I have show and tell today!

First I want to say a huge thank you for the concern/advice regarding my eyes. I am feeling much better now that I have been using the eye drops. Secondly, I returned to have my eyes re examined and am comfortable with the situation so I ordered my glasses. Hopefully in 2 weeks they will be ready and I can return to cross stitching. On to the fun stuff~~~~~~
I joined in the thimble exchange that KimM organized. I sent to 2 gals, both in Spain. I received my thimble from Montse in Spain yesterday...

Wonderful gifts with the thimble.... a pattern booklet and several other patterns and she even stitched something for me. I also received an email from someone who read a post of mine someplace and wants to do a thimble exchange! Of course I said yes. Then I convinced my sweet little frog pitcher to become a pincushion...

These frogs I have mentioned somewhere along here in the past.... they belonged to my paternal grandma. For as long as I can remember they were in her kitchen above the stove. When she died I got them....I loved them as a child and cherish them now. Sadly I have no one to pass them on to.
Anyway, the little one now has a pincushion made from a scrap of fabric that I have had for ages. Just the right print and look.
As I have not been able to cross stitch, I decided to hand stitch.

I gathered ups some scraps and 2 cd's and beads and a piece of Teneriffe, buttons and trim and this is what I did...a bit of crazy quilting into a pincushion. So, vision or not, I have tried to keep busy. I plan to do another one soon. Today we are having a cloudy day...nice for a change. We might even get some rain. I must dash off now as I have a meeting with one of the homeowners and then with my computer guru to help with my external drive that I just plugged in. A busy morning. I had the week off but will be going in tomorrow....usually Saturday's are busy. So off I go~~~~~~glad to spend some time with you. Hope you have a wonderful day.

Friendship

~Friends are the best to turn to when having a rough day~

How to say thank you for the wonderful friendship I share with you..... I treasure all of you who take the time to visit and for your kind words. I am off work all of next week so I will be looking to find an Ophthalmologist for my second opinion. First I will tell you that my eyes are feeling better. For now, Mr H picked me up Thera Tears, a lubricant for dry eyes. The gritty feeling is gone and actually today the pain is much less. Still blurry on and off, but I am not expecting miracles...yet. A big test will be going to work today..... scanning prices measuring and so on. Bright lights are still a bother also. Going to keep positive thoughts. I am finding it easier to hand stitch right now so I  have strted a crazy quilt pincushion....

so I grabbed some fabric scraps. I will hopefully get the piecing down this weekend so I can start the fun part, embellishing. My plan is to finish it as a "cd" pincushion. If you have not heard of this method, I will share more on it later when it comes to the finishing. I need to find a button from my collection as well as some trims to add. I think a stump-work bug may be in the mix. I always like the embellishing/finishing part. Our day is starting out cool and breezy. The garden is looking okay...some of our petunias have decided not to stay...but the ones that are growing wild with no care are doing well. The snail vine is needing a trim. The zinnias are bright and cheerful......

they are glowing in the sun light. Mr H has them in pots here and there so the color pops constantly. Speaking of flowers, I just ordered some to be sent to my mom...EvaP. I have a good rapport with a Rhode Island florist that I have been doing business with for well over 15 years. It is so nice to be able to call and have flowers sent and know they will always be wonderful. They keep me on file and those that I send to so it is easy. They are close enough to my family for quick delivery in in the winter months. I guess that about covers it for today my dear friends..... thank you for caring and your kind words. Hope you have a wonderful day.

PS: June card exchange start up..... if you wish to be added for June let me know. If you are new to the group, please email me you mailing info.

Welcome Saturday

It is an absolutely beautiful morning. Sun is shining, light breeze and comfortable temperature. I must get my stitchy stuff and go outside. I have felt a little stressed this week so I really did not do much stitching. Today, I decided to complete my Teneriffe pincushion...I made to the top March 20 something...

