Plodding along...

Finally!!  A free day!!  What normally would take one day, has taken 3 to finish the third letter R from Merry Christmas by Owl Forest Embroidery.  I started these letters some time last year and it keeps getting set aside.  I just ran out of steam with Sarah Sanderson...there is so much going on it takes me forever to get back into the groove on that big project...so I started filling in small bits of time with the letters from Merry Christmas.  Like I said, it took 3 days to finish up the third R.  The family has kept us busy!   Here is R finished...  

I started the I three days ago...and was able to finish it today!  On to the next...

We went to see the movie Lilo and Stitch at the theater on Sunday.  Little Miss Sassy Pants curled up in my lap and took a snooze...haha.  Thank goodness for the reclining seats!  It was the live action movie, I think that's why she wasn't too interested.  I have always said, Stitch is my spirit animal.  First of all, his name is Stitch!!  Second, he's a bumbling monster, but learns to love family and try to become a good being.  I like that!  It was much better than the previews made it out to be.  Going to the movies with the family was fun...always fun to see things through a toddler's eyes!  

Yesterday Little Miss Q was here.  I think I've finally learned what she wants.  What she wants is to be held...awake or asleep it makes no difference.  Keep her fed, warm, and dry and always in your arms, and she's a happy camper!  I swear after the day I had with her my arms are two inches longer...haha.  She was so sweet.  DH came home early and offered to take over.  I gratefully accepted and she cried when I left the room....smiled when I returned, and reached out when I came near her.  It's nice to be so loved!  Haha.  I truly love being a grandmother...and I think the kids instinctively know that.  However, they do wear me out!  I spent some time in my craft room sorting and putting away some threads.  I'm off to get some stitching done.  Tomorrow will be a full day of stitching no matter what anybody else has planned...haha.  

Friday Miss Sassy Pants will be here, so I  need to think of a craft project we can work on together.  She loves to string beads together...I'll see what I can come up with.  

I hope you all are safe and well....Happy Stitching! 

Finishing Day at the Zoo

I guess I should have waited to post this morning until I had finished some projects.  I have been hunting all over the house for two frames I bought last summer at a thrift store.  I thought I would use one of them for Patriotic Bouquet.  BUT...in my search I found a few other frames that will work for a few things I had sitting around.  I still want to find them for another project I was hoping to finish...so the hunt continues...maybe tomorrow.  Anyway, here is what I've done today.  

First up is Patriotic Bouquet by Samplers and Primitives.  It was stitched on 36 count Mayflower over two with called for DMC and specialty fibers.  It was finished into a frame I found at Hobby Lobby.  I'm pretty happy with the results even though it hasn't been finished they way I would have liked it to be.  

Next up is Winter Village  by Sprouting  on 32 count Night Sky with called for DMC threads.  I'm not a fan of square or rectangular ornaments.  Call me weird...haha.  So I decided to finish it into an oval.  I really love how it turned out!  This was an ornament in the 2024 JCS Ornament Issue.  

Last, but not least, is Mayflower Rose Ornament by Heart's Ease Exempler Workes stitched on 40 count Fog over two with NPI silks.  I loved working on this and waited patiently until I found the perfect frame.  I really love how it turned out.  I had finished this in November of 2020!!  It's about time I had it fully finished!  

I'll be turning my house inside out tomorrow looking for those frames....haha.  Hopefully I'll have more finishing done tomorrow...wish me luck!  A thunder storm just rolled through...why do rainy days make me so sleepy?  Hopefully I'll get a little more stitching done on Sarah Sanderson tonight.  Happy Stitching!!

Sarah Sanderson

Hi Fellow Stitchers!  I've had a few days off from watching my granddaughters so after I finished stitching Patriot Bouquet, I went back to Sarah Sanderson.  I looked back to see past pictures of her, and I haven't worked on her since January (if I remember correctly).  After I finished the first 4 pages I set her aside to stitch some things I needed to stitch right away.  I'm not sure how far I'll get on it, but want to try and at least finish one page a month from now on.  I'm working on 46 count fabric, and I have to be so careful when working on her that I don't miscount any threads while stitching.  I have to say, I love how tiny these motifs are on this fabric though!  It's lovely to stitch on...and the silks are fabulous!  So I finished the deer last night.  Not my favorite motif on this pattern, but he does look pretty majestic once finished.  There are over two thousand stitches in that guy!!  I just thought I would show you a progress picture since you haven't seen her in a while.  

I'm still thinking how I want to finish Patriotic Bouquet.  I found a frame that would work, but I'm hesitant because I think I have another frame in mind, I just can't lay my hands on it right now.  You know that safe place we like to store stuff?  It's illusive sometimes, isn't it?  LOL!!  Ok, I'm headed back to search a little bit more for that frame, then off to get some stitching done.  It's a dull rainy day here again, it's days like these I'm glad I don't live in the northwest.  I couldn't handle weeks of the rain...I need a little sunshine and blue sky!  Even the temperatures have dropped...I needed TWO blankets on the bed last night!  I guess we need the storms in life to get us to appreciate the things in our lives that we do enjoy.  Like a warm place to live, food on the table, and the love of family and friends.  I hope you are safe, warm and happily stitching wherever you may be! 

