<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413609764856360059</id><updated>2011-08-12T10:55:41.069-04:00</updated><category term='new OFG Etsy shop'/><category term='primitives'/><category term='giveaways'/><title type='text'>Brush Strokes and Stitches</title><subtitle type='html'>Hello, welcome to my little corner on the web. I am a lifelong crafter. Some kind of stitching, whether by hand or machine, is usually included in most of what I do.  I also enjoy painting, which I do on reclaimed items, to give them new life and meaning. I love what I do, and I hope you do also. Thanks for stopping by.  Donna</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5413609764856360059/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Donna Blassingham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06810169664702655531</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TtZCRSf6QI/SdkCJFDL5KI/AAAAAAAAAEs/qDSAI9GNdgc/S220/donna+avatar.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>4</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413609764856360059.post-6217501488639039951</id><published>2010-10-26T10:53:00.005-04:00</published><updated>2010-10-26T11:47:40.877-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Look at my SURPRISE!</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TtZCRSf6QI/TMbuFEkFvLI/AAAAAAAAAN8/w6XxbV7Qkco/s1600/Surprise+B.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 294px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532370963163102386" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TtZCRSf6QI/TMbuFEkFvLI/AAAAAAAAAN8/w6XxbV7Qkco/s320/Surprise+B.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;I want to thank Judy of Holly Ridge Creations ( &lt;a href="http://hollyridgecreations.blogspot.com/"&gt;http://hollyridgecreations.blogspot.com/&lt;/a&gt; ) for the cutest SURPRISE!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;I answered a little trivia question and got it right! Do YOU know what 'a story bump' is???? According to my Grandma it was those little nasty canker sores we sometimes get on our tongue. She would always say that I must have told a fib so that was the punishment. Well Judy agreed with me and I got a suprise.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Judy sent the cutest little painted gourd ornament and 2 adorable handmade candy canes to hang on my Christmas tree! My poor little Alpine tree is so in need of more ornaments, these will be put to good use as soon as I get the tree up! This picture doesn't do the ornaments justice, but I just had to brag a little..... THANKS JUDY!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5413609764856360059-6217501488639039951?l=brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com/feeds/6217501488639039951/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5413609764856360059&amp;postID=6217501488639039951&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5413609764856360059/posts/default/6217501488639039951'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5413609764856360059/posts/default/6217501488639039951'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com/2010/10/look-at-my-surprise.html' title='Look at my SURPRISE!'/><author><name>Donna Blassingham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06810169664702655531</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TtZCRSf6QI/SdkCJFDL5KI/AAAAAAAAAEs/qDSAI9GNdgc/S220/donna+avatar.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1TtZCRSf6QI/TMbuFEkFvLI/AAAAAAAAAN8/w6XxbV7Qkco/s72-c/Surprise+B.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413609764856360059.post-1051096526434941171</id><published>2010-10-11T08:33:00.004-04:00</published><updated>2010-10-11T08:55:41.254-04:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='giveaways'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='primitives'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='new OFG Etsy shop'/><title type='text'>How Time Flys</title><content type='html'>Well, it seems that I have once again let this blog slip away into the dark folds of neglect. I am beginning to wonder if I am ever going to get in the routine of writing here on even a semi-regular basis.&lt;br /&gt;When last I posted here, I was all excited to get my 'Paint Bucket' Halloween challenge worked on and finished before today............welllllllllllll.....as it happens.....I am STILL trying to get it finished, and had to request a &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected"&gt;extension&lt;/span&gt;! I just can't seem to get anything accomplished theses days. Maybe this is what happens in your old age..? Well, &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"&gt;regardless&lt;/span&gt;, I will continue to muddle along at my own speed, getting done what I can, when I can, and the rest will just be thrown to the wind, as they say.&lt;br /&gt;On a lighter note... I also belong to another team, The Old Farmhouse Gathering (&lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"&gt;OFG&lt;/span&gt;). this is a wonderful team of very talented artists that mainly produce Primitive and Shabby Chic items of all kinds. It is a delight to just browse through the many shops and marvel at the imaginations these artists have when preforming their magic! This group of well over 100 artists has welcomed a new member today. If you love unique signs like I do, you will be thrilled when you visit Debra's &lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"&gt;Etsy&lt;/span&gt; shop,   &lt;a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/huckleberrylady?ga_search_query=huckleberry&amp;amp;ga_search_type=seller_usernames"&gt;http://www.etsy.com/shop/huckleberrylady?ga_search_query=huckleberry&amp;amp;&lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"&gt;ga&lt;/span&gt;_search_type=seller_&lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"&gt;usernames&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;  , check it out!