Some pictures

Here you go, progress on Autumn Winds. I'm close to finishing it. Hopefully, if my eyes don't give out on me (since this is over one), I may have that happy dance this weekend. Ok, orchestra, get your instruments tuned up for that toe tappin' music.



This dropped in my mailbox this afternoon. I am thrilled with this issue. There are many, many ornaments that I want to stitch! JSC just outdid themselves with this issue. Usually, I find a few ornaments I might want to stitch but this time, each time I turned a page, I said to myself, "Oh, this one is a must stitch, and this one, and that one"...geez...now to decide WHICH one to start first!

More later!

Hi Everyone!

No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth. There is so much going on in life at Chez Crazytown that I have been a tad overwhelmed. Many, many things are tugging at me to do and to deal with, so much that I haven't even stitched at all in the last week, hence the lack of blogging. After all, this is a stitching blog (or I try to keep it to that but I don't always succeed). I was going like gangbusters to finish my Prairie Schooler, Autumn Winds, and I think I am just about 3 hours away from finishing it up but my stitching mojo was sucked up in the vortex of work, home, finances, worry, stress, audits...life. So, maybe, just maybe, I'll find enough *umph* to siphon out a little stitching energy and finish it up. At least, I hope so!

I did join Vonna's Me, Myself and I Round Robin blog. I've always wanted to stitch one of these but I can not keep up with the pressure of a deadline right now. No pressure with this round robin! I've chosen to stitch a Prairie Schooler town and have it be perpetually in Autumn. I am plotting out a fairly elaborate border right now and thinking about my house placement. It's going to be great fun. Construction begins on December 31st, so stay tuned for updates. I can work on my border before then so you'll get a peek at it when I get something concrete down.

Have you seen this little gem? It's a Just Nan piece called Boo.

I almost bought it from ABC Stitch Therapy last night but I held firm. I am not a Just Nan fan, I think I was taken with the tin more than anything. Tonight, I lost my resolve and I broke down to buy it, but it's gone from the website. Oh well...you snooze, you loose! Actually, I saved myself $50. Good thing too.

On the home front, the DH is on leave from work, hence the financial worries. He is student teaching. He goes back to work in January until August, then he *retires* to his *encore* career as a Math teacher (Middle & High School). He's good at it. He loves it. But it means a GREAT reduction in cash flow. Like a creek that shrinks down to a mere trickle. I'm nervous about it, particularly if he doesn't find work right away. Prayers, please.

My SIL was diagnosed with breast cancer on Friday. She saw a surgeon today and she will have a lumpectomy on Oct 3rd. They tell her if there is no complications, she'll be back to work in 2 weeks. Two weeks! Geez, no recovery time there! Prayers for her too, please. And for my brother too, who was let go from his job of 18 years a couple of months ago. They really need prayer.

At work, we are preparing for the biggest audit of my career. It's been a zoo and will continue for the next 3 weeks. We will get through it but it will be stressful.

On a lighter note, the lovely Jenna has returned from her Australian adventure. The Cadet is so happy to have his love home. They are joined at the hip whenever he's not in school or at work. She had a great experience Down Under. What an adventure! Anyway, I believe wedding bells will ring this time next year. I am so happy for them.

Anyway, that's the latest news from me to you. I want to thank all of you who've hung in there with me and I do appreciate all of you. I am so glad you've stopped by and I hope you'll continue to visit. I like the company!

Hopefully next time, the post will be filled with stitchy pictures. I don't think that my mojo is completely gone, it's just taking a back seat to a lot of other things. I could never give up my stitching...they'd be coming after me with that white jacket if I did! Hey, have a great day tomorrow...everyday is a blessing and a gift even when the days are filled with things I can not control.

Stitching Progress

Progress since my last true stitching post. See, there IS more to my blog than just me whining on about things that usually are out of my control.

I've stitched sporatically over the last month, mainly because my work life spilled over into my personal life and my personal life got equally as crazy. But true to form, stitching provided me with a respite from the nuttiness of my job, my house and my family (when they've irritated me).

Apologies for the quality of the pictures, they are not as dark as they seem on your monitor. It's a combination of my tremendous digital camera and the lighting in the living room.

First of all is Blackbird Designs, Where My Heart Blooms. I'm working on the house now. It's a good car project because the linen is 30 count and fairly open weave so with my cheater glasses, I can stitch while the DH and I drive somewhere (usually to see Mike).



And a finish!!! This is also a Blackbird Designs pattern from the book Trix or Treat. called Merry Hallowe'en.

I started it in 2005 (!!) and the only thing I had to stitch on it was the word Hallowe'en. So yesterday, I spent the better part of 3 hours finishing it up. I have the frame so let's see if I can frame it before Halloween. It's stitched on some no name fabric with Weeks Dye Works cotton in Mascara. I was really unhappy with the thread, it was stiff and kinky. It knotted up terribly and would not lay flat even when I dampened the floss. I think that was the reason it took me so long to finish this little piece up. It didn't live up to the expectation of an easy stitch!

Prairie Schooler, Autumn Leaves. Stitched over one with DMC on 28 count Lambswool evenweave.

I am working on it as part of a stitching challenge for the month of August with the Prairie Schooler BB. I also started this in (gasp!) 2005 right after the pattern was released. I was part of an SAL with Patti and Cathy. They finished their samplers and I, true to form, bring up the rear. I love how it's coming out but I can't work on it for very long because over one and my eyes don't seem to get along for an extended period. I'd like to finish it before the end of September to be able to display till the end of Autumn. Yeah, right!

Another Blackbird Designs, Blessings and Kind Wishes. This is a gift for a far away dear friend. I am working it on the recommended fabric with the recommended thread. So far, I am enjoying stitching it. The Weeks thread isn't behaving any better than it did on Merry Hallowe'en. Does anyone else have this problem with overdyed cotton fibers?

Lastly is my Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler. I must be in the mood to work on her. Don't know why really.

So there you have it! I have been stitching when time and energy has allowed. I hope you like my progress and I welcome all feedback. Now, please excuse me, today is a vacation day and I intend to sit in my favorite spot cross stitching the majority of the day away.

Thanks for dropping by!

When Life Hands You Lemons - PUCKER UP!!

Although I believe that the saying states that one should make lemonade. Whatever.

First of all, my lovely SUV decided it needed new brakes ($675 poorer, I am no longer grinding grooves into the rotors) AND my WOOBIE, Joe, now has an *ow-ie* that is going to cost me plenty because he and Maggie cannot co-habitate peacefully side-by-side in the barn. Seems they decided to fence fight over the stall wall. Maggie whaled on her stall door which she completely knocked off the track bending the wheel mechanism inside the track so the door does not slide correctly AND the force of kicking said door tore the door latch off the stall wall where it was found across the barn aisle lying on the floor 12' away. She is physically ok, just pretty pissed off. Joe, however, is not. He kicked his stall wall (made of 2 inch thick oak boards) and has hurt his left hind leg. He is gingerly resting his leg on his toe and will not bear any of his ample weight on it except to take short, mincing steps to where ever he wants to go. Mainly, he is standing in one spot. If he wants to drink, he just swings his head to his bucket so he really doesn't have to move too far.

So this morning, I made the call to Dr. Wendy. She is coming Monday morning to check him out. In the meantime, I am syringing bute (horse aspirin) down his throat 2 times a day. God only knows what this vet bill is going to cost me. I swear, I've had this horse for 16 years and he's only seen the vet a handful of times in those 16 years until THIS year when we've seen Dr. Wendy 3 times in less than 9 months.

There goes the extra paycheck this month...eaten by the car and the horse. Can't seem to get ahead...blech.

Mike is home from Australia and is terribly lonely because his lovely fiance is there until mid-September. He also is unhappy because school starts Monday and so does ROTC and work. So his Summer abruptly ended this morning at 5:30 when he returned to Dunkin Donuts completely jet-lagged and in desperate need of caffeine.

On stitching notes, I have stitched but there are no photos because I can not find the camera that the DH took with him to Pittsburgh when he visited his family last weekend. It's MIA. I've worked on a number of things (my Hungarian Sampler, Blackbird Designs and Prairie Schooler) and made significant progress on a few. So this is just a tease until I locate my lovely temperamental, 2 pixel wonder of a digital camera and take some pictures. So stay tuned!

