Today's Post brought to you by the letter A

I've been working hard to keep up with Gloria.  This is a SAL by Tempting Tangles that I am stitching on 32 count white opalescent linen.  I don't know why I am having so much trouble with this particular piece...the thread tangles worse than any other thing I've worked on!!  I don't know if it catches on the sparkly thread that is woven in the linen...or what...but sheesh, it's taking twice as long as it normally would.  Still...it's a beautiful pattern.  I'm happy to report, though I was supposed to go out to a ladies gathering today, I stayed home (because of a headache) and knocked this one out as part 5 was issued yesterday.  The 5th part was the letter A.  Now back to my regularly scheduled exchange stitching...

I have finished stitching something for an exchange...but I can't show it yet.  Just to let you know, there has only been one day that passed since the first of January that I haven't stitched at least 20 minutes a day.  It was a challenge I signed up for in December.  It sure helps get things done!

I'm watching the weather in Northern NY where a lot of my friends live.  I'm hoping they are safe, although they did lose power for a short time (one friend reported 30 inches so far!).  And for the rest of my stitching friends, happy stitching!!

Stalking my stockings...

Got a call from my LNS that the finisher had finished my stockings.  They are sweet and fully lined inside! Whew!  Now all my Bride's Tree ornaments are finished and tucked away for the shower!!  I'm thrilled they are done!

 
What are you stitching today?

It was a moving experience...

My baby has left the building...and moved into a very sweet place!  It's a proud Momma moment when your child finally leaves the nest, gets his own apartment, and moves on out.  He's only 25 minutes away (for now), so he's not out of the picture totally.  haha  It's great to see your child making adult decisions and making his way in the world.  I'll miss him, but it's good for all of us.  I'll finally have that craft room I've always wanted!!  No more waiting up nights until the wee hours waiting to hear him come home.  I almost want to move into their apartment building, so many perks...but I'm content now just to have our house to ourselves again.

I haven't had much stitching time (I'm REALLY surprised it took me this long to stitch this particular piece) but I have had a finish!!  I stitched a tiny bit on Saturday waiting for the Verizon guy to hook up their internet, then while they were picking up furniture here and there so got the giraffe started...then yesterday they all went to a hockey game and I stayed home to let my aching muscles recuperate (I'm too old for this stuff!!  LOL).  I must have walked miles that day (their apartment building is a maze, and I kept getting lost).  Anyway...here it is finished except for the date and name.  This is Jungle Baby by Imaginating.  It's stitched on 36 count antique white linen.  This is for a friend's grandchild due in a few months.

I'm rejoicing because I have a lot of stitching with a deadline coming up so I now only have 5 days left in the month to work on a few things before I have my challenge pieces to do for March.   I feel a little overwhelmed because I have a lot of things coming up in the near future that I have to do.  Next week is nearly entirely booked with appointments...so why am I still here typing?  LOL  I'm off to pay for a retreat coming up, and pick up my dress for the wedding (it arrived last week but I didn't have time to get it until today).  I'm off to see the lovely Ms. M and have lunch with her while I run errands.  She's been very tolerant of my schedule lately...I miss hanging out with my friends when I'm this busy!!  So I'll leave you with a picture of my son and his fiance' standing on the threshold of their new home.  I'm waiting to see how they will decorate before I take pictures of their place.  Happy Stitching!!

It's the little things...

It's the little things in life that make it worth living...you know?  It's that morning cup of coffee...and let me tell you, it's worth getting up in the morning for a taste of this!!

It was a gift from my future DIL for Christmas, but I didn't get a chance to try it until the other day.  I'll be making this a ritual every morning until the goodness runs out!  LOL  Always served in my Polish pottery mug I bought in Germany when we lived there.  It fits perfectly in my hands to warm them up on those cold winter mornings!  Ahhhhh....perfection!

It was a stitch day I attended with friends yesterday.  These guys feed my soul!  It's so good to get together with like minded people and share something we all love.  There was "show and tell", there was collective shopping and looking at the new stuff coming out at the Nashville Market, there was laughter, but more than anything, it was seeing all those friendly faces and forgetting about the chaos in my life for most of the day!  I hated to leave.

