Well...that didn't go as planned...

It has been a WILD month!  I have enjoyed every moment of it, but wheweee am I tired!!  I didn't reach many of the goals I've set for myself...much to my chagrin.  But I sure had fun trying!  Where to start?  

Well the kids lost their babysitter...and had a mad scramble trying to find a new one.  I can't believe the prices some of these people charge to watch kids these days.  I understand that they have a lot of responsibility...but I don't know how parents afford their care.  They were finally able to find one that charges a reasonable amount per day, and is willing to accept kids per diem.  Thankfully I am able to watch Aubrey twice a week to help with their expenses.  So you may be seeing a few pictures of her now and then as I spend more time with her.  She is so good for me, taking two naps a day so far, and usually in a happy mood.  Max is scared to death of her, and hides as soon as she enters the front door.  Hahaha.  

Max gets extra cuddles and attention the rest of the time.  He's used to a quiet low key home...and is even more attached to me now.  What can I say?  Babies and cats love me...haha.  

So we have been extra busy these days.  With our trip to Hobby House Needleworks earlier this month, 

and then a trip to Hershey in Pennsylvania where we rented a house for two nights, and a few extra days watching Aubrey thrown in, I haven't had much time for stitching.  

I was able to manage a little bit more on the Melbourne Sampler by Jean Farish that I started while taking the class.  I'm barely scratching the surface of the specialty stitches, I can't wait to get a little more done.  It's such a pretty pattern, I hope my stitching does it justice!

I have a few exchanges coming up so I've been working on them along with my usual monthly goals.  The only things I have to show (as the rest are surprises) are...  Lily of the Valley stocking by Blackbird Designs.  This is found in the pamphlet of stockings for May.  It's a little larger than I hoped, I didn't realize I was stitching on 28 count (supposed to be 32) but that's ok, I really like how it came out.  

The other is Have a Mooey Christmas by Sharon Pope from the 2021 JCS Ornament issue.  Whew where there a lot of stitches in this one...it's been a while since I've stitched anything with full coverage....and the dreaded backstitching!  But I think it's so cute...now to figure out how to finish it off.  

So....that's where I'm at these days.  I'm itching to get started on the pattern I designed, but I'm behind in all my SALs and challenges....hopefully I can get caught up next month...if my husband and kids will calm down and let me stay home longer than a New York minute!)  I'm off to crochet a race track for one of my son's former coworkers.  She just had a baby boy of her own, and I couldn't say no to her when she posted that she wanted one.  It's coming along quickly and nicely...so watch this space!  Once that's done, I'm hoping to fire up my needles and get some serious stitching done!  I hope you all are happy and healthy wherever you are.  Happy Stitching!

April Gifted Gorgeousness and more...

Hi Fellow Stitchers!  It's been a bit crazy here since the last time I posted.  As I gather my thoughts, let me explain a little about Gifted Gorgeousness.  The lovely Jo, over at Serendipitous Stitching, hosts this challenge once a month where we post things that were gifted...either to us, or to others.  Here is the link if you want to read the rules or sign up to join us.  It's never too late to join in the fun!  And...if you want to see what everyone else is stitching, you can click here.  I see that Jo had her blog hop going on at the same time...so twice the fun!  Enjoy!!  

Where to begin?  Well... Let's start with our pen pal gift exchange.  The lovely Ms. K down in Texas is spoiling me rotten!!  Her boxes to me seem to get bigger each month...LOL!!  I say this each month, but I really love what she sent this month, isn't this chick the cutest?  I don't know where she finds these hoops, but I love the oval...and love the finishing.  They make such a cute addition to my mantle that I try to switch up for the holidays.  

I don't have the full picture of what I sent her, but this is what I made her this month.  I'm tempted to make one for myself, but when I went back to buy another wood "paddle" I couldn't find one.  Oh well, maybe next year!  I need to remember to take pictures before I box things up!!  

I've been busy stitching things for another exchange I'm participating in.  I haven't quite decided what all I'm going to include, but here are a couple things I've been working on.  The Winter is Past by Blackbird Designs from the book In Friendship's Way.  

This is Winter Rose Manor  Pincushion by Black Bird Designs.  I have a few other little goodies, but I'll save that for next time.  

I attended two classes last weekend at Hobby House Needleworks in Pittsford, NY.  I had such a great time!  Jean Farish taught the classes hosted by Kathy and David Mills.  We were gifted these books, along with a little shopping spree worth $30.00 So the little Prancer Pattern could be included in the "freebies" we received.  I love the little zipper bags they included...what fun!!   

I still haven't started stitching the pattern I designed, hopefully by the next update I'll at least have a start!  LOL   I do have a wee bit more done on the Melbourne Sampler...have a look!

Ok, I think that's all I have for this month.  I hope you all are safe and well and happily stitching!  Take care!

Whew what a weekend!

It's been a busy few days!  My husband and I traveled to Pittsford, New York to take a few classes being offered at Hobby House Needleworks.  I must say, I love that store!  Not only are David and Kathy wonderful to work with, but their store is just loaded with all kinds of goodies!  It was so much fun tripping through the store and gathering up some goodies.  Some I had ordered in advance, but the rest were lucky finds...some fibers I've been looking for, some fabrics I've been searching for, and some patterns that just jumped off the shelves at me.  I even found a book by the Royal School of Needlework that I have been pining for.  Yippee!  

My main goal for my visit was to take two classes by Jean Farish.  She is a wonderful teacher!!  I wish I could have picked her brain for more information, but alas, time ran out way too fast.  The first class I took was the Melbourne Sampler...which I learned had nothing to do with Australia, and everything to do with a town in Florida that I had visited a few times.  I learned a few new stitches, but the most exciting thing I learned was how to do some drawn thread work...that included removing some linen threads from the fabric and weaving them back in.  Now I've done this before, a looooong time ago, and learned from a pamphlet I had bought.  The way Jean taught it was revolutionary in my opinion!!  By removing a bit to the side of the opening and reweaving in the thread you removed, you could hardly tell that a thread was removed.  Amazing!!!  Because I'm learning all these new stitches, my stitching is moving very slowly, but it sure is hard to put down...I can't wait to get to the good stuff...LOL!!  Here is my drawn thread portion, I still have some work to do with this section. 

The last picture above is the area I removed some threads.  If you look to the side you can hardly tell I reweaved the thread I removed into the side of the fabric.  It's a wonderful technique she uses!!  Here I am...hard at work...learning some of the new stitches I'll be using in the sampler...

The other class I took was designing our own schoolgirl sampler.  I will be doing that but for the purposes of this class, I designed a little project first to learn the basics of the program I am using.  I believe it's called WinStitch.  At first I was overwhelmed, but I'm catching on and am having fun playing around with different elements of the program.  Here is the beginning of my "sampler".  

I've since finished the design.  I'm going to stitch it, and if everything works like I hope it does, maybe I'll have a little surprise later on...watch this space!  We received a few freebies for taking the second course...these are great reference books to have on hand when designing.  I'm also hoping to find some books that tell the meanings different motifs found in some samplers.  My final goal is to design a sampler that tells the story of my family's history through the years.  Wish me luck!!  (The small Prancer pattern was not free, I had a momentary brain fart when I included that in the pic...LOL).

Hopefully I'll have more done the next time I blog on the 15th...you know what day that is, don't you?  Gifted Gorgeousness!  See you then...until we meet again...Happy Stitching! 

Life throws curve balls...

Hi Fellow Stitchers!  It's been quite a week!  Very little stitching to speak of, but my oh my have I been busy!  This little peanut had kept my hands busy!  She loves rocking, being sung to, and is happy when music is playing.  She loves...what I call...her busy chair, long walks in her stroller...and is 6 months old and 13 pounds of pure joy!  Meet little Miss A....my date for the last week.  I'll have her for the first part of next week too.  She doesn't smile much...unless you play with her "piggies".  I'm waiting patiently to hear her laugh...  

I love this picture...she has recently discovered her face in the mirror.  At one point I was standing behind her looking at her in the mirror...she did a double take, looked back at me, then again in the mirror.  I guess she couldn't figure out how I could be in two places at once.  She's smart as a whip...I love watching her little mind tick.  Can you hear her thoughts?  Mirror, mirror, on the wall....who is the fairest of them all?  Or maybe that's my thoughts?  

Sorry for all the "baby talk".  On to the stitching!  As I said, I haven't been stitching much, but I was able to finish Pray For Peace from Scattered Seed Samplers by Tammy Black.  This was stitched on 40 count Vintage Country Mocha over two.  I substituted the fabric, I like mine smaller.  I truly love the designs I received in these clubs, but thought this one was very appropriate for the times we are living in.  

While I pray for the situation and the people in the Ukraine, I had to stop watching the news every day.  My heart breaks for them.  That's all I have to show for now.  It's amazing how much time a little one takes from your day...and how exhausted you are after 9 hours of play time!  LOL!!  Hopefully I'll have more to show next time.  Till then, Happy Stitching!

Whoop Whoop....Remember Me is finished!

Hi Fellow Stitchers!  

I started this piece a few days ago.  I've been working on some really involved pieces and I needed something quick to stitch and finish.  Don't we all need that sense of accomplishment now and then?  I really love this piece.  I joined in two of the Scattered Seed Sampler year long clubs but never took the time to stitch them.  I made it as one of my goals this year to stitch the 8 I have hanging around here.  I don't think I'll be going in order as I can't remember how they were sent, but I'm going to finish the ones I like the most first.  I'm trying to decide if I should add my initials and date I finished, or my Mom's initials and date she passed.  I'll give it some time.  Anyway....I stitched this on 40 count Country Mocha over two.  36 count was included in the kit, but you know me and my 40 count...haha.  I'll probably used the 36 count for something else later on.  Now to fully finish it...I'll keep you posted.  

Now to decide what to stitch next...?  I hope you all are safe and healthy.  I've been worried about my Texas Pen Pal.  Last I heard she was near the wildfires that were burning there.  The next day they had tornados in the area.  I don't want to bug her too much but hope that she is safe.  I'll probably message her later today.  Stay safe everyone, it's been a wild weather adventure lately!  Happy Stitching!

Tale As Old As Time...

Hello fellow stitchers!  Happy First Day of Spring!  

It's a lovely day here today, after some storms rumbled through the past couple of days.  It's a blustery day (I always think of Winnie the Pooh when I hear that phrase) but we have our windows open (even though it's a bit chilly) and the fresh air smells so nice and feels lovely as we air out the old stuffy air and bring in the spring air!  Even Max is enjoying the freshness as he moves from one window to the next, sniffing in all the scents.  As many of you know, I started stitching this castle for my Daughter in Law, though at first you couldn't tell it was a castle.  

I started the first week of March, and stitched a room a day for 8 days.   Here are close ups of the rooms I have stitched so far.  See if you recognize scenes from Beauty and the Beast...

Then I started on the top of the castle.  Whew...what a chore!  I ran out of some of the threads (thankfully Hobby Lobby had threads near the same dye lot and I really don't think you can see where the new ones were used) then had interruption after interruption...and frog after frog...but it's finally done.  Now I'm just waiting for my DIL to decide if I should stitch the title over the castle.  Poor kid, too many decisions...haha...and it takes her a while to decide things.  That's ok, there are months to go before I really need a decision.  

And now I'm off to decide what to stitch and include in a "Gift of Friendship" exchange I'll be doing in a few months.  Wish me luck!  And Happy Stitching!! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!