Stitching progress..

I have been on vacation this week.  The weather has been beautiful, almost too warm for October in the midwest.  Low 80s.  About 10 degrees warmer than it should be.  I'm not complaining mind you.  The trees are really showing their beautiful autumn colors. 

I didn't have any goals I had to meet this week, just have done some jobs around the house that needed some attention.  It is just such a wonderful feeling to have time to putter around.  Today is my last day of vacation at home before Mike joins me.  He will be taking some days off also starting tomorrow. 

Mike helped me with taking some pictures this morning for my blog.  I had the autumn themed pieces in mind to change my blog header photo.  I actually have frames for two of the pieces, just need to stretch them and get them framed...

I have been enjoying some extra stitching time.  I have been working on a Christmas piece.  My friend Cathy handed it off to me at our last stitch group claiming the black fabric was just too hard for her to see to stitch.  She knew I liked the design also, so she just handed me her fabric and chart and said 'go for it'.

So, this is what I've been working on this week.  I finished all the gray at the bottom and I'm going to stitch the outside border next.  It will look good when finished I think.  Black fabric isn't my favorite color to work on but it does look really good with this design.

I recently finished up this Crows freebie.  I purchased some black and gold fabric for finishing.  I need to sew it into a long pillow.  I've seen photos of some of the finishes you all have done on this piece, and it's really cute.

This Jolly Jack piece was the last one I've finished.  I substituted some of the overdyed flosses from what was listed on the chart, but I'm pleased with how it turned out.  I need to press it, and decide on how to finish it.

I finished up this Silent Night ornament by Little House Needleworks recently also.  Again, it just final finish work needed....*sigh*  Can you tell this takes me much longer to get inspired to tackle instead of the actual cross stitching??? 

I got my favorite old quilt out for the photos I've posted.  I bought just the quilt top years ago at an auction, and then had the local senior citizen's ladies quilt it.  The local senior quilters have done many quilting projects over the years.  At the time I added my name to their waiting list it was like at least a year's wait.  But they do beautiful quilting.  I'm not sure if they still do this or not, it has been several years since I had this done.  I have one other quilt I had them quilt for me, it's a sampler quilt I pieced by hand.  My sister sewed the blocks and sashing together for me.  I will get a photo of it sometime and post it.  That is my total experience with quilting...one.  I do love quilts, I just love cross stitching more.

I will end this long post with one more cat photo.  Our daughter, Holly took this photo the other day, and I have to share.

Annie is pretty photogenic.  She likes posing!  LOL.  Holly caught her looking out the living room window the other day and got this shot. 

Well, guess that's the update from my neck of the woods...hope you are all enjoying some beautiful Fall weather.

Happy stitching..
Melody

Hello again.

September is almost gone.  I have been reading blogs, stitching and reading...just not posting very often.

Since my last post, I finished Geranium House by Country Cottage Needleworks.  Not framed, but stitching is done.  I did a small freebie, Crows.  I did find some fabric to make it into a small pillow, hopefully will sew it up soon.  Then, I stitched 'Jolly Jack' by Prairie Moon.  I didn't have the overdyed threads the chart called for, so I substituted my own.  I like the way it turned out.  I'm not sure if I will frame it or sew it into a pillow. 

I picked up Silent Night by Little House Needleworks, one of the monthly ornament charts the other day, so I've been stitching that.  I haven't decided which project I want to stitch after that one.  I do have a few to choose from..... ha! 

We went for a drive Sunday, but the trees haven't started to change too much yet.  Maybe in another week they will be putting on a better show.

Mike took this photo at a nearby State Park.  He will have to go back after the trees change color a bit more.

I love Fall weather.  We've been busy around home, trying to clean out the basement...and our daughter has been working on her large walk in closet. I've made a couple of trips to Goodwill to drop off unwanted items, which is a 'good thing' as Martha says.

I have a week off work next week, so hope to get a few more things accomplished around here. 

I'm sorry I don't have any stitchy pictures to share.  Hopefully by next time, I will have taken some to share.

Happy Stitching!

September already?

I don't know where the time is going, but it's going by quickly!  I've been thinking about a blog post for like a week, but never seem to sit down to do one.

I finally uploaded some photos tonight from some recent activities and some stitching believe it or not, so thought I'd best sit down at the computer and share.

I have been stitching.  I finished up Trick or Treat Smell My Feet.  It was a fun stitch.  It's pressed and waiting it's turn in the to be framed drawer.  I enjoyed doing that one.  I've moved on to 'geranium house' by Country Cottage Needleworks. 

I did sit down after work last Saturday afternoon, and frame two pieces.  I always feel so good when I actually get something completely done!

Sorry for the glare on this, but I was happy to get this one in a frame. 

This is the second one I framed Saturday, the designer is la di da, not sure that I remember the name of the design.  It also was a fun stitch that went quickly.  Both frames were from auctions or garage sales.  I love it when I find a usuable frame. 

I have to share a picture with you of our oldest cat, Ranger.  She is the senior resident in our household.  It's a long story about how she came to live with us, but has been a good cat.  She is about 14 years old. 

We were in Dubuque, Iowa Sunday.  We walked along the river front there and found some good subjects to photograph.  The modern looking building above is the River Center.  I thought it made a pretty picture with the clouds reflected in the glass.  They also had many pots of pretty flowers.  I don't know what these large purple and white ones are, but they were very distinctive.

We also found a good restaurant there called Star Brewery that was very enjoyable.  It was a nice day trip only about 2 1/2 hours from home.

We are now experiencing some beautiful fall like weather here in Illinois.  Fall is my favorite season, I just love the cool nights and crisp air.  I started putting away summer things over the past weekend, and began getting out some of my autumn accessories. 

Love these longer evenings for stitching and reading.  I recently finished A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny.  If you haven't read this author before, I encourage you to do so.  This was a great read, and I hated to have it end.

Happy stitching!

August is rolling along

I seem to open each post with an apology for not posting often...

I do have stitching news.  I finally finished the Friendship piece by Prairie Schooler.  It's an old chart, but I've always liked this one.  I'm glad I stitched it.  Sorry the picture isn't the best...

I did make it to a nearby needlework shop a couple of weeks ago, and limited myself to some linen for charts I have that I want to do...  I was thinking I would start a Christmas ornament next, but instead I was inspired to stitch something I've had in my project basket for a few years... 

It is going pretty fast.  I already have the pumpkin in the middle done, as well as 'or treat' on the left.  I was in the mood for some halloween stitching, and I'm glad I started it.  It's going to be a fun stitch. 

I've been busy at work, we've just finished the budget for the year and I've finished the Annual Report for the library.  I'm glad to have those big projects done for the year!

I've just gotten caught up on blog reading.  You are all so productive and inspiring!  It's so much fun to see the pictures you post of your home renovations and of course all the wonderful stitching you're doing!!

I've been busy reading some good books also.  I am eagerly awaiting the new Louise Penny book, "A Trick of the Light".  It should be here by the end of the month.  If you haven't ever read any of her books, I encourage you to start with "Still Life", her first title.  You are in for a treat. 

Split Second by Catherine Coulter was the last book I finished.  Her FBI series is very good.  As you can see in my sidebar, I am on Good Reads.  If you enjoy books, it's a great site to explore. 

As I was taking the picture to post of the Prairie Schooler piece, I found my daughter had been using my camera....

I can only hope she won't be reading my blog anytime soon, or I'll be in trouble for posting this!

Minnesota Visit

Hello.  I don't know where the time is going, but it seems to be flying by at a fast pace.  I've been going to sit down and write a new post for at least a week.

We did get to my sister's house the weekend before last.  We had a great visit, spent lots of time enjoying their pool.  It was a lovely relaxing get away, just what we needed. 

