Hippity Hop

Happy Day everybody!~ Just thought I would make a little post real quick. I have been back to stitching a little and this is what I got done over the last couple of days.

Designer: Lizzie Kate
Pattern: Hop Squared

Stitched on 28 count hand-dyed blue linen using DMC and WDW

I plan on finishing it into a needle roll. If it wasn't for this rotton iritis , I would have had it done by now. :(

Yesterday I stitched up the Spring blanket for my seasonal sheep. I am debating on whether or not to use the bottom layer of the blanket. It is supposed to be kind of an antique lavendar color. If I use it I may use a different color I don't know. As soon as it hits March I'm putting that puppy on the sheep. I like snowmen but I'm gettin' tired of seeing that winter blanket.

Thank you all for all of your wonderful comments. Thanks also for all of my readers. You all make my day!

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!

Take care,

Sharlotte

My garden is growing

Howdy folks!~ My garden needle roll from Shepherd's Bush is growing! I actually had some more of this done before my stitching break but forgot to post it. I just love the way it is turning out don't you?

I was at the gas station this morning getting gas and decided to pick up a new cappucino that they have. It is peanut butter and it is heaven! While I was there I said something to the attendant about wanting it to be Spring. He looked at me funny and said I shouldn't expect it to be Spring it is still February. Well silly man. I didn't say I expected it to be Spring, I said I wanted it to be Spring. Tis the differences between the sexes I suppose. It will be here some day though.

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I think I will try to stitch a bit today and see how it goes. I am bumbed about not stitching as I have things I want to do, know what I mean? Of course you do! You have the same obession I do or you wouldn't be reading my dribble! LOL! Oh, and Berit, yes I do have two pairs of buttons I like. I think I will go with that idea, thanks!

'till next time, you all take care,

Sharlotte

A little finish and some reflection

Greetings all!~ Since I have all this down time with stitching , I thought it would be good time to do some finishing on things I've had sitting for a while. Below is American Star from Blackbird Designs. I know I have shown this before , but some of my new readers out there haven't seen it yet. I stitched it on 28 count oatmeal evenweave using DMC , WDW, GAST, and CC. I decided to finish it into a bourse, this time for myself. The liner fabric is from Thimbleberries' Harvest Home, and the other fabric is from Kansas Troubles' Stitches on the Oregon Trail.

I think the outside is missing a little something. Perhaps buttons at the corners, but I didn't have any that I liked that I had enough count of. I didn't want to use different ones at each corner because I thought would make it look more primitive than I wanted it to. I'll save the button thing for later I suppose.

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Yesterday Marjorie had asked if I got my $1 grab bag linen at Picture This Plus. No , I got it from a local needlework shop called Cecilia's Samplers. Between visits , I've nearly wiped them out of those bags! LOL!

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Yesterday I heard the song "In My Life" from The Beatles. It put me in some what of a reflecting mood. Mostly about births and deaths that have occured during my lifetime. When it comes to births they were all memorable , but there are two in particular that are still so vivd. My own son's birth of course and my brother's birth. I was 11 when my youngest brother was born. He was unexpected as my mother got pregnant during "the change". When he was born he was 10 lbs-10 oz. She had to have a c-section ,which was her first time having one. All of the rest of us were born natural and some a little too fast! (My dad delivered 3 of my siblings at home because mom had pretty fast labor.) I did a lot of the caring of him while she healed .It's hard to heal from a c-section, let alone when you're 41. I still baby him to this day. The deaths , I remember those all pretty vividly. All of my grandparents are gone and I miss them a lot. The same month that my dad's mother died ( which was my last grandparent to pass on) one of my brothers died of cancer. Needless to say , that was tough time . When my father -in-law passed away , it was totally unexpected, it's still like a dream sometimes.I started thinking about all the changes that go on over the years .Isn't it funny how a song can stur up so much thought and emotion? Well enough of my rambling on that .

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Thanks for you visit today and I hope to join the "cult" , (as Kathy A's husband says), of stitchers real soon.

'til next time,

Happy Stitching!

Sharlotte

Hubby's turn and a little new stash

Happy Monday everyone!~ Well I'm back with a short post today. Even though I'm not stitching much I couldn't resist grabbing some new stash! I got another one of those $1 a package snippets of linen assortments . See the one up front there? It's called "Haunted" and hubby has already threatened to swipe that one! I'll probably cave and let him have it! :) I also picked up another punch needle. This punch needle is from Pine Mountain Designs and I will put it in the family/game room when I get it done. Isn't it cute?!

Now some of you know that my husband Jack stitches a little too. He started this piece from a kit a while back. He first started it on the aida that was provided. He decided that he didn't like aida , so he swapped it out for some evenweave and of a larger count. That meant that he wasn't going to have enough floss, so we did some color matching to DMC and now he is all set and stitching away. Here is his new progress on it. Sorry the picture isn't very clear.

This is what the finished product will look like. The picture here doesn't show the Northern Lights as pretty as the model does. Sorry about that.

Well, I have been posting a few comments on blogs here and there as I can see to do so. I have also been doing a little knitting as I was able to develope a knack for knitting without having to look at my work much while doing so some time back. That helps out with the eyestrain, for me anyway. I did start punching a little on the punch needle project I just got, but I did have to put it down. Oh well, hopefully I can pick it back up soon!

I do have some good news though! I won the giveaway for LHN's Winter Wonderland over at Dixie Samplar Designs , thanks Terri! I can't wait to get it! Didn't do much over the weekend except laundry and picking up around the house some, and dream about what I want to start and when .

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Well that's it for me today! Thank you all for stopping by and for your wonderful comments! I do so look forward to them.

'till next time,

Happy Stitching!

Sharlotte

Taking a break

Greetings all!~ Those of you that are my regular readers or have followed my blog for some time, you know that I have periods where iritis makes my vision blurry and I need to take a stitching break. Since it's eye strain that I deal with as well when my vision is blurry, that will probably mean a blogging break as well.It should only be for a few days. I do have a couple of exchanges that I will finish up today so that they are ready when the mailing dates come. Alex or Jack will probably be on here to let me know what you comments are. You all take care, I WILL be back very soon so please don't leave me :(

'til next time my pets,

Happy Stitching!

Sharlotte

In My Garden

Greetings all ~ I hope this finds you all having a lovely day! I am just making a quick post this morning so show a little start on Shepherd's Bush In My Garden Needleroll that I picked up this weekend. This will be it finished....

....and this is my humble little start on it.

I'm not very far yet, but I have had lots of projects buzzing in my head. That mixed with lots of early morning this week and that leaves me too pooped to get much done. I've gotta get buzzing around this house too, before it gets harry!

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Edgar had mentioned on his blog Monday that he and his pal Dale had went to some Estate sale where the lady obviously had had a serious case of startitis. I know that disease far too well! Makes me think that I really SHOULD try and finish up some things that I have started before I tackle too much more. I can think of 8 things that I started recently that I still have yet to finish. I've gotta have a serious talk with myself!! LOL!

Hope you all have a super day and stay warm! Thanks for all the comments. Keep 'em coming.

'til next time,

Happy stitching!

Sharlotte

Another Stitch Red exchange

Greetings all~ I hope you are staying warm in your neck of the woods! Yesterday we received a little more snow and will be receiving even more during this week and next. I can't wait for Spring! I've been stitching Spring again though. Working on a piece for the Easter Exchange headed up by BeckySC. I am having fun with it and can't wait to show you all .

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Yesterday I mentioned that I should have taken a picture of the back of the heart sachet from Hazel . Here is a quick snap of that. Isn't the fabric just beautiful?!

My partner for the Stitch Red For Your Heart that I stitched for has received her exchange so I can now show it to you. I stitched for Janet and stitched LHN's School Girl Lessons and finished it into a bourse. I stitched it on 28 count cream linen using DMC floss. I finished the corners off with some little brown and cream buttons. I like the way it turned out. Janet liked it as well.

