Memorial Day

Hi all, hope your doing well on this day of remembrance. It is 86 degrees out and I have the fan going. I'm not looking forward to the 90s! 

So despite having a useless arm, I've managed to stitch some but not a lot! I stitched on 2 WIPs that I showed on my last post. They are Warm Wishes and Long May She Wave. First is Warm Wishes...

From the JCS ornament issue 2012. I've gotten this a lot further along but as I tend to do from time to time, most of the floss I am using has been misplaced! I do have the white floss for the snow and the overdyed Flax for the house. So I went back to Long May She Wave and here's that progress...

Not a lot though. 

My arm is better. I can move it more but it gets tired easily. My right shoulder was bad to begin with so I think that pulled arm muscle was going to happen. Eventually it'll get better, patience my dear!

What I have been able to do though is FFO! I have 3 pieces that I worked on since Saturday. The finishing bug bit with vengeance!

First up is Holly, a freebie from Hello from Liz Matthews...

Pretty! I wrapped the stitching around the glass, pushed it into the frame and followed that with the piece of paper that usually has a smiling family or couple and then the back velvety piece with a stand up flap. It was hard getting this centered!

Next FFO is Crow and Watermelon by Homespun Elegance...

Tiny little piece, I used the frame that I bought to use with Holly, above👆🏽 I cut a piece of mat board a bit smaller than the frame and placed the stitching on the sticky side, and used glue to adhere the whole thing to the back of the frame. I glued a summery cotton fabric to the back and made a stand from mat board. Voila! The design is 1" x 1 1/2" and here's the chart....

The next piece I want to stitch is the Crow and Flag which is to the right of Crow and Watermelon. It took 3 hours tops to stitch with breaks to rest my arm.

The 3rd and final FFO is Christmas Carols...

Found in the JCS ornament issue 2015. I sewed on the button and then made this flat ornament. The trim is store bought. Here's the back...

My next victim will be the 2023 Jingle Ball ornament and I have all the pretties to make it...

I have the mat board to make this a flat ornament also.

That's my FFOs!

Once again, I'm having another chart giveaway..

The usual rules apply: be a follower, live in the US. Two weeks from today, I'll draw names if there are more than 1 person interested. 

A little life update..

I had to chuckle when Honey Bee called my century plant a alien life form I think that's what she said! It has topped out and is now branching out with flowers on them. This thing is taller than my house! I'll get a picture next time.

I received the probate paperwork from the paralegal to file with court. I have to get them all printed out and over to the courthouse. In Arizona, when one becomes the estate representative, they have to take an online class. It's free and no test but when it was done, I thought, what have I got myself into?!?! Haha. It makes sense for me to do it because my brothers live in Phoenix and I live here. 

Well, this is all I got! I miss stitching all the things. I've been fondling my charts and fabric. I've begun going through rooms and separating stuff into charity donations, trash, and swap meet/yard sale items. Hence the chart giveaway. I'm pretty sure I'll keep finding stitchy stuff as I organize my craft room/bedroom. 

Thanks for your comments as always! What are my stitching plans? I'll continue stitching on the patriotic piece and I'll continue to look for the missing floss so I can finish the Christmas ornament! 

Take care and see you soon😊

We have a winner!

Greetings all, from a beautiful, sunny 78 degrees day in central AZ! Happy Mother's Day!💐🌹I just got home from spending a few hours with my daughter. She took some time off work. We went to my mother's gravesite to leave flowers and clean up her grave, and talk. We then went to my grandmother's and cousin's graves to say hello. Then my daughter bought me lunch. It's always good to spend time with her, our work schedules don't jibe.

Carol, I had to laugh at your comment on my last post about stitching up a 3rd Jack's Bash! Nah, I'm done, haha!

I unfortunately hurt my right arm two Fridays ago. A freak accident that is kind of embarrassing but I think I pulled a muscle in my upper arm. My stitching arm, I'm right handed, so I've only been able to stitch a little before it begins to ache. I iced it immediately after it happened and have kept up after work. Its getting better though. Mobility is getting better. 

I did start a Maynia project before the accident...

This is Long May She Wave by Asbery's Echoes Stitches, she's at Etsy. I had the left banner already done. The right side is post-accident and took the whole 8 days just to stitch it! I had to excuse myself from the swap I had joined in the fb group Homespun Needlework, I think, because there was no way I was going to finish before the deadline which is the 24th. Here's what it should look like...

I'll finish it the same way.

If there's a silver lining from my bad arm, it's that I finally finished a thick book I started in January. I miss stitching! 

