A couple of patriotic finishes and a magical wedding!

Good morning, all! At least I think it's morning... We've been back from my youngest son's wedding for over a week now and my body and mind still haven't recovered from the effects of jet lag. Just when I think I'm back to normal, a wave of exhaustion hits me at random times during the day. That's what happens when you travel to a time zone six hours ahead of the one you live in! So, where were we? I'll share my stitching finishes with you and then move on to the wedding...

As soon as I saw this sweet design, I knew I had to stitch it! This is "She Stitched the Stars" by Needle Treasures Nook and it is stitched on 40 ct. raw natural Newcastle linen with the suggested colors. I did make a few changes, though. I aligned the stars in the arc to be symmetrical, stitched the dates using a smaller font, and added another little shoe instead of the draped fabric that was charted. 

"She Stitched the Stars" 

This stitched up very quickly and it was nice to have just two colors to keep track of! I debated as to what color of trim to add, but ended up with a simple ecru color cording tied in the corner with a rusty star glued on top of the hanging strands. Simple and sweet, don't you think? And a perfect way to commemorate America's 250th birthday coming up in July.

My second finish is one that has been a long time coming... I'm not quite sure when I actually finished the stitching on this one, but it's been a while. I came across it after we returned from the wedding and decided it was high time I fully finish it. "Grand Olde Flag" by With Thy Needle and Thread is stitched "over" one on 28 ct. black Monaco fabric with the suggested threads. I just love how tiny it came out! The stitched portion is only about 4 inches square. I debated about how to finish it and was leaning toward a pillow with ruched ribbon trim, but decided I would frame it instead.

"Grand Olde Flag" by With Thy Needle and Thread

This is a thrifted frame that I've used for two previous finishes--I just pop out the back checkered board and insert another. A great money saver... And another money saver is how often I repurpose my sons' old flannel shirts for backing a finish. That's what I used behind the stitched portion in this piece. Having had three sons who grew up in the '80s and '90s (when flannel and plaid shirts worn unbuttoned over a white t-shirt was so popular), I have a never ending supply of flannel. In fact I have a whole cupboard full of their old cut-up shirts just waiting to be used for future finishes!

How about my fellow Americans? Are you stitching anything patriotic for the 250th birthday this year? I have a few more tiny things I hope to have all finished up to share with you in July. After that, I'm moving on to fall and Christmas stitching.

   ♥ On to the wedding! ♥

A most special weekend... I had so many of you hoping to see wedding photos that I put together this little recap  for you. The wedding of my youngest son and new daughter-in-law was held in a fairytale setting at a castle in the beautiful hills of Tuscany.

Yes, their wedding took place in Italy!

Oh, my... I don't think any of us have come back down to earth yet. Every little detail was so well done--just perfect, really. I'll share some photos to give you a better idea of what this enchanting weekend entailed... 

Castello Banfi il Borgo was the perfect setting for my youngest son's wedding on June 6th. Some of the interior rooms have been renovated to act as hotel rooms and we were lucky enough to stay in a beautiful suite.

 

What a view! Our room was down on the bottom left of this steep slope--right across from an outdoor breakfast/lunch area.

 

Everywhere you look, the countryside provided picture-perfect views.

 

Me relaxing before the wedding on Saturday. I was, surprisingly, not nervous at all! By then, my attitude was, "What will be, will be."

 

The festivities began with the rehearsal dinner on Friday night which all 80+ guests were invited to. It was a fun pizza party with yummy salads, cheeses, and tiramisu for dessert. There was a three piece jazz ensemble playing background music and, of course, speeches were made toasting the soon-to-be-married couple.

This rustic courtyard was the setting for the rehearsal dinner.

 

The red checkered tablecloths lent a casual, cheerful atmosphere to the party.

 

The fresh tomatoes and white candles were such a fun, quick, and easy centerpiece. My little grandsons loved reaching over and plucking off the juicy tomatoes and popping them into their mouths!

 

The party went on into the evening accompanied by music from a jazz trio and speeches by family and friends. 

 

The wedding day... More perfect weather couldn't have been scheduled for the actual wedding day--puffy white clouds dotted the sunny, blue skies with temperatures in the mid to high-70s.