We did go to visit some beautiful gardens in St. Cloud on Saturday morning.  They are the Clemson Gardens I believe.  The flowers were beautiful.  There were many beautiful fountains as well. 

Mike had a great time taking some pictures.  The gardens end up alongside the Mississippi river, with several benches and garden swings for sitting and enjoying the views.

Pink flowers are among my favorites.  These pretty petunias lined some of the walkways.

Another pretty fountain.  I didn't count how many there were...

One of the gardens was all white flowers.  They were so pretty amidst the green bushes.  But I think the hydrangeas were my favorite.  They had white, blues and pinks.

I promise to post again soon with news about stitching.  But I wanted to take the time to share these beautiful garden photos first.

Happy Stitching!

A Book related post

Hi All

I just had to share a few book updates. I just finished Bones of a Feather by Carolyn Haines.  A good cozy mystery series.  I think they are getting better as she goes. 

It sounds like we are in for some hot weather over the upcoming week. Think it will be a good opportunity to stay in the air-conditioning and do some stitching and reading. 

We hope to head North next weekend to visit my sister, brother-in-law and their family in Minnesota.  Hopefully the heat wave will have abated some by then. 

I stitched some last night on the friendship square by Prairie Schooler.  It is going to be cute.

I had an excellent surprise today.  I received a birthday gift from my son, a little late.  But am the happy recipient of some new charts and a beautiful new klemscott needle keep!  He knows what his Mom likes!

Thought I'd share a picture of some beauties blooming on our deck. We have enjoyed these colorful celoisa flowers this summer.

The pots of pink geraniums and lobelia have been pretty too. 

I also want to share a picture of Susie with her Autumn at Hawk's Run Hollow finish.  Since I was able to successfully upload my camera pictures, finally!  I love this piece, I'm thinking I will want to start it one of these days...

Happy Stitching Everyone, and Stay cool.

And the summer reading program is over....

Hi All.

I apologize for there being so few posts from my direction.  I don't know where the time is going.  It's definitely going by too fast. 

The summer reading program concluded at the library today with a "midsummer faire".  Wow.  All I can say is that all the staff were exhausted at the end of it, but pleased with how it all turned out.  We had a variety of games the kids could play, a face-painting station, a wild-hair coloring station and various food giveaways.  My dear daughter, was in charge of the hair-coloring station.  She did an excellent job giving each youngster a custom wild hair color look for the day.  All I can say is whew, glad it's all over. 

I have been stitching.  As you can see by the header on my blog I finished Americana.  It was a really fun stitch.  I then moved on to a trusted, favorite designer, Prairie Schooler.  I chose one of the friendship squares to do.  I have always liked those.  In fact, a few years ago, I did the 'road to the house of a friend' as a gift for a particular friend.  I also pulled the dmc colors for Cricket's summer chart. 

Our stitch group met this past Monday at our house.  It happened to be just a few days after my birthday, so I served them all a dairy queen ice cream birthday cake....yum.  We had a great turn out!  Everyone was there including Barb from California, and Robin returned to our group, after being absent for several years.  We all had a great time, despite the warm evening.  Susie was happy to announce she had finished Autumn at Hawks Run Hollow.  What a big accomplishment!  We were all happy for her.  

Since I posted last we made a quick weekend trip to Graceland in Memphis, TN taking our daughter and her friend.  It was a hot weekend trip, but we all enjoyed our visit to Graceland and Beale Street.  It was an adventure.

On our way to Memphis, we were going to be travelling thru Metropolis, IL.  I asked that we make a side trip to visit everyone's favorite comic book hero...

So we got a few quick pictures of the superhero, and were on our way south again.  The trip was a quick one, since we wanted to be back in Illinois for the fourth of July celebration.  But, we made it despite the traffic jams, and busy pre-holiday weekend traffic.  Thanks to my dear hubby's superior driving skills.  We were glad we didn't let the two girls head off on their own, which was their original plan.  I think they were glad to have us along also.  So it all worked out great.

Next post, I promise I will have pictures of actual stitching progress.