We have a winner from the giveaway on the last post and that is Linda!! Woohoo! I have your address and will be mailing the chart this coming week. Hope your stitching slump has taken to the road. 

So did anybody catch the Aurora Borealis that appeared Friday night in the US? It came all the way to Arizona and even clear down to the US and Mexico border! I've seen pictures from Tucson. Here's how it looked in my area...

Is that not crazy?! I didn't know this was going to happen. I got home from work and started seeing pictures so I went outside and could see a dark pink glow in the sky to the north. Later, I learned that you needed to turn your camera setting to night mode to catch all the colors. My first time ever of seeing this. My dad was born and raised in Montana and had seen it lots of times.

Want to know how my century plant is doing?

This thing has reached the roof section of my porch. It's easily 10 or 11ft high. I have to push it a little to clear the roof line, no telling how much more it'll grow! Here's the bottom...

I've seen these plenty of times in the surrounding hills but never this close!

And that is all she wrote! Due to her bad arm, she may not have anything stitchy to write about!

I'll keep at Long May She Wave, stitch as much as I can.

Thanks for stopping in and commenting!

Take care!

Adios April!

Helloooo! Happy Sunday! Thought I would drop in for a last post in April. It's going by fast so let's see what I've been up to.

I've been up to a Happy Dance! I finished Jack's Bash by Plum Street Samplers...

Love it! The 2nd time I have stitched this, I'm keeping it! On 36ct Frieze by Atomic Ranch fabrics with the called for floss. I spread the yellowish thread around to balance that big yellow flower which was a mistake but it's fine. I will get this framed at the Attic in Mesa. I've been seeing framed stitching from the Attic on Facebook lately and I think they do a great job. I avoid Phoenix in the summer but I will drive down to get Jack framed. 

Next up? The ceremonial burning of the taped together graph of Jack! Lol...

Just kidding but I'll run it through the shredder. I have no intentions of stitching this again.👍🏼

I took the next day off from stitching but after that I picked up my Leap Year SAL project Deer Mug by Shannon Christine...

The color of the fabric is a little washed out but isn't it just cute? I think the area that gave me problems was the 'whipped cream'. Four colors involved and the usual losing track of what goes where. Two more stitches needed in the froth and I'll be done with that part. The face of the mug is fun but all that white in the border...not! The following charts in this series all have that border but in different styles. I have seen other Mug stitchers leave out the border but I'm going all in! 

I took a break from all the white to pull out a longtime WIP...

This is Warm Wishes from the 2012 JCS Ornament issue. Last time I just had that top border. Here's how it looks...

in the magazine. It's pretty.

Alright so now we're up to what I'm stitching next to keep Halloween going...

Jenny Bean's Halloween Sampler. The fabric looks like that used for the model. It'll be my first time stitching on a Colour & Cotton fabric. I'll start it next week sometime.

It's Maynia!! I'm starting two patriotic designs from my huge PDF pile. It's part of my #GreatPDFPurge to knock down the pile. Here's the first one...

I still have to grab more DMCs though. 

Next is...

This calls for 36ct but I'm doing mine on 32ct Lugana. The stitch count is only 55 x 33 so I want it bigger. 

I went and joined a swap on the FB group that Julie Kursave runs. I can't think of the name at the moment but that's where they've released the Charlotte Warrington sampler. Anyway, my recipient lives in Washington State and after doing some research, she likes patriotic pieces. So I'm stitching both patriotic pieces above and FFO them before May 24th. I'm glad I joined. I missed the exchanges that Teri/Dixiesamplar ran.

I think that's it for the stitching. I have pictures of my yard and what's growing. I have no pretty landscaping or irrigation.

Look at my century plant!!!..

It has gotten bigger, the stalk, since last Monday when I first noticed it. This has been growing for the last 20+ years, ever since my dad brought it home when it fit in the palm of his hand. Crazy! It seems to grow daily. 

Next are irises in my backyard. They have spread...

These are from those I uprooted in the front yard and threw them back here. It's pretty, a sea of purple.

Now we have this monstrosity, as big around as a truck tire. I think it might be Thistle. I'll let it grow and see what happens...

So stay tuned!😆

Last but not least, a giveaway!! I have 2 charts of this pattern...

You won't get the red sock but the natural colored one, one chart. I don't know how I ended up with 2! That never happens to me. So the usual rules: mailing in the US, be a follower. If there are more than 1 person by May 11th, I'll draw names. So the pattern uses beads but I don't think you'll need to put them on. By Sisters & Best Friends. 

Good luck!

