This week's recap...

Whew!  It's been a crazy week.  I was just talking to my husband this morning about the week.  I'm glad it's Friday, and I hope next week is better!  Monday was a holiday so DH, DS and I spent part of the day packing more things and moving them to their new apartment.  There is still more to move...even now!  But they wanted to move things in shifts so they could gradually get things  settled.  The weather had other ideas!  LOL  It's been ice storms galore in our neck of the woods.  DH was home two days this week because of the weather, had one day where he had appointments, and today was a delayed opening.  It was good for our son, I think, because he got some stuff done at their apartment that he might not have done otherwise.  We have most of the old apartment cleaned and ready to hand in the keys, just a few little odds and ends to pack up (mostly big pictures that needed to be moved separately).  I'll be glad when it's all done! 

Needless to say, I haven't had much time to stitch.  I did a little bit on Anniversaries of the Heart...

I did a little bit on the Peppermint Purple SAL, and got caught up on that...

And I was able to finish two of the monthly series I'm working on.  First is the February for Di Cecelia Votta...

And the second is February for Little House Needlworks.  These were fun little stitches, but now I hope to get a little bit ahead.  My goal is to make these into pillows to display each month, and change them when the month is over.  We will see how that works out...LOL!!

I guess that's all for now.  I'm working on Little House Needleworks March as soon as I'm done this blog post...and hoping to video chat with my Long Island pal.  Thank goodness for these techie advances, it would be a lonely world without them today!

Happy Stitching!!!

February Gifted Gorgeousness

Is it February already?  Where has the time gone?  This month is already half over...and it's time for Gifted Gorgeousness.  What is that, you ask?  Well it's the one day in the month we specifically showcase our "gifts".  It can be those we have given, those we have received, or those things we are stitching from things that have been given to us.  Pretty simple, eh?  Jo, over at Serendipitous Stitching, heads up this challenge.  You can find more information, or even sign up to join in the fun by clicking HERE.  If you would like to see what others are stitching for this challenge, you can check out Jo's blog by clicking HERE.

Seems I should be getting a lot more stitching done as we still can't go many places and the weather has been all over the map with snow and ice, yet my days seem so full!  DH has been off since last Thursday as we are trying to help our son move to a new apartment (their old one was too small and they didn't like the area they lived in).  I tell ya, moving boxes and furniture, I hurt in places I didn't know had muscles!  haha  But I'm still finding time to stitch...so without further ado...here's what I've been up to.

First up is Santa Claus from Autumn Lane Stitchery from the 2020 JCS Ornament Issue.  I just finished him up last night.  My husband has gifted me this magazine for years, so anything I stitch from it, I consider a gifted item.  It's stitched on 40 count over two and I think the name of the fabric is Golden Rod.  It was a scrap I bought at my LNS.  He's one of my favorites from that particular issue!

Next is Snowflakes Falling from Rosie's Garden, found in the 2002 JCS ornament issue.  This is stitched on 40 count Flax over two.  I love this one, too!  It's going to look so cute as a round ornament!!

Next is Snow Merry by Homespun Elegance, this is from the 2009 JCS Ornament issue and is stitched on 40 count summer khaki over two.  Just love that little snowman!!

Next are five of the Advent calendar pieces from the Brooke's Books freebies.  Two are unfinished so far Cashmere Camel (I adore her eyelashes) and Pierre Penguin.  The other three I was able to stitch and finish since my last GG update.  They are Mary Mouse, Duncan Dog, and Hattie Hedgehog.  I was hoping to have all these ornaments fully finished by the time I posted, but that didn't happen...haha.  Next time!  These are stitched on 32 count blue over one.  They are a gift for my Daughter-in-law.

Next is Two Turtle Doves from Dragon Dreams.  These were freebies from 2012 and are from the 12 Dragonlets of Christmas series.  She is so creative, and I find these so funny!

