WINNER Announced and New Giveaway Posted :):)

The winner of Take Time to Knit is Paula C :) Congratulations, Paula :) I'll mail it out to you soon :)

May's Giveaway will be for 5 charts :)
Quaker Diamond-Hillside Samplings
Be Kind & Be True- Country Stitches
We Stitch, We Share, We Create A Stitcher's Petit Companion-Jeanette Douglas
A Hornbook Exampler-With my Needle
Small Tokens of Affection-Blue Ribbon Designs

Please leave a comment on THIS POST ONLY and I will draw a name on May 1, 2010 :) All readers are welcome to enter the giveaway :)

Thanks so much for stopping by :) I appreciate your visits to my blog and your sweet comments :):)
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC

Chocolate Bunnies....

YUMMY :) Who doesn't like Chocolate Bunnies??? You gotta love this Easter Egg from Country Stitches. I made an adaption to it...ONLY because my fabric was marked incorrectly and I stitch it on the wrong count so I had to omit the bottom band...but I still think it is MOST adorable :)

Design:Chocolate Bunnies
Designer: Country Stitches
Fabric 28ct(was suppose to be 32ct)coffee stained after stitching (what fun!!)
Fibers: DMC
Start Date-3-30-10
Finish date: 3-30-10

Thank you so much for visiting with me-thank you for all the wonderful emails I have received this week as well as your comments-I appreciate you ALL more than you can know :)
Please do come again :)
hugs and love from SC
BeckySC :)

House 8 finished construction :)

I'm sure you are sick of it....BUT, I finished painting house 8 today :) and hanging the doors :) It seem to have taken forever :) I DO plan to take a bit of a break from it before starting construction on house 9 :) I am looking forward to playing in my stash.... :)

Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
Design By: Carriage House Samplings
Design Size: 20 1/2 x 15 3/8
Fabric: 36 ct. Vintage Pearled Barley from Lakeside Linen
Fibers: Vikki Clayton Silks (second conversion)
Date Started: 2-16-06

Thanks for stopping by my place for a visit :) I appreciate it so very much!
Wishing you all a lovely week :)
hugs and love from SC :)
BeckySC

Pin Pillow for Ellen, HoHRH update and NEW exchange sign-ups!

I wanted to send Ellen (my adoptee for the rest of the year) A little something for Easter :) I stitched The Little Bunny by Bent Creek and finished it as a pin pillow :) So Tiny and TOO cute!! I hope you will enjoy it, Ellen-I will be mailing it out to you on Tuesday :) :)



Designer: Bent Creek
Fabric: 32 ct. Lambswool
Fibers: GAST & WDW
Date Started: 3-26-10
Date Finished: 3-26-10

I have continued with HoHRH :) I feel like I could have stitched 20 smalls in the time I have dedicated to this sampler in the past 2 weeks. I am still enjoying it and do plan to keep it out to work on-however, I may stitch a little something in between the next house :) I just LOVE the colors in this sampler. I was sad to hear that Kathy will no longer be designing-but I CERTAINLY understand! Thank you Kathy for years of beautiful designs! You will be missed. Enjoy your next adventure in life :) Best of luck :)



Houses of Hawk Run Hollow
Design By: Carriage House Samplings
Design Size: 20 1/2 x 15 3/8
Fabric: 36 ct. Vintage Pearled Barley from Lakeside Linen
Fibers: Vikki Clayton Silks (second conversion)
Date Started: 2-16-06


Just a reminder that the Pin Pillow mailing date is FAST approaching. Please mail on time-if you have sent/received and have NOT let me know-please do so ASAP. Please check the sidebar to make sure I have your info correct as far as sending/receiving goes. Thanks so much :) There have been some really lovely pin pillows sent for this exchange. I am looking forward to seeing the remainder. I have been asked if I will host another exchange VIA my blog-Yes, but I am hosting it through THIS blog so that everyone can share what they receive-please visit the new blog for details of the exchange that is open for sign-ups.

Thank you my friends for visiting with me for your continued comments/emails/support and friendships-they mean so much more to me than you can ever imagine! Please do come again :)
hugs and love from SC :)
BeckySC

For Michele

Michele did not receive an exchange from her sender for the V-day exchange through one of my groups, so I stitched her a little something to make up for not receiving :) I wish it could have been more (I did send a few extras but failed to ta ke a pic of them)-but I didn't know until after V-day that she would not be receiving an exchange. I hope you like it, Michele! Thanks for letting me know it arrived!



