A page out of my life for the first week in October 2023...

 ~ Greetings and Warmest Wishes to all of you, my friends! ~

So...October 2!

Where in the world does my days go? I once again have painted myself into a corner and I'm going to admit I'm a little stressed about the amount of work I have here to be finished by deadline dates - that of course are like: November 1 and Dec 1...Finishing....it takes such extreme amounts of time and I feel chained, some days, to my finishing room. I typically do anywhere from 700-1000 finishes for clients per year. People can't believe that is true, but it is. And my wrists and finger joints can attest to it. HA HA!

Here's some of my most recent finishes that have been sent to their homes...

Just a sampling....of a few of the pieces I've done of late...there have been TONS more, believe me :)

How did my Santa stitching go on Friday night? 

Well I DID stitch....but nothing that made much of a difference....ho hum! not even worth an update pic.

Let's all believe that I can do this final push of the finishing year and then give myself a nice long break where I can get some real stitching done and live my life a little better. I need a system, a better system of scheduling. I suck at that...plain and simple...stink big time - at scheduling my finishing work. I am not good at life to work ratio planning. With my job being in my home, it is also hard for me to stop at a reasonable time for the day. I recently have been working from morning to night then fall into bed. I need to do better for me. 

My son Ian is getting married Saturday!

Here is one of their engagement photos: 

~ Ian and Kamdyn ~

They met at work and my son dropped a piece of paper and said, "Oh you must have dropped this!" and handed it to her and left. Inside the piece of folded paper said: "If you'd ever like to go for coffee and talk give me a call." So she did....and that was that. 

We love her....we don't know her that well as it has been a whirlwind romance and just over a year since they started "talking and drinking coffee". But what we do know of her, we love her and I know that as we know her better we will love her more. You know what is best about her? She is as sweet as she can be and she loves the Lord just as much as we do. They have touched my heart as they pray together and read scripture together EVERY day....what Mama can't get behind that? I tell you, any relationship with a foundation in Christ, can't go wrong. I'm so happy for Ian and Kamdyn. I sure will share pictures of the happy day I gain another daughter!

That's enough for today...

just a quickie to tantalize your stitching senses and share with you a little of my joy!

Hugs and love from me to you, 

Vonna xxxx

Long time...with no time....

 ~ Greetings and Warm Welcome to you, my friends! ~ 

I have been missing in action again....

everywhere. No videos, no blog posts...I do sometimes post on IG and FB, however I'm rethinking that avenue of posting as social media is just a bunch of negativity. We will see, what I decide. Many, many times I have thought over about pulling the plug on all of this, blog, videos, tutorials, social media, just delete and quietly leave. It's been on my heart for a long time. However, when I pray about it, I always get this feeling in my heart that God intends me to stay, be a light and not hide under a bushel basket. The world needs some light, does it not?

OK enough of gloom and doom....

I have had a very active and exciting summer!

First things first. I have NOT finished Santa of the Forest....

...SAD FACE...

I have not really even truly - day after day - stitched like I have done for most of my life. I don't know what is wrong with me. I think it's burnout. I don't really have much time for myself, and even though I intend to do less work each year - it seems that I might do SOME less, but really I'm still doing a lot. 

Here is where Santa of the Forest stands as of today: September 29, 2023 (I have not stitched on it at all since August 16....ho hum!)

As a reminder or for those interested, I'm stitching him on 28 count raw Zweigart Linen 2/2 DMC and Kreinik Gold

That's really not very much left to do....

and I have resolved to pick him up again this evening, after I've written this blog post!

So maybe, possibly there might be a little progress on him the next time I swing in. 

Again, time will tell. 

I have stitched a couple of ornaments lately....

I tried my hand at a painted Needlepoint canvas: 

Then I finished it: 

I used a black ribbon because: 

a.) matching the two color of reds that are in the ornament to a ribbon wasn't working out. 

b.) Black is in the ornament but not a major part of the color scheme

I thought black would be dynamic personally. 

I stitched up a couple of Mill Hill Santa Faces on is from  Series I and the other from Series II, these I have not fully finished yet. 

Besides an endless stream of finishing that I can't seem to get to the end of....the summer was enjoyed with my family. We went on a family vacation with Ellie and Jake to Colorado! 

What a spectacular time we had. I have thousands of photos here is just a sampling of where we went and what we did:

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

ESTES PARK

~ we tried Rocky Mountain Oysters (bull's testicles) - the photo shows what we thought (mine is absent but I was a thumbs down).

THE STANLEY HOTEL

After 1 week in RMNP and ESTES PARK, we drove around the state for another week, we arrived first at: Montrose, CO and went to the BLACK CANYON OF GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK:

DROVE THE MILLION DOLLAR HIGHWAY to MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK

Mesa Verde is a night sky park so we went and observed the Milky Way one night:

Then we drove to THE GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK:

Then on to MOUNT EVANS: 

AND PIKES PEAK:

Two beautiful weeks PACKED with pure natural beauty in God's great world! I believe that this vacation was the BEST vacation I have ever been on. Probably the most exhausting vacation because we hiked several miles each day, but the most beautiful and most lovely time ever!

Got back home and I worked my fingers to the bone finishing for 4 weeks and then I traveled to my favorite place on earth, ST. AUGUSTINE! My mother wanted to go visit my nephew - who is a new freshman at Embry Riddle University, studying to be a pilot. I drove her. 

Here was our condominium. I have never stayed here - it is Ocean Gallery, right on the beach. It was very nice and we had a grand time!

Scenes from around town and the beach that I love:

.

.

 

Nombre de Dios Mission and Shrine of Our Lady of Leche:

 

And the most picturesque street in all of St. Augustine: Magnolia Avenue, with the arch of trees all the way down the street with hanging Spanish Moss....LOVE this view and always love going to see it each time I visit. 

This was my 20th time in St. Augustine, Florida. And....we will be going as a family next MAY again! Can't wait....

it was nice travelling with my Mom, but vacation is just not the same with out my family. 

Well, time is a wasting...I'd like to start stitching on Santa with my feet up. Katie just swung by to tell me our church's rummage sale - which she took a truck load of stuff to donate to the effort - WAS worth going to as it had TONS of Longaberger Baskets.....one of the things I collect (ha ha ha....!) SO I will be getting up early in the morning to go with her to get there in time to get THE best baskets! HA!

Thank you so much for hanging with me during these long absences. I will be better, as I'm thinking that my Blog may be the only way I will be sharing for awhile, and I truly love to share. 

Until next time my friends....

keep stitching - and maybe send me some of your stitching mojo as mine seems to be missing...first time in 40 years I have had this dry of a spell in the stitching department.

All my love and a million blessings to you all, 

Vonna xxxx