Memorial Day

Although no sculptured marble should rise to their memory, nor engraved stone bear record of their deeds, yet will their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored. 
Daniel Webster
            

I hope everyone has a safe and festive Memorial Day and please say a little prayer for the men and women in our armed forces and for the ones who we have lost.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Our beautiful grand daughter, Peyton on prom night

Peyton and Cameron looked so beautiful the night of the prom.  She borrowed my dh new BMW convertible and it matched her dress perfectly.  LOL  Honest, we didn't plan on that one.  She has more pics and as soon as I get them, I will be sure to post them.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Happy Birthday to Rhonda

Today is my dear friend Rhonda's birthday and now I can share with you what her present was.

What I did was this.  Around the middle are the large initials....those are for Rhonda and her husband.  Above each of them on the top of the ornament are their parents initials.  On the bottom (second photo) are their childrens initials.  I was talking with her last night when she opened it and I think she was pleased with it.  I enjoyed designing and planning this ornament and the stitching was done with love.  Rhonda is a very special lady and I love doing things like this for her.  If you remember, for my birthday she stitched that beautiful table topper.  

I love all my followers and I cherish each and every comment.  I hope all of you have a very great beginning to your week.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Some Odds and Ends

 I've had a pretty lazy weekend.  Of course I had to watch the Nascar All Star Race and my driver, Dale Jr was voted in as most popular, but that's about as good as he got.  Oh well....tomorrow is another day.

I was in a sewing mood and discovered I needed some more project bags.  The top one I made out of two different oriental based fabrics, the middle one is made from Blackbird Design charm squares and then there's the bumble bee one.  I enjoy making these and I'm looking forward to getting my embroidery machine this fall so I can monogram them.  The possibilities are endless and I don't know about you, but I really don't enjoy those plastic ones.  I love the feel of cotton and the endless erray of colors and designs.  I'll keep you informed as to when these will be available for sale.  I think it will be really awesome to have a project bag done in the colors of your choice with your monogram front and center.

 I'm really not sure what I'm gonna do with the above.  I was tinkering that day and ended up with this but then came to a wall in my brain.  Don't ya just hate it when that happens?  And it seems the older I get the more often it occurs.  Hmmmmmm  ....gonna have to look into that.

 Then there was the shopping expedition to my favorite fabric store, The Sewing Studio in Maitland Florida.  I found the most delicious fabrics with chocolates on them.  I couldn't make up my mind which one I liked best....red background or white background....so I bought some of both.  LOL  I love making these kind of decisions.  Then in their clearance room.....yes they have an entire room filled with clearance items....I found two paddle fulls of heirloom lace from France.  One has 33.5 yards and the other is 38 yards and get this....only $5.00 each.  After I picked my lower jaw up off the floor I grabbed both of those suckers.  And last but not least, I found the most delicious white rose applique that I'm planning on sewing on a project bag for myself.  Oh I almost forgot....I even found some ribbon with "chocolate" on it.  It's just calling my name to make a biscornu using it.

And last but not least, is my little Vallie.  She looks sad in this picture because I had just made her come inside and she couldn't play with her little boyfriend next door, Curly.  He's a cutie pie and it was love at first site for both of them.  You'll notice that the cone is gone.  Her stitches are healed and she's been given her freedom.  She's having a bad hair day but we must wait at least another week before getting a bath.  She'll be in fine form for some much needed pampering by then.  

Well I hope everyone has had a beautiful weekend and that you all got some much needed stitching time.  I have started a new biscornu from Kirsten Edwards.  You will find the pattern on the Gift of Stitching blog and you can send for the button that is used in the center.  I sent for mine and I swear I received it in less than a week all the way from Australia.  I hope to have this finished in a day or so and then I get to stitch something for a friend.  I love stitching things and giving them away to people who I know will enjoy and treasure the work that went into them.  

