Sent and Received!

Please just look at this wonderful and beautiful work!!!!!
I've received this beautifully elegant needlebook from Joei in Singapore!
It was an unexpected present, so I was very surprised and was speechless when I saw this her wonderful work!!

Isn't this so beautiful and elegant?!
There is a word "Friends are always close at heart" in the middle, it made my heart really warm...

The back of this needlebook, she stitched our initials and they were stitched one over one...
They are so beautiful, it's like printed!
And also there is a word "Stitching Friends" on the back.

The right hand side photo above is the inside pocket.
Every details are so wonderfully stitched, I felt her gentle and kind heart from this stitch very much, and was so touched by this, was a bit shaking to hold it...

She is very talented and good at Hardanger, as well as cross stitching!
I was breathless when I saw this Hardanger parts the most!
Thank you so much Joei, I loved your letter, too!
You are so kind and so sweet! I'm so happy to have you as a good friend!
I'm sure I will treasure this as well as the Biscornu which you've presented me before!
Thanks again, Joei! xx

And this is what I've sent her for the last Christmas...
It's shame that I couldn't make more noble thing for her, as I was kind of rush at that time...

I made pinkeep for her from JCS ornament issue 2007, on 32ct Belfast Linen.
This is very Christmassy colour and design, so I hope she will have it as or with memories of 2007's Christmas.

This is the backing fabric I've chosen for this pinkeep!
Isn't this fabric lovely?
I really like this fabric and wanted use it for the back very much, unfortunately I forgot to put "wee pocket" on the back this time, though... lol

These are the close up photos of Ribbon and Pins.
I used big pearl bead for the top, it suits well with red ribbon very much, it made a good accent to be more Christmassy pinkeep, I think!

And I used pearl white and green pins for both sides of the pinkeep.

Compare to her work, it's a bit simple and easy, but I made it with my heart :D
I've got a lovely e-mail from Joei, and she loved what I've sent for her for the last Christmas (it reached her a bit late, sorry about it...), so I felt relief.

Anyway, her work is so wonderful, it really made me feel special!
Actually we both sent our presents secretly, so she also was surprised of my gift.
I really enjoyed it very much, and now as seeing her beautiful work, I want to feel like trying to do Hardanger again!
I still have some Hardanger kits, so want to try to stitch some of them in this year!

Pinkeep : from JCS ornament issue 2007 © ""
32ct Belfast Linen (Law), with DMC threads, 2strands

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

Big Surprise!!!

Now some friends know that I'm addicted to Cross Stitch, so some of them had presented me something about Cross Stitch for the last Christmas!

One of them, my OZ friend Fiona who I had lived with in Australia (she's got married to a Japanese guy and now is living in Japan!) has sent me a Christmas card and DMC Cross Stitch Kit!
It's called "The Perfume" and its design is very cute!
I was very happy with this thoughtful present! Thanks a lot, Fiona!

By the way, the BIGGEST SURPRISE was happened today!!!
We (my family) went for shopping to IKEA and while we were shopping, the name I recognize was announced in the store... it was Fiona's husbands' name, and so I asked the shop staff if he was with a Western girl??? So the shop staff said "Yes!"...
Yes, that's right! my guess was right, a person who was called was him!

It has been about 8 years since the last time we've met in person, so my heart suddenly has started to beat fast, and I was so excited to see her again!!!!
But they were a bit late, so I called her and asked "Fiona? if are you in IKEA now???", she was extremely surprised and said "Yes, if you are here, too??? Please stay there!!!!"
She came to see us soon after we cut the line, that was the most exciting moment!
What a coincidence! Actually we are living far away from IKEA and each other, though!!!

We both wanted to see each other sooooo much, so has been keeping in touch often!
What an accidental meeting!! I was so excited and so happy to met her and her husband, and also was happy that I could finally introduce my family to them in person!
Oh, I think I won't be able to sleep well tonight, too excited today, like a child, lol!

By the way, my husband is working for a German company, and so my son and I had been to Germany with him about 2 years ago, when my son was only 4 months old.
Then, we were invited from some very kind family of his co-workers, and had lovely time with them there!

One of them, Sabine (who is my husband's co-workers' wife) and I have been keeping in touch.
The last Christmas, she has sent me a Christmas card and this Cross Stitch book!

This is in German and the designs in the book are so sweet!
I want to stitch this design for cushion (on the cover) very much, it will suit well for our living room!
I also want to stitch some other designs from this book, they are quite rare to see, I think!
Thank you so much, Sabine!

Some day, I want to present stitch works for both of them!
I'm so happy to have both of you as my friends, and was touched by these thoughtful presents!

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!

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!

Small Ornaments For Friends!

Thank you so much everyone for stopping by my blog and leaving warm comments!
I have still been working hard to unpacking and tidy + clean up my new (old) house at the moment, so the time I can be online is just at the late night, and just to upload my blog...