Stitched with Love chart
Designer: Plum Pudding Needleart
Design Size: 2.6 x 2.5
Fabric: 28ct. Flax
Fibers: DMC
Date Started:3-4-2010
Date Finished:3-4-2010

We have a great deal of stress in our lives right now and it seems daily that more is added-Today especially has been very stressful!!!! (I AM a worrier-just my nature, my hubby is not and never has been-but he too is feeling the stress and worry and it saddens me to know he is feeling it)...We have our faith, family, friends and each other and I try to remember that we are not given more than we can deal with-sometimes that's hard to remember that-but I keep praying about it and I keep reminding myself :)I would SO appreciate your good thoughts and prayers. I plan to take these lemons and make some lemonade though :) Anyone care to join me???
Unfortunately I will not be going to the GTG that Amy is hosting tomorrow. I am disappointed but it's not the end of the world and hopefully I can make another one some day :) Have fun you all and know I will be thinking of you and the good time you are SURE to have.

Thank you my friends for visiting with me and for your continued comments/emails/support and friendships-they mean so much more to me than you can ever imagine!
A very special thank you to a very special friend that has been and IS such a comfort to me :) I can't thank you enough for being there when you yourself are going through so much. I just wish I could give you a hug in person!!! I love you more than you can know :)
hugs and love from SC :)
BeckySC

HoHRH Update

THANK YOU friends for all your well wishes and emails :) I TRULY appreciate them. I am starting to feel a little better. Although I must admit I felt better when I woke up this morning than I do right now-but I think I am improving :) I have been working on my WIP's (I think mainly because I don't feel like going through stash...YES I have REALLY been feeling bad LOL! to put together a new project) and have made some really good progress on HoHRH. I finished up house 6 (with the exception of the fill in of black background) and house 7(this one was fun to stitch with all the colors in it) and started house 8. I am going to stick with it for now until I just don't want to work on it any longer...hopefully I will build a couple more houses!!! Please excuse the wrinkles as I did not press it and I couldn't get a TRUE pic of the colors either. I am using VC's second conversion for this one. Previous progress can be found here.





I also need to say Thank you to Edgar for a BEEutiful piece of bee fabric he sent me while I was at the beach-I can't wait to use it in finishing. Thank you dear friend :)

I have felt so bad-I haven't shared all the great stash I picked up while visiting with AmySC :) Most all of you know she has Down Sunshine Lane and offers excellent online services! :) A few items are not pictured as they are gifts.

I am HOPING to get to go the the stitching GTG Amy is hosting this weekend (Fingers crossed :)) and meeting some blogging friends IRL and making some new friends as well :)

Ok-that's it for me-I hope to start feeling like reading and visiting blogs again soon-I am posting this now in hopes of getting back in the mood :) If not, please know I am MISSING you all :)
Thanks so much for your continued visits, emails and your friendships-they are PRICELESS to me :)
hugs and love from SC :)
BeckySC

Hello friends...

Thank you so much for your emails...yes, I am back from vacation and yes I met AmySC and YES I look forward to visiting with her again :)-but I am not feeling well, so I am not online :( I haven't felt good in a few weeks now :( I guess I may have to go see what the doctor has to say :( :( :( I am sorry if you have emailed and I have not replied-I honestly just don't feel well at all and it's all I can do to find the energy to do much of anything.
Thank you for the awards given to me-I appreciate you thinking of me and nominating me-but due to some hurt feelings years back I don't do Awards or Tags :) Thank you for understanding :)

I am stitching (mostly on my WIP's)-it's really all I feel like doing...I just feel so wrung out and tired ALL the time :( I am not blogging-reading or visiting any blogs. I hope you understand-I'll be back when I am feeling better. I would appreciate it if you could send good thoughts and a prayer that I may start to feel better.

Thanks so much for checking on me :) You're so sweet to do so.
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC :)

An Ocean view...

