Finishes and a Winner!

Good morning, friends!

After a long weekend of driving taking my daughter to college, I'm happy to report that I have two finishes to share!  : )  The Book Store is charted with a border, but I'm going to be framing it "as is" for my dd for Christmas, and the little Bless Ewe pillow is a Pine Mountain Pillow that I had picked up, but then didn't like the colors that were in the kit, so I chose my own and just love it now!!

My plans for the trip included stops at a number of cross stitch shops starting with Needle Delights in Pensacola, FL.  The little shop was jam packed with charts and fabric, but it was a little hard to find anything, as the charts didn't seem to be in any particular order.  That's ok, I did pick up this Lizzie Kate kit that I've seen done - Joyce, aren't you doing this one right now?  

It was more than I was planning on spending, since I wanted to stop in Decatur, AL and Nashville, TN and Matoon, IL, but we didn't end up stopping at all, so I'm glad I got it.  Want to know the horrible thing?  I started it last night!!  All I have done is the A, and I'll probably only work on it 15 minutes a day, so it will take awhile. : )

  

My goals for September are to finish my crazy 15 piece - "Morning Lake", and to work on both ABC Lessons and the Quilted Garden that I won from Blue Ribbon Designs.  I'm aiming for 15 min/day on ABC Lessons and 45 minutes/day on Morning Lake from Mon - Wed; 15 min/day on Quilted Garden and 45/minutes/day on Morning Lake from Thursday - Saturday; and then probably as much as I can on Morning Lake on Sundays.  We'll see how my plan works!

Now, onto the giveaway winner!!  

Courtesy of RANDOM.ORG the winner is .......

DJ

Yay, DJ!  I know I should have your address around here somewhere, but I might find it more quickly if you email me. : )

I have a few charts that I'll be passing along in the next little while, I think.  I've gathered a number of them that I "just loved" and now I realize that I won't probably stitch them before something new catches my eye (Like the L*K Fat Men series!)  So there might be another giveaway or two coming up in the near future!

Have a wonderful day!!

Blessings,

August is Flying!!

My word!  August is just flying by and I can't keep up!  We're on the last little bit of buying and packing before I send dd#1 off to college, then I need to catch back up on the rest of life!!!!

Let's see...  first things first.  Over the last few weeks I've received some sweet surprises in the mail!  The first was a number of pieces of fabric from Rita.  I had done a little stitching for her and she sent them as a thank you.  I feel SO blessed!

Then I received this AMAZING pattern and floss that I won on The Blue Ribbon Sampler Blog.  Direct from market, and *signed* by Belinda.

I want to start it now, but I have so many in progress!  And then my dd gave me a kitted up HAED Tiny Treasure for my birthday this week (Cow over the Moon) and I was talking to Theresa, who just won the Traveling Stash Box (It's so exciting to see that it is still going!  Head over to her blog if you want a chance at it next!)  and she explained how to "park" threads, so I want to start that project, too.  Then I saw the new LK Fat Men Series which is ADORABLE.  And *then* I saw that the new 2012 Crazy Challenge is already open!  What's a girl to do??????  {Take. Deep. Breath.}  Remember, now, I'm the one that has three binders full of patterns and had my stitching planned for the next three years!!  I'm going to do some thinking on the matter and I'll let you know what I decide when I get back from taking dd to college. : )

I've not done a ton of stitching, but The BookStore is coming along and I've done a little more on two or three of the other projects I have left from my Crazy 15.

Now, if you've read this far you deserve an award, so if you leave a sweet comment I'll enter you in a little drawing for some fall goodies.  Feel free to put it on your blog or become a follower if you'd like, but I won't make you.  : ) Oh, and if you already have the magazines or don't like the cards, you can still enter and then start another Traveling Stash Box if you win! : )  I'll announce the winner Tuesday morning, September 6th.

Thanks so much for stopping by!!!

Blessings!

A Giveaway Sighted!

Hello friends and neighbors!

Daffycat is having a fun giveaway.  Be sure to stop by her blog and enter!!

