Marching In

Hey, Friends!

My next stitched piece of 2014 is Angel of Tulips by The Goode Huswife.  I have loved this piece for so long!  I think I may stitch it again using slightly different colors…  We’ll see if THAT happens!

I was commenting to someone about an accidental breaking of a sentimental piece, and wondered if I’ve shared this with you.  My loved piece was a square, pedestal candy dish that I always admired.  The way the top fit, it made that ‘special’ sound when replacing it.  It was in my childhood home, and Christmas before last Mom gave it to me.  While changing a lampshade I dropped the (heavy) finial on the lid and it shattered.  You know that SICK feeling when you do something that you realize you knew better!  I searched and searched, and almost unexpectedly one search on Etsy.com led me to one exactly like it!  You can see it here.  You can bet your bippy that it isn’t under that lamp now!  Does that phrase bring back memories?

While I was stitching Eliza, every once in a while I needed a bit of contrast, so it led to knitting this Red ‘eternity’ scarf!  My DS asked me about stitching a knit hat for him, so I’ve been attempting to learn on YouTube.  It looks so simple!

I’m on the mailing list for auctions and estate sales, and think I’d love to go to some.  But on the weekend I just don’t want to set the alarm, get up early to dress and go see IF there’s something I would buy.  I’m thinking it won’t be that way after retirement since the alarm doesn’t have to wake me five days a week.  This is why people say they’re busier after retirement than before – they try to pack in everything they never had time for before! Oh, I so look forward to those busy days!

Hope March will bring some early spring weather to those of you who are still covered in snow and ice.  

May 2014 be filled with Happy Stitching!

Peace♥Love♥Joy

Charlene♥SC

Au Natural

Hey, Friends!

Oh boy, oh joy --  I’ve been a lucky winner once again!  I won a great giveaway over at Bobbi’s Mostly Stitching blog.  It was a giveaway dedicated to Widgets & Wool Primitives generations of stitching, and I just love the thought and the designs! 

Giveaway from Bobbi

Widgets & Wool Primitives

I first opened the box, and there is a wonderful piece of BBD Blueberry Crumbcake fabric wrapped around more goodies.  I pulled the ribbon, and out fell the four W&WP designs: Springtime Happy Dance (rabbits and tulips), The Love in Your Heart, Black Hat Society (yes!), and Better Not Pout J.  What a wonderful selection!  And then more BBD in the form of a dollie pyn pillow from Prairie Horizon Stitchworks!  Finally, a sweet little sampler magnet that looks quite familiar with its yellow house, flag, and kitty.  It says, This 

Dollie Pyn Pillow & Magnet

needlework of mine can tell, when I was yours I learned well. … 2004.  Is it Moira Blackburn?  Bobbi, thank you so much for your generosity!  I love every piece!

When I sat down with my Halloween issue of Just Cross Stitch, I realized that the PSS Rotted but not Forgotted chart was missing.  Not to fear, Just Cross Stitch has a corrections page, and it’s linked there.

I was reading over at Lee Lake Stitcher’s blog that she decided to forgo the hair color and become au natural.  A couple of years ago, I was sick of my hair – way over processed and so far from my natural color I could hardly remember what it should look like.  I saw some girls with what looked like single strands of iridescent tinsel in their hair and thought it was so striking.  Then I thought , if my hair wasn’t colored, I imagine I’d have my own tinsel… wonder how gray it really is?  Then an article about gray hair being chic , owning who you are, redefining beauty at any age.  For a variety of what others say, have a look here.  Now, I know there are some of you who will say – I will always dye my hair - and I say – more power to you!  But from my experience … without the color treatment I no longer have brown splotched door trims, base boards, and towels in my bathroom?  Actually, I had given that up to spend countless hours in the shop with my hairdresser, not to mention the amount of stash money I was spending there.  And so, to date there is not a drop of any residual color in my hair.  There are gray streaks along the front, and quite a few iridescent tinsel strands through the rest – but here’s what I thought would be revealed (or this) – and actually it is like this. It is pulled and straightened here, but it's never as curly as that last image.

Speaking of hair – Pixie went to the groomer last Saturday.  Sometimes our hair looks more alike than others!  They must have gotten a little soap in her eyes – see how pink they are?

Before

After

Thanks for stopping by, today and always.  I appreciate your words of encouragement and all your comments!

I'm grateful for less than 100˚

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Raindrops keep falling on my head...

Hey, Friends!

It’s TuSAL time à  See the sidebar.

Yesterday on the way home from work I could tell there had been some heavy rain, but the downtown market was set up under tents so I stopped to see if they had some veggies.  They have all kinds of things – baked goods, passed – jewelry, passed several – ah, there they were – veggies, stopped.  Then it started to sprinkle…then rain…then downpour!  The kind folks at the veggie stands let several of us park ourselves under their tents until it slacked off some.  Do you know what this melon is?  I’d never noticed it before, but the kind lady was giving samples and it is really good!  I got these things and quickly made my way to the car.  Think I’ll be sure to check the sky before I stop next time!

Recently I’ve been spending some stitching time with Mary Gibson.  She’s been sitting in the WIP stack since January, so it’s time for her to have a little love since I enjoy her so much!  If you want to see the progress, click above.

Have I told you that when DS (dear son) visits we have been watching Battlestar Galactica?  Well, we finished the entire series the last time he was here.  Next we’ve decided to watch Breaking Bad.  It’s a series that is still on, but there are several seasons on NetFlix.  On my own, I watched Mad Men up to this current season.  The bad part is, I hate to stop once it’s started.  I can refrain for a week, but if I watch one, it’s on!

Outside the window at the doctor’s office, there were a couple of bird feeders.  I used to keep hummingbird feeders, but it seemed more and more the juice would sour in a day or two, so I stopped.  In the winter, I would keep wild birdseed, but that declined as well.  After seeing the seed sock covered with what I call Yellow Finches (actually they’re Goldfinch), I decided to get one.  The very next day I saw what I presume to be a female enjoying her snack with the mister sitting on another stake keeping an eye out.  Oh, and the hummingbirds – they’re enjoying the red hibiscus (not in this photo) that are still blooming – those that the weed eater didn’t get!

Thanks for stopping by, today and always.  I appreciate your thoughts and comments!  I hope everyone has a great, stitch weekend, and that you get some much needed rain.

I'm grateful for raindrops !

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

June Summer

Hey, Friends!

Lately I’ve been drawn in by what Edgar of Blacksheep’s Bit of the Web calls “the Bay of Evil.”  You win some, you don’t win others, but that’s the fun, and usually the latter for me.  I set the maximum amount I’m willing to pay for an item, then leave it alone.  I’ll pop in once in a while to see how it’s going, but try my best not to get caught up in the ending bidding war.  For example, I set my high on one of the charts I was bidding on recently at 12.99, and it went for over 35.00.  Another example, my high was 10.99, and it went for 11.49.  That’s only .50 you say, but if we were warring it could go up to 20.00 before you know it.
 

I am so disappointed – you know how much I was looking forward to going to Jan’s Tree of Life Samplings retreat this month, and to meeting Jan and the others attending.  Well, some health issues have been discovered, so I’ve had to cancel.  There is no definitive diagnosis yet with more testing to be done, but I just wasn’t comfortable flying out alone.  Maybe next time?  I did get my project pieces stitched, so I’ll share those after the retreat.

Thanks for stopping by, today and always.  Hopefully I’ll have some stitching to share next time.  Reading your thoughts and comments always brings a smile to my heart!

I'm grateful for low humidity on beautiful summer days!

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Movies, Designs, Weekend

Hey, Friends!

No updates of stitching for today, just checking in.  Scones are baking, and I’m sipping coffee.  I hear the rain pouring down – hopefully to make a cooler day? Probably not.

I did a bit of stitching while waiting for Mom to get her hair done Saturday. DS is visiting this weekend, so we went to see Planet of the Apes.  It was a very good movie.  I cried, and cried, and cried some more.  Maybe it’s the pent up emotion from seeing my dad decline so quickly, maybe… There was applause at the end of the movie!

Have you been watching the announcements from the Baltimore Stitching show?  What are your favorites?  I’ve seen a few Blackbird Designs Halloween-ey ones and a couple not, some cute Prairie Moon designs, that gorgeous The Farms of Hawk Run Hollow by Carriage House Samplings, and those sweet new treats from Puffin and Company.  Of course, just what I need is some more stash – what I really need is to get stitching the ones I have – and of course I do stitch, just not at the speed of light… more like the speed of molassas.

Hope you’re all having a great stitching weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Happy Independence Day!

Hey, Friends!

I read on a blog a bit ago that one of the favorite July 4^th things to do was watch and listen to the music from the Capitol on public TV.  I don’t seem to be able to track back to where I read it, but it did cause me to start singing to myself … My Country ‘tis of the, Sweet land of Liberty, of thee I sing…

As we celebrate our Independence, have you noticed in public gatherings, when we’re called upon to sing our country’s songs that the youth don’t seem engaged?  I’ve wondered SO many times, don’t they teach these wonderful songs to the kids in school any more?

Do you remember “music” in elementary school?  That’s where I was when the announcement was made that President John F. Kennedy had been shot.  When my DS was in ‘music’ they learned to play the Recorder, and he did go on to gain the love for music playing the Bass in jazz ensamble and singing in the high school Troubadors.  But just yesterday, during the baseball game on TV when a gentleman (TimothyMiller from the Atlanta Opera will perform God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch ** ) and I were singing to honor the country, he said, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that song.”  That **link is from 2010. 

Rembmber that I'm doing some reorganization?  I was sorting through boxes of frames I’ve collected over the last couple of years when I came across a bag with an old Music book I’d picked up at one of the thrift shops I frequent.  Flipping through it, the pages that looked most dog eared were these … 

-- Can you name this song?

So what do you say?  Let’s all tune in tonight and sing along with the tunes that we learned, to honor our country and  … 

 

Happy 4th of July, Friends! Enjoy your independence doing whatever makes YOU Happy today - be it fireworks, favorite music, or sitting with a cold glass under the cool fan stitching to your heart's content!

 

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

November Arrives

As November dawns, there may begin some angst about the looming holiday season, especially the stitching of gifts.  How many of our WIPs are Christmas related and what do we have in the stash for the holidays?  I really enjoyed the Spinster Stitcher's take on the topic. 

If you think you really need longer than the six weeks or so remaining, I see that the Bride's Tree Blog has openings for members to join. The Bride’s Tree is a German tradition. It is believed that a couple’s Christmas tree needs twelve specific ornaments for happiness in their life journey together.  The intent is to complete an ornament a month, but there’s no pressure here.  I was a member of this group in the past, and did complete the set of 12 Best Wishes Ornaments by Rosewood Manor.  You can see them here  if you like.

I’m continuing to stitch the NovaLee Christmas Noel SAL, using DMC on Vikki Clayton’s 35ct linen in off white with the Let’s Stitch blog group on Friday night.  Eight parts have been issued, and that's what I stitched most of last night.

I also started the Shepherd's Bush Occasional Musings, Baby.  It's on a piece of light teal and I just picked colors from what was sitting around that I liked... 

Started taking Chantix on Sunday, November 1, and have been able to notice a real difference in the desire to smoke.  A typical break would be once every couple of hours at home, but noticed longer intervals. 

I was also able to leave home without a ‘fresh pack’ when there were only a few left in the old pack.  I went back to work Tuesday from the weekend and sick leave Monday, and at mid-afternoon in the day I’ve usually had at least five, and now only had three.  I’m trying to drink more; especially water.

Are there side effects?  The only thing I've been distracted by are a little nausea if I don't eat with the pill, and bothersome restless legs at bedtime.  So here we are on Saturday.  Tomorrow, Nov 8, is the goal date to stop completely.  Throughout the week, I've continued to have roughly five per day.

Thank you so much for stopping by today.  Y'all come back again soon! 

Spiders, Webs and Needles, Oh MY!

This photo is from 2007 and the web was from the corner of the house to the car.

I am quoting below from the Nordic Needle Newsletter, and hope you will follow the link to learn more from this excellent article!

"Spiders and their webs have been a popular motif for crazy quilts. But I wanted to know why we would dedicate time and materials to adding a creature that makes us shudder. Turns out there is a lot of folklore surrounding the spider. They are thought to bring good luck to weavers and spinners. Housewives often took great care to move a spider outside rather than kill it. If they killed it superstition said their house would never be clean. Spiders are thought to bring wealth to a family, perhaps thinking good fortune would become entangled in the web. Spider-Woman is a major goddess of the Pueblo Indians while Arachne existed in Greco-roman myth. She was a beautiful woman who wove flawless fabric over which there was a confrontation with the Goddess Athene. A religious legend is that a small spider spun a web over the cave entrance where baby Jesus was hiding to keep him from Herod's troops. Even postcards from the Victorian era reflected the theme of spiders bringing good luck."

Fallish?

Such lovely weather we've had in South Carolina recently!  It's beginning to feel a bit like fall.  This is my gauge - it's a red dogwood, and when its leaves begin to turn, I'm ready for fall! 

Today is the last day of sta-cation, and don't intend to do anything except this and stitch!  Would you believe yesterday was my first-ever participation in a yard sale?  A girlfriend was having one, and she lives WAY out of my area in another town, so I thought there wouldn't be much traffic.  Well, at the other 'end' of her road is a main artery, and there was LOTS of traffic.  I didn't do so much - think I cleared about $5.00 - but she and a couple of others made over $100s.  But back to fallish - it was very cool (jacket) in the morning, but by 2:00 when we were packing and cleaning, I had shed the jacket and was dripping!  That's fall in SC.  By mid-morning today, there's a nice breeze, the sky is beautiful, and the sun is bright! 

I finished another little project for Stitching Smalls with Friends.   It's a freebie, Little Miss Witch, from Krenick, designed by Pam Kellog.  Of course it is my version using DMC and a little 14ct dyed fabbie from Joan called Winter Evening.

Over at Leslie's blog the other day, she posted, Why Do We Blog?  Thought inspiring - Why do I blog?  It's really a means to share the things I love and enjoy with like-minded folks.  It's out there for anyone to find and see, but I don't always share the link with everyone.  There's not anything I would care for others to see, but just don't think they would be THAT interested.  I don't post a lot of political-type opinions...well I'm not that into politics.  Of course I have my ideas, but don't think they're that radical or different than anyone elses.  I have a Facebook, but don't do much there.  It was really created just so I could see what friends are saying and doing.  So, how about you?  Why do YOU blog, or Facebook, or any other social networking that you do?

OK - I'm off to finish up making my blog rounds, then to stitching!  Thank you for coming by today, and hope you'll come back soon!!

Remember 2001?

Common Sense isn't always so Common!

Written by Regina Brett,
The Plain Dealer
Cleveland, Ohio

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more.”

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
26. Always choose life.
27. Forgive everyone everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
32. Believe in miracles.
33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
35. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
36. Your children get only one childhood.
37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
41. The best is yet to come.
42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
43. Yield.
44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

What's a Girl to Do?

Today is my DS's 28th birthday! Happy Birthday - you own my heart!

These occassions make me wonder how parents and children can age so, yet I stay about the same. It's that old question of why we don't really 'feel' the age we are. When does that begin? Around 30? I'm 55, but in my heart and mind don't really seem that old. Think back to your elementary teachers... One was 'young' so I imagine she was around 22-25. The others were 'ancient' so they were probably 40-50. But remember how they looked? That gray, blue, or pinkish waved perm? The blouse with lace buttoned up the neck? The skirt, full and down to near the ankle? The black or brown shoe with an inch or two heel, both hight and width. Mrs. Hutchinson was bold and brazen - she had a bone color!! Now, think about your grandkids teacher! Doesn't she look 15 with her jean capris and flip flops? I could go off to another place here, but I won't. So now that I'm thinking of letting the color grow off my hair to see exactly what color it really is, I wonder -- will I look like Mrs. Hutchinson? Na... I don't have any bone 'sturdy' shoes!!

On to what I've been stitching. One of the things I love about the ASAW project from Abi and Val at the Friendly Stitchers' group is the weekly projects are small, and when you can't make up your mind which project you want to start ... you can do a few of these -- especially when you started late and are behind like me -- they've issued week 29; I've done 14 ). Here's an update for you of where I am now.

The grids for these little gems are 20 x 20, so to show a bit of perspective of how tiny they really are...

A close up of a few...

Tulips


Frog pond


Flower vase

Blue Bird House

I have now decided on which project to begin next. I know, this isn't one I've mentioned before, but I've been admiring it from other stitchers' work and you know how easily I'm tempted... It's Little House Needlework's, "The Sampler Lady". I'm following the suggestions for fabric and fibers, using 28 ct Light Examplar Linen from Lakeside Linens and Crescent Colours and DMC fibers. This is where I am, stitching for two evenings.

And finally today, Michelle has awarded me the One Lovely Blog Award. I don't know how in the world she selected me with all the beautifully crafted blogs out there, but I am honored! Thank you, Michelle. With this award comes the daunting task of passing it along to seven others. Wow, how does one choose? I guess you just go for it, so...

There's Lody, who creates wonderful designs for The Gift of Stitching on-line magazine, which is owned by Kirsten.

I frequently visit the busy Dani's blog, and she has recently updated it - even her photo so I almost didn't recognize her!

I love, love to visit Barb Adams and Alma Allen's blog, Blackbird Designs - such glorious photos of stitching and other lovelies.

Plum Street Samplers is another blog I enjoy - not only wonderful designs, but her love of family and photos, too! Paulette will be having an anniversary giveway beginning on Sunday, so hop over for a visit to enter!

I enjoy visiting my "neighbor" in NC, Carolyn's blog. She and her stitching group recently took a European trip, and she's been sharing the wonderful sights with us recently!

Now there's my talented friend, Gerry. I met Gerry on a Crazy Quilt group, and she doesn't cross stitch, but her talents are many!

Thanks for visiting today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and Come back again!!

First Biscornu

I'm a member of the Friendly Stitchers yahoo group, and Abi gave us a friendly competition of the Serenity chart to "finish the chart 'your way'." I decided to make my first biscornu, and thus ... front



... and back


It is stitched on a leftover piece of nice soft, ivory using DMC 4200 Variations. As you can tell, it is far from perfect, but do like the way it turned out and plan to do it again - practice makes better next time.

From Friendly Stitchers there is also ASAW Stitch Along going on. It started before I joined, but I'm planning to catch up. It is an English Garden with a small motif for each week - you can see a sample here. I'm using Carolina Linen, 28 count evenweave in Sand. The outside grid will be DMC 4050 Variations. Maybe I'll get that started this weekend!

I'm still working on the Crazy Quilt piece, and it's so much fun!




And speaking of fun - do you ever start a piece that you loved, then decide it's not as much fun to stitch as you thought it would be? That's how I'm feeling with Quaker Blues. I've got a good bit done, but there is SO much more to do, and I'm simply not enjoying stitching it. My first thought was to just scrap it, but when I took this photo and remembered how much IS already done, I may finish and 'save' that part and scrap the rest... How do you cope with this situation? Would you ever stop something you've started, or do you just stitch on?

Thanks for dropping by today, and wishing for you a lovely and joy-filled weekend!

PS:
I finished reading Mariah Stewart's Dead Even. For me it was a little slow starting, but it went along better. I will try another to see if that's just this one, or her general style.

Superbowl Sunday Sale

Yesterday, on Superbowl Sunday, my LNS, Stitch and Frame Shop, had a Superbowl Sunday Sale! What a great idea that was! I wasn't the only one who thought so, either!

I've been searching for Blue Ribbon Designs, Countdown to Christmas, and there I found it! No, it wasn't a part of the sale, but there was no shipping cost! I did find a couple of Quaker Sampler booklets in the sale bin. There were a few buttons and bobs in there, too! There was a big basket full of Ginny Thompson Flower Thread - five per baggie for $3.75. That looked like a good price to me, and I've been wanting to try them, so I got several in the mid-muted range of colors.

I've been watching a thread on one of the cross stitch lists about using grid lines on the fabric before stitching. Care to share your comments on the subject?

~Happy Stitching~
Charlene in SC.USA

Election - 2008

Will you vote?

I am not what I describe as a 'political' person, but I do have concerns about the State of our Union -- not only the economy and the war, but the real status of our nation.

Click on this link and listen; no, really listen. It is the best summary of the candidate's agenda I've heard. It answers questions that have often plagued me. I hope you can hear the source of Hope and Peace that I long to see in our Country.

A More Perfect Union

Will you vote?

? Where Have You Been ?

I appreciate those of you who have asked, "Where are you?" I'm fine GirlFriends!

I work at a College, and after a wonderful two week Christmas (winter) break, the re-entry has been crazy. The first day we come back was Open Registration, and it's a zoo for a few days. 7:30a - 6:00p one day, but that was the worst of it - well, it's not Friday yet!

During the last week of holiday break, my dad had surgery to eliminate a growth from his kidney, so I spent a lot of time with Mom and him at the hospital and some in the evenings now after work. He's recovering nicely, and goes back for a post-op checkup today, so hopefully things will return to normal (what's that?) soon.

If you read my New Year post below, you see that I've been bitten by the Cross Stitch bug once again, so I've been focusing on that in the free time that is available. You know these fingers have to be doing something; right?

I'll probably be hanging out over here more, so if you have me set to notify you when my blog is updated, you may want to add this one. You may not see me posting messages as often, but still read the mail groups - just takes a while. I haven't checked blogs in what seems like weeks, but that will come, too.

Thanks for stopping by! Say 'hey' when you have a chance and I will, too!