My new finish

I've been working on this for a couple of days and what took the longest was the finishing.  I found the perfect fabric for it pretty quickly which really surprised me.  I have the dangest trouble picking out fabrics!  This is a Stacy Nash pattern called Primitive Sewing Tray and I love it....but I don't love it enough to stitch again so you'll find the pattern in my store.

While looking around Michaels the other day, I came across the neatest thing.  If you look closely to the corners of the needlecase, you'll see little studs.  Those are micro mini metal paper fasteners.  The spokes that you punch thru the paper with are less than 1/4 inch long and they are fantastic looking on primitive samplers.  They come in alot of different colors so check them out if you're looking for something different.

Thanks for looking!

Blessings, Barbara

to all knitters and crocheters

I've gone thru my yarn collection and weeded out some that I know I will never use and have put these in my store.  Most of them are sock weight but there are other weights as well.  I've posted the retail price and then the price I'm selling them for.  If you are interested in any of them, email me at grammy5822@gmail.com.

Blessings, Barbara

Good news and a visit

Well we went to the doctor's yesterday and after he looked at the newest CT Scan, he said he's almost 100% sure it's inflammation.  Now this would make sense since he suffers from an autoimmune disease that the doctors still haven't put a name to.  He wants to do another CT Scan in 4 months to see if there's any change and I got the impression after that it will be once a year.  At least he didn't say the "C" word.

We also went to visit our grand daughter and her fiance in their new apartment.  They are living about 45 minutes away from us now but at least it's doable.  From the apartment they were living in, this one is the Taj Mahal.  LOL  She has gotten a new job as a manager at a "Mathnasium" and they are both doing quite well.  He is still in college but I understand he graduates next year.  

So far this year it's been quiet in the Atlantic as far as storms go and I do hope it stays that way.  I'm really not in the mood to fight Mother Nature.

I hope your week so far is going smoothly and without any hitches.

Blessings, Barbara

Just look at the help I get...

I don't know if I've ever posted about how Vallie has to sit right beside me whenever I'm stitching so here's proof.  I sit on the couch and she loves these green soft pillows I have and so that's where she's parked until I move.  If I get up to go to my sewing room even for a minute or two, she's right there beside me.  

I love this little dog and she sure has helped keep me sane in the last few months.

I hope everyone is having a great Monday so far.  DH and I had to make a trip to the pulmonary doctor this morning for his 6 month ct scan for that spot on his lung.  We'll find out the results next week so keep your fingers crossed that it hasn't changed any.  

Blessings, Barbara

Vallie has picked a winner....sort of

I think Vallie remembered the chewing incident with the last giveaway and was a little hesitant about picking a piece of paper.  Here she is:

As you can see I'll never make any money at making videos because it stopped before I got to show you the name.  It was Lorene.  LOL  I will contact Lorene and let her know of her winnings.  Thanks to all who entered.

Blessings, Barbara

I couldn't find an email address for Lorene so if she would please contact me at grammy5822@gmail.com, I will get this in the mail to her.  Thanks!

Harvey is finished!

I cannot believe that this is my first finish in over a year!  I had so much fun stitching this little guy and I did change the color of the letters to a silk that I had left over from selling stash.   I know it's a silk by the feel of it but I have no idea what brand because it had no tag.....that's why I didn't sell it.  It's a really pretty mauve and it goes well with the dark grey of Harvey and the flax color of the linen.  

I'm going to pay it forward with the pattern so if you would like a chance to win him, leave a comment and Vallie will pick a name this Saturday.

I haven't made up my mind how I'm going to finish Harvey yet.....pillow, frame or quilted wall hanging.  I am leaning towards the quilted wall hanging because he would look cute done up for Easter next spring.  I'll keep you posted.

Blessings, Barbara

How About Harvey?

I've been working on Gigi and have gotten a little bit of her done but what I'm really enjoying is Spring Hare.....or as I've been calling him....."Harvey".  Do ya'll remember that old black and white movie with Jimmie Stewart where he plays a guy who sees a 6 foot rabbit named Harvey?  Well that's where I"ve gotten the name from.  It's one of my favorite movies and it's probably why this design always appealed to me.  Here's what I have done so far:

Ain't he a handsome feller!

