Thursday, April 27, 2017

Flip flopping...

Well....I'm not sure what got into me, or what left (perhaps my mojo went walkabout?) but I've become a recluse lately.  I'm sure my friends wonder where I've gone, it's nothing personal, it's just me being me.  Life is just a bit overwhelming lately.  For those who I usually keep in regular contact, don't worry, it's nothing you've done, and believe me NOBODY has heard from me...  Perhaps you think I'm rude, that's ok, that wasn't my intention.  

So....in my self imposed hermitting, I've been stitching up a storm.  Except for today, today I've been a slug all the way around...LOL  Here is my progress on "Leave a Light On"...


There is still a tremendous amount of stitching left (the border is going to take quite a while!!) not to mention more outlining (my nemesis) and some stars in the sky and the roof on the light.  But hopefully I'll finish it soon, I want to start something new and I promised myself I wouldn't until I finished another project.

I also put just a few stitches in on this little gem.  





This is  Vierlanden  Diamond Stags by Wiehenburg Designs.  Martina is a very talented designer, and I like her patterns very much.  I started this quite some time ago, and am only now getting back to it.  It's done on 28 ct. Lugana and I'm using Gloriana Pacific Blue.  I love working with silk thread!!  I try to make the pattern caused by the hand dyed thread come out even, so it takes quite a bit of time to stitch with it.  I think that's why it gets set aside so often, because I have to use my brain and it gets tired...LOL


Last, but not least, is Quaker Diamonds by Rosewood Manor.  I started this a long time ago, it uses Valdani threads.  I am stitching it over one on 32 ct. fabric so it is very slow going.  I can work on it only in short bursts, there are so many thread changes and lots of counting.  I'm not a patient person...LOL...so I lose interest if it doesn't go too fast.  I'm a work in progress people!!  LOL

I'm off for a trip to the ocean, I need a little vitamin sea.  My husband knows when I get overwhelmed it's time to take a break from reality.  Cherish the time you have with loved ones, my friends, this world throws too many curves and it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and miss just "BE-ing" with the ones you love.  I know it's hard with youngsters still at home, and it will get easier once they fly the nest...but make the most of every opportunity.  It looks like the next few months will be the calm before the storm, so if I disappear, don't worry, I'll be back when the world tilts back on it's axis.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

April Gifted Gorgeousness

Long time, no see...LOL  Yes, I know I just did a blog update yesterday, but this time I get to show you all the things I've been stitching for the gifted gorgeousness. (And then some!)  If you don't know what the Gifted Gorgeousness is, stop over to see Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.  She organizes us all each month on the 15th to show things we are stitching that pertains to a gift.  Either a chart, fabric or floss that was given to us, or something we are stitching for someone else.  It's been a great way for me to bring myself to accountability.  You can read about her "rules" here if you would like to join in the fun.  And you can see what others are stitching by visiting her blog.

First off is the Linen and Threads Mystery SAL that I'm participating in.  You can find the patterns here.  They are still available so it's never too late to join in.  There is a facebook page where you can see all the beautiful colors people have chosen, and there are already 4000 members.  Here is my progress...


I'm still working on Leave a Light On which was a Birthday gift from my husband last year.  I'm not making a lot of progress, but every little bit helps, right?


I'm going to mention this here...I have finished an exchange piece I stitched for our annual St. Michaels retreat.  I can't show all of it because a few of the ladies visit my blog occasionally and I want it to be a surprise.  Here is a little snippet...I still need to finish it off, but by next month I'll be able to show the whole picture.


I've been a bit preoccupied lately with life in general.  The most exciting thing that has happened lately is that my son proposed to his girlfriend.  They are the cutest couple (and I am in no way impartial...LOL) and we couldn't be happier to welcome her into our little family.  No date has been set, but things are already being discussed.  I can't wait for the happy day!


Friday, April 14, 2017

It's the Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop 2017!

Hi Everybody...

I'm thrilled to be taking part in the Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop 2017!  Thanks to Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching, who is an amazing stitcher, and plans the most fun adventures.  If you have a chance later, why not take a stroll over to her blog and have a look around.

Now....on to the blog hop.  I've been given the letter...


We celebrate Easter at our house and here are a few stitched pieces I have displayed to remind us what the holiday is all about.  The book mark was a kit that my husband gave me as a gift...


This egg was a SAL I participated in at http://www.helene-et-mahelia.com/...one of the first finishes I ever did...and have learned a lot since then...LOL


And this egg was a gift from a fellow believer and stitcher friend.  


Sorry for the terrible photos, the sunlight wouldn't cooperate!  LOL

The next blog in the hop is It's Geek to Me.  Good luck in your journey!  Have a Wonder-full Easter!





Saturday, April 1, 2017

The good, the bad and the (hopefully) not ugly...

Let's start with the good, shall we?  Thanks to the lovely Ms. Jo over at Serendipitous Stitching, I was named blogger of the week!  I had been asked to answer a few questions, but figured it would be a while before I was mentioned.  I'm thrilled and honored to have been asked, and even more thrilled and surprised to have her post mine so soon.  You can head over to Jo's blog to see her fascinating site here.  You can visit the Blogger of the Month blog here.  Thank you so much for kindly selecting my blog, and for all those who left such kind comments, I'm flattered...thank you so much!!  I will try to answer your comments very soon.

It's been a busy week.  Seems everything happens at once, doesn't it?  Not only did our computer go belly up, but then Ben's car decided to take a nose dive as well.  That leads to lots of time on the road and in car lots shopping.  That, in turn, leads to little stitching, and well you know the drill.  So much goes into getting a new car...like what to do with the old car.  He decided to sell it to the car lot we bought the new one from....but could we find the title and lien release?  NOoooooo.  I stitched while the guys tore the house apart.  We did find it, and they are there now getting the job done.  There was more that happened this week, but I'll leave that until another day.

I was hoping to finish Renouveau in the month of March, but I'll take the first day of April!  Thankfully I was left alone for a little while today to finish.  Here she is in all her glory!  This was stitched on 32 count over one on Meadow Rue using the recommended DMC floss.  I started stitching this on January 6, 2012...so 5 years in the making.  So glad it's finished!!  


I forgot to show pictures of the Stitcher's Day exchange I received last week.  My partner, Christine, sent this lovely piece and a pattern for violets.  Anyone who knows me, knows I like violets.  My Grandmother's name was Violet and I was almost named for her.  She is one of the most influential people who got me started stitching.  Here's a picture of what Christine sent.  Thank you so much Christine, it's beautiful and I absolutely LOVE it!!


Tomorrow is opening day for the Orioles, so I'll be watching the game!  It's become a tradition in our family, I think our 11th year.  The rest of the week promises to be busy as well...so who knows when I'll get to put another stitch in?  Wish me luck won't you?

I'll leave you with this little chubby character.  Looks like he was sitting pretty for the winter, doesn't he?  Thomas has a new "friend" as this little guy comes to our back deck daily to sit outside the sliding glass door and taunt him.  Thankfully Thomas can't get to him, or he'd be in trouble!  You should see Thomas prance on this side of the door...LOL