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!

August Freebie and Challenge Completed!

I have finished stitching the August Freebie Challenge from Notforgotten Farm. I decided to get really creative with the finish for the contest. :)
At first I wasn't sure what I would do with my finished stitchery, I thought perhaps a door pocket..but then I had an amazing idea!! :)
I gathered up my supplies:
wool from clothing I found at Goodwill, paints, brushes, felt, pins I had rusted, potato sack towels I tea dyed with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, and seeds that look like mini pumpkins that I gathered and strung together.
I created the face first, which I painted as a replica of the design that I stitched on 28 count evenweave with DMC threads.
The legs of the doll are made from wool fabric and the wings are from the potato sack towels.
The hat is made from felt which I had top stitched stripes onto , again to mimic the design that I had stitched.
The pocket on the dress is the design which was stitched and was sewn on and also attached with rusted pins. This pocket holds candies.
The top layer of dress is a design of pumpkins, while the bottom layer of dress is a dark black wool fabric that was also purchased from goodwill.
She is stuffed with polyfill and very happy she was brought to life :)

Here is her story:

Meet "Clara", this is what I decided to do with the piece I just finished stitching for the Notforgotten Farm challenge. I made a doll to replicate the design I stitched, although, the doll is female :) "Clara" is the keeper of the Candies.

She proudly wears a picture of her husband "Jack" on the pocket of her dress . Both Clara and her husband sadly died when the pumpkins were destroyed for pumpkin pies! She missed giving out candy to the little children that would visit, so she decided to give out candies in heaven! Clara the keeper of candies will forever remain in the hearts of children as they remember the days when they were little..traveling up the walkway to Clara and Jack Primitive's home for all sorts of treats. Her spirit lives on! :)

 I am looking forward to seeing the other finishes as they are posted on Notforgotten Farm's blog! I bet there will be some really wonderful creative and beautiful things to see! This was so much fun, and I thank Lori again for offering up such a wonderful freebie chart for all of us stitchers to enjoy for the Fall season. (my favorite time of year!)

Blessings and Raggedystitches,

Mr. Primitive Pumpkin Completed! :)

I stayed up very late last night and stitched super fast!
I was able to finish my Primitive Pumpkin design. I am so happy!!
Now this gives me time to work on the rest of the challenge...Oh, I have such a neat idea! Shhhh....I can't say! lol!

Happy Stitching!

Updates on Mr. Primitive Pumpkin and my lucky week!

I have been diligently stitching away on my Mr. Primitive Pumpkin freebie from Notforgotten Farm..
I think I will get him done in time for the challenge! Although, with the plans I have for this design..it may take some time yet to create what I am going to create with my finished piece ;)
I have an interesting idea!
Here he is so far...

This truly was my lucky week! I have won another contest with a giveaway of threads..Thank you to Jenetta for the beautiful threads I received just the other day in the mail... :)

For those of you that joined the Notforgotten Farm challenge, I hope you are getting all your stitches in! I can't wait to see all the completed projects. Way too exciting! :)

Raggedystitches,
Louise

My Little "Singer" and Primitive Pumpkin Updates!

I have a very dear friend Lillian that lives on Long Island,New York. She has been like a Grandmother to my children all these years. She is an avid quilter and baker and at the age of 88 she still quilts! She is an amazing woman and I have always aspired to be just like her.
She has a heart of gold, and was always there for me whenever I needed someone to talk to. She continues to be there for me anytime I call her on the telephone. I miss her dearly. It has been many years since I have seen her last. We keep up with our phone conversations and pictures I have sent of the children as they grew over the years. She has always been such a great encouragement to me and has always treated me like I was her own daughter. I am truly blessed to have her in my life!
She won a little "Singer" sewing machine years ago in a raffle and she had passed it on to me, being as she had a little machine like this one already. I felt honored that she would pass it on my way!
Thought I would share some pictures with you :)
It is special to me because it came from her!

Ok..here are the latest updates on my Mr. Primitive Pumpkin stitchery piece by Not Forgotten Farm..the freebie challenge I decided to take on...Ok..she said this is a quick stitch..I am sorry, I do not really agree with that!! lol
It is a Looooong stitch! It is taking a lot of stitches to get this piece going! I hope to finish it by the deadline..and I feel a bit pressured..which isn't good at all. I don't like to feel rushed..but I do like the excitement of joining in the challenge. I am still not quite sure how I will finish it..that is IF I finish it in time. I almost put it away today because of worry it just wouldn't get done in time. Life is getting in the way a little bit.
I know though it will be so cute when finished and I know how happy I will be to display him in my home come Fall!
Here he is so far...

