This is the PIF/Blog Candy that I created for Heather. She'd signed up for a gift at the start of the year, and I'm terribly embarrassed to say that it's taken me this long to finish her gift. I hope it's been worth the wait.

The peyote stitch needle case pattern is from "Threaded Needle Designs" and is the same pattern as I'd used for Barbara's gift earlier in the year. The pattern is originally came as a kit with the purple beads, and I re-used the pattern to create a second needlecase with some plain black and white beads that I had on hand. The beads are all Bullseye art glass, handmade by me.

Has it really been 3 weeks?

It's been quite a couple of weeks - and it doesn't feel like it's been that long since I last blogged. I sent Barbara a Pay-It-Forward gift earlier in the month - I'd put out the offer ages ago, and it's taken me some time to finish everything, but I'm fortunate that she liked the gift.

I also managed to get up to the glass studio for some beading time. I wanted to make a blue and silver bracelet, so many of the small beads will find their way into that. I also finished a couple of buttons - I think the Christmas themed one will be nice in the centre of a biscornu, so I'll have to get busy with my Christmas stitching!

Moniques PIF arrived

Monique received her beaded needlecase and cell-phone charm yesterday, and I'm glad she likes them. The picture doesn't really do the needlecase justice - it's a bonzai tree, and the background is more gold than green in real life.

The cell phone charm is from a series of beads I did after a class I took last summer. We learned how to do all of the little petals on the flowers, and I love the way that bead turned out.

I'm hoping to have the final two PIF's done this month so I can offer something up for my blog-aversary, which is later in April

Pay-it-forward received

Doesn't it always seem that pay-it-forward and blog candy gifts arrive just when you need a pick-me-up? This lovely bookmark and little notebook found their way into my mailbox today. They were both stitched Vicki, and I love how the colours are so happy.

I also managed to update my progress on in the WIP pictures on the side of the blog. I realized how much progress I'd made since Christmas, which was the last time I'd updated the pictures.

Carol's Pay It Forward arrived

I was a bit worried, as this Pay-It-Forward had taken longer than the other one I mailed on the same day. But Carol emailed today to let me know that it had finally arrived. The pattern is from Historic Stitches, and was stitched in Vicky Clayton's "Deep Ocean" silk. The glass bead above the tassle is one of mine - I like how the cone shaped beads sit above the tassles and finish them off.

Stitching Update

I tried to post this once before, but something caused my computer to freeze up, so I thought I'd try again. I've been stitching quite a bit this week, and managed to get both Pay It Forwards in the mail! I'm hoping that there won't be any postal glitches, and that both Carol and Vicky will soon have new treats.

I'm also ...just... about done with page 9 of Alhambra, meaning that all of my January goals should be met in plenty of time. I'm trying to decide if I should plow on ahead with Alhambra for the rest of the month, or get a little stitching time in on either La Epoche Nouveau or Pyra before setting some February goals.

PIF Received - and Updates

I opened my mailbox this week to find a stunning pinkeep from Carol. I'm truly in awe of her finishing on this one - the pinkeep has a lovely cording around the outside in addition to the pins, and I know if I attempted something so complicated I wouldn't get it looking right. It's a Waxing Moon Design called Winter Cardinal.

I also have an update on La Epoche Nouveau - the Dimples Design piece I'm working on. Although the picture doesn't do it justice, the blending filament and beads are making it very sparkly.

I've managed to complete one of the two PIF's for this month, and am hoping to have the other one completed shortly so I can send them both out.

A year of giving...new blog candy!

Happy Holidays - hope everyone had a great Christmas and best wishes to all for a safe, happy and prosperous New Year.

To mark the new year, I've decided to offer up 12 handmade gifts over the year - one for each month of 2008. The first two gifts of the 12 are spoken for, as I have a few pay it forward obligations to finish up. The remaining gifts will be posted on the blog throughout the year. To start off with, I thought I'd offer up 4 spots for gift recipients as blog candy. Those 4 people will receive a gift made by me - either stitched, beaded or another craft that happens to be taking my muse at the time. The 4 recipients will be picked from those leaving a comment on this post. There's no eligibility requirement - whether this is your first time reading the blog or you're a regular visitor, everyone is eligible.

If you'd like to be selected for one of the four spots in the first six gifts, please leave a comment below, and I'll draw from those who have commented on New Years Day.

Pay it Forward - Round #2

I thought I'd open up another 5 spots in a Pay-It-Forward, if anyone is interested. For those that sign up, I will hand-make them something - likely stitched or beaded, but it could be anything that catches my muse at the time I'm making it. I'll try and complete all of the Pay-It-Forwards by the end of the year. I know summer will be busy for me, and so I'd ask for your patience on this one.

To participate, send me an email at caycay at shaw dot ca. If you sign up, please "pay-it-forward" by including an offer on your own blog to craft something for 5 other people. If you have questions, please feel free to leave a comment or drop me an email.

Have a great weekend!

Finally Back

I didn't disappear totally, although it probably seemed like it. I had a quick business trip to Ontario, which required a lot of pre-work, and it feels like I've been doing that forever!

I received this gorgeous scissor fob from Carol this week as a birthday gift. She's so sweet to even remember that it's my birthday, let alone send something to me as a gift.

And one of my last two pay-it-foward's made it to its final destination. I was playing around with making tassles, and this silver one went to Missy Ann.

I'm making good progress on this summer's exchanges - I have the recipient of my freebie exchange already, and so have almost finished the stitching. I'm still not exactly sure how I want to finish the piece, but if you have suggestions on how to finish something heart shaped, be sure and let me know.

My Amazing Mail Day

I was blessed with not one, but two special packages today! I finally got my biscornu exchange from Natty, who did a great job with the stitching. She guessed from my blog that I like cool colours, and picked out the blues and greens especially for me. I love the extras she put in - a couple of skeins of Six Strands Sweet and a Sweetheart Tree Chart

I also got a PIF from Katrina, who send a gorgeous scissor fob (with my initials on the back !), some very lovely quilting fabric, and some chocolate covered Altoids, which are devine!

I'm so pleased with both of them!

PIF #2 made it.....

I got word from Michelle that the second of my PIF's made it. Michelle got a set of beads, as I saw from her blog that she had bought loose beads before. I also knew Michelle loved Mirabilia's, so I tried to make something reminiscent of Mill Hill treasures, as I figured that would be her style.

I also got a custom order this week based on this set of beads! So I'll be making quite a few more of these in the future.