Alrighty, I believe that's all I had and that was plenty. No news on the arsonist and the reward has risen to $55,000. I'm sure he's lying low. We had summer like temps last week, I turned off the heater but then it rained so it's back on! I'm a wimp!

Take care, you all! See ya next time☺️

Stuff!

After a lunch of pizza and diet Pepsi, I am now ready to do a blog post! Hope you're all doing well. I have progress, a couple of new starts, a finish, and some plans. Here we go!

I have progress on Jack's Bash...

It's getting there! I've run out of GAST Raven which is why Jack has no feet! I need it for the Raven in the birdcage, the outline of the big flower vase, and his feet. So for now I'm filling in the lawn which to me is worse than the over 1 verse! Jo mentioned adding the yellow to other areas of this to balance it out. The bouquet the lady is holding has equal amount of yellow and rust. Also the 2 flowers below her dress are yellow. There's a big flower next to Jack and that will be yellow too. The yellow is GAST Brandy. Thanks for your tips, ladies! 

I'm working without a script so bare with me as I skip around. I need to write notes down, haha.

Next up, new starts. They're ornament size. I had a piece of 32ct black linen so I thought I could get a Valentine's Day small going...

It's supposed to say Hugs & Kisses from Shannon Christine. It's in time out because that whole bottom portion is 1 stitch too many to the right. You can see it in the picture. The problem began with the Ampersand, and then I counted off from it to start the S. I've decided to extend the K to the left to at least align with Hugs. It's just a tiny thing. There are more of these Valentine's freebies on her Facebook page. I have room on my fabric to stitch 2 more. They are super cute!

The next start is a Christmas ornament from the JCS ornament issue 2015. So I browse a FB group called Stash Unloading~Cross Stitch Only. I was looking through an album of accessories that were being sold and saw a large-ish button that looked very familiar..

This is my picture but the sellers pic showed only the button. I snapped it up and found that the floss came with it and sure enough it was like the button for this particular design...

I loved the design but I wasn't too crazy about tracking down the button. Simona the designer has a website but I didn't think to find the button there. I bought it for $10 and seller told me it was more on the designer's website. So win win!

Here's the finished stitching...

It's on 32ct Platinum using the Romy's Creation floss, and it's just cute. Took me 3 nights to stitch. As for FFOing it, it'll be a flat ornament. I can't imagine trying to turn it inside out with the button sewed on if I made a pillow. Here's how it looks, button not attached yet...

Love it😍It's called Christmas Carols.

I had joined a Patreon for Hello from Liz Matthews and look at what one of the offerings  were for last month...

She's mentioned they'll be available next year or was it this Fall?? Brain burp, sorry about that. I have a plan for these, using off white linen and DMC for blocks. I think if I used 36ct I could get them down to the size that would fit on a piece of styrofoam, already in a rectangle size, from Michael's or Hob Lob. On another PDF are A for Aida, S for Sampler, L for Linen, and another that I can't think of at the moment.

I have a few plans for the months coming up. First I'll wow you with this picture ...

What in tarnation is that? That pile is freebie/PDF printouts! I think I have more printouts than I do of real paper charts! Face palm. I really need to put a dent in this pile so starting in May, I will pick a project from that pile and stitch it, once a month. As long as I have a piece of fabric for it, I'll start it. No worries, that top copy is a Scarlet House freebie. In addition, Stitch Maynia begins soon so I've already picked two Patriotic designs from the pile to start May 1. I'm certain I'll have Jack done, the Valentine's piece adjusted. AND....since I had so much fun stitching Jack, I've decided to always have a big Halloween piece going. I have one in mind to start in May, or as soon as Jack's done. 

So when I get back at the end of the month, I'll show what the Halloween project will be, the 2 Patriotics (maybe 3) will be, and the first PrintOut Purge, tbe official name, will also be, lol. The Great PrintOut Purge!! I hope to have the Christmas ornament fully finished too. I made it public so now I have do it!

A little housekeeping...

On the Easter bloghop post, Erica said that the large framed Bunny I showed reminded her of Harvey. I had no idea of who Harvey was so I googled. It does! It's a 1950 fim of a 6ft+ invisible rabbit, friend to an eccentric man named Elwood P. Dowd. Sounds interesting!

Yes, Carol, I still have some of the cording that I won from you, just 2 colors left now. I really need to learn how to make cording. 

That's it for stitching.