Blessings!

Midweek Update

Here's a little update with my new try at a rotation of the rest of my Crazy 15 challenge projects...

Monday...  A little grass...

Tuesday... A little brown border

Wednesday... Lots of Dark green and a little roof - it's really hard to see progress on this one!

I found a fun giveaway, too!   Samplings from a Blue Ribbon Girl

Hope you are having a good week!  I was planning on stitching last night, too, but I sat down with my dd to watch a movie (The Christmas Story Lady) and couldn't stitch and watch at the same time!  LOL!  I'll work on another challenge piece today, though!

Blessings!

August

It's August!  Which means it is my birthday month, how fun!  I know that I shouldn't still like birthdays, at least some people don't as they get older, but I've always loved them.  And this year I got a coupon in the mail from Vera Bradley giving me $20 off a $20 purchase.  How fun is that????!!!!  I'm going to have a horrible time picking something out.  Tooo many choices!

I worked a little more on the Book Store this week and made some decent progress.  I'm not sure if I'll put on the borders or not, it depends on how I decide to finish it.  I'm sort of liking it as is, but we'll see!  I've also set up a rotation for myself to see if I can get the rest of my 15 finished - or mostly finished - by the end of the year.  I have 7 projects that I'm working on, so I'll stitch on one a night this next week and see how that works.  I have a couple in there that are closer to completion, so, hopefully, I'll actually finish something this month, but if I don't, at least I'll know that they are all WIP's and not UFO's. :-)  Anyway, hopefully I'll have lots of pictures for next week! 

Question...  with sending dd off to college in a few weeks, money is going to be sort of  incredibly tight, but I'd love to have a birthday giveaway of some sort.  Would any of you be interested if I had a giveaway of some of my cards?  You can see a sampling on my other blog here .  

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Blessings!

Progress...

Here's a little progress on The Book Store.  It's not a hard stitch, I just keep getting side tracked.  I think I stitch more consistently during the winter.  I like to have my cup of coffee or hot chocolate to sip on, and my warm fuzzy socks, and sweaters and turtlenecks - with maybe a blanket or two and a good movie.  In summer it seems like I can't get comfortable.  Partially because I'm not fond of air conditioning, but the rest of my family can't live without it, so while I'm looking for a sweater and a blanket, they are all turning the air down farther!! LOL!  I am thankful for the ac, though.  With heat indexes in the 100's here for the next few days, I know it would be miserable without it!

Back to stitching!

Amazing Giveaway!

Oooooo.... wouldn't it be fun to win $100.00 to spend at Anita's Little Stitches??  I can't imagine!  That's the prize up for grabs at Gabi's blog, so hurry and sign up!

Have a fantastic day!

Me Again!

Hello friends! 

Sorry it's been so long.  I've had some things come up over the past few weeks that sort of took my breath away, and I had to take some time to process them before I could find time and inclination to stitch and blog again.  Don't worry!  Nothing scary like cancer, just working through some "people" problems and getting my daughter ready for college this fall, when we weren't planning on her going until next year.  

This little bit of stitching is all that I've been able to get accomplished.  Somehow I lost my "mojo" for awhile there, so I stuck with this CCN Book Store for my dd.  It's on aida, uses DMC, and is pretty without requiring a tremendous amount of concentration. :)  Some days I've not stitched at all and other days I've only put in 10 or 12 stitches, but each stitch today is one I don't have to do tomorrow, right?? :) I'm going to a trapshoot with my dh this weekend, so, hopefully, I should have lots of time to stitch.  Maybe I could finish this one this week??  After that, I'm not sure.  I have more from my challenge that I should finish, but I just saw a new chart by My Big Toe called "Count it all Joy" that I really want to find and maybe do next.  It comes from the book of James...

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing..."

I pray others will see in me that patience and faith that only comes through suffering!!

Blessings, my friends!

20 Days Later...

I can't believe it has taken me this long to update!  Yikes!!!  I have some fun to show you, though!

First, my finish of B is for Boy.  Sorry for the wrinkles, but I didn't want to forget to take the picture!

