A hodgepodge of everything!

Hello fellow bloggers!!!
This is a little bit late, and a jumbled up post, but I'm glad to be sharing it with you!

I visited one of my favorite little local shops, "P is for Primitive", located on the Square in Canton, MS.  Lisanne has a few antiques in the front of the shop, but the back is primarily for rug hooking supplies.  She has gorgeous wools, but there's not much there for me, other than DMC threads!  In the front, she also carries sweet little ornaments and seasonal decorations.  I went back to get the precious watering cans I talked about in a previous post.  They are so cute and are perfect on my Spring tree!  Don't you just love the sweet little bead "water drops" that come from the spout??  And I couldn't leave without that darling primitive Spring bunny, which now graces the top of my tree!

Since I last posted, I've been to Memphis again!  I found several fun things to purchase, and I just hope I'll get them stitched one day!  I love those tart pan stitches from Plum Street Samplers, so I had to buy both of those, plus the pans!  I also got some pretty red, white, and blue floss, because I'm itching to stitch some patriotic stuff!

I also attend my annual state music club meeting and this year is was in Columbus, MS.  It was a fun time, with wonderful music and great food!  I stayed in a B&B, which I haven't done before!  It was a fun time and I loved my gorgeous room in this antebellum home, the Cartney-Hunt House.  Isn't it beautiful?

I have turned in my last exam and picked up my cap and gown for Friday night!  YAY!
Yes, I will have my Masters on Friday night!  Hahaha!  You're all invited!

When I got home from my lovely trip to Columbus, there was an exciting-looking package waiting for me!  I looked at it and ripped it open, all at the same time!!!  Inside, I found something nicely wrapped in tissue, and a beautiful envelope!    Inside the envelope was a beautiful handmade card from Annette (California Stitcher).  Isn't it gorgeous???  I cannot believe that she took the time to make that beautiful card for a "56 year-old graduate"!!!!  

 

Well, then I had to rip open the larger package, and I couldn't believe my eyes!!!!  Annette made a fabulous music-themed project bag, just for me!!!  I absolutely love it!  I am so thrilled and humbled by her kindness!  Oh my goodness!!!  The fabric is so beautiful and she has a piano charm on the zipper and eighth notes charm where she put my initial!!!  I just love it!   If that wasn't enough, I unzipped it to look at the lining (which is the beautiful music fabric) and there was more inside!!! She made a sweet matching needle book and I just love it, too!  It has a little music charm inside!  Then, to top it all off, she included the wonderful Mardi Gras mask chart she had ordered from New Orleans!!!!  I am ecstatic!!

I am so touched~thank you, Annette!!!  You are so lovely and a precious friend!  Thank you again so much!!!

I will post photos from graduation after Friday night.  I had portraits done today!  Hahaha! I also had my photo made with my piano teacher, and I am pleased to have that!  It took 3 years, but the time has really flown by and it's been such a joy!

Thank you for stopping by, and please come back again soon!

Frances

A Finish!!

Well, I just barely made it for this year!!!  Today is Fat Tuesday, so this is the end of this year's Mardi Gras season!
I have finished the cute little mask ornament I stitched on the way to New Orleans a couple of weeks ago!   It was a simple little mask, in Mardi Gras colors, but I tried to "fancy it up" with finishing and trims.

This little mask was stitched on a scrap of Aida cloth and I used some purple/gold metallic fabric, and fleur de lis fabric in Mardi Gras colors.  I added purple/gold metallic trim beside the stitching.

I used gold wired ribbon for the hanger.  I had bought a little packet of Mardi Gras buttons at Hancock's several weeks ago.  These two little purple glitter mask buttons were in there, and I thought they were perfect to attach the ribbon!  Doesn't it look cute beside my Voodoo Doll?!?!

This was a really fun ornament, and looks festive on the tree!

Thank you for stopping by and please come back soon!  Now I will have to take down BOTH the Mardi Gras and Valentine's trees!  Then it will be time for St. Patrick's Day tree, so come check it out!

Frances

A Last Bit about New Orleans!!

Well, I know I need to talk about something else, but I have one other little bit of fun to show about New Orleans!
On my last post, you saw the adorable yellow-wrapped chart package from The Quarter Stitch.  I also visited the Needlework Vault near Magazine Street.

These are the New Orleans/Mardi Gras charts I purchased!

I do have one very small finish that I stitched in the car and a little bit in the hotel.  It's a little freebie from Talons Aiguilles and located here.   I only stitched the little mask and not the whole chart.  I must get this one finished up quickly so I can enjoy it this year!

As part of the Grow Your Blog Party, I've been enjoying visits from other bloggers, and visiting their blogs, too!  This has been so much fun!  Don't forget to comment here to be entered in my mystery cross stitch giveaway!  *It's a mystery because I don't know what I'm giving away yet--but it'll be fun!

Since I haven't mentioned my sweet kitty, Dolce, lately I'm going to close with a cute photo of her!

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

GROW YOUR BLOG!!!!

Hello!  I'm participating in the GROW YOUR BLOG event and am so excited to have new blogs to check out, as well as new visitors here!  Thank you Vicki for organizing this!  I am going to have a giveaway on February 15th!!  It will be some type of cross stitch giveaway--haven't decided on the gifts yet!  I hope many of you will sign up on this post for it!  Stay tuned!

If you are new to my blog, let me give a very brief introduction!  My name is Frances and I live in Mississippi.  I love all things "artistic"!!  I am a classical musician, but I have a dear interest in counted cross stitch!  I started this blog almost a year ago, after enjoying the blogs of many other cross stitchers out there in blog land!  My favorite stitching items are ornaments.  I guess I like them because they're small and finish up rather quickly.  I also enjoy making them into little "pillow ornaments" and it's fun to select other fabrics, trims, buttons, etc to turn them into fun seasonal decorations.  I keep a tree up all year, and decorate it for every holiday or season!  It's just a lot of fun!

If you saw my previous post, you know that I just fixed my Mardi Gras tree.  If you didn't see it yet, just scroll down and see!  It was a fun time putting this tree together!

In fact, we spent the weekend in New Orleans and I've just come back in the door to make this post!

Here are a few photos of the fun and crazy things that go on in New Orleans.  I'm originally from Southwest Mississippi and we went to New Orleans very often.  I understand that some of you who live far away have probably not visited yet!  If you haven't, you must head South and check it out!

Here's our first view of the New Orleans Skyline from the car!  And below are views from our balcony at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, looking at Bourbon Street.

       

I particularly liked the decorations on the top balcony of this building!  Probably an apartment.

I actually did a little shopping and found a couple of needlework stores, but they were mostly needlepoint and yarn shops.  However, I was able to pick up a couple of "local color" cross stitch patterns--about Mardi Gras!  Gotta get those done quickly to add to my tree!  Don't you love the way they wrapped up my chart???  It is so cute and special!   This was a small chart from The Quarter Stitch.  I'll get to it quickly!

Thank you for visiting my blog!  Please come back again!  I'm going to put a post with my Valentine tree on here shortly!  It's all pink and red and full of hearts!!!  I can't wait to look over your blogs and see many blogs that are NEW to me!  Thank you for visiting and I hope to see you back here soon!

Frances