These little bourse can become an addiction! I have a finish from Blackbird Designs "American Star" that I am thinking about finishing off this way. I just may have to do that this week.

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I have a friend who's situation is weighing on my mind today. If she is reading this she'll know who I'm talking about . Wish I could be there for you today. Consider this sending you a great big hug!!

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Watched some "I Love Lucy" while stitching last night. I didn't feel like watching much else. I will show the stitching I worked on when I can. It's a secret for now. :) Hope you all have a great day and thank you all so much for your comments and especially for those about the painting yesterday! So very nice of you all!

'til next time,

Happy Stitching!

Sharlotte

A new project and some mail arrives!

Happy Monday everyone!~ I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and Valentine's Day. Can't wait to see everyone's posts on what they did. This weekend I started some new projects, OF COURSE! One I will show today , and the others will be throughtout the week.

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I have had this copy of Country Marketplace magazine for some time and in it there was this picture of a sheep. I don't know why , but it really struck me and ever since I have wanted to try and paint it. Well. I finally found all the paints ( had to substitute a couple of discontinued colors) and a canvas so I set to work. Now, I have only painted like little Easter eggs and those plaster of paris Christmas Village pieces, never anything like this . This was my first attempt at a painting. Could it be better? Oh yeah, but it will do for now. Afterall , it is supposed to be primitive.

Here he is.

I have an idea or two where to put him. I'll have to think on that.

Then I got some wonderful things in the mail!! First off , I received my Stitch Red For Your Heart exchange from Hazel (http://quietlystitching.blogspot.com/ ). She sent me some wonderful raspberry choclates which I love. She also sent along a really pretty Christmas fabric with gold holly leaves on it, she obviously read my wish list.

She stitched this beautiful design from Amon Anie Pierre , and finished it into a wonderful smelling lavendar heart sachet. The fabric on the back is really pretty and I should have gotten a picture of it. Perhaps I'll remember tomorrow.

Along with that she sent this beautiful handmade bookmark she made. You can't tell in the picture, but at the top in gold letters , it says "stitch red".

Also included was this beautiful handmade card. I know you can't see the antique looking brass butterflies at the corners very well. They are really pretty. The front of the card is glossy. I was thinking that I will frame this in probably a glossy black frame . It is really really nice! Thanks again for everything Hazel!!

The mail also brought me a chart from BeckySC .Guess what that means to me? You guessed it! A new start! Thanks Becky!!

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Jack made dinner last night. It was THE BEST lasagna I had ever ever had! It was a nice treat! He took me to the needlework store to buy more goodies so new starts for the spring don't ya know! We also watched the re-make of The Shaggy Dog with Tim Allen.

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That's all for today! You all stay nice and warm and let those creative juices flow!

Take care,

Sharlotte

Little House Garden Gameboard finished!

Happy Friday everyone!~ First off I have to brag on my kid. I'm intitled to that right? He bowled an awesome 424 sieres yesterday with one game alone being a beautiful 178! Congratulations Alex!!!

I finished the Garden Gameboard yesterday and thought I would share it real quick. I finished into a minture quilt to hang on a shelf. I would have taken a picture of it on the shelf , but it's in a close spot so there wouldn't be a good way to get a good shot of it. The shelf is kinda hard to put back up, so there you go.

Yesterday Berit had asked about how Flylady was going. It's moving along, a little behind this week but not too bad. I keep meaning to post what my control journal looks like so you all can get an idea , but everyone's would be different of course to fit their lifestyle. She also asked about the fabric count for the Fruit Gameboard. Or was it the Just Nan piece? I wasn't 100% sure. Anyway , on the gameboard I am using 28 count tea colored monaco evenweave, and for the Just Nan piece I'm using 28 count natural linen.

That's today in a nutshell folks! Hope you all are planning an awesome Valentine's Day. Look forward to hearing from you all on Monday. Thanks for the visit and the comments!

'til next time,

Happy Stitching!

Sharlotte

Repeat , repeat.

Greetings all~ Ok , so this post is a bit of a repeat to show some slight progress on what I showed you yesterday. I would have gotten more done , but a girl ( or guy as the case may be) has other things to do you know. Now, I didn't say those other "things" ( housework, carpool) are my favorite things, I think you all know that crafting is my favorite thing!

I didn't get a whole lot of progress done on "Thanks" , but I did get the little bluebells filled in . Those are all done with smyrna stitches btw. Next I'll be filling in the "booflies" as my nephew used to call butterflies when he was little.

I got some of the strawberries filled in on the fruit game board. Hooray!!! I think I like the black frame that the model has , so I will probably opt for a black one.

Yesterday Berit mentioned noticing that the outer red squares were darker than those in the middle. I can't take credit for that. That is what the pattern called for. However I do like that look and may do that on future game boards.

Yesterday Terri asked if I had finished the redwork quilt. No I haven't. I'm too busy hopping from one project to the next! LOL! I will get back on it though.

Well I better scoot ... I have a lot on the agenda today. Thanks for stopping by and for all of your wonderful comments! Have a great day!!

'til next time,

Happy stitching!

Sharlotte

I want SPRING!!!!! (Edited to fix link)

Greetings all!~ I want Spring! I know , I know, we still have a few more weeks of winter, but man oh man, I am tired of this cold weather! Since we can't always have what we want, at least we can stitch Spring , which is what I have been trying to do. Here is another one of my projects from that 4 project start weekend I had. It is a Just Nan design titled "Thanks a Bunch!". I am going to be doing something a little different with it for the finish, so if you want to see it, you'll have to come back and visit!

Here is another of LHN's gameboards. I don't think I've given the hint yet that I like them have I ? LOL! This one I will probably frame and put in the kitchen. I probably won't mess with making the checkers, but... you never know.

Here is the start of a quilt that I actually started some time ago.

It's called Pinwheels and Posies and is from an American Patchwork and Quilting magazine issue I believe. I just found the fabric and the blocks that I started on . Where oh where did I put that magazine?!! Sound familiar? I need Terri ( http://dixiesamplardesigns.blogspot.com/) to come and help me organize better so this doesn't happen anymore! If only I could! Speaking of Terri, don't forget to go over to her blog and check out her giveaway! (edited: Sorry Terri, the broken link is working now. :) )

I wanted to quickly mention about the question I asked a little while back about how to respond to comments via email. I had people mention to me that doing so could cause extra spam mail in my mailbox. Well , being a homeschooling parent , I subscribe to lists pertaining to homeschooling and other things and sometimes I can get 50+ emails a day. I don't always have time to weed through all of them. For now, I have decided to just read my comments and answer any questions you all might have through my blog. I hope you all don't mind and don't find this rude of me. That's not my intention, I just don't need/ want all that extra spam. Hope you all understand!:)

That's it for me today! Hope you all have a great day and thanks ever so much for your comments! They sure do lift my spirits!

'til next time,

Happy Stitching!

Sharlotte

Monday , Monday

Good Monday all!~ Hope you all had a great weekend! So which did you do , go shopping or watch the Super Bowl with your sweetheart? I myself folded laundry, watched my usual Sunday night Newhart episodes on WGN and then came in to watch the rest of the game. All I can say is I'm glad I didn't make any bets!

As promised on Friday, I have a finish to show you from my four project start last weekend. I of course still have to finish this into a basket , but the punching part is done. I was inspired to punch this after seeing Jolene's on her blog. To remind those that seen it, it is Speckled Eggs from With Thy Needle & Thread.One side is wanting to curl a little so it's not laying completely straight. That will be fixed though when I get it into finished form. I didn't use the recommended threads because I have a lot of DMC that I needed to use before it gets old and breaks. Doesn't it make you think of Spring?!!

I also started on another pair of socks for mom. I am using Patton's sock yarn. Here is my start.

We had our little card making get together. Unfortunately most of them didn't show. The rest had fun though. They decided to finish them at home as the night was getting late. I made one to sort of demo how to do it. My dad's birthday is coming up in March and he loves to fish so I thought I'd work on that. Everything was cut on the Cricut. I left it blank inside but I may add the happy birthday letters later. Here is my finished card.

