Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern... My Needle and My Floss, They Comfort Me...

Wooo Hooo... I am now an official member of the *Sisterhood*... I can't believe Tessa's daughter, Maddi pulled my name from her Ladybug Hat and I am the next stitcher of this wonderful design which speaks so to the hearts of stitcher's everywhere... I've loved this pattern since Waxing Moon Designs came out with it and I already had it in my stash... but so wanted to join in the spirit of the Stitching Sisterhood and the wonderfully uplifting sentiment conveyed within... And here it is in all it's wondrous glory and comfort... As Harmien said... "Ne'er a truer word was spoken"

My Needle and My Floss

by Waxing Moon Designs...

"Stitching mends the Soul..."

Tessa also sent me this lovely

Wooden Heart Thread Keeper...

Thanks ever so much dear Tessa... :-)

I am sure some of you may be wondering just what the *Sisterhood* is... Well, it all started when Harmien stitched My Needle and My Floss by Waxing Moon Designs... Harmien enjoyed stitching the chart so much and was deeply touched by the sentiment and the message conveyed within... something I am sure stitcher's the world over can relate with... Anyway, in Harmien's own words... "In the spirit of PIF's and RAK's and all things good I would like to offer this chart to a fellow stitcher/blogger who would love to stitch this too." ... Thus Harmien had a drawing and Lili's name was drawn out of the hat... However... Barbara made this pledge on Harmien's blog should she win the draw... "... once I finish it (I'll stitch it immediately as soon as I get it) and then I'll offer it up again to other commentors on my blog. And boy will this chart be going on a world tour :)" Harmien thought this was a wonderful idea, however stuck to her original promise with the hope that the recipient would remember Barbara's pledge... As Harmien said... "Isn't that the most wonderful thing?? I love the idea of 'my' chart travelling the world spreading wonderful stitching sentiments!! BUT I do hope that the lucky recipient will remember Barbara's pledge and think: I will do that too!"

Thus, when Lili received the chart she decided to pass the chart on to Barbara because of the pledge she made on Harmien's blog... And then Margaret came up with the wonderful idea of the *Sisterhood of the Travelling Pattern*... Thus, the Sisterhood was born... and once Barbara was finished stitching it the chart journeyed on to Tessa... and now each stitcher who receives the pattern does so with Barbara's pledge at heart... Thus, I echo Barbara's pledge... "once I finish it (I'll stitch it immediately as soon as I get it) and then I'll offer it up again to other commentors on my blog. And boy will this chart be going on a world tour... :)"

So, I'll get started stitching this wonderful pattern posthaste so I can pass it on to the next stitcher... Oh, and if you want to join in the spirit of this wonderful sentiment and be a part of the *Sisterhood* leave a comment here on my blog between now and the time I finish stitching it and I'll add your name to the draw... ;-) I'll post updates as I stitch so you all will be reminded of the upcoming drawing...

On another note... I've been having some bother with my Fibro the past couple of weeks and as a result I'm behind with everything... and with trying to *catch up* with everything... you know how I am... "the hurrier I go the behinder I get" ... Anyway, I've got my Heartfelt Friends RR I have to get finished in the next few days... I'm using Little House Needleworks Dear Diary Series for my RR... A special project I have to finish... Yes, I'm still procrastinating about doing the finishing on my Mail Art... poor Roberta is going to think I've forgotten her... she knows I was having a time with starting the finishing part, and has been wonderfully encouraging and understanding... Anyway, the stitching has been finished for quite a while... however, I just can't bring myself to cut the fabric and begin the final process... I need some help!!! I keep hoping I'll wake up in the morning and find the finishing faery has paid me a visit during the night... Alas, no such luck... Thus, I must find the courage to get one with it... Please, ladies, if you run across the finishing faery, send her my way... and if you don't see her anywhere, a nice dose of courage along with some finishing mojo and skills will suffice... :-)

Oh, and here's a piccy of Lizzie*Kate's Bless the Graduate... I finished it a few weeks ago for my ds Jamie...

Bless the Graduate by Lizzie*Kate

Stitched on Light Mocha Belfast Linen

with GAST and WDW threads...

