She's ready to fly!

I stayed up past my bedtime last night so I could finish Angel Roly Poly.  She looks so much better after the outlining was finished.   She's stitched on 36 count Antique White over two and is from the book, Christmas Cross Stitch Treasures.  Little Miss Sassy Pants requested the Angel for herself...I can't wait to show it to her, but I guess I'll wait until it's fully finished.  

I've been extremely busy since I got back from my little trip.  It doesn't look like it's going to be slowing down at all for the next week and a half.  Whew.  I'm tired thinking about all that I have to do.  I'll try to update as I go, but if you don't hear from me for a while, I'll be back eventually.  Haha.  Til then, Happy Stitching! 

Time for an update

Hello fellow stitchers!  I know it's been a while...but hold on to your hats, a lot has been happening.  First off, I haven't had much time for stitching, but I can report that I have finally made it all the way across the bottom of Let Freedom Ring by Lila's Studio.  

I'm not sure when I'm going to get back to working on it, as I've been stitching Christmas ornaments.  I've fallen way behind in my schedule this year!!  I did finish up Santa Roly Poly from Christmas Cross Stitch Treasures.  Stitched on 36 count antique white over two.  These are just too cute and fun to work on!  

My granddaughter chose the Angel Roly Poly so that is what is in my Nurge Hoop right now.  I'm hoping to finish within a day or two.  

Over the Labor Day weekend, we were approached by an AT&T sales person that wanted us to switch carriers.  Now we have 5 people on our phone plan.  They offered us ALL new phones and a military discount and promised the coverage would be better.  It will save us $1,200 a year.  Sign me up!!  But that meant that we had to surrender our old phones, and wait for new ones to be delivered, then transfer all the data ourselves.  UGH!!  Well since the majority of us are in our 60's, we are NOT tech gurus PLUS one of us lives 500 miles away, that meant that you know who had to make the trip to deliver the phone and help set them up.  UGH!  I have to say it wasn't all doom and gloom.  We were able to have help walking us through the process, then since I was in NY state, well there's always something going on up there.  Not to mention...my digs were pretty spectacular!  I stayed in a B&B where I felt like I was transported back a few hundred years.  All the modern day conveniences, all the the old charm.  Here are a few pictures.  

On the way home from NY the GPS decided to take me a different way...on the Pennsylvania Thruway.  Um...never again!!  While the speed limits are higher, and most of the way there was less traffic, it is a toll road and widely  used by speed demons around Philadelphia.  It took an hour longer to get home.  I was a whimpering mess by the time I got home, but I made it in one day.  

Just in time to celebrate our granddaughters 4th birthday.  Happy Birthday Little Miss Sassy Pants!!

Today I was up early, out for bloodwork for an upcoming physical, deposit my winnings from the Maryland State Fair ($73.00 thank you very much!!) and make a quick stop at the grocery store.  Sounds simple enough...lol.  NOT!!  I showed up at my regular lab, and was told I had to go to a different lab, as the paperwork was sent there.  Ok, no problem it's only a couple of miles.  Got there, and the kiosk wouldn't accept my insurance.  WHAT??  They would submit the claim, and IF my insurance was valid, they would take the charge off my credit card.  So now I'm worried I'm not in their system anymore.  So I leave there, go to the bank, then the grocery store for TWO items, neither of them were available, so had to pick substitutes.  This is NOT my day...haha.    As soon as I'm done here I think I'll take a nap.  I hope everything is going better in your world today!  

There was one bright spot!  My UK pal received the things I stitched for her.  I finally get to show you what I stitched for her.  First up is January Carnation by Ellen Maurer Stroh.  Stitched on 40 antique white over two.  

Next is Stitcher's House by Sub Rosa, stitched on 40 count antique white over two.

Last is Busy Bee by Sue Hillis Designs stitched on 36 count antique white over two.  I so enjoyed stitching these for her.  

I'm off to run errands now.  Happy Stitching!

Fair winds and a flowing sea

My Dad was in the Navy, and I heard this quote a lot.  I had to look up the meaning...haha.  It means safe travel and good fortune.  I guess it kind of fits my experience with the State Fair this year.  I entered 4 things this year, won 3 Blue Ribbons (first prize) and 1 Red Ribbon (second prize).  My Christmas All Through The House won an extra Special Ribbon.  I'm not entirely sure what that means, other than it caught someone's eye and they thought it deserved a special ribbon.  According to the lady sitting at the table, that piece was given a lot of attention by people who have gone to see the exhibit.  I really enjoyed stitching that one, though I have to say it challenged me a lot!  I'm excited to stitch another like it, but have to finish a few others before I get to it!  So...here they are...  

Romantic Stitcher by Passione Ricamo got a Red Ribbon  

Santa's Helper by XFreeStitch from the 2024 JCS Christmas Issue got a Blue Ribbon  

Noel Banner by Stone Creek got a Blue Ribbon

and finally Christmas All Through the House by by Patricial Andrle from the Sept/Oct 1994 Cross Stitch and Country Crafts Magazine got a Blue Ribbon and a Special Award.  

I've finished a Christmas ornament too.  This is Mrs. Santa Roly Poly from Christmas Cross Stitch Treasures.  It was stitched on 36 count antique ivory two over two.  

She came out so cute I decided to continue on in the series and started Santa Roly Poly.  I'll show pictures when he's farther along.  I hope you are enjoying this lovely weather!  It was so comfortable at the fair last night, I think we stayed way past the girls bedtime.  It was a fun night with family though.  I hope you are enjoying the beginning of fall.  Happy Stitching!  

There are days, and then there are weeks...

It took me all day yesterday to get absolutely nothing done.  This week has been insane...I'll be back after I get my act together...

