Salem Remembered

I can't tell you how many drafts I have written these past months. I just never seemed to complete a one of them. So I am going to try to finish this one and share with you my newest finished piece.

I enjoyed stitching this piece so much. A tribute to those who were accused and killed for witchcraft. As much as I love the past and find it so interesting I thank God that we live in these times. It must have been awful back then.

Our area up here was hit very hard by Hurricane Irene. We have friends and neighbors that lost homes, farms, animals, vehicles and have so much damage. We were so very lucky, our road was washed out and we had to stay indoors for a few days but that was a small inconvenience compared to what others had to bear. Our school became a shelter for so many. School Opening was delayed because of all the road & bus damage. All of it was devastating but thank God we are alive and isn't that what matters most.

I have been stitching a few fun Fall things that I am putting together and will share in my next post, which I promise will be soon. In addition I am stitching a Christmas stocking for myself. I am using Lizzie Kates Angel stocking pattern that I have had forever and finally started. I need some Christmas cheer and its a happy stocking and a fun stitch so far. I think I should have made it much larger though. You know to make room for all them goodies that Santa undoubtedly will bring me. LOL LOL.

Have a happy Autumn Day

Sharon xoxoxox

MY OFFERING

I am so happy that I have finished this piece. It took me a lot longer then I ever thought it would. I just love it and I am going to make it into a nice size pillow for my sofa.

This weekend the weather has just been so lovely. We got a visit from my daughter Katie, husband Tony and my sweet grandson Anthony. Anthony has been walking and running all over the place.
Here is Katie and Tony watching their little guy taking off...

and here is Anthony with Tori in her Dori the explorer car. LOL That car is so cute, it even has a radio in it.


and here is Anthony and Tyler my oldest grandson.

The weather is still so pretty out even though its close to evening. I think I am going to go outback and sit and plan my next stitching finish. I have so many things started so I have to really work on those.
xoxoxo love to all
Sharon

Got some new stash today. I saw that so many had stitched these ornies and I of course had to give in and have them. Aren't they cute? I can't wait to stitch them. I think they will be my first ornies for the new year.

Here are just some of the cotton washcloths I have been stitching. I have already given 2 packs of 5 away. I have crocheted 34 so far. 34 OMG I can hardly believe it, that is unbelievable for me to make 34 of anything. They are so easy and fun though. I love the assortment of colors the cotton yarn comes in. The striping yarn is the most fun I think.

Tonight my husband, sil Tony, and my grandson Tyler all went to the Jeff Dunham Show in Albany. Tyler is so excited, he can't wait to see "Achmed" I think this will be a night he won't forget for a long time. So while they are away I am going to work on my Clara's Skating Sampler and try to finish it. I don't have much more to do. I just took this picture to share. I just love it. Maybe tomorrow I can announce my very first 2010 stitching finish, the washcloths don't count.

Well, have a good evening everyone. Take care.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY

I couldn't let another day go by without updating my blog and wishing everyone the Happiest of Thanksgiving. I have been missing in action around here, just been really busy with work and family things, my husband was sick so long since he had the flu. He just wasn't recovering as fast as both me and his doctor wanted him too. It really hit him hard. But thank God he is starting to feel a bit better. That was the worse. We all went and got our H1N1 shots since we don't want to get hit with that again. A lot of people think you can't get it again once you had it but my doctor said yes we can so I am not taking any chances. LOL Give me all the needles you want just keep that flu far away from me.

I have pies in the oven, and earlier I baked a birthday cake for my little grandson Anthony who will be turning one tomorrow. Katie wanted his first cake to be baked by me. It's going to be fun. So it will be a combo thanksgiving day/birthday party. My son drove home from Kansas yesterday. He was working with the play Wicked while it was on tour. Now he is home for a little while at least until the next job. It is so nice to have him home. He got here at 4:30 this morning. That is some long drive. Long way to go for Mommy's turkey LOL



In honor of Thanksgiving I FINALLY had my GOBBLE framed and my 1803 Pennsylvania Sampler. I wish I had a better pic of the frame for Gobble. There is a coppery hint to the wood that you can't see in the crummy pic I took. I am soooo happy with it. It wasn't easy, every frame I picked out seemed to be no longer available. Well, at least now the framer was able to take down loads of frames that he no longer can get. Glad I could help him LOL I am happy this one was available. I should have waited till I went to Strawberry Sampler in Pennslyvania but I was so anxious to get these 2 framed and up on my walls for Thanksgiving. I also put together this little pillow, I think he is adorable. Love that little Gobbler. He was so easy and fast to stitch, putting the pillow together by hand was another thing. LOL That took a bit longer but I like the way he came out.

