Take a peek...

Just a quick post to add my niece's progress picture... As you can see the heart is done as of 2 days ago!!!!!! At this rate she'll have it done in no time at all.......She'll be visiting soon so I'll get to look at it up close! I am so excited about her visit!

In case I don't post before the weekend Have a Happy Easter and a chocolate filled one!!!!!!

I am grateful for my family.....

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

Much to show and a book finish

First let me say thanks to all the wonderful comments I received about my nieces stitching piece! I was the first to be amaze by her interest in stitching and oh so happy that she loves it and came upon this on her own! She is amazing! I do think it's in her genes!

I have updates on Cinderella Sampler from Willow Hill Samplings....several pictures follow and I hope they are better than the last! and and and my favorite part of the sampler Her slipper is on the path and she is most definitely barefoot....the next scene to stitch is Prince charming presenting her with the said slipper! She is almost done and I love her! The fabric is a Silkweaver Solo and is 36 count!

Next up is my progress on M-designs Letter J! ! I already have the Letter C done for hubby and then the Celtic Heart all to be framed together! The fabric is PTPlus 32ct Davinci!

I hade another new start yesterday... not shocked I know... It's a SAL with Margaret and Brenda (no blog yet) from my wednesday stitching group at SP. The fabric is 30ct Twisted Peppermint Pink and the pattern is called Scraps the Mummy.....don't have a picture of the model photo but promise to soon! Not much done but it will definitely be fun and it's the first time I'm using anchor threads.....just what the pattern called for. And also Margaret bestowed on me this award.... I am so honored! Thank you dear friend!

The rules are as follows:
1. Copy the Kreativ Blogger Award on your blog.
2. Create a link to the blogger who has nominated you.
3. Nominate 8 other bloggers.
4. Create a link to these bloggers on your blog.
5. Leave a comment on their blog advising them that you have sent them an award.

I am going to bend the rules a bit since I read so many wonderfully creative blogs that I just can't pick 8! So if you are reading this considered yourself tagged........


Off to stitch and have a cup of tea.....

I almost forgot I just finished The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. A simply amazing book that took a while to read but is so very worth it! It gives a new perspective to dracula and is filled with wonderful images and characters that you just can't help falling in love with......I highly recommend it!

I am grateful for dear stitching friends..............

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

Proud Aunt!

Just a quick post from one proud Aunt!!!! My dear niece e-mailed me a picture of her progress so far and I must say her stitching is perfect! But here is the picture so you can see for yourself....
You can just make out the crystal fabric. Her stitches are neat and even! I see more stitching in her future! I get a smile on my face when I think of her stitching and it connects us even more and the tradition that my dear sister started when I was just 10 years old and she put a needle in my hand and said you will do this! Who knew then that this would happen! I just know she is smiling down on us! It simply makes me happy!

I am grateful that I can share my love of cross stitch with my niece........

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.........

My Sunday

I spent my sunday stitching on QGT by Michelle Ink. I am in the middle of the big center motif and am enjoying it ! I am stitching this on 32ct PTPlus Chime and I am happy with the thread changes I made! Here it is The center motif is the largest so I am going to make this my sunday or whenever the mood hits me!

I also made some stitching progress on Stitching Fairy by PR. I chose a bold color choice and I am liking it! I think tonight I will be working on Queen of the Fairies by PR since she has been screaming at since last night! Pictures next post!

I have dinner on the stove so I'm making this a quick post. I'm off to check on the Chicken and Dumplings! Dh is on his way home so I think it will be a Netflix night!

PS .....My niece is visiting this week from California!! Just a quick visit to which I am looking forward too.....She is feeling much better and getting on with her life! Again thank you all for keeping her in your prayers!

I am grateful for quiet days of stitching....

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

What have I done......

