My lone August post...

Hello, hello! Did you miss me? I've missed you! It's hard to believe a month has passed since my last post. August was a bit of an up and down month for me--the first part was very busy with work and extra doctor's appointments to deal with some weird health issues. The second part has been more relaxing with a week at the beach and a string of sunny, non-humid days--absolutely the best weather we've had all summer--finally! I've done a bit of stitching along the way, but seem to really have more time to sit down with my needle and thread in the winter months. So, would you like to see what I've been up to?

I was delighted to see the 2014 Prairie Schooler Santa this year--he's a caroler! (Yes, I'm a bit partial to carols and caroling for some reason--I wonder why?). The newest PS Santa was my beach stitching this year. Although I tried to stitch in the car on the 10-hour drive down to Corolla, NC, I didn't have much luck. I'm not sure if the road was too bumpy or it was just too hard to deal with the 40 ct. fabric without better lighting. So, this Santa got stitched over a number of days while I was away on vacation--usually just an hour or two each morning. What a great way to start my day!

2014 Prairie Schooler Santa

I used the suggested DMC colors on 40 ct. flax Newcastle, but I had to substitute the green color with DMC 500 since I had no 501. I did make a few changes, though: I gave Santa a green and white striped scarf instead of the solid green, made his mouth more of an oval shape instead of the square shape that was charted, changed the color of the wording and border to DMC 844, and changed the ribbon on the top package from red to gold. The ornament is backed with the plaid fabric you can see in the lower right corner of the photo below. I'm so pleased with how he turned out...

Before we left for the beach in mid-August, I made a birthday gift for my dear friend, Lois, in Northern Ireland. I was thrilled to hear from her that it only took one week to arrive--now that is great mail service on both sides of the Atlantic! This is what I stitched for Lois as I thought she would enjoy the colors and the sampler-like motifs. It was my first time stitching the Spider Web Roses and I'm so pleased with how they turned out.

Ewe and Eye and Friends "Petite Exemplary No. 2"

This piece is called "Petite Exemplary No. 2" by Ewe and Eye and Friends and is stitched on 40 ct. flax Newcastle using the suggested DMC threads. I really enjoyed all the specialty stitches in this one--they add such interest and dimension to a tiny piece. Here is a better look at the Spider Web Roses: 

I wasn't quite sure how to finish this one for Lois, but finally decided on a scissor fob. I used DMC in the darker color of the house to make the cording and the pretty floral fabric shown to back the fob. Lois loved my gift and I just want to wish her a very "Happy Birthday" once again!

I was looking through my drawer of "unfinished/finishes" the other day (you do all have those, too, right?) and found a little Santa that I had stitched way back in 2009--the year I began my blog! Oh, the poor thing--he's been shut up in the dark all these years. Time to pull him out, finish him up, and get him ready to hang on the Christmas tree in December. This is from the Cricket Collection's "Woolen Mittens" chart. The backing fabric is the cute black and white polka dot that you see underneath the ornament. In some ways, I'm glad I held off on finishing him because I've gotten more confident in my finishing skills over the past five years and I think he looks better now than he would have looked had I tackled him back in 2009!

Cricket Collection "Santa Mitten" finish

I'm also working on a larger piece, but have run into a snafu! I think I'll show you that next time and get your opinions on just what you think I should do...

BEACH WEEK 2014... Well, this year marked the 30th year that we have traveled down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with my husband's entire family... How the group has grown! I think there were only 12 of us the first year, but now with added grandchildren and great-grandchildren, our group numbered 25 this year! Only my middle son and my niece's husband were unable to make the trip due to work responsibilities. (Don't feel too bad for my middle son, though--he just returned from two weeks in Japan!).  Since we rented the same house as last year, you can click here to see photos of the giant beach house where we made our home for the week. Here are some photos I took this year, including a day trip to Currituck Beach Lighthouse.

The view from the gazebo at the beach house

Looking down the beach at Corolla, NC.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Another view of the lighthouse

A view from the top of the lighthouse

Gazing down at the lighthouse keeper's home

Looking down through the winding 220 step lighthouse

It was quite a relaxing week overall, although with 25 people at dinner each night, things got a bit  loud for me! I don't know about you, but I really enjoy my quiet time and with that many people in a house, you don't get much of it... I did manage to walk on the beach several mornings which seemed to agree with my plantar fasciitis. My heel felt much better down there than it has since I got home! 

But, I so needed that time away... As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I had a couple of odd health issues to deal with in early August (an emergency root canal due to something called "External Root Resorption." Ever hear of it? Me either! And a diagnosis of Schamberg Disease as a result of some odd pinprick rashes that have been popping up on my legs and thighs. Don't google photos of it--mine looked nowhere near that bad and have disappeared--for now! Apparently, there is no cure, but I'm just hoping mine remains a light case).  Neither of these are horrible--just rare and weird. The doctor who did my root canal was so thrilled to see a case of External Root Resorption that he called his 18-year-old son in to witness the procedure... And the dermatologist exclaimed excitedly that she hadn't seen anyone with Schamberg Disease in over two years! Apparently, I'm a rarity--ha ha!!

