a couple of more ornaments...

Here are two ornaments I have had finished for quite a bit.They have taken awhile to grow on me and I had to tweak them a little because at first I didn't like them. I want the ornaments that I do to be perfect...sigh The one on the right is a design from one of the ornament magazines of which I can't remember and I am currently too lazy to look up. However, I did adapt it by adding the metal hope sign, and changing the colors completely. You may recognize it. Lest you think I potentially may be brilliant-LOL, that idea came from someone else. The one on the left is from Blackbird's Winter Delivery leaflet. Both finished as pin keep ornaments.

Not much else to report here. I started Feast of Friendship by Blackbird Designs and I am still working on Christmas ornaments! Love the FOF! It is a lovely cool day here in NW Florida! I hope wherever you are the day is a great one!

Blessings my friends and Happy Halloween!

 xoxo

Still Here...(picture heavy)

I can't believe it's been two months since I last posted! Time is just flying by Before we know it, Christmas will be here.  It's been a  very busy two months for me. I have been working to much and Alexis has been sick on me twice. She is all good now! Thankfully! I have also been on my vacation as well!  Believe it or not there actually has been a little stitching going on here. Every year in September I begin having fits that I don't have enough ornaments, it really hits an all time high when the JCS ornament issue comes out.  I usually do two Christmas trees, one for just my stitched ornaments and the other the usual traditional tree. My goal next year is to kit more ornament projects so when I am ready to work on them I can just pick them and go with it!  Below are some I have just completed. I hope to get to finishing in the next week or two.

Winter House by The Trilogy. I changed the red color to a brighter red for Christmas. The snow buttons came with the design. The fabric next to it is the backing fabric.

This is Snowed In an oop design by Stone and Thread. The pattern came with the snowman button.  I stitched this on opalescent Ariel by PTP. I made some changes to this as well. The star is supposed to be gold. However, I used red Kreinik and I added the snow buttons because my white stitches got lost on the light fabric. I love this one because of the sparkle! Fabric next to it is backing fabric.

Seek and Ye Shall Find is a kit by Shepherds Bush. It's stitched on 10 count Tula with DMC colors. I used a gold Kreinik to brighten the stars. I love the little sheep button.

This is Bedford Falls by The Sampler Girl. These were not the colors that were on the key. I got this pretty palette from Jinger. The design is an ode to one of my favorite Christmas movies. It's a Wonderful Life. I also really like this one because 1946 is the year my mom was born.

This is Merry by Crescent Colors. It's from one of JCS ornament issues. I can't remember which one right this minute. It's cute I think and was really quick. Something I need these days.I actually finished it sometime ago but misplaced that little snowman button-but here it is finally complete.

Lastly I leave you with a picture of the cruise ship I was on. We were on the Carnival Conquest. We went to Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Cozumel. This was off shore at the Cayman Islands. The boats can't go right up to the island and have to dock off shore. Then you can catch a little boat to the main island. Next to it, is the Carnival Liberty which came at the same time we did. It was very cool to see both ships together. Lots of fun, no cooking or cleaning and for me no kids which led to a very restful week. We are already planning our next one!
Thanks for your visits and comments. Both are appreciated. I am off to stitch on a new pattern. Merry Christmas by Blackbird Designs and maybe just maybe I will pick up my needlepoint! Blessings my friends!

Another foray into needlepoint....

Yes, I have gone and jumped into the deep end of the pool! ! I saw this gorgeous needlepoint canvas by  Patt and Lee Designs and thought I really had want to try that. So, I ordered the canvas and it has taken about 6 weeks to come to me because it had to be painted. I absolutely love these colors. I would love to start it but since I have no idea what to do, I will have to wait until I can get a friend to help. That friend is Sherri, who is the queen of all things crafty.  She can do it all and she has agreed to help me learn how to do this. Please pray for Sherri's patience as I am sure I will sorely try it! I have tried counted canvas twice before and suffice to say it didn't work out for me. Hopefully, this won't be an expensive endeavor in futility!

Now, cross stitch is my true love, so trust me when I say that is not going to stop. Though I am a little frustrated today because I am working on Sarah's House by Blackbird Designs and that border and I are at odds. It's not meeting like it should and whose fault would that be! LOL  Stitching unhappiness is when your borders don't meet up like they should!

Been getting the kids ready for school again, and running to doctor's appointments, plus working like crazy.  So that is why I have been quiet,  I don't have any projects close to being finished-so you will probably
being seeing lots of wip photo's for the time being!  It also doesn't help, that I am jumping between several projects, but hey! they eventually get finished right?

Thanks for the comments on my mom and her piece she stitched for me! I appreciate them and so does she. My mom is pretty special, but I guess everyone's is special too! LOL

Blessings my friends!
xoxo

A Gift from My Mom!

In My Father's House by By the Bay Needlearts
Many times I often lament that other's never stitch anything for me (not true!) However, I try to use this to guilt my mother who stitches beautifully into giving me whatever she has stitched! LOL It doesn't usually work, however for once I was very surprised and got exactly what I wanted! This is In My Father's House by By the Bay Needleart. It was stitched on 36 count cream linen. My mom can also see better than I can as well! I don't know what threads, though I believe it's DMC. Isn't it beautiful! I will treasure it forever! Thanks Mom!

My Mom!
I have been stitching very little, I have been really busy and work last week was killer! I have been working on The Flock-trying to finish up part 3 before part 6 comes out and I started a new one called Cottage Charm Sampler by Threadwork Primitives. So hopefully, I can get a picture posted of it soon! I have also been distracted by new potential projects including this one that has come to the top of my list by Shakespeare's Peddler and it Ragamuffin #2 A Quaker Sampler and you can see a picture of it here. I love it. I am also loving the new Loose Feather's piece called Sarah's House!  

I also wanted to point you in the direction of a new blogger, my friend Tina! You can find her here at Barentina's and Ginger's Place.  So head on over and give her a warm welcome to the blogging world!

Last but definitely not least, thanks so very much for the kind words regarding my Elenor Ferrow finish! I appreciate your words and visits more than you can know! I am off to stitch!

Blessings my friends! xoxo

Elenor Ferrow Finish!

Finally, here is my Elenor Ferrow Finish! I loved working on her, it was one of those pieces that just flowed for me.  It is stitched on 32 count natural Belfast linen with a combination of Gentle Arts and Week's threads. Stitch count  is145 x 203. This naturally will be framed for my sampler wall! This is also my second finish this year by Shakespeare's Peddler, with the first being Magic Garden Sampler. Now, to figure out what to stitch next or should I say concentrate on next because there is always plenty to stitch! Have you ever had that indecisive feeling of what to stitch after you finish a project?

Summer is in full swing around here and it is hot! I am off next week for the holiday and the kids and I have a couple of fun things planned. Mostly hanging out with family is a big part of the plan. You know stitching will be squeezed in there too-LOL  Can't wait!  I also have been working on some home improvements-mainly purging! I don't know how people can hoard stuff (well unless it's cross stitch-LOL) I get such a feeling of relief when I get rid of stuff I don't use.  All right, enough talk as I am off to find that next project to work on. I leave you with a picture of Tabasco (my baby) Hasn't he gotten fat?

Blessings my friends!

Lizzie Kate Santa 2010 Finish

This is Lizzie Kate's Santa 2010 Socks and Underwear. It has taken me far too long to finish him but here he is! He is stitched with the called for Crescent color threads on 30 count confederate grey by Weeks. A few tiny changes that make him uniquely mine are that I didn't use the whisper thread for his beard and eyebrows. I have developed a healthy dislike for whisper thread! Also, Santa is supposed to have on black gloves-oops!  I also changed the color of the long row across the bottom. It is supposed to be white, but I was loving the red.  So red it became! Future plans for Santa include him being made into a cube for my Christmas display.  Several years ago I changed back to the traditional Christmas colors of red, white and green. So he will fit in quite perfectly!

As for other things going on, the kids are out of school! Yay! So glad for a few weeks respite from homework, projects and the like. My youngest didn't get up today until 1 pm! Oh, the life!  Next year, my son is a senior. I can't believe that. So, that will be exciting. I am slowly getting ready for my cruise, it's still a few months away-but I want to be ready! I also have been kitting more projects and thoroughly enjoying that. I have a couple of new starts to show you next. Anyway, I am off to stitch. No work today!  Be blessed my friends!

xoxo

Fraktur WIP and Stash Enhancement!

This is Love Letter's Fraktur by Ink Circles! I fell in love with the colors on this one when I first saw it and knew I must start it asap. I am stitching it on 32 Creme Brulee by R and R fabric and using the recommended GAST. In my haste to stitch this one, I ended up buying two, so if anyone is interested in it I will give it away on Memorial Day. Just leave a comment on this post please. I am working on The Flock still, a little behind and hoping to get it caught up this weekend!


Edited to add: Tracy is the winner of the Fraktur Chart 

I am thrilled to be off for a long weekend. I have plans for me, Gibbs and my stitching at the current moment and just relaxing! I can't wait! Below is some of the stash that I have bought recently. I could't resist the stitcher's station from Liberty Hill, I love those handmade pieces. The rest is stash that I picked up from Shakespeare's Peddler!

Stitcher's Station by Liberty Hill                                

a great mesh project bag from Stitch a Gift with flip flops on it!

