Something old and something new

Hello my sweet blogger friends.  I hope everyone has had a fabulous weekend so far.  Mine  has had it's ups and downs.  Downs being yard work this morning....and the ups was going to IKEA this afternoon with the kids.  I love that store!  I can find the most interesting doodads there.

I finished two shawls and a cowl that I'd like to share with you.  The first is a cowl made of a scrumptious yarn called Cassia by Louisa Harding.  This is for Debbie, the owner of Needle Orts for this year's Halloween.  She loves orange and when I saw this yarn, I immediately thought of her.  I need to find a Halloween pin for the front center of it.  If anyone has an idea, please share with me.

The next is a pink and black shawl I call "Paris".  This is made of a yarn called Mimi Plus by Lotus Yarns.  It's made of mink, cashmere and wool.  It can't get any better than that!  This one I'm going to sell in my store, so if you're interested you'll find it there.

The next shawl is the one I was working on during my last post.  This one hasn't been blocked yet so it will grow some due to that.  It's made of a gradient yarn that turns from cream to a shade of coffee with cream.  It's an Ice Yarns cotton/acrylic gradient yarn.  This one is also for sale in my store.

I've started a new one for myself from a yarn I showed you many moons ago.  It's a lace weight which is merino wool and silk.  I fell in love with the color name....Grandmother's Kitchen.  I started it last nite and with 1600 yards this is going to take some time to complete.  So far I'm loving it.

I mentioned the new cross stitch I started.  Well here's the pattern and what I have finished so far.

It's not much but I'm making some progress.  I'm stitching it on 30ct. natural with GA threads.

Well that's what I've been working on the last week or so.  I love finishes but I also love starting new projects and I don't know if you have this problem, but I just get overwhelmed with what I have and want to start all of it.  It's like I lay them out and go Eenie, Meenie, Minee, Moe and go with the one Moe lands on.  I need to have a serious stash reduction sale.

Well I hope you ladies have a wonderful Sunday and received many.....

Blessings, Barbara

I'm a mess...

Hello my sweet friends....I hope your week has started out on a high note.  Mine started out at 6:00 am this morning with a trip over to watch Little John while Mommy went for lab testing.  I really don't remember driving there because I think I was still asleep.  Wow! 6 am is early!!!

I  can't say enough about all the wonderful comments I received.  I'm pretty sure it's this depression that I've been in that has my head going in circles.  I was dismayed to hear that some of you also have gotten nasty emails for no reason whatsoever.  People can be so cruel sometimes.  I'm going to take everyone's advice and just ignore these awful people and get on with my life.  I worry too much about what other people think and I always have.  I'm not what you would call a very secure person. Okay enough about that but I do want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all the help that has been shown me.  I love each and every one of you.

I must tell you about my saturday evening.  I was sitting here minding my own business when Peyton called and asked if I wanted to meet them at the mall.  Well I had nothing better to do (well except stitching) so I said yes.  We were in JC Penney's when Little John decided to start acting up.  Daddy went to him and asked if he needed time out in a corner.  Now you must remember that Little John is only 1 1/2 years old but he knew what that meant.  John got him out of his stroller and Little John walked over to this corner and just stood there.

Well the cashiers around us just couldn't get over this so one went into the back room and came out with a cookie for him.  John put him back in the stroller and he was good as gold for the rest of the evening.  He is such a good boy (most of the time) and he's so smart to realize what "time out" means.  He only had to stand there for about a minute but it was enough to settle him down.

Well I've started another shawl out of a cotton yarn that starts out cream and ends up the color of coffee with cream in it.

I'm loving working with these gradient yarns and have several on order.  Can't wait to receive them.  I haven't done much cross stitch lately but I did start a small pattern.  It's called "Growing Love" from Threadwork Primitives and it's turning out very cute.  I felt like making another needle case and this one is a little different with stitching on top and bottom.

I hope all of you have a fantastic week and get to enjoy the beginning of another glorious summer.

Blessed Be, Barbara

And the Winner Is....

Clare

from New Zealand.  I have emailed her and left her know that she had won and I also told her I find it fascinating that two people who live on opposite sides of this world can love the same designer.  This really is a small world.

Now for the bad news.  I don't know if this happens to any of you other ladies who have blogs, but I get some of the nastiest emails from ladies I have never met.  I don't know why and I can't explain why I have over 500 followers and I have a giveaway for what I think is a very nice pattern and I only have 8 ladies that are interested in it.  Have I been nasty to anyone?  Have I said something I shouldn't of?  Has someone stolen my identity on the internet?  I don't know but I think from the sounding of some of these emails I have (or someone posing as me) has been really awful in some way.  I don't belong to any message boards and I only belong to a few groups on Facebook that have to do with stitching and I've only posted there a few times at most.  This has led me to think I need to shut my blog down.  I would welcome any comments on why you think this is happening or if it's happened to you.  I will make up my mind in a few days as to whether or not to shut down.

Blessings, Barbara

Let's Have A.......

GIVEAWAY

I haven't done one in quite awhile so I thought.....what the heck, now is a good time.

This one is for a brand new pattern by Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle and Thread.  It's called "Essamplaire Petite Collection 1"

You must be a follower of my blog and please leave a comment on this post only.  A winner will be picked using the random number method next Friday night.  Let's make this world wide because the cross stitching community I have come into contact with is world wide and I love all of them.  Please leave your name and email and I wish everyone good luck.

Barbara

It's hump day....

I usually love Wednesday's because I get to spend them with Peyton and Little John but today was different.  They have moved into a different house and today the cable company was coming to hook it up so they couldn't come over.  I had a ton of errands to run so that held me back from going over there.

I did get two shawls blocked though and I thought I'd share them with you.

First one is a gradient wool yarn that I purchased on Etsy.  I think I showed you a few posts ago what it looked like in cake form.  Well here's the finished product.

This was a very easy yarn to work with and I know I'll be back for more.

The second one is also a gradient but in several pastel colors.  I absolutely love this yarn.

Neither one of these turned out very big but they will make nice shawlettes for in the fall.  Also, they can end up as gifts.  My sister-in-law Pat was down here about a month ago and she and her friend went home with a pile of shawls and cowls.  I absolutely love making them but really don't get much use out of them.  If you're thinking you would like one for yourself or for a friend, drop me an email at grammy5822@gmail.com and we'll see about making you one.  I have an excellent selection of very high quality yarns and I know we can find a color you'd like.  It will also keep me off the street and out of trouble....so my hubby says.

Blessings, Barbara

Blessings, Barbara

Something Old and Something New

The something old is Me.  I turned 65 and I feel it in ever bone and muscle in my body.  Whoever said these are the Golden Years is full of you know what.  It's more like the Tarnished Years in my house.  Hubby is doing good.  We had a visit to the Infectious Disease Doctor and and he wants some labs done to see if the meds are working.  Let's pray they are.

I have an update to show you and some new things I've started.  I also was in a yarn buying mood and came across 2 that I just couldn't live without......you know how that goes, right?

First off is an update on Snow Days.  I have the house all finished so that makes me feel like I've accomplished something.  I just love how this is turning out.

My sister in law in Pa. has a friend who came down here to visit with them and requested that I make her a purple shawl.  I had two yarns in my stash that I think will make a pretty nice shawl for her.  They are a dark purple and I don't know if you can see in the picture, but the one in the back has a gold thread going thru it.  I'm going to use that yarn down around the bottom of the shawl to give it some pizzazz.

Then the two yarns that I purchased....

This one is a hand dyed yarn that I purchased on Etsy from Knit Circus Yarns.  If you like gradient yarns, she has some fantastic color combinations but the name of this one is what drew me to it....

La Vie En Rose.

This one is a Louisa Harding yarn called Pittura and the color is called "Monet".  Trust me, the picture does not do this yarn justice.  The colors are like jewels and it's just stunning.  

I was brushing Vallie tonite and found 2 fleas on her so off she went to get a bath.  She hates being blow dried but since it was close to bed time  I made her do it.  She's laying here not looking very happy at her mommy right now.  

I am making some more of these small project holder bags.  I find they are perfect for holding all the threads, buttons, scissors and anything else you need to stitch a project.....and they don't take up alot of room.  It's hard to see but I embroidered my monogram and some flowers in green to match the green flowered fabric.

Well that's about all that's going on in my world lately.  I suffer from depression and for some reason, these last few weeks have been terrible.  All I want to do is sleep and that's not good so I make myself go places even if it's only to window shop.  Peyton is busy packing up for their move in a few weeks so I don't want to bother her.  They are actually moving closer to us so I'm very happy about that situation.  Depression is a very crippling disease and I hope none of you suffer from it.

Have a fantastic weekend with family and friends and stay safe...

Blessings, Barbara

Before and After

Just a quickie post to share with you two Vallie pictures.  Yesterday was grooming day so I decided to take a before and after photo.

Before:

looking pretty scruffy.

After:

Exhausted laying on the arm of my stitching chair using my pouch for her pillow.  She's so darn cute I hated to disturb her to get new threads.

Blessings, Barbara

Good Monday Morning

Hello darlin's.  I hope all of you had a fantastic weekend filled with fun and laughter.  We had a terrific one.  I have a few pictures to share with you and then a big announcement.

First off, Little John was over to visit yesterday and he found a unique sitting spot on my table that my father made me years ago.  I think you'll agree he's very inventive.

We still haven't figured out how he got in there but Peyton had a dicken's of a time getting him out.  :)

John's uncle that took the pictures at the wedding gave them a beautiful keepsake of that day.  In the gardens that surrounded this beautiful estate were little statues.  One of them were two little children sitting on a bench reading a book.  He was able to catch this one of Little John pointing to the pages of the book.  He loves to be read to so he recognized the book right away.  I think it's very adorable.

And with Easter coming I wanted to do the finishing on my Happy Easter bunny pillow.  I thought it was perfect with the Easter colored Hershey Kisses that just jump into my hand whenever I walk by.  

That's all for now.  It's Monday so it's laundry day.....

Oh yeah the big surprise.  Peyton and John told us yesterday that Peyton is pregnant and the baby will be here in November.  We have our fingers crossed plus a few toes that this one is a girl.  Little John needs a little sister to play with.  They wanted to have two children close together and that's exactly what they will have.  I pray everything goes okay and Peyton and the baby are healthy.

Blessings, Barbara

Busy, Busy, Busy

A sweet friend requested that I make a tote bag for her Mother using a poppy themed fabric I found on Fat Quarters.com.  This is what I came up with...

The Tote:

On the front I did her full name and on the bag her monogram.  Outside has 2 pockets and 3 pockets inside.

Extras:

A small zipper bag that has her nickname on front and embroidered poppy on back.

And a larger zippered case made out of 5" charms of the same fabric pattern.

I hope she likes it.

Blessings, Barbara