ATELIER SOED IDEE

First of all: Happy Halloween!!! Isabelle let me know that she received my Autumn-exchange for the Seasonal Exchange. This time I've made her this bread-basket: Design: "Autumn" part of "A Quaker Seasonal", The gift of stitching magazine nr. 16, May 2007 Fabric: 28 ct. Zweigart Quaker Cloth Light Mocha Floss: VC Marque des Cercles, DMC 434 Finish: Bread Basket

I've started this project last year, when I took quiltclasses. Now I've finally finished it into a tablerunner. That's going to be a great Christmas-table!

This afternoon I received the most beautiful stitchers pocket from Nancy for the SBEBB-exchange! Nancy stitched an Ewe & Eye & Friends design, called "Button Basket" and finished it into a scissors-pocket. I think it's so pretty!!! She also included some skeins of DMC, a skein of Stranded by the Sea, 2 christmas-fabrics and a set of christmas cards. Thank you Nancy!!! You've send me a wonderful exchange again!

I finally finished the pillow for my DS with the pirates-boat! I'm convinced he's going to love it! The skull stitcheries in the corners are stitched with DMC "Glow in the dark"-fiber, so that must be very cool (or scary?) in the dark ;) Will post a picture later from DS's happy face with the pillow.

Whoohoo! This morning the mailman delivered not just one, but TWO Crazy-exchanges! First of all the return-gift from Carol. She made me a wonderful Christmas-ornament in traditional Christmas colors. It's just beautiful! The little bells are lovely too! She also included a spool of Kreinik Gold Braid and a WDW "Bethlehem" fiber. Thank you Carol!!! I love it all! And then there was this other envelope... Which contains a very pretty wallhanging from Ina! I love the sheep and the leaves and the Autumn-colors!!! This is so perfect for me... She also included a bar of dark chocolate (perfect for me, but not for my taille), a cute little fob with an autumn-leaf and two of the cutest Acorn/christmas-gnomes. Girls, I'm feeling so spoiled by both of you! And you both manage to pick the perfect gifts for me... Because I love both Autumn and Christmas! THANK YOU!!! Big hug for both of you, Simone.

Mailed out on the same the day, to two different parts of the world, and still arrived on the same day! I even used the same fabrics for it ;) I've made this "La PP" (la petite pochette) for the crazy-exchange for Carol . I saw La PP on this blog and although it's in French, it was easy to make. I think I'm going to make a lot more of them!

I just received an email from Cindy in Singapore, that she received my Stitchers Pocket, which I made for her in the SBEBB-exchange. Design: Freebee by Dominique A. Fabric: Zweigart 28 ct. Cashel Linen "Summer Khaki" Floss: DMC 347 Finish: Stitchers Pocket Thank you all for all your friendly and encouring comments on Do Bears! Makes me feel special to know that my blog is being read by so many stitching friends... Hugs, Simone

This afternoon Diana came over to deliver me my Halloween/Autumn-exchange. And I love it! We just went hiking in the forest this morning, so I was completely in Autumn-mood when Diana came. She handed over a big box. Inside was a plate, with a candle and some potpourri. And she made TWO gorgeous wallhangings! It's gonna be hard to choose which one will be displayed first. I think I need to go find another branch to hang them both at the same time! Thank you Diana, for this wonderful Autumn exchange!

(sorry, for the bad picture) Finally... It's been over 7 months since I stitched the last time on Long Dogs' Do Bears! I should be ashamed of myself.... But I'm having to much fun with all the exchanges I'm in! And my WIP's are being neglected because of that. :( I almost forgot how nice it is to stitch with the Gloriana Silk ("Poinsettia")! I made some great progress, in my opinion. I stitched the "lace" in the middle and all the borders. And also made a begin with the bear and the snail and the tree at the bottom. You can see the progress I've made so far here . Thank you for your sweet comments on the Halloween-flatfold. They are highly appreciated! Have a nice weekend! Hugs, Simone

On our Dutch Borduurhoekje group we had an Autumn / Halloween exchange. I prefer Autumn myself, but I stitched something for Saskia , who's prefering Halloween. I just heard that she received my package. I've made her this flatfold: Design: freebee from Cyberstitchers Fabric: 32 ct. linen from a grabbag from Silkweaver Floss: recommended DMC Finish: flatfold My partner for this exchange is going to deliver her package personaly, to my home. So I just have to be patient untill Sunday...

Last weekend we had such nice Autumn-weather. So we took a long walk through the forest!

Tomorrow I will close down the Christmas Ornament exchange. So if you want to join; now is the time! http://xmasornie2007.blogspot.com/

Last Saturday we had a meeting from our Dutch Borduurhoekje group. Which is not only Dutch, because we also have Belgium members. This time we've met in Belgium at Chantal's home. Chantal, thank you for your hospitality! I was the driver, so together with Diana, Jacq B and Jeanine we drove to Bevel and arrived there at 11.00 am. Willeke, Pascal and Iris were already there, and just a little later also Ilse arrived. We did a lot of chatting, show our stitching, quilting and kartonage projects, more chatting, eat a lot of good food, chat again, stitch a little, eat Belgium chocolate (Yummie!) and played a funny game with some presents. This is the present I've got from Ilse: Three great panels of fabrics. These two for christmas, and also the scarecrow I showed earlier in the "Stoffenspektakel"-post. Isn't that a coincedence? From Jacq, Jeanine and Diana I've got these lovely fabrics, for being the driver to Belgium: And just before we were leaving home, I&#