Bookmark Exchange, Coming to Water and a new start

First things first...I got mail!!!
Marjorie stitched for me a most lovely bookmark. I'm thrilled and loving it. I replaced immediately my old paper bookmark with the new one:

Here is what I sent to Marjorie. Hopefully she'll likes it too. The bookmark is called "Jaipur". Although that is an Indian word and the design is clearly Indian orientated, it's designed and charted by an Australian company (Sempco).

I finished another page of "Coming to Water" - 3 more pages to go


And lastly....I started a new travel project: "Le Grand Marquoir" by Isabelle Haccourt Vaultier. This is a free design with parts released every 2 months.
Recently I enjoy stitching over one quite a bit, and so I started this project over one on 25ct Lugana. The fabric is from Country Stitch and the color is called ToiToi.
The fibers are Threadworx "Stepping Stone", DMC Black and Rainbow Gallerie Petite braid.

Most beautiful Mail Art - A Christmas ornament and Mary Wigham SAL

Look what the mail man brought today - I'm still completely stunned and in awe. Nancy Murdock made a gorgeous piece of mail art and - what came as a total surprise to me - I was the lucky recipient. It was put in a clear plastic zip lock bag and it is SO beautiful. I love love love it. My husband and I were wondering how many people working at the postal services were admiring this. Quite a lot we think. It's pretty unusual AND gorgeous. The stitching - the fabric - the colors. I'm at a loss for words. Thank you Nancy, you brightened up my day. Thank you also for the nice finishing forms and the floss. Love those colors too - exactly my taste.


Feast your eyes on this beautiful piece of mail art:

I also have something to show - my first Christmas ornament this year. I chose a design from the "Just Christmas Ornaments" 2700 magazine. It is for an exchange on my favorite yahoo group "I love Cross stitch". It's quite a neat exchange. Every participant makes an ornament and all ornaments are sent to one of the moderators. Rene collects them all - enjoys all the ornaments while she's at it...lol - and then sends each participant one of the ornaments. Anyway....here is mine.

Christmas Blessings by Milady's Needle
Fabric: 28ct Quaker Cloth Khaki
Thread: Thread Gatherer Silk n Colors, Rainbow Gallerie Petite Braid and Mill Hill beads

And there are also some exiting news for the Quaker Sampler fans. Are you just as me a fan of the Ackworth School and their beautiful antique samplers? If yes, you don't want to miss this SAL. Jaqueline Holdsworth who is a designer dedicated to the Ackworth School of samplers just started on her blog a new SAL where she will publish each week another part of a most beautiful Quaker sampler called Mary Wigham. The download is for free, although Jaqueline would highly appreciate it if you would donate $1 for each download to the Ackworth School.