At Home with Jane sampler progress~~nearly finished WIP

 

Here is my progress on At Home With Jane Austen sampler designer The Sampler Girl.

 I've had this one in my basket for 4 years at least. Started on it, put it down, did a third, put it down. So I'm finishing this long WIP up very soon. I have one flower motif left and then the last band of purple flowers and it's done!!!!!!!

 

 

I so love Jane Austen.

 

 

 

And pinks are my favorite colors.

 

 

And my initial changed since I started it. That's how long it's been in my basket.

 

 

Home Sweet Home

 

Just wanted to share something I'm finishing up this weekend. I'm mixed on how to finish it because I can only afford a junkin' frame  .........and I can't find one.

So, I may finish it like the photo she has on the front and hang/display on the wall this way OR I have a frame that is bigger on the sides but the right length and put some pretty fabbie on the sides.

 

I used/am using Crescent Colors that are called for in the pattern. There is a DMC conversion but I like the overdyed effect.

I'm also using the linen called for in the pattern as well.

I believe it's 30ct.

 

So, I finished my Christmas shopping today, just a few items left and grocery shopping for the week. Feels good to be done.

Soon, to watch the Christmas Box movie with the Mr. cuddling by the fire.

We have some snack size ham, turkey, and 2 cheeses with crackers to nibble during the movie!

The last 2 gifts to mail will be late as they are to be mailed out Monday but I'm sure they will like them just as well!

 

Singing I'll be Home for Christmas,

Jennifer

 

Homestead Keeping---my New Year's resolution

 A website, blog AND book is great to keep your homestead on a cleaning schedule. I so much tend to not be structured when it comes to house cleaning so I found this website and it's a really good info for homemakers.

The Time Warp Wife blog is really a great one to add if you like to keep a house a clean home with good ideas on a planning, cleaning, etc.

I decided this year to not pull out all the Christmas decorations as usual and so starting off my New Years resolution will be easier. I think. :) I have just enough out to make it a simple Christmas this year and sometimes simple is really sweeter.

This past month I've been parting with many things and it feels good to clean out the clutter from many years gone by. I like to make my hubby happy with a clean homestead to welcome him home from a long days work. This blog writer actually has a book on the subject incorporating basic scripture in the whys and hows. So my New Year's resolution is to have a more structured cleaning schedule. We'll see how it goes.............my wing-it method is not working. :0

Things, yes things, that I find hard to let go and should are  books, shoes, clothes, and linens.

Take a look-see of the blog if you like improvement reading!

I hope this finds you Merry and Bright on this Friday afternoon before Christmas!
I've finished my Christmas shopping and one last trip to the post office and a couple of town trip day errands this week will then be followed by curling up with a good Christmas book, movie, and knitting.

As for a good Christmas movie, The Christmas Box is a really good one and is coming on tomorrow night. I can't wait! I've seen it probably about................4 times now and it is good every time I see it.

The ham is in the fridge and just waiting on a good long bake on Christmas day. We have some sweet potatoes that I will be making a soufflé. Mr. Darcy wants mashed potatoes (my special)  and gravy (and he makes the best gravy). I am thinking of making a yellow layer cake with chocolate frosting for dessert. Green bean casserole just is not going to make it this year. :P
But.........baked acorn squash in the oven is another side. 7 layer salad most likely will also make the menu this year. I LOVE this salad and it's so pretty in a clear bowl too.

 

Stay cozy and warm,

Jennifer

Free Sampler The Star~~a Christmas card for you

Good morning!

 

As we all get busy the week before Christmas with so many distractions, events to attend, friends to see, gifts to deliver, etc, that I wanted to say thank you to each and every reader for making my 5th year of blogging very special. Thank you for all the "gifts" you send to me with comments, personal emails and love. It means more to me than you know.

I wish I had could have a huge giveaway this week and have at least 10 winners but finances this year just didn't make that happen. I'm content though with what I've been blessed with, even the hardships because without them, lessons would not be learned, life would not be sharpened and my faith any more challenged.

Christmas, we all hope, is a happy time for families to get together and just be in touch at least once a year but for many, it is not a day of happiness but emptiness. Hardships of all kinds abound today and I hope in some tiny way at least, that writing and encouraging, offer hope throughout our journey in life. I enjoy helping people. I always have. The part of Christmas I enjoyed was seeing the faces of my kids open their presents that I had so thoughtfully put away for them and hoped it was an equal amount. :) 

Just like life ebbs and flows, those days are gone and as I get older, I find that things change and evolve in a different way. God has blessed us with the ability to create.  To bless others. To pay it forward. The faces of happiness that are more meaningful are those that enjoy the journey with us unconditionally and the acceptance of what our strengths and weaknesses are a part of everyday life.

I hope for all of you who take the time to pop in every now and again, that you have a very happy and blessed Christmas whether you are with the ones you love or not. Just remember that God gave His only son and this is the greatest gift of all. He always will love and protect you. The assurance that He will never abandon us is surreal.

If there is a time I watch TV it's probably this time of year, when the days are short and the nights are longer and the time between supper and bedtime is more settled in. I watched a Christmas movie on the Inspiration channel this week, The Nativity and it was the THE best representation of the Christmas story. The actors that played Mary and Joseph were exactly like I had them pictured in my mind when reading the Bible. I hope this movie comes on again before Christmas because I could watch it again and again. When the angel came to Mary and then to Joseph to direct their paths, to explain and not to be fearful, I was touched deeply. I was also amazed at the star that shown so brightly bringing them all together. The Star that gave them direction if only they accepted it.

Sometimes I wish I had a big star when I look in the sky that would shine on and off and directly in certain directions to know when something is God's will. But we actually have better than that now. We have Jesus in the flesh, His word for guidance. I am in no way perfect at all. None of us are and I am so thankful for Christ's birth, for His life He gave to cover our sins when we ask forgiveness.

So the inspiration for this sampler Christmas Card to you for 2013 and because I literally cannot mail every reader a card as I wish, I hope you print this off and keep it for some stitching time. 

Matthew 2:10

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

Sometimes on this journey of life it's hard to find the answers. We search for the star or the direction. Even though we don't always know the answer or even why we are on such a journey, we can be reassured that after we find the star, the direction, the answer, the meaning, then it will be followed by great joy.

The STAR will show the way.

Christmas miracles do really come true.

The Star

 

designed by Feathers in the Nest

 

copyright 2013

 

linen of choice

 

colors suggested are Weeks Dye Works

 

Deep Sea

Morris Blue

Aqua

Blue Topaz

Gold Leaf

 

Please do not kit to sell and reproduce only through needle and thread. Also, if you are on FB where I put the design, please do not tag or share without giving credit to the source.

I so thank you for respecting this.

 

If you stitch this one up, please send me a picture and I will post on the blog and FB page!

 

 

 Sipping my second cuppa,
Jennifer