HELLO FRIENDS :) I am at the beach for a few days and loving it :) WHAT A VIEW!!!! I am so excited as I will get to visit with AmySC on the way home Tuesday -I have SO been looking forward to that:) Hi Amy, hope you received my email :) :) :)
I will NOT be answering email or checking blogs/exchanges until Wednesday :) Til then I will leave you with a pic from my hotel room :)


Have a GREAT start to the new week friends :) Thank you so much for stopping by :)
hugs and love from BEEutiful Myrtle Beach SC :)
BeckySC :)

Mail to brighten my day :)

Friends I am not feeling well...I haven't felt like blogging or commenting the last couple of days:( I am so sorry about that and failing to visit your blogs-I will be back to it when I feel better :)

Today's mail brought some goodies that helped me feel better :) That sweet Annie gifted me with this ADORABLE bag. It's just beautiful-I love the design, Annie and you did a great job with turning it into a bag :) She also sent along some other goodies :) Thank you sweet Annie-I will send an email to you ASAP :)


And I would like to thank Shay as she sent me the tin I need to do the finishing on Liberty tin and I am looking forward to pulling it out and getting the finish done when I am feeling better :) Thank you dear friend-I can't thank you enough :)

Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit :) I appreciate it so very much :) I hope you will come again :)
hugs and love from SC,
BeckySC :)

Oh MY!!!

Look at these BEEutiful gifts I received in the mail today from sweet Anne :) WOW, I am speechless my friend :) They are so gorgeous and I am in heaven right now :) THANK you :) I do not know what I have done to make me so worthy of these beautiful pieces....I am drooling all over them Anne :) The details are so thoughtful :) WOW!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart Anne, words honestly cannot convey my gratitude :) They will be cherished FOREVER :) Thank you so much for the sweet card too :) Anne, an email is coming your way ASAP. (the serviceman just drove up to do our spring service on my a/c...I will email when he leaves)




Thank you so much my dear friends and readers for visiting with me :) I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your visits :) Please do come again :)
Love and hugs from SC :)
BeckySC

Sunshiny Saturday....

We had a wonderful turn out for our BBQ fundraiser :) I think the weather brought people out-it was a GORGEOUS day here today :) We were sold out and home by 4:15 :) I was tired...but after a hot shower I felt much better and much less stiff and sore from standing on cement floors for 9 hours :) I even stitched (I actually stitched it while hubby took a long nap-he worked in the kitchen serving with us today-he is not used to that-he normally runs deliveries-I think he learned a thing or two today...LOL) and finished this adorable scissors pocket :) This one is going to live with someone else and I hope they will enjoy it :)



Design: Beehive Motif (from June)
Designer: The Prairie Schooler
Fabric: 32ct. Lambswool
Fibers: DMC
Start Date: 3-6-2010
Finish Date: 3-6-2010

Thank you to Myra who sent me a WONDERFUL tin to use in my finishing :) LOVE it and thank you for thinking of me :)

Aww, thank you sweet friends for all your wonderful email and comments I have been receiving :) You are all so sweet and I appreciate you letting me share with you all :) Please do come again :)
Love and hugs from SC :)
BeckySC

From Staci :)

I was going to wait until the next time I posted to share these...but they are just so lovely I had to share now :) I received these LOVELY (TOO PRETTY TO USE) dishcloths made by the ever so talented Staci in today's mail :) I just love them. I tell you though-it's going to be hard to use them as I think they are just so pretty :) Thank you so much dear Staci :) You're a sweetheart :) And I appreciate your thoughtfulness and your friendship :)(Staci, I forgot to say how wonderfully the colors go with my new kitchen paint color)



I have no stitching to share. This weekend is our VFD BBQ Fundraiser and it will be a busy couple of days for me starting this afternoon. I am usually SO pooped when I get home on Saturday evening after this fundraiser (we host it twice a year) that I don't even feel like stitching...now that's VERY TIRED for me :) :) :) It's for a good cause though and I have been working it since I married my hubby (he is a volunteer fireman) 29 years ago :) It's ALWAYS fun to see people in the neighborhood that you don't see often as well as friends and family :)

I have stitched-BUT, I am making up for a couple of exchanges that were not sent for a couple of people in my groups....so I can't share them yet :)

Thank you my dear friends for stopping by today :) I appreciate your visits so very much :) You bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart :)
Have a MOST lovely weekend :)
hugs and love from SC :)
BeckySC :)

Be True

I had Annie's name for the Pin Pillow exchange. I chose to stitch an LHN and finish it off with some fabric-I LOVE the way this one turned out. I hardly ever want to keep anything I stitch as an exchange because I have a specific design and finish in mind for the name I receive, so I have no issues with sending off anything-this one was HARD to let go though :) LOL! I hope you will enjoy it, Annie :)






