Moonlit Garden

I had great plans to finish my latest project by Thanksgiving.  Since it was so late in the month of November, I felt sure I'd be able to do that.  But, it just didn't happen.  Here's the pattern: 

It has been in my stash for quite some time and I had even started in one year during my New Year's starts but only had the top left star stitched.  Here's what I've finished now:

I need to finish the left side of the house and then have quite a bit more to put in for the finish.  I want to move on to some of my Christmas projects but don't want to stop on this one for fear it will languish in the bag again.  ::sigh:: What to do?

That's all for today!

Christmas is coming!

...and I've already stitched a holiday project!  I'm just trying to decide what I'll put up in the corner.  I don't think I want it to say Poinsettia House like the pattern.  I think, instead, I'll stitch in Holiday Blessings.  What do you think?

A little nostalgia

Whatever happened to bonus fries?  You know what I mean, right?  You eat your fries from the package and then, as you're scrounging in the bag, you find the ones that they threw in the bottom as extras for you.  It's only a few more, but I always loved the idea of having bonus fries in the bottom.  Just a couple extra.  Of course, I usually get the value-size fries.  The tiny little package that's really more than enough for someone to eat.  So, it got me thinking about other things in life.  Have we just super-sized ourselves out of the pleasant little surprises? 

Anyway, that got me thinking nostalgically about other things I miss.  I find myself missing the times that I could call Mom on the spur of the moment and go have a meal together.  I miss all the songs she and Dad used to sing.  You know the ones, Mares Eat Oats, In the Garden, Oh Tell Me Why, and their favorite lines from a movie about fishing.  Then the little things I grew up saying, like "Bread and butter" every time something split me from whomever I was with.  The whole thing was something like, 'Bread and butter, let us never be separated one from another'.  Anyone else say that one?   

So, in the stitching world I've grown to love the whole song series from La D Da.  I've stitched a couple and own a few more of the patterns.  And, I keep teaching my children those things that I loved.  Yesterday I talked to my son about a poem my Mom taught me.  I'll share it here with you all to close.  

Somebody loves you, 

Somebody cares,

Somebody whispers

Your name in prayers. 

Someone esteems you

very high.

Yes, God loves you, 

and so do I. 

 

So, take that through your week and know that that's how I feel about all of my friends.  I hope this has gotten you thinking nostalgically, too!  And may you find the bonus fries at the bottom of your bag!

 

Laura :) 

May 4 Update

Well, I have had a busy few weeks since my last blog.  I work for the school district and we recently had our yearly state assessment testing.  It's always a grueling process and makes our students stir crazy, especially when the weather shows the first signs of Spring and all they want to do is be outdoors!  LOL  But, it's all over again for another year and we have moved on. 

I have been trying to get as much stitching done as I can because I know my time will be more limited in just a short while.  In fact, the amusement park where I work for my summer job goes into full time daily operation this coming Wednesday.  So, I will be working at school and then most nights at the park.  Bye bye stitching time!

In the mean time, I have some more progress to show.  I had my Halloween Fairy SAL weekend and didn't have much time to stitch so there's not much to show but here it is:

 

 

The first picture is a close up of what I've stitched and the second shows a little more of my fabric.  Both are a little dark but there they are!  I think she'll be gorgeous on the orangey fabric.

 

 

Next up was my SAL week/weekend on Rocky Mountain Christmas.  My goal is to get this finished this year.  If I keep up with the progress the way I have been, that should be no problem.  We'll see how things progress over the summer months.  I have a close up of the section I just stitched and the overall piece as well.  I'm on Page 4 and have stitched Pages 5 & 6.  



 

 

 



 

 

I've also been working on a piece for Katie.  It's stitched on Kermit linen from PTP.   Katie tweaked the colors and asked for some changes.  I can't get the program to lay it out horizontally so you'll have to turn your head!  Here it is so far:

 

 



 

 

 

So, that's about it for now.  Hopefully another blog in another week or so with more to share!  For today, Nancy and I are headed out to complete the local cross stitch Shop Hop!

 



 



April, 2013 ~ a little update

I set up this blog clear back in November when Multiply was booting us all out.  Then, I never came back and kept up with it.  My goal is to post more often about what's going on in my little corner.  So, here goes.

I've been working on projects that inspire me this year so far.  I've spent way too much time trying to make myself work on things I don't enjoy and I'm just not going to do that any longer.  I've already had several small finishes this year.  The latest have both occurred within the last week.  First, I finished Voice of the Shepherd - Told in a Garden.  I've had the pattern in my stash for years.  Maybe even since the 1980's.  Earlier this year, I was given a tub of stash from a coworker who was clearing out her mother's things.  It was fun going through someone else's stash and seeing what had been important to her.  My sister, Nancy, found the pattern in the lady's stash and immediately claimed it.  So, when she pulled hers out to work on, I decided it was, at long last, time to just stitch it!  We chose different fabrics and it has been fun to watch them progress. So, here is a picture of my finished piece stitched on a Silkweaver's Solo 32ct Belfast linen:

 

 

Once I had finished Voice of the Shepherd, I moved on to Secret Flower Bed by The Trilogy.  I didn't have all of the threads the pattern called for so I substituted some of my own.  I still need to add the little buttons but the stitching is completed.  I stitched it on the linen included with the pattern. 

 

Don't you just love that silly little bunny? 

 

 

So, now I'm off to choose something new from my stitching bag.  I did do my annual stash dive but this year I just pulled whatever caught my fancy.  I didn't make any lists or resolutions to complete a certain number of projects.  I've just been pulling out whatever calls to me.  I am also participating in 2 stitch alongs.  One is with my chat buddies and is Rocky Mountain Christmas by Marty Bell or another BAP if that wasn't in the stash.  We all work on it during the last week/weekend of the month.  The other is Halloween Fairy that was in a magazine a few years ago.  This SAL includes my daughter, Katie, and my sister, Nancy.  We've each chosen different fabrics so it should be fun to see how they each turn out.  We stitch on it during the 3rd weekend of the month.  I'll post pictures for both projects after this month's weekends. 

 

Otherwise, my summer job has started.  It keeps me busy, busy, busy and I keep falling asleep in my chair most nights.  I'm trying to make sure I find some stitching time, too, to keep me sane!  Jeff and I will celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary this Friday, April 19.  We have plans to travel to an Amish community that's a couple of hours away and then maybe go to dinner and a movie in the evening.  I'm looking forward to spending time with Jeff.  We just don't get enough quality time together. 

 

So, that's it for now.  If you're new to my blog, you'll find that I'm definitely chatty when I do post!!  LOL  Stay tuned to see what I come up with next.

 

For now ~

 

Hugs and Stitches,

 

Laura :)