Spring Blessings...

Spring is finally beginning to make an appearance... smiling jonquils scattered hither and yon dancing joyfully in green scented breezes... bright, sunny bursts of yellow beckoning, oh so sweetly for long dormant friends to join in the celebration of renewed life... and at long last dashes of sky blue, snow white, rose and lavender blossoms peek out of their winter homes turning lovely faces towards the sun... reaching, swaying... all lost in the rhythm of glorious, melodic birdsong...

And naturally, with all the flurry of colour and sweet flowering new growth and new beginnings surrounding me... how could I resist the oh, so tempting siren call of a few new stitchy projects? Sounds like a wonderful excuse... Oops! But of course I meant to say... It sounds like a wonderful reason for stitchy new beginnings to me! ;)

Thus without further ado... my lovely, new Spring beginnings... accompanied occasionally by my beloved Mr Darcy, Shelley and Gandalf the Grey...

This is the Day by Hands to Work

January ~ February Issue of Just Cross Stitch

Stitched on Vintage Sand Dune Cashel Linen

by Lakeside Linens

with Gentle Arts, Crescent Colours

and WDW threads

and Belle Soie Red Fox...

I fell in love with This is the Day by Hands to Work when I saw it on Siobhan's blog back in January and it fair screamed my name... I do declare but it was all I could hear for days and days... So, naturally what could I do but ring up my LNS and order all the stash and the magazine... And at long last the moment is finally nigh... perhaps the voices in my head will settle a wee bit now... ;) And in visiting your blogs of late it seems there are a lot of stitchers who feel as I do about this gorgeous Sampler... :)

As you may or may not know, I love Bunnies and this designer is one of my favourites as well... I've had Easter Parade by Blackbird Designs kitted up since I saw it on Vonna's blog a long, long time ago...

Easter Parade by Blackbird Designs...

Stitched on R & R Apple Brown Bindy

Cashel Linen with Gentle Arts Sampler Threads

in Brandy, Butternut Squash,

Dried Thyme and Chamomile

Weeks Dye Works in Pecan

Belle Soie in Red Fox and Cinnamon Stick

and Gloriana Fall Foliage...

I did change almost all the colours...

And I just love Tanya aka The Sampler Girl's designs and Sense & Sensibility has long been a favourite of mine... the film, the book and the stitchery... I'm hoping to stitch Pride & Prejudice once I finish this one... Or who knows, I may just order the chart and stash and start it sometime soon as well... Aye! The more the merrier... ;)

Sense & Sensibility

by The Sampler Girl...

Stitched on Vintage Examplar Cashel Linen

by Lakeside Linens

with Gentle Arts Sampler Threads and

The Thread Gather Silk 'n Colours

Medieval Mulberry...

Oh, and this next darling lovely is another one I fell head over heals in love with back in early February and honestly, I did try to turn a blind eye and deaf ear... I do declare, but it was calling my name so loudly alas, I simply could resist no longer and I feared I'd go mad if I did not give Theresa of Shakespeare's Peddler's fame a ring and have her send it to me posthaste! It arrived last week and needless to say... I'm starting it! ;)

The Weary World Rejoices

by Shakespeare's Peddler

Stitched on Vintage Buttercream Cashel Linen

by Lakeside Linens

with Gentle Arts Sampler Threads

Winter Limited Edition 2009 colours

And of course this next wonderful lovely is by Carriage House Samplings... another of my favourite designers... I don't think Kathy has a design I don't love and hopefully, one day I'll have them all in my stash... ;) {insert slightly mad cackle here} And... Oh, happy day! I'm finally putting needle and silk to fabric on this one... I have no idea when on Earth I'll finish all of these new beauties... sooner rather than later I would hope... However, it is in the journey wherein we find joy, happiness and beauty... Thus I'm going to enjoy every stitch of the journey...

The Shores of Hawk Run Hollow

by Carriage House Samplings...

Stitched on Vintage Autumn Gold Cashel Linen

by Lakeside Linen

with NPI Silks...

I started Hen Party by Little House Needleworks a wee while ago and was stitching along with dear Sally... of course Sally finished a couple of weeks ago and I'm still plodding along... I'm hoping to have the last stitch in this one this week...

Hen Party by Little House Needleworks...

Stitched on R & R Iced Cappuccino Cashel Linen

with DMC and Crescent Colour Threads...

And my Christmas ornament for March... another delightful design by Carriage House Samplings... I've got to get busy, busy, busy as there are only a couple of days left in March... Yikes!