Just in time...

I've been working every day trying to get this done in time for Memorial day.  Now if I can just find a day to fully finish it, I'll be in 7th heaven!  This is Patriotic Bouquet by Samplers and Primitives stitched on 36 count Mayflower over two with recommended threads.  I left off the corners, honestly I really don't think it adds anything to it, and now I can't wait to display it on my mantle.  

I'll be doing a deep dive in my kitted stash to see what I'll be stitching next.  Wish me luck!  If you don't hear from me for a few days, send cookies!  LOL  I'm probably buried in projects trying to decide!  Either that, or my WIPs have revolted and locked me in a room until I choose one of them.

Still praying for the folks affected by tornadoes across the country.  They had one touch down just west of Baltimore yesterday too.  Too close to home for my comfort.  Scary weather!  I'll be glad when this crazy weather rights itself.  I hope you are safe and healthy, and happily stitching wherever you are!  Happy Stitching! 

Where did the week go?

Well being super busy is a good thing and a bad thing...lol.  By the end of the week I'm totally wiped out...on the other hand my stitching has slowed down long enough that some threads I had ordered for Patriotic Bouquet arrived just in time for me to reach that part of the pattern!  LOL!!  I am enjoying this so much, and have even decided how I hope to fully finish it when I'm done.  How's that for a little blessing?  I found this pattern by Samplers and Primitives in the mad rush of Market Day a few months ago.  I tried to resist, but it hopped into my cart before I could stop my fingers.  While I was at the beach, I bought what I thought was all the specialty floss I would need and when I pulled out the stitch key I realized there was a second page that I had completely missed.  I had TWO of the specialty floss, but was missing 5 others.  I quickly ordered them from Everything Cross Stitch and they arrived yesterday, just in time to start filling in the parts I had to skip.  I consider it a reward for my good deeds of the week.  Here is what it looks like after I filled in the gaps.  

On Tuesdays I watch my youngest granddaughter.  She is now 5 months old...and quite a handful.  I usually end my day exhausted and sore, I probably walk miles trying to calm her down...she has been a fussy baby since she was born.  But she has been teething and has had some tough issues since she was born.  

Then I was asked to watch both of them yesterday (Thursday) at the same time.  Thankfully, at the last minute, my husband decided to stay home and help me.  I'm so grateful he did.  The girls were good, but they both require full attention and are busy little bodies...haha.  We tag teamed and spent quality time with each of them, and both left happy and spoiled at the end of the day.  We, on the other hand, were tired....lol.  Here are a few snapshots of the day...These girls really love each other, Miss A can make Miss Q smile even when she's having a meltdown...and Miss A is so sweet to Miss Q.  I hope they are always so sweet to each other.  I think Miss A is going to be a crafter like me...she loves to work on things together, like making these bracelets.  I can't wait to teach her to stitch!!

This was us at the end of the day...lol!!

 

While I usually watch Miss A on Fridays, I was given the day off, so I'm going to spoil myself and spend the day stitching!  Off I go...

The weather has been pretty wild with heatwaves in some areas, wildfires in others, and flooding not far from us.  Whew!  I'm praying for the folks in these danger areas.  Stay safe!  And keep on stitching!     

Monday Morning Mischief...

Good Morning!  Yes, I'm up to no good...lol.  I finished Petite Brodeuse ABC last night...and thought whatever will I stitch now, as I overlooked allllll the WIPs I have laying around.  I bought a few new patterns just after the Market Day happened and I have been itching to start Patriotic Bouquet by Samplers and Primitives.  I haven't hid the fact that I love our country.  After traveling the world while my husband was in the military, I've learned to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy here.  If you don't see it, please learn about the restrictions in other countries...even the ones you think are so civilized.  I'll be honest and say our country isn't perfect, no country is.  But we have a way of life here that people recognize and strive to live here.  So I do stitch a lot of patriotic pieces.  And I really love this one!  So...I started it last night.  

But first I guess I should show you the most recent finish.  This is Petite Brodeuse ABC which was a freebie posted in the facebook group Remembering A mon Ami Pierre.  There are some lovely freebies there and I have stitched a few of hers in the past.  This one caught my eye.  I stitched it on 40 count Legacy over two.  I think I should have gone with a little darker fabric, but I think if I finish her as a stand up you will see her a little bit better.  

I'm off to work a bit more on Patriotic Bouquet.  I'm sure you'll see a lot of it in the next few weeks.  I realized the floss list for the pattern had a second sheet last night, and I have none of the called for specialty fibers on that page...so I'm off to let my fingers do the walking as I look to fill in the gaps.  Haha...but I did have all the DMC in my stash...so at least I can get started while I wait for the additional floss.  

