Happy New Year!

Well friends it's time to close the door on 2013! I can't say that I will be sad as it was a hard and frustrating year for some people I love the most. That's the beauty of starting a new year, because its a fresh new start. I am finishing my 2013 stitching with this sweet little freebie by Stitches by Cheri.  It's called Happy New Year of course!  I got up this morning excited by new prospects to come and finished it into this little cube. I used wired ribbon for the bow and my ribbon always looks as if it's going to fly away! It is stitched on 30 count parched bones linen with Gentle Art threads and the backing is this pretty funky batik. So easy and sweet,

I stopped doing resolutions many years ago. I do have some goals in mind but that is where they will stay. I would like to wish everyone best wishes with their resolutions, goals or whatever you may have in mind. I hope that you, your family and friends will all have a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!!!

Blessings!!
xoxo

Mary's Sampler II Finish

Well better late than never! I finally finished my Mary's Sampler II design by Plum Street Samplers. It was a lovely stitch to do and I would have finished earlier if my stitching muse had not decided to disappear. My sampler is stitched on 30 count Apple Brown Bindy by R & R, and uses Gentle Art threads.You can still find this free pattern on Paulette's blog.  A big thank you to her for sharing her time and talents with all of us!

The holidays have come and gone, I hope yours were as wonderful as mine were. Time spent with family and friends is truly a blessing.  The kids are happy with what Santa brought and this mama is happy that the kids are happy. Now it's onward to looking at a new year, I am hoping and praying 2014 will be a  little kinder than 2013. I am still working on my stitching list for next year. I am not sure I will rejoin the wipocalypse, I liked having a list of stitching that I could refer back to. The list did help keep me organized, so I know I will continue that.  However, I got really lazy about posting on the dates required even though its a no pressure thing. So, I am still considering that, I  do know that my focus next year will remain on samplers. I hope to be back with a post before new years! Blessings my friends.

xoxo

Gift for a Friend

Every year for the last 5 years or so I have made a stitched gift for a friend. We have never met, we only talk via Facebook, email or texting. She is very dear to me. This years gift continues with the Halloween themed gift I gave her last year, which you can see here.  Since I was running behind, I had a little help from a friend. Sherri did the primary stitching for me and I did the finishing. Thanks Sherri! I finished it into a hanger for the door or doorknob perhaps.

It is stitched on 30 count Grasshopper linen with DMC threads, the little loop and the pumpkin nose beads came with the pattern. It had some other weird looking stars but I changed mine to black. The backing fabric is this fabulous Halloween orange fabric with the words boo on it. I added the fuzzy black yarn around it to finish it off. Oh, forgot to say the pattern is called The Witch is In by Amy Bruecken! I hope she likes it! Hopefully, I will be back soon with my Mary's Sampler finish.

Cecilia's Sampler Retreat and Meeting a Blogging Friend

Last week a Sherri and I attended our first Cecilia's Samplers Retreat in Branson, MO. It was great! The theme was a Fall Fiesta. We drove up a day early because Branson is like 12 hours away from us and detoured big time through Nashville, TN and visited The Stitchin' Post Nashville. I didn't get any pictures, but it was a very good store. Then onward to Cecilia's Samplers. Below is the outside of the store, very unassuming for what's inside, which is just a stitcher's heaven! 

Outside of Cecilia's

This is one shows a side wall of the Weeks and Crescent Color threads and looks towards the front of the store where you have fabric and lots of lovely accessories.

Ignore me! Look at the glorious wall of threads, this is the other wall of threads, this one Gentle Art and Carrie's Creation and Kreinik. I was picking out thread for one of the million projects I have! LOL 

A little peek at their Halloween section, they have lots of wonderful models all around the store.

Here is Sherri perusing the fabric. They have a wonderful fabric selection and will cut fabric to your specifications, not just in the standard cuts, Even better, they will serge the fabric for you. The fabric section is a little tight when lot's of ladies are trying to get in there and choose fabric ;-) 

Here is Sherri again making yet another purchase, we are so bad! You see a little more of the store.

This picture is looking down again from the fabric section. All in all, a great store. It was definitely a family affair for the owners and they were all so nice. The retreat check in started on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 pm and the conference/stitching room was open until 11 pm every night and open again at 8 am. The first night we had pizza, drinks and dessert provided by Cecilia's, the pizza was fabulous! When I go again, I will be saving myself for that-LOL  All retreat activities were done between 6-8 pm every night, which left you free to stitch, shop at the store, see a show (lots of those there)  or eat. We received gift cards for our meals and the breakfast was at the hotel if you were interested or you could eat where you wanted!  The great thing the store did was do a raffle to raise money for The  Wounded Warriors, the raffle was for a 250 dollar gift card to the store. I am sad to say, I didn't win.  The store matched the donations from their two retreats and all in all raised over 2,000 dollars for The Wounded Warriors.  On top of that, we received gifts and everyone won a door prize of which some had some gift certificates added for the store. 

Now for one of the best parts of retreat, and that was meeting Chelle from Totally Toadlily. Chelle and I first connected when I started blogging in 2006 or 2007. I never expected to meet her, we had always spoken via email and the we found each other on Facebook. Here we are below. Chelle, it was great to meet you and I hope we will get to see each other again! I also made some new stitching friends well. It was a great trip!