I have had another migraine but took the new meds since it came back with the old meds and the doc said to try the new ones and in what order to take them...I was just so frustrated the last time I saw him and he listened so we developed a new plan. I am happy to say I am migraine free as I type this post!!!! Still post migraine feeling like I am walking through tissue paper but I took care of me including a nap last night and skipping bowling and then sleeping in and resting today. I did skip Pilates as well but I'm off all next week so I will make it up I promise!!! My niece is getting better but she needs to remain in NY so my California trip is on hold but I plan to keep the time off and rest and stitch myself!!!! Thank you again for all of your prayers and well wishes for her!!! She and her sister are truly my heart!!!!!!

Now on to updates..First is Holly by NC She is done except for the beads and kreiniks!!!! Next is Cinderella Sampler and she now has a pumpkin coach to get around in There is more a new start yes even with a migraine I stitch.....I can't explain it but tend to just go with it... It is Nora's Alphabet which I am doing on PTP Crystal Highland! Next and last is an old WIP that was staring me down so she came out.... Queen of The Fairies by Passione Ricamo I did a little on her on sunday and realized just how much I love her! So she'll be out and stitched in my version of a loose rotation!!!!!

I've seen a lot of the Nashville releases but nothing jumped out at me which is a good thing actually and then I saw this... Quaker Gone Tropic by Michelle Ink. I just sat and stared at it and fell in love with it! I love the whimsy of it!!!! So when my LNS called and told me about the Nashville preview tonight for their "Bird Club" of which I am a member I innocently asked if they had acquired it at Nashville and they did so they are holding one for me.....I wanted to go to the preview but feel I should still be resting! I may go in on monday since I have the week off!!!!!

I am grateful for my niece feeling better and my wonderful husband......

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

Holly progress...well sort of...

First and foremost a big thanks to all of you who commented and sent prayers and well wishes for my niece! I spoke with her yesterday and she is feeling better. She sees the doctor next tuesday so we'll know more then. My mean red also lifted. I have been feeling tired and just decided to go with it and I slept in yesterday and today till about 1 ish and napped yesterday so I feel better.

I have some progress on Holly although not as much as I wanted. But still she has a face and arms now! The pale blue in the corner is just a shadow. I snapped the picture quick so I could post early and go stitch for the rest of the day.......

I had planned on starting the new Cirque des Carreaux from Ink Circles yesterday with a friend from SP but we decided to wait until March 1st. And have you seen the newest one from this month's Just CrossStitch magazine...Oh my I love it so I am picking through my stash to find fabric and then can decide on thread colors..... well I'm off to stitch...

I am grateful for pajama days......

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

The moon tonight

I worked today and it was a bit crazy but so what else is new these days. We are over capacity and everyone is just as crazy. But the real point of this is to say I was driving out of the parking lot and looked up to see such an incredible moon !!! It made me stop and just be thankful and smile! I have been in what I call a "mean red" (the best way to describe a really bad mood thanks to Holly Golightly and Truman Capote) these days and realized in that moment that everything will work out and I want to shed this mood of mine. The start of the mood was receiving some health news about my dear niece and I know she will be fine but there is a bigger part of me that is just angry at the unfairness of her having to live with and deal with a longterm chronic illness. She flew to NY from California this past week to get the medical attention she needed and I so want to be there with her and my brother but know that I must wait and be there for when she really needs me. My heart is with her and she knows that!!!! I have a week off coming up soon that I was planning to spend with her in California so I may just be in NY.......

I have some update pictures as well that I took a few days ago....First The Little Witch by SB that I had to start a few saturdays ago... I love the fabric (kit fabric).............

I am enjoying stitching this and have begun to realize that one should always have a SB as a W.I.P.!!!!! what do you think??? And next is Holly although not much is progressedin this picture but I now have her arms almost done...... note to self: must take another picture..... I must end here since I promised to not spend the evening on the computer and it is fast becoming late.

Off to get a cup of earl Gray and stitch a bit before bed......more soon I promise along with a newly discovered W.I.P. that I must finish since all I have is the beads and overdyed threads! I even found the chart......oh my!

