SYHO Heart Healthy Recipe

As many of you know (especially needleworkers), I have been involved in the Stitch Your Heart Out (SYHO) campaign. The SYHO Campaign was created to excite stitchers with a new & fun project, create an interest in stitching for non-stitchers, and introduce stitching to the next generation while promoting heart health. Since the month of April features my design ("Established with Love", seen below) in the designer encyclopedia, I thought I would share with you my heart healthy recipe.

I absolutely love fresh vegetables...especially spinach...I seriously could eat a spinach salad every day and be happy...and I pretty much do! I am already anticipating the first farmers market of the season later this week....
Here is my heart healthy recipe for spinach salad:

In a large bowl toss salad ingredients:
Fresh spinach (torn)
Fresh mushrooms (sliced)
Green onion (chopped)
Grape Tomatoes (whole or cut in half)
Fresh Red and Yellow Peppers (chopped)
Feta Cheese (crumbled)

These are my personal favorites - but I have been known to add hot peppers and/or seasonal vegetables and/or nuts and/or black beans to "spruce it up" - use your favorite salad ingredients or whatever you have on hand!

Raspberry Salad Dressing:
· 1 cup fresh or thawed/drained frozen raspberries
· 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
· 4 teaspoons olive oil
· 1 pinch ground black pepper or cayenne pepper (I like things spicy!)

Press the raspberries through a fine sieve into a bowl to remove the seeds. In a sealable jar mix the raspberry puree and remaining ingredients - shake to combine. Add the dressing to your tossed salad.

You can learn more about the SYHO campaign by visiting the official blog...and be sure to read this month's SYHO newsletter (where you can read five little known facts about me). Plus, you can find "Established with Love" at your favorite needlework shop!

Simple Sassy Snap Bags

Do you ever have those days when you never slow down, but it doesn't seem like you have much to show for it?...that seems to be my life lately. I have been buried under an endless pile of work, trying to get my new BlackBerry set-up the way I want it, and yesterday my new color laser printer arrived. I think I finally have my new phone under control...and the printer is up and running...but the pile of work is still here. I *had to* mow and do yard work today...it has been raining for what seems like an entire week and we finally have some sun...so this morning after dealing with the printer issue, I managed to make it outside to manicure the lawn...but in the process, I missed getting together with my stitching group and the local quilt guild meeting. I really need an invention to give me a few more hours each day....either that, or something has to give. After tearing my hair out this afternoon working on some printing files, I decided to take a few minutes and finish my "snap bags"...a little sewing therapy...

This is such a fun little pattern called "Snap Happy!" by Stitchin' Sisters. These cute little bags use metal carpenter measuring tape (in the casing) to snap them open and closed....it works really slick! I just purchased a cheap metal measuring tape at Lowe's and used old scissors to cut it into the needed pieces. The pattern has instructions for three sizes of bags: large (7.5" x 6.75"), medium (6.5' x 5.5"), and small (5.5 x 4.25). They are quick and easy to make and the directions make them "sew" simple. The prairie point tabs on each side are used to pull the bag open...and handle loops are added for easy hanging. The pattern also gives you basic instructions to create your own custom size - I plan to experiment to make cross stitch project bags approximately 12" x 9.5"...I have some fabulous sampler style fabric that would be perfect to more of these. I have also thought about machine embroidering names or monograms on them...or adding trims/rick rack...I have lots of ideas to embellish these snappy bags! (The fabric used in the photos is "Attitude Girls" by Mary Engelbreit for Moda.)

Now that I have had some time to be creative, I must get back to those *insert expletive* printing files...hopefully stepping away for a bit has made the task a bit more manageable...

Saturday Sewing

This morning I made time for a little Saturday sewing. My days have been filled with Blue Ribbon Designs and I needed a little creative intervention.

My sewing pile (or should I say stack) is heaping...so I picked an older project I had packaged up with fabric and ready to go - it is called "Foldover Bag" and is by Renee Plains of Liberty Star. I really liked the front and back pockets with buttons...I used some great flower-shaped shell buttons from Moda. I am always on the lookout for black/brown cotton prints - I have been collecting fat quarters of black/brown fabrics for quite some time - hoping to one day make a large quilt. I absolutely adore the floral focus fabric I used in the this tote (it is also the lining) - I bought yardage of it specifically for this project and pulled a couple of my black/brown fat quarters to work with it. The photo on the right shows the bag without being folded over for closure - the photos below show the top folded over - front (left) and back (right). This bag took about 2 hours to make...and that includes all the ironing, cutting, and piecing. This is a great size for carrying my favorite stitching project...and has a nice size pocket on both the front and the back...along with a generous inside pocket. It was the perfect Saturday Sewing distraction...refreshing me for my current workload. For me, it is always fun to take a break and do a little sewing and quilting...

Enjoy the rest of your weekend...find time to take a break and relax...work on a project that brings you joy!

Just For Fun...

Hello friends and followers!

I know it has been a whole week since my last post...and well, basically, it is because I have been super busy. I am teaching at the first New England Stitchers' Retreat next month (there are still a few openings - please join us - I would love to meet you!) and I have been preparing and getting the files layouts ready for printing. I have also been charting some new designs for release this summer...plus I have designed a special needlework tool and have been spending time perfecting the prototype and getting production started.

I have managed to finish a set of fabric dolls...these are actually from the fabric line "Aunt Lindy's Paper Dolls" by Sibling Arts Studio for Blue Hill Fabrics. I picked up this fun fabric panel (four dolls and four pets) on our weekend getaway to Galena. I actually have a paper doll quilt from the Baum Textiles fabric Paper Dolls completely pieced and ready to quilt....in fact, it has been in the machine quilting pile since last fall....maybe these dolls will be the motivation I need to get it finished! Over the last week, I worked a little on the dolls each day - I think cutting them all out took the longest. Last night, I finally got them stuffed and started hand sewing the openings closed...and this morning I finished them up. Each doll is approximately 14" tall. For some reason, even though I am not a "doll person", these bring me joy! Hopefully I will be showing you my finished paper doll quilt next....I just have to make the time to quilt it...

On the agenda today...I am starting to model stitch "Sweet Simple Samplings"...a new release for this summer...maybe you will get a peek in the next few weeks...

Wishing you sunshine, signs of spring, and things that bring you joy...

Shiny New Frames

My Papillon Creations Mystery Sampler is finally ready to display - I was able to pick it yesterday...and just had to share it with you before it went on the wall! What a treat to have this piece finished and framed after starting it years ago. ...and going along with my finishing UFOs and spring cleaning, I decided it was time to frame a couple more pieces in my aging completed pile. I think we all have them....pieces we stitched and put aside to finish or frame at a later date...well in my case, these pieces were stitched years ago, as you see by the "2004" date on one of the pieces. Over the years, I have compiled a pretty good pile of completed pieces waiting to be framed or finished in some way. Slowly, but surely, I have made the decision to get these orphaned pieces out of the needlework safe and into my home! There is one small problem - with a couple hundred framed works already in my home, the challenge is finding creative ways to display them...

Shown below:

Left: "Freedom Flowers" by Just Nan....I remember stitching this design right when it was released...and I loved the over-one stitching (butterflies) and specialty stitches. The fun frame gave it a great new look!

Right: "Truly Thine" by Blackbird Designs (Loose Feathers Number 6). Over the years, I have collected and kitted all the Loose Feathers Club designs...and the first year, I actually stitched all of them. In 2004, I stitched both the heart-shaped pillow with strawberry emery and the sampler design...it just took me until 2010 to get it framed.

It was delightful to see these pieces I worked on years ago in their shiny new frames....and as I continue to rescue old finished pieces from the completed pile, I will be sure to share them with you!

Replenished and Refreshed

This past weekend, my husband planned a wonderful getaway for our recent 10th wedding anniversary. He knew there was a gorgeous bed & breakfast I really wanted to visit in Galena, IL...so to surprise me, he made reservations to spend Saturday night, along with dinner reservations in their dining room. What a wonderful getaway - I truly did not realize how much I needed it!