It took me longer than I thought it would, but actually no longer than I had scheduled it in my book... so that's good!

OH!  Before I forget, does anyone have the Prairie Schooler leaflet called Old McDonald's Farm that they would consider borrowing me?  I want to stitch the cow as a Christmas ornament for my son who works on a farm.  I promise I'd stitch it quick and get it back to you!

OK...  back to updates!  I was able to put in a few stitches on The BookStore which I'm stitching for my dd for Christmas or her birthday.  You can also see some of my new toys in the picture.  I picked up the Vera Bradley lanyard on my Anniversary weekend.  It is FANTASTIC for holding my scissors!!

This sweet little hedgie is my new stitching friend.  My dd got him for me for Mother's Day, but I don't remember showing him before.  He's a magnet and holds my needles like a pro.  I.Love.This.  And my husband does, too, cuz now I don't stick the needles in the arm of the chair that I'm working in and they don't get stuck in his hand when he leans on the arm of the chair to kiss me.

I saw this Shepherd's Bush kit done and framed while I was in my LNS on my Anniversary weekend, and it was so pretty that I decided it would be my stitching treat for the weekend.  I'm going to throw it into my rotation soon, cuz it's on linen and I'll only be able to stitch on it for a few minutes at a time.  I'm not going to have it say My Mom's Garden - just Mom's Garden - and I'll use my children's initials instead of my brothers' and sisters'.

One more little critter jumped into my pile at the store and asked to come home with me.  When I was stitching at the dentist office a while back I was wishing for a needle minder that I could attach to my fabric, since my hedgie had to stay home.  I think this will do the trick nicely!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'll try to catch up with you all soon!

Tricia

Blessings!

A Slow Start

It's been a slow start on B is for Boy this past 10 days, but little by little he's coming together.  I, of course, am already looking ahead to the next project on my list. :-)  Isn't that the way it goes!  I have two projects that I would really like to have finished before Christmas.  One is part of my crazy 15 and one isn't, but it will go in the rotation soon. :-)  Isn't cross stitch fun???

Speaking of FUN - the winner of my lots and lots of followers giveaway is...

LYNN

Congratulations!!  I'll be getting in touch for your mailing address!

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such sweet comments.

Have a blessed day!

Tricia

May-bee

  

I just found this adorable blog and giveaway!  Check it out here!!

I'm not getting much stitching done this week, but I'll be back in a couple days with my giveaway winner and an update!

Blessings!

Don't Forget!

Be sure to scroll down a post and enter for my blogoversary giveaway, and then run over to Jennifer's and sign up for hers, too!

I started "B is for Boy" last night - but just for a few minutes.  I'd been a busy girl all day and could only stitch for a few minutes before it was time for sleep.  I plan to stitch for awhile again today, and hopefully I'll have a nice chunk done by the weekend.

Blessings!

Tricia

Time for an Update and a Giveaway!

Hello friends!  It's been Christmas ornament week at my house, I think!  First, I received this adorable LHN ornament from Angela as my Pay It Forward gift.  I love it!  It's the first cross stitch ornament I've gotten that was finished this way and it is so cute!!!  I'm inspired to try one myself if I can get up the courage!

Thursday through Saturday I was at a homeschool show for my GraceWorks business.  The attendance was down this year - probably because it was held on Memorial Day weekend - but I had a lot of time to stitch.  I had pulled out this adorable Snowy Pines ornament to take along, and I was able to finish it yesterday.  It isn't one of my Crazy 15, but it was in this year's binder, so I'm thrilled to have had a chance to finish it!

Since my dear husband is off of work today and napping in the chair in the living room, I really didn't want to do anything too noisy (like cleaning the kitchen!) and wake him up, so I pulled out this ornament from the 2010 JCS Ornament Edition to finish up.  This one was one of my 15 and I've put in a few stitches here and there, so I really just had some snow, the berries and the branches to do.  I opted out of putting the berry in his mouth and putting the snow in the sky, so I'm calling this one finished, too. :-)

On June 1st I'll start on "B is for Boy" from the last JCS magazine, but for today and tomorrow I'll probably just work on Morning Lake or my Little Shepherd... we'll see!

