White stuff re-deux

Raise your hand if you saw this coming....

a little bow and cording never hurt anyone...

a little lace for good measure

Ok, that's enough.  Hands down.

I don't know how I got so addicted to cording, ribbon, bows and lace, but I did.  When I was a kid, I was an athlete, a competitive one at that.  I made dirt pies, and ate them.  I can't explain the girlie-girl thing that happened to me in adulthood, but it is the brand I'm bearing at the moment.

Me thinks it's 2 notches prettier with the cording and bow and lace.  Just looks more put together.  You think?

White Stuff

All this snow must have finally gotten to my brain...

2009 JCS Ornament issue

3"x4" scissors block / pin cube

I had never stitched a white monochromatic piece before and much to my surprise, I enjoyed it quite a bit.  Considering how much I love color, stitching with white is just something I never think to do, but I think I'll do it more often now.  

backside pocket

Made a little pocket on the backside for needle packs and such.  I restrained myself from tarting it up too much with cording, lace, etc. but I'm already hearing it complain about being 'plain and boring'. 

I may have to break out the embellishments and glue gun just to get some "Peace" around here.

Well folks, it has been a long, tiresome, not so restful weekend and even though I'd like to watch some figure skating, I think I'm going to head off to bed.  I'm already dreading work tomorrow.  Four day work weeks are exhausting at my place of business.  Squeezing 5 days of work into 4 is not a bowl of cherries, but that's the price we pay for three day weekends.  I'll try to be a little perkier next time I write.

Until then, I hope you all are safe and warm, wherever you are. 

Woodland Valentine

Back in the day when I thought Fiddler's Cloth Aida was the prettiest cross stitch fabric I'd ever seen, I stitched this piece for hubby.  Even though it was a Christmas present to him, it was definitely a Valentine.  The verse was something I had found in a book of Japanese poetry.  I charted it to fit in the rectangle insert which originally contained an alphabet.  Considering hubby and I were pretty newly wed back then, I remember thinking that the verse was exactly what I wanted to convey and the design reminded me of where we built our house, out in the woods.

design from: Better Homes and Gardens book

America's Best Cross Stitch

"Gladly I'd live in a poor mountain hut

Spin, sew and till the soil

In any weather

And wash in a cold mountain stream

If but we dwell together"

And, 13 years later, I still feel mostly the same. 

I'd rather not wash in a cold mountain stream.  ;-)

Love Will Light Your Way

This is an old D. Morgan finish, but one very near and dear to my heart:

click on pic for better viewing

Love Will Light Your Way

design by:  D Morgan

You can see from the fall colors and farmhouse that it isn't your typical Valentine's-y piece, but when I found the pattern years ago, it was exactly the advice I needed at the time.  I also loved the bare tree in the foreground.  I leave this piece up year round. 

It's still good advice.

The Fragrance of Football...

Eau de chili, of course!

Mom's Famous Chili

2 lbs. browned sirlion

one whole onion, chopped

2 cans light red beans

2 cans dark red beans

2 can chili beans

2 cans stewed tomatoes

enough spicy V8 juice for desired consistency

(chili powder & cracked black pepper to taste)

serve with sour cream, shredded cheedar cheese and bread of choice

That's what I'm talking about BAY-BEE!

Winter Window

Perhaps the only thing I can appreciate about miserably cold, bitter winter mornings is the contrast of the snow laden trees against the bright blue sky.

This picture was taken from the bathroom several days ago.  I didn't think to take another one today, post snow-mageddon.  We escaped with much less white stuff than they predicted, this time.  I can only hope I don't have to miss any more work this year due to the weather.  Call me crazy, but I'd much rather spend my vacation time ON VACATION instead of snowed in!

Here is my progress on little blue bird:

I expect I'll be churching, cooking, cleaning and footballing all day tomorrow, so maybe next weekend I'll have a happy dance...

Here's hoping you all are safe and warm and stitching, wherever you are.

what do you call it?

