Special gift for my birthday back in 2006

I received a surprise gift from my cross-stitch internet friends in Korea whom I've never met in-person before. We all became friends over the internet. I was a member of a Korean cross-stitch blog "For Stitch". We all shared our project such as WIP, completed and planned. We all commented on each other's work to support. We've enjoyed doing secret cross-stitch surprises for other members in the group. For example, we've stitched one block each and made a nice bed cover. We've also surprised members expecting new babies, twin babies, and members with health problems, etc. When I turned 60 years old, approximately 30 members joined and made dozens needle rolls, pillow, card and a beautiful 20 flower(with my name, HELEN) block-stitched bed cover. I was so touched. Unfortunately, this internet cross-stitch group hasn't been so active like before. It is bit sad.

                                                        Bed cover with member's name

                                                                         Pillow

                                                                          Card

                                                              Dozen of  Needle Rolls

Butterfly Garden 1 & 4

I stitched this project in 2006. Designed by Mike Vickery. It's my son's 40th frame job done. Frame size is 26.5"x 17.5".

Prayer is the Key & One Door

I stitched these two projects in 2006 for my friend.  That time she would have framed it herself, but I found that she has kept them unframed for 12 years….I asked her to lend them to me, for my son to frame.  Finally they are framed, and I will return them to her next week.

The Welcome for all Seasons

I stitched this lovely project in 2006 and posted it earlier. My son just framed it for me. I used only DMC floss instead Mill Hill's beads and treasures. I was going to change the USA flag to the Canadian flag but I changed my mind. I stitched the Korean flag instead. It turned out great. It's 31st frame job done.

Blue Willow China_10th frame

Designed by Angela Pullen(Author), Forget Me Not #2405, Pamphlet 1996. I stitched this project in 2006. It would been double mats, light blue for point and dark red for main color. But my son cut the mats one inch short by mistake. There wasn’t enough red mat to replace, so we decided to add a third mat with a dark brown color (close to dmc floss #3031) and it turned out better than the first choice.

It looks more antique, and I really love this result.

Dutch Treat_9th frame

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Designed by Linda Gullum from Donna Kooler Studio. I stitched this project in 2006. I love blue & white themes. I gave it to my brother's family.

Four Seasons_8th frame

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This is from  the “Prairie Schooler, #123”. I stitched in 2006, and changed the USA flag to CDN flag on Summer pattern as I’m Canadian. This frame job wasn’t easy, as four projects are in one frame.I hung this frame in my bedroom, just above the headboard.

Love is patient

“Love is patient, love is kind……", Designed by Lou Bouldin.
I stitch this project as a special gift for a church member, who became an elder in 2006.
I just recently received a framed picture.

Tropical Fishes and Butterflies

I stitched these colourful tropical fishes and butterflies on vinyl aida in 2007, and put them on the shower curtain and toilet paper holder in my bathroom, for decoration. I plan to stitch a starfish, a seahorse and some seaweed, etc., but I don’t know when….

Shower Curtain

Toilet Paper Holder

Bunny Clock

Design is from the magazine, UK Cross Stitch Collection Jan/2002 issue. It was a special gift for a web friend who had a baby.

Dutch Treat

I stitched this lovely project in Mar/2006.

Designed by Linda Gillum from Donna Kooler Studio.

I love blue & white theme.

Prairie Birds

The Prairie Schooler #24, I stitched only 8 of the 10 designs before I ran out of fabric, as I was using left-over fabric, and made a wreath in 2006. This was my 4th wreath.

Mini Wreath

I made these mini wreaths as small gifts for friends.

2006


2008

Country Seasons

The Prairie Schooler #123, I stitched these in 2006, but they are not framed yet.

Starry Night

The Prairie Schooler #109, I stitched only 6 of the 7 designs and again, made a wreath, in 2006. This was my 6th wreath.

St. Nicholas

The Prairie Schooler #20, I stitched these in 2006 and made them into a Christmas Wreath. This was my 5th wreath.

I stitched everything except the white colour (Santa’s beard) on white fabric, as I didn’t have right fabric. Then I coloured the work-in-progress, by boiling in water with onion skins for about 10 minutes. Then I stitched Santa’s beard with white. They turned out good.

The Lord's Prayer

I stitched two different “The Lord’s Prayer” from different designs.

The first one I stitched was designed by Carol Emmer. I stitched three of these in early ‘90 for three different Reverends in my church.

The second one was designed by Praying Hands Collection. I stitched this in ‘98 for myself, but ended up giving it away to my older brother.

Special Gifts

Three years ago, I received the following beautiful gifts from “Forstitch” friends from Korea. They planned this project in secret about 9months before my 60th birthday, and I received them two months before my big day. 34 people shared their time and love for this special project. It was a dream come true. I was touched and speechless by their warmth and thoughtfulness. Thank you everyone for this lovely and memorable gift.

Quilt blanket and pillow
This lovely Quilt blanket is a surprise gift from stitching friends. Each of the 21 blocks was done by a different cross-stitch friend, and the whole quilt was assembled by a quilt friend.

Needlerolls
These 12 beautiful needlerolls were a special gift for my 60th birthday from 12 friends, who shared all their love and time. I was touched and speechless by their warmth and thoughtfulness.

Card
This card was stitched by Sara for my 60th birthday, and came with the cross-stitch quilt and needlerolls. Thank you for this beautiful card.

Kitchen Basket

Design is from Korean designer, Jasuzip Cross Stitch Design Group. It's a Kitchen Sampler of nine blocks, but I stitched only five of them.

I sewed them individually with some beads

I arranged them with dried flowers on a wicker basket shape. I gave it to my brother’s family for their new home.