Friday Frump Day

I finally did it!!  I slept past 6 AM!!   I can't tell you how much better I feel!!  I've been staying up way past my bed time (it's been 12 AM or later) and waking up by at least 6 AM for days...stress is a wonderful thing, isn't it?  LOL!!  Today I woke up at 6, checked FB but didn't turn the light on, then closed my eyes...and the next thing I knew it was 9:30!  Bliss, I almost feel human.  I have nowhere to go today, so I'm going to take a shower, put on some comfy clothes, and stitch the day away.  It's dark and rainy and fine weather for ducks, but I'm not ready to brave the elements today.  

I did want to post on my progress from yesterday, though.  After finishing the biscornu, I turned my attention to stitching.  I was a few weeks behind in my Peppermint Purple Blackwork SAL, so decided to catch up.   This is through part 17 complete.

After that I started stitching on the JWH Janse 1873 SAL over on the Soed Idee Blog.  The new pieces come out on Thursday and I really want to keep up to date on that one.  This is through part 3 complete. 

Then I picked up Rose Ada Featherstone.  This was an exclusive last year, and I love the silks I'm working with.  This is stitched on 46 count and drives my eyes a little crazy but it's a fun stitch.  These peacocks are going to be so pretty once I'm done!  I would love to get it finished so I keep picking away at it.  Hopefully I'll get a quite a bit more done, if I just get off this contraption and go stitch!  LOL  

I'm not sure what anyone has planned in the family for this weekend, but with a little luck, I'll be zooming with my former college roomie!  I'm so glad we've kept in touch.  Ok, off I go!  I hope the sun is shining where you are and you have a lovely Friday!  Happy Stitching!

Thursday Finishings and DONE for a while :)

Well I hope you aren't tired of seeing all the goodies I've been working on.  There are SOOOO many more but I'm done, my fingers are sore, and this last biscornu tried my patience, so I'm off to get some stitching done, maybe catch up on some SALs I've fallen behind in.  So these are...  

My Wishes for You

and the straw that broke the camels back...a freebie biscornu by Kissy Cross.  

I went back to see if there were still freebies on her blog, but sadly most of them have been deleted.  You can search back if you like the address is  Kissycross.twoday.net .  And on that note, I'm back to stitching away the day.  I hope you all are having a fabulous day!   Happy Stitching!

Wednesday Finishing at the Zoo...

Did I mention I really hate finishing?  LOL!!  I don't mind looking for backing fabric, or trim, or things like that, I don't even mind lacing things to backing material...but I hate getting glue on my fingers, and I hate gathering lace, and stitching those pesky ornaments together (yes, I know I can glue it but...I think I hate glue more, and stitching really does help you place things where you want them to be).  My goal this year was to stitch at least two ornaments a month (I've been able to keep that goal) and finish them into ornaments before the month was over.  That's the tricky part.  LOL!!  Believe it or not, I finished 7 more pieces today and there are STILL more to do.  I'm debating whether to do them tomorrow or just let them be until next month...decisions, decisions...Anyway, here is what I was up to today!  

Christmas at the Farm

Poinsettia  

Christmas Night  

Rudolph  

Christmas Love  

Special Delivery  

Mr. Grinch  

Now I'm off to give my brain another break and get some stitching done!  I hope you aren't getting tired of my posts...take care wherever you are, and Happy Stitching!

Tuesday Finishing Frenzy...

I had decided over the weekend that if I had free time this week I would be getting some finishing done.  Life seems to be out of control lately, you would think that since I'm unemployed that I would have all the time in the world.  I guess I do...but...there never seems to be enough hours in the day to get things I want to do done.  I've been gathering things and stitching things for an exchange.  I really still have a little over a month to get things done but the way things are going, I'll run out of time...so I had my stitching done...today I finally got them finished.  I also had a wedding sampler that needed framing and I've been more intentional in the ornaments I'm stitching and would like to have them done through the year rather than waiting until the last minute to finish them up.  I made a  huge dent, but know I will need to continue tomorrow.  Here are the 7 (yup, I finished SEVEN) that I was able to get done today.  Two of these are mine....the rest are all gifts!  Here they are...

