Stitcher's Get Together and RAK's!

What a wonderful day was had by everyone that joined in our get together this weekend in South Carolina! Stitchers met at The Stitch and Frame Shop in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where we spent some time meeting up, browsing and shopping in this wonderful store! Here is a group photo...I am the one wearing my flowered purse cross shouldered...

I purchased one chart that I fell in love with...after seeing so many bluebirds when our Son left for the military, I have been keeping my eye out for charts with bluebirds in them...I thought this one was pretty!
This is "Bluebird Sampler" by Threadwork Primitives. I picked out a really pretty Weeks Dye Works thread for the "Bluebird" in the color "Blue Bonnet"...

After shopping we all went to Bonnie's house for a wonderful lunch made by her husband...delicious chicken salad, and afterwards there were plenty of desserts provided by everyone to fill us to the brim!

The chocolate chip cookies I made that I dipped in chocolate :)

More desserts that were provided....just delicious!!! Fudge and Orange Juice Cake...

 

We then all sat and stitched..I brought along charts and magazines I wanted to give away and share...I am starting to downsize a little bit...little did I know others were doing that too...so ...I then came home with more.!! lol

This is the lot I came home with for free...such giving sweet friends!  :) So much fun sharing!
I had recently received some surprise goodies in the mail. Additions to my Raggedy Ann collection!
My sweet dear friend Jackie in PA sent me such a beautiful new "Annie" in a little purse type bag..she will fit in just perfect in my new sewing room! I love her already!
And Linda in CO sent me the neatest Raggedy Ann and Andy Greeting Card..another wonderful addition to our collection. It looks very vintage. Just perfect! Thank you my dear friends!!

I received some very WONDERFUL news!!! It looks like our Sailor will be able to come home for Thanksgiving Holidays!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am one happy Momma :)

He will be able to see our new homestead and I get to cook him a Thanksgiving dinner. I am so excited, and a little nervous, although that might sound odd...I just want it to be so PERFECT for our Son!! I miss him so much. I cannot wait!

I wish you all a Blessed Sunday.

 

 

Basket of Fall Goodies have arrived!!

First, I want to thank all of you that posted to me with condolences on the passing of our dear sweet Bunny rabbit "Peter". It was so hard losing him and he is missed ever so greatly. It truly warmed my heart to see comments waiting for me from others that cared and shared a thought or two on my blog of prayers. It really meant so much, and I really needed that. I thank you so much. It is hard, I miss him so much. I had gotten so used to taking care of Bunny, especially that he was a house rabbit..it was like having a baby in the house. I miss having that pet to take care of. I am considering bunny shopping again soon..although it would never replace our Peter Rabbit..I think I might need to fill that void! :)
I went out of town yesterday to do a little birthday shopping for our daughter. Yes, today is our sweet daughter's 17th birthday. I cannot believe it! Where have the years gone?! I picked up some pretty nail polish for her, and some other makeup she had been wanting..and a couple of new tops for her to wear. As I came home and pulled in the driveway I saw a box sitting waiting for me..I thought..."could it be!?"
It was!!!!
The box from Notforgotten Farm had arrived!! It was the Fall basket of goodies I had won from the Top Hat Jack Challenge Lori had posted on her blog. This box could not have come at a better time. I soooo needed cheering up after the great loss of losing our family Bunny.
I could not wait to get in the house to open it up and see the treats that were inside..oooooh! I knew they were going to be good, I love ALL things Notforgotten Farm!!

I snapped a photo so you could see! :)

The basket is beautiful! The color is a warm brown and perfect for hanging on a wall, which I plan on doing. Inside where the most wonderful items, including beautiful overdyed threads,  a fat quarter of 30 count coffee stained linen, beautiful pink tool tron scissors, a handmade stamped Halloween tag, a spotted feather, an autumn leaf, and an amazing Kelmscott Designs Saltbox Hill Needle Minder (LOVE THIS!), also a beautiful little felted pumpkin cushion pinkeep to keep all my pins and needles in one place.

I am in awe!! What a beautiful gift basket and surprise. Thank you Lori from Notforgotten Farm !
I will treasure everything for always!

Now onto our daughter's special day, her 17th birthday!

****Edited to add*****
Someone commented on my last post asking about the picture in my header at the top of my blog. I tried to email that person, but there was no contact available, so I am posting here. I took this picture from our car as we were traveling up to Chicago Illinios for our Son's Naval bootcamp graduation. I am not sure of the exact location of the beautiful barn, but I am so glad I snapped this photo! This was taken from the highway, either in Kansas or Indiana! :)

Raggedystitches and Blessings!

Heartbroken :(

Our dear sweet bunny Peter Rabbit passed away last night.
He will be missed greatly.
The house seems so strange and different now that our house bunny is no longer with us.
Rest in Peace our dear Bunny, you were loved very much and we will miss you greatly. Thank you for all the love and bunny cuddles you gave to us. xox

Sunday Morning Visitor

Good Morning Friends!
I was so excited to find out that I won the Top Hat Jack Challenge that Lori had on her blog at Notforgotten Farm ! If you had voted for my Clara doll, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am so very excited!!
All the entries were wonderful and it was so much fun to be a part of something so exciting. I loved being a part of something such as this, and I loved the anticipation waiting to see what everyone had created. All the artwork was amazing and so creative. Each and every entry was so beautiful! Lori has a wonderful blog, please stop over and check it out, you will love it, I have been a follower for quite some time and I enjoy all her posts immensely.