Merry Christmas

by Carriage House Samplings

Stitched on Vintage Maple Sugar Cashel Linen

By Lakeside Linens

with Belle Soie Old Crow

and DMC 221 and GAST Blue Spruce

My dear daughter, Brandy celebrated her 26th Birthday on the 16 of March... We had yummy *cake and opened pressies at her house... I can't believe she's 26 already... I can still see her as a beautiful wee blonde angel... long braids flying in the breeze as she scrambled after her brothers... or playing contentedly with games and dolls... lovely tea parties with her dollies... I so miss the beautiful little girl but dearly love and cherish the wonderful woman and dearest friend she has become... If I searched the world over, I could not find a more wonderful and loving daughter and I love and cherish her dearly and I thank God I was blessed with such an Angel every day...

My dear daughter, Brandy...

Happy Birthday Brandy Rose...

She has been wanting a new Bible with her new married name engraved on the cover... I had gotten her a white Bride's Bible to carry with her in her wedding... and she wanted her new every day Bible to be from me as well... So, I found this lovely chestnut brown and burgundy edition of the NKJV Women's Study Bible... She loves it!

Brandy, my dear son, Elisha and their brother, Joshua...

Wee Jamie and Danielle could not come down for Brandy's birthday, but popped in a couple of days later to visit and of course I had to take a photo of the sweet father and mother-to-be...

Wee Jamie and my future DIL, Danielle...

Oh, and lest I forget... as much as I'd like to... Today... 29 March is my birthday... I think I've been rather Scarlet-minded when it comes to my birthday of late... meaning I'm not going to think about it today... I'll think about it tomorrow! ;)

Brandy baked me a delicious chocolate raspberry birthday cake...

and cooked a wonderfully, yummy birthday dinner for me tonight!

Elisha was there as well and we had a lovely time

and I was truly spoilt with lovely gifties...

Sadly, wee Jamie and Danielle could not

be there as they are nurses and work those long hour weekends...

However, they are all coming for dinner at my house tomorrow night...

Woo Hoo... I get to play Scarlet for one more day... ;)

My deepest heartfelt thanks to you all my dear friends for your continued visits, emails and kind, fond thoughts... akin to lovely, blossoming flowers on a warm, spring day your love and friendship fills my heart and soul with joy...

Blessings and Love always in stitches...

Lizzy

I am thankful for precious moments... new beginnings, dear daughters, peaceful stitching hours and dear friends...

The Black Frogs Are Upon Me...

Or at least they were... I do believe I've managed to throw them off my trail for the time being... And as Churchill would say... I'm going to KBO... For Churchill it was black dogs... however, stitcher and crafter that I am... it's black frogs for me! ;-)

I can't believe October has nearly come and gone... Time is flying by on a broom with transwarp drive to be sure... and it's leaving me stranded at the docking bay... ;-)

My Cardiologist took me out of work last week and this week... soooo I've been stitching and watching films and reading... and trying to catch up with my blog visiting and emails... I keep telling myself I should have accomplished more... alas I find myself puttering and pondering and wandering hither and yon... and all in all it seems to add up to much ado about nothing... ;-)

I've joined a few blogs whilst I've been on leave... For marvelous stitchy Inspiration I was fortunate enough to be granted membership in BeckySC's new blog... Let's Stitch... And it's certainly proving to be wonderfully Inspiring... so many talented stitchers and so much lovely handwork to admire and inspire... And Becky has all manner of stitchy incentives that is sure to entice even the most stubborn of stitching mojos to come out of hiding... I really don't know where she finds the time to organise and oversee so many wonderful stitchy groups, not to menion all the lovely handwork she creates... Ah... to be so talented!!! I could certainly take a leaf out of her book when it comes to organisation and sewing and crafting skills... I am determined to teach myself how to sew and make all these wonderful creations... I'm hoping for a sewing machine for Christmas... {If you see Santa do whisper a hint in his ear if you please...} Anyway, hop on your brooms and fly on over and have a gander... I know you will be inspired! :-)

My stitching Muse has been whispering ever so fervently in my ear of late... Thus, I also took the plunge and finally joined Vonna's wonderful, wonderful blog, Me, Myself and I Neighbourhood Round Robins 2 ... Oh, and I am sooo excited about this!!! I fell in love with Neighbourhood Round Robins when all the buzz surrounding The Original Dijon Neighbourhood RR was flitting around the stitching community and I have long since thought of stitching my own Neighbourhood... then I could stitch along at my own leisurely pace... ;-) Alas, I just never got around to tackling such an endeavour... Now, I have no excuses... Save the *minor* one of making a decison on my theme and choosing the designs... Minor? Have I finally lost what wee bit of sense I had left??? Have I gone completely daft??? Achk??? HELP???