He is coming along...little by little. I am so glad I know how to do the "sewing" method..because that is exactly how I am doing the fill in areas! Makes it go a little more quicker and smoother.

Our daughter will be starting school next week. I worry about me. I miss my son terribly now that he is away in the military. Honestly, it has gotten better, I am starting to learn to accept..but I am afraid for when my daughter is away all day in school. Hubby has been traveling quite often with work. I know I am not going to like being alone. It will be hard..being alone in an empty house. Of course there is the birds and Peter Rabbit..but somehow I am already feeling sad. :(
I hope I will be ok.
I am considering looking for part time work. I am a very outgoing person, and I need to be with people. I am not one that does well being alone. I like helping others and just "doing"...
so we will see what comes up.
I know others would be thrilled to have this alone time..but I know it will be time for me to dwell on missing my son!

That's all for now..wish me well in finishing Mr. Primitive Pumpkin! I do hope I can get a bit further along and get him done in time..will post more updates soon,

Raggedystitches,

Stitching update...

I have decided to join in on the Notforgotten Farm pumpkin stitching challenge! It is a lot more stitching than I thought it would be though, and not so sure I will finish it in time for the contest. I am having fun with it though and love the bright orange color of the pumpkin! :) I love the Fall, and love all things filled with the coming season, especially when it is of a primitive feel to it!
I will have to keep stitching as fast as I can..wish me luck! :)
Thank you to my friend Avona for sending me more orange threads..as I have just about run out and I don't have a shop in town with DMC here where I live. She was my floss fairy for this week! :)

Here is my progress so far on Mr. Pumpkin :)

I am not sure how I will finish him up when I am done with him..have some ideas swirling in my head. We shall see! First I have to get him stitched up. :)

Raggedystitches,

August Freebie and Challenge at Notforgotten Farm!

How exciting, and what fun! An August freebie and Challenge at Notforgotten Farms Blog :)
Head on over for the cutest pumpkin..just in time to stitch up for the coming Fall season..and a chance to win a fantastic giveaway too. I am considering joining in on the fun :)
Not sure how I would finish it though..I bet there will be some pretty creative stitchers out there!

If you join in the fun, good luck and can't wait to see your pictures posted on her blog!
Notforgotten Farm Freebie

:)
Louise

Pine Cone Patrol, Stash

Most people might think Florida is mostly pretty palm trees. I can tell you it is not. :)
We live in Northern Florida and our backyard is jam packed with pine trees. Yes, pine trees. It is sort of nice, a reminder of living up north, but not nice when they start dropping all of their pine cones and you have to pick them up!
So...the daunting task begins...over a span of many months!
Noooo...they don't drop all at once. That would make it much easier. They drop on a continual basis and it seems like you never get any headway with clearing off the lawn. They even drop right when you are picking them up and bagging them. Almost as if they are laughing at you while you are doing it. I was hit on the head once while I was doing it!
Here is a section of our yard..you can sort of get an idea of how they are spread out everywhere...

At first, it seems like it would be easy to pick them up...but bending over and over a zillion times is a real workout and I guess it could be considered aerobic exercise? hee hee :P But! It is beautiful out today, and I was really enjoying being out there in this beautiful weather we are having!
I worked and worked..and this is what I gathered up....
4 whole bags!

Some of them are quite large..as you can see in comparison with my hand..I have small hands...so some of these pine cones are quite large!

By the time I came around to the front yard..I was about exhausted! I laid down on the grass to rest..and noticed how beautiful the front lawn is coming in.....this was grass that we planted from seed last year!

As I lay on the grass...well...ummm...I shouldn't have looked up into the trees...because..this is what I saw!!
YIKES!

Busy yard work for another day! Nature is providing in abundance!
The mailman just came and I had a sudden "pick me up"! :)
3 new charts arrived in the mail today. Aren't they sweet!!
Just love bunnies, and when I saw Rabbit Folk..I knew I had to add it to my collection :)

Happy Monday Everyone!
Louise