Exchange and a Swap arrive & Musical Movies

I heard from Karen that the Winter House exchange I sent has arrived - and that everything made it. Here is a snap of the package that I sent -

The Pyn Keepe I made combines two patterns - an LHN border and the center part from PS. I really liked the way it turned out and so did Karen - I was getting worried as it took this about 3 weeks to arrive - and me being such a worry wart I started to get nervous at about a week - but it got there safe and sound!! It was the last Exchange from the SBEBB and what a super place that was to make great stitchy friends and exchange some really wonderful stitched things!! Thank you again Becky!!!! Last night I worked on an exchange - stitching is done and now all I have to do is the construction of the piece and getting it out next Tuesday.

I also received and package from a swap I did on Swap Bot - called "Home Grown Swap" basically it was to send something from your home town that is made in that town. My package was some really wonderful chocolates from Joseph Schmidt made right here in SF. The package I got was from Philadelphia - and included some apple butter - (which I just adore!!!!!!) an free trade espresso bar of chocolate and some "Peanut Chews" I had never heard of.


Let me say here and now - these are the bomb!!!! If you like peanuts and chocolate and chewy - you will just love these things. My partner says that they are unknown outside of SE PA. So it would be a regional delicacy - just super good!!!!

Last night it was Bio-pic night on TCM and they showed some whoppers!! Starting off the evening with "Night and Day" - 1946 - starring Cary Grant and Alexis Smith. This is the very fictionalized story of Cole Porters life - but like with most of these bio-pic movies the are pretty far fetched stories but the music is just great!! This was followed by "Rhapsody in Blue" - 1945 starring Robert Alda, Joan Leslie and once again Alexis Smith. This flick at least had some kernels of truth but was once again a fictionalized story this time about Grorge Gershwin. The next on the bill was "Three Little Words" -1950 - starring Fred Astaire, Red Skelton, Vera Ellen and Arlene Dahl at her stunning best!!! This flick was about the songwriting partnership of Kalmar and Ruby - wonderful songs and all three pictures were fun and very watchable!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Take care,
edgar

Some Weekend and Stitchy News

I heard that another exchange piece had arrived. I am in an ornament exchange with some dear stitchers and I have heard that Cathy has gotten her ornament - she is the recipient for January. Here is a snap -

The pattern is from Heartstring Primitives and is called "Peace on Earth." I wanted it to feel like an old sampler piece. The ribbon for hanging is attached with two antique mop buttons. I am so glad that Cathy likes it as I really enjoyed stitching it together. Tuula has posted some snaps of the flat fold I made her. That piece was for the MAW exchange.
I have another MAW in the works for Jill - she wants a Brightneedle piece - now which one to do - they are all so very nice???

I received on Friday the very last exchange from the SBEBB - "Winter House" and my exchange partner was Becky K - and she stitched me a super little pillow - here is a snap of the entire exchange she sent me -

and a close up of the lovely stitched piece -



Knowing what a nut I am for the PS designs she chose a perfect one!!
Thank you so much Becky for everything!!!

On Saturday we went out Garage Saleing and Junque Shopping
- Here is a snap of the treasures I picked up -

I got the 5 Quart Casserole for $5 and the Christmas plate for $10 both at Goodwill shops. I didn't find a thing at any of the Garage Sales or the two Estate Sales we visited - that's the breaks sometimes there is just nothing out there to get!!

A new discovery for us was a Co-Op Bakery called Arizemendi - on 9th Avenue.
Just the best!!! I picked up some bialies for Sunday -

Talk about being in Hog Heaven!! I love these things - and usually by the time I get up and going the two bakeries on 24th street are out - BTW these were ever so much better than the ones that I can get closer to my home. If you ever get to SF and find your self in the inner Sunset on 9th Ave between Irving and Judah stop in and pick yourself up something. Next time we go - and there will be a next time - I am getting some of their coffee cake - something they are well know for!!!!

Yesterday I had a new start - "Le Jardin" - It is a really nice piece to stitch - here is a snap of what I have done so far.


I went with the Heritage since the mottled effect has a green tint that really goes well with the over dyed floss' that I am using. The original pattern called for only DMC but I shifted all the colours to over dyed and expanded the palette a bit to include an extra red and blue. The snap sorta sucks since I took it last night around 10:30pm - but you get the idea.

One of the movies I watched this weekend was "The Robe" - 1953 starring Richard Burton, Jean Simmons and Victor Mature. Such a really nice and BIG movie. Big actors, big sets, big scenes, big music and a BIG story..... I really enjoyed this and had not seen it for a really long time. The ending was a bit much but it was Hollywood in the 1950's. A great movie for Easter. Another film from the weekend was from last night on TCM - they showed "Bye, Bye Birdie" - 1963 - starring Dick Van Dyke (his first movie), Janet Leigh and Ann-Margaret. I am a sucker for this movie and always have been!! Who wouldn't want to visit Sweet Apple, Ohio for a little while - AND - who isn't mesmerized by Ann-Margaret as Kim McAfeee (Her second movie - her first was being the daughter to Bette Davis in Frank Capra's "Pocket Full of Miracles" - 1961, BTW another wonderful movie!!)

That's about all I can inflict on you today - Thanks for stopping by!!!

Take care,
edgar

I missed Posting Yesterday

I am such a ding sometimes - I was totally working on a post for HOE - (I am moderating the Winter Quaker Exchange) and got so involved in doing that - I missed posting here. I think the reason is that I wanted to make sure that all - or at least most of the spelling mistakes were eradicated before I slapped that sucker up there. If you read here with any regularity you know for certain that spelling is a totally weakness for me and I am running spell check all the time ... and I still miss mistakes.

On the stitching front i am working on the very last SBBC Exchange - Winter House - I have changed what I am stitching three times - and finally ended up combing two different patterns - I really like the piece and hope the recipient does also.

Sherry asked about the White chocolate cake I made at Christmas - I got the recipe from All recipes.com, just click that link and it will take you to the White Christmas Cake. I really like that site and have found many great recipes to make. The only change I made was to make it round and not square as my Mom did not have three square pans. I always read through the comments as the changes others have made to the recipes really help with problem areas.

Last night the movie was a Netflix feature - "Anne Frank: The Whole Story" - 2001 a three hour TV spectacle that i really enjoyed as It followed the family to the concentration camps they were sent to after being taken from the attic space.

Thank you all once again for the kind things you had to say in the comments area. Sherry saw my RR over on Dear Vonna's site - she added a super PS Witch - the question was about the linen - and yes, it is a hand dyed piece from BOF called Meadowlark, I think. :) - I do know I got it from NIAH with Mary's help - she is always so helpful whenever I visit - and i think I need a visit since it has been way over a month since I was over in Alameda.... how was that for some odd tangents....???

How about another beach snap from Christmas....

Looking North along the wide white sands of Daytona Beach , Florida. The ocean was so flat every time I visited and so bright and sunny.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care,
edgar

Mail coming and Going and a film...

I received a really lovely Biscornu from Carol yesterday as Part of one the last SBEBB exchanges - ABC Exchange - I have really enjoyed all the exchanges I have participated in on the SBEBB and will always be grateful for the encouragement and support from fellow stitchers - Thank you so much dear Becky!!!!! - The piece that Carol sent was of course just prefect -

It is the December Quaker Biscornu from the Workbasket done on Silkweaver - Solo Newcastle - 40 ct linen - the floss is HDF Garnet - could it be more perfect - I love Christmas, Quaker and red!!! It has my initials on the upper left corner - in the right corner is DEC for December and the bottom two corners have the year - Thank you so much Carol!!!!

I worked a little on Valerie's QFRR - here is a progress snap -

The two little bits above the wreath - I was busy finishing up the MAW for Tuula - which is going in the mail this morning - also going into the mail is Donna's Halloween RR to Terry. I am expecting to get any day now Donna's LHN RR from last year that she finally got back - I think I have a chart picked out but I want to see the piece in person to make sure it fits with the rest of the filled squares.

I think I am catching up as the heaps of paperwork are going down - I have not gotten to do any catch up reading blogs - so am feeling left out of the all mighty stitching loop that I just know is whirling away out there!!!!!!

One of the films I saw over the Holidays is a really great film called "Joyeux Noel" - 2005 - based in a true story of Christmas 1914 in the trenches - a really good film and not your typical Holiday fare - I would highly recommend seeing this 116 min flick.

