In my dreams!

 I had a stitching day with "old" friends last month and we had a great time together, it had been a long while.

Oh my goodness, if only my home looked like my friend's collection! Most of these are hers, although some are gifts made by others, including some made by family.

This is a huge cabinet, each shelf filled with treasures.

Baa Baa Black Sheep... in a lovely spare bedroom.

The Shepherd's Bush Sheep Collection was also in that bedroom.

This is "my" room, MERMAIDS!

Misc pieces, including the sea.

All of the rest of these pieces are scattered throughout the house.

How cute are these?!

Everyone needs a BIF - a Bad Influence Friend! 🤣

How's this for a storage/workroom?!

Floss keeper

Just a little bit of fabric in there.

There was another cabinet with WIPs and patterns, but I didn't take a photo of that.

And hey, I actually got a piece finished in between the oohing and ahhing.

Some goodies I got that the others brought for giveaway, I need to get busy!

A wonderful afternoon and already looking forward to our next gathering.

A Super Fun, Super-Bowl Retreat! 🏈

Was this only last month?!

Another fabulous retreat brought to you by LinAnn Events! ❤

Our goodie bag.

Annette with Mind Your Needle, so many treasures there. I bought a cute scissor fob, but it's a bday present so I'm not showing it.

Peggy and Roberta from BFF Pouches and Bags were there, but I didn't get a photo when they were "open." I restrained myself and only bought two bags, one was perfect for tea bags!

Silkweavers/Needleworker's Delight, another hard one to restrain myself, but I did and only bought fabric.

They were selling older models... 

... and other older finishes.

Fritz, Brenda's new puppy, joined us for the weekend. He was an absolute sweetheart and such a good boy. So much puppy love going on!

Our busy/messy/fun table.

Sweet little Fritz, I was able to get a little stitching in when he sat with me.

Karen's finished piece, ring that bell!

Our biscornu class led by Annette. I was finally able to finished my mermaid.

My purchases. I bought the apple stitch for my girlfriend who's an apple inspector, it's perfect for her!

And there's always something to find at the giveaway table.

The pj and slipper contest - love Stitch, so appropriate.

Show and tell on Sunday.

Our fabulous group.

Not goodbye, but see you at the shore!

Fully Finished Gallery ~ March 2023 🖼

Welcome to Rachel's Fully Finished Gallery SAL for March. Go have a look and see what others have finished this time!

Maja at The Snowflower Diaries offered the Joyful World SAL way back in 2016, and here is March. I started stitching it in German for meine Mutti, although I still have to finish Oct - Dec. She saw the ones I stitched, but sadly never got to see them all finished. I will continue them in German and will think of her every time I see them.

At least I should have this one to show every month!

It's still available it you're interested.

I stitched this little one for St. David's Day. You can sort of see the sparkles in the fabric.

And here they are together, on the shelf I bought in Havre de Grace on St. David's Day.

Maybe you'll join in next time?

May "Flowers" 🧵

Way back in March last year, just before the pandemic craziness, Lynn B @Happiness is Cross Stitching sent me a pattern to stitch this for her. I sent a photo of it to her unfinished since I couldn't go shopping for a frame at that time.

I finally finished it, but added some grass to bring it all together. It now hangs in my craft room and I see it every time I'm in there.

Thanks so much, Lynn, I enjoyed stitching it.

Please be sure to see what else Lynn has to stitch, 

Lynn B @Happiness is Cross Stitching, she's got lots of adorable cats!

Scavenger Photo Hunt - January 🎁

Welcome to January and to the Scavenger Photo Hunt from Katie @I live, I love, I craft, I am me.... This month she is giving us a weekly word and this week's word is... 

Gifts...

A gift is defined as a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present.

I love giving gifts to friends, either something I've made especially for them, or coming across something I think they would like. They're nice to receive too!

Here is just a small sample of things I've made and given to friends.

I made this for a dear friend who was going through breast cancer and was going to have surgery. I placed it on an Altoids tin, decorated the rest of it, and added note paper inside to write on.

I made this for another friend who turned 50 a few years ago, she is known for her "crack" cookies!

I just stitched this ornament for my chosen sister, Cori, she loves nutcrackers! I didn't see any need to include the year, I'm sure it won't be forgotten. 😞

I also like to make scissor fobs and jewelry.

This fob was for an exchange, and the earrings were for the team Moms and cheerleaders when the Gmen played football in high school. 

When the mood strikes me, I enjoy making cards. I made these for Valentine's Day last year and included a flavoured tea packet inside. Who doesn't like snail mail with a treat?

This was a fun gift to give my DH. I gave it to him for his birthday in July so he could wear it Christmas Eve while we were watching Christmas Vacation!

I received these goodies from DH for Christmas this past year, he actually wrapped the monthly patterns individually!

Cori and I seem to tag team each other with gifting speciality cupcakes from our favourite bakery, yum! She bought these for us to share in December. Looks like my turn this month, unless she beats me to it!

I also consider my family treasured gifts, as crazy as they can be sometimes!

And what would I do without these most fabulous gifts, my dear friends/chosen sisters?! This was from my surprise 50th birthday girls gathering.

I hope you've enjoyed my gifts, now I need to go see what the others have posted.

Have you taken a look already or maybe joining in this year?

And as always, thank you for your comments if I can't thank you directly. 🥰