Retreats I Have Attended

I haven't posted in years and this post is only for me to write down the various retreats I have attended over the years and the designers. I have a list written on paper but I live in mild fear that I will lose the list. I am listing by the shops that did the retreat but in no particular order. 

Tomorrow's Heirlooms-Chicago, Illinois

2015 Plum Street Samplers & Jeanette Douglas 

2016 The Scarlett House & Stacy Nash 

2017 Plum Street Samplers & Blackbird Designs

2018 The Scarlett House & Heartstring Samplery  

2019 La D Da & Chessie & Me

2022 Needlework Press

The Attic Needlework, Phoenix, Arizona 

2014 Summer School 8/1-8/3

2018 Summer School 8/24-8/26

2019 Summer School 8/16-8/18

2021 Summer School 8/20-8/22

2022 Summer School 8/19*8/22

2023 Summer School 8/18-8/20

2023 Autumn of Abundance 11/10-11/22  Plum Street Samplers & Blackbird Designs 

Dyeing to Stitch, Virginia Beach, Virginia 

2017 Plum Street Samplers

2019 Blackbird Designs & Erica Michaels 

2026 Stacy Nash Designs coming in October 

The Silver Needle, Tulsa, Oklahoma 

2019 The Scarlett House 

2024 Grand Summer Event Stacy Nash & Needlework Press 

Hobby House Needleworks, Rochester New York 

2023 My Life is a Sampler Retreat The Scarlett House & Needlework Press 

2025 Spring Retreat Heartstring Samplery & Plum Street Samplers 

Country Sampler, Spring Green, Wisconsin 

2025 Stacy Nash, Cross Stitch Antiques, Needlework Press (didn't attend-received kits at home)

Sampler Guild of the Rockies, Colorado Springs, Colorado 

2026 Royal Retreat 2/6-2/8 

Cecelia's Samplers Retreat, Branson, Missouri 

2013 General Retreat-no designer 

Acorns & Threads Pacific Northwest Stitch Summit, Portland, Oregon 

2022 Blue Flower Stitching & Lindy's Stitches via Zoom 

2026 Blue Flower Stitching, Lindy's Stitches, & Plum Street Samplers via Zoom (Sept)

Florida Stitching Events, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida 

2023 General Retreat-no designer 

Needle Delights, Pensacola, Florida 

2006

2009

2010

Not sure if there were retreats in  2007 or 2008. 

Strawberry Garden Finished and Thank You!

First, let me say a huge Thank You to all of you that commented on my blog anniversary and birthday! Your greetings were very much appreciated!  The winner of the gift certificate was Rowyn. I hope you find something fun to purchase with your certificate Rowyn.

I also finished Strawberry Garden by Blackbird Designs! Stitched on 32 count R & R Alabaster linen with the recommended Classic Colorworks and Weeks Dye threads. Love this piece! I was so scared of those lazy daisy stitches...but it was all for naught! I even managed to muddle my way through the. buttonhole stitch.

Next I am going to start Sarah Redfearn by The Scarlett House...I have been kitting projects like crazy. I need to slow down, but it's so hard when so many great projects keep on coming out. I also have my Chicago trip coming in July at Tomorrow's Heirlooms. Tanya Brockmeyer of The Scarlett House and Stacy Nash will be presenting a patriotic themed weekend! I can't wait, plus I will get to visit with my friend Loralee!  Anyway I must run, it's raining all sorts of farm animals here in NW Florida today...just yuck.

I hope your weekend is wonderful one! 

Blessings
Sharon 

Blog Anniversary, Giveaway, Birthday, WIP...Oh my!

I am back from vacation!  It was wonderful and relaxing...we will be doing a cruise again. I love that there is no cleaning, cooking or any thoughts of housework related items. It's a beautiful thing!  Now, while I was gone my blog had a little milestone...it's tenth anniversary on 4/17! I can't believe it's been that long, and though I don't blog so much anymore...I haven't been able to go kaput on the blog! I wish that I was more interesting or could stitch faster...but you just get little old me! LOL So for those of you that continue to visit me, I say a tremendous thank you to!

So in honor of my blog anniversary... I am giving away a $50 dollar gift certificate to 123 Stitch! Open to anyone that leaves a comment on this post only! Please make sure that I have a way to contact you by leaving your email in your comments. I will draw a name 5/9/16!

