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...

Peeking out of my pumpkin shell...

Blessed Autumn Equinox my dear friends... It's been a long, long while I know and I hope you all are well and happily stitching... I wanted to peek out of my pumpkin shell and let you all know I am feeling better and I hope to be blogging a lot more often...

Thank you so much to all of you who have thought of me and sent me messages, emails and kind and loving thoughts... Though I may not have always answered right away... your thoughtfulness was ever a balm to my wounded heart and soul and I know that hearts and souls as special as yours shall ever be blessed with a bountiful Harvest...

I have a few stitching finishes... a few WIPs... as well as a few other pics to share... My dear daughter, Brandy married her Soulmate on the 14th of June... It was a fairytale wedding and she was a Beautiful Bride...

Oh, lets see... I did move into my new home back in March and I'm still settling in so to speak... Living alone is quite an adjustment for me... well, not entirely alone as Gandalf the Grey and Shelley, my beloved cats are such wonderful companions... I'd truly be lost without their love and companionship... and they seem to be settling in beautifully...

So without further ado... I'll let my photos speak for me tonight... There are too many to post in one post... so I'll post a few along here and there...

Heartfelt Friends RR...

Lesley's RR finished in April 2008...

I stitched designs or fragments of designs by...

Little House Needleworks...

and Country Cottage Needleworks...

Heartfelt Friends RR

Designs by Little House Needleworks

and Country Cottage Needleworks

Finished April 2008

A close up...

I did add the chimney's to the house...

It's Winter and I thought the folks needed a warm fire... ;-)

Sunflower by Pine Mountain Designs ...

Stitched for my DD Brandy's

Birthday in March 2008...

Heartfelt Friends RR...

Donna's RR finished in August 2008...

I stitched designs or fragments of designs by...

Little House Needleworks...

and Country Cottage Needleworks...

Heartfelt Friends RR...

Designs by Little House Needleworks...

and Country Cottage Needleworks...

Finished in August 2008...

A close up...

Donna's linen is such a lovely, warm yellow...

I just couldn't get the light right

and the photos don't do it justice...

By the Sea...

by The Sampler Girl ...

This is one of my favourite finishes...

I love Lighthouses and the Sea and Jane Austen...

and I Love this design...

Thanks Tanya...

By the Sea...

by The Sampler Girl

Stitched on Cashel Dark Cappuccino by R & R

with GAST and WDW threads...

Finished 22 August 2008...

By the Sea...

by The Sampler Girl ...

A close up...

I'm going to use the Lighthouse fabric

in the photo above and make a wee pillow to hang

on my bathroom door as my bathroom is decorated with a Sea theme...

Brandy and Nick...

One of my favourite photos

from their engagement pictures...

19 April 2008

Brandy and me...

at her Bride's Maid Luncheon

7 June 2008...

Thank you again, my dear friends, who have kept me in your thougths and prayers... I will always remember your thoughtfulness... and thank you all for continuing to visit my blog despite my long absence, your kind thoughts and wishes are ever an inspiration...

Blessings and Love in Stitches...

I am thankful for precious moments... soul mates... daughters and sons... fairy tale weddings... friends and stitching... 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...

Chocolate Stitches... Blossoms Fair and Kitty Cuddles...

I haven't done a lot of stitching this week... had too much on my mind and I have had a lot of bother with my Fibro and RA... However, I did manage a wee bit of progress on Ye Olde Chocolate Shoppe by LHN...

Ye Olde Chocolate Shoppe...

by Little House Needleworks

Stitched on Vintage Country Mocha Cashel Linen

with DMC Threads

I took a few piccys of my azaleas and my dd, Brandy the other day... I love the beautiful pink blossoms... they are just gorgeous! And she is most precious to me...

My dear daughter Brandy...

Gandalf the Grey and Shelley...

This is the first time Gandalf and Shelley have ever laid this close to one another... peacefully... I couldn't believe it when I walked in and saw them on the sofa together... They are both my sweet babies and they are terribly jealous of me... They sleep with me at night, but on opposite sides of the bed and sometimes they try and run each other off the bed... Maybe this is a sign they have finally decided to be friends... :-)

I'm away to read in my bed for awhile... it's my three day weekend to work and I am already tired and it's only the first day... I stitched a wee bit today on Easter Avenue... Hopefully, I'll have some time for a few more stitches tomorrow... I'm sorry this is such a short post... I will catch up on my blogging over the next few days... I need to see what you all are up to and what you're stitching... :-)

My Deepest Heartfelt thanks to all of you for visiting and leaving such lovely and kind Birthday Wishes and encouragement... Akin to a roaring fire in the hearth... they fill my heart and soul with warmth, comfort and cheer...

