PIF (Pay It Forward) FOR Elisa

I can't believe, it's the last day of the year tomorrow!!
In Japan we clean the whole house at the end of the year, but this year I didn't do anything...
I was just mentally and physically tired (is this just excuse?? lol), I haven't been able to stitch much nowadays.

By the way, I heard that the Elisa has received the PIF gift safely, so I can share some photos what I made for her.
I was quite not sure what her tastes are, but light blue flashed into my mind when I thought about Elisa, so I bought a bit antique blue basket and stitched an angel in blue.

And I trimmed the basket lid and the stitched piece with shinny light blue gathered lace.

The back of the lid is also covered the same fabric that I used for the front.

I red that Elisa liked this and some goodies that I sent her, so I now feel relieved!!

3 PIFs done and 3 more PIFs to go!

I should tidy up my stitching stuffs soon, and have to try to concentrate on making 3 more PIF gifts!!

I decided to visit my PIL on the new years day with my husband and son, but I asked my husband not to stay there long time... otherwise I will get sick, mentally!!
I should visit shrine near by to buy a talisman before I visit them!!

Please fingers crossed for me!
And have a Happy new year, everyone!!

Thanks for visiting, and let's talk soon in 2009!

Design : Freebie © Casamia
Fabric : 32ct Belfast Linen (Ivory)
Thread : DMC

Finished as : Basket lid

Merry Christmas! - Blessings Be Thine Framed

Just in time! I've received an ordered frame for "Blessings Be Thine" © Blackbird Designs a few days ago!
So soon after I received it, I framed it.
How is it? I think it turned out beautifully.

There is glass inside, so it was quite difficult to take good photos, though these photos show the linen colour (40ct vintage pear) justice, photos of this last post didn't show the linen colour justice, I think.

How is this frame? It's a bit different from how I imagined, but it's OK, I think it's still beautiful!
And the cost was very reasonable, so I will order another frame from this online framer again.
But my husband again found a big frame shop near my place, so I want to go there and want to see what they sell!

Here is a small Christmas decoration which I stitched about 2 years ago.

This year I couldn't decorate home for Christmas much as I was away and quite busy...

So next year I really want to decorate home very Christmassy, of course with some Christmas stitched items!

I wish you a very merry Christmas and a Happy new year!

Take care and thanks for visiting!

Design : "Blessings Be Thine" © Blackbird Designs
Fabric : 40ct Vintage Pear
Thread : GAST

"Joyeux Noel "Free chart @ Echevette Dominique A.

Thanks A Lot, Aunt Carol!

Yesterday when we were going out, I found something big parcel in the mailbox, it was from Carol R. to my son Tass.
I guessed it's Christmas Pressie for Tass, so I hid it soon but he found it and said "I'm sure it's mine!" (lol)
I told him "No, it's only rubbish (sorry Carol!), not parcel nor present!" but he didn't accept what I said, he kept saying "It's mine, it's mine! Please open it now!!"
And he also said "If is this from Aunt Carol???"
(Yes, you are right... but how do you know? Why? You can't read alphabets nor even Japanese, though!)

I think he saw the alphabets on the parcel, and must thought "English = Aunt Carol".
He didn't give up, so I asked him to open it on the Christmas day, but he doesn't understand what the Christmas is yet, so he said "OK, so I'm going to let Christmas stop now, so let's open the parcel instead!" and he was going to turn off the switch of the Christmas tree, LOL
He thinks if the rights of tree have been turned off, the Christmas has gone! (lol)
My mum and I laughed so much, but at the same time we were surprised how he getting grow so fast!

I opened the parcel carefully and it was wrapped beautifully by pretty light blue paper.
And inside was, Radio Control BMW MINI!!! wow!
He doesn't know yet, hasn't seen Radio Control car before, so it's his first Radio Control Car, and it's his favourite MINI!!

I tried to let the car run to show him, and it was so fun!
He was extremely excited and when I saw his face, he had full of smile face and his eyes were shinning!!
My husband AJ also loves Radio Control car (he is like a child), so when I told him about this story on the phone (he is still away for business trip), he sounded exciting to play with Tass.

