Short and Sweet

We have had sunny days, warm days and even chilly days. It's that time of the year when the weather bounces around and you may start off the day with warmer clothes then change over to something less bulky later in the day.

I went to the dr. and it turns out that my cold is really bronchitis so they gave me some meds to knock it out. He sent me over to the lab to get some blood work done and hopefully that will show if I am hyperthyroid again or if it is something else going on. He promised to get me back to normal. I couldn't help but laugh and told him "I think at my age, normal is a lost cause".

Each time I picked up my stitching, my eyes got dry and itchy from allergies or I just fell asleep so not much got done on that side of the coin.

Another thing I did was to start making a list of the pieces I want to work on through the rest of 2011 and for 2012. It always looks so good on paper. Organized, thought out and full of promises. But I have to say the actual finished pieces do look better on the walls than a list! *wink*

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway! I wish I could send a set of these to each of you. The winner is Calamity Jr. Congratulations!

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Ho Ho Ho and Giveaway!

I noticed that my blog has been missing some stitching pictures the past several times I posted! It happens to all of us every so often but I still feel guilty. After all, this is a stitching blog! Thank you for the comments and emails about my bursitis but it happens (too) every so often. Thanks to some TLC and meds it is all better for now!

I have been battling my first cold of the season. At first I thought it might be allergies but once everyone else began sneezing and coughing along with me, I had second thoughts. Out came the quilt my Grandma made for us and I have been sneaking in some naps, wrapped up nice and cozy. There is something magical about this quilt. It even makes me feel better than homemade chicken soup! Oh yeah, she could make a good pot of that, too.

Christmas stitching is showing up more and more on a lot of the blogs. I love these but I seldom do any type of holiday stitching that is bigger than ornament size. Not because I don't want to. The problem is that I know I will not want to put them away for a year! *big slap on the forehead* What am I thinking? I keep my Santa collection out year round! There are several Christmas designs in my stash I have been itching to do for a few years (or longer) and I am working on A Weary World Rejoices (a verse from a Christmas carol). So get off it and start working on them (that's me fussing at myself. lol). I haven't even started yet but the design pictured by NNF is the one I really want to do (first). What do you do with bigger holiday pieces after the season is over?

For those of you who showed concern over my sudden weight loss, I spoke with my Endocrinologist. They will probably do some tests. I was hyper thyroid until 2007 when they gave me radioactive iodine to kill it off. Then I was supposed to do an about face and go hypo thyroid so they could give me medicine to control it. My thyroid levels never went below normal so I was never put on the medicine. I was shocked to find out that hyperthyroidism can come back! It doesn't happen often but it does happen! I have been having some of the symptoms that I had before - just not as bad. Time (and some lab work) will tell.

I think it's time for another giveaway! This time I am going to offer 3 La D Da charts. You are my Sunshine, Merry Sunshine and Mares Eat Oats.They are from my stash but have never been used. One person will win all three. No rules to speak of. Just leave a comment on this post by October 23 and make sure there is a way for me to contact you in the event you win.

Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart!

Done! Done! Done!

Sort of a quite and very cold weekend. I was happy to just stay inside since we had no important errands to run. On Saturday, Harold talked me into venturing out to see a movie. I am happy to just wait for the DVD to come out but this was a Science Fiction movie and 3D! A combo he just couldn't pass up. The movie? You guessed it, Avatar. I think he liked it a lot better than I did and some of those 3D effects can really make you feel woozy.

My first finish of the year and what a great feeling to be able to say I stuck with it through everything that happened and completed it! Not as soon as I had hoped but done just the same. After checking my frame again, I think it may be too big so I will either look for another frame or get a mat cut for it.

