I'm in a Funk

Why do us stitchers get into funks? I really don't understand it. I have hundreds of patterns here that I will never be able to stitch in this lifetime, but I still can't find anything that really interests me. Ho hum......I've been wanting to stitch a remembrance sampler in honor of my parents but the one I've picked out seems so large to me right now that its overwhelming. I really don't need another pincushion or a pinkeep or a needlebook so what's left? Maybe I feel this way because it's Wednesday. To me, wednesday seems the saddest day of the week. Weird huh? I would appreciate any suggestions that you ladies might have as to what I should stitch.

Maybe I should do something for Christmas....you know that Christmas in July thing. Maybe the bright and cheerful colors of Christmas might cheer me up and get the productive juices flowing again.

Let me know if you have any suggestions that might help me get over this.

As always, Barbara

Some Photos to Share of a Finish

Look what I received in an email today from Delphine. She stitched one of my designs and finished it into a box. Isn't this adorable!!!! I love the colors she has chosen and she really makes my designs look good!! She even made a little scissor fob to go with it. Thank you so much Delphine for sharing this with us and I hope that if anyone else out there has stitched one of my designs, please email me a picture so I may share it with others.

As always, Barbara

Gay Paree Pinkeep

Yesterday I started a very sweet design and I decided to stitch it over 1. This was such fun that I do believe I'm going to do some quaker samplers this way and have them turn out nice and small. If I am able to do this, I have plans for the finished ones.....fingers are crossed here. This one I stitched on 28ct. natural linen using a Dinky Dye silk. I think these are becoming one of my favorite silks to work with. I love the softness and sheen that is associated with them. This only turned out 3 x 3 so I decided to finish it as a pinkeep to go with my french pincushion. You can't tell by the picture, but the ribbon going around the outside is a french red and white ribbon that I was lucky enough to stumble on at a local shop. Needless to say, I bought several yards. Unfortunately, they only had it in 1/4 inch size because I would of loved to have some 1 inch wide for my bows. The backing is finished with the same red toile that I used for the background of this picture. All in all....this turned out very frenchified. (Word?) LOL

As always, Barbara

I'm Stitching Cool Thoughts

Here it is the first day of summer and I'm stitching fall designs. Maybe it's because of the heat down here this past week, but you'd think I'd be use to it by now. I think I'll go with that it has to be fall somewhere in this world and they are celebrating the changing leaves and enjoying that nice crisp air that everyone associates with fall. Whatever the reason, this La D Da design was a hoot to stitch. I stitched it on the recommended fabric "havana" with an HDF silk called Begrimed. I couldn't believe when I found all these coordinating fabrics right in my own sewing room and really didn't have to buy any. I love it when a plan comes together!!! LOL

As always, Barbara

And the Winner Is......

Congratulations to Carolyn for winning this month's flag tin. I want to thank everyone for entering this months giveaway and please look for my next giveaway sometime in August. I will tell you this, it will be totally different from what I have been doing.

As always, Barbara

Free Flag Pattern

I forgot to post the pattern for the flag that I used on the tin that I am giving away. This is a very simple pattern that uses only 2 different stitches and it really doesn't need to be stitched on a linen or even weave fabric. Please enjoy this pattern and if you would like to post this on your blog, please contact me. Pattern can be found here.

As always, Barbara

P.S. I have fixed the link to the pattern. One of these days I will remember how to do this and not cause you sweet ladies problems. Also I would love to see what you ladies do with this after you have stitched it. Let's share!!!

