TuSAL and Friends

Hey, Friends!

We had the first New Moon of 2012 last week, and I’m just getting our first TuSAL posted, but did take the photo that day (not that there is a lot of difference now)!  Once again, it will be in the right sidebar over thereà. 

Today (Friday) I had a nice treat – some of the girls I’ve come to know from PALS were taking a road trip today, and they traveled down this way to visit Stitch and Frame Shop.  I was happy to slip away from the office for a few minutes to visit with Linda, Sarah, and Faye – The Carolina Stitcher!  She had ‘Sarah’ in the car with her, and she brought her in to share.  She’s close to being finished – you know that blazing needle of hers!  

One of the nice ladies in the shop, Carol, had just finished the Blackbird Designs 2011 Loose Feathers piece, and it was scrumptious!  You know I left my phone on the desk at work, so no pics of the visitors or any of their lovely works!

As for my needle, Mary and I are moving along slowly.  Not a lot of difference, but a little (please ignore the crevices).  There have been a couple of very distracting pieces along the way so she may get to go back for another nap before too long.  You see, my ‘not really a resolution’ to only use stash didn’t quite make it through January.  Lizzie*Kate’s “A Little Love” kit is too precious for words!  And I was trying to let LHN Christmas Ornaments for 2012 go by this year, but did you see "Blessed"?  She’s an adorable angel.

   

I'm grateful for my LNS

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

No Snow Here

Hey, Friends!

Have you been seeing the snow of all our stitching friends?  Judy commented that my sidebar thermometer stated that it was 71 degrees (the thermometer was wrong) and it was snowing at her home.  It still is, by the way, and beautiful.  The outlook isn’t so positive around these parts this year (February?).  But if you want to see some lovely snow, grab a big cuppa something hot and take a look over at Michele’s or Beth’s. 

I live in the country which means there’s a horse pasture across the road and a creek beside my house, and we use well water.  When one has a well there are parts (don’t know exactly what they are) that are above ground and should be covered in some manner. I’ve always said NO to fake rocks, so for that first Christmas I asked my folks for a ‘wishing well’ cover. This is a spring picture from 2009.  We’ve been here about 15 years and it finally crumbled.  I have been looking all around town at hardware and places where there were wooden swings, etc. but couldn’t find another wishing well… so I crumbled, too, and now have a fake rock!

Remember those knitting needles from the consignment shop?  I took a couple days off from stitching and started a few scarves.  That didn’t last very long – but they’re there when I need to busy my hands!  A little stitchy gift surprise is in the works, so I won’t show it just yet.  

Then I pulled out Mary.  She’s been napping since the urge to stitch smalls hit me – when was that … October? Nope, it was November 6.  Oh, Mary Who?  Why, it’s Mary Gibson.  I was happy to see her and get reacquainted!  She’s a very light and bright girl!

I'm grateful that DS visited on Saturday! 

Thanks for all your kind words and comments.  Sometimes they feel like hugs, don’t they? 

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Second Finish

Hey, Friends!

As I had hoped, I finished my second 2012 project yesterday, and so without further ado:

It’s The Good Huswife’s  Sarah Seifer 1826.  She’s stitched on 36ct R-R Gold Finch, using the recommended DMC fibers with these exceptions: The alphabet is 924, the Name is 3371, and the birth date is 3011.

This was such a fun project – I loved every stitch, but when I took the photo, realized the bottom birds were missing, and the upper bird beaks...  Now the stitching is finished!  The "J" is missing on purpose.  I've read that they did this so that they didn't appear to be 'perfect.'  No worries about that in my stitching!

I’m grateful for hot Earl Gray and shortbread!

Thank y’all for each and every comment you send along! 

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

January Wins and Finds

Hey, Friends!

The new year has commenced, and it has been much the same.  I’ve been stitching away, but want to wait to show you the progress when it’s closer to completion. Hopefully that won’t be too long since we have a long weekend!    

I'm going to leave this packaged until ready to work on it, so sorry for the glare.  Remember that I was the winner of a prize from Nancy at Victorian Motto?  She has others going on if you haven’t entered! There was a box on my steps when I got home yesterday and I couldn’t figure out what it was… then I saw the return address!  Oh, boy – but why such a big box?  So that the perforated paper wouldn’t get creased – but I hadn’t realized it was this size - about 18 inches long. I chose Forget me Not, and it is wonderful!  There’s also some gold for backing the piece if you wish, and all that wonderful thread! Nancy, all your things are so lovely, and you are so generous! Again, thank you VERY much!