We left early Saturday morning drove to Galena...spent the late morning and afternoon shopping on Main Street and having lunch at Durty Gurt's (which is a fabulous burger joint!). I got to visit The Timeless Needle, an amazing needlework shop in Galena, along with a bunch of other fun and artistic shops...what a treat! That evening we headed to the Goldmoor Inn a FABULOUS bed & breakfast located high atop the bluffs overlooking the majestic Mississippi River - this inn was incredible! My husband had planned for flowers, champagne, and chocolate-covered strawberries to be awaiting our room arrival (which was so very sweet). We unpacked, cleaned-up, and after a short country drive through the area, took our bottle of champagne and glasses to the sitting room deck and enjoyed it outside overlooking the Mississippi River. We then walked over to the dining room, where the chef prepared the most wonderful dinner...what a great, relaxing night. And I must mention, as it has never happened before, earlier in the evening, while I was getting cleaned-up, my husband ironed for me...yes, I said he ironed for me!

After sharing a delicious breakfast, we were on our way home, making a late morning/afternoon stop in the Amana Colonies for more shopping and a visit to Heritage Designs Quilting and Needlework, where I did even more stash enhancement! It was a lovely weekend getaway, and I am feeling replenished and refreshed...

Shown below is the Goldmoor Inn:

We stayed in the Elizabeth Suite - complete with full-canopied bed, fireplace, whirlpool and private breakfast nook:

Cute As Can Be

Before picking up Sarah Moon as my go-to stitching project, I wanted to work on Little House Needlework's 2010 Nashville Market Hoffman Exclusive titled "Needle and Thread"...I think this is as cute as can be...and the scissor bed/pin pillow by Impie, Hattie, & Bea is completely adorable! I did adjust one of my floss colors, as the dye lot did not match the project...and I did a slightly different finishing method for the coverlet. My scissor fob was stitched over-one on the same fabric (32-count Natural Raw Linen) as the coverlet. I am just tickled with how this project turned out and after using it for a few days, I will be ready to put in on display in my needlework smalls cabinet.

...and since I finished the 2009 Nashville Exclusive before I started blogging last year, I thought I would share a photo of it, as well. It is titled "Traveling Stitcher" and the base sewing pouch and needlebook were both made by Impie, Hattie, & Bea....and I absolutely adore the fabrics used for these pieces! When finishing, I lined both pieces with matching cotton fabric and attached them both as pockets. This is a great set to take "on the road", as it holds your stitching necessities and a small project.

Now that I have had some fun working on projects by other designers, I am ready to get back to model stitching on some new Blue Ribbon Designs for this summer and fall - I have been busy charting and working on new ideas and I am ready to start stitching models...there are some fun things in store for later this year!

This weekend, I am heading to Galena, IL for a much needed getaway...I am sure this trip will be full of inspiration and I will feel creative and refreshed when I return! Wishing you all a weekend full of inspiration and relaxation....

Owlivia Giveaway Recipient

Happy Thursday friends and followers!

It is time to randomly choose the winner for my Owlivia giveaway....thank you all for your entries and comments....and don't be discouraged if the random generator doesn't choose you today - you all know I love to make things and give them away and there will be more chances to win in the future...

So without further ado, here are the entrant names...and the random generator chose number 6...which is Jan. Congratulations Jan - I will be sending you an email shortly....

Again, thank you for following my creative journey...I appreciate all your comments!

Jan - your new stitching companion is "foofed" and migrating your way....

Bounding Bunny

I would love to brag and tell you I made this adorable leaping bunny...but it was actually made my my dear and talented friend Merry. She gave it to me as a gift for my birthday last year...and I simply love it! I am not sure if there was a design/pattern for this fun piece...knowing Merry, the idea just popped into her head and she ran with it....and isn't the little penny rug perfect?! The bunny is sitting on an antique oil can...and to make it even more whimsical, is wearing a lovely beaded necklace...to me, this was such a special handmade gift. And although I am sharing this tiny treasure with you for the Easter weekend, this piece is actually on display in my studio year-round...it truly makes me happy! Wishing you a blessed Easter...filled with happiness...

There is still time to enter my latest giveaway (a Stitching Companion Owl)....see the previous post for details...one lucky follower will be randomly chosen from all comments (on the Owlivia and Friends...and Giveaway Post) on Thursday, April 8th....