Now on to the fun part!  The giveaway for my 101 followers! :-)  I am really amazed at how many of you have stopped by to encourage me in my stitching.  What fun to get to share with you all!  So - here's the rules.  Since this particular giveaway is to honor my followers, you either need to be or become a follower, and you need to comment on this post that you are interested in being put in the drawing.  That's it! :-)

The winner will get the following...

A Banner Year Kit - Winter - Lizzie Kate
(Includes chart, fabric and adorable cardinal button)

Blackbird Designs Rose Garden, Pink Lugana Fabric,  Really Yummy colored Thread!

And one of the cool binders I use to organize my stash.
You'll have the binder AND projects to start to fill it!!

So there you go!  I'll be drawing the winner on Friday, June 10th.  Thanks for coming along on my cross-stitch journey!!

Blessings!

A Little Shepherd

Not much to show on the stitching front this week.  I just couldn't seem to concentrate - probably because I've been a busy beaver getting everything ready for the GraceWorks show at the end of the week.  I'm so excited to talk to the ladies and encourage them in their time and home management and walk with the Lord!!

I pulled out one of my challenge pieces to work on for the week - the Shepherd Boy from an old Stoney Creek leaflet.  Of course, after I did the outlining around his face, I realized that I left out a line.  sigh.  I almost threw it all away, but I think I can salvage it, and it is so sweet that I really want to finish it!!

I see that I've hit 100 followers.  AMAZING!  I'll be swamped for most of the week,  but I'll be gathering some goodies for a giveaway, so keep in touch!! :)

Blessings!

The Winner

Hello all!

I have my husband's permission to rest and stitch today. Sounds lovely!  But before I get started I wanted to share that I drew a winner of the Littles Bunny and it will be heading off to live with Sally.  Maybe she'll pass it on when she's done! :-)

It looks like I'm 3 short of 100 followers, so I'll be looking around for some fun things for another giveaway.  Stay tuned!

Have a blessed day!

Hello Friends!

Finally a stitching update!  I'm still struggling a little with some muscle pain/weakness in my back and shoulders from the accident, so my stitching has been slower than usual, but I did get Mouse's PIF in the mail...

 I chose a sweet "Littles" chart from Bent Creek to stitch for her and then stitched it over one, (what was I thinking?) so the finished product turned out to be about 1" square.  What on earth was I going to do with it???  I decided to make a teeny tiny scissors fob to match some teeny tiny scissors.  It turned out cute if you don't look too hard at my finishing, LOL!!

I'll be happy to pass along the chart if anyone is interested!  I did play with the colors and design a bit, so the actual chart looks a little different.  You can see it on Daffycat's blog here.  If more than one person is interested I'll draw a name on Wednesday. :)

I decided to switch around my rotation a bit and work on another one of my challenge pieces - "Thank God, Trust God" from a Cross Country Stitching Magazine.  I've changed all the colors, and I think I like it... but I'm still not sure.  You can decide! :)  Those are birds and birdhouses, in case you can't quite tell.  LOL!

I'm tempted to start CCN's Bookstore this week, but I'm not sure I have fabric for it.  I'm working on preparing for a Homeschool show that I'll be vending at for my GraceWorks business, so I'll be busy and distracted these next two weeks, so I actually may just pick up whichever of the projects in my binders call my attention when I have time to sit and stitch.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings!

A Giveaway of Note!

Hi friends!

There's a giveaway over at the Cranberry Samplings blog that you don't want to miss!  Head on over!

I didn't stitch much last week after the accident, but I was able to finish "G is for Girl", which was a nice way to end the month of April.  Sorry the picture is so dark, but I took it at night so I wouldn't forget.  It will be on its way to its new owner shortly!   I started my PIF for Mouse yesterday, so no pictures of that, but next week I'll start "B is for Boy" so I should have something to show you then!!

Blessings!