Stitching in the Heat

Here we are, coming up to the end of July.  We celebrated my mom's birthday last weekend with dinner at a local Chinese food buffet.  She really seemed to enjoy it.  

Last year I said my focus this year would be completing Blackbird Designs, Anniversaries of the Heart.  It hasn't worked out that way, but at least one has been done, and another is on the q-snaps.  For anyone who isn't familiar, this was a 12-part series started in 2010 that was designed to recognize and honor various family members.  I chose to stitch each of them on one piece of 32ct Autumn Fields linen. I believe 30ct was recommended, but if  I were starting it now, it would be on 40ct...

July 24 #31

Swan Lake
Blackbird Designs
Anniversaries of the Heart
32ct Autumn Fields

I received this little angel - Christmas variety - from Sara this week.  Isn't she adorable - just stepped out of the choir.  Hop over to Sara's Facebook page, Triple S Crafts , to see more of her cute designs.  She is such a talented crochet artist.  

Hope you're having a great summer, getting a bit of rain once in a while, and staying cool.

Peace * Love * Joy
Charlene in SC

Hello... Remember Me?

Hey, Friends!

Where have I been?  Have I mentioned that July 1, 2015 was my first official day of RETIREMENT?  WooHoo!  I’m so happy – and lazy!  No morning alarm – other than Pixie J Just doing exactly what I want, when I want.

As last post said, I took a little break from His Eye is on the Sparrow to stitch a few patriotic designs.

Free & Brave – The Drawn Thread 

Flag – 1998 – Bent Creek

Old Glory – Littlehouse Needleworks

Heart Flag from “July” – Prairie Schooler

Crow with Flag – Notforgotten Farms 

Sweet Land of Liberty – Samplers and Santas

 Liberty Parade - Punch Needle and Primitive Stitch Magazine

Nearing the end of July, page 5 of His Eye is on the Sparrow is now complete.  Wonder why it took a while longer than it should?  Why were there so many of these friendly creatures hanging out on my driveway.  I thought it was because the motion light is stuck ON, so they were catching insects.  But wait, there may be another reason!  There was frogging to be done.

 

I must have counted down from the wrong birdy foot – the flowers were in the wrong spot!  I thought, can I just switch positions of the flowers and the ‘donkey’ animal, but no, that wouldn’t work.  The frogging began.... and with a little help from the Boo-Boo Stick, the fuzzy fibers were gone. That big blue bird at the bottom seemed to take forever!

 

I fell in love with Blackbird Designs, In Friendships’s Way!  After a bit of searching found the little glass-sided Strawberry box and the Button box.  I didn’t want my Strawberry box quite as aged, so love the way it turned out.  Also love the button box!  I used Annie Sloan chalk paints and waxes. 

 Top Strawberry Box is from BBD, In Friendship's Way. 


Bottom Button Box is from BBD (yellow).

 

 We've had one of the hottest summers since the 1950's.  Hope you're having summer sprinkles and cool breezes!  Thanks for stopping by!

When you think things are falling apart, it may just be that everything is falling into place!

Peace♥Love♥Joy

Happy Stitching!

Charlene♥SC

Finished Stitching

Hey, Friends!

Betsy by Sheepish Designs is finished.  I have an idea for the finish, but haven’t started that part yet.

 Blackbird Designs, In Full Glory is finished, too, on 32 ct Stone Gray linen using a combination of NPI and Belle Soie silks.

What’s next?  Not sure yet, but maybe another patriotic design?

Hope your summer is bringing fun events, trips, gardening, or any of the things you enjoy – and stitching, of course.  Thanks for stopping by.  I always appreciate your kind words!

  

Peace♥Love♥Joy

Happy Stitching!

Charlene♥SC

Land of the Free

Hey, Friends!

Know what I’m thinking of during my Staycation?  The Myrtle Beach Fall Fling Stitching Retreat with  PALS !  What am I talking about?  Lots of stitching, chatting, eating, and general fun times at the east coast of South Carolina!  Amy, from Down Sunshine Lane is the sponsor, and here’s a link to the general information if you’re interested in setting aside a few days in October for having a blast with a bunch of women with the same passion for stitching that YOU have! 

