was working on! I finished LHN "Holly & Berries" into an ornament for my step-mom and I framed LHN "Heart of America" for my dad.

The boys have been having a ton of fun! They had three Christmases. First with Chris's parents and then my mom and now my dad. I'm sort of over Christmas stitching, so I have been going through the stash I brought with me trying to decide what to stitch next. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! Write soon!

Another Quick Finish

I got Plum Street Sampler's freebie "Emmanuel" finished up last night. Ok, I admit it, I cheated. I tacky glued the cording on. I normally wouldn't have done that, but it was late and I was getting frustrated! Anyway, here's the pic...

I ended up using 40 ct. linen that I Rit-Dyed recently. I was going to use the 36, but I'm not a big fan of 36, it's too loose a weave for me. I like denser fabrics. I also finished up my Lizzie Kate banner today. I cheated on that also. I hemmed it using Stitch Witchery, which is my new best friend!

I'm going to give it to my son's teacher today at his class party. Well, that's all for now! We're going down to Florida tomorrow and I have lots of packing and cleaning ahead of me! Fun, fun! Write in a few days!

Stash and a Quick Finish!

tI got a wonderful package from DSL yesterday. I got a few things with the money from my recent sale. I love paypal! :) I got Shepherd's Bush kits "Glad Tidings" and "Queen Sheep."

The quick finish is Lizzie Kate's "Santa Wants to Know." I started it last night and finished it today and actually finished it into a cube-it today. I think it turned out pretty cute!

Lizzie Kate "Santa Wants to Know"
Fabric: 28 ct. Cream Cashel Linen
Threads: DMC, GAST & WDW
Started: 12/16/08 - Finished: 12/17/08

These cubes are so easy and are so good for me because there is NO sewing involved!! I used this tutorial for the cube. Here's a picture of the three Christmas Lizzie Kates I've finished recently...

Well, my ds is needing me! Write soon!

A Little More PT

I got a little bit more stitched last night and today...

I was thinking of stitching another ornament, but I don't want to stop stitching this! I would love to get it finished by Christmas, but I don't think that's going to happen. We are going down to Florida this weekend to visit family for Christmas. It's going to be a busy week next week. Oh well, maybe I should stitch that ornament? Write soon!

Peppermint Twist Start!

I started Peppermint Twist last night while watching the Survivor Finale. I'm so glad Bob won! :) Anyway, I'm loving it so far! I think it looks good on the Mockingbird linen.

I have also updated my trade blog with a few things. Thank you to everyone who bought the other items! I really appreciate it! Well, nothing else going on! I hope to get some stitching down while my youngest naps! Write later!

Peppermint Lane Finished!

I got it finished up today!! Now I get to start "Peppermint Twist!" :)

Country Cottage Needleworks "Peppermint Lane"
Fabric: 32 ct. Maple Sugar by Lakeside Linen
Threads: DMC and Crescent Colours
Started: 11/08 - Finished: 12/14/08

Peppermint Twist

I went to my LNS today (I know, very bad). I got "Peppermint Twist" and a few threads I was needing for it. I decided to use 40 ct. Mockingbird linen by R&R. It's the same linen I was using for "Shores of Hawk Run Hollow," which I have decided I'm never going to stitch, so I unkitted it. :)

I'm very excited about starting this. I'm going to try to be good and finish up "Peppermint Lane" first though. :) Write soon!

More Peppermint Lane and Crocheting

I worked on this quite a bit yesterday. It's been a fun stitch. I have also been working on some Christmas presents. Since times are tough for everyone, my family has decided to only buy gifts for the kids. So instead of buying presents, I decided to make my mom and SIL some dish cloths and I also plan to make them some Christmas cookies and maybe throw in some chocolate. :)

Well, my baby is fussing, so this will be short! Write soon! :)

Slowly Stitching

I have been slowly working on "Peppermint Lane."

I have been stitching so slow because I've been distracted by other things like trying to cut foam core board so I can frame something for a Christmas present. But since I can't cut in a straight line, I have finally given up after wasting three boards, and now I have decided to go to a frame shop to have them cut it. I should have just done that in the first place! Oh well, what can you do? :) Well, nothing else going on! Write soon!

Sale

I have listed some things on my Sale/Trade Blog.

Please email me at nicoleneville@gmail.com if you are interested in any of the sale items! Thank you!

