Cedar Hill Summer Bouquet Progress Update

Happy April! It's been a busy couple weeks but I did manage to work on my Summer Bouquet.

Spring is good here so far. We've had some really nice and enjoyable weather. Last night, we had the most beautiful and interesting lightning clouds I've seen in a long time. 

We celebrated my lovely daughter in law's upcoming birthday at a nice restaurant downtown this weekend. We had a nice time, and I'm so thankful she is a part of our family. Such a wonderful young woman and I'm happy to call her my friend as well! She and my son are the icing on the cake of my life. 

They take such good care of each other, and I'm so glad they have one another.

I hope everyone is getting some nice stitching time in! The longer days are such a joy now. I love it! We are all on a wellness journey around here, so it makes it nice for doing things outside, like walking. My little girl doesn't like to walk around the neighborhood anymore, but my grand dog sure does! So he's giving his pawrents a nice workout in the evenings when they get home from work.

I'll be back soon with another update on Summer Bouquet. I'm a row off here, a stich off there, but I'm going with it, lol. We'll see how it works up!

Until next time!

Cedar Hill and Tiny Mouse

Been a rough, busy week here! In spite of it all, I managed to work on my Cedar Hill Summer Bouquet. 

I think she's turning out lovely. I am trying to let go of my perfectionist nature a bit. Perfection is the enemy of good. And perfection is the enemy of DONE. I still waver between my idea of perfection and good enough for me. In between is OK!

For instance, the directions on the piece said that doing one stitch at a time is the ONLY way to achieve the desired effect on the black eyed susans. Well I really loathe doing "xxxx", and much prefer "////", then making the full cross stitch on the way back to the left. And as you can see, they turned out lovely with really nice variegation! Good enough for me!

I started crocheting a little tiny mouse and have the head done. And seriously, her face just melts me! I won't be able to work on the rest of her for a bit, but she's going to be precious!

Let's see...my little granddog, Franklin, got neutered last week and boy oh boy, was he pitiful. Then at about 4am Friday morning, my father in law had to go to the hospital by ambulance with some breathing and heart issues. He soldiered on through, but needs some medication changed up and he should be good to go with maintenance of course! He will be 88 in June, and I think he's done quite well, especially after losing his wife last year. 

I hope everyone reading this is doing well! I'll be back soon with more updates!

Take care and get lots of stitching in!

Cedar Hill Update, Woodlawn, VMFA

Making good progress on my Summer Bouquet. It's been enjoyable so far, but I can tell you this: I have stitched with DMC 610 enough times to say it's my least favorite color to work with. It doesn't like to lay right. It's like it's twisted too much or shreds too much or something. I hate it! LOL

I'm working from right to left on this one because it's so long horizontally, and I don't want to risk dragging my hands and needle over the front and back while working on the far side. Going good so far!

My mom and I made it to Woodlawn last week and the exhibit was really nice! The weather was really pretty and we had a great time. We hit up In Stitches, where I did not buy even one new pattern. Unbelievable, right? Especially right after market when all the new stuff was in! I did however, get two pieces of new fabric. I got some PTP aida in Ancient and Ale. I got the ale because I wasn't sure I was going to keep stitching Summer Bouquet on linen but I am going to after all.

I've always wanted to do something on Ancient! Also picked up the Whisky I needed and mom was able to get a floss she needed too for something she has in mind.

Just a few things that struck my fancy while we were there. So much talent to view. I loved all the needlework quotes on the walls they had some years back, but they took all of it away. It really added to the space I thought!

Then my son and I went to the VA Museum of Fine Arts and wandered around before having a really nice lunch. A couple of things I could hardly stop looking at...

Just so beautiful! We had such a nice time. Then I got to spend a nice afternoon with my daughter in law having lunch and chatting. I took a couple days off from work to do these things and it was wonderful. I needed it and I loved connecting with all the people I love so much.

I will leave you here so I can go and stitch some more! I hope you are doing the same or at least enjoying yourselves in some way. 

See you soon with more updates!

Black Bunny is Done and New Start!

Black Bunny is done! Such a fun stitch and really pretty gothic type design and colors. Work was busy last week so it took me a bit longer than I anticipated. Quick stitch! 

Did this on 14 ct. Fiddler's Aida with all called for DMC flosses. I signed it with a light color floss from the design so it didn't take away anything.