I am most certainly at a lost when it comes to the blueprint layout of my Neighbourhood, and I've been pondering long and hard... Yes, I am completley and utterly dazed and confused at this point... ;-) Anyway, I'm seriously thinking of sitting down with a stitcher's yard of Vintage Examplar by Lakeside Linens and begin stitching in the upper left corner... leaving room for some sort of boder of course, be it flowers, leaves, vines or whatnot... and naturally I'd have my chosen designs and houses, gardens, critters, et cetera on hand and just let the design flow... and as I stitch, the neighbourhood will unfold as it may... Hmmmm... I wonder? Can you tell I am NOT an organised woman? ;-) As for my theme... Now, that's the difficult part as I cannot seem to make up my mind... Much akin to a buzzing bee amongst a garden overflowing with flowers I keep buzzing about from one idea to the next... I'm at a complete loss! There are so many I'd love to stitch... Country Folk Art Village ~ Jane Austen Village ~ Seaside Village ~ English Village ~ Prairie Schooler Autumn Village ~ Prairie Schooler Christmas Village ~ Halloween Village ~ and a Fantasy / Mediaeval Village... Ah, Decisions, Decisions... I am going to have to make up my feeble mind soon and save the rest for another time... And I do declare, I just don't know if I can settle on one theme... Any words of wisdom from you my dear stitchers on designing... And thoughts and ideas on a theme for my Neighbourhood would be ever so kindly and greatly appreciated! :-)

In anticipation of Neighbourhood stitching and a wee bit of inspiration and eye candy for you... Here's a stitched wonder to behold... I had been following Isa's progress on her Prairie Schooler Autumn Neighbourhood for a while now as she's in the Prairie Schooler Fans Yahoo stitching group and lo and behold... she finished it not too long ago... Absolutely, positively stunning!!!

This is Isa's Prairie Schooler Autumn Neighbourhood ...

The link doesn't seem to be working just now...

Nonetheless, I would not want topost the photo

and not give the stitcher credit...

Isn't it Gorgeous? I could look at it for hours... :-)

And of course I just can't resist a wee bit more *Inspiration*... ;-) This is one of my faves... It's absolutely Stunning!!! Just Gorgeous! Oh, and does anyone know who the Designer is for the house and tree et cetera in the bottom left corner... it looks like a Prairie Schooler Tree and Critters... but I don't know... And I love the border... and I've long thought I'd love to use it on my own NRR some day... I thought it was from Millennium Sampler by Ewe & Eye & Friends, thus I've been trying to find a copy for ages on eBay... And... a couple of weeks ago, Fate was kind and I now have my own *precious* ... ;-)

This is Deborah's NRR...

from The Original Dijon Neighbourhood Round Robin...

I also joined Hazel's blog... the eagerly anticipated Needleprint Beatrix Potter's Quaker Sampler SAL ... I have had the chart since last year and what more wonderful inspiration do I need to begin this beautiful design than a lovely group of stitchers peacefully stitching along with Beatrix together... I'll most likely go with Vintage Examplar and some muted Autumn coloured silks... just haven't decided which ones as yet! Imagine that? ;-)

Needleprint's Beatrix Potter Quaker Sampler...

Oh, and my goodness... for stitching fun year 'round... and because I just love stitching Seasonal pieces... I joined Nicki's wonderfully inspiring blog... Seasonal Stitch-a-Long... I have been itching to stitch something Halloweeny and Autumny and just haven't had the time with the wedding gifts I am stitching... However, this is just the inspiration and incentive I need... who can resist? I do feel the need for a wee bit of *me stitching* time...

Monday was my eldest son Elisha's birthday... he is 28 now and I just can't believe it... He, Jamie, Brandy and Nick all came over for his Birthday dinner Monday night... Alas, my camera batteries died and I just couldn't get my charger to work... {you might know that it started working after they left...} Anyway, I did manage to get one photo before my batteries died on me... silly me did not even think of using my Blackberry... I could have at least taken a few more photos... Well, Jamie had his digital camera and he took lots of photos and two hilarious videos and we're going to download them on my PC ... So... I'll have some memorable photos!

