Valentine Stitcheries

Wow! I could get used to only posting just a few pics, as opposed to the 50 million I usually do, LOL!! This will be another quickie, so be prepared...HA!

Here's just a few things I've been working on lately...now remember, these are a bit more darker tea-dyed than what it shows here, cuz of my wonderful flash again... these are adapted from a Chestnut Junction pattern. I added a little bit of lace to this one and some buttons.
A little birdie w/X's and O's around the bottom. I used an old piece of Debbie Mumm fabric on the bottom to give it a little more color. Sorry it looks a bit washed out.

Here is a cross stitch from the very talented Christine of Preferably Prim, which she designed herself and gave out as a freebie. I loved the way it turned out. I used 18 ct. linen, worked over two threads and # 8 pearl cotton for the thread and if you look closely, I used 2 ivory heart buttons, which don't show up too well in this pic, but thought it needed something on both sides to even it out.

Thanks again Christine, you did a wonderful job designing this one!

And to keep w/the Valentine theme, I recently made this Sour Cream Cherry Coffee Cake. It was a little sweet for hubby's and my tastes, but oldest son loved it! But then again, he'll eat almost anything. LOL I found the recipe over at Mommy's Kitchen on my sidebar.

Well, I'll be back w/a few more Val. things to show ya real soon. I've got a candle mat I designed and a few more stitchy things that are almost finished to share w/you, so don't forget to come back and check them out.

Here's your quote for today: "Happiness is.....opening the door to see the smiling face of an old friend."

**P.S. Just a reminder ~ don't forget to contact me if you want to be included in my RAK's this yr. The info is on the previous post. I've already sent out a couple of things and I plan to send out several more, plus a give~away coming up soon!

***Tanya***

Valentine Ginger

Hi everyone! I finally have a finish to share w/you.......... a new pattern by Threadbare Primitives. I changed out her dress to be more for Valentine's Day, but I thought she turned out pretty cute! Man, these dolls are a lot of work, let me tell ya! I originally started to make these to sell, but after all the work involved, I think I've changed my mind ~ LOL!! But if anyone is interested, please shoot me an email and I'll see what I can do. I admire all of you who make these on a regular basis. Let me just say it's been about 3 yrs. since I've made one. I need more practice!

This is a real short one this time, but I promise to be back real soon w/some more finished items that I've been working on. I'm not used to only posting a few pics ~ LOL

I've decided to do more RAK this yr. and have already begun to send out a couple of boxes to some very special friends/followers. If you would like me to include your name ~ you need to be a follower of my blog. Please send me an email at(mylilcraftbarn@yahoo.com) and just put "RAK" in the subject line. Include your full name and address and I will pick from my followers every so often. You never know, there just might be a surprise from me when you least expect it! USA, Canada and the U.K. included.

***Edited to say ~ those of you who comment on a regular basis will be the first ones I send to.

Your quote for today: "Friends find joy in the pleasure of each other's company, the sound of each other's laughter, the fulfillment of each other's dreams."


Stay cozy and see ya back here again soon!
Tanya***

Snowmen Everywhere~Part Two

Well, I'm back early w/part two ~ I didn't even make you wait a whole wk. like usual ~ LOL. How many of you can answer this pic w/a resounding YES??? Here's what the sign belongs to.... he's all ready decked out w/his ski's and ready to roll.....

This mitten is really way bigger than it looks here, hanging on our front door, over 20 inches long and a little darker red than the pic shows. From an old Katie's Homespun Stitches pattern I made yrs. ago. The scarf is made out of flannel.

Most of you know how much I love to decorate both inside and out for the seasons. This is on our front porch. This guy is ready to go fishin'....see his pole in his pocket, so it won't blow away?

Had to have a female in the bunch...lol

I'm sure some of you remember this big snowman head from last yr., but I moved him to a different spot this yr.

He is much more tea-dyed in person. It was a bit bright that day.

One of the gals who used to sew for my shop yrs. ago made this pillow and the 'coal' buttons for me after I stitched it. It was stitched on 7ct. sage green Klostern fabric, which makes it really big,

From a Sister's and Best Friends pattern ~ Snow Happens...... I like the dimentional carrot nose, it sticks straight out.

I sold several of these Patriotic guys yrs. ago.

Made this one too....

I sold of a few of these snow families at a craft fair several yrs. ago....you can't really tell it, but they have a sort of 'waffle-weave' type fabric.

I didn't make these cans, but I'm sure they'd be pretty easy to do.

And there they all are stretched out along the window sill.

I always hang seasonal flags and this is the one for winter.....

and here's the little flag that hangs in front of the house.... don't they look like they're having fun??

Here's some random shots of inside the house. These are paper mache boxes.

Forgot to show you a close-up of the cookie jar from last post.....

My MIL bought these for me yrs. ago from the $$$ store. I use them every winter.

Here's a wreath I made a few yrs. ago but decided to use it on the back door this yr. for a change.

If you were paying attention, you may remember that I made a blue one just like this one recently. This has been felted and is a bit darker red in person.

This cute smiley guy has a little musical button inside that plays 'Frosty the Snowman'....

a couple more tins, one is a 'bucket'....

This guy is really old and was once used for a shop model....

This was the last thing I cross stitched in 2010....'Whee Willie' by Heart in Hand.

and another Pine Mt. pillow kit from yrs. ago.... I made the inside pillow form a different fabric than what they called for. This is from their 'Tie One On' series.

Well, I hope you lasted till the very end. As you can tell, I have ALMOST as many snowmen I as I do gingerbread!!! LOL I'm sure I still missed a few, but that is the majority of them. Hope you enjoyed yet another tour of one of my many collections! ha I usually keep my snowmen out till the very end of Feb.

I'll leave you w/a brief quote..."Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."

Next time I hope to show you something I've been plugging away at and hope to be done with soon. Until then, stay warm and toasty!!

Tanya***

Snowmen Everywhere~Part One

I am off to a slow start w/posting this yr. I have been taking a little break, but now it's time to get back to 'work' ~ ha! As usual, I have a lot of snowmen pics to share w/you, so I am breaking them up into two posts so I don't bore you.

Some of these you may remember from last yr., but I like to shuffle things around from yr. to yr. so they are not always in the same place as before.

Here's a stitchery pillow I made a few yrs. ago and used flannel around the outer edges. Notice the pearly buttons that make up his little 'body'.
I have lots of snowman tins, but chose to put out only a few this yr.

I kept the same tablecloth on there, but pared down the look quite a bit. I made the tablerunner in a class at a local quilt shop about 3 yrs. ago.

This stocking I made out of 100% wool and some overdyed wool.

Same design is on both sides of this wooden box.

I use a lot of snowman ornies on our Chr. tree every yr. but I keep a few out to hang on various pegs in the house.

My first rag quilt I ever made, all out of flannel and Warm & Natural, grubbied w/cinnamon for a more prim look.

This is the fireplace mantel in the family room once again, but I mixed the pieces up just a bit this yr.

A cute little candlemat I made a few yrs. ago....

A miniature tea set....

This little lunch box came w/a packet of hot choc.

Did you notice this one is carrying a 'GINGERBREAD'??? LOL

I know, I know, I need to get a picture in that cute little frame! ha That is a tea light on the right hand side.

Plate w/matching mug....

The little snowman in the front actually goes w/the little tea set....A couple more tins to finish out the grouping....

and one of my favorite decorative wood plates....(oops, think I needed to turn him just a little).

A shop model I made several yrs. ago from a Sisters and Best Friends pattern which also came w/the mitten and glove......this is my message to each of you! Be warm inside and out! LOL

That's all for part one, but I'll be back again soon w/the second half and hopefully done w/something I've been working on.

Here's my quote for the day~ "We are brave in the face of new experiences if we have a faithful friend to journey w/us".(Unknown).

Well, see ya next time and I hope your year is off to a great start!
Tanya