Progress on Bunny

This piece is flying. I may just decide to finish him on out as there really isn't a whole lot to do on it. Hopefully early Friday he will be done. I've made a little progress on the butterfly too, but I'll continue on him after this one is done. I also am wanting to do an easy beach or Patriotic. It's that time of year. It seems to work having an easy piece to go along with a more detailed piece. And yes, even though by Stoney Creek this piece is quite easy.

Thank you for your comments to my blog. I want to clear something up. The little ones I talk about, Johnny, Addie, Kate, Nick, they are my great nieces and nephews. I have 12 of them with another one on the way. Some of you thought they were my grandchildren. I couldn't love them more if they were my grandchildren though.

Tomorrow I have Care group. The lady that is picking me up and I are going to the Flea Market just before it. So guess I better make my 7 layer bars tonight. I love going to the Flea Market, I love red potatoes, green beans, cucumbers, and may even pick up a couple of tomatoes. My mom has a tomato plant and sometimes I can get one from her plant but I don't get there but once a week. This time of year I love fresh vegetables! I get tired of the same meals all the time so love vegetable meals from time to time.

Lately, when I eat my little companion, Whiskers, jumps on the shoulder or back of the chair and makes his presence known the whole time I'm eating making me pet him etc. And if he can have it, I will offer him a couple of bites. Lately he's been on my lap a lot and when he's not he'll come up to me tap me and want me to either pet him or give him a kiss. It must be because he's getting older. He's 17 1/2 now so getting up there for a cat. What will I ever do without him. I know I'll get another cat but it won't be my Whiskers.

I also found out by way of our church prayer chain my brother is having back surgery tomorrow. What a way to find out. Actually I knew he was having it by mom told me July 22. She was only off a month and I talked to her earlier today and she mentioned nothing about it. Now I'm trying to call them and the line is busy...that means dad's home and talking to people on the phone. We joke he's married to church first, computer second, and mom 3rd. But that isn't necessarily true.

Today is my niece, Heather, birthday. She's 33 today they grow so fast. Today she's married and has a 2 year old daughter of her own. Right now they are all up north camping. Her, her parents, brother and sister in law and sister and brother in law and of course the important 2 Addie, and Nick are all up there. Bryan and Chrissy have to leave tomorrow though as they have to work Wed. The rest will be there to the end of the week.

Well....I knew I was feeling chatty, but I better go do my dishes and make those 7 layer bars! Until next time Happy Stitching!

More Progress on Buckeyes

The second butterfly is coming into play here and the first leaf is almost done. I think I've made a lot of progress this week.
Today is rainy. We've had quite a bit of rain lately and will have the next few days I guess. They say pop up storms. Hope it's nice for my sister and her family as they are camping up north. The one daughter and son in law are coming up from CO and wanting to get away from all the rain they've had. Think they are bringing it with them. It'll be an interesting week for the family as they'll have a 2 year old who is sweet and adorable who knows she owns grandma and grandpa, and a 9 month old who is up from CO who doesn't know grandma and grandpa but will by the time the week is over. Hopefully there won't be too much jealousy between the two. I love living in the age of electronics. Although family is far away through pictures and videos you feel like you know the child as they are growing up. Such is the case of Nicholas and Chelsea. (Chelsea lives in MO). Though I haven't seen either baby since they were 2 months old I feel like I know them. Can't wait to see either one in August.
Well until next time Happy Stitching!

Bunny Start

I got eager to start this piece from Farm Babies by Stoney Creek. I seem to love those Stoney Creek Patterns don't I? I love this piece. There is a lot of white on white so I'm doing the white first to get it over and done with. White on white is not easy to work with and harder to take out if there is an error. Fortunately I haven't made too many errors. This one I'm doing for Cross Stitchers for Charity. The squares will all be pieces from this book.
I have made quite a bit of progress on the butterfly piece too. The one butterfly is completely done and the first leaf is almost done. I just laid it down for a couple of days as I hit a snag, and when I do that it's best if I just lay it down for a couple of days then go back to it and it goes smooth again.
Did you see the new templates Blogger has. I love them. I had a hard time choosing but in the end chose this as it reminds me of beach sand. And in the summer I love to go to the beach a lot. There are a lot of lakes around here plus Lake Michigan. Usually we go to Lake Michigan and walk on the trails. I love it. Only now the friend I walk with can't walk right now as she injured her foot so until it heals I'll just do my own walking around here or the exercises. I found a new exercise program on TV that I really liked though I didn't buy the program I memorized the different steps. It's a workout believe me. With my asthsma I'm puffing 5 minutes later so I just do it 5 minutes 2 or 3 times a day, and walk a lot. (Living on the upper level of the apartment doesn't hurt either I'm up and down those steps a dozen times a day it seems like sometimes.
Today my brother and sister in law are moving after living in their house about 24 years, and raising all 3 children in it (2 were born while they lived there). They decided to downsize. They are moving closer to the Lake which will be nice. It's a 3 bedroom house so when Johnny and Katelyn sleep over they can. Johnny saw them take down his bed in the room he slept in and was a little unhappy as he didn't know where he would sleep. But he'll love his new room at the new house. Katelyn is only 3 months old now and is growing. She's getting so cute!
Thank you to everyone who reads my blogs and thank you for the comments. I don't get a lot of comments but I do appreciate them. I really appreciate the fact people come back and read my blogs from time to time.
Well...until next time.....Happy Stitching!

Progress on Butterfly piece

I just love stitching this piece. It is very challenging yet fun. It seems like I'm not making any progress but then I notice how much progress I've made after a couple of days stitching. This piece isn't due until Aug. 1 so little by little I'm getting it done. I am getting anxious to start the barnyard babies though so I keep thinking of them.
Well, until next time Happy stitching. This is short as I just posted yesterday.

It Is DONE!!!! Happy Dance

In the end I hated doing this piece. It started out so much fun and it was so cute. The cuteness deceived me! I made so many mistakes and did so much improvising it isn't even funny! Yet I would do another piece from the book but give myself more time. I rushed through this and even feel the stitching is sloppy. Why send it, because I did put in so many hours and hopefully it will work well into the quilt. Jeanie may have to redo the shoes.
Now I'm anxious to go back to the butterfly piece which I really enjoy and is clicking with me and start the barnyard babies.
Sadly two members of our family lost members of their own family the past two weeks. Wendy first lost her grandfather last week, Then yesterday her step father who raised her died after battling cancer the last few months. And Sunday my nieces husband's grandfather died.
Our Pastor and his wife are on vacation this week but one of the things they are doing is making a CD down in Memphis. They have good singing voices. Char especially, so we'll see how it goes for them. At this point they have no intentions of changing careers.
Well....until next time Happy Stitching!

Almost done with Boy Soccer Player!

I know I have spent entirely too much time on him and I really need to get some housework done and what am I doing? Stitching of course. I really hope to have him done at the end of the week. I know he looks a little funny as I wanted to get the legs and feet done. I knew those shoes would drive me nuts so i wanted to get them done and over with. They are almost done. I hated doing those shoes they drove me nuts. Tomorrow, I'll finish the shoes, put in the grass and finish his pants, and do outlining. The outline will take time but the others will all be done in a couple of hours. Then Thursday, I can finish the shirt and ball and be done with it I hope!
Last Thursday my sister came to town for a couple of days. Friday we went shopping. I got floss and material. Why is it all that floss and there were still colors I was out. I bought plenty of floss so hopefully it'll be awhile before I need more. I also bought some walking shoes. I hadn't bought shoes since my niece, Heather, wedding 5 years ago. I hate buying shoes. So I am wearing them to break them in but they will be strickly walking shoes.
Saturday my sister went to Heathers. Heather told Addie who is just 2 Grandma was here when she woke up from her nap. Addie asks "Great Grandma too?" Awww, that melted our mom's heart when she heard that story.
Well, now that I can get to blogger, like so many others today, I couldn't get to it for a few hours to make comments, I'll go to some of the blogs and make comments I wanted to. Until next time.....Happy stitching!

Progress on both pieces

How was everyone's Memorial Day weekend? Mine was nice and quiet. I got a lot of stitching done. I've made quite a bit of progress on both pieces. Yes, I've been stitching a lot.
I really am enjoying the butterfly piece a lot. I now remember why I like Stoney Creek patterns so much after the Giraffe piece almost killed them for me. The soccer player is a great piece to work on in the afternoon after spending most of the day on the butterfly, the soccer player is nice and easy. He actually is due today but I knew when starting him I wouldn't have him done on time. It's for a quilt at Cross Stitching for Charity. The butterfly piece is for a girl at Love Quilts who chose Butterflies as theme of her quilt. That will be a beautiful quilt.
Well....until next time Happy Stitching!

Buckeyes start

I started this piece before starting the soccer player. I have made progress on the soccer player but decided to lay it down for a few days and go back to this piece. This piece is very detailed. It's called Buckeyes in Stoney Creeks "On Butterfly Wings" I love that book and have done several pieces. This piece is due Aug. 8 and I really don't know that' I'll make the deadline. I have a back up piece in mind just in case I don't, but want to give this a good try. The problem I am having here is there is one symbol * used twice, red and black, problem they have both in red in the color key and I have to figure out which is which Hopefully I get it right.

My problem is right now there are so many pieces I want to do. So I may be starting a lot of pieces and finishing few. Soccer Player is due June 1 I knew right from start I wouldn't make the deadline but I don't see where too many people are so I can do it a couple hours a day and then go to this piece.

My sister got home from CO earlier this week. My niece posted darling pictures of baby Nicholas. The older he gets the cuter he gets. It's great having internet as when your family is so spread out, you can still see pictures and videos of the little ones and feel like you know them. When Nicholas smiles his whole face lights up and those dark brown eyes just sparkle. He seems to be a very happy baby. She's coming here for a couple of days next week. Of course she'll spread her time off between here and her daughters about 45 minutes from here. Something about wanting to see her grand daughter, Addie! Lol. She never use to go to CO so much and never use to divide her time between here and her daughters, but something about those grandchildren she just has to see when she can! LOL. It's going to be interesting this summer the week they are all together to see how Addie likes sharing grandma with Nicholas and Nicholas the same since they both seem to "own" her when they have her.
Well, until next time.....Happy Stitching!

A lot of Stitching and some frogging

I've been working hard on this piece since it is due June 1. It won't be done by then but it will be done next week some time. Somewhere I made a mistake and although I frogged some I could not find it, so I improvised and am hoping for the best. The problem area was in the boy's face. Hopefully the people receiving it won't notice. It is going on a quilt Cross Stitching for Charity is doing from Ruth Moorehead's book Go Team Go.
I think summer has come early, we have 80's this week, then over the weekend upper 70's. That will be nice for Memorial Day Weekend. Anyone have special plans for it? I don't think I do.
Does anyone watch Dancing with the Stars? I love that show. I know who I want to win and I know who I don't want. So far I've been on the mark on who was going off so we'll see tonight. If Nicole and Derrick win then I'll have a perfect score on guessing this season. Tonight is going to be hard though as usually I go back and forth between DWTS and NCIS on Tuesday nights.
Well. until next time Happy Stitching! Thank You for reading my blog.

Soccer Player

After the disaster with the Birth Sampler I started a flower and butterfly piece, but then this piece came up. Cross Stitchers for Charity was do a quilt from Ruth Morehead's book "Go Team Go" published by Gloria & Pat. One of the ladies had signed up for 4 squares and could see she wasn't going to get all 4 done so I took the Soccer Player as it had more color than the other piece did. (White on white just doesn't go with me). Thing is it is due June 1 so I've been spending a lot of time on dit the past few days. Like most Ruth Morehead pieces the hair and face take up half the pattern I think. But he's finally starting to take shape. I also have a little bit of the soccer ball in there.
It's been a busy week. We did have our last BSF meeting this past Wed. Boy this year went by so fast. I'll miss it during the summer months. In the fall we start back up and will be studying the book of Isaiah which should be interesting. We are all looking forward to it.
I just got an invitation to our GRSBM Alumni reunion in June. I wish I could go but not this year. Speaking of which today is the anniversary of my graduation from Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music. Never mind how many years ago! lol but it's been at least 30 but not 40.

A lot of Progress

I think I have over twice as much done on this piece as I had 3 days ago. It is moving very fast. So much easier than I thought it would be yet has enough detail to be challenging enough to hold my interest. I think this will go to Addie but if not if will go to Chelsea then. I'd like to have both thier birth samplers done by the end of summer. I'm also posting a picture of what the piece will look like when it's done. The thing I am noticing on this kit is it really cut me short on the yellow floss. Fortunately I have some here and the shading matched. I'm not sure I like the way the first Princess eyes look. The scan makes her look so much worst than what it looks in person. Usually the scans make a piece look better.
This coming Wed. is our last BSF Meeting for the year. I hate to see it end I enjoyed it so much. Last week was the last time we meet in our own groups. We had lunch together afterwards and tried to get each other's e mails and those on Facebook connect with each other there. We had one person who was visiting from Singapore the last 3 months. She will be returning in a couple of weeks to Singapore. She said she might be back sometime next year (it really depends on if her job sends her here again or not.) We hope so.
Things are winding down for the summer but other things will be going on to be kept busy.
Well...until next time.....Happy Stitching! I'm going to read some more blogs.
It's a couple hours later and I have figured out why it looks so bad. I am not going to frog it as there would be too much to come out. This piece has gone into the garbage. I am so upset I could cry as I've made so many other attempts on Birth Samplers and all failed. Birth Samplers are not for me. Addie, Chelsea, Logan, Nicholas, Kate, and Scott are all just going to get pieces when they get older! I'm so frustrated and upset!

Princess Birth Sampler

I finally decided to get started on a birth sampler for Addie since she just had her 2nd birthday a little over a week ago. It is a Disney Princess Birth sampler. It really is going much better than I contemplated and I procrastanated starting it for that reason. Princess 1 I think is Snow White and is going fast. She looks a little odd here as her one side doesn't have the hair in yet. Honest it looks much better in person then here.
I also found a piece I want to do for the Flower and Butterfly quilt at Love Quilts. Typical of me, I signed up for a larger project then what I have the time to do. This one is still be Stoney Creek, it has pansies and is smaller, I have enough SC books that have butterflies in them I think I can find a couple of Butterflies to go on it. I'm anxious to start that but I want to get Addie's piece going really good first.
Tonight we have WMT Meeting. It's Women's Ministry Team at church. We put together Care Baskets and some of the ladies in the group deliver them. I hope to deliver this month if I can get someone to take me since I don't drive. We have to go in two's anyway so I don't think it'll be a problem.
My brother's fiancee's step father (he raised her) has cancer and has now spread to all his organs plus his brain. They found out in Nov. he had skin cancer on his face and it's been up and down ever since. Now he is on Hospice Care and they are telling the family it's a matter of time. He's ready to go home. He's a christian and knows he is going to heaven so he's at peace. Wendy is going to have to move in with her mother and take care of her as she needs constant care.
We only have 2 maybe 3 more BSF meetings, tomorrow being one of them. I learned so much this year I hate to see it end. Our group is having it's final fellowship afterwards. I made brownines for it.
Well, until next time Happy Stitching!

Bookmark is finished

I didn't think I would get this done today, let alone this morning but I did. So it's washed and ironed and I have started my Birth Sampler for Addie. Finally, it only took two years. But so far it's going good. It's from a Janlynn Kit called Disney Princess's Birth Sampler. Addie is such a little Princess and loves her Princess dolls so this will fit her just fine. I can tell right now this will be an on-going piece. A lot of back stitching etc in it. I know I should have started my piece for Love Quilts but wasn't quite ready to do another difficult pattern, I want to find an easier one for her.
I will have to admit I sort of improvised on this piece a little too much as I could have made it longer than what I did. Using 14 count material I shortened it too much.
Well...nothing has happened since yesterday so until next time Happy Stitching!

Pineapple Bookmark

This is what I have done on this piece after about 12 hours of stitching. I hope to have it done Sunday so I can turn it in. Otherwise I'll just wait until next month to turn the two bookmarks in with whatever ones I have done in June.
I ordered about 5 new bookmark books to give me a variety to work with. I should find enough in them for a few months anyways.
Looks like we are in for a cool rainy weekend. The grass and flowers need it.
We had our end of year Leaders Night Out Wed. night. They presented funny little award certificates. Problem with mine they put the wrong last name on it. I told them I was putting it in Barb Johnson's mailbox at church and she'll never know what it's about or who put it in until she asks around.
I have a question it's a two parter. Are you a stitcher who starts projects and then puts them in rotation? Or do you work on a project until it's finished. I tend to finish the piece before starting a new one unless it is so boring or so large I need to do another piece on the side.
I'm going to read some blogs now. I so enjoy reading blogs. Some of you make me so jealous. There are so many great stitchers out there, so many great projects I want to do.
Well...until next time Happy Stitching

Back to the Bookmarks

Tbis week I am back to doing the bookmarks. This one is in same book as the Blue Floral one and was much easier to do. I really enjoyed it.
I'm going to do something I shouldn't do, but I'm going to looking for some more bookmark patterns and baby patterns and order them. I had wanted to go a whole year without using my credit card on patterns, I should have known I wouldn't make it but I did make it to May!
I have to tell you what 3-year-old Johnny pulled in church yesterday. His SS class was singing. He knew the songs knew the motions. But that's not what Johnny did.....he decided to get in front of the kids and dance the whole time the kids were singing. LOL! I laughed so loud when I read that on Melissa's facebook page and read all the comments. I wish I could have seen it. Later when his dad talked to him about it he says "I can't wait to get the microphone in my hand!" Little ones, you never know what they are going to do or say. I called my mom and told her what her great grand son had done and she too laughed and says, "Well....we created that, he and Addie would entertain us by their singing and dancing so he decided to do it in front of his church." We created a little monster! Of course later he showed his stubborn streak at home, he was told to pick up his toys, wouldn't do it so was sent to his room....That stubborn little boy waited 3 1/2 hours before he would come down and pick up his toys! Battle of the wills there.
Saturday Addie turned two. Sounded like she had a pretty good birthday. She got a tricycle which she loves I'm sure, especially when she masters riding it.
Well....until next time....Happy Stitching!

The Giraffes are Finished! Happy Dancing

I finished them about a half hour ago. Did anyone hear the screaming and shouting! This pattern has been retired! It looked like it was going to be so easy and it was deceiving! Their cuteness lured me in!
Oh no! I just thought of something. I concentrated so hard on finishing these today I forgot to mail Addie her birthday card! She will be 2 tomorrow! I'll call her and tell her her card is coming and she has to make her mommy cash the check and take her to the store! She should get it Monday since they aren't that far from here. Also baby Katelyn will be 2 months tomorrow. Boy time goes fast when you grow old!
Tomorrow I'll start a bookmark in the morning then in the afternoon I'm going to a Pantry Chef party. It should be interesting. I've been to a couple of them a few years ago.
Our weather is so nice and warm! It feels wonderful.
Well---until next time Happy Stitching! I'm going to have a can of Pepsi to celebrate this finish of this piece!

Largest Giraffe is done!

I am so happy to have this giraffe finished. I also got the leaves in the middle in today. Real pleased with today's progress! Now I just have to finish the smaller giraffe. I hope to have this finished Firday, or Sat. morning for sure.
I am sorry this picture is a little dark. I have two scanners, the one I prefer to use for some reason isn't cooperating with me so had to use the other one. I need to figure out why the first one refuses to scan the pictures the way it should, it is getting older maybe that's why .
Not much has happened since last Friday so until next time Happy Stitching!

Progress on Giraffes

Thank you for all your comments to my blog and reading it. I love hearing from people. I am finding more and more blogs out there to read and enjoy. My blogroll is growing!
The larger giraffe is almost done. I am getting anxious to get this piece done but probably won't be for another 10 days. I won't have much stitching time over the weekend, if I do I will be working on the bookmarks again, only doing a couple of them this time.
This morning my sister brought her granddaughter in to see us, and another niece, Melissa, brought her two children. Johnny and Addie get along so well and just love playing together so we thought since Addie was coming in we'd ask Melissa to bring her two. Kate is only a month old so she just mostly slept but was so cute when she was awake. It was a noisy but fun morning. By the time everyone left, mom, Johnny, and Addie were all ready for naps. I'm hoping we can have a day this summer when Heather is off and take the kids to the park. They'd like that.
Well, until next time Happy Stitching!

Back to the Giraffes

I've only stitched on them about 14 hours the past two weeks but have made some progress on them. They are a little monotonous but enjoyable at the same time. I am anxious to get them done.
It is so nice out. Great walking weather. I just called my brother to see if I could walk their dog. He has to come get me. They are down to one car and Wendy has the car right now so we'll see.
Thank you for your comments to my bloggs, they mean a lot to me.
Tuesday the ladies put the Care Baskets together. I don't know if the book marks go sewn in time to get into the baskets. I had to go to a dinner for Love Inc. that night. We heard a really good quartet called Reaching out. It really was a nice evening. The food was good of course.
My niece, Amanda had her first child on Monday. They named him Scott Lucas. He lives in AL so once again, we won't see much of him. That brings total to 12 great nieces and nephews.
Kids club is winding down for the season. Only one more Wed. night and the carvival will be Sat. Apr. 24. I can't go to the carnival as other plans had been made. I was sort of disappointed this year. For one thing we went to new material and I wasn't impressed and the attendance dropped so severaly this year. Last Wed. we had 12 kids, and that was it. 13 adults. Now what's wrong with that picture. My big grip is the story time was a half hour way too long for the 4 th and 5th graders let alone the 4 year olds through 2 nd grade. Someone flunked Christian Ed 101 and it wasn't Tina and Tifany it was whoever wrote the material. Come to find out the use the very same material for adults, there's the problem. So hopefully next year different material will be used or this material will be modified. No wonder the kids dropped out. At one time we had close to 100 kids in Adventure Club. Sad... The church itself is growing so it's not we're shrinking.
Well...I've rambled enough. Until next time....Happy Stitching!

Third Bookmark done

I didn't get 5 done this week like I wanted. I didn't realize they would take so much time, especially this one. I talked to our Pastor's wife as she is in charge of the project and she said someone else was making bookmarks too so 2 or 3 a month would be fine. I had not planned on doing them every month I had planned on other things too but I'll talk to Char about that later. But if bookmarks is what she wants every month I will need to get more patterns won't I? Too bad for me, LOL! Any excuse to buy more patterns. I wish I could go Tuesday night to our first meeting but I'm going to a dinner with Love Inc. instead. They are having a dinner for the volunteers and those who run their food pantries. I committed myself to that without thinking. Oh well....they do have good food and the program isn't that long.

Now that I have these 3 bookmarks done it's back to the giraffes. I'll get them finished off then work on the bookmarks again. Until next time...Happy Stitching!