Jamie, Brandy and Elisha...

Elisha's Birthday... 20th October...

Oh, dear but I'm rambling yet again... one of our incentives this week over at Let's Stitch was to post a photo of just one of our favourite stitched finishes and tell a wee something about it... Why it is our favourite, when we stitched it... memories surrouding it, et cetera... Of course, you all know how I am when it comes to decisions... Thus in pondering which piece I would choose and how on Earth I would ever decide... I was drawn to the very first piece I ever stitched... It's a wee boy in patchwork overalls pulling a toy train and he looks just like Elisha... I stitched it while I was expecting him in 1980, thus this piece will always be near and dear to my heart... and with it being Elisha's birthday this week, I thought it was the perfect choice!

Wee boy pulling train...

Designer unknown...

My first stitched piece...

Stitched for my eldest son, Elisha in 1980...

Oh, and I have a new family member in my home... It is with immense pleasure I introduce... drum roll please... ahemm... Are you ready???

Ooops... Whatever was I thinking???

This is the wrong Mr Darcy! ;-)

Thus... without further ado...

Lizzy and Mr Darcy...

I just couldn't resist... ;-)

For the real Lizzy and Mr Darcy

from Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice...

see my side-bar...

As for my current WIP's... I have a few photos to share with you tonight... Here's my progress on Lizzie*Kate's... And Two Shall Be As One... I'm stitching it for my dear daughter, Brandy, who just got married back in June... It's going to be one of her Christmas presents and I hope to be finished soon... and if it weren't for those dreaded black frogs... I'd be finished already... I do declare, but I've stitched almost all of what I have stitched now twice, and some of it three times...

And Two Shall Be As One by Lizzie*Kate...

Stitched on Vintage Mocha Cashel Linen...

With Gentle Arts Sampler Threads...

Wee Mr Darcy just loves to help me stitch and take photos... ;-)

Spring Has Come by The Prairie Schooler ...

Stitched on R & R Cashel Creme Brulee...

With Crescent Colour Conversions

by Theresa at Shakespeare's Peddler

And my Angel, Shelley...

Spring Has Come by The Prairie Schooler...

The Wedding by Lavender and Lace

Stitched on Vintage Examplar by Lakeside Linens

with recommended threads...

for my dear daughter, Brandy...

The Wedding by Lavender & Lace...

I really need some encouragement

with this one, dear Ladies...

Thank you all ever so kindly for your continued visits and lovely words of inspiration and encouragement... akin to honey to the bee... they are sweet nectar to my Soul...

Blessings and love in stitches...

Lizzy

I am thankful for precious moments... Mr Darcy... Pride & Prejudice... Stitching... Lovely Autumn days and kind and thoughtful stitching friends...

There and Back Again... A heart's journey...

It's been a long while... and I am sorry I have been so quiet for such a long time. I started several posts over the last few months... alas, I just didn't have the heart or the energy to finish them... I have been unwell in heart, spirit and body for quite a long while... Aside from the Fibro that at times is ever my constant companion, so much has happened... suffice it to say my heart's journey has been wrought with many trials and tribulations of late and it seems to be catching up with me physically as well as emotionally... I was in Hospital the first week of February and they still do not know what is wrong with me... I passed out here at home and seem to have had some sort of seizure or something... who knows??? My anaemia is much worse and my blood pressure is lower than usual.. it's running an average of 90/50-60 and has been as low as 78/52... So, I don't know what is going on and no one else seems to have any idea either. I have made an appointment with another Doctor and will be collecting my chart from my Hospital stay and all the tests et cetera over the last few months and changing Doctors as I seem to have no satisfaction from my present Dr. Altogether over the last few months I've missed about two months of work... Aside from the health issues... the emotional turmoil has been, at times, more than I can withstand... I've moved there and back again and will find myself moving again in the next couple of weeks... Hopefully, I'll find peace in my new flat and can make it my *home*... Who knows, perhaps my ailments are naught save the lingering affects of the remnants of a broken heart...

