Four More Finishes & a Framing Question

I should be working on my house while I'm off for the summer but instead ~ I'm stitching!

I managed to finish up four pieces this week ~ 3 of which had been in my basket for at least a year. 

Gathering Basket by Blackbird Designs

32 ct platinum linen with crescent colour threads 

                    Joy to Ewe - a kit from Chessie & Me

32 ct vintage meadow linen with Belle Soie threads

LOVED working with the Belle Soie! 

Cottage Charm Stitcher's Pocket from Milady's Needle

40 ct Lakeside Pear linen using Belle Soie in Tortoise Shell

The 4th piece was a repeat ~ Prairie Schooler's Fall Fields Rabbit.

This next week will be a FINISH the finished pieces week ~ hopefully!  I just need to gather the materials for the Stitcher's Pocket.

Which leads me to the question about framing.  While I have done my own pieces in the past, I have one piece I really want to have professionally done so I'm curious as to what others do.  Do you go the route of JoAnn's or Michaels with the 50% off coupon OR do you pay more and go PRO all the way at a real framing establishment?  And if so, do you have them do the lacing on the back for you?  

Thanks in advance for any tips you can share with me.! 

Have a wonderful day everyone and stay as cool as you can!

Sea Glass Stash!

Yes, there is more then one form of STASH!

But first, I just got  back from spending a few days on the beach at Seaside where I finished up July Word Play from With Thy Needle & Thread.  I really enjoyed stitching this piece and I can see that I will not be stopping with one month. 

I also never get tired of stitching with the sound of waves in the background!  God I love that sound!  If I ever hit the lottery, I know exactly where I want to be ~ Next to the ocean!  Which brings me to my 'other' stash!  Whenever I stay in Seaside, I set my alarm early to walk the beach to see if I can find a handful of sea glass.  Usually it will just be clear glass but this trip, I found a bounty!  

                     

And not just a bounty but greens and ambers and even a bit of blue!  Just as I was wondering why the drastic difference this year, a woman came on the news talking about a group that is collecting beach trash from secluded areas trying to determine to what extent, if any, some of it might be from last year's Tsunami in Japan.  It's incredible to think that with the ocean currents, things can travel that far, isn't it?!  

 

Hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July!