I know I'd never be hired by Hallmark but I had fun! :)

Well that's it for me . Hope you all have a great day and thanks for all of your comments!!

"till next time,

Happy Stitching,

Sharlotte

A little calendar quilt

Greetings all~ I have a new quilt that I am dying to start! It's a pattern that I had intended to start some time ago but... I misplaced a pattern page that had two of the blocks on it . I found it recently when I found the pattern for the sheep I posted yesterday. I was sooo glad to find the pattern sheet again! Now , I can start looking for little snips of fabric and start my blocks! For those interested , the pattern is from http://joinedatthehip.com/ . It was originally published throughout a few issues of Country Marketplace. It can now be purchased in full at the link above. Here is , of course , the blocks for January and February.

.... and here is the entire quilt.

I think this is going to be a great project with lots of fun! Probably some frustration thown in as well as it takes me forever to do applique! I am thinking about using blue striped fabric for the sashing like the girls did on this one, and maybe denim for the border? I don't know, I'll have to think about that one! All of the blocks are so cute, I'm not sure which one is my favorite one. What's yours?

Well remember that I metioned that I started 4 new projects over the weekend? I have already showed you the sheep. This one below is another start. I could tell you what I'm going to do with it , but if I did that, you might not want to come back on Monday! LOL!

I will be back on Monday to show some finishes and progress on the starts from last week. I'll have some great fun to show too as I am getting some of the girls ( mostly family) together to make cards on the Cricut.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend full of happiness, joy,peace, rest, and lots of stitchin'!

'till next time,

Happy stitching!

Sharlotte

A little winter sheep...

Good day everyone!~ Well I mentioned earlier this week that I had started 4 new projects over the weekend. I have been wanting to do these cute little primitive seasonal sheep ever since I first seen them in Country Marketplace magazine. Boy do I wish the publishers would bring that magazine back! Anyway, the pattern sheet had been missing for awhile. I was on the hunt for someone else and BINGO! I found it! So I set to work on him right away. I finished it up on Sunday . He's sort of a doorstop/ shelf sitter and here he is!

The blankets and hang tags will be swapped out for the coordinating seasons. A bunny blanket is next for Spring and I will start on that shortly. Anyway, just wanted to show him off. If you're curious what else I am working on, come on back .I'll have something else up soon!

Thank you all for all of your well wishes on my blood pressure. It's not that often that it goes up, but I have terrible allergies and sometimes the meds I'm on for that can cause it to go up. It doesn't help that I have extra pounds that I need to get rid of but with the type of anemia I have I can't exercise as it causes my heart to work overtime to pump the blood supply that I have. It puts me at a higher risk for a heart attack and stroke. So when the doc says, don't exercise, I don't do it! I'm just glad that the blood supply is high enough that I can have my scissors , knives, and rotary cutter back! What we ever do without them!?

'til next time,

Happy Stitching,

Sharlotte

Rose Sampler

Greetings all!~ I hope you all are doing well today! I had an awful time yesterday with my blood pressure. I usually don't run a high one but boy I did yesterday! Here's hoping I have a better day today with it. I did manage to finish LHN's Rose Sampler into a stitching bag.It turned out ok. I couldn't get the edges to lay straight on the linen even though it was pinned. I will just add some lace around the edge and I think it will look a lot better. It is making me hopeful for Spring!

I have some other projects slated for this week. I need to fit my cleaning and organizing in too , so we'll see how that goes! I should probably work on my son's quilt today to before it gets too warm to use it!

Hope you all have a great creative day!

'til next time,

Happy stitching!

Sharlotte

And the winner is....

Jackie of Embracing My Blessings!! Congratulations Jackie! Send me an email with your address so I can get this off to you! If you missed this one, there will be others in the future!

I started four new projects projects over the weekend. Not ready with pictures and what not to show what they are, so if you want to know, you'll have to stay tuned!

'til next time,

Happy stitching!

Sharlotte