Two Hearts, One Love by Victoria House Designs  

Life is Better by Lizzie Kate  

Come & Behold Him by Fancy Work  

Summer Posey by Jeannette Douglas Designs  

Chubby Bunny by Jeannette  Douglas Designs  

Count Twice by Plum Street Samplers  

Roses, Violets and Forget-me-nots from the book Miniature Embroidery.  

It's been a challenge gathering supplies, lacing all the pieces, cutting the matboard, choosing the trim, and assembling everything.  I like being creative but all that brain work makes me really tired...LOL!!  I'm off to give my brain a break and get a little stitching done.  It's good to be creative when I have so much on my mind, sure takes my mind off the worrying stuff.  For those who have asked about Mike, he's feeling good and went back to work today.   He talked to our family Doctor today and she explained the tests that were taken, and why they are waiting so long for the next tests.  We both feel better about things now, so thank you for your prayers and concerns.  For now we are just taking it day by day.  I hope you all  are well and safe.  And as always....Happy Stitching! 

Monday, Monday Again!

Wow...has it only been a week?  But what a week it's been!  Where to start...I've had a little bit of extra stitching time so I'll show you what I've been up to.  First off I caught up on Wonders of the Hubble Space Telescope SAL by Climbing Goat Designs.  I really love how this looks, but stitching black on 40 count Navy over two is driving my eyes buggy!  LOL  Oh well, might as well do it while I can still see!  I finished part 3 just in time as part 4 comes out tomorrow.  This is a paid SAL and I receive new pattern through email.  I love how it looks! 

 

I also caught up on JWH JANSE 1873 SAL.  This can be found on the Soed Idee Blog and a new part is released each Thursday.  I have finished parts one and two.  I may restitch this as I'm not too keen how it looks on this fabric.  I did change one of the colors so it would show up on the 28 count natural fabric.   

I have been getting things ready for an exchange.  I was hoping to stitch this miniature and put it on a pendant, but I couldn't find black fabric with a high enough count...so I ended up putting it in this pocket watch frame.  I'll have to keep searching for another size fabric, wish me luck!!  This pattern came from the book Miniature Embroidery.  

Ok I guess you're all caught up.  In other news, we spent a little time in the ER and hospital down in Annapolis this weekend.  I was in nursing school when I first met my husband, but life got in the way and I never did finish my nursing degree (I got a math degree instead...crazy right!?)  Having a little medical knowledge can be a very bad thing when emergencies happen.  Add to the fact that I'm not good where blood is concerned...and there was a lot!!  I have to say I did keep my head, called my DIL to come pick up our granddaughter, called the nurse hotline to see what our next step should be and drove to the ER in rush how traffic before I started shaking like a leaf.  LOL!!  Once he was in the hands of the medical staff the adrenaline ran out.  He was in the ER for hours before they decided to keep him overnight and released him the next evening.  Oh, did I mention there were severe storm warnings and tornado watches while we were there?  Once the storm was over they let us go.  While I waited I stitched, I'm so thankful the light was good at the hospital!  Stitching tends to keep me calm.  So Sunday was a rest and relax day, but today we'll be on the phone making appointments for Dr visits and tests.  If you are a prayer warrior, would you please offer a prayer for Mike?  While they took a CT at the hospital they will need to do more in depth tests to see what all is going on.  I think I'll have a busy week coming up!!  Never a dull moment at DJ's Digs.  So I guess that's all the news for now.  I hope you all are safe and happily stitching wherever you are!  Take care...

Monday, Monday...

