Exchange FOR Marie-P

Hi, how are you?

This weekend, Tass and I stayed over at "Hoshinoko Yakata" with his friends.
As well as their mums are my good stitching friends.

Although we couldn't see Jupiter from the big astronomical because the weather wasn't good, we could have wonderful time together!

By the way, I heard that my friend Marie-P has received her parcel from Japan, I share some shots of our exchange piece.

We decided to do exchange for Easter in 2010, but as you may know I wasn't well for a long time, and so I've received her wonderful pinkeep last year but I hadn't been sending out mine to her for a long long time...

Spring Exchange FROM Marie-P

I have mentioned that Marie-P. and I were going to Spring (Easter) Exchange, but I was really ill in the last Spring and so even though I was stitching a little by little from earlier, I couldn't make and complete anything for her...
Moreover, I'm sorry that I hadn't been showing you her beautiful work on my blog for ages.
I apologize for you, Marie.
I will planning something surprise for you one day!

By the way, here is her wonderful Spring pinkeep!
How lovely this is, I love this Prairie Schooler design so much and wanted to stitch one day as like she did!
So I was so surprised and very happy to receive this so much, you know at that time I was so ill so I was truly happy to have this and so I take this pinkeep to my bed room when I sleep and put it on beside my pillow some days :)

She trimmed edges with flowery lace (sorry I forgot the name...) and put while pearl pins.
And on top, she added very springlike colour organza ribbon.
How sweet colour combination this is!
I really love this, Thank you so much, Marie!

On the back side, she used Easter egg's print fabric, it's so rare for us Japanese, because Easter is not major yet in Japan.
So we Japanese stitch friends searched and told me the meaning of Easter and why bunnies relates for Easter? etc...
But I already forgot it... (lol)

Anyway, her stitching and finishing is just perfect!!!
I really admire for her works, if you had chance to see her works IRL, you would be amazed!


I organized photos for blog, so I will update sometime later.
Take care and have a lovely weekend!

Thank you so much for your visiting!

Private Exchange FROM Nina

Yesterday postman rung the bell and when I opened the front door, he had very big box as waiting for me to write signature!
I was wondering who sent me this huge parcel? Then when I saw the name, I realized that it was from Nina in Hungary!
(compare to my mobile phone, you see how big the box was!)

I was so surprised how fast this parcel has reached me, I knew she sent me parcel as she told me about it in the e-mail.
It was not just big, it was also very heavy!
I was so thrilled to open the box, Sweetie just came to me to open the parcel together, but I told him not to mess up items in the box, otherwise I won't be able to take photos!!

Here they are! She sent me SO many things from Hungary!!

Sweetie just found the truck that Nina presented for him, and he asked me so many times to open it immediately!!! :(

Everything wrapped beautifully, and I was quite nervous to open these packages, because I was sure these must be Nina's works!
I was SO thrilled to unwrap, I opened very carefully, and found ao many fabulous things!!!

Here they are!!!
She made me thread keeper and needle book by my favourite Shepherd's Bush's designs!
And she added SO many goodies, every things are so pretty and beautiful!!

Here is the cover of the needle book that Nina made for me!
How beautifully stitched this is! I was speechless and was almost shaking to touch it.
Her works are always so delicate and so perfect, and so I admire of her works always!

Here are some photos of the needle book!

Here is a thread keeper that she made for me as well.
She personalized this and made it "Be Happy Yuko", how sweet of her!
Thank you so much Nina for your lovely thoughts!

She added over dyed threads, too!

And here is a photo of goodies!

How generous she is! She added some beautiful fabrics, 32ct linen and thread that she dyed by herself, beautiful scissors, cute eyelets, etc...!

She even made these Fimo pins by herself!

How talented Nina is!

I love this linen and thread colour so much! She told me when she made them and post them on her blog, I commented "I love them", and she remembered it!

Thank you, Nina!

This times Private Exchange has another special part!

Nina's fiancee wants to try "Wasabi" and some Japanese spices, so we talked about Spices Exchange, too!

Here are also Hungarian spices!

Uhmmm, how to use them? I will read papers that she added for me!

We talked about our Private Exchange from the last year, and finally her gifts arrived to me.

This time I was unwell for a long time and she has examine, so we didn't send our parcels at the same time.

So I'm going to make her gifts from now!

But, what shall I make for such a talented lady???

I'm very nervous to make something and send for her... lol

Here is a photo of Sweetie playing with the truck that Nina presented him!

We have never seen this type of truck before, so he was more happier than usual!!

Thank you so much Nina for thinking of us a lot!

And thank you so much for these generous Exchange, from the bottom of my heart!!

I will definitely treasure them forever!!!

Thank you SO much again!!

Take care and have a lovely weekend!

Happy Stitching!

Birthday Present FOR Joei

I just received a lovely e-mail from Joei to let me know that she received my Birthday present safely today!

