September Gifted Gorgeousness

Well, it's that time again, time to post about our Gifted Gorgeousness.  I don't have too much to show today, it's been a little busy around here these days.  If you don't know what Gifted Gorgeousness is all about, head over to Jo's blog Serendipitous Stitching (Click Here) and you'll be taken to her blog.  There is a tab at the top that will take you to the explanation...and you can sign up to join us in the fun if you wish!  

Now...where to begin?  First off, anything I've stitched from the Just Cross Stitch magazine I consider a gift because I have been gifted the magazine since the premier issue by my husband who renews the subscription each year.  This month I finished Snowflake Sheep by Counting Puddles from the 2023 JCS Ornament Issue.  This was stitched on 28 count Smoke over one.  So cute...and will probably be a gift for someone this year too!  

Next is the gift I'm giving my DIL for Christmas.  This is Chill Out a Dimensions kit that I stitched on 28 count evenweave instead of the included Aida.  I had fun fully finishing this one!  

I finished stitching Fa-La-La-Mingo by Hands on Designs and will give this to my Granddaughter for Christmas...I was going to fully finish it today but ran out of steam (yesterday was a super busy day and I'm still beat!!)  Hopefully by next GG post I'll have it fully finished.  This was stitched on 40 count Nora over two. 

 

I had a lovely surprise when I picked up my Fair entries.  Carina Nebula by Climbing Goat Designs won a prize for Viewers Choice!  I was very pleased that others enjoyed my stitching and I consider that a gift to me.  

I have been working on Sarah Sanderson by The Scarlett House which was a gift from my husband for our 40th Anniversary.  I'm working on 46 count Valley Forge over two.  I can't work on it very long as my eyes go a little crossed after a bit...lol...but I'm loving how it looks.  

I had a couple of finishes this month too.  Joyful Snowman by Dimensions was finished this week, and fully finished today!  I added a few snowflakes to fill out some "dead space", and finished it in this round frame.  I really love how it looks in the frame!  

I've been working on letters that spell out Merry Christmas by Owl Forest Designs.  As I finish stitching them, I've been putting them in these little frames I found on Amazon.  So far I've finished M and E.  Stitched on 36 count Summer Khaki over two.  With a little luck I'll have them finished for Christmas 2025...I just don't see me finishing them in time for this Christmas.  These are fun to stitch.  

I guess that's all that I have for this one.  I have a couple of trips coming up (my birthday is coming up and my husband has some time off awards he needs to use so...)  I'm not sure where or when, but we are planning some time to ourselves before the newest addition to our family arrives.   My son will be participating in a 5K run soon, so we hope to go cheer him on...which happens to be near a Needlework store...hope springs eternal that I'll get some retail therapy in while we are away!  And than the new Grandbaby will arrive just before Thanksgiving.  Whew!!  Yesterday was our Birthday Celebration for Little Miss Sassy Pants who turned 3 last week.  We had a family day at the Baltimore Zoo with her Mom and Dad, Aunt, Uncle, Cousins, Grammy, Gigi and Pap.  We had a picnic, walked all over the zoo and just had a great time.  She told everyone she saw that it was her Birthday and that she was now 3.  Haha.  Maybe next time I'll post some pictures of our day.  Till then stay safe, and Happy Stitching!    

I love to go a wandering...

I love to go a wandering...and this time I went solo!  According to my GPS it was 467 miles one way.  While it took 8 hours to go north, it took 9 hours to come back.  Road construction was part of the issue but I also made a few extra stops on the way home.  I also hit rush hour around Baltimore and road closure issues around Harrisburg due to a Trump rally.  Anyway, I was gone 8 days...and other than the drive, I enjoyed every second of it!

I even got to spend some time Cross Stitching!  I finished Fa-La-La-Mingo by Hands on Designs stitched on 40 count Nora (a limited edition by Grace Notes Fabric) over two.  Loved every stitch!

I went to visit my long time friend that I met in 3rd grade and though we've lived apart many, many, MANY years ... lol ... we have remained good friends all these years.  She really is a chosen sister.

As many of you know, things are about to get super busy here in a little while as grandbaby two will make an appearance in November.  We have been working to get their house in order (though I missed a big "paint the walls" endeavor while I was away) we have been sorting and packing baby clothes, gathering furniture, and other things.  So...if I wanted to see my friend I was going to have to go when I did.  

I booked a room at a local B&B there and off I went.  I felt truly pampered all week long!  The breakfasts were phenomenal with bacon and eggs one morning, blueberry pancakes with REAL Maple Syrup) and French toast on other mornings.  Always fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries, and bananas), yogurt and cereal.  Quite the spread! 

My friend and I like to go to flea markets so we visited a bunch and I found several treasures.

Some were for the new baby...

Some were for Miss Sassy Pants who's birthday is right around the corner...

Some were for framing...

Some were for finishing...

Some were for the kids...

And some were for yummmmmm!  Honestly there is nothing like maple products from Northern NY!!

I have to say, I had such a wonderful time, it was hard to say goodbye.  But I packed up my bags and rode off into the sunset.  I did miss my family, but I'll miss that peaceful spot by the river where my friend lives.  Until next year!  I look forward to my next adventure, Ms. D!

Thanks for stopping by...I hope you didn't mind the show...Happy Stitching!

It's Fair Time Again!

I was so excited to enter Anne Thomas in the state fair this year.  I love how she turned out! And she didn't disappoint...she won First Place in the Sampler Category!  

I also entered Wonders of the Hubble Space Telescope which won First Place in the small size category...  

2024 Snowman which won First Place in the Christmas Ornament section... 

Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler which won Third Place in the over one category... 

and Carina Nebula won 5th place in the N category.  

Not a bad haul!  I entered my first fair because someone who I thought was a close friend, suggested my stitching wasn't good enough to win anything.  Another person told me my finishing was awful.  Turns out they were both wrong...and have been wrong for a number of years now.  Lesson learned...never value your self worth on those you think are your friends.  Never be afraid to put yourself out there...if you "fail" don't give up!  You can always improve on the parts of you that need work...and be open to work on yourself.  Now go out there and be the best YOU you can be!  Happy Stitching! 

Finally...I got to stitch on Sarah Sanderson today!

And it's about time!  I was able to really make some progress on Sarah today.  

That's all I have to show today...thought you might like to see how I'm doing.  Happy Stitching! 

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend August

Well, it was a busy weekend, but I still found a little time to stitch.  I had other plans, but again, squirrel...lol.  I started the weekend by finishing Chill Out (a Dimensions kit) ...  and completely fully finished it!  Score!  LOL  

Next I picked up Starry Stable SAL by Tempting Tangles.  I had completed the third part during the Olympics...but in the meanwhile, part 4 had been released.  So...Saturday I stitched on part 4...and got caught up!  

I had hoped to pick up Sarah Sanderson, but for some reason, I picked up next month's JCS SAL project, Snowflake Sheep from the 2023 JCS Ornament Issue.  I found this pretty 28 count fabric (Smoke) but quickly realized the size of the fabric wasn't big enough to stitch over two...so over one it is!  I made a pretty good start of it today!  Fingers crossed I can get it finished soon as my fingers are itching to work on Sarah.  We will see what tomorrow brings!  

I got quite a bit more done than I expected, as today was the day I dropped off my entries to the Maryland State Fair.  We had to race around the Baltimore Beltway (always an adventure and usually takes a few years off my life with the hair-raising way people drive...and that includes my husband...love him dearly but the man is a menace on the road!!!)  The weather man said it was supposed to be wicked weather, but thankfully we beat the rain...made it home in record time and even had time to FINALLY have our Anniversary Dinner at Outback.  It was yummy!  

And that's all folks!  Now back to your regular programming (and I'm off to dreamland, it's been an exhausting weekend!  Happy Stitching!  

