Update on Let Freedom Ring

I had a really good run yesterday on Let Freedom Ring.  I really should get some finishing done but as I've said before, I have to be in the right frame of mind.  Anywho...I spent a good deal of time stitching on my favorite right now.  I actually put 1100 stitches in yesterday...yes, that's right...1100!!  You can see the difference between last month...  

And yesterday!  

I'm trying to fully finish (including backstitching and specialty stitches) two pages a month until finished.  I did pretty well last month, and yesterday I nearly finished a third page.  I won't have much time this weekend, sadly, even though it's International Hermit and Stitch weekend.  *sigh* My life never seems to coincide with this weekend!  LOL  Well half the month is still ahead, so maybe with a little luck, I may actually finish a second page (or maybe three?)  If I could just catch a break!!  

I'm off to get a little finishing done before I have to go check on Moolah (our kid's cat...they are away for the weekend).  I hope you all are having a productive weekend!  Happy Stitching!

Finishing day at the zoo

It's been a busy few days...and while we are recovering from the "bug", I decided to finish up this months Christmas ornament challenge.  This month I decided to substitute Christmas Joy by Frony Ritter designs from the 2024 JCS Christmas issue.  I stitched this on 14 count white perforated paper and attached them to some 2 inch wooden blocks I found at Hobby Lobby and painted white.  I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out!  

While in Lancaster I found the rick rack I thought I could use to fully finish the Gather Pinecone and Gather Pumpkins series.  I'm so happy these are fully finished.  I'm looking forward to swapping them out from season to season.  

I'm headed back upstairs soon to get back to working on Let Freedom ring.  I'm going to try to finish two pages a month until it's fully stitched.  I've missed working on it.  Here is where I left off before our vacation...

Then I'm going to fill in the rest of the time each month with Christmas ornaments, I hate waiting until the last minute.  We have a few more excursions we are planning and I won't be able to take such a big project with me on those, so I'm looking for smaller compact projects to fill in while I'm out and about.  Stay tuned!  I have some fun things getting kitted up and ready to go!  I hope all is well with you wherever you are.  Happy Stitching!

Anniversary Trip

Sometimes I find it hard to believe I've been married 41 years!  We dated for 3 years while we finished our studies at the State University of New York.  It was a whirlwind summer as we planned our wedding, and Mike planned his return to the Army.  By the end of the year we were living in California within a stones throw from the ocean, nearly a continent away from family and friends.  We slept on the floor until we could afford a bed in a Historical Victorian camp house near Lover's Point in Pacific Grove.  We didn't have a car, couldn't afford one just yet, and either took the bus or walked wherever we went.  We had two plates, two sets of silverware, and a couple of baking tins...whatever I could fit in the 7 suitcases we brought from home.  I wouldn't have wanted our lives to start any differently!  We went to the big Commissary once a week then lived off a local farm stand the rest of the month, and if we had two quarters to our name by the end of the month, we would go to the movies on base that cost 25 cents a ticket.  We lived down the street from a harpist who would practice for hours each day, so we listened to the waves crashing on the shore to the rhythm of harp music and sometimes to the muted sound of a fog horn and the barking of harbor seals.  Sounds idyllic, doesn't it?  It really was!  What a way to start our married life.  

We love to travel on or near our Anniversary, as we were separated a lot of times over the years while my husband served in the Army.  After 25 years of literally globe trotting, we have finally been able to spend every Anniversary together, so we like to celebrate together alone.  This year we traveled to Lancaster, one of our favorite areas of the country.  Here are a few sights from the area....the one lane covered bridge...

horses with their twin colts, 

and so many beautiful flowers (there were signs all along the roadways of fresh cut flowers for sale at local farms...just beautiful this time of year!)  

We made plans 8 months ago to see Noah at the Sight and Sound Theater in Ronks, Pennsylvania.  It was the 25th Anniversary of the show and has been sold out for ages.  We knew it would be so bought tickets months ago.  It was a fabulous performance!  

