No Pictures Today, Just a Post

I can't believe it's already December 28. Where does time fly? I know that is a cliche, but it's a good one. My mother always told me that the older you get, the less time there seems to be in a day, or a month, or a year.

I think it's probably a good time to appreciate all the time that we have and make good use of it. Life is a gift.

In terms of trying to complete some cross stitch projects (when I started this blog, I intended to have many cross stitch projects as the focal point of my blog, but it didn't happen), I have entered a small, cross stitch challenge with a few of my friends.

Many of my friends have entered big challenges. Many projects to complete in a year. I can't. I am not a quick stitcher. I admire my friends who are. I try, but I make mistakes, and it never seems to pan out. So, this year, I am working on six projects that I want to see to completion. These projects are:

1. Acorn Sampler by Praiseworthy Stitches

2. Joy by Turquoise Graphics & Designs

3. Winter Wind by The Prairie Schooler

4. At Home with Jane Austen by The Sampler Girl 

5. June Berries from A Fine Collection by Blackbird Designs

6. Red Birds from Just Cross Stitch Magazine, Issue November/December 2011.

Winter Wind by The Prairie Schooler

These are all beautiful designs. I have had several of them for a long time and have always wanted to stitch them. The Red Birds from the Just Cross Stitch Magazine is a beautiful (and large) design. I have a beautiful piece of fabric, Nightingale from Birds of a Feather for this design. I have started Acorn Sampler and Joy. I am looking forward to stitching all of these designs.

Here's wishing you a beautiful rest of December.

Halloween in January

This is my first cross stitch finish in 2011. I actually started it in 2010, but that doesn't count. This finish is Country Spirits Collection "Delivering Tricks" by Homespun Elegance. The fabric is Weeks Dye Works "Straw" Hand-dyed Linen in 30 count. The fibers are Weeks, Crescent Colors, and DMC. It was really a lot of fun to finish with two buttons for the wagon wheels and an Olde Tin Star for accent. My next cross stitch project is "Be Merry - Belle Pepper" by Little House Needleworks. I look forward to starting this chart.

I Need To Start Posting

I need to start posting. I have nothing really to share today except I'm going to look at a new camera. I want one that has a telescopic lens. I would like to take pictures of birds and other beautiful animals that come around my house and live in the nature area behind my house. It's difficult to get up close to them, and so sometimes I have to take their pictures through my window. I hope to find one today or tomorrow. I have also almost finished a cross stitch project that I will post a picture of as soon as I sew on the buttons. I have one more day left before I have to go back to work (I'm a teacher). I have no complaints. I am grateful that I have been off for two weeks. Other than that, I am not really doing much.

Snowball and Fancey Blackett

One of my Maine Coon Cats who usually doesn't pose well for a picture decided he wanted a share of Jessie Rose's popularity. Snowball is loyal and always wants to sit close by me. He is also a great protector of Jessie Rose on most days. Sometimes he just gets tired of her. My other cat Dasher, who is the leader of the trio, I will try to get a photograph of and post shortly. I also am close to finishing my cross stitch project, Fancey Blackett & the Butter Churn. I am having my kitchen redone and have not had the time to sit and stich, so now that the painter is here, and I can't really do anything, I am stitching. I also have a picture of a yellow finch. We have so many finches. They are beautiful to watch. They congregate to our finch feeder often.

Snowball is a cool and charming cat. I think his eyes are hypnotic. He is all white with gold eyes.

This is a fun project by Pineberry Lane. It is supposed to be a pinkeep, but I am going to have it framed. It has been fun to stitch.

We have so many yellow finches in our yard. They are difficult to photograph because they are always on the move and sometimes look like a yellow blotch in the picture. This finch decided to rest on the fence around my husband's garden. The fence is for the rabbits who also inhabit my yard.

Cross Stitch

I am posting a few of my cross stitch finishes as well as a work in progress.

This is the first cross stitch chart I completed so many years ago. My mother and I learned how to cross stitch at a small shop in old St. Augustine, Florida. We both bought kits from the lovely lady who owned the shop. This was mine. My mother bought a chart with a horse and carriage set in Charleston, South Carolina.

I cross stitched this Mother Goose for my baby before he was born. John is now nineteen-years old.

This is a Mary Garry's Cabin chart. I can't remember the name of it. I made it for my special cat Jessie Rose. I know that Mary Garry is not designing anymore.

This is Mockingbird by La De Da. My son wanted me to make this for him last year. John picked out the mat and frame. I really like the way this turned out.

This is my work in progress. It is Fancey Blackett & The Butter Churn by Pineberry Lane. I coffee dyed the linen.

Market Wishfuls

For those of us who cross stitch and/or dream of cross stitching more, our favorite shop owners will be going to market in Nashville this week-end and bringing back lots of delectable goodies for our new projects. I have preordered Carriage House Samplings' Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow with the 36 ct. fabric Lakeside Linen Sand Dune to go with it. I am pondering whether to use DMC or Vicki Clayton silks on my project. What are some wishfuls the rest of you are looking forward to?