But! Have you seen these new designs from The Primitive Needle? TOO CUTE!! MUST HAVES! Love them so much. I can't wait till they are released.

Near Halloween

Witchy

So that's all from Chez Empty Wallet...stop by again soon, please...K?

Exciting News!

I have exciting news to share! The Cadet and the lovely Jenna are officially engaged to be married!

The ever romantic Cadet proposed to lovely Jenna on an Australian beach at sunset on Tuesday. And of course, the answer was YES! To say they are excited is beyond words.

The DH and I couldn't be more pleased.

Congratulations, Jenna and Mike!

Three years ago...today

Three years ago today, I lost my Dad. How I miss him....




He was a wonderful Dad, a good husband and a family man. I know that he is in Glory with our Lord and Savior, Jesus. I am happy for that but sad because he isn't here and I miss him so much.

How can I resist???

These are the new releases from Prairie Schooler. HOW AM I TO RESIST STITCHING THEM???? Especially the Halloween pattern, since I love Halloween and all things vintage Halloween? Move over Beatrix. I think the Witches are taking your place in line!







Rainy Saturday in Upstate New York. It's nice and I wish I had time to stitch today. Busy weekend. Insane work weeks to come for the next few months. I will post progress pictures of the Hungarian Sampler later today.

Have a great weekend filled with stitching and family and friends. And food, don't forget food!

Awe shucks, I'm blushing!

Dear sweet Patti at Stitching in Lobster Land has awarded me with this Kreativ Blogger award.

I don't know what to say, I'm completely blown away by it!



Thank you so much Patti!

Now on to the rules:

Here are the rules for this award:
• The winner may put the logo on her blog.
• Put a link to the person you got the award from.
• Nominate 5 blogs.
• Put links to the blogs.
• Leave a message for your nominees.

Oh gosh, there are so many blogs out there that I read and so many that are Kreativ! It's hard to choose just 5! Can I choose 98,354 to pass the award on?

Alexa

Sue

Jeanne

Sherry

Sandra

These blogs are inspirational, funny, thought provoking and, all in all, wonderful places to visit! Plus they have great stitching pictures!!!

Go check them out!!

On the stitchy side, I've worked on my Hungarian Sampler and dare I say it, a Christmas gift. I think I'm going to have to stitch the gift exclusively for awhile so I don't get too far behind and not have it ready for Santa. I'll be rotating it with the Hungarian sampler and Beatrix as they are the 2 projects holding my interest now.

And on another note, I started to paint again so stay tuned for some decorative painting that I'll be selling throughout Autumn and early Winter....I am working on some Halloween goodies and Harvest things too. The painting muse is back from her vacation in Tahiti so it's time to rev up the brushes and squirt out the paint onto my palette.

A Second Sunday Post - Hungarian Sampler

As you know, I came across this sampler on the Hungarian Sampler SAL blog a few months ago and it's been on my mind ever since I stumbled across it. I am of Hungarian descent and to be honest, my Dad was a very proud Hungarian. So when I came across the SAL, I knew that I had to stitch it.

This is Ili's finished work. It is so beautiful!



I bugged her and other members of the blog to recommend colors that would represent the colors of the Hungarian flag because I wanted to stitch the sampler in those colors. Ili sent me DMC equivalents and on Friday I purchased my materials to begin the sampler. I know that I said NO NEW STARTS this year and I've broken my promise 4 times so far ( I have such willpower...ha ha) but I could not get this sampler off my mind. I was dreaming of it!

To justify this new start, I decided to stitch it as a memorial to my Grandparents who were from Hungary. I believe they came from a region near the Russian border called Sonkad before they immigrated to the USA. My Aunt Roasza returned to Hungary when she was 13 and lived in Sonkad until she married and moved to Budapest. She lived there with her husband and daughter until they fled the country in 1956 during the Hungarian uprising with Russia.

