Well, we finished another year of the Baltimore Running Festival. Ben's fiance' set us up to walk for a charity again this year in honor of Katie. I have to say, this lady is so supportive of Ben and all he has been through and I can't thank her enough for being in our lives. She set it up so that we made money for Cystic Fibrosis, had the t-shirts made, and hauled us all out of bed at an ungodly hour to walk in the 5K. Our little team raised over $900.00 and CF as a whole made over $31,000.00 at the Run Fest. It wasn't as easy for me this year (you can probably tell by the look on my face as we crossed the finish line...haha, but it is so worth it. I hope they find a cure for this horrible disease. This year it happened to fall on the anniversary of Katie's passing. How fitting, huh? On the way to the start line, we passed a volunteer who stopped us and asked for a picture, she loved our shirts. Then she texted the picture to us. Wasn't that kind of her? It's hard to tell from this picture but the green and pink lettering are glittery. Katie would have loved these shirts!
Here are Ben, his fiance' and future mother-in-law crossing the finish line (several minutes before us)
Here are Mike and I crossing the finish line. We are looking at the MC who was announcing our names...which we had no idea how the knew who we were.
I love the medals they give when you cross the line....this one has the warehouse and scoreboard of Camden Yards (and anyone who has read my blog in the past know that this is where our beloved Orioles baseball team play.)
We went to DC the next day to catch Darci Lynn who was having a show at the DAR theater. It was a fabulous show, this young lady is so talented. She even sang Italian opera with Petunia at the end of the show! WOW!!
It was a great birthday weekend, and one I won't soon forget!!
Goodness this year is flying past at a fast and furious pace!! It's October 15th already and I still haven't got my giveaway together yet. Ok brain, let's get busy!!
BUT FIRST!!
It's time for Gifted Gorgeousness or affectionately called GG. Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching is host for this lovely challenge. You can learn all the rules here. And you can visit her blog to see what others are up to in their GG stitching. Thank you for hosting, Jo!!
So this is the time when we show what we have been stitching with gifted materials or things we are gifting others. I am in the midst of stitching things for exchanges for different groups I belong to, so I'm keeping a wee bit busy and can't show you everything I've been stitching. Suffice it to say, I have some Christmas ornaments in the works and will show them at a later date. I've also stitched some Christmas ornaments that were for challenges that came from JCS ornament issues that were gifted to my by my husband. Here are a few I've finished since the last GG posting
I saw three ships come sailing in by By the Bay Needleworks from the 2013 JCS Ornament issue stitched on 28 ct. Star Sapphire over one.
Fair Island Ornament by Snowflake Stitchery from the 2018 JCS Ornament issue stitched on 40 ct. natural over 2.
Now What by Dragon Dreams from the 2018 JCS Ornament issue and this one has been gifted to a friend of mine who likes things wrapped in Christmas lights. Stitched on 32 ct. over 2.
Peace Tree by M Designs from the 2004 JCS Ornament issue 32 ct. antique ivory over one.
Noel 2018 by JBW designs from the 2018 JCS Ornament issue stitched on 28 ct. white over one.
Ring in the Joy by Serendipitous Designs from the 2007 JCS Ornament Issue stitched on 40 ct. natural over two.
Time of Wonder by Julia Lucas from the 2003 JCS Ornament issue stitched on 28 ct. pearl grey over two.
Nature Sings by Nature Works from the 2005 JCS Ornament issue stitched on 40 ct. natural over two.
Three Wise Men by Marie's Garden from the 2002 JCS Ornament issue stitched on 32 count dirty linen over two.
Last Christmas my husband found these lovely French charts for me. I've stitched a couple and just the other day I was able to finish this one into an ornament. I think this one is from Le Grande Historie de Noel by Les Brodeuses Parisiennne. This is stitched on 40 count natural over two.
I stitched and finished this freebie from The Victoria Sampler. This is called Connie Angel and you can find the pattern at this link. This is stitched on 40 ct. natural over 2.
I participated in a SAL by Charting Creations. We were to stitch for 3 months and post once a month on a Charting Creations pattern. This was a freebie they offered and I stitched but wasn't able to finish. Here is how far I've been able to stitch. I still have another reindeer and Santa in his sleigh to finish. Stitched on 32 count over one
For our Anniversary last year my husband gave me this pattern along with all the materials to stitch it. I have put this in my TSP challenge being offered at my LNS and this month it's number was chosen. I'll be working on this all month. I'm stitching it on 28 count black and is a challenge. It seems easier to stitch in the daylight but I've tried working on it all hours of the day. It's slow going but I love how it's turning out. I've tried different ways to take the picture but it's hard to get true colors on black fabric. Here is Marie Antoinette's Kaleidoscope by Chatelaine Designs.