I have been stitching on lots of different things, I guess you could call it some sort of rotation. I started my ornaments and I am very pleased with what I have done so far. Still working on my Sampler Girls advent calendar too. Doing one block at time. It's coming along nicely and I hope to have it finished by December 1st. In time for my grandchildren to pluck the candy off of it. LOL I also have been working a little bit on VoHRH. I think I mentioned before this is the second time I started it. Last time I started it on a nice piece of 28ct linen and used the NPI silks and OMG they were just dreamy to work with. My only problem was my work was huge. So I started again on an 18ct piece of fabric with dmc threads and though it doesn't have the same look as the other, it still looks wonderful. I tried to stitch on 36ct and I can't seem to see it no matter what I do, but yet I can see 18ct. These are strange eyeballs of mine!! Anyway I am very pleased with it. I just wish I could move along a little faster on it. I purchased CoHRH and am anxiously waiting for the AutumnaHRH. Love that CHS stuff. I am never disappointed with any of Kathy's designs.
Well, my pies are ready and I am about to start some stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer tomorrow. I better get to it. Once again, Happy Thanksgiving to you all. xoxoxo

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

I couldn't let this day go by without wishing everyone a Happy Halloween. A beautiful day for it too.
I have been missing in action due to illness. My family has all come down with the H1N1 influenza and it has not been pretty around here. We are finally on the mend but still under quarantine and not feeling our best yet. Sometimes it feels like we will never feel well again but I know we will, with time.

I made up little Halloween bags for my grandkids that are still sick and added these little ornies as well. Not much but I hope it makes up a little for not being able to go Trick or Treating.

These ornies are from Prairie Schoolers Boo to you. They are just so cute, and stitched up pretty fast. They have just a stitch count of 42 by 32. I hope to stitch every single one. Not this year though.

I found this little pillow cover almost completed and decided to finish it. This design is from 2001 and I believe that is how long I have it in my UFO mountain err pile. LOL The words are all stitched with Glow in the dark thread. I have some buttons that I am going to add to it for added decoration and it will be put away for next years decorating. After today there will be more Halloween stitching for a few months anyway. I am so anxious to get started on Christmas Stitching.

Today is our grandson Anthony's very first Halloween and we won't get to see him in person but we are thinking of him. Katie sent me a picture of him all dressed up in his little Batman costume. He doesn't like that mask over his face though, thats okay who wants to cover up that sweet face anyway.



Photo Tinks by WiddlyTinks.com


Hope you all have a spooky Halloween time today. I am going to be resting and probably watching scary movies on the TV.
Love to all xoxo

Miss Ellen Birdseye

Here she is. I am so thrilled that I am finished with Miss Birdseye here.
I couldn't wait to share her with all of you.

xoxoxo Sharon

Me again!

Since I am off this week from work, I have been managing to get some stitching done and enjoying every moment of it.

This is Ellen Birdseye by Good Huswife. I have wanted to stitch this for a very long time and I got to thinking about it on Tuesday night. I decided to start it. It will be my what is left of vacation project. LOL I worked on it for most of the day yesterday and I just love it. I did stitch with the threads it called for but not the fabric. I had this very mottled piece from Silkweavers for a long time and decided to use it. The fabric is gorgeous and I wish I had more of it to stitch other reproductions on it. I don't know the name of it so will have to so some searching. It is beautiful though.
Today the sun is out and dare I say it might be in the 60's. Ahhh Spring.
Here are a couple of happy faces that brighten my day no matter the weather.


Have a great day!