Owlivia and Friends...and Giveaway

A very wise and dear friend just told me: "I recommend you take frequent sewing breaks"...so this evening, that is exactly what I did! Meet Owlivia, A Sewing Companion by Sandy Gervais...isn't she adorable?! She was so much fun to make, I made several friends for her...I didn't want her to be lonely. Didn't I just tell you how happy jumbo rick rack makes me? Best of all, the pattern and directions are FREE...yes, you heard me correctly, FREE! To find the list of supplies, directions, and owl template, visit http://www.modabakeshop.com/ (IMHO, one of the greatest blogs EVER!)...it is the March 10th entry. The directions are easy peasy - a beginner can definitely make one. Sandy even has a kit available with all the supplies she used (including her new Frolic Fabrics) for a small fee. I used several of her Frolic Fabrics for Moda, along with some coordinating fabrics from my stash...and I chose smaller buttons for the centers of the eyes. Owlivia is about 8.5" H x 6" W.

Now for the even better news...one of my owls is looking for a new home...preferably one where she will be loved and well taken care of...so, for those of you who don't sew or don't have the patience or just want something I made...I am giving away one of my owls (made with my own two hands) to one of my blog followers...simply leave a comment on this post. I will use the random generator on April 8th to choose the lucky recipient. PLEASE leave your email address or make sure it is in your profile - entries without a valid email address will not be eligible. Thank you all for following and reading my blog - I enjoy your comments and compliments...

Good luck!

On To The Next...

I am SUPER EXCITED...After 4 years and two months, I have FINALLY finished my Papillon Creations Mystery Sampler (The Gift Of Stitching Magazine)! Your comments, encouragement, and compliments really helped motivate me...thank you so much. I can not wait to take this piece to the framer later today. I stitched my sampler on 45-count Pearled Barley hand-dyed fabric from Lakeside Linens with the Vikki Clayton silks it called for...stitch count is 199 x 199, so my piece is about 8.5" x 8.5" (I placed the ruler in the photo to give you a sense of how small it is). Now that this design is complete, I feel a little bittersweet - I truly enjoyed each stitch and it has been my "go-to" stitch gathering piece for quite some time....however, I am ready to move on to my next UFO....





























So I have decide the next piece I plan to finish is Sarah Moon's Quaker Sampler (Needleprint)...a project I started in November of 2006. I picked 40-count Light Examplar hand-dyed fabric from Lakeside Linens for this project...and my threads are an assortment of silks - I ordered the Vikki Clayton Silks for this project, but was not happy with about half of the color conversions, so I changed them to other various silks I had in my stash (making it a true sampler). I am excited to get back to work on this piece and stitch these beautiful medallions....and hopefully finish another one of the UFOs I have started over the years. My early apologies to my stitching group, as this will now be the project I will have in hand each time we meet...and if history repeats itself, they may be seeing this sampler for quite some time!

Odds and Ends...

This past weekend was filled with home improvement activities...a birthday party for my mother-in-law...and I actually found time to do a little stitching on some community outreach projects.

As some of you know, I have been doing some major spring cleaning and organizing...and with that I have been picking out little home improvement projects I want to get done. Last week, my husband was out of town on his yearly fishing trip with the boys and I decided to research changing toilet seats and installing them myself (which was super easy)...then when my husband returned this past weekend, he humored me by replacing all of the water faucets in our house (three bathroom sink faucets and the kitchen sink faucet), along with replacing the seals and springs in my shower faucet. I couldn't resist taking a photo of Simba being the plumber's assistant...he is such a good helper! It is nice to do those little jobs that make such a BIG difference...next up, fixing our master bathroom door (which needs the shims replaced)....

You know I love to share with you my favorite things....
This weekend we celebrated my mother-in-laws birthday...I had so much fun "foofing" her present! Many of you know how much I like giving and wrapping gifts...and last fall I shared with you my new love of GiftGloss...I am so addicted to "foofing". The highlight on my MIL's gift - I used a bendable bloom to add a little springtime touch...this beautiful glittery flower has a small alligator clip on the back, making it easy to attach to the gift. If you are not familiar with foofing or the FoofQueens, you should visit the "features" page of their website and check out their products and videos!...it is such a fun way to "spruce up" your gifts and you don't need to have boxes, wrapping paper, and tape on hand. I am inspired every time I visit their website...their community even has great ideas for that special occasion gift. Seems like every week I "gloss" something...and I am going to start sharing some of my unique foofs with you...maybe you will be inspired to give a special gift!

...although my weekend was pretty full, I did find time to do a little cross stitch. I worked on community outreach projects for my local EGA guild (Valley Junction Chapter). I did several kissing pillows (our Chapter just signed on to make 100 more) - these 4” X 4” patriotic pillows were designed to be used as a keepsake for the children and loved ones left behind by the soldiers being deployed for military service - the soldier kisses the pillow and gives one to each of his/her loved ones to hold onto until he/she returns from war. I also worked on a handful of baptismal shawls - these are given to the neo-natal and birthing units at Mercy Hospital. I challenge you to find a local stitching group or organization that has community outreach stitching projects...for an investment of your time (doing something you enjoy), you can make a HUGE difference!

...and finally, I saved my BIG BIG BIG news for last - if you are in my local stitching group, you may want to sit down before you read the next sentence...
I have finished my Papillon Creations Mystery Sampler (can you see me happy dancing?!)...you know the one I have been working on since February 2006...the project I take every time my local stitching group gets together. I put in the final stitches this afternoon and it is ready for the framer. Thank you to all my friends and readers who have given me encouragement, compliments, and gentle pushes to complete this project! Tomorrow I will share the finished photo with you...along with a photo of the next project I need "shamed into finishing"...

Getting Closer...

So, as promised, here is an update on my "forever-in-the-works" project...and TA-DA, I have actually made some progress. As I shared with you previously, this is the project I take to my local stitching group gatherings...it has been in my travel stitching bag since February 2006....so it is about time I get it done!! I am FINALLY on the last page...and have only 9 motifs left to finish...something I should easily be able to attain in the near future (right?!). Maybe I should try to get a "motif-a-day" done...then I could have it done in the next couple weeks...wouldn't that be spectacular and worthy of a party?! My local stitching group got together this week and we were already discussing future plans of what I will work on when this is complete (getting a bit ahead of ourselves, as it has taken me years to get this far)...I assured them, my list of half-finished projects is long and I will have plenty to keep me busy once this is complete. In the started pile to catch-up on next are Needleprint's "Sarah Moon's Quaker Sampler" (1/2 done - Started November 2006), Just Nan's "Silkwood Manor" (1/2 done - Started in 2003), Rosewood Manor's "And A Forest Grew" (a little over 1/2 done - Started July 2006), and Hope's Dwelling Place "Janet Gibson's Scottish Swan Sampler" (border half done - started January 2008)...whew, that is quite the list. So there you have it, my secret stash of half-finished projects...once this Papillon Creations Mystery Sampler is complete, I will have plenty to keep me busy! Please continue to cheer me on and motivate me to get this long overdue project done...after 4 years, I am ready to move on to the next...

Another One For The Collection

Okay, so I know I finished this about a month late...but I just had to complete this adorable little pincushion! With everything I had going on in February, I didn't get to all the Valentine projects I had on my list...in fact, I didn't even get this ordered until after Valentine's Day...but it just makes me smile, so (while trying to focus on anything other than my crappy head cold) I worked on it this evening. It is called "Valentine Priss" (which is a perfect name) and is from Elegant Stitch...Lois is doing a fabulous limited line of these cute little priss pincushions...I just saw the spring one on her website and it is a wool flower with bunny and carrot pins! It comes as a complete kit, including the the glass base and the whimsical Just Another Button Company pins....and the step-by-step directions are SO EASY to follow. I fall in love with most Valentine projects and this one was no exception - and bonus, it works up in about an hour! Another pincushion to add to my ever-growing collection...and, yes, this one will be on display year round...

UPDATE: Today I spent the morning and early afternoon with my local (fun-filled) stitch group...and, of course, I took "the usual" Papillon Creations Mystery Sampler from early 2006 (you know, the one I told you about in February)...well, today I actually made progress and finished another page of the chart! I am down to less than a page to stitch...and we meet again in several days, so look for an updated photo soon....hey, I might actually finish it in 2010!