Happy Birthday to me...today is also my 50th birthday! It is such a blessing to be here, to be healthy, have a job that I love (well most of the time) my family, friends and cats! I really have nothing special planned today. Going to hang out with the family....and hopefully put some stitches in!

Here is my WIP Strawberry Garden, I was hoping for a finish but cruising got in the way! I am getting close. Those Lazy Daisy's take a little time, but I am pleased with them. The basket calls for a different stitch (alternating satin like stitch) however, it's just going to be plain cross stitch for this girl, as I started the stitches...but they were working my nerves some! There is also a creative error present that I shall forever remain mum on. ;-)

This is a second project that I started by Kathy Barrick called the The Tea Keeper...I have a little plan for finishing this one. Lets hope it comes to fruition. 

Anyway, I am going to run, going to visit my mom and relax. I hope your day wherever you are is beautiful and blessed! I will leave you with a picture of my cruise. I didn't get any good pictures this time...don't know why! This is one of my favorites of the ship! This was on Grand Turk in the The Turks and Caicos. Carnival Sunshine was the name of the ship. 

Blessings 

Sharon 

A Little Stash...

It's been a busy few weeks for me,  because  I have been working and preparing to go on vacation, so much so that I have not stitched very much. But vacation has finally commenced and hopefully my needle and thread will meet soon. Has that stopped me from stashing?  Of course not...especially with the latest and greatest from the Nashville Needlework Market! Every year,  I think I am finished ordered for now....

So a couple of weeks ago I was approached by Elise who is the designer for Spruce XStitch.  I had never heard of her designs before. She is based in Australia..  She makes the most adorable charts and kits for cross stitch.. The one below is one of my favorites...".I cross stitch so I don't kill people."  I think most of us can relate! LOL The kit comes with aida fabric and presorted threads. You can peruse her site at Spruce XStitch  and I am sure you will find something to catch your eye! This is the kit I received below.. Go by and visit her site,    

                                                                                                      

My other acquisitions are from Plum Street Samplers and Blackbird Designs. Two of my favorite designers....I kitted these up with fabric and threads as well.. 

Blackbird Designs

Plum Street Samplers

I must run,,,have to sleep now. I have a blog anniversary coming up next week. 10 years! Though  I don;t blog as much. My blog is still  a part of me and if my thoughts could post themselves, you would see a whole lot of posts! LOL 

Work in Progress Strawberry Garden

This is Strawberry Garden by Blackbird Designs, a chart I have long loved and avoided because of the lazy daisy stitches in it. However not too long ago I saw a great little video on YouTube about them and the rest is history. I still don't think they are the best, but I have at least conquered my fear over them. They really do add to this piece and I have seen it stitched without them.  I am stitching this on 32 count R&R Reproductions alabaster linen with Classic Colorworks threads. The threads are so vibrant and pretty! 

I am finally getting some framing done and I had this Blackbird piece framed. It's Hannah Lovina Joslin from the Honeysuckle Manor book. I changed the name and dedicated it to my maternal grandmother. It's very special to me! I had one more small piece to show you. But I seem to be having trouble posting it. I am waiting for more framing to coming back...more of Blackbird designs. I can't wait to show you!  I hope your week is off to a great start! 

Willow House Finish

It's been a long time coming...but Willow House by Blackbird Designs is finally finished! The shop sticker on the pattern when I bought it is dated for 2009. I really don't remember when I started working on this but I don't think it's been that long. It's stitched on a 30 count R and R linen called Witches Brew I believe with the recommended Weeks Dye threads. The eyelets in the house worked my nerves a little, I just never felt I could get them right. So I opted not to put in the area up by the roof where the letter G is and just used regular cross stitch. Also, the purple star was supposed to be over one and rather than tear my hair out I changed it to a smaller version of the gray star to the right of it.  Amazingly, I was able to get through my lazy daisy stitches. That was after watching a very helpful video on YouTube. I figure all these little changes makes it unique to me.  I added mine and my daughters initials to complete the piece. 

It's been very hard to get a good picture of this piece...the linen is golden in color not sure it's as golden as this picture shows. However other times the flash just will completely wash it out. I took this picture at night as well.  Now I am on to my next project, I am pleased with these two finishes as I am making progress here in 2016!  The month of January continues to be a challenging however, and my ear infection and hot water heater are now minor. But I won't go into that right now.   Thanks for stopping by and I hope your weekend is fabulous! 

