Angels in our attic...

Oh, I am woefully behind with everything these days... I just haven't had the heart or the words to write in a while... Still plagued with black frogs lurking in the shadows... However, blessed, golden rays of sunshine peek out when least expected and chase away the darkness on most days... and I continue to find Blessings and Joy in simple pleasures...

As you may remember, I mentioned back at the New Year that I am going to be a Granny... well, we found out a few weeks ago that my grandson may have Down Syndrome... Jamie and Danielle do not want to have the Amniocentesis, as they do not want to endanger the baby... The Doctor gave them the option of Amniocentesis or worse... I don't even want to say it... and with both of them being Nurses they know a lot more about this than I do. Neither of them liked the Specialist Danielle's OBGYN sent them to see and to say they were put off by her vagueness about the entire thing... Her coldness and matter-of-factness about what they called Selective Birth, is putting it somewhat mildly!!! Nonetheless, to see my son so worried and upset during what should be one of the most joyous times of his life fills me with sorrow. I have tried to put his mind and heart at ease the best way I can... This could be nothing more than what they refer to as *false positives* and the wee babe is most likely perfectly fine... I know I often look at the world through *rose coloured glasses*... but I try to see the positive in everything... even though it may take me a while... my Hope and Faith and my belief that Goodness always eventually prevails brings me through even the darkest of times... And as I have told my son, regardless of what the outcome may be, this child is a blessing and for that we are thankful. All we can do is pray... and I'm praying there are Angels in our Attic watching over my wee Jamie and his wee son...

And now to officially announce the winner of my Blogoversary Giveaway... I'm sorry it's taken me a while to post the winner here. I have already informed the winner and the parcel should be arriving upon her doorstep any day now... :-) As I mentioned in an earlier post, A Christmas Carol is one of my all-time favourite Christmas stories and films and this Dickens quote is very special to me... Anyway, I do hope she likes it... stitched and hand-finished by me, such as it is, I made it into a wee door knocker pillow... I know my finishing is not the best in the world, but I'm learning! ;-) Thus without further ado....

And the winner is...

Dear Sally of StitchyAngel's Treasures...

Honour Christmas by Forget-Me-Not In Stitches...

2008 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Issue

Stitched on Cashel Vintage Maple Sugar by Lakeside Linens

with Crescent Colours Belle Soie Silks

Red Fox and Collard Greens...

wee Mr Darcy having a nosey...

And the back of the door knocker pillow...

As for my other stitching... I finished a snowman by The Prairie Schooler and it was such a fun stitch... And I'm almost done with another Christmas Ornament, but I forgot to take a photo of that one and it's way too late to drag it out now... so stay tuned! There are so many lovely projects I want to start and I have a ton of WIP's I need to finish... I did start Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by Carriage House Samplings and Sense & Sensibility by The Sampler Girl... I'll post photos of my new beginnings next time as there are only a few stitches in each one just now... and we will not even mention The Nashville Market tonight... Oh, my Wish List keeps growing in leaps and bounds!

Snowman and Bunny by The Prairie Schooler

Book 151 ~ Santas & Snowmen...

Stitched on Cashel Vintage Maple Sugar

by Lakeside Linens

with DMC threads...

Snowman and Bunny by The Prairie Schooler

accompanied by wee Mr Darcy...

I had to work Valentine's Day weekend, and when the girl carrying the lovely bouquet of roses and huge balloon buzzed at the outside door {we have security monitors all over the building} we wondered who on Earth was getting flowers as there was no one in the building save my partner and I... Lo, and behold what a wonderfully, sweet surprise! They were for me! My dear daughter, Brandy and dear SIL Nick were so thoughtful and brightened my Valentine's Day immensely!!!

Lovely Pink Valentine Roses

from Brandy and Nick...

Naturally, Mr Darcy and Gandalf the Grey

had to have a wee nosey...

Oh, and I took these snowy piccies back in January when we had such a lovely snow... Thankfully, I was off work and had a lovely, cosy day stitching and enjoying the beautiful winter wonderland!

peeking out my front door...

a wee bird in the snow...

and my snowfolk flag at my front door...

bright and cheerful in a winter wonderland...

And what a wonderful, wonderful surprise I had when I discovered Dear Sally awarded me with a Fabulous Blog Award!!! Woo Hoo!!! My very first Blog Award and I am tickled pink!!! Thank you so much, Sweetie!!!

And now I am supposed to list my five addictions and also nominate five bloggers...
As for My addictions...
hmmmm to name a few... ;-)


1. My family and wee fur-babies...

2. Stitching and Stash and Stitching Blogs...

3. Watching films and Stitching...

4. Reading...

5. Coffee...

Now for my nominations, and as Sally posted... please don't be offended if your blog isn't here... it doesn't mean I love your blog any less... And believe me, it is not easy choosing just five blogs when I find such joy and inspiration by visiting all your blogs! And Sally, right back at you you Darlin'!!!

Barbara

Harmien

Sue

Siobhan

Lynn B


And I'll have to save the rest for later as it's after midnight and my alarm will start clanging the back of 4:00 in the morning... Oh, I don't even want to think about it... Alas, my lovely, relaxing weekend of stitching and watching Midsomer Murder DVD's back to back and over and over has come and gone and it's back to the daily grind tomorrow...

Thank you ever so kindly my dear friends for continuing to visit my blog and for your emails... I know I am woefully behind with comments on your blogs and emails... however, I will catch up and I am visiting your blogs to see how you all are keeping... just haven't been any words of late!!! Your continued visits, kind, thoughtful and encouraging wishes are ever blessed rays of sunlight in my days...

And may there ever be Angels in your attic and Love in your Hearts...

Blessings and Love in Stitches...

Lizzy


I am thankful for precious moments... precious children and grandchilden, blessings in disguise, dear friends and Angels in our attic...

Scotland Homecoming 2009...

Loch Lomond... by Runrig...

In Honour of Scotland's Homecoming 2009...

I had to repost this as when I went in to edit to add a label and a wee bit of text... the video disappeared... and I couldn't make it reappear!

Blessings and Love in Stitches...

Lizzy

Ode to a Bard...

O, my luve is like a Red, Red Rose ~ 1794

O my Luve's like a red, red rose,

That's newly sprung in June:

O my Luve's like the melodie,

That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a'the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi' the sun;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve!

And fare-thee-weel, a while!

And I will come again, my Luve,

Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile!

~ Robert Burns ~

25 January 1759 - 21 July 1796

Today is The Bard's 250th Birthday... No, not Will Shakespeare... Scotland's Bard... Rabbie Burns... and thus begins a year long celebration, Scotland's Homecoming 2009... See the post below! Scotland Homecoming 2009...

As promised... here's my stitching for my blogoversry giveaway... I chose to stitch Honour Christmas by Forget-Me-Nots in Stitches from the 2008 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue... and as all of you may know it's a quote taken from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens... a quote near and dear to my heart and one of my all time favourite books and films! I have just a wee bit more to stitch on the back piece and of course add my signature blackbird... and then sew it all together and viola! I will have the drawing on the 2nd of February... that should give me, aka the slowest stitcher and finisher in the world, a chance to get the *finishing* all done!

Honour Christmas...

by Forget-Me-Nots in Stitches

2008 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue...

Stitched on 28ct Maple Sugar by Lakeside Linens

with Crescent Colours Belle Soie Silks

Red Fox and Collard Greens

Quote from A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens...

... and so saith Ebenezer Scrooge...

"I will live in the Past, Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach..."

"Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man as the good old City knew, or any other good old city, town or borough in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them, for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed, and that was quite enough for him."

Anyone wishing for a chance to win, please leave a comment and make sure if you don't have a blog that you leave me your email addy along with your comment... ;-)

Not a lot to chat about... the black dogs, aka the black frogs hae been upon me yet again, thus I have been hiding away of late... No, not the frogs of "rip-it, rip-it" fame, rather my version of Churchill's Black Dog... deemed Black Frogs by me... just because... Well, I suppose it is my humourous attempt to keep the black dog at bay and oftentimes it does work... Alas, that is yet another story and sadly enough, it is back to work tomorrow and my alarm will awaken me from pleasant slumbers in the oh, so dark and wee hours of the morning...

I have been doing a wee bit of other stitching, as well... alas, I shall save that for the next post, as the hour grows late...

My shadow, wee Mr Darcy...