Next is Basket of Hearts by Charland Designs.  These were freebies and I actually stitched two of them for my pen pals.  I was able to even finish them into cards.  This was a first for me, I had to cut the holes in the cardstock, a daunting task at first, but I was surprised how easy it was once I got started.  This month just seemed to get away from me, so I'm lucky I was able to get them in the mail in time for Valentine's Day!

Next is my Modern Folk Embroidery SAL that DH bought for me for Christmas.  I didn't have the first part done for last GG update, so you get to see both January and February together!  There was a TON of stitching in the last piece, but I do love every stitch!  This is stitched on 28 count antique white over one.  I love how this looks!!!

Next is   this free SAL from Peppermint Purple.  One of the ladies I met at a retreat stitched the free SAL last year, and I was intrigued watching hers grow all year.  When they offered a square version this year, I just had to do it!  I'm stitching this on 40 count cream linen over two using 3809 DMC floss.  Each piece is issued once a week, but they stitch up in a matter of minutes usually!  Since it is free, I consider it a gift...

Ok, I guess I've shared enough for one post.  I'm at the point where I'm caught up on all the SALs I'm working on, and stitched almost all the challenges, I still have a couple I would like to stitch that are "monthly" charts...and then I can stitch from my vast collection of WIPs...what will I stitch next?  We still have some things to do to help the newly weds move (a few more big items, and then the cleaning of the old apartment).  Hopefully I can get back to regular stitching soon!  Hope everyone is keeping safe, warm, healthy, and all that good stuff.  I thought perhaps this year might be a bit better, but we are still facing challenges with weather and such.  Try to spend a little time being thankful for things, it will help with the stress of living in these challenging times.  Be kind to one another....you never know what someone might be facing that they aren't sharing with others.  Happy Stitching!

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

 Happy Valentine's Day and welcome to the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop created and organized by Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching.  Each year she hosts this fun blog hop where we are given a photo someone has stitched that we post to our blog on Valentine's Day.  Then we hop around the list of bloggers found on Jo's blog until we find the picture that we submitted and reveal ourselves.  This year I was sent the picture of  this beautifully stitched pillow.  The specialty stitches are so elaborate and so exquisitely done, she is a very talented needleworker.  It's a great way to meet other stitchers, see their blogs and find lots of new projects we long to stitch!  I know I'll be looking for this pattern!  If you'd like to hop around with us...you can find Jo's blog by clicking HERE.  If this is your picture, well done faithful stitcher!  I especially love the color of your fabric!  I'm in awe of your talent!  

As always, Jo, Thank you for hosting this fun event every year.  I always enjoy visiting the other blogs and seeing what folks are stitching.  Here's wishing you and yours, a day full of love and laughter.  We all have someone we love, could be Mom, Dad, sibling...or someone else.  It's been a tough year for most of us, it's a great day to share a little loving thought, deed or even just a smile at a stranger.  Above all, be kind to yourself and maybe get a little stitching in!  Happy Stitching!

Anniversaries of the Heart

Well I finally decided it was time to work on Anniversaries of the Heart by Blackbird Designs.  I've been pushing this aside while I work on SALs and other things I wanted to work on each month, but I thought it was time to pull this out.  I had been waffling on who to remember this month with this chart...it suddenly dawned on me that there were newly weds in the family now and it was time to include them in the sampler.  Why not add the lovebirds in the February design...perfect right?  They were happy when I sent them a picture of the sampler as it is now.

I'll be back in a couple of days with the Gifted Gorgeousness update.  Hopefully I'll have some more things stitched to show for GG.  It's a snow day here today...this will hamper the kids who are moving into a new apartment this week.  Hopefully there will be a big enough break so they can get the big stuff moved without getting wet.  Fingers crossed!  Happy Stitching! 

February Modern Folk Embroidery

Whew!  I love this pattern, but stitching it is another story!  LOL  I want to keep up with my SALs this year, so I'm stitching the parts during the first part of the month before I stitch anything else.  This one is on a scroll frame, and hard for me to hold.  Challenge upon challenge, but I really do love how it works.  Here is the February portion finished!  Yay!  What should I stitch next?  