Design: Be True
Designer: Little House Needleworks
Design Size: 3.75 x 3.75
Fabric: 32 ct, Natural
Fibers: DMC
Start Date: 2-19-2010
Finish Date: 2-21-2010

And here is the box I gifted Annie with :)

Design: Bloom
Designer: Midsummer Night Designs
Fabric: Picture this Plus 32ct. Relic
Fibers: DMC
Start Date: 2-6-2010
Finish Date: 2-11-2010


Thank you dear friends for all your sweet visits :) Please do come again :)
hugs and love from SC :)
BeckySC :)

My incessant need to finish.....................

I have this piece PRE-dated my linen stitching days and thought I would finish it off today-I ADORE finishing but had nothing to finish and this is all that is left in my "needs to be finished drawer" with the exception of Liberty Stitching Tin (which I am having a terrible time finding the correct size tin to do the finishing) and a PV that needs to be framed for my DD. About 5 years ago (before I started "thinking outside the frame") my "needs to be finished drawer" was running over with beautiful projects that were just tucked away because I honestly had no idea what to do with them and knew I could NOT frame them all....I am SO glad I started finishing smalls :) So this "dinosaur" was pulled out today just so I could meet the URGE to do finishing :) I have NO idea about any info on this one-it was stitched WAY, WAY back and I did not keep a record of my stitching back then. I am pretty sure though that I stitched it in the late 80's/early 90's :) Oh, showing my age huh??? LOL!!
I decided to make a pincushion/pin box. I just love the way it turned out :) What do you all think??? Even if the stitched piece is an oldie and not anything I would stitch these days-it still looks adorable :)I stained a small round box and padded the design to make it a pincushion. Inside you can keep your pins. I have straight pins in it at the moment :)





Sorry-I removed the ornaments as a lady with a childrens charity emailed me and asked if I would consider finishing them to donate :) I know you ALL understand :)

Paula C asked a question......
Paula C. has left a new comment on your post "Needle and Thread Scissors Bed and Pin Pillow fini...":
This turned out really nice. I appreciate all the different photo angles too. I think it's a really cute and creative way to store your scissors =) BTW, I just received the piece of relic that I ordered and I already know that I am going to need more. It's awesome! Hey, maybe some time you could post about what your favorite fabrics are to stitch on and why? You do so much stitching and I always love how everything looks. I would find this very helpful and I'm sure other stitchers would too. Happy stitching =)

I enjoy stitching on 32ct and higher fabrics. I have lots of 28ct fabrics that I will stitch on-but I much prefer 32ct or higher and I just adore stitching on 40ct. It is one of my favorite fabrics to stitch on-BUT I have to use my reading glasses to stitch. I really don't have a favorite color to use-however I really enjoy stitching on Relic as it works so nice with most any fiber color and have some on order right now at my LNS :). I do not know if it is ME or if other people experience this...but I find that "different fabrics" and "different fibers" affect your stitches. I know it may sound weird if you have not personally experienced or noticed this-but stitches will lay a little different on certain fabrics and with the use of certain fibers. I have ALWAYS noticed that stitches done in any light color tend to not look as nice as the darker color fibers-it just seems there is something about the way they lay on the fabric. Railroading does not seem to help with this issue-it's NOT ALL lighter fibers but I have noticed this with some of them.

Ok-did not mean to write a novel here-sorry about that :)
Thank you so much dear friends for all your many wonderfully kind comments and emails-I can't tell you what joy you give me :) I appreciate your time here on my blog :) You're just the BESTEST :)

Hugs and love from SC (where ALL the snow has melted)
BeckySC :)

Needle and Thread Scissors Bed and Pin Pillow finished :) **EDITED FOR ANSWERS**

I would like to thank Diane Williams of Little House Needlework fame for such a WONDERFUL design and creative finish! Thank you for sharing your designing talents with the cross stitch world. I had the BEST time stitching this and doing the finish. I love the way it turned out and it will take center stage among my favorite smalls :)








Design: Needle and Thread
Designer: Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 32ct. Natural (recommended)
Fibers: CC & DMC (CC's come with chart)
Start Date: 3-1-2010
Finish Date: 3-2-2010

Sally-I used a blind stitch on three sides to attach the stitched piece to the pillow.
Sadie-The blue is CC Milady's Teal
Aussie-No, the chart (you get the CC's with the chart) and the pillow are sold separately -The pillow I know is a limited edition.
Pat-I purchased the scissors from my LNS last year :) I forget who they are made by. I have copper colored ones as well. I just love the ornamental aspects of them.