Until next time... Love in Stitches...

I am thankful for precious moments... my dear daughter Brandy... my furbabies... and dear friends...

The Stash Faery strikes again...

Wooooo Hoooo.... two new beginnings for me! I started The Chocolate Shoppe by Little House Needleworks and Easter Avenue by Glendon Place on Wednesday... I haven't had a chance to stitch a lot on them yet... but I have started and that's a beginning... ;-) I had to work Wednesday and Thursday, and it was fairly hectic both days... I just don't understand why folks can't live in peace... Oh well, suffice it to say, I didn't have a lot of stitching time... Today, I had to go grocery shopping, and had a few errands to run and then there was housework.... mind you I didn't do too much of that! lol Just some laundry and tidyed up a wee bit here and there... and it was my dear daughter, Brandy's birthday... :-) So, needless to say, I haven't so much as picked up my needle! Not to fret as tomorrow is another day... and I have both it and Sunday free... So, can you guess how I'll be spending the rest of my weekend off? ;-)

The Stash Faery dropped off the stash for my two new projects last week... along with some other early birthday stash of which I will share piccys in a couple of days... I'm still waiting on some fabby to go with a couple of projects... I just love keeping you all in suspense! ;-)

The Chocolate Shoppe by Little House Needleworks...

Vintage Country Mocha Cashel with DMC Threads

and Antique Gold Kreinik #4 Braid

LHN The Chocolate Shoppe... Started 13th March 2007

Easter Avenue by Glendon Place...

Moonglow Cashel Picture This Plus Linen

Weeks Dye Works and DMC Threads...

I'm loving working on both of these... I didn't have time to sitch on Easter Avenue at all on Thursday... so will show a progress piccy of it tomorrow as I only got a few stitches in on it on Wednesday... I'm loving both of these! The fabby is gorgeous and the colours in both designs are so lovely... Easter Avenue is so Springy and I must say, it's such a cheerful stitch! :-)

Sally and Sue I wish you had the time to stitch CCN's Geranium House with me... You just may be tempted once you see it... ;-) I can't believe I'm starting so many new projects... hehehe And I'm also going to start Spring Has Come by The Prairie Schooler this Wednesday! lol Yes, daft I know!

Well, I guess I should go for now... I haven't been sleeping well the last several weeks and it's beginning to take it's toll ... last night I finally slept about 7 hours... but Tuesday and Wednesday I only slept a total of five hours for both nights! Needless to say, I was exhausted... and those long 12 hour work days seemed to drag on forever... Yet, as tired as I was, I just could not go to sleep... Oh well, I'm away to my bed now and hopefully will have a nice long and restful sleep so I can catch up with my stitching and blogging tomorrow and Sunday! :-)

Thanks for all the tips on uploading piccys... I'm going to try uploading from photobucket or webshots and see what happens! lol Hopefully, it will work... And thank you all for visiting... Your kind and lovely thoughts bring sunbeams of happiness to my days...

***Edited to add... Well, uploading the piccys did not work... sigh... I tried uploading them from my PC into my Wish List blog... and it worked just fine... but when I uploaded them here it did not work at all! I just don't get it! I'll try again tomorrow as I'm fed up just now and away to my bed....***

***Edited again to add... Okay, so I had an idea and could not rest until I tried it... I went back to my Wish List blog and rearranged the photos and it seems if you click and drag your photos to a different spot in your post once you've downloaded them the automatic link in blogger will not work... Hmmmm so how the bloody heck does one go about beating this? I know you don't have to have all your photos at the top of your post... Good grief, I've seen blogs with clickable photos that showed full size and they were not all at the top of the post! I tried uploading from photobucket... but the fabric in the smaller size piccy in the post looked distorted... That's it! I am away to my bed this time!***

***Yes, I know I am completely daft! I just had to come back and link the piccys I uploaded from my PC to the piccys I had uploaded in photobucket... that will have to do.... Woooo Hooo I tested it and that seems to work just fine! :-) This time I really am away to my bed... nite-nite all...***

Until next time... Love in Stitches...

I am thankful for precious moments... starting new projects and the Stash Faery...