The bride and groom couldn't have asked for a more idyllic setting in which to exchange their vows 

 

A close-up of the aisle and seating area. Pretty parasols were even provided for sun coverage. Honestly, there were so many thoughtful details sprinkled throughout the day.

 

The newlyweds! What a handsome couple--even with their faces blurred (at their request). And her dress--absolutely stunning! I loved the burgundy calla lilies adorning her bouquet and his boutonniere, too. My husband and I walked our son down the aisle and it wasn't until we kissed him at the end of it that I shed a few tears. 

 

My husband and I were all smiles after the ceremony. I think we clean up pretty well for two 71 year olds :) And almost 6-year-old  Mister B, my oldest grandson, was beaming as the proud ring bearer. After all my agonizing over buying a dress, I ended up with this simple black knit one with a pearl and rhinestone embellished neckline that I found at Nordstrom. (You can see some close-up views of it on their website right here). It was SO comfortable and the only dress of the ten that I tried on that felt like me. Most were either too matronly or too prom-like. This one traveled perfectly and had a simple, but elegant look that I thought suited a black-tie (optional) wedding.

The reception... After the wedding ceremony took place and the photographers finished with the family and bridal party photos, the reception was held in the courtyard of the castle. It began with "aperitivo,"  a traditional Italian pre-dinner cocktail hour with drinks and small bites.  Aperitivo is intended to "open your stomach and stimulate your appetite before the main meal." I don't think I had a single appetizer--I was too busy talking and catching up with family members I hadn't seen in years! We then moved on to the stunningly set dinner table for a feast of veal, eggplant parmesan, or turbot. 

 

One of the most charming scenes of the day was the shape of the table for the reception dinner--so soft and lovely. Can you spot my son and daughter-in-law checking to make sure all the place settings are perfect?

 

Beautiful crystal chandeliers, floral centerpieces, and personalized menus (with our names inscribed on the burgundy ribbons!) added an elegant touch to the table.

 

The meal was delicious and it was so enjoyable just chatting and relaxing as the sun set over the castle.

After the delicious dinner, complete with speeches by the matron of honor and the two best men (my two older sons shared that honor), we moved to a grassy area for cake and a big surprise!

 

Instead of a traditional wedding cake, an Italian Millefoglie cake was served. Oh, my! So scrumptious... My husband actually ate four (yes, four!) pieces of it. It was fun because my son and daughter-in-law got to help make it themselves! The cake consisted of two layers of vanilla cream custard layered between three layers of delicate puff pastry. That part of the cake was waiting for them on the table and then they smothered the top of the cake with fresh berries and sifted powdered sugar over the whole thing. I may just have to try making this at home! 

 

Surprise! Surprise! No one knew fireworks were coming except for the newlyweds and their wedding planner. As the cork popped on the celebratory bottle of champagne, the fireworks began lighting up the sky in the valley below. And yes... I actually gasped (and I wasn't the only one!) It truly felt like something out of a movie!

 

I have to admit, I teared up when the fireworks began. The surprise of them was simply breathtaking!

And finally, the celebration concluded with lots of joyful dancing on the black and white checkered dance floor as my oldest grandson, Mister B, showed us his (very impressive!) moves. A fun trio including a trumpet player, a saxaphonist, and a drummer played along to music chosen by the couple. Baby N missed out on the festivities--he was with two wonderful Italian babysitters who cared for him during the wedding and reception. 

  

Mister B showing all the grown ups how it's done! I think the videographers got more footage of him on the dance floor than anyone else. 

The band, the fireworks, and the entire weekend left us with huge smiles on our faces.

We left the party close to 1:00 AM tired, but fulfilled... The whole weekend couldn't have gone more perfectly. It still amazes me at the amount of planning and decision-making that goes into a wedding and, suddenly, it's all over in 8 or 9 short hours. My son and daughter-in-law went through a lot of ups and downs working with the Italian wedding planner over the past year... There was the time difference to contend with, the language barrier now and then, and different expectations on both sides. Would they do a destination wedding again? I don't know... but, for those of us lucky enough to attend, it was truly a magical experience to remember forever! ♥ I am so happy to have a new daughter-in-law in the family and I wish them many years of love and laughter ahead! ♥

I'm a small-town girl having grown up in a village with just one traffic light in southwestern New York. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined having a son who would some day get married at a castle in Italy. There is something so peaceful and calming about the Tuscany region... My husband and I were blessed to be able to stay on for another week after the wedding and explore many of the small hill towns in the area. I'll be sharing more photos in future posts of our post-wedding travels so I hope you'll come back soon!