Looks like we dodged a bullet with the weather, the expected snowstorm merely made the roads wet in our area.  It melted almost as soon as it hit the ground, for which I'm thankful.  I'm going to the clinic tomorrow to have my second shingles shot and I hate driving on snowy roads.  Ah the joys of turning 60!

Off to find my next project to stitch...stay safe everyone and Happy Stitching!

Winter Quaker SAL

I love this project so much!  I thought I would post the February portion.  I have done a few patterns from Wiehenburg Designs and they are some of my favorite samplers I have hanging on my walls.  I haven't seen a lot of new things by Martina in a long while, and last I heard she had thought about not designing any more because some of her designs had been "stolen".  I feel awful for designers when copywrite is broken and they lose money because others are profiting illegally.  It's a shame when really good designers choose to stop designing because of this.  So when I saw this SAL, I didn't hesitate, I want Martina to know that I love her designs and to encourage her to continue.  If you would like to join in the SAL you can find the information to order her chart here.  

This is stitched on 28 count navy over one with the suggested colors.  She suggested stitching on a neutral color, but I couldn't find one that I liked.  I just hope the colors of the animals and trees stand out on the navy!!

I'll be back soon with an update on another SAL I'm working on right now, Modern Folk Embroidery.  This is another one I just can't seem to get enough of!  What a joy to find something that I love stitching on!

Till next time, stay safe, stay healthy, and Happy Stitching!!

January Finishing

It's a dreary day here on the First of February.  We got a few inches of snow yesterday which made it for a nice day to stay home and watch the big flakes fall.  We got about 3 inches.  This morning when we got up, there was a layer of ice all over that lovely snow.  We are laughing at the antics of the birds in the back yard.  I've never seen birds skate before, but our backyard is on a very steep incline, so when they land they slide.  From the tracks in the snow I can see the deer made a midnight call to the birdfeeder and cleaned out most of the seeds.  Darn deer!!  Poor DH is trying to decide if he should sacrifice himself and make a trip to fill up the feeders.  There is more snow and freezing rain in the forecast...and while it's nice to have DH home, I sure hope he's able to go to work tomorrow.  I don't get much done while he's here.  LOL!!

I decided (after last year) that I would try to finally finish the things I stitched during the month by the end of the month.  I was able to finally finish all the round ornaments, I'm still trying to decide how I want to finish the square ones.  Maybe I'll surf the internet today looking for inspiration...

Anyway,  here are the 7 I was able to fully finish last night.  5 are from the Brooke's Books advent series, one is from the 12 Dragonlets of Christmas, and the last is from the 2020 JCS Ornament issue.  Hopefully February will be a less hectic month!

I'm hoping to participate in The Love to Stitch Challenge 2021.  It starts today and goes through February 28th.  I found this on the Embroidery.com Cross Stitch & Hand Embroidery Facebook Group.  To enter you need to log into an account on the Embroidery.com website, sign up to participate, then stitch at least 30 minutes a day.  Post before and after pictures either to the facebook group or send an email and if you stitch every day (you have 4 grace days) you will receive a trophy needleminder at the end of the challenge!  Wish me luck!  If you want to participate too, here's the sign up page.  Click here

For the challenge I am working my first day on Winter Quaker SAL by Wienhenburg Designs.  It sure is hard to put this down once I get working on a Quaker motif.  It makes it hard to wait for the next portion!  I'll post pictures when I finish up this month's portion.

Off to get my projects lined up for the month of February.  When the dust had settled, I had stitched 16 items and fully finished 10 of them.  One of them I didn't intend to finish but sent it to a friend for her to put in her flip book.  Two others will be made into cards for my pen pals.  So that leaves 3 I still need to finish.  Not a bad job!  Hoping you all are safe, warm and healthy wherever you are!  Happy Stitching!