Today's Post brought to you by the letter A

I've been working hard to keep up with Gloria.  This is a SAL by Tempting Tangles that I am stitching on 32 count white opalescent linen.  I don't know why I am having so much trouble with this particular piece...the thread tangles worse than any other thing I've worked on!!  I don't know if it catches on the sparkly thread that is woven in the linen...or what...but sheesh, it's taking twice as long as it normally would.  Still...it's a beautiful pattern.  I'm happy to report, though I was supposed to go out to a ladies gathering today, I stayed home (because of a headache) and knocked this one out as part 5 was issued yesterday.  The 5th part was the letter A.  Now back to my regularly scheduled exchange stitching...

I have finished stitching something for an exchange...but I can't show it yet.  Just to let you know, there has only been one day that passed since the first of January that I haven't stitched at least 20 minutes a day.  It was a challenge I signed up for in December.  It sure helps get things done!

I'm watching the weather in Northern NY where a lot of my friends live.  I'm hoping they are safe, although they did lose power for a short time (one friend reported 30 inches so far!).  And for the rest of my stitching friends, happy stitching!!

Stalking my stockings...

Got a call from my LNS that the finisher had finished my stockings.  They are sweet and fully lined inside! Whew!  Now all my Bride's Tree ornaments are finished and tucked away for the shower!!  I'm thrilled they are done!

 
What are you stitching today?

It was a moving experience...

My baby has left the building...and moved into a very sweet place!  It's a proud Momma moment when your child finally leaves the nest, gets his own apartment, and moves on out.  He's only 25 minutes away (for now), so he's not out of the picture totally.  haha  It's great to see your child making adult decisions and making his way in the world.  I'll miss him, but it's good for all of us.  I'll finally have that craft room I've always wanted!!  No more waiting up nights until the wee hours waiting to hear him come home.  I almost want to move into their apartment building, so many perks...but I'm content now just to have our house to ourselves again.

I haven't had much stitching time (I'm REALLY surprised it took me this long to stitch this particular piece) but I have had a finish!!  I stitched a tiny bit on Saturday waiting for the Verizon guy to hook up their internet, then while they were picking up furniture here and there so got the giraffe started...then yesterday they all went to a hockey game and I stayed home to let my aching muscles recuperate (I'm too old for this stuff!!  LOL).  I must have walked miles that day (their apartment building is a maze, and I kept getting lost).  Anyway...here it is finished except for the date and name.  This is Jungle Baby by Imaginating.  It's stitched on 36 count antique white linen.  This is for a friend's grandchild due in a few months.

I'm rejoicing because I have a lot of stitching with a deadline coming up so I now only have 5 days left in the month to work on a few things before I have my challenge pieces to do for March.   I feel a little overwhelmed because I have a lot of things coming up in the near future that I have to do.  Next week is nearly entirely booked with appointments...so why am I still here typing?  LOL  I'm off to pay for a retreat coming up, and pick up my dress for the wedding (it arrived last week but I didn't have time to get it until today).  I'm off to see the lovely Ms. M and have lunch with her while I run errands.  She's been very tolerant of my schedule lately...I miss hanging out with my friends when I'm this busy!!  So I'll leave you with a picture of my son and his fiance' standing on the threshold of their new home.  I'm waiting to see how they will decorate before I take pictures of their place.  Happy Stitching!!

It's the little things...

It's the little things in life that make it worth living...you know?  It's that morning cup of coffee...and let me tell you, it's worth getting up in the morning for a taste of this!!

It was a gift from my future DIL for Christmas, but I didn't get a chance to try it until the other day.  I'll be making this a ritual every morning until the goodness runs out!  LOL  Always served in my Polish pottery mug I bought in Germany when we lived there.  It fits perfectly in my hands to warm them up on those cold winter mornings!  Ahhhhh....perfection!