Blessings

Happy New Year & A Finish!

                        

Happy New Year dear friends! I hope that the new year has started out well for everyone. It's been busy here in my little part of the world.  An ear infection ( thought I was too old for that!) and broken water heater to name a couple of things that have gotten my year off to a running start!  Anyway, amazingly I have a finish!  This is Malabar Farm Pinkeep by Stacy Nash. It was stitched on 30 count Confederate Gray linen with GA threads. I changed one color to Weeks Teal Frost...that was the inner  flowers and the peacocks tail. I love it.i also changed the linen as it was supposed to be stitched on Weeks Straw linen. 

Now I hope to get Willow House completed...so close on that one too. I am trying not to start anything till I finish up a couple of projects....though it is killing me! Lol  Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello...so nice to hear from you!  Anyway, just wanted to to share this finish!  I hope your week is off to a fabulous start!

Blessings! 

Merry Christmas!

As usual it's been far too long since I have been to this space. I don't know why as its always on my mind and even open on my browser!  I started this blog almost 10 years ago to deal with a  marital separation and to connect to other stitchers. As I connected and progressed this blog saw less and less of me. Next year will be the 10th year of my blogs existence and I really hope I can change that!  I must admit to being stitching challenged this year...I have finished only one medium project and to 2 small ornaments.  I seem to have been more of a collector...because I have stashed like crazy! Getting more stitched is something else I hope to change in the new year.

Today I  wanted to come here and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! May your holiday be filled  with love, laughter, joy and family,. I leave you with some previous work that I finally finished. First is Wee Santa 2011 by Heart in Hand that I finished into a stand up cube.

This second finish is an ornament by Shepherds Bush called Seek an Ye Shall Find. It was a little kit that I had. This finish gave me a fit as that is definitely not my strong suit! 

Both of these had been languishing around and I am glad to get them out and enjoy them! Anyway, I am off going to spend some time with my family and hopefully my needle! 

Blessings my friends! 

Tomorrow's Heirlooms Retreat (Picture Heavy)

As usual, it's been a bit since I have been here but I won't wax poetic about that. I am here to tell you about my lovely trip to Chicago for the Plum Street Sampler and Jeanette Douglas class at Tomorrow's Heirlooms! I have long wanted to meet Paulette of Plum Street and when I heard this class was being offered I knew I had to sign up. The class was the weekend of July 17th-19th.  I went a day ahead because I wanted to spend a little quality time in their store.

This is the front of their store. It wasn't super big, but it was jam packed full of all things good and stitch related. Old and new. When I arrived, I had just missed some of the retreat ladies and I had the whole store to myself for a couple of hours. It was delightful! Jan was working that day and she was so wonderful and patient with me .I truly enjoyed my visit. Then the first event of the weekend was the meet and greet with Paulette and Jeanette in the TH hotel suite that evening. Both designers were super nice and I must say Paulette was just as beautiful as I had imagined. Jeanette was a hoot, so funny! She also is former nurse, I was surprised to find out.  Plus we got treated to their wonderful models and some new releases to boot! If you haven't gotten these two, run to get them! 

I love this and I have started this one...slow progress Gorgeous colors. I will show you soon! 

As a cat lover this had to come with me! It's beautiful and in the picture below you can see some more of Paulette's fabulous tarts!

Some of her serial bowl finishes just because ;-) 

Serial Bowl Lessons

Then the second day was a class day and we started off our morning with Paulette of Plum Street and this beautiful sampler she designed.

It is called A Merry Hart and it is gorgeous! Done on PTP Ale. Mine is on 32 count.

Yummy colors!

Then next is was Jeanette's turn and this was her design

It is called Pumpkin Patch Box and it came with the wooden tray and all the little felt and threads to  make it everything. It's quite lovely! They also both did a collaborative project together of which I can't find to show a picture of! :-(  I will try to show it in my next post. I will show you a picture of them going over their piece instead!

The other two ladies (one in yellow is Kim and the darker solid pink is Pam) they are the owners of the store and put this together. They were super nice too! 

 I also got to meet a very special someone and that would be Laura! We have talked via email and follow each other on Instagram, but of course we had never met. I must say Laura inspires me to buy...a lot!! LOL She has such beautiful person inside and out and I so enjoyed meeting her! Your can find Laura's lovely blog here. Here we are together...now don't look at me!