Thanks for stopping by!!!!
and
Thank you all for the nice things you had to say yesterday!!!!!

Take care,
edgar

Goodies arrived and some stitching

I got a super box on the way out of the office last Wednesday when I got home I put it on my desk. There is sat until yesterday when I got to sit down and enjoy opening it up....... let me tell you what a super box of Christmas wonderfulness awaited -

It was from Amy at Cross Stitch and Cupcakes - we were exchange partners in the SBEBB Christmas ornament Exchange - Here is a snap of the entire exchange


The ornament was from the 2008 JCS and he is just the cutest!!


Amy included some delicious hand creme - that makes me smell like cookies!! I love it!! She also included a set of Holiday Yankee Candles - I just love this company and burn their candles year round - now how did Amy know this!!! The package also included some super mints and a great piece of finishing fabric!! Thank you so much for the wonderful exchange!!!!!!

I also received a super cute ornament from Anna
- she did a give-a-way and here is a snap of this darling piece -

Included in the package was a chocolate bar from Poland - now how nice was this!!!
Thank you so much Anna for the lovely ornie and tasty chocolate!!!!

I just love these drawings and give-a-ways!!!! I am getting the itch to do another - but I have to wait until after Christmas - just to let the mails settle down a bit before I throw anything else into the mix. So keep an eye out the first couple of weeks of January!!

I finished up the reindeer and here is a snap -

I am really happy withe the way he turned out - I changed the font - as the plain back stitching I did not care for. Now I need to finish up and whip him into an ornament.

I have quite a few snaps from the weekend - but those will be for later into the week.

I hope every ones Holiday was just super!!!
Thanks for stopping by - and thank you all so very much
all the lovely comments that you left!!!!!

Take care,
edgar

Exchange arrives, some stitching, a goddess, an opinon and some cleaning!

I heard from Amy over at Cross Stitch and Cupcakes that the SBEBB Christmas Ornament Exchange arrived - so I thought I would post a snap -

I stitched up one of the Old World Santa's from PS using DMC - He is a mountain climbing St Nick - I just love doing these Santa Ornies - such fun stitches!! I included some Christmas goodies - including some Lupicia "White Christmas" tea - tea bags- so delicious!!!!! They do special flavoured teas every Holiday Season and this was a total home run with me! It has cocoa/apricot and cookie flavours in back of a nice black tea leaf - how they do it- at first I sort of snorted at it thinking "chocolate tea" - but they let you taste anything you like in the store so I did and now it's a top 10 fav!!!! I buy the loose tea and brew pots at a time and the loose tea is dark with little silvery sparkles that float about making the tea really special just to look at.

Last night I worked some on the Quaker Reindeer Ornie for me
- here is a progress snap -



He is coming along just fine - I am using WDW Cocoa with a little HDF OmotH for the nose.

Last night TCM had famous couples on the screen evening and they showed a really gorgeous film "Cleopatra" - 1963 - starring Richard Burton, Rex Harrison and that screen siren at the top of her looks, powers and skill - Elizabeth Taylor - I really love this spectacle no matter how far from the truth they strayed - it is something to watch and get caught up in!!

Now on to soliciting opinions........ I am trying to decide what linen to use for the ABC SAL that starts in the next week or so - I know I want to use Belle Soie silks (Plush Plum and Scarecrow) - because I like them and I already have them so I do not need to spend up the cash but I have two pieces of linen -and am torn as to which to use - I am leaning towards the lighter one - PTP Sterling - but kinda like the dark - PTP "Heritage?" (the tag fell off - so I am not quite sure) - what do you think - leave a comment as I can't make up my mind!



Last night began the work towards Thanksgiving Dinner - with getting out my grandmothers crystal and sterling giving it all a good wash and polish.

I love hauling out this stuff and using it as it connects me to her and going to my Grandparents for Thanksgiving. My sister and her family are coming so my niece and nephew will be using their great grandmothers things connecting them to the past and making new memories for us and them to carry into their futures. It is such a great time of year for family and being thankful - and I just love the post that Lori at Not Forgotten Farms wrote yesterday - if you get the chance check it out!! It really remind one how lucky we are!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!!!! Thanks for stopping in!

Take care,
edgar

Exchange arrives and some movies -

I heard from Becky K that the SBEBB Reindeer Exchange had arrived - here is a snap


I stitched her up a Pyn Keepe - I modified one of the PS Winter Samplers that I really love - I was very pleased with the way it turned out. The package included some reindeer themed extras I thought Becky would enjoy.

Last night my stitching was on an exchange that is coming up in the far future
- so no snaps of that.

Over the weekend there were a couple of flicks I wanted to mention - starting off with "The Stork Club" - 1945 starring Betty Hutton. This is a really cute musical vehicle for Betty - co starring Daniel Defore and Barry Fitzgerald. The DVD was from Netflix and you probably couldn't have found a worse copy of the movie. The second flick was "Thank Your Lucky Stars" - 1943 - The premise is a couple of produces played by Edward Everett Horton and S K Sakall putting together a cavalcade of stars for a wartime charity show. One of the numbers I really enjoyed was Ida Lupino, Olivia de Havilland and George Tobias (Abner Kravitz of Bewitched) doing the jitterbug - very funny!! This film along with "This is the Army" - 1943 and "Hollywood Canteen" - 1944 are being released as a three DVD Box set called The Home front Collection.

Thanks for all the great feedback yesterday!!! and
Thank you all once again for stopping in and visiting!!

Take care,
edgar

An exchange arrives, some major PS Stash and 2 flicks

I got some great mail yesterday - I was in the harvest Exchange on the SBEBB and my partner was Leena. She also stitched for me in the Fall House exchange and made a lovely tea tin cosy. I was once again the recipient of her super stitching and received this really sweet piece -

I really love pumpkins and they are a symbol of the fall harvest. Leena finished it off with a dried thistle pod. Thank you so much Leena once again for such a lovely treat!!

I also had received a package I had totally forgotten about. A while back I won on eBay a "lot" of PS Charts. It included a bunch of low numbered books, including numbers 1 & 2, that where out of print and that I didn't have. The lot also included quite a few early PS Santa cards that I didn't have (and some I did). First off I was stunned I won this pile and the relatively low price I paid, but whatever.... so it arrived and I am just bouncing off the wall!!! Here is a snap -


Some do have little notes or the occasional bookplate from the original owner but they are all in really super condition. This really fills out the list of charts I was looking for and chasing down one at a time. With so many of these charts hitting the OOP list I am having to get them on the secondary market which is quite an adventure in hunting!! I have found that the Autumnal and Christmas charts are the hardest to get - so if you got 'em hang on to them!!! I did want to answer a question from yesterday's comments - the Cardinal I am working on is a Prairie Schooler chart called "Birds and Berries" and is OOP and a hard one to find - or it was for me - but the Book has four bird designs and I think they are really sweet! Flipping around the blogs lately I have seen lots of PS being stitched - I wonder why that is??? I often wonder about the popularity of designers - every now and again there seems to be a designer that lots of stitchers are stitching and then it shifts to another designer and they are the flavor of the month - I wonder why????? Oh well - too much to think about on a Wednesday.......

I worked on finishing up two exchanges -
getting them ready for mailing tomorrow so no stitchy snaps.

The movies last night were - "Handful of Dust" - 1988 - what an odd empty movie - the book is supposed to be really good but this film translation was a bit long on "not much going on" with a bazaar ending. It is basically a study in lives of artifice and emptiness. Lovely production and the acting is superb - but a bit dull - I really liked Anjelica Huston in this as always superb!! This was followed up with "Top Hat" - 1935 - The evening ended on an up note - cha-ching!!!! Who can beat a super duper Astaire and Rogers flick!!! Along with all the fake scenery and back lot filming - so thirties and such a winner!!!!

Thanks for stopping by and all the really nice comments
- they mean a lot!!!!!

Take care,
edgar

Exchange arrives, Antique show and some Deliciousness

I heard from Goldie that the Pyn-keepe I made her for the SBEBB Harvest Time exchange arrived safely - Here is a snap -


I used PS "Thanksgiving Comes Again" the four square chart from the back. Using 32 ct LL Vintage Ex and the charted DMC floss. It is pattern I have wanted to stitch up for the longest time and really like lots!!! I am so glad that she likes it - enjoy Goldie!!!! The fall is favorite time of the year and I think that this epitomizes everything about leaves turning, getting in the bounty from the land and making ready for the winter.

We went to the Hillsborough Antique show in San Meteo yesterday - there was some really lovely things. These shows happen 3 times a year. I haven't been to one in a couple of years. If I only had a ton of money what I wouldn't buy...... I didn't get a single thing - not a piece of china nor a bit of silver - which is very unusual as I can usually find something..... there were a couple of plates and a gorgeous dark blue transfer ware tea-pot...but I was strong and resisted!
.....and there is always February!!

We also eventually found and made a stop at Dynamo Donuts and Coffee - and let me tell you - just fantastic!!! I had read a review of them last week and on Saturday I was determined to find them. They are located on the left side of the street - look for the green awning or you'll miss it... like we did!

We got some to go and they come in a paper box - this little bird is one I picked up a Joannes fabrics from the fall sale stuff - 75% off so he was only $2!! How could I pass it up??? Back to the donuts - then you open that box and find -


Four - one of each kind they made for Saturday - l to r Vanilla Bean with Vanilla glaze, Chocolate with Anise glaze, Chocolate chip with chocolate glaze and last but far from least Pistachio with a lemon glaze. Let me tell you they are a bit more expensive than say Krispy Kreme (the best raised donuts on the planet) as these are cakey - but they are super duper good!!!!! They serve Stumptown Coffee - the best coffee on the planet - just ask my sister!! Worth the trip - hard to find any parking as they are located in the outer Mission, but if you get the chance make the effort - We certainly will again!!!

The stitching this weekend was all for exchanges still so I will post the snaps as the exchanges arrive in new homes - For the movies this weekend I will draw attention to a single flick - "Five Came Back" -1939 - starring Lucille Ball, Chester Morris and John Carradine. An excellent film from RKO Studios. The plot is simple. Morris and co-pilot Kent Taylor are flying a small passenger airline over South America and are forced down in the middle of a rain forest. Some patch work repairs are done. But the plane won't get off the ground with a full load. Some choices have to be made. With native headhunters all around and them having killed a couple of the passengers already, time is critical. Who will survive and who will be left behind. A short film at 75 mins and remade later on under the title "Back from Eternity" -1956. Worth a view if you get the chance.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!! Thanks for stopping by!

Take care,
edgar

Just a quick post.....

To let everyone know that I will leaving this morning to visit my sister in Vancouver WA and will be there until Monday- so that means no ramblings from me for few days.

Last night was more exchange stitching - I am just way too hooked on exchanges - Just love them- yessiree-bob!!! I am taking two exchanges to stitch and VoHRH in case I get through with the two - who knows it could happen!!

The movie last night was "Guilty Hands" - 1931 starring the ever lovely Kay Francis and the ever super ham Lionel Barrymore - it had a not so believable ending but was a fun movie overall.

There you go - have a great rest of the week - and I'll be back on Tuesday Morning!!

Thanks for stopping by-
take care,
edgar

Halloween Exchange arrives -

Yesterday a package from the UK arrived and it was the Halloween Exchange from the SBEBB - my partner was Chris and she did and absolute bang up job with everything!!
Here is a snap of the exchange -

The entire package was super - Chris stitched the Witches feet - I have this pattern somewhere in my stash, and have seen quite a few renditions on differnt Blogs - I really wanted to stitch it up - but tempus fugit - and now I have this wonderful hanging piece - it is hard to tell but this is a hanging piece - and as the cording for hanging is black and you really can't see it in this snap - in fact I hung it up when I got home and it looks really cute!!!!
The finishing extras will come in handy - Thank you so much Chris!!!!!

I worked on exchange stitching last night and will be exchange stitching exclusively for the next few days as I want to get ahead on my exchanges so that I can start in on my MM&I piece. I am waiting to start the MM&I beacuse I won some really expensive OOP charts on eBay and now sit waiting for them to arrive. I am just amazed at how much some of those PS charts go for - but when I want/need... gotta have - I am really gonna have to spend!!!! I shifted my idea from a winter piece to a Fall/Autumnal piece so I am rethinking some of the ideas - I already know what the border will look like. It is the arrangement of the middle ground that I am working on - trying to fit in all that I want to get in that square without making it a tablecloth sized piece to stitch!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!! Have a great weekend!!!!

Take care,
edgar

An Exchange, a Prize and a Wish aririves

It was mail overflowing yesterday for me....... Lets start off with the SBEBB Fall House Exchange - my partner was Leena and she made the most clever Tin finish - as you may recall I really love tea - especially black loose tea and drink it often - well, Leena finished off a Tin Cosy in the cutest way - here is a snap of the entire exchange -


This is the front on of the tin - included in the packages was a copy of the great magazine that had the sampler from which Leena stitched the designs - a black licorice pipe and great piece of linen and some lovely floss!! The piece is stitched on black linen with glow in the dark thread, here is a snap of the side - (both sides are identical)

and the back -



and she filled it with some wonderful black tea!!!
Thank you so much for the great exchange - I just love it!!

I was also the winner in Lillie's Drawing for the lovely Needle Roll she made - the package arrived yesterday - and I was amazed at the lovely prize she put together
- here is a snap -


Lillie was so generous with her prize - not only including the needle roll but some beautiful over dyed floss, trim and shell key ring - such a lovely- package thank you so much !!!!!!

I also heard from Gaby that the MAW Flat Fold I had made her arrived - I used LHN "Woodland Sampling " and the recommended DMC and think it turned out pretty cute!! here is a snap -



It may look like a Pyn Keepe but it is a FF - I just like the way the pyns finish off the edges.

____

About yesterdays Pyn Keepe chart - I did find my hard copy that I made when I found the chart - but the address printed on it no longer works. I am usually surfing about all over the Internet and whenever I come across a free chart that I may like to do I immediately make a copy (and that file is getting pretty full) as I just know I will never remember where it was to go back to. If I remember correctly this chart was from a French site - the image is called Quaker2008 - that's about all I came up with - I did surf about a long time last night trying to find it with out luck - but did find a few other free charts and some really great free sampler charts - so no time surfing around is ever wasted. I am often just stunned at the amount of free charted projects out there - and the generosity of stitchers and designers. If I ever run across the Quaker 2008 chart again I will totally make a note of the spot - and post it here.
____

I worked on VoHRH last night and got the walls up and now I am on to the roof - Here is a snap -


This square is coming along nicely - and I will be on to Square 9 in no time.

Thank you all for the nice comments and for stopping by!!!

Take care,
edgar

I'm a nut with no willpower!!!

Yesterday three other packages arrived for my Birthday - so after i got home I just couldn't resist any longer - I just tore right into the pile!!!! Lets start off with the first arrival - Elanor's package - as many of you know I sort of moderate the SBBC and my partner for this year was Elanor and she really out did herself - Out of about 50 participants I am the only person who knows who their partner is and the sender knows I know - so I think there is extra pressure - and this should be a no pressure thing - IMHO - so - here is a snap of the entire parcel -


and here is a close up of the lovely stitched bag -


It was so thoughtful and such a lovely gift!! Thank you so much Elanor!!

I also received a gifty from Carol S and here is a snap -


She made me a lovely floss tag - and included some floss bobbins - (which I have been needing for the longest time)Thank you so very much Carol!!!

I also got a package from Carol R and here is snap -


Another wonderfully finished floss tag, black sheep tape measure, a dragonfly scissor charm (already on the scissors that Elanor sent) and some lovely finishing ribbon and fabric!!
Thank you so much Carol!!!! -

These two ladies do such superior finishing and I am so lucky to have received both pieces!!!!

I also got a package from an old flame from my past - we have know each other almost 30 years - I am getting so old!! While she stays so young!! Dear sweet Nancy sent me -



The perfect candy!!! yes - you heard me!!! Only available in Daytona Beach at their two locations but ship-able all over the world!! I am not a chocolate fan - unless it is dark and bitter - but for Angell and Phelps I can even deal with the milk chocolate!!! This little confectionery company has been around for like 80 years and hand makes all of the stuff there in DB - Fla. I will probably make this box last a good three months - slowly eeking out half pieces here and there. I know how weird is he - but you gotta ask!!!! - I wonder is eeking even a word???

In the mad frenzy to open up all my packages I even got in some stitching
- here is a snap of VoHRH -

No too much but every stitch is one more to the finish!!

Yesterday I also heard from Judith that the SBEBB Halloween Exchange had arrived - here is a snap of the Pyn Keepe that I made and the package I sent to her -




I sent along with the Pyn Keepe, some charts from her wish-list,
some Altoids and spooky ghost Peeps - (not just for Easter anymore!!)