It was a stitch day I attended with friends yesterday.  These guys feed my soul!  It's so good to get together with like minded people and share something we all love.  There was "show and tell", there was collective shopping and looking at the new stuff coming out at the Nashville Market, there was laughter, but more than anything, it was seeing all those friendly faces and forgetting about the chaos in my life for most of the day!  I hated to leave.

This group I belong to have a group chat...we share pictures of our finishes, we share the good things happening in our lives, we share projects and have our private SALs.  A week or so ago, I shared that I needed a get together desperately.  They had no idea so much good and bad were going on in my life, that I needed something to look forward to that didn't involve weddings or funerals or empty nest syndrome.  (DS is moving out this coming weekend...it's hard wrapping my head around this.  Don't get me wrong...I'm excited for him to start the next chapter of his life, but he's been a source of love and laughter for 24 years and I know it's going to be so weird without him here.)   And these ladies IMMEDIATELY set aside some days for some stitch days, and made plans for our annual retreat.  I'm talking within minutes.  You cannot imagine how that feels, when you hit your lowest low and these caring ladies stepped in to lift me up.  They will never know the depths of my gratitude or how much I care about them!

Ok, enough of the sappy sentimentality...LOL!!  I guess my mind has been on so many things lately, that I have had the most difficult time with this...

This is Jungle Baby, a birth sampler I'm making for a friend's daughter.  I think I have   frogged more on this piece than I have in my entire life!!  haha  I just have this monkey and one other animal to finish.  While I'm excited to make this for my friend, I'm beginning to hate this project!!!  haha  I even made up a little jingle I play in my head...Sung to a little tune that used to play on Hee Haw (a country TV show from waaaaaay back that my Dad loved ... and my sister and I hated)  Where oh where are you tonight?  Why did you leave me here all alone?  I searched the world over and thought I found mojo,  froggie visited and pffffft you were gone.  I've been stitching on this pretty regularly, but yesterday I decided I needed a break...so I stopped here....

And picked up Gloria.  This is a SAL by Tempting Tangles.  I LOVE the colors in this...and all the little details!  It looks so Medieval...I love it!!  (I have to say, the fabric which is an opalescent white, takes some getting used to to stitch on it...but I'm powering through because I love the look of it!!)  4 parts have been issued so far...and I'm working on the 4th part now.  I'm trying so hard to keep up!!  Wish me luck!!  I got quite a bit done yesterday between the laughter and the moments we were looking at other things.  When I get back from running errands today, I'm going to finish part 4 before returning to Jungle Baby.

So that's where I'm at today.  In the right head space, and after that long, deep, cleansing breath, I'm ready to carry one.  I'm off to run errands this morning then back home to take care of DS who is home sick today.  I hope you all have a wonderful day, and Happy Stitching!

One year...

I debated whether to write this post, but I decided I would.  It was a year ago today that I lost my Mom.  Some days are harder than others.  This past week was one of the hardest.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe it's because I attended the funeral and wake for Heather's Step Dad.  Maybe it's because it's been a cold and dreary, rainy week.  Maybe it's because I found a dress for the wedding and I know my Mom would have wanted to help me look.  Maybe it's because we are talking more about the wedding and I know my Mom would have had great ideas and would have loved being a part of the planning.  Maybe it's because it was Valentine's Day a couple of days ago, and I always sent her flowers.  It felt wrong that I didn't do it this year.  It all seems so foreign without her to talk to...I miss her.  A day doesn't pass when I don't think of her.

Buying the sewing chest and filling it with her things makes me feel like she is close.  I hope she likes where I placed her belongings.  She loved seeing the things I stitched, and always had such nice things to say.  She was so creative, there are times I miss asking her things, or seeking her advice.  But...life goes on...so I'll pack up those happy memories and pull them out on weeks like last week.  I'll think of her when I see a yellow rose, 

or a red cardinal.  

I'll think of her when I see violets, 

or hummingbirds.  

I may not see her face on this earth, but her heart never left.  I miss you Mom.  

February Gifted Gorgeousness!