OH, and I am thrilled to get the chance to go to an actual Needlework Shoppe tomorrow!!! Oh, Joy... Rapture... My dd, Brandy invited me to go to the Mall with her tomorrow... This particular Mall is about an hour and a half drive from us... Yes, we live in the Boonies... anyway the stitching shop is about 20 minutes or so from the Mall so I'll be journeying to The Stitch and Frame Shop... Woo Hooo!!! I'm going to pick out my threads for My Needle and My Floss and I've got to get the rest of LHN's Dear Diary charts for my RR... {I've only got one of them} and there's no telling what else may jump into my arms whilst I'm there... ;-)

And I'll leave you all with a piccy of Bilbo Baggins the Garden Gnome and some flowers from my garden...

Bilbo Baggins... the Garden Gnome...

My deepest heartfelt thanks to you, my dear friends for your visits, your thoughtfulness and your inspiring words of love and encouragement... they continue to brighten my life like sunshine dancing upon the sea...

Blessings and Love in stitches...

I am thankful for precious moments... The Sisterhood, special friends and love everlasting...

Porcupines in the Post... :-)

Stitched Porcupines, that is! I received my very first Mail Art from Roberta today and I am over the moon with joy and totally in awe... It is absolutely gorgeous!!! Thank you ever so much Roberta... It is so beautiful and special to me and I will treasure my Mail Art from you always! You are such a talented stitcher and finisher!!!

Roberta also tucked a few wee gifties into my Mail Art... French Country Cat by JBW Designs... {I've been wanting this design since it came out!} A gorgeous skein of Needle Necessities Overdyed Razzel Dazzel Red Thread {which is perfect for the French Country Cat!}... John James Petites 28... DMC Thread Lables and a DMC Thread Check List... and a gorgeous Post Card... :-) I love it all, Roberta! Thanks so much, Hun!

So without further a'do, my dear friends... feast your eyes upon this glorious work of Art... {of course it's much lovelier IRL} Roberta stitched Moonlight Stroll by The Yankee Stitcher... I love this design ...

My beautiful Mail Art from Roberta...

The Back of my Mail Art... Stitched by Roberta...

Moonlight Stroll by The Yankee Stitcher...

Wee Porcupines on their way home

after their Moonlight Stroll...

Peaceful night-time stroll under the stars...

And... Viola! The beautiful gifties inside ...

I really did not want to snip the stitches

on the back to open it up because it

was so lovely with the flap stitched

down on the back...

However curious as I am...

I had to see what was inside...

And the fabric Roberta used to line

the envelope is just perfect!

I'll post my Lizzie*Kate graduation finish for Jamie, a few of Brandy's Cruise piccys, garden piccys... et cetera... next time.. as I didn't want to take away from Roberta's special Mail Art with a lot of other photos... :-)

I am feeling better emotionally... physically, it's one day at the time... but I'm okay! My deepest heartfelt thanks to you all for your sweet thoughts, wishes and words of encouragement... they are ever an inspiration and continue to bring cheer and sunshine to my days... You are all so special to me and I treasure your friendship... I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you all to inspire me and brighten my days. Stitching friends are truly treasures beyond measure!

Oh, and I suppose you noticed I changed the name of my blog to *Stitching Faery's Ramblings from under the Willow Tree...* ;-) I have been thinking about it for some time... when I started my blog back in January I couldn't think of a name I really liked... so I just used A Stitching Faery's Haven until I could come up with something I really loved... Willow Trees have always been my favourite and I am always stitching and forever *away with the faerys*... So, it seems to fit me perfectly... It's a wee bit long, but it's so me! ;-)

And since tomorrow is the 4th of July... I thought I'd add this wee piece I stitched last July... I haven't had time to stitch any Patriotic pieces this year... Yet! :-) I still need to frame it...

Land That I Love by Lizzie*Kate

Stitched on Vintage County Mocha Cashel

With WDW, GAST and Whisper Threads...

Finished 23 July 2006 ...

To every one in the USA... Wishing you all a Happy and Safe 4th of July! :-)

Thank you all for visiting... your love and encouragement continues to brighten my days akin to sunshine and rainbows after the rain...

Blessings and Love in Stitches...

