Summer Bouquet Update and Unofficial Summer!

This was a beautiful week in VA! Temps have been awesome, no rain to mess up the days, lots of eating outside and listening to music. I should have worked this weekend, but couldn't bring myself to do it.

On to the stitching update! I had initially cross stitched the areas on the red flower that were supposed to be filled with french knots. I looked at it and mulled it over for about 20 minutes and decided I really wanted to do those french knots. So I brushed up on them in a little corner of the fabric and then went to town! There are 4 smyrna stitches right in the middle. The black-eyed susans also are filled with french knots. So pretty!

Been enjoying this one so much! I have a bunch of Cedar Hill charts and am always on the lookout for a few of the seasonal "bouquets" that I don't have. Just so pretty.

I know it's still early Spring, but my mind is in Summer.

We've had some hummingbirds already, bought petunias and ferns, and started the digging for a perennial garden! I can't wait to fill it with coneflowers, black eyed susans, daisies, and other beautiful things. We also put in the moonflowers and got some trellises for out front. We had tons of bees in them when we had them out back, so we'll change it up this year.

I really hope everyone has a fantastic upcoming week! I plan to stitch some more and see how far I can get this week. Be back then for more updates!

BBD Union Forever and Summer Solstice!

A new start! Will wonders never cease? It feels so good to start on a new project. This has been in my stash forever, so I'm glad I dragged it out now.  Union Forever by Maggie Bonanomi of Blackbird Designs.

I tried to start this on a really cool piece of fabric by Picture this Plus. But it was 32 ct linen and my eyes were NOT having it. Luckily, I had a piece of 14 ct I dyed myself last year. It's kind of a toasted marshmallow color, but it shows up all the called for floss just perfectly. I think it's going to be really pretty! I've set a goal to stitch a little every day and if I have more time to devote, I'll do it. Strike while the iron is hot. And after this past year, I really plan to do that.

The next two weeks are going to be so hectic at my house. My wonderful kids are moving into their first place and my father in law is moving in here with us. All these changes at the same time are going to probably be stressful for all involved, but exciting too. The kids have long been looking forward to getting out on their own and I am having fun living vicariously through them as they begin their journey on this road!

Today is the Summer Solstice! Litha, Midsummer, whatever you may like to call it, it is a time for real reflection. I'm feeling it for sure! However you choose to celebrate, or acknowledge, make it a good day! The one day of the year that the light will overtake the darkness is kind of a magical thing!

I hope everyone had a great Father's Day and you're getting lots of stitching in, whether it be outside or inside. I really need to take advantage and stitch outside when the lighting is good! I need to get out in nature more. I've been missing it so much!

See you soon with another stitching update, and until then,

Hello Mrs. Maguire!

Mrs. Maguire emerges! I added a couple things here. Her hat was increased by one stitch on each side, I added hair for her as well. I lifted the idea for her apron via an image I found on google. I like how it breaks up the brown of her dress.

I think she's an older lady with graying hair that enjoys being out in her garden under the sunshine, or maybe even the rain.

Turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself! I'm enjoying stitching on 16 ct with just one strand.

Added a bit more stash to my collection the past couple weeks.

I love those Workbasket charts, but oh man, those barns are a TON of stitches! So gorgeous though!

And that Cricket Collection Dutch Sampler chart? Yep, I've only been to the Netherlands once and it holds a special place in my heart. I love pretty much any stitchery having to do with the Dutch. The colors in that are just gorgeous!

I've been learning (with the help of some youtube videos) the crochet join-as-you-go for hexagons. Man, it took going through several, and then practicing a bit, but I got it! And I'm so so happy. I will show my progress on that next time around. I've always wanted to learn it, and now I have! The next thing after that will be the continuous join-as-you-go, because lemme tell you-I got a boatload of ends to weave in. If you have any tips, please let me know!

It's been as hot as the hinges of hell here. I don't want to wish my life away, as my mom says, but wow I can't wait for cooler weather. I love summer. Love. But the oppressive heat just zaps my strength and makes my upstairs hot, lol. First world problems, I know.

See you next time. Hope you gets lots of stitching in! Until then,

Pineberry Lane Mrs. McGuire's Garden progress

I don't think the white on the tulips stands out too well on my fabric, but I'm going to keep going. I am using the DMC Bright White on this one. We'll see how it goes.

I love this design! Hopefully I'll finish it this time around without casting it aside because I'm not happy with it.

Here's Mr. WitchyStitches making our pool reservations (using my glasses, lol). We were enjoying lunch outside at one of our local eateries, and having a great time. One thing I love is that he uses his phone to connect to our pandora account and we can have some nice jazz while we eat out. It's great. You can't do that indoors!

They have a strict limit and there was only about 15 other people there. We kept our distance, but oh, how good it felt to get some sunshine and be in the water!

We stayed almost the entire allotted time (2 hrs) and returned home with sunkissed faces. It was glorious, after the nightmare spring we've had. I understand why people want to get out, BUT, it must be done safely. And right now, our country is in a mess. A big mess. So this little outing really made me feel a bit better about life in my little bubble.

I saw this post on facebook today and I LOVE IT.

AMIRIGHT??!!

With that in mind, have a great weekend and I hope everyone stitches way too much! Until next time,