On a lighter note... I have a few stitching finishes to share... Yes, Oops don't fall out of your chairs, I finished My Needle and My Floss, They Comfort Me by Waxing Moon Designs ... aka *The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern* For those of you unfamiliar with the tale... follow the link to my previous post about this wonderful design... Anyway, I finished stitching My Needle and My Floss back in October, on Halloween to be exact... and once again I am so sorry to have been so terribly slack about my posting... Well, rather than fool around and waste more time I have already drawn the name of the next *Sister* from the names of everyone who expressed a wish to be the next stitcher... I had originally planned on drawing the next *Sister's* name out of my Witch's Hat on Halloween, alas, All Hallow's Eve has long since passed... thus in honour of Valentine's Day and this special pattern and everything it meant to me, I chose a Victorian Heart box I've had for years and years as keeper of the prospective Sister's name... And without further a'do... the next Sister to join the *Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern* is...

Dear Barbara is now an official member of the

*Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern...*

...Barbara from Mainely Stitching ... I hope you will enjoy stitching *My Needle and My Floss, They Comfort Me* as much as I did, Barbara... {It's winging it's way to you now and I know you will finish it in a much more timely manner than I} And to echo Harmien's words when she stitched it... "Ne'er a truer word was spoken..."

My Needle and My Floss, They Comfort Me by Waxing Moon Designs...

Stitched on Belfast Vintage Autumn Blush...

With Crescent Colours, GAST, WDW Threads...

and The Thread Gather Silk 'n Colours...

and Gloriana Silks...

I am sorry I just couldn't get a decent photo... the colours aren't showing up that well and there was almost always a glare or the photo is just too light... Needless to say, it looks much better IRL... And the dress and the words are not the same colour as they appear to be in the photo... The words are stitched with Gloriana Silks Fall Foliage and her dress is stitched with Silk 'n Colours Worn Brick Path...

My Needle and My Floss, They Comfort Me...

by Waxing Moon Designs...

The Heartfelt Friends Round Robin is coming along so beautifully... We are all using designs from Little House Needleworks or Country Cottage Needleworks... Janice wanted Autumn Themed Designs for her RR, thus for my stitched bit on her RR I chose Two White Houses by LHN... I finished this in November 2007...

Two White Houses by Little House Needleworks

Heartfelt Friends RR

Two White Houses by

Little House Needleworks

Heartfelt Friends RR

Oh, and my RR is coming along so beautifully... here's an update... Cheryl has since finished her stitched bit... I couldn't download the pic she uploaded as it was not clickable... but you can see it here ...

Dear Diary Series by Little House Needleworks...

Heartfelt Friends Round Robin...

Stitched on R & R Belfast Iced Cappuccino

And I received these beautiful squares from Karen and Dani in the Fair and Square Exchange... Thank you both so very much... I will treasure them always! I have yet to post Dani's squares off to her... I have to finish stitching the second square... I am deeply sorry to be so behind yet again and I know my name is most likely mud with a few people... However, this I cannot help... alas, sometimes Life does happen...

Beautiful Prairie Schooler Squares

Karen sent me...

Lovely, lovely Squares Dani sent me...

The photo doesn't do the colours

or the stitching justice...

I just couldn't get the light right...

Here are the squares I stitched for Karen... The design is one of my faves and a lovely freebie by Plum Pudding NeedleArt... You can still download the chart on their website...

Blessed Be by Plum Pudding NeedleArt

Stitched on Belfast Vintage Autumn Fields

with recommended threads...

And on another bright and blessed note... My dear daughter, Brandy is engaged and the happy date is set for the 14 June... Nick proposed on the 26 of October while they were away for a Romantic Weekend at Ghost Town in the Sky in Maggie Valley NC... They stayed at the ever oh, so Romantic Dancing Wolves Lodge at Smoky Falls... Needless to say she is so excited and everything has been all a'flurry with wedding plans since November... They are Soulmates to be sure and truly blessed with each other... I am so very happy for them and wish them a lifetime of endless love and happiness together...

My dear daughter, Brandy

and my future son-in-law, Nick...

The Wanted Poster they had

made at Ghost Town reads...

*Wanted for Crimes of Passion...*

So adorable...

Brandy and Nick...

Time Travellers in the Wild, Wild West...

Oh, and I thought I'd share a photo of the beautiful Roses my DD, Brandy sent me for Valentine's Day...

My Dear Daughter, Brandy

sent me Beautiful Roses

for Valentine's Day...

