Hey, Friends!

I’m wondering if I need to quit stitching - said facetiously!  I’ve done it again – stitched 3/4 of a page with the fabric turned the wrong way!  Maybe most of us have done it, so you know that frustrated feeling when you realize it!  Now I’m thinking, just stop and cry or stitch until next border and call it a mini sampler.  Think I’ll do the latter and just fume a little instead of crying, but am having a hard time staying motivated now.  It is finally finished. By the way, the last time’s mishap is in a bag someplace waiting for the decision!

Came across other stitchers who have started or pulled out their Anniversaries of the Heart: Cindy in Virginia and Carol at Garden of Stitches.

DS and I went to an estate auction one Saturday recently.  I won a couple of frames, which was all I bid on.  We went by a huge Asian grocery market, then had Vietnamese for lunch.  Always enjoy spending time with him!

I found a tall, four foot, wooden dryer rack at the thrift store for $6.00. New ones are close to $50.  Need to get some of those stitched pieces finished!  At least one is going in to my LNS, Stitch and Frame, for the 20% off framing special next week.

Found on the internet an easy, free pants pattern and have made a couple of pairs for the coming spring weather.  The last couple of years I’ve worn those layered, peasant type skirts, and I’m tired of them!  

Since it’s almost mid-April, near Easter, the out like a lamb comment would be a bit late!   

 Peace♥Love♥Joy

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

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

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

Post Christmas

 

Hey, Friends!

I hope you’ve all had a Very Merry Christmas and are planning for a Happy New Year!  We had a nice Christmas and I’m enjoying the time after even more.  Since our traditional schedule was off a little this year, my parents had our usual Christmas morning breakfast of Country Grits Casserole with sliced tomatoes and crescent rolls with us.  We all enjoyed it a lot!  Edited for clarification, and to include the recipe. 

After breakfast, DS and I went shopping for a new car.  He is buying my old lease Nissan Murano.  Having done some preliminary leg work on Monday and since he was off yesterday, we got to go together.  I drove and liked the Prius, but going from a mid-size SUV to a tiny sub was a bit too much change, so I got the Honda Accord.  It was a very hard decision, but think it’s the right one.       

While procrastinating preparations before Christmas, I finished a few ornaments.  This LaDDa Merry Christmas started out on off white, but it needed a bit of staining, so into the coffee spa it went.  The little pillow with lace trim and stripes are so much warmer.  The back is deep maroon taffeta.  If you look closely, you can see that 'Rudolph's Nose' ran slightly in the spa! 

 This Little snowman was a Freebie from Stitch and Frame.  It's my first ornament on felt.  The cutter I have isn't enough of a wave, but it was better than pinking shears.  The cheap scissors I had picked up at Michael's wouldn't cut the felt - must be for paper only.

This is Peppermint Twist from the Little House Needleworks All Dolled Up ornaments.  By the way, I read that they're continuing with this series for 2011 if you love 'em as much as I do - even though I haven't completed 2010.  I decided on a little stocking button instead of jingle bells.  Even the tiny ones were too big on this 28 ct over 1.  It also has a bit of lace around the outside, to match the white stitching around the border, with a gingham ribbon hanger.  And here's  Peace on Earth from the same series.  The fabric in the background is the backing.

I also started a new Blackbird Design project, Winter Wonderland.    

Shopping for presents is always fun – one for you, two for me!  It's hard to see the dark green shell shaped dish, holding these two delicate porcelain ornaments. 

It must have been a real hunting expo since all these birds were found!   The blue is solid - paper weight?  The white is a votive holder, but cute none the less.  The colorful one is a pottery type material, and the little "cage" seemed so perfect to contain him...

 

This bowl and plate set was found earlier, but don't recall sharing them with you before.

Thanks for coming by today, and I look forward to sharing with you in the New Year!

This New Year and always, may you be surrounded by the gift of friendship, the joys of family, and the spirit of love.

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Country GritsMorning of breakfast:  Preheat oven to 350`

Day before serving:

2 lb sausage
½ cup grits
16 oz sharp cheese

½ tsp thyme (I use 1 tsp)

1/8 tsp garlic (I use about ½ tsp)

1/8 tsp salt

4 eggs

1 cup milk

Crumble and brown sausage, drain if needed, set aside to cool. 

Cook grits in 2 cups water per package directions, then add grated cheese while grits are hot.  Add spices, milk, lightly beaten eggs, and sausage.  Stir all together until well blended.  Cover and place in refrigerator overnight.  In the morning, take out of ‘frig for at least 15 minutes before cooking.  Cook for about 45-50 minutes.  I have split this recipe and it works out very well.

Stitching Retreat

...Having photo problems - will try again later...

The retreat was in Little Switzerland, North Carolina at the Big Lynn Lodge this year.  This was only my second Camp Stitchaway, but what a wonderful setting it was - view was fantastic, accommodations were comfortable, staff members were over-the-top, the food was delicious, and of course, Peggy, Carol, Lorraine (LNS), and Meg (Flower Thread) are just the best!  If you don’t feel like family when you arrive, you will by the time you leave!  I didn’t go up until Friday this year, but will try to go on Thursday next year since it just wasn’t long enough!  It was nice, spring-like weather on Friday.

I have lots of photos of participants, but thought I'd share the most junior and senior.  There was Ms. Iris - a precious little lady dressed to the T (lots of us in our sweats or jeans or pjs at some point) who is 88 this year.  Then there was Bailey - the five-year-old granddaughter of the lodge owners - who was very much a part of the weekend; so much she didn't want to go to school on Friday!

We did a small match box project that allowed for toasted marshmallows when complete! 

There were certainly some awesome completions for Show and Tell!  Saturday we began our class project which was a beautiful Ladybug biscornu designed by Meg using the cobblestone stitch. Saturday evening we continued working on our projects and Nancy planned to “educate” the group on the art of yodeling … and your old lady, too!  It was hilarious fun.  There were nice drawings and gift bags and a special gift project from Sue Hillis. 

This year, I finished my project AT the retreat!  In addition to the herringbone stitch that was in the design, I added the date, Camp Stitchaway, and my initials to the back.  That center thread you see is for adding a tiny bead or button as well.

  Sunday morning as we made preparations to leave, got in a final few stitches, and said our fond farewells, atop the mountain it was quite foggy, rainy, and cold which did make it a LITTLE less sad to leave.  I believe arrangements have been made for next year, and I can hardly wait to sign up! 

Before I left for the retreat on Friday, I had Thursday off to do a bit of thrift store shopping.  There aren’t that many around, but I did get a few things.  I have a thing for hands, and this pretty white and pink one just struck my fancy!  I enjoy old coffee pots, too.  Sometimes I use them for simmering cider.  Pretty blue and green bottles are also hard for me to turn down.  Have you ever had a great pair of shoes that you wished you could just stretch a tiny bit?  Do you think these may work for that?  I have high hopes J.

April 1 is International Tatting Day.  Here's an article that shares more information about it.    

Thank you for visiting and leaving kind words for me.  I really do appreciate y’all.     

    Peace~Love~Joy
and Happy Stitching!

Charlene