Is it summer?

Hey, Friends!

Is it feeling like summertime at your house?  Humid evenings with heat lightening, or quick pouring rains and storms? Muggy, steamy, mornings?  I think summer is here a little early this year - but that's really no surprise, is it?

This week I finished Pink Hill Manor. It was stitched in honor of my aunt who passed in January from ovarian cancer.  I made a couple of switches in colors to make it appear even more pink toned, and since my Old Purple Paint was ‘missing’ at the time, there was a custom Blackberry Pie that stood in for it.  The initials of her deceased husband and her two children are there, as well.  I love how it turned out, and think she would love it, too.

As you see, my Anniversaries of the Heart project is a long way from completion.  There have been a couple of beautiful finishes recently that are very inspiring to me – Siobhan and Katrina – beautiful pieces of work!  Have a look and you may be enabled as well!

Next on my clipboard is the Mystery Sampler, Birds of a Feather, from With Thy Needle & Thread.  I made the choice to stitch it on 34 ct Cafe Aulait with the charted fibers.  I've only stitched one side of the border, so there's not much to show yet.

I am always on the lookout for stash and a couple of weeks ago I found With Needle & Thread.  It pays to keep your eyes open…  It just makes me wonder why Alma and Barb don’t reprint some of their early designs into booklet form?  There are many of us who were not stitching then, and would love to be able to stitch some of the older designs.   

A new Yahoo group was started last week called Pals Stitching at the Beach.  It is specifically for the PALS Fall Fling retreat at Myrtle Beach in October and any stitchers who plan to or are considering going.  I went last year for the first time see the post here , and before I left had already said I’d be going again this year.  It was so great to meet some on-line friends, and some brand new friends, too!  I was second on the sign-up sheet, have made reservations, and am already excited to go again!  It is at the SpringMaid Resort, where we had a huge assembly room with tables open from early to midnight thirty… you can stitch in the cool and still see the ocean, chat with friends, or go and do other beach-y type things.  There are grab bags, ornament swaps, and some fun games.  Amy From Down Sunshine Lane is the sponsor of the event, and she does a great job!  And speaking of Amy, there is a get together planned for next Saturday, June 4, in Manning at the French Hens.  A group of PALS gather to stitch, sip beverages, eat and be merry for a few hours, typically 10-4.  It is a fun gathering, and I PLAN to be on time this time, y’all, and look forward to seeing everyone! 
A quick PS:  Do you know Mary Corbet?  She is an extraordinary stitcher-teacher, with a delightful daily newsletter posting.  Anyway -- I know there have been a lot of links in this week's posting, but to all my stitching-quilter friends, you must see Friday's posting.  You MUST!

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a word or two!  It's so nice to hear your comments and thoughts - almost like having a little chat. 

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Quick Posting

Edited to add photo
Hey, Friends!

Not so much going on around here this week other than a little stitching and a few cute finds. 

There has been some progress on the next AotH piece, Pink Hill Manor.  The border is finished, a few bits, and the house is almost done. 

I saw this little silver frog and thought it had to come home with me!  I’ve seen those wirey, pin types, the glass and pottery ones, but never noticed the silver ones.  It has little ‘legs’ that would hold it in place on the dish.  It’s about 4 ½ inches.  And these darling little birds.  I love their tan/neutral colors.  Have I told you that at one time I had this totally irrational fear of birds?  I don’t really remember, but family says some nesting birds attacked me at Grandmother’s when I was a child, so that must be the cause for it.  I was so afraid that I didn’t even like looking at the images of birds – but the real fear has been overcome, and the shelf above me at the computer desk is now filled with them!  I don't think I've posted the finished photo of The Tree with Birds, so here it is.

DS is coming later today so that we can have dinner with Nan and Pop.  She’s been on vacation this week, cleaning their house, so we’ll admire and eat happily!  

I’m looking forward to visiting with Amy’s PALs at the French Hen in Manning on June 4.  Hope to see y'all there!

Thanks to everyone who came by to say Hello and for your kind words. They are appreciated - as you are!

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

May?

Hey, Friends!

So, what did I do over the days off?  Some stitching, some shopping, a bit of closet straightening.  When I got my car, DS was in need of a newer car, so he bought my Nissan Murano.  After only these few months, he decided it was bigger and used more gas that he wanted, so he sold it.  We spent Monday and Tuesday looking and shopping for another car for him.  He had been researching, and decided he wanted either a Toyota or Honda.  I’m glad I had the time off to go with him.  We spent Monday in Georgia, to no avail – well, for the car anyway.  I had done a little research of my own, and found a nice little cross stitch shop there in Marietta.  It is Abecedarius Cross Stitch and had lots of good online reviews.  It was a little difficult to find – in a strip mall, on a road with construction.  The most helpful clue was a huge sign overhead that said Needlework.  Their sign was quite small in comparison. She had lots and lots of beautiful stitched samples, a great selection of charts, and a couple of baskets of reduced price charts, too.  Of course I’m totally spoiled by my LNS, The Stitch and Frame, but it is a nice place if you’re in the area.  Back to the original story… We ended up finding a Honda Civic that someone had just traded, so we had to wait for them to clean, replace brakes, add tires, etc, but it was worth it, and a lot closer to home as well.  He seems tickled, plus he got to pay off a credit card.  Seems like a good deal all around.

Speaking of my LNS, I picked up my BBD Winter Wonderland that they framed for me.  I just LOVE, love it.  I’m so happy I let them do it.  Great job, Peggy!  Thanks so much.  Oh, and by the way, they now have a new Blog Site.

Do you believe that Bunny & Co. is finally finished being stitched?  Although I do adore the pattern, now I know what to expect when the pattern starts out as a punch needle design.  Of course I wasn’t stitching as much as I’d like, but it took about a month to finish it.  The stitched area is about 5 ½ by 9 inches, so I’m not sure how it will be finished – sort of thinking of a flat fold?  Brenda did hers as a little pillow.  What do you think? 

The next Anniversary of the Heart piece on my list is Pink Hill Manor. This will be in memory of my Dear Aunt who passed in January.  Her birthday would have been in May, and she dearly loved pink. I made a couple of floss changes to accentuate the pink even more! Haven’t gotten very far, but it is starting out nicely.

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, and I’d like to wish you all a wonderful day!  DS had told me when we were together that he had to work and wouldn’t be able to come home on Sunday.  That’s fine since we had some ‘quality’ time in the car together – seemed like old times – running to this event and that! J We had discussed whether or not I need to continue watering a tree he gave me last year.  On Thursday when I got home there was a package on the porch.  It was a water timer to automatically turn the water on and off for the spigot.  How neat is that? 

 On Friday, there was a box on the porch… I’m trying to think of what I’ve ordered… Nope! It’s a box from Sheri’s Berries.  Yes, a delightful box of beautifully decorated strawberries – chocolate covered, some with nuts, some with lovely designs – and so yummy!  When I was on the phone with him I said they're almost as big as my fist.  He didn't want to believe me, but some of them really are! What a thoughtful and loving son I have.  Of course I always know this, and the gifts are such a small part of making that so, but they are sweet and I do appreciate the extra effort.

Well it’s time for me to go log my new stash and then come to see what you’ve been doing.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Leave a thought or a word if you like – they make the visit seem a bit more personal, don’t they?

* Reminder:  TuSAL is in the side bar this year à

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC