Stiching from the heart

When my dear husband went into the hospital last year, I packed a project to keep me busy. Picking up "Fair Kind True" by Midsummer Night Designs was an easy choice. I purchased it thinking of my true love about the time of our 15th wedding anniversary. I hadn't found time to start it, but I had the linen and the silk all picked out. The night before, I pressed the linen and put it on a Q-Snap. I gathered up my favorite scissors, silk, magnifying clip on, and made sure to have an extra pair of reading glasses and popped it all in one of my stitching bags.

I sat in the waiting room for hours while he was in surgery and never picked it up. I sat in his room with him for days. I didn't touch this for the first 4 of them, too busy taking care of him and taking notes from doctors and techs. I finally picked it up as I was crawled up in my "chair that turns into a bed wanna-be". I was happy that things were improving, and (finally) a smile crossed my heart and I put the first few stitches to fabric.

I didn't get much done while at the hospital, but that was okay. It was a sign that life was starting to return to normal, slowly but surely. I finally finished it up at home while my hubby was recovering. Taking it to the framer was a joy...and the completed project is truly perfect!

All Because...

Last year, my big project was a wedding sampler for my sister-in-law and her new husband. I wanted to find something symbolic for them, and this design by Imaginating was perfect.

I went about customizing the fabric and floss (hand-dyed sky blue linen with white mottling...the framed picture shows the linen color best...and Crescent Colors Belle Soie Silk rather than DMC) and reworking the area where the names and dates were supposed to go. I wanted their names to be larger and no date. It turned out to be an amazing sampler celebrating their marriage and love.

Picking out the frame and mats made the piece even better. I went with a brushed silver frame with some mauve streaks and added the matching fillet next to the sampler. The mat is black brushed suede. Perfect!

For me, nothing is better than completing a special project for someone you love...and finding out that they love it as much as you do! I have to admit I fell in love with this project while working on it. I almost hate to part with those special pieces. Seeing in on the wall as I walk into my sister-in-law's home and seeing her smile when she walks by it makes it all so worthwhile!

A year and half...a lifetime

I just realized today how very long it has been since I posted. Looking back, it was because life was good and busy in a fun and wonderful way!

We were planning a vacation, making some long-term plans, and enjoying a long-hot Texas summer. That was 2010.

The next summer was longer...and hotter, setting a record for the number of consecutive days over 100 degrees. We were reminded of how blessed we are after health scares for me (just a little hiccup, really) and my wonderful husband (wayyyy more than a hiccup). We were reminded of the power of prayers from family, friends, and friends we never knew we had. More than that, I have been reminded of the true meaning of love. Some days are still a little challenging, but nothing compared to the alternative.

Today, we are enjoying a mild Texas winter. The birds were up and about this morning singing at this surprisingly stunning day. They reminded me that I, too, should celebrate each wonderful day.

I've started it by returning to one of my greatest joys...stitching and sharing it on this blog. So, there it is: a promise for the New Year (a bit late, admittedly)!

From the Q-Snaps to the framer

I just put the last stitch in this morning! I had the most fun with this project. It started out as a freebie by Workbasket (the flower portion) from Stitchville USA's May 2010 newsletter.

Having a great fondness for samplers, I just had to incorporate it into a sampler design. Then it needed a border...and then the date seemed off, so a little pink stitch along the edge just seemed to tie it all together. I stitched it with Crescent Colors hand-dyed silk with the flower and Algerian Eye Stitch border 2 over 2 and the sampler and date portions 1 over 1. So elegant! The yellow threads are actually more golden in hue. I cannot wait to get this framed so that I can find the perfect spot for it!

Stitching away

I've come to a realization over the past few months: I love needlework! Not that I didn't really already know that, but almost every aspect of it makes me happy in my heart. And, lately, I've been cross stitching more and more. My heart is thrilled!

I am working on my tiny little stitching "room". Actually, it is a closet. It is a wonderful size and (once I'm finished) will hold all of my stitching supplies. I was able to pick up some DMC wooden retail display boxes. Now they are full of fibers, threads, buttons, beads, needles, scissors, etc. I've got about 20% of my leaflets in binders. I'm trying to sort through and keep only the ones I know I will stitch. I'll still need 4-5 lifetimes!

Now I'm trying to pick out the final design to enter in the State Fair later this year. The goal is to narrow it down this weekend and then select fibers and fabric on Tuesday. I have two entries already finished; cross stitch entries are limited to 3 per person and only one entry per category. I have to check measurements, stitch count, etc. to make sure I don't end up with 2 that fall into the same category!

A tiny wedding sampler

Truly, this is a tiny wedding sampler! It is adapted from a Blackbird Designs freebie, this is "my" wedding sampler...about 14 years after the fact! LOL! After finishing up my niece's sampler, I decided Thad and I needed one. I started this little freebie and wanted to personalize the last two lines. After I thought about it, I decided that this would make the perfect wedding sampler. As you can see from the quarter in the photo, it is a tiny sampler!

I stitched it on Silkweavers 28ct Ametrine Lugana over one with The Thread Gatherer Silk 'n Colors Moon Rose and Stiletto Sidewalk. It took me three days from start to finish. Now to decide how to finish it. I'm included to do a small simple frame with no mat. Looks like a trip the framer is in my future!

A framed finish

I just got this back from my favorite frame shop! Now that it is all done, I just love the hand-dyed fabric and the way the colors in the birds and berries 'pop'!

If you look closely, you can see the delicate little snowflakes at the top...very fitting for the winter where Dallas had a foot of snow in a single day!

Now I just have to find the perfect place for display...

A day for stitching II ...

A historic event in the DFW area: record set for the most snowfall ever on a single day! Here, we saw a total of 10-12". Some areas got 16". Now to watch it start to melt. And stitch.

A day for stitching...

It doesn't really snow in the Dallas area that often. Oh, we might see a snowflake or two drift through the air. It might settle on the ground as a light dusting. But inches? SIX inches? That's what we are supposed to have by midnight tonight. We woke up this morning to three inches, and it hasn't stopped snowing since! It's the perfect snow: white, wet, and deep on the ground.


It is the perfect day for stitching!