Purple Irises and a beautiful, sunny day in the mountains!

Queen of May

designed by Feathers in the Nest

Jennifer A Dalenberg, designer

copyright 2011

freebie for this weekend only!

I woke up this morning and my usual hot tea and stumbled in the kitchen to find that Miss Abigail had left me this!!!

Yes, she got an extra treat too. LOL

It is the most beautiful, sunny day here in the North Georgia mountains and I snapped a few pics for you this morning and also started graphing out by inspiration 3 Irises. There is special meaning in the sampler and I hope you enjoy. Choose your colors of choice. I probably will use Gentle Art Purple Iris (dark purple), CC Purple Toile (for medium purple) and CC Heatherleigh for lighter purple. CC Finley Gold for the key, crowne and inner flower and Cross. Gentle Art Avocado for the green. However, use your imagination with the colors! I haven't pulled the colors so you choose what best fills your pallette!

The initials VG are for Van Gogh, who is a favorite artist and of course his Irises he painted was in 1889.

I put my initials and also 3 Irises, one for each of my children. Two on Earth, one in Heaven. I was very blessed to have them.

I wish I did more in our yard/woods up to the house but I honestly do not. I think I  will have a bit more time in the future to try to surpass the fear of snakes; and things grow wild around here.

My roses need so much care. I have a climbing pink rose that is close to the porch.

Pink is my favorite color and these roses have done very well, without much tending at all.

A rose bud spells promise.

Everything is lush and green here with all the rains, moderate to cool temps and sunshine.

Violets grow like weeds here and they are everywhere. They really have kinda pushed out the Iris's we do have in the yard. I wanted to get a few pics of them in peak bloom but I was a bit too late!  However, I hope that a few more will bloom.

Some years they don't bloom at all. And this is the first year in several that we have seen them bloom!

They are a beautiful purple and give such inspiration.

Our seasonal view of the mountains is coming to a close by the thick, green leaves filling in.

However, we can always have a glimpse at the pond below and the water is very tranquil.

If I could pick one to send to everyone, I would and this one is for you!

Till later,

Jennifer

My progress tonight

a little progress tonight. Changing a little on the design as I go.

One step at a time.

Already wondering what color frame for this piece?

White? Antique Gold?

Thankful Thursday

I received this in the mail day before yesterday. Unexpected.

Completely unexpected. Didn't order it. This is a solid coin to help me remember my committment as a Soldier's Angels member.

I've always collected angels and by no means think I am one (LOL) but I do believe in prayer and support to those in need. Interestingly the whole box here:

My membership card with the reverse side, key info to keep.

I feel blessed to have received this and will treasure it forever.

An incidental meet-up this week with a retired General out of the blue, struck up a conversation about the military, current issues, my son's deployment and reactions, and many more things. He was just "dropping by" to see his daughter at the time who is one of my good friends and he was so easy to chat with and he seemed to just tell me things that I needed to hear.

I don't think it was mere coincidence that we met that day and chatted for he shared many things with me that enlightened me and caused me search my soul. He told me about times that he knew that prayer was the only thing that saved him in a very bad time of one of his earlier days in combat. I listened to him in amazement with his stories and shared some our my fears during Brandon's deployment, and shared that honestly, as a mother years ago, I totally was against my son joining because I was afraid of danger to him. He said that was very common and he understood. 

 Through the years, life changes our views. Acceptance with the reassurance that God listens to our prayers is a consolation to me.

I'm very proud of my son as he does an excellent job at whatever he undertakes. He has endless energy and made me laugh alot.

I have learned through the journey of life that I can only be responsible for how I react to other's hurtful actions and words, and that God will take care of the rest.

I share this with you because life is so short and I do believe we have a purpose even in a shaded world.

I know there are people who use us for what they can get from us to better themselves, they even call themselves our friends. But the truth eventually comes out and I can make peace with that.

I know for sure that I'm not a perfect human being but I strive hard to keep my integrity through life. My fiber, I call it.

I know for sure that sometimes it's one step forward and 2 steps back, as with everyone.

I know for sure this is a committment that will make a difference to someone in the world and that's the whole reason for our very existance.

As I get to know this soldier through letters, please pray for me so that I can do my best to send him what he needs to help fight for our country. Sometimes I realize that as the poem The Weaver I posted the other day,

I won't know until the loom is unrolled one day, what the purpose for the dark threads were.

I know he needs prayer and that's one thing I know for sure.

There's several things I'm thankful for on this Thursday:

for knowing the difference in real friends

for the ability to work and play

for understanding some of the reasons why we exist

for finding ways to uplift and make a difference to those who truly appreciate it.

 for the courage, for understanding those that reject us and truly don't appreciate us,

for always since childhood believing in angels, for this is one sure way to console me that my kids are being protected.

for the ability to see, both visually and through the heart so many truths this year and beyond.

Here are 3 fat quarters I picked up at the local quilt shop.

I'm definitely not but an amateur seamstress and do not know yet what I will do with this fabric but I just had to pick it up when I saw it.

In God I trust,

Jennifer

Changing up colors a bit, different gold

Playing around with more tonight after I got home. The gold changed to DMC 422. The Red is CC Chili Pepper and the Blue (so far) is Weeks Navy.

This line is integrating the hearts.

I could stitch all night.

But.........have to go to bed!  Just think of all the things we could get done if we didn't have to sleep! ;)

Today went by the quilt store, conveniently located by my good friend and salon owner. She always knows that's a must after a hair trim. I'll show ya what little things I got tomorrow.

Sleep well!

