A Box of Chocolates

Time to bid 2007 goodbye and welcome 2008 with a bang.

This will be my last post for this year. Just wanna wish each and everyone of you a very happy, prosperous and peaceful new year!

Wishing my fellow stitchers a new year of lotsa time stitching, many happy dances, learn new techniques, and most of all meet new friends.

Thank you my friends for making 2007 a memorable year!

CHEERS!!

The mailman came yesterday and delivered a parcel. It's from Japan, from my friend Yuko! I was so excited to see what's inside. Honestly, I did not expect that she'll be sending something for me as I know she's busy packing their stuff up and move to a new house on the 24th.

Her pinkeeps, to name a few, are really beautiful. She made one for me and I have to say, it's pretty not only on photos but for real. It's neatly and beautifully done. The backing fabric matches everything. I just like the pearl bead headed pin which I know she made herself. Really creative of her.

I saw the photos of her drop-shaped coasters christmas version in her blog, I must admit I was blown away. She mentioned in her blog that she added them in her presents to her friends. No clue that I'm one of the lucky recipients, I'm really touched!

She also added a lovely floral printed cotton fabric (my first ever fabric from Japan), handmade lace and matching buttons. I will surely use them in my future projects.

The greeting card was really nice, lovely scented one. As I always say, I love love her neat handwriting. It makes me smile, always, when she said that everytime she sees Fujico charts she remembers me, hehehehe!

From the bottom of my heart, a million thanks Yuko.

Wow, just a few minutes ago I received the gift my dear Superfriend sent me. Was really jumping in delight when I saw what's inside. She sent me 4 lovely fabbies from Silkweaver.

...and merriest Christmas!

Just sharing the pics I took on the night of Christmas. Please excuse my not so clear photos, forgot to bring my still digicam and had used my cellphone instead.



Really crowded road which was closed for vehicles. People of all races and ages gathered, all were just walking around enjoying the view, the decorations, the colorful dancing lights, huge lanterns or just watching the show and parade. Everyone felt the spirit of Christmas, everybody's happy!

Here are the pics of the food we had on Christmas Eve.

My own version of Carbonara which hubby likes so much.

Home delivered pizza. Yes, I cheated, I didn't cook everything, lol!

This is a honey baked ham, but I did re-cook it, letting it boil for an hour or so in my secret recipe. As always, it tastes better and hubby preferred it more than the original.

And our all time fave, donuts.

TFL. Good day!

If you have read my previous post, you knew I took part in a mystery sampler SAL named Old Sampler. Here's the latest photo with the 3rd part done.




The 4th part was already posted and ready for printing and stitching. It was posted earlier than scheduled for those who want to work on it this holiday season.

Guess, it'll be better for me if stick with the schedule as I am trying to get on with my WIP rotation for a guilt free new year, lol!

Not to mention the other SAL, BC 2003 Snappers which I've also participated and will start on January.

Speaking of which, another one coming up, a Weekend SAL - Permin Christmas In Town which I for one together with my 2 good friends had organized. It's a small group SAL, in fact just the 3 of us. We had planned for it this year but we all got busy with life so it was moved this coming new year. No specific start date yet but I'm pretty sure this is going to be very exciting and fun, can't wait!

Thanks to all for taking your time out to stop by and post comments.

I received a lovely surprise the day before Christmas day from my good friend Jes.

I was talking to her over the phone that day, inquiring about things. That was a long talk but worthwhile. We talked about a lot of things, from mails to stitching to maids, etc. and even made plans of a finishing tutorial session at her house next year.

Few hours later, the doorbell rang. It's the postman delivering her lovely surprise. I'm so excited to open it and found a postcard and a gift wrapped in a bear print wrapper. She knew I love bears too (the child in me).

Got a lovely framed stitched piece she made just for me. She stitched this cherubs/angels design by Casamia. I just love love this design. She really has a good taste and perfectly matches everything. The red thread and the color of the fabby are just perfect. Not to mention the frame, it has a victorian or classic feel. It's really lovely, I like it a lot.

With it is a 32ct Belfast Raw Linen, the same fabby she used in the cherubs. I like this fabric especially the color. Now I've got to think of what to stitch on it.

And a De Fil En Aiguille magazine. This is really a surprise, have no clue that she's getting it for me. I remember there was a time she emailed me and asked if I bought this issue. I replied and told her, nope perhaps next issue. I haven't heard from her after that. Now I know, she thought of getting it for me and emailed me to make sure I don't have it yet. You sneaky lady, lol!! Isn't she sweet? She sure is.

Thank you very much Jes for all these worderful gifts. You really made my Christmas happy. It's like bringing back my childhood memories, receiving gifts and then opening them up on Christmas eve. Thanks again!!!

My dear friend Yuko emailed me the other day and said she had received the gift I sent to her. It took a while to reach her, mails tend to get delayed especially this peak season. Nice to know it's not lost, I'm so relieved.

