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Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my last post.  You make me want to stitch faster!  LOL I have another finish to show... "Harvest Time" Chessie and Me Floss and Fabric as kitted Old Mill Stitchery Seasons of Chessie Club A big thank you to Chris for gifting me with this lovely kit.  There were lots of specialty stitches in this one so it took me a bit longer than the last one.  I almost made a tragic mistake in the finishing...I originally mounted the piece sideways with the words across the top.  I didn't realize my mistake until I took it outside for the photo.  Thank goodness I used Alene's tacky glue instead of the Gutterman's industrial strength glue I had thought about using.  I was able to carefully remove the piece from the hornbook and  attach it in the proper orientation.  Crisis averted! I hope you are having a wonderful week!

Hello!  I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  I don't have any stitching to show because I have been spending most of my time outside.   After 3 weeks my little garden is really starting to grow. I will be harvesting the radishes at the end of this week.  Now I have to decide what to replant in that square. I was strolling through Lowe's this weekend and was caught up by their selection of succulents.  Of course a few had to come home with me.  I had lots of fun making little container gardens with them. This one uses a bird's nest that had fallen from a tree.   I had a house shaped container for this one. And this one is the one I had the most fun making. I made the adirondack chair with popsicle sticks and a tutorial I found online.  I printed a cute pattern on photo paper and fashioned the umbrella with a bamboo skewer.  The little flip flops are buttons. I found the printout for the sign...

Anyone home?  Wow!  It has been over 3 months since I last posted on this here blog.  The dust here nearly took me out.  :o) Not a lot has happened since we last met.  I developed a severe case of tennis elbow which has brought my stitching and sewing and computing to a screeching halt.  Several visits to the doctor and orthopedist and I am finally getting some relief.  It was to the point I couldn't even lift a glass of water.  I can do very little stitching even now but at least I can use the sewing machine.   I made a few more wonder wallets.  These will make nice little gifts. I found a pump kit at Hobby Lobby and made a new soap dispenser for my bathroom.  I just love the new blue mason jars and find myself looking for things to make with them. Betty continues to bring us much joy every day.  She still has issues with the cats along with some pretty severe seperation anxiety but we love her all the same....

Hello friends!  Still no stitching happening around here.  Between work, the garden, and Betty I have been staying busy, busy, busy. I had my first harvest from the garden this week.  A few radishes (I should have left them a few more days) and a handful of lettuce. As you can see everything is growing like crazy.  I counted 21 flowers on my marigolds.  I have a baby squash and a baby tomato now.  LOL  I am a proud mama! I still had a few of the succulents left from my adventure to Lowe's.  I made a gnome home using an old rusty roasting pan that belonged to my mother. And a post from me just wouldn't be complete without a picture of Betty.  Thank you all for stopping by and know that I really appreciate your comments and feedback.  Have a great week!  

Hello friends and folk!  It seems I have some catching up to do.  This getting home from work at 8:30 only to do it all over again at 7:30 in the morning is really wearing on me.  There has been very little stitching happening. A big thank you to those of you who purchased my sewing/stitching cases.  I had no idea they would be so popular and I am glad that everyone likes them.  I enjoy sewing as much as I do stitching and when I can pass that joy along to someone else it makes me happy. Last weekend Chris and I met for lunch and spent some time laughing and chatting.  We are both feeling rather stressed at work so it was wonderful to be able to sit and spend time with a friend.  Chris brought along the Just Cross Stitch Halloween issue for me to peruse.  I will definitely be placing an order for that one soon.  And Chris being the sweetie that she is surprised me with these:  The Glory House pattern has been on my wish ...

Hello friends!  Brrrr.  Fall arrived in NC last night with rain, wind, and temperatures in the 50's.  Makes me want to snuggle up in a quilt with a cuppa something warm.  (Which I have done a couple of times already today.) After visiting Lone Star Merchantile with Chris I was inspired to do a little quilting.  Using a charm pack of Seasonal Gatherings fabric by Primitive Gatherings and some of the hand dyed buttons from Victorian Motto I came up with this: It looks great hanging next to my Halloween tree.  :o) Then, I decided to get to work on the holiday pillow kit I purchased.  It was fun to be able to incorporate my love of sewing on the machine with some hand work.  Toss in some gorgeous wool and I was having my own private party! The pattern is by Buttermilk Basin and I just love the prim look of this pillow.  It will be a nice addition to my Christmas decor.  Even Mr. Crow had to join in.  ;o) ...