Laura and I!

Another friend I had an opportunity to meet was Kathy!  She also model stitches and has done some model stitching for Paulette too. We were room mates in Chicago and it was a pleasure getting to meet her to too. I do believe there was more enabling of stash involved too! 

Kathy!

I also was able meet several other online friends. Which was amazing! Linda, Brenda, Natalia, Katrina, Rita, Teresa, Karin Deborah, Nataly and Pat. I hope I named everyone!    All in all just a great trip and now my ears are perked up to see what comes out next. I am really wanting to go to Country Sampler! Anyone been?  If you have made it to the end of this post. I thank you for bearing with me and thank you for visiting me too! 

Blessings my friends!

Two Wonderful June Finishes!

First,  the most awesome finish of all! My daughter graduated from high school this past week! So excited for her and for what her future holds. I can't believe my second baby is finished with public school and that part of her life is over.  Now she an adult and moving on to the next phase...college!  Current plans are to attend college locally and major in Graphic Design.

This is Alexis with her boyfriend Antwain on graduation day right after she got finished! So happy for her! He is a great guy too, he just graduated as well and will be attending college on a football scholarship a few hours from us. 

Alexis with a few of her friends from her baccalaureate service. It was such a lovely service and the pastor did a beautiful job encouraging and these young adults on their way. I love looking at this photo and seeing seeing all the girls bright shining faces. They are all looking forward to the future and I hope and pray that it filled with happiness, and the purpose that they seek in life! 

Now onto my second June finish...Antique Sampler 1861 by Blackbird Designs from the book In Friendship's Way. I didn't stitch it on the called for mello linen but instead did it on 32 count vintage lentil by Lakeside Linen with the recommended Gentle Arts and Classic Colorwork's  threads. I love it.  I thought about staining it, but as that makes me nervous I will leave it it alone.  This is my first finish of the year, I am sad to say...but hopefully there will be more! Thanks to all who encouraged me on my last post.  I appreciate it and as always I appreciate your stopping by to visit me!

Next month is an exciting month for me, because I am going to Chicago to Tomorrow's Heirlooms for a class with Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers and Jeannette Douglas. Can't wait! Now I am off to find that next project or finish another. Happy Sunday to you!

Stitching Plans and Dreams 2015

Finally, I am posting,  if  I posted as much as I thought about posting to my blog you would tell me to please stop! Why do I worry about it you say?  I still like blogging, I just feel that I am a boring blogger...that is not to generate any sympathy, but just how I feel. Anyway, lets get on with the program! This post has been hanging in my inbox as a draft for quite some time so bear with me.   So this year, I am not joining the Wipocalypse. I was a terrible participant, as I never kept up with any of the postings. It was fun to see everyone's progress and I also came across some great new blogs. I didn't finish very much this year and blogged even less than last year, however I still love my stitching and I have no plans to stop blogging for the time being. Ha! she says!  I do hope to stitch more and by making this list, hope that it will motivate me! (I am motivated, motivated to buy more!) So, the list is long and for my slow (think tortoise or perhaps slug) self quite crazy! Don't judge-lol!

So without further ado here is my 2015 and beyond dream stitching list (* means they are in progress)

ES Spot Motif Sampler by Of Female Worth*
Away We Ride by Blackbird Designs*
Ohio Treasure by Threadwork Primitives
Christmas Village by Threadwork Primitives
Sleigh Rides and Snowflakes by The Scarlett House
Summer at Hollyberry Farm by Stacy Nash
Thankful Davis by R & R Reproductions*
Margaret Cottam by La D Da*
John Reed 1844 by Forget Me Not in Stitches
Love Thy Neighbor by Plum Street Samplers
On Prudence by Plum Street Samplers
Tombstone Spots by The Primitive Needle*
W: A Mexican Band Sampler by Needlework Press*
Pomegranet Sewing Tray by Stacy Nash
Jack's Bash by Plum Street Samplers
Willow House by Blackbird Designs*
Little Red Chair Sampler by The Scarlett House
Mary Magee by Needlwork Press*
Things Unseen LK Mystery Sampler
Margaret Withrow 1809 By Gigi R.
Autumn Posey by Plum Street Samplers
Spring Delivery by Plum Street Samplers
Diversity in Beer by Ink Circles*
The Gift is Small by Blackbird Designs*
Antique Sampler 1861 by Blackbird Designs*
Stitch Every Day by Hands on Designs
Henrietta Binns by The Scarlett House
Cherry Hollow Sampler by Stacy Nash
African Lady by Corrine Leroy*
The Letter "S" by Nora Corbett

I am sure I could add more to this crazy list, so many beautiful patterns and so little time. Such fun to see in black and white, to hope, dream and perhaps create just a small amount of some of the loveliness on this list.