I hope you all are well and cosy and stitching 'til your heart's content... Thank you ever so kindly, my dear friends for continuing to visit and leaving me such wonderfully kind and inspirational comments... they are ever sweet nectar to my soul!


Blessing and Love in Stitches...

Lizzy


I am thankful for precious moments... home, family and love eternal...

Comfort and Joy... And A January Blogoversary Give-away...

Happy New Year my dear friends! I hope you all had a wonderfully, jolly Christmas with your families and found many a lovely, stitchy treasure under your trees... Thank you ever so kindly my dear friends and family for the lovely Christmas cards, emails, warm wishes, the treasured gifties and thank you for your love and kindness most of all...

This was my first Christmas on my own so to speak and it was quite a change for me with many a blue cloud along the way...Thus needless to say, as I'm sure you've gathered by my long absence... I retreated back into the shadows for a wee spell... Nonetheless... it's a New Year with bright New Beginnings and Blessings... I had some wonderful Christmas/New Year tidings... My baby, wee Jamie is getting married and... I'm going to be a Granny! I am still smiling thru my tears at these glad tidings which herald a beautiful reminder for me... There are still blessings and miracles in the world and the sun's brilliant rays dispel the clouds when we least expect it...

I have a couple of stitchy finishes to share with you all, a few Christmas photos and a lovely surprise stitchy giftie from a dear friend! So, without further ado...

Joy by Lilybet Designs...

Stitched by Harmien

Thank you ever so kindly dear Harmien...

Harmien sent me a lovely ornament and My Dears, her stitching and finishing is exquisite! It now hangs in a place of honour as the very first ornament on my *Seasonal Year Round Stitchy Tree* and I will cherish it always, Harmien! {In these photos it's hanging on my main tree... poor wee darling was awfully lonesome hanging around by herself on my stitchy tree... so I thought she'd enjoy a wee bit of company for her photo shoot...}

The back of the lovely Christmas ornament

Harmien gave me...

I love all the stockings!

My Christmas Tree in the Living Room...

and wee Mr Darcy who isn't so wee anymore...

and Gandalf the Grey...

I started collecting new ornaments for my main tree last year as my tastes have changed through the years... and quite frankly I love Christmas ornaments and just can't resist all the lovely ones I have seen of late... and I thought it was time for a change... However, the cherished and treasured ornaments will always remain as I could never part with them... My eldest son, Elisha gave me my new tree this year as an early Christmas gift and I love it! My youngest son Jamie also gifted me with a tree... this one is a wee bit smaller and it's going to be my *Seasonal Year-Long Stitchy Ornament Tree*... As I mentioned earlier, Harmien's lovely ornament is the first one gracing it's beckoning green branches... Needless to say, I plan to be busy, busy, busy stitching ornaments for all seasons this year... I do have several already stitched up from the last few years and they are tucked away in a dresser drawer, quite upset at being stowed away in the darkness mind you and longing to come out into the light of day and shine in all their glory ... So, I plan to brave the unknown and start *finishing* the poor wee darlings... :-) My hopes are to eventually have enough Seasonal ornaments so that I can rotate the ornaments with the changing Seasons... Or, who knows I may just leave them all hanging year 'round! ;-) After all... the more the merrier!

Since this was Brandy and Nick's first Christmas together as husband and wife I stitched an ornament for them... and will continue to do so every year here-after... I had planned to stitch a set of Bride's Tree Ornaments for her in 2008... However... hmmm as the best laid plans of mice and women are oftentimes wont to go when it comes to my planning I am woefully behind... Hopefully, I will achieve that goal this year! Anyway... wonders never cease and I *finished* their ornament completely by hand all by my little ole' self... It was rather daunting and I procrastinated as usual as I was terrified of mucking it up... Nonetheless... here it is in all it's splendor and they both loved it! :-)

A Christmas Blessing

by Full Circle Designs...

2005 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue...

Stitched on Vintage Autumn Blush Cashel Linen

with GAST and WDW threads...

Brandy and Nick's

First Christmas Together...

This is the back of the ornament...

And yet another veiw...

I stitched a row of wee X's

all around the seams...

however they are not showing up

that well in the photos...

And I have another Snoopy Happy Dance to share with you all!!! I finished the Lizzie*Kate Wedding Sampler I was stitching for Brandy and Nick... {I still have a long way to go on the Lavender and Lace Wedding Sampler...} Anyway, I finished the stitching in plenty of time and had it framed and needless to say, she was over the moon with joy when she opened it on Christmas Day!!! It was the first thing I've had framed in years and years... {all my finishes since I started stitching again in 2002 are tucked away in a dresser drawer...}

And Two Shall Be As One...

by Lizzie*Kate

with a dash of LHN and CCC

for good measure...

Stitched on Vintage Mocha Cashel Linen

with GAST, CCN and WDW threads...

As you can see I modified the design a wee bit...

changing all the colours

and adding a few personal touches...

*** Edited to add... I forgot to mention the meaning behind the colour changes and personal touches... I wanted to use a green comparable to the green from Brandy's wedding and as for the other colours changes... I wanted to use colours that would go with most any decor and I chose colours I thought better suited to Brandy's tastes... As for the wee deer and fur tree... Nick loves deer hunting and he has his own forestry business... tree planting and land conservation et cetera... So, I thought the wee deer and fur tree would suit him perfectly! And they both love animals... they have three cats and a dog, thus the wee kitty... and Brandy loves flowers and her wedding theme was butterflies... They released live butterflies at the wedding... thus the wee butterfly...***

And here it is in all it's framed glory!!!

I just Love this frame!!!

Of course Mr Darcy

and Gandalf the Grey

had to give their nod of approval...

{photos are clickable}

And a close up of the frame

mat and *filler thingy*

which is the same as the frame...

Another close up...

Brandy was totally surprised and

over the moon with joy

when she opened
this gift on Christmas Day...

She didn't know anything about this Sampler...

My wee babes...

Elisha, Jamie and Brandy...

Nick and Brandy...

My future DIL Danielle and DS, wee Jamie...

Proud and happy parents to be... :-)

Cheers...

A toast to jolly old St Nicholas...

Happy Christmas Elisha...

Brandy and me...

And in keeping with the spirit of giving... it's my Two Year Blogoversary on the 16th of this month... My, but where has the time gone? Anyway... I degress... In keeping with the Spirit of Giving I'll be giving away something stitched and handmade by moi as a thank you to all my dear friends... You all bring such Comfort and Joy to my days and are ever an inspiration with your amazing talents and kind and generous hearts... Anyway... I'm posting a wee glimpse of what I'm stitching for the giveaway... There are hints in the photo... and many clues scattered throughout this post... No, I'm not going to make you guess what it is... however, you are welcome to try a guess now and then and wonder about it until the end of January when I have the drawing... ;-) So, if anyone would like something stitched and handmade by me, please leave a comment on this post mentioning that you'd like to be entered in the drawing and make sure I have access to your blog or your email addy... and I'll keep you updated on the stitchy giftie throughout the month with scattered clues hither and yon... ;-)

Once upon a time...

As for New Year's resolutions... I have but one this year and I borrowed it from a beloved friend, Ebenezer Scrooge...

"I will honour Christmas in my heart

and try to keep it all the year..."

~ Ebenezer Scrooge ~

~ A Christmas Carol ~

~ Charles Dickens ~

Thank you all ever so kindly for stopping by to visit... your thoughtfulness and words of encouragement are ever an inspiration... I wish you all a wonderfully, joyous and Blessed New Year... May happiness, peace, love, prosperity, good health and good cheer be your constant companions throughout the year... May your stitching chest forever flow with cherished treasures and May you find Comfort and Joy in many a blessed hour of stitching thyme... And may the threads of your life ever spin a tapestry of love and cherished memories...


Blessings and Love in Stitches...

Lizzy


I am thankful for precious moments... love eternal, glad tidings and blessings, children and grandchildren, furbabies and cherished Christmas memories...

~ A Christmas Carol... Part One...

"I will Honour Christmas in my Heart and try to keep it all the year..."

And thus our journey begins...

"If I had my work of will", said Scrooge, indignantly every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!"

"Uncle!" pleaded the nephew.

"Nephew!" returned the uncle sternly, "keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine."

"Keep it!" repeated Scrooge's nephew. "But you don't keep it."

"Let me leave it alone, then," said Scrooge. "Much good may it do you! Much good it has ever done you!"

"There are many things from which I might have derived good by which I have not profited, I dare say," returned the nephew, "Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas-time, when it has come around... as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good and will do me good..."

