It's been a while...

I know I haven't updated in a while (for me that is) but it's been a little overwhelming here lately.  I'm not looking for sympathy, and I dearly love my friends and family, but for goodness sakes, give me a break!!!  I was going great guns with my stitching, but that all came to a screeching halt last week.  

My British friend and I usually exchange a combination of Birthday and Christmas gifts once a year.  This past year was so chaotic that we never got to exchange gifts until after the first of the year.  So...we decided to exchange in July from now own.  Ok, so I picked out a few things to send, then started stitching.  Since they are surprises, I've not posted pictures but then it looks like I'm not stitching...haha.  Anyway, I'm going to show a few snippets, nothing to show exactly all of what I'm stitching, just because I wanted to write something...haha.  Here are snippets of a few of the things I'm sending...

and this one is fully stitched...I'm throwing it in just for fun!  

Yesterday a former coworker and I got together as she had something she was selling and brought it to me.  We went to the thrift store afterward as she was looking for some lamps.  Never one to turn down a bargain...I began searching for things I can use for finishing.  I found a few things.  First off was this clock.  I have already removed the clockworks because I plan to use this as a frame eventually.  Despite what looks like damage, it is meant to look vintage.  Not sure I like the color, but I can always paint it.  

I also found all these frames of different sizes.  

And can you believe this poor needlework was just tossed aside...yes I had to rescue it.  I may use the frame for something else and make this needlepoint into an ornament instead.  (Not a fan of the purple mat).  

I found this lovely little jewelry box so I'm going to stitch something for the top and use it for myself.  I know it has a few "dings" but I think I have a pen that will cover them up...besides I like a little character.   

And I found these lovely little plates.  

All of this for $30.00!!  I haven't shown pictures of the Soed Idee Quaker SAL so here is where I am at the moment.  Part 12 has been published, but I've only finished part 11.  I'm hoping to get to that before the next part is published.  Wish me luck!  

Seems lately there has been a lot of craziness, late requests, running around and changed plans.  I'm a planner, so when things come at me out of the blue, I can only take rolling with the punches for so long.  Whew, had to get that off my chest.  My dearly loved husband has seen what it's doing to me, and has decided I need some time away, so he has organized a trip soon.  Whew...but here goes the "planning me" in action.  So much to do before we go...lol.  We spent all day Saturday making plans and reservations, no turning back now!  I'm excited to be going, and fortunately there is time to get my act together, but I know I'll be super busy until we are in the car ready to go.  I'll be near one of my favorite stitching shops, so there are lists to be made, and projects to organize and kit.  Is it time to go yet?  LOL!!  At least now I have something to look forward to instead of a mountain of things on my TO DO list.  So...if you don't hear from me for a while...don't panic.  I'll be back eventually...haha.  I'll try to take pictures, but I plan on just living in the moment.  Until then...Happy Stitching!      

It's a finish....and thank you!!

Hi Fellow Stitchers!  I sincerely want to thank you for answering my question last week.  I waffled for a while about the border and I had some very good suggestions...but I think I decided to leave the border off.   I still have her in the stitching frame while I ponder it some more but thought you'd like to see her where she is now.  I'm trying to decide if I like all the empty space around her head and shoulders, and I know that once she's framed I'll have to live with that decision...haha.  It took many hours to stitch in all those beads, there were over 400 of them throughout the pattern and each one is double stitched but didn't it just set that skirt off?  I started her on February 18th...so in a little over two months I finished her.  

I'll be back to working on a gift for someone, as well as trying to keep up with the Soed Idee SAL.  Part 11 was released last Saturday and it's another lovely motif...this has turned out to be such a beautiful Quaker, and because of the length and height of it, I think I'll make it into a pin drum.

Thank you for visiting and as always I enjoy reading your comments.  Happy Stitching!

Have a Blessed Easter

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; He has risen!"  Luke 24:1-6

I serve a risen Savior

Alfred Henry Ackley

I serve a risen Savior

He's in the world today

I know that He is living,

Whatever men may say.

I see His hand of mercy;

I hear His voice of cheer;

And just the time I need Him

He's always here.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and He talks with me 

Along lives narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart!

Almost there....and a question

Hi Fellow Stitchers!  Well, here I am at a cross roads.  I have finished most of the stitching (all of the stitching of the lady is finished) with only the "border" left to do.  That border has been on my mind since I began this project, and now that I'm nearly done, I don't know if I should stitch that or not.  I'm sincerely looking for other's thoughts about this.  

