Merry Christmas

I stitched these two Hummel designs for my Mom and Dad in 1983. I found them last spring at their house wrapped in a piece of bedsheet and in my mother's handwriting was 'Christmas Pictures'. I love seeing her unique handwriting more than the stitched pieces! This year I am especially missing my Dad; my first Christmas without him.

My children and grandchildren will be over tomorrow morning for gift sharing and brunch. It will be a wonderful day. Life goes on as it should.

Merry Christmas!!

Crazy Zauberball Socks and Charlotte

Crazy Zauberball socks for my daughter-in-law! They were so much fun to knit. I just went faster and faster to see how the yarn color would change! These will make her feet very, very happy!!

And some progress on Charlotte Clayton. I finished up the over 1 verse and I'm moving on. This has been a delightful stitch. Can't wait till I get to the big dog in the center!!

Kind of, sort of, half way there

Here's a pic of the wood floors before installation. The wood is Tobacco Road Teak, handscrapped planks. It's beautiful and has some wonderful texture and coloring. Just right for disguising cat hair....
And here it is installed in my sewing room - yummy. It's all installed in the guest bedroom and master bedroom too. That's pretty much half of the house. After admiring the floor for two nano seconds, we (they) moved all the furniture and stuff (and I mean stuff) from the living room, family room, kitchen into the finished side. Whew...

Here's a pic of my contractor, Zack, lining everything up prior to floor installation in the master bedroom. He has done a fabulous job for me. The yellow stuff on the floor is a moisture barrier. In Florida the hardwood has to be installed over cement, so this yellow stuff goops out and is troweled on the floor and then sets up like a vinyl covering. It's some really cool (stinky) stuff.

And I needed new tile in a bathroom and laundry room. The hardwood is so thick that we needed to make up the difference in height and this did the trick.

Zack is painting the living room, family room and kitchen this week along with installing new tile in the kitchen. New countertops are scheduled for installation on Friday. And next week...the rest of the floors.

I have my computer back and have nested myself in the sewing room with fiber and TV. Could life get any better?? (Stitch progress and Crazy Zauberball sock progress pics soon.)

Oh My Goodness

Sorry my dear friends..no pics. My poor house is a big mess. Painting has started....My floors were delivered today and will be acclimating for the next week. As soon as I get my computer hooked back up (using my son's computer) I'll post some pics. Hugs to everyone!!

Progress on Charlotte

I am making some progress on Charlotte Clayton. I've finished the top section and about half done with the second. This week I'm working on the 1 over 1 word area and doing good so far. I love the scale of the animals on this piece. Those birds could eat up that little doggie in a 'sampler minute'!

UPDATE TO POST: Thanks to everyone for your very kind comments! I started to stitch this on 32 count linen but didn't care for it. So...I restarted on 36 count Lakeside Linen Examplar using 1 strand of the called for NPI silks. Much better I think!

Hot Socks

I finished some hot socks!! The fiber is from Sleeping Dragon Yarns called Candy Apple. I use the Magic Loop method, toe up. They look like submarines but actually stretch out on my feet to fit and feel fabulous. Now I'm starting on a pair for my darling daughter-in-law using Crazy Zauberball fiber!! And yes, the color is just as crazy as the name. Pics later!!

Decorating for Halloween

Sister Cathy sent me a darling necklace, I mean wall hanging...says it all!!

Just a little decorating for Halloween. I put Cassanova on top of the china hutch and put Jaxon up on the plant shelf above the fridge! Spooky aren't they?? hee hee

Helping Paws

I love a good companions opinion. I think this is a thumbs up from Casanova!

(checkout previous post)

I LOVE COLOR - looking at it NOT CHOOSING IT

I started to pick new paint colors for my living room, family room and guest bedroom with gray and some pale blues...too gray and too blue with too much blue in the blue and too much green in the blue and too much blue in the gray... and you get it!

I decided to move on and used the colors from this darling table topper and pin cushion my sister Joan made for me. I love the colors and think I did pretty good getting the paint chip to match. I even went around the house deciding what wall to paint what color and put up sticky notes.

After a restless night of sleeping..... ya you get it....

and closing in on criminal insanity I pulled some favorite fabrics from my stash, taped them to a board and headed off to Home Depot one more time. Removed my glasses, squinted my eyes and pulled these colorful paint chips to match the fabric.

I know why I like cross stitch... I just pull the suggested fabric and thread and follow the pattern!! I don't have to think how it will all look when I'm finished!! I know it will be fantastic.

But choosing new colors for my house....YIKES!! I just keep telling myself it's only paint. If you don't like it you can paint over it!! Let's see how well this design venture goes!!

Stay tuned...the paint guy comes tomorrow morning!

Winter Cardinal

I think we have Cardinals nearly year round in Florida. I love watching them. Here are a couple of pics of Winter Cardinal that I stitched. Isn't he beautiful? The threads are just as bright as the real feathers!! But the snow....forget about it!!

The Best Friends

Is this crazy or what?? Deliciously decadent!!

These are the best friends a gal could have!! I was so very glad they shared the day with me opening all my fun, fun, fun stitching treasures.

From left to right Lesley, Jayne, Sue (sitting on chair), Cherie, Jean, Vicki (sitting on chair), Barb (standing), Kathy and Joan. Jayne is my next door neighbor... how cool is that and Lesley lives in my neighborhood too. Barb is my daughter-in-law and great Mom to two of my grand-daughters, Corinne and Carly. I met Joan at a sock knitting class in 2006 right after I retired. When the sock class was over I was sad because I didn't know when I would ever see her again. Low and behold, we had a common friend who got us together in a stitching group. Now I work in that yarn store one day a week!! Vicki is Joan's sister. Jean used to work in our LNS until it closed. I met Cherie stitching at our library stitch. She keeps all of us in STITCHES laughing. And, Kathy's son Matt goes to school with Corinne in Chicago. It's a small world.

