TWO WEEKS OF HARD WORK!

I've finally started finishing some projects I started a LONG time ago (plus a few small thingys).

The Amazing Grace pillow is for my granddaughter (yes, Grace is her name!). I don't remember the specifics because I did the stitching a couple of years ago. I bought the fabby and had it finished- I thought- until I saw the neat trim. So back to the drawing board. It will probably be her birthday gift.

The JBW designs are old. I dipped into the fabric stash and finally finished them. I had started off thinking I would make knob knockers, but since I have several more of the designs to do, I've decided to place them all in a special basket. As soon as I find a "special" basket.

Say Grace is going into the basket, too. I plan to do a couple more of them as gifts. A really quick stitch.

The two pincushions are made from the freebie on Blackbird Designs blog. I did the first one (pink) and was shopping for the backing fabric. I found the fab but also another piece I liked more. So back to the needle and thread (this time Belle Soir's Chester Blue and Lagoon).

So here's the latest. Plus all the cleaning closets I've done!

Well, back to watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It's the first time I've seen it. Love it!

HAPPY ST. GEORGE'S DAY!......

To all my English friends here and across the pond. To those who don't know, St. George is the Patron Saint of England. He's the famous one who slew the bad old dragon. The symbol worn today is the red rose, one of my favorites (the favorite being the lavender rose). My favorite statue of him is the one in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. He's pictured as a young man, quite well done by the artist. I think of him as one of "my" saints because I'm such an anglophile.
To Julie, Elisa and all the special friends (including Midge and Mr. Moe): I hope it was a good one.



I finally managed to get the Traveling Stitcher put together. Not without its problems! I decided to make the case myself. First mistake. I used some fabby from my collection here. Second mistake: now that it's together I don't really like it. There is an extra case because of a stitching mistake. Third error. But it's all done and in my needlecase basket. It's getting so full now that I need to find a larger way of displaying them. OH, and for fun I corrected the grammar!


I've now got Loose Feather's Peacock Pinkeep kitted up and am ready to start it. The fabric is wonderful. Colors-well???? Not my favorite.

Anyway, that's about all going on here. My visit to the retina specialist wasn't so good. I had it figured all wrong, of course. I thought the problem might be from diabetes (I'm insulin resistant and I thought maybe I had crossed over) or perhaps MS. It's not, of course. It's a part of my heart disease. It's hell growing old!

THANK GOODNESS FOR TOMORROW! WELL, MAYBE NOT.....

This has been one of those days. Started out great. Wonderful day at Sunrise Assisted Living. Got a little work done in the house. Then I picked up my stitching.

I'm working on The Traveling Stitcher by LNS. I've finished the needlebook cover and was about half finished with the main piece. Somehow I miscalculated and didn't allow enough side space. I started it all over again on the fabric right next to the needlebook. Well, I'm not happy. I'm working it really strangely just to see if it will fit. Truth is, I'd really rather get another piece of fabric and start over-over. Just to be sure.

I did make a trip to Lifeway Books for some reading material and found a wonderful carry-all that has places for family pictures.

None the less, I'm floundered by my boo boo. That's one that shouldn't be made. And all the thread I used.......overdyes, too.

In the scheme of things, this is small. But an unnecessary mistake.

Orchestra was good tonight and tomorrow I see Dr. Dobson to get my real boo boo removed. Maybe that's what's really on my mind.

Oh, well.......

I actually have two more finishes. The stitching was done several months ago but I've just now got them finished. Both are by Sandra Sullivan of Homespun Elegance.

The first is "Home Is Where You Hang Your Needlework". I used an alternate fabric (the name slips my mind!!) and I used most of the colors called for. I did change a couple of them to add a little more punch. I also did the needle book and pincushion, which has a handy little holder on the back for scissors. I used Weeks felt for this and for the lining of the needle book. I also used crushed walnut shells to stuff the pincushion. It's the first time I've done this and I really like the finish. It does add a bit of weight, though.

This is the "Stitching Necessaire". I also used an alternate (?) fabric for this one as well as the

suggested threads. I also used Weeks felt for the pincushion and scissor keep. The little button is the one suggested on the pattern.

I'm really liking primitives and am becoming a big fan of Homespun Elegance as well as Stacy Nash. I also enjoy doing needlework accessories. I've started a basket that sits on my bookcase just especially for my needle necessaries. They're easy, fun and quick projects, great for leftover fabby and threads.