peaceful it is

Even though I have 33 WIPS, I'm like the average stitcher and I'm starting another project. Some things never change, do they? Ha! My dear Aunt Pam and I are committing to a SAL. My Mother and I are also working on a SAL with a twist. We're working on the same piece; taking turns from one block to another. We started Shores of Hawk Run Hallow by Carriage House Samplings a long time ago and have decided to actually finish it this time. Not sure who's custody it will belong to ;-) 

WIPS

• Peaceful In The Garden ~ Moira Blackburn 32 ct. Creme Belfast using DMC (2 over 2)

I will have more thoughts later on. This paralegal needs to get ready for work.

Talk soon!!

Julie

etui

If you are really loved, someone will gift you with one of these. But if you're really, really, really loved, then someone extra special will make one and gift it to you. No drooling allowed. I don't want my etui wet or dirty...lol

I spent Thanksgiving 2010 with my Aunt Pam and the rest of my mother's (my) family. While visiting one night, my aunt presented me with an unexpected gift bag. I was rather surprised, to say the least, but inside was this beautifully handmade, personally made-with-love for me, etui. I was in total shock and disbelief!

We both love the color blue so she was on the mark with her color choices. And as far as the etui itself, I was mesmerized by its detail and functionality. I really couldn't believe it was mine; still don't. It's such a special creation that even my mother has taken it with her to her guilds for show-n-tell and received many rave reviews (well, Aunt Pam has received the rave reviews). I've taken it to our LNS and again, mouths drop and mops come out to sop up the drool.

When I opened my gift and the etui fell open, as did my mouth, it reminded me of a bloomin' onion (without the smell, of course) and as such, Aunt Pam says, "Julie, when someone makes this for you, they really really really love you." And I know my Aunt Pam does. I love her too!

Talk soon!

"f" is for

Floss tag…

I stitched up a little floss tag for my Aunt Pam. It’s her first one. She really loves it and was taken by complete surprise when it arrived in the mail.

ABC Bird. It’s from Alexandrina. I used 32 ct linen, hand-dyed by me, using GAST Brethren Blue, Dark Chocolate, Shutter Green, and WDW Copper. I personalized it by adding our initials and year to the back. With love always, Aunt Pam!

Fall decorations…

I traded the Halloween trimmings for fall ones. I enjoyed taking everything off my hutch, wiping them down, putting some away, rearranging others, switching items around, adding a little of this and a little of that. I’m quite pleased with my dining room area (except for the blue spongy walls). I even added a couple pieces of fabric as table linens just to give more fall coloring to the room – it’ll do for now until I can quilt some up.

Freebies…

My hopes are to get these two stitched and finished up while fall is still in session – LOL. The first is Thankful by primitivebettys. Second is Give Thanks by Heartstring Primitives. Both very talented ladies. I want to get to The Sampler Girl’s freebie called Blessings to You, but I want to finish one of these first. (Get those freebies while you can!)

Feeble…

Chia Head is looking awful. He has a white mossy substance growing near the root. Yeah, I think it’s about time to de-weed, clean that bald cranium, and store Chia away for the winter. I’m done taking care of him as I have too many things to take care of at the moment. So, a much-waited-for good-bye is in order. Good-bye Chia Head! I am not going to miss you.

Fever…

Jose stayed home from school today. He’s running a temp of 101.5. He’s having sinus pressure and head issues. I guess the crud is all in his head. Poor thing. He may need to stay home tomorrow too and we might see the doc. I’ll probably put Cameron in daycare. It will be best for them to avoid each other as much as possible at this point. Cameron’s ear infection is improving so that’s good. He’s due for another flu shot soon though. That time of year…ahhh! Talk soon!

just another hodgepodge

I wish my posts were as interesting as everyone else’s, and I wish I could come up with a better title for this post. I hate when I can’t come up with something well-fitting and catchy. “Just another hodgepodge” will have to do.