These talented women are wonderful friends and the finest needlewomen around. I value their friendship and hold each of them dear to my heart.

LIFE IS GOOD

Part Duex

The MYSTERY SAMPLER by Blackbird Designs. I chose to stitch this one on five separate pieces of fabric and then stitched them together. Jill did some amazing work on this one!!
Where My Heart Blooms
Rites of Spring
When This You See
I Question Not
Liberty and Union by Blackbird Designs. This frame and mat work is just something else. I took a close up of the cut outs Jill did. This piece warms my good old USA HEART!!!

OH MY....

Opening Ceremonies:Home Sweet Home - The Goode Huswife I stitched this beauty over 1 on some 28 count fabric. DARLING!!! I wished I could take better pics!! Jill's framing is STUNNING!!
Do you think I was happy to see Ida Mae??
I stitched Ida Mae Crow on some yellow fabric I had in my stash with recommended DMC except for a color on her dress. It was a drab brown and I changed it to RED!! I'm so glad Ira Ray will be along shortly!! Is this frame and mat OVER THE TOP or WHAT !!!
And Thomas Turkey by Notforgotten Farms. Jill has made him into such a handsome Tom.... And just in time for Thanksgi........ whoops.... and just in time for Autumn!!

LET THE PARTY BEGIN

Casanova and Jaxon are guarding the loot until the party tomorrow. In these two boxes are nine (9) pieces I stitched and had Jill Rensel custom frame for me. Included are Blackbird Designs 2008 Loose Feathers Mystery Sampler, Rites of Spring, When This You See, Home is Where My Heart Blooms and I Question Not. Also, Ida Mae Crow and Home Sweet Home by The Goode Huswife, Thomas Turkey by Notforgotten Farms, and Liberty and Union by Blackbird Designs. WOW I left them in Jills trusting and talented hands when I was last in Utah. I have no idea what they look like. I just tell her to have at it!!

So, my dear friends, stay tuned for pics of the festivities and these treasures. I have eleven dear friends coming over for a luncheon tomorrow. We'll be unwrapping, ooh-ing and awe-ing, and I am sure, drooling over these pieces. I am giddy with anticipation!!

It Was A Wonderful Cruise

It was a wonderful cruise! This stitch along was so much fun. I had to sit on my hands so I wouldn't stitch ahead of our assignment, and then when our final orders were issued...I sort of didn't want it to end. A great big thanks to Loraine and Terri for being the best cruise directors ever!

Warm Heads, Warm Hearts

I love it when a plan comes together. I just finished knitting this darling hat from the latest VOGUEknitting magazine.

Here's another view of the hat laid out. You can really see the cable / leaf pattern.

Next to it is the Aviatrix hat I knit for a brand new great-nephew Wesley Cache. He's my baby brother's first grandchild. The newest Grandma and Grandpa Crandall are 'over-the-top' in love with this child!!

Sailing Away with Turtle in Tow

I'm sailing away with Terri's darling turtle fob in tow. Thanks Terri!!

Hey Margaret....

I have a wonderful friend. Her name is Margaret and I first met her on the Legacy bulletin board. Her work is stunning and there is a lot of it. Every piece is just as lovely as the next one. She also does a blog (link on my blog - see right) and it makes me happy every time I read her posts. She is such an enabler....and I love that about her; she is such an encouragement to me. In one of her most recent posts she had pics of Charlotte Clayton framed. JUST BEAUTIFUL. And the big bird is pictured at the top of her blog. So, Sunday night I'm stitching, stitching, stitching. wanting to roll my Charlotte up for the night, but I kept thinking.. just get the big bird done so you can show Margaret... and here it is!!

I've never met Margaret in person or even talked with her on the phone. But, I value our friendship and consider her one of my dearest friends! Thanks Margaret...a friend in stitches.

Aye Aye Captain

I have truly enjoyed stitching Sail Away with my Stitch Along (SAL) group. Here's part 3 completed.

Look What I Did !!

Earth Gatherer

While I was trying to decide what piece to stitch (along with what you've all ready seen in a previous post) I came across this one by Shepherd's Bush.

Don't ask me how long it took...I have no idea. It's been a work in progress for years. It does have frequent flyer miles though, it's been back and forth to Utah many, many times. Even when all the cross stitch was completed, the backstitching, beading and adding the charms took a fair amount of time. It was worth it though -- a treasure for sure. I suppose I should seriously consider starting the Wool Gatherer and the Herb Gatherer. They are both sitting right in front of me waiting for needle and thread. Instead of a sampler wall, I think I'll have a Shepherd's Bush wall!

Here's a close up of the girl....

And here's a close up of the boy..

Cruising Along Nicely

Finally...I am cruising along nicely. My first assignment is complete! It was difficult to not just keep on cruising.......

The Ship has Sailed

I signed up for a Stitch-A-Long (SAL) with some new stitching friends. We are stitching Shepherd's Bush - Sail Away together. The link to our blog is on the left side of this blog. I set sail in a big way last night only to discover this morning that I clearly cannot count. So, I jumped ship and rowed back to shore. I frogged the over 1 words (just one of my favorite stitching tasks -- NOT) and prepared to set sail once again this evening. I'm sure I'll do much better because my sweet Jaxon is helping me out!! He's such a great stitching buddy. See how he is holding onto my scissors so they don't fall on the floor? What a good boy he is!