Annual Stitchin Report

Last monday was the Annual May Stitchin at my house with my friends from Stitcher's Paradise!!!! We had lots of fun, stitching and of course food. It was a potluck and the food was superb!!!!! It was a bit too hot out to stitch outside like we did last year so there was two rooms going...the dining room and kitchen! In total there were 11 of us and we each found our spots and after eating some wonderful food we started stitching! Here are some pictures.....
and and and lastly I look forward to this every year and it never fails to be special!!!!

I was planning a new start that day but the fabric I had from my stash just wasn't working with the thread that I wanted to use so I waited till wednesday and was going to get a piece from the shop. All of her precut 1/8 weren't working so I went with an overdyed fat 1/4 and it was worth it since I can use it for another project. I went with 32ct African daisy a very pretty yellow. I asked my dear MIL her favorite color since the new start was for her and she said yellow...an answer I didn't expect but it worked since dear hubby really liked Freedom from A Gentle Art overdyed thread. Here is a progress picture after only 4 or 5 days of stitching... It's hard to see the pretty fabric...I'll try and take a better picture when it's done...I plan on that being tonight!!!! I plan on getting it framed and giving it to her when we visit in june as a belated Mother's day gift. I do hope she like it. I'm thinking of a whitewashed frame...any ideas????

And lastly here is a progress picture of my Stitching Fairy from Passione Ricamo As you can see I went with a very subtle thread color! I do like bright!

I did a hard Pilates workout yesterday and she bumped up my springs on some of the routines including the arm series and added some new exercises. I am feeling it today but it's a good feeling. I've been thinking I needed to step it up! That's what I love about Pilates it is so fun and you actually get a great workout and usually it's one that you can do while lying down!!!!! Sweet!!!! Even after two years I am not bored since there are so so many routines! And then I think she makes some up but even that works to my benefit!!!!!

I then came home and watched Farrah's Story which I had DVR'd earlier this week. I was amazed by her strength and courage. I have always loved her and this show was so worth it. The love she is surrounded by was inspirational to me! I highly recommend watching it! Being a former oncology nurse it touched my heart and made me realize that I miss my cancer patients and just how much they enriched my life.....it also made me think of my sister and how much I miss her but I know that she is always in my heart and I can still feel her love and always will! ((((((((((Maureen)))))))))))

For all of the Blackbird Designs fans out there....they have posted a freebie to their blog and it is so pretty!

That's all for now as I'm off to stitch....

P.S. I changed my blog template once again and this time I think it'll stay. I like it finally.....

I am grateful for my life and all that I have......

May your needle fly through your fabric.........

Fabulous

I have the most fabulous news!!! I have been smiling for days about it as well!!!!! But alas no pictures does this post contain....It's all about my nieces visit here! We were talking after the hugs and greetings...oh how I missed her! When she asked if I would teach her counted cross stitch!!!!!!! Apparently when she was in NY for those 6 weeks getting better she was also bored and her mom told her she needed a hobby and she picked up a stamped cross stitch pattern and completed it but hated it....no wonder there! So off we went to Stitcher's Paradise (my LNS)...she quickly picked a suitable pattern with Crescent Colors overdyed threads not too big either I think the stitch count was 76x76 now onto fabric...I thought she'd pick a plain fabric....no she wanted an overdyed fabric with sparkles.....I did insist on Aida for her first project though. So she got a 14ct PTPlus Crystal Earthen. And later when we got home we had her first and only lesson! I gave her one of my Qsnaps and she quickly took to it after I taught her the basics. Her stitches are perfect and she truly loves it! I really meant to take a picture. So Dh comes home to the two of us on the couch stitching!!!! It made my heart happy! I have since talked to her and she is loving it! She says it quiets her mind and I totally agree. With needle and thread in hand we are creative souls!!!! I am one happy Aunt!!! It must be in her genes is all I can fathom!

I am just feeling better after a migraine so I haven't picked up a needle this weekend yet but am planning to just as soon as I sign off.....I just had to share my wonderful news!!!!! We had such a great visit just doing things together and relaxing! She truly is my heart!