I guess that's enough for now, I hope you aren't too bored with all my stitching...haha I've been on a roll lately. I'm sure I'll have more to show you next month! Until then, happy stitching!!
October is a month full of memories. Today would have been my Dad's 87th Birthday. I was reading some messages in a group I belong to and they were talking about their Dad's and the lessons they learned from them. My Dad was pretty impressive. He was a jack of all trades. He could fix just about anything, and if he couldn't fix it, he would re-purpose it. I learned a lot more about him when I was cleaning out their house after my Mom died earlier this year. She missed him terribly. They were married 50 years before he passed 10 years ago. He never made it past the 8th grade, but what he knew in life experiences could have earned him a PhD. He worked 3 jobs at the same time most of his life except when he served in the Navy during the Korean conflict. Though he didn't have any sons, he would not limit us to just "girly" stuff. We went fishing (even fishing through the ice!!), we helped work on building an addition to their house, he tried to teach us about cars, but I kinda drew the line at getting grease on my hands...much to my lament now!! haha I could go on and on. He had a huge heart and loved his grandkids with a passion. I never really appreciated him growing up, but after I was married and had my own household to take care of, I really leaned on him for so many things. Funny how wise your parents become the older we get. Well, I'm sure there was a huge reunion when my Mom left this earthly plain last February. I can't wish her back, though I miss her like crazy. She must be so happy to be reunited with Dad, her Mom and her sisters and cousins. I'm wishing I could give you a big hug and a kiss....but all I can do is wave from this side of the curtain and wish you a very Happy Birthday in Heaven. Say Hi to Mom....
It's October! My favorite month. Not only is my birthday this month, but it's also Breast Cancer Awareness month. You know this has a deep meaning for me because I'm a 9 year survivor, and I try to have a giveaway each year during the month of October. I haven't decided what I'll be giving away this year, I have a surplus of charts that I need to rehome, so it may be a group of unrelated charts. I'll post another write up about it in a few days when I've had a chance to think about it. In the meanwhile, now's your chance to go have your annual exam. My life was spared because they found it during a routine annual mammogram.
On other news, the TSP Anniversary challenge this month has chose #3 from my list which happens to be Marie Antionette's Caleidoscope by Chatelaine Designs . This was a gift from my husband for our anniversary last year. It took several months to gather all the materials so I didn't get it started until January of this year. Let's keep our fingers crossed and see if I can make good headway on this piece! Here is where I've started. This will probably show up on the 15th when I post about Gifted Gorgeousness! Here is where I'm starting today...
Off to get some stitching done. Happy Stitching everyone...and don't forget to get your exams!!
I made a decision last year that I would start framing some of my favorite pieces so I could look at them rather than leave them rolled up in a box in my closet. I couldn't wait to frame my little caroler Chanson de Noel by Ekaterina Chaykovskaya once I had her finished. Didn't she turn out lovely? I have her hanging in my dining room where we eat all our meals, so I see her at least three times a day! I bought a companion piece when I bought her so I'll have to dig around and see if I can find that one and stitch her too.
This next piece is Victorine Marker 1897, a SAL I found here. It was unfinished for a long time because I was interrupted while stitching it, and didn't get the last few pages. If you visit the link above you'll see the last few pages are still missing. Luckily for me most that was left was border and I was able to do the mirror image from the side that I did have the pieces for. I also searched around until I found the exact alphabet and was able to fill in the last few letters. Where there's a will, there's a way so they say! I guess I can't understand why some designers don't allow you to finish something you've put so much time, effort, and materials in just because life gets in the way. It's free to begin with...I just don't get it. Anyway, here it is framed and I love it.