I am really pleased with it. I found just the perfect backing fabric in my stash and instead of having the bottom the same size circle as the top, I made it an inch smaller so the top would fall lower. I had the same variegated thread left over so I made the cording to cover the seam and a foo foo top design. All in all I am happy with it. I need to get to the one and only bead store around here today or by early next week to get a cabochon bead for an upcoming class. I could send to an online bead store, but I would rather see it to select it. It is so annoying that we have to resort to online buying for so many craft items. I am feeling rather scattered...I have several "things" I want to do but can not seem to settle down to chose one and do it. I think you may know what I mean....my eyes are too much for my time! I think I will gather up Red and make a cup of coffee and settle outside to relax. I will stitch if I do not get too distracted. I think I should go to the market first...then I can sit outside. Thank you for the kind words and for visiting with me....have a great day.

Plans do change

The headache from Wednesday lasted all day...have not had one like that in some time. My thoughts on Thursday were to do nothing...well, that did not last too long. I hate being idle. I uncovered the sewing machine and grabbed some fabric and began an all day project..

first were the Cactus pincushions. The pattern is from Sewing Lab blog. I did make a few adjustments to suit me. They did turn out to be cute. Then more fabric found its way into my hands and a pattern from Jinny Beyer Studio blog, again with a few changes for me...

Starfish pincushions. I used 3 different types of patterned fabric to see how they would look. Then a dip into my button jars to find a topper and I like them. So I did use a needle but not for cross stitch. If I do not see a bag of fiberfill for awhile it will be okay with me. I thought I would never stop stuffing! It was to perfect day to sew...the air the temp yesterday was great. We actually had the air conditioner off for the first time since May and the all the sliders open. The sky was cloudy most of the day and a bit of drizzle did make it to the ground. Today may be a repeat. If so, I do plan to relax, maybe just read and maybe bake a cake for Mr H. Tomorrow is a work day after being off all week. This mini vacation are nice and it is best to enjoy them before the busy season arrives. Thank you all for the well wishes and kind words. You really know how to make my day wonderful. Gld you had some time to visit with me..... have a wonderful day.

Strawberries complete

I really did intend to coffee dye only one of the strawberries..... but I liked the one I did so I did the other too....

I fussed with this and that but in the end, I went with my first plan. I also dipped the cords and the caps. It is so hard to see, but one of them is a little darker than the other. If you look at the picture with the floss, it may be possible to see the difference in the brightness of the colors. I may still add some distressing to them...thinking about it.  I am so pleased with them and will probably make a few more. Only one will be staying with me. I added lavender seeds to them and it is a faint scent that comes through as I mixed it with the fiberfill. Love lavender but sometimes it can be over powering. I began to work on Amazing Grace late yesterday and hope to have something to show you soon. My plans today? Well, first a doctor appointment for Mr H and then I will  bake a banana cream pie. I do not think I can work on Elizabeth as I have a few dry spots on my hands and do not want to catch on the silk threads. Loads of lotion to be applied. Thank you for the kind words...they always brighten my day. Hope you have a wonderful day.....

sitting pretty.....

What a guy

Sometimes the plans you think you made are not what happens....Mr H was having a good health day so off we did go to The Attic....

Home with me came my kit for the Elizabethan Pincushion Doll. The hand-painted porcelian doll is beautiful. The chatelaine is really nice; I chose the silver plated ones, much less expensive than the sterling set. The silk threads and ribbons are so pretty and the cut of linen is generous. I can hardly wait to start this. Mr H was sitting waiting for me to pay and overheard the cost.... well part of it. As we sat having lunch a short time later, he asked if he heard right.... I answered yes...but he did not hear the total cost...but I just had to have her and that is why I dug into my special cash. He had to admit it was very pretty. The doll is imported from Italy by a gal who does each one by hand herself. I need a tissue to stop drooling over this! Now, back to some reality. I have a hummer at the feeder!

I must confess something to you. Now If I chose not to mention this, you really would not know, but I want to be open here...the colors for the hummer are incorrect by the direction. I looked at the wrong chart but after having stitched it and outlined it, I am going to leave it. It is not a big deal in the scheme of it all. This is what happens at 3 am! The piece itself is coming along nicely. There are 4 more hummers to do and now that I found the correct color chart, they will be stitched as directed. A little more of the garden  and finish the brick border, then the outlining and it will be finished.
I think my mind was someplace else yesterday, I wanted to post my journal on the date the travel took place...I was a date early yesterday. Shall I continue? I think I will. Thank you for the kind words and for taking the time to visit. Have a good day and read on.

