Time will tell....

Happy Friday Friends!
Hope that you all are ready for a FAB-ulous weekend! Me - I'll be at work, but that in and of itself isn't a bad thing. Since resigning from one of my weekend jobs (I used to work at two hospitals on the same weekend), life has been much better for me, I was plainly over worked, over stressed and that started affecting my life through the week. Simply it made Mom tired, and we all know Mom's can't be tired no matter how many children you have, but with four kiddos and a husband that leaves at 5:00 a.m. and doesn't return until 7 p.m. at night that's a little much on Mama :)

So do you want to know......
what has Vonna pulling her hair out?.....Here it is: Victoria Sampler's "Tea Party". Oh heaven's to Betsy this is making me BATTY! First off this is the first VS I've ever attempted, I fell in love with it because it is just cute, in my opinion. I didn't realize by the photos I'd seen online that it had so much NON-cross stitching. Although I should have known this since it was a VS...but....you know the love at first sight sort of hankerings you get gazing at the newest releases....
This picture shows the point where I'm at. The last of the cross stitching is the bottom white lace that I started and where my needle is parked:

Victoria Sampler's ~ Tea Party

Fibers: Miscellaneous from the thread "bundles" pack

Fabric: 28 ct. Vintage Country Mocha Belfast

Now I'll tell you friends.....
I don't claim, nor personally think I am the greatest stitcher in the world, in fact, I know I am not. I do, however believe I'm moderately intelligent...trying to stitch this is like trying to dissect a frog or maybe a fetal pig since I did the pig in college and we had to do it with finesse rather than the hack job that I did in 6th grade with the frog. You have to do it in layers, gently peeling back the connective tissues and muscle layers, getting into the "meat" of the issue...well that's what is like doing this VS. There is a list of steps and you stitch the pattern in these steps and referring to diagrams...DIAGRAMS? for a pattern...I mean its not the stitches, its a diagram for the pattern....oh my! And by the way, thank heaven that there ARE diagrams for the stitches because if there weren't....yep it'd be in the trash bin. I know I'm going to have to get my Rosary out when I get to that flower stem and the flowers, because I think there is actually crewel embroidery work on it....I haven't delved that deep yet I'm still on step #2 and I'm afraid looking forward will just make me want to throw up my hands in disgust. All I can say is: it's. gonna. get. finished. one. way. or. the. other. I guess even if I have to peer into hell itself! :o/
LOL!

Now this morning....
When I was downloading the camera this is a sampling of what appeared on my screen:

I guess....

The girls had a photo shoot showing their cat attributes? Or at least their "paws" and their sharp "claws" - this I know must be the case because Ellie is constantly hissing at me and showing me her sharp claws and asking me to wash her paws.... *sigh* and I must admit...she's pretty cute when she does it! LOL!

But....

we all know the cutest kitten in the house is Lil' Red:

*LICK*

Now it's off to work....
so until next time, Love and best wishes, as you count your blessings and your stitches, from our house to yours! XXxxxx

May the Lord keep watch

between you and me when we

are away from each other.

~~Genesis 31:49~~

A Witchy Stitcher....

Howdy Friends!
I have a really, dear Buddy that L-O-V-E-S Halloween. Well after some sneaky sleuthing to make sure that she hadn't purchased the pattern yet....I stitched her this stitchy witchy:

Homespun Elegance ~ "Witches Stitch Too!"

Fabric: 30 ct. Straw Weeks Dye Works

Fibers: Crescent Colours, Weeks and DMC as charted

Finished as: Stitcher's Keep

Stitched for: Terry P.

Started: July 6, 2009

Finished: July 24, 2009

I believe....

that Terry is over the moon with my choice for her, and the Good Lord knows she's been waiting for a looooooong time for this, see I "owed" her one.....and finally I saw it through. Hopefully it was worth the wait in Terry's eyes? Let's hope so!

What'd up?....

Well I started a new project and it is not going as I anticipated. But hopefully it will turn out o.k. We'll see....and I'm too embarrassed right now of the MUCK of made of it to even show you. So I'll wait and see - hopefully I won't just pick it up and throw it away :o/

Yesterday....

We went to our county fair. I love fairs, the animals, the 4-H'ers, the food, the lights, even the smells...but my very favorite part is looking at all the Home Ec exhibits and especially the needlearts entries. You know here I'm going to once *again* show my ignorance....but I thought you had to belong to a Ladies Home Ec. Club to enter things in the fair....apparently I was wrong, so you know what? I got a list of all the entry categories and I'm going to enter something(S) next year....I was looking at what was entered and what won the Grand Champion ribbons and I think that, I could win some ribbons myself. Maybe. Next year. We'll see.

Well....

That does it for me for today....back to the laundry and finishing work. Until next time: Love and best wishes, as you count your blessings and your stitches, from our house to yours! XXxxxx

In the end,

those things that affect your life most deeply

are too simple to talk about.

~~Nell Blaine~~

Stitching like Crazy...

Happy Monday Friends :)
I hope this finds you all healthy and happy! Thank you to all the well wishes for my shoulder and neck....I was soon on the mend by Saturday and by Sunday I was 100% back to normal! We didn't do much this weekend in the way of activities, so that meant I had a lot of stitching time! HURRAY! So what did I stitch, you ask...well read on dear friends, read on! First I started my Country Cottage Needleworks Winter Wonderland Thread Packs...I think these are just darling and although these aren't my "usual" colors, I really liked the way the whole finished and framed piece looked. I figure I can have it out at Christmas and then all the way through to Spring! And it is C-U-T-E too! Here's the #1 block - Frosty Blue House all finished up:

Country Cottage Needleworks/Crescent Colors ~ "Frosty Blue House"

Thread Pack #1

28 ct. Vintage Examplar

Belle Soie Silks as provided

I started and finished the CCN house on Saturday, so Sunday I went through my stash and pulled out Little House Needleworks "Be True" and started it on Sunday. Today I finished and framed it in the Crescent Colors "Dee" Frame:

Little House Needleworks ~ "Be True"

DMC as charted

32 ct. Light Cinnamon by Sassy's Fabbys

Framed in the Dee Frame

So another for my wall to squeeze in somewhere ;) Tonight I'm starting something else new that I think I can maybe get banged out in no time....we'll see!

Today....

we went to see the new Disney 3-D Movie "G-Force". My kids really were wanting to see it and it was SO-SO, cute in places and overall entertaining, but I guess I was thinking it would be something a little be *more*....the kids even said they didn't think it was "that good". Sunday's paper said that G-Force knocked of Harry Potter's new movie so I was expecting it to be a blockbuster....its not....

So that does for me today, until next time....

"Love and Best Wishes, as you count your blessings and your stitches, from our house to yours!"

XXxxxx

As a countenance is made beautiful

by the soul's shining through it,

so the world is beautiful by the

shining through it of God.

~~Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi~~

Neglected...

Hello Friends, I need to confess that I've neglected two very special things that I need to give reference to:

First out of the blue Lisa sent me a lovely RAK. Look at this darling fob she made for me! I love it and it is on one of my very favorite pairs of scissors:

Thank you Lisa, I love it very much!

And I won the giveaway over on Sherry's Blog and she sent me a darling miniature book of this title:

Yep, pretty much perfect for me! Thank you Sherry for holding a delightful drawing for us all to take part in!

That does it for me, not much going on around here. My left shoulder has "seized" I can't move my arm up or down, or turn my neck any way....it started Wednesday night (although I'll admit that I've been having issues for about a week now). Yesterday was miserable. Last night my husband finally convinced me to go to the doctor. I was hurting so badly that I agreed. So I'm on muscle relaxant's and I must say, I feel a bunch better today, at least I can move it. But that's about it....it hurts like the Dicken's still. I guess I'm getting old. I've had this before and the only cure was 3 months of every other day Physical Therapy. I'm hoping that isn't the case this time around. Time will tell....

Until next time....

My Sampler Wall...the beginning....