I hope those of you in the United States have a fun and relaxing Labor Day Weekend... Do you have any special plans? I'm just hoping this spell of lovely weather continues on through September. We sure could use it before winter sets in. Thank you all for stopping by today and a warm welcome to my new followers--so glad you're here! Bye for now...

They do roll around quickly...

Birthdays, that is! Yes, today marks yet another year in my march toward the big 6-0!! I'm 58 today, but the thought of that milestone birthday still two years away is very much in my thoughts  these days for some reason. Here is one of my favorite photos taken on my very first birthday... I just love those pudgy baby fingers exploring the ribbons on my birthday present. What is it about chubby babies that is so appealing--just love them!! And how about those vintage birthday cards? I spot a smiling rabbit on each and every one--I guess I liked bunnies even way back then. This was taken in Buffalo, NY back in the mid-50s by my dear dad who was in medical school at the time. I wonder if I got a chance to sample that yummy looking chocolate cake my mom so lovingly baked for me? If so, I'll bet she carefully removed the sweet, lace pinafore that I wore in this photo...

 

January 16, 1956 ~ one year old!

My husband and two older sons surprised me with an early birthday celebration on Sunday. What a wonderful treat that was as I had just spent five hours driving back from visiting my parents in New York and was very tired. They made chicken parmesan and a nice salad and treated me to some wonderful stitchy gifts--a couple of charts from my wish list, lots of overdyed threads, and a few gift certificates to various online shops and JoAnn Fabrics. They obviously have learned what makes me smile... And when mom is smiling, all is right with the world--everyone knows that!

I finally have my first finish for 2013 and it is a finish for my blogging friend, Brenda, who just happens to share my birthday today! Brenda is the proud "mama" to two adorable Scottie dogs and when I saw this freebie from The Cricket Collection, I just knew I had to stitch it for her. I thought the design would really "pop" on black so I chose 32 ct. black Belfast linen for the job and used most of the suggested DMC colors. I did change the green on the dog's sweater a bit and I added a silver jingle bell in the "bow" of the stitched mitten. The fabric shown in the background is the backing of the little pillow. Brenda seemed to enjoy my little gift and I'm so happy!

 

Cricket Collection freebie stitched for Brenda's birthday

BIRTHDAY THANKS... I was lucky enough to receive some very special gifts on my birthday as well... From my long-time blogging friend, Cindy, came two cute charts and fabric, fabric, and more fabric!! She covered just about every season--from the spring flowers to the patriotic colors to the Halloween spooky designs to the green and red Christmas prints. WOW! I will have to get busy and make some more little ornaments and pillows to use these up, Cindy!  You were so sweet to remember me with all you have going on in your life right now--I am truly touched... Thank you so very much!

Birthday gifts from Cindy

From the always sweet Sue came this beautifully handmade stitching pocket. In her card she noted that it is stitched on 32 ct. Golden Promise linen with WDW Williamsburg Blue. Isn't it lovely? She monogrammed it with the letter "C" from one of the Sajou alphabets and added the prettiest antique ivory trim at the very top of the pocket. I just love it, Sue--you were so thoughtful and kind to remember me on my big day. Oh, and that Godiva chocolate bar is certainly an extra-special treat, too!! Thank you so very much for your sweet gifts, my friend!

 Birthday gifts from Sue

All the way from England and my friend, June, came this exquisite needlebook--my very first!! I had admired those miniature spools that she used to adorn one of her creations so I was thrilled to see that she added them to the ribbon on the needlebook. Don't you love the color of blue she chose? I think that is why blue is my favorite color; there are just so many shades of it--from the royal blue that June used to turquoise to the palest icy blue of a winter sky--I love them all! She also included a magnetic bookmark and some cute thank you cards. I love my gifts, June--you really are so kind to remember me and my special day!

Birthday gifts from June

And from my West Virginia stitching friend, Donna (no blog), came this wonderful assortment of charts...all new to me! She included the Waxing Moon "Lost Mitten Angel" chart, the Lizzie Kate "Love Sampler," and Twisted Thread design called "Easter Hare." Along with them she added a Marjolein Bastin bookmark. Have I ever mentioned how much I love Marjolein Bastin designs? And the bunnies  pictured on the bookmark are adorable! Thank you so very much, Donna--everything is delightful! It has been a pleasure getting to know you this past year...

Birthday gifts from Donna

Thank you all so very much for your thoughtful remembrances--your friendships are the best part of your gifts and I treasure each one of you!

