Santa Arrived Early!

How lucky can a gal be?  Two separate swap parcels arrived on the same day!  Who says there’s no Santa Claus?

The first package that Santa brought came all the way from New Zealand.  In the card that she included, Julz apologized for being a tad late in sending her gifts out but let me say that it was WELL WORTH THE WAIT!   Julz was my secret swap partner in the Stitcher’s Angel Swap.

A virtual sleigh full of goodies and all individually wrapped, each with it’s own tag!

The first package contained two fat quarters of The Floral Collection in Pastel  by Lecien.  Absolutely gorgeous!

Next was the “sweet”est needlebook.  I love needlebooks second only to pincushions of course.

And the inside.

 

Then I opened a journal that Julz covered with the same fabric as the needlebook  and with the same embroidered motif.  It’s new home is right beside my computer.  Also included was a calculator that Mr. Painted Quilt tried to pinch (to no avail) and a pin from a local quilt shop called Sawmillers Quiltery and Crafts.

Then I opened this amazing pincushion with a button down lid that when open, serves as a needle minder as well.  How cool is that?

Next I found a gorgeous scissor fob and a fused cut out in the likeness of Mac, our Westie which is destined to become a pillow.

Thank you soooooo much, Julz for all the wonderful goodies that you sent to me.  I love them all!  And thanks also to Helen for hosting this swap.

And if you think that these gifts were awesome, you’re just going to have to come back in the next little while to see what else Santa delivered.  Isn’t Christmas wonderful?

Happy stitching!

Kaaren ♥

First Friday Freebie #4

 It’s the First Friday of the month again so it’s time for my fourth FFF (First Friday Freebie).  Do you realize it’s only 21 days until Christmas?  Yikes!  Where have the days gone?

Although Christmas is a short three weeks away, this month’s design can be stitched up relatively quickly and be ready in plenty of time to hang by the chimney awaiting St. Nick’s arrival.

This month’s design is adapted from an painting I did about 6 years ago that appeared in a Japanese decorative painting magazine.  It’s called Christmas Eve.

Just click here to download the PDF file for the photo, line drawing and instructions.  If you’d like to make a larger stocking, please feel free to enlarge the pattern.

If you’d like,  please grab my button  at the top of this post and place it on your sidebar with a link  back here in order for us to share it with those who might not otherwise find their way here.  The button will also serve as a reminder that on the First Friday of each month there will be another new Freebie design to share with you all.

Once again, I must thank my amazing friend Robyn for creating the PDF files for me.  Without her help, I wouldn’t be able to make these designs available for you to enjoy.

Thanks for stopping by and as always…

Happy stitching!

Kaaren ♥

Gifts from a Special Friend

I just love going to the post office in our small town.  It seems like I always run into someone I know and it’s a great place to catch up on what’s happening in the community…and I don’t mean gossip.  *wink*

Yesterday was no exception because this was waiting for me…

My birthday gift from Julie in Australia! 

I was expecting  a parcel from Julie because she told me when she had posted it but nonetheless, it’s still a joy to find that little white card in the mail box stating that you have a parcel waiting to be picked up inside.

Mr. Painted Quilt was driving as we had run a few errands prior to making the post office our last stop before returning home.  Upon our return, I took my time putting the groceries away and did a few other things just to prolong the anticipation before opening the parcel.  I just wanted the good feelings to last and last.

Not until all my “chores” were done did I decide to take the plunge.

Inside was this beautifully wrapped package tied with a big red bow!

I first opened the card which expressed Julie’s sincere birthday wishes.  Can you see the koala on the front?  If you notice, I was still taking my time to savor every moment before opening the package.

This is the first gift that I found.  A simply awesome candle mat called “Under the Cherry Tree” done in wool…my absolute FAVORITE!  The sheep and the stitches are so tiny and the detail is simply amazing.  It must have taken hours upon hours to stitch this gem.  It now sits in our living room on one of the side tables and that will be it’s permanent place for all to see.

Next was this pincushion from Rosalie Quinlan’s new book…because Julie knows that you can never have too many pincushions!

Then I found this tiny scissor fob attachment x-stitched with the tiniest stitches.  The ‘K’ is for Kaaren and the ‘J’ for Julie to commemorate our friendship. 

And here’s a peek at the other side.  It is now hanging on our Christmas tree…front, center and at eye level!  Gorgeous, huh?

Then I found this Schnibbles pattern called ‘Tuffets’.  These are already on my ‘to do’ list for 2010.