Whew!!  Time sure is flying by again this year!!  So much to do, Sew little time!  I'm trying my hardest to keep up with things, but as usual, wrenches keep getting thrown into the machinery!  Let's see...where do I begin?

First off, let me thank Jo, over at Serendipitous Stitching, for setting up this challenge.  Each month, on the 15th, we share our gifted gorgeousness.  It might be a pattern or fabric or floss we received from someone, or even a gift.  Or it might be something we have stitched to give someone else.  We showcase these each month, then link up over on Jo's blog.  You can hop over there and see what everyone else is stitching.  It's a sweet way to thank those who have given us things, and incentive to actually get them stitched!  If you would like to participate in the challenge (it's never too late to sign up) you can sign up on this page.  If you would like to see what everyone is stitching for this challenge, visit Jo's blog and see the list of people participating.  It's as easy as that!

I've got a lot to show, so let's get started!

First off, I'm making a baby sampler for a friend's daughter who is having a baby.  This is Jungle Baby by Imaginating.  Why did I pick something with so much backstitching?  I'm kicking my own backside over this one!  LOL!!  But I still think it will look cute hanging in a baby's room with a jungle theme.

As you know, my DH has gifted me subscriptions to JCS Magazine for years.  The ornament issue is part of the subscription, so I consider anything I stitch in those to be a gifted gorgeousness item.  Here are a few I've stitched since the last posting...

Moose Joy by Angel Stitching from the 2019 JCS Ornament issue

Christmas Bullfinch by Pinochka from the 2019 JCS Ornament issue

Blue Snowman by the Little Stitcher from the 2016 JCS Ornament issue

Christmas Cardinal by Stoney Creek from the 2016 JCS Ornament issue

 I finished  two JBW stocking from the Red Stocking Collection II as part of the Bride's Tree ornament set I've made for my future DIL.

I finished Sail Away by Mill Hills stitched on fabric instead of perforated paper and finished into an ornament for the Bride's Tree set as well.

DH also gifted me a paid SAL from Lesley Teare called Birds and Blackwork Flowers for Christmas last year.  I've finished two of them so far.  Here is the January and the February parts.

DH also gifted ma a paid SAL from Tempting Tangles called Gloria.  I've finished the first three parts so far.  I love how this is turning out!!  However it's being stitched on white opalescent 32 count, and is a BEAR to stitch on!!  Still....I love the results!

DH also gifted me the Nativity Berry by Erica Michaels a few years ago for my birthday.  I love this one, and now that it's stitched I can finish into a berry for next Christmas.  (Wish me luck on that one!  LOL!!)

I was gifted this sampler by a friend who received it at a retreat but decided not to stitch it.  It's lovely and I'm so excited to be stitching this as a SAL with another friend.  This is Blooming Bouquets - Thankful by Jeanette Douglas.  I haven' t got too far because other things that need to be stitched keep getting in the way.

This is another gift from DH (he's quiet the enabler isn't he?) from a few years ago.  This is Flowers and Lace by Kooler Designs.  I wish I could devote all my time to this one, I just love it!

I know you've probably seen most of these before, but I like to showcase and thank people for the gifts I've been given.  And now I'm off to get more gifted gorgeousness stitching done!  Thanks for stopping by...Happy Stitching!

Hoppy Valentine's Day! Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

Happy Valentine's Day!

And welcome to the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop!  Yes, I know I wrote Hoppy in the title of this posting....I thought it was fitting for today!  Thanks to Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching, who set up this lovely blog hop, you can enjoy a little game!  Each of us who are participating sent Jo a picture we thought represents Valentine's Day.  She then gave each of us a different picture, and we are supposed to hop around and find the picture we submitted.  That person becomes our Secret Stitching Sweetheart.  Fun right?  It all begins on Jo's blog, so hop on over to Serendipitous Stitching  (click here) and enjoy seeing what other stitchers are sharing on this special day!  Whoever stitched this one must know my heart!  It's my favorite food group!  And now I must run out and find some chocolate, because I now have the biggest craving!  Beautifully stitched isn't it?  Thank you Jo for setting up this fun hop, and thank you Secret Sweetheart!  

Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you all have a special sweetheart to share the day with!  Happy Stitching!

Christmas goals for February met!

I had a very productive two days!  I love it when I can finish a project in a day, but finishing two in one day was a feat for me!   I really shouldn't set so many challenges for myself, I feel pressured to finish  them so I can stitch on things I REALLY want to stitch on!!

I'm participating in the JCS Christmas Ornie SAL 2020 I found on Facebook.  We chose as a group 12 Christmas ornaments from the 2019 JCS Ornament issue.  There is a list on my goals page of the patterns we are supposed to stitch for each month of the year.  I love this one, had it on my to do list, and was pleased to stitch it this month.  This is Christmas Bullfinch by Punochka.  I stitched it on 40 count natural over two.

I'm also participating in the Christmas Ornie SAL 2020 offered on the blog here.  I made it easy on myself this year and only chose two of the three themes.  It's fun with this one because while we have guidelines , I still have a little freedom of choice.

First theme is the twelve days of Christmas.  I've chosen to stitch the series that was published in the 2019 Stoney Creek magazines.  This one was published in the Winter 2019 issue and is two turtle doves.  I stitched this on 28 count white evenweave over two.  I love this series and as soon as I get the chance I would love to get them finished fully (along with the ones I did last year too!!) 

The other theme I chose is the third theme, any ornament you like from the JCS Ornament issue from 2011-2019.  This month was a free choice so I chose another one from the 2016 Ornament issue.  This is Blue Snowman by the Little Stitcher.  I stitched this on 40 count over two natural linen.  I love this little guy!!

I have to say, I enjoyed stitching on all of these!!  I guess that's what helps me stitch them up so fast!

Now I'm off to stitch up a baby sampler for a friend of mine.  She's seen the pattern so I can show it as I stitch.  As soon as I finish this one up, I'll be back to working on some of my larger WIPs.  Some things take priority!!  LOL  Happy Stitching everyone!

Very Merry Berry

It's been a wild week!  Today was the first day this week I could stay home and relax.  I'm glad because it was a dark, dreary, rainy day and I guess after all the stuff that has been going on, it's good to just rest and recoup.  I was up early, but took a 3 hour nap this afternoon and I feel sooooo much better!  

I'm working hard to keep up with some SALs I decided to stitch.  Here is the bird for the Lesley Teare Birds and Blackwork Flowers SAL I'm participating in.  This is a paid SAL through Creative Poppy.  There will be 12 parts to this SAL, one a month.  I enjoyed last months part so much, I couldn't wait to get started on this months.  The colors are such bright, happy colors, they are a joy to work on!  This is stitched on 28 count white linen over two.

I was able to finish up the Nativity Berry by Erica Michaels.  Now to find time to finish up some of the berries I have laying around...or maybe I should just finish up the other ones that need stitching...decisions, decisions.  This was stitched on 32 count Nocturne over two and using the recommended threads.

This was the project of the month for the Stitching Post challenge (my LNS) and there is only one month remaining!  Now I'm off to get started on the Christmas ornaments for this months challenge.  I'm hoping to finish them up soon and get back to Flowers and Lace!  And that is all I have to report.  Happy Stitching!

Taking a short drive ...

on my way to Crazy....anyone care to join me?  LOL

It was an interesting day!!  Yesterday, as my husband was driving, and I was trying to avoid watching and commenting on his driving (I must be the worlds worst side seat driver....according to DH) I pulled up Facebook Marketplace.  I have never looked at it before, but just on a lark I started scrolling.  My eyes quickly spotted this Sewing Box that had been posted 19 minutes prior.  I have been looking for one of these.  So I asked a few questions...then said I would buy it.  I met her this morning (less than 24 hours later) and picked it up!  It was her mothers, so I told her I would take care of it, and fill it with my mother's sewing tools.  I had seen this pattern ages ago and wanted to stitch it but didn't have a sewing box (the one they advertised was pretty pricey!!)  I can't tell you how excited I am to be doing this...it's like a little tribute to my Mom...and I can't wait to get started!  This totally turned what had started out as a sad and trying day into one of hope and excitement....don't you love when you're handed lemonade from lemons?