There you go - my birthday has started off with a bang!!
I will also be drawing for the gift-a-way tomorrow and
will announce on Monday the Birthday winner!!!


Have a great weekend!! The fire here in the Bay area is not the city burning down but the candles on my Birthday cake - so don't worry or believe and news reports!!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care,
edgar

Hobbit Styled Gift-a-way, and some exchanges arrive....

As my Birthday draws near I am wanting to do something special.... remember a while back - a week or so - I wrote about a Fall Drawing - well here it is!! I am doing a Hobbit Styled Birthday Gift-a-way - not in the true Hobbit since - I just can't stitch that much stuff - but I am going to put together a gift for some lucky winner out there in Blogland. How it works in the LOTR books is on a Hobbits birthday at the party all the guests get gifts - How this Gift-a-way will work is that if you would like to receive a gift from me for my birthday just leave a comment with this entry and on my birthday - next Saturday - October 4th - I will draw a name to win the Gift-a-way - how easy is that!! I am turning 45 (I just can't believe that either) - the drawing will close on next Friday, October 3, 2008 at 3pm - PST so just comment here before then. I will announce the winner on Monday - October 6th and will have the Birthday Present in the mail on the 7th - I am unusually organized lately - and it really scares me!! :)



Now on to the arriving exchanges - I know recently I have been madly working away at exchanges with no snaps here - now - I can post them ...

Lets start off with Lillie over at Lil' Needlecrafter in Malaysia - she was my partner in the HOE Prairie Schooler Exchange and I stitched her a PynKeepe - here is a snap of the exchange -


The design is from the PS Weather Wise chart - using the recommended DMC floss.

The next exchange to arrive was to Carol over at Garden of Stitches - it was for the Fall House Exchange with the SBEBB - I have stitched for Carol a few times this year and she is so easy to stitch for as both of us like the same things - stitch wise!! I stiched up a decorative Roll and here is a snap of the exchange -

The design is from PS chart Autumn Leaves and I knew it was perfect with the kitty on it!!

Also to arrive was the ornament for Vonna over at Twisted Stitcher for the Ornament Exchange. Here is a snap of the piece -


The pattern is from the PS chart Santa Rides - and I just love it and so does Vonna - it was a toss up between the Santa on the Deer and the Santa on the horse....
he finished up very nice - now I am making one for our tree!!

There you go .... some of the exchanges I sent out recently - all from Prairie Schooler -
I just love those charts!!!!

Last night was VoHRH and here is a progress snap -



Almost there with this square - then it is on to the Mill.

I just can not leave off this week without a comment about Grey's Anatomy... the first show of the season was last night with a 2 hour special.... pretty good overall - but is it going to be another year of waffling back and forth between those two and a ton a whining!!! I do not think I can take it for the whole season..... but we will give it a chance.

Thank you all for stopping by and for all the great comments!!!!
I do appreciate them!!

Have a great weekend - Take care,
edgar

PIF Participants, and that outgoing mail....

Well - we have some "winners" for the PIF's - I was really very touched that so many wanted to join my PIF and that the response's warranted a drawing of names - Thank you all so much!!! Once again I am very blessed with such nice folks reading this here blog! -

Setting the stage - In a secret a nameless cavern on the brink of an abyss with cauldron and elixir in hand a drawing was held that has no snaps .........woooo - hoooo - squeak..squeak.. squeak.. (sound effects for mystery)....... plus and the hound-a-liciousesss wouldn't sit still - they ran away from me - the paparazzi - so what am I to do??? The stitchers that are now in my web of PIF are:

Karen, Lisa and Deborah

Ladies my email is edgarmatt @ g mail . com (remove spaces) so please if you wouldn't mind contacting me with your details (as I'm unsure how to get hold of you to tell you that your name was drawn) so I have the lables ready when I've completed your PIF's.
I'll need your name and snail mail details.
Don't forget to post on your blogs the PIF details - you can stitch for as many as you like but a minimum of 2. Once again thank you all for your great interest!!