I finished stitching Land of the Free, the Blackbird Designs patriotic chart that was published in the July edition of Cross-Stitch and Needlework magazine.  By the way, the Yahoo group, Blackbird Designs seems to have lost its owner, so a new group was created, Blackbird Stitchers, if you'd like to become a part of a group who loves BBD.

After Land of the Free was stitched, I immediately picked up a Lizzy Kate small design and started stitching it.  It should be stitched up today.  Why do I want to get some smalls done?

When I’m visiting your blogs I see your beautiful baskets of seasonal displays, but I don’t really have a lot of table-top space for displays.  I thought I’d love to have a wooden dough bowl for my smalls, but here again, more table top area would be needed.  And then… I walked into one of my recent favorite places, Shoppes on the River, and what was there?  A dough trough on legs!  It measures about 22 x 11 and is 27 inches tall.  Where will it go?  I don’t know, but it’s perfect!  

AND something else I really “needed” was a set of Virginia Rose dishes that I so vividly remember from childhood – not in the table being set with china way, but pieces of the set, like eating from a soup bowl…  Anyway, this set was said to be from a 90 year old woman who said this was her first set of dishes.  There are six 9-inch plates, 6 inch bread plates, and five - inch berry bowls, but no cups and saucers.  I walked away several times, but just could not leave without them!  From what I've read, these "were distributed through Department Stores, primarily Woolworth, and later through savings stamps."  Here in the south, Woolworth was our 'dime store' and S&H Green stamps were given with grocery purchases.  I imagine the pieces in my memories came from Woolworth.  Those precious green stamps were saved for things like an iron or bath mat sets.       

After making the changes to the blog site, I noticed that my 2011 finishes page was affected.  Most of the recent information is gone.  I tried to download from previous saves, but what’s there is the result – not accurate, but all that’s left.  I will update it again, but that will be another time.  Ah, don’t you just love Blogger?  I said to someone the other day, it’s getting almost as bad as like Yahoo! 
And for other Staycation news – have not done as much cleaning and organizing as my plans included, so there are no photos of the nice, tidy craft room.  That’s usually the way it goes here for me. I’ve enjoyed what I have done, and that’s the point of vacation to me. I honestly don’t care about going away for every break I have from work. I’m basically a home body, and love to spend time here.

Thanks for coming by today.  If you have a minute, leave a word or two or just say, Hey!  See y’all next time.

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Independence Holidays!

Hey, Friends!

Today is the first day off work for my staycation.  Remember, I’m planning to do some cleaning and organizing…  This morning I cleaned the guest room vacuumed, washed linens and window, dusted, and it only took a while.  Why do I constantly put it off?  And several other tasks I’ve wanted to do – change the yard flags, hang the US flag,  plant a few seeds that have been sprouting…   Just need to take a little while every day to do a few little things and it wouldn’t get so far behind.  Ummm hu… that’s easy to say; right?  Especially when I come in from work and all I want to do is sit and stitch!

I haven't shown you anything from my year this year, either, well, not since the snow. These are the hibiscus out near the deck - after a rain earlier this week, they popped out!  After some painting was done, the planters needed to be refreshed.  Aren't these flowers pretty?  One of the next projects (that won't be a 10-15 minute job) is to paint the rocking chairs on the porch. 

I’ve been stitching away on the BBD “Land of the Free” and it’s coming along nicely, but won’t be finished by July 4^th.  Maybe shortly after.

DS and I are cooking hamburgers at the parents for the holiday this year.  Dad hasn’t been in the best of health recently, and we’re trying to ease back on the amount of effort he has to expend.  You know how 'they' are - we got someone to go cut their grass (acres) and he got out there to help, and paid for it with pain the next week.

Check out my TuSAL for July:  Reminder:   TuSAL is in the side bar this year à

If you’re out boating or having fireworks to express your Independence, please be safe! Have lots of fun and try to stay cool whatever you do!

 

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Stitching and Summer

Hey, Friends! 

The Mystery: Birds of a Feather, Part I is stitched.  Please don’t look too closely!  There are other mysteries in there, such as why it took so long, and why one of the flower centers is tilted … where I added the year.  It had enough frogging, so the mystery will remain. Part II is in the stash, and will not get put aside for too long, but I just had to pick up something else for a little while.

