Handmade by Nina.... New Year's Giveaway!!

This is not to be missed!! Nina makes the most fabulous looking hand dyed threads!  Her blog is exceptional, please go see all the wonderful creations she has posted!!

Spooktacular Giveaway!!!

Halloween spooktacular giveaway at the Dixie Samplar There is lots to see on her blog, even if you don't enter, you will really enjoy the visit!!

Another Lizzie Kate Finish

Well sort of....I stitched this last year and packed it away with the Halloween decorations and forgot about it...then came across these cute frames in the local dollar store this past spring, and of course couldn't find the piece when I needed it...now frame and piece are together at last...found the little moon shape in my button stash and glue him up there...I'm running out of places to put things!

fall finish

Oh...and forgot about this sweet lil Fall finish...from Trail Creek Farms...it looks so cute in this frame don't you think?

SAL's Progress

Thought I'd post a progress report on the two SAL's Ive been working on, Sylvia's little heart SAL, and Brooke's Books, ABC SAL. I started on Brookes rather late in the game, so I have alot of catching up to do there, which isnt easy with all the beadwork involved.....and I swear I have Stitchers ADD, I cannot look at anything posted without reaching for a new piece of fabric and threads to start working on it too....oh well guess there is worse things I could do right??

A couple of Fall Finishes

Finally....decided to try a cube finish for these cute lil Lizzie Kate, and BoaF charts...I really don't know why I was so reluctant to try this type of finish, I guess it looked more complicated that it actually was....anyway now I have to get a decent supply of styrofoam on hand since this was so simple Im anxious to make more!

Loretta's Stitching Blogoversary and giveaway!!

Loretta is celebrating three years of beautiful blogging with a great giveaway...stop by and leave her a lil note of congrats...and check out her generous giveaway!!

http://lorettasstitchingblog.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html

Works in Progress

Beginning of A is for Aran

Front Door of Midnight Watch

Well...thought I'd post a quick shot of the two projects I have going, Brookes Books ABC SAL, and Midnight Watch, from BlackBird Designs..had every intention of having Midnight Watch done and framed by Halloween, but...I'm being realistic...always next year right??  Been watching all the gals participating in Brookes ABC SAL...and just decided to jump on the bandwagon, albeit about 9 months late ;)  Will try to post progress shots more often....

Sylvia's SAL progress

Finally caught up July and August this past weekend! Sylvia...Bring on Sept!!

New Look!

I really like the new simple design layout! In case any one is wondering about the photo header...that is a picture I took in Italy a few years ago, its a gorgeous view of the Vatican City from atop the Castel San'Angelo, it is one of my most favorite photos!! We have a trip planned there for this fall, can't wait to take in more of Italy's beauty.

Undertaking a New SAL!

Well.....happened to check out Brooke;s Books Alphabet SAL blog...and saw this...the preview of the Q block...LOVE IT!! So....now I just have to join in, albeit almost 9 months late...of course I realize I could just make that one block...but I wouldn't want it to be lonely...so I'm undertaking the whole thing...now I couldn't find any tea-dyed Monaco at Michael's and Joann's and of course there is no LNS well...local...so I tea dyed some Aida I had on hand (glad to be using up the last of this ginormous piece)! So A for Aran here I come!

Beautiful Watercolor Card at Jak Heath and some yummy blog candy to go with it!

If you havent had a visit to Jak Heath's blog, go today, she has a wonderful card using aquamarkers and a chance to win some!! Watercolor is probably my most favorite method of coloring, I love the softness of it and lets face it...its quick too!!

Color Challenge at Crafters Digital Art Center

Daisy Doodles is hosting a color challenge...the color is Yellow....and there is a sweet freebie digi to go with the challenge...Yellow is such a happy color and the lil sunflower is just too cute!!
Go check out the challenge and see what you can come up with!!

Paper Sundaes #25 Challenge

Thought I'd give this challenge a try, Paper Sundae's #25 challenge is White Plus One....A predominantly white card, with one added color....this should be fun!! Fred She Said is hosting this challenge, check out Paper Sundae's blog for all the details, and what you could win from Fred She Said.