I am grateful for being home and my new "snuggie"...............

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

Soup's on

I have been wanting to sit and write for days now but between work and my MIL's visit and being just plain tired it hasn't happened. Thankfully no migraines for at least 2 weeks now. We have seen 2 shows in the last week the first Bette Midler at Caesars!!! All I can say is she was incredible beyond all imagining!!! And then last night we saw Johnny Mathis at the LV Hilton! I just love him and his voice so many memories. So today it's a lazy day I just put on my Butternut squash soup and am taking time for me to update this sorely neglected blog......

Last sunday it was the Annual Stitcher's Retreat organized by my LNS and two sisters at a local golf course!!! I look forward to it every year and this year it was no different! I love seeing what everyone has brought and is stitching on and there were a lot more needlepointers. All in all about 45 people were there and I had so much fun. They serve a buffet breakfast and lunch and then there is a raffle drawing...look what I got... It looks like fun!!!! Then that night it was Bette Midler!!!!!! In addition to working 4 out of 5 days but it was all worth it. What made it even better was that the retreat was on my sister's anniversary so I got to spend the day stitching and just remembering her!!!!

Now on to some updates..... first up isTrick or Treat Fairy.... I am doing the Kreinik now and having so much fun...I may just have to finish her up!!!! Next is a new start from Rosewood Manor .... I am doing it with our last name... It is stitching up fast just a week to do that block...I've already started the next one in a pretty red and will alternate the blocks. and then we have Ocean's Daughter !!!!! So I have been stitching and plan to tonight as well!!! Although Fairy Moon is calling my name so I may just bring her out tonight....

I must say that I went red....my hair that is and am loving it!!! I am feeling vibrant and happy. Sometimes a change is good....as well as getting my belly button pierced yesterday....amazingly it didn't hurt and I'm being hypervigilant about keeping it clean!!!! See what happens when you turn 50 or at least when I turn 50!!!!! I also have a picture or two from the pool the other day....... Here I am with my niece and her DBF and Storm!!! And a group shot of us looking serious with my MIL and her DBF... Not bad for October 16th.......My niece was on her way to California to live!!!!! And stopped by for a few days on her way..... I am thrilled since she will be closer and we plan many visits together!!!!

Well I need to go check on my soup so I'll sign off her and promise more later......

I am grateful for being migraine free.....

I'm here

I want to thank everyone for their good wishes and good thoughts!!!! I am home from the hospital and am now postop! The experience was definitely positive except for the 24 hours post anesthesia vomiting I had! I know TMI but it was not fun especially with an incision and all. But the care I received was exceptional!!! I am now taking it easy and wondering where my stitching mojo went......I haven't been able to stitch but I do have hopes for today!!! Margaret from my stitching wednesdays has stopped by to visit with me and brought me a new book to read!!! It's Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and with the little I've read I can say I am loving it!!!! I am trying to take it easy but it's hard which I didn't think would be a problem. But of course the 1st day home I had to do the laundry......Big Mistake! I spent the next day sore and exhausted. I'm just not used to not being able to do what I want when I want. And my niece and her friends had been here and left the day of my surgery so I had to catch up with the laundry. What was I thinking???? I had loads of fun with her and her friends and actually went out with them one night till about 3 am !!! It was a blast and we visited as many casinos/clubs as we could and it felt great!!!!!! But you know you older when you are out to the clubs with your niece and she's drinking and your not! But in my defense I was having surgery in a few days!!!! It was a great distraction for her to be here! Great timing to get my mind off of the upcoming surgery!!!! Apparently I'm a hugger since upon arrival to my room from the recovery room I had to hug everyone who visited me!!! I guess it was better than the alternative. And the Pilates really helped with my moving around I had no trouble with getting in and out of bed but was thankful that my surgeon put me on bedrest for the first day.....