I was up late last night trying to organize my sewing room..it is a real disaster area! I took a "before" picture..but I won't be able to show you that until it is all clean and organized...you would not believe how bad it looks right now..I can't believe it myself! I have decided that I am going to start ripping apart my cross stitch magazines that I have been saving for years and years. I just have too many and they are taking up way too much space. I will take out charts that I truly want to keep and donate the rest.
My sweet husband took me to the store last night and we purchased plastic shelving to put up on each side of the sewing room. There were no shelves in this room, and I had no where to put all my things for organization..so this will be a start.
We also bought a new light to go in the room, and we also bought new "yellow" bulbs to put outside on the front porch to keep the bugs away..now I can sit on the front porch at night without the bugs swarming all around..the bulbs work!! We tested them out last night. Amazing!! :)
We just had breakfast as we were sitting on the back porch, while it is raining..I noticed something on the back porch door moving a little bit..not sure what it was, I went over to look. To my surprise this is what I saw!

A praying mantis!
This is the second one we have seen out back since we have been living here.
This one was quite large though!
It is such a docile creature and so interesting to watch.
It had a big belly , so I am sure it is eating very well! :)

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday today,

Updates and WIP's (pic heavy)

Hello Everyone!
Hope this post finds everyone doing well and enjoying the cooler weather that is starting to come along.
The weather is beautiful here where we live now. The mornings have been cool this week and I am loving every minute of it! :)
Our daughter started her Junior year of high school. She is doing wonderful. For transitioning into a new high school she is doing exceptionally well, and already has made friends. We are so very proud of her, and I am thanking God for answering our prayers. She has never been so happy! She loves her new school and says how friendly the students are. Our town is wonderful and makes you feel like you are living in Mayberry. :)
I already told my husband I am done moving. I feel as if we are finally settled. I absolutely LOVE our new home and I don't ever want to leave. Our neighbors are wonderful, the street we live on is nice and quiet. I love my front porch. It is wonderful to sit out front with my cup of tea and just stitch the days or evenings away. It is nice living near the end of the cul de sac. The end is woods, a house was never built there...not yet anyways.
Just last night I came back from my walk and the lady next door was sitting on her front porch..I went over and we sat for a while and chatted. She is very sweet. She is about 20 years older than me and widowed. I know she is lonely. She looks forward to when I stop by to sit with her. I do enjoy spending time with her. She and I have a lot of laughs together! :)
With the cooler air coming in..I have started decorating for Fall.

LOVE this time of year! I am starting to see some tiny little signs that the change of season is on it's way...my daughter pointed this tree out as we pulled in the driveway just before...one of the first trees around our yard showing some leaves that are turning..

I put out some of my Fall decorations...pumpkins down our front steps with "Clara" Watching over :)...

 A pretty Fall wreath I made for our front door...

A little "make do" table filled with some Fall accents...

My old Singer sewing machine so graciously given to me by someone who knew of my love for all things sewing, God Bless my sweet dear friend Dinah, such a warm giving person!!

Our new Primitive star hanging on the front of our home...

Some things on our dining room table...I love the Indian Corn!

isn't this so pretty! My dear friend Jackie stitched this for me..I put it out every year...

 These pilgrims are very special to me..I purchased them a while back while living in Florida at Publix supermarkets..I don't believe they sell them anymore..I also put them out for display every year. (They are salt and pepper shakers)..so adorable!

one of my favorite candle holders for Halloween...pumpkin men...do you see them? I found this at Yankee Candle a couple of years back..I know I have another tall clown type pumpkin man but since moving haven't been able to locate him as of yet...he is MIA. ...

Now onto my WIP's....

I have purchased this amazing chart recently and was so excited to start it..as I am always with a new chart...excited to start, but not many make it to the finish line. HA!

Here is my progress so far..the chart is by Pineberry Lane and it is called "Autumn on Marigold Lane"

This chart is so much fun to stitch!

Here are some other WIP's...some have fallen to the wayside..not sure if I had posted them previously or not..but here goes....

Our 25th Wedding Anniversary sampler..this WAS supposed to be completed LAST year..*sigh*...

"Briar Rabbit" by La D Da....

Roots and Wings...not much of a start..but there will be lots of fill in stitches on this one..I do so hope to get this one further along soon...

A freebie I stitched for a friend back in NY..I plan on backing it with the blue fabric pictured, filling with crushed walnut shells and making a pinkeep. 

A book I am reading.....

A new chart I ordered that came in the mail today! :) Love Blackbird Designs!

A chart I found at a Goodwill..I really like this one!

Oh the things I want to do!!

I will end this blog post with a few more pictures of leaves starting to turn...it is just the beginning of what is yet to come. Oh, how I cannot wait! Don't forget to keep an eye out for all of God's beauty..it is everywhere you turn.

Blessings and Raggedystitches,