Bah Humbug...

~ A Christmas Carol...
~ By Charles Dickens...

'Round About the Cauldron go... Double, Double... Toil and Trouble...

Fire burn and cauldron bubble...


Double, double, toil and trouble Fire burn and cauldron bubble Double, double, toil and trouble Something wicked this way comes.

Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg and howlet's wing.




Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
Double, double, toil and trouble
Something wicked this way comes.


In the cauldron boil and bake,
Fillet of a fenny snake,
Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches' mummy, maw and gulf.





Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
Double, double, toil and trouble Fire burn and cauldron bubble

Double, double, toil and trouble Fire burn and cauldron bubble

Something wicked this way comes.
~The Bard~


My dear friends... Is it really the end of October already??? I do believe someone's cast a loss of time spell on me as I don't know where on Earth it has gone... It's simply vanished into thin air... I had to go back to work this week and I'm feeling better... methinks the black frogs are fading away somewhat and for that I am grateful... Here's hoping they will stay in the dark corner into which I've banished them... :-) As long as it's naught save their eyes I feel upon me and not their dark shroud... I will KBO... ;-)

Mr Darcy is settling in nice and comfy and oh, so cozy in his new home and he's just the sweetest wee companion... Just the wee soul I needed to bring me sunshine and cheer... Gandalf and Shelley are slowly accepting him into the family, and for that I am thankful!
On a Stitchy note... I've made a wee bit of progress on a couple of stitchy WIP's whilst still watching Pride & Prejudice... It's become my stitching film of late and a constant source of inspiration and hope... Oh, and one of my WIP's is a new start! Oh, Horrors, not another one! ;-)

And oh, happy day!!! I have a very special, much beloved giftie to share with you all... Oh, was I ever surpried to find the sweet and thoughtful gift from Sally's oh, so talented needle... Thank you ever so much my dear, friend... I love the pinkeep you stitched for me and it shall ever be a much beloved and cherished gift... :-)

The Prairie Schooler...

A Friend is a Gift...

Treasured and Beautiful pinkeep from Sally...

Thank you ever so kindly, dear Sally...

I will cherish it always...

The Back of my Lovely Pinkeep from Sally...

The Stitchy Angel...

The beautiful PS Pinkeep Sally stitched for me...

displayed in basket of special stitched lovelies from friends...

And for good measure.. a close up of my basket of stitched gifties...

A Friend is a Gift by The Prairie Schooler...

a lovely and cherished pinkeep

from my own StitchyAngel Sally...

And yes, if you look closely

you will see a much beloved gift from the needle of

none other than the ever talented Harmien... ;-)

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

Stitched on Vintage Mocha Cashel Linen...

With GAST threads...

Accompanied by the adorable Mr Darcy...

Hallows Eve by Stacy Nash Primitives...

Stitched on R & R Iced Cappuccino Cashel Linen...

With DMC threads...

Accompanied by the darlin' Mr Darcy...

Hallows Eve by Stacy Nash Primitives...

The beginning...

Wee Witch pendant from

Midsummer Night Designs...

and my dear Mr Darcy...

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow...

"What fearful shapes and shadows beset his path, amidst the dim and ghastly glare of a snowy night! With what wistful look did he eye every trembling ray of light streaming across the waste fields from some distant window! How often was he appalled by some shrub covered with snow, which, like a sheeted specter, beset his very path! How often did he shrink with curdling awe at the sound of his own steps on the frosty crust beneath his feet; and dread to look over his shoulder, lest he should behold some uncouth being tramping close behind him! and how often was he thrown into complete dismay by some rushing blast, howling among the trees, in the idea that it was the Galloping Hessian on one of his nightly scouring!"
~Washington Irving... a quote from "The Legend of Sleep Hollow"...



Wishing you all a Happy Hallows Eve, my dear friends... And thank you all ever so kindly for your continued visits and comments... akin to the full moon on a cold, Autumn night... they light my path and warm my heart...


"From Ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night... good Lord deliver us..."


Blessings and Love in Stitches...

Lizzy


I am thankful for precious moments... Hallows Eve... blessed friends and stitched gifts... Mr Darcy~ both of them... and ever still Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice which continues to give me Hope for tomorrow...

Hello Salem....

"My Name's Winnifred... what's yours?"

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...