Some terrible things have happened here in the last couple of weeks. April 1st, a huge 4 or 5 floor apartment complex under construction went up in flames. I live about a mile away as the crow flies. I was woke up at 1:30 am after hearing strange noises outside. It was the wood burning. Same night, someone vandalized the high school, and then 4 days later went back to do more damage. The apartment complex is a $60mil loss and the ATF got involved. I work at a middle school right next to the high school, and we've had our own vandalism in the last month and a half but not as bad as the high school. So we have an arsonist living amongst us. The police presence at both schools has been high which is welcomed because my coworker and I leave work at 10pm. It's been rough. So say a little prayer for us here in Prescott Valley AZ that this person or persons are apprehended. Here's the view from my bedroom window...

Pretty scary

This post has turned into a novel and my phone hasn't gone bonkers! 

Take care and see ya next time!

Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop 2024

 Happy Easter! Welcome to my blog!

Most of you are old hands at how this works but for the newcomers, here's what you do- collect letters from each participating blogger that spells out a mystery phrase, go to superhost Jo/Serendipitous Stitcher's blog at:

 https://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com/2024/03/easter-treasure-hunt-blog-hop-2024.html 

to leave in the comment section the phrase! Easy peasy! You'll also find the list of all the participants there.

Let's do this!

Here's my stitched Easter piece...

Bunny Gingham by Twisted Threads circa 2003, on the Riviera Gingham linen by Graziano. I was lucky to find this linen in a stash selling group on Facebook, its 28ct. The whole design is 1 over 1 but is so much easier to stitch on this gingham than on Weeks Dye Works 28ct gingham. It's an itty bitty piece so I added the white fabric to the left side and bottom. You can't see it but the fabric has sparkle to it. Then I finished it off with the pink handmade trim that I won from Carol/Stitching Dreams. It's sooo cute! I FFO'd it just 2 days ago.

I was surprised to find that I had a nice little collection of Easter bunny/spring pieces for a bonafide display! 

The large framed bunny was given to me in an exchange some years back. I don't know the name or who the designer is. The two smalls flanking my gingham bunny are finishes from a while back. I believe the one on the left is from Bent Creek or maybe the Trilogy and is a reworked pin pillow. I believe Country Cottage Needleworks designed the piece on the right and is a flat ornament. Click on the picture to see it better. It was cloudy yesterday when I took the picture.

Here's the letter you've come to find:

and the next blog to continue your search:

 https://lecoeurceltique.blogspot.com/

I'll leave you with a little chuckle on this Easter Sunday:

It's fun searching for these little jokes! 🤣🤣

Thanks for visiting! 

Update!

Hope you've got green on! 

Greetings from a soggy Arizona!! The rain and snow has finally stopped. I saw the sun for a little bit yesterday morning after 3 or 4 days of rain or snow. No snow where I live but snow on the mountains that ring this valley.

Let's talk stitching! I have updates on WIPs and a look at a few market purchases, and life. Let's go!

So first up is Jack's Bash by Plum Street Samplers...

I'm still hoping for a finish this month but it's doubtful. I'm now down to Jack and the woman and the over 1 verse! That black spot on the inside of the inner border at left is the beginning of the woman's umbrella. So there's still a lot more to stitch.

Next up is Dog's Declaration by Ink Circles...

I love stitching on this. It will eventually be a framed gift for my daughter. Below and right of Life is a dog and two squirrels, the beginning of many more strewn about on this piece. This page is #1 of 9 I believe. I usually don't go page by page but I think I will on this one.

Now we have Yule by The Primitive Hare...

This has been a WIP for awhile. I was looking through WIPs a couple weeks ago and just pulled it out and put in more stitches. It's intensive being a bricklayer! I'm in no hurry to finish Yule.

On Leap Day I started my project for the SAL hosted by Chris the Camping Stitcher. This is Deer Mug from Shannon Christine...

I kind of wish I'd bought a little darker fabric for this but oh well🤷🏻‍♀️ I was sure all the white in the border was going to kill me but it's not so bad! It's mirror image so it's the same on all sides. I'm still needing 1 DMC which I'll get tomorrow. Now I know I'm not finishing this this month! That's okay as this SAL runs all year long.

Since the Easter blog hop is coming up, I decided to start a design which is super cute but secret! You'll all see it when you stop by on Easter 🐰🐣

I bought 3 charts for market through Garon Stitchery and here they are...

We've got the Mary Ann Aldred sampler by Needlework press, The Dance by the Proper Stitcher, and Tonight We Ride by Autumn Lane. I could've done more damage but can't as I'll explain below. I had been seeing people stitch on the two bigger patterns and wondered why. Turns out they were either retreat or club exclusives. You know me, gotta have a Halloween pattern!