 

Until then, I'll leave you with a few final photos taken at the wonderful Castello Banfi il Borgo. Tuscany has captured my heart and I truly hope to return some day!

 

This was the view from our bedroom window at the castle.

The castle: enchanting from every angle

 

 

Thank you, Tuscany, for providing the perfect setting for a magical wedding weekend for all!

Thank you so much for visiting me today! After two weeks away, I'm doing my best to catch up on reading your blogs and seeing what you all have been up to. Enjoy this last bit of June, my friends--another year is passing by way too quickly! Take care of yourselves. Bye for now...

Spring stitching as the snow flies...

I'm writing this on yet another snowy afternoon... Yes, it is March 17th (Happy St. Patrick's Day!), but, outside my window, it looks more like a winter wonderland. I actually don't ever remember a snow storm this late in the season. Our weather has been like a rollercoaster lately... We went from a high of 68° on Sunday to a high of 28° today--absolutely crazy! I'm so glad I can just stay in my cozy home and watch as the snow drifts and blows outside. It really is beautiful, but I'm very envious of those of you who have been sharing photos of spring flowers and sunny skies.

At least I have some spring in my stitching to share with you today!  I seem to be on a With Thy Needle and Thread kick lately because both of my latest pieces are Brenda Gervais designs. Doesn't this first one just scream spring to you? I mean, take a look at the sweet details... a plump robin, wee buzzing bees, that pink polka-dotted butterfly, and the multitude of pastel blooms. What could be more spring-like?

"Tis Spring! (at least in my stitching!)

This one is called 'Tis Spring! and it's probably one of my favorites. I stitched it 'over one' on 25 ct. mushroom Lugana with some of the suggested threads and some of my own choices. The pretty pale blue of the house is done in WDW Robin's Egg (the lighter part of the thread) while the blue bow is done using the same thread, but using only the darker portion. My piece is simply a brightened up version of the original design. When you have so much going on in a design, I think it's important to keep the finish fairly simple. So I sewed a little pillow and surrounded it with handmade cording made with DMC 598--quick and easy!

I love the color of blue that I chose for the house.

Here is a better look at the sweet robin standing on his nest with those bright blue eggs sitting inside...

Can you spot the teeny bees? So cute!

 

My second spring finish is called "Spring Delivery" (also by With Thy Needle and Thread) and is stitched on  40 ct. platinum Newcastle linen. I actually changed most of the colors in this one except for the rabbit (which is stitched with the called-for GAST Apple Cider). I also left off the ABC, 1234 that were charted and filled in those spots with more of the little "doo-dads" and changed up his eye a bit. 

"Spring Delivery" by With Thy Needle and Thread

I knew I wanted to frame this piece so off I went to rummage through my four Rubbermaid bins filled with thrifted frames (which are stored in my basement). I was hoping to find a rustic looking frame, but when I held up this beauty to my stitching, I totally changed my mind! I love how elegant the final look is--just shows you how a frame can make a major difference in elevating a simple finish. I think I paid $2.99 for this frame at Goodwill a few years ago--quite a savings from a professional framing job, I'd say!

An elegant frame for a sweet spring finish.

 

 

Giveaway winner... Now, if you recall, I was offering this chart as a giveaway in February. I was happy to see how many folks threw their names in the hat for this one and sure wish I had more than one chart to give away! But, the winner's name, randomly drawn, is...

 CHRISTEL  (in France)

Christel, you are the winner! Please send me your mailing address.

Congratulations to Christel! Please email me with your mailing address (my email is in the sidebar underneath the "A Bit About Me" section) and I'll send this chart out to you. I'll be having more giveaways in future posts, everyone, so please visit often!