Linda K-I have my threads for this project on Thread Drops-they are wonderful and you can purchase them in most any ONS/LNS and they come in different styles. You can also make your own :)

As always dear friends, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued interest in my blog, my ramblings and my stitching :) You keep my needles moving :)I love you all :)

Hugs and love from STILL snowy SC:)
BeckySC :)

Lot's going on today....

Well..it snowed (still snowing) today...I can't believe the weather we are having in SC :) I took advantage of the poor weather and stayed indoors with my stitching. I am almost finished with the stitching on LHN's Needle and Thread. I will share a pic once I have the finishing done :) Hopefully later tonight or tomorrow :)

I have had a good many email today asking me to share my stitching room and some pics of my finishes...
You can see my stitching room here :)
And find some pics of some of my stitching around my home here:)
Thank you so much for emailing and your interest :) I hope this is satisfactory to all that asked and that you enjoy :)
I *think* I have replied to all the email now :)

Ok-back to my LHN piece :) Which I am LOVING!!!

Thank you dear friends for your visits and your wonderful comments and emails :) You just make my day and make it such a joy to share something I am so passionate about :)
hugs and love from Snowy SC :)
BeckySC

Awwww...that felt good :) **Edited for Questions AND stitching room**

I was able to start LHN's Needle and Thread I just adore this design and the FINISH!! I am loving stitching on it-the colors are so nice to work with :) And it felt SO good to put needle to fabric :) (YES I AM A CROSS STITCH ADDICT!!!) Is anyone else working on this one?? I am looking forward to finishing it up in the next day or so and doing the finishing :) Can't wait! I just love it!!

Design: Needle and Thread
Designer: Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 32ct. Natural
Fibers: CC & DMC
Start Date: 3-1-2010

**Answers**
Fabric Edges-I ALWAYS zig-zag my fabric when stitching-I use my sewing machine and do a basic zig-zag stitch. I honestly have never stitched anything without the fabric being prepped first :)
Fabric Margins-I try not to waste fabric-so I use as small a cut as I can to accomplish what I want-I "usually" have a finish in mind for a project when I start-so this helps determine the margins. For a framed piece I *try* to leave a 3 inch margin-but for smalls I usually leave MUCH less-depending on the finish :)I may cut the fabric larger just so I have enough to hold in hand while stitching. After finishing the piece I can then use the leftover piece for another design.
Supplies-I pretty much have an LNS in my home:) :):) I usually pull everything I need for a design from my stitching room :) I am one of those people that like to have everything ready to go and not have to wait on something to come in before I can stitch whatever is calling to me :) **

Berit, your comment did not go unnoticed :) I am just not in a Q&Q mood...I am finding that the "quilt" part of it is not NEAR as enjoyable as the rest of the design was...but never fear-I pick it up from time to time just to put in some stitches :)

Thanks so much for visiting dear friends :) I just adore you all :) Please do come again :)
Love and hugs from SC :)
BeckySC :)

The rest of my Market Goodies :)

I was able to get by my LNS and pick up the rest of my goodies :) Oh, I am SO in love with the BBD book and charts :) And I LOVE the new Chessie and Me designs and can't wait to stitch the Botanical Sewing Pocket and fob-but I have to wait for the fabric to come in :) I am SO in the mood to stitch :) Had a fairly busy weekend with little time for stitching :)


Someone emailed me to ask why I have the giveaway's for my regular readers and how do I decide who is a regular reader...-I do so to say Thank you to those that take time to make my blog a part of their daily reading-to thank them for becoming friends with me VIA my blog and to thank them for all the encouragement and support I receive through their contact. As far as knowing who is a regular reader-I consider those that I have contact with to be regular readers-I receive email daily about my blog and work as well as comments. I consider these people (FRIENDS) to be regular visitors to my blog.

Mailed my pin pillow exchange today :)

Thank you friends for stopping by :) I appreciate it so much :) I owe a few email that I will answer shortly :) You all are so kind and I can't thank you enough :)
hugs and love from SC :)
BeckySC :)