Especially For You Today.......

Today, you came to mind, dear friends, and I thought that I must share some special thoughts, especially just for you......


Although we may not know one another personally, and there may be many miles and even continents that separate us, I want for you to know that you are always in my thoughts.  I feel so blessed to be connected to each one of you, by the 'threads' that have connected our lives to one another. Although, sometimes, many days may slip away, in between,  I am always so grateful that you are never far away, and that you are always there when I reach out for you through sharing, once again, our love of needlework and parts of our lives, that has made us friends.  Thank you!


My needle has been busy, but stitching progress a bit slower than I wish sometimes.  The days just fleet away....  .

    I have thoroughly enjoyed stitching this sweet 'May Wordplay' door pillow, created by With Thy Needle and Thread. I decided to finish it with a little lace hanger, attached with some old buttons.

I especially loved stitching the purple irises and little potted geraniums.  Aren't they sweet?

Although my photography is a little lacking, I think that this wheelbarrow with two robins perched on top of the soil, are just adorable.  

This design is called "French Square", by ScissorTail Designs, which will be finished as a biscornu, when I finish stitching the design.  Wish me LUCK, as this will be my very FIRST EVER attempt at stitching a biscornu!  I have been wanting to make one for a long time, so now is the time, I guess!

This intriguing little piece of needlework, is part of my current needlework project, 'Barnwood Buttons' designed by Karen Kluba of Redwood Manor.  It is stitched on beautiful, 'Picture This Plus' Belfast 32 count 'Barnwood' linen, using Weeks Dye Works 'Linen' thread.  As I typically stitch from left to right, using a portable frame, this stitched part is at the end of the design, in case it looks a little curious at this point:) Ho- Hummmmmm......


Although Mother's Day is now a sweet memory of the past for this year, I wanted to share with you, this photograph of my beautiful 83 year old Mother, taken last Sunday, on Mother's Day.

My Mother's ageless beauty is complimented by her gentle and sweet spirit, always so gracious and loving, a Mother who has aged with grace and dignity.  My Mother....I love her so much!


As a new week begins, may you be blessed with a lovely week ahead, strength to persevere the challenges ahead, and joy in your hearts to inspire you along the way.


Blessings in Stitches & Friendship!

Stitching Through Time...

Last weekend was a bevy of excitement as I headed off to Celebrations of Needlework,  in Nashua, New Hampshire, to share in every stitcher's joy of needlework classes and a fabulous stitcher's mall of vendors from around the country.

I was a very spoiled girl indeed, having the priviledge of going with two of my stitching girlfriends on Friday, and then again on Saturday with my dear husband, Bruce, who is also a needlwork enthusiast, and another stitching girlfriend.  Oh joy of joys!  It was such fun, pouring over all of the newest designs and stitching goodies from a multitude of vendors from around the country, in attendance there, and so much fun meeting up with several other stitching friends there too!

Here is some of my newly acquired stitching stash.  The photo doesn't do justice to these wonderful designs, but I am very excited about deciding which one will be first to be stitched!


Then, this week, much to my surprise, look at the wonderful gifts that arrived in the mail from Penny!  I had admired her finished 'Clara Pritchard's Posies' pillow, and she very kindly offered to send it to me.  I was so overwhelmed by her generosity to, send me the design, these beautiful Simply Shaker threads, as well as these little packages of my favorite teas, and a really unique Plant-It Chamomile seeds card!  Thank you so much, Penny!

This handmade 'Chamomile' Plant-It herb card, has Chamomile seeds, embedded within the paper. After thoroughly soaking the  paper in water, you tear it up and plant the bits of paper in the ground or a pot, out of direct sunlight, water it regularly and watch the little seedlings begin to germinate!  This is truly so unique!  Love it!

More progress this week on 'May' Wordplay, by With Thy Needle.  I think that my favorite part is o the little woman with her watering can behind the white picket fence.  Hope to finish it up this weekend, and assembly next week:)


And now, for my most daring pursuit......  My dear friend, Janet, who was vending at Celebrations, urged me to consider trying one of Teresa Layman's "knotty" designs.  Janet is very enthusiastic about her "knotty" works, and convinced me to purchase a design and give it a go, with her help, of course:)

Yes, I know..... Call me 'crazy' to want to stitch all of those teeny tiny little knots, but this design just captured my heart and I just had to have it.

Here is my progress so far.  I'm so proud of all my little neatly placed knots:)  Of course, I have 'miles to go' before this little beauty is finished, but that is all part of the fun, after all.
So, as you can see, I have lots to keep me busy for quite a while.  


The sun is starting to peek from behind the cloudy skies, and maybe it will be a nice day after all, though the temps are still in the 40's here.  So typical of our New England spring weather though.  Tomorrow promises to be a sunny, blue sky kind of day and a little warmer.


Blessings in abundance to you wherever you are today, until next time, dear friends.  Thank you for all of your wonderful visits and comments.  They really do mean so much to me!

Oh, What a Glorious Day!