That's it for the stitching. I have finally got the probate wheels going on the family home, hence being careful spending money. I found a paralegal to do an informal probate on the house. Cheaper than a lawyer but not much, lol. At the end of this month is when he'll start processing paperwork. My 2 brothers have to okay my application to being the rep which won't be a problem because my brothers and I get along. Next I have to take an online class on how to be an estate representative. Then, I have to take the class completion certificate, the will, the paperwork, and money to file at the courthouse. Then we wait. Now the will is pretty primitive. With guidance from the hospice nurse, I took a piece of paper and wrote the will with my dad on his death bed (he died 4 days later). Of the neighbors who were witnesses, the husband has since died and the widow moved to Phoenix to live with her son. I am trying to find out if she's still alive.

Wish us luck that the judge will accept the will! It's supposed to take 6-9 months from the beginning to completion but we'll see🤞🏼now the work begins with clearing the house. What I'm afraid of is the tax on the proceeds of the sale of this house. I believe you don't get taxed severely if you take those proceeds and buy another house. I could be wrong.

So that's what's going on in my world! Stitching is keeping me sane, haha!

I will be back on Easter with my blog hop post. You'll get to see the new start. It's just adorable!

Take care! See you soon!

Jack and I

Hi all! Thought I'd get on here and make a post before we move into March! 

First, I want to welcome a new follower here to my blog and that is Mary@Neat & Tidy! Hope you find it interesting here. I show and talk about my stitching, mention road trips when I take them and personal life stuff. She found her way here via Carol at Stitching Dreams. Applause please!👏🏼

Stitching! There's a lot. I have a happy dance and that is These Is My Words by Little House Needleworks...

I believe it's stitched on a PTP and a former WIP for 6 years. I'd have to go back through my blog to see when I started it. I had stitched on this for a Halloween challenge and once I was done I unjoined myself from that challenge. It turned out great and I'm glad she is done🥰

For the whole month of February I stitched on only 4 projects and they are Dogs Declaration by Ink Circles. Bertha Mae Brown by Chessie and Me, and Rose E'er Blooming by Summerhouse Stitche Workes....

This is Dogs and I love stitching on this. That vine and flower border on the left will get you because of the different colored flowers on it. Luckily, there are only 3 more bumps/curves on that vine. That represents almost 1 page of the whole design and it's been designated my Sunday stitch.

Next is Bertha...

I have 2 more rows to go before I can stop stitching alphabets! Whew! I can't wait to start on the flowers, deer, and the house.

And here is Rose, my bday start the end of January...

So pretty and not very big, I'm glad I used the fabric I'm using. I did have to change the DMC Ecru floss to DMC Blanc. It's in the snowflakes and the row of snowflakes there at the very bottom. Ecru just disappeared into my fabric. My picture is not so great.

The 4th and last project is Jack's Bash by Plum Street Samplers...

Jack and I, we're getting along good. He's turned me into a monogamous stitcher! I've stitched on him exclusively for a week and a half. But as relationships go, there are a few mistakes, and the biggest is very visible! On the right side in the vertical flower border is the glaringly yellow flower, haha! It's not supposed to be yellow, aka GAST Brandy, but Sarsaparilla. I had stitched 3 petals before finding out I was using the wrong floss! Well, I left it alone and I think it throws in a bit of color amongst the Fall-ish colors. I will continue to stitch on Jack so I can have him finished in March. I think I can do it! Jack is the last of the challenge with the Halloween group.

On the 14th was the Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog hop. I found my Valentine at Jocondine's blog...

This is The One by Asbery's Echoes Stitches, and I finished it just like the model on the chart. Rusty bell held in place by a rusty safety pin. I stuffed it with sawdust, my favorite kind of stuffing but messy as all get out! But I love it!

The Valentine sent to me has been claimed by Anonymous...

It's so cute! Glad it was claimed by it's maker!

Grace at Needles Pins and Dragonflies had a recent adoption and look who I adopted...

Is that cute or what?! This is Bleu. Tiny little handmade stuffed dog. Love it! Grace is a multicrafter who keeps busy crafting all sorts of pretty creations. I keep Bleu away from my cats! Thank you Grace!

Oh one more thing! On the 29th, those of us who joined in on The Camping Stitcher's leap year SAL will commence stitching on new starts. Here's mine...

I finally decided on the light blue fabric. It's 32ct vintage Blue Whisper linen by Wichelt. It's a bit stiff but not so bad as Lambswool. I'm using called for and substituted floss. The white floss will show up great on that fabric. 

I believe this is it! So I'm stitching on the Christmas Mug and Jack's Bash through March. That's it! It'll be different for sure.

Take care and see you soon!