Went over to mom’s Monday and it’s always a circus. Meaning I bring the circus where ever I go. Meaning my kids especially Cameron. He is a handful these days. Mom wanted to tease me further and this was on the front door.

Sorry for the glare. It was a beautiful day for Nana’s and apparently for "Edward" to greet us at the door. Ah, mothers can be so cute, can’t they? LOL

Mom bought these Gummy Brains for Jose and of course Cameron wanted some brains too. Good thing Jose was sort of in the sharing spirit. Jose took the rest of them to school yesterday in his lunch. These boys are spoiled rotten by Nana. I’m a pretty spoiled daughter too. Spoiled niece as well!

When we arrived home I was pleasantly surprised by a package from Aunt Pam. When I went to Ohio last I went through my aunt’s reproduction fabrics. I saw this fantastic Moda fabric I just had to have. She couldn’t part with it, and understandably b/c she’s using it for a project, but she did allow me a 6x3 snippet. My thought was to take this to the LQS and buy some. I went to the shop and they didn’t have it and can’t get it. I told my aunt of my defeat and disappointment. I wasn’t going to stop there though. My search will continue. Well, search no more! The pleasant surprise was my aunt mailed me a fat quarter of the Moda fabric!!! I was and still am ecstatic! Am I not the luckiest, most blessed niece in the entire world??? I think I am. I went from a snippet to a fat quarter and all b/c I’m loved. =) Thanks again, Aunt Pam. I love you!

Progress on the first tree is taking shape. The alphabet hugs the entire length of the tree line and of course more trees will be stitched. Let’s just say that the alphabet serves a root-like purpose. Stitching the animals is turning out fun and looking kind of spiffy - LOL. I’m enjoying it, but I haven’t stitched on Trees in a couple of days. I've been working on smalls and dyeing fabric.

I’ve stitched on this surprise piece the last two days – finished it up Tuesday afternoon. Just a slight peek is permitted at this point. I did use GAST and WDW.

I’m just about complete with re-organizing all the DMC. Boy, it’s a lot of floss!!! I’ll put these containers into a cabinet in my crafting area. Much more efficient and accessible – love, love, love the sound of that!

I can’t knit. I was taught once, but there is no way I’ll be able to knit something like THIS. I’ll procrastinate. Never will get it done let alone start it. Staci is gracious with this pattern of hers and I simply fell in love with it. One of the shop owners of the LNS is a knitter and since we have known each other for about 15 years I felt comfortable to ask for her knitting expertise. I went by the shop and she helped me pick out the right type of yarn. I think the yarn I picked will turn out beautifully for this pattern. I can’t wait to see them turned into mittens. I know Pat will do an excellent job!

I think the Chia Head is on his last grassy knoll. He is looking pretty strung out, isn’t he? His grass hair looks like tangled wires at this point. I still give him water and for the past couple of days we’ve had no sunlight so things are looking mighty grim for Chia – heehee…And Thursday, Friday and Saturday we’re forecast for rain and thunderstorms. Imagine that.

I started a couple of small freebies, but I’ll post on those later. I’m trying to get into the fall-feeling. I love summer so much but I am trying to feel the fall season. I do like the color changes – it is pretty, but I don’t like the chilly air especially cold winters. I haven’t been able to get outside for walks this week. Thank goodness for tread mills and indoor exercising. At least I have that. Cameron has a nasty ear infection so we haven’t walked or been to daycare. One of his ears is leaking fluid and I know he’s uncomfortable. We see the pediatrician this afternoon.

Finally, Halloween is on a Saturday instead of a week night, but neither of my children is going trick-or-treat-ing. That is fine by me though. I really don’t enjoy walking around the neighborhood begging for candy. I know the kids love it, but I can live without it to be honest. I asked Jose about it but his response is “I’m too old to dress up,” so Jose won’t be going out. Since Cameron has an ear infection and we don’t have a costume we’re going to pass this year. Cameron won’t miss it. In fact, I don’t think he’ll care. Besides, there's enough cool stuff on TV that night to keep us busy, and I do have plenty of stitching.

