Blessings To All,

Barbara

A Few Finishes

Here it is Monday, Nov. 12 and Thanksgiving is almost upon us.  Where did 2018 go?  I swear the older I get the faster time flies and that just doesn't seem fair.

My first finish is one that I started last year but fell out of interest in it so I picked it back up and made myself finish it.  It's a Blackbird Design called Topiary In Bloom and it's really quite pretty when finished.  I stitched it on a 30ct. cream linen using the recommended over dyed flosses and finished it into a very plain pin cushion filled with rice and dried lavender.  I do love the smell of Lavender!!

I finished another ornament and this one's called Autumn Bird by From the Heart Needle Art by Wendy.  I just trimmed it in a twisted braid of two of the colors in the design and tied it in a bow.  

I also received my order from 123 with the sparkly DMC floss and here is one of the greens I purchased.  I just wanted some Christmas colors and white.  It's still 6 strands and it doesn't look like it will be difficult to work with.  Time will tell.  The strands on the bottom of the picture is two ply.

I was also able to stitch up an owl ornament for my sister in law who happens to love owls.  I hope she likes this one.

That's about all I have to show you.  Have you seen the new village by Country Cottage Needleworks?  It's called "Glitter Village" and yes I'm starting it.  Here's the first house...

I've got the fabric...32ct. Raw/Silver Belfast Linen and I'm using plain DMC floss for the stitching.  I bought all of the Little House Needlework's village this past year and really don't care for it and it will be showing up in my Etsy shop because I know I'll never stitch it.  This one has softer colors that for some reason I like and I'm hoping to finish this one.  I'm stitching it all on one piece of fabric...3 x 3 houses and so far she hasn't come out with a border so I might have to make one up.  I think it will help pull the designs all together.  

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I haven't been feeling up to par lately so I made an appointment with our family doctor this Thursday.  I'm not sure if it's my thyroid or what but I just have no energy and I have trouble sleeping.  I'm hoping he can give me some answers.

I hope all of you have a week filled with Blessings.

Barbara

A Finish and A Party

It is finally cooling down here in Orlando and it couldn't happen at a better time.  Saturday we had the party for Little John and Zane and they had a blast.  Some months ago I was at Wally World (Walmart) and in the clearance section was a bounce house for little ones.  The price was only $50 for the house, the blower and a bag to store it in so I bought it.  It was the perfect size because it fits on their enclosed back patio so if it rains they can still play on it.  Zane was very perturbed because he wasn't allowed.  He needs a few more months and then he'll be ok.

As you can tell Zane had no trouble digging into the cake.  That boy can eat!!!!

John is more reserved when eating and he really doesn't like sweets that much.

Zane looks bored and Little John loved the truck on the top of the cake.

This is Peyton's father and Zane....grandpa and grandson.  It's hard for me to imagine him as a grandfather when I remember him graduating high school.  Now he's a teacher and is great with kids.

I do have a finish to share with you.  I love looking at Pinterest and I came across this freebie from Durene Jones.  I stitched it on a mystery green hand dyed linen using floss and then finished it into an ornament.

I added some red beads and I stick pin with a holly leaf for in his cap.  

I found this fabric in my Xmas fabrics and thought it was perfect for the backside of it.

On to making for ornaments and anything else I can get finished before Christmas.  I was going to try and start Peyton's Beauty and the Beast pattern but I think that would be pushing my luck to get that finished so we'll try for next year's birthday.

I hope your week has started out with lots of love and laughter,

Blessings, Barbara

P.S.  On the last post someone by the name of montse v left a message for me to contact her.  I am unable to find her email address so if you read this please email me at grammy5822@gmail.com.  Thank you

'Tis Halloween.....

...and a Happy 3rd Birthday to Little John.

Blessings, Barbara

In Search of a Pattern

Remember a few years ago I hosted two blogs where you could post what you had for sale and what you were looking for?  Well I might have to start them back up again.  I saw a pattern on Pinterest and became very intrigued by it.  It's by Bent Creek and it's called The Big Round Zipper.  It's stitched on 18ct. over 2 threads and I would love to have this pattern.  Here is what it looks like....

If anyone has this and is willing to sell it or loan it to me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Blessings for the week, Barbara

A New Start

I happen to come across this little Carriage House sampler pattern and knew I had to stitch this up.  I have an interesting finishing I want to try that I saw on Pinterest and this sampler will be perfect for it.  Here's what I have done so far....

I'm stitching it on 28ct. Natural Cashel linen using just plain ole DMC and I'm loving the colors.

You might have noticed that I've opened an Etsy shop.  I decided to do this because it's easier to take care of sales that way.  It's called "2StitchOrNot2Stitch".   Clever....right?  You can get to it by clicking on the picture at the top right of my blog.  I have several different catagories from cross stitch to quilting and a few in between.  I'm still adding things every day but my back says only so many a day.  I'm really cleaning house this time in my sewing room which needs it badly.

I'll leave you with a smile....

Blessings, Barbara

Happy Dance Time

I finished it!  I finally finished it!  I really like it on the board that I used and I used foam core to make it stand out a bit more.  I finally found the label for the fabric I used and it's called Flossie's Celadon Glenshee linen.

 Now I'm on to working on the owl mitten for sister in law.  I'm using 30ct.  Dower Linen with DMC and the black is Mandarin floss.  I absolutely hate DMC black for the way it looks fuzzy.   This should hopefully be a quick stitch.

I was looking on Etsy last nite and I came across a lady in the Ukraine who does cross stitch patterns.  My grand daughter, Peyton, loves Beauty and the Beast (Disney) and I saw that this woman had a pattern for an abstract of this movie.  I purchased the pattern and yesterday I went and bought all the floss needed.  I think I'm just going to do it on cream Belfast.  She says white but I don't use white unless I really have to.  Living here in Orlando, they really drive home the Disney trademarks and how you don't tread on their toes.  I feel like I've done something illegal by purchasing this pattern.  Should I feel this way?

I'll leave you with a chuckle...

Blessings on this perfect Sunday,

Barbara

Hard at Work

I have been very hard at work on The Drawn Thread's design "Snow Days" and am a matter of days from finishing it.  I made a comment about how much I love this linen and I have another piece that's the color of indigo that I need to find a pattern for.  If you can think of one, let me know.  Here's what I have finished....

I only have one last snowman to do in the bottom left corner and it's done.  I'm going to mount this on a primitive winterized board that I purchased at Michael's last year.  

I love to look at Pinterest and I came across some thimbles I thought I'd share with you.  Some of these are just beautiful.

I have my next project lined up.  My one sister-in-law loves owls so I thought I would do her the Cross Eyed Cricket mitten design that features an owl and make it into an ornament.  Think she'll like it and I also want to do a Little House Needlework design called "Bless Our Home" for the kids for Christmas.  Why do I always wait till the end of the year to get these ideas?  

I also purchased some wool felt in a ton of primitive colors to do some penny rugs.  Anybody else think these are just too cute?  I also have a few pincushion designs in mind.  I love working with wool felt so it will be a nice relief from cross stitching.

Blessings Upon You,

Barbara