So..Ive been playing all weekend with my new sizzix, and finally using the cricut I bought...the kitchen island looks like the tazmanaian devil just came through...its a perfect day to get some crafting done, the weather is ugly...it's raining cats and dogs right now!!

So on to the challenge....I cut the white cs to a 4 1/2 square, embossed it with the swiss dots folder, cut various circles and flowers with both the sizzix and cricut from white, and parrot green cs...layered them, did a little paper piercing, used white gel pen for the stitching, and then added the green gem, and little hello tag...this one is going to a dear friend who needs a little pick me up this week...hope you'll give this one try, it was fun and not as easy as I first thought!!

Happy 4th of July!...and a patriotic card

Happy 4th all...of course I know its only the 3rd ;) Since my back is not cooperating with me today, Im up and down, alternating standing and sitting...ugh..however, it did give me an opportunity to play a little...Mark's Finest Papers is having a card challenge, the challenge is to use a die cut, so....being that Ive just inherited a sizzix and some dies and folders, thought I'd try a couple...OWH is also having a challenge for a birthday card for the US, this might be stretching the theme a tad, but I like it!

The Red CS is cut to a 5 1/2 square, and layered with a slightly smaller square of a DP in a weathered beige, and DP in stripes and stars, the larger star and circles were both cut with a sizzix die, and the sentiment was a freebie from Create with TLC

I love both of these blogs, TLC always has the most interesting ideas, and fab freebies!!..and Operation Write Home, too has the neatest posts...make sure you go visit!!

Delicious Blog Candy at The Stamping Boutique!!!

You HAVE to check out the blog candy over at The Stamping Boutique It is too delicious for words!!

Paper Sundae's Pretty as a Princess Challenge

Paper Sundaes #23 Challenge of Pretty as a Princess...just got me a girly mood today..Im pretty new to this card making thing, and havent yet acquired a big
stash of pretties and bling...(trust me Im working on correcting that!).....

Anyway...thought I would play a bit with a few things, one of them being print
master express, to see if I could merge several images and hey..I surprised myself! I got them to merge...not crazy about how the inking on the edges shows up in the photo, goodness knows I'm not the best photographer either....It was great fun just playing around with this one, and I hope to improve with each card...there are so many talented cardmakers out there, I hope to have some of that knowledge and creativity rub off!!

Anyway...this easel card was put together this way....cut 5x10 white cardstock, 4 6/8 x 4 6/8 square of double sided Imaginesce cardstock Baby Powder/Baby's Breath, the scalloped design was downloaded from Fred She Said's blog, colored with uchida markers and a blending pencil. and then added a few flowers colored with uchida marker, and some bling bling....The sentiment was printed from Word on white
CS, and double matted with designer CS...

Meljen's Designs Cupcake Birthday Card

Loved this digi stamp from Meljen's designs, thought it was just adorable for a birthday card!! and....thought I would enter it for this weeks challenge on Meljen's Design blog of fibers, ribbon and lace...well least this one has ribbon ;)

Did a little fussy cutting,after printing the image twice, coloring with watercolor pencils, and then layering with the help of some foam dots, the top layer of the cupcake was "frosted" with very fine clear glittery stuff....added a candy pink grosgrain ribbon..and viola!...of course had to use the cute little studio G stamp I found for the envelope corner...too cute!!

Rose Card

Been playing a bit with my stamps, and the very neglected stack of paper in my closet! Ive recently "discovered" the world of digital stamps and have just been like a kid in candy store with them..one of my new fave artists is Michelle Perkett, she has the most wonderful artwork and awesome stamps on her Etsy page...right now she is having a challenge on her blog So....I decided to give it a go, I literally threw this card together..(trying to find just the right papers to create a "perfect" card...and really liked how these looked together)Now...I downloaded the roses from the net, and for the life of me can't remember where....they are colored with uchida markers, and then, frosted with very fine glitter, although, you really cant tell from my lousy photo...the cards edges were inked with olive, the strip punched with a Martha Stewart border punch, and a few gems added...
Hoping the next attempts turn out well...playing with a new dress stamp right now!!

A wonderful birthday giveaway!!

