A sunny hot day in Florida (again)

Who's ready for winter?  I AM!!!!!  I swear the older I get the more the heat bothers me.  I must tell you about what happened to me about 2 weeks ago.  I was in the bathroom and I reached over to flush the toilet (more than you needed to know, right?) and I have (had) a basket of pretty smelling soaps in a basket on the back of said toilet.  My arm knocks the basket and down goes a full cake of soap which of course is not going to make it down the drain.  We've been waiting now for 2 weeks for this soap to dissolve and then it dawns on me......this is French milled soap which is harder than a rock and dissolves very slowly.  So guess what we will be doing today.....you guess correctly, trying to unplug toilet.  Could you ask for anything more fun to do on a Sunday afternoon!!!  

In between the soap and teaching Peyton the basics of quilting, I've finished "Sunbird".  I'm not sure yet what I'm going to make him into or maybe just frame him.  Suggestions would be appreciated.  The stitching area is about 5 x 5 inches.

I've also been doing some machine embroidery and I found the cutest little bear that is an "in the hoop" design.  What that means is the entire piece is sewn together by the machine in a hoop and you mostly don't have to do anything.  I hope Little John likes it.  I made it out of flannel so it will nice a soft for him to cuddle.

Also I was doing some cleaning in my sewing room and I found some quilting, crochet and sewing books that someone out there might be interested in.  You'll find them on the page titled "Stitching Items for Sale".  They are all reasonably priced because I want them gone to a new happy home.

I had Vallie in for her monthly grooming and a different girl did it this time and I'm really upset about what she did.  She actually clipped Vallie's ears very short so if you look at her full face, she looks like she has no ears.  Poor baby is embarrassed to go outside and I can't say I blame her.  You know how you feel when you get a bad haircut......crummy!

That's all for today.  Stay cool and have a wonderful Sunday

Blessings, Barbara

Two finishes

Okay the question for today is.....whoever enjoys doing laundry stand up.  Well I see no one standing so there's my answer.  I've always done laundry on Monday and it's just a grand way to start out the week.  What I did do during the first load is finish the shawl for my friend in Pa.

I hope she likes it!  I'm not going to mail it out until some cooler weather has hit the north because I want to make her a cowl also.

I actually did the finishing work on a project I stitched months ago.  I do like how it turned out.  I stitched this on 32ct. China White Jobelan with silks.

This was a free SAL provided by Jardin Prive and it's still available if you are interested in stitching it.  It's a fun stitch and I highly recommend it. 

http://www.jardinprive.com/page_free.php

Well back to the good old laundry.  Wouldn't it be grand if clothing was disposable and you just got new ones and didn't have to wash them!!!.....oh and they're free.  I'm gain!

Ya'll have a great week and hopefully someone  somewhere is having some cooler temps.

Blessings, Barbara

Some new goodies and a new start

First off I want to say Thank You for the nice comments I received about my Three Gables.  I really did enjoy stitching that and hopefully by now Joyce has received the pattern and the threads I mailed to her.  

I've started something new and it's a Threadwork Primitive design called "Sunbird".  I'm stitching this on a 32ct. hand dyed with silks.

I'm also working on a shawl for a friend in Pa.  She wanted something "happy" and machine washable.  I chose Isaac Mizrahr's Premier in a pretty pink color.                              

I also was somewhat of a bad girl when it came to purchasing yarn this past week.  Here's what I bought:

The one in the front with the purples and blues is an Araucania Huasco DK weight of 100% Merino Wool.  The pink and green one is a hand dyed by one of my favorite dyers on Etsy....JulieSpins....and it's 80% Merino, 10% Cashmere and 10% Nylon and last but not least is the purple and green one in the back.  That also is an Araucania Huasco DK weight of 100% Merino.  I really don't need anymore yarn but the colors just pull me to them.  

Peyton and I went shopping on Wednesday for a dress for their engagement portrait and I think she chose a beautiful lace dress in navy blue with a tan underlining.  

I hope all you ladies have a wonderful weekend and hopefully not so hot weather.  We are going out to dinner tonite with John, Peyton and Little John so that makes my weekend right there.  We're going to Kobe's.....my DH favorite restaurant.

Blessings To All, Barbara

I'm getting senile....

I forgot to have the number generator pick a winner for The Three Gables and leftover threads last nite.  I did so this morning and the number that came up was 4.  That means that 

Joyce Clark Frank

has won.  Joyce please get in touch with me and I will mail your winnings out to you.

Barbara

My Finished Three Gables

Ta Da.....

My sewing on this wasn't the greatest....shaking is starting to effect that also but I did my best and that's all anyone can ask.  The hanger I found at my LNS and it's from Images Stitchery Design but I don't think they make them anymore.  I just lucked out.  In case you're having trouble reading it.....the saying at the bottom is "Something Wicked This Way Comes".  I thought that was very appropriate with the hanger having a witch on it.  Just so you know that with the overdyed threads and all the buttons it requires this is not an inexpensive stitch.  I've had this in my stash for years so I figured I'd better stitch it and not waste the money and now I'm glad I did.

Blessings, Barbara

Let's have a giveaway.....

I have finished Three Gables but I don't want to show you a picture until I do all the sewing on it this weekend.  But I thought I'd let one of you sweet ladies enjoy stitching this.  It's a very fun stitch with all the different colors involved.  I am giving away the pattern and all the remaining WDW threads that I have left over.  

You must be a follower of my blog in order to be eligible and let's keep this one within the US.  Let's have this until Sunday nite and I'll have the random number pick the winner.

Good Luck and Blessings,, Barbara

Still At It...

I'm still working on Three Gables but I feel like I'm rounding the 4th corner heading for home.  One of the things I can't wait to do it attach all the buttons.  I love JABCO buttons and I know they are really going to spice up this design.  I don't know whether or not I told you but I'm not framing this piece.  It's going to be made into a wall hanging with a very special hanger that I found.  Here's what I have so far:

Peyton sent me the cutest picture today of Little John sitting in Chloe's bed.  He's getting around pretty fast now and he actually took a step or two on his own.  I don't like that he's growing so fast..

We had a really bad thunderstorm this afternoon and here's how Vallie feels about them....

After I took this picture, she came over on my lap.  Her and thunderstorms do not get along.  I've heard of those thundershirts you can buy but I just put one of her cotton shirts on her and she's better.  Poor baby!

I hope you all are able to stay cool this summer......it's brutal down here.  I long for winter!

Blessings, Barbara

Have a safe and happy 4th

Barbara