So today, I began the sampler, I know it's not much of a start but I wanted to share with you what I stitched since I started it. I chose not to stitch it on the Antique White linen I purchased Friday because it did remind me of a Christmas sampler. Instead, I chose to stitch it on a piece of cream belfast linen. I am using AVAS silks - 943 red and 226 green and blanc. I know in the picture, the linen looks grey. I will be personalizing it with my Grandparents names as well as a dedication to them in Hungarian.



I hope to continue working on the sampler today, probably this evening because I will be making an early dinner for the Cadet and some cookies for him to take back with him.

So, off to the kitchen. Talk with you later.

It's Sunday...

I wanted to post some pictures of my recent work. I've stitched sporadically in the last couple of weeks but I did want to document some of my progress.

This is a Prairie Schooler pattern called Autumn Wind. I started it way, way back in the beginning of time as a SAL with Patti and Cathy who finished their pieces probably 2 years ago. OK, I AM SLOW. I am stitching it on 28 count Lugana over one (it's my first attempt at over one stitching and I have to say I am quite pleased with the results.)

Anyway, I want to finish this piece for this Autumn so I am going to participate in an SAL with the gals on the Prairie Schooler BB. The SAL is for the month of August. The plan is to stitch on a Prairie Schooler design on Tuesday and Thursday and post progress pictures on Sunday during the month of August. Since I am over 1/2 way finished, maybe just maybe, I'll have a Happy Dance by September. Let's see if I can maintain focus for 8 days out of the month.

Next is Beatrix Potter. She has my attention right now.

I wasn't really sure about the fiber, it's AVAS 4212 and it's a lovely burnt orange color. It looks really pumpkin-y in this picture. It took quite a while for me to get used to the color but it's growing on me as the sampler grows too. I have the companion piece to this sampler but I am leaning toward a more subtler brown color when I begin that piece. Honestly between us girls, if I had not spent $42 on the hank of silk, I would have chosen a different color. And as I worked on the sampler I thought of switching out the color many times. Now it's a bit too late for switching silks so I'll just finish it up with the burnt orange.

Lastly is my progress on Where My Heart Blooms.

I believe this sampler has it out for me. I literally frogged most of what I stitched on this piece because of counting errors. I think if I did not have a bad case of the frogs, this piece would be finished by now. I think I am over the worst of the frogs now as I am working on the house. I can't say that I love the fabric I am stitching this piece on, it's the recommended R&R fabric. It's very stiff and hard to manage and it has a very open weave. The GAST and Weeks aren't much better, the thread kinks and knots easily. I've found if I dampen the thread it behaves a bit better so that's what I've been doing.

On Friday, I bought the supplies to begin my Hungarian Sampler. I know, I know, I said no new stash until I finish one of the Wips. But it's calling my name!!! I bought red and green silk to stitch the sampler but I may switch out the green for black silk instead. Black and red are traditional Hungarian colors. I wanted to stitch the sampler in the colors of the flag and Ili (THANK YOU!!) helped me out with the colors. Now that I've bought the silks, I am having second thoughts because I am afraid the sampler will look like Christmas. I don't know, maybe I'll just go ahead with what I purchased. I bought an off white linen but maybe I'll switch it out to a creme so that the colors don't jump off the fabric. I'll have to test it out.

The DH and the Cadet are off to motorcycle school this morning so I have some time to stitch. That's what I am going to do when I get off the computer. I am not sure what I want to work on right now, I guess whatever calls the loudest. So the needle is calling and I will say good-bye for now.

Please drop by again and I hope you have a great day!

Exciting news! And a question for my guests

First of all, my question. I am going to begin stitching a sampler from the Hungarian SAL. It's a beautiful piece that you can see on the Hungarian Sampler SAL blog:

I would like to stitch it as a memorial to my grandparents who immigrated from Hungary to the US in 1918. I would like to stitch it in the colors of the Hungarian flag so I am looking for anyone who can tell me what DMC or AVAS silks would match the green, red and white of the flag. Also, if anyone can translate the words, In Fond Rememberance or In Loving Rememberance from English to Hungarian, I'd be thrilled. I want to stitch this in silks so if anyone can give me the colors in AVAS that would be fabulous. I'll stitch it in DMC if I can't find the equivalent silks.