I am thankful for precious moments... stitching exchanges... stitchy gifts... stitching friends... and love everlasting...

A Visit from the Stash Faery... and the Adventures of the 'Rose' Flame 'Hared' Lady...

I don't know where the last week and a half has gone... seems like it's just flown by and I couldn't tell you what I've done... Seems like there was something I had to do every day and I didn't have nearly as much time to sit back and stitch as I wanted to... And as much as I would like to find a way... *Time* stands still for no woman... ;-) I was back at work on Monday and Tuesday... today and tomorrow are my only days off this week... I have finished wee Jamie's Nurses piece... And I have started the one for his dgf, Paige. I am going to wait and show a piccy of the finishes when I post a blog entry about his graduation... probably in the next couple of days... { I don't know why I stated in my previous post he graduated on the 11th of May... it was the 12th... I guess I'm losing my mind along with everything else!} lol Anyway, he graduated on Saturday, 12th May and Paige's parents had a Barbecue at 4:00 that afternoon... We had a lot of fun and you know I took loads of piccys to share with you all... :-)

Now where to start? I have started this entry several times since last Thursday... yet for one reason or another I kept having to stop and save it as a draft and then when I thought I'd have time to post I had to rewrite and add only to save as draft yet again... So, here I am beginning my ramblings once again... I suppose my adventures at the Beauty Salon is as good a place as any to start... So, this past Friday, I got my hair coloured... my silver roots were all a'glow and I had been putting it off because, like the doc's office ... it usually takes all afternoon... So, I spent from 10:30 Friday morning until 4:00 that afternoon at the Beauty Salon... Talk about driving someone crazy! I was soooooo ready to get out of there! lol I am not one to sit idly and all the sitting and the gossip was starting to drive me bonkers... If you've ever seen the movie Steel Magnolias... then you sort of get the picture... I guess for someone who didn't feel like they had tons of things they needed to do, it would have been a brilliant day, however, my impatience was beginning to get the better of me and I was ready to run screaming, foil in my hair and all! lol Oh, and have you ever seen the film *Signs* with Mel Gibson? You know when they make the aluminum foil hats and sit around wearing them so the Aliens can't read their thoughts??? Well, I can't help but think of that whilst my hair is being foiled... you see the many dangerous paths my mind wanders when left idle too long... lol Anyway, there I sit hair foiled out about a foot all around my head... talk about scary! If Aliens passed by, never mind trying to read my thoughts... the sight alone would drive them back to their home planet! ;-) So, back to the story... my hair stylist always uses 4 or 5 different shades of red... so there we sit with five bowls or red hair dye and she is trying all new colours from a new colour company this time... and one of the ones she picked for me was Rose Flame... so there I sit, thinking of Aliens... and the darn bowl with the Rose Flame in it starts looking very pink! I mean sort of a dark Bubble Gum pink... and I'm beginning to panic... Anyway, I keep telling myself, I am not going to have pink hair... I'm not... it's just the colour in the bowl and you know it always looks different in the bowl... once on your hair and it's actually *set* it won't be pink at all... Well, when we're finally done and she's washed it and I'm sitting in front of the mirror all Mr Magoo like 'cause I don't have my glasses on and I can't see a blooming thing... she swears it's not pink... and once I put my specs on, it doesn't look pink to me either... And once she had dried it and styled it... I had her to do spiral curls with the curling iron... I thought it looked quite nice... So, despite five and a half hours of nightmarish thoughts of bubble gum pink hair and Aliens... when I left I was pleased with the colour. However, I had to run by a couple of shoppes afterwards, and when checking out at the grocery store, this little guy who knows my daughter and it seems like I always get in his line... well he said... "Did you just get your hair done?" And I replied... "Yes..." And then he said... "Well, it's pink!" ..... Oh, I know my mouth must have dropped.... I told him... "No, it's not pink... that's Rose Flame!" And then he said.... "Well, some of it is dark red but yes, it does have *Rose Pink* streaks in it... a lot of them!" Well, of course I just laughed and told him he must be colour blind! lol Anyway, my dear sons, swore it didn't look pink when I got home... However, I have had a few others tell me it does have *Rose Flame Pinkish* streaks in it... So we shall see what we shall see... If I get up enough courage, I'll show you a piccy when I post Jamie's Graduation entry and you all can tell me what you think of my Rose Flame hair! lol Though I still don't think it looks *pink* at all... maybe a wee bit burgundy... but surely not Pink! I do wonder, however if it had anything at all to do with those Ewe & Eye & Friends *Rose Hare* charts I ordered... ;-) Hmmmm.... Curiouser and Curiouser...