Did you see the Blackbird Designs article in Cross Stitch and Needlework?  I’m sure you have – I was probably the last person in stitch world to see it!  I picked up a copy at my LNS, Stitch and Frame on Friday, and just couldn’t wait any longer to start the chart they included with the article.  It’s called ‘Land of the Free’.  I chose a piece of 32ct that I had previously coffee dyed to stitch on, then looked to see which fibers they used.  Why didn’t I do this at the shop?  I don’t know, but it calls for Belle Soie silks, and those I don’t have in my stash.  I do have a humble collection of Vikki Claton’s Hand Dyed Fibers, so that’s what I decided to use.  She is probably going to be quite different than the pictured finish, but again, she will be my unique finish!

Some time off is coming soon – but this time will be a stay-cation to get some much needed cleaning and organizing done.  I’ve been putting it off for far too long, and now must do time has come.  My crafting room is such a jumble, and I blame that for not getting more finishing done than I’d like.  After it’s all clean and shiny, then maybe I’ll take a long weekend and go someplace cool and charming for some relaxation.  Doesn’t that sound nice?  Anyway… working through Thursday, then I’ll clean and polish through the weekend, spend Monday with family and stitching, then continue what hasn’t been done for the remainder of the time off.  Hopefully there will be a day or two to enjoy stitching in a clean and tidy home!

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope it’s not TOO hot where you live, but it IS summertime here in the South, so it is hot, nearly 100 a few days last week, humid with lots of thunderstorms, lightening bugs glowing through the evening, and a brief rain shower on occasion.  Grab yourself a nice glass of iced tea or lemonade – there’s some in the ‘frig – and your stitching project of the day, turn on the ceiling fan, throw up your feet, and join me for a day of stitching.  Leave a comment if you’d like to join in …

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

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

More March

Hey, Friends!

Here we are in springtime with bountiful pollen!  In the early morn with Pixie searching for the perfect spot, I got a shot of the tulip tree.  It has been nipped a bit by the frost, but not as badly as previous years.  

Does it remind you of the Jardin Prive’ L'arbre aux Oiseaux (Tree with Birds - not yet) I started stitching last week at Amy’s Get Together at the French Hen in Manning. 

It was a great time of stitching and chatting, but my camera never left its pocket! Don’t ask me why!  The only ones I’ve seen are at Nicole’s blog – and you’ll enjoy looking at her beautiful stitching, too! 

I finished stitching BBD Breath of Spring.  Isn’t it darling?  I do so love these women’s designs.  I got to see Faye’s latest work, Summer Stars, from their Stitcher's Journey at the GTG last week.  That girl can not only stitch, but she does some  fine finishing!   Karen’s finished Moon Garden was lovely, too!  She's running through that challenge like it's not even a challenge! Come to find out, we’re both going through some of the same crazy-busy stuff at our respective workplaces – computer program migration and conversions.  Enough about that!  

I met Susan for the first time, who was working on a very pretty Quaker Christmas design.  Linda’s friend, Sarah   (?If either of these ladies have blogs, would someone tell me?) was almost finished with a giant floral design that was totally awesome.  When it was being held up for us to admire, more than one of us said, “Look at the back!”  You will most likely never hear those words whispered about one of my pieces.  I do try to be neat, but something usually happens that keeps it from being ‘as pretty as the front.’

We had a nice lunch, but when I left I went by to see DS.  We had thought about going to a movie, but the releases and our timetable didn’t work, so we went to Hudson’s Smokehouse in Lexington for BBQ.  Oh, my, was it ever good.  He was happy about the sides, but the meat was perfect to me!  Try it if you’re close.

In my rambling around last week, I found something I’d never seen before.  Have you ever seen a black frog?  Now I’ll be on the lookout for a bottom for it.  Holler if you see one; ok?

Well, that’s about it for today.  I’m going to surf around to see what you’ve been up to, and thanks for dropping in today!  Hope the rest of your weekend is delightfully spring like and totally fun! 

Come again, soon.

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC