Fair & Square Round 26

These are the squares that I received yesterday from Jill F. in the Fair & Square Round 26 exchange. Aren't they pretty?

It's JBW's "French Country Apple," which I have now removed from my wish list.

Happy stitching!

JBW's Star

This is the "Star" ornament from the 2010 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornaments issue. I will make it into a pinkeep, I think. It is stitched on 28ct. linen with overdyed thread (Carrie's, I think).

This "For The Birds" Didn't Fly

This is the first project that I had stitched for the HOE "For The Birds" Exchange. I made it into a photo album cover.  It is JBW's "Lark" stitched with Threadworx thread. I had stitched several different bird designs and chose this one because  I wanted to send my partner a contemporary design.

However, when I ironed it (without steam), the thread bled a little onto the muslin back cover. It was noticeable to me, and so I decided to rip it out and make it into something else.

 I didn't like the plain muslin background, either, and some of the seams were crooked.

I sent my partner a pinkeep instead of this, and I will post a picture as soon as I hear that she has received it.

Larks in Squares

 I've completed two of JBW's "Lark,"stitched on a white evenweave fabric in two different colors of DMC floss.

Halloween Musings

Last night I began a JBW pumpkin design as part of the Friday Night Stitch-a-thon group. Today I'll be working to get my HOE Halloween Exchange sewn together and packed up, as well as sew a (stitched) Halloween sign.

This will be our first Halloween in this apartment complex and people are already decorating their doors and windows. I realized that we will need a LOT of candy to give out. Last year we were much more isolated (down a gravel country lane), and had not one single trick-or-treater! I enjoy going to the door and giving out the treats.

I remember from my childhood that a whole candy bar was only a nickel. One family used to keep them slightly warm in the oven for us! Our paper grocery bag full of Halloween candy lasted about a whole month because we were allowed to have only one piece per day.

I've got a Martha Stewart Halloween book from the library and have recipes to copy, as well as some templates for decorating ideas.