Second Bookmark done

This one was cute and fun to do. Once again someone else will make it into a bookmark. I had hoped to have 3 or 4 done by tomorrow. Not going to make it. Now I just hope I can get all 5 done by Sunday. I don't know.....

I am curious....Is anyone doing the 50 challenge? Or has that gone by the wayside? Did anyone actually make the 50 challenge? I'm hoping to this time....I've attempted several times but this time I hope to do it. Even if it means doing several small ones like bookmarks to get there.

Until next time Happy Stitching!

First Bookmark done

Well....it will be made into a bookmark, not by me but someone else. Our church is just starting a Women's Ministry, where we will do Care Baskets for those sick or shutin. I saw last Sunday they were looking for Bookmarks so I told our Pastor's wife I would do 5 of them. So the giraffes are laid aside for this week to get these done. I am hoping to have most of them done by Thurs. to give Charlene more time to find someone to make them into bookmarks. I do not sew! I flunked Home Ec in high school because I couldn't sew. And I haven't touched a machine since then.
Happy Belated Easter! I hope you all had a good one. We had a really nice Easter Service at church. A little sadness as a lady everyone liked who helped anyone she could, was in church last Sunday, died suddenly on Monday so her lost was very much felt and mentioned a lot through out the service. Her husband and all 5 of her children were in church and her grandchildren. She'd been delighted to of seen them all there. The music was wonderful. The choir sang and our Christian Ed Pastor sang a wonderful song tracing Christ life from birth to the cross to His Ressurrection. It was great.
After church I came home made my 7 layer bars for our family get together at my brother Kevin's. It was so good to see the kids again. Johnny got an Easter egg hunt. Katelyn smiled a lot. She's only a month old now. So all in all it was a great day.
Well....Dancing with the Stars is on so I want to watch it. You'll be hearing from me a lot this week anyway. Until next time Happy Stitching!

The worst part is done I think

I finally have the heads of both giraffes done. The second one was a challenge but it's finally done. Now I hope the rest of it goes better.

It is a beautiful day outside! It's 60's for us since we are on the Lakeshore but Inland is 70's. Very warm for this time of year. Next week is suppose to be a little cooler, but still above average. Snow is all gone until next season I am sure!


My niece posted a really cute picture of Nicholas in the outfit I got him when he was born and playing with his tools that I also got him when he was born. I just have to share it. A rare smile on his face as he usually is mezmorized by the camera and quits smiling and just stares when you take his picture. I think most babies are that way.
Well....until next time Happy Stitching!

Pictures of baby Nicholas

My sister is out west visiting her daughter-son-in-law and Nicholas right now. My niece posted these 3 pictures and I grabbed them. Nicholas looks like he is pinching my sister. My niece says that is his way of showing love. I love that picture of the two of them. Who Nicholas looks like is unknown. My niece and her husband claim there was a baby swap. LOL I doubt that. I think he has his Grandpa K's face shape and his mommy's big eyes, and I see some of his dad in him too. He just looks like Nicholas!
Our weather is starting to warm up! I think we are done with winter! I hung my winter coat up I hope for the last time. It's suppose to be 60's tomorrow and hit 70 later this week.
I have made some progress on the giraffes. I've had to improvise on the second giraffe as I made a couple of mistakes and refuse to take him out. Too much will have to be ripped out. So improvising I am.
Well....until next time Happy stitching.

Second Giraffe coming in

This is my progress on the giraffes. I really am enjoying this piece. It's going so much better then the Tiger did and yet by a designer that is harder to do so they say. It's detailed but I love Stoney Creek pieces.

Last week I mentioned I was going to hear Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. It was really a good concert. They were somewhat noisy but not bad. They danced around quite a bit. I just clainm they are 4 hyper men that need to dance when they sing. I didn't feel it was out of line though. They are a Southern Gospel group but I'd say with a contemporary twist. I'd recomment anyone to see their concert who gets a chance.

It looks like Spring has sprung here. We didn't have a bad winter like most places in the country did, but it's still nice to have it be spring. I love the spring time even if my allergies don't like it. And believe me I am already feeling it. Last night was awful. So I really overslept. Can't do that tomorrow. I have to be at my parents to stay with my mom as my dad has meetings at church all day.

I can really tell it's almost Spring as our kids on Wednesday nights are having cabin fever and it's hard for them to sit still and be quiet. This past Wed. our group (grades 3 -5) were really good. The week before they were awful. This week we also had a pizza party for the kids which they liked real well. The year is almost drawing to a close. It's gone so fast. It's been a different year as we switched programs. It's had it's disappointments as not nearly as many kids came this eyar it was mostly church kids with a few others. In past there were a lot of neighborhood kids. We need to reach out to them a little better and we will make more of an effort this summer.
Well....until next time Happy Stitching!

An Award

Thank you Deb S. for this award. Sorry it took so long to post. I don't know how to do the blue link so if you look in my blog roll under Deb S you will find her blog.

I am suppose to say 10 things about me.
1. I have 13 nieces and nephews.
2. I have 11 great nieces and nephews and 1 more due in April.
3. I will not cross a busy highway.
4. I am petrified of elevators.
5. I love cats and have 1.
6. I drink way too much Pepsi and am trying to cut back
7. I am a born again Christian and proud of it.
8. I am active in our church
9. I love to Cross Stitch especially for Love Quilts
10. I do not drive

Now to pick 10 people. That's hard as there are so many good blogs. There again I can't do the link but here they are:
1. Ginny
2. Sharon
3. Kathryn NZ
4. Mary
5. Margie (3 cool Pugs & Me)
6. Glenda
7. Dawn (Golden Angel Works)
8. Sue P
9. Sue (Stitcherw)
10. Vondalee

Coming up with just ten was hard. Until next time Happy Stitching!

Progress on Giraffees

I haven't started the second giraffe yet but have the first one well underway. I haven't had that much time to work on it this week.
Tonight I'm going to hear Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. I've seen them on the Gaither Videos but have never seen them in person so I'm looking forward to it.
We didn't get to see baby Kate last Friday as planned as Melissa, Johnny and Kate were all sick. But on Saturday evening we were at our parents and Melissa and John stopped by with the kids. Kate is so cute. Johnny hammed it up of course, and was very inquisitive about everything. Nothing gets beyond that 3 year old. LOL! He's cute though.
Thank you for reading my blogs and your comments. I appreciate them they give encouragement. Also reading all your blogs and seeing your pieces encourages me to keep stitching. Thank you for your comments to Addie's picture. She looks so serious like she has watched her mommy apply her make up and is copying her. I couldn't resist showing that picture.
My brother and his fiancee set their wedding date for Aug. 27 as our family will be in town anyway as we are celebrating our parents 60th wedding anniversary on the 28th. So it'll be a full weekend then. It would be nice if all the grandkids could come in but 3 of my brother's kids say they can't because of college. They said they would try to come earlier in the summer I hope so.

Before I close I want to include a picture of another great niece. Chelsea now 14 months old. This is her first birthday and she couldn't decide between the bows or presents. Looks like the bows temporarily won. LOL!
Until next time....Happy Stitching!

Just have to show this picture

This is a picture of my 22 month old great niece. I think is darling. We have a similiar picture of her mother also applying makeup about the same age. Addie is growing up too fast!

Another New Start

The tiger had an "accident" with the scissors. So I started this piece for the Jungle life quilt. It will be a couple of giraffes. It's a Stoney Creek piece. I know a lot of people feel they are hard and challenging and yes this one has plenty of backstitching. But I love doing Stoney Creek pieces. I find a lot of the easier designs too boring or not chalenging enough or I make too many mistakes etc. I think I've done about 40 SC designs over the years. And this particular piece is from Wild and Free, an older book that I have done several other pieces from. So I'm confidant this will get finished. I will go back to His Eye is on the Sparrow but needed a break from it.
I finally figured out how to follow blogs! I tried several times earlier and failed. I finally discovered the follow at top of blog, klicked that and get to be a follower. How simple was that? Anything simple I have to make difficult you know and that's why it took so long. So I'm going to go read some blogs and click on follow! LOL!
Tomorrow we get to see baby Kate. We're all invited out to Melissa's to see her. Only now one of my brother's and his wife is sick. (Melissa's parents) so we don't know for sure if Melissa still plans on us or not. My sister had planned on coming in to town tomorrow, so I told her we were planning to see the baby. It'll be a busy weekend. I'm excited to meet Katie and see Johnny. They say he is still doing great with his sister. Of course I plan on taking my camera and getting pictures. And yes I will show them, probably Sunday or Monday though.

Well...until next time Happy Stitching!

I'm back. More progress on His Eye is On the Sparrow

A lot has happend since I last posted. First the Big News. Johnny is a big brother. Remember Dec. 11, 2006 I was waiting for Johnny to be born and finally he was. Well it was that way yesterday only I couldn't post. More on that latter. Any way Katelyn Brianne was born at 11:09 am to my niece Melissa and her husband, John. She weighed 8 lbs 11.oz. Johnny is so thrilled with her. We can't wait to see her.
I was off line a few days. Long story. Then today I was talking to my sister in law she was all excited telling me about the birth of Katelyn and how she got to be in the room and my phone went dead. I was so mad! I was angry enough with the company for loosing the internet and the way they handled it. So I went to a friends house and called the company. Same response I got on Friday and Saturday, "we can't figure out what happened." I thought it was because I changed companies and that was to start later this week. I had had it with this company and the ring around I got etc. Anyway. I got home and amazingly not only did I have my phone service back but the Internet! Here I thought I would be without it until Friday. So today I have the Internet I'm taking advantage of it. Who knows tomorrow it may be gone again. Friday I get High Speed Internet I can't wait!
I got a lot of progress on His Eye is on the Sparrow. I did scan the piece and except for the last 2 letters of sparrow it all fit. Next time it won't, so I'll take a picture.
We are enjoying some really nice days here. Our snow is starting to melt and the sun is out. Spring is coming!
Oh I have to tell you something cute Johnny said to his grandma. This noon they decided to eat on their porch since it was so nice out. Beth asked Johnny if he wanted to tell God and thank Him for it and hs said "No you thank God for the sun, I'll tell Him and and thank Him for my baby sister!" Out of the mouths of babes!
By the way How many of you saw the Olympics? Weren't they great?! I love the winter ones. I really enjoyed the skating, skiing, tobbaggoning events. I'm not too into hockey but it was a good game between Canada and USA.
Well until next time Happy Stitching!

Trying out new camera

I got my income tax back so I got a new camera digital today and of course the first picture I had to take was of my cat sleeping in my stitching chair. Best way to get a picture of him as usually if he sees a camera he is gone. He doesn't like his picture taken. Now I have my new camera I suppose the one I lost will show up. Isn't that the way it always works?
Sorry this isn't the best picture of the piece. I have to get use to my camera, but you have the idea of the progress I have made on it anyway. I really am enjoying it and will be done in a couple of weeks I think.
How many of you are ennjoying the Olympics? I sure am. I really enjoyed the speed and figure skating and skiing events! I can't believe how much pressure is on these athletes. Why can't they just have fun with the sport instead of feeling like they have to medal. I suppose the top athletes are the ones that feel it the most and the others probably do have more fun. Too bad the media just doesn't leave the athletes alone until after the performance and not spotlight certain athletes and follow them through their systems so much.
Well enough for my soapbox. Thank you to everyone who reads my blog and to those who make comments. I really appreciate the encouragement and remarks. Until next time Happy stitching!

This piece is Flying!

I can't believe how fast this is moving in such little time. I've only stitched on it about 20 hours and it's 1/4 of way done already. Outside of the bird, I am enjoying the place. I may just keep stitching on it until it's finished. We'll see.
Our Speghetti Dinner was a success. We played Deal or No Deal. My name was drawn to play. Having never seen the TV show I didn't know from adam what I was doing but I listened to the audience and ended up winning a box of chocolates. I'm not a big chocolate eater so it will last a while.
We are planning my parents 60th Anniversary celebration the end of the summer. Yesterday I asked the caterer if he would do it and how much he would charge. He said he would do it for free. I couldn't beleive it. We are going to negotiate with him so he gets paid for the food at least.
Anyone else enjoying the Olympics? I sure am. I loved the skiing and figure skating last night and look forward to seeing a lot more in the coming days.
Oh...before I forget....Happy Birthday to my brother Kevin! Hope he has a great day. I don't think he even knows about this blog so doubt he reads it.
Well...until next time Happy Stitching!

A New Start

Yes I'm slowly working on the Tiger but I kept saying I was anxious to start "His Eye is on the Sparrow." So I finally did. I really am enjoying it. I can see it is going to take quite awhile and will be laid down 2 or 3 times before it's done I'm sure.
Tonight the Olympics begin! I'm looking forward to them. I'm not a big fan of Opening and Closing Ceremonies but I'll watch some of it anyway. I really like the Figure Skating, Sledding, Ludging, Tobagooning, Skiing events. The man carrying the USA flag for the Olympians is from our town so he's been in the news a lot. He's a 5 time Olympian I think they said and has won a bronze medal and gold medal with his team partner in Ludging. He trained on the Luudge run here. It really is a nice set up they have down by the Lake. We use to go skating and sledding there a lot when growing up. His name is Mark Grimmack.
Tomorrow we are having our Speghetti dinner at church sponsored by our Department. It's going to be a busy year for us. We have several outreach events planned this year. I think this will be my last year on the Board then I have to take a year off. I'm presenting a new situation for the church, I was on another board for 3 years but it got dissolved and so transfered over to Evangelism. The terms are 3 years, and you can run again for the Board for another 3 years after that a year off then you can go back on if nominated. So yes I will have been on a Board for 6 years but not the same board so where does that put me. My dad is Elder Chairman and I asked him, he didn't know, but more than likely I'll have to take a year off. Not sure I want to as I love being on this board. We'll see. It gets a lot done.Two of the things I wanted to see happen on this board did happen and the 3rd thing I'm still negotiating for, and might happen this year.
An update on my mom. Well...she twisted her knee and iced it the whole weekend before finally going to the Dr. on Monday. He x rayed it and she never heard anything and finally on Wed I said you call DR or I will, dad called the dr. and then today there is another problem with the knee so she's waiting for him to call back. She did call and tell what was going on. She was told several years ago she would need another knee replacement and last fall was told her bones were so brittle twisting the wrong way would break them. So we'll see what happens. Probably will have a knee replacement sooner than later.
Well until next time Happy Stitching!

A Very Quick Finish

This only took about 8 hours overall. It is so me. I love Chocolate Chip Cookies! There is one cookie missing....I must have ate it LOL. It'll show up and I'll add it on later. This afternoon I'll probably go back to the tiger. Actually I didn't lay it down. I did this in the afternoon when I wanted to stitch but was too tired to work anymore on the tiger.
We did get hit by the winter storm this time. Not so much yesterday but overnight. Several schools around our area are closed though none in our town. We actually were lucky we only got 6.5 inches of snow.
Well...until next time Happy Stitching!

Back to the Tiger

I have gone back to the Tiger and made quite a bit of progress for how detail it is. It is a fun piece to do my kind of piece, small but detailed. But I'm also really anxious to get going on "His Eye is on the Sparrow" so I may be laying it down again in a few days if it's not finished.
We are getting ready for a winter storm that is suppose to come in tomorrow and last through Wed. They already have the warnings out. Our area is to get 6 to 10 inches so that isn't too bad I guess. Further south it goes up. We'll see what happens when it gets here. Unfortunately this system is heading on east where they don't need it.
Wonder if we'll have BSF Wed. I so enjoy it and really am getting a lot out of it I never caught before. We are going through the book of John. Even Mary's sincere love in oinointing Christ verses the acts of Judas struck me how Judas rebuked her and Christ said "leave her alone she's preparing me for my burial" never struckk me before. I never noticed that before I guess. You grow up learning the stories and taking them for granted and go Yea Yea Yea I know that story and not see the little or behind scene things.
I'm waiting to hear what is going on with my mom's knee. She twisted it in going to bed the other night and waited until Monday to see the Dr. She was told quite some time back she needed a knee replacement and may have to do it now rather she wants to or not. She also was told her bones are so brittle that if she twists wrong she could break a bone. So we'll see what happened. She kept it iced over the weekend.
Well....until next time Happy Stitching

Cowboy Dreams is finished

Hot off the iron! I just finished this about an hour ago. I am so happy the Pepsi stains came out so well. I don't think you can tell pepsi spilled on it. Clumsy me!
My sister was here for a couple of days. We had a nice time, playing games and on Wed. we went shopping. It was nice for mom to get out she doesn't get out much these days. I bought a skirt and sweater outfit to wear to church on Sundays and a really pretty slack outfit for spring. I debated and debated on that one and starred at it for a while, talked myself into it as I was afraid if I waited it would be gone as it was so soft and pretty and springy.
This Sunday we are having a chili cookoff at church, just before our annual business meeting. I'm hoping they have labels on the spicy chilli. I don't do spicy foods too well.
I hope those of you on the east coast stay safe and warm. I heard a major storm was hitting you. We've been lucky this year (knock on wood) as we really have had it pretty mild. We have had snow and do have snow but not nearly as bad as last year and not nearly as bad as other areas have been hit.
Now this piece is done I'll go back to the Tiger. I also am dying to start
"His Eye is on the Sparrow" in Best Loved Hymns book 3 by Leisure Arts. So I may start that very soon.
Well...until next time Happy Stitching!