Patty of Hanging on by a Thread, is celebrating her birthday with a great giveaway....Click on the blog link, and check out the details, and all her wonderful stitching!!

What an honor!!

I was given this wonderful award by Sarah better known as Craftymoo. As Sarah so eloquently put it on her blog, it is really touching to have your hobby appreciated and acknowledged...Sarah I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Now...the tough task of paying it forward, there are so many blogs that deserve this award, I don't know how to keep it to just 10, but I'll give it a go.....

but first....here's how it works.....


1. One must accept the award

2. Thank the person who gave you the award

3. Add a link to the person who gave you the award

4. Paste the award on your blog

5. Write 10 things about yourself others might not know

6. Pass the award on to 10 others


So, I have done 1-4 now for 5 and 6:



1. I was born and raised on Long Island

2. I used to be on my HS swin and diving teams

3. I've driven cross country twice

4. I have lived in 8 places in my life.

5. I used to work in a dry cleaning store...and loved it!!

6. I love the library!

7. If I had my college days to re-live I'd become a RN

8. I would love to have my own needlework shop!

9. I'd love to move to Italy!

10. Scotland is on my places to see before I depart list...right at the top!!

Now for the Winners, your blogs inspire and amaze me...and just embody this craft!

1. Meagan
2. Laurie
3. Manuela
4. Sylvia
5. Geneva
6. Bev
7. Kay
8. Jade
9. Dawn
10. Daniela

Thank you all for sharing your lives, and love of stitching!!

Well..Something finally went right this week!

I was able to get back in to 2 of my 3 email accounts and change all the security settings and passwords...So yay I didnt have to delete this blog after all!! Did manage to get in a little stitch therapy, and some yummy new stash...will post pix later on...right now taking pix of some china for an ebay auction....never a dull moment for these bizee fingers :)

All my accounts have been hacked

Hi all.....Sometimes I really hate the cyber world, yesterday I was invaded by someone, I assume through my facebook account...they proceeded to get into my email account and completely brought me to my knees. They went so far as to start making harrasing calls to my work # (which was in my email signature)(another thing I have removed)and actually implied that they wanted to extort funds for returning my account to me, by giving me the password....It made me ill!!

They sent out a mass email stating that I was in Europe and in need of money, after being mugged and held at gunpoint...as you can imagine this created panic in some folks who are not wise to these internet schemes.

I was able to retrieve my email, however there were some innapropriate posts on here (now removed) if anyone was offended I apologize, I assure you that it was NOT me...I have decided to remove bizeefingers, and will start another blog later today or tomorrow.....

My advice.....change your passwords often, make then obscure enough that they are not figured out easily (even though mine was obscure, they got it)...do not link your email accounts together (a new lesson for me).... Use different passwords on all accounts (another lesson learned).I was lucky enough to get to my banking websites before they did...I had been having statements emailed, not anymore...going back to good old fashioned paper!! If you are a facebook user...screen your friends carefully and ask questions of those your're not sure of...confirm they really did know you in school etc...

And if you are infiltrated...report it!! call your local police dept, most have an internet fraud division.

Please be careful out there, it just stinks that these "geniuses" do not use their talent for greater good!!

Its been fun having this blog and sharing photos of my stitching...I'll return...they wont keep me down!

A fellow blogger needs your help!!

Vanessa is about to shave off her hair in a fundraising effort to help her sister Beth. Please stop by her blog and offer some words of support, We are all touched directly or indirectly by this horrid disease at some time....flutterby angel: Beth's Fundraiser

Craftymoo has a blogoversary!!!

Sarah over at Craftymoo is having a blogoversary and a fabulous giveaway to mark the occasion!!
Please visit her blog for details, but more importantly to look at all her fine stitiching and photos!!
Congrats Sarah....looking forward to another year of fine finishes!!

Sylvia's SAL Progress

I love this adorable stitch a long from Sylvia's blog, here is the first two months completed...cannot wait for March!!

Some unfinished finishes!

