Gifts Galore!

I'm almost on a first name basis with the Post Lady here in Maryland!  It's been a busy month for her!  Between exchanges I've been a part of, Round Robins that have been arriving from every corner of the world, and belated birthday/Christmas gifts, I've been receiving packages quite frequently.  I'm still waiting on one more, a box of goodies that I won from Gifted Gorgeousness last year.  I'm feeling pretty lucky right about now!

Let's start out with the things I'm stitching for Gifted Gorgeousness.  

The rules can be found here.  If you are interested I think you can sign up any time!  And if you want to see what the rest of us have been submitting, you can find the links for February here.  Thank you, once again, Jo, for hosting this!  I really enjoy searching and stitching for this challenge.  It keeps me searching through patterns and things to post for this challenge!

I'm still working on the Needlework Casket that was in a book I was gifted with from a good friend of mine.  I had to restart because the last one I stitched on 36 count and it was coming out a wee bit too large to fit in the casket I have.  So here is what I've done on the new one, stitched on 40 count.  I've learned a lot since restarting.  The satin stitch is done differently, and covers much better.  The herringbone stitch is also done a little different to make the roof look more consistent and more like shingles.  I just love this piece!!

I've done a few more letters from Prairie Schooler Christmas Alphabet that was also gifted from another friend.  These are stitched on 28 count over two.  I've decided to try and do four letters a month to finish up earlier so I can move on to other things.  I was hoping to do two a month until all were done, but they stitch up faster than I imagined.  Here are Y, C, H, R.

I've done a couple more of the numbers of the EMS Advent calendar.  I stitched up the 24 because it was the largest and hopefully soon (before the end of the month) I can get them finished up.  When I was stitching this I thought...why aren't I stitching the big ones first?  As it gets closer to Christmas I'll have less time, so it will be quicker to stitch the smaller ones then...so from now on I'll be going in reverse order.  So here are 24 and 23 stitched on 32 ct over one.  They are freebies from Ellen Maurer-Stroh that you can find here.  

 February has been released from The Snowflower Diaries SAL.  Here is mine done on 32 ct. over one.  March has also been released and you can find all the patterns on her blog here.

I'm participating in a round robin with a few ladies from Friendly Stitchers.  When I was in NY I missed a couple, so I've received two recently, one from the midwest that was sent on to England....

And one from England that was sent on to Canada....

With these two I think I'm caught up.  I think that makes three (four if you count mine) out of seven that I've stitched on.  Just three more to go before I receive mine!  I just love participating in these!

Now...on to the gifts I've received.  From a private Valentine's exchange I received this...

It's a small project bag, and is stitched so beautifully.  The fabric of the bag is so soft too.  I just love it and will be using it for small projects.  Thank you so much Amy!

My pen pal and stitch pal from England, Mouse, sent me these beautifully stitched and finished pieces.  The thread keeper is a small project bag as well and I can't wait to use it!

The Huswife has three separate pockets and will work perfectly for things I like to carry with me wherever I go to stitch.  I can't wait to put them to good use.  Thank you so much  Mouse!!  I feel well and truly spoiled by all these lovely gifts!

So what else have I been stitching on?  I've been making very sloooooow progress on Aurora Cabin.  Through Friendly Stitchers I've been making it a point to stitch on Sundays.  Unfortunately it seems my husband keeps making plans so I've haven't made much progress...but here is what I've done since the last picture.

I started working on a Christmas ornament that was supposed to be a gift.  I decided it probably would be an appropriate pattern for what it was intended for,  so I'm going to finish it, but not give it there.  

One of the other things I'm hoping to keep up with is finishing each of these months from Country Cottage Needleworks.  Here is February.  This one is done on 32 ct over two.  

I'm hoping to start getting these made in to cube stand-ups tomorrow.  I'm setting aside tomorrow as a "finishing" day.  I have a couple of things I would love to get made up....one is actually a gift and I need to get it sent off...wish me luck!

 I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day.  I was well and truly spoiled by the two men in my life...DH and DS.  I was treated to a movie and dinner and a small box of chocolates from DH, and a Downton Abbey puzzle from DS.  I've already started it, and it's been a lovely treat.  The only drawback is to see all my favorite characters from the series staring back at me from my work table...hahahaha.  Truly, it's hard to draw myself away from it.  If only I could keep Thomas (my cat) off the table, I'll be doing well!!

Off to spend time with the guys, they have today off for President's day.  It's another snowy day here today, so I doubt we'll be going anywhere, let's hope we don't get the 6 inches they are threatening us with!  It sure looks pretty from this side of the window though!