My beloved Mother went peacefully to heaven the week before Thanksgiving, surrounded by family members.  We pray that the love which radiated from within her, will continue to shine within each one of those whose lives were touched by hers.  She will live within my heart forever, until we are joined together once again in eternity in heaven.

 

 

                               
On this first Sunday in Advent, "PEACE I leave with you.  My Peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Your heart must not be troubled or fearful."  (John 14:27)

May you be blessed with PEACE in your lives,

Hello My Very Dear Friends! 

It has been much too long since I last posted, but a lot has been happening in our family over the past 6 weeks.

My 84 year old Mother, who has Alzheimer's Disease, fell 5 weeks ago, and broke her pelvis in 4 places. She is now  bedridden, and being cared for at my parents' home, by my youngest brother, his wife, and a full time Visiting Angel caregiver. Dad just couldn't bear the idea of mother being in a nursing home, and wanted for her to be in their home for as long as possible.  It is a true blessing that my brother and his wife moved in with them last November.  My siblings and I are so grateful to them, and we have all been taking turns visiting Mother and Dad.  This is such a difficult time of our lives, but I know that many of you have gone through similar times with your own parents too.

My stitching progress has been slow these many weeks, especially since I also caught a nasty gastrointestinal virus from the little grandchildren, which lasted 10 days!  We love seeing them, but all three of them are in nursery school and daycare, so they pick up so many viruses and share them with us:)

Last weekend, we were able to attend a Stitcher's Hideaway Retreat in Mystic, CT, with Thea Dueck of Victoria Sampler, who taught us to stitch a beautiful Christmas sampler.   Since Mystic is a famous old historic seaport, the sampler was very appropriately called "Mystic Christmas Sampler", and had many tall sailing ships and lovely verses and specialty stitches.

We worked in class on the Hardanger section, at the bottom of the design, and some of the specialty stitches above it.  I also managed to stitch all of the over-one verses in the piece, and some of each one of the little scenes too.  I'm just not ready to show you those parts yet:)

If you have never attended a Stitcher's Hideaway retreat, you don't know what you are missing, because they are all  extra special, and always great fun!  

Since our retreat had a Christmas theme, look who decided to show up unexpectedly!

Me (left) Santa & Jan (my new friend)

One of the really fun parts of the retreat that everyone loves, when we have a Christmas theme, is a stitched ornament exchange.  This was the one that I stitched for the exchange.

                              Monthly Stocking Series  
                                 By Blackbird Designs         

I lined the inside with deep red satin.  The hanger is made with cranberry seed beads.

My friend, Jan just happened to pick my ornament to open!

Just look at all of the wonderful ornaments that were made!

Before we went home on Sunday, we stopped in at a great Scandanavian shoppe, in Mystic Village.  As my husband is Swedish, I just knew that he would love purusing this fabulous shoppe, which has more 'eye candy'  than you could ever imagine.  This big Swedish Horse greeted us as we walked in the door!  

We left there with several very special items, among them some delicious Swedish Cardamon Bread, which we just couldn't leave behind!  Yummy.....

Well, dear friends, it is time to end this very long post, before I bore you. Wherever you are, and whatever you might be doing, please know how much your friendships mean to me, and that you are always in my thoughts, even when I have not been in touch for a long while.

With love & blessings for you!

A Gorgeous Day & Thoughts of You, Dear Friends......

Oh What a Day It is Today!  The sun is shining, with temperatures in the low 70's, and a some billowy clouds drifting by, with a soft wind blowing.  Doesn't that sound just perfect for an early autumn day?  

On and off all week, my needles have been working diligently on the next letter of the 'Autumn' bellpull.  The second letter "U", has taken shape with some of the rust coloured leaves and little acorns surrounding it.

The colour changes are so numerous, that sometimes it becomes a bit maddening, but I keep telling myself that it creates the shading effects, so I persevere.

Sometimes it is difficult to even see the difference between some of the thread colours.  I think that I might recommend some overdyed threads for anyone who might like to stitch this banner in future.  I will happily pass on the pattern when I am finished with it if someone would like to stitch it.

Now, you may remember that I said that I prefer to only have one or two pieces at a time that I am stitching, but I broke my rule last week!  My wonderful friend, Donna, (no blog), decided to embark on a SAL to stitch "Giovanni's Alphabet" by Tempting Tangles Designs.