On my way to the chiropractor yesterday I saw a sign at a consignment shop that nearly everything was 50% off… who can resist that?  The shop is in an old house, so in the nursery I found a box of knitting needles.  No, I really don’t knit that much, but when I want to start something, I’m usually using the set of needles that would be just right for the project.  Yes there are KIPs here, too!  In the kitchen I found this set of made in the US – oven proof – heavy brown mugs.  Won’t they be perfect to keep that cuppa steamy while blogging or stitching?

There are just some mornings when we don't want to get out of bed, aren't there?

I’m grateful for Martin Luther King, Jr., and that my workplace observes his holiday.

Thank y’all for each and every comment you send along! 

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

First Finish

Hey, Friends!

As we all think, where did the time go?  It’s back to work in the morning, and I’ve just finished processing for tonight.  I certainly could have used another week off, but I finished up my first 2012 piece today.  It is Primitive Angel head (stone) from Country Rustic. The linen is a small ornie piece (35 or 36ct) from Hand Dyed Fibers using DMC 844.  It was fairly quick and fun to stitch.  The frame was in my thrifty stash pile and only had to be swiped with some Briwax to become presentable.  Now she’s in the collection above my bed… upper right.  

Woo Hoo!  I’m a winner!  Did you see in the side bar that Nancy of Victorian Motto was having a drawing on New Year’s Day?  Well, I was one of the winners – and I got to choose the motto kit I’d like to receive.  Isn’t that fantastic?  I’ll surely post photos when it arrives.  By the way, I notice she's having another one now...

I received an order –placed before the New Year (trying to stick to using stash), from Jan at TheTree of Life Linens and am I ever glad. Aren’t they lovely?

I’m grateful that I can still recognize images in the clouds, etc.

Thank y’all  for each and every comment you send along!  See you soon!

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Happy New Year!

Hey, Friends!

…and so, here we are at the end of 2011.  Two significant losses made it sorrowful, so I’m glad it has passed and we’re on to another new year.

How did you wind up the old year?  Did you rock with Ryan, Dick, and GaGa?  For me it was stitching.  The final stitches of 2011 were placed to finish ‘Jingle all the Way’ by The Scarlett House (Tanya).  Man alive, were those snowflakes ever … It’s stitched on 35ct WDW Kudzu using an old favorite DMC 115 and White.  It turned out cute, and will be a sweet finish…next year!  

The old TUSAL ball was put to rest, and the brand new one placed for the New Year as well.  If you want to play along, the simple directions can be found here at Daffy Kat’s site.  

I also did a bit of last minute end-of-year shopping at my LNS, Stitch and Frame.  Everything was discounted, so there were a few things I had to have (like that piece of Ruby Wine linen)!  I do believe I will try to follow the example of a few friends who have said they will rely more heavily on stash this year.  I NEED to follow that example, so we’ll see how that works out!

2012 – how does that roll off your tongue?  Is it two thousand twelve?  My auto is twenty twelve.  And what does it mean? Well, at one time it was my retirement year – twenty eight years of service to the state of South Carolina in July.  Now there are three years tacked on, but it was ‘a deal I couldn’t refuse.’

 

The old tales say that “what you do on New Year’s Day is what you’ll do all year.”  Well, much like any other Sunday, my plan is to finish up here then watch football and stitch.  What will the New Year’s first piece be?  I’m planning to add to the tombstone angel collection with Primitive Winged Head Gravestone Sampler by Country Rustic Primitives (Jenny Hoffman). 

The tales also say to eat greens and peas (dollars and cents) for the New Year’s good fortune.  This article also lists a few foods to avoid, which I’d never heard about! 

What are your desires for 2012?  “The older I get, the more like me I become.”  What does that entail? 

v Be grateful

o   Appreciate and give

v Continue the journey

o   Be an example of peace, love, and joy

v Do the things I love with those I care about

o   Not due to guilt or pressure

v Live in the moment

o   Listen and hear, see and experience

I’m grateful for all y’all stitching blog friends – and for each and every comment you send along! 

And so… may your New Year be filled with

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC