Sunflower Santa

When I first saw this whimsical Prairie Schooler chart, I wasn't sure that I wanted to stitch it, but as I studied it further, it really began to grow on me. I love the idea of Santa taking a rest and tending his sunflower garden during his "off" season! My April ornament, from PS Book 48: "A Christmas Visit," is stitched on 32 ct. natural light linen with the recommended DMC threads. This was the first round ornament I ever attempted and I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. At four inches in diameter it is a bit larger than I would have liked and I think if I stitch any more patterns from this book, I'll try stitching them "over one."


Like many of you, I'm stitching an ornament a month and I'm so happy to be keeping up with my finishing. It would be so easy to stick them in a drawer and move on to a new project, but I know I'll be thrilled when December rolls around and I have twelve already finished ornaments to add to our Christmas tree. Pictured below are the four I've completed. See how large the newest ornament is in relation to the previous ones? The earlier ornaments were all stitched "over one," so they're all quite small... Do you have a favorite? I still love that tiny stocking the most...


I was overwhelmed by all of your kind comments on my PS Spring sampler last week! Did any of you notice the mistake that I made in it? If you look carefully at the upper left leaf next to the robin in my previous post, you'll see that I forgot to fill it in with the light green. Luckily, I noticed it before I got around to framing it!


Have any of you ever framed a piece and then noticed a mistake? Well, I have--or more accurately, my then ten year old son noticed it! It was on one of my earliest works from back in the '80s--a pair of pictures with two doves nestled in a cherry blossom tree in each. Well, my oldest son was walking up the stairs one day, and I don't know if they were just at his eye level or what, but the next thing you know, he is running to gleefully tell me that I made a mistake on one of the borders. (Click on the photo above for a better look and see if you can spot my mistake... By the way, those mats on the pictures are both the same shade of gray as is shown on the left--not sure why they look different!)

Sure enough, when I went to examine it, he was right! If you look at the bottom right corner of the picture on the left you'll see that I forgot to close off that part of the border...I can laugh about it today, but at the time, I just cried. I think those were the first pieces that I had paid to have professionally framed and I was just sick about spending all of that money and time and then they weren't even stitched properly! A few years ago, I gave them to my mother-in-law because they fit in perfectly with her decor--she is thrilled to own them. She asked me to write the entire story about my son's eagle-eyed discovery on the paper backing of the frame so it will be there forever. That little bit of family history actually makes the pieces even more special...

Last month, I received my lovely pinkeep as part of Andrea's PIF... Now it is my turn to pass on the kindness. Since there were more than three people who wanted to participate in my PIF, I did a random drawing and the following stitchers will be receiving something from me within the next 365 days:

Lee from New Zealand!

Shari from Indiana!

Melanie from The United Kingdom!
I will be emailing the three of you to get your addresses very soon. I'm really looking forward to creating something special for each of you!


I am so very appreciative of all of your comments and visits...thank you all for being such a wonderful group of friends. Wishing each of you a wonderful and relaxing weekend...

A Prairie Spring

Hello everyone! Spring has burst into full bloom here in Pennsylvania and it also made its way into my stitching this week. I just finished this spring sampler from Book No. 50: "Prairie Seasons". It is stitched on 32 ct. flax Belfast linen with the suggested DMC threads. I got a start on this when I was in Florida last month and am so pleased with the way it turned out. I'll have to tell you though, I don't ever remember doing this much back-stitching in a Prairie Schooler design. Look at the window panes, the water spraying from the fountain and all of those stems and leaves--I thought I would never finish "sowing" this garden! The only change I made was to the robins' legs--the chart showed them as cross stitches, but after trying that, the poor things looked like grannies wearing thick, gray support hose, so I switched to a simple straight stitch and think they look much more delicate and bird-like.

I've included a collage of close-ups below so you can get a better look at all of the details in this finish: the wheelbarrow, the fountain, the watering can...And don't you love that blue door?

One of my favorite parts of this sampler is the little patch of orange carrots poking through the ground (shown in the lower right part of the collage photo). Speaking of carrots, I made a delicious carrot cake for Easter. Myra had posted her carrot cake recipe on her blog a few weeks ago and so I gave it a try... It was so tasty, Myra; thank you again for sharing it with us! I cut the recipe in half and it made a cake just the right size for the four of us (with just enough left over for my older sons to take back to their apartment). Unfortunately, my youngest son wasn't able to get home from college for Easter and it felt like a "piece of the puzzle" was missing from our family that day. With two giant papers due in mid-April and final exams looming, he thought it better to remain in Virginia and get some work done...

This wasn't the first Prairie Schooler spring sampler that I've stitched. I also stitched this one from PS Book No. 123, "Country Seasons" back in 2008. I'm not sure which one I like better. Both are very different, but I think I have a soft spot for the fluffy lambs grazing in the field in this one. How about you?

We've been fortunate enough to have a string of record-breaking warm and sunny days in April. I honestly think we're being rewarded for enduring the four feet of snow we got clobbered with in February! Just wanted to share some of those gorgeous spring blooms that have popped up in our backyard over the past week: daffodils, violas, hyacinth, periwinkle, and those lovely ferns. Have any of you planted your gardens yet? Yesterday, I went to the garden center and bought tons of flower and vegetable seeds and bulbs that will keep us busy planting over the weekend. Oh, wait a minute, did I say "us?" I have to work on Saturday--hope my dear husband doesn't mind getting started on the digging without me :)





I will be announcing the three participants in my PIF next weekend. Since there were more than three entries, I'll just do a random pick. If anyone else would like a chance to participate, you can sign up on my post from March 27th...

Thank you all so much for taking the time to visit my little corner of the world today... And a special thank you to all of my readers and friends who take the time to leave a comment. I know your lives are as busy as mine, but I truly love to hear from each and every one of you. Wishing you all a week filled with perfectly crossed stitches...

A Fruitful Finish

Block # 3 of Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow is done! As most of you know, I'm trying to stitch one block each month, but I really struggled to finish this one by the end of March. I've been having trouble getting motivated to stitch lately--could it be "spring fever?" Anyone else feeling that way? When I finally thought I was all done, I took one last look at the picture on the front of the chart and realized I had stitched the colored block holding the letter "T" in the entirely wrong color! What? How on earth did I manage that (probably stitching too late at night!)... So, out came the scissors as I tore that whole part out and re-stitched it. Finally...I think (I truly hope) it's finished. Those are some crazy looking pears, aren't they? I am not a pear eater; in fact I love pears just about as much as I love green vegetables :) There is something strange in their texture that I just don't enjoy. Am I just weird or are there any other pear-haters out there?

Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow: Blocks 1-3
Our visit to the zoo on Saturday was such fun! I don't think I had been there since my sons were all little boys (and they are now in their twenties). Let me tell you, zoos have come a long, long way since then... It is so nice to see more of the animals released from their cages and able to walk around in grassy fields. I took a lot of photos and wanted to share some of my favorites. All photos are clickable so you can get a bigger picture...

Don't you love that baby elephant?


When kangaroos are born, they are the size of a bumblebee!


A comical ostrich watches a Springbok in the background.


The king of the jungle lazing in the spring sunshine.


The giraffes in the background paced back
and forth keeping a wary eye on the lioness!
By far, the most popular exhibit at the zoo was the penguins. The little kids were just delighted with them and it was hard to get close enough to the display area to manage even a brief glimpse of the delightful little black and white creatures. My favorite "exhibit," though was watching my son at his volunteer post as he taught children all about polar bears. I don't know who was having a better time--him or the kids!

Thanks so much for visiting and for taking the time to leave such wonderful, uplifting comments--I honestly treasure each one! And if anyone is still interested in signing up for my PIF, please see my previous post...

I hope things are "greening up" in your neck of the woods--it is supposed to be a lovely sunny and warm weekend here. Wishing you all a blessed Easter with your families...

Pay It Forward Anyone?

Pay It Forward (PIF)~ verb: "1. to repay the good deeds one has received by doing good things for other unrelated people."

I signed up for Andrea's "Pay It Forward" in November and was rewarded with this perfectly lovely pinkeep in my mailbox this week. Andrea obviously studied my blog and realized how much I love Prairie Schooler designs! She was concerned that I may have already stitched this little parrot in his gilded cage, but I don't yet own this chart (from the Forget Me Not designer series), so she made a wonderful choice. When I showed it to my oldest son, he even said, "That looks just like something you would stitch, mom." (See, the guys are learning!!) Notice the beautiful gold braiding that Andrea trimmed it with and the "Made With Love" charm that she included on the back. She even made the lovely little card. You should be able to click on the photos for a clearer look. Andrea, everything is so "me"--you couldn't have stitched a more perfect piece! Thank you so very much. It has a place of honor in my sunroom...

And now it is my turn! Would any of you like to participate in a PIF from me? The rules are very simple. I will send a stitched gift to three people who leave a comment (on this post only) requesting to join my PIF challenge. Knowing my love of ornament making, it will most likely be an ornament, but who knows--I'll surprise you! I have 365 days to fulfill my end of the bargain. If you are chosen as one of my PIF recipients, then you must offer the same on your blog to keep the kindness going... Please specifically mention in your comment if you wish to be considered for this...If more than three people sign up, I will have a drawing for three names. I'll keep this open until April 15th.

I'm been hard at work trying to finish Block #3 of Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow by the end of March, but today I'm taking the day off and going to the Pittsburgh Zoo. I haven't visited the zoo in many years, but my animal-loving, middle son volunteers there on Saturdays so my husband and I are getting our own private tour... Hope your weekend is relaxing and stitch-filled. Thank you all for visiting me here each week--I love hearing from you!

Lots of Thank Yous!

Well, I won another giveaway... As many of you have suggested, I really should start playing the lottery! Believe it or not, I have never won anything in my life except these cross stitch prizes. (Well, if you check my list of "interesting" things in the blog award below, you'll see that I did win something else, but it wasn't luck related). Anyway, Barbara's beautiful prize arrived yesterday after spending 8 days in transit in the U.S. mail system. I was beginning to worry about it and I'm so happy it finally arrived safely. Barbara stitched this little "wabbit" from Sheepish Designs on the prettiest shade of peachy-pink linen using overdyed threads and trimmed it off with handmade cording and silky bows. I hope she doesn't mind if I use her photo--it is much better than the ones I tried to take in the early morning light. I love him, Barbara, and he will have a place of honor in my Easter display each spring. Thank you so much for your special gift...

I am finally getting around to thanking all of you wonderful friends who honored me with the Beautiful Blogger Award! Thank you to Cindy, Theresa, Vinniey, Meari, Gillie, and Nicole. I enjoy all of your blogs so much, too, and I really appreciate the fact that out of all the beautiful blogs in the world, you chose to honor mine. That means so much to me.

Well, by now all of you know the drill--the rules are:

1. Accept the award
2. Thank the person who gave you the award
3. Add a link to the person who gave you the award
4. Put the award on your blog
5. Write 10 things about yourself others may not know about you
6. Pass the award on to 10 others

Some of the awards said to write 7 things about myself, others said 10. Let's see how many I can come up with:

1. I was the unusual person who knew what I wanted to be very early in life. Growing up with a cozy library right around the corner from my house instilled a love of reading in me at a young age. I decided to become a librarian when I was about 12.

2. When I was 11, I decided a good summer project might be to read the biographies in the teen section from A to Z! Unfortunately, I only got through the letter "C" because the summer ended and I was too busy during the school year. So I know a lot about Abigail Adams, Clara Barton, and Grover Cleveland, but little about people whose names start with D to Z.

3. In my senior year of high school I was voted "Most All-American." Not because I was super patriotic or anything...It was just because I was that girl who was involved in everything--played alto clarinet in the band, sang in the chorus, was Homecoming Queen, involved in Drama Club, member of National Honor Society, etc. I was just a nice, well-rounded girl!