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"&gt;Ok&lt;/span&gt;...back to the drawing board for me. I am on a tight schedule again all this week, and I have so much I'd like to get done. Film at 11.....&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5413609764856360059-1051096526434941171?l=brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com/feeds/1051096526434941171/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5413609764856360059&amp;postID=1051096526434941171&amp;isPopup=true' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5413609764856360059/posts/default/1051096526434941171'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5413609764856360059/posts/default/1051096526434941171'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-time-flys.html' title='How Time Flys'/><author><name>Donna Blassingham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06810169664702655531</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TtZCRSf6QI/SdkCJFDL5KI/AAAAAAAAAEs/qDSAI9GNdgc/S220/donna+avatar.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413609764856360059.post-6479174155259566337</id><published>2010-09-28T09:34:00.003-04:00</published><updated>2010-09-28T10:22:55.934-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Time to get back to Blogging</title><content type='html'>It's time to mop up and dust around here. I know it's soon to be Halloween, but the cobwebs need to be swept away. The ol' Blog has been left neglected for far too long.....shoved aside to make time for other responsibilities. I am in hopes that I'll be able to find a few minutes now and again to post here and get back on a schedule that isn't as hectic as it has been for the last few months. Sometimes we just forget to slow down and it takes a tole on our 'me' times. It's been a long hot Summer and I am ready for the cool temperatures that come with the changing colors of the leaves in Fall.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now that it's officially Autumn, I want to get back to my crafting. I miss stitching and sewing and my crochet, but when the weather is so warm, these crafts go on the shelf. My painting has all but ground to a halt also. Except for a couple of small challenge pieces nothing has been done. It has been a long hot summer of constant road trips, reports to write and tons of learning. Now that I have some ideas of how to manage my new responsibilities, I hope things will settle down and I can get back into my much loved (and missed) crafting.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;First on the agenda is my Paint Bucket Halloween Challenge! Yesterday I scanned thru many old patterns for ideas and I think I found a couple that are promising. I will start prepping my surface today. These challenges are really fun and when all the members unveil their creations it is exciting. We all have such varied styles and imaginations. I can't wait to see what everyone else does for this challenge. Film at eleven.........&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5413609764856360059-6479174155259566337?l=brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com/feeds/6479174155259566337/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5413609764856360059&amp;postID=6479174155259566337&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5413609764856360059/posts/default/6479174155259566337'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5413609764856360059/posts/default/6479174155259566337'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com/2010/09/time-to-get-back-to-blogging.html' title='Time to get back to Blogging'/><author><name>Donna Blassingham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06810169664702655531</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TtZCRSf6QI/SdkCJFDL5KI/AAAAAAAAAEs/qDSAI9GNdgc/S220/donna+avatar.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5413609764856360059.post-1363747865831900857</id><published>2008-02-23T09:36:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2008-02-23T09:40:49.957-05:00</updated><title type='text'>My Sister Can Talk Me Into Anything!!</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1TtZCRSf6QI/R8AwS8yy7wI/AAAAAAAAAAM/dWXTqpaG5Kg/s1600-h/Donna%27s+foot+stool.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170185474336288514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_1TtZCRSf6QI/R8AwS8yy7wI/AAAAAAAAAAM/dWXTqpaG5Kg/s320/Donna%27s+foot+stool.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;So here I am, in all my glory!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Welcome to my heart....I hope you enjoy looking around! &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;Donna &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5413609764856360059-1363747865831900857?l=brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com/feeds/1363747865831900857/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5413609764856360059&amp;postID=1363747865831900857&amp;isPopup=true' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5413609764856360059/posts/default/1363747865831900857'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5413609764856360059/posts/default/1363747865831900857'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://brushstrokesnstitches.blogspot.com/2008/02/my-sister-can-talk-me-into-anything.html' title='My Sister Can Talk Me Into Anything!!'/><author><name>Donna Blassingham</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/06810169664702655531</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1TtZCRSf6QI/SdkCJFDL5KI/AAAAAAAAAEs/qDSAI9GNdgc/S220/donna+avatar.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://bp3.blogger.com/_1TtZCRSf6QI/R8AwS8yy7wI/AAAAAAAAAAM/dWXTqpaG5Kg/s72-c/Donna%27s+foot+stool.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry></feed>