I guess that makes it sound worse than it is.  Don't fret, just time for a little refresh...I'll be back soon!

 

Polar Bear Wishes

My Mother used to say...So goes Monday, so goes the week.  It's been a CRAZY week so far and we are only half way through...haha.  Monday Miss Q was here, and I guess needed a little more attention than usual.  I love the baby snuggles, but boy was I tired afterward.  She is an active little girl!!  LOL  Tuesday I was so tired, I overslept my alarm and was a few minutes late for my hair appointment.  The guys wanted to go to an Orioles game, but I was too tired to go.  Sadly the O's lost, so in a way I'm glad I wasn't there.  So the past few days haven't lend a lot of time for stitching, but I did finish up Polar Bear Wishes by Century Farm Stitching from the 2024 JCS Christmas Issue.  This was one of the challenge pieces for this year.  I switched out the fabric they suggested for Petite Point and I truly love the way it came out!  I was able to use one of the new Nurge frames that I found while we were in Lancaster and it's so much easier to use than the knock-offs I bought a while back.  Now I wish I had one just a wee bit bigger, maybe someone will get me one for Christmas...haha.  Now to find the time to fully finish it off.  

I had this one kitted for our upcoming trip, so now I will have to find something else to take.  Shouldn't be a problem...haha.  I have a ton of things I really want to stitch!  With a little luck I'll find some fabric I need for one of them while we are away.  It's an odd color, so wish me luck!  

Anyway, I'm off to kit up a few more and get something else started before the beginning of September when I'll be back working on Let Freedom Ring.  What are you stitching on these days?  I'm enjoying the cooler weather and looking forward to opening windows in the evening when it cools off.  I hope all is well in your neck of the woods!  Happy Stitching! 

Progress Update

Just a quick one today.  Last night I finished up page 12 of the pattern Let Freedom Ring.  This is the 4th page I've completed.  So I'm sticking to my schedule of 2 pages a month.  Yay me!  LOL  Only one more page and I'll have the bottom 5 pages complete.  Here is where I am so far...  

I've been working on some organization today, but finished up early afternoon to get some stitching in a new Christmas Ornament.  I'll show pictures when I'm a little further on.  

It's been a wonderful weekend.  Friday night we hung out at the Guinness brewery (we weren't drinking!!) with the kids listening to the free live outdoor band and watching the kids play.  It was the perfect night, no humidity, perfect temperature with a gentle wind blowing.  I love evenings like that!  We all made plans to visit the Maryland State Fair next week and talked about our upcoming trip.  We gave the kids a week at the beach for their Christmas gift last year.  We are looking forward to spending some quality time with them.  

I'm off to work on a Christmas ornament for the JCS challenge.  I hope you all are enjoying whatever weather you are having right now, staying healthy, and happily stitching!  Take care...  

Another Finishing Day!

Well would you look at that?  I had another finishing day!  LOL!!  I received these a couple of months ago, an exchange with my friend, Mouse, in England.  We decided to send unfinished stitching as it would be cheaper to post and we agreed to do the finishing for ourselves.  So you've seen the Little cups of Friendship that I finished into a drum...

and the blue Bethlehem piece I made into an ornament.  

So I had these two little ones left to finish.  While I was in Lancaster I ran across this fabric with the anchors on it.  A little light bulb went off.  I wasn't sure if the colors would work, but when I got home I was pleasantly surprised!  I  had this wooden board that I found at Hobby Lobby a long while ago that I bought to finish off another lighthouse piece.  It came in a package of two.  I still haven't finished off the other lighthouse...haha...but it seemed to work well for this one too!  So here is how I finished this one.  

For the next one, I was rummaging through my stash and found this glass tray.  I was at a retreat once and for an exchange piece, a lady had made a pin cushion attached to the corner of a glass tray.  You can use the other places for needles, beads, scissors, any number of things.  I thought it was fabulous!  So when I see an inexpensive glass tray at thrift stores, I scarf them up!  This one had been sitting in my stash for a long time.  I'm thrilled I found something that fit it so perfectly!  Now I will think of Ms. Mouse whenever I use the pin cushion.  

So that is what I've been up to today. I had more I hoped to fully finish, but you know the best laid plans of mice and men...haha.  Maybe I can rally again tomorrow...we'll see.  As for Let Freedom Ring, I worked along the bottom yesterday.  I have very nearly reached the other side.  With a little luck I'll finish the vines and leaves along the bottom tonight.  

I love working on this, but I'll be happy to finish off the current page I'm working on so I can work on a few other things I want to work on.  Hopefully by Friday I'll have finished the other page.  Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for leaving comments.  Happy Stitching!

International Hermit and Stitch Weekend for August

Well it was a crazy weekend.  I'm not sure where my head was at...haha...I just couldn't get settled into stitching on Saturday or Sunday.  I did put 1100 stitches in on Friday, but not quite that many on the other two days.  It's hard to see progress when most of the stitching I did was outlining, but it really does make a huge difference.  I can now say I have three fully completed pages, and working on the 4th.  

I did find out today that I'll be back to watching the girls twice a week starting tomorrow.  I love being with them, but they sure do cut into my stitching time!  hahaha.  I also fully finished this Noel Bell Pull.  

I've been looking for a way to fully finish a couple of pieces that were sent to me when I ran across this one.  It was begging to be fully finished...haha.  I still haven't got my sewing machine up and working, so I finished this by hand...which takes a crazy amount of time.  Oh well, it's finished now!  Ok, I'm off to get some puttering done.  Little Miss Suzy Q will be here tomorrow so I'll have to find something small to work on while she naps.  Fingers crossed she naps good for me!  Happy Stitching!  

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!