More Progress..

Here is the piece I have been working on.
This is called "Home Of A Needleworker (Too!)" by Little House Needleworks.
This piece is being stitched on 28 count linen with Crescent Colors Hand Dyed Floss.
This is my first time working a bigger project with overdyes, and I am just loving it!

I was busy stitching last night and it was so chilly outside. We were out of hot cocoa in the cupboard , I decided to heat up some apple cider. What a treat!
I think I just might like that a tad bit better ;)

I was stitching sitting up in bed...then, when I was too tired, I put my stitching aside and shut out the light and fell asleep.
To my surprise I woke up this morning with my embroidery scissors with fob attached laying on my neck!! I don't know how I managed this one.

Ahhhh...the life of a stitcher.

Funny!

We have already attended mass on Saturday night, it was beautiful, and now we look forward to a wonderful Sunday as a family.
God Bless you all today, and wishing you happy stitches today,

Raggedy Stitches,
Louise

Apple Dolls

Venturing onto something new.
As I was peeling apples to make my husband yet another apple pie tonight..I was thinking of something I saw many years ago when I was little.
I sat down and browsed the internet and sure enough, I found what I was looking for!
What I was researching was "Apple Dolls". They are made from real apples that you carve for the head, make a cloth body, and sew clothes for the doll.
Now, I am attempting one of these on my own, and I am hoping my attempt will be a successful one..we shall see. :)
This is the head that I have carved ...sort of funny looking and just a start!
We have to give it time to dry out and shrink..then I can perhaps shape it some more.
I think I may have cut too big of a mouth. lol
(If you click on my picture, you can see it bigger)


According to the tutorial, which you can find here:
Click HERE for Tutorial!!

It will take several weeks before the head of the doll will dry.
I am looking forward to seeing how this will work out!
Some more information that I have read on these wonderful dolls I have found...

Apple Dolls are folk dolls originating from early rural America when settlers made dolls from whatever was at hand. Apple dolls are made by carving a face in an apple and drying it. Due to the different effects drying produces, no two dolls are alike.
I will be updating with more pictures if all goes as planned and the Apple Head dries nicely!
See you soon!

Raggedy Stitches,
Louise

Autumn Colors in North Carolina

I have only been living in North Carolina for a year and a half now. I am enjoying the colors of my second Fall season. The scenery is absolutely beautiful.






I don't even have to leave my backyard to see all the beautiful colors of Autumn.
I took out my camera, walked around our property, and these are the pictures I captured. What beautiful reds, oranges and yellows!
I walked to the back of our property and took pictures of trees down the road...
looked up and took pictures of the beautiful trees above me...looked down and took pictures of leaves on the ground. Breathtaking!

Happy Fall!
Raggedy Stitches,
Louise

Recipe For You!

I wanted to share with you a recipe that I have been making for many years.
My family enjoys this one very much. It is called "Upside Down Popover Pizza"
It is absolutely delicious! It makes a nice sized amount in a 13 x 9 pan.
When I find a recipe that turns out this good, I just have to pass it along.
I took a couple of pictures as I pulled it out of the oven so you can see what it looks like. The house smells so good after cooking it too! :)
I hope some of you will try this recipe, it really is a good one :)
(if you don't buy ground sausage, you can buy the links and cut the casing off and break it up in the pan, that is what I do) :)
enjoy!
Raggedy Stitches,
Louise


Upside Down Popover Pizza

1 pound pork sausage
1 medium onion, chopped
½ medium green pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon each dried basil, marjoram leaves, crumbled
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
8 ounces of mozzarella cheese sliced
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

Popover Batter:
Beat together 2 eggs, 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil and ¼ teaspoon salt

Preparation:
In large skillet cook sausage until browned, pour off any excess fat. Add onion and green peppers. Cook for a few minutes.
Stir in flour, basil, marjoram and tomato sauce.
Heat well, then pour into 13x9 inch baking pan. Arrange mozzarella slices on top. Pour popover batter over all. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Bake at 425 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until well browned. Serve at once.

Harvest Thyme

Finished up another piece last night.
This is called "Harvest Thyme" By Plum Pudding Needleart.
I stitched this on 27 count tea dyed linen with DMC #920 thread.
I liked stitching with just one color. Not something I often do.
I like the way it looks.
I need to start framing my pieces..lately they have been getting rolled up and placed in a drawer in my bedroom.. eventually I will pull them out and start framing them.
thanks for looking :)
Raggedy Stitches,
Louise

It's Peter Rabbit's First Halloween!

We dressed him up ahead of time to make sure his costume would look just right on him. (hee hee) :)
We think he looks pretty good as a chicken!
I think this is the most spoiled bunny in all of North Carolina :)

Heart Shaped Potato!!

As I went to make dinner tonight, I found something very unusual.
I grabbed the bag of potatoes, ripped the top open, and pulled out the first potato.
I couldn't believe my eyes! The potato was in the shape of a heart!
I have never seen anything like this before. I thought it was pretty amazing.
Now, the dilemma...should I put it up on EBAY??
LOL!!

Halloween Stitchery

This is a design by Sanman Originals. I have decided to use glow in the dark kreinik along with DMC threads for the ghost, moon and stars!

Tarheel Get Together In North Carolina!

What a wonderful day it was today! I went to the Tarheel's Cross Stitcher's get together. We had such a wonderful time. We had lots of laughs, some of us even got some stitching done. The food was wonderful too.
Here is a picture of "us" from today. I can't wait for our next gathering!
:)
Raggedy Stitches,
Louise

Memories

Been thinking about my Dad today. Not sure why , but for some reason he has been on my mind so much lately. I came across this beautiful song on Youtube. This is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman. What a wonderful song. So very touching.
It is a shame that so much was left unsaid between my Father and me just before he had passed away. I didn't get to tell him everything I wanted to. It makes his passing kind of hard for me. But I am glad for the years that we were close and shared so much love .

Pretty Pillows for my daughter

My daughter's new favorite color is Aqua. I have chosen some colorful fabrics to make her some pillowcases. I just finished sewing this one this morning. I will be picking out fabrics for my son soon, and making a special one for his room too (he likes greens!). With working in a quilt shop, it is so hard not to buy all the fabrics that are there. Some of them are so beautiful. I am in love with the Moda line called "Smores". I will be making more pillowcases for the winter out of this line of fabric soon.
The weather here in North Carolina is just beautiful this time of year. I bought a bunch of apples yesterday while shopping with my husband Patrick. I plan on surprising him with a homemade baked apple pie when he arrives home from work tonight :)
I found a recipe for chocolate chip oatmeal bars on the internet this past weekend. I tried it out, and it did not turn out as expected, so I won't be posting it here!
Hope everyone is having a fantastic Monday, I am one of the lucky ones, I happen to be off from work today. I am spending my day sewing and stitching.
It is Lovely!
Raggedy Stitches,
Louise

ps, don't buy your Halloween candy ahead of time. You may not have any left when Halloween comes, don't ask me how I know this!!! ;)