4. I was quite a "tomboy" when I was younger due to the fact that most of the kids in my neighborhood were boys. I played baseball, climbed trees, was outside with the gang every summer evening until night fell. I wouldn't carry a purse for the longest time and my dear mother had to convince me to wear a veil for my wedding! I guess it is a good thing that I had all boys, isn't it?!

5. I am very shy in groups. One on one, I can talk to just about anyone, but put me in a group and I clam up. I was always the one who sat in the back of the class, never raised my hand, and just trembled through presentations. If I was asked to give a group presentation at work, I would probably have to quit...

6. I refuse to pump my own gas. My sons all make fun of me for it, but it is just something I don't want to do! I'll take out the trash, mow the lawn, etc., but I will not put gas in my car.

7. My home won a Better Homes and Gardens remodeling contest in the late '90s. We remodeled our entire home--living in it throughout the 9 months that it took. Looking back on it, it was a great "family building" task--but, oh, it was tough. My kitchen sink was in the laundry room, refrigerator in the dining room, and stove was down in the basement! Not easy to get meals for three hungry little boys... So, winning the contest and seeing it in the magazine was really a testament to our hard work.

8. I am as blind as a bat without my glasses or contacts. I should have worn glasses from about age 9, but I cheated and memorized the eye chart so I didn't get them until a few years later!

9. I began cross stitching back in the early '80s, but quit for about 10 years when my kids weren't napping anymore (that was my stitching time). Started again in 2003 and was shocked and delighted at all of the "new to me" overdyed threads, abundance of fabrics, and amazingly detailed charts. Cross stitch had moved on and I still feel like I'm playing "catch up!"

10. Meeting all of you through my blog has been a joy. I truly value the friendships I've made and the fun I've had over the past year. You are all so inspirational and I look forward to visiting you each week to say hello.


I also received another lovely award from Vinniey , Michelle, and Cath. I am so pleased that the three of you enjoy my blog and thought it worthy of the Sunshine Award. Thank you all so very much!

The rules for this award are very simple and are as follows:

1) Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
2) Pass the award to 12 bloggers.
3) Link the nominees within your post.
4) Let them know they received this award by
commenting on their blog.
5) Share the love and link to the person from
whom you received the award.

Well, for both blog awards I am taking the easy way out--I just have so many more than 10 or 12 stitching blogs that brighten my day whenever I visit them, so if I have commented on your blog lately--you are my sunshine and you all deserve these awards.

Thank you to all who shared my happiness in my DMC win last week--it is so nice to know my stitching friends are almost as excited as I was. Still trying to figure out how to organize it--any and all suggestions are welcome...

Delightful...Dazzling...Divine...DMC!

Hi everyone! I just got home from my trip (more about that later) last night and found this giant box waiting for me. Hmm... looks pretty nondescript, doesn't it, but notice the tape with the giant "DMC" logos imprinted on it. I had been dreaming about this box all week while I was away--just imagining my feelings as I peaked inside for the first time. Some of you know and have already emailed me to say "congratulations." but, for those of you who don't--I won a giveaway. Not just any giveaway, but a giveaway on the DMC Blog for each of the 454 colors of DMC cotton Embroidery Floss 117 that DMC creates. Can you imagine how excited I was?!! Now, sharing this news with my husband and sons brought some tepid..."Oh, that's nice" comments, but I hope you, my fellow stitchers, will understand and share my excitement! So, come peak inside with me...

I love the cute little card from "Emma Broidery" herself!

A mountain of loveliness!

Thank you, thank you DMC Corporation!
I'm sure you all know what I'll be doing today! And for those of you who want a chance to win some other DMC goodies--get yourselves over to the DMC blog and sign up for their latest giveaway!


I found another stitching surprise waiting when I got home. Dear Kim at "Stitchful Thinking" had passed along the Blackbird Designs chart for "Something Sweet." I had admired her finish back in December and she kindly offered to share the chart with me! Kim, you are as sweet as the violets shown on the chart and I'll be sure to make another stitcher happy and pass it along when I'm all finished... Thank you so much, my friend!