OK, now I am so excited to start my next project. I've wanted to do this one for years. I have collected a few other of the Cedar Hill "bouquet" or floral projects. They are so pretty. That is one of the designers I really miss so much. This one is Summer Bouquet. I'm stitching it on 28 ct. Picture This Plus "Ale" linen. I think it'll look fabulous on that. 

This one uses all DMC save for one, which is for the Black Eyed Susans on the right of the design. That one uses WDW "Whiskey" which I hope I can find in a couple days when I go to the Woodlawn Exhibit. Mom and I always pop in to In Stitches, so I really hope they have it. I have plenty of time to order if they don't though.

The last two days have been beautiful here. I relish seeing the sun and blue sky after so much gloominess and drizzly rain. I hope wherever you are the weather is good and all is well. 

Take care of yourselves and make some time to stitch or do whatever soothes your soul. See you soon with an update on Summer Bouquet!

 

Black Bunny Progress - yes, Progress!

Happy to say I've gotten some real progress in during just the last few days! The colors are so yummy. I'm saving the bunny for last. Using two strands of floss over 14 ct Fiddler's Aida. 

Really enjoying working on this one. Showing a bit more yellow-y than it actually is, but you get the jist!

I also forgot to share a couple of snow ladies I gave to my mom and my daughter in law for "Galentine's Day"! We celebrated our first official one a couple weeks ago and had a great time. We exchanged candy and little gifts, and I had such fun making two of these!

I have a little collection now of some primitive patterns, and I could really spend all day, every day, doing them. It is so fun. I'm going to concentrate on cross stitching for a while though because there are so many things I want to accomplish that I'd like to get at least a few of them done this year. But I also want to make a few more primitive dolls, so I'll do that in between stitching I think. Now, to find time to crochet....

Black Bunny is working up pretty quick, so if I keep at it, I'll see you back here soon!

Until next time,

Terrible Pics and 30 Year Old Floss!

Like I said, who is ready for some terrible photos and old floss??!   <raises hand> Me! Me! Me!

Been a while for an update so here it goes.

I need a quickie, lol. So I'm going to start with this sweet pattern by TuskandCardinal on Etsy. If you've not been in her shop, go NOW. I'll wait.

Terrible pic 1 - yep, it's straight off my computer. How sweet is that little black bunny with his red eye?? I was missing ONE floss for this sweetie and went to Michael's today and they had it. I bought a bunch of other floss too and guess which one didn't make it home? It must have fallen out of my cart on the way to the register. Drats.

Terrible pic 2, above. Doing this sweet little design on good old 14 ct. Fiddler's by DMC. Believe me the fabric is not ombre. I took it outside and the sun must have distorted the colors. As promised, those flosses are about 25-30 years old. I have normally been replacing my flosses when I start a new design and putting them on all matching plastic bobbins, but I just wanted to hurry and get started with this one, so I put it off.

I am following up this little quickie design with this one, which I have so long admired by Cedar Hill. Gosh I absolutely loved their designs. They make me feel so nostalgic for what was going on in my life when they released all their floral beauties. I still need to collect a few I am missing. When I find them in my stash unloading groups, I try to snap them up as I can.

Terrible pic 3, here we come!

It's unseasonable warm this week and Feb has been so fickle here in VA. Forty some degrees one day, then we're expecting a high of 80 in just a few days! I hope it all evens out soon.

I've not done any Project Life this year, and need to catch up on the last half of the year for last year's book. When my kiddos moved out, the steam went out of it for me for a while. I'll get it back hopefully.

Hopefully, everyone reading this is having a lovely Fool's Spring with it's warmer than usual weather and enjoying lots of stitching. 

Be back soon with more stitching and babble! Until then,

 

Tansy Yarrow Rue is DONE!

YES! First finish of 2023! I don't even think I had any stitching finishes last year. But after looking back and seeing all I was dealing with, it's OK. 

So here is Pineberry Lane's Tansy Yarrow Rue. It is on 16 ct Aida, which I hand dyed myself and using one strand of floss. The left side looks weirdly dark, but it's not. Must have been a shadow.

I'm very happy with this one, as I am with all the Pineberry Lane designs. She just makes the cutest things.

So now to figure out what I want to work on next!

Well, I'm going to leave with a pic of my sweet Jenny, 16.5 years old and spunky and sweet as ever. She amazes us! And she loves to keep me company while I stitch, so she's been pretty happy this week while I finished up this one.

Good luck with all your 2023 stitching and try not to put too much pressure on yourselves to compete with everyone else! We all have to go at our own pace to keep the stitching fun!

Until next time!

Christmas Wrap Up, New Primitive Doll, Ornies, etc.

Well, fellow stitchers, crafters and humans - we are on the eve of a New Year, and I wish us all well!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas. I had a better one than I deserve. My kids got me the sweetest and most thoughtful gifts, new Pandora charms, books. They got us a gorgeous book of photos from the wedding last year. So thoughtful and beautiful.

I was so thankful to get the embroidery/applique book by Maggie Bonanomi. It is filled with such gorgeous prim and homey designs. I also LOVE this needle felting book! Oh I really need to do the Corgi and the Jack Russel! Needle felting seems easy enough and I should tackle this one in 2023. 

Somehow, I buckled down and made myself another doll I'd been wanting to make. She turned out great! I can't say enough nice things about the designer of these cuties. Her gorgeous patterns can be found on Etsy at Liberty Creek Primitives. The patterns are adorable, and her instructions are fantastic. Very easy for a beginner too (if you have a basic understanding of sewing)! This little sweetie is called "Rejoice" in her store. I need to add a red stuffed heart or stocking for her to hold. Not sure which at this time!

I picked up my needle for a few minutes this week, but not even enough progress to show. However, I do want to show off my daughter in law's amazing skills here with some felt ornaments I was lucky enough to be gifted! She had a friend show her the basics, and she practiced and practiced and then downloaded some patterns and made these beautiful ornies for me. I could have cried! 

This is something else I've always wanted to learn to do. And now I have someone to show me everything about it! WOW. To say I was surprised is an understatement! I mean, she absolutely has amazing talent at so many things, but I never expected needlework! She is awesome. <3

I need to focus on my health and creativity this year again. I'm delving in next week and continuing the journey I started earlier this year. I have new challenges and things to overcome, but I'm looking forward to getting some of these things behind me and moving on. Lots to do.

Please don't put any undue burdens on yourself to do more, be more, etc. Just be. If you have a new goal, by all means, go for it. But I think a lot of times we set ourselves up for disappointment and feelings of inadequacy by trying to come up with too many goals, you know? 

We've had lots of things to deal with this year, including the loss of my mother in law. It's been a rough one in many ways. But also a good one in many ways. We carry all of this with us into 2023. My main goal is to handle whatever comes my way with patience, and as much grace as I can muster. Be calm, and carry on!

I hope you all have a creative and happy and healthy New Year! I will see you soon with more stitching stuff! Take care of one another and stay safe. 

Until next time,

Thanksgiving, Pineberry Lane, and a Witchy Primitive Pinkeep

I hope everyone is recovering nicely from turkey and carb overload! Nice to sit down and type for a bit after a couple days on my feet. Thanksgiving was really nice. Small gathering with my father in law and my son and daughter in law. They called in the morning to say how strange it was to wake up on Thanksgiving and not be in our home, hearing all the goings on in the morning, etc. It was equally weird for me not having them here. I miss them so much! But they are just a couple streets over and I'm very thankful for that! 

Got only a tiny bit of work done on Tansy, by Pineberry Lane. When I have another block of time, I should be able to nearly finish it. I absolutely love her designs. 

 I forgot to show some stash I acquired a month or so ago when me and my mom drove up to In Stitches on a spur of the moment one weekend.

I could have gone really overboard, but this was it. Not like I have a shortage of patterns, you know? LOL. 

Well, there's another primitive Halloween finish here! It's from Prims By Denise on Etsy. I saw it and thought maybe, just maybe I could do it. So I carefully followed the instructions and VOILA! I now have an adorable witchy pincushion of my very own!

She could maybe use a couple more pins, but I don't want to overload it. Pretty proud of this one! I'm not a stranger to a sewing machine and I love the one I have. It's an old Singer that my husband got for me at Woolworth's (believe it or not), back in about 1988-89. Knock on wood, it's a workhorse! And it's served me well for all my crafty needs this whole time.

There are so many wonderful Etsy designers out there with primitive patterns and cross stitch and all kinds of other things. Getting on my tablet in the evening before I go to sleep and just perusing....that's my habit and I don't wanna kick it. It relaxes me just dreaming about all the things and planning out what I want to do next.

Time to get Christmas planning. Another year coming to an end. The end of the year just goes so quickly! There's barely any time between Halloween and New Year's it seems. 

Take care and get lots of stitching and crafting time in between doing all that holiday shopping!

Until next time,