Well, its been a long winter as most of you are painfully aware....so I did get a few small charts completed, but not yet finished...I'm getting there however....The stitchers best friend is doing much better, he had surgery on Monday and is getting back to his ole sweet self...Now we just have to get me perkier and we'll have it made!! I was supposed to have more back surgery yesterday for a fluid build up, but they've decided to try an external drain first..woo hoo, this will probably be done Mon or Tues of this week...can hardly wait...I do appreciate the down time to stitch...but its getting a little old!!! Anyway...on to the finishes!

The stitchers best friend

Im sure you've all seen Vinnie's picture on here before....he is my furry baby. Well the furry baby is quite sick at the moment..and the stitcher is quite lost without him. He has a lump on his neck we were told was nothing in the past, but now has gotten larger and quite hard overnight! He was running a fever, and just acting listless. He spent the weekend in the animal hospital waiting to become stablized enough to remove the lump...so now I wait for the call from the vet letting me know if he is able to do it today...Im so scared for this big brown lump of fur, who means the world to me!!
Hoping he will be fine and will be smacking my legs with his tail, knocking things over, and back being the heart of the home..soon
Mommy loves you Vinnie!

Stitching for a Cure

Im so glad fellow blogger and pal Donna took a picture of this block, I was honored to be asked to participate in a quilt project for Donna's local Relay for Life. I stitched the medallion for one of the quilts up for bid, it is a wonderful poem, and a beautifully charted by Gloria and Pat.
I am so thankful for stumbling across Donna's blog a few months ago, she has an infectious spirit and unending enthusiasm. She was gracious in sending me a gorgeous pink ribbon pillow with Lizzie Kate's "Peace Love and a Cure" for our Relay for Life Group to raffle off!

Cricut Cutter

Well, forgot to add this to my wish list of things to get accomplished this year...I bought myself a present this year...a cricut cutter, and its made its debut out of the box this afternoon. After much wheedling, I enlisted my sons help to take it out of its cocoon, and put it together....so far so good...I cut a few flowers and a few shapes...I can see what all the fuss is about, its FUN!!

Im looking forward to pretty cards at the ready for friends and family, and some pretty embellishments for the scrapbook I started once upon a time. I could never find the perfect this or that, that was my reasoning for procrastination...now I guess I'm out of excuses and will give it another go...

I just love January....my head is full of get up and go, and there is so much energy in everyone, promises for future and hope!!

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Just a gentle reminder that this is Cervical Cancer Awareness month, I hope you all encourange loved ones and friends to make an appointment for their annual check up, and you yourselves make your appointments for your annual check up, I make it a point to do all my appointments around my birthday in July so as not to forget.If this is your philosophy too, take a minute right now to mark on the calender a month before to jog your memory!!
I guess we can all agree those stirrup moments are not our finest and we'd like to avoid it like the plague, however those few uncomfortable moments could save your life!
Click on the photo to take you to the National Cervical cancer coalition website for further information.

New Year Wish List

Happy New Year everyone!!

I have a long wish list for 2010!! I am recovering from back surgery and its driving me crazy to finally have some down time and not be able to get to the sewing machine or some of my craft projects!!
However there is a bright side, I am pretty much recliner bound at least for now, so after my daily work is done, Ive been stitching some small projects to be finished later on.

April 17, 2010 is our local Relay for Life, and our campsite theme is Breast Cancer, so much of what I plan to stitch up is in a pick theme. We plan to have some pretty purse accessories, travel backpacks, ornaments, lap quilts, and some decorative pillows, and some handmade cards....soooo there is much to get moving on!! Special thanks to my friend Donna at Stitching for a Cure, for donating a gorgeous pink ribbon pillow with Lizzie Kate's "Peace, love and a cure". It will certainly command a nice sum for Relay!!

But...onto the wish list!

1. consistantly work on my family tree sampler
2. make at least a dozen christmas ornaments.
3. monogram a blanket for my grand neice arriving in Feb
4. actually complete the 12 charts Ive picked out to finish this year.
5. utilize all the pretty cardstock and paper Ive collected into cards for family, friends, and Relay dontations!

Ok...now its in writing, so I have to work on them!!
Hope you all have a wonderful year ahead and enjoy every minute of working on your wish list!

Keep those fingers Bizee!!