Now, I still belong to a couple of clubs, Colonial Gathering, The Prim Ladies and Stacy Nash, so I have some kits from last year to throw in the mix, and let's not forget what may come up during the year...
                         
Here are a couple of works in progress that I hope to complete soon!

This is Antique Sampler 1861 by Blackbird Designs from their book In Friendships Way. I am stitching it on 32 count vintage lentil linen by Lakeside with the recommended Gentle Arts and Classic Colorworks threads!

This is Willow House by Blackbird Designs being stitched on a 30 count linen by R&R reproductions. I don't remember the name. It's darker in real life. It's being stitched with Gentle Arts and Weeks Dye Threads 

That's all for now, I hope to be back sooner than later and thanks for visiting if you have lasted this long! Blessings to you!

Happy February and a Giveaway!

Edited to Add: winner is Annie! Please email me. 

Well friends I had good intentions...lets not go into those. First Happy belated New Year to you! I hope so far that 2015 is treating you wonderfully. Mine has been off to pretty good start and there are exciting things coming up. First my oldest turns 21 in March! Good grief, where does the time go. My daughter graduates in June! So hard to believe I have adult children...surely I am still only 25!

Anyway, I have been wanting to do a giveaway and what better month to do it than the month of love.  So if you are interested I am giving away a 2015 Book of Days calendar and a portable LED light, leave a comment on this post only.  Limited to my US friends (sorry).  Giveaway will run until Sunday Feb 8th and then I will pull a name via the good old random generator.  Up next, I am going to post my super long list of projects and some of my works in progress.  Anyway, be back soon and good luck!

Merry Christmas!

Well it's almost that time again, Christmas is upon us. It seems as I get older the faster it gets here. It's been a bit since I blogged, life has just been busy with work and the kids, you all know how it is. I hope to slow down some, stitch more and hopefully blog more than I did this year. I have been making stitching plans but I will post about that later! Today I am sharing my last finish of the year, Wee Santa 2011 by Heart in Hand Needleart. Stitch on a random 30 count linen with a mixture of Gentle Art and Weeks Dye threads. The buttons came with the pattern. I am not sure how I will finish it just yesterday. My favorite part is his little cone head hat!


These last two pictures are of the kids and I. Caleb on the left is 16, Alexis is 19 and Brandon is 20. This was taken right before we went out to dinner. Love them to pieces!


This one is just the kids...and one of the cats lurking about (Tabasco the Terrible)
We call him that because he terrorizes the other cats!



I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas filled with joy and may you have many blessings throughput the new year! Thanks for your visits and friendships! <3 br="">
-Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Eek! Where did October go?

I can't believe it's November! Where did October go for goodness sake? It seems as we get older, the time just zips on by. Also, this means that Christmas is next month!  Believe it or not, I have done some Christmas shopping. First, I want to thank everyone that has came by and left a comment in regards to my last post. It meant the world to me!  As to what I have been up to in the mean time, is a whole bunch of work. I am feeling like Grumpy from the Snow White and the bad thing is I am not sure when I will have any significant time off...sigh So, lots of work means very little stitching...and very little finishing of anything.

I did finish this Stacy Nash club piece Freedom from Country Sampler.  I love Stacy Nash and hope to stitch more of her stuff in the future. The kit came with the 30 count fabric and Gentle Art threads. I seem to be out of the current fall season of stitching, but one can never go wrong with a patriotic finish right?

Stacy Nash "Freedom"

Not much going on, I have started many other projects, cause I just love to start things. I will show some of them when I have a little more work done on them. I have been thinking of my project list for next year. Needless to say, it's quite long, but that is the fun of it.  I had joined the Wipocalypse, but I think I will refrain from that next year as I just don't keep up with it. I will leave you a picture of one my cats. This is Kiki, who is quite particular, it took her a long time to love us. She is sitting on one of my new chairs. I laugh, because sometimes I believe they think I bought the furniture for them! I hope your week is wonderful, blessings to you all!

