still "dreaming"

I’ll soon be calling her Witchy Woman (my own name for her) before long, but for now she’s still Dreaming of Halloween by Stacy Nash. She’s turning out quite nicely on the pearl grey linen and I can’t wait to pick out backing fabric for her.

There is something about the 1782 date that I just like…not sure what it is. It looks really cool on the pearl grey. Maybe it’s the pearl grey linen that’s so striking with 1782. Hmmm…I have one DMC 844 row left to cross at the bottom of Witchy Woman’s dress and onto the cloud below her, but HAD to photo her now b/c the sun came out and I HAD to take advantage of that…well…b/c it’s still raining here and the sun hasn’t been present in weeks.

This finally came today…….and I couldn’t be happier (being that I’m the last person on the planet to receive it and mom too) that I have something to read over tonight in bed. Yay!!! I also know whose ornament I'm going to stitch up first. Yep! That be my girl, T! :o)

Lastly, I’m feeling sad that I have to change my summer basket into fall. I love summer way too much to let it go to fall. I do have a Stacy Nash Halloween pillow that I finish-finished earlier this year and I’ll finish my Witchy Woman for it as well soon. So that is a ‘check’ for the basket. I’ll have to come across something else to fit snug. Oh well, plenty of time I suppose. Tonight’s dinner is Tilapia with Rotini pasta with Parmesan sauce ~ Yum! Talk soon!

PS: Mom, thanks for the "doom-and-gloom" comment. I needed the reality check. Love you!

my heart is content and inspired

I just got my January 2009 Just Cross Stitch magazine in the mail on Friday afternoon. I’ve been meaning to mention a couple things.

First, I love the design by The Sampler Girl entitled Persuasion! It’s absolutely adorable. I so much love and appreciate how Tanya has brought a timeless novel to us and especially to the people (like me) that aren’t familiar with the writings of Jane Austen, so that I may get a glimpse of treasured writings and authors. My favorite part, however, is the verse: “she tried to be calm and leave things to take their course”. There are times I have an immense amount of anxiety bottled up and, lack for a better word, I tend to “freak” out from time-to-time. I don't like this about myself. I have a tendency to over react and it’s just because I worry so about everything. I think the root of the problem is a lack of control or not being able to control all things around me. The verse from Persuasion reminds me of the Serenity Prayer. It goes...

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change…
Courage to change the things I can…
And Wisdom to know the difference…

In the early Fall, my mother gave me a silver cuff bracelet with the Serenity Prayer inscribed within it. I think it goes without saying that the verse in the Persuasion piece really speaks volumes to me. This is something I still need to learn for myself and for my own well-being. It’s a constant reminder that I need “to be calm and leave things to take their course.” I am so glad this design was chosen for the JCS. I think this may be my favorite design of Tanya's yet…and there are so many that I love, but this one speaks to me personally. I feel it “belongs” to me.

Thank you, Tanya, for a wonderful reproduction of Jane Austen!

Secondly, in this same JCS issue there is an article about designer Tracy Riffle from Hands To Work Designs, which I also love. The article is entitled 'Designing in Faded Glory'. This article was fascinating to me because it really dove into the designer herself. I love getting to know the designer. It's interesting to learn where they find their inspiration and where those ideas derive. I can identify with Tracy's way of designing. She stumbles on her designs not by way of brainstorming and planning, but by images, sounds and connection to the world around her. I am this same way. When it comes to my daily-dealings I need schedule and planning, but when it dwells on the side of creativity I do much better flying by the seat of my pants. I admire this same principle in Tracy, and I look forward to seeing many new creations from her.

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

I have a HUGE announcement to make. An announcement I am so proud to publish. My friend and cross stitch designer, Tanya, recently received notice that The Sampler Girl will be included in the 2009 Christmas Ornament Issue of the Just Cross Stitch magazine. This is HUGE!!! I am so proud of Tanya. She works so hard on her designs and they come from her heart and soul. She deserves this so much. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You can find The Sampler Girl in the February 2009 Issue as well. Look for her Jane Austen design in that issue. I cannot wait ~ I'm so excited!!!!