This group I belong to have a group chat...we share pictures of our finishes, we share the good things happening in our lives, we share projects and have our private SALs.  A week or so ago, I shared that I needed a get together desperately.  They had no idea so much good and bad were going on in my life, that I needed something to look forward to that didn't involve weddings or funerals or empty nest syndrome.  (DS is moving out this coming weekend...it's hard wrapping my head around this.  Don't get me wrong...I'm excited for him to start the next chapter of his life, but he's been a source of love and laughter for 24 years and I know it's going to be so weird without him here.)   And these ladies IMMEDIATELY set aside some days for some stitch days, and made plans for our annual retreat.  I'm talking within minutes.  You cannot imagine how that feels, when you hit your lowest low and these caring ladies stepped in to lift me up.  They will never know the depths of my gratitude or how much I care about them!

Ok, enough of the sappy sentimentality...LOL!!  I guess my mind has been on so many things lately, that I have had the most difficult time with this...

This is Jungle Baby, a birth sampler I'm making for a friend's daughter.  I think I have   frogged more on this piece than I have in my entire life!!  haha  I just have this monkey and one other animal to finish.  While I'm excited to make this for my friend, I'm beginning to hate this project!!!  haha  I even made up a little jingle I play in my head...Sung to a little tune that used to play on Hee Haw (a country TV show from waaaaaay back that my Dad loved ... and my sister and I hated)  Where oh where are you tonight?  Why did you leave me here all alone?  I searched the world over and thought I found mojo,  froggie visited and pffffft you were gone.  I've been stitching on this pretty regularly, but yesterday I decided I needed a break...so I stopped here....

And picked up Gloria.  This is a SAL by Tempting Tangles.  I LOVE the colors in this...and all the little details!  It looks so Medieval...I love it!!  (I have to say, the fabric which is an opalescent white, takes some getting used to to stitch on it...but I'm powering through because I love the look of it!!)  4 parts have been issued so far...and I'm working on the 4th part now.  I'm trying so hard to keep up!!  Wish me luck!!  I got quite a bit done yesterday between the laughter and the moments we were looking at other things.  When I get back from running errands today, I'm going to finish part 4 before returning to Jungle Baby.

So that's where I'm at today.  In the right head space, and after that long, deep, cleansing breath, I'm ready to carry one.  I'm off to run errands this morning then back home to take care of DS who is home sick today.  I hope you all have a wonderful day, and Happy Stitching!

One year...

I debated whether to write this post, but I decided I would.  It was a year ago today that I lost my Mom.  Some days are harder than others.  This past week was one of the hardest.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe it's because I attended the funeral and wake for Heather's Step Dad.  Maybe it's because it's been a cold and dreary, rainy week.  Maybe it's because I found a dress for the wedding and I know my Mom would have wanted to help me look.  Maybe it's because we are talking more about the wedding and I know my Mom would have had great ideas and would have loved being a part of the planning.  Maybe it's because it was Valentine's Day a couple of days ago, and I always sent her flowers.  It felt wrong that I didn't do it this year.  It all seems so foreign without her to talk to...I miss her.  A day doesn't pass when I don't think of her.

Buying the sewing chest and filling it with her things makes me feel like she is close.  I hope she likes where I placed her belongings.  She loved seeing the things I stitched, and always had such nice things to say.  She was so creative, there are times I miss asking her things, or seeking her advice.  But...life goes on...so I'll pack up those happy memories and pull them out on weeks like last week.  I'll think of her when I see a yellow rose, 

or a red cardinal.  

I'll think of her when I see violets, 

or hummingbirds.  

I may not see her face on this earth, but her heart never left.  I miss you Mom.  

February Gifted Gorgeousness!

Whew!!  Time sure is flying by again this year!!  So much to do, Sew little time!  I'm trying my hardest to keep up with things, but as usual, wrenches keep getting thrown into the machinery!  Let's see...where do I begin?

First off, let me thank Jo, over at Serendipitous Stitching, for setting up this challenge.  Each month, on the 15th, we share our gifted gorgeousness.  It might be a pattern or fabric or floss we received from someone, or even a gift.  Or it might be something we have stitched to give someone else.  We showcase these each month, then link up over on Jo's blog.  You can hop over there and see what everyone else is stitching.  It's a sweet way to thank those who have given us things, and incentive to actually get them stitched!  If you would like to participate in the challenge (it's never too late to sign up) you can sign up on this page.  If you would like to see what everyone is stitching for this challenge, visit Jo's blog and see the list of people participating.  It's as easy as that!

I've got a lot to show, so let's get started!

First off, I'm making a baby sampler for a friend's daughter who is having a baby.  This is Jungle Baby by Imaginating.  Why did I pick something with so much backstitching?  I'm kicking my own backside over this one!  LOL!!  But I still think it will look cute hanging in a baby's room with a jungle theme.

As you know, my DH has gifted me subscriptions to JCS Magazine for years.  The ornament issue is part of the subscription, so I consider anything I stitch in those to be a gifted gorgeousness item.  Here are a few I've stitched since the last posting...

Moose Joy by Angel Stitching from the 2019 JCS Ornament issue

Christmas Bullfinch by Pinochka from the 2019 JCS Ornament issue

Blue Snowman by the Little Stitcher from the 2016 JCS Ornament issue

Christmas Cardinal by Stoney Creek from the 2016 JCS Ornament issue

 I finished  two JBW stocking from the Red Stocking Collection II as part of the Bride's Tree ornament set I've made for my future DIL.

I finished Sail Away by Mill Hills stitched on fabric instead of perforated paper and finished into an ornament for the Bride's Tree set as well.

DH also gifted me a paid SAL from Lesley Teare called Birds and Blackwork Flowers for Christmas last year.  I've finished two of them so far.  Here is the January and the February parts.

DH also gifted ma a paid SAL from Tempting Tangles called Gloria.  I've finished the first three parts so far.  I love how this is turning out!!  However it's being stitched on white opalescent 32 count, and is a BEAR to stitch on!!  Still....I love the results!

DH also gifted me the Nativity Berry by Erica Michaels a few years ago for my birthday.  I love this one, and now that it's stitched I can finish into a berry for next Christmas.  (Wish me luck on that one!  LOL!!)

I was gifted this sampler by a friend who received it at a retreat but decided not to stitch it.  It's lovely and I'm so excited to be stitching this as a SAL with another friend.  This is Blooming Bouquets - Thankful by Jeanette Douglas.  I haven' t got too far because other things that need to be stitched keep getting in the way.

This is another gift from DH (he's quiet the enabler isn't he?) from a few years ago.  This is Flowers and Lace by Kooler Designs.  I wish I could devote all my time to this one, I just love it!

I know you've probably seen most of these before, but I like to showcase and thank people for the gifts I've been given.  And now I'm off to get more gifted gorgeousness stitching done!  Thanks for stopping by...Happy Stitching!

Hoppy Valentine's Day! Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

Happy Valentine's Day!

And welcome to the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop!  Yes, I know I wrote Hoppy in the title of this posting....I thought it was fitting for today!  Thanks to Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching, who set up this lovely blog hop, you can enjoy a little game!  Each of us who are participating sent Jo a picture we thought represents Valentine's Day.  She then gave each of us a different picture, and we are supposed to hop around and find the picture we submitted.  That person becomes our Secret Stitching Sweetheart.  Fun right?  It all begins on Jo's blog, so hop on over to Serendipitous Stitching  (click here) and enjoy seeing what other stitchers are sharing on this special day!  Whoever stitched this one must know my heart!  It's my favorite food group!  And now I must run out and find some chocolate, because I now have the biggest craving!  Beautifully stitched isn't it?  Thank you Jo for setting up this fun hop, and thank you Secret Sweetheart!  

Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you all have a special sweetheart to share the day with!  Happy Stitching!