Jennifer

My needlework stand, adjustments, and start on A Princess Moment

Last night I went walking again, 2 mountain miles. It clears my head, my heart, my soul. Of course, I have snake boots on, as that's one lesson I've learned up in the mountains.....that boots are not just for Winter time.  Copper heads and Rattlesnakes have been spotted already in our neck of the woods and I saw a 6 foot rattler last Thursday in a neighbor's drive, slithering off into the wooded area.

Anyways, there are ways to accept things and snakes is a part of the area. The beautiful mountains though wins through it natural environment that is soothing my soul and inspires the body to get healthy again. I rotate it daily with yoga and find that this works well.

Last night I sat down at my Needlework 4 system and it flopped down to the floor several times. Let's just say I bought this needlework stand 2 years ago upon reading how great it was and as far as giving my shoulder a rest, it can do that for frequent snips on the back are a twirl away. I formerly had an old wooden stand that held Qsnaps and made many a Sampler Girl pattern on it! ;)

When my shoulder was injured in a car accident and with a herniated, and ruptured disks in my neck, I wouldn't give up stitching so I researched and read alot and wrote Vonna  about her's and she loved it. I'
m so glad I got it!
My hubbie put it together and it's been usable but I knew something wasn't right. We called the dealer and he sent another part and we put it on, and like I said the gut knew something still wasn't right but I tried to make do. Also I got the Qsnap holder instead of the frame holder and enjoyed that and recently I was going to purchase the small Qsnap holder (the one I have only holds one size), for smaller designs too. I looked at the priced and said WOOOOOO!  Let me get this one working right.

The add on piece I got this stand flops to the floor. You have to prop it up on top of the metal frame. Hubby said that it's not right. So bottom line is that we took off the "extension piece" that I bought separately and NOW it's WAY more stable and at a better height without slipping up and down by itself.

Next, is ordering a small Qsnap holder that will work with it so I can still get the easy "flip to the back" work on it. I do recommend this system if you tend to have arm, shoulder or neck issues. Most of the smaller designs I just hold the qsnap but it eventually causes alot of strain on my left arm (already has nerve damage) so I just make do. BUT, hoping to get the smaller qsnap holder soon.

Last night I only put a few stitches in, and got sleepy at 9p and went to bed, slept till 8am so my body must have needed it.  I got stumped on the gold color to use, as Gold Leaf was too bright, so this morning I'm digging in my pile of overdyes for a good color for "a Princess". I wanted to keep the Red and Blues of the British along in the theme.

I'm stitching on 28 count Antique White linen.

Yep, here is my color palette minus the old gold I'm looking for A Princess Moment by Feathers in the Nest.

going to frog out this yellow, Gold Leaf and look for Heirloom Gold. It's just not what I was looking for.

And here is the Needlework 4 stand taken back apart and without the extension piece.......much better in stability. Thanks BG!

And this is my best friend, Abigail, who assists me with decision-making, especially because we call the rug below the stand, "the snack mat". She will go to "the snack mat" with any prize treat and frequently eats her precious snacks here, thus it's name...LOl

She also brings me many toys when I try to stitch and lays them at my feet in hope for a play session. This morning, she picked, "Bunny Bob" and "Ginger Man" to assist me at "the snack mat"

She really prefers to be in my lap for a morning nap.

Giving her pats for all ya'll who send lovely messages for pats for her!  OH she gets LOTS of them, her little stinker self.

Back to designing this sampler, I finally found Garden Trellis a good pick for the engagement ring itself and also part of the key at the top of the design.

So this is waiting for me tonight. I'm off today but got a list of errands to run before I can sit down to it again.

Hope your Tuesday goes well and I'll keep up the progress pics as I go on this one.

I'm heading out to get a hair trim and oh, it needs it!

Love you all!!!

Jennifer

About the poem and Mother Goose Day today!!!!

Today is Mother Goose Day!  My favorite is the Wise Old Owl.

I think I shared this last year and I know this is silly but while eating lunch and thumbing through a calender for amusement, I saw that today was Mother Goose Day.

The Wise Old Owl

A Wise Old Owl sat in an oak

The more he heard; the less he spoke.

The less he spoke, the more he heard

Why aren't we all like that Wise Old Bird?

I honestly want to use this in a sampler one day and have had it in my scribbles of portfolio for a long time.

And also I did find the info on the poem The Weaver here:

http://www.writersontheloose.com/writers/mk/index.cfm?story=32559

and it will give you the author and a little info about it. It certainly is interesting especially for any stitcher to relate to. It would make a lovely sampler verse. I believe there is a copyright on it though....would have to look into that.  I love poetry too! 

Thank you for the lovely comments! I do so enjoy reading them and they are the brightest spot of my day.

Hope your Sunday is going well. Had a good lunch at Nacoochee Grill in Sautee, Ga. A lovely French country salad, a glass of wine, and wheat bread. Very soothing, so much that I napped when I got home! ;)

Now to conquer one more load of laundry........

Jennifer

Welcome May and Happy Sun Day

Good morning, God!

It's another month, May.

I can't help but be reminded of this poem I have had on a plaque for 26 years.

I wonder what color threads He has planned today?

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving,

between my God and me,

I do not choose the colors,

He worketh steadily.

Ofttimes he weaveth sorrow,

and I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper,

and I the underside.

Not till the loom is silent,

and the shuttles cease to fly,

Will God unroll the canvas,

and explain the reasons why

The dark threads are as needful

in the skillful weaver's hand

As threads of gold and silver

in the pattern He has planned.