Many of you are aware of Melanie--or the amazing Melanie as I like to call her, who blogs at Moonraker Lampwerks. I call her amazing because she is one of those crafters who can do multiple things and do them all so well--from her knitting to her stitching to her bounteous and beautiful handcrafted beads, her blog is a joy to read. She recently let me borrow one of her cross stitch charts and when it arrived I saw that she also surprised me with two of her adorable handmade beads... Aren't they adorable? Check out her blog--you'll love it as much as I do! Thank you, Melanie, for the special treats--I'm thrilled to own some of your beads!

Beautiful beads from Melanie

I know I promised to show you my final Christmas ornaments in this post, but I'm out of time this morning--will definitely get to it next week, okay? Thank you, thank you for all of your wonderful comments on my last post--I guess you liked my "Year of the Bowl" as much as I did. I have to admit, I'm missing making all of those little pillows very much.  Welcome, too, to my new followers--I'm so happy you're here. I'm way, way behind on answering emails and commenting, but will definitely catch up this week. Can't wait to spend another creative stitching year with all of you! Bye for now...

Winter Circle

Hello everyone! We've had some snow here in western Pennsylvania this week and it is so fresh and peaceful looking. Not sure if it was the snow or what, but yesterday I had this odd feeling that something was calling my name. I instinctively was drawn to the large wooden armoire in my family room. Slowly, I opened the second drawer on the left where I keep my finishes and "almost finishes" and there, on the very top, lay an angry mob of eyeless snowpeople. "Give us some eyes, Carol," they seemed to shout! "Hey, how about some buttons!" "Come on, lady, let us out of our dark prison--we've been shut up in here since 2007!" I sighed and reached for the little snowmen and women, gathered some black and white beads, my needle, thread, and scissors and within 90 minutes, I had a new finish. I even added some white beads in the center snowflake that weren't actually called for on the chart!

So what took me so long? It's simple: I really don't enjoy beading. Oh, I admire all of your beautifully beaded pieces, don't get me wrong. But, for some reason, I just don't like sewing on beads. Stitching beaded edges on ornaments doesn't bother me at all, it is just sewing beads onto fabric itself. How you stitchers stitch those intricately detailed beaded beauties just amazes me! What patience you must have...After three years, I'm thrilled to have "Winter Circle" (stitched on 28ct. summer khaki Lugana with DMC threads) by The Cricket Collection finally finished. They really are a winsome bunch, aren't they?

So which one is your favorite?

Do you like the grand couple off to the
opera? Don't you love his top hat and little vest.
And how about her turban with her golden yellow shawl?


Or maybe, you're partial to this little cutie.
Doesn't she remind you of Little Red Riding Hood?


Or perhaps, you like the simple casual look on this guy.
I think he might be the jeans and t-shirt type.


Or how about Mr. Prep with his argyle vest?
I think he just might be my personal favorite!

Or do you like one of the other three the best? I can't wait to get this framed and up on my wall for the rest of the winter. Finally finishing up this circle of snowmen gave me a much-needed break from slowly plugging along on "Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow."


Now, doesn't this look like fun? This is my progress so far on the infamous Block 11 of Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow. UGH! Black, black, and more black. It is really questionable whether or not I can finish this block and the final one by December 31st. I'm trying my hardest, but you all know how many other things there are to do this month! I haven't even begun my Christmas shopping or cards, but at least we got the tree up today! It is sitting in my sunroom as I write this, just waiting for its decorations.

Although I haven't begun my shopping yet, I've already received my very first Christmas present from my friend, Cindy, who thoroughly spoiled me with these goodies. She not only stitched this darling bird ornament from the 2010 JCS Ornament Issue, but also sent some delightful fabrics, red heart buttons, and the tiniest Hallmark Goldfinch ornament. I told her I had been thinking about starting a collection of those miniature Hallmark ornaments and so now it is official. I just love everything, Cindy, and your generous and giving spirit certainly exemplifies the Christmas season.








I'm feeling very old today because my middle son turned 25 yesterday! A quarter of a century ...unbelievable. He and my oldest son came over for their weekly Sunday dinner and to help decorate the tree today and this is what he is being rewarded with--his favorite dessert. Giant Chocolate Eclair Dessert--YUMMMMM... It really does taste like a Chocolate Eclair, but it's much easier to make. (If anyone would like the recipe, just email me.) So, "Happy, Happy 25th Birthday" to my dear middle son; I wish you a year filled with unexpected joys, love, and laughter... (and, hopefully, a job that you enjoy more than your current one!).

Well, I've rambled on long enough for now. I need to get the troops organized and get this Christmas tree decorated. I can't wait to pull out all of my treasured ornaments--they always bring smiles and laughs along with a few nostalgic and teary memories. Thank you all for visiting and for your wonderful comments and emails--they really mean so much to me! Bye now...