12 Days of Christmas SAL

Hop on over to Plum Street Samplers blog, there is a wonderful free 12 days of Christmas stitch a long that has begun. I have decided to join in the fun!

I have stitched the first four days so far and when I am done stitching the whole set, I will be sewing them into individual ornaments. 

I am stitching them on linen I purchased off of the big bolt (in the home decor fabric section of Hobby Lobby) using DMC threads.

I have decided I love the crowns to be gold in color too :)

Colors chosen as DMC #'s 902, 729, 730 and 3740.

So thankful to Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers for graciously providing these charts to all of us for free! 

You can join in the SAL by going to her blog each Sunday for the newest download of ornaments at:

Plumstreetsamplers.typepad.com

Hope you join in too, it's lots of fun!

Louisexx

Sailors in prayer. Artist Kristen Dukat ; Navy Mom

50!

I recently celebrated a wonderful milestone in my life. I turned 50 years old! How blessed I am! What an amazing journey my life has been so far and I know God had planned everything from the beginning. I look forward to another 50 years, I am truly blessed indeed!!

I decided to stitch a special sampler to commemorate this special milestone. This is a bonus pattern by Blackbird Designs, loose Feathers, Anniverseries of the heart, Pattern 12. The leaflet is titled Elizabeth Jane, but I did not stitch the cover pattern, I stitched the bonus pattern included in this leaflet, it is titled "for those recorded here". I used my own colors of choosing and personalized it to mark my milestone. I love it! 

I did blur my last name and town for safety measures. I just loved using colors of purples, greens, and yellows!

My birthday was a wonderful celebration. My husband made me a special gift. I had asked for a special display quilt ladder to put my quilts on. He made a gorgeous 7 foot tall ladder with 6 round dowel rungs. He stained and sealed it. It is beautiful!! 

I was so surprised to receive the most beautiful flowers from our wonderful Son!!! 

What a special delivery! I miss him so much. 

We went out for a wonderful birthday meal! 

We almost had to call the fire department in... I insisted on 50 candles!! Hehe :)

It took three of us to light the cake!

We needed two cakes with so many candles!!

I received so many phone calls, texts, cards, gifts, packages, it was amazing!!

I even was given a new beta fish!! Thank you Suzan! 

So many wonderful gifts!

Some new charts from my dear friend Suzan! Country Cottage Sampler by Moira Blackburn

Stars and Stripes by Brenda Gervais

A gift card from sweet Jane to stitches N Things, a gift card from my neighbor Judy for Brighton, along with an embroidered towel. My friend Denise sent me the most wonderful devotional book, jewelry, candy and notepad.... Family sent me a Brighton watch, necklace, earrings, Volland reproduction raggedy Andy doll and book, light up turtle, Marianna sent an amazing Alex and Ani bracelet , Suzan, is always so sweet to me, so many wonderful things, even a birthday cake! Most things are pictured but not everything. 

The most wonderful surprise was a gift from my husband. He presented me with the most beautiful stand of pearls and earrings to match. I love him so much. He is always so good to me. He made sure my birthday was extra special even though he had to work so hard all day. He is such a wonderful man, I love him so!!!❤️

It truly was a most wonderful celebration of 50 years of my life. I know how richly God has blessed me over these past fifty years. I look forward to seeing where he leads me in the next fifty years to come. Although I wish our little family could have been together for my milestone, and I do miss our Son terribly, not a day goes by that I don't think of him, but in my heart I am so very proud of him for serving our country. I look forward to the day we can be together as a family again. 

Happy 50th birthday to me! :)

Louise xx

April

It's April. It was a beautiful day today. This week my husband and I celebrated 29 years of marriage. We got some

News about my husbands health, won't you keep our family in your prayers. I worry about him, I love him!

I have been having trouble with migraines and been feeling bad, but today was a good day.

I sewed, and I stitched, and I made a wreath for our front door.

The needle cushion I made for myself:

A simple but lovely pinwheel with a handstamped and hammered charm I made attached. I love it!

A wreath of hydrangeas for our front door:

Oh! A little figurine I could not resist while shopping at hobby lobby . I just love mice❤️

A blackbird design I have been stitching on... Changing up the colors a bit though!

My wonderful bunny Charleston!

Don't you just want to give that mouth a big kiss, I know I do!!

He is always at my feet :)

Been making more grannies for each day of the year!

New overflow pantry in the laundry room, thanks to my wonderful husband for setting up these shelves for me!

