DON'T FORGET.......

Busy Week

This has been a crazy week with hardly a day staying at home.  We went to Disney again to get our Remy  magnet.  Peyton and I collect these and you have to be a passholder to get them.  I was super happy to get mine because it's one of my favorite Disney movies....Ratatouille.  If you've never seen it it's about a little rat who has dreams about becoming a chef and then ends up in Paris cooking at a great restaurant.  It's hilarious and me and the boys love watching it.  Here's my magnet....

I did have time to finish two projects this week.  The first is an old pattern called Queen Victoria by Mary Beale.  I stitched in on a light natural linen and plan on making it into a stand up.

The second one was by Hands On Design called Ready, Set Snow which was stitched on a hand dyed Jobelan using DMC.

I'm interested in making another half doll and I found a wonderful seller on Etsy.  She's located in Australis but shipping is quite reasonable and you receive your item super fast.  Here's her Etsy page if you are interested....https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChessingtonDolls?ref=pr2018_faveshops  The background fabrics and lace are ones I'm thinking about using.  I also want to add some stitching to this one but haven't decided on a pattern.

I have for years held my frame in my left hand while stitching with my right and I'm afraid I just can't do that anymore.  I did some research and decided on the K's Creation holder.  I did this one because I have a few of her scroll rods which will fit on this easily and it also holds my Q snaps, Able Stretchers and a quilting hoop with no trouble.  It's a lap frame which sits quite nicely on my lap and I now have two handed stitching and I find it's easier to stitch with my shaking.  If you are looking for a lap frame, I highly recommend this one.

I thought I'd give you a smile of our little darling Evelyn and a laugh with crazy Zane.  She was all decked out for her day at Disney and Zane conked out on the monorail going back to the parking lot.....and yes he was snoring quite loudly.  

Well that was my week and hopefully I get to stay home a little bit more this week.  I'm just too old to do this kind of week every week.  I'm usually a home body but Peyton says I should walk more and so does my doctor.  It does help my knees and hips in the long run from arthritis setting in but wow it's hard work.

I hope your week was good and that you had lots of fun and love with family and friends.  They are the greatest gift God has given us and we should protect them and love them without end.  Until next time....

Blessings to All, Barbara

Hello my stitching friends.  We had some anxious moments last week involving Evelyn and I'm so glad it's past.  Peyton and John had noticed that she was staring off into space and when Peyton tickled her tummy she didn't move or blink.  She tried several different things  to get her to react and nothing was happening.  Finally she blinked and was okay.  Peyton called the Pediatrician and he wanted her taken down to the hospital for some tests.  They took blood and discovered that her ammonia level was a little high and they wanted to do a spinal tap but couldn't get enough fluid.  What they ended up doing was an ultrasound on her brain and an EEG.  They kept the machine on her for about 12 hours and it showed nothing wrong so they released her.  If this happens again, they are to take video of it to show the Neurologist.  Here's our sweetheart hooked up to the EEG machine and she was such a good little girl about all this happening to her.

I want to thank Barb again for loaning me the Blackbird Design.  I stitched it up and it was such a fun stitch I think I finished it in record time.  It's stitched on a hand dyed 32ct  Jobelan and I didn't use the hand dyed fibers....just plain old DMC.  I love how it turned out and now I have to decide how I want it finished.  Decisions....Decisions.

Today Peyton, the kids and I all went to Disney World and had a fantastic time.  On the way home I happened to look back at Zane and found him asleep like this.   This little boy cracks me up because he won't keep shoes or socks on.  If you're having trouble making it out....he's asleep with a bare foot in each cup holder on the sides of his car seat.

Well that was my two weeks and I'm glad that everything turned out okay for Evelyn.....I got to finish a project......and had a great time on a day trip to Disney.  I hope all of your days were spent doing something you love surrounded by people that love you.

Blessings, Barbara

Some Finishes

I've been a very busy bee and was able to finish not 1 but 2 designs.  I really don't know what's gotten into me but I'll take it.  This doesn't happen very often.

The first one is "Let It Bee" by The Drawn Thread.  I framed it myself and it's been so long since I framed anything it took me quite a while.  I don't know if you're like me but I always question my framing.  Is it centered?  Does the frame look right?  So many questions with no answers.

The second one is the pumpkin from the Hands On Design called "Autumn Skies".  I tried so many places to find wool felt that matched the oranges in the design but just had no luck.  I finally found this large checked flannel and decided to go with that.  I don't think it looks too bad and I can always say I put my own spin on the finishing but I really wanted an orange pumpkin.

I think fall is finally finding it's way south.  I noticed that the rain trees on our block are turning red and orange and that's a good sign that cooler weather is on the way.  Makes me happy because Peyton, I and the kids are going to Disney these next 2 weeks and it's a lot more pleasurable when the temps aren't in the high 90's.  