My dd Brandy and her dbf, Nick got back from their Cruise to The Caymans and Cozumel Saturday night... They had a lovely time... I'll share some Cruise piccys in a later post as well...

I finally had a wee bit of time to take piccys of my latest stash therapy last week... it all came week before last and I'm just itching to start something else... Alas, my *to stitch ASAP* stash keeps growing and growing... I'm beginning to think I'm going to need a couple more Dragons to guard my treasures... ;-)

La-D-Da Briar Rabbit

NPI Silks and R&R 18th Century Rook Cashel Linen

La-D-Da ... Love Is Patient and My Sunshine...

La-D-Da - The Blessing...

Shepherd's Bush - April...

Homespun Elegance

The Stitcher and The Stitcher II

Glory Bee - Stitching with GAST Threads...

Homespun Elegance - Spring Fling...

Ewe & Eye & Friends...

Garden Patch Rabbit... Brown Bunny...

Rose Hare Sampler... Rose Hare...

The Victoria Sampler - Loving Free...

GAST and WDW Threads...

Autumn Blush Belfast Linen

{The Silks and Old Willow Stitchery

Threads are on back order}

The Prairie Schooler...

Just Hatched and Farm Fresh...

The Prairie Schooler...

Friends and P*Q*R ...

Praiseworthy Stitches... One Red Flower

and the recommended GAST Threads ...

Lizzie*Kate - Coffee Crazy...

Sheepish Designs - Come Fly Away...

Little by Little - Caught In The Garden...

Lizzie*Kate - Summer Crazy...

GAST and WDW Threads...

Watermelon Banner...

Antique Ivory Cashel and Raspberry Jobelan

Carriage House Samplings - Westwinds...

Belfast Vintage Autumn Fields...

Fat Half R&R Belfast Iced Cappuccino...

On another note... my Doctor's office called me last Tuesday and wanted me to come in on Thursday because my doctor wanted to go over the test results with me from the week before... Needless to say, I worried about it for two days... the Nurse couldn't tell me a thing as my Doc had my chart in his office and she couldn't get to it. Anyway, seems like I have Lyme Disease and it's in the chronic stages and that's what caused my RA and Fibro and who knows what else... So, he put me on Antibiotics until I go back to him on the 4th of June and then the Rheumatologist on the 5th of June. I suppose I have had it for a few years and was not aware what was causing all the problems... He didn't tell me anything else about it at all... I suppose he's going to let the Rheumatologist deal with it... who knows... I am not going to worry about it... I'm going to spend the next couple of days stitching and resting...

Oh, and on a stitching note... I joined up for a Mail Art exchange a couple of weeks ago... and I am beginning to panic... I need Help!!! lol Barbara, I have read your wonderful tutorial over at the Focus on Finishing blog... and several other tutorials as well... and spent hours looking at loads of piccys of Mail Art on various blogs here and there... and I am still somewhat clueless about the finishing... I do think I have a general idea... I just don't know if I can sew it all together and not make a muck of it... I think that's my biggest worry... Ruining it! Sewing is not my strong point... I haven't really done much of it at all and just the thought scares me! I am more of a hands on *watch and learn* learning person rather than a follow the directions learning person... Well, I am going to try anyway and I'll be keeping everything crossed that it turns out as it should... It's due to mail out the first week in June... And I would be most appreciative of any tips or luck you all may have to share... ;-)

Well, I've rambled long enough... I'm away to catch up on some blogging and emails and stitching...

My heartfelt thanks to all of you for stopping by... as always your loving, thoughtful and inspiring wishes and comments are ever rays of sunshine dancing through the mist...


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



I am thankful for precious moments... precious love... my children, my friends and stitching time...