I am excited to say I have two finishes to share with you. Firstly, the pinkeep for Valentine's Day. I am really happy with how it turned out. This time I used thin satin ribbons in two shades of pink along with two shades of pink glass pins. I simply twisted the ribbon as I went around inserting the pins. 
This ornament was stitched over the Christmas holidays. This is my Christmas SAL January challenge on my stitching list. We were supposed to stitch and/or finish a Christmas ornament. I sewed and stuffed this heart and then added cording. The tassle hanging from the bottom is from a Christmas card I received from a lady in my quilt group. I love using items from other things with my stitching. It added just the right touch.
I decided to try tea dying some of my linen yesterday. This is the result. The actual linen is a warm cream although it looks brighter here. I like my first attempt but could not get regular coffee granules to stain it and give it an even older effect. I will try using instant coffee next time. For now, I have decided this is perfect for a little Quaker design for a scissor fob. I planned on using a large piece dyed for my Beatrix Potter Quaker sampler but think it is too dark for such a large piece so I will use the fabric as is ~ the cream color. 
I have been doing some major decluttering in my pantry in the laundry room. It is a combination of food items and my silk flower collection. I found this old stitching way in the back stuck behind the shelf. I got it out and it is really shifted and poorly framed. I must have made this about 20 years ago. I am going to take it apart and turn it into another pinkeep. I thought I will not hang it up so why not make a pinkeep that can be part of my collection.
I also had a finish today. I finished the freebie I posted about a couple of days ago. This will also be a pinkeep. I can't wait to start looking for all the right trims and ribbons and pins. For now it is bedtime so it will have to wait for a new day.....
Yesterday we had a discussion on our stitching list about nutcrackers since someone of the list is making all the Prairie Schooler Nutcrackers for ornaments for Christmas. Her first one is finished and adorable. I mentioned my nutcracker collection and this special present I received this year from a dear lady in my quilt group named Joke (pronounced Yoka in Dutch). She surprised me with it and I absolutely love it! I have never had anyone make me a quilt before since I myself am a quilter. It was made more special that she knows I love nutcrackers. Thank you so much Joke for a special gift that I will treasure forever!
Someone on my stitching list posted an adorable free design today which she found on a blog (http://stitchingandscribbling.blogspot.com/ ). I printed it out and am going to stitch it up for a Valentine's Day pinkeep. I think it will stitch up very quickly so I can do this now in between all my other projects. I really want to have it finished in time for the holiday. I am using Zweigart 28ct. Lugana 'New Khaki'. The thread is The Dye Is Cast ~ pink 'Nose', green 'Mossy Spot' and browny-biege 'Brunch Punch'. I am being influenced by my French stitching friend, Francoise, as she is a great fan of pink thread. I decided to give this bright pink a go in honor of her. 
This is the 2nd part of our PS Winter Wind SAL completed. The white thread is a white metallic thread by Madiera which gives it a snowy look. Unfortunately, it does not show up on the photos. I just sent out the new assignment this morning and will post a new progress photo again next week.
I have been asked by a number of people "What is a pinkeep"? The pinkeep idea of today came from what was called a pindisc. It was a round wheel with ivory, wood or silver ends. In the center was a s
oft center (many antique examples are velvet centers) where the pins were inserted into the disc. The ends kept the pins points tucked inside. This was an safe and easy way for women to place their pins in the pocket of a dress. The pinkeeps stitchers make today are for decorative purposes. It is fun to collect trims and ribbons as well as pretty glass head pins that will match. 
I had mentioned on my stitching list about clearing out my stitching tray so that only two or three projects are in it at a time. I actually only have my current SAL project in the tray after I took everything out. It means I can really enjoy this more as it looks so pretty sitting in the tray. Here is a photo of it sitting on my dining room table. I must admit it encourages me to work on the SAL even more as I love just seeing it all laying in the tray so neatly that my stitching time is enhanced even more. How are you storing your WIPs? Do you have a special place to keep and carry around your most current project?
This is my spot in the living room where I sit and either stitch or do my hand quilting. It is on the couch and I have a lamp that I can pull right over to my work from IKEA. It gives really great light. I also have a wooden footstool which I use sometimes with a pillow on it to put my feet up. I also read here sometimes although I have a reading corner up in my bedroom with a very comfortable oversized chair and ottoman. The current book on my table here is "The Stillmeadow Road" by Gladys Taber. 
The 'little man' you see on my spot on the couch is my cat Dagi. He is such a cutie. Just look at that face! My husband says he is never more than 10 feet from me these days. He loves my spot and tries to take it over as soon as I get up.
I am gathering my quilt UFOs that I want to finish for 2007. I am starting a UFO challenge in my quilt group. Each person can turn in a list of the UFOs that they would like to try to finish this year. For each UFO on the list, they turn in a fat quarter of fabric. These are all placed in a basket. Each month, the ladies will bring any completed UFO to show us and then she can pick out a fat quarter from the basket. This not only motivates to finish off projects but you can get some fun new fabrics in the meantime.
I am leading a new SAL this month. We are doing Prairie Schooler's Winter Wind. This is a great companion piece to Autumn Leaves which we stitched during the autumn season. I will post updates on this site, but will post all the finished photos on my StitchingTogether blog in February. 
WooHoo! The pinkeep is finished and I am so pleased with its very cheerful look! How is this to brighten a February day? Also on this photo, you can see a pretty crazy quilt pincushion I got in a Christmas gift exchange from my quilt group a couple of years ago. The colors looked nice with the pinkeep. Also shown is a thread holder in the form of a robin. You can see the thread holders which are handmade at: http://www.bloomwoodworks.com/index.html . I have three of them and love them.
I used a scrap of quilt fabric once again for the back. I wanted to base the colors of the fabric on the trim. 
This is the trim I found while I was in Brugge last month. I fell in love with it and am so happy it worked for the first pinkeep of this year. The ribbon used for the bow is from my stash and I happened to have colors that match the coloring of the trim. The glass head pins are from a find when I last went to Utrecht. It is fun when everything comes together like this. 
Last night, I finished stitching this little Bent Creek design. I am waiting for glue to dry to put this together as a pinkeep. I hope to have more photos of it totally finished to share either later today or tomorrow. 
This is a beautiful letter I received from a friend on one of my Yahoo lists. We had been talking about how computers are wonderful for making friends across the globe and staying in instant contact, but I really miss getting a letter that drops through my mailbox onto my doormat. 
One of my friends on this list created this wonderful handwritten letter for me. She illustrates them with stamped pictures which she then colors in. The letter is like a piece of art. 
That friend's name is Terri (http://homeatlastfarm.blogspot.com/) and I want her to know I still have the letter from April 2005 and just love it. It is a very special gift to me! Thanks Terri!
Back in December, I went to Brugge, Belgium for a couple of days. This is my favorite city in Europe and I try to go a few times a year. The city is amazing and like walking in an open air museum. 
