Fair and Square, Final

I have sent and received my last Fair and Square.

I stitched these squares for Maureen, from Christiane Dahlbeck's Fadenspiel (Floss Play):

I also sent a card from pink month:

Maureen stitched these lovely squares for me.

The dragonfly is highlighted with metallic floss and little pearly beads. Very sweet.

Here's Something I Haven't Shown You

Here's my Christmas Fair and Square that I sent to Paula D. It's from A Cross Stitch Christmas: Handmade Heirlooms (c 2002). You should be able to tell it's Lizzie*Kate. I designed the signature square using elements from the original. I had to imagine what some of the other letters and the numbers would look like based on the charted "Happy Holidays."

Hope you had a Merry Christmas yourselves.

Fair and Square Arrival

Yesterday I received my F&S Squares. For the Christmas Round, Paula stitched me "Angels Sang" by Shepherds Bush. I think that's appropriate since I just hung up the Toy Gatherer. I plan to finish these squares as an ornament. (I meant to take the photo this morning when the light was better, but a sale at Joann's called to me. And isn't it more important for me to help the economy than to take a great photo?)

Don't forget to sign up for the anniversary prize! I'm drawing it tomorrow.

It's in the Mail

Things have been coming to and leaving from the mailbox chez Van Schurman; according to due date/purchase date:

The Fair and Square squares I sent to Melita.

CCN's ornament from the JCS Ornament Preview Issue.

Warning: DO NOT cut the fabric to the size they tell you to. You will cry.

The lovely and fabulous F&S squares Melita sent to me after I said, "You can't go wrong with sheep!" And you can't.

The Secret Stitching Project #1 for bestpal's birthday. That's the Silver Needle's JBW exclusive "I Love to Shop..." finished as a little shopping bag for when we go to camp. Secret Stitching project #2 was for DD whose birthday coincided with our trip to Orlando. Imagine--because I forgot to photograph it--the same bag stitched with GAST Cranberry threads and with a blotchy red fabric. Black interior, a last minute substitution because I bought fabric with direction for the lining, and too little at that. But it turns out I like the black better.

I got my copy of the JCS Halloween issue from Vonna. Thanks, Vonna. I can't wait to stitch the monsterbubbles bat and the La D Da feet.

I also received some grab bags from the Silver Needle: a Rainbow Gallery threads bag containing 2 cards of cashmere, 3 cards of silk ribbon, 2 cards of angora, 4 cards of very velvet, 3 cards of rainbow tweed, 4 cards of splendor silk, a card of silk pearl and one of hi-lights; a Thread Gatherer and Caron threads bag containing two skeins of impressions, 2 skeins of shepherd's wool, 4 skeins of sheep's silk, 2 skeins of shepherd's silk and 2 silk 'n colors; and a fabric bag with lots of bits of fabric, perfect for stitching up some of those aforementioned ornaments. Wait, what grab bags? Well you should sign up for their newsletter and then you'd know about these things.

I'm almost ready for the trip to Maine! We're leaving again tomorrow night. But this time, we'll have internet access.