It's giveaway time again! I want to get some of these used and even unused designs cleared out so I won't feel so guilty when I decide to break down and buy more! This time I am giving away Bread Cloths by Leisure Arts. A really nice booklet. It has never been used but definitely thumbed through to admire all the pretty designs. If you are interested, please leave a comment on this post only until midnight on Saturday then I will announce the winner on my Monday post after the weekend. Please be sure to leave your email address or a link to your blog so I can contact the winner. Also be sure to let me know whether you want your name entered in the drawing or not.

Thanks so much for stopping by and until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Weekend Wishes

I know I have said this before but I really need to put aside a day or two every so often just for finishing off completed stitches. I have a basket with about 6 just waiting for my attention!

Here is MHIBIG in all her current up to date glory! Actually, I have done more than this since I took the picture. I am really excited to be getting so close to finishing. I bought a frame at a yard sale over the summer just for this piece. I wasn't sure if it would be big enough but I think it will work. It was only a dollar and is lightweight plastic but it looks like a dark wood with lots of wonderful carvings.

I have my new starts all picked out upon completion of MHIBIG but for now I am keeping them a secret. I really want to get a start on my HRH designs sometime during this year. I had started on HoHRH a while back but I didn't like the fabric so it is back in the bin kitted up and ready to go again at some point. Right now I am struggling with what size fabric I want to use when I do begin on them. I don't want the designs to be enormous when finished. A lot of you have already finished off one of two of these and/or are working are one. What size fabric did you use?

I know. I know. I said I wasn't going to buy any new designs for awhile but the Nashville Market is coming up soon (said in my best whiney voice)! Autumn at HRH will be out. A definite gotta have. I am just in love with this village and I want to live there! I haven't even seen Autumn yet and I am already anxious to know what's in store next for HRH! All the sneak peeks will be starting up soon and I know there will be at least a handful (if not more) that will catch my interest! So much for my will power but my intentions are pure gold! I can't wait for all the sneak peeks to begin! *insert wicked laugh*

Be sure to check back on Monday for another giveaway! Thanks so much for stopping by! Until next time, may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart!

Giveaway!

Since I will be busy most of the week I thought I would go ahead and put up my giveaway post today.

After digging through my stash I found a design that would make a perfect giveaway! If you are interested in having your name included in the drawing, please leave a comment on this post along with your email address so that I can contact you if you happen to be the winner! The deadline to have your name included in the drawing will be early Saturday morning (Sept. 19) at 12 am EST. The lucky design chosen from my stash to be given away is ---------- Are you ready? ----------- Salina Dunwoody by Sheepish Designs!

I was able to get some stitching time in so far this weekend and pulled out My Home is Built in Glory to work on some more. I was also able to start on one of the Stacy Nash Halloween designs I had mentioned. I will post pictures sometime later this week.

Christmas is a Comin'

The blogs are starting to slow down and get quite now with everyone spending more time with family around the house in preparation of the holidays!

This is the Holiday Stitching Journal I made to use for my year of Christmas stitching. I also made a journal for my 2009 stitches and one for Special Stitches (quilts, gifts, ect). Who knows, someday a person may pick up this book at a yard sale! My work and the work of others will live on no matter what through these journal.

We went to see my parents yesterday for our holiday get together and it was very nice because for the first time in years all the kids were able to show up at the same time. Me, my stepsister, two stepbrothers and all the spouses! This hasn't happened in at least 15 years or more.

Wow! Once again I was bowled over by the responses for my birthday give-a-way! I wish I had enough to send something to everyone but there can only be one winner and it is Karen! Karen, please contact me as I need a mailing address so I can send you surprise pack out this week!

The Mouse
Long ago there lived a mouse in the forest. The mouse was very clever and was able to hide from a sly fox that was always trying to catch him. One day the fox was very close and the mouse knew he could not run away so he decided to hide in a Douglas-Fir cone. Unfortunately, the cone was too small. That is why - even today – you can still see the hind legs and the tail of the mouse sticking out from the Douglas-Fir cone!

I did pretty good!