The border is done in metallic threads and beads.  I'm not sure I would like that combination...so I could stitch with just the metallic thread...and skip the beads...OR I could just eliminate the border all together.  What are your thoughts?  Otherwise, all that is left to do are the beads on the bottom of her skirt.  There are A LOT of beads around the bottom of that skirt!  LOL  Beading always slows me down, but that's ok, it will just take me a long while to get them done.  Here is what she looks like right now...

I thought maybe you would like to see a little close-up of some of the beading.  The beads were kind of a tight squeeze since I'm doing this on 32 count...but I think her jewelry came out quite nice!  I even gave her a metallic needle...haha.  It's hard to see in this picture but if you click on it, I think it will enlarge it enough to see it.  

It's hard to believe I started this on February 18th!  Yup...I've only been working on her for 2 months.  Quite an accomplishment for me as these bigger projects usually cause me to burn out early on, then they sit on the back burner for a while.  But I challenged myself this year...and finished much earlier than I even hoped!  I need to do that with some UFO's I have hanging around here!!  Once I finish some "must dos" I think I will do just that!  I have one that I dearly love, but working on it gives me fits...lol.  I'll have to decide soon what I should work on next.  

Part 11 came out today for the Soed Idee SAL.  Once I finish all those beads at the bottom, I'll work on that.  I'll probably have to wait until next week though...We have an Orioles game tonight...Easter plans on Sunday...so I don't think I'll get to it very soon.  

Thanks for stopping by and offering an opinion about that border!  Till next time...Happy Stitching!   

Cue the creepy music....

I surely have a warped sense of humor...I hope this doesn't offend anyone...but I'm chuckling to myself here.  I have this thing about stitching faces last.  I once stitched a piece for my SIL that had the four faces of the main characters from the Wizard of Oz.  Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Lion and the Tin Man.  All of their eyes were very realistic...and as I finished one face after another, their eyes seemed to follow me, and it really creeped me out.  Since then, faces are always the last thing I finish...and so it is with The Romantic Stitcher.  I may even place the beads before I finish her face.  Anyway...as the hours wound down last night...I found myself at an awkward finishing point...The Romantic Stitcher didn't have a head.  Cue the creepy music...LOL!!  The closer I get to finishing, the more I can't put her down!  With only about 4,000 stitches to go I can't really leave her headless like this for much longer, I'm not sure what creeps me out more...  Anyway, here she is...wish me a speedy finish, won't you?  

Here's a little update on the Soed Idee Quaker Sampler SAL.  I really love this one too, and it's hard for me to wait to stitch the next part once it's been published.  Here is part 10 completed.  Only 3 parts left to go!

And that's all I have to show at the moment.  I won't be watching the girls this week, and in a way I'm relieved.  It's Spring Break and the daycare is closed...so the kids have each taken days off to stay with the girls.  Last Friday when Little Miss Sassy Pants was here, Miss Q was feeling a little off...and they eventually discovered she had a fever.  Sunday they took her to urgent care...and at a Dr appointment on Monday they discovered she had Hand, Foot and Mouth.  Poor little one, she hasn't eaten much and just feels miserable.  So they are staying home and isolated for now.  Let's pray the others don't get it.  Little Miss Q has sure had her share of issues since she arrived.  

Little Miss Sassy Pants was here on Friday, then again on Sunday.  Her eyes look wonderful now, though still showing a little redness from the surgery.  I'm thrilled for her!  We had loads of fun, but tired Pappy and me right out!  I'm kind of relieved we have a week to recuperate!  LOL!!  So on that note, I'll bid you a fond farewell until next time...Happy Stitching!

Rainy Days and Mondays

Don't worry!  I'm not really down...but it's a Monday and I'm kinda tired of rainy days...lol.  They do make me sleepy so I don't know how much I'll accomplish today but I'm determined to get something accomplished.  

I did get caught up on the Soed Idee Quaker SAL.  I am loving this pattern.  I find the motifs to be so unique and dainty...which makes this hard to put down once I get started.  I'm stitching this on 28 count Antique Ivory over 1 with Belle Soie Cranberry silk floss.  Here is where I am after completing part 9 on Saturday.  

I'm still making progress on The Romantic Stitcher by Passione Ricamo.  I'm stitching this on 32 count Natural over two.  Only a few thousand stitches until I'm finally off this skirt and onto the more interesting part of the pattern.  Last I checked I have completed almost 70%!  