As I wrote before that since our Birthdays are in the same month, and hers is on the 15th and mine is on the 14th, we talked and decided to do Birthday pressie exchange this year!
As it's quite tough to choose the design and moreover how to finish off (on the other hand it's fun, though!), we decided to pick which of our finishes we want to receive from the other.

Then, she asked me this tote bag for her Birthday!

As I'm not good with a sewing machine at all, I was very worried when I heard that she wants this tote bag from me, lol
And as I worried, I had a hard time to finish this off, lol

I stitched her initial "J", and patched blue base fabrics and made it into a tote bag.
The size of this bag is just A4.
I also added crochet flower and lace tag at the side.

I also have this bag in pink version here, and it's very useful to put stitch stuffs in and take it out to outside!

Anyway, it's a pity this Birthday present didn't reach her in time...

But I'm so glad that Joei loves this bag!
I hope she had a wonderful Birthday!


From : "Charted Monograms for Needlepoint and Cross-Stitch"

Exchange FOR Domy

How are you, everyone? I'm doing fine, thanks to you!
In Japan, recently the weather is very strange, sometimes the temperature became very high, it's like middle of June, but it's chilly today...

By the way, I post and share some photos what I've made for Domy for our private exchange this time, as I promised!

I know Domy loves tea very much and she always describe herself as a "Teapot", so first of all, I wanted to stitch this "Official Tea Lover" for her! (right one)
And secondarily, I also wanted to stitch this word "Friendship begins with Kindness" (left one) for her, as I thought that this word signify of us!

Actually it was the first time and it's rare for me to choose and stitch ©Lizzie*Kate's designs, but this time I really wanted to stitch them for her.
I like ©Lizzie*Kate's words, but I found that it's a bit difficult to stitch its designs for me...

This time I made Hornbook (-like) and a small tray with ©Lizzie*Kate designs for her.

Here is a close up photo of Hornbook (-like), I added blue frill around the edge.
The frill trim which I used is an elastic one, so it was quite easy to add to curvy corner, as well.

And here is a close up photo of the tray.
Actually in the original design, there are two tea cups and the frame in there, but I omitted them to balance the design.

I added a bit slender lace on both top and the bottom of the tray to make an accent.

I've got a lovely e-mail from Domy that she loved everything that I've sent for her!
I was so happy to heard of it from her, as I was a bit worried if she doesn't like American designs... But she loved the word "Friendship begins with Kindness", too!
Our friendship has just started with a little kindness, so this word was perfect for our friendship!

It was very nice exchange as usual!
Thanks Domy!



Hornbook (-like) : "Official Tea Lover" © Lizzie*Kate, unknown fabric x DMC
Tray : "Friendship Begins" © Lizzie*Kate, unknown fabric x DMC

Christmas Ornament Exchange with SU

We both, Su and I have done Christmas Ornaments exchange 2007, and just only 30 minutes before I've left for the 4 hours trip to the new house, I've safely received Su's Christmas present.

What a nice timing!!!
I was so excited and I opened her parcel immediately after I had received it!!!


Here is what she's stitched for me and what she had sent me for the last Christmas!

Of course Su's stitching and finishing is perfect as always, as you know!
She stitched CHS design for me!
This is simply beautiful, isn't this?! I really love it!!!
She used beautiful iridescent colour's silk for the back, it's absolutely gorgeous!
And it matches very well with the ribbon to hang on the tree!!

And this is an additional wonderful wonderful present from her!
Do you remember that I was looking for this "Willow Tree" doll before?

Friends had told me where I can buy online, but actually they said they are not sending any their products to Japan (Asia), maybe because it's fragile...?
So, I haven't been able to buy any of it, but now it's with me!!!
It's in front of me in the real life, thanks to sweet Su!!!!!

And you know, this doll's title (name) is "FRIENDSHIP"!!!
It made me almost shed tears... not almost... actually I teared a bit...
What a sweet person she is!!!!!
And how beautiful this doll is!!!

We both have quite similar collections.
We like to collect, Lladro, Nao, Goebel (Hummel), Willow Tree figures, etc...
I truly love this "FRIENDSHIP" Willow Tree doll, it's absolutely stunning!

Now she is on the cupboard where I can see anytime when I'm in living room!!

And she didn't forget to send me a chocolate, lol.
This reindeer chocolate is also soooooo cute! Of course I won't eat him, he is also in the cupboard now! :D

Thank you sooooooo much, Su! I'm sure I will treasure them forever! xxxxx

And here is what I had stitched and sent her for our exchange!
When I saw this design, soon I had imagined Su and decided to stitch this design for her!

This design is so sweet and beautiful, so I was very enjoyed stitching along!
And also want to stitch one more for myself, later when I have time!
It was from JCS Ornament issue 2007, but it's not Christmassy at all (don't you think?), so if I stitched one for myself, I think I would be able to put it on somewhere in my house whole year!

By the way, I used dark green velvet for around the stitched piece, and used the same fabric for the back as well.
And trimmed by light green twisted code and added four shell flower shaped buttons on the four corners.

