A Patriotic Post!

Hello bloggers:

I do have some finished stitching to show, but I decided to wait and show my Patriotic Tree first! I have always loved patriotic things--and I love to stitch patriotic pieces!  I hope to get some more stitching done while this tree is up!  I'll have to hurry!!!  4th of July is very soon!!

I've always put little American flags in my tree, but I got more from my mother's house, so I added those in.  She always loved to decorate!

 

This shows a clever pinwheel that my dear friend Janie taught me to make.  You can also see my uncle's photo in a little frame on the left, and my father's photo in a little frame in the right photo.  I framed the three family WWII veteran's pictures in their uniforms.  I guess I don't have my other uncle showing in these photos, but he's on the tree!  In the right photo is the sweet July's Liberty Star from Rainbow Gallery and found here.

You can see Abraham and George in the left photo--from Prairie Schooler February chart # 160.  You know I love Prairie Schooler!  In the right photo are freebies, USA Celebration Flag from Tink Boord-Dill, found here, and July's Stars of Freedom from Rainbow Gallery, found here.  At the bottom on the photo is the 4th of July Quaker freebie by Aury TM.  It doesn't seem to be available any more, but if you search for Aury TM you will find a couple of different patriotic Quaker hearts.  They would be nice to use with this one.

  These little quilt squares were left over from someone else's project, and I think they make really sweet ornaments!!    There's a red one on here, too! 

Here's a closeup of the little Freedom freebie and the USA freebie.  I was pleased with how both of these turned out--especially the Freedom one!  It's on  blue Aida and I added a cute star button.  I really like this one.  It has a wire and bead  hanger, but I think it's a little bit hard to see!

This Liberty freebie has always been a favorite!  I love the wide gingham ribbon hanger, attached with two sweet little star buttons!  It's by Lizzie Kate and found here.

This is part of a freebie--Deck the Halls with Stars and Stripes from Vivian Bales, and I love it with the flag fabric I used with it!  Too cute!  You can find it here.

This freebie is America Sailing Sloop by Rainbow Gallery, located here.  I think this one turned out well and I've seen it on several other blogs through the years.

You also can see various little bought ornaments and they add a lot to the overall effect! As I said before, I really enjoy patriotic stitching.  I have several more to do, and just MUST make time to get them done!

Thank you for stopping by, and do visit again soon!

Frances

I love the mail!

Hello blogging friends!

I hope all are doing well and having a lovely Summer. I've been gone on a trip and have much to tell, but will do it on my next post!

However, I did want to show you the wonderful mail that I received!  I went to my mailbox and found a package with beautiful butterfly tape and gorgeous postage stamps on it!  It came all the way from Greece!!!  How exciting is that???

Ariadne sent me a package, containing the book My Dog Skip by Willie Morris.  In reading her blog, I know that she is an avid reader.  She had read this book, and said that it really wasn't her favorite.  I commented to her that it is by a beloved Mississippi author, and that the movie was filmed very near where I live!   Willie Morris is one of many famous Mississippians and was always active in the public and such a Southern Gentleman!  He passed away a few years ago.

Anyway, she offered to send it to me--I haven't read it but I did see the movie!  She was so sweet to do this, and to include some lovely cards and bookmarks from her area.  I just love everything and it made my day to receive it!  Thank you again, Ariadne!

Has anyone read My Dog Skip?  Or read books by our famous Mississippi authors?  Willie Morris, William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Margaret Walker Alexander, John Grisham, Tennessee Williams, Shelby Foote, Walker Percy, Stark Young....the list goes on and on!   I know that your states probably have wonderful writers, too, but I have to admit that I am not well read--it is such a shame, and something I'm always wanting to correct!!  My mother was very well read, and collected books of literary value--not novels, but the classics.  She had a wonderful library and loved all of her books.  It was hard to deal with them when she died!!  I had a dear friend that wanted some, I kept a few, and I donated many to the library and to nursing homes.  She had inventoried her books, and had 571! Oh my!!!  But they were her treasures!

I have done some stitching!!  I will show that on my next post!  I also have a growing stack of items (ornaments!!!) to finish, and I am really itching to get to those and see how they all turn out!  Stitching is fun--yes!!  But creating the finished product is fun, too!!

Thank you for stopping by and please visit again soon!

Frances

A little trip!

Hello fellow bloggers!

I am going on a little trip to Fargo, North Dakota!!  Why Fargo??  Well, I'm very active in my local music club, and this is the national meeting that I attend every year.  It moves around the country, and this year it's in Fargo!  I haven't been there before, but I'm looking forward to visiting somewhere new!

I intend to do some stitching on the plane, and on my layover in Chicago.  I'm taking the other two Sled Dudes and hope to get those stitched so I can finish them on the little sleds when I get back on Sunday!

Aren't these the cutest things???  I really enjoyed making the Santa, and I can't wait to get the other two done!

Thanks for stopping by!  This is a quick post because I'm in the middle of packing and doing my usual worry about taking the right clothes!!  How silly is that!!!!  

