Year in Review!

Dear Stitching Friends,

2014 has been such a lovely year with many new and exciting things!

First, I started my blog this year and it has brought me much pleasure!  I have met many wonderful people through it, and I hope to meet even more in the coming year!  I had wanted a blog for quite a while, and just never made up my mind to do it!  I finally took the plunge this year, and I am so glad I did!

I have won some giveaways!  I have participated in exchanges!  I have received RAKs!
I even had my own giveaways!

 Beautiful giveaway from Annette!

My 1st giveaway win from Jacquie! 

 

Exchange I sent....                                                      Beautiful RAK from Andrea!

THERE ARE OTHERS!  I hate to post just these few photos, because I don't want to leave anything or anyone out!!!!  I have absolutely LOVED everything that I have been privileged to do!  And also the people---such wonderful, wonderful new friends!!!  I'm just not organized with my photos and I'm finding what I can!!!  (I need to work on that!)

Time has been limited at some points, but I manage to keep it going!  I am about to begin my LAST semester on my Masters in Music and I will graduate in May!  I cannot wait to have this behind me!  I was probably CRAZY for attempting this past the age of 50, but the end is in sight and I am thrilled!  I will definitely post photos of me in my cap and gown, marching with a bunch of 20-somethings!!!  I'm so excited!

My music has always been so important to me!
I work as the Parish Music Director/Organist at my church and each year the adult choir presents an Advent Concert on the First Sunday of Advent.  It is a wonderful event and we have done this for 8 years.  Below is a photo--yes, that's me at the piano.  Our robes are about the most unflattering garment made....so ignore how "round" we look!!  (even though I like these and think they look great together!!)

On Christmas Eve, we have 2 Masses and the first has the youth instrumental ensemble that plays, and they always do such a great job!  It's so nice to see young people participate!

I have a beautiful kitty, Dolce, that I got after I lost my precious Violetta.  I also have a lovely family: husband and son & daughter-in-law!

Life is good!

What do I want to do for 2015???    Am I making silly resolutions??

 

Well, I'll probably get out the standard list of resolutions that I make every year, and never keep!! LOL!!
They are the usual:  lose weight, be more kind to everyone, get organized......

However, I really want to do MORE stitching and get all of my stitching supplies, etc, organized! My blog has made me more aware of how "together" other people are!!!  I want to be, also!
I also want to be better about commenting on other blogs!  I faithfully read many of your blogs, but I'm usually racing through and don't take the time to comment!  I know that I should.  I know how much I enjoy comments, and I certainly need to make to effort to share that enjoyment!  That's a new and sincere resolution!
I also want to get my computer in good shape...I couldn't find photos today....I need to delete useless stuff--just that type of thing!  I've let it go and now it is imperative that I jump in and fix it all!

My main interest in cross stitching has been fixing my seasonal and holiday trees!  I will continue to do that, but hope to add a large piece to work on, too.  I have one big UFO that I might drag out and finish, just to prove that I can actually start and finish something, even after all these years!  It must be 25-30 years old!!! LOL!
BUT, I only have one unfinished thing, so I guess that's positive!  HOWEVER, I have at least 9 million charts that I want to stitch!  So, I'd better get going on those, don't you think????

I hope all of you have a wonderful, healthy, prosperous, and joyous 2015~

Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon!
Frances

Just a Silly Little Post!

I was glancing through the recent photos on my phone, and I just had to laugh!
We host my in-laws each year for their family Christmas celebration, which took place last week.  I cook the meal, we eat and then we gather around the tree and unwrap gifts--  
a fun evening!
Anyway, earlier that afternoon, I walked into the dining room to finish with the table, and look what I saw:

I think Dolce thought she was being rather crafty, don't you!?!?!  I ran and got the camera. She stayed there for a while.  (At least I remembered to vacuum the chairs before the guests arrived!)

Thanks for stopping by--I hope you're all preparing for a wonderful Christmas!
Frances

Christmas Decorations

As you all know, I really like trees!!! HAHAHA

So, in the spirit of that, I put up five trees this year!  I actually have one more that just didn't make it this year...I ran out of steam!  It is a beautiful one, too--mercury glass/European glass--so lovely!  Oh well, there's always next year!
Also, when he was growing up, our son had a Baseball Tree in his room with things from all the baseball teams.  It's cute, but he took that with him to his house and now his wife can deal with that one!!  LOL!

This is our Family Tree in the den.  It has things our son made as a child, souvenirs from trips, gifts from friends and family, etc.  This is where we open presents.

