Wow, long time since I blogged last. Life's been pretty stressful and awful, but good too, in a weird way. So many things to be grateful for and so many things to be angry for. That's the way of it...flowing when needed, fighting the fight when needing, knowing when to do which is the key to a successful life. I do find myself fighting less and flowing more as I age...which makes raising teenagers really hard as all they want to do is FIGHT.  God bless them.

It took me an 20 minutes to access my blog...oh well.

Nothing more to say at this time. I have to get back into the groove of blogging.

Why do I do these things??

Hi, fellow stitchers, hoping everyone's needles are flying! Mine are not right now. Time has been spent shopping for school and running around trying to find a nice shelter dog to adopt. We got lucky this past Sunday and found this adorable beagle and Staffordshire Bull terrier mix. He is so sweet  we love him already. I've been busy buying supplies and fixing up his crate. He is sick - kennel cough - and on antibiotics but otherwise he is fine.

So, we now have hamsters, a cockatiel and now a dog. I am used to it because before the girls were born, I always had multiple animals. I remember one year we had a python, a greyhound, a rabbit, an iguana, a peach-fronted conure and two cats....aah, good times, good times.

Here is a pic of Chester ( I call him Buddy Boy) on his first introduction to the neighborhood. Poor little mite is so cautious and scared. I can't wait to see his true personality shine thru but I hope he's not bonkers - I've had bonkers and it ain't no fun.

Now on to stitching. See below for my latest finish. I had actually left this behind in a hotel room and it was returned to me by the manager earlier this week, so I am very glad indeed.

Autumn in New York by Primrose Needleworks, with some changes, of course.

Well, that's it folks! Y'all enjoy what's left of summer..wish we had an autumn here in Miami. = (

Yay! Finishes!!

HI folks, Here are pics of a two finishes. School starts in a few weeks...and I am dreading it.
Directly below is Cross Eyed Crickets 'Primrose Carrot' using called for DMC and Zweigart's Willow Green in 32 ct linen.

Below is LizzieKate's Do Your Best Limited Edition cushion kit.

Hope everyone is having a great summer...the kids are back to school soon..boohoo!

Been a long time....

Greetings to all!

I am still around but life has been nuts. I do want to share a finish I had last night. It's of a tea towel that I have been stitching on for a while. As you can see, I have noticed after I took the pic that I had left out some stitching of the lattice around the blue flower on the left. I will remedy that tonight but no more pics! LOL

Here is a pic of En Juin which I finished a few months ago. I am not sure what I am going to do with it.

Hope everyone's summer is going well.

Hugs,

Christina

A New Finish

Greetings to all, Spring is here and in Florida that means that hot muggy days are back in full swing, yay!!

Here is a pic of my latest finish. Peace Rose by Blackbird Designs. A sweet little stitch that made me happy.



and here is a pic of my not-so-finished carrot, not sure of the design name but believe the designer is Cricket Collection. Someone correct me if not right, please. I was going to finish it with the orange fabric but might be getting some lavender fabric soon and instead would use that if the color is right.



I have several WIPs to finish and so next on my list is "En Juin" which I started last summer but got distracted with spinning and knitting.

Well, hope everyone is enjoying the arrival of spring and for those in the southern hemisphere, the arrival of autumn!

Hugs,
Christina in Miami.

Update February

Greetings to all. It's been hard to get back to cross stitching. It's one of many things that my sister and I shared that I am having a hard time getting back to.  I tried stitching the other night and just managed to have a good cry...which is fine but I certainly hope this overwhelming sense of loss and confusion passes at some point.

I have been spinning, knitting and crocheting so here are two pics. One is of me modeling a short scarf that I knitted using lace weight angora yarn...fun..NOT. It is very soft and snuggly.

This other one is of a cowl that I made for my sister. I use it at the office where we like to keep it a toasty 68 degrees. This one is crochet. Aren't those buttons cool?

Yes, there is a blue green theme going on here. The fiber I am spinning now is similarly dyed. Below is a picture of the wool/bamboo/silk fiber that I am spinning on a new spindle that I just got..well, its a used spindle but new to me. 

On a side note, I just learned that Allessandra of Allesandra Adelaide Needleworks is in hospital with a diagnoses of myeloid leukemia.  Her Facebook page has her address for any that wish to send cards. 

Fill your days with things and people you love. 

Hugs,

Christina in Miami

A Loss in my Family

On Christmas Day, I found my sister in her house. She had died from apparent natural causes at least 7-10 days prior. She was only 47. I had had a horrible feeling about her and after unsuccessfully trying to reach her, decided to go down to see her. We had made plans to visit on the 26th but something bothered me. I have a very heavy heart as I feel that if I had gone down to see her when I first couldn't reach her, I could have saved her but that is something I will never know definitively, and maybe that is a good thing.

I haven't done a memorial yet as I am having many problems processing this loss. She is my last living relative that cared about me and was near me. She was not just my sister but my friend and I feel her loss deeply. I can barely function at all.