Arizona Bound

Wednesday July 21 2004 Day 2

Very little sleep last night. The trucks center part of the roof is an opaque material. Great for letting some light in during the day, but awful during a thunder and lightening storm. The rain did sound nice. Dennis slept but Sherlock who was terrified of thunder kept me awake trying to choke me by snuggling up under my chin all night. Zoe just kept pushing against my back. Last time sleeping in the truck! The day started early -- 7am. Pooches walked and I decided to go into the truck stop restaurant for a much need cup of coffee. Big mistake...I do not know what it was, but it certainly was not coffee.  I talked with a couple of truckers, the ones we parked between. They suggested that we do not drive so long and bed down before dark. Good advice, better than the coffee. Wagons ho...onto the drive through a wall of mist and fog. Hopefully we will all be talking to one another today. Dennis is now saying "never again"...huh?  Breakfast stop at 9 am. All fed and walked and off again. Seeing lots of farmland and rigs, lots of rigs and road construction. Of course this was not on my map. The driver has no patience. By 10:45 we arrived in Dubois PA. More walks and I really needed to stretch my legs. It was gas and snack time. These truck stops are a world unto themselves. Such characters you only see in the movies, or so I thought. Ohio at 1:10pm and time for lunch and tend to the passengers who were very eager to get out of the truck. For saftey reasons, they are wearing their harnesses at all times; license and ID on them. A large cattle truck pulled in beside us...loaded with very big dairy cows.... this upset Zoe. The pooches seemed more settled and I still was adding to my black and blues  getting a few more.  Dennis has no patience. I rememebered I had a small mirror in my purse. I could use it to check on the passengers without giving them total attention. They were playing me for the sucker. Every time I go back it was cookie time. All of a sudden it was 5pm and gas time I checked with the girl behind the counter about any motels where we could bed down with the pooches. She even called ahead for me to be sure. We have decided to stop early each day. We ere now in Gilead Ohio at Knights Inn. I requested a room with 2 full beds; one for Dennis and Zoe and one for me and Sherlock. I am determined to get this headache gone and get a good nights sleep. I am a lovely shade of purple here and there.My favorite color, but not on my body.  All fed and walked and ready to settle down. What?! Thunder and lightening and pouring rain! Okay Sherlock we can cuddle. This is going to be a restless night...again. Oh good, as soon as it started it stopped. Yes, there are Angels watching over us.

  Day three just has to be better. And Dennis is right... we re never doing this again.

Feb-roo-err-ee and a mouse

The love month.... the shortest month..... my month. Yes, my day is approaching and I add another number... but it really is only a number.
Finally, my pincushion exchange to Carolyn has arrived.... so now I will show you what I sent

A mouse on double pincushions on a mouse trap.
I loved making this and glad that Carolyn likes it. I love pincushions and this exchange was organized by Elena. I hope we have another!
The design for the basic pattern is from The Cheswick Co.. As always, I like to add my own touch to the design. I sat it upon a real mouse trap (like the one pictured behind it) and gave her some corn to take with her. A good thing I did too...she got a little lost on her way to Carolyn's place. Just mentioning the word lost makes me angry.... another wasted trip to the post office regarding my package from Gaynor. I made it clear I was not going to let this loss go easily and I will continually keep pushing for an investigation. I may never retrieve my items, but they will know me well. I can be very stubborn.
Getting ready for my birthday.... trying to decide what to give for my UN-Birthday celebration.... in the meantime, glad you could visit with me this day. Your friendship is very important to me. I also welcome a new friend... just one off from 300! I am amazed. Enjoy your day.

so...it is not Tuesday?!

It was one of thoses mornings... you know the kind, when you are not sure of anything for the first hours or so when you wake up. I got up at 3:30 AM and walked to the kitchen to make my coffee and thought it was Tuesday! I was thinking of getting my stuff together for work! No, I will not tell Mr H...he will satrt with that dedication to work mantra again. So what did I do? Well, I went to the sewing room, into the closet and took out a project that was started...