Ahhh....*sigh of relief*  For once, in a very long time, I had no plans for the weekend.  It was quiet and peaceful and full of stitching!  I feel rested and oh so excited that I was able to stitch my weekend away.  Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with family, but sometimes you just need a weekend where you can watch all the stuff you had recorded on the DVR and stitch to your hearts content.  My DVR is now completely empty!  LOL!!  My husband even watched TWO Hallmark movies with me...life is good!  I was able to finish two more projects (two ornaments that are part of the challenges I have each month) and that leaves the rest of the month to catch up on some SALs that are waiting in the wings!  I have the week free except for Friday when I get to see my granddaughter (it's been over a week and I miss her like crazy already!!).  I guess I should show you what you came her to see...some stitching!  

Here is the first one I completed this weekend.  This is Special Delivery by Durene Jones from the 2022 JCS Ornament issue.  It was stitched on 28 count white over two (I know...don't faint Jo!)...and all that filled in stitching was a challenge.  The fabric I used was pretty stiff and it was a chore to stab that fabric so many times, but I do like how it turned out.  

Next I finished Come & Behold Him by Fancy Work from the 2014 JCS Ornament Issue.  It is stitched on 32 count Antique white over two with DMC floss.  I have always wanted to stitch these, though I did leave off the initials.  It will be a gift for a family member this Christmas.  Is anyone else pleasantly surprised that a finished stitching piece looks so much better than the picture in the pattern?    I truly love when that happens, but then it makes it so much harder to give away.  Sometimes I wonder if the recipient loves it as much as I do?  Oh well, that's life.  

I have a confession to make...my fingers did a bit of walking this weekend.  The new Stoney Creek magazine is out, so of course I had to surf over to their website to pick up a copy...and a few other things fell into my cart.  Oops...I'll be getting some much needed fabric...yay!  

I also decided I wanted to make some jewelry...so a trip to Amazon landed some jewelry findings into my basket there.  They should be delivered tomorrow.  I'm thinking I might want to wear some of my stitching.  Have you ever wanted to try that?  I made something for a pen pal a year or so ago...and have wanted to make one for me, I hope the findings I sent for are what I hope they will be.  I love stitching tiny patterns, fingers crossed these will be what I'm looking for!  Stay tuned, I'll be stitching on a tiny piece in a few days!  

Ok, I'm off like a herd of turtles, my head is spinning with ideas and I need to get some finishing done.  Wish me luck!  Happy Stitching! 

April Gifted Gorgeousness

Wow I can't believe it's the middle of April already, where has the time gone?  It's been pretty busy here at DJ's Digs.  It's time to show our "gifts" that we've been stitching on this month.  Let's see...If you don't know what Gifted Gorgeousness is, please take a look at Jo's blog Serendipitous Stitching.  She heads up this challenge each month, where we show our stitching that pertains to gifts.  It could be something gifted to us, or for someone else, or it could be materials gifted to us to stitch with.  Basically anything with "gift" associated with it!  LOL  If you head over to her blog on the 15th of each month you'll find a list of all who participate.  

I probably shouldn't show these things here, as they are gifts for someone, but I'm pretty sure they don't visit my blog.  Fingers crossed...lol  If they do, oh well, surprise half ruined.  First up is Two Hearts One Love by Victoria House Designs.  It was stitched on 40 count paperwait over two with DMC fibers.  I fell in love with this pattern and hoped to stitch it as a Valentine's gift for my husband...ooops, someone got married before I could stitch it for us.  Oh well...This is the unpersonalized version, I added initials and dates for the happy couple after this picture was taken.  I hope they like it...now to decide how to fully finish it.  

Next is Summer Posey  by Jeannette  Douglas stitched on 40 count Natural over two with substituted DMC floss.  I had hoped to fully finish this before this posting, but you know...best laid plans and all that.  I'm going to finish it on a round handled board.  