Exciting news from Chez Remodel! At long last we found a contractor who was willing to side the front of the house and the upper right side and replace 5 windows for us. Below are the pictures. We are so excited! The house doesn't look like a slum from the road now! We still have a long way to go, we won't be able to do much more until we save more money to continue but I think spending what was left of my inheritance to finish this little bit was well worth it.

Entire house close up:

Entire house with garage:

Window close up: The contractors finished the outside trim and please excuse the ladder in the window...LOL!!
We do have an issue with the windows, the manufacturer didn't put all the little buttons to mount the grilles in some of the windows so that's why there is no grilles in the upper right window. I contacted Pella and they will come out and fix them and any other windows that don't have the mounting hardware. Now, all we have to do is the interior work, we are going to do all the trim work ourselves because we didn't have the money to have the "Contractor-Who-Is-My-Hero" do it for us. David and I will work together to get it finished. It may take a little time but eventually the interior work will get done!

I do have stitchy pictures too, of Beatrix Potter and Where My Heart Blooms and I got a lovely gift from Alexa that I must show you. True to form the camera has died again so I must wait until it decides to resurrect itself to take more pictures.

Well, I just wanted to share my good fortune with all of you. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and thanks so much for dropping by! Please stop again soon!!

It's picture time!

Hi everyone!

The camera finally cooperated with an infusion of battery. So, I took advantage of the camera's cooperation and finally got pictures of Sandra's beautiful bag that she made me. What a wonderful friend I've made *Down Under*. I just love it and I've gotten a ton of complements on it from my coworkers.


Look at the wonderful toile fabric that she used and the gorgeous lace she used to trim it. So pretty and so feminine.



And this is another of my patriotic finishes, Liberty House from Ewe & Eye & Friends which is destined to become a pinkeep...eventually. I stitched it on 32ct Lambswool linen (I ADORE Lambswool, the color is so warm and most threads just look fabulous whnen stitched on it) with the recommended DMC floss.

Actually, I DID finish an older Lizzie*Kate design into a cube. That piece was buried in my finished pile and it begged to see the light of day. I did change up the design a little, I stitched a ton of little stars that were supposed to be umm-mm fireworks. I did miss the mark but that's ok. I like making cubes, I know a lot of stitchers use a foam block to make the cube but I use 8 sheets of foam core board taped together. That way, I avoid trying to cut the cube down to size and using the foam core ensures that the sides are straight.

And this is the Stacy Nash pinkeep that Sandra sent to me along with the toile purse. It's got a place of honor in the tray that's holding my other smalls. I love Stacy Nash and I've eyed this pattern for a long time.

Don't you love all of these lovelies?

I have stitched a little bit on Where My Heart Blooms and a bit on Beatrix Potter but not enough progress was made to warrant a progress pictures. It's slow going in Chez Oven this last few days, it's been in the 90's and humid so stitching is the last thing I want to do until the evening cools a little bit. That means that I pick up my needle late and only last to put a length or 2 of floss into my piece.

Oh, I do have a question for you. I am contemplating painting some holiday items (Autumn, Winter and Christmas) and I was wondering if I could use you as a sounding board. If I get enough positive responses, I will put them up for sale on Etsy. So what do you think, would you purchase painted things or is decorative painting gone the way of the dinosaur?

Well, I should help David scrap the ceiling...it's only fair. But I really, really want another slice of watermelon and check up on all you!

Stay cool and thank you AGAIN for coming by.

Oh my gosh, you guys!!!

I am overwhelmed by the number of folks that visit this boring blog!!! Geez, I am humbled and grateful to all those who drop by from all over the world, please leave a comment if only to say hey there! Honestly, I have been debating on deleting my blog because I didn't think I got that many visitors. But the feed proved otherwise, so thank you!

We had a 3 day weekend (actually, I had a 4 day weekend cause I took Thursday off as a vacation day, which was wonderful!) to celebrate the fourth of July. We chose to stay close to home only leaving to go to the fireworks and to Lowes for paint and to church. It was so relaxing. I didn't get a lot of stitching done but I did finish Liberty House. True to form, the camera will not cooperate so there are no pictures of that piece or the bag and pinkeep that Sandra made for me. I think it needs new batteries now. I had plans to work on a number of projects but the days were beautiful so I spent a lot of time outdoors putzing with the horses and playing in the flowerbed/gardens.

I've wanted to convert our 3rd bedroom into a home office for the DH for a long time now and we decided this weekend to purchase carpeting for the room and actually begin the process of converting the room from a catch all storage area to a REAL place where he can study and do his homework and grade papers etc. This fall, he will be student teaching and he definitely needs a place to work. So far, he's commandered my kitchen table much to my dismay because he spreads his stuff out over the table and all of a sudden it's his desk and not a place to have meals. Moving him upstairs has been a dream of mine for quite awhile, if he choses to make a mess of his desk then I can just close the door to the room and hid the clutter. I can't do that now in my eat-in kitchen.

Anyway, we bought paint for the walls, a steel blue grey carpet that will be installed in 6 weeks or so and a nifty tool to scrape the acoustic material off the ceiling. We have what is known as cottage cheese ceilings, they are highly textured with this material that actually melts if it gets wet so you can't paint it or clean it properly. We've always wanted to get rid of the ceiling material but were afraid we'd ruin the ceiling. And the Contractor-Who-I-Despise actually told me that if we tried to remove the stuff, we'd ruin the ceiling so he would do it for the lovely tune of $5K...NOT! Actually, DH has removed 1/2 of the ceiling now and it's taken him less than an hour. We will have to sand the perimeters of the ceiling where the tool doesn't reach and sand some of the high spots off. It's definitely messy (a fine layer of drywall dust) and some elbow grease is all it's taking. We've decided to take one room at a time now that we have developed a technique.

So, I've been blog hopping and you guys make me want to start many, many pieces but I am going to be strong and continue to work my wips. I'll post progress soon and hopefully I'll post pictures of the new room AND stitching too!

Hello? Is anyone out there?

I am sorry that I’ve not kept up with my blog recently. I promised myself that I would post more often than once or twice a month but as usual, my execution of that promise produced less than desired results. I am glad though that you continue to hang in there with me and continue to check up on my world. It’s really appreciated and it makes me glow because you and a few of the needlework forums that I visit are really my only connection to the cross stitch world. There really isn’t anyone to share my stitching with, my friends admire my work but wonder why I would want to spend all my free time making little x’s on hole-y cloth. Sharing my interest in stitching with them is not the same as sharing my passion with fellow stitchers who are as in love with and are as passionate as I am about stitching.

Honestly, I haven’t stitched an awful lot in the last few weeks. I worked on an Ewe & Eye & Friends piece called Liberty House in the late evenings because I wanted a new patriotic piece for my house. It’s ¾ of the way stitched but it won’t be made into a pinkeep before the Fourth. And I’ve worked a tiny bit on Where My Heart Blooms. Progress on that sampler is negligable though, I re-stitched what I frogged out, the border and and a few strawberries. So now I am right where I was before I found the mistake and had to pull out most of the right top and right border out. One step back...two steps forward. Story of my stitching life.

Mainly, I’ve filled my stitching time with my horses and my birthday and our anniversary. Also, throw one full day in Saratoga to attend the Jazz Festival (no, I am not a fan but was gifted a ticket along with a whole hearted attempt at conversion) and the result is my stitching time dwindled to almost nothing. In fact, the most time I’ve spend any extended stitching in the last 2 weeks was on the trip to Saratoga (2.5 hours in the car one way) and that’s where I re-stitched the borders on Where My Heart Blooms.

My birthday was June 24th and was spent pretty quietly. I worked and once I got home, the David took me out to an authentic Mexican restuarant which was scrumptious. I got a very nice gift card to a favorite store and a beautiful diamond pendant which was a complete surprise from him. We visited Mike the weekend prior to my birthday and he gave me a windchime for our front porch. We spent the day with him, we took him and his buddy, Charlie to lunch and grocery shopping.

Our 29th anniversary was on June 30th and we spent the evening working in the yard and grooming horses. We will be going out to a nice restuarant on Saturday to celebrate our marriage. It’s amazing to think that I’ve spent more than ½ my life with this wonderful man who loves me in spite of my faults (which number more than a few!). I wouldn’t trade him for all the gold in the world and I’m so blessed to be loved by him.

I need a break from the big projects that I have going now and seem to be taking forever to show any progress at all. I have 2 small finished pieces that I plan on finishing as pinkeeps in addition to Liberty House. I am in a "smalls" mood, small patterns that can be stitched and finished quickly. It shouldn’t take but a few hours to assemble them. They’ve been stitched for a long time and have languished in a dresser drawer just waiting for the time to see the light of day to be finished. My pieces are: The Trilogy’s, Liberty, which was an old freebie, and The Drawn Thread’s, Halloween Spot. I bought all the finishing stuff, backing, ribbons and trims. Now just find the time to put them together. Plus, I can mount 2 smaller pieces to be framed. I’ll take photos the minute I get them done.

Speaking of photos, here’s a tease for you. My friend Sandra made me the nicest bag from beautiful toile fabric, trimmed with antique lace. Sandra also made me a Stacy Nash pinkeep. I promise, promise, promise to take pictures tonight after work of these beautiful items. Sandra, I absolutely love them and I will cherish them always.

The next couple of weeks will be busy at work, we are auditing our business for a new Quality standard. Hopefully, I will not be too tired to keep up with hearth, home, horses and stitching!

So, to all my American friends, please have a safe and happy July 4th!!!! I hope that you spend time with those you love at a picnic and at the fireworks. That's where David and I will be at dusk, watching the fireworks from our little blanket on the lawn of the Presybterian church. The best seat in the house!

HAPPY JULY 4th!!

Quick post...corrected link to Leena's templates

Katrina pointed out that I had Leena's address wrong. I corrected it so that it will go to her blog and not Alexa's (although Alexa has a very NICE blog too!)

I love my new look but I need to know where in the code to put the links to all the blogs that I read. So, Katrina, if you are reading this post (or anyone else who's downloaded Leena's templates) could help me figure out where to put the links.

Thanks for visiting my blog, I am happy that you stopped by!

A new do!!!

I decided to change the look of my blog. The template is from Leena. I love the look but I have to mess with the code to get all my links hooked into it. I miss being able to click on them in the sidebar and come visit you!

I hope you like the new look. It's fresh and fun. I used Passamonta's templates but there was a problem with them and I was so afraid to lose my blog. Funny, I am attached to it!

Anyway, on the stitching front, I am in a Blackbird Designs phase. I've been working on Where My Heart Blooms (I should say frogging it) each night this week. It's a killer though cause the frogs will not leave me alone with this piece. I realized that I made a counting error on the top right on the border (13 stitches, not 12!!) and I had to tear 3 strawberries, that portion of the border and almost all the right side out. It was frustrating but I am almost done restitching that portion. And I have a strong desire to begin Souvenier Sampler. Has anyone joined the fabric together? Any hints or tips?

This will be a quick post, I am late in leaving for my bible study...so I gotta run! More later!

Americana Sampler (LHN)

Fresh off the needle! Americana Sampler from Little House Needleworks. I started it in 2005 and worked on it a little each year. I went great gangbusters in the beginning but found it hard to get into as I stitched on it. But I put my needle to the fabric this year and SWORE that I would finish it! And I did.

Americana Sampling - Limited Edition

Little House Needlework

Cresent Color Cotton fibers

32ct Flax linen

The lovely Ella Kitty. I thinks she's adorable but Mike will be taking her back to Rochester next week. I've been campaigning to have her live here but he will hear none of that crazy talk.

And look at this glorious peony! From MY garden! It's as big as a dinner plate and smells divine. I have an abundance of peonies this year. And I love them so much!

Lastly, a bit of a brag, I built that little rock wall (granted it's only 3 courses high) by my own hands over Memorial day weekend. The David did not lift a finger except to remove the sod when we extended it an extra 2 feet in width to match the edge of the sidewalk. It looks good if I do say so myself and I am PROUD of myself to follow through on a vision until it was finished. I was dog tired after I finished it that weekend but I haven't stopped grinning when I look at it.

(Excuse the house, it's f-ugly and the boys waxing the big truck in the backyard.)

I hope you had a great weekend, stitching and having a wonderful day with your Daddy. Mine is in heaven but I felt his presence all day. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD..with love from your girl....