Actually I had stitched her name and my name, and the year on the back, but it's sooo messy (Sorry Su!), so can't show it to anybody, lol
Thanks for Su, she also didn't show it on her blog, I felt so relief, lol

This time I sew around by sewing machine, but it was a bit rough and messy, so I feel sorry to Su...
I shouldn't have done that, I should had sew by hand...
I have to do more practice for finishing...!

"Peace" © Country Cottage Needleworks, from JCS Ornament issue 2007
35ct (Cream / Ivory) + DMC threads

Christmas Present FROM Domy!

Domy and I have promised to do an exchanges for the last Christmas, and here they are what I've received from France!
I was so excited and surprised of so many goodies and her beautiful work!!!

She has made me a sewing bag (Stitching bag) by patchwork what she is now crazy for!
And she added the beautiful hand made beads accessory on it!

It can take off and she also added a necklace for it to add!
I love the colours of fabbies she has chosen, and it would be very useful when I organize stitching stuffs!!
I really love it, how beautiful it is!

Her works are always beautiful!!!
It's special thing and I of course will treasure it!

Thanks Domy!!!

She also made a cup? box? by Christmassy fabric and buttons for chocolates!!
Isn't this so beautiful?! I'm displaying it and the beautiful tin of tea in the cupboard!

She knows that I love chocolate and flavoured teas and coffee! lol

So she always sends me nice flavoured teas!! I love them a lot, and so my husband!

My son quickly has found these chocolates and coax to let him eat them all!!!

I gave him a few, but after that of course he cried a lot, lol!

Thank you so much for my dear friend, Domy!
I really really love them all!
Let's think and do exchanges 2008, too!

Christmas Present Exchange FOR Claudia

For this year's Christmas, Claudia and I talked about exchanges presents each other, but I suggest whatever it's OK, I mean it's no need to be stitching thing, because we will be busy making presents.
And I hadn't confidence to manage one for her, too, at all...
Because I'm not good at control my time at all and have already been booked some ornie exchanges... So, I had no idea whether that I can make one for her or not at all then.


But I could make it for her, too! Yahoo!
I was so happy that I could manage my time to make one for her, too!
Because I really wanted to stitch something for her for Christmas!!!

And what I've chosen for her is from "Just Nan" (I forgot the name, I will add the name later...), as I know that she loves "Just Nan" a lot!It's from JCS Ornaments Issue from 2002.

Actually the square around the joy on the center was recommended to use metal frame, but I hadn't have one, so I stitched it instead...

This was the first time for me to stitch "Just Nan" design and I realised it's quite fun to stitch!
This was absolutely gorgeous and beautiful!

Gold thread made me cry again, though, lol...
I've used wine red coloured velvet for the around and the back and trimmed by gold code.

I've got an e-mail from her and I'm so happy to hear that she loved it very much!

I think this is really suit well for her elegance!!!

But, as I stitched for her, she felt she had to stitch something to me in return, so I think I made her much work... so sorry Claudia, you don't need to stitch something back to me... but I really thank for your kind heart!!!

Baci xx

"A Little Joy" © Just Nan, from JCS Ornaments issue 2002
32ct Belfast Linen (Law Linen), DMC threads - 2 strands

Christmas Ornament Exchange FOR Domy

This year, I've made lots of Christmas presents for dear friends, it was almost the first time for me to prepare for Christmas presents like this year, but I very enjoyed making presents and ornaments for my friends!

Today I received an e-mail from the recipient from France that my parcel has safely arrived to her, so I put some photos what I've made for her for this Christmas!

Here is a Christmas Ornament Exchange TO Domy!
I've made her triangle ornament, this is from JCS Ornaments Issue 2007.
It was almost the first sight love and thought she would like this design!

I added three ribbons on the bottom of the triangle and trimmed around the edges with pale-green twisted code.
I'm really satisfied with this result!


I spoiled her very much this year, I added a lot of her favourites in the parcel, so she told me that she was almost crying when she saw them in the bag!
Yeah! My trick was succeed! :D


I'm so happy that she loved all the things what I've sent her!
It also made my day, because I wanted to please my dear friends very much!!!

By the way, here is the backing fabric which I used for this ornament!
Very Christmassy fabric and I like this series very much, so have 3 colours of this fabbies as stock.

Now it's my turn to wait for the parcel from her!
I heard it's on the way to Japan!
Wow, exciting, isn't it?
I like the moment that I'm waiting for the parcels to me, like back to be a child!

I'm really looking forward her Present!
Hurry hurry Mr. Postman!
Please deliver it to me as soon as possible! :D
By the way, I have been teaching my friends' name to my 2 years old son, and when I teach him Domy's name, he always says "Nomy", he can't pronounce "Domy" properly yet, but it's so sweet to hear!
So naughty mummy is often trying him to say "Nomy", lol

Have a wonderful holiday and a warm Christmas! xx




"Quiet Night" © Erica Michaels Designs, from JCS Ornaments issue 2007
32ct Belfast Linen (Willow Green), DMC threads - 2 strands