Monday, March 28, 2011

Where Are My Dull Days?

Thank you all for the wonderful comments on my framed pieces! I still haven't had time to hang them up but they are waiting patiently.

It has been a busy and hectic week around here again. DH went to the hospital and was there about 5 days. It certainly added a lot to my plate around the house but knowing he was getting the care he needed was most important. I am always a nervous wreck when he goes in the hospital. He is back home now but that doesn't mean things have slowed down very much with him being on oxygen 24 hours a day. It is definitely a lot easier to take care of him here at home instead of running back and forth so much. He had planned to take several days off this week and we were going to get some things done around the house. Well, he is home but our plans are on hold for awhile. I laughed and told him that he would just do anything to get out helping around the house!

I am sorry to say that I haven't gotten any stitching done over the past week either. When I did have the time, I was just too darn tired to even hold that tiny little needle! I can't even begin to count the number of times I have dozed off in my chair when I had a moment to sit. Hopefully I can get back to it soon. Breathe in. Now breathe out! Whew!

Our weather had been really nice then all of a sudden the temps dipped down again. We had those beautiful days in the 70's and 80's and now we are back into 30's and 40's with lots of cold rain and even the chance of some snow! All I can say to Mother Nature is "make up your mind"! I was expecting a weather change like this but not this late into the month so I had begun to think that we might be home free. No such luck.

I wish I had a more exciting post to make with lots of progress photos on my stitching but not this time. I have been trying to keep up with other blogs in between all the madness around here. Reading all your blogs and seeing your wonderful pictures do bring some peace and normalcy to my day.

Thank you all for stopping by again. Until next time, may you have simple days and uncluttered heart.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Frames, Frames, Frames

Hi everyone! We had a nice but busy Spring weekend with beautiful weather and the birds were singing their hearts out in celebration of the end (hopefully) of cold days. No real stitching updates to post this time as I took a break from it for a few days.

I needed to get a new frame for Good Things by NNF but kept forgetting. When I finally remembered and went to look for one, I wasn't happy with any that I saw. I guess I'm too picky. After getting home, I saw one peeking out of the stack of frames I have waiting to be used. It's a much older frame but I have always loved it and have been saving it for just the perfect thing. Bingo! Problem solved! Of course I had to clean up but I just love old knotty wood. It has so much character!




I picked up my pieces from the framers and I am love with them! She did such a wonderful job on the framing and I couldn't help but think "did I really do this work?" because of her wonderful touch and they look so much better in the frames than I ever thought my work could be! When she brought them out for my approval, I was jumping up and down and clapping in glee like a small child! Even Harold was impressed. They are special to my heart since they were both stitched in memory of loved ones. I have a list of more designs I would like to work up in memory of other loved ones. Personalizing them like this just makes the pieces much more special and keeps my heart warm.

My father was a gadget nut! He wanted (and usually bought) every new techno play toy that came out. He especially loved making CDs of his favorite music. Once when I called him, he told me that he had just finished a CD of his favorite gospel songs and hymns.He asked me what my favorite hymn was and I promptly replied "Oh, that's easy. His Eye is on the Sparrow." He said "Oh my gosh! I love that one and forgot all about it!" I laughed and told him he would have to make another CD now so he could include it. When he passed away, I chose the songs for the service and this was the first one I picked because of that special conversation and laughter we shared about it. This piece by Tree of Life of Samplings was a must to stitch when I saw it. I wanted a simple yet striking frame to bring out the colors of the design.


A Mind Independent and Free by CHS was stitched in memory of my aunt. She was a very special person in my life. Many times she told me that she wanted to live a good long life but if her mind ever started to go, she hoped the Good Lord would go ahead and take her home so this verse was more than perfect to do in her memory. I think she would be pleased. I picked a simple yet darker frame for this piece and the woman at my LNS was even in awe over the finished outcome.




My aunt had been working on our family history for years before she passed away. This past year we have all have received many CDs and other files with her pictures, a box of the history ready to put into binders and much more. This past week I was surprised with a another huge file with more history that I had not expected. I haven't looked at it yet because of the size and I know I will want a lot of time to look through it. I have been wanting to find more information on my Grandma's side of the family so that I can work on the Mother's Tree by Lavender and Lace. I have enough information right now to do it with 5 women but I have seen it finished off with 8 or 9 and it is beautiful! The more the better so my fingers are crossed! I would especially like to thank my cousins for helping to pull all this history together because they all did a lot of work on it.

Thanks for stopping by again! Your visits and comments always make my day brighter.

Monday, March 07, 2011

Better Late Than Never

February is gone and March has arrived! Even though February is the shortest month of the year, it always seems like the longest to me! I really don't know why. It won't be long now before DST begins again and with it comes longer days! Yea! I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted. Every night I would remind myself "tomorrow I will take some pictures and update my blog" but the next day would always come and go with no pictures or update.



During the last week of February, there was absolutely no stitching. Things just got away from me around here and my stitching was put on hold. Occasionally I would look at it sitting in the basket by my chair but I was just too tired to pick it up. Here is the picture I have been promising of Marianne. She is moving along. Not quite as fast as I would like but she's getting done and that's what counts. Right? I am thinking that she will be become my year long piece so I don't rushed (which usually leads to a lot of frogging) to finish. I see so many stitchers just zoom through their work and I feel like I am watching my own progress in slow motion!




I also worked on This is the Day a little bit the past few days. Even though I haven't spent as much time with this piece, I feel it moving right along. Harold is enjoying watching the progress on this one since it will be personalized in memory of his father.

Once again we spent a lot of the weekend catching up on errands and chores. Last weekend we made a trip to the Choo Choo Store (yes, that's the name of it) for Harold. It is a haven for all kinds of model train supplies. Then it was time for my fun. We made a trip to the LNS along with several samplers I have been waiting to take in for framing. Last year I took in 5 pieces for framing but this year I only took in 2. I still have some others to frame but I think I may do those myself when I can make myself find the time. I will frame some but if I feel it is special for whatever reason, I like to give it it's just reward and have it framed by someone who can do a much better job than I can. I can't wait for them to be ready to come home where they belong! While we were there, I picked up some threads for another piece! There is nothing like some new stash to lift your spirits.

Our weather has been on the up and down scale lately. The sun shines nice and bright then disappears into the clouds for awhile but I am hoping the terrible cold temps are over for another year! The trees are budding and the birds are singing their mating songs so everything is beginning look and sound like Spring! I am holding my breath because it is still early enough for another storm! *fingers crossed that winter is over here*

Thanks for stopping by! I always enjoy your visits and comments. Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.