A Stitching Post

I finished up my second and final patriotic stitch for the year today.

Lady Liberty is by With Thy Needle and Thread and I have had it in the stash for ages. Arlene did it ages ago and sent it to me. I actually started it on 36 count way back when. I had done some of the flag and stopped and it went to time out (a term I have heard from stitchers) because I just didn't love the loose weave and coverage. I decided it was time to get it done or pass on it. I really didn't want a really large piece for displaying such a short time during the year. The answer was some 40 count in the stash. I don't remember the color...maybe a platinum. It is a gray color.

It is slightly too wide to fit in a 5 X 7 frame so I will make a flat fold out of it. It is more like just under 5 X 6. I finally feel like I have enough patriotic stitchers so unless there is a sure 'nough pattern out there that will be it. I am not hunting for one but just knowing that I won't purchase it unless it is calling my name.

I have the rest of the year lined up with stitches and I am trying really hard not to look at anything else.
I have
a summer piece I want to finish up,
 one more bird for my trio of birds,
a September word play,
and the Advent calendar are going to take priority.

Trust me when I tell you I could make a lifetime list and new stuff comes out all the time.
I am mulling over a town stitch like I saw with Country Stitchers using all the village pieces I have in my stash.  I fell in love with how she put them together to make long pieces like a town. I would love ...

These are pictures I snapped with screen shots of the floss tube video.

Deb added in the snow and made the landscape tie in from building and scene to scene for a couple of long framed pieces.

to do this. I would love to do this with our beach town of Fort Walton Beach. It isn't a snow town, but a beach town but I could envision some palms between the stores and of course the stores need to be local stores. So much twirling through my mind with this, so you see I have 2021 all dreamed out. Designers quit tempting me so I can stitch from my stash.

I just totally love this.

Quite frankly, I have been thinking a lot about how easily we can be distracted and want more. I have so much right here to keep me busy for ages...not to mention the space book and some flowers I want to do.

Which means that we will see what comes out of all my plans. Will I stitch what I have or will I get off track because I am greatly influenced by others?
Time will tell!

I can't believe this next weekend is Memorial Day weekend. I know sometimes I sound like a broken record with the teaching thing, but it was my life for 31 years. Memorial Day didn't mean school was out but it did mean kids had definitely turned off their brains. As time went on, I got good at thinking of things outside of the box to fill those days so that they didn't drive me nutty. Just like them each year, it signaled my brain turning to summer projects.

This June 6th will mark 6 years since I walked out those school door for the last time as teacher. I simply have no idea where those six years have gone. They have been documented in the blog, but they have gone by so quickly.
I have a little bit more to document before I close her down somewhere down the road.

This past week was back to keeping Tucker every day, but the day has been shorter. They don't go back to completely full time hours until the next phase.
This weekend was actually a work weekend. I worked downstairs doing some rearranging of furniture and then outside cleaning and getting some chores done before this wonderful spring weather we have had turns to hot.

Happily stitching,
Sandy

A Hodgepodge Post

I will start with a stitch for stitching friends dropping by. After finishing the blue jays and before starting the next one, I decided a small was in order.

I found a freebie here...http://www.brookesbooks.com/CrossStitchFreebies.html
It is quite small and would be very cute done on 40 count for a corner of a decorative pillow with just a wee bit of stitching on it, but I was looking for a filler in a basket or so I thought...

This is done on 28 count laguna with DMC colors that were called for in the pattern.

Here she is finished up in a small pillow. I went pulling out all my summery smalls to see what I had and if a bowl was in order or just scattered around the house.

I keep all my smalls of all seasons except Christmas in Lindsay's dresser. It is quite fun to pull open the drawers and see all the work from my hands. I think most of these will come out over the course of the summer and be scattered about over the house. I don't really have a look for a bowl yet or at least I don't think.

We will see.

I am planning to stitch a somewhat smaller patriotic stitch that has been sitting in the wings for far too long. I think it is time to get her done.

Lady Liberty in progress.

My current thought is she will be done in a flat fold. I am trying to get the skirt done first as I think the remainder of the stitching will go fast once that is done. 

Then I have a summer piece started that I need to finish and then back to the birds. 

Sunday was the first time I have had all my chickadees under my roof at the same time. That was the very best present ever. 

We celebrated Mother's 85th birthday which happened in March as all the Big C thing got started. 

She would most likely be upset if she knew I was posting it for two reasons ---she is convinced all forms of social posting is a bad idea and second she is ready for a haircut!!!

A Dorothy Hamill cut is what she sports.

Lindsay made her an adorable sign to take her picture with.

Y'all pictures of Mom are all I took. I was just so happy to have the family together. WE were under the 10 rule!

We made good food and desserts and I got my grocery store roses which I have told the kids is all I ever want.

I made Arlene's pimento cheese and some bacon jam and even some homemade bread. I was on a roll. Recipes that I used are linked with the names of the item.

I also made two pies.

I know it was Mother's Day but I told them I wanted to. They did the rest.

An update on Lindsay's friends and the fire. I am completely amazed at the goodness that has taken place. Lindsay and her friends raised $6,000 to help them get a rental and some new furniture and so forth. The insurance company has come out and said they will rebuild. Now, I don't know how quickly all that will take place, but the money raised will help them get set up while they wait. Continue to pray for them. I know the young man is taking it pretty hard. Lindsay said a piece of ash landed in the seat next to L as she drove away so she was frightened and knew it would not be there. T didn't have that plus his grandmother died and he had a funeral to go to, so a lot to swallow at one time.

It just reminds me how grateful we need to be for every good thing we have. Life is short and not always easy.

A quick pic to leave you with. This is just too cute not to share.

Tucker trying on PaPa's shoes. The background is good too. Shells on the floor, a dog bone, a toy turned upside down, the mop because that is his favorite toy, and a frozen lasagna dish in the living room that none other than Gus got off the counter and brought into the living room. Real life!!!

Take care,

Sandy