Our Wish Was Granted

For those who don't know, my husband has been completely deaf since the late fall of 2005. They really have no definite reason for him going deaf but they attribute it to the problems he has had with his crohn's disease. Well we went to a doctor locally that has many successful operations concerning the coclear (sp?) implant. I received a call today that the insurance company has approved the operation and it looks like it will be scheduled for the end of July. For anyone out there who has a deaf person in their family or maybe a friend, you know how much this will improve his life and mine. So I am asking for some prayers that everything goes ok and hubby will have hearing back by sometime in August.
As always, Barbara

Fourth of July Giveaway

The Fourth of July is coming up and to help celebrate it, I've decided to have another giveaway. My mother's birthday was July 3rd and I would like to dedicate this to her memory. Since this is the American flag, let us just have someone from the states win this. The inside has a piece of wool on the lid to hold your needles and the inside bottom is lined with red velveteen. Sorry but the scissors are not included with the giveaway.....they are part of my collection. So if you are interested, put your name on this post and I will pick a winner Saturday night. Good luck.

As always, Barbara

A Gift for a Friend

One of my friends needed a gift for a co-worker and asked me to make one of my pillows for her. I was told she loved daisys so this is what I came up with. The design I stitched on pale blue 32ct. Belfast with AVAS silks. I used the words "bloom where you're planted" to make it a little more personal and I even found a pewter daisy charm. It's lined with a cotton print of a darker blue with little white daisy's on it and the ties at each end are white ribbon. I love doing these pillows because the work up really fast depending on the cross stitch design you use.

As always, Barbara

Delphine's Stitching

Look at what Delphine emailed me today. She took one of my free designs and turned it into something stunning. I stitched mine in pink and green but I think she could read my mind about the purple. I love purple!!! She told me that she is going to mount this on top of a box. I think it's going to look gorgeous and I hope she shares a picture with us when it's finished.

Thank you Delphine for sharing this with us!!!

As always, Barbara

Some Treasures to Share

You all have heard me talk about my daughter, Jenn so I thought I would share with you ladies some of the treasures she has made for me.

First up is a quilt that she designed, pieced and hand quilted. It's all done out of whites, creams and tans and it is just remarkable. The picture does not do this justice at all and I wish I was a good photographer so you could get a real feeling for this.
The above picture is a close up of the hand quilting. She has remarkable small stitches compared to my big ones....I never could learn the hand rock method and do mine totally different. Her and I are alike in that we love the hand quilting part. I hate piecing and would much rather applique a quilt.

The above picture is a hand knitted shawl she did for me this past fall. It was knitted on very tiny needles in a full circle so it lays on your shoulders very nicely. I've always wanted a beautiful shawl to throw over my shoulders on a cool evening and she did herself proud on this one.

Above is my bear, Otto. She knows how much I love bears and this one was added to my collection. My collection has grown smaller since the 5 grand babies were born....for some reason, they like to take my bears home with them.

I hope you enjoyed looking at my treasures done for me by my daughter. I take great pride in the fact that she loves needlework as much as I do. It's a tradition started with my grandmother, Anna Grace, who I think of often when I pick up a needle.

As always, Barbara

A Surprise for a Friend

A few weeks ago, one of my friends asked me to pick up something for her that I had used on one of my creations. No problem....I would be glad to. So I sent it on to her and in return she sent me some of the most beautiful silks....3 Waterlillies and 2 Watercolors. Well I had to use these immediately and I thought why not make something for her in thanks. Well this is it. I found a cute little design, decided on glensee linen and changed the colors to what she had sent me and added some beads and fancy stitches and of course, one of my bows and this is what I got. I hope she likes it and this is to let her know it will be mailed on monday of next week.

As always, Barbara

Some New Fibers

We all have our favorite fiber and mine has to be Gloriana Silks. There are some new ones I bought last week and two I just want to show off. LOL Gloriana has now come out with little packs of 3 colors per pack. The top one is the red, cream and blue...which is destined for a 4th of July pattern, and the second group which are beautiful neutrals in natures colors. The bottom ones I've had for a while but I think they are so beautiful I had to share them with you. Gloriana also has sets of 6 different fibers in the same color. Two different sizes of ribbon, a pearl size silk and two sizes of pearl cotton and the regular 6 strand one. I have had these for several months and I just can't find the perfect chart for these two colors and if anyone of you ladies can think of something that might just work, please let me know either by posting here or an email.

As always, Barbara