Blackbird Designs Contest Entry

Here's my entry for the Blackbird Designs Blog contest...Maya Teresa is my brand new great niece! I found pretty piece of lavender dupioni in my stash...maybe I'll make this into a little pillow...still undecided!
I used 32ct. hand-dyed Beach Plum linen and a Needle Necessities Thread from my stash.

Free pattern and details on Alma and Barb's blog- http://blackbird-designs.blogspot.com/

I so love French goodies...hope I win!
XXXX
Cari

Some lovely gifts from far away!

In the last couple weeks I've received two wonderful exchanges!

From Monika in Hungary:

Her stitching is so nice and she has only been at it for a couple of years! Apologies for the poor scan. Thanks so much Monika!

This international exchange was http://swapwithnina.blogspot.com/ put together by the very talented stitcher Nina in Hungary.

Next, dear Carol of http://carolsxsblog.blogspot.com/ Garden of Stitches put together a biscornu exchange for me because my partner disappeared. (let's hope she is okay!)

It's so lovely and Purple! (my favorite color!) I'm stealing her picture because it is so much better than my scan. Thanks Carol! You are so sweet for doing that!

The pictures never seem to go where I want them!

On the home front, I've been very sick lately and would appreciate your prayers!

XXXX

Cari

wonderful exchange in the mail today!

This was the fabulous exchange I received from Edgar at http://blacksheepsite.blogspot.com/ today! His stitching is really lovely and boy was he generous with extras! By the way...the exchange was Winter Quaker from the Hooked on Exchanging blog. Lots of nice folks there!

I don't live all that far away from Edgar...Maybe we'll meet up one day... :-)

Back to California

I was back East for several weeks taking care of my Mom. She had a knee replacement and needed quite a bit of help. Poor lady...she needed the strong pain medication but it kept making her nauseous to add insult to injury. I was hoping to see my stitching friends in the area but just didn't have any time and my eyes don't allow me to drive at the moment so it just didn't happen this time.

My sister and my nephew are both getting married in August so maybe I can connect then...

And...We may be moving to Pennsylvania in the next few months. Since I retired we just can't afford to live in California.

I came back to some lovely mail!

From Missy Ann in Texas...mailart! Can you believe this is her first mailart?

I am amazed! The stitching and finishing is lovely...my first certainly didn't look this good! Have a look...I love fairies so she picked just right! Thanks so much Missy Ann!

Purple Snowman from Shepherd's Bush was waiting as well as the last of the Sea to Shining Sea series from Dear Lois at the Elegant Stitch. If you are looking for a wonderful online store, I highly recommend the Elegant Stitch!

Omnivore's Hundred

Instructions:
Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
Optional extra: Post a comment here linking to your results.The Omnivore's Hundred

Venison
Nettle tea
Huevos rancheros
Steak tartare
Crocodile
Black pudding
Cheese fondue
Carp and catfish -I love catfish!
Borscht
Baba ghanoush
Calamari -YUM!
Pho
PB&J sandwich
Aloo gobi -WTF?
Hot dog from a street cart
Epoisses
Black truffle -I may be the only one on the planet who does not appreciate truffles.
Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
Steamed pork buns
Pistachio ice cream
Heirloom tomatoes -the best!
Fresh wild berries
Foie gras
Rice and beans
Brawn
Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper -what do you take me for?
Dulce de leche
Oysters -breaded and deep fried! woohoo!
Baklava- I make a mean one!
Bagna cauda -Io non capisco.
Wasabi peas
Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
Salted lassi -Don't eat dogs. ;)
Sauerkraut
Root beer float
Cognac with a fat cigar
Clotted cream tea
Vodka jelly
Gumbo
Oxtail
Curried goat
Whole insects
Phaal
Goat’s milk
Malt whiskey -blech
Fugu
Chicken tikka masala
Eel
Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnuts
Sea urchin
Prickly pear
Umeboshi meh
Abalone
Paneer
McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
Spaetzle
Dirty gin martini -despise gin!
Beer above 8%
Poutine
Carob chips
S’mores -I like mine without that yucky marshmallow
Sweetbreads
Kaolin
Currywurst
Durian
Frogs’ legs
Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
Haggis
Fried plantain -Si, platanos!
Chitterlings, or andouillette
Gazpacho
Caviar and blini
Louche absinthe
Gjetost
Roadkill
Baijiu
Hostess Fruit Pie
Snail
Lapsang souchong
Bellini
Tom Yum
Eggs Benedict
Pocky
Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
Kobe beef
Hare
Goulash
Flowers -Nasturstiums are nice
Horse
Criollo chocolate
Spam
Soft shell crab
Rose harissa
Catfish
Mole poblano
Bagel and lox
Lobster Thermidor
Polenta
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
Snake

Wonderful Stuff in the Mail!

Today was a wonderful mail day! First off, I received my HOE Lizzie Kate exchange from Mama Joan at http://stitchingsquad.blogspot.com/ Her finishing is absolutely perfect and I love every single thing that she sent me! Boy have I been spoiled!

Next I got my order from Joggles.com - a wonderful site! Well, I don't know how I did it and can't seem to fix it...the two patterns in the upper right is what I received from Joggles today...a cute apron and sweatshirt pattern.

Off to fondle my new goodies! Have a wonderful Saturday!

XXXX

Cari

A bit more progress on Mystery Spot Sampler

I'm done with page 2 now and have a bit of a start on page 3.

This one is immensely enjoyable but I'm feeling pressure since I'm so behind...I think page 20 has been published!

I love Blackbird Designs!

Blackbird Designs comes a close second to Shepherd's Bush in my book! I got a nice little start today on BD's Mystery Sampler #1. I'm going to be adventurous and stitch it on the pieces of linen that need sewn together at the end.

This evening I'm going to start my first-ever no sew cube finish for my Lizzie Kate exchange on the H.O.E. blog. Wish me luck!

Have a wonderful Sunday evening all!

Exchange pictures and BP Quaker Progress

Mayte ( http://magicxstitch.blogspot.com/ ) had a Christmas ornament exchange this last year and I've heard from my partner in Barcelona that she has received it and likes it!

WOW that took a long time to get there!

I've joined Hazel's Beatrix Potter Quaker Stitchalong blog http://nbpq.blogspot.com/

I was the 100th member...Phew! Here's a pic of my January progress. I chose DMC threads 3740, 3041,3042. (dusty grape colors) I'm doing 1 over 1 on this one. The fabric is either an Antique Ivory or a Custard Cream...I didn't have it labeled. Anyways, it's not at all green like it looks in the scan!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Mystery Spot Sampler

I can't show you what I stitched on today...it's for a Lizzie Kate exchange on the HOE blog.

I CAN show you my little bit of progress on the Mystery Spot Sampler. I am very nearly done with part 1. I'm using 3 colors of Hand-dyed Fibers silk. (a grape, a plum and a variegated one of both.) Lambswool linen in 28ct. over one.

Thanks for reading my new blog...your comments mean a lot!

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!

Band Sampler RR 2008-2009

Today I finished up my part on Misty's RR. She always chooses the nicest color schemes! The last three rows are my doing. The scan is a bit hard to see. My first row is snails.