Today is a glorious day, and I just couldn't resist capturing this lovely, flowering pink tree in our backyard.  Before long, the blossoms will drop and then we will have to wait until next Spring to enjoy them again.


As I stitched away on some of my little 'Spring' pieces, I realized that it has been 2 weeks since I have posted anything!  So, here I am, and here are my most recent finishes.

'Five Little Eggs'
by Shepherd's Bush

Although I showed you the finished stitching before Easter, I had not had time to finish it as a pincushion and sew on the silk ribbon and little beads. 

'April Word Play'
by Brenda Gervais
With Thy Needle & Thread

 Instead of the recommended 'rusted jingle bells', to be sewn along the bottom of this little doorbell pillow, I decided to add some pearlized flower buttons.  I think that they add a nice touch  of  Springtime flowers!

Next up, is the beginning of 'May WordPlay', which I just started, so not much progress so far.  I'm not sure why I am so addicted to these little WordPlay pillows, but then I love stitching monthly pieces, and putting them up every year.

Guess who has been sleeping in Mama Bear's Chair today?  Miss Meggie, that's who!

When Meggie heard me snapping a picture of her sleeping, she decided to poker her little face out, to see why on earth Mama was bothering her.

Here we are, looking cute, tucked in back with Mama's back and arm pillows that I use when stitching.  Meggie thinks Mama's stitching nest is really HER nest.....for sleeping of course!

Where ever you are today, and whatever you are doing this weekend, I hope that you will find some peaceful moments, just for yourself, to indulge in what you enjoy doing most......possibly a little stitching time?  

May the joy of life delight you.  May peace abide within your heart. May faith be your guiding light, and may you find true contentment in the simplest things in life.

Blessings in Stitches & Friendship With All of You, My Very Dear Friends!

This Is A Day of Rejoicing!

On Easter Day, we join with Christians around the world, in celebration of our Risen Lord, with songs of joy and praise!  Glory to God above and on earth.  May peace and love abide with you always.


All week long, as I contemplated the very somber time of Holy Week, with the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, my heart was very heavy, as it  is every year during Lent.  But the greatest blessing of all, is that there is hope after all, because of His amazing sacrifice for us, that for all who believe in Him shall not perish, but will one day rest in heaven with him for all eternity!

Although a WIP, I loved stitching 
'Little Eggs Pincushion' 
by Shepherd's Bush.
I have personalized it with my own
'Easter Blessings', Joyous And Sing!'
Because this is truly a very Joyous Day!

             'Easter Frills ~ Easter Egg Pin Keep'
               (With Thy Needle and Thread)
     This adorable design was WIP, started for
     Easter 2011, but not quite finished.  So I am
     thrilled to have it adorn our Easter table this year!

                The top part of the egg is decorated with
                tiny little green eyelets!

                Don't you absolutely love these darling
                little chickens and bunnies hopping among
                all of the flowers in the garden? Below the
               grass are more little green eyelets, sprinkled
               here and there.

Yesterday afternoon, look at the very thoughtful gift the postman left in our mailbox, from my dear friend, Donna........
A sweet 'Tea Time' note pad, and some lovely pastel threads,  just perfect for some Springtime stitching!  Thank you so much, Donna!  Please join me for some stitching time and a cup of tea sometime!

 Can you imagine what a breathtaking sight it is to look out of our bedroom window, and seeing these lovely pink blooms?  In front of all of the homes on our street are pink and white flowering trees.  We are truly so blessed with God's beautiful works of art!     


Wishing you today, a most blessed and beautiful    
Easter Day!      






               


                                  

Amidst the brambles, look what bloomed in our yard this week!  Temperatures soared into the 80's here in New England, and it felt more like May than March!  We flung open the windows wide to let in the fresh breezes of air, and enjoyed the gorgeous sun filled days and blue skies!

 

               Miss Meggie enjoying playing out in the yard too! 

I decided to pull out one of my WIP's, 'My Lovely Sewing Tools" (The Gift of Stitching 2011), which I had put away just before Christmas, while I worked on my Christmas projects.  My stitching, of late has been rather slow, but steady these past days.  Wishing that I had made more progress, but there it is....alas..... The design was published in several parts, and I have completed the first series of designs in the top half of the overall design.  It felt really good to have that accomplishment at long last!

I loved stitching this section because of the 'over one' stitching on the hanger, holding the letter 'F'.  Aren't those sweet scattered flowers pretty?

I love those wonderful spools of thread, which look like the now 'heirloom' wooden spools we used to have when I was a little girl.  I have a few of those treasured wooden spools in my sewing chest.

I have grown fond of stitching 'over one', so stitching the ribbon of this 'C' ornament was especially fun.  I love the 'squiggly' handle of the ornament too, which was done with back stitching first, and then a woven stitch on top of it. 

I'm not sure that the little square of needles on the left side, look quite like needles, but there they are...   And the letter 'H'.


