July? Come on....

Are you having a hard time believing it is July?  Oh, my goodness!  Although it's still hot and humid, at least we've had a little break in the torturing heat this week.  

 
One of the good things is that I love stitching patriotic or Americana designs.  The bad part is deciding when to move on to something else.  Here is my most recent stitched piece.  It was in the summer issue of Punch Needle & Primitive Stitching magazine.  Sweet Land of Liberty is by Sandy Whitlow.  It was such a fun piece to stitch.

June 30 #27

Sweet Land of Liberty
The Humble Stitcher
40ct Sand Dune

Someone recently asked, how will you finish this (another piece)?  My honest response was, I'm a lover of stitching; finishing, not so much!  My hope is that when my craft room magically becomes clean and organized, I'll be inspired to finish everything that's in that tub!  So, are you like me, or do you have your mind set on how you'll finish a piece before the first stitch goes in?

Wishing a Happy Independence Day to everyone

 - and Happy Canada Day to our Canadian friends. 

Happy Stitching!!

Charlene ♥ SC

Independence

 Hello!

Thankful for Independence

Wishing everyone a Happy Independence Holiday and celebration! It’s fun looking at all your patriotic designs and decorations.   

 

Just in time for July, I’ve finished stitching the July Word Play by With Thy Needle & Thread.  I am really enjoying stitching these! 

Thanks for stopping by, today and always.  I appreciate your thoughts and comments!

May 2013 be filled with Happy Stitching!

Peace♥Love♥Joy

Charlene♥SC

Independence Days

Hey, Friends!

Since I was scheduled off work for a few days, I drove down to go out for a movie and to dinner with DS.  I’ve seen several antique malls around his area, so I visited two.  One was quite expensive with no better quality items.  The other was reasonable.  We saw Prometheus:  “A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe.”  Then we had some tasty sushi - yum!
On the fourth, we had our old standby “Pot” (Frogmore Stew or Low-Country Boil minus chicken or sausages) cooked outside at Mom’s, but eaten inside!  If I had to rank, this was the best ever!  It was just a small group of six family members, but we really enjoyed the meal.
I went for my nuclear stress test on Monday.  They warned me, but boy is that a lot of hurry up and wait.  They put in some dye, then wait…drink water “quickly” and wait some more.  Lie on the table for the scanner for a while and wait some more.  Now it’s time for the treadmill and more dye injected.  It has been A WHILE since I’ve done much exercise at all, but this was fierce.  The doctor had given them a specific heart rate he wanted to achieve.  It started out ok – clicking right along… then I felt a little short of breath… then it was hard… then the attendant said, we’d better let her stop, she’s getting blue around the mouth!  WHAT?  Wait a while longer...more scanning... They did let me leave after almost four hours, so at least they didn’t think it was too bad, but I go back Tuesday for the doctor’s diagnosis. 

I’ve stitched up a couple of Sister Stitcher from The Primitive Hare.  They’re quick and easy stitches – now for the finishing!  I had hoped to get them done this week, but we’ll see if that happens.  I also finished Plum Street Sampler’s Give.  I love how it turned out.  Oh, have you seen that darling Halloweenies?  They’re holding it and the JCS Halloween issue for me at my LNS.  Think I’ll pop over there to pick them up in a few.

I’m really sorry for all the folks who have been without power during this awfully hot weather.  It seems to be coming back to some areas, slowly. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

I'm grateful for power and a/c.

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Final 2011 TuSAL

Hey, Friends!

Dropping in to say it was a very nice Christmas – thanks to all of you for your Merry Wishes, and to my dear mom and son who made it bearable. They both seemed pleased with their gifts, and I most certainly was.  DS got me a Keurig coffee maker that is totally nice!

  Mom asked for some hints, so I asked for the cubby as seen on Diane’s LHN blog from Pottery Barn. DS used the tools I got him to hang it for me, and it’s just about full.  She also gave me a wonderful surprise.  I’ve always loved and admired a sweet square, glass candy dish she’s had as long as I remember. It was inside a round, red box that had been under her tree for a long time.  She ‘was going to’ give it to me as a birthday gift, but decided to save it for Christmas. I’m so glad she did, and I love it dearly!

It’s time for the final New Moon of 2011:   R eminder:   TuSAL is in the side bar this year à  If you would like to join in 2012, just go to Daffy Cat's site here and leave a comment.

Are you all signed up for 2012 Challenges?  I watched as so many of you made fantastic progress in 2011, but I just can’t put that pressure on.  Unlike my typical self, I’ve got several projects started now, and they’ve got to be caught up!  I did join in the Blackbird Designs group challenge, but won’t commit to twelve.

As a summary of 2011, you can take a peek at this page, that says 29.  There just HAS to be something I’ve left out; right?  As hard as I try to keep the list up to date, I’ll go for months without updating it, then I’ve forgotten…  Oh, well – not so many details in 2012, so maybe it will be easier to keep up.

I appreciate y’all and look forward to watching all your projects’ progress in 2012.

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Thankful

Hey, Friends!

I am thankful for each and every one and wish you all a fulfilling Thanksgiving season. 

On my agenda is planning the menu and shopping (I did already buy the turkey), cleaning house, and cooking.  But you know those tasks don’t usually stop me from stitching…  

Finished a couple of Little House Needleworks Ornaments on28ct Monoco.  I love these little ornies stitched over one.  I added Joy to the World to the last post, and here is Under the Tree.  Marsha asked how I finish these little things, that usually turn out to be roughly 3x3 – some a bit smaller or larger.  Here’s a link to a few that I finished last year. I’m thinking the Merry Skater is next on the drawing board. Wouldn't you think I'd really 'finish' before posting?  Duh... I will repost... here it is with popcorn.  
From 11.12.11
I’ve been searching for the little sticker that goes on the license plate – what on earth did I do with it?
Were some of you praying to St. Anthony and holding positive thoughts for me?  Found it!  It was in a stack of mail that was on top of the recycle bin… Moral of this story is – don’t take the decal apart from the registration form until it is affixed to the license plate!!

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate all your words of kindness!  What have you been up to? I’m going visiting now.

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Days Away!

Hey, Friends!

I’m popping in today to ask if you recognize this little quip:  DF&GR.  If not, you should hop over for a visit on Edgar’s Blacksheep’s Bit of the Web.  Not only is he a prolific, wonderful stitcher~ enabler, San Francisco tour guide, but he is also quite the vintage movie critic!  He’ll go shopping at the drop of a hat, then bake up something that will make your mouth water!  Edgar’s fourth-year Blog Anniversary is coming up, so he’s taking entries now and will soon have the Who Hounds reach into the BOD (bowl of destiny) to draw a lucky winner. 

So what am I doing posting on Thursday, you ask?  Oh, how happy I am to have a few days off work.  I’m laz-ing about this morning on the computer.  Yeah, you’d think that I would want to be far-far away (since that’s what I do, lately 60+ hours a week) but this is the fun stuff.  I have a few finds and a bit of stash to share, too.  I’ll have to take a peek back to see what you’ve seen already, so give me a few minutes.

Here are a few goodies I lucked upon last week.  I was looking for an antique shop, but happily found some thrift stores along the way!  Milk glass has caught my fancy recently, and who doesn't love a 'different' frog?  A couple of bone dishes from the GW, and a handled shot glass is perfect to get my scissors up to hand's reach on the side table.  Oh, and that heart scissor fob just hopped into my bag at Stitch and Frame last time I was there!

These little Blue Birds of Happiness are signed and dated.  I already had one (that is not), and didn't realize theses were until I got home and was looking online to see if they are plentiful..  They aren't valuable, but just sweet little collectibles. 

And the Waverly fabric they're sitting on is actually three sample pieces that are about 30x30.  It's called Country Weekend, and thought it would make great pillows or seat covers. 

All these lovely trims are from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shop.  I'm in hopes that all these pretties will help me want to finish more stitching!     

I was able to find 'In Her World' design by A Mon Ami Pierre and 'Favorite Font Sampler' by Plum Street Samplers at .Amy’s ~ Down Sunshine Lane. 

As for stitching, well, Bunny & Co. has kept me company, but it didn’t get finished for Easter.  I was even thinking of laying it aside after Sunday passed, but decided I’d regret it later, so it will get finished, hopefully before returning to work next week.  I’m ready to move on to something else if you can’t tell.I appreciate your comments and remarks very much.  It's nice to know we have stitching friends out there in the cyber world whether we see them often or not.  So now I'm headed off to see what you've been up to, try to leave a word or two for you, and get more enticed for something or other. 

Hope y'all have a delightful weekend ~ safe from storms and other bad weather!

PeaceëLoveëJoy
and Happy Stitching
Charlene♥SC

Red White and Blue

Happy Independence Day, everyone!

I’ve only done a couple of pieces in Red, White, and Blue this year, but will probably do more in the future.  One was the Stitcherhood piece done for my dad, and this little quaker heart I’ve stitched in the last couple of days.  It will probably end up as a little ornie. 

A friend lost her home to fire earlier this year.  Although they lost everything materially, no one was at home so the family is safe.  She and her husband relocated and bought a new home in the last month or so.  I wanted to stitch something for them to have to hang on the walls of their new home, and this piece, Watchful Eye by La-D-Da just struck me as perfect.  I finished stitching and framed it this week while on staycation. 

Our family plan for the 4^th is to have a low-country boil including crab legs, shrimp, potatoes, and corn.  Yum, yum, I can hardly wait!  I hope you’re having a great weekend, staying cool, cooking out, swimming, or just generally doing things with the people you love most.

    Peace♥Love♥Joy
and Happy Stitching!

Charlene

After Christmas

Christmas Eve has passed, most of the food is consumed or distributed, and it was fine to have it here at our house.  How did the small trees work out?  Several asked about my not having a big tree, but I diverted their attention to the smaller ones.  I was so distracted by keeping everything going that I didn’t take a single picture of the night… but here are a few of the décor ;-)

Our immediate family tradition is to have breakfast at our house on Christmas morning then to open presents.  All the brain racking seemed to work out – Mom seemed pleased with her Roomba, Dad with his Nintendo DS (more with his Ginseng cream), and DS with his speakers (since he picked them out ;-).  I got a very nice watch from DS and a Grandfather clock from M&D.  Hum… think there’s a common theme here? 

I haven’t been out since December 23 and am just about to catch up with my rest and solitude.  Watched football yesterday while I finished the little Christmas sampler using the Sulky thread.  I really do like using it – no thoughts of switching colors, etc.  Just keep stitching!  Since Christmas is over, I used the year 2010 but put my initials and 09 in mini stitches.  Almost finished the candy cane – with exception of backstitching.  This one did have several shades of red, but it was one I wanted to finish before the end of 2009.

I’ve been thinking a little about stitching goals for 2010, but haven’t gotten it tied down exactly just yet.  I am planning to do an Alphabet SAL with Brooke’s Books group, a monthly ornament SAL with Friendly Stitchers, and to finish up some UFOs started in 2009. 

    Peace~Love~Joy
and Happy Stitching!

Charlene