In May, while attending Celebrations of Needlework, in Nashua, NH, a leaflet of this design was tucked into one of my packages, so I decided to look it up on Tempting Tangles website.  It is a re-created design, adapted from a magnificent design by Giovanni Ostaus, published in his book in 1561.  If you love samplers, this one is magnificent!

Donna and I started our "long distance SAL" last Sunday night, chatting online as we stitched. We decided that we would sip on our favorite hot tea as we 'stitch in spirit', together.  Donna sweetly surprised me with a package of goodies for the occasion.

The Organic Rooibos Tea that Donna sent, is really delicious.\She also stitched these wonderful "Tea" towels for me, and sent along a beautiful little notebook, in which to write notes of our evening stitches too!  How very kind and thoughtful of her.  I sent her big HUGS!   Now I am thinking about what my surprise will be for her, for our next SAL.

                        
My Necessaire Floor Stand arrived on Friday last week!  I love using it with the Millenium Frame for stitching this wonderful sampler.  It is a dream to use, and keeps my linen nice and tight, just the way I like it. I love it!

              My progress for the first night of our SAL.

                      'Dirty Linen'  36 count
                            Weeks Dye Works Threads
                      (One Strand Over Two Threads)

Miss Meggie cuddling under her blankie, while I was stitching.

Meggie, last Sunday night, looking longingly upstairs, as the hour grew late....

"Hint, hint, Mommy..... I have my baby and I think that it really is past my bedtime!  Are you ever going to turn off your light and put that stitching away?"  

                        

Peace Like a River.....

Little did I know, when I began stitching this adorable LHN 'Little Sheep Virtues' PEACE, that  I would find scriptures and hymns about 'Peace' floating through my mind as I stitched!  What incredible blessings!  

I found myself humming, "I've Got Peace Like a River" (see the two little fishies swimming in the river)..... I've got peace like a river, I've got peace like a river in my soul....."

Then I kept thinking of this wonderful scripture, 

"Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you:

Not as the world giveth , give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, Neither let it be afraid."

(John 14:26-28)

Heaven only knows how much we need PEACE so very much in our hearts, in this very troubled world that we live in, all around the globe today!  

Yesterday was a shower of blessings, as family members gathered to celebrate the marriage of one of my sister's youngest son's.  It was a perfect sunny, blue skied day, as we heard the young pair exchange vows under a canopy in a beautiful park garden.  The looked so happy and the bride was radiant.  

Later at the reception, the little ones had a marvelous time dancing.  Ella said, "Grandma-ma, "I've  never been to a wedding party before!"  

  Baby Harrison shyly tried to imitate her and his 3 year old brother.  He would cry if we tried to coax him to give up his 'binkie', so he moved shyly to the music, 'binkie' in place.  So sweet...

Miss Ella thought that she was Cinderella!

  Ahhh....the sweetness of childhood passes all too quickly.  My promise to myself, is that I will cherish each and every day of their precious young lives.  One day, sooner than we realize, it will then be their day  for us to celebrate their vows with their chosen beloved one.....

Before I leave you today, I will share one more piece of needlework, begun a few years ago, but never finished.... We all have many wonderful WIP's stashed away in boxes, to be "finished one day, we say to ourselves":)

"Autumn Bellpull"

by

StoneyCreek Collection

Each one of the letter scenes is just like stitching an individual piece, which takes more time to stitch each one than one would realize.   So.....here is hoping that maybe this autumn it will be finished so that it can be hung at last!

It is always such a blessing to share here with you, my very dear friends, and to visit with each one of you, reading about your lives, and seeing your beautiful needlework too!

I love reading all of your wonderful comments and am very happy that we are all connected to one another, through the threads that we share, one little stitch at a time!

Blessings!

"Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head........"

Oh what a day of heavy rain we are having today, although it remains still warm and very humid outside......not especially a day that to venture out, but a perfect day for stitching!

I am a wee bit behind in my posting, but want to thank all of you very dear friends, who sent me so many wonderful birthday wishes. Last week, my sweet friend, Cucki, from South Africa, sent me a lovely package of of wonderful goodies!  I feel so blessed.

                            A precious silver bird charm.

                          Look at these beautiful scissors!

Now for a little more stitching progress on Quaker Christmas II. Stitch by stitch, I am happy to say that there was no 'frogging' this week!  Yea!

It was a bit tricky, trying to find a smooth 'stitchy journey' for these two motifs, but I love the way they look, especially the woven looking triangle in the middle.

Isn't this  motif a beauty?  I love it!

Last week, the 'bug' hit me to go through all of my stitching albums and sort everything, and put the patterns that I don't need anymore into bags to donate.  I think that my stitchy blog friend, Carol, inspired me, after I saw how she beautifully organized her stitching stash.

We bought this cabinet when we moved into our condo, to put near by sewing machine in our family room, so that I could have my stitching books nearby.

We live in a condo, with not a lot of storage space.  This is my little corner in our tiny furnace room, packed with boxes of threads, ribbons, etc.  I keep sorting and reorganizing, but my stash just seems to keep growing!  You know how that goes:)  Tee-hee-hee:)

It is always wonderful sharing with all of you here, and I count myself as very blessed that we have all become connected to one another, through the threads of friendship of our love of stitching.

May you be blessed every day!

                 

Let There Be Peace On Earth

'Let There Be Peace On Earth', and let it begin with me.....  Such a beautiful sentiment, and so much needed in this very troubled world.  This was the verse that I finished stitching last night on my 'Quaker Christmas II' sampler, and I thought, "How very appropriate, and so beautiful."

It is truly a joy to stitch each little motif of this sampler, and I finally crossed the "half way" mark last week!  Maybe there is hope that I will have it finished in time to have it hung up for Christmas!

I know that a lot of my stitching friends say that they like starting a lot of different projects, but I prefer to only work on two at a time, and not have a lot of unfinished ones calling out to be stitched.  That raises my anxiety level, and stitching, for me, is my favorite way of getting in touch with the more peaceful side of my life.  

Here is some more progress on  my  'Spring Morning Sampler'.  

Our family surprised me with a birthday celebration this past week.  Birthdays are just so much fun with excited little grandchildren to share in blowing out the candles on the cake and helping you to open your presents!

My dear friend, Martha and I made our annual birthday trip to Mrs. Bridges Pantry to celebrate both of our birthdays in our most favorite way.  

Just look at all of those delectable pastries!  Believe me, it was not an easy decision, for us to pick just one dessert!

Well, dear friends, as we try to keep our Sundays as a day of rest, from the busyness of the week, I believe that it is time for a cup of tea and some stitching time.  

Where ever you are, what ever you are doing today, may you take a little peaceful time for yourself, and maybe join me for a cup of tea and some stitching time!

Blessings In Stitches & Friendship!

GOD BLESS AMERICA ON THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY

We who live in this great nation, have countless blessings that have been lavished upon us.  Every day we need to give thanks to God,  for providing us the freedom to live freely, and independently from tyranny and with freedom to practice our religious liberty.  May we continue to be a country whose lands are deserving of God's blessings upon us.  God Bless America!  

This sweet little bear reminds me of the way I feel lately....not all bandaged up, but a little out of sorts, as I have been experiencing a lot of pain in my left  hip and leg for about 6 weeks now.   After a lot of tests, I had an epidural steroid injection last week, but the effect was not successful, so I will have a second one on July 9th.  I am praying for it to relieve some of the pain, as it is interfering with my ability to sit comfortably for very long!  Imagine my distress of not being able to stitch very much every day!!!  

Anyway, I have persevered with brief periods each day, and managed to make a little progress on 'Spring Morning' and 'Quaker Christmas II'.  

     "Spring Morning Sampler" by Rosewood Manor

Each evening I try to stitch a little more on these beautiful motifs.  With a some perseverence, just maybe I will finish this wonderful sampler in time for Christmas!  

Last Saturday afternoon, a new animal hospital, right across the street from our neighborhood had an Open House.    Since 3 of our grandchildren were visiting for the afternoon, our daughter decided to walk with Ella and Emerson in her double stroller to it.  Bruce drove me and baby Harrison.  Each  one of the children took their stuffed doggies for the occasion.

                 Miss Ella with Clifford the Big Red Dog & Ernie.

           Emerson with a  toy poodle.

                 The 3 doggies having a pretend xray!

The grandchildren thought that this was wonderful.  There were so many people, children and little pets on leashes all over the building, and Ella, Emerson and Harrison loved it.

Blessings to all of you, my very dear friends.  Thank you for always keeping in touch with your very special comments.  I love every one of them, and treasure the friendships that we have kindled with one another.

Have a lovely & blessed day!