Stitching and socializing....

 

Just a quick post before
all of the serious Christmas
celebrating is underway....

We had another sweet lady retiring at the

end of this month and I wanted to

stitch a little something for her.

 

I loved the BBD Peace ornament and thought

it would be a nice memento.   I did change

the colors since I didn't have all of the

called for on hand and am happy it.

 

BBD "Peace" --JCS 2013 Ornament issue

Stitched on 36ct PTP Earthen

with Sampler Threads and WDW

 

The verse is stitched in Pomegranate and matches

the chenille trim from Victorian Motto perfectly.

I really like this one and hope to stitch

it again for myself.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Hubby and I just got back from Arizona and I

decided to take along this cute little

Christmas design.  Lizzie Kate is always

my go to designer when traveling since they

are so easy to pick up here and there.

 

LK "Ho Ho Ho in a Row"

Stitched on 14ct light blue with DMC

 

I had a piece of light blue aida in my stash
which was perfect.   I did take some liberties
with the design and changed the colors in the
snowman's scarf, ornament and the bottom row.

 

I think this was a first but I actually finished
this the last day of our trip!  Since I had my
sewing machine out I just had to get
it finished for this Christmas. 

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Some of the highlights of my trip were

visiting the Attic Needlework and

catching up with Tanya from The Scarlett House.

 

This  happened to be our anniversary so my

hubby was very sweet and let me shop

as long as I wanted.  The shop models were

amazing and it was hard to not come

home with a suitcase full.  

Ann Topley - 1802

I did pick up some needfuls and I was excited

to get Tanya's latest design.  My plan is
to make this one my New Year's Day start.

 

We had a great time in Arizona and can't
wait until we head west again.

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~
 

 Well...Christmas is calling and I
have plenty yet to do.  I hope all of you
are have a joyous holiday season!

Pinteresting....

 

Like most of you, I've spent  hours on

Pinterest "pinning" projects I would

make one day.  The Christmas spirit hit

so I decided to mark a few off the

list over the last few weeks.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Burlap...

could anything be any hotter right now? 

 

I had some burlap and decided to repurpose

some Christmas pillows from years past. 

 

Simple trees with simple adornments.

 

After seeing Vonna's ornament, I knew

a poinsettia would be perfect.

 

The little ones were perfect for

simple sentiments.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Corn starch ornaments...

 

I had made salt dough ornaments years ago

but loved the brightness of the corn

starch ornaments so gave them a try. 

 

I used some of my embossing folders to

make the imprints.   Perfect!  

Although these are very fragile compared

to the salt dough ornaments,  I will

definitely make these again.

 

My favorite.... my Palmetto Moon & Tree.   

These will be the perfect adornment for my gifts.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Christmas tree snow globes....

 

I bought trees last year after Christmas and

thought these would great tucked in

little spots around the house.

 

Epsom salts for the snow....

Rosemary greenery....

with the jute twine these

simple little trees are perfect.

 

Cute....cute....cute!

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

For once I was happy with all that

I made and can't wait to do

some crafting for winter!

I have been stitching and am off to get

some finishing in tonight.  Our Christmas

festivities begin tomorrow so I will

make the most of a quiet night.

 

As always, thanks for visiting and

happy stitching...

Catching up....

 

Time is flying.... 

Laziness has kept me from updating my blog

but now that the Christmas season is here

I  seem to be rejuvenated!

 

I thought I would share a little bit of the

happenings the past few months......

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

I was lucky to win this great giveaway from Vickie at http://astitchersstory.blogspot.com/.

 

Amazing I didn't have this in my LK stash....

 

 

 

This will be the perfect stitch during

our upcoming travels.

 

Vickie also included these sweet counting pins....

 

 

Aren't they wonderful....I just love them.

Thanks again Vickie!

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

I made my annual trek to Myrtle Beach

in October for Pals Stitching at the Beach

and enjoyed catching up with

some stitching pals.

 

Even better is meeting new stitching pals....

 

Anne   ~  Pam  ~  Teresa

 

.....Band of Misfit Stitchers.....

 

Also love the little goodies shared

by talented stitching pals....

 

 

While there my complete focus was stitching this...

 

By The Bay ~ 13th Colony Part 3

Stitched on 40 ct.

with recommended DMC

 

It was about 1/3 finished when I picked it up and

just knew I would knock it out in no time.  

Wrong... after 2 1/2 days of solid stitching

I still didn't come home with a finish.  It

took a few more days but I finally

finished that Weeping Willow.

 

I love this little part of the design...would love

to stitch it as little pin cushion.

 

I am stitching all three parts together so

this will come back out after the new year!

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

This Christmas design caught my eye a few

weeks ago and I decided to stitch this up.

 

CHS "1999 Christmas Sampling"

Stitched on 28ct black evenweave over one

with Victorian Motto thread

 

I had hoped to make it into an ornament

so I stitched it over one on 28ct.  

Over one on black...what was I thinking???

Though a little large, an ornament it will become.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

I am not sure what to stitch next but plan

to clean out my stitching bag.   I still

have several Crazy Challenge pieces

lingering and it would be great to

finish one before year end.

 

Hope you all have a great stitching weekend

and as always thanks for visiting!



Pumpkins for Cathey...

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Happy Blogeversary

to

Cathey

 

 { Pumpkin Patch & Co. }

 

 

 

Here are few paper pumpkins to

celebrate  a wonderful stitcher!

 

Of course....these don't compare to her

little "pumpkin" at home! 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Want to see more pumpkins???? 

Then head on over to

It's Daffycat

 

Fall.......ahhhhhhhhh

 

So happy that fall is here.....

at least in theory.

The calendar tells me it is fall but the

temps in SC are telling another story....

hopeful cool weather will be here soon to stay.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Work is starting to settle down after a crazy

summer.  To get back in the swing of

things, I picked these up to add to

may fall basket of goodies..

 

Plum Street Samplers "Stranded Jacks"

stitched on 40 ct. LL Toasted Almond

w/Victorian Motto threads

 

Don't you just love that name...

Stranded Jacks....

I wouldn't be surprised it there was an Irish

trio out there by that name.

 

Anyway...these are a fun stitch.

There is still one more to stitch but I just

couldn't wait to finish these.

 

I just couldn't bring myself to get out

the sewing machine...

 

so I decided on a no-sew method.

 

 

I did bring out my Sidekick to

make the scalloped frames.

 

 

This is my favorite....

I love the little wave at the bottom

and think it matches the fabric perfectly.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Well....I'm off to catch up some blogs and

see what other wonderful goodies y'all

have been busy stitching!

 

Wishing you a great stitching week...

A Bee's Gathering....

 

Once I saw Nan's newest design I

just knew I had to stitch it.

I already had the perfect spot for it...

 

 

Here is my current Bee's Gathering and this

will make the perfect addition.

 

Threadwork Primitives "A Bee's Gathering"

Stitched on 36ct. PTP Earthen

w/Victorian Motto threads

 

I love the look of the browns and golds

in this design.  Since I  knew I was going

to frame this, Nan was fine with me

rotating the beehive.   I decided to fill it in

so that it would be similar to the other beehives.

 

My favorite bee....

 

I just love this little bee and think he would

make a perfect little pin cushion.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

My SIL Pam surprised me with

these scarfs last weekend that she made.

 

 

I have wanted one like the brown one since

last winter so I can't wait for it to get

cold so I can enjoy them.

 

With temps in the upper 90's, I

think it may be long wait!

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Things are really rolling at work as

we prepare to meet our new crop of

freshmen as well as their parents in

the next two weeks.  Although

I have been doing this 22 years,

it is sweet to see how excited and

scared these students and parents 

are when starting college.

 

If you are preparing to send yours off

to school soon, I do hope all have

a great start to the new year!

 

Hope you have a great week!



Bushel of pears....

 

 

Two more of Marly's wonderful pears

have been added to my collection.

 



June Pear

stitched on 32ct. coffee-dyed linen

with Victorian Motto

 

I stitched this one earlier in June and had just

added some purple and lavender thread

from Victorian Motto to my thread collection. 

They were the perfect for this

design don't you think?

July Pear

stitched on 32ct coffee-dyed linen

with Victorian Motto and ST

 

This was the perfect stitch for the July 4th

weekend.   I like Marly's original design for

the 1776 but decided to stitch it solid to

match the May pear.   With some of the linen

scraps, I do hope to stitch the 1776 in the

red, white and blue colorway to

use as a little bowl filler.

 

 

A "bushel" of pears

 

 Can you tell I have fallen in love with these pears?
I still have a few to stitch but I do smile
every time I walk by my little basket. 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

Here is another oldie but goodie.  Too tired
to stitch one night, I started looking
back through my magazines and
found this sweet design.  

Ewe & Eye & Friends "Button Basket"

Cross Stitch & Needlework April 1999

Stitched on 40ct linen w/Victorian Motto

 

Too lazy to get out the sewing machine, I

decided to use my Big Kick.   I used my oval

dies to cut the wool felt and the stitching

to finish this little oval pin cushion.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Well...I was all ready to stitch this and Nan

at Threadwork Primitives offered

this wonderful design.  

Oh my goodness....I love this design.  

It promptly came in the mail yesterday and I

started last night.   I can't wait to add

this one to my bee collection.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

As always, thanks for visiting my

little piece of the web.  

Hope you have a great stitching day.

Where has time gone...

 

I can't believe it has been 2 months since

my last post.    Work has been consuming

my life but I think the worst may be

over so I can make more time to stitch. 

I do have two small finishes to share.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~    *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

I joined the Spring Seasonal Exchange

and stitched this for Laura.

HE "Bird N Blossoms" Pin Cushion

Stitched on 32ct. w/ DMC

 

Such a cute design and think I need

to stitch again for me!

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Another co-worker retired ...the fourth in a year....

so I wanted to make a little momento

to celebrate the occasion

 

LK "When We Do"

Stitched on 32 ct. w/Victorian Motto

 

This sweet design was suited her perfectly.  

Another one I need to stitch from myself!

 

~  *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

I have been able to sneak a few stitches here

and there on some small designs.  Since

I have a free day on Sunday, finishing

will be on the to do list!

 

As far as stitching, June was sweet enough

to share this darling design after she

finished it.  Isn't it cute? I hope to put the

beginning stitches in to it tonight.

 

Hope you have a nice quiet stitchy weekend!



Bees and pears.....

 

My plans this weekend were to include

some finishing and I am happy to

say that is what I did!

 

First up was "Bee's Blessing".

 

Threadwork Primitive's "Bee's Blessing"

stitched on 40ct WDW Linen

w/Victorian Motto

 

I wanted to finish mine into a box just

like Nan's but could not find the right

size oval box.  I decided to go with the

best size I could find, which was a

little too big, but would make it work.

 

Perfect color of  ricrac from Victorian Motto

 

Lucky for me, I had recently treated

myself to some Spellbinders scalloped

oval dies.  Add some coordinating

 scrapbook paper and voila...

I have a finished box.

 

I  love * love * love  this one!  

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

I started Marly's two latest pears last

weekend and finished up May's last night.  

 

 Samplers and Santas  April and May Pear freebies

stitched on 32 ct. wake n bake frabic w/

recommended DMC

 

Boy was that a lot of stitching....

those red and white stripes seemed to

take forever!  I did decide to finish May

with a little different so I added a few

extra stitches at the top.

 

Comfortably at home with my other pears. 

 

I just love these designs and am so thankful

to Marly for sharing them with us.

 

~    *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Best part of this weekend is it didn't

require a sewing machine!

Well...I am off to see what other stitching

trouble I can get myself into.  

Hope you are having a great weekend

and happy stitching!



Gardens and bees....

 

Rain rain go away....

 

I guess I shouldn't complain since it does

make great stitching weather!

 

We have had a steady rain all day so

it was one good reason to spend

the day in my stitching chair.  

The result was a finish!

 

Plum Street Samplers "Colonial Garden"

stitched on 40ct Lakeside Linen

w/DMC

 

Many of you would probably recognize the design

from the model.  I love the design and hoped to

display it with Peace and Plenty so I altered

the colors.   This resulted in some funky

flowers and motifs but I like it.

 

Ode to Karen and Andy..... a true colonial couple!

 

My hubby loves colonial history so it was easy

to imagine us as the colonial couple. 

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

I also had a finish last weekend.   I fell in

love with Nan's design as soon as I saw

it so it just had to be stitched.

 

Threadwork Primitive's "Bee's Blessing"

stitched on 40ct WDW Linen

w/Victorian Motto

 

This just the sweetest little design that

incorporates two of my favorites....

sunflowers and bees.

 

I am now struggling with the finishing.   I

love the way Nan finished hers but I can see

this as the cutest little pillow too.

Decisions, decisions......

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Work has been very time consuming for me

the past few months so my time spent with

hubby in the evenings has suffered.  To make

it up to him, I promised him a month ago I

would hike a portion of the Palmetto Trail.  

It was only 7 miles..... sounded like

"a walk in the park" a month ago.

Granted....I barely "walk" 7 miles a week,

I wasn't too worried, though,........until Friday.

What was I thinking!

Hiker Andy is rearing to go!

 

We had to travel about 2 hours to "enjoy" this

hike so we were up at the crack of dawn. 

We hit the trail at 9:35 am and finished at 1:08.

 

Trail running parallel to the intercoastal waterway

 

Overall, the trek was pretty uneventful and

it was nice walk....until we reach mile marker 5.

 

The next mile was mostly underwater

with some spots almost impassable. 

 

Widow maker's pass....yuck!

 

I will say this was a moment of truth for me....

I almost became a widow..... I was not happy!

Luckily for my hubby, I realized he is worth

more to me alive so he was spared.

 

Seven miles down....308 to go!

 

We did reach the end without incident.

Hubby was quickly informed that he will

hiking the remaining trails alone.

 

Today I can barely walk and never knew

there were that many muscles in the

lower half of the human body.  

Thank goodness I can at least still stitch so

there's another good reason to spend

this rainy day in my stitching chair.

 

~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~   *   ~

 

Thanks for all of your wonderful comments

on my framed goodies.   I just love them

and am still trying to figure out just the

"right" spot to hang each piece.

 

I do hope you have had a great

stitching weekend....happy stitching!