Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening to you where ever you may be today.  I haven't posted for a few days... 1. Because I always want to show you progress on whatever I'm working on... 2. Because it's been a little busy... 3. I feel a bit down... hmmm... now, I don't know that any of those are good excuses, but it's what I've got... Today, however... I have progress to share... I'm at home at the moment... and I feel ummm... somewhat better... 
I know that by now you've all probably heard about Lisa at The Primitive Needle... I don't really know what else to say that hasn't been said... I didn't know Lisa.  I do have some of her charts, she was a very talented designer.  My prayers are for her family and friends... and all of the stitching community who will greatly miss her. I guess it just really hit me how fragile life is and how we should really make the most of our time here.
I watched the news yesterday morning and as I looked outside at the snow falling somewhat heavily and all the snow that we have I had a very hard time picturing the wild fires in Texas and Florida.  70 homes lost last I heard... The flooding in Ohio that took Lisa... Earthquakes, storms, fires... We see pictures of unrest in the Middle East, unrest in our states capitols', unrest all over the world. Celebrities making themselves look like idiots... how out of touch is Hollywood???  It seems that the world is literally falling apart around us...  That is a bit unsettling.  It saddens me... makes me feel heavy at heart.  Partially because I feel as if I'm not doing enough to make a difference.  At the same time... I feel at peace... does that sound strange to you?  To say it out loud it sounds a bit to me... but I know the LORD and I believe that HE has a plan for us and that HE loves us.  I know the picture that we see is only a part of the masterpiece... and that puts my heart at peace, even when it's troubled... so... there you go...
Anyhooo.... Progress to report... what have I been working on??? Well, a few things.
I have done just a little on Quaker Christmas from Bygone Stitches. 

I have been working on Resurrection by EftH.  This is really a lovely sampler! I'm at that point that I want to stitch more and more of it!

Remember I told you that I'm working Mondays at my lqs... how much fun! The girls are all just wonderful and they have fun... you always hear someone laughing.  You can work anywhere doing anything if you like and enjoy the people you work with... what a bonus to work with wonderful people and enjoy the job too! (lol... but I digress) ok, so I'm doing a store sample... another Bird Brain Design called Eggs on Parade...  (check out their free patterns... great tea towel embroidery designs!)

How CUTE!!! I love wool and wool projects... I have one more egg to embroider and then stitch them to my background... it was really an easy project.  I'm going to be teaching a class on it at the shop.  I'm also going to take a class at the shop... Renee is going to teach us how to make the loveliest mohair teddy bear! 

I can't even picture me making this cute little guy... 


Well, so this is a pretty long post... thanks for taking the time to read... I hope for the best for you and whatever is happening in your day.
Stay warm!
KimV

Well, it seems my fingers have wanted to stitch on QC this last couple of days!  Here's a little progress, I'm pretty much done with page 1 on the chart... I have a few little motifs left but I've progressed to the next page to the right and the page below to finish motifs that are charted on both.  I'm liking it quite a bit. 

Don't you just love that linen??? (for anyone wanting to know  colors, linen or stitch count... look up in the left had corner in the sidebar... I have them listed.    

 I'm not a 100% on the heart scale motif... wondering if I should have kept it solid... I may end up pulling it later if I don't like the whole look.  We'll see.  What are your thoughts?

Sally asked about the designer of the little stitch on the Valentine's box.  It was designed by Kathy Cadilek of The Monkey Works.  It was a little freebie that I got in a newsletter through our local guild.  It says that its a free chart.  So, here it is.  I don't know if you'll be able to print or not... I'm a little computer illiterate... but I think you will.  

Thanks for all the looks and comments!  It's much appreciated.  Enjoy your day!

KimV

All kind of updates.... :)

Here comes the sun... na na nanaaa... Here comes the sun, and I say, it's alright...

It's been a while... 

This is what it's looked like for the better part of 2 months... It's wonderful to get a glimmer of anything bright!

Here is a quick, little project that I started Monday night.  First off... I got a job.  Well, a part time job... well, ok I work 1 day a week, but it's at the local quilt store! :)   So last year at the local quilt store I picked up this little pattern by Birdbrain Designs and it sat in a drawer waiting.  Well, now I work there, so I thought I should stitch this up for the shop.  Monday was my first day.  I came home and while Corey and I watched a movie I stitched it... it's really an easy little stitch.  Now, I've cut it out and appliquéd it to a lovely piece of red cotton fabric by Kaffe.  Then added the straight stitch and french knots. I'm going to make it into a little heart shaped pillow with cream ric-rac along the seam to make a scallop... I think it will be cute! http://www.deercountryquilts.com/

Sneak peak of my secret Valentine gift... I figured out what to do with it and the hand made part is finished... but I'm not to send it until the 7th... so, I can't post a complete picture yet... I did take photos through the finishing process... so, you will see the whole thing, just not for a week... :)

OHHHH and Guess WHAT??? I WON!!!!  Donna from By the Bay NeedleArts had a drawing for a cute little kit that she made up...and her daughter drew me!!! YIPPPEEEEE !  Here's a link so you can oogle over my prize... LOL... just kidding... http://bythebayneedleart.blogspot.com/ Also, Donna is the designer of the little stitchery that I have for my blog title picture... if you look to the left at the top there is a link to that FREEBIE.  I just loved it... of course it has sheep... and weeping willows and a beautiful manor house, and, and and ... lol.

So, you all seem to like Quaker Christmas you commented and wanted to know what threads I'm using.. so here they are: The threads are Gloriana Silk Luminescence: Black Cherry, Forest, Antique Gold and Midnight.

Well, have a wonderful day and stay warm!

KimVDR

My Exchange with Heather

Hi All... here it is... my exchange with Heather. I should have taken a picture of the box before I started. It is just a little bass wood jewelery box from Michael's craft store. I painted it. I lined the drawer and the upper storage with a piece of hand dyed wool that I did... added some paper flowers and beads.

I found the pattern on the net... it's a freebie from

It's stitched on 30ct Mocha with DMC. I think it turned out sweet... and Heather assures me that she likes it.

A Finish from an earlier stitch...

I stitched this cute little freebie pattern from By the Bay Needle Art (link below) and finally made it into something... it wasn't hard at all really just had to make myself do it... painted the paper machie box and lined the inside with the same hand dyed wool that I stitched the linen to. Glued the wool/linen to the lid and edged it with the velvety rickrac... painted "very primitive" hills, houses and trees on the box and there ya go... DONE!

http://bythebayneedleart.blogspot.com/2009/03/free-chart-thank-you-for-checking-out.html

A little weekend fun...

Good morning... I hope everyone had a good Easter weekend! We had a lovely couple of days. My sister-in-law and family came to visit, also my DH's grandpa came. My in-laws live next door. So we had a nice time. The kids enjoyed having their cousins over. We had a huge Easter dinner after church.

I got a little stitching done... this was a freebie called Bay View Estate from Donna at By the Bay Needlearts... she has a great blog space... you should check it out if you haven't already. (added link below)

I stitched this with the recommended DMC flosses except the house. I used CC Wild Berries. The leaves on the willow are a detached chain stitch... that was fun! The linen is Creme Bruele 40 ct. I stitched it to a hand dyed piece of wool... I'm thinking of mounting it on a box top... will post the entire finished piece when it's all done. http://bythebayneedleart.blogspot.com/2009/03/free-chart-thank-you-for-checking-out.html