The Pumpkin Patch Exchange

Hi everyone, it's been quite a while and I must apologize for my long absence. As I mentioned before, I went on vacation. I spent a wonderful week in Thailand with my partner and he stayed in Malaysia for another week before heading back to Japan. You can check out our vacation pictures here, here and here. Then right after he left, I was horribly sick with food poisoning for about a week. I could only thank the fact that it didn't happen while he was here. At least he had fun on his trip here rather than having to take care of me.
Not long afer, my dad was admitted into the hospital for heart bypass surgery. However, the doctors decided to do another check up on him before determining whether to go ahead with it. He was released today and scheduled to go back on Friday for it. As a result, it has been a stressful (and unproductive) time for me.
However, here's something that I stitched before I left for vacation which I haven't had the chance to show you yet...

Design: Pumpkin Patch
Designer: The Sweetheart Tree
Fabric: 32 count Cream Italian Linen
Fibers: DMC
Embelishments: Mill Hill Beads & Charm

and also this...

Design: Proud Lil' Pumpkins
Designer: The Sweetheart Tree
Fabric: 32 count Cream Italian Linen
Fibers: DMC
Embelishments: Mill Hill Beads & Charm

which I made into my very first needlebook. Here's the front...

and here's the back...

finished off with some cute pumpkins fabric on the inside and some pretty orange shell pinkeep pins from Vikki......

for Andrea's SBEBB Pumpkin Patch Exchange.

For the same exchange, I received a lovely package from Gaby.

She had made me a long pillow from Heart in Hand's Little Pumpkin in the Patch (how fitting). She also sent me a lot of stitching and Halloween goodies. Special note that the wooden pumpkin is handmade by her son. How cute is that? Here's her perfect stitching up close:

I had also won Katica's blogoversary prize that she was offering. Not only did she made me the cutest pillow I had ever seen! (Gotta love the bear's fringe)

Here's what it came with. Thank you, Kati, once again, for your generosity.

I am now way behind on the couple of Round Robin I'm in and also the mailart exchange which sent date has already passed. Am trying to catch up so I apologize in advance :( I won't be around much until after new year as my partner is coming to visit again in another two weeks so I'll be rather occupied. I can't believe I'll be able to see him again in such a short time. I'm so thrilled. I'll post again as soon as I can. I know it's a little early but since Christmas is just around the corner, to those of you who are celebrating it, Merry Christmas! To those who aren't, Happy Holidays! And to ALL of you, Happy Stitching!