Frances

A Finish!!

Hello friends!
I have been doing many, many things, and my stitching time has been limited!  However, I did manage to stitch AND finish a really cute little ornament!!
This is the Santa from Sled Dudes by Lizzie Kate!  It has three different tiny charts in it and they are all so fun!  Several months ago, many people were blogging about the little sled ornaments, and talking about them being sold out for a while.  Well, they are back in stock!  I found mine at the Stitchers Inc. store in Memphis the last time I was there.  Each sled comes with a little piece of perforated paper, and that is what you use for this project.

 

Isn't this the cutest little sled??   I plan to make the other two, also!  They are relatively quick to stitch and the finishing is simple.  You cut it out and glue it on the sled.  I use Aleene's Tacky Glue!












I have several projects to "renovate"!  There were a few things at my mother's that I want to make into ornaments--starting with the shells I posted previously.  I have the perfect backing fabric for them and hope to get them started soon.

I'm so glad you stopped by, and hope you come back soon!

Frances

A Winner and a Project!!

Just a quick little post to let you know that the cute little Bent Creek Zippie Snowman is going to Beth of Garden Grumbles and Cross Stitch Fumbles!  If you haven't been to her wonderful blog, please click on her name and visit!  She has such fun stitching and some of the most beautiful bird and gardening photos ever!  When I get her address, I'll send her little chart right out to her!  Thank you to everyone who entered, and check back because I'll be doing some more small giveaways through the Summer!

From my mother's house, I brought back these three shells I had stitched probably back in the 80s--you can certainly tell that by the framing!  haha

My mother loved peach so that's why those peach mats are there.  I remember when I stitched them, thinking that the shell colors were so pretty on the brown fabric.  Then when the peach mats went on, the whole contrast changed and I didn't like them as much. But she did, and that was fine!!!
However, I will be taking them apart and making some Summer shell ornaments!!  I'm really excited about fixing these and I can envision them completed just like I want them! Stay tuned for that little project!

Thank you for visiting and come again soon!!
Frances

A finish & a tiny giveaway!

Hello dear blogging friends!  It's been a while since I've been able to read your blogs or post on my own!  But I am trying to catch up and see what you've been doing!

I actually have a finish I want to show.  It's really small, but oh so cute!  While I was stitching this, I thought it looked rather small!  When I was about half finished, I looked at the chart again, and saw that I was using 18 count fabric, as recommended, but the chart said "over two"!!!!  Oh well, it's really cute as a "MINI" since mine is over one!!!

I had this darling snowman fabric in my stash, so I will use it for finishing.  I think my dear friend Janie gave me this fabric!!  I changed the floss colors to coordinate with the fabric.  You can also see that the button wheels aren't sewn on yet, either!  But they will be!

This is the cute little chart--Snowman "Zippie" by Bent Creek.  I received this chart from Chris at Tot Hill Farm Stitches.  She was giving it away, and now I want to pass it to someone else.  So, if you are interested in stitching this cute little chart, please leave a comment and I'll draw a name on Wednesday of this week.

I've been busy with handling my mother's affairs, but it's all falling into place and I hope things will be a little easier/quieter soon.  It's been very tiring and very busy, but starting to slow down now.

Thank you for stopping by, and please come back soon!  Don't forget to leave a comment if you'd like to have the Snowman Chart!
Frances

I'm older!! And I'm lucky!!

Well, my 57th birthday is almost over!  And I survived!  haha!  I had a nice day and a lovely lunch with a friend today and another tomorrow!  It really seems like these birthdays are coming faster than they used to!!!

Marly let me know that I was no-reply YET AGAIN!  I haven't checked for a while, so I guess I will have to check more often!  It just flips to no-reply for no particular reason...I've read comments about the same thing happening to others.  What a pain, but I think I have it fixed again now!

I have fun news to share!!!  I won Edgar's Blogaversary Gift Away!  I was so thrilled to win and it came at a time that I desperately needed a "pick me up"!!!  I was thrilled when I stepped on my front porch and there was a box waiting for me!!!  I quickly opened it and couldn't believe my eyes!  Oh wow!!  It was a fabulous box of San Francisco treats!!!!

There was a box of cookies, biscotti, etc from Dianda's!!  I've heard of Dianda's!  Then I opened that box--look at the gorgeous contents!!!  They were so beautiful and tasted even better than they looked!!!  (yes, I used past tense--they're gone and they were good!!!)   My husband did help me eat them, though! hahaha

Then, I found a bag of Ghirardelli chocolates!!  So yummy!!!  A lovely bag of Blue Bottle coffee beans that smelled so fabulous when I picked them up!!!  It's wonderful coffee!!  Also, a package of California poppy seeds--I hope to have my own little sample of beautiful California poppies right here in MS!  Finally, a precious little fuzzy black sheep!!!!  How perfect to receive from Edgar!!!  I feel so lucky  (and a little bit fatter! ha!)

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

Frances