Today I spent with the lovely Ms. M.  I told her, as I dropped her off at her house after our lovely day together, that I loved hanging out with her.  We always find something to giggle about and she is one of the few people I can truly be myself with.  No judgement, just pure entertainment.  We went dress shopping for the wedding today.  I was pretty discouraged...as I had in mind what I was looking for...and we visited store, after store, after store (one place even told me I had waited too long, I would never find one in time) but as a last ditch effort we stopped at a place in a mall that she usually shopped at for prom dresses for her daughter when she was in high school.  I walked past TONS of sleeveless and strapless dresses...none of which would look good on this old lady...until we ended up in the back and found this little beauty.  Not only was it the style I was looking for, but it was the EXACT color I was looking for!!  I still have to order it, but it will be here in about 3 weeks, in time to have it altered if need be.  Now all I have to do is find shoes to match a beaded clutch that I will be using that was my mother's.

I ended my day at a local library where I met up with some stitchers that meet once a month.  I found a group online that mentioned they were meeting tonight so decided to join them.  It was a nice evening chatting and getting to know new people.  They enjoy going to retreats as well so who knows?  They invited me to one happening in July, but I don't think I'll be able to go to that one...it's going to be a busy summer!  I stitched on the Nativity Berry by Erica Michaels while I was there.  Here is where I ended tonight.

And that's all the stitching I've done since the last time I wrote.  When it rains, it pours, so much to do, so little time!  I hope you are having more productive stitching days!!  Happy Stitching!

What's next...

My head is spinning there is so much going on!  I won't bore you with the details.  There have been a lot of "slow" times where I had time to stitch, mixed in with the busy times.  I just didn't have much time for blogging lately, but here is what I've been able to accomplish since my last post...

I've got caught up on the Gloria Mystery SAL by Tempting Tangles.  They have posted up to part 3.  I'm stitching this on 32 count Opalescent white fabric over two.  I have had more trouble with this fabric....or my brain is focused on other things, but I think I've stitched this at least twice if not more, due to the frog being perched on my shoulder.  How dare he!!  The thread has tangled sooooo many times....and then started to shred (Not the usual case for DMC)  Thankfully I've made it this far, and have a two week reprieve before I have to pick it up again.  I'm determined to keep up with this one this year.  (Now that I've said that *throwing a pinch of salt over my shoulder* I hope I haven't jinxed myself!!  *Knock on wood*)

I worked a little more on Blooming Bouquets.  This is a dream to stitch on, I'm enjoying it so much!!  I will get back to working on that soon, I just love the silk threads that came with the kit!  It's stitched on 40 count Heartland over two (with the lettering stitched over one...oh my aching eyes!!  LOL)

The TSP challenge piece has been determined for this month, and hopefully it won't give me any trouble.  They chose number 7 this month and my number 7 is Nativity Berry by Erica Michaels.  I guess that will be my next priority.  I have had this in my stash for years, I can't wait to get it started!

I think that's all that I've done...but who knows...my brain is swiss cheese lately...haha.  Oh...yeah...I picked up  Winter's Majesty from the framers last week.  I posted this picture in one of my online Facebook groups, and some ladies are threatening to steal it.  I've told them I'm posting this guy on guard duty, I know they have a "thing" for chocolate, so if they try anything, I'm gonna throw the perfect man at them.  Do you think my picture will be safe?

Off to get some stitching in, it's been a busy day and I need a little "fiber" therapy!  Happy Stitching!!