Over the weekend, we celebrated a birthday for my middle son's longtime girlfriend. It was a milestone birthday for her so I wanted to make her day special. These mini-bundt cakes were fun and festive and very easy to make--you can find the recipe right here.  I halved the recipe since there were only five of us (her mother joined us, too) and everyone seemed to enjoy them!

Some mini-bundt cakes and a newly blooming white orchid. My neighbor gave me the lovely orchid for my birthday in January 2025 and I was thrilled when it bloomed again this month!

I'll leave you with a few of our unexpected mid-March snow photos. As I mentioned before--beautiful, but...

The snow began falling at dusk on Monday as our deer herd visited for their nightly supper (in other words--our lawn!).

 

Tuesday morning dawned bright and sunny (for about an hour) and then the snow picked up again.

Is there anything prettier than a fresh snowfall against a bright blue sky?

You can see just how much snow fell from the depth on our patio table.

Love this titmouse trying to crack a sunflower seed as he carefully balances on the edge of the bird feeder.

I think the birds are especially appreciative of our efforts to feed them each winter--especially this one!

I want to thank you all for your comments on my last post and apologize for not acknowledging them. I've been having some issues with my eyes which make it difficult for me to look at my computer screen for very long so I've been limiting my time. I have a lot of trouble looking out at this bright snow, as well. Thankfully, my stitching doesn't seem to be affected!

Do you have anything special planned for this last half of March? My two favorite little people will be coming for a visit in ten days and I can hardly wait! We miss Mister B and Baby N so much, but didn't dare be around them while my husband was recovering from his shoulder replacement surgery. He still can't lift anything over a few pounds so I'll have to do the heavy lifting with the baby (who is one BIG guy!), but I've been actively trying to bump up my exercise routine to include heavier weights so I should be fine. We'll also be celebrating my oldest son's 44th birthday--where have the years gone?! Take care now, everyone, and I hope that by my next post I'll at least have some photos of pretty spring flowers to share! Bye for now...  

Christmas Ornaments on Black

Hello, my stitching friends! I hope this post finds you doing well and enjoying the countdown to Christmas! First of all I want to thank you for your lovely (and always appreciated!) comments on my last post. I usually try to thank those of you who I have emails for, but I haven't been on my computer very much between trying to decorate, bake, and get my Christmas cards out. Why, I haven't even gotten Baby N's first Christmas ornament stitched yet! Hopefully, this weekend... On top of all that, I'm still struggling off and on with cold symptoms after an entire month. I did test for Covid and it was negative. It's the strangest thing--every other day, I seem to feel poorly and then the alternate days I have more energy and the cold symptoms are lessened. I went through this same thing last year in November/December and it's so frustrating! Anyway... I have been squeezing in time to stitch each evening and managed to finish my final two ornaments for the #12in25ornamentstitchalong that I host over on Instagram. 

For November, I stitched "Winter Rose Manor Pincushion" (which is part of the "Winter Rose Manor" chart) by With Thy Needle and Thread. It is stitched "over one" on 25 count black Lugana using all of the suggested threads, but one. I did change the cardinal's face to DMC 844 so it would show up better on the black. I also added (and rearranged) a few of the snowflakes.

"Winter Rose Manor Pincushion" 

I do love a round or oval finish, don't you? I added some handmade cording (using DMC ecru), a satin bow, and some pearl-headed pins around the perimeter. At the top, I simply glued a larger "pearl" that I had snipped from a Christmas floral pick. What do you think?

Don't you love that cardinal and the colors in this piece?

These sweet mice in "Plum Pudding" (also by With They Needle and Thread) had been squeaking at me for years to "Please, please stitch us!" This month, I finally took a deep breath, picked up my needle, and got started. And although it took a while, I love the final result of my December ornament. This one is also stitched "over one" on 25 count black Lugana, but I did change many of the threads. The green dress is done in DMC 3347 and the red in Colour & Cotton "Cherry Cobbler." I also made their wee shoes match the colors of their dresses (I think those mice have more of a fashion sense than I do, that's for sure :). 

