Tuesday, December 18, 2012

A Christmas Exchange Arrived

Gentle Friends your super comments about my finishing the grass field are inspiring... but all that green is a bit overwhelming.  I'll just keep at it until it finishes up.  I already have a piece I will start in on the 1st and "come hell or high water"  I'll pull out a new needle, the fresh piece of linen and some silk and make a start.  I usually just keep using the same needle from project to project until it breaks or I loose it, usually I have used a needle so long that it becomes very thin and breaks.  The needle I am using at the moment for ATS is one I have used for a long while.  I wonder how long one should use a needle.  I know the gold plate wore off a loooooong time ago.
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Over the past year I was part of a small group of stitchers "Friends Stitching Through the Seasons"  we did a quarterly Exchange and my partner, Diane, received her last package yesterday.  I really enjoyed this group quite a bit and will miss it next year.  Here is a snap of the piece I stitched for her....


...... the chart is from Homespun Elegance and is one of the Cinnamon Stick's, I love this quote from "A Christmas Carol" - and have wanted to stitch it up for the longest time, and this was the perfect opportunity!!  Although I did the stitching on this piece it was wonderfully finished by sweet Faye over at Carolina Stitcher, her finishing is top notch and makes the stitching that much more special - Thank you Faye!!!
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There you go sports fans, thanks again for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,
edgar

19 comments:

  1. Great exchange stitching. I too, find that I use a needle a long time before using a new one.

    It was nice you and Rico got together with Shirlee and her husband. So much fun that people in stitching blogland can meet in person.

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  2. Love the exchange piece. I too use needles until the eyes bend or they simply snap in half! It's called "genetic miserliness" in my family. My good Christian grandmother donated gently used clothing and coats to the church...but not before cutting off all the valuable buttons so she could use them again when making new garments!!!

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  3. Beautiful piece -- love the stitching, and love the finishing by Faye!

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  4. Hi, the lttle pillow looks beautiful!
    Greetings

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  5. Love the ornament you stitched for Diane and Faye finished it perfectly.

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  6. Ohh, I never knew that needles broke with age!! Recently 2 of my needles broke and I thought it was because of my poor and rough handling.
    Very cute exchange. I love the rich red of the backing fabric

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  7. You and Faye make a great team. Your exchange piece is beautiful! I don't even use gold needles cause the gold is gone in 2 or 3 evenings. I do keep a "stable" of used needles on a needle minder so I'm ready to go, just don't ask me what size they are.

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  8. I love that finish and Faye did a great job. I'll be looking for that chart. We are big Christmas Carol fans!On Sat. we heard an actor do readings from Dickens at our local library.

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  9. Beautiful exchange. Love it
    Not the slightest clue how long a needle should be used. I have one per project. Normally I have a spare old one from one of the former large projects pinched in the fabric for the rare cases that a second needle comes in handy. And use the "old" ones also for smalls. Mine are also gold needles, I buy mine from England , they really last ages and are my ever favourite needles

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  10. Great piece. I have a stamp with that quote on it and it goes on the back of all of my Christmas cards. Speaking of Dickens, I need to pull out my Christmas Carol and begin my annual read - always a relief to see that Scrooge is redeemed once again.

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  11. The ornament is gorgeous! Faye did a great job on the finishing!

    Merry Christmas!

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  12. Great stitching and Faye did a fabulous job with the finishing! She is so inspiring!

    I use my needles until they are unusable or I loose them! (Luckily, and knock on wood, DH hasn't found any in the carpet in his sock feet!)

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  13. Love this! Your stitches and Faye's finishing are a great match!

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  14. The pillow turned out fabulously! I love the fabric end the little added mingle bells. I enjoyed your anecdote about using a needle until it breaks. I have yet to use one to that point, but oddly enough I hope to one day so I can earn my badge as a hard core stitcher, lol. Happy holidays, Edgar!

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  15. Love the exchange finish. Now I need to find that pattern! You just may melt that needle with ATS! :)

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  16. I use needles for hand work as long as they don't break or I lose them. Use to use machine needles that long ,too! I still have a hard time throwing them away after 6-8 hrs of sewing. That's what some recommend. Beutiful work as always. I have somethings kitted up. Just can't seem to get in the mood. Merry Christmas!

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  17. Very nice Edgar and a great finish. I can't keep my stitching MoJo going enough to get into a year long exchange. You are alway great with what you do. Happy Holidays and stay safe.

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Picking Up the Needle

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