Blessings, Barbara

UPDATE

My Harvey now has legs and a butt.  Now for the background.....I'm not gonna use what La-D-Da called for.....I want something more dramatic.

My LNS in almost a year

Today I went to my LNS for the first time in almost a year and I loved it.  I will be starting 3 different cross stitch projects in the next couple of days....

I saw this Lizzie Kate boxer and I felt it tied up in a few words how I've been feeling for awhile.  I know Lizzie Kate loves overdyed flosses but I'm going to do mine in either DMC or pick out some HDF silks that I have.  No more building up of a stash.

This is one of Nora Corbett's witches called Gigi.  I bought a 28ct. hand dyed linen by Picture This Plus called Nocturne to stitch her on.  It will look like she's standing in front of a storm cloud.  Can't wait to start this one.

And last but not least is this sweet design by La-D-Da that I've always admired.  This one will be done on a light grey with a HDF silk.....maybe.

So I'm going to try to get back in the swing of things and get some stitches on some fabric.  Since I won't be storing anything, everything that I purchase will eventually be given away when I'm finished with that pattern so look forward to that.

Wish me luck.....

Barbara

And the winner is......

Ms. Melody

Ms. Vallie chose her name out of the scraps of paper that I put on the floor for her.  Before I could get my camera, she was starting to chew them up so I had to grab quickly.  LOL  She's a little bugger.  

I have emailed Melody and notified her that she has won.  

I will be placing some more mini totes in my store soon.  I'm doing Christmas in July and several other designs.  Look for them soon.

Now to a bad subject.  I don't know how many of you are on the 123 Message Board but I posted on there the other day and I received so many hugs and prayers for what's been happening in my life.  You all know that our daughter, Jenn and her husband and 4 boys moved into our house last year.  Well to say it hasn't been working out would be calling it mildly.  Don't you think that if children and staying in your home they should follow the rules of the house!  Well I do but Jenn didn't.  She left them get away with murder and now our house is literally a mess.  You cannot believe how many nail and screw holes there are in our walls that we have to fix.  It hit the fan early last week and we had a very big blowout.  Needless to say they have moved out except for some of their larger furniture and me and Jenn haven't spoken since.  She's told me to have "a nice life" so I'm taking from that that she's out of it.  That is for her to decide.  I've always said that the front door to our house is a revolving door because she's moved in and moved out so many times I've lost count.  Anyways that's what I've been dealing with and that's also why I've been sewing so many bags.  My sewing room had become my only place of solace.  I purchased a new pattern from 123 the other day...it's the new Nora Corbett one called Gigi.....one of the Bewitching Pixies.  I just thought were darling so I'm anxious to start it.  Now I know most of you remember last year when I sold off all my cross stitch supplies.....wanna guess why?  Because they were not paying any rent....no help on any of the monthly bills like electricity so I had to sell my cross stitch to pay bills.  Sad isn't it!  I had collected for years and years from working at LNS's around Orlando and now they are all gone.  But now I should be able to start again....I'll be able to sit in my stitching chair....with Ms Vallie of course....and stitch again.  I can't wait.  Well I've talked long enough and I just wanted to say again... love to all you ladies who put up with me and my way of blogging.

Have a Blessed Day!  

Barbara

Found something disturbing

I'm sure I'm like millions of others who love to look at Pinterest and get great ideas and some great recipes from around the world.  Today I was on there and came across a picture of one of my finished items.  I don't remember posting this picture to Pinterest but I did post it to my blog.  It was the Victoria Sampler Ort Bag that I had made for Rhonda.  I clicked on the picture and this is where it took me....

http://www.pinterest.com/source/44mamawsfinishedcrossstitchitems.blogspot.com/''

Now you could of knocked me over with a slight nudge when I saw this.  I don't know how to back track it to the original person who set this page up but I'd sure like to know where it came from.  I now know how a designer feels about copying patterns.  In a sense, you feel violated.  Let me know what you think about this....I'm just curious.

Blessings, Barbara

P.S. DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR MY GIVEAWAY ON THE PREVIOUS POST.  ALSO I'VE ADDED SOME OF THE SMALL MINI BAGS TO MY STORE.....THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY CAN ALSO PICK FROM THEM.