I was all set to take one of my finished projects to the framer today, when I woke up to dark skies and rainy weather.  Not to mention it's not supposed to get out of the 40's today.  Yeah....I think it will be a very nice stitching and movie watching day!  Stay tuned though...I will get there sometime this week!  

I wanted to thank those who have been praying for Little Miss Sassy Pants.  She had a miserable weekend, poor wee lass.  While the Doctors said she did well and the surgery went well, we won't know for a while if the surgery helped with her lazy eye.  She had eye pain and a sore throat all weekend.  I haven't heard yet this morning how she's doing.  Hopefully she is better this morning.  Please continue to pray that the surgery worked and she doesn't have to go through this again!  

And on that note, I'm off to see about getting some stitching done.  I hope you are having a blessed day and have a great start to your week.  Happy Stitching! 

Friday Catch-up

Good Morning!  It's finally Friday...and this crazy week is almost over.  Today my dear Little Miss Sassy Pants is having surgery on her eye.  I'm praying everything turns out ok.  Thank you for those who have been praying, I will update when I know more.  We are hoping to see the family later on today.  

I have good news to report about The Romantic Stitcher!  I have finally finished stitching the white portion of her skirt....whew!  That seemed never ending!  Now just a little more of the blue area to the left and I'll be back to some more interesting part of the pattern.  According to Pattern Keeper I am over 60% finished so we are on the downward slope now!  I can't believe I've made it this far only 1 1/2 months into the piece!  I guess I have incentive as I have other things I really want to stitch.  As I suspected, I haven't been able to keep up my 500/day average though I came close last month.  I was able to stitch on average 472/day.  I've already failed so far this month...lol.  I was only able to put in a little over 300 yesterday as I had my annual eye exam and they dilated my eyes.  The bright light of my stitching lamp bothered my eyes so I had to wait until the evening until I could see well enough to stitch again.  Good news though...my eyesight hasn't changed enough to require new glasses and I still don't need glasses to drive...not bad for a soon to be senior citizen!  (I turn 65 in October).  Here is where I am as of this morning.  

Speaking of the eye doctor...while waiting for my eyes to dilate, a young mother walked in with a 3 yr old and a 9 month old in tow.  They sat next to me and I couldn't help thinking now much like my DIL and her little ones they were.  As I made cooing sounds to the littlest one, I saw out of the corner of my eye, the 3 yr old giving me the side eye.  Haha...so much like Little Miss Sassy Pants...she finally walked over and sat by me while we discussed the strawberries on her shirt....she could name all the colors and could count all 8 of them!  She was delightful and made me miss Miss A even more (I didn't have either of the girls this week...funny how only a few days away can make me miss they so much).  It made my day to see those little ones.  

I woke up to the sound of thunder this morning...and we had storms roll through yesterday too.  I've been praying for the folks out west as they have sure had some terrible storms with some loss of life.  I have always had a fear of tornadoes...so I always keep an ear out for weather updates.  I also have friends and family living in some of those tornado prone areas.  Stay safe my friends!  

We had a blast on opening day!  My knee cooperated until almost the very end of the day.  I'm thankful!!  Miss Q was good for most of the day, even slept part of the game with noise cancelling headphones on...and Little Miss Sassy Pants cheered along with the rest of us while the O's did their best and won the game!  It's always a great feeling to leave the ballpark with a win under their belt!  

Last, I have been throwing in a few little finishes as I've been going along.  I had this little oval frame and popped Joy by Gentle Pursuit Designs from the 2024 JCS Christmas Issue into it.  I started out putting it in a round frame but it just didn't look right...so this is where it lives now.  I enjoyed stitching this one!  All those specialty stitches are fun for me to do!  

I also found this fun frame to put He Loves Us (a freebie by Teresa Kogut for Easter).  It's not exactly what I was looking for, but I'm happy with the way it looks.

I'm also starting a gift for a friend.  We have decided to do our annual "swap" of Christmas/Birthday gifts in July.  I found a pattern I think she will like ... but I won't be showing it on here until she has it in her hands.  I'm hoping I can put enough stitches in Romantic Stitcher that I can work  on this one afterward.  So much to do...so little time!  

And on that note, I'm off to get some stitching done!  I hope you all are safe from the storms, and enjoying the spring (or fall) weather, wherever you are.  Stay safe, and Happy Stitching!