Blessings as always,

Barbara

The Cleaning Poem

The Cleaning Poem

I asked the Lord to tell me
Why my house is such a mess.
He asked if I'd been 'computering',
And I had to answer 'yes.'

He told me to get off my fanny,
And tidy up the house.
And so I started cleaning up...
The smudges off my mouse.

I wiped and shined the topside.
That really did the trick...
I was just admiring my good work.

I didn't mean to 'click.'

But click, I did, and oops - I found
A real absorbing site
That I got SO way into it...
I was into it all night.
Nothing's changed except my mouse.
It's very, very shiny.
I guess my house will stay a mess...
While I sit here on my hiney.


This was sent to me by a dear friend and I just had to share.  Hope everyone is having a splendid weekend.
Blessings as always,
Barbara

Pink Rose Pincushion

Here's the latest finish I did.  I'm really becoming addicted to making smalls and if anyone knows of a 12step program, please let me know.  :o)  I can't seem to be able to stop making them and trying to find new ways of doing the finishing part.  This one I just eliminated the sharp corners and I think it made it softer looking....or am I dreaming.  

I'm getting into a slump again.  I'm sitting here looking at my patterns and nothing interests me.  Why does this happen to us?  I've heard of other ladies going thru this and they can't begin to express why it affects them either.  Maybe I need to start something big like the Blackbird Designs calendar year project.  I've collected all the patterns and have a fat half of 30ct. linen to stitch them all on.  When finished, it should make an impressive wall quilt.  I have all the items....oh well.

Woke up this morning with another sore throat.  This has been going on for about a week now and I just seem to have no energy.  Oh the heck with it.....it's  nap time with Vallie.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

I done goofed....

See the forelorn picture above.....this is how I feel right about now.  I decided today would be a good day to try and hand dye the 20ct. Jobelan for the HAED design.  Well what it comes down to is that maybe I should of waited another day.  LOL  The jobelan is a sand color and I decided I was going to over dye it with some pinks so that I wouldn't have to stitch in the background.  Great idea in principle but mine didn't turn out the way I wanted it to.  It turned out more orange and that just won't do.  So I've ordered another piece of jobelan and this time I bought a cream color.  I think the gold in the original piece was just too strong.  

So what this means is that I either don't stitch and wait for my piece to come in the mail or I start something else.  Now what do you think I chose?  LOL  I found a sweet little pincushion from a French designer and I'm stitching that.  

Tomorrow my sweet little Vallie goes in for her female surgery and I get a day of rest.  LOL  Remember all those ladies who say that God had a purpose when he made it for women to have children when they were young so she could keep up with them...well the same thing could be said for puppies.  She's a very lively little bugger and by the end of the day, I'm pretty worn out.  A day of relaxation will be nice and I'm sure she'll be down and out for a few days afterward.

Update on Vallie:  I just picked her up from the Vet and she's not too happy with me right now.  It seems she has to wear one of those dumb neck cones for 14 days so she doesn't disturb her stitches.  Poor little thing....I'd be embarrassed too.

I hope everyones week has started off lovely and no problems have darkened your doorway.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

200 Followers and a quickie giveaway....

In celebration of my getting my 200th follower, the first person who can post the answers to the following 3 questions will receive a beautiful skein of Gloriana silk.

1.  The name of my new puppy

2.  What holiday weekend did I receive her on

3.  What kind of breed is she

Well that didn't take long.  LOL  Marjorie is our winner and will be receiving a beautiful skein of Gloriana silk.  Way to go Marjorie!!!!

Blessings as always,
Barbara

Heaven and Earth Designs

How many of you ladies have stitched a Heaven and Earth Design?  I ask this because I'm about to embark on a journey that I have no idea how it will end.  LOL  I bought the above pattern because I just fell in love with her face, mainly because she looks like my grand daughter Peyton, but I have never stitched an HAED pattern.  This is one of their small ones but it is still very intimidating to me.  I have stitched many Lavender and Lace designs and those are quite large also, but for some reason these really play head games with me.  

