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Hello Friends!  I hope you are enjoying a lovely August weekend in your neck of the woods.  Ours here in NC has been absolutely glorious.  Not too warm, low humidity, and a nice breeze blowing.  Sure wish it would last more than a couple of days. Earlier this week I received an early birthday present from dear Chris .   It's the latest in the Season's of Chessie series from Old Mill Stitchery!  It is a fabulous kit that includes everything I need to finish the hornbook.  Do you see the cute acorn cut out on the handle?  This is going to be another fun stitch but I have decided to wait until closer to my actual birthday to start it.  Thank you so much Chris - you are the best!   One of the reasons I am waiting to start the Chessie kit is because the minute I saw this one my fingers couldn't click over to Etsy fast enough.   What a great design.  I would probably be nearly finished with it if I could decide on the floss color for...

Based on my stitching that is.  90 degrees and about 1000% humidity sure doesn't feel like autumn but it seems that is all I want to stitch right now. I had a couple of finishes this weekend.  First I finish/finished Matilda. I decided to continue with the teeny quilt block theme and made 4 little 1 inch pinwheel blocks for the corners.  Isn't she cute modeling with the Honeycrisp apples I picked at the orchard yesterday? I also finished stitching this little freebie by With Thy Needle. I chose not to stitch the border and added a piece of hand dyed lace instead.  My camera lens kept fogging up in the humidity, hence the fuzziness in the photo. And what would a photo shoot be without my ever present "assistant"? And just what is it about cats and boxes?  I sat this box down after unloading my apples from the orchard and Glitter has decided it is her new throne.  Her 14 year old self just cracks me up sometimes. Wishing you all a fabulous week ahead!...

Hello friends!  I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend.  We had a glorious day here in NC - warm but not hot, low humidity, breeze blowing...just a wonderful day to be outside.  I have been battling a terrible sinus infection all week and today is the first day I have felt normal in over a week. Do you have your copy of the JCS Halloween Special yet?  Did you know you can download it from their website?  When I learned I could download it my fingers couldn't click over there fast enough.  I saw this design on Lori's blog and knew it would be the first one I stitched.  "Matilda Hornbuckle" Norforgotten Farm from the JCS Halloween book 28 ct raw linen/DMC floss    I originally started stitching this 2 over 2 but didn't like how large it was going to be as I wanted to add it to my basket with the little fall pillows when the time comes.  So, I regrouped and stitched it 1 over 1.  It is very small.  Now I just have to decide on fabrics ...

Hello friends!  Ziggy thanks you all for your sweet comments on his photo from my last post.  :o) I recently won a giveaway from June at Butterfly Wings and was just thrilled that it arrived in the mail yesterday. Before opening:   And after:  June really spoiled me.  She sent along this lovely stitched pin pillow as well as a 2014 pocket calendar, peony sachet, and the cutest butterfly with a length of ribbon.  I can't decide which side is prettiest! Thank you so much June for your kindness and generosity.  If you haven't visited June's blog before you need to hurry over as it is a real treat.  I want to live in her garden.  :o)

Hello friends!  Thank you all for your wonderful comments on my little fall pillow finishes.  Who knew a little quilt block could make such a difference?  I will definitely be using those in some of my future finishes.  After reviewing your comments, I decided not to add any trim.  Like you, I like them just the way they are. Peach season opened at our local orchard yesterday.   DH and I braved the 90 degree heat and 100% humidity to pick our share of the bounty.  We emerged soaking wet with sweat and 1/2 bushel of these lovelies.  I plan to freeze some of them today but just had to enjoy a peach cobbler last night.  :o)   On the stitching front:   I finally found some of the new blue Ball jars and couldn't wait to do something with at least one of them. I wanted the quart size but have only been able to locate the pints thus far.  I used the free candle wrap design that Sandra shared on her Plain & Fanc...

In a row, that is!  :o) I was a bit weary of working on patriotic stitches so I decided to celebrate a little Christmas in July with this cute Lizzie Kate design.  It is stitched on 36 count Pearl Gray linen with DMC floss.  I trimmed the design with pom poms and then stitched it up into a pillow.  I just love the paisley fabric I found at Hobby Lobby.  The colors went perfectly with this design. This little guy says "stay cool, ya'll!"

Snowmen!  I was tiring a bit of stitching on patriotic things so decided to change it up a bit.  These are grungy icicle snowmen ornaments.  Doncha just love that wee one with his ear muffs?!  These were embroidered, sewn up, stuffed, given headwear and trimmings, than spritzed with coffee and baked to grungy perfection.  :o) I didn't have quite enough rusty jingle bells and pins so I decided to try my hand at rusting my own.  I just did a google search for rusting recipe, chose one of the non toxic recipes (without bleach) that I found and started "cooking".  Here is what the solution looked like when the magic was happening:  It rises and bubbles like crazy!  And here are the (rusty) fruits of my labor:   Please excuse the quality of the pictures.  It has been raining here for 11 days!  The sun did manage to peek through for a couple of hours today but I can hear a downpour outside as I type.  I sure hope it doesn't rain...