I am grateful to be migraine free and to have such amazing nieces......

May your needle fly through your fabric.........

Oh My Word......

I need to say that I am thoroughly exhausted but really wanted to post so here I am!!! Work was tough this weekend all 3 days we were short by 1 nurse and it was aggravating...but today was better and in the long run I'm glad I went in and didn't call out as previously planned. I really need to save my time since we are having company in April and to say I'm thrilled is an understatement!!!! It's DH's brother and wife and nephew!!! My SIL is more like a sister to me!!!!! And they have never been here in the 5 years we have lived here so it will be fun!!!!!

I have stitched but no pics to show....I promise some soon. I finished my first SB Fear Not! It was a small one and in attempt to get the horn perfect I broke it...But with the magic of a bit of glue you can hardly tell so it's off to the framer's tomorrow!!!! I forgot to mention that I introduced a friend and relatively new stitcher to the wednesday group and it was fun!!!!! The ladies are so very friendly and welcoming! We must keep our art alive and prospering!!!!!

I have seen this pattern on many blogs and I fell in love with it ..... I do believe in Hope and the necessity of hope in our everyday life!!! I found it after emailing Mary Kathryn and she promptly replied and now it's ordered and I'm so happy! I truly love the simplicity of the design and the message of hope and it comes with the threads and pins......my first pinkeep finish????? If you love it as well here's the link . And as an added bonus 10% of the proceeds go to breast cancer charities......

And I ask you how did these lovely designs get by me and the reason for the post title.... and !!!!! They are so beautiful and a bit more sophisticated from the other Couture Pixies. And oh wait I truly thought there were supposed to be only six and now there are eight!!! Not that I'm counting or disappointed on the contrary I'm thrilled!!!! Of course they are on order at SP for me I called today!!!!! Just couldn't wait till tomorrow!!!!

I'm grateful for wonderful cross stitch designs to stitch and the creative designers........and my wednesday stitching group....

Where to begin....

This posting has been running around in my head for several days and only now did I find the time to sit down and write it!!!! My MIL is still here so between work and company my blog and such has suffered. We are having fun though! Last week we saw Tony Bennett and he was fabulous! And then last night we saw Andrea Bocelli!!! I really had high expectations but was a wee bit disappointed in the show! He had guests and did mostly opera till the last two songs. My hubby loved it and believe me his voice was spectacular but I would have preferred his other works more.....I may still get the new cd. I am really enjoying her visit and I know that hubby is as well being the Italian boy that he is!!!! They leave on tuesday and will be missed!!!!

Now on to what has been running around in my head.....yes my head is at times a strange and dark sometimes magical place but for todays purpose it is filled with gratitude and sheer joy!!!! First to Karen of Gathering Thoughts thank you so very much!!!! She RAK'd me with selections off of my wishlist! I am in awe! Here is what she sent.... well it seems that blogger doesn't want to play today. She sent me a book of poems by e.e.cummings and Spring Fairy Spirit by PR designs!!!!! I really wanted to post a picture as well as a picture of the Pecan Pie I made for Thanksgiving. I will try again at the end to post a picture..... thank you so very much Karen! An e-mail is coming your way!!!

Next I had a grand adventure last saturday with Margaret of Stitch or No Stitch!!! We met up with Deb of Lavendar Rose Ramblings at Stitcher's Paradise!!!! What fun we had!!! Deb is just like I imagined her...funny, smart and totally fabulous!!!!! We talked and talked and talked some more! They helped me pick out fabric for my January 1st start! We popped over to Starbucks at B&N bookstore and had a bite to eat and talked like old friends!!!! It was truly amazing to meet Deb!!!! And in May are planning a stitch-in at my house!!!!! Since that's the one thing we didn't get a chance to do while she was visiting!!!! And the joy on her face when talking about her new grandson was sheer bliss!!!

Well blogger still doesn't want to play so the pictures will wait till next post...I even had a picture of my progress on Daisy.

I am thankful for the friends in my life and the joy they bring me....