The Weekend News

Thanks for the kind words everyone on my little basket that I made for the Quaker exchange on Legacy! I had a blast making this little basket, I did sweat a little when I stretched the second piece over the mat board lid. I was worried that it wouldn't be centered on the lid and it would be off center against it's mate. It's not a hard piece to make just a bit fiddley.

Jackie, it's my own design, if you'd like I can mail you the instructions on how to construct one. I want to make one for me, so maybe I'll get the DH to help take some photos of the construction.

Mike came home from Combative training. He passed the Level 1 Clinch test (if you want to know what that is, just google Army clinch test and you will have a plethora of you tube videos to choose from.) The lovely Jenna is in Australia, a bit homesick right now. I hope she works through it. She sent Mike some pictures of where she is staying, it's right off the beach. The view from her balcony is of the marina and the beach is about a 3 minute walk from her apartment. The group she's with lucked out for accomodations, the dorms were filled so they are in a furnished suite in a resort. Lucky girl. Just keep her in your thoughts, she's struggling a bit being on the other side of the world by herself.

Because Mike was home this weekend, my needle was idle. I've been working to finish a LHN pattern for the 4th of July. I passed the original pattern on to Sue and I only have a little bit left to do on the border and underneath the basket of flags. I decided to leave off the 1776-2005 date and replace it with a row of stars. I thought I'd be finished with this little sampler by now but honestly, it's deceptively a lot of work! I am close to a happy dance though, only an hour or so left of stitching so I hope to be tappin' my toes soon! If I can find an unfinished flat face frame, I have an idea on how to paint it for this piece.

Then it's onto the next Wip, although I am contemplating starting a few *small* pieces for July 4th. This isn't cast in stone, though, even though I pulled out patterns, linen and thread. I'd like to make a small basket of pinkeeps, cushions and ornaments of small patriotic designs. I pulled a bunch of Lizzie*Kate, LHN, Bent Creek and Heart In Hand smallish pieces. We'll have to see how the rest of the month goes. Otherwise, I'll be working on Where My Heart Blooms and Beatrix Potter. Beatrix has risen to the top of the heap because I promised the pattern to a friend after I am finished with it so I feel a little obligated to work on her and get her done so I can pass the pattern on to my friend.

Speaking on BBD, have you seen the newest Loose Feather and the first 2 parts of the *Mystery Sampler*? Oh my! I can't wait till they arrive at my door.

Check them out:

Mystery Sampler

Blessings and Kind Wishes

Well, I really have to run! Talk to you later!

Quaker basket

A finish for me! Happy Dance!

It's a Quaker design for an exchange on Legacy. I don't believe my partner reads my blog so I think I am safe in posting the pictures. I am really happy how this worked out, I almost didn't finish it this way because it's a fiddlely thing to make. I do wish that I used a different basket, because the swing handles on the Nantucket basket move, the lid doesn't stay where I want it to. I am toying with attaching a button on each side of the basket and then a loop on each side the lid.

I purchased the basket at the Christmas Tree Shoppe, don't ya just love a bargain!

Memorial Day

I've been thinking about today and what it means to me. Until very recently, Memorial Day was the start of summer and I looked forward to a 3 day weekend.

But today, it's different.

We put the flag outside and I really looked at it and thought about all the men and women who proudly serve in our armed forces, who went to war and came home to those who supported them or not...who went to war despite their fear and learned to be brave. To those who fought and gave their lives for us, for ME so that I can do anything and be free.

I thought about what I wanted to write here about Memorial Day but there are no words that convey what I feel...except THANK YOU.

Thank you Dad, for serving in the Navy during WWII in the Sea of Japan.
Thank you, Uncles for serving in the branches of the militaryyou chose, whether you enlisted or were drafted, for those who saw battles and those of you who didn't.
Thank you Terry, for serving in the AirForce during a time of relative peace. You didn't have to go to war but you would have if you were asked.
Thank you Mike, for your unbridled patriotism and willingness to give the AirForce all of you. I pray that you never have to go to Iraq but I know that you will, someday.

And thank you to all the veterans, for your sacrifices. For without you, would we really be the land of the free?