The hardanger is made up of Satin Stitches, Diamond Eyelets, Blanket Stitch Flower, Wrapped Spokes and Woven Spider Web. A contrasting fabric, beige in color, was placed over the back of the hardanger cut area.

The back cover has the phrase "Stitching Friends" with our initials Y and S.

A piece of organza ribbon was tacked at the center front cover and weaved through the area of withdrawn fabric threads at the back cover and tied into a bow.

This is an old chart and since I don't have the rose heart charm, I've improvised. I used DMC Metallic Gold thread and stitched a heart shape. Inside the heart is a spider web rose. How does it look? Does it look like a charm? Hope so.

The inside front cover has the Queen Stitch roses in the upper left corner and the words "embroidery needles" in the lower right corner. I've attached a small pocket on the inside back cover with Queen Stitch roses stiched at the center.

I always enjoy stitching VS and making an NB or an NR. But you know what, the best part of making it is when the recipient liked and appreciated it. Yuko said she liked it. I'm the happiest to know that.

The VS Close at heart
28ct White
DMC floss, Metallic Gold thread, Perle Cottons
Organza ribbon

HO HO HO Merry Christmas!!!!

To all a good cheer!

Many thanks for looking and leaving a comment.

my dear sis Noreen got my gift for her. She told me about it two days or so ago but haven't got the chance to post it. I made a pinkeep, a Lizzie Kate Christmas Blessings Family, Friends, Giving and Love.

I joined in another SAL, Bent Creek Snappers 2003 organized by my friend Nina. Starting in 2008, each snapper chart will be stitched in each month from January to December.

...of my gifties had reached its destination. In Denmark, in my dear Superfriend Yvonne's home. I made a pinkeep together with the biscornu which I intended to make especially for her.

I fell in love with this Lizzie Kate Santa '07 at first sight. When I had it, I instantly knew to whom I'm stitching it for.

I used a maroon lampshade ribbon on the sides and a satin ribbon on top. The backing is a flat fats named berry leaves forest. Since I'm sending it all the way to Denmark, I was kinda worried that she'll receive it in a mess. The only thing that's keeping the ribbon in place is the pins, didn't glue or stitch it. Thought the pins and ribbons might fall off and everything will be a mess. Thank goodness, it got there well and good, what a relief! lol!

Lizzie Kate 'Tis The Season Santa '07
18ct Tan Linen (Hardanger-Linen)
2 strands DMC floss
Maroon lampshade and satin ribbon

Thank you so much for all the nice comments and for stopping by. It really made my gloomy day. Thanks again.

Oh boy, I'm so lazy these days I just don't know why. Pehaps it's the spirit of Christmas. But thank goodness I was able to finish all my christmas gifties off for my lovely stitching friends and had already mailed everything out. I started early this year, as early as September. I know some were asking what I'm gonna do with all the biscornus I've stitched. It was a jumpstart of my christmas pressies. It somehow spoilt the surprise as I've already showed off the photos but it's just a teaser, as I've also prepared something else to go with it. It saved me from Christmas rush and now I'm just taking my time out sitting pretty.

I used a satin ribbon along the sides and a second piece pinned in such a way it will look like a ric-rac ribbon, and an organza ribbon bow on top. For the backing, I used a flat fats called splatter denims. I've stitched on a sky blue linen, thought navy blue ribbons will match the fabby. Not sure though if she likes the color, I hope so.

As I've mentioned before, I'm getting much done on AMAP Broderie des Anges and so I've reached the finish line. I've completed it few days ago but forgot to post it. Anyways, here it is.



It was love at first sight. But it took a long while for me to finally decide to start with it as I was still debating what fabric and DMC color to use. And now that it is done, I like it so much, more than the first sight.

Hubby liked it too. As per him, the fabby gives a nice effect. When he saw me stitching it, he said it looks like an intricate design. Told him it's not, perhaps he thought it's not an easy stitch as he saw me doing the 1 over 1. Then it's deceiving, he said, lol!!

Perhaps you've read on my previous post that I bought another monochrome chart by Dessins DHC "On the Swing". Yep, it's on top of my to-do list. I must say, this only proves that I enjoyed doing this "xstitching angels" so much so.

Let's do the HD, ♪ "wiggle it just a little bit, wiggle it....!!" ♫

Completed on 29 Nov 2007
28 ct with lt. blue diamond prints
DMC #931 and DMC#3750
1 strand 1 over 1

Happy Holidays!!!

For myself

I've got myself an early Christmas gift, a K's Creation lapstand. The package arrived last Friday (thank God I'm home), I opened and assembled it at once. I used it that night and I like it! Really makes my stitching life easier.

And also a little stashing, I ordered it together with the lapstand. A chart from Dessins DHC "On The Swing", DMC Pastel Linen Floss Pack, Kelmscott thread rings and needle minder.

I'm a happy happy stasher!!! (lol)

From dear hubby