And on a Literary note... I ordered a few new books for myself for Valentine's Day... Oh, and not to mention the visit from the Stash Faery... Seems Drema sent the Stash Faery my way for some unknown reason... Oops! I'll save stash photos for later... as there is also the Christmas Stash I bought myself and the Halloween and Thanksgiving Stash... and the *Just Because Stash*... A Holiday is always a good reason to gift oneself with stash but sometimes the *just because stash* can brighten one's day ever so much more... Anyway, I have been reading Jane Austen of late... I'm a quiet member of Tanya ... The Sampler Girl's ... The Jane Austen Stitching Group ... I just love Tanya's Jane Austen Samplers... and her newest series The Literary Littles are all must stitches for me! Anyway, back to the books... this month we were to read Persuasion... well, mine didn't arrive until last week, and I've only just started it... but I am enjoying it so much... I also ordered a couple more of the books in the Beatrix Potter Cottage Tales Mystery Series by Susan Wittig Albert... I do love them so....

Jane Austen Collection...

and Beatrix Potter Cottage Tales

by Susan Wittig Albert

Thank you all for your encouraging emails and comments, as always your continued support and friendship remains a constant source of inspiration and are ever rays of sunshine through the clouds...

Blessings and Love in Stitches...

I am grateful for precious moments... Daughters, friendships and blessings... and sunshine through the clouds...

My Needle and My Floss... They Comfort Me...

Hello my dear friends, I am still here... I know it's been ages and I am so sorry to have worried you all as I know I have... I withdrew into my shell yet again... As most of you know, I tend to retreat when life gets to be a wee bit much... however, my stitching has been a faithful companion and as always my comfort during the storms... And lo and behold... I have a few finishes to show you all and a couple of new starts... and of course I know some of you are eager to see my ever so creepingly slow progress on Waxing Moon Designs My Needle and My Floss, They Comfort Me... aka *The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern*... For those of you not familiar with The Sisterhood... see my previous post...

So without further ado... I'll let my pictures ramble a wee bit for me tonight...

Deciding to go with an Autumn theme, I changed most of the colours on Waxing Moon Designs My Needle and My Floss, They Comfort Me... The wonderful ladies at The Stitch in Frame Shoppe helped me choose the threads when I was there back in August... and Oh, My! Joy, Rapture... but what a wonderful time I had browsing through all the stitching goodies... alas, I'll leave that tale for the next time along with piccys of all my lovely new stash... ;-) Anyway, as I was saying, I changed all the colours, I'll post them when I post the finished piccy if anyone is interested... and I'm stitching her on Belfast Vintage Autumn Blush...

My Needle and My Floss, They Comfort Me...

by Waxing Moon Designs

Stitched on Belfast Vintage Autumn Blush...

With Crescent Colours, GAST, WDW Threads...

and The Thread Gatherer Silk 'n Colours...

and Gloriana Silks...

And here, my dear Sisters, is my creepingly slow progress thus far... Once again, I find myself much akin to the fabled White Rabbit of my dreams dashing willy nilly off to the Mad Hatter's Tea Party... Oh, and don't forget if you want to be included in the drawing for The Sisterhood of the Travelling Chart post a comment here on my blog and I'll drop your name in the hat once I'm finished stitching... which I hope will be within the next week... It truly has been a joy and comfort to stitch thus far and I love the colours...

My Needle and My Floss, The Comfort Me...

by Waxing Moon Designs

Stitched on Belfast Vintage Autumn Blush...

With Crescent Colours, GAST, WDW Threads...

and The Thread Gather Silk 'n Colours...

and Gloriana Silks...

Sharon, Ranae and I started Salem Sisters by Plum Street Samplers on the 22 of August... And yet again, the lovely ladies at The Stitch and Frame Shoppe helped me with my fabric choice and thread colours... Did I mention what a Wonderful day that was? ;-) They did not have Lakeside Linen's Vintage Autumn Gold in 32ct so I went with 32ct Vintage Sand Dune by Lakeside Linens and ended up choosing Crescent Colours Belle Soie Silks in Eggplant and Noir and Caron Waterlilies Silks in Copper...

Salem Sisters

by Plum Street Samplers

Stitched on Belfast Vintage Sand Dune

by Lakeside Linens

With Crescent Colours Belle Soie Silks

and Caron Waterlilies Silks...