August Gifted Gorgeousness

Hi fellow stitchers and welcome to my Gifted Gorgeousness post.  If you aren't sure what Gifted Gorgeousness (GG) is, please head over to Jo's blog, Serendipitous Stitching (click here) and read about the challenge "rules".  Basically it can be anything with the word "gift" associated with it.  I have a few things to show, first up is Winter Woodland by Patricia Anne Designs from the 2023 JCS Ornament Issue.  I showed this unfinished last month, but have since fully finished it.  I actually did some finishing today, and while gathering supplies, I happened to find this little frame that was the perfect size.  I think it came from Marshalls, but probably quite some time ago.  

Next is a little freebie I stitched during the "Stitch the Olympics Challenge" I just participated in.  The freebie was Paris Souvenir by Blackbird Designs and it's stitched on 40 count Latte by Fiber on a Whim.  I found the rings on Pinterest, and changed the date to reflect this year.  It's finished on an unfinished wood piece I found at Hobby Lobby I think.   

Next is a gift from my husband for Christmas one year.   This is Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler from The Stitchy Box.  DH gave me the pattern, fabric and floss (I'm pretty sure he had help from someone at The Silver Needle where he bought the supplies.)  I recently had it framed...so it's ready for the State Fair!  

Next is a gift from Christine from Friendly Stitchers group I belong to.  We recently had an exchange where we stitched something and sent it unfinshed.  We were to finish it ourselves.  She sent me this little elf...isn't he cute?  And I found this perfect frame in my stash that came from Hobby Lobby.   I'm pretty sure I showcased the ornaments I sent her a few months back.  

I've been working on a little ornament for my DIL.  She loves sloths so I thought I would stitch this for her for Christmas.  It's stitched on 28 count white over two.  Not quite finished but gettting there.  This came in a kit.  

Next was a gift I received in a summer exchange a few years ago.  It got lost in the shuffle but I just love the colors in it.  This was an exclusive kit from The Silver Needle and is called Autumn Garden by The Scarlett House.  When I showed this in a group I belong to they suggested I make a pin drum.  What a great idea!  Now to figure out how I should go about that!  

Last, but not least, is the gift my husband gave me for our 40th anniversary earlier this month.  This is Sarah Sanderson and was an exclusive kit from Homespun Needlework FB page.  I'm stitching it on 46 count over two with NPI silks.  I can only work short periods of time as it's really a challenge for my eyes, but I love it so far.  Working with silks is amazing!!

I guess that's all I have to show for GG for now.  

I did have a productive day today getting some little things fully finished.  I've finished a few of these lately that were part of the Olympic Challenge I just finished up.  I have a few more that are close to being finished...so you'll probably see them in the future.  Anyway...here are the others I fully finished today.  Summer Posey and Winter Posey by Jeannette Douglas, both stitched on 40 count natural over two.  Both are finished on Charcuterie boards from Hobby Lobby.  

Next is Heart of Spring by Just Nan framed in this cute little frame I found at Home Goods.  You can find a lot of interesting frames there and at Marshalls.  

Next is 2023 Snowman by Primrose Cottage stitched on 36 light khaki over one that fit perfectly into this tiny little frame I found at Hobby Lobby.  This frame is 2" x 2"...so tiny.  

Last is a little kit by Shepherd's Bush called Let Freedom Bloom.  It's stitched on 32 count natural over two.  I finished it on this little star ornament I found in the clearance bin at Hobby Lobby.  I think there were 6 in the box of them.  I've been holding onto them for so long...hoping to find the right size star pattern for them, but thought this fit the bill perfectly!  

I framed the images from the Hubble Space Telescope that was a SAL last year.  I had this framed at Hobby Lobby and it's also ready to head to the fair!  

I framed this one myself it's the Carina Nebula both of these  are by Climbing Goat Designs.  I've always had a fascination with space, and found these to be so pretty!  

Ok, I guess that's all I have to show.  I'm off to get some more stitching done.  I'm hoping all is well in your neck of the woods!  Happy Stitching!