I am debating on just stitching the girl and the moon behind her on a hand dyed linen and leaving the remaining part unstitched.  Do you think this will be viable?  Are there any tips that you ladies could give me before starting?  I know that most people stitch these designs on a small count over one thread but because this one is a smaller design, I'm gonna stitch her on a 20 ct evenweave ..... that is if I stitch in the background.  If I don't stitch it in, then I will have to try and find a hand dyed 20ct. Jobelan and I'm not sure if anyone even dyes this count.  

I am almost finished with Rhonda's birthday present.....another day or two should be all I need and then I can start the above pattern.  Wish me luck!!

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Just adding to the stash....

 What is it about yarns that just draws me in?  I am addicted to the colors, textures and I can't resist no matter how hard I try.  Now I have enough yarn in my stash to make everyone in my family a sweater and have some left over and here I am purchasing more.  What's a girl to do I ask you......buy it and hide it from hubby.....that's what a girl is suppose to do.  LOL

 First off I tend to knit some small projects and I needed a small bag that closed to carry the project around in.  I took two fat quarters, a 20" zipper and came up with this quick and easy tote bag.  It closed nice and tight to keep the yarn clean and to keep Vallie from seeing the yarn inside and deciding this looks like it might be fun to mess with.  She loves yarn and has ruined some in her very short life so far.

 The above yarn is a Berroco yarn that is 100% superwashed wool in a beautiful neutral brown.  I have plans on making a nice warm scarf out of this yarn.

This yarn is a fingering weight Araucania hand dyed yarn from Chili.  This one is gonna end up as a shawl for myself.  I already have the pattern picked out and will start it as soon as I'm finished with Rhonda's birthday gift.

Speaking of Rhonda's gift....I am about halfway finished with it and went up to my LNS to pick up some more silks for the stitching.  The colors are just stunning and did I tell you what I'm stitching it on?  Well it's a pale teal blue 32ct. Belfast Linen.  I don't have the exact color name at my finger tips but I will be sure to have the name for you when I post the finished picture.  

I hope everyone is having a great week so far.  Temps here are suppose to reach into the 90's today and tomorrow and I'm going to hybernate in my home till it cools off soon.  Nice days to stitch and play with Vallie.

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Your Mother is always with you....

Lottie Margaret Heller 1922 - 2004

Your mother is always with you...

She's the whisper of the leaves

as you walk down the street.

She's the smell of bleach in

your freshly laundered socks.

She's the cool hand on your

brow when you're not well.

Your mother lives inside

your laughter. She's crystallized

in every tear drop...

She's the place you came from,

your first home.. She's the map you

follow with every step that you take.

She's your first love and your first heart

break....and nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, Not space...

Not even death....

will ever separate you

from your mother....

You carry her inside of you....

Blessings to all the Mothers,

Barbara

The Bathing Suit...

The Bathing Suit (by a middle-age woman, unknown) When I was a child in the 1960s, the bathing suit for the mature figure was-boned, trussed and reinforced, not so much sewn as engineered. They were built to hold back and uplift, and they did a good job. Today's stretch fabrics are designed for the prepubescent girl with a figure carved from a potato chip. The mature woman has a choice:  she can either go up front to the maternity department and try on a floral suit with a skirt, coming away looking like a hippopotamus that escaped from Disney's Fantasia, or she can wander around every run-of-the-mill department store trying to make a sensible choice from what amounts to a designer range of fluorescent rubber bands. What choice did I have? I wandered around, made my sensible choice and entered the chamber of horrors known as the fitting room.  The first thing I noticed was the extraordinary tensile strength of the stretch material. The Lycra used in bathing costumes was developed, I believe, by NASA to launch small rockets from a slingshot.  Lycra bathing suits give an added bonus; if you manage to actually lever yourself into one, you would be protected from shark attacks.  Any shark taking a swipe at your passing midriff would immediately suffer whiplash! I fought my way into the bathing suit. As I twanged the shoulder strap in place, I gasped in horror; my boobs had disappeared! Eventually, I found one boob cowering under my left armpit.  It took a while to find the other. At last I located it flattened beside my seventh rib. The problem is that modern bathing suits have no bra cups.  The mature woman is meant to wear her boobs spread across her chest like a speed bump. I realigned my speed bump and lurched toward the mirror to take a full view assessment. The bathing suit fit all right, but unfortunately it only fit those bits of me willing to stay inside it.  The rest of me oozed out rebelliously from top, bottom and sides.  I looked like a lump of Playdoh wearing undersized cling wrap. As I tried to work out where all those extra bits had come from, the prepubescent sales girl popped her head through the curtain, "Oh, there you are," she said, admiring the bathing suit. I replied that I wasn't so sure and asked what else she had to show me. I tried on a cream crinkled one that made me look like a lump of masking tape, and a floral two-piece that gave the appearance of an oversized napkin in a serving ring. I struggled into a pair of leopard-skin bathers with ragged frills and came out looking like Tarzan's Jane, pregnant with triplets and having a rough day. I tried on a black number with a midriff and looked like a jellyfish in mourning. I tried on a bright pink pair with such a high cut leg I thought I would have to wax my eyebrows to wear them. Finally, I found a suit that fit...a two-piece affair with a shorts-style bottom and a loose blouse-type top.  It was cheap, comfortable, and bulge-friendly, so I bought it. My ridiculous search had a successful outcome, I figured. When I got it home, I found a label that read: Material might become transparent in water. So, if you happen to be on the beach or near any other body of water this year and I'm there too, I'll be the one in cut-off jeans and a T-shirt! You'd better be laughing or rolling on the floor by this time.  Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain. With or without a bathing suit. This was sent to me by a friend and I thought I'd share the laugh. Blessings as always, Barbara

Some new finishes.....

 This very sweet design by Karen Kluba of Rosewood Manor was a joy to stitch but it was also one of those you say "woohoo" when it's finished.  I love how it turned out using Nina's threads and fabric and I will be sure to use more of her creations.  Thank you Nina for dyeing such beautiful threads and such glorious fabrics to use them on.

This is one of the newest by Blackbird Designs and this one I loved stitching...but then I've never stitched one of their designs I didn't love.  I dare anyone to come up with one.  I dug into my stash of buttons and found 3 matching mother of pearl square buttons....they weren't what I was looking for but I think they work pretty well.

I have a very sweet friend who's birthday is coming up towards the end of this month and every year she really makes me think about what to make her.  Well this year I think I'm going to blow her away.  LOL  Hey Rhonda.....curious yet????  Of course I can't post any pictures of the finished product until after her "Me" day, but I will throw out hints every so often just to keep her guessing.  I know......I know.....paybacks can be the very devil but I'm really going to enjoy the next few days.  

Blessings as always,

Barbara

Good morning.............

to everyone.  Isn't this picture a hoot?  LOL  I couldn't resist posting this because it reflects how I feel so many times in the morning after a full night of stitching.  

Blessings as always,

Barbara

P.S.  LOL Well from the comments this picture has gotten, I guess I'm not the only one  who's not a morning person.  The slippers are what set me off laughing when I first saw this.....that and the face on the coffee mug.  Even the poor "happy face" looks like he had a rough night.
Thank you to everyone who commented on this poor little lady....I guess we can all sympathize with her.  And to Sweet Sue.....of course those are pins in her hair.....she probably fell asleep with the pincushion as her pillow.  LOL

Orchids

I was at Lowe's today looking at their selection of flowers and came across these beautiful orchids.  I have never seen them in this color and was just stunned.  I have tried to grow them and have failed miserably or I would of bought some of these.  I just love that color!!!!

I hope everyone is having a great Sunday.

Blessings as always,

Barbara