And last but certainly not least…

A pair of “chook” scissors to add to my addiction…I mean collection and a gorgeous scissor sheath.  They took my breath away!

I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world for having met Julie through a swap that she hosted.  I think our husbands breath a sigh of relief that we live so far away from one another because there’s no telling what kind of trouble we’d get into if we were any closer.

Thank you, Julie…and from the bottom of my ♥ 

Your gifts and friendship mean the world to me.

And I just have to end this post with a picture of our Westie, Mac.  He just came back from the doggie beauty shop about an hour ago and I decided that I’d better snap a picture quickly because…being a typical male…he won’t look this clean, neat and tidy in a couple of hours from now.

 Not too bad for an eleven year old, huh?  No, not me…Mac!  *wink*

Happy stitching!

Kaaren ♥

It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like…

Christmas! 

At long last!  I’m sure I’ll be regretting these words in a couple of months but this is our backyard at 7:45 this morning…

 

 

 

It took until the last day of November to arrive…the snow, i.e. and not Santa…at least not yet!  As you can see in the background beyond the fence, the farmer has yet to harvest the corn so I guess the deer will be plentiful this winter enjoying the feast that was left for them.

Yesterday I started to decorate for Christmas.  Although I haven’t completely finished, the tree is up, a few of the other decorations are in place and the outside is done except for a string of lights in one of the urns that needs to be replaced because it decided not to light up this year.  That will be done later today after my trip to the store to buy a replacement set.

There’s nothing more beautiful than a Christmas tree shining brightly with  hand made ornaments displayed for all to see.  I can sit and stare at it for hours.

 

Can you see the reflection of the Christmas lights in the glass panes of the quilt cupboard?

And now the sideboard in our hallway has been changed to display it’s Christmas finery...

as well as the hunt table…

and the island in the kitchen.  Did you notice the sheep chocolate mold?  That was a recent birthday gift from my friend Lucie.  I absolutely love it and it will be a welcome addition to my sheep collection.

The quilt on the bed in the spare bedroom has been changed to the antique red and white one in anticipation of Christmas visitors.

And I couldn’t forget the feather tree on the corner cabinet with it’s pipe cleaner santa ornaments atop the corner cabinet in the kitchen .

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I still have some fresh greenery to add here and there but for the most part, the holiday decorating is done.  Soon the baking will begin and the house will be filled with familiar aromas, synonymous only with Christmas.

And if you can believe it, this Friday, the 4th of December, is the First Friday of the month…already!  You know what that means!  Don’t forget to come back because that’s when the 4th FFF (First Friday Freebie) will be made available for you to download and enjoy.  Until then…

Happy stitching…and decorating…and baking…and wrapping gifts!

Kaaren ♥

Olde Fashioned Christmas Swap

When Char of The Pickled Pepper Patch announced the she was hosting her first Olde Fashioned Christmas Swap, I decided that it sounded like too much fun to pass up.  So, without a second thought, I threw caution to the wind and sent her the email to “sign me up!”

Just last week, my swap partner, Nerina, received the goodies I sent to her.

My gifts from back to front in the photo included a pillow which I stencilled with authentic cream paints and then  hand quilted. 

In the upper left is a snowman that I made from a vintage bobbin.

To the right of the bobbin is a old world style santa that I made from a vintage pint milk bottle.  Can you see the original bottle cap? 

Coming forward and on the left is a primitive snowman ornament and to the right of him are two snowmen ornaments that I made from styrofoam balls covered with crinkled tissue paper.  The noses are made from the same sculpting clay as the santa beard and fur.

Hiding behind the snowmen is a candle in a glass votive and right in front is a battery operated tea light in an candle holder with some pears around it to add interest.

Today when I went to the post office, there was a card in our box indicating that there was a parcel waiting to be picked up inside.  Lo and behold, here’s what was waiting for me.

A parcel from Nerina!

And inside the box…

All these wonderful goodies…a framed stitchery with the words, “It’s a wonderful life”, 3 star-shaped bowl fillers, 2 glass votive candles,  a Christmas scented room freshener, a wooden placque and a garland with made made hearts, snowmen and stockings! 

Thank you so much, Nerina and a special thanks to Char for hosting the swap.

~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~

Do you realize that Christmas is less than a month away?  I hope to start my holiday decorating this weekend but I’m having a difficult time trying to get into the spirit with the unseasonably mild temperatures we’ve been experiencing lately.  The grass is still green and the ground hasn’t frozen yet either!

Happy stitching!

Kaaren ♥