A Finish Honoring My Grandmother

Finally here is Hannah Lovina Joslin 1856 by Blackbird Designs all completed! I am honoring my maternal grandmother Vida Mae McCants Salter with this sampler. I absolutely love seeing her name on this and it is one of the many things I love about Blackbird Designs. My grandmother was born December 18, 1904 in Alabama. She was the oldest of 12 children.  Those were very hard times and there wasn't much to be had.  She worked in the fields as a child and made about 10 cents a day. She only completed school until about the 8th grade, because she needed to help out at home with the other children and chores. She met and married my grandfather Mack Travis Salter in 1929.  She worked in the homes of others and when not doing that she was taking care of her family.. She went on the have 12 children of her own, of which 3 boys went to heaven. My mom is her youngest child and namesake. 

I became close to my grandmother as a baby, when she cared for me while my mom was in college. I stayed with her till I was about 4 years old. One summer, when I was about 15-16 I was tasked with taking care of my grandmother.  She had been ill and my family left me to stay with her till they could get some things organized. I was responsible for her meals, medications and general care. For me it was no hardship, and I firmly believe that moment in time that summer cemented my desire to be a nurse. I must admit to being scared and thinking that my family was nuts to leave me with her, but I took my job seriously because I couldn't let her down. I will never forget that summer. 

My grandmother died when I was 18 of cancer. I wish that we had had more time together.  Now that I am older I think of all the things I should have asked and talked to her about. Things that at the time I was too young to appreciate and understand the significance of. Things that I miss from our time together are fresh tomato sandwiches and egg custard pies. Two of her sister's didn't live far from her and we would walk to visit them. Also, every time we went into town, I could con her into getting me a small toy from the five and dime store ;-)  I miss her more than I can say. 

This is she and I. most likely when I was a little over a year old,  sometime in 1967.  We don't have a lot of pictures of my grandmother for some reason. I love the way my finger clutches hers.

That is my grandmother smiling the pink dress with the bun on top of her head. This was in 1976 at a family reunion and she is surrounded by two of her sisters and three of her brothers. I love this picture! Also, I get a kick out of seeing those seventies clothes too.

This last picture is most likely from 1979, and is probably the last formal picture we have of my grandmother. If you have made it to the end here, I appreciate your reading about someone that was and is still very special to me. Thank you! 

Blessings

xoxo

A few things to share...

from the magically fast needle of Sherri. She has finished a couple more of my African ladies for me. This makes African lady number 4 and she is halfway through number 5.  Then the series will be complete. I love this one because of the vibrant colors in her. At first, I must admit I thought she was a a bit bold, but she has grown on me and may be my favorite.  She is done on Week's 30 count cocoa with DMC thread. 

This is the third African lady below is called Ocean Wave. She is also stitched on a Weeks Dye Works linen-lilac I believe is the color. Unfortunately, the color washed out in the photo. It is also stitched in DMC.  As always, a very big thanks to Sherri!  Please forgive me for the pictures, these are not the best as they are from my phone camera. I can't find my battery charger for my camera! Hence some of the discolorations you see towards the bottoms of the pieces...meh!

Lastly, I sent a couple of pieces off the Faye (Carolina Stitcher) to be finished into project bags and these lovelies are what she sent back! She chose the fabrics. I asked for the applique because I love the way it looks. She did a wonderful job and I know I will enjoy using these. 

I still haven't completed my Hannah Joslin, but I am getting closer. I was hoping to have a finish before the end of the month. It's safe to say that wont happen. I have been working like a mad fool and my daughter was in the hospital for 6 very long days with a sickle cell crisis. Thankfully, she is better and I have slacked down on the work. It has been a very busy month. I am starting a small vacation tomorrow, can't wait and I am going to The Attic's Summer School on Friday. I am excited and nervous at the same time. First time ever going to Phoenix. I hope the rest of your week is a beautiful one!

xoxo

June Progress...

on Hannah Lovina Joslin by Blackbird Designs. I am loving this sampler, I just wish it wasn't taking me so long to get it stitched. But I am making progress!  I am honoring my maternal grandmother whose name you see above and the year of her birth.  It thrills me to no end to see her name on my work and this is one of the many things I love about Blackbird Designs. They really encourage you to honor your various family members.  In fact, I am inspired to stitch more samplers and honor two of my great grandmother's. They will most likely be a Blackbird Design, it's just a matter of deciding which one. When I get this one finished, I will tell you more about my grandmother. I miss her still, I was only blessed with 18 short years...but I am sure happy to have known her.