I'd like to ask that my family and I be kept in your prayers, and also, pray for her soul to rejoin God, or whatever way you define the "wellspring of all creation."

Thank you!

Hugs, Christina

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe - 8th day of Christmas give away!

Nancy is full steam ahead with her giveaway...check out her blog here for a chance to win $50 in a surprise package. Sign up and check out her wares while you are at it. Good luck!

Hugs from a very wet and muggy Miami

Christina

Third day of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Give away

Greetings, please visit Nancy's blog  site here to get in on todays give away! This is one is for a gift for a friend...am sure we all have someone that can use such a gift! Good luck!

More giveaways from Nancy at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe!

Hi all, its that time of year again, when Nancy shares her hand-dyed and hand made items, including charts, accessories and floss. Check out her web site every day for the next 12 days to enter her drawings for gifts. Anyone can win. There are rules so be sure to visit her blog to learn more. Yay Christmas!!

Link to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Give Away

Nancy over at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having another give away. Go check out..as she says, someone always wins and it might be you! Click HERE to go the the give away post on her blog. Good luck!

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Give- Away

Hi folks, hope your October has gotten off to a fine start, and if not, hope it gets better quick!

Just a note to let everyone know about another of Nancy's give-aways. This time its for fabric. Click here to go to her blog to enter. Nancy dyes all sorts of things like chenille, cluney lace, ric rac, floss and fabric. She has also designed and carved some wonderful frames, designs Victorian styled mottos and samplers and makes some lovely sewing necessaires. Check out all her stuff and happy shopping!

Good luck to all.

Christina in Miami

SFSB- 2015 and another give away from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Greetings stitching friends, its time for my update on Stitching from Stash hosted by Mel from Epic Stitching Blog.

I ordered a piece of fabric for something that I want to start next year called Rose Quaker by Stickedeen van de Weihenberg. Isn't it gorgeous? 

Here is my break down:

September = $28.00 for fabric
August purchases - spent $20.
July - $ 0.97 spent

Not too bad but I am starting to fall off again and must get back on the no-spending wagon.

On a separate note, the awesome Nancy of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having another Favourite Things Give Away. Click on the link and check it out. 

Anyway, hope everyone's Autumn or Spring has gotten off to a great start!

Hugs, Christina in Miami

Over due Pictures of WIPs and new "hobby"

Greetings all, finally got my phone to work and upload some very over-due pictures. With no further ado...

My poor little screwed up Acron Needle Book. I started this last year and ran into major issues, as you can see. It was even more wonkier than this and then I ruined it with too much spray glue..yes, yes, I know...

 So this is the acorn cap. Stitched in "knit stitch" and tres adorable.

Outside and In. I have sewed it shut, leaving the ribbon closure out, purely by accident, so am thinking about a snap closure. And I am making another scissor pocket but I put it on so you can see what might look like. I might fiddle with it somemore...I figure I can't ruin it, can I???

Above is my latest knit creation, a cowl. I should have started learning with this but of course, I chose to learn with something more advanced.

To the right is my first knit "lace" pattern. Was this awful to stitch but I did it.

Below is a crochet mini-shawl...the yellow is just  a space holder until I can find my hank of the brown which is somewhere ...

This is a nother knitted shawl or wrap. You can see where my tension changed in the middle. This is what happens when I knit too long.

I am also spinning a bit every day. Below is pic of my yarn. I am still learning how to draft and spin and which hand does what.  Not sure what to do with this...my teacher says to roll it up and keep it on a display as a fond remembrance of my first yarn.

 You might recall that I started work on Elegant Pumpkins a while back...maybe earlier this year, I don't recall, but I have fished it out for more work this year. Below is pic from magazine and my current progress....have a long way to go!!

 A few Mill Hill kits  started last Christmas and to be finished before this one...well, that is my hope! I made a mistake on the snow man so I put this down but now must find a way of working around the error or frogging...decisions, decisions...

Below is progress on my tea towl. Probably won't work on finishing this until next year. I am in Autumn and Christmas mode right now.

And below is a Shephard's Bush sampler. I stopped because I was changing the font on it and then I got distracted with something else...but this is on my to do list...again, probably next year. I added buttons to the hill because the threads didn't come labeled and the greens were very similar that I mixed them up and you can't see the flowers on the hill too good. I also unleashed the lamb and gave the figure a curve on the back.  The figure is holding a posey which is done in French knots. I also did something with the hair, gave her a bun and a neck and thinned out her ankles..whew! Much nicer, in my opinion.

I started this on a whim a few weeks ago and I regret it...I hate AIDA! Will keep my eye out for a suitable piece of linen or evenweave. Its not white Aida, but a very pale aqua blue.

Well, that's it for the pictures for now. I should have a finish on "En Juin" by Grille de Maryse, very soon...yep, any minute now...