Well, I best get off. Cameron is watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This child is funny. Lately he's been getting into these movies as well as other more mature movies. At this age Jose was watching Barney. Funny. Onto the next...Talk soon!

quite a tripp

First, I purposely mispelled "tripp" in my title. My mother's maiden name is Tripp and on our reunion name tags we had "Tripp" labeled on them. Second, let me apologize for any of the photos that might be blurry. (Click on the photos to enlarge.) I did my best, but using a 12-year old kid’s camera isn’t always the best thing. It’s better than nothing at all and I said I would come back with photos to share of the fantastic needlework shop in Cincinnati called Keepsakes. I asked and was granted permission to snap away and I did. I was wrong in thinking they didn’t have a website but they do.

This house is old and is customary to the way homes were made in Cincinnati (brings back memories of Grandma’s and Grandpa’s old house). I’m not sure how old, but I’m pretty sure it dates to before WWII. The garden is very well kept and I believe it is memorialized to a fellow-stitcher – very sweet. That is my Aunt Pam waiting and talking to my mom who is not pictured.

The front porch was covered with 40% sale items. Yeppers! I took advantage of that and got a couple of charts. A shop called Sew-Ezy was conveniently next door, but unfortunately b/c we were in Keepsakes for sooooo long we hadn’t had a bite to eat and needed to fill our bellies. I loved the signage on the front door though.

These photos are of the front room when you walk in. It has an enormous fireplace covered in, well, you can see for yourself…

These are all about going to and up the steps/stairs. This place is covered and no surface is uncovered; literally. Even the floors are adorned with needlework and models…and the freebies are in abundant supply too. Sorry the photo of my mom is blurry.

Now we’re upstairs where there are 4 rooms and again no place is untouched. Even the hallway is adorned with needlework and charts. Even the walls are covered in the most intriguing framework from baseboard to ceiling mold. Ahhh, I could set up a sleeping bag and spend weeks living here. This was 1 of 4 rooms at the top of the stairs.

This is room 2 of 4 which is off the first room and circles back to the hallway. It just has the neatest primitive décor. Unfortunately that isn’t for sale. Poohy!

Room 3 of 4 is the seasonal room. It’s amazing and gives plenty to dwell on to tap the creative senses for any holiday stitching. But I had to take a picture of this hand-drawn piece of artwork that didn’t particularly belong in this room. I have never seen anything like this before though. It was just darling – couldn’t pass it up.

Room 4 of 4 is the floss room. Isn’t that cool? A room totally devoted to ALL-THINGS floss. It still had charts and stuff. I mean, I can’t say it enough. This place is covered. My mom and aunt were in this room for quite some time updating their inventory of floss needs. I did get a few skeins for myself.

We headed back down the hallway towards the stairs. The framing room downstairs was bustling. The shop was bustling as well. At times it was difficult to maneuver the crowd and others we felt like we were being bull dozed, literally. Upon checking out we were notified that everything in the store was 20% off and all molding was half off. Now, if we had known this before coming we would have been more prepared. Oh well…we still went to Keepsakes and came out with goodies to please the heart. :) Plus, I had the best company anyone could ask for: Mom and Aunt Pam.

All the white sheets are the freebies I picked up at Keepsakes which is always a plus, as you know. I fell in love with The Workbasket’s Trees design. They had the model stitched and framed and it was stunning. I even got a few WDW threads I knew I didn’t have in my stash for it. I also had Keepsakes cut a piece of fabric to boot; 32 ct. Vintage Exampler. It’s going to be so pretty and I cannot wait to start this. I also bought Barrick Samplers’s Scrub Pine Sampler and Hands To Work’s The Whisper Girl at Keepsakes. Those were 40% off. What a deal. I really was hooked on starting something new for fall so when I saw Bent Creek’s kit Crows I managed to squeeze that into the shopping bag as well and even managed to stitch a bird already. He’s cute! I bought Plum Street Sampler's Garden of Eerie and Little House Needleworks’s The Library at Market at my LNS here in Nashville. Mom and I drove back to Nashville Sunday morning/afternoon and still had time to swing by Market. We’re silly (and tired) girls!

I went ahead and bought a piece of fabric so I could also start (as if I don’t have enough crossing going on) Garden of Eeerie once I get the floss together. I found a lovely piece of 28 ct (b/c I want this big) Vintage Mocha. I think it’ll work nicely. I also needed a few more Piecemakers and a few skeins of CC for a freebie I got in Cincy. My Aunt Pam was gracious enough to gift fabric to me. The little swatch of fabric was also Aunt Pam’s and I asked to have it so I can locate it at my LQS. That should be fun – heehee! The cork board is something mom and I picked up at Market as something extra. Never can have too much, ugh?!

Reunion speak…

I hope my mother doesn’t kill me for saying this, and I don’t think she will, but we went to her 45th high school reunion in Cincinnati. The reunion was held at a local bar which was pretty cool. I don’t drink and I gave up cigarettes a little over 3 years ago and I survived the elements. No temptations but I wasn’t worried that I would.

Me and mom's classmates

I had a wonderful time. A few of mom’s classmates asked how much she paid me and if I’d rather be somewhere else, but to be quite honest I was perfectly fine where I was. I like hanging out with older people – they joked that I said that, but appreciated I said “older people” and not “old people.” I don’t consider them old anyway. I knew one person there other than mom; my mom’s dearest friend Judy. Judy is a remarkable woman and a beautiful friend. She’s a true gift. I have nothing but the fondest memories of Judy when I was a child. I used to swim in her pool, music pouring from the radio, and nothing but the best of times. Those were very fun summers then and I enjoyed spending time with her at the reunion.

Hanging around my mom and her classmates was an experience I’ll never forget. I found the night very moving actually. To see all these people, 45 years after they graduated high school, some rekindling old friendships and some just picking up right where they left off. I felt like I was in the Peggy Sue Got Married movie. It was just too cool. I would love to time travel. If I could I would love to attend the school my mom and her friends went to so I could watch them and experience their life. What an unforgettable reunion. I was told I was also a better date than my dad. LOL

I’ve never had the opportunity to share photos of my Cousin Kari’s two boys, Austin (4) and Alex (18 months). So, finally, I get to show off my little-little cousins!!! They are the cutest little blonde boys, I swear. That’s Ray, my cousin-in-law, and his son Alex. Cousin Kari isn’t pictured b/c she was at home not feeling well. Austin getting hugs from his Nana. Alex at the window. And Austin giving his bright big smile. Cute little boys!

Sunday, mom and I left Cincinnati early so we could make it in time for our friend, Susan’s, birthday lunch that she had no idea we were “trying” to make. Our friend Sally set this up without Susan knowing. We were to meet them at noon Sunday afternoon in Nashville. It would have worked if mom and I had not been Chatty Cathys and paid better attention to the road. We missed I-71 and we went an hour off route. We were pretty upset with ourselves, but what else could we do but figure our way back, laugh it off, and visit a couple of cute little Kentucky towns along the way. We saw Georgetown and Frankfort. Cute little towns. LOL We ended up being 45 minutes late to Susan’s lunch which we felt real bad about, but we managed to tell our stories tiredly. Afterwards the four of us made it to Market and had fun flipping through the goodies and enjoying each other’s company. :) Then I went home and mom went to the sad Titans football game.

Well, that’s all I have right now. I haven’t posted anything this lengthy in some time, but I’ve been absent lately and a catch up was needed. Maybe not so much for you, but I had lots to say. ;) Thanks for keeping up with this post. Talk soon!



*I want to say thanks to everyone who commented on my “a framed jane” post. I was literally shocked when I returned to find that 19 comments were left. You all make a girl feel so grateful. Thanks for caring enough to take time out of your busy lives to come by for a visit and wish me fun at my mom’s reunion! Hugs to you all!