Autumn Band Sampler...

Happy Fall Y'all...

last weekend I ushered in the autumn season by stitching the newly released Autumn Band Sampler by Little House Needleworks. Here it is, hot of the q-snaps:

I know it's...
no secret that I am totally on board with just about everything that Diane Williams designs  :o)   and as soon as I saw this cutie, I knew immediately I wanted to stitch it up and finish it so that I could enjoy it this season. So please let me unveil my creation:

"Autumn Band Sampler"

Designed by: Little House Needleworks ~ Diane Williams

Copyright 2011

Stitched on: 28 ct. Vonna hand-dyed linen

Stitched with: Crescent Colours, GAST and WDW cottons

(*only change from charted colors is: I used WDW Ivy and Kudzu for the greens)

Finished as a Bell Pull using Images Stitcher Design Wooden Bell Pull Type C in Walnut Finish

Didn't that...

turn out pretty? This is the first bell pull I've ever made for myself and I must say, this type of finishing lends well for display potential and it is very easy on the pocket book, and really takes very  little know how on the finishing. I was recently introduced to Images Stitchery Design and their beautiful wooden bell pulls. Golly lots of choices for future stitches! But first things first (before I go on a project binge) this project all came together, in my personal opinion, for a stunning finish. Here it is in my entry way, greeting all who enter our humble abode. 

So...
what's up next?! Well, I have a colleague that is celebrating a birthday this week and she is such a kind, gentle lady that I always try to make something for her to help her celebrate! I've got a goodie pulled out and ready to stitch, so fingers crossed, I'll have another post by weeks end!

Until next time my dearies...
I'll be keeping my "hands to work and heart to God" just like always!
Hugs and love,

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." ~Romans 15:13

World of Charity Stitching...

I was asked...
by a group of fantastic, generous stitchers to post a link to their blog where they are having a fantastic giveaway of two $25.00 gift certificates. So please take a trip on over to their blog by clicking: HERE

Until the next time...

Katie's Stocking....

The weekend...
is nearly here and its going to be a restful one for us *fingers crossed* so nothing blows up or into town before I can make this reality! Today I'd like to share a little project I started earlier this week. When I had my babies, of course I wanted to cross stitch a Christmas Stocking for them, but you know I got to thinking about stocking designs and I really didn't know what their "personality" would be. What would they enjoy? Who would they be? They would be small for only a short time, so would they really feel good about pulling out presents from a cutsey stocking when they were 16? So I bought each one a generic Christmas stocking with their names embroidered on them to personalize with hopes that when they grew up a little and I could tell what they enjoyed I would stitch each of the members in our family a stocking the represented who they were as people.

Katie...
is my first born, she'll leave my nest first and sooner than I even like to think about so her stocking is first. I chose for her a stocking entitled "The Music Room" and it can be found in the old Cross Stitch and Country Crafts Magazines. I'm sort of "redoing" the stocking to update the look and for hopes that it will be timeless...so please let me introduce to you, Katie's Stocking Cuff:

Katie's Stocking Cuff

Design based on "The Music Room"

found in the July/August 1991 Cross Stitch and Country Crafts Magazine

by Better Homes and Gardens

Since this weekend...

is going to be a restful one and I've finished phase one on Katie's Stocking, I'm taking this current project off the stand and putting on a new one. The new project I'm slapping on the q-snap hopefully will be finished by the end of the weekend (if I have anything to say about it anyway!). The new project is a seasonal beauty that I fell in love with instantly. You'll have to wait and see what it is I have chosen next!

Until next time...

I'll be keeping my "hands to work and heart to God" just like always, why don't you join me!

Hugs and love,

Ornamentals...

A hearty hello to all my friends and readers!

I hope this finds you all well :)  We had a busy weekend here at the el Pfeiffer Ranchero, but I received my Just Cross Stitch Special Ornament Issue last week and in betwixt the moving and the shaking, I snuck in a few stitches. Today I finished these and couldn't wait to share them with you all.

"Merry Christmas"

By: Country Cottage Needleworks ~ Nikki Leeman

Design found in the Just Cross Stitch Special Ornament Issue 2011

stitched on recommended fabric with recommended fibers

"Peace on Earth"

Designed by: Victoria Sampler

Design found in the Just Cross Stitch Special Ornament Issue 2011

stitched on recommended fabric using the recommended DMC fiber colors

I just think...

these two ornaments are the cutest little things :) They will bedeck, bedazzle our tree this Christmas season.

Part of our busy weekend...

was filled with Katie's marching band performance. We were definitely night owls Saturday night returning home at 1 a.m. The Marching Panther Regiment won "Crowd's Choice" during the award ceremony. They have a fabulous show playing songs from Chicago, like "Saturday in the Park", "Free", "Make You Smile" and "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is"....brings a smile to my face thinking about it :)

That's all folks...
so until next time I'll be keeping my fingers busy with my "hands at work and heart to God"!
Hugs and love,

A Trip Around the World...

Amish style!

Please let me introduce my first counted canvas needlepoint finish:

"Amish Trip Around the World"

Designed by: From Nancy's Needle ~ Nancy Buhl

Stitched on 18 count canvas

Stitched with Caron Watercolors and DMC pearl #5 cottons



I'm pleased...

as a pig in a mud wallow with how this turned out :) And although my first love shall always be cross stitch, this counted canvas work is really a nice diversion. The fibers used are great and the best thing is that a lot of canvas is covered in a short amount of time, so that you see almost instant progress.

I need...

to clear up a few misconceptions that I generated inadvertently from my previous post. My husband had me choose one craft, yes that is true, but anything with a needle is considered in the "one craft rule" so sewing, needlepoint, cross stitch, what have you...as long as a needle and thread is in the mix...it meets the one craft rule. So see I have lots of wiggle room :) I think some of my readers had the vision of my sweet, gentle husband being a tyrant yielding a whip beating me into submission. To be completely honest he helped me to focus on one general area of my crafting and like anything that one focuses on, it made me a better needleworker. Works for me, doesn't mean it has to work for anyone else. It was just my way of sharing a bit of me with you :)

I'm still...

meeting myself coming and going....and to be honest "pushed to my limits" makes me run like a fine tuned engine. I drop into bed at night exhausted and sleep like a baby. We've got a major commitment in the fact that Katie, an 8th grader, was asked to march in the Bloomington South High School Marching Band this year! WHOO HOO! (she'll be a Freshman there next year) She accepted the invitation and since August 1st she's been practicing 3 nights per week, playing in the Pep Band at home football games, performing during the halftime and this weekend she has her first two competitions. GO PANTHER REGIMENT! Of course that means that I have become a Band Booster, which translate into hemming around 60 band uniform pants and jackets, working so many concession stands per month, and assundry other things....but its ok. Katie's so happy! She loves band and being a "band nerd" as she calls herself. I was a "band nerd" too...and I'm proud that she is as distinquished on her instrument as she is...she's my clarinet prodigy!

Miss Ellie...

has been accepted into the Indiana University Children's Choir and she'll begin her practices September 29th. You can see the program and hear the children sing HERE . It is a hassle sometimes to live in a Big Ten Collegiate city, as the influx of students is crazy each year, but having all of the things associated with the college for your children's growth in the arts is amazing! We are honored that Ellie was selected to be a member of this amazing children's choir. GO ELLIE!

Ian and Jake...

continue on in Boy Scouting, even Mr. Pfeiffer has drunk the Kool-aid for scouting and is a leader heading up the monthly camping and hiking weekend adventures. They are both First Station scouts and well on their way to being able to start their Eagle Scout Projects in the next 12-15 months. They also soon will be a member of Star Band again this year, playing their saxophones. And continue on training in Karate (TKD) three days per week with sparring too. They are currently purple belts and are close to testing for their next rung on the ladder. GO BOYS!

Sundays...

have become private music lessons day at the Pfeiffer ranch. Its sort of funny to watch people walking by our house to stop (or slow down) and stare quizzically at our house. They can hear Saxophone and Clarinet music being played, I didn't realize that you could hear it that clearly, but you sure can as I was outside decorating for fall this weekend during the lessons. I have the music teachers come at the same time so while the boys are having their lesson, Katie is having hers too. It's quite a cacophony of sound....believe me :)

That does it...

sweet friends :) That's all I got! Until next time, I'll be keeping busy with my "hands to work and heart to God" just like always!

Hugs and love,