This is our Star Trek/Star Wars/Space Tree.  It's for my husband and son, who are big fans.  Me--not so much!  But they love it, so whatever!  These are mostly Hallmark Ornaments and many of them light up and make noise.  HAHAHA

This is our Mississippi State University Tree--again for my husband and son!!  They went to school there and the football team is going to the Orange Bowl in Miami on New Year's Eve.  Husband and son are going to the game-I am not!!

This is my Music Tree.  I love this one, especially!  It is full of little pianos, treble clefs, instruments, notes, composers, etc.

You've already seen my Cross Stitch Tree in a previous post!

Thank you for stopping by and do visit again soon!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful 2015!!

Frances

My Cross Stitch Tree!

As I always say, I am late in posting and getting things done!  But, I now have some things to show, at last!!!
This is my cross stitch tree--It is a new one this year because I used my "regular" cross stitch tree for a special tree for my husband that I will show in a later post.  SO, I bought this tall, skinny flocked tree that I really like!  All my cross stitch ornaments are on here.  I added some cute little apple ornaments to fill in spaces and add color.  I am pleased with it!  Here are various photos~
(You will notice in the background, my collection of crucifixes.  This is an ongoing collection.  I have them from all over the world--places I've visited as well as some brought to me from friends.)

Here are some random shots of various ornaments.  The religious ones on linen are some particular favorites, from note cards back in the 1980s.  The cards were designed by Mary Beale and I really haven't seen many of these on other blogs.  One of my ornaments is dated 1987, so I stitched them a long time ago!! The colors are so lovely!

 

The rest are just lovely, fun things!  I mix everything up!  I have cute, primitive, elegant--all of it!  I use it all together!  I have Prairie Schoolers--several--but not a Santa!!  I love all of them!  I am making a pledge to stitch a Santa this year!  The little quilt at the top right is so cute--I have three of those!  I especially like the little house on the left.  I added a tiny house ornament on it by the button--cute!!  You also see my beautiful, gorgeous gift from Andrea above--Glad Tidings!

Thank you for stopping by--do come back soon!  I will be showing my other trees later and I want you to see those, too!
Merry Christmas!
Frances

Christmas Stitching

I have a cross stitched piece that is dear to me.  This was stitched by my late aunt, who would be 106 if living today!  She's been gone for a number of years and I got this after she passed.  She was a widow with no children, and I got two pictures that she stitched, probably back in the '80s.  I think it's lovely--I have no idea who the chart is by, but I love the colors and I like it on the pale green Aida she chose.

This isn't a great photo, but you get the idea!  She would be so pleased to know that I enjoy it each year!

I'm getting VERY excited, seeing Christmas trees and goodies on your blogs!!  I am ALMOST finished with my decorating!!  I can't believe it's taken me this long, but I'm plodding along and getting it all together!  LOL!!
I put up more than one tree, so it's just taken a bit longer this year with everything else that has been going on! (like school)  But I'm going to post photos soon, so please bear with me a little longer!! Then I'm going to take some ME time and stitch away!!!
Fortunately, I have all my shopping done and wrapped!!!  My Christmas cards are being addressed now--almost done!

Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon!
Frances

A WONDEFUL GIFT!

I was so honored to receive a beautiful RAK from Andrea at The Craft Room.  She sent me this lovely ornament that she made.  I was so excited to see the package in the mailbox.  And I was really speechless when I opened it!!  Isn't it just the greatest???  I consider myself to be very lucky!!  The front is so wonderfully stitched and even the back is pretty!  Her finishing is impeccable!
But that's not all!!!! She also included a beautiful handmade card that is just fabulous!  I love it!
Thank you, again, Andrea!  You can see that this ornament already has a place of honor on my cross-stitching tree!

Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon!
Frances

Glorious fabrics!

Well, I still don't have much stitching to show.....it's the end of the semester...I've had papers due, but I'm turning in the last one tomorrow!!!  YAY!   Then there's only 2 classes in the Spring and I'm through!  What a great feeling!
There are no cross stitch stores anywhere near me.  BUT, a new fabric store opened close to my house, and it's just lovely!  My dear cross-stitching friend Janie was down for a visit (from IN) and we checked out the store!  WOW!!  We were both in heaven.  Janie also quilts, so she was really looking and familiar with all the designer names!  I just looked and admired!
I bought a few pieces of BEE-related fabric!  Janie had been to a quilt retreat and brought some gorgeous squares someone had left there "for the taking"!!!  I love all of them and will be able to use them in finishing for little strips or edging, etc.