Well, the Florida trip was a bit cooler than I would have liked, but it still was good to get away and come back to no snow left at all!!! My husband and I are lucky to have our parents to visit on each coast--mine in Daytona Beach and his in Naples. In spite of the cool and windy (and sometimes rainy) weather, we did manage to walk a few miles each day and I captured some lovely photos to share with you. We just don't see images like this in western Pennsylvania!
A green anole lounging in the grapefruit tree

A white egret perched on a fishing shack

Grapefruit trees right outside the back door!

The prettiest flowering trees
I am so behind on my blog reading and commenting, but will truly try to catch up this weekend. Tomorrow is a very special day for me--the day I became a mom 28 years ago. My oldest son came into our lives on a lovely spring day (much like today!) with that impish look on his face that has made him a constant source of amusement and amazement. I am so proud of the kind, hard-working young man he has become and I hope his next year is filled with only good things...



Whew--you are probably tired of reading by now, so I'll close with a quick picture of my latest WIP. Can anyone guess what it is? I didn't have as much stitching time while on vacation as I expected, but I hope to finish the third block of Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow to show you next week...

If you've lasted to the end of this posting--thank you, thank you! Your visits and comments mean so much to me. Have a wonderful spring-filled week everyone...

To Thee a Very Merry

We've finally had a string of gorgeous sunny days here in western Pennsylvania and I decided it was about time to brighten up my blog, too. No, the flowers shown in my new header aren't blooming yet--in fact, believe it or not, we still have quite a few inches of snow on the ground here! This photo was taken a couple of years ago right outside of my kitchen window, though, and hopefully these Johnny Jump Ups have re-seeded and will grow and bloom again very soon. Luckily, my husband and I are escaping the last days of winter--we're headed south where it is warm and sunny, and lush with palm-trees and flowering shrubs, and perky sandpipers and comical pelicans, and gentle waves and glorious sunsets, and pretty shells on sparkling sand, and...oh, you get the idea! Hopefully, by the time we return, all the remaining snow will have melted and spring will truly be here...

This week, I finished what is probably the tiniest Christmas stocking I'll ever stitch! The design, from the 2008 Just Cross Stitch ornament issue, is by Brightneedle and is called "To Thee a Very Merry." I stitched it "over one" using WDW threads and 32 ct. Country French latte linen and it measures only about 2 3/4 inches by 1 1/2 inches. The design also includes six white eyelet stitches which remind me of snowflakes. I think they add a lot to the finished piece...And don't you just love that tiny black lamb? This was my first attempt at doing anything other than a rectangular or square ornament finish and I'll have to say I'm quite happy with the way it turned out. I backed it with the fabric shown underneath and trimmed it with sage green cording and a little white bow. Try clicking on the photo for a better look...

I also want to share my new stash that I got with the gift certificates from my two generous mystery gift givers back in January. From ehandcrafts, I ordered the Blackbird Designs "Merry December" stocking chart and some Piecemaker needles. And from Stitchin' Bits and Bobs, I couldn't resist ordering Ida Mae Crow and her hubby Ira Ray. I fell in love with them when I first saw them posted on Ranae's blog last July. They are just so sweet, I couldn't resist! I also picked up the Blackbird Designs "Love is In the Air" February stockings chart. So, to both of you secret gift certificate giving friends--thank you, thank you! I still am in shock that you two would be so kind and if I knew who you were, I would give you the biggest hugs...

Your comments on my second block of Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow meant so much to me last week. And I especially loved hearing about the simple things in life that bring you smiles. I so look forward to reading your comments each morning--thank you again for taking the time to say hello...