Hello dear friends!  There has been virtually NO stitching happening here so the forecast for this blog post is Sunny and Peachy.  :o) This week saw the appearance of my very first sunflower: Isn't she sweet?!  And here is the next one sure to show in all her glory later this week:  These pictures are a bit deceiving as the actual stalks for the sunflowers are now over 6-1/2 foot tall.  I have to pull them down in order to take a decent picture.  The bees and bugs are loving them right now but what I am really looking forward to is the seeds to form and the birds to start feasting.  Stay tuned. Last Sunday we took a trip to Millstone Creek Orchards .  It is officially peach season and we just love it.  They really didn't have a crop of peaches last year due to a late frost but the trees are just loaded this year. What?  You can't see them?  Come a little closer. Oh come on, get closer.  :o) Ahhhhh!...

Hello Friends!  I had intended to post this last weekend but just couldn't find enough hours in my days.  Chris and I met last Sunday for breakfast.  I had some finishing to give back to her and we needed to catch up a bit.  We did a lot of eating and talking.  We always have a fun time and I am so fortunate to have such a like minded friend living close by.  Chris recently returned from the Nashville market and I enjoyed hearing all about her adventure and she brought me a few gifties. I couldn't wait to get started on Liberty Inn and I almost have the house built.  :o)  I haven't had much stitching time this week as work kept calling my name.  I am hoping to spend a quiet Easter Sunday stitching and maybe doing a little sewing. "Folk Egg - Quilt" The Prairie Schooler Just Cross Stitch Spring Issue Wishing you all a happy and blessed Easter! 

Hello friends!  It has been cold and icy here this weekend.  Work closed early Friday and the ice was so bad yesterday we didn't even open.  I took advantage of the extra time and did the finishing on my With Thy Needle Friendship samplers. Victorian Motto cluny lace trim for this one. Chenille - again from Victorian Motto. I completed the stitching on this "Bluebird Serenade" and finished it up too.  I tried a new technique for me with the ric rac - I wove two different shades of pink together. See how different it looks?  Love it! And here they are, so happy together! I also spent some time with my sewing machine and made up these mug mats for Valentine's Day.  This is the January Label Crew project by Sweetwater. I had several scraps left over and since I am not one to waste such pretty bits... I used them to make these sweet fabric valentines.  :o)   A winner has been selected....

Hello from rainy, dreary NC.  We have had quite a few days of clouds and drizzly rain.  I am ready for some sunshine. Thank you all for your kind comments on my Liberty Inn finish.  I thought you might like to see the beginnings of my patriotic wall. I know it's rather pitiful right now but I do have a couple of projects lined up (if I can avoid stitching distractions) and hope to have at least 2 more pieces to add to it this year.  That white lump you see in the bottom is our thermostat.  No way to hide that thing and you can't cover it up so there it is. I could hardly wait to get started on the LHN design Lynda sent me in the spring exchange.  So...stitch it I did and finished it into an ornament as well.  I am not thrilled with the finishing - the wool I used seems too "washed out" for the design but it will make a nice addition to my tree this year.  "Tweet" Little House Needleworks 36 ct cocoa linen/floss as charted Which br...

Hello friends!  Once again I am woefully behind on my visits to your blogs.  I am hoping to catch up this week.  I miss seeing all your wonderful creations and reading your insightful posts. It has been busy here with work and family and such but I have managed to finish some things. The baby quilt was finished and delivered to the expectant mother.  I added two more Prairie Schooler Santas to my collection.  It finally snowed!  Only a couple of inches and it only stayed for a day but I was glad to see it.    I made a few thread catchers. As you can see I have managed to stay busy.  :o) I have been in a funk lately.   I haven't had a lot of energy and week before last I had a headache every.single.day.  I believe this funk may be due in part to my poor eating habits.  McDonalds and Taco Bell for lunch most days just isn't good for me. So I have decided to do something about it.  I hav...