That's all for now,

Blessings to you!

Louise xx

Beautiful Day Number 85!

Hello and happy 85th day of this year !

I am keeping up with making one mini granny square a day for each day of the year. I started with purples because I love purple so much! I have added greens and yellows now too. I think this looks good, and sort of reminds me of pansy colors. Just love pansies!

I have finally finished a long time Piece called "Briar Rabbit" by Lori Markovick of La D Da designs. I love this bunny , so very sweet! Someone noticed I had four stitches left to put in, I did that after my picture I took ;) isn't it darling! Everyone knows how much I love my bunnies ❤️

Took a drive today, and was happy to see the cows are out grazing on this beautiful day! I love where I live :)

I snapped a picture of our sweet bird Andy as he was eating. He is such a cutie! What a messy eater though. He is a very sweet hand tamed bird who loves kisses, and has amazing whistling talents. You can see his videos on Facebook. His page is called "Andy The Bird". Be prepared to be very entertained by this feathered love :)

I hope you are all enjoying this splendid day!

Louise xx

Ornament finish and March Ramblings...

I finished up my ornament for March. I am trying to keep on track with stitching one a month for the year. This is from the Just Cross Stitch ornament issue 1999. It is called Christmas Basket by Theron Traditions. I just love this design!

Looks like Spring has sprung in our part of NC!

Seeing these flowers gave me the inspiration to finish stitching "May Flower Basket" by Blackbird Designs :)

I also finished up my Patty Dovecoat sampler! This was a SAL in a Facebook group I belong to..

I went to a stitchers gathering in Rock Hill SC. It was so much fun! We shopped at A Stitch and Frame Shop. I wanted to buy everything! I did pick up two charts, The Irish Blessing by Erica Michaels and Time and Season Sampler by Moira Blackburn. Cannot wait to start stitching these!

Here are Bonnie's Belles!

I am in there also :)

I am in the back with the blue scarf!

With Saint Patrick's Day, I did lots of baking and cooking!

I also have been volunteering at the church on Wednesdays preparing the soup lunch for after mass.

Here are my Irish Soda Breads...

Our meal of corned beef and cabbage.. A tradition in our home!

I also made Irish potato pancakes, also known as "Boxty"

I baked some delicious shortbread too :)

We took a trip to GA and met our Sons wonderful girlfriend! We just absolutely love her to pieces!! They have been dating for a while now and we are looking forward to seeing what God's plans are for the two of them. They look so cute together! We attended mass at Our Lady Star Of The Sea. It was wonderful!

Pretty daffodils from my neighbor and friend Suzan! Picked right from her own yard. Love them!

She also knows how much I love my tea, she stitched and framed this little design for me :)

With the warmer weather, Charleston has been enjoying himself sunning on our back porch. One spoiled bunny, and rightly so! :)

I tried out my new bread machine.. Had to return the other one as it didn't work. It really makes a nice loaf of bread!

Now looking forward to Easter! I have my new running shoes on! :)

(No I don't really run) ;)

Wishing you all a blessed day! 

Louise xx

Hello my friends!

Stopping in with a quick hello! Been so busy the past month. Hubby had surgery and is finally feeling better. So glad the continued pain is over for him. Took many months for a diagnosis , and with lots of worries we thank God it is all behind us now.

I have stitched an ornament ( trying to do one a month!) this is by Nikys creations

Just love this one! I found it in one of the just cross stitch ornament back issues. 

Thinking on which ornament to stitch next. 

We had plenty of snow here last week. Took some pretty photos:

Our back yard 

Our wood pile

Love when it snows here, so beautiful!

I recently sewed this adorable crayon roll for  a special little guy. I found the directions on Pinterest. Love love Pinterest! It came out adorable!

If you would like to make one yourself, the directions can be found here

https://skiptomylou.wordpress.com/2007/04/25/on-a-roll/

It was a beautiful day today. My bunny enjoyed being outside!

I love him to pieces!!❤️

Perfect solution for those terrible hot flashes at night... Found this ice bag at Aldi! I fill it up before bedtime and if I get too hot, I put this on my neck... Filled with ice it is wonderful, and I can get my sleep finally! Will be good for my migraine attacks too. Well worth the money.

Saint Patrick's day is coming soon... Cannot wait to make the corned beef, cabbage, and Irish soda bread. Yum!

Blessings to you and thanks so much for stopping by ❤️

Louise