Today I think that I will take out one of my spring designs to stitch.  The day is a bit cooler, and I feel like cozying up with some nice warm cups of tea in my favorite "stitching nest" with a good movie and stitch the afternoon away:)

Finally, I graduated to a padded walking boot for my recovering toes, and can hobble around a bit better with it and a cane for stability.  Talk about feeling like a little old lady!  But, it does feel good to be off of the crutches.... A dear stitching friend has taken me to our LNS Wednesday morning stitching group, and with my leg elevated on a stool, it has been absolutely wonderful to be back with the girls, enjoying our great gabbing and stitching!  The best healing remedy ever!!


Thank you for sharing your wonderful thoughts with me here.  I love reading all of your comments and am so grateful to those of you who have connected your 'threads' of stitching and your lives with mine through our love of stitching.  


May you be blessed in all circumstances this week, in whatever life brings your way, and I look forward to reading about what you have been stitching and doing this past week, on your wonderful blogs too!


Blessings in Stitches & Friendship!

Thoughts and Finishing on A Sunday Afternoon...

Today is such a gloriously beautiful sunny day with almost clear blue skies, and temps are in the 40's.  Believe it or not, the prediction is for temps to soar into the 60's this week!  Could spring really be lurking around the corner after all?


 I want to thank all of you who have written such kind and thoughtful words of encouragement this past week, as my right foot continues to heal.  Believe me, you have really lifted my spirits so much!  I wish that I could tell you that I have accomplished a lot more stitching, but honestly, I don't know where the hours in a day go sometimes!  I feel so lazy sometimes, as I sit in my recliner with my foot on pillows, reading your stitching blogs, about all of your amazing accomplishing in your work, your families and so many other activities.  And you still manage time for stitching too!

Steadily, I worked on the "March Cottage" (Country Cottage Needlework " Monthly Cottage Series"), and finally finished stitching and lacing it so that it could be "popped" into this cute little frame today.  My dear husband set up a little stool, so that I could sit on it and take a picture.  I love the way it turned out too!

March Cottage
Country Cottage Needleworks
Summer Khaki Linen
Recommended DMC Threads
WDW "Pecan"
Crescent Colours "Tomato"

Now, I am contemplating whether I should pull out one of my WIP's , or start something new.  I just love the excitement of a new start, don't you?  Picking out new linen and some yummy new colours of thread is so enticing.   Hmmmmm.... Such difficult decisions:)

Miss Ella Modeling Her New Turtle Sweater.
Of course, cute as a button,  as she shows Grandma her latest dancing moves!
Oh, the joys of having precious grandchildren!


This afternoon, I found myself drawn to this piece, which I stitched a few years ago, expressing such a beautiful sentiment.  And, so dear friends, I leave you with these words.....

May today and the week ahead be filled with peace and love overflowing.
May you feel contentment in the smallest things,
And cherish each moment of your lives.
For we never know when time catches us unaware, and
those precious moments are quickly vanished away.


Blessings in 'Stitches & Friendship'!

And Let There Be Snow In Winter!

Winter White!  That is what covered the ground when we woke up this morning!  Spring may be almost upon us, but it does look lovely seeing all of the trees, laden with beautiful snow today.

Yesterday afternoon was spent finishing my  Primitive Betty's 'Pure and Pleasant' pincushion with some brown satin ruched ribbon trim.  It is filled with a combination of crushed walnut shells and lavender.  The lavender smells so wonderful, but its' scent was a bit overpowering.  I am happy with the results!

Last Friday I had surgery to repair a bunion and two hammer toes.
Ella and our daughter visited to cheer me up, and Ella laid her Boo-Boo Kitty on my sore foot. Too sweet for words.....

Miss Ella decided that an 'Elmo' Get Well balloon was the perfect gift for Grandma, since Elmo is her very favorite Sesame Street character.  She loves all of the Sesame Street characters, but carries her own little Elmo everywhere she goes.

As you can imagine, for the first few days after my surgery, I didn't feel much like doing any stitching.  Then, on Monday, my needle began calling me, so I pulled out 'March Cottage', and I made a little progress. 

Yesterday, I made some more progress, but am not happy with the way the window panes look.  They are supposed to be 'straight stitches', but don't lie very flat, so may have to take them out and re-stitch them.  We'll see.


Yesterday was our Wednesday Stitching Group. I was a little sad not to be able to join the girls for our usual stitching and gabbing the morning away.  I can't wait til I can go again.  Maybe in a week or so, I can ask one of my stitching friends to pick me up, with my crutches and a stool on which to rest my sore foot.  Stitchers will do just about anything to stitch together! Right?  

One more beautifully snow covered fir tree outside of our house.  Can you tell that I am one of those crazy ladies who absolutely loves it when it snows?  It comes from having grown up in snow country, where I was a total snow bunny all winter long!


Although I am behind on my blog reading, I plan to catch up, as I have plenty of time in my recliner these days.  I am so grateful for all of you who visit with me here on my blog, and for the wonderful comments you leave.  It means the world to me to know that we are connected with one another through the threads of friendship and stitching.


Blessings to All of You, My Dear Friends!