I also have been in the patriotic mood especially with Memorial Day recently, and Independence Day coming up. So I have been working on some patriotic designs. Hopefully, I will get one finished by this Friday. We shall see. I must run, thanks for all your sweet comments on my last finish and pictures.

xoxoxo

Primitive Bouquet Finish

This is Primitive Bouquet by Jardin Prive which has been lurking around in my stitching bag for quite some time. I would stitch on it whenever the mood struck and now its finally finished. I stitched it on my favorite neutral linen Creme Brulee by R & R Reproductions, this was 32 count and I used the recommended hand dyed threads by Nina (which if you haven't used are very nice) It did call for one DMC but I subbed Soot by GAST for the grey color you see. I am not sure what will be done with this one, framing perhaps...I sort of went through a like, dislike, like period with it. I am not sure why because I love the flowers and leaves.  The initials highlighted are S and G in homage to my maiden name of Green, plus I just liked the shape of the G better than the L :-)

I wanted to leave you with a favorite picture of mine from my recent cruise. This was taken on St. Thomas Virgin Islands  where I was blessed  to spend my birthday this year. This was taken by me from one of the higher points of the island. That is the Carnival Liberty we were on and this picture reminds me of a postcard every time I look at it. St. Thomas and San Juan, PR were both gorgeous places.

Here is one more because I can't resist leaving you with this picture of this beautiful butterfly. My cousin and I went into this little place called The Butterfly Garden and out back they had this area with butterflies floating around, some even came and landed on us and as you see were were able to get up close and take some really pretty pictures. I have more, but this is one of my favorites.

 

Thanks for all your sweet compliments on my needlepoint piece, I agree with you all that Sherri is awesome. I hope the rest of your weekend is beautiful and blessed!

xoxo

My needlepoint piece completed...

however it wasn't completed by me! My super nice and super fast stitching friend Sherri completed it for me. I love it! This is a  Pat and Lee Design  (#131). I thought I would try my hand again at needlepoint, but alas I find that crossing the tiny x's is what makes me the happiest. If you needlepoint at all, I do envy you, because it's a fabulous talent to have.  I have warned close friends and family, that if I even hint at buying a needlepoint canvas that they have permission to bong me on the head! Trust me, I have been tempted, but this is not an inexpensive hobby to have (who I am kidding, x-stitch is just as bad) Sherri is just too talented and it really didn't take her very long at to complete. All of the lovely background, the hills, pathway are all her very own additions because the background was originally all white. Also, all the different stitches were her own idea as this piece had no stitch guide for it. 

I have been meaning to do this post for awhile to thank Sherri! Without her help, it would be a very expensive piece languishing in a drawer. Now to get it framed!  To tell you just how nice Sherri is, she is stitching the rest of my Isabelle Vautier African Women. You see the first two in this post. There are 3 more in the series. She has completed two almost. So watch this space for some more fabulous finishes!  Thanks so much Sherri! Words can't express how much I appreciate your stitching these pieces for me!

Kitty Cat Row Finish...

After much procrastination, I finished Kitty Cat Row by Bent Creek.  I really could have finished this ages ago but...I really don't have a good excuse! LOL It is stitched on 32 count Earthen linen by Picture This Plus fabric and I used Dinky Dyes Silk threads. Stitch count 275 x 23. I had found this conversion for the silks on the Australian Stitches and Spice shop website, however I didn't want to pay that much for it and have to pay shipping from Australia. So looking at their picture I went through Dinky Dyes thread pictures on 123 Stitch and picked the colors as close as I could to theirs.  Not an exact match of course, but I like it.  I really like the funky cat as I call it (cat #5). I will eventually get it framed and hang it in my laundry area.  The piece was supposed to have 2 little stitched mice, however I opted to add some butterfly buttons I had instead. Sorry the picture is a little cut off at the end, it was not easy to photograph.

I hope your Mother's Day was terrific. Happy Mother's Day to everyone. I made my mom a German Chocolate cake and spent the day over to her house. It was a nice and relaxing day. Anyway, it's on to something else now, millions of other projects waiting in the wings!  Have a blessed week my friends!

xoxo