A Gift

I have been so remiss in posting a picture of this piece of jewelry my sister over at Northwoods Creative Studio.  Honestly, I wouldn't blame her if she didn't make me anything else.

For the back story.  A while back , maybe around September, Ali posted a picture of an enamel oak leaf on her blog.  I sent her a comment saying that  I would love one of those, well,  actually two leaves - one to represent me and one to represent my husband and three acorns to represent our children.  Here is what she came up with:

I was so surprised and thrilled to get this back in October!  I love to wear it!  She made the leaves, acorns, and lampwork beads herself, as well as the toggle.  She did a bit of macrame with linen thread (approriate for the stitcher that I am!) I love, love, love this piece!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sister.

Snow Day Today

It's a snowy day here in eastern PA today.  A great day to stay in, drink tea, putter in the stitching room, and hopefully, get some finishing done.  Enjoy your day.




The view from my dining room window.
 

Keep on stitching!

My New Happy Chair

Here it is - my new happy chair.  It lives in my stitching room.

I had to replace my older happy chair in November.  My mother-in-law had come to live with us after being displaced by Superstorm Sandy.  She needed my old happy chair because it was the right height for her.  I had been eyeing upholtered chairs for quite some time but couldn't come up with a good enough reason to buy one until the above scenario presented itself. I found this one at Pier 1 on clearance.  Not only on clearance but when we went to pick it up I had the salesladies turn it over so I could make sure that the legs weren't loose.  When they did that we discovered some tears in the bottom lining.  They offered me an additional 20% off!  Sold and into the truck it went.  I think that as time passes and our nest empties I will move it upstairs into what will become a guest/stitching room.

Keep on stitching!

Next Year

I'm planning for next year - already.  I have outlined my stitching plan for the coming year on the right.  I have to admit that I borrowed is idea from Beth at Garden Grumbles and Cross Stitch Fumbles.  She has a great blog and I love how she changes her header each month. 

I hope this will let me a bit more focused in my stitching.  Since the theme changes frequently I should be able to make lots of new starts without very much guilt.  After all, I can finish it when it comes around the following year, or not.

The 1892 Pledge

I have my 1892 Pledge back from the framer.  It took them less than 10 days to get it framed.  I am happy with the job they did.

The 1892 Pledge
by Sam Sarah Designs

I am going to hang it with the other patriotic pieces on the soffit in my kitchen.  I'll show you those pictures another day.

Yesterday was my birthday and I decided that I don't have to do a huge blog post each and every time.  A picture and a few lines are adequate.  Part of my effort to lighten up and let things go in the coming year.  Hopefully, if all goes as planned you'll being seeing more posts.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Keep stitching.

Where to Begin?

Life has been busy.  I have gotten some of my mojo back.  I'm not stitching every day - yet.  But am getting in a couple of hours a week and that is a definite improvement.

I have been working of Maritime Sewing Case.  My goal is to have this finished finished before I attend the Stitcher's Jamboree in Ocean City less than four weeks away.  I have been stitching the outside panels.   I plan to do quite a bit more today.  It looks likes a beautiful day to be out on the deck with a needle in hand and maybe a Netflix movie or two. 

I have also been working September Gathering from A Fine Collection by Blackbird Designs.  I am in the home stretch on this one. 

Pictures, well, no, no pictures this time.   Mr. S has the camera with him.  And although I can take pictures with my phone - I don't know how to upload those to the laptop. Plus they are not such great pictures anyway.

I have been trying to keep up with  my blog reading.   And I must say that you are all doing some awesome projects. 

Things have been in transition in our household.  You may remember that our middle child has gone to Kentucky to pursue his PhD.  We went to visit him over the Labor Day Weekend.  This mama did not feel she would go almost six months without seeing her Baby Boy (as he is affectionately called.)

Our youngest, Ali, has gone off to begin her college adventure.  She is liking it. I still have my reservations about her being in Philadelphia, but am trusting her judgment to be smart about staying on campus and staying with a group (just like Girl Scouts!)

Our eldest, Andy, (affectionately called Little Boy) has announced that he is getting married in 2014.  So our family will grow as we add Ashley to our family.  I don't have nickname for her yet, soon, very soon.

And, on a sadder not, my Dad passed away last Friday.  My sister explains his passing far more eloquently than I can.  You can see her post at Northwoods Creative Studio .  When you look over her blog you can see some of the wonderful jewelry she creates.  I own a few pieces and feel so happy when I wear them.

Keep stitching!

Mojo - Oh Mojo - Where are you?

Does this happen to you?  I've lost my mojo and can't find it.  I've looked for it here

and here,

and even here

 

and I can't seem to get going.
Last month, shortly after my last post I did finish this gift for my friend Claire-Ann for her birthday.

Since then very little has been done.  Time to go look through my stash to see what catches my fancy.  I'll share what I find soon.