We also made reservations to see The Wizard of Oz at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater.  What a fun performance!  We've been there many times and have always enjoyed the show!  I especially loved the Cowardly Lion, and Dorothy had a lovely voice!  

We also went to see a variety magic show with Brett Myers...such a fun show!  He had two of his children as part of the act...so of course we had to buy a couple of magic tricks to have on hand for the kids when we got home.  Should you ever visit I'm sure Mike would be too happy to show you his magic skills...haha.  

We had time to visit a couple of antique stores and found some treasures I've been looking for for ages!  First up is this small printers drawer with the dividers.  Not only was the price agreeable, but the size was perfect!  I didn't want a huge one, so this met my needs perfectly!  

I found these three fancy thimbles and am wondering if I can make one of those stitched pincushions with the doll heads with these, I'm going to give it a try!  Aren't they beautiful?  

I found some lovely Longaberger baskets for reasonable prices and snapped this one up.  I already have an idea for it!  Watch this space!  LOL  

I also found something that I've been looking for for a long while.  I had almost given up hope.  First I found this lovely lace edged Carnival Glass basket and thought it might work...I loved it so I picked it up...then kept searching.  

I've seen these made of milk glass but when I found this Lace Edged pink depression glass bowl on a pedestal, I nearly jumped for joy!  

As I was carrying it out of the shop, it hit me that I had a pin cushion that would fit in it waiting at home, and sure enough, it was the perfect size!  Now to gather my special scissors!!  When I have it fully set up, I'll take another picture.  Stay tuned!  

Lucky me I was able to shop at the Hodge Podge in Strasburg, PA.  It's a stones throw from the Sight and Sound theater.  We stopped in just before the performance and of course I found the rick rack I was searching for, some lovely fabric of sizes I was out of, and a few other goodies.  

The fabric stores in the area are wonderful, so I picked up some Christmas fabric and a few other little goodies from Good's Store.  All in all it was a stitcher's paradise!  

So I was able to get some stitching done, but these are gifts, so no pictures yet.  I'll be sending them off soon, so as soon as they have been delivered, I'll post pictures.  

I have one more thing I hope to finish, a Christmas ornament for the month of August, then I'll be back to working on Let Freedom Ring!  I've seen some lovely changes and I think I will  incorporate some of them into mine as well.  I've loved seeing all the different renditions of the pattern coming to life...it's been fun to participate!  I'm sorry for the lack of stitching pictures, but hopefully I have some to show soon!  I'm off to get some rest.  Mike and I came home with some kind of bug so I've been doing a lot of sleeping between "end of vacation" chores like unpacking, grocery shopping and mount laundry.  Hopefully, with all the chores done, I can relax today and get some stitching done.  Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.  Happy Stitching!         

Exciting news!

It's been an exciting week!  It started out on Monday when we learned the vehicle we had ordered had arrived!  Before Suzy Q arrived, we used to travel together when we went to games and on holidays, we all used to fit in our Toyota Rav, or as Miss Sassy Pants called it...The Red Car...lol.  She loved it when we all rode together because she wasn't alone in the back seat anymore.  Since Suzy Q was born, we had to travel in two separate cars, and let me tell you, we loved having our son drive us into Baltimore, it was just nerve wracking to drive in that traffic ourselves.  So we went on a hunt for a vehicle that had three rows of seats and would accommodate two car seats.  For safety and maintenance the Toyota Sienna won hands down, so we began the hunt.  We later learned that it is a very popular vehicle and car lots had a hard time keeping them on the lot.  So...we found a place that had one ordered, and wasn't spoken for yet, so we added a few features to it, and then waited.....and waited.....and went to a few baseball games in separate cars....and waited some more.  FINALLY it's here and we couldn't be happier.  We nicknamed the Rav, Ruby...so now we have to find a name for the Sienna.  We've driven over 80 miles on it so far, and the needle hasn't moved from the full mark...haha...I think I'm going to like having a hybrid!  

I finally bit the bullet and tried a new frame place.  I had read on Facebook about a place not too far from me called Side Street Framers.  Let me tell you, the framer was fantastic!  She chose a couple of frames off the wall, and they were just perfect!  She allowed me to do my own stretching, and I had them back in a week, just in time for the fair!  Here is Romantic Stitcher, and Christmas House, fresh from the framer.  I couldn't be happier and will be using them again!  First up is Romantic Stitcher, isn't she lovely in her new home?

Next up is Christmas All Through The House.  She allowed me to stretch this one, cut holes in the foam core and then stretch that one around the second piece that went underneath.  I like how there is a space in there, it makes it look 3D and like you are really looking into a window.   I truly loved this one too!

I finished up the last two from Gather Pumpkins from the series and once I have rick rack I like, I will get them fully finished.  First up is Quilted Pumpkins.  

And the last in the series is Gather Pumpkins.  

I have the Pumpkins and the Pinecones stretched and ready to sew on the rick rack.  Even the magnets have been attached.  I'm so excited that I've nearly got them all finished within 8 months!  I have a ton more finishing I want to get done, now to find the time!!  In the meanwhile I'll be working on some gifts for a friend who is turning 60 and has asked to have some small pieces stitched and sent to her so she can make a quilt.  I've already started one, so as soon as I've sent them off, I'll show pictures...in the meanwhile, there may be a dry spell on my blog.  I'll keep you posted.  I've spent a little time with the grandkids this week.  I love that the kids send me pictures when they take some cute ones...so here is a little pic of how they are growing.  I love that the truly love one another!  

I'm sorry it's so long today, as I said it's been a whirlwind of activity here lately.  When that happens, I try to update when I can, but I don't always have time to work on the computer.  I'm off to search from some rick rack, and work on those gifts.  I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.  We had a little reprieve from the heat so we might take in an outdoor concert tonight...I'm looking forward to spending more time with the kids!  Take care and Happy Stitching!   

Is it Pumpkin Season yet?

I guess it is at Chez DJ...lol.  I love fall, the colors, the scents in the air, and the cooler temperatures.  I was in Bath and Body Works the other day and they had all their fall/Halloween scents out and it just put me in the mood for fall.  So I came home, lathered up  my hands with some autumn scented hand soap, and dug out the Gather Pumpkin series by Hands on Design.  These work up pretty fast if you have the time.  The first one is finished called Pumpkin Barn stitched on 32 count Vintage Smokey White over two.  

Two more to go and all the seasons will be finished...but I still need some rick rack to fully finish the winter series.  Now that JoAnns is closed, there isn't any place to get the rick rack where you can really look at the colors *sigh*.  What a same that they went out of business.  I used to love searching through their fabric too.  Oh well, I'll be wandering around some local businesses, perhaps searching while we take some vacations that are in the planning stages now.  I'll let you know when I find what I'm looking for.  

I hope all is well in your corner of the world.  Happy Stitching!   

Just another finishing day at the zoo

It's been a hot one today!  Just moving around the house would make me feel a little off, so I gathered some stuff, and sat down to do some crafts.  

First off is this pumpkin.  I used dollar store twine, a metal pumpkin cookie cutter and a single artificial flower.  I started this project with Little Miss Sassy Pants, but before we could finish, we had to leave.  So I finished wrapping it (we were almost done yesterday) and attached the flower.  Easy peasy!  I can't wait to show it to her the next time she visits.  

You may remember this little piece, gifted to me by Ms. Mouse in England.  We sat and had a virtual lesson on making a Pin Drum, which is what you see here.  I had finished it the night she taught me, but I didn't like the wool I had used for the top, so....today I pulled off the top, re-covered the top, and added the little tea bag charm to the side.  I'm still trying to decide if I need trim, but I'm tempted to leave it as it is, I like the simple look to it.  What do you think? 

She sent me three other pieces to finish as well, and I'm contemplating how I should do that, though the Christmas ornament was the easiest.  Here is what I did with that.  From this picture you can't see how puffy it is, it's almost half a sphere.  I wanted to give it a more round look to it.  I have to say I really like how it turned out!  

Yesterday I put the final stitches into Gather Butterflies by Hands on Designs.  So far I've stitched 3 of the series, so I started the last one last night, Gather Pumpkins the autumn set.  I fully finished the three in the Gather Butterflies series, swapped out the spring set for the summer set, and they are now gracing my living room!  I love this series, but I think my favorite will be the fall set.  I'm still looking for rick rack that will work for the winter set that I have already stitched.  I'm looking forward to getting them all finished!  

I still have two pieces to finish that Ms. Mouse sent me.  I haven't figured out how I want to go about that just yet, though I have an idea for one of them...I just can't find the supplies that I know I have in this house!  I heard someone say, finding something you put in a safe place, you'll need divine intervention and a sherpa to find...hahaha.  That is my house in a nutshell.  I've looked in most of the safe places I have, but still haven't found them...but I'm on the hunt!  Tomorrow we are off to help the kids with something (they haven't told us what we'll be doing yet...haha) so I doubt I'll  get anything much done tomorrow.  But stay tuned!  I'll be working on the Gather Pumpkins series soon!  I hope everyone is safe wherever you may be!  Happy Stitching! 

Change of Plans…

It's been a wild ride around here lately!  We've spent a lot of time with our granddaughters and their parents, but it's all fun.  I've not had as much time to stitch lately, but I did manage to work on some smaller things in between the chaos.  Poor little Suzy Q has been sick lately so things have been a little crazy.  We had Miss Sassy Pants here for a sleep over on Saturday night.  We camp out in the living room when she comes to stay so we had a little gymnastics before bed (those air mattresses make quite a trampoline...haha) and she slept like a dream!  

I finally got to the frame shop over the weekend and the framer there was very accommodating.  She was amazing finding frames and we found the perfect frame for each project in my humble opinion.  The stretching took a little while and imagination but she allowed me to stretch them and I brought them back to her the next day.  With a wing and a prayer I'll have them back in time to enter them in the fair.  

I finally fully finished two of the pages of Let Freedom Ring and set it aside so I could finish off a few things.  I'll probably get back to it once the craziness settles down.  I like to keep a few smaller projects going on the side so when it does get crazy like this, I can pick up something quick and go if I need to.  Today may be one of those days as I got a text last night to be on stand by today in case Mr. B needs an extra hand with the girls.  I may have both of them tomorrow while Mr. B has a doctor's appointment.  So let's see, here is where I left off with Let Freedom Ring.  I did fully finish two pages and started on the third.  There are 15 pages all together and my thought was to fully finish two a month.  I know I'll finish long before July of next year, but that's ok, perhaps I'll actually have it framed and on the wall by then.  We shall see!  Here is where I left off.  

I decided to pick up Gather Butterflies series by Hands on Design and see about finishing off the summer set of three.  I had the first one stitched already.  I finished the second one and have started on the third.  The way my luck has been going lately, I'm not sure when I'll finish up the third and final one of the series but I'm hoping I can do it today.  If so, I'll fully finish them and get them up on my mantle.  Here are the two I've recently been working on.  First up is Greenhouse Butterflies.  All of these series have been stitched on 32 count Vintage Country Smoke over two.  

These work up very quickly!  I'm looking forward to getting them all fully finished and safely tucked away to swap out for the different seasons.  And here is where I left off with Gather Butterflies.  

The lettering is done over one and looks so delicate, I love how these are turning out!  I think I'll go back to working on Merry Christmas letters after this.  With a little luck I'll have them all finished by the end of next month.  

I guess that's all the news that's fit to print.  I hope you all are safe from the storms and heat here in the US.  It's been quite a summer with all the crazy weather.  We had a lovely reprieve from the heat yesterday but there are more wicked weather coming our way for the weekend.  Hopefully I can get some errands run so I can stay put over the worst of the storms.  I hope you all are able to do the same.  Take care!  And Happy Stitching!