If you are a Mom, I hope you had a wonderful day yesterday and that your children spoiled you.  Our kids brought dinner and a lovely little heart shaped planter with hens and chickens in it.  My Mom loved those little plants and, since they multiply on their own, had scads of them all over our yard in different planters.  She would have loved this little heart.  It was great to spend time with the family.  Hopefully next time I'll have a picture of them.  

Have a great day...and Happy Stitching!   

Moving along...

I don't know what it is about vacations...we had the best time at the beach.  I'm still feeling so relaxed.  Rest really does do wonders.  I only worked on one project while at the beach, though I took 3 projects.  Since I've been home I've finished 2 of them and am now working on the third.  This is called Petite Brodeuse ABC by A Mon Ami Pierre.  

It was a freebie found on the facebook page Remembering A mon ami Pierre.  They have several nice ones, but I fell in love with this one the first time I saw it.  Here is where I am so far...working on 40 count Vintage Country Mocha.  I'm about to start working on the alphabet on her skirt.  

I also finished Winter Village by Sprouting Lupine from the 2024 JCS Ornament Issue that was a part of the SAL with the Facebook group.  It was stitched on 32 count Night Sky over two.  I'm trying to decide how to fully finish it now...and I need to find a day when I can work on finishing so many that I've finished stitching lately.  But not today!  Today I'm having a play date with my oldest granddaughter Little Miss Sassy Pants.  I'm waiting for her to arrive now!  

Off to get my day ready.  I hope you have a wonderful day.  I know mine will be!  Happy Stitching! 

The Quaker SAL is finished!

I'm so excited to show that I have finished the Soed Idee Quaker SAL by Twin Peak Primitive!  This was stitched on 30 count ivory over one with Belle Soie silk floss Cranberry.  I loved every second of this!  And even though I took this one to the beach with me, I didn't get time to stitch on it until I got home.  I love it and I hope to finish it into a pin drum.  Wish me luck!  I did buy some trim that I thought might work...fingers crossed it's the right color.  

Once that was finished I pulled out a scrap of hand dyed dark blue fabric and started Winter Village.  Sorry no pictures yet, I'm hoping to get it finished today with a little luck.  

As I'm sitting here, with the news on in the background, I see that they have elected a new Pope.  Still waiting to hear who they have chosen.  While I admire the last Pope for his love for everyone and his humility, I didn't agree with all his choices.  I wonder what this new Pope will be like?  There has been a lot of speculation...such interesting times we are living in!  

Ok I'm off to get some more stitching in before Mike gets home from work.  Happy Stitching! 

Beach Life Is The Best Life

I grew up on the plains in New York state.  The mountains were only a short drive away with all the mountain lakes, rivers and streams...but I never really spent a lot of time near the ocean until after I was married and we moved to California and later Hawaii.  It's there that I learned to appreciate the sound of the waves lulling me to sleep at night, the rhythm of tides, the sound of the sea animals...seals, seagulls, and other birds...and saw the majestic whales.  I love the muted sounds when the world is shrouded in fog.  I love the smell of sea water.  And a fog horn in the night is honestly like music to my  ears.  But the Ocean waves licking the seashore is one of my most favorite sounds and is like a lullaby for me...whisking me off to a deep and dreamless sleep.  I love being by the sea.  I would really love to live near the ocean if/when we retire.  The best I can do nowadays is visit as often as I can.  So that is where my husband took me for a long weekend.  

We left Thursday night after a long day with grandbaby #1...but it was worth it to wake up the next morning with the long drive behind us.  We didn't realize that it was Cruiser weekend and while our hotel room overlooked the boardwalk and the ocean, we had a front row seat for the "cruiser parade".  They drove right past our hotel, so we only had to step out onto the balcony to watch them drive by.  

We aren't really into cars, but DH found a couple he wouldn't have minded owning.  

I saw a few I remember from my childhood...my Dad had a really old Ford pickup for a while...and the Girl Scout Troop I belonged to would ride around in the back singing Christmas Carols back in the day.  Couldn't do that these days!!  

We thought it would be difficult to do our normal "beach stuff" but they were mostly parked different places and not where we usually like to go.  So we did our favorite things...played several rounds of mini golf, 

visited my favorite cross stitch store (Salty Yarns), had donuts from Laytons every morning, made a stop at the Seaside Country Store for fudge and other goodies, had some ice cream at Dumsers, and found a few cool places to eat...one of them being Surfin Betty's Burgers.  YUM!!  

I didn't get too much stitching done though I did finish one last gift for a friend before I send her her annual Christmas/Birthday gift.  Once she has them in her hand, I'll show pictures.  

Now that the "must dos" are done, I'm hoping to work on some of the UFOs I have sitting around.  I did pick up a few pieces of fabric and floss to kit up some of the patterns I bought from this  years Market...I'm itching to get some of those started!  Next time I should have lots of stitching pictures to show you!  I'm back in the groove, rested, relaxed and ready to stitch!  Happy Stitching!