So sorry for my friends who gave me e-mails, messages, e-cards,etc...
I haven't been able to replying them at all, but always thinking of you and of course about to stitching!!
I will reply you a little by little when I have time, so please forgive it!

By the way, I have been still talking about Christmas, lol

Here is the small ornament which I've stitched and sent to Angela for Christmas.

The design is from "Homespun Elegance".
As I've heard that it is her favourite designer!

I trimmed it around with green and gold twisted code and added green ribbon on the top and the bottom.

Here is the backing fabric which I've used for Angela's ornament.
It's quite small, so I was a bit worried if it wasn't fit for the foreign big Christmas tree, but I've got a sweet e-mail from Angela and she loved them all what I've sent her, so I felt relief by then!


And this is the ornament which I've sent to Patti.
This design is from Prairie Schooler and from JCS 2002 Ornament issue.

I was quite rush to stitch, so it might be a bit rough finishing... sorry Patti, but if we had a chance to exchange or something like that in the future, I would calculate the time left and stitch very beautifully next time!

By the way, I trimmed it around the dark red single code and added leaf and white ribbon on the top.
I quite like this simple design!

Here is the backing fabric which I've used for Patti's ornament.
I've chosen black coloured fabric to be matched the design.

I've stitched and sent them to both my friend secretly, so they were so surprised to receive the Christmas pressie from me!
It was my intention, and it was fun to make friends happy with big surprise!

They were just from my heart to thank both of you, for your kindness and warm heart!

I hope you two, and everyone has a wonderful happy new year!



Angela's Ornament : © Homespun Elegance Ltd.
Patti's Ornament : "The Cabin Pinkeep" © Prairie Schooler from JCS Ornament issue 2002

Antique Christmas Trees TO Cindy

Happy New Year 2008, everyone!
I hope everyone will have a wonderful year with full of joy and happiness!

It was a few months ago, Cindy and I traded charts each other, but at then I've just sent A chart, but she has sent me wonderful stuffs include stitched gift...

So I felt really guilty and I promised to send presents to her for Christmas in return!

And this is what I've made for her for the last Christmas!
I've stitched this design twice before, one is mine and the other one has presented to my cousin.

I love this design, so I decided to stitch this again to Cindy, too.

Actually I wanted it to be framed, but it's fragile to send to foreign country, so I finished this as a flat fold easel this time! I trimmed around with gold twist code, and made tassel on the right top.

Actually it was the first time for me to make flat fold easel, so I felt relief when this was finished properly! :D I used dark green velvet for the around stitched piece, and it really suit well with gold code, I think!

This is the backing fabric which I used for this flat fold easel.
It's Christmassy and the colour of this fabric is really matches to the dark green velvet and the gold code.

Threads are over dyed threads and I think this is very beautiful.
This design is very small, but when you framed or make flat fold like this, it looks become quite gorgeous!

By the way, I've got an e-mail from Cindy and I've heard that she was so happy to receive what I've sent to her!
So it also made me very happy!!

"Antique Christmas Trees" © JBW designs
32ct Belfast Linen (Willow Green)

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

I Almost Be Back!

Hello everyone, I'm sorry, it's been a long time since the last time I posted here, as I had to prepare for moving and now have been unpacking!

But, I fed up with it, need to have a rest, so tried to be online so many times.
But we have no proper Internet connection at the moment, so now I have been trying to be online by connect card.
Here where we moved is a bit inconvenience and have very weak radio wave, so it's quite hard to keep being online, actually...

This is only in the living room, I can't or don't want to think about to do unpacking all boxes...

We couldn't proper and sweet Christmas this year, but I bought tall and big Christmas tree at half price on 24th, for the new house!
So, next year I'm looking forward to decorate tall and big tree beautifully, and hope we will be able to have a wonderful Christmas!

Hope you all had a very merry Christmas! :D
I'm going to post what I've sent to friends, and what I've got from dear friends, a little by little at night!

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

Drop-shaped Coasters [ Christmas ver. ]

I had made this Drop-shaped Coasters before, though this time I made Christmas version!
(You can see them which I've made before, click the "Coasters" from the Labels on the left hand side bar.)

It's nice for the Christmas dinner I thought, although I have to move to a new house (old one, though...) on 24th, therefore this year we can't have wonderful Christmas dinner...


Here is a photo of fabric which I used and the ribbon. It looks very Christmassy, doesn't it?
How are they? I quite like them, aren't they gorgeous?
I've added this for the Christmas present for friends, I hope friends use them for their Christmas dinner or the party.
I do hope my parcel will reach them until the Christmas!!!

I have sent all my parcel out to the recipients yesterday, so what I can do is just to wish them to reach my friends in time!!

And I do really hope friends will like my presents!

By the way, thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving lots of comments!
I'm so glad to read them very much, they always make me happy and cheer me up a lot!
I really appreciate for them a lot! Thank you everyone.
Please write whatever you feel or think from now on, too!