Apparently, I'm feeling very blue these days, and birdy........ and Assisi-y because no sooner than I put the last stitch in the candle wrapper, I ran across another Assisi bird pattern that jumped right up and down in front of me.  Some call it OCD, I call it knowing a good thing when I see it.

Me thinks this cute Gift of Stitching ditty will be stitched in Capri blue also and finished into a pin keep/door knob ornament for the (you guessed it) B&W guest bedroom:

The Gift of Stitching

June 2008 issue

AND........While I was exploring some ideas for mirrors in the bedroom, a lightening bolt idea struck me!  What if I stitched two matching black pieces and had them framed together with a beveled mirror in the middle, in one big piece? 

My Aunt's Attic

freebie

Could I do that?  Is it even possible?  I have seen mirrors with a single opening above the mirror for stitching, but I've never seen pre-made mirrors with two openings (one left, one right) for stitching.  Have you?  If so, please tell me.  Oh and by the way, it has to be big and it's gotta be black, or black and silver would be perfect.  Sounds like a job for "Super Framer".

I know what you're thinking..."when does she plan on stitching all this?  Doesn't she have about 47 things already on the "Biggies on Deck" list?  Who in the heck does she think she is?"

Well, sometimes my muse is a pushy brawd.  That's all I'm saying.

Assisi peacock pattern

Ladies,

I've gotten lots of email and a few comments about the Assisi peacock pattern I just finished.  I've emailed a few of you back individually but thought this might be easier to ensure everyone who is interested gets the same information. 

The pattern is from a used library book I bought at the local library's semi-annual book sale a long long time ago.  After holding onto the book for several years, I decided the peacock pattern was the only "keeper", so I kept it and gave the book to my local EGA chapter for a fundraiser years ago.  I have no recollection of the book title or who bought/won it at the fundraiser.  All I remember is that it was hardback and about 1" thick.  Big help, I know. 

Now that I'm finished with it, I am willing to pass my pattern along to another peacock passionate stitcher.  If interested, please post a comment here with your email address and I'll figure something out to help those of you who expressed the desire.

Thanks again for all your lovely comments.  I've said it before, but when I read them, they feel like warm sunshine on my face!

February? Really?

In the next few days, I will share a few old Valentine finishes with you, but between now and then, here is a new Christmas ornament finish:

Lizzie Kate "Joy"

stitched by: Annette Q

finished by: me

And my peacock candle wrapper in its new home in the B&W bedroom:

Capri blue Assisi peacock

candle wrapper

I was terribly proud of myself for hem stitching all four sides when I could have just ironed the edges down and called it quits.  All the while I was hemming it, I couldn't help thinking that some day when I'm pushing up daisies, some lucky yard sale shopper is going to think they've found the prettiest hanky they've ever seen.  I can only hope that doesn't happen!

Happy February Everybody!

Great Way to Start Anyday

Don't you love the way any nut bread makes the house smell?  I've just enjoyed a couple of slices, fresh from the oven and am now enjoying my morning latte and the aroma drifting from my kitchen.

  YUM.

1/2 c. Crisco

1 c. sugar (I used Splenda)
2 c. all-purp flour
1 t. salt
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
2 eggs, beaten
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. chopped walnuts or pecans

(if you don't have buttermilk, add 1 t. of vinegar to 1/3 c. milk, shake and let sit 5 minutes.)

Cream shortening and sugar together. Sift together dry ingredients.  Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Add remaining ingredients; mix well.  Pour into a well greased loaf pan or 6 mini-loaf pans.  Bake 40-45 minutes for one loaf, 25-27 minutes for mini-loaves.

The batch made up very quickly.  In fact, I made twelve mini-loaves in 1 1/2 hours, including baking time.  Not bad at all.  Some to eat, some to share and some to freeze. 

I like mine with a little pat of butter, but a friend suggests a cream cheese spread with mini chocolate chips for banana nut bread and says it's better than 'you-know-what'.  With butter or chocolate, either way, it's

Oh so good.