Cross Stitch Stash...

If you've been reading this, you know that I joined a Stitch from Stash group at the end of last year to help us stitch from our stash instead of going hog wild over buying new patterns and kits.  I've done pretty well - January I spent about $18.  This month $16.  At least $16 so far.  If I buy anything new it goes on next month's.  I really don't have a lot of stash.  I do have a lot of patterns so if I want to work on those, I have to buy floss - I'm not good at figuring out colors from what little I have.
Here's the site if you wish to take a look...the groups is closed but you can certainly read along with what others are doing...she has us all listed including this one.
http://epicstitching.blogspot.com/

And if you've been reading this, you know that I have been including my daughter Nikki's blog - she has posted a poem and I must say she has done a beautiful job...
http://nphen89.blogspot.com/

Very little progress has been made on my Woodland Sampler but I'll post a pic anyway  I've added another hedgehog and 1 1/2 leaves.  I'm actually almost done with September now that I look at it.

And that's it from here... nothing profound this week.
Except I really liked The Monuments Men - no matter what the "expert critics" think.
Except I STILL think dragons get a bum rap.  Because I love the Pern books! :-)

Valentine's Day...

You are loved with an EVERLASTING LOVE...
Do you know what that means?  God loves you always.  I find that amazing because there have been so many times I have been un-lovable - very un-lovable.
My Navy parent friend Eric (thank you!) reminded me of the entire verse:

Jeremiah 31:3

New International Version (NIV)
3 The Lord appeared to us in the past,[a] saying:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.



Amazing words from an Amazing God.



So, today, if you feel unloved, remember God's words of Love – there are so many of them in the Bible.
Contact your church, call a friend, post on FB. Don't feel unloved. We will do our best to be here for you...to remind you that you are loved.


And here's an update from my daughter Nikki – she's so wise for one so young ;-) (Star Trek reference here – LOL!)
http://nphen89.blogspot.com/



As for stitching updates, just this one...

I forgot to take a pic of the Valentine's card I made for Shelley but if you'd like to see what it looked like from the original page, it's here...
http://www.cyberstitchers.com/free_patterns/pattern/february_cupcake



Stephanie, my other daughter, suggested I make all the cupcakes and use them in a perpetual calendar in the kitchen – good idea sweetie!

That's it from here...

My Hubby-Sweetie is taking me out tonight for dinner and a movie.  We're going to the Fork and Screen at AMC to see The Monuments Men.  He spoils me!

A bit of an update....

Not much of a Super Bowl game, is it?  I'm a Pittsburgh Steeler fan so the game doesn't interest me too much.  Still, it's rather lopsided right now.  So I decided to go online, update my blog, see what's going on in the world of cross stitching, etc.

I do look forward to the Super Bowl commercials though, like many of you.  I've geeked out at the Captain America Winter Soldier and new Transformers (Dinobots!) trailers.  Yeah - I'm an almost 60 year old grandma that just loves that stuff!  And of course, the two Budweiser commercials.  The one welcoming home the soldier from Winter Park, FL really brought on the tears.  It's a subject near and dear to us - Husband Mike and I served in the Navy. The one with the puppy and the Clydesdales.  Yeah.  More tears.

Here is the progress on the Woodland Sampler - finally got July done.

And finally got the rag rug completed.  This one took awhile and I'm glad to have it done.  Next time I will use strips that are not as wide and thinner fabric so I can sew it up on the machine instead of hand sewing it together.  I am glad I made it though - something new - something I had never tried before.

I'm participating in a Stitch from Stash group for this year.  We have a limit of $25 we're allowed to spend each month.  I only spent $8 in January - approximate anyway.  I wrote and told how much it was but now can't remember.  I don't have a lot of stash per se - but a lot of patterns that will need cloth.  The rate I'm going though, I won't have to spend any $ since it's taking so long to finish the sampler.  But, it's a good idea and I'm enjoying participating.
Here's the link if you are interested in the progress we're making.  The group is closed but you might enjoy reading about it. There are 130 participants.
http://epicstitching.blogspot.com/

So that's it from here.  Nothing earth shattering in my corner of the world. But there's always tomorrow.

You would think...

with all the information at our fingertips that findings places would be easier.  No.  Navigation by phone, maps online, nothing seems to match.  Phone numbers disconnected.  Next time I'm using my trusty Garmin.  It's never steered me wrong before.  Unless the business closed down and didn't bother to tell anyone, including it's online website.  Very frustrating.


Putting that aside, I've been busy working on my Valentine exchange - and since I haven't sent it yet, I can't show it to you now but will later, along with the website.  It's a free pattern too. ;-)

I'm also working on my Woodland Sampler.  I know I haven't done a lot it seems - you're right really.  I haven't touched it in a week.  I did a lot of work at the doctor's office.  Mostly frogging and re-doing.  I didn't like the way my dandelion puffs were coming out - so I put in a little sparkle using Kreinik thread - much better.  I also did that with the firefly in the June section.

In case you're interested in the sampler, here's the website for it ...
http://thefrostedpumpkinstitchery.bigcartel.com/

I'm also attempting a rag rug.  I have a lot of fabric strips and so I thought I would put them to good use, besides making a quilt I mean.  It really isn't very hard, just tedious and time consuming.  It's taking longer than I thought it would but I think the outcome will be nice.  As you can see, my son Michael's cat Kortana is perfectly happy the way it is. 

Finally, I would like to introduce to my middle daughter Nikki's blog.  No matter where you stand on issues,  including time travel, you have to admire her bravery.  I do.  Please take a moment to read it. 


http://nphen89.blogspot.com/

WIPs...

The trouble with many works-in-progress (WIPs) is that they always seem to be just that - though every once in a while, there is a completion.

Takes this for instance,

I've been working on this sampler since early last year when it first came out and only because I was so sick these past few weeks, was I able to make even this amount of progress.  Those that finished it last year have 2013 on theirs.  I'm aiming for 2014.
(Many thanks to my big helper, grandson Aiden).

Then there's us....how long have we been a work in progress?  Why, all our lives!  When will it be complete?  Well, pretty much when we die, I guess.  Because that's about how long it takes for Christ to do His work in us.  We're never done.  And then, others take a look at our lives in its completed form and say.....well, not really sure what they'll say.  I HOPE that they'll look at my life and see at least some of Christ in me. 

Remember that shirt that was around for awhile that said something like, "Please be patient...God isn't through with me yet"?  WIP.

I can honestly say I'm thankful that I'm WIPed. :-)  because I sure don't want Jesus to take another look at me and say, " I am SO done with her!"

A New Year...

which usually means a clean slate...isn't it nice that we have that chance?

And even nicer when the clean slate comes from our Lord Jesus Christ!

This year my clean slate will include making more time for devotionals and Bible Study...hubby...family...and yes, cross stitching and quilting!

Speaking of cross stitching, this is a little late but here are some of my pics of ornaments I made for Christmas this year. It may not seem like a lot but there were dupes and you don't need to see them.  I ended up making about 22 ornaments for friends and family.

These patterns (except for the cat and gingerbread men) are from the Winter Wonderland Sampler series by Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery.

http://thefrostedpumpkinstitchery.bigcartel.com/product/2012-kawaii-winter-sampler

I'm still working on their Woodland Sampler...just finished May - so you could say I'm either behind by 7 months or ahead by 4 months.

I've also joined a Stitch from Stash group - using your own stash for the year with minimal purchases, something I need help with.  Here's the link for that...

http://epicstitching.blogspot.com/

A new year means a new phone and yesterday my new phone arrived. After much debate in finding a phone that would also be compatible with our car, I decided on a Droid (By Your Command). It's a testimony to the makers and programmers of that phone in that I've downloaded a couple of apps, added a new phone number to an existing favorite, and my phone has not blown up or deleted itself from my existence!

Okay - so I guess that's it from here.  It's enough, right? LOL!

Yesterday, my daughters and I participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer's.  My two grand daughters came along - though they were lucky enough to either ride in the stroller or walk on Aunt Nikki's shoulders.  It rained for almost the whole walk but it was worth it.  My team made $500 and it looks like the entire walk made an estimated $67,000 with more coming in through the end of the month.  I'm very proud of my girls and how on such short notice did so well.
Here a a few pictures from the walk.
This first is of my daughter Nikki and grand daughter Sydney, who is turning two today.

This second is a group shot of daughter Stephanie, d-i-l Kayla (though she is more a daughter!), Sydney, Nikki, me, and if you look in the stroller, you'll see little Sloan's head popping out.

The third is of Kayla, Sydney, Nikki, and Sloan.

The walk was a real blessing to all of us, and even though it poured almost the whole time, nothing could stop the walkers!
Next year, I'll be more prepared...I hope to make a quilt and some cross stitch items to sell and raffle off.
Thanks for sharing and please, if you have time, visit
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_alzheimers_disease.asp
to learn more about this and maybe next year, you'll be walking too!