I'm Nuts and Exhausted

Who ever came up with the idea of Black Friday should be taken out behind the woodshed and horse whipped.  But then I'm crazy for even trying to do it.  

Yesterday we had a grand time at Peytons for Thanksgiving and the laughs were in abundance.  The boys were excited and Evelyn tried to look excited but couldn't because she couldn't enjoy any of the goodies.  After that we went home for a much needed nap and then after that we went to this year's ICE show at the Gaylord Palms.  This year's them was Polar Express and I was very impressed with it.  It's a balmy 9 degrees in there so that's why everyone was bundled up.

Let's start with Evelyn who just couldn't get enough of the bright lights and you can see how bundled up she is.  Her cheeks and nose are so rosey.

Then we have Zane coming down the ice slide.  Yes I did this twice and wow was my butt cold.

This is looking at the Polar Express as it winds up around the slides.

This was as you first went in.  The large locomotive I swear was as large as a real one and the man standing there was warning all the children not to put their tongues on the ice.  Everything in the exhibit is made of ice and it took 60,000 man hours to create and the ice was brought in from 3 different companies.  It is truly amazing.

Tomorrow is the last piece of the SAL from Jardin Prive and I'm all caught up so far.  After I finish tomorrow's I will post a picture of it.  I'm not sure how I'm going to finish it.....any ideas?

Blessings, Barbara

Now it is nice here ...

We finally have gotten some cooler weather and going to Hollywood Studios today was great.  Lines were not long and the weather was wonderfully cool.

Last nite we all went to the balloon festival here in Orlando and I had never seen these so up close.  They are HUGE to say the least.  They were offering rides in them but if my feet get more than 5 feet off the ground I'm in misery.  I don't like heights but I'm guess it would be great to ride one of these.  Here are some pictures of some of the balloons.

This is one of my hubby with Zane snuggled on his lap.

Every girl deserves a new outfit every so often and here's Vallie's for this winter.  She never goes far without her favorite toy and her's in Lamb Chop.

I also have an update on the Jardin Prive SALto share with you.  I've finished parts 1 and 2 and am waiting for 3 to be released tomorrow.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and thank you for stopping by.

Blessings All Around, Barbara

Good evening my fine friends.  I'm so happy you stopped by to see what I have been up to.  First off I finished another one of Erica Michaels Berries.  These could very well become an addiction to me.  I stitched it on a 32ct evenweave using Sulky #12 weight cotton.  I wasn't sure how to finish this one off at the top so I cut a piece of wool felt for the leaves and used a large wooden button and a matching DMC for the twisted braid.  It's not the greatest but I like it.  Also instead of stitching the bees I used JABCO bee  buttons.

I received an email from Jardin Prive about her newest SAL and I started it this morning.  I'm using a Sulky 12wt. Blendable cotton thread on 28ct. Waterlily Jobelan.  She's releasing a part each week and you can find it HERE.

Not much going on here except waiting for some colder weather to arrive.  I just know I'll be going Christmas shopping in shorts.....again.  

I hope everyone has a great week with lots of fun with family and friends.

Blessings, Barbara

Great Memories

Hello kiddies.  Hope ya'll had a great Halloween with lots of your favorite candies....Almond Joy here.  We had the kids all decorated up and here's the 3 little munchkins in all their glory.

Evelyn in her Belle costume from Beauty and the Beast.....

Zane as Catboy from PJ Masks and Little John as Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon.  Zane looks so short standing next to Little John.  I have a new nick name for Zane.....Zanie.  Fits him perfectly.

At their church they had a pumpkin farm with games and such for the children.  It was really sweet.

Then today they had their birthday party for both of the boys.  Little John was having trouble holding up 4 fingers and he thought it was hilarious that his teeth were black from the icing on their cake.  Zane was not allowing any pictures of him be taken.  Every time I would try and take a picture of him, he'd turn his back.  Now you know why I call him Zanie.

I was able to finish one of Erica Michaels Berry Collection.  This one is the quaker one and I stitched it on a pink linen using a burgundy silk thread.  I filled it with crushed walnut shells with a layer of batting at the top to make it easier to gather the edges and close it.  I like the weight of the shells and it really does make the shape better.  Word of warning....I used featherweight fusible interfacing on the inside of the berry so that it holds it shape better and the crushed walnut shells do not dirty the linen.  I find this helps a lot.

I guess tonite we set our clocks back one hour and if you're like me you hate it.  I don't like making dinner in the dark (hubby doesn't get home from work much before 7 pm).  Busy week coming up with lots of doctor appointments for everyone.  Peyton did see a new doctor for her TN and we have great hopes of him being able to help her.   Everything is crossed and prayers being said.

Have you ever had a project that you were just dieing to start but you know that once you start it you'll be over whelmed and probably never finish it.  Well I do and it's Mirabilia's Rapunzel.  I want so badly to stitch this for Evelyn's bedroom but I just know it will probably be a waste of my time, fabric, threads and beads.  A lot of her designs can be made smaller just by not stitching some of the design but this one would be a problem doing that.  I guess that one of these days I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and take a chance on it.  

Well that's all that's occupying my mind and world at the moment.  I hope all of you survive the first week of the clocks being turned back.  I always have trouble for about a week and then it seems to level out.  Cooler weather has finally arrived here in Florida .....HIP HIP HOORAY....although the air conditioner is still running.   

Blessings All Around, Barbara

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