I've been working with a personal fitness trainer for the last few months to learn how to have good form while weight training.

As we've come to know each other, I learned that Jane is a stitcher, too. She's only been stitching a few months, though. So while she teaches me the finer points of muscle tone, I give her tips on cross-stitch.

One week, on a Thursday, I told her that my youngest daughter was about to turn eleven.

"Oh, yeah? When?" she asked.

"Next Thursday. A week from today."

"Really? My birthday is the day before hers."

"Wow!"

That got my mind stirring. Stitchers love to stitch for other stitchers because they can be pretty well assured that the stitched gift will be appreciated. But if I was going to stitch a gift for Jane, I now only had a week!

Into my stash I dove, and came up with this cute chart. What better sentiment for a once-fluffy stitcher to give to her personal trainer, right?

As usual, I didn't have all the fibers on hand that the chart called for. So I chose some DMC variegated floss in these colors:

Color No.	Color Name
101	Spring Green
121	Delft Blue
52	Violet
48	Baby Pink
75	Cranberry
90	Yellow

I decided to finish the stitchery as a pillow because it's a pretty quick finish. Besides, I liked the soft flannel fabric with the energetic pattern and the fuzzy trim I found.

I was able to finish the pillow in a week, and gave it to her the day after her birthday. She loves it.

Stitched July 7 - July 15, 2004

Pattern name:	If I Stitch Fast
Designer:	Jacquelyn Fox of Waxing Moon Designs
Stitch Count:	89 x 104
Fabric:	28ct Buttermilk Jobelan
Floss:	DMC cotton variegated
Original Cost:	$6.75
Copyright year:	2001

Waxing Moon Designs
609 Mechanic Street
Osage, IA  50461
(641) 732-1096

I found the fabric, the trim and the pillow form at my local Wal-Mart

Back to Cameo's Corner: 2004
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