And now, if you don't like reading about "real life" you can stop reading here. I had a very rough weekend. A friend of mine took her husband to the emergency room Friday for what she thought was something that needed treatment but didn't think it would require admittance. Turns out it was cancer, and he lost his life yesterday. My mind is reeling over this horrific turn of events. Also over the weekend, Ben's girlfriend's step dad was admitted to the hospital and they are recommending Hospice care for him. Another friend's daughter -in-law lost a baby she was carrying for the past 6 months over the weekend. I have to say, it's almost like PTSD with all that Katie went through during the last few months of her life and losing my Mom so suddenly earlier this year. It seems lately that you can never be too comfortable with your life when it seems to be going well, because things could change in the blink of an eye. It would be so easy to sit here and yell at God and blame Him for all the heartache and evil in the world...or wonder why He hasn't heard my prayers and saved the life of such a godly man and healed relationships in a family torn apart by tragedy. I guess this is where faith comes in, and honestly I've seen Him perform great miracles, but I'm angry He didn't perform them here and now. I guess I'll understand one day, but today is not that day. Lord, help me in my unbelief. If you can, would you help me pray for those involved in all these situations, and pray I have the right words and actions to help those who are hurting today? Thank you from the bottom of a weary prayer warrior's heart.
Whew! The past few weeks have been crazy, but I finally have a few minutes for a breather....thank heavens! My poor body was beginning to feel the stress! It's on the 15th and already I have caught up on all the challenges for this month! Yippee! That means I can stitch on some things I've had sitting around here begging for my attention!
So....if you are interested in knowing what Gifted Gorgeousness is, please take a little trip over to Jo's blog Serendipitous Stitching. You can read about the challenge here. Or you can go to her page here and see what everyone is up to. And if you feel like participating, please do....I have to thank Jo because I've been working through all the gifts I've been given and it gives me incentive to get-er-done!
First off, I've been working on a Christmas ornament challenge, and going through Just Cross Stitch back issues of the ornament specials. My husband bought me all the discs that are available with back issues of JCS magazine. I love tripping through them looking for just the right ornaments that fit the challenge I'm participating in. So I consider all the ornaments I'm stitching as gifted gorgeousness items. So...here is the first one, 1999 Ornament by Vermillion Stitchery from the 1999 JCS ornament issue
Next is the Holy Family by Cathy Livingston from the 1993 JCS ornament issue.
Next is Bless The Lord by My big Toe from the 2018 JCS ornament issue.
Next are three of the 12 Days of Christmas from the March 1989 issue of Cross Stitch and Country Crafts Magazine....I'm skipping ahead because I wanted to finish these up long before Christmas! All of them are stitched on 28 count over one on white fabric. Funny how the fabric looks different colors under different light. Here is 9 Ladies Dancing
10 Lords a Leaping
11 Pipers Piping
And 12 Drummers Drumming! All done and in time for Christmas!
Next is the 2010 Ornament by The Sweetheart Tree from the 2010 JCS ornament issue. This was stitched on 32 count natural opalescent over two. I wish you could see the sparkles in the fabric!! I've stitched this a few times, but it's such a fun stitch, I don't mind doing it over and over!
Last is a gift I stitched for a friend of mine. I stitched this for a give away at St. Michaels this year, and she loved it so much she suggested an exchange. So I was supposed to stitch this for her, while she stitched something else for me. Once I have it framed, I can pass it on to her (hopefully by our monthly stitch day later this month. This is Take Time To Stitch by Jeanette Doughlas.
I guess that's it for this post. Happy Stitching everyone!
I'm thrilled to post my finish of the Christmas Quaker Bellpull by Wiehenburg Designs! I had challenged myself through our LNS to finish up certain items (one a month) that I have listed on a separate page. The challenge for the month of June was to finish Christmas Quaker Bellpull. I was in NY for most of the month and didn't get a chance to stitch much, so wasn't able to finish it. Since then I've made this my WIP Wednesday project, hoping to finish it before the end of the year. I'm so excited to say, I have finally finished this piece! I had to look back in my blog posts to see when I actually started this. It was part of the Ultimate Crazy Challenge when we started something new every day in January in the year 2012. So...I started this January 16, 2012. I thought I had started it in 2010....so I guess 7 years 9 months isn't as bad as the 9 years 9 months I had originally thought...haha. Here it is in all it's glory! Now, to decide how to finish it. Decisions, decisions....(can you hear the theme song to Jeopardy playing in the background?)
Sadly, as I was looking back, I found waaaaay too many WIPs I have not finished. I'm thinking of checking out my stash and getting things together for next year and make that the year of the WIP Wiper. (I'm going to wipe those WIPs right outta my hair). I know, I'm deluding myself, but it's worth a shot. If I keep on track with the LNS challenge, I'll wipe a few of them out this year! Wish me luck!
Until later, happy stitching!