A Couple More Finishes

I made "Christmas is Forever" into a flatfold Friday night. I used Vonna's Tutorial, the instructions were very easy! Thank you Vonna! Don't look too close though because it's slightly crooked. It just didn't want to be straight. I gave up. :)

I also finished up my Flip-it Banner finally! It only took just under two years! I'm so glad it's done. I'm thinking of donating it to my son's kindergarten class because they are learning the months of the year. I would have to make it into a wall hanging of some sort though. That would require sewing - yikes! Maybe I'll think about this for a little bit. :)

Lizzie Kate "Monthly Flip-It Bits"
Fabric: 29 ct. Natural Glenshee
Threads: DMC, WDW, & GAST
Started: 1/25/07 - Finished: 12/6/08

I got "Peppermint Lane" out this morning and got back to stitching it. I'm not getting too much done right now though. Dh went golfing, so it's me and the kids and the laundry! After I finish PL, I would like to stitch up Paulette's pretty freebie she posted on her blog. I pulled the threads and fabric for it yesterday...

Well, that's all for now. I've got to get back to the laundry! Write soon! :)



P.S. Thank you all for your kind comments on my framing. I pin mount when I frame my pieces (here is an article by Theresa Vinette - Scroll down "To Stretch" that is exactly how I frame). The lace on the distressed frame came like that. It's an old one from Hog River.

Framing

I decided to do some framing today. I went to A.C. Moore and they had unfinished wood frames for 40% off. I got some craft paint in a dark charcoal gray - almost black, but not quite. I painted one frame for Christmas Tea. I think it turned out pretty well...

I sanded the edges a little bit to give it a distressed look. I also framed a couple of Shepherd's Bush pieces that I've had in the tub for awhile...

The bigger one is "French Heart" and the smaller is "Busy Sheep." Well, nothing else going on. I would like to get a couple more things framed, but have to get more foam core. I can't sew in a straight line and I can't cut foam core in a straight line either! I need help! Write later!

I Changed My Name...

...Again. I'm so sorry! This is the last time I plan to change it. I was just getting tired of naming it after places instead of what my blog is really about - Needlework! The header is temporary. I'll be playing around with some more! Sorry again for any confusion! :)

Warning Long Post - Lots of Pictures

I didn't stitch much yesterday. I spent a lot of the day organizing my stash, which is almost as much fun as stitching. I'm thinking of planning on stitching mainly samplers in 2009. I would love to have a sampler wall. I would love one like Diane Jourdan's of Sampler Cove or like Merumo's. They are both gorgeous! I have decided one sampler that I would definitely like to stitch next year is "Kind Fond Love Sampler" by The Sampler Company.

I decided to kit it up yesterday. My only dilemma was fabric. I didn't have any 40 ct. long enough. So I decided to cut up the fabric I had for "And They Sinned," which is 40 ct. Elegant Bean (coffee-dyed linen by Elegant Stitch). I came to the conclusion that I'm not going to stitch it anytime soon. I think I may have to wait until the kids are in college for that one.

While I was getting the threads together I noticed I was getting low on Thread Drops. I thought for sure I had another package, but I couldn't find them anywhere! I had bought some Comic Book Boards on ebay not too long ago. I learned about using comic book board through Jane Timmers. She had us use this board for our needlebook in her class.

I thought the board would also make great thread drops and it does!

Here is a picture of the one I made (#632). I think it turned out pretty well. I used some old scrapbooking supplies I had in stored away to make the ovals. I also got a few charts in the mail the other day from DSL. I've been on a Birds of a Feather kick lately. It's all Melissa's fault from Words and Blooms. I have recently discovered her blog and I love everything she stitches! :)

BOAF "Happy Hearts Sampler" and "Sally Spencer Sampler"


BOAF "Red Reindeer" and "Winter Sampler"

I also got "Yule Sampler" by The Primitive Needle. Here it is kitted up...

I kitted up "Red Reindeer" and "Winter Sampler" too. I hand-dyed some of the Elegant Bean last night using some tan Rit Dye. I think I may dye some more - I really like how it turned out.

Wow, if you have made it to the end of this post you deserve a medal! Oh, I almost forgot, I ended up starting "A Bit of December" last night. Hopefully I can get finished today. Write later! :)