Hello friends...
I'm burning up the wires, aren't I, blogging every day... this will be the last for a good while, I'm thinking....I was just so excited, I couldn't hold myself in! Wednesday was not only Laundry Day (UGH!) but it is also the day that I do a lot of my finishing work whether it be for clients or for myself. Yesterday it was particularly productive because I framed:

Blackbird Design's "Their Song"

AND:

The Primitive Needle's "Earth Sampler"

AND...

While we are on the subject of framing - I "edited" my framing tutorial with a trick that Anna and also Marie told me about. You can go on over to the tutorial to read all about it but basically they told me to wet and glue the brown paper and I did it with these two frame jobs and WOWZERS girls...thanks for the tip! :o)

AND now the unveiling....

of my beginning sampler wall....now it's in a "primitive" form, I left some holes on purpose to sort of fill in. And my husband told me that he was going to have to redo the whole gol'darn wall if I didn't stop hammering and I told him to get his work belt out because when I get finished this whole wall was going to have samplers on it from chair rail to the ceiling. To which I got a blank stare. :o) Men ye' of small minds....and sampler wall aspirations.... but anyway I digress...here it is folks in all it's sampler wall glory. It is the wall behind my couch and I can see it from my stitching area....and smile drunkenly with happiness, while doing a jig and singing Danny Boy.

Isn't it grand?! The pictures are a little dark....but I couldn't wait for sunlight...excited, I was!!

Until next time my friends.....

smile drunkenly, while doing a jig and singing Danny boy! :o)

Blackbird Stocking....

Happy Wednesday Friends :)
I did it! I finished one of the July Blackbird Designs stockings. It wasn't pretty, I had to figure out the process, and I came to KNOW that the way Alma and Barb give the instructions in the back is the way to finish them! Easy peasy once you get the hang of it :o)

Blackbird Designs ~ July Quilt Stars Stocking

Stitched on 28 ct. bake and basted by me evenweave

Fibers: DMC as given in the pattern

Started: July 18, 2009

Finished: July 21, 2009

Now on to the other 20 stockings.....

to be continued..... LOL!

Until next time....

Love and best wishes, as you count your blessings and your stitches, from our house to yours! XXxxxx

When we recall the past, we usually

find that it is the simplest

things - not the great occasions-

that in retrospect give off the

greatest glow of happiness.

~~Bob Hope~~

Back to the Land of the Living....

Guten tag Friends!....

long time no post, huh?! With the unexpected death in the family, it sort of threw the wheel off the wagon. But everything is back to rights...or well as good as it usually is, for I never know if I'm truly on the "rights" :o)

What have I been doing these past 11 days?...

well, since you asked....I was off until this past weekend and I stayed the week of the 12th - 17th at Mama's house in Haubstadt. I stayed over to help her Seasonally Clean her house. I was happy to do it and help her out. She's 60 years young and I know it isn't as easy as it used to be going up and down ladders (heck some days I have issues with ladders) But since I'm still able bodied, I got to work. Mama and I worked as a team (which always makes work more enjoyable) and cleaned out, pitched out, power sprayed out and scrubbed out her garage - I darn well think you could eat off the floors in there now! Then we power sprayed her front and back porches, her columns on the front porch and her shutters. WHEW! This was done on Tuesday the 14th. On Wednesday we had a day of rest because frankly my rear end was kicked from the day before and it was raining anyway. On Thursday the 16th it dawned clear, sunny and hotter than hades and I washed every window in the house, pulled down the curtains and fluffed them in the dryer to knock the dust out, washed walls, appliances and then "webstered" (this is a dust cleaning thingy) all the corners and baseboards and walls, we vacuumed under all the furniture and beds, changed the sheets and VIOLA...my Mama had one clean house! I know she was grateful and I had a happy heart because I helped her :o)

Now on to stitching....

these are the current thread packs by Crescent Colours and Little House Needleworks - I model stitched them for Sharon Crescent - who framed them and took them to the Columbus Trade Show...I love these thread packs and was happy to help Sharon out, I stitched them in late April/early May - but couldn't share until they were released:

What's in my Travel Stitching Bag you ask?......

well the BBD Stockings, of course! these are such small cute projects that are easy to follow in the car, during appointments, at practices and so on - I just put them all together in a zippered pouch and as I get one done, I get the next one started. Easy, peasy, travelling stitching. I put it in my purse and its with me always :o)

I've started my first one.......

this one is the "Quilt Stars" from the July Patterns - the colors remind me of a favorite quilt of mine that my Aunt Kate made....And although I think Alma and Barb's instructions for finishing are quite clear and easy to understand, I think I have an easier way and if not easier, maybe faster? I've been thinking about it and I've had a lot of people e-mail me about finishing them, and "how to's", so I think I'll make a tutorial too....that way visual learners can see the step by step pictures. I'm visual myself....so I have to "think" in pictures and steps before I can do something. So I'm working it all out in my brain - All eyes trained here ;o) Maybe in the next few days (or weeks) I'll put one together. We'll see how fast I get this one done and then finished. I think the stitching should be done by this afternoon considering my three BIG kids have Dentist appointments.

The view outside my window.....

the other evening was heart warming and since Katie isn't the only person that has a window view at this house, I thought I'd share mine:

Ellie and Daddy playing soccer ball

Darling, isn't it?!

My baby.....
had to get his rabies shot yesterday and he was all tuckered out, they told me he would be sleepy:

But he suckered Mama out of a fishy treat (of course Chatty was sympathetic to the little guy so he suckered Mama too):


Then after the bellies were full, they hunkered down for a long, summer days nap ~with Chatty mothering Lil' Red because, well the poor little guy was just pitiful! But a big strapping boy Lil' Red is turning out to be, long gone was the 2 lb mark, now he's a big 4 lbs! :o) Mama's little eater....


So that does it for me folks.....back to the grind.

And until next time, Love and best wishes, as you count your blessings and your stitches, from our house to yours! XXxxxx

We're the best of friends

and I pray for good fortune

in everything you do, and for

your good health - that your

everyday affairs prosper,

as well as your soul!

~~3 John 1:2~~

An angel that got her wings....

Helen Hedinger

March 17, 1917 ~ July 10, 2009

She had her halo for 92 years on this earth waiting for her wings to fly on to heaven, she was given them on Friday. Keith's Grandma Hedinger, a lovely woman I was graced to meet. I know she's in glory.....

May her soul and all the souls of the faithfully departed, by the mercy of Christ, rest in peace.

For Your Framing Pleasure....

I've created a tutorial on "my" framing process - now this is my way, doesn't mean it is the "only" way to do it. But anyway for those of you that are interested in learning the process that I've figured out for myself - click HERE I wish you many enjoyable hours framing your heirlooms!

The Postman came bearing gifts...

Happy Tuesday!
I have a lot of wonderful friends to thank today, so I'm going to get right to it. Yesterday, I worked, but last evening I came home to a passel of good stuff! The postman must of had a pack as big as Santa's because here's the haul....

From Cathy B I received a gorgeous hardanger fob....isn't it simply beautiful? Here it is modeled on my Sarah Gingher's and I believe it shall stay on my Sarah's...utterly gorgeous! Thank you Cathy!

Then I came to a package from Harmien...and it is just wonderful as well! Here's Blackbird Designs "Pins and Needles" stitched by Harmien, it is so lovely... and as always she paid attention to detail and stained her lace with coffee, I believe. It's prim, it's a Blackbird Designs, it's wonderful...what's not to love?! Thank you Harmien!!!

Harmien also sent a little present for our newest member, Master Lil' Red - she sent him some kitten mittens to play with....and let me tell you HE LOVES THEM! :o) Thank you Harmien!!

Next my friend AmySC sent me a lovely Prairie Moon Patriotic Box for this Yankee Doodle of the First Order ;o)

And on the inside was a perfectly stitched and assembled Pincushion filled with walnut shells! I've always lusted after these little deals, and now I have one for myself! Here is is modeling some needles...Amy also sent me two packages of John James Needles...never tried them am excited to give 'em a whirl! But isn't this precious?! And it fits so well in my home too! Thank you Amy!

Next my friend Terry P sent me a bit 'O Good Luck - who doesn't need that?! - in the form of the "Good Luck Biscornu" and here it is:

On the back she included our initials and like I told her this morning...BFF's FOREVER! Thank you Terry!!

Lastly (as this isn't enough....)Sweet Julianne sent me a gift certificate for stash! (how can you go wrong with that, huh?!) And here's what I picked out:

I got a large cut of Picture This Plus "Earthen" lugana and 4 charts from The City Stitcher....I've recently become a huge admirer of Samplers, particularly primitive samplers...and The City Stitcher fits the bill with these lovelies...check out the "BEE SAMPLER" I'm thinking that will look pretty doggone nice framed and hung near "The Bee Man", huh? Thank you Julianne!

And lastly dear Annemarie sent a gift certificate to me too and I'm awaiting the arrival of Carriage House Samplings newest "Fredricka" to use it all up :o) Thank you Annemarie!

Whew! What a haul, yes?! I am most thankful for the gifts, but the biggest blessing of all is just the friendship of these ladies....I appreciate it so much that they take time out of their busy schedules and lives just to do something special for me on my birthday...humbling!

And until next time....

I got a frame for my Blessings and Kind Wishes...and am working on framing it and making a Framing Tutorial...so keep an eye here, if you're interest in learning how Vonna frames her needlework! I've had a lot of e-mails about it and I thought I'd just write it all down once for all to see, if they are interested, of course!

Blessings and Kind Wishes....

Good Morning Friends :o)
First off, I'd like to thank each and every one of you who sent me notes and cards full of blessings and kind wishes for my birthday yesterday. Thank you! And while you were sending me some blessings and kind wishes, I was finishing the stitching on some Blessings and Kind Wishes of my own yesterday too! May I present:

"Blessings and Kind Wishes" ~ Loose Feathers #31

Designed by: Blackbird Designs

Stitched on: 30 ct. Olde Town Blend R & R Reproductions

Fibers: Gentle Arts, Weeks Dye Works and Crescent Colours as recommended

Started: January 10, 2009

Finished: July 5, 2009

~to be framed~

I originally was going to stitch and give this to my Mom and although I know she would like this because I stitched it. It really doesn't fit in her house decor, so I'm going to frame it and hang it on my "someday sampler wall". And...I'm going to stitch her something else.... Speaking of framing...I went to Michael's last week since my local store was having a "Frame Event" and I picked out a really wonderful custom frame for "Their Song" and a really nice complimentary frame for "Earth Sampler"...hopefully those will be in this week so I can frame them. I think after I get them framed I'm going to start knocking some holes in my walls to start my Sampler wall...I believe I have enough to start hanging...and golly gee...if I suddenly have more samplers to hang and I have to re-do the hanging layout, I've got some caulk and some paint to fill in the holes and re-paint the wall (shhh! don't tell my husband!) :o)

Well I guess that does it for me....

since I've been working I don't have much to write about! LOL! I guess working keeps a girl outta trouble! :o) However I'd like to say, for my birthday my dear sweet husband and family took me out for lunch at the Olive Garden where we spent a delicious time pigging out on the unlimited Soup, Salad and Breadsticks (well the adults did - the kiddos had spaghetti, pizza, fettucine and chicken strips) :o) I love their salad and their breadsticks...heaven.... :o) And the gift from my family for my birthday was some lovely black side tables I've been wanting for some time. As my kids get older and less "hard" on furniture - we're trying to get some new stuff to replace the old crappy stuff. So my old crappy side tables are gone and my new ones look spectacular! :o) YAY!

So until next time....

Love and Best Wishes, as you count your blessings and your stitches, from our house to yours! XXxxxx

Some gifts are big, others are small.

Gifts from the heart

are the best gifts of all.

~author unknown~