Jenny Bean's Humble Servant Sampler along with threads and 32 count Navy Bean linen by Lakeside Linen

Jane Pattison 1806 Sampler with 32 count Navy Bean by Lakeside Linen

This last piece is Coffee Compendium by Tempting Tangles, I have long liked this pattern and then I saw it finished in one of my Facebook groups and I had to start it! So, this is going to be my Memorial weekend start. I am stitching it on 32 Country Mocha by Zweigert and substituting Carrie's Silk Threads for the DMC threads. I had to make a couple of guesses on the threads, so I will have to see how that works out. The pattern orginally calls for Belle Soie silks, but I was trying to be a little frugal (now don't be hysterically laughing there behind your computer's) Anyway, if you have hung out with me this long-thank you! I hope your Memorial Day weekend is a blessed one!
xoxo

An Amazing Visit to Shakespeare's Peddler

This Friday, I went on a stitching trip with my monthly stitching group organized by Jinger! It was wonderfully relaxing. We started in Ocean Springs, MS arriving around lunchtime and ate at this delicious little Italian placed called. Al Fresco. Where I had some yummy crab cakes!   Then we did just a tiny bit of window shopping and browsing in a lovely antique store. Then it was off to the cross stitch store called ThreadNeedle Street. It was very nice and we browsed for a while there. I was very good and only bought some threads. Then we took off to Hattiesburg, MS which is where Shakespeare's Peddler was located. However, we weren't going to Theresa's shop till the next morning. So that left dinner, which was at another great eatery called Crescent City Grill. I had  fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits. Excellent place to eat if you ever go to Hattiesburg! They about had to roll us all up out of there-we were so stuffed!

Back at the hotel we were able to get together and stitch for awhile before we called it a night! The next morning we were up bright and early for breakfast and then off to Shakespeare's Peddler.  Theresa's shop was jam packed with goodies and we spent about 2 1/2 hours there. Trust me when I say all our pockets were considerably lighter when we left ;-)  I also,got to meet a couple more fellow bloggers, which is always wonderful. I got to meet Jen of Jen's Stitching Projects. She helps Theresa out in her shop. Lucky girl! I also got to meet Jen's sister Sharon of Clarkey's Projects & Hobbies. Jen, thanks so much for your help today! Theresa,  it was a fantastic visit and we hope it won't be our last!

Sherri, me, Emily, Jinger, Liz, Cindy, Judy and Theresa front and center!

I did take some pictures of the shop, but I used my new iphone and let's say a sister doesn't know how to work it! So, Jen this would be why you don't see your picture or more of Theresa, I managed to hit the video button when I took hers and some of my pictures were blurred oy! These last two pictures are of Tabasco, I got Tabasco from Theresa-so here he is a bit bigger.  See how handsome he is Theresa!

I will try to show you all some of my stash that I got this trip on my next post (think Shakespeare's Peddler-LOL) Hope your weekend is a great one!

xoxox

My Birthday, Framing and a Winner!

It's a glorious day here in NW Florida and to top it off, it's my birthday! I am 46 today and very, very thankful to be here. I hope to have many more! Anyone, who knows me, knows I don't like to take pictures but I thought I would take one for prosperity...LOL No plans for today, I have a yummy carrot cake that was made for me and I am going to have Chinese for dinner, no cooking for the birthday girl! Not to mention some stitching and some Leroy Jethro Gibbs to round out my day! Now, these two beauties below are the two African women my friend Sherri stitched for and they are finally framed and hanging in my home. I do so enjoy looking at them! I think they look fabulous! Sorry about that little glare, it's so hard sometimes to take a picture of framing!

And last but not least is the winner of the Rovaris Necklace kit, which is Patty of Hanging by a Thread . Congrats Patty! I have emailed you! All right friends, have a wonderfully blessed week! xoxoxo

Blog Anniversary and a Giveaway!

Well I have now been blogging for 6 years! Last year I missed my fifth anniversary due to being in a deep funk...sigh. Actually, this year my anniversary date was on the 17th and again it has gotten past me, though in no way due to any funkiness! LOL Many times I think of stopping blogging ,as my posts have greatly decreased, but I just keep plugging along. I have met so many wonderful friends blogging that I would miss my little piece of cyber space.  So to celebrate, I am giving away this Rovaris necklace kit.  The kit comes with everything you need, the scrap of fabric, thread, necklace cording, charms and a pattern with entire alphabet on it and even some other patterns if the alphabet is not your thing! You can see my Rovaris  necklace finish here. I would love to stitch something to give away, however seeing that I have trouble getting my stuff done that was not going to happen! Below is Ms. Mia displaying the kit.

So, all you have to do if you are interested in winning this kit is just leave a comment on this post and I will pull a name on Sunday April 29th, my birthday! Thanks for your continued friendship and visits!

xoxoxo