Isn't this cute, I just finished all the stitching for it. Just need to add the buttons, its Crescent's All in A moon. I switched the fabrics that it called for. It was a bright yellow and I thought the moon would look nicer on this blue fabric with the little sparklies.
Look at these pretties:

I just love these colors. I am not exactly sure what I will do with them but I knew I had to have them. LOL More stash. I just couldn't resist them.
I am so happy that this week we have off. I am getting lots of stitching done and the sun is shining. Yippee!! Easter was wonderful. I even managed to take a picture of the Easter bunny:

LOL okay that is not exactly the Easter Bunny. That is my little AJ. poor baby he is going to hate these photos when he grows up. how could grandma put such an awful hat on him. LOL He is so sweet. His first Easter he got lots of goodies and got to have his very first slumber party with his cousins.

Good Friday

I did it I finished World's Above. Isn't it beautiful. I can't wait to take it to the framer. I really love this piece, I love everything I stitch but something about this design maybe the words just spoke to me. I knew I had to stitch it the moment I saw it. I stitched it on 32 ct Vintage Autumn Fields and used the overdyed threads it called for. It was designed by Midsummer Night Designs. All their designs are very pretty.
I have wanted to work on many of the newest primitive designs that I have been hoarding away but just somehow other things keep popping in front of me to work on first. Like this eagle design. I finally started it for DH. He is going to be so surprised (If I ever finish it). LOL I have never done a grid before and I am not really sure how to do one. I guess I could have googled it but I tried to grid it my own way. It seems to be working so far. There is not one spot on this design that is not covered with a stitch so this is going to be very interesting. I think this is the "busiest" design I have ever stitched. First off, I am using the fabric it came with, which is 18ct aida. I should have switched it for a linen but I was being practical, why buy a kit for so much money not to use the fabric. DUH!! I also figured since every square inch is covered what does it matter. Another BIG DUH! There are lots of color combinations in it. I thought about switching some colors for overdyes instead of combining the threads they gave me. Once again, being practical, I thought why should I do that. Sometimes my reasonable practical self annoys me something awful. Well wish me luck as I try to work on this for DH he deserves it I know.

I also started this series from Sea to Shining Sea. This is very easy to stitch so I thought this will be when I am sick of EAGLE I will pick this up and it will put me in a much better mood. Little House designs are pretty fun and quick to stitch. That being said I have a few of their series and I have to stop ordering them. LOL I just started to get a new one of their series and I have no idea what I will do with them. I thought about a afghan or quilt, something like that. They are sweet. Maybe a pillow with all the designs on it.

I just finished reading the best book I have read in many years. It is called the Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent. I got it from our library after friends told me about it. Its a story of a family in the time of the Salem witch trials and narrated by a 10-year-old girl, Sarah Carrier whose family becomes a target. The Author is a descendant of the family and that makes it even more interesting to me. I look forward to reading more of Kathleen Kent books, I thought this book was great.

Now here is a much happier face, my little grandson, isn't he a sweetie?

Here is my granddaughter and her cousins having fun with me. After that it was impossible to get a nice picture of the 3 of them smiling at the same time. They kept making faces. LOL

Coffin Buzz

I finished it and I just love it. I can't wait to get it framed. It is exactly how I felt this morning. I couldn't wait to get up and get a cup of coffee. Unfortunately I do not like my own coffee. Try as hard as I can, I cannot make a decent cup of coffee, its always just AWFUL! I have tried different brands and different coffee makers, bottled water, well water, you name it, I just stink at it. So I look forward to my daily run to the store where I buy a large cup of Stewart's coffee. Stewarts is sort of like our 7-11 or Wawa's. It is like Heaven in a cup.
Okay I better get moving, I am heading out the door for my coffee run, care to join me?? :)

A FROGGY BISCORNU

I have been so neglectful of my blog and for that I am sorry.
I just finished this lovely little biscornu, a friend sent me the link sometime ago and I can't seem to find it. I will keep looking in case anyone wants to stitch it though and add it when I find it. I thought it was so cute. The froggies toes were supposed to be done in french knots but I added beads instead. Then I did the same with the bees eyes. I like them much better then the french knots so I am happy how it came out.


I have been working on a few different things my mystery and a new mystery that just came out. My pink house is all finished but I haven't put it on the box yet. I have to get the supplies needed to finish it up. My mind is just bulging with ideas. LOL I am not sure I want to use paper like they suggest or fabric. Either way it will be something that I have never done before and I am looking forward to it.

Here are my schoolgirl lessons, all complete. I love how it looks in this hornbook frame. Just like a hornbook slate. I still love chalkboards not too long ago I bought a big one for my granddaughter and often I draw pictures on it for her. My children always had chalkboards and would play school all the time with each other.

Last month I finished stitching this French Country Pear and last night I made it into a small standup pillow, I added rick rack around the seam. I added weight to the bottom of it and filled the rest of it with cinnamon and fiberful. It smells delicious and it will stand up on its own. I really kind of like the way it came out. It is a friendly little pear.

November Stitching

I have started stitching ornies for a few swaps I am in and also started a couple gifties. I love stitching Christmas designs. They are so much fun.
I can't show you anything I stitched for swaps because I am sure some of my swap partners read my blog but I will show you the ornie I have stitched for my grandson, its not put together yet but will be soon. Its a Prairie Schooler design. It reminds me of him and like me his favorite color is red so I think he will like it.

Here is a bookmark that I just finished last night. An Ega Group in Hyde Park is donating bookmarks to their local children's library. So I stitched this one to donate and it looks like such a happy design. I hope it encourages some child to read.

A Spooky Biscornu

I put this together for my friend Janice. I think its pretty cute, what do you think?

I stitched this Nativity scene so many years ago. I think it was from a book or a magazine. It was one of the first what I would say "big" things that I stitched. I can't recall the date but I gave it to my sister Susan. When she passed away it came back to me. I am going to get it framed and have a mat made in the shape of the design.
I wish I had many of the things or at least pictures of the things that I stitched years ago. Would be lots of fun to see them.

Update on Mystery Sampler

I am happy to say that I managed to work for about 3 hours on my mystery sampler today and like always I am loving it all the more. I can't wait to finish this row that I am on now. After this row is done, there will only be 2 more rows or 12 more pages. Not too bad!! I hope I can finish it by the end of the year. This year, not next year. LOL It is so big that its sort of awkward for inhand stitching.

A fitting finish for September

I just finished this lovely sampler "My School Worke Sampler"which I think is perfect for this time of year. I purchased it from Sampler Girl . I stitched it on a premade pillow cover. I have to purchase a 16 inch pillow for it this week and maybe add a couple of buttons. Right now I am very pleased at the way it came out.

This weekend has just flown by. Its a beautiful fall day but still quite not as cold as it usually is this time of year. Thats okay I am in no rush. This week about 20 years ago this area got hit with one of the biggest snowstorms and people still talk about it. Everything shut down and people were without power or phone service for weeks. Most were without water too as the pumps from wells are all electric. I wasn't living up here yet but a good friend of mine was and her and her family were snowed in. I always love hearing her tell me about it, how cold it was, how they melted snow and kept their refrigerator items out in the snow to keep them fresh. How our local Churches opened their doors to shelter a great many people. Now that the cold weather is no doubt on its way, its time to start preparing. We are very fortunate that we have a generator that has come to our rescue on a few occasions. I would never want to be without power, but we have to stock up on candles and batteries just in case.

Thank you all so much for your compliments on my biscornu that I made. How wonderful to hear from all of you, and I am so honored because you are all so talented with the needle and your finishes are always so lovely. Thank you thank you dear friends.

LindaMc that is a design from Dinky Dyes, I bought a few months back from Mary Kathryns Handcrafts store. I just used the pattern again for this one and I used Wdw Garnet thread. I love reds and this red just seemed to be so rich looking.

I just love making biscornus I started another one its a Christmas pattern and I hope to finish it up tonight. Here is a picture of what I have done so far. Thats not the greatest picture but you can get an idea. The fabric is a linen full of sparkles, just perfect for a Christmas biscornu.



Here is my Little House Pumpkins design all finished in a box. Isn't it lovely. My friend Sue finished it for me and she did such a wonderful job. I just love everything she puts her little hands and needle and thread on.





Do you think she is a bit excited about going to school?? :)
She is loving nursery school and having lots of fun. Its amazing to me how much they learn nowadays then when I was young back in the stone age. LOL She is learning to read, learning math and also learning sign language.