Merry (Early) Christmas to Me!

My gift from my husband is coming early- it's a Singer Featherweight 221-1 Sewing Machine, made in January of 1948. It has the original foot controller, plus a new alphasew foot pedal. It's in "mint" condition - shiny paint and little wear. It even comes with the (rare) original booklet, plus some extra needles, bobbins, and other accessories. It also comes with the carrying case.

Now I just have to learn how to use it! But I'm sooo excited.

A Michael Powell freebie - Christmas Tree

I love the look of Michael Powell's designs - from the curved edges stitched with 2 strands of black floss, to the bright colors and unique color changes. I have all of his cottage/church/lighthouse freebies, and haven't yet stitched one - and when I saw he had just added a Christmas tree to the collection, decided to make it my first Michael Powell.

Blackbird Ornament - Blackbird Designs

This little ornament appeared in the 2004 JCS Ornaments Issue. I don't know about you, but I was originally pretty confused about the finishing directions. It turns out that the designers stitched a large one, over two, and then made photocopies of it that they mounted and used for ornaments. They advised that if you wanted to stitch the blackbird for an ornament without doing the photocopying, to stitch it one-over-one. That's what I did. I changed the 2004 to 2008, and used some gold cording for the edges.

Winter Joy - SamSarah Design Studio

This was in the 2007 Just Cross Stitch Ornament Preview issue, and I realized after I finished it that I left off the little bird that went in the bottom right. Oh well - I don't think he'll be missed.

Christmas Squares from Danica

These came in today's mail - and will be made into an ornament during my next "finishing frenzy." He's a really cute Santa from Leisure Arts.

Thanks, Danica!!!

This is SOOOOO ME!

I admit it - I'm a slob. My colleagues at work think I'm organized, and I guess that in a way I am. I know where everything is; it just isn't put in places that look neat. I am a terrible housekeeper, though being married to a military neat freak has helped keep our house presentable. (He's retired; he does the houskeeping and I work and do the cooking.) When I saw this chart from Lizzie Kate I knew I had to stitch it for myself. It will now sit in a prominent place in my kitchen!

Bright Christmas - Fanci That

I stitched this for my manicurist Debbie. It's pretty large for an ornament - maybe she can hang it on her wall.

Prairie Schooler Ornament Exchange Received

One of the Yahoo groups I'm in is Prairie Schooler Fans. We had a Christmas ornament exchange, and Marie sent me this Santa. He's from Book #62, Kris Kringle. I love the cording she used - I've been looking for some like that and will try JoAnn's - and the bell. I haven't used a bell yet. She stitched and finished it with an expert hand.


Along with the ornament, she sent a ton of goodies - silk floss, Christmas buttons, a floss organizer, some size 26 needles, and some DMC gold thread - just as I began to run out of my gold thread!

Thanks Marie!!!

Squares sent to Jenn F

This is the March leprechaun from Heart in Hand's Monthly Miniatures. Jenn has let me know she received the squares I sent, so I can now post pics of them. She had said in her profile that St. Patrick's Day is her second-favorite holiday, so I thought this little guy was perfect.

Folk Art Topiary - Brown House Studios

Here's another ornament from the 2004 JCS Ornaments Issue. I had some large green ric-rac that was perfect for the trim.

Noel - Shepherd's Bush

This was a little freebie from the Caron Collection. It called for a special little heart, but I just used a heart brad left over from my cross stitching stash! This little piece is about 2 inches square.

Deer Ridge Ornament - Gloria Moffat

I found this little guy in an old Cross Stitch Sampler magazine from 1992. I just changed the date to this year. The pattern called for French knots at the ends of the tree branches, but I used little beads instead.

Better Late Than Never!

This is a cute little chart from Carousel Charts called "Which Witch is Which?" I stitched it one-over-one, so it ended up 3 inches square.

Woodland Snowfall - Little House Needleworks

This is from the 2004 Just Cross Stitch Ornaments Issue. I love LHN designs!

Pastel Pine Tree - Fine Fancywork

So, I started a finishing frenzy today, finishing several ornaments all the same way. It was a bit like an assembly line - measure, cut, glue, and so on. This little piece is from the 1988 Just Cross Stitch Ornaments Issue. I used some dusky rose fabric on the back, and it's trimmed in gold. What's hard to see in the photo is the glittery gold thread that was used for backstitching.

Thanksgiving Squares from Karen D.

These F&S squares included two cute Just Another Button Company buttons. Now, what shall I make with them? Thanks, Karen!

Squares from Jenn, and some hand-dyed floss!

These cute and very nice squares came Friday from Jenn, for F&S R0und #10. She stitched me a great Celtic design, and included some floss that she dyed herself. I'm already looking for that "perfect" pattern to use the floss on. As for the squares, I have a round tin that's the exact size of this design. So I will soon make my first covered tin! Thanks, Jenn!

Poinsettia - Brittercup Designs

I really liked the look of this one when I saw it in the 2007 JCS Ornaments issue - but didn't want to do the finish they used - too complicated for me! And the Cinders threads I used had less red in it than the one they used. But I still think it turned out nicely!

The Berry Basket - Fine Fancywork

Another oldie - this one is from the 1988 Just Cross Stitch Ornaments Issue. It looks a bit lumpy - sometimes I just don't get those edges smooth and even.

Christmas Sampler - Lollipop Designs

This little design is from the 1986 Just Cross Stitch Ornaments Issue. I stitched it one-over-one, making it about an inch square, and then put it in a little ready-made slide frame ornament I got at Michael's. I painted the frame green and glued on some miniature Christmas lights.

Cute Ornament from Angela!

Angela stitched this adorable ornament for a personal exchange. My husband says he's going to bring up our mini-tree and put it in the trailer when we go to Lake Mead for winter vacation. I have a growing collection of stitched ornaments that are going to go on it so we can have a little Christmas at Echo Bay. Thanks, Angela!!!!

It's Not a Democracy...

just because a majority votes a certain way. It's not a democracy when a majority can take away the rights of the minority. A democracy PROTECTS the minority.


In addition, when you insert RELIGION into government, you are in fact violating the constitution. We are supposed to have not only freedom OF religion, but freedom FROM religion.


Helen says it better:

"If marriage is an institution supported by this country then it must be made available to all of its citizens according to the law. If however, it is strictly a religious institution then a constitutional amendment determining who can and cannot have access to it is sort of missing the point. Religious freedom except for people who are not religious is a mutually exclusive concept. And if we keep going down this path the concept of a Christ-like Christian will become an oxymoron."

Just my two cents, whether you agree with me or not.

10-0 !

(Class of 1979)

Ice Queen - Raise the Roof Designs

I got lucky and found the Swarovski crystals at Joann! I stitched this on 32-count linen, and finished it as a pinkeep-type ornament. I gave it to my friend Claudia yesterday for her tree.

It's Been A Long Wait

In January of 2005, I put this bracelet on. It says THINK BLUE 11/04/08. I've never taken it off - and have proudly explained to anyone and everyone who asked about it what it said and meant. I told myself that eventually I could take it off for the right reason - President Barack Obama.











I told my sister this morning that I'd have a "ceremonial removal of the wristband," and would cut it into little pieces. So, there it is.







I can't wait to see how our country changes and how the world reacts to this. I really don't know what else to say - except that watching Jesse Jackson cry tears of joy said it all just now. I am so proud to be an American.