Since we don't have the beautiful changing of the leaves that you lucky people in the north have.  Peyton was living in Virginia for 4 years with her father and stepmother who was going to college up there.  She asked me one year what I wanted for Christmas and I always made sure it was something she could do on her own.  I asked for a small frame with leaves in it to remind me of the beautiful colors of fall.  This is what she sent me and I have it out all year long to remind me of her love and the colors of nature.

Also, I just started the beautiful Blackbird Designs chart that sweet Barb was wonderful enough to lend me.  The design calls for it to be stitched on 40ct. linen and you know how much I just love that so mine is being stitched on a larger count fabric and mine will not be a pincushion.  I'll show a picture of it once I have more stitched on it.  Until then.....

Blessings All Around, Barbara

Let's see how many agree.

This was sent to me by a good friend and I just had to share.

Blessings, Barbara

I love it when I have a finish to share because it just doesn't seem to happen very much anymore.  If you haven't been to the Cross Eyed Cricket website lately you might want to check it out.  She has a new freebie and another one that you can substitute in the booklet  "Playing with Jax".  I decided to do it alone and make an ornament out of it.  I used the fibers she called for but I finished it a little different.  For one thing I used a bluish linen that has a metallic thread going thru it and on the edges I used a rick rack in light blue with a silver edging on it.  The bow was made from 2 different silk ribbons that I had and they matched the overdyed silk leaves in the design pretty good.  I really like how it turned out.

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I've started a new project called "Let It Bee" by The Drawn Thread and I had forgotten how much fun Cynthia's designs can be to stitch.  I'm stitching it on a 30ct Linen using 100/3 Au Ver A Soie silks.

Little Evelyn's Welcome to the World party was this past weekend and she was dressed up just waiting to see and meet everyone.  

I'm glad you stopped by to see what was going on in my little corner of the world.   I love and appreciate all of my followers and always pray that everything is okay in your corner.  

Blessings Abound, Barbara

During and After Dorian

Well Dorian for us thank God turned out to be nothing but I feel for the people in the Bahamas.  It will take many months for them to even see a glimmer of normalcy return.  On Labor Day we went to Disney World Epcot and enjoyed the food and wine festival they have every year.  Good food with family can't be beat.  Hubby tried to go to work on Tuesday only to find the plant shutdown so came back home and spent a quiet day.  Wednesday found him back at work but me and the kids headed for Disney World Hollywood Studios.  Star Wars just opened and there have been lines 2-3 hours long to ride the Millenium Falcon.  We got there and went right on because the park was just about empty.  John even rode it twice.  We were able to take the boys into Toy Story which also has been very popular.  Here's some photos...

So that's what we did to get over the scare of a Cat. 5 Hurricane coming towards us.  

But then the bad did happen.  When I got home on Wednesday I decided to take the garbage cans out of the garage where we placed them in case the storm did hit us.  My DH has on the floor these black mats about 2 ft x 2 ft and they are made of rubber.  Let me tell you that if you step on one of them and there is water under it you are on the floor before you can blink.  I laid there stunned for 5 - 10 minutes trying to determine if I had broken anything.  Figuring I hadn't except my pride I managed to get to my feet.  I bumbed up my left ankle, both elbows and my back.  I've stayed off my feet as much as possible and kept the ankle wrapped.  I guess Dorian did hit but just me.

I hope that if you were in the target of this storm that you come through okay with minimal damage to you and your home.

Blessings, Barbara 

Just checking in before this hurricane decides to drop upon us.  We are expecting a lot of rain....one person said up to two feet..... but all we can do is wait and hope for the best.  We went shopping today for some last minute items and filled up the gas tank in case we have to leave but I doubt if that will happen.  We are one of the lucky ones who's house sits on the high ground in our development and there's a storm drain at the end of our driveway.  These newer developments that they are building don't have storm drains and I wonder where they think the water is going to go.  Hmmmm.

I made a mistake about little Evelyn.  She wasn't 7 lbs 3 ozs at birth she was 8 lbs 3 ozs.  She was bigger than both boys by over a pound.  Little John was very excited before she was born but now it's like old news and he can't be bothered by her.  LOL  They do make me laugh.

Just to show you how time flies the first picture is of me holding Peyton hours after she was born....

and this next picture is of me holding Evelyn hours after her birth.  I remember Peyton's birth like it was yesterday.  Dang I'm getting old!!!!

I will check back in after we get power back because it's a forgone conclusion that we will lose power.  I hope everyone else who is in Dorian's path makes it thru okay with minimal damage and no damages to body and soul.  Say a prayer for all of us and we will put our trust in God.

Blessings, Barbara

Introducing Evelyn

Welcome to the world our great-grand daughter, Evelyn weighing in at 7 lbs 3 ozs and measuring 22 inches long.  Mother and daughter are doing well and I can't wait to see her later today.

Blessings Abound,

Barbara