I'm off to get more coffee and pick up my stitching so wish me luck!!!! Hopefully next post will be a stitchy one!!!!I started a new project for my 2nd cousin who just had a baby girl!!!!!She is precious!!!! I'll definitely post a picture next time!!! !

I am grateful to be home and for my loving husband..............

Pictures, pictures and more pictures!!!!

I meant to write this yesterday but in the rush of things it just got away from me and I tend to ramble so it would of been too rushed! Yesterday was my birthday and I had such a wonderful day!!!! But first let me say Happy Birthday to Michelle of Cozy Egg who happens to share my birthday!!!! How cool is that!!! My day started off a bit busy but then my niece and I went out without my brother since he had some work to catch up on....It was so nice to just have a day with her!!! First we went to get my eyebrows groomed then it was time to pick up her birthday present and some other pieces at the frame shop. So without anymore wordiness here are the new framed pieces! Fern by Nora Corbett and my niece was speechless ...just the reaction I wanted!!!! Next is Fairy Celebration by Passione Ricamo and Alphabet Sampler And lastly Sweet Sweet Babe by SamSarah Designs which is for hubby's friend back east Then we went to SP and showed the ladies in my stitching group the framed pieces (sorry I missed you Margaret ) and from there it was a unique bookstore called Dead Poet's Books. It is an eclectic used bookstore that we could have spent hours in and almost did. Then tonight it was to the MGM Grand to see KA a cirque show which was good but a bit confusing although the production was spectacular!!! And then dinner at Wolfgang Pucks Bar and Grill!! I had the shrimp risotto that was unbelievable!! I have to say it was a good day and I even fit a swim in!!! But poor hubby had no idea what to get for me and was stressing so I told him something useless and girly!!! But still I could see he was lost....so while at SP I picked out a few things since he had been in there that day before and left empty handed and had given the owner his cell # just in case she thought of anything.......here are my new Ginghers, needleminder and a chart I fell in love with... The threads for the chart are on order as I need 9-10 skeins. A girl can never have too many scissors.... I adore anything leopard print!!! I had so much fun and what made it even more special was having my brother and niece here. Today is another full day starting with Pilates at 8am so I better get to bed.....I really rambled on this time .......

I am grateful for birthday celebrations..............

Where oh where is......

As the title implies.......I am still without my car! Amazingly the body shop found more damage and this time the two chief adjustors went and finally approved the work and now it's on the way to the paint shop so hopefully by next wednesday my car affectionately named Harry will be home! Since I know he feels abandoned...LOL. And yes I did name my car strange but true!!!

I was also supposed to be picking up 3 framed pieces from my framer and dropping off my last finish but that also didn't happen. My framer is a perfectionist and one of the pieces was off by 3 rows so it's being redone. They will all be done on Saturday! But I am working so I will pick them up on Wednesday since the women in my stitching group at SP want to see the finished product and then I will post definitely! So stay tuned.

I am thinking of doing my master bedroom and bath in purples! What does everyone think?????.....I have one wall that is perfect for some cross stitch finishes as it's on an angle. And purple is so soothing. Right now it's in black/cream toile which I love but I feel ready for a change since it's been about 4 years.....Well for nothing to write I did pretty well.....

Oh and an SBQ to finish the posting with...

Today's SBQ was suggested by Jennifer (http://astitchinwrinkledtime.blogspot.com/ ) and is:How did you get started stitching? Was there a person that inspired you?The permalink to this post is: http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2007/08