I am toting to the mail today a pile of stuff - The HOE Halloween Exchange, The SBEBB Fall House Exchange, The SBEBB Halloween Exchange, The Christmas Ornament Exchange, The Sampler Kit Lisa Won Yesterday and a Birthday present that should have gone out last week - I will look like some sort of camel dragging this stuff down Market Street, but I am glad to get it all out as some of it has quite a way to travel!!

Last night I only worked on Gabby's MAW exchange piece and am almost there still on track to have it in the mail on Thursday -
you see if I keep saying it will go out on Thursday it is bound to happen!!!

Once again dear friends - Thank you for stopping by!!!

Take Care,
edgar

Exchange Finishing Marathon, and a Small Drawing...

Last night I was in the throws of an exchange finishing frenzy, which will continue tonight after visiting Britex for some extra doo-dads..... so there are no snaps of any stitchy things....

This weekend while digging around looking for something else I ran across a make it yourself sampler kit I got last year. I never got around to doing anything with it so here it sits, brand new never played with -



I thought to myself that someone might want to make a their own sampler - instead of gathering dust at my house I am going to have a "BOD" drawing. So - if you would like to have this kit just leave a comment in today's comment section, you can leave a comment up until 3pm on Friday. I will have the mystic all seeing, all dancing chihuahuas do that voodoo they do so well and have a winner on next Monday - 9/22/08. Here is a snap of the inside


The kit includes: 2 full color instruction books, 3 traditional sampler charts, a piece of 14ct Aida cloth, an adjustable embroidery hoop, a thimble, 7 floss colours and a size 26 needle.

Last night was super movie night on TCM with a triple line up of chick flicks- starting off with the original "The Women" - 1939 starring MGM Divas - Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford, then it was "Stage Door"- 1937 with RKO Divas - Katherine Hepburn and Ginger Rodgers - the evening ended - or I should say my evening ended with "Little Women" - 1933 again with Katherine Hepburn. Three super-dee-duper flicks!! I was in hog heaven!!!

Just a reminder that the I am still taking sign ups for the SBBC 2009 - until next Friday 9/26/08. Just send an email to - edgar matt @ g mail . com (take out the spaces).

Thanks for stopping by!!

Take care,
edgar

Exchange received - on to Square One and some movies

The mailman delivered a gorgeous piece of Redwork stitching
- for the SBEBB Redwork V Exchange -
- the exchange was from Linda over at MooMotif.
Here is a snap of the entire exchange -


Included with the Mattress Pyn Cushion was a JBW Rooster chart with 3 skeins of lovely red floss and a great box of delicious dark chocolate candies!! The Pyn Cushion is stitched on both sides and is as gorgeous on one side as the other - here is a close up of one side -

and here is the other side -

Linda has read my profile and found that I was born in the year of the rabbit and included some in the stitching!! The note that was included explained where both charts came from but I left that at home this morning so I can't post that info today - I'll do that tomorrow. This is an absolutely gorgeous piece and it is my first Mattress Pyn Cushion!!
Thank you so much, Linda!!!!!

Last night I finished up Square 2 from the VoHRH and moved on to the border for Square 1
- here is a snap -


I deliberately corrected the spelling on Isaiah - if I hadn't done that it would have just driven me insane every time I looked at this when it gets finished!! Not that my spelling is any great shakes as you all know from just reading my ramblings here - but I try.

There has bee quite a few movies lately - TCM is having their annual "Summer Under the Stars" where they showcase for a 24 hour period the films of a single actor or actress - Yesterday was Claude Rains day and they showed some really wonderful movies last night - the two that I caught I have seen frequently - "Now Voyager" - 1942 - with Bette Davis... this weepy picture is really superb and I enjoy it every time I have seen it and last night was no exception!! The second flick was - "Mr. Skeffington" - 1944 again with Bette Davis - another top notch film featuring this pair of actors!! I finished out the evening with a recommended film. Back in July Kathryn suggested I watch a flick called "Paprika" - 2006 - This is usually not the kind of film I would normally watch as Japanese Anime is not my cup of Tea - but like with so many things that I do not care for there are exceptions and this is definitely one - What a visual feast - the story is odd but the images are just spectacular - worth watching just for that alone.
There are layers upon layers of visuals that leave you not really knowing where you are or if the characters are awake or dreaming -
If you get the chance you should try and watch it, you will not be sorry!!

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

take care,
edgar