Hope Everyone is Healthy

We are here and I'm hoping that all of my followers are also healthy.  I heard some disturbing news yesterday and I just can't wrap my mind around why they are doing this.  Two doctors in California made a video and posted it on Youtube about how their hospital is forcing them to add Covid-19 to death certificates even though they are sure that patient didn't have the virus.  This makes no sense to me.  Why would they be doing this?  Youtube has pulled the video from their website because of what they call "misunderstandings".  What?  These doctors are on the front line and should be listened to.  And what's up with our Vice President going to John Hopkins Hospital and refusing to put a mask on?   This is not the time to play games.  He should obey the laws just like everyone else has to.  

I've been busy stitching and finished two little designs.  The second one I don't even remember who the designer was so if you know please tell me.  The first was by Jeannette Douglas .

This one is a BBD design called "Waiting for the Harvest" and I'm stitching it on a Painter's Thread fabric called Klimt and the rick rack and the single loop embellishment will be used when I do the finishing part.  I'm stitching it with DMC 3371.  I love this fabric and they have some very unusual dye colors that they use.  I have three other pieces that are different colors that I'm saving for something special.

Here I'm getting together some threads and fabric that I want to stitch a sampler with.  I'm using a medium grey fabric from Access Commodities that really shows off the pinks, burgundies and purples.  Can't wait to start that one/.

I also have a problem with a Shepherd's Bush pattern that I have.  I made my working copy and then sold the original.  Now I can't find the legend that tells me what colors to use.  I've come up with the idea that I'm just going to pick my own and see what happens.  The poem on it reads "She tends her garden of gladness and fears nurtured with love and watered with tears".  I just love that saying.  So wish me luck on that one.

Also remember the shawl "my fair lady".  Well I've determined that I am not suppose to make that and have given up on it.  I found a nicer yarn to work with but I just couldn't stop making mistakes and these I would find after I had done more rows.  So that one I'm giving up on and that's hard for me to do.

Stay safe, keep stitching and many Blessings to all,

Barbara

Update:  I was told the wrong information about Vice President Pence and I would like to set the record straight.  It was not John Hopkins but the Mayo Clinic and they have an option of wearing a mask or not.  I don't want to be the spreader of wrong information.  Thanks

Andrea Bocelli: Music For Hope - Live From Duomo di Milano

I hope you enjoy this beautiful music and that he gives you hope that some time this will be over and our lives will return to normal.

I did start My Fair Lady shawl over again but going in a completely different direction.  If you remember the movie there are two times that she wears a white gown.  At the horse races where it is white and black and then at the ball where it is all white with lots of sparkles.  Well I've picked a yarn that starts out white and ends up black and in the black section which will be the outside edge of the shawl I will be adding beads to give it that sparkle.  Wish me luck that I finally get this shawl finished that I so love.

Blessings Upon All This Easter Sunday,

Barbara

Bored Bored Bored

I have discovered something.  When I have the decision of whether or not I want to go someplace I feel good and want to do a lot of stitching.....BUT when someone tells me I can't go anyplace then I can't find anything interesting to do.  Am I the only one?

I did stitch The Drawn Thread's freebie "Be Well" and finished it up today into a coaster for my tea cup.  Here it is all finished.

I came across something interesting at The Fat Quarter Shop.  They are hosting a SAL and the price is really quite reasonable.  This is a shop exclusive cross stitch design and is very spring looking.

Here is the web page if you are interested in joining. 

https://www.fatquartershop.com/feels-like-home-downloadable-pdf-cross-stitch-pattern-series

I went to Costco today at 7 am and found the line already forming.  My hubby and I are okay with everything we need but the kids needed some TP and paper towels.  They had a policewoman there in case anything got out of hand but everyone acted accordingly and it went smoothly.  

My hubby has gone on disability because his doctor does not want him around anyone until this pandemic is over.  He has no immune system to speak of so he wouldn't be able to fight this virus very well.  Every time I leave I wear a mask and as soon as I get home I take a hot shower.  So far we have been making it work with him working from home and it's great that his company is allowing it.  Where he works is considered "essential" because they have government contracts that must be finished on time.  

I hope every one has been in good health and have had no complications from this virus.  I say prayers every night for the families who have lost loved ones  and are going thru terrible times.  Please stay well and I send my blessings to each and every one of my readers.  I might not comment on many blogs but I do get inspiration from all of you and I thank you for that.  We as a town, city, state, country and world will get thru this with God's help.

Blessings, Barbara

Updates

I hope this coronavirus has passed on by your house and that you are all safe.  We are into our second week of quarantine and so far no signs of us being infected.  I am astounded about the amount of people in NY that have become infected and I am maddened by the fact that yesterday Orlando Airport had over 190 flights from NY.  I'm sure we'll see Florida's numbers go up rather quickly now.  

Don't people have any common sense anymore?  We had spring breakers down here on our beaches until the Governor closed them.  Where are their parents?  Don't they have any common sense at least?

Remember I was working on my beautiful My Fair Lady shawl?  

Well it's now in the garbage can.  I missed an entire row and when I tried to undo it, it turned into the worse mess I've ever seen.  I will retry this pattern but with a yarn that has no trouble being undone.  It broke my heart to can it but there was no saving it.  I still have 2 1/2 balls left so I have enough to make a cowl but this time I will use a pattern I am very familiar with.

I'm sure all of you are busy stitching away if you've been house bound like I have.  I'm still working on Memorial Day by Hands on Design and am enjoying it immensely.  I love the bright beautiful colors Kathy used in it.

Please be careful wherever you live and stay safe and at home.

Blessings, Barbara

It Has Hit Home

I hope all of you are doing well during this pandemic and not getting phone calls like I did this morning.  Last week I went to my family doctor because I had pink eye and I needed drops.  Well I just received a call saying that I came in contact with a person who has tested positive for the virus and now me and my husband have been quarantined.  It just shows how you come in contact with people and then you don't think of it again.  The Health office told me what to look for:  cough, temperature or trouble breathing.  If we have any of these symptoms to be tested immediately.

I did receive an email from Cynthia of The Drawn Thread and she is offering a free chart for us to stitch.  This is what it looks like....

.....and THIS is where you find it.  I think it's very sweet of Cynthia to offer this free chart and I know I'll be stitching it while I'm home bound for the next 14 days.

Blessings Upon You,

Barbara

Stay Safe

Hope everyone is staying safe and staying home and doing some serious stitching.  I ventured out today to go to my LNS and I am so happy that I did.  I got to meet one of my favorite designers, Jeannette Douglas.  I have talked with her about one of her designs but never met her.  She is a sweetheart.  She was a little bit worried about her flight home to Calgary Canada so say a little prayer that she makes it back okay.  I know this virus has all of us worried but if anything, it will make us stronger as a country.  Just take the precautions and everyone will be fine

This is the design I purchased of Jeannette's.  Common Thread 2 and she autographed it for me.  It comes with all the silk threads and I also purchased the fabric to stitch it on.  Instead of the cream you see in the picture, mine will be on a pale grey called Platinum from Access Commodities. 

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I started a new cross stitch because the La D Da one just wasn't doing it for me.  This one is from a designer I love....Hands On Design and it's called "Memorial Day".  I'm doing it on a 32 count hand dyed that is a light blue with speckles of white thru it.  To me it looks like a beautiful summer day.  Here's mine:

and this should be what it looks like when it's finished but on the blue fabric.

She has a thread pack that goes with it of the Sulky 12 wt. cotton thread which I purchased also.

I was such a bad girl with all the goodies that Debbie brought back from Nashville I shouldn't have to purchase anything for at least 6 months.  Who am I kidding?  LOL

So stay safe and please say a prayer for those inflicted with this virus.

Blessings, Barbara

Updates

Well here it is March and we've had both 40 degree temps and 90 degree temps in the same week.  Gotta be a record.  No wonder every one is sick.....how can you dress properly when it starts out real cold in the morning and hot as you know what by the end of the day.  

I started a La D Da design called By Her Hand and I'm not thrilled with it.  By that I mean it's just not holding my interest.  I think I'll take a break from cross stitch for awhile and concentrate on knitting/crocheting and quilting.  I have all the fabric for at least 4 quilts in my sewing room and I really should work on them before the fabric rots.  LOL

You all know about the My Fair Lady shawl I'm working on and here's an update on it.

I just started the second ball and I have two more to do so I'm hoping it makes it to a nice size.  I do love this yarn but if you make a mistake look out.  It's happened to me twice and I've said some nasty words under my breath about mohair.  

I thought you might like to see our little Evelyn with her sitting up.  She's getting so big and I hate it.  The older they get...the older I get.  

I swear it looks like she's doing yoga in this picture.

Here she is in all her glory sitting up.  I don't know who was more surprised...Evelyn or Peyton.

Well everyone stay safe with this awful virus going around.  Hubby shouldn't be mixing with people but he won't stay home from work.  He has no immune system to speak of and if he gets it, I'm afraid for him.

Until next time.

Blessings,

Barbara

I found my Pink

I hope your weekend was as good as mine was.  My sweet grand son-in-law had to make a trip to Winter Haven to pick up a part for the Mustang he is rebuilding and I got to go along to a fantastic yarn shop called "Four Purls".  I have been in many knitting shops but this one is just so great from the many, many selections of yarns to the people who work there.  I have purchased from them online but this was my first trip and hopefully not my last.  I don't like to drive long distances to places I've never been before so this was a great chance to see it in person.  If you want to check it out online, here is the website:

https://www.fourpurls.com/

I just knew I was going to find the perfect pink for the My Fair Lady shawl and I was right.  It's not a baby pink but has just a dash of lavender to make it a dusty light pink and it's fabulous to work with.  It's from a company called Knit One, Purl Two and it's called Winter Blossom.in the color Pink Wax.  I started the shawl and here's what I have done so far.  It's a little tricky to frog because the fibers are wool, mohair and silk and that mohair can be sticky so I'm taking my time.

Above are the other yarns I picked up to make cowls for gifts and to sell.  Stay tuned for them.

I also was able to finish the BBD Snowman and thank you to all the ladies who made suggestions on how I can use the overdyed cotton without losing my mind.  I decided to stitch my normal way by going across the row and coming back and  truthfully I can't tell a difference in that the colors look like.  I do love how my stitches look a lot better.  Here he is in all his glory.

I didn't want to take the time to do the finishing part because I wanted to start my shawl but then I have quite some time till Christmas rolls around again.

I hope your week started off great and that you all get some quality stitchie time.  My grand daughter has expressed interest in me stitching this for their living room.   It's called One Nation by By Gone Stitches.  It's a biggie....

I'd love to hear if any of my followers has stitched this and what they thought of the pattern.  Until next time....

Blessings, Barbara

Here Comes February

In all it's glory.  Went for a walk with the two little rugrats this morning around their neighborhood to see all the interesting flowers that we have blooming down here and the boys were disappointed that we only saw white and pink flowers.  They were all azaleas which are in full bloom.  What I wouldn't give for some sweet smelling lilacs.  Oh the mind wanders.....

I do have a new finish to share.  I decided it's my Valentine's Day ornie and it's from Shepherd's Bush.  I love how all (or most) of my ornaments are all round and the same size since I started using cd's on the inside.  Some would call that boring.....I call it easy.  LOL

Speaking of rugrats here are all 3 of them acting like goofs for their Mother.

I don't know if all of you saw the new Blackbird Design called "Frosty's Night Out" but that's what I've been working on  for several days.  I know I've said this before but it can't be said too much....I HATE OVERDYED COTTON THREADS.  I hate how you have to cross each stitch one at a time and my stitches never look nice.  Here's an example:

I just wish I had done the stitching with DMC and quit trying to use these terrible threads.  I never have this problem if I use overdyed silks....just these cottons.  Anybody else have their stitching look weird or am I being a nitpicker?  Here's what Frosty will look like when he's finished.

They stitched him on 36ct. Murky linen but I'm using 28ct. Nocturne Cashel linen and I really like mine better.  I might end up doing him again in DMC and giving this one away as a gift.  I'll wait till it's finished and see.

Now here's a question for you.  I know some or maybe even most of you have seen the movie "My Fair Lady" starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn.  I've come across a shawl pattern that is called My Fair Lady and what I am wondering is what color should I do this in.  I'm leaning towards a very light pink because of the beginning of the movie where it shows all the pink peonies and roses.  What do ya'll think?  Suggestions please!

That's all for now.  I'm sure you're tired of reading about my complaining.  :o)  I want to thank each and every one of you for stopping by and reading about what's going on in my little world of stitching, crocheting and seeing my beautiful great-grand babies.

Blessings, Barbara