This is such a great question! I started stitching because my older sister put a needle and thread in my hand and said you will do this! I am ever so grateful for this...I started with stamped cross stitch bibs since mom was pregnant with my little brother (thus usurping my baby of the family status at age 11).....I was enjoying my reign too! LOL I quickly progressed to crewel and needlepoint and was doing small Christmas cards when she got her hands on a copy of the magazine "Cross Stitch and Country Crafts" (such a great magazine don't you wish it was still around) and on the cover was a little girl at a tea party with her dolls and she quietly but insistently challenged me to do the design.....I wasn't sure I could but off we went to get the supplies....I actually remember that day as if it yesterday..picking out the DMC threads and cutting the material centering the material, taking the first stitch and so on...such a great memory! A mere 2 years later she was done!!! And I am still stitching today and am addicted to counted cross stitch! So thank you dear Maureen for encouraging and challenging me in that way! Every stitch I now do is in her memory and there are no words for how this makes me feel. As much as I miss her I know she is smiling somewhere and that is immensely comforting to me!!! Would you like to see a picture of the completed piece....I've posted it earlier but here it is again..... (what's a post without any pictures?)


Thanks for looking and see you soon! Hope every ones weekend is relaxing, fun and if you stitch full of more hours than you can imagine for stitching

PS I almost forgot ....I am in the countdown to my brother and niece visiting and only 2 more days of work and then 8 whole days off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm just a bit excited, thrilled, ecstatic and expectant.....I'll be at the airport with bells on Sunday night that is after baking a raisin cake for my brother ......his absolute favorite and my niece has promised me a pecan pie so life is sweet......

I am grateful for my memories and my sister...............

My Queen.....

I really should be in bed but I have been meaning to post this update since yesterday. I worked a lot on Queen of the Fairies the past two days and I am loving it even all the various shades of beige and ecru! At one point tonight I frogged a whole section because I thought it was the wrong color and it turns out it wasn't....don't you just hate that! But even with the frogging I love it and have decided to make it my focus piece. So here she is in all of her beige glory..... She is being stitched on PTPlus 32ct Fresco with Venus threads. I do love the Venus threads they seem to have a bit more sheen and knot less than DMC. The section I frogged was just above the loose thread and now it's back with even more done! Did I mention that I am working on scroll bars and a lapstand.... I couldn't quite achieve the tension I wanted or loved for some reason. I like my fabric really tight. So last week while at SP stitching group one of the women mentioned "stitch clips" and luckily she had them at the shop! And the difference those clips has made is amazing!! I had heard of them but totally forgot about them. The tension is perfect just the way I like it!!!! This may actually mean no more hoops for me!

Oh and it's less than a week till my brother and niece visit!!! I am so excited and thrilled to be seeing them !!!!! I have the week off and it'll be so fun. We have 2 shows planned and lots of spontaneous stuff. Unfortunately my car is still in the shop...I hear about it tomorrow so maybe just maybe I'll have it back by the weekend!!! Everyone keep your fingers crossed.

I am grateful for my stitching ..........

7 hours later.....

When I awoke today I really wanted to finish Fern and get her to the framer's. But the framer's has summer hours so that part of my plan did not get done but Fern is finished!!!! It took about 7 hours of beading and she is a finish!!!! I am thrilled!!! She's off to the framer's on Monday since I work tomorrow and Saturday. I adore the Nymo thread that I got it makes beading so much easier. I managed to find it on spools and I may have enough to last a while since I bought 10 spools.....had to make the shipping worth it!! And the place I ordered from included some beads and I think they are treasures. I added one to the palm of her hand since it looks like she should be holding something and I love the effect!!! So here she is....
Fern a Couture Pixie
by Nora Corbett Designs

I actually tweaked the photo a bit to get a truer representation of the fabric! My only concern is I only have about an inch of material at the top and bottom....I told you I hate cutting my own fabric!!! But it will be okay!!! It has to be......I even measured twice and used an online fabric calculator.......Actually I measured more than twice since the first piece I cut was definitely too small. I'm only thinking good thoughts! I'll know more on Monday. I actually rescheduled Pilates today since it was so rainy and miserable out the middle part of today......Fern may be my fastest finish started on July 9th and finished August 2nd. And she is a birthday present for my niece who is visiting in just a few weeks!!!!!

Oh and a clarification about my last post...those 3 pictures that I posted I did in the late '80's to early '90's. I posted them in response to the SBQ.

I am grateful for my finish today..........