Next up is Count Twice by Plum Street Samplers.  Dear Mouse sent this to me from England as she had bought two and we had our own private SAL.  We finished on the same day.  I have to say, her personalization is much nicer than mine...and she used a different fabric, which I preferred over mine.  Now to get it fully finished, I thought I had something I could use, but it turned out to be the wrong size, so back to the drawing board.  Hopefully by next GG posting I'll have finished it.  

I may have posted this before, but I have been following Claire for a while now and each year she asks for stitched donations for her Christmas Tree that she decorates for her church each year.  I enjoy stitching for her tree...and this year she asked for all while hardanger pieces.  I'm still a novice, but bit the bullet and stitched this for her.  I love how it turned out!  If I find the time (and another pattern) I may give it another go!  This was Wintertide by Patricia Andrle and is a freebie on the Kreinik website.  

I started a new SAL by Soed Idee and since it's free for all, I count it as a gift.  The first part was just released on her blog on Thursday and luckily I had all the floss and fabric to get started.  This is called JWH JANSE 1853.  I'm stitching it on 25 count Natural over one.  I love it so far!  I did change one color due to it disappearing on the fabric I chose.

I also started a gift for an exchange.  Life is Better with Stitching Friends by Lizzie Kate.   I was able to get this finished just in time for GG!!  This is stitched on 40 count Lambswool over two with DMC floss.  Now to find a creative way to fully finish it off.  I'll put my thinking cap on!

 

I guess that's all the news for now.  I hope you are enjoying spring/fall wherever you are!  Happy Stitching!

He is Risen!!

He is risen indeed!  Have a blessed Easter!

Opening Day 2023!

It's been a wild spring so far!  Our family looks forward to Orioles Opening Day for baseball each year.  This year they postponed opening day one day because of tumultuous weather coming from the midwest.  Opening day then fell on Friday the 7th of April.  It turned out well for us as we  were all able to still attend the day.  

It was overcast but still warm enough for light jackets.  It gave me an extra day to recover from whatever it was I had, and we were still able to get parking in our original spot which is easy to get into and out of.  Given that there was a Springsteen concert that evening, traffic wasn't too awful... even though we left the ballpark at the height of rush hour traffic.  LOL  

We stopped at guest services on our way in to visit the guy's friend and coworker, who was thrilled to meet Miss A and give her a "My First Ballgame" pin.  She had a "signed" card to give him, which he was thrilled to get!  LOL!!  Miss A has a way about her, she waves and says hi to everyone she meets, and dressed like a little cheerleader had people's attention all day long!  As you can see in the pictures, she's a very serious little Orioles Fan...lol while she is always smiling and goofing off, it's hard to capture a smiling picture while she's "posing".

One of the best parts of the day was when we beat the Yankees!  All in all it was the perfect opening day!   I'll leave you with my most recent stitching picture that I took after the game...still have to get my 30 minutes of stitching in each day!

This is Two Hearts One Love by Victoria House Designs.  I'm hoping to personalize it for a wedding sampler as soon as I can figure out how to do that...lol.  Happy Stitching!  

Easter Blog Hop 2023

Hello and welcome to the Annual Easter Blog Hop 2023 hosted by the lovely Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching!  If you have arrived here from somewhere not on the "blog hop trail" please join in the fun by starting at Jo's Blog Serendipitous Stitching by clicking HERE.  I would suggest bookmarking her web address, as she is full of fun events throughout the year.  Not to mention she is a lovely stitcher and is working on some phenomenal pieces!  

If you are following the blog hop...here is what you need to know!  On this hop you will be collecting letters that will make a word or phrase.  As you hop to each blog you'll find another letter in order of how they will form the words.  The letter you are looking for is  

AND the next blog on your journey is HERE. 

I will leave you with a few more spring stitching I have done.  I hope your Good Friday and Easter weekend is blessed with the joy of the season and you are surrounded by beloved friends and family.  This will be the first year of having a toddler grandchild so I'm looking forward to Easter egg hunts and the joy of celebrating Easter with our family.  Happy stitching!  And enjoy your hop!