Mary's Sampler II

Paulette of Plum Street Samplers has been been sharing a wonderful Sunday Mystery Sampler the last several weeks called Mary's Sampler and Mary's Sampler II.  The theme is the birth of Christ. The mystery lasts a total of 9 weeks and a new part is released every Sunday. This past Sunday was the start of the 5th week.  When you finish you will have a beautiful holiday sampler. I couldn't resist of course, so I gathered my supplies and I  started about 3 weeks in. The parts released have been so easy to manage, and even though I started later I was able to get caught up quite easily. Let's hope I can stay caught up! The only difference between the two samplers is that sampler 2 is a little more dense in it's stitching. I am stitching sampler 2.  I am stitching mine on 30 count Apple Brown Bindy with Gentle Art's threads.  If you haven't decided yet, go take a look! 

As usual, the month has gotten away from me, but that's not new.  I feel like I have been at work a lot with classes and working extra, so not a whole lot of stitching going on here. I am looking forward to November, my baby girl turns 18! We haven't quite decided what to do yet, though she continues to find ways to spend my money. I also am going to a retreat at Cecilia's Samplers in Branson, MO. with a friend. I have never been, so I am really looking forward to that. We are going to make a detour through Nashville as well. Can't wait!

Thanks to those of you left comments in regards to Cathey...she touched a lot of people and she will be missed. (Edited to add-there is a beautiful tribute pattern to Cathey and you can find it here)

Anyway, I am off to watch The Voice, love that show and hopefully get some stitches in.

Blessings

xoxo

Remembering Cathey

I am sad to have learned that Cathey of Pumpkin Patch & Co. has lost her very brave battle against cancer. Though she will be greatly missed,  she is no longer in pain or suffering.  Please pray for her family and friends, but most especially for a sweet little 18 month old boy who will never truly get to know his mom. Hug your loved ones today and always! 

Pumpkins for Cathey!

Dear Cathey, as a fervent pumpkin stalker, I want to wish you a fabulous and a very Happy Blogoversary!  It's always been a great pleasure to visit your blog and see whatever beautiful pieces you are stitching on and to catch a glimpse of your adorable little man. I wish you many, many heartfelt blessings today and always. 

xoxo

Works in Progress

The days continue to fly by and before you know it, you haven't updated your blog in a month! Since I was last here, the kids have started school. My baby began high school and my oldest began college. My daughter got her driver's license, so now I am free from ferrying her around. It's so nice. If the youngest needs to go anywhere, I just make the other's take him! LOL  As for me, I have been stitching. I am no where close to finishing anything but I am enjoying the journey to get there. I also have been stashing too, but that is a story for another day ;-)  Please forgive the wrinkles!

Promised Lamb by Plum Street Samplers in progress on a 32 count Lakeside Linen, not sure of the color. I am using the recommended threads, but the recommended fabric was not available. I love this one. The colors are just divine and I have had a hard time putting this one down. I just can't stitch fast enough!

This is an updated picture of the ES Spot Motif sampler, I am getting to the halfway point and I love this one too. One of my favorite motifs is the orange looking flowers on the left side. I also started Away We Ride by Blackbird Designs, I hopefully will have more progress on that and will show you the next time.  

I must  run, I hope you have a blessed and terrific Sunday! Thanks for all your comments my last post. I love hearing from you guys!

xoxoxo

Good Intentions, a Finish and De-Stashing

Well the title says it all, good intentions. Which is what I thought I had to come and make a  new blog post. Somehow, I never got here. But finally, here I be with a small finish called Harvest Moon by Island Cottage Needlearts. I started it ages ago and finally picked it up and completed it. Stitch count is 77 x 56.  It's stitched on 30 count Celadon with Gentle Art Threads. Finishing plans are for framing.

  I also have made some progress on my ES Spot Motif Sampler. I have been enjoying all the bright colors in this one and I managed to get the border to meet after only three tries-LOL  Whew!  I currently am impatiently  waiting on some stash in the mail. Stacy Nash's Summer at Hollyberry Farm, and Promised Lamb by Plum Street Samplers. I have been itching to start these, especially the Stacy Nash piece.

Now in regards to the de-stashing part, I have been slowly getting rid of things that I knew I wasn't going to stitch over the last few months. My focus has primarily gone to samplers.  Theresa at Shakespeare's Peddler had a recommendation on her Facebook page about a lovely lady named Kathy who does EBay consignment. I contacted her and the rest as they say is history. I have sold stuff through her three times. She has been extremely reliable, with great communication and I haven't had not one issue. So, if you are interested in trying to pare down some of your things then please contact Kathy. She is always on the look out for more things to sell. You can contact her at kkrause414@gmail.com and she will be glad to explain how it works.  Tell her I sent you!

Thanks for all your lovely comments in regards to my Sarah's House finish. I appreciate it very much. I am off to stitch. Be blessed friends!

xoxo

A Finish and June WIPocalypse

Finally finished my Sarah's House by Blackbird Designs in the wee hours of the morning. I really could have been finished with this a long time ago, but I had to take a break from it after some reverse stitching just drove me crazy. Also that border was a little tricky as well.  It is stitched on the called for 30 count Abcedarian fabric with recommended Gentle Arts threads. I love, love the colors in this one and I wish occasionally that I had not been frugal and had went with the silks! It is to be framed and will be a wonderful addition to my sampler wall.

This is also a wipocalypse finish for me as well as this was on the list. I seem to add and stitch more than stitch what was originally on the list. Not sure what I will pick up next. I have worked some my ES Spot Motif Sampler. I have also been kitting some projects. I had started Jane Pattison by Shakespeare's Peddler, however was not happy with the fabric choice. So I got more and I haven't restated it as I am thinking I will do that one in silks using The Attic's conversion.  I also have been loving Isabella Fox, which I have seen finished on several blogs. Also, Stacy Nash has a new one called Summer at Hollyberry Farm which I love too.  It's always wonderful to have choices.