Hope everyone is enjoying the seasonal changes which may mean more cozy dark nights for plenty of stitching... Depending on which hemisphere you live in that is.

Christina In Sunny and Rainy Miami

Victorian Motto Sampler is having another give away...

Hi all, Nancy is having another give away! Here is the link: http://victorianmottosamplershoppe.blogspot.com/2015/08/favorite-things-give-away-enter-now_27.html?showComment=1440776342007#c1004131810200535640

Be sure to check out her eBay shop, too!

Good luck.

We are preparing for the worst here in Miami as storm Erika is heading our way.

Stay safe and dry my fellow Floridians out there.

Hugs, Christina

SFS-2015B Update

Hello stitchy friends...I am going to start with a SFS challenge update. I haven't been cross stitching too muchbut did go on vacation so I did have a Stash Enhancing eXperience! I stopped by Dixie Darlin' in Pigeon Forge and treated myself to a magnet scissor holder to put on my shirt and a piece of fabric. Yeah, I needed that piece of fabric like I need a hole in the head!

August purchases - R&R Reproductions  Kona Blend fabric - $8.00
                                Magnetic scissor keep - $12.00 Total spent $20.

Here is a pic of what I am stitching on sometimes in the evenings, it's a pattern from Les Grilles de Maryse entitle "En juin, delices du jardin." I will be done with this in a few nights!

The design calls for a light green fabric but I've put mine on a blue and white mottled fabric from my stash, so it looks very bright and cheery and also substituted the colors to work better with the fabric.

Hope everyone has managed to stick to their limits this month! And for those with kids that started school or will soon, good luck and happy learning!

Hugs, Christina in hot and muggy Miami. 

July SFS-2015 part B

Hi all,

Haven't done any stitchng this month. I am focusing on learning to knit  with real knitting needles - as opposed to a loom. I must admit that knitting on needles is easier than using a loom.  

Anyway, here is my break down for JULY SFS.

July - $ 0.97 spent.  I am working on stitching up some of my prefinished items and I found an old cotton towel in my stash so I purchased an embroiderie stamped pattern for it. Pics when I start it. I am still thinking about colors and what stitch to use for the outline.  I don't embroider so this is a new one for me. I guess this is the summer of learning new skills! 

Question: I don't use a hoop for cross stitching however, should I use one for embroidering on this towel? The fabric is very soft and drapey.


PRIZE WINNER! Below is a pic of the prize I won for May's SFS 2015-A challenge. The potential for this design is great. I love bands for decorating all sorts of things and am sure I will put these designs to good use.

This is "Ye Olde Sampler Bag" by Rosewood Manor. One of my favourite designers.

Thank you Mel and those lovely ladies that offer the prizes. This challenge wouldn't be any fun without the prizes! 

Thank you for visiting and hope everyone is having a good summer and staying cool. We are having airconditioning issues = (  You know what that means, cranky people in the house acting like they are the only ones with sweaty underwear!!

June Update of SFS 2015 - A

Hi all, not too much to report. I did do a little spending but still well within budget.

In June I spent $34.50 on fabric and few things from a de-stash that someone was having.  

May - $1.00 on floss.
April - spent $5 on a huck towel that was on sale at Michael's craft store.
March - spent 0
Feb - spent $19.99
Jan - spent 0

I will try for pics over the weekend.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far!

Hugs,

Christina

SFA-2015 May update

Just a quick update on this challenge...the first half will be over soon and I have been able to post every month and have saved tons of money!

In May I spent $1.00 on three skeins of floss that I needed - they were on sale at the Joann's.

Here's a break down of the last few months:

May - $1.00 on floss.
April - spent $5 on a huck towel that was on sale at Michael's craft store.
March - spent 0
Feb - spent $19.99
Jan - spent 0

I am also still working on the tea towel and hope to finish that sometime in June.

Hope everyone is safe this spring from tornadoes and floods = (.

Christina

Stitchy UPdate!

Hi folks, lot's of pics this time.

So to start, here's most recent finish. This was a little interlude, as I call them...you know, when something distracts you from a current commitment and you just have to dally a bit. The finishing idea was from Deb, a very creative and handy lady at one of the Yahoo groups of which I am a member.

Pine Mountain - a Smidgen called Spring

Below is pic of the heart I made for the  "Heart of Village" competition at The Stichers' Village. There is always stuff going on there so check it out HERE. And here is a LINK to another post with specific information on the heart, inspiration, materials, etc

Inspired by Threadworks Primitives - Cinnamon Hearts 

Here are pics of my prizes that came in Monday as a result of winning first prize for that heart. My Heart came back to me too, for which I am very grateful!

The prizes are all wonderful and as you can tell, I've already started on the little pillow...another interlude! This is my first win of anything like this.

Hope everyone is finding time to stitch and staying safe this spring...prayers go out to all in the tornado belt and those in flooding risk areas.

Hugs,
Christina In Swelteringly Hot South Florida