Throwback Thursday....

Thank you so much for your wonderful

comments on my previous posts.... 

they really do make my day!

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While visiting my mom awhile ago, I really

took note of how many stitched treasures

(her eyes rolling) 

of mine that grace her walls.  It got me

thinking about how I wish I could have started

this blog many years earlier.   Well... actually

I guess I was "blogging" on paper....

My stitching journals

Like many of you, I kept a "journal" of sorts in
a yearly calendar documenting my stitching days.

  My "blog" posts

I love my blog.....

just for the fact it is now my "stitching

journal".  I can look back over the last few years

and see what I was stitching and I am surprised

how I can remember what was happening in my

life at that time.   I've been toying with the idea

of sprinkling stitched pieces from the past so I

could enjoy them on my blog and decided there
was no time like the present to start.

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In keeping with the seafaring theme this week,

here is one of my favorite finishes from 2000.

The Need'l Love Company

"Ship of Life"

Started: 1-16-00 Finished: 4-9-00

I remember I originally started this one on 14 ct

cream aida......don't ask me what I was thinking.  

After stitching a little of the wave, I quickly

realized this just wasn't right.   I restarted on

32 ct. linen with DMC.   At the time, this was

a very different stitch for me....this was my

first sampler of sorts.  I am so glad  I

stitched this on linen and stuck with it.

To this day, I still love this piece.

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BD "The Lighthouse"

Stitched 1999

I just loved the older Bent Creek designs and

probably have most of them between 1998

and 2006.  I especially liked the Word Samplers

and this is one of my favorites.   I attended one

of the now defunct cross stitch festivals where I

was able to pick up the frame.    I didn't have a

LNS and remember being in awe of all the

cross stitch "stuff" available to buy.  O how the

world has changed thanks to the wonderful web!

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If you made it this far, thanks for visiting.  

I would love to know if anyone

else has these stitched and on their blog.

BC "Cottage in the Sticks".....

BC "Cottage in the Sticks"

32 ct. black w/ DMC

Another 2010 UFO bites the dust!  I fell in love with this 1996 design as soon as a I saw it but lost interest  after starting...that darn black fabric, house and border were driving me crazy!  It sat unattended all summer and I decided I shouldn't go into 2011 with it still hanging.  Out it came last weekend and I spent the entire day Sunday stitching it....and actually enjoyed it. 

(It was like starting a book I just couldn't get into and then later can't put it down.  Ever happen to you????) 

Not quite sure what I am going to do with it....hubby doesn't care for the black fabric so not sure whether it will get framed eventually or not.  The important thing is its finished !

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Well...I only have "Live Laugh Love" (from this year) sitting in my stitching basket and I would love to finish it before the new year too.  Since Tuesday is my SAL day for this one, I should be able to finish today.  Before I will allow myself to stitch, I must organize my little space, which is strewn with paper, ribbon, fabric, thread....you know what I am talking about!  The quicker I get to it the quicker I can stitch so I guess I better get busy! 

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Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and had some stitching time! 

Harvest Time Exchange to share....

I got a sweet email from Maggee that she had received her Harvest Time Exchange and wanted to share a pic. It is a combination of BC's "Blessings Abound" and "Pumpkin Flower" designs. I really liked the finishing on this one, even if I say so myself, and loved the way it turned out. May have to stitch one for me!

Well...back to some more Halloween stitching!

Some Cruising, stitching & TUSAL.....

Some cruising.....after 7 days of rest and relaxation....I am pooped!! I didn't realize that no working, cooking and cleaning could be so exhausting. We did have a great time and I just wanted to share a few pictures.

Our home....Freedom of the Seas as we sun on CocoCay

The beautiful waters of St. Marten.

Hubby enjoying Orient Beach.

The Good....beautiful waters, fruity drinks, daily trivia (Team Thomas ruled!) .....

The Bad....food, sunburn, Visa bill ....

The Funny.....nude beach (no...if you've seen one you have NOT seen them all!)

Some Stitching....yes, lucky for me, I packed some stitching. After suffering a severe sunburn, I was able to spend a whole day stitching and actually have a finish to show for it. This has been in my "To Do" pile for awhile...

Bent Creek "Here Comes the Sun"

Cross Stitch & Needlework-- June 1998

The there is a companion piece, Full Moon Rising, and I hope to get that stitched in a few weeks.

Lastly...Totally Useless SAL

With the full moon, it is time to show my progress on the SAL...

Well...we are half way through and my jar is getting pretty full! Want to join in? Head on over to TUSAL and join the fun.

Thanks for looking! Happy stitches....

BC Summer House finished....

I finished this Thursday night and it was a cute design to stitch. I have a walnut square frame that will be perfect if I can just make myself frame it.

I finally started Barbara & Cheryl's Petite Rainbow Row Saturday night. I think this is going to stitch a lot quicker than a I thought. This is good since I need this finished by August 1st.

Hope all are having a great weekend and happy stitching....

One down......

Bent Creek "Seasons Of Change Row"

....and 49 more to go in my SOS challenge. All of the stitching is done, but I didn't realize that there was a button pack when I bought the design so I will have to pick one up later. I loved this design when I saw it and love it even more stitched. Bent Creek is one my favorite designers and it is definitely one my favorites from them. Now I need to start on some smaller projects this week while I decide what I will start next. Decisions, decisions.....keep on stitching.

Last Christmas finishes...

Here are two ornaments from one of the JCS issues I stitched for my neighbors kids. I changed the cap covers and added the snowflakes on the caps. I just have to finish them and wrap them up.

I finally finished this BC "Christmas Cracker" design that I have had in my statsh for awhile. I plan to finish it as a flat-fold, my first attempt, and will post a pic once done (maybe....). I think I am done with Christmas stitching and started "Snowy Littles" by Hollis Designs last night. It should be a quick stitch that I can finish before the year end.

We celebrated Christmas with my in-laws and family yesterday and had a wonderful time. This year they decided to give us money and I was so excited! I always go shopping to one my favorite shops, Counted Stitches, for their wonderful after Christmas sale(25% off most items). They are the most wonderful ladies and I just don't get to go often enough (which is probably a good thing!) I have my lists ready and am anxiously awaiting Friday morning....happy stitching!

Ahhhh..vacation!

I am on vacation this week and have been waiting on this "retreat" for a long time! I took a week in November last year and got so much crafting done for Christmas that I am implementing the tradition of my annual craft retreat! I do plan the obligatory work day in my house and will tend to all of the household chores I have been neglecting since we moved in our house two months ago! The rest is reserved for stitching, papercrafting and shopping for new crafting stuff I don't really need! So much to do....so little time.

This is BC "Rise & Shine" that I finished last night and framed this morning. I have had this design for years and it was a pretty easy stitch. I love the way it turned out and will display in my kitchen.

In addition to the framing, I made some clay buttons using my Sculpey clay to use on SB's "Merry Christmas" pattern. I stitched the design on a smaller count than the design recommended and the JABC buttons provided are too large. They are baking in the oven now and I hope to paint and finish that today also! Not sure how they will turn out and will make the executive decision to elimnate if they don't work. I also have 9 ornaments that are ready for finishing and hope to do that today. I am not much one for finishing and have to be on a roll so I just may have to drag some other stuff (i.e. needlerolls, etc) that need the sewing machine and knock it all out!

Well...off to Hobby Lobby & AC Moore where I am armed with coupons for both. I am sure there is something I just absolutely have to have!!!!

Happy crafting!