These pumpkin style pincushions were already sewn together, the beads/buttons already picked out and pearl cotton chosen. I sat down and finished them. I love pincushions and enjoy making them,... all sizes and all types. The fun is finding the right beads and buttons to match. I send some of them to sis Lynowl...she loves them and had them on display . Yeah, she pretty much thinks I am a creative person.
I had a nice visit with Dear Ziz yesterday morning... she is planning a cross stitch project and came to look at what I had for patterns. The Debra will be here on Sunday... with her working all week, that is pretty much the only day we can get together. I am excited to show her my last motif. I have learned so much from her. I will be joining The Lacy Ladies of Arizona this September.... it is a group of tatters that Debra belongs to and she asked me to be a guest at the next meeting. 
Mr H  is coming along with me this afternoon for a couple of medical tests and maybe while we are out we can take the round about way back home by way of a bead shop not too far away. they usually have some unique beads... like the ladybug on the  strawberry pincushion in the above collection. I happened to look at the list of followers yesterday...I looked twice! there are 259 friends!! When I began this jouney, I never expected to meet so many lovely people. Thank you all for your friendship, kind words, encouragement and hugs when needed. Thank you for sharing this time with me today. Hope your day is wonderful.

A beautiful sky but no stitch pictures....

Mr H and I went out for  ride yesterday and headed for PV Mall.. short for Paradise Valley Mall. It started out to check out a bakery... a bit of a ride for a bakery, but that is us. Anyway, it was attached to the PV Mall so in we ventured. We had not been there in some time. We headed to Dillard's where I thought I had seen sandals that I liked and Mr H said no it was Macy's. Of course he was right. Then he said I was looking in the wrong area because they were Clark's , I said no ... of course he was right again. Mr H spotted a nice pair of loafer style flats and they looked great on...so I ended with both pairs. Serves him right for being right! I hate that... So as a result of us shopping, I did not stitch on Iris or Needle and Thread. I did finish another sweet pincushion from Kaaren's blog and her FFF. I love these...

This time I used 4 different fabrics from my stash and as she suggested, did crosses along the seams. I think I am hooked on these! I am already thinking of more fabric choices for a few more. She is so talented with all her designs and her quilting is beautiful. Stop by and see for yourself.

Recently I have been having trouble with Facebook loading consistently. So the Geek Squad has tried on 3 sessions to help. Each time it works for a short time after. Then there is blogger...still can not figure why my icon does not appear on some of my comment posts...computes....great when they run smoothly, but when they don't.....
Did you happen to notice...my followers count is 203... time for a giveaway...thinking .....welcome to these new friends. Thank you all for stopping by to chat and for you lovely words and emails....you make my day special. Hope you have a great day. I will leave you with a picture shortly before sunset last night...beautiful!

I love my humbug~~~

This is one of the prettiest humbugs ......

Just Nan

Summer Wings  on 28 ct Blue Dynasty Cashel linen and DMC colors as listed

The colors are just so nice. There is a butterfly on each of the 3 sides ...... and the back .....

the beads and the simple outline are just perfect ....... and then ....

the counting pin that came with the pattern is really a perfect touch. I usually make counting pins to add to cushions, but who would when you can put this one in!

I never posted the finish for .....

BBD Summer Iris. It is sitting on the backing fabric.

I really must thank all of you who sent good wishes and thought to Mr H and myself. He is feeling much better. This was our first experience of it's kind and the hospital staff were just great. With Mr H not feeling well, I have discovered that I need a list of what to take care of around here! I forgot to water the garden and check the pond and almost forgot to feed the dog! I admit she could stand to loose a few pounds ... but really!

Today I will work on my exchange piece and maybe my embroidery too. I m craving fried rice....I know it is only morning.....and yes there are a few things that I cook ..... so I think I will steam the rice for later use and pour some iced tea......

thank you for visiting with me and the kind words and thoughts..... have a great day....

Pincushion Puffs

Just finished...and I can't wait to make a few more!



Once again into my stash... of fabric this time...to find a print for these lovely puffs. Then into the button jars to find just the right buttons...and then I found a tassel!

For the back side, I found two mottled fabrics to complement the front prints. All of the buttons I have had for many years...I do save and collect buttons and have several jars!