More progress on Cowboy Dreams

I didn't get this finished today like I had hoped. Now it will probably be Thursday unless I'm really lucky and get it done tomorrow afternoon. Wednesday I won't be stitching at all and will some Thursday morning but not a whole lot. I'n giubg ti be naughty Wed. night and skip kids club because of family plans.
My sister is coming into town Wednesday so after BSF I'll go to my parents and spend rest of day there and Thursday will be there too except for the two hours I'm at the food pantry handing out food.
Today I went shopping for the Food pantry, didn't spend as much as I thought I had. We were getting low on some stuff. We've really been picking up business the last few weeks. Not just from Love Inc. but from the people in our church too.
It is a beautiful day outside. The sun is shining so bright. This winter really hasn't been a bad winter for us knock on wood. The south is getting it worse than what we are. Oh we have snow but not like last year and not like the south is. Our pastor is getting a thrill out of the fact his friends in VA got more snow than us so far this year. Don't know that's true but they are getting hit.
Friday was my great niece, Chelsea's first birthday. They poor baby was sick Sat. okay Sunday so they still had her party now her and her mommy are sick. I got to see the pictures on facebook my brother and nephew posted. Cute. Chelsea looked like she enjoyed her cake. It was first time she had ever had it.
Well.....until next time Happy Stitching..

More progress on Cowboy Dreams

I think I'm just going to finish this piece on out before going back to the tiger. At the rate I'm going I should finish it Monday to be honest. At least I hope. I love working with Crescent Colors. Yes they slow me down but I like the effect of them It's just like working with Gentle Arts Threats.

We are having a cold spell right now but suppose to start warming up Monday.

Today is my great niece, Chelsea's first birthday. Happy birthday Chelsea. I'm sure they are having a big party for her with her grandparents and two uncles. She rules them all I think. They live out of state so I told them to post pictures on their facebook page.

I can actually see out my windows now. They replaced my old ones with new ones as age had worn the sealer down and they steaming up.

Well- until next time Happy Stitching. Thank you to everyone who reads this blog and also to those who leave comments. I really appreciate them. They really encourage me to keep stitching when I feel like giving up.

A new start and progress on the tiger

I decided to do this Cowboy piece on the side as it is a very easy piece compared to the tiger. Although using the Specialty threads does slow it down some. It is a cute, enjoyable piece called Cowboy Dreams by a designer I had never heard of this desinger before. I like doing projects by new designers from time to time.

As you can see I have made quite a bit of progress on the tiger. My only problem is my hands are starting to bother me again. So I guess I will have to slow down on stitching again. Tendernitis is something that is going to reoccur from time to time and I might as well face the fact, I can't stitch as much as I use to.
I really am enjoying my new computer. It took a couple of days to straighten everything out and once that happened I took off with it. Works isn't nearly as hard to get use to as I was told it would be. Neither is Windows 7 hard. So I was lucky I guess. Now it's a matter of putting some things back on the computer. I wrote it all out and now I'll slowly type them into my computer.

Well....until next time Happy Stitching.

A new piece, a new computer, a new printer

My old computer started acting up a couple of weeks ago. I could use it somewhat but couldn't go to some sites like here and a few others. Then a week ago it crashed completely. So I went to the store a few days later and bought a new computer. Finally got most of it set up Thursday and then today the rest of it. I'm a happy camper. Now it's a matter of getting to know this new computer. The person that came today showed me a lot of things so I should be okay now.It's been great catching up on all the blogs. I love seeing the other blogs and enjoy seeing their works

This Tiger will be going to a boy at Love Quilts that chose wild anmals as theme of his quilt. It is coming a little slow in that I haven't stitched on it much. But I will get to it more next week I think. At least the start of the week.

We have had some nice weather and got our January thaw. We got spoiled as they say winter is coming back Monday.

Well...my cat wants me off the computer. He needs some attention So until next time Happy Stitching!

Finally a finish!

I finally have a finish! First one in almost 4 months. It's small and whimsical but a finish none the less. This will go to Bailey at Love Quilts who chose under the sea for her quilt theme. If it's too whimsical and cutesy they can give it to a younger child in the future. Now to decide on my next piece!
I want it know Winter is not my favorite season. Oh the snow is beautiful but it's soooooo cold. I am thankful we get all four seasons and we really don't get the worat of them. Well rarely we do I should say.
Thank you for reading my blog. I have appreciated the comments. Now I'm stitching more I plan to pay more attention to the different blogs and read and comment on them more. I've been slack on that myself so can't complain about getting few comments to mine.
Well....until next time Happy Stitching!

I may actually finish something

FInally! This star fish is well underway and hopefully late tomorrow or Wed. afternoon this will be finished! I hope. Then I'll go back to Treble Clef I think and try to finish that out.
I hope you all had a happy and safe New Year!
We had our family Christmas on Saturday. We had a calendar exchange which was differfent for us. It was fun seeing all the different calendars though. Johnny and Addie were as cute as always playing pretty well together. I got two calendars. The one I just love. I knew my mom was getting a calendar with all the Grand kids and Great Grandkids, each month features a grandchild and their family. I didn't know I was getting one. I love it. Something I will always cherish.
Has anyone had an exerience with Vertigo? I suspeceted I had it as there would be times I would be on a bridge and feel like the floor was coming out. Or I would feel dizzy but usually it passed. Friday night the dizziness went on for a long time. I tried to move and felt like I was going to faint. Finally called my sister-in-law and we called another brother asking what to do. My head was pounding and my chest was hurting though I knew it wasn't a heart attack. Finally decided to go to ER. They gave me some pills to take for when I have another attack. They said it can pass quickly or go on for days otherwise. I felt better Saturday though still had the headache it did not destroy my fun with the family!
Well, until next time. Happy Stitching!