June Gifted Gorgeousness and then some!

It's June!  We have a lot to catch up on!  I'll start with Gifted Gorgeousness because that's probably why you are here.  So....if you are new to this challenge, we post on the 15th of the month the things we've been stitching that pertain to gifts.  They could be gifted patterns, fabric, or floss, or they could be things we are gifting to others.  If you want to see the "official" rules, you can visit Jo over on Serendipitious Stitching and sign up here...or you can   go to this page and see what everyone else is stitching for Gifted Gorgeousness.  It's never to late to join in the fun!  I showed you the back of several things last time, so I'll start with the front of those!

As many of you know, I attend a retreat in May each year in St. Michaels, Maryland.  It's just a group of friends who like to get away for a long weekend, hang out in our PJs and stitch the weekend away.  We usually have a gift game we play, and lately we have been stitching something on a theme and exchange them that way.  This year our theme was patriotic.  Our fearless leader usually gets a gift from me, and this year I gave her a couple of ornaments.

I made and gave scissor fobs to everyone this year, one that was patriotic, and another that was specific to them.  I had fun gathering supplies throughout the year and making them for these ladies.  Here are a few....

Here are the two exchange pieces I made.  One was for the game and the other was our exchange.  I have to say, I couldn't decide what to make and looked through patterns for ages before I finally stitched these two....and then I had to put them together.  UGH!!  I'm not good with pillows...but here is how they turned out.  The first is Land of Liberty Flag Pillow from Homespun Elegance.  I stitched the individual pieces then sewed the whole thing together by hand.  Quite the challenge for this "finally finished challenged" person!  LOL

The second is Patriotic Biscornu by TA Designs.  This is a discontinued item.  I have been asked repeatedly where to find it but the Etsy page has been closed for 2 years.  I'm not ready to give up my pattern so please don't ask.  I've agonized over this because I hate to disappoint people but I've decided I don't want to get into a debate about copyright etc.  I'm just not ready to part with the pattern.  

I've stitched a little on Winter's Majesty.  I know it doesn't look like much but it's mostly background stitching, and it kind of blends in the background.  This was a Christmas gift from my husband several years ago.

I've stitched on Through the Window, the SAL through Ship's Manor.  I've actually caught up on May and June, so as of right now, I'm all caught up!  Another gift from my husband.

I've finished the wedding sampler and it's at the framers right now.  Here is the piece before framing.  I found it in a Cross Stitch Gold magazine....I think?  The wedding for our nephew is in October, but I like to be ahead of the game.

I've framed the piece for my Mom, Sweet Nectar.  Whew....and her birthday is next week...just in the nick of time!

I've been working on The Blue Poppy Learning Sampler SAL by Tempting Tangles.  As you can see I'm in the middle of the June installment.  The pattern was a gift from my husband.

I finished Wildflower Woodland Quaker SAL by Tempting Tangles!!  I am going to miss stitching on this one.  The pattern was a gift from my husband.

I've been working on Christmas ornaments that I promised to folks...here are a few.  I need to get busy finishing them!!

These two are from a Gloria and Pat book...

This train is from a book of Christmas ornaments.  I made this fob to go along with it!

These two Mill Hill kits are stitched on fabric instead of perforated paper...this is Proud Penguin and Snow Fun.

I finally finished this angel from JBW Designs.  I'm still on the fence about the finishing, but I think I'll stop second guessing myself and just give it away to the person it was intended for.  I hope she likes it!

And that....is that!  I'll leave you with a few pictures of our exchange pieces from St. Michaels and our game gifts.  I received the patriotic flag mason jars that light up.   I also received the little stand up in the back of the lady holding the flag....I love them both and have them sitting on my  mantle.

Since it was the weekend of the Preakness and the Royal Wedding, we all had fascinators....here is mine that I made.  What fun!

Thanks for visiting!  Happy Stitching!