Look at all this lusciousness!!!!

I feel like Christmas came early!!!  This has me in the mood to stitch SO BADLY!  I have to finish my Christmas trees today and hopefully can stitch for a month or so before school starts back!  Won't that be wonderful!!!

Thank you for all your suggestions and help on my no-reply status!!!  That makes me so unhappy because I went through this before.  I changed and did all of the recommended stuff and folks told me it was great!  Then recently, it's not great!  Well, in my reading it seems that your account can flip back with no notice.....it's something to do with Blogger and Google +    Anyway, I have hopefully fixed it.  PLEASE let me know if it's not.  (so I can fret about it some more!!! LOL!!)

Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon!
Frances

???

Just a quick post, in between cooking (and tasting!)
I just got an email that I am a no-reply blogger.  Hmmmm   I had this problem a few months ago and got it fixed. (I was told!!)  That made me happy!  Now I need to know if you have me showing as a no-reply blogger, because then I won't be happy!!!  I want to fix it, if at all possible!!!  Thanks!
I hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving AND rest of the year!
Frances

Kitty & Me

This is just a quick little post...I was trying to get a good picture of Dolce with me...you may remember that she is a little bit shy and reserved, but she has been coming out a lot more!  I guess it's just going to take time, but we are so pleased!  I got my husband to try and get a decent photo of us. He was willing, but is rather slow when it comes to taking photos, so the cat and I were BOTH getting tired of posing and trying to look happy!
Anyway, here we are--getting ready for the holidays!

Thanks for stopping by and come back soon!
Frances

"Old Stitching"

Just a quick post--I don't have much to show stitch-wise!  However, I visited my mother this week and I saw this Cricket Collection piece hanging on her wall.  I stitched this for her years ago.  I always liked the Cricket Collection charts.  Some may be considered "out of style" now, but many are still lovely.  If you aren't familiar with them, google it and check it out!

Anyway, I stitched this on pale linen and used the green & peach colors that my mother loves together!  (yes, it was the 80s when I did this!! HA)  But it's a sweet stitch with a sweet Bible verse!

I hope to have some new stitching to show soon!  And, of course, all kinds of Christmas decorations and fun, too!

Thanks for stopping by, and please come back soon!
Frances

Thanksgiving Tree!

Hello fellow bloggers!  It's time to show my Thanksgiving tree!  I have so much fun making these trees and I always enjoy this one because my relatives come for our family Thanksgiving meal and they seem to like looking at it and seeing what's new!

I have several cute "bought" ornaments and I fill in spaces with silk fall leaves.  I left the candy corn lights on there (from Halloween) and they shine along with the tree's clear lights.  I also have several wooden ornaments that have vintage holiday postcard images on them.

Look at these precious & funny turkeys and fat Pilgrims I got at Pier One!  Too, too cute!

I also love this beautiful mercury glass turkey I found this year at Hobby Lobby!  He's very majestic!

This sweet squirrel is from Prairie Schooler's Christmas Miniatures #29.  I added fabric strips and a purchased button edging. It hangs beside the cute pumpkin from Cyberstitchers by Judi Utter.

This was a freebie bookmark many years ago from Prairie Schooler.  I just stuffed it and hung it on the tree!  The sweet squirrel is from a blog called passe-tempsdeflo.over-blog.com but I cannot find the squirrel chart anywhere online!!!

This cornucopia is from Prairie Schooler--A Prairie Year II.  I attached the ribbon with cute little leaf buttons. This sweet bok bok turkey is a freebie from Plum Street Samplers.  I added a bead edge to it.

The bowl of fruit on the left is cut from a tablecloth my mother embroidered in the 1940s.  It was too small for any table and was rather worn looking--I just made an ornament from the corner design. Apparently, I really liked that little Prairie Schooler squirrel because I've stitched it twice!  I mounted it on the little yellow fabric with buttons.  Give Thanks is a freebie from The Stitcherhood.

This is the little squirrel that I made for my father years ago and I recently made an ornament from it. The little Happy Harvest is from Pine Mountain Designs.

This sweet freebie, At Plimoth, is a freebie from The Sampler Girl, but I can't find it anywhere online now.  I changed the colors and added the green trim along the bottom.


Well, that's what's on the tree right now.  It's a lot of fun to do and I can hardly wait to put the Christmas things on there next!

Thanks for stopping by--please come back soon!
Frances