"Plum Pudding" mice in the kitchen

 

To finish it into an ornament, I simply made it into a little pillow, surrounded it with green cording (and a very, very short hanger because I ran out of DMC 3347!), and added a polka-dot bow. This is definitely one of my all-time favorites. I love to bake (although I don't do it nearly as much as I did when my three sons were living here) and I plan on incorporating this ornament into a cute baking-themed display that I have planned for my kitchen. Stay tuned... 

My December ornament--hard to believe another year of ornament stitching has come to an end!

I think you can see from my final two 2026 ornaments, that my taste in Christmas decorations is very eclectic. I have to say, though, that the ornaments stitched on black are among my favorites. This year, they've taken over my Pottery Barn cubby for Christmas. Here are 24 others that might provide you with a bit of inspiration... As always, my mom's sweet silhouette graces the center cubby and she is surrounded by angels. I miss her so very much, but never more than at Christmas time...

My ornaments on black have taken over my Pottery Barn cubby for December

 

I took some close-up photos of the ornaments that you might enjoy. Do you have a favorite among these? I think mine is the one right above my mom with the two little angels holding five golden rings. I stitched it way back in 2012! "Five Golden Rings" was designed by Cottage Garden Samplings and is still available for sale.

This is my very favorite of my black ornaments--stitched 13 years ago!

 

 

Which ornament is your favorite?

One of the very first Christmas decorations to be put up each year is this wonderful hand-carved wooden Nativity set. My parents bought it in Italy and gave it to me when I was first married--almost 50 years ago. I still have the handwritten note that mom included when she sent it to me and I get a bit teary-eyed each year when I read it as I carefully unwrap each character and animal and place them in the stable. 

The workmanship in this wooden Nativity is gorgeous!  I bought the pretty red silk lamp shades this year on Amazon which really brighten the display in my kitchen.

Above the Nativity is the largest piece of cross stitch I've ever completed: "Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow." Oh, my--I still remember struggling to hold that giant piece of linen (since I don't use hoops or frames when I stitch). I did a block each month during 2010 on 32 ct. flax Belfast linen using most of the suggested DMC threads. If I was stitching it today, I would use 40 ct. because I just love stitching with one thread. I can hardly bear it if I have to use two threads these days! If you'd like to see a close-up of this huge piece, just click here. 

"Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow" gets a place of honor each year.

 

 

Gift-giving question? My little family of five has grown to ten now (with the addition of grandchildren and significant others) and I've been struggling with how to give gifts. The little grandsons are no problem at all. It's the adults--I just don't know what anyone wants (and it seems like none of us truly need anything). How do you handle gift-giving with adult children? Do you pick names, buy them each presents, give money, skip it altogether? I've come up with a plan for this year that I hope will be easier on me (since I am the prime gift buyer in the family :). I've asked each couple to give me three suggestions: 1) something they need for the home or garden, 2) a favorite restaurant so I can purchase a gift certificate, and 3) a membership or experience that we might give them (a zoo membership, tickets to a concert, etc.).  What do you think? Will this make my gift-giving easier? I'd seriously love to know what all of you with grown/married children do in your family! All suggestions are welcome :) 

First snow of the season... There is something so magical about that first snowfall, isn't there? I still remember waking up as a little girl, raising the shades, and gasping with wonder as a fresh white landscape greeted me outside my bedroom window. And, as an adult, I feel the same way! We got about three or four inches last week and it was that beautiful kind of snow that sticks to every twig and tree branch. Sadly, most of it has melted away now even though we've had extremely cold temperatures in southwestern Pennsylvania. I do hope we have a white Christmas this year--fingers crossed!

Our first snowfall of the season in early December.

 

The male Cardinal and little Tufted Titmouse enjoy a snack on a cold snowy day. 

The female Cardinal shares her perch with the tiny Chickadee

It's funny, I always think I don't have much to write about at the beginning of each blog post, and then they end up running on and on! I hope some of you are still with me at this point... What is on your agenda for the week ahead? I need to finish up some stitched gifts (including my youngest grandson's!), send out my cards (which I'm definitely cutting back on this year), and start my baking. It will be a busy, busy week, but I hope to just rest that final week before Christmas (famous last words!). Hope you each have a wonderful week ahead and will stop in for my annual "Parade of Ornaments" post next time. Take care now and thanks for popping in! Bye for now...