Thank you SO much Carol for thinking about us always!
We really appreciate for your thoughtfulness and kind heart!

Tomorrow, only two of us my son and I will cerebrate Christmas, but it will be fun!
Take care everyone, and thanks for visiting!

I wish you a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy 2009!

p.s. Dear my friends, so sorry that I haven't been replying you yet...
And also sorry that I haven't been commenting you much recently...
I will write you a little by little, but this time of year is quite busy, so please forgive me!

Molto Grazie, Claudia!!

Yesterday was a mail day, a postman rung the door bell and said it's an express mail, but I was not sure what it is and from who... but when I opened the door, I found that the postman was holding a big puffy envelope from Italy!
It was from dear friend, Claudia!! Just look at these beautiful presents from her!
I was just overwhelmed!!

She added so many goodies for me and for my son Tass as well, they all are very beautifully wrapped, so I hesitated to open them for a while!

Please look at this fabulously beautiful mini pillow made by her...
I was just speechless... and was so touched by her stunning finish...

Colours are so soft and so beautiful, and she added pearls and ribbon at four corners.
And it smells so nice as well!!
I have never seen such a beautiful finished work, when the first time I've saw her work, I was speechless I remember, and this time again!

Her works are always so perfect!!! Thank you SO SO much Claudia for such a wonderful Christmas present!!

She added some toys and scissors which is for kids for my son!
It's the first time for him to have scissors, and he wanted to try to use them so much.
He soon learnt how to use them and here is a photo!
He so enjoyed to cut papers!!

Claudia also included a piece of paper which her daughter (I call her "little princess"!) drew herself, her mum and me!
It's so sweet and well drew! Thanks little princess Melissa! xx
And molto grazie mille per Claudia, I really appreciate for your thoughtfullness!!

We also have got another parcel, it was from Fiona, and the parcel was to my son!

My son was so excited to open his parcel, he loves parcels!! (lol)

It was an album of our memory photos in Karuizawa, and they were so nice!

Thank you so much, Fiona!
We are looking forward to seeing you more in 2009!

My mum is going back to her home tomorrow, My son and I will miss her so much...
He LOVEs his grand mother (my mum) SO much, so I'm so worried and I'm sure that he will cry a lot to say good bye to her...
We are telling him that grand-ma is going to work tomorrow, so he is thinking that she will be back soon.
I hope he still believes it, and won't cry when she leaves...

Take care and thanks for visiting!

Until next time, Happy Stitching!

I'm Back! AND Birthday Present FOR Carol R.

Hi everyone! I'm finally back from mum's home, and I brought back my mum with us to our home for 1 week! :)
I had very cozy and relax 2 weeks at mum's home, it was so nice chance to have unexpected holiday with her!
I realized again that I like country side... I don't like crowded place, much...
I will report my country side life with some photos later, today I share stitching photos which I made for Carol R.'s Birthday!

I know that Carol loves Quaker, so I found CHS's chart (one of Sampler House) in my stash and took them to my mum's home with me.
Here it is, I made a flat fold for her.

I stitched on 40ct newcasthle linen (flax) and used DMC.
I changed the Initials to her's and mine in navy, and added 08, too.
All Initials were stitched on 1 over 1 on 40ct, it was soooo hard to stitch!!

I added dark brown braid around the edge, and added organza(?) ribbon on left top with wooden button.
I also added dark brown thin ribbon which shaped leaves at the support on the back.

I used grey rose fabric for the back.
I forgot to take a photo of backing fabric, though Carol has some photos of this on her blog, if you would like to see. :)

Actually this wooden button was my son's favourite (he likes small spherical things), so when he saw that I added this button on the ribbon, he was going to take it back!! (lol)

He was almost going to cry, so I gave him another wooden button :D

By the way, Thank you so much Dovile, Sally for the sweet Christmas cards!
I wish you all will have very merry Christmas!

Thanks for visiting and Happy stitching!