I worked on Good Things yesterday and got it framed. I automatically see several things I will need to do differently next time but overall, I am pretty pleased! Practice makes perfect and I think I will get better as I continue to do alot of my own framing! Now to look for frames I can use!

I just love the frame. It is sort of a brownish gold color but the design is what really caught my eye and made me get it! This is such a simple piece so I felt it needed a little something extra!






Thank you all for the sweet birthday wishes yesterday! It was a nice day. I made a trip to the fabric store and picked up some very nice Aida along with some fat quarters for my Delectable Mountain quilt stash! I may go back after Christmas and pick up a few more FQs!
The Owl

According to Celtic legend, the owl symbolizes wisdom and helpfulness. Owls were also thought to have the powers of prophecy and were held in high prestige in nature ceremonies. Today, owls are still thought to be “wise”. Hanging an owl on your tree is thought to help you deal effectively with the challenges of the year ahead.

*I would love to find some frames to use for my stitching in my stocking!* (my stocking just keeps getting bigger and bigger!)

Remember to sign up on the post below for my give a way! Thanks for stopping by!

Sherry's Goodie Bag and a Finish

Look what I finally finished! This will probably be my last finish for the year and I am very pleased with it!

Today is my birthday and time for me to start thinking about AARP! LOL! It is also time for Sherry's Birthday Goodie Bag give a way! I decided to make this give a way a surprise but I promise something you will absolutely love (and it is holiday related) and be able to use alot of it for your stitching projects!! Don't you wish I had a birthday everyday with give a ways like this? LOL!

To enter the drawing for this give a way, leave a comment on this post with you email address or a link to your blog so I can contact the winner. I will have hubby help me draw a name on Sunday evening and I will announce the winner on Monday's blog post!

Since the winner will not be announce until Monday, the give a way may not arrive until after Christmas but stitchers can use holiday related goodies all year, can't we?! *wink wink*

Unless Harold takes me out today, I have no plans. No laundry, no cooking, no dusting. Only stitching!

The Legend of the Snow Maiden

Once there was an old couple who had no children. One beautiful winter day, they looked out their window and saw the neighborhood children playing in the snow. At that moment, the couple was overcome with their longing for a child and decided to make a little girl out of the snow. As soon as they finished, color came into the little snow girl’s lips and her eyes opened. She had come to life! The couple was overjoyed, and took the girl into their hut. The snow maiden loved the outdoors and was happiest playing with the animals in the winter weather. However, when spring came around, she became sad and would hide from the sun’s light. One day, when summer had arrived, a group of girls from the village called for her to come and play with them. The snow maiden didn’t want to, but the couple encouraged her, and she went out into the meadows with the girls. It grew into evening and the girls lit a fire. The snow maiden, after hanging back from their games all day, finally gave in and joined the other girls around the fire, laughing, singing and dancing. One by one, the girls began to jump over the little fire they had built. Following her new friends, the snow maiden jumped over the fire as well, but halfway through her jump, she suddenly melted and turned into a white cloud. A faint good-bye was heard as she drifted up to the heavens.

*I would love to find some ribbons and buttons and decorative pins in my stocking*

Stitching

Thank you to all my readers and friends who posted their sympathies about the passing of my aunt. I know it will take awhile to adjust but I also feel relief for her that she is no longer suffering. Thank you again for allowing me to use your shoulders for support during this time!

The mail man brought several goodie envelopes for me yesterday. The blog give a way prize from Mercy arrived which included the Be A Witch chart, fabric and buttons! Just too cute and I can't wait to begin working on it! Also I got a design from Country Stitches that I have been waiting on!

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you all have a wonderful day!

And The Winner Is..............

Good Morning, dear friends!

I am happy to annouce that the winner of my first blog give a way is Betty! You know how to get in touch with my Betty and I will need your address to send the chart on to you!

Today is an overcast day and I can't think of much on my to do list that I need to get done. Basically, I can stitch! Yea!

I hope everyone has a great day!