That House on the Hill

Block #2 of Christmas at Hawk Run Hollow totally captured my imagination. The entire time I was stitching it, I conjured up what life might be like inside this mansion. I think many towns have "that house on the hill"--that grand structure that just stands out from other homes. The small village in which I grew up had just such a house...Not brick like this one, but a large white-columned colonial perched at the top of a hill at the end of my street. There were no peacocks strutting around in the front yard, but there were the most handsome horses. The estate was even surrounded by a wrought iron fence much like the one pictured here. As a girl, I would often pause during my walk to school, peer through that fence, and wonder what life was like inside. I would picture beautifully decorated rooms, fashionably dressed women chatting over tea and little cakes, and fresh flowers on every tabletop. I imagined that everything inside that house was perfect and that the people who lived within led perfect lives. It wasn't until I was older that I learned of the family problems and soap-opera like events that the owners faced. Eventually, a fire destroyed much of that outwardly beautiful home...

In the years since, I've learned that it really is the simple things in life that bring me the most pleasure--the sight of a robin's nest filled with tiny, sky blue eggs; the first sentence of a new novel as it begins to capture my imagination; the brilliant colors of floss spread across a lovely cut of linen waiting for my latest stitching to begin. Oh, and I can't forget to mention my daily piece (well, okay, I admit it--pieces)of chocolate! Simple things that don't cost much, but always bring me pleasure. What are the special little things in your life that make you smile?

I feel lucky to have managed to finish this very stitch-intense block in the short month of February. By the time I stitched the final black bars in the fence, I was looking at them as if they were bars in a jail cell! I was just so tired of stitching all of that black and white... For any of you who are planning to stitch this, I just want you to be aware of two problems in the charting that I found. The chart showed the left side of the house stitched one full row above the right side and the right lamp post was charted one stitch above the left. I don't think this was intentional, but I know if I had left it that way, the lack of symmetry would have driven me crazy... So, the left side of the house got a re-roofing job and the two sides are now balanced. The chart also called for backstitching around the windows, but after trying it on one, I decided I liked it better without. This block is one of my favorites in Christmas at HRH, and I'm so pleased with the way it turned out. "Only" ten more blocks to go!

I was touched to read all of your remarks regarding my Fa La La carolers last week--thank you each so very much for taking the time to comment. I truly value your opinions and supportive comments and love discovering that a new reader has popped in to say "hello." Have a lovely week everyone!

Fa La La in February

Hi everyone! Hope you've all had a good week... I was lucky and escaped that horrid flu that my husband ended up coming down with this week (knocking on wood as I write this!). He actually missed a day of work, which is almost unheard of for him. Anyway, I just want to share my February ornament finish with you. I'm not participating in the LHN monthly ornament stitch-along, but I couldn't resist stitching these sweet, little carolers.


For this ornament, I used stormy gray 28 ct. Jobelan and stitched it over one using DMC threads. The main change I made was in the style of lettering, but I also added a couple of musical notes at the top--just trying to add my own personal touch!





To trim it off, I added black velvet ribbon around the edge and tied a bit of gauzy ribbon around the hanger. I was going for a "Victorian" look--not sure I succeeded, but I think it looks very cute...



This week I had the honor of winning Maggee's giveaway. I received three cute charts and a Shepherd's Bush kit called "Wishing Sheep." I just love that fluffy little fellow with the birthday hat perched on his head! Everyone knows I have a special fondness for stitching ornaments, so Maggee can be assured that these charts came to a good home. Thanks so very much Maggee--I know I'll enjoy many relaxing hours stitching them!

Hope your weekend is enjoyable and stitch-filled. Thank you to all who take the time to comment each week--your kind words really warm my heart (and after this month of record-breaking snow and cold, I need all the warming I can get!!)...

January in February!

Greetings from yet another snowy evening here in western Pennsylvania! Is it a coincidence that my finish this week matches the scenery outdoors? If I could just change the name of the sampler to "February" it would be perfect for this record-breaking, snow-filled month! I put the last stitch in the bottom, blue border last night and I'm so pleased with my wintry sampler. I think I'll keep it out all winter...it is too pretty to display only in January...



Just in case you're wondering, and if you missed my previous post, "January Sampler," by Waxing Moon designs, is stitched on 32 ct. sage Jobelan using WDW and DMC floss. I love the names for the blue floss in this one: "Deep Sea", "Father's Day", and "Sky"--so descriptive. I wonder if they pay someone full time to come up with such perfect names? Many of you asked if I was going to be doing each month of this series...I don't think so. I think they have only designed the months from January through June, but this was my favorite. We'll see what the rest of the months look like when they are published. I love fall designs the most, so I'm hoping September, October, and November will inspire me to stitch them. Then I could use one frame and just change the finished pieces out each month. Anyway, it was a very relaxing piece to work on and I hope you like it, too...


So, how was your Valentine's Day? Ours has been quiet since my husband came down with a bad cold and I'm beginning to have that horrid feeling that I'm on the way to catching one myself. He thoughtfully brought home this beautiful bouquet of yellow roses for me on Friday for Valentine's Day--aren't they lovely? After almost 33 years of marriage, he sure knows my favorite color of rose... I just love the breath of spring that they've brought into the house--only 33 more days to go until spring is finally here!




I know that you're probably tired of hearing us easterners go on and on about the snow, but it really is a rarity for us to get this much in one week (30+ inches.) Actually, we were among the lucky ones--we didn't lose our power at all! Many poor families south of us were without power for days and a few still don't have it after an entire week... We lost a 50 year old pine tree which toppled over barely missing our power lines and have sprung a few leaks in the oddest places--this morning I found water in the middle of my laundry room closet! Other than these few, fixable, and minor inconveniences, we have been very, very fortunate. But, enough snow already!! I hate to even say this out loud, but more is forecast for Monday and Tuesday :o(

Thanks for all of your suggestions regarding my overdyed floss storage problems. I think I'll be purchasing some of the floss away bags and metal rings and try that solution.

Wishing you all a wonderful Valentine's Day with lots of hugs and treats. You certainly deserve it because you are the sweetest and most thoughtful group of stitchers around! Thanks for all of your kind comments--I can't wait to visit your blogs and see what you've been up to this week...

A Touch of Spring

I don't know about you, but the cold, grey winter days are starting to wear me down! So, I decided that this week I would finish a piece that would cheer me up and make me smile. I couldn't resist this little design from Country Cottage Needleworks, which can be found in the 2007 JCS Christmas Ornament issue. Yes, it was designed as a Christmas ornament, but I changed the word "Peace" to "Welcome" and am very pleased with the result. I love the softness of the DMC colors against the rough texture of the 16 ct. natural Heatherfield.

Now let me tell you, having lived with only males (my husband and our three sons) over the past 33 years, pink is not a color I've seen much of in my house. I am thrilled to see a touch of it in this little stitching--watch out guys there may be more pink to come! I backed the tiny pillow with the green fabric shown in the background and trimmed it with a bright, white cording. It now sits on a wooden shelf next to my kitchen door ready to welcome friends and family...

I worked at the library more days than usual this week, so only made a bit of progress on my January Sampler... The lettering is all done and I think the various shades of blue are so pretty. Although there is a lot of white looming ahead, I am loving stitching the cute, red house and all of the snow-covered trees. Can't wait until I get to the deer and the sled rider...Will I have it finished by next weekend? Stay tuned!

I'm getting more and more overdyed threads in my collection and I'm wondering how you all store yours? I have just been putting them in ziploc bags, but it takes forever to find the color I'm looking for. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

It snowed all night and is still snowing here in western Pennsylvania! I'll have to say that I can't remember having this much snow in many, many years. The views from each window are just spectacular--the way the wind has created peaks and valleys and sculptures of snow in our yard that aren't normally there. All I can say is wow! I was scheduled to work today, but just found out the library is closed...Yippee! I feel like a little girl who just found out she got a "snow day." Hmmm...wonder what I'll do with my unexpected "free" time today? Hope all of you who are snowbound stay safe and warm and enjoy your extra stitching time...

Edited at 1:22 PM--just wanted to add some pictures of our 22" snowfall! It is so beautiful outside, well, until you attempt to shovel! We finally cleared the driveway, but I don't know if my back will ever be the same...





Thank you all so much for your great comments each week--you really make my day!