Ranae and Sharon are a lot further along than me... and oh my, but both of theirs are looking gorgeous thus far... I really must see if I can't persuade the stitching faery to leave me one of her magic needles so I can try and catch up with them... Hmmm I wonder what I could use to tempt her... Perhaps she would trade a magic needle for some Chocolate... :-) I'm not that sure about the Belle Soie Eggplant I'm using for the words... I don't know if it's too purple or not.... It looks more Halloweeny with the Eggplant and I think I would like it to look more Autumny... But it's been difficult finding a silk I like online that doesn't clash with the Waterlilies Copper... I suppose I'll make up my mind once I get further along with it... This is one of the times, well one of the many times when I wish I lived closer to an LNS so I could just pop in whenever I needed to... it would be so wonderful to see all the glorious threads in the flesh so to speak... and it would make it a wee bit easier for me to make up my blooming mind... ;-)

Salem Sisters

by Plum Street Samplers

Stitched on Belfast Vintage Sand Dune

by Lakeside Linens...

with Crescent Colours Belle Soie Silks...

and Caron Waterlilies Silks...

And now for a couple of finishes... As some of you may remember, I am stitching along with some lovely folks in the Heartfelt Friends Round Robin... We are all stitching designs by Little House Needleworks for our RR's... and I chose Diane's Dear Diary Series for my RR.... I stitched Abigail Winslow before I sent it off to Edgar... and he has now finished his bit... he stitched Lucy Fairchild in Savannah and it's absolutely gorgeous... I love it!

My bit of my Round Robin

before sending it on it's Merry way...

Abigail Winslow

by Little House Needleworks...

along with the other seven charts

in the Dear Diary Series...

Stitched on Cashel R & R Iced Cappuccino

With DMC, WDW and Crescent Colour Threads...

I asked everyone to stitch their Name and Town, State or Country in place of the names and towns on the charts... Of course my last name will not fit so I think I'm going to stitch my signature Blackbird underneath Lizzy when it comes back to me... I am also going to stitch a border around the outside using Crescent Colours Almost Auburn... Oh, and if you want to see Edgar's finished bit mosey on over to the Heartfelt Friends RR blog or Edgar's blog and have a peek... :-) It's gorgeous!

My bit on my Round Robin

for the Heartfelt Friends RR...

Dear Diary Abigail Winslow

by Little House Needleworks...

Stitched on Cashel R & R Iced Cappuccino...

With DMC, WDW and Crescent Colour Threads...

For the Fair and Square Friendship Exchange I stitched Autumn Blackbird a freebie by Waxing Moon Designs... My dear friend, Tuula was my partner this time and I loved stitching this beautiful design for her... I stitched it on Light Mocha Belfast and yet again, I changed some of the colours...

Autumn Blackbird by Waxing Moon Designs

Stitched for Tuula for the

Fair Square Friendship Exchange

on Light Mocha Belfast

With GAST, WDW and Crescent Colour Threads...

I am sad to say I made a wee bit of a boo-boo in counting the border and it's off one stitch on the bottom right side, which of course threw off the entire right side of the border... I didn't even realise it until I was stitching the *nutmeg* stitches scattered here and there along the border and when I reached the last one at the top of the right side I realised the entire bit was off... talking about being *away with the faeries*... I still can't fathom how I managed that one... sadly enough there was no time to frog as I had to dash off and post it away to Tuula... I suppose one can call it an *Original* ... at least I try and think of it that way, because every time I think of sending Dear Tuula my poor wee square with the stitching boo-boo I cringe... I think I'll have nightmares about it for the remainder of my days... Oh, dear... I won't think about it today... I'll think about it tomorrow...

Autumn Blackbird...

by Waxing Moon Designs...

Stitched on Light Mocha Belfast...

With GAST, WDW and Crescent Colour Threads...

And here are the gorgeous Friendship squares my dear friend Tuula stitched for me for the Fair Square Friendship Exchange Blog... I love the red and the design is so lovely... Oh, and she stitched her signature square over one... so very beautiful!

The beautiful Friendship Squares

Tuula stitched for me...

A design from

The Gift of Stitching Magazine...

I will try and post more regularly now so you all won't worry... I am so behind with all of your blogs... I'll try and catch up a wee bit over the next few days with my blogging and emails...

Thank you all, my dearest friends, for your emails and for stopping by my blog so often to check on me... I am ever so grateful for your friendship... Your love, thoughtfulness and support have been a constant source of inspiration... and your comments and emails, as always, are golden rays of sunshine through the mists...


*** Edited Friday morning... I don't know what I was thinking... Autumn Blackbird by Waxing Moon Designs was stitched on Light